《Elven Lies I : Books of Fate [A Progression Fantasy ]》


 Elven Lies I Chapter 0 : Prologue

    PROLOGUE


    "We are the maker of our own demise"


    In 2157 Earth Calendar, the Organisation of Advanced Space and Time Research (OASTR) discovered the wormhole equation, unwittingly allowing inter-dimensional beings into Earth. The resulting chaos devastated the planet, prompting Earth''s dormant terraforming ships to activate and retaliate. A colossal battle ensued between Earth''s defenders and the invaders, resulting in Earth''s victory, but at a significant cost. The planet stood scarred and transformed, with one terraforming ship lost in a wormhole, carrying an inter-dimensional entity into the unknown.


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    While the threat from Earth was eliminated, the battle continued in a distant place, featuring a champion chosen by the Machine against the incoming threat of yet another invasion in the new world called ¡®Genas¡¯.

 Elven Lies I Chapter 1 : Entering Hans Edenberg

    CHAPTER 1


    ENTERING HANS EDENBERG


    As he opened his eyes, the vast expanse of a starry blanket stretching towards infinity greeted him. He had been hurled into a lake, like a shooting star, causing the splashed water to rain down on him in a soft shower. Yet, the drizzling droplets served as a grim reminder of the torment he had endured. Despite his body''s desperate plea for a rest, the relentless gaze of his enemy was like a morning bell back at the School, rousing him from the brink of rest.


    Drifting aimlessly, he floated atop waves that he had conjured himself, a paltry distraction from what lay ahead. His gaze fell upon the creature, and he felt a pang of regret for not slaying the beast when he had the chance. The battered form of the creature offered little solace for his remorse, for he knew that his own injuries were far more grievous. His right hand was gone, but it was not the only loss he had suffered.


    As he tried to cry out, a mouthful of blood was all that emerged.


    "Shit!!"


    The searing pain didn''t trouble him as much as his pitiable state. Despite the agony, he forced himself to raise his head and examine his lifeless legs, but the effort proved futile. He even lacked the strength to lift his head. His condition left him utterly bewildered. He cried in frustration, "Damn it, what is this? This is not the way I go down. That lizard, that darn shitty lizard went full hardcore...hnn..." He tilted his head, inspecting the dragon that resembled a burnt rope with a knot still intact. The beast stood there, drenched in its own blood, panting but refusing to collapse. Though their struggle had cost the dragon one of its wings, it had failed to break its arrogance.


    The floating boy taunted the dragon,


    "Hey, stupid ''lizard,'' missing a wing, I see..."


    The dragon groaned in frustration. His current situation was something he could never have imagined before, but the reality was a bitch, stifling facts in his pride. He screamed through his broken jaw, consumed by agony.


    "Verdammter Niemand! Ich bin bestimmt, der Drachenk?nig zu werden! Wie wagst du mich anzugreifen?"


    [Damn nobody! I''m destined to become the Dragonking! How dare you attack/injure me??].


    The wounded dragon, still towering and fearsome, unleashed a furious roar that shook the skies. But despite the sheer force of his wrath, the instigator merely laughed. It wasn''t because he had succeeded in riling up the dragon; rather, it was because he realised that the dragon still had power left when he was running on fumes. As if to prove this point, the dragon unleashed a stream of molten fire that seemed to pour from his very jaws, with flakes of ash swirling around him like a sinister volcano. Yet, despite his best efforts, the dragon''s attack fell short, halted by a torn wound on his maw. It was a small victory for Hans, but one that would not last for long.


    The dragon, his pride wounded and his body battered, knew that he could not afford to underestimate his foe again. He summoned all the mana he could muster, but it was not enough; his beaten-up body simply could not contain the power he needed to triumph. With another attack thwarted, the dragon realised that he would have to resort to more desperate measures. So he swallowed his pride and began to crawl, dragging his wounded body towards the floating boy. But, the dragon was not the only one coming for him. The rising sun was casting a rosy hue in the sky and its golden fingers reached him before the dragon. he began to revive, his energy returning to him with each passing moment. The dragon could only watch in despair as the boy regained his strength. He didn''t want to admit it, but to him, Hans was like an itch he couldn''t scratch. With a final, desperate cry, the dragon lunged towards his target, driven by a fierce determination to end the threat before him. He cried,


    "Verrecke endlich!"


    [ die already ]


    But Hans was ready, he had recovered enough to dull his pain and sharpen some of his senses. And as the dragon charged, he met him with a force that sent him tumbling backwards. A spell that had sent chills to him many times and it was targeting him. Hans let out a mournful wail, pouring every last drop of his soul into his cries.


    ~SuperNova~


    As he held the pieces of the Sunstone, they withered away in his hands, scattering like grains of sand in the wind. The energy that they released transformed into a luminous sphere that slowly rose higher into the sky, hovering directly above the fearsome dragon.


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    The dragon knew all too well what this spell meant; it was the only thing that made him truly afraid. He had always been more powerful under the cover of darkness, which is why he had chosen to fight this human at night. But, unlike in the past, he lacked the strength to evade the attack. As the mass of energy descended upon him, a sense of dread overcame him, and an unfamiliar emotion began to take hold.


    For once, the dragon was beside himself with fear. His arrogance and pride were no longer at the forefront of his mind; instead, he was consumed by thoughts of escape and survival. The same oppressive force he had used to intimidate others now shackled his body. He was ready to beg for his life. Meanwhile, the boy laughed maniacally with blood dripping from his mouth. The final battle was drawing near, and while his most potent attack did not differentiate him and his foes, he remained within the range of the Supernova. As the spell completed its descent, obliterating everything in its path, the boy''s life flashed before his eyes and a message popped.


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    SEVEN YEARS AGO


    In the distant year 1063, a young boy of eight was locked in combat with an old but formidable man.


    "Hmph... Hmph..." gasped the boy, struggling to land a single blow.


    "I''ll hit you this time... Hmph..." he murmured, determined to succeed.


    The old man grinned mischievously as he spoke to the panting child. "Can''t you do better, squeaky?"


    Hans looked up at the man, who may have been in his fifties but never acted like one. His grey hair was a testament to his years of sword mastery, which he was now trying to impart to his young boy. Despite his lightning-fast attacks, Hans could not land a single strike on the old man. His opponent''s strength was not just rooted in his muscular physique, but also in decades of experience. Hans had no interest in admiring the old man''s skill. His plate was already full, and now the wooden sword of his opponent was once again aiming at him.


    Even with one hand tied behind his back, Rudolf had been beating Hans for hours. When Hans attempted a diagonal upward slash, his strained shoulder sapped his strength, turning the attack into a futile gesture. This only served to anger Rudolf further, who gripped his wooden sword and countered Hans''s slash with a shout of fury.


    "I warned you! If you lack the strength, then don''t just counter, deflect! Use your opponent''s strength to your advantage! Your childish swings are not heavy enough to face me head-on!"


    Hans knew he was outmatched, but never imagined it would be this difficult to land even a single hit. In frustration, he retorted,


    "Damn it, then treat me like a child!"


    Rudolf scolded him,


    Language, boy.


    Hans imitated his old man''s speech, mocking him.


    Language this and language that. I''ve had enough. I''m not doing this anymore!


    In a fit of frustration, Hans threw down his practice sword, enraging Rudolf even further. The old man lifted his wooden broadsword and began an onslaught on Hans''s backside. "How many times do I have to say it? Your sword is your limb. You can''t lose it, Han. Can''t you remember this one little thing? How dare you throw your sword! Hans..."


    Midway through this tough love session, Hans began to cry. Rudolf realised that he was not training a soldier, but a child in need of constant care and affection. He sighed and chose a method that always worked when Hans cried.


    "How about we go hunting?" he offered, hoping to cheer up the boy.


    As Rudolf comforted Hans with a gentle pat on the back, the boy looked up, his teary eyes glistening in the sunlight. This wasn''t the first time that the old man had made the young boy cry, after all, his fiery temper regularly got the better of him. But like every other time, Rudolf knew exactly how to distract Hans from his tears and redirect his focus towards something he loved - hunting.


    Forgetting the pain in his butt and sitting on Rudolf''s sturdy shoulder, Hans watched his old man in fascination when he hunted. He knew that Rudolf was an unbeatable opponent, and the boy had always dreamed of defeating him at least once in his life. But it wasn''t the thrill of the hunt that truly captivated Hans, but rather the sight of Rudolf''s powerful movements and precision.


    Overlooking his shameful defeat, Hans turned to Rudolf and asked,


    "Grandpa, I''ve grown a lot, haven''t I? When can we leave this place?"


    But Rudolf''s response was less enthusiastic than Hans had hoped. "I''ve told you before, squeaky, this is not up for discussion," he said with a sigh.


    Hans pouted and started to whine, grabbing onto Rudolf''s temples. He longed to leave the isolated place they called home and explore the wider world beyond.


    "Why can''t we leave? We''re not fugitives, are we?"


    Rudolf paused for a moment before posing a question to Hans.


    "Do you know when a sword is at its strongest?"


    "Of course," Hans quickly replied, "After imbuing it with Aura."


    Rudolf chuckled softly.


    "That''s only true in places like the Ghost Isles. In reality, a sword is strongest in its sheath, silly boy."


    "What kind of crap is that?" Hans said, his surprise apparent.


    Rudolf scolded him lightly.


    "I told you to mind your language. When you understand the meaning behind my words, then I will talk to your grandma about leaving this place. But not before then."


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 2 : The Ghost Isles

    CHAPTER 2


    THE GHOST ISLES


    Hans found it frustrating when he was met with questions instead of answers, just like anyone else. He was trying to wrap his head around how a sheathed sword could be considered the strongest, and his silence brought a sense of relief to Rudolf, though not for long. Soon, another thought crossed Hans''s mind, and he couldn''t help but ask why his elders were so determined to stay in a place like Ghost Isles, which was considered the most dangerous area in the world.


    Hans had read over every bit of information available on the mapped lands, and from what he could tell, this place was inhospitable to human life. While it boasted an abundance of mana, enough to become a decent attraction to mages, it was also teeming with beasts who considered themselves kings of their domains and had no interest in sharing. It was a place where danger lurked around every corner.


    No one besides this family of three dared to call this place home. Even nature itself was unwelcoming to visitors, with the entire archipelago situated amid a massive whirlpool that defied the raging torrents around it.


    Sailing to this place was impossible because spells didn''t work in these waters. However, intrepid explorers had found other ways to reach the islands. One was to tame a strong aerial beast capable of withstanding the horde of creatures flying around the isles. The other was to open a SpaceDoor, a space portal, but neither option was easy. Capturing and taming a beast required a lot of effort while opening a portal here was akin to throwing money down the drain. The Unstable mana of this place demanded a lot of mana stones to keep the portal open, making it a daunting task.


    The reason why his family had chosen to live in this treacherous place always fascinated Hans. However, even if someone did manage to make it to Ghost Isles, they would be disappointed if not attacked by the ferocious beasts that roamed the land. The place lacked any financial gain, and while a higher-class beast found in Genas could yield a lot of valuable materials like mana hearts, the ones found here were stronger and didn''t have the mana hearts, the most sought-after resource in the world. Unstable mana prevented the beasts from creating a mana heart, the organ needed to use mana. Additionally, the volatile mana in the area also hindered the formation of mana gems and stones, making the place even more challenging.


    Hans resided with his family on the largest of the visible islands, There were many, each of which was ruled by a different type of beast. Compared to the sprawling cities of the continent of GENAS, the islands in the Ghost Isles were tiny. Yesterday, Hans read a book that claimed every beast must possess a mana heart to use Origin power. However, this fact seemed to contradict the reality of life in the Ghost Isles. Curious, he turned to his grandfather, Rudolf, and asked him,"Hey gramps, how come the beasts here don''t have mana hearts but can still use Origin power?"


    "You''re right, there''s no record of that," Rudolf, in turn, responded, "But someone once told me that the beasts here can borrow mana from nature and use it as they see fit. They don''t need to keep it in their heart, so there''s no need to create a mana heart." Pausing, Rudolf remembered his tough days and started ranting, "These bastards never run out of mana, which makes them a real pain to deal with. We can''t measure their mana heart, so any little thing here could become a deadly threat. That''s why we call them classless."


    "Then why are we living here? Isn''t it dangerous for a child like me to roam around?" Hans asked.


    "Don''t worry, I''m still strong enough to protect you."Rudolf replied sternly, "And don''t think I don''t know what you''re up to. We''re not leaving this place, period,"


    Hans had hoped to glean more information from his grandfather, but Rudolf was wise to his schemes. Disappointed, Hans gave up and instead enjoyed the ride on Rudolf''s broad shoulders as they both descended the mountain at a rapid pace. As they trekked, Hans suddenly noticed a large reptilian creature, around ten meters long, clinging to the steep slope of a cliff. He recognised it immediately as a Dapple Lizard, one of the rare reptiles in the Ghost Isles that was not poisonous. Its yellow slit eyes and the horns above them made it easily identifiable. Despite its attempts to hide, its white-spotted ebony body was unable to conceal it entirely. The reptilian, stalking its prey, was unaware that it already become someone else''s target.


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    Excitement ran through Hans''s veins as he whispered his findings to Rudolf. "Gramps, it''s a Lizzy, a Lizzy, a Dapple lizard," he said, barely able to contain his enthusiasm. Despite the absence of poison, the Dapple lizard had evolved great senses to survive in the dangerous Ghost Isles. Rudolf attempted to sneak up on the creature, but it had already sensed his presence. The lizard realized that it was now the one being hunted. It was a situation it was used to - in these islands, only the fittest survived. However, what terrified the Dapple lizard this time was the identity of its hunter.


    Only a few of the strongest beasts could take him on, and this lizard was clearly not one of them. Unknowingly, Rudolf saved the herbivore as the dapple lizard abandoned its stalking and raced for its life along the steep cliff''s edge. This was a life-and-death situation, and the beast was not crazy enough to wait around for Rudolf''s greetings. As the lizard fled, Rudolf flung his aura-imbued broadsword at it. The released aura travelled at breakneck speed, exploding upon impact. A dust cloud formed at the location, but the beast''s shrieks assured him of a successful hit.


    Fortunately for the lizard, it was able to employ autotomy and sever its tail upon impact. To further deceive Rudolf, it let out a fake scream to make it seem as if it was gravely injured. Using its Camouflage skill, it fled from the scene and eluded Rudolf''s pursuing eyes. Although if Rudolf was really interested in hunting it down, the poor creature would have had no choice but to meet its demise. But, the whole act was to cheer up his young lad, so he decided to let the beast go. "Gramps! Gramps!" Hans exclaimed, pointing at the beast, "It''s running away, hurry!"


    Rudolf responded with a serious tone, "Killing without cause will lead you astray."


    Hans made a pouting face and said, "Okay, I''ll remember it."Rudolf was pleased that Hans didn''t complain this time, but he was unsure of what Hans meant by "I''ll remember it." The real reason why Rudolf was hesitant to pursue the Dapple lizard was that he detested reptilian meat.


    The setting sun painted the sky with hues of orange and red. Rudolf gathered their belongings, and they began their journey back home. In their short trek, they encountered many other beasts, but none dared to approach them as they all knew crossing paths with this man was a surefire way to meet a miserable end. The only thing that placated their nerves was the fact that he didn''t hunt very often.


    The duo finally arrived at their modest dwelling, a small two-story house that looked frail but had stood up to the harsh weather. While repairs were needed from time to time, it was not a concern for Hans but for the elders. As soon as they entered, Hans ran inside, towards a pretty middle-aged woman, his grandmother, and burst into tears while showing her his beat-up hands. He rolled his eyes at Rudolf and complained about being beaten up by him, and his grandmother stared at her husband, Rudolf in annoyance.


    Sierra shouted at him, questioning his sanity and his behaviour towards their grandson. Rudolf regretted not killing the lizard to please Hans and muttered to himself about who would save his life now that the lizard had saved its own. He then told Hans, "Men do not snitch," to which Hans innocently replied, "I''m just a child, You said so while practising, remember?".


    Rudolf was clenching his fist and wanted to deliver a knuckle to the child¡¯s head, but Sierra was furiously glaring at him. She got enraged after seeing Hans¡¯ hands and was ready to burn Rudolf instead of the piece of meat in her hand. He could only say he was preparing Hans for the dangers ahead, which fanned the flames further.


    She was already in a bad mood because of the news she received when the men of the house were away. She shouted at him, "I thought we agreed upon not leaving this place, so what dangers are ahead?..." Her nagging continued, and Hans failed to understand much of their conversation. He only felt better seeing Rudolf getting chewed out because She was fiercely protective of him, as he was the last memento of her deceased son. So even a scratch on him made her furious and lash out at Rudolf who would have been the usual perpetrator most of the time.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 3 : Home and the Letter

    CHAPTER 3


    HOME AND THE LETTER


    As Hans lay there, cradled in the gentle embrace of his grandmother''s healing touch, a question surfaced in his mind. Why was Rudolf, a man with the power to bend anyone to his will, so submissive in her grandma''s presence? It was a curious and intriguing thing that he couldn''t quite comprehend. Hans couldn''t help but look at his grandmother as she tended to him. Despite her age, she was still a strikingly beautiful woman, a testament to the idea that a man could win over a woman beyond his league. Sierra doted on Hans, always putting his whims and desires above her own, except for the one thing he longed for most - to leave this place.


    As he pondered these things, Hans couldn''t help but marvel at how much younger Sierra looked compared to Rudolf. She was supposedly a year older than his grandpa. But it was hard to believe that this beautiful woman could look half the age of the grizzled, weathered man who appeared to be well beyond his fifty years. Rudolf shot Hans a withering glare as the boy continued to tease him, seeking refuge behind Sierra''s protective presence. After he endured an hour of Sierra''s ceaseless nagging, the trio finally gathered around the dinner table. Sierra clasped her hands together, and the others followed suit in a gesture of prayer to Yudwin, the goddess of life whom she deeply believed in.


    Despite his hunger pangs, Hans found the waiting period before the meal the most trying. Sierra had a steadfast rule regarding these prayers that no one dared to question. Having grown up in the devoutly religious nation of Indu and having served in the Yudvin temple in her youth, Sierra had instilled the teachings of Yudwin in Hans since his birth. Yet, the idea of praying to an unseen deity always irritated him. Rather than arguing with Sierra, Hans found it easier to simply shut his mind and follow her lead, choosing the path of least resistance. It was a choice he made often. After the tedious dinner prayer, Hans managed to snatch the puffed bread that Rudolf had been eyeing. As he savoured his victory, his mind wandered back to Rudolf''s earlier question. Seeking an easy answer, he turned to Sierra for guidance.


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    Quickly finishing the food in his mouth and taking a few sips of water, Hans posed the question to his grandmother. Grandma, the sword is strongest in the sheath. What does it mean?" But before she could answer, Rudolf interjected with annoyance. "Hey, brat! I told you to find the answer on your own."


    "I remember someone saying; The experiences of your elders are the answers to your questions." Hans mocked, slamming Rudolf with his own words. "You told me that a while ago. So why should I waste my precious brain on it?" Rudolf was left speechless. At times like this, when Hans acted so defiantly, he could even see the shadow of his dead son in the boy''s behaviour. Sierra reached out to stroke Hans''s head and spoke gently. "My child, the answer is for you to realize on your own."


    Sierra gazed at Hans with a mix of concern and sadness. Despite consuming nutritious meals and rare creatures that promoted growth in adults, he remained short and skinny for his age. Even at eight years old, he had yet to display his mana property, which was a common occurrence among human children between six to eight years of age. Noticing her worry, Rudolf reassured her that everything would be fine. He reminded her that Hans''s condition was already bad when they took him in, and the fact that he had survived was a miracle in itself.


    As Hans listened in, Sierra tried to divert his attention by asking if he had done anything fun besides his training. Hans eagerly shared his adventure of chasing a lizard down the hill until it left its tail behind in fear of Rudolf. His adventure tale continued and she listened with rapt attention, hanging on his every word as if it were the most important thing in the world. And for Hans, it was. He continued to speak, each sentence punctuated by a yawn until he could feel the pull of sleep tugging at his consciousness.


    After tucking Hans into bed, Sierra informed Rudolf about a letter that had arrived for him. Rudolf was surprised, knowing how expensive it was for someone to send a letter to their remote location. He asked as if it was a formality rather than his curiosity "A letter, here? They must be desperate. You know how costly it is, Who is the bastard?"


    Sierra seated next to him, lowering her eyes, she said, "It''s more like a summon."


    Rudolf inquired eagerly, "Is that fucking Norwin dead?"But as much as he wanted to hear it turn true, Sierra shook her head denying it, adding, "No, the Barrier got breached."


    Rudolf furrowed his brow, not wanting what he was thinking to turn true this time, "Which one?"


    "How many barriers are there to make you think that deeply? Sierra''s annoyance was palpable as she retorted. "Ah no, please no, "Rudolf''s mind clicked as he questioned, Do you mean The Grand Utar?" Sierra nodded her head in affirmation, confirming his suspicions. "Not my circus, not my monkeys," Rudolf stated, convincing himself chuckling, "Serves those bastards right." As he continued to force himself to laugh, Sierra looked at him, busy sorting the plates. His laughter puzzled her, and she couldn''t help but ask, "Are you really laughing right now?"


    In a serious voice, Rudolf replied, "They took our son for granted and even snatched his credit for creating that massive barrier, and now they are calling us back when there''s a sign of another red demon invasion."


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    Sierra understood her husband''s true feelings, despite his attempt to put on a fa?ade. She knew that he deeply cared for the people. He might have risen to the ranks of nobles, but his origin was of commoners. She also knew his inner thoughts and agreed with them. If the barrier was breached, the powerful would only protect themselves, leaving the weaker individuals to suffer collateral damage.


    Rudolf was like the protagonist who had risen from the rubble and made a name for himself. His tendency to help those in need sometimes made him an easy target for those who took advantage of his kindness, but that was precisely the charm that had captivated Sierra. As Rudolf looked at his wife, he could sense her inner turmoil. He spoke up to ease her worries. "I am not leaving this place."  he assured her, "It all ended when they let our son die,"


    Sierra felt guilty for wanting to leave the common people behind and confided in her husband, "King Norwin has abdicated the throne to his second son Samwell, So the Grimgar kingdom has a new king now."


    Rudolf stroked his beard in thought and mused, "Samwell, hmm... He was a fine fellow, right? Did he send the letter here?"


    Sierra confirmed that the new king himself had sent the letter, prompting Rudolf to suggest, "You can write him back to seek help from their new Elven friends. When the barrier breaches, I will enjoy the red demons slaughtering the ''pointy ears''."Sierra was quick to reject his words, telling him not to say what he didn''t mean. She stopped at those words, so Rudolf diverted the topic. "By the way," he asked, "why did that power-hungry bastard stop his reign?"


    Sierra replied, "Samwell wrote that he couldn''t manage the Alliance and the kingdom together. The frequent breaches were a wake-up call, but this one was too big to ignore."


    Rudolf noticed the guilt in Sierra''s eyes and drew her close, reassuring her, "Stop overthinking. The barrier will still stand, and they are not weak people. Have you heard any news about your temple?" Surprisingly, Sierra hadn''t heard anything for weeks. "What if they abandon you?" Rudolf asked, concerned. "I will leave before they can," She replied, her irritation palpable.


    Rudolf soothed her, "Don''t worry, my sweet wife. Let''s retire to bed or our petty lord will wake up whining that we are enjoying something nice without him."Sierra laughed at his words and dragged her husband to the bed, affirming, "That''s true, so let''s hurry."


    As Hans awoke the next morning, he was greeted with a sudden downpour. He sat at the door sills with a pout on his face, watching the raindrops crash onto the ground. Hours passed, but there was no sign of the rain stopping. Suddenly, Sierra approached him from behind and chided him gently.


    "Didn''t I tell you that sitting at the doorstep brings bad luck?" she said.


    Hans replied with a grumble, "What worse could happen?"


    Sierra shook her head. "Saying that multiplies the bad luck, my little squeaky."


    Hans sighed and ignored her, but Sierra was undeterred. "Why don''t we read your favourite book, ''The Knight King''?" she suggested,?perking Hans''s ears. The book chronicled the epic tale of Sir Dietrich and his battle with the evil mage king. And the man was everything that Hans aspired to be. Though the story was thought to be fictional, Sierra claimed that it was based on truth and that she was even a descendant of Sir Dietrich himself.


    Sierra retrieved the book and Hans quickly arranged two chairs by the door, eager to continue where they had left off in the story.


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    He was a man born to lead. His fiery passion and infectious charisma blazed like a radiant sun, illuminating the path for those who followed him. He was not just a leader of beliefs, but a guide to help others achieve their full potential in all areas of their lives. The sense of fulfilment he felt in seeing others grow was immeasurable.


    In a world ruled by silence, the slightest noise can shatter the stillness.


    He quoted as he mounted the griffin.


    With steely determination, he flew out with his trusted companions, the four generals, to put an end to the atrocities committed by the mage king. The road ahead was perilous, but he was ready. The world needed a hero, and he was ready to answer the call.


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    Sierra noticed the content look on Hans''s face and couldn''t resist asking him a question."Tell me, Hans," she said, "if you had as much power as Sir Dietrich, what would you do? Would you choose to live as he did, or would you choose differently?" Hans paused, contemplating the question. Sir Dietrich had defeated the evil Mage King and became the strongest man in the world, but he didn''t stop there. He gave away his lands and wealth to his five generals before disappearing from the world. Hans often wondered why he didn''t seem to enjoy his life after accomplishing so much.


    After some thought, Hans finally responded to Sierra''s question. "No way, grandma," he said. "If I defeated the Mage King, I would conquer everything, even the Elves, and become the king of the world."


    Sierra couldn''t help but laugh at the child''s response, explaining, "Conquering and ruling are two different things, child,"


    Hans didn''t quite understand her, but he was more concerned with another question he had for his grandma. "Why do you think Sir Dietrich renounced everything?" he asked her, curious. Sierra smiled warmly at him and said," Many people believe that after reaching his lifelong goal of defeating the Mage King, there was nothing left for him to live for. He foresaw himself becoming a threat to the stability of the world. So he chose death over becoming another Mage King. Even in the end, he thought of others."


    She looked at Hans, teaching him the moral of the story," ''Vengeance won''t grant you solace but loneliness'', he quoted as he died. That''s why he became a legend that you are so fond of." But Hans shook his head in disagreement. "No, Grandma," he said. "I don''t like Sir Dietrich because he always put others before himself. I admire him because he turned the impossible into possible. He fought for what he believed was right and won in the end. That''s the reason I want to be like him."


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 4 : The Invitation

    CHAPTER 4


    THE INVITATION


    Hans had found a spot far from the door sills to sit, hoping to escape the bad luck that had been following him. But it seemed that fate was determined to thwart him, as the relentless rain continued to pour down for the third day straight. Sierra was running out of ways to keep the child entertained while her husband was away hunting the food.


    As Hans muttered to himself, Sierra noticed his frustration and asked what he was mumbling about. "It''s the third day of rain," Hans replied, his irritation palpable.


    Sierra glanced outside, noting the strange weather patterns and the fluctuating mana. Suddenly, she felt a sense of foreboding and quickly pulled Hans behind her. She cried out for Rudolf, sensing that something was about to happen.


    Confused, Hans asked his grandmother what was going on. Sierra, still tense, chided him that he shouldn''t have sat on door sills. She turned serious sensing something was forcing its way in. "That was ages ago, grandma!" Hans belatedly protested, but Sierra was too worried to listen.


    Hans failed to notice anything at all. He never saw a beast approaching their home, so he asked in curiosity.


    Are the apex beasts coming here?


    As Hans failed to detect anything out of the ordinary, he asked if the apex beasts were coming. But Sierra''s response was grim. "No," she said. "It''s worse than that."


    Hans had some understanding of the dangers Rudolf had warned him about. The apex predators that roamed far from their home were the worst he knew of. But Sierra''s words were even more ominous, and Hans felt both thrilled and scared at the same time. With no sign of Rudolf''s return, the anticipation was almost too much for him to bear.


    But despite his fear, Hans couldn''t resist his curiosity. He eagerly awaited the arrival of whoever or whatever was coming. Suddenly, the weather took a turn for the worse. The loud sound of thunder made him jump, and he ran behind Sierra, grabbing onto her gown and hiccuping. It was his habit when he got scared, earning him the nickname "squeaky" from the elders.


    Sierra realized that her behaviour may have frightened the child even more, so she tried to imitate Rudolf''s comforting tone. "Oh, our squeaky got scared," she said, but Hans refuted her instantly, trying to suppress his hiccups by thumping his chest softly. "No, I am not," he said, chastising her gently as he slowly loosened his grip on her gown.


    The wind picked up, and the rain changed direction as a rift formed in their front yard. Hans watched in fascination as four people suddenly appeared out of nowhere through an unstable SpaceDoor. The group was led by a man of small stature, clad in fancy light armour.


    He was trying to stop the strong showers from obstructing his vision with his hand above the eyes. Realising his intentions, the accompanying knights released their aura, conjuring a transparent hemisphere, preventing the rain from obstructing their king''s sight.


    They were not the only ones with clear sight. From inside the house, Hans could see them clearly. He focused his eyes to see more, noticing the two heavily armoured knights protecting the smallest of the group. But it was the white-clothed mage who caught his attention. He recognized the silver insignia of a circular shield engraving a sword in the middle - the symbol of Yudwin''s temple, which he had seen Sierra praying to countless times.


    Sierra ushered Hans further into the safety of the house, her face filled with fear and anger that he had never seen before. He knew he should stay hidden, but the curiosity inside him burned like a flame. He couldn''t help but peek outside to see what was happening.


    To Hans, Sierra was always a gentle and caring grandmother, someone he wanted to protect. But at that moment, when she got ready to face off against the unwelcome guests, her overbearing confidence contradicted his belief. Unfortunately, he didn''t get to see her in action.


    Suddenly, a deafening clap of thunder shook the sky, and a man wielding a broadsword landed between Sierra and the strangers. The sword, known as "ThunderClap," was legendary in its power, and purple sparks crackled and struck the ground at random intervals warning the guest to not take any step further.


    It was Rudolf, and his presence alone was enough to alert the group of unwelcome guests. But they seemed to be more cautious of Sierra, who was known for her stubbornness and unreasonable nature that had earned her the nickname "The Iron lady."


    Rudolf knew that if he didn''t intervene right then, he would have to bury four corpses in the midst of the shitty weather. So, with a fierce expression, he raised his sword and pointed it at the intruders, striding towards them with purposeful steps that sent shivers through the ground.


    The short man remained unyielding, but spoke respectfully to the approaching knight,


    It''s been a while, Sir Alastor.


    Rudolf had already guessed who had come, but the man''s voice made it even clearer. He replied,


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.Drop the Alastor part, Samwell. I don''t deserve to carry that title anymore.


    Samwell responded,


    But you are the Alastor, everyone knows and believes it.


    "If I truly deserved that title, Clandor would be in ruins by now," Rudolf retorted.


    Both parties fell silent. Samwell knew that Rudolf was not just putting on a show. Samson, his younger brother who Rudolf had raised as his own, had been killed by the Clandorians while the world watched and aided them from behind the scenes. The strongest knight of his time had crumbled in the absence of Rudolf and Sierra.


    The only reason why the world had turned against Samson was his unstoppable strength and his desire to lead Parv to become the strongest nation that threatened others.


    Sensing the change in atmosphere, the two accompanying knights of Samwell unsheathed their swords, agitating Rudolf further, breaking the stillness as he demanded,


    "Tell me, kid, why the fuck I''m seeing you?"


    The young man the knights guarded, remained silent but undeterred, unfazed by Rudolf''s threatening demeanour. The knights shifted their swords, pointing them at Rudolf, but he only sneered. "Heads on shoulders are quite rare here. Mind if I trim a bit?"


    In a flashing moment, Rudolf''s savage aura filled the place as he let out a low growl. He didn''t want to fight, but the knights had crossed a line. The two men stood their ground, resisting the menacing energy, making one of them even kneel. This was a display of Rudolf''s full power that Hans had never seen before.


    Samwell, the young king, implored Rudolf to spare the knights. "Please, Rudolf, go easy on them," he reasoned. "They were merely performing their duties. Moreover, they withstood your attack head-on. Surely that says something about their valour?"


    Rudolf was not impressed by Samwell''s pleas. "I haven''t even started yet," he snarled. "Stop with the boot-licking and let''s get on with it."


    Despite Rudolf''s menacing presence, one of the knights refused to back down. Samwell ordered him to stand down, reminding him of the legend of the "battle of the bewitched knight." "Are you confident you can take him on?" he asked. "And what about the lady behind him? She could send us to six feet under in no time."


    Rudolf scowled at Samwell''s cautiousness. "What a killjoy!" he exclaimed


    Samwell tolerated and continued,


    I became the new king of Grimgar...


    "I''ve heard," Rudolf interrupted. "What do you want? A congratulatory flower bouquet? I already replied to your letter stating ''we''re not coming back.'' But seeing you''re already here, my message must''ve meant jack shit to you."


    No matter what Samwell had received, he was determined to come here from the beginning. He looked over Rudolf¡¯s shoulder, searching for any sign of Sierra''s movements. They could somehow deal with Rudolf and escape. The good thing was that Sierra''s power seemed to be weakened. If she were still the Sierra of the past, then even thinking about escaping from her was fruitless. She held a pesky spell of gods, that could kill anyone in her sight, without taking the opponent''s strength or artefact''s power into consideration


    Ignoring Rudolf''s taunts, Samwell spoke calmly to him.


    You already know what would happen if the red demons broke free. You''ve seen what those extraterrestrials did when they arrived here 26 years ago.


    Rudolf angrily replied,


    Keep your naive thoughts to yourself, new King. You shot yourself in the ass by abandoning your own brother.


    Samwell knew Rudolf was right. If Samwell''s brother were still alive, there would be no issue with the barrier. After all, the real creator of the barrier was the Parvian King Samson. As they argued back and forth, Samwell was prepared to face Rudolf head-on. with a condition that they fight with words. He defended himself by saying,


    It was for the fragile peace between the two races.


    But Rudolf rebuked him


    Temporary stability in GENAS at the expense of my son''s life. Just leave, and don''t push your luck, New king.


    Samwell understood if they kept talking about his dead brother they would only keep arguing, so he kept his calm and said he was not here for the obvious things he was thinking of.


    As Samwell spoke, Rudolf''s anger simmered beneath the surface. He had grown tired of people coming to him with questions about his dead son''s possessions. But Samwell''s words were different. There was something about the young king''s demeanour that caught Rudolf''s attention.


    "Just spit it out, then," Rudolf grumbled.


    "I''m not here to ask about the sunstones," Samwell clarified. "I''m here to talk about your responsibility to this world."


    Rudolf scoffed turning back to his initial behaviour.


    Responsibility, fucking Responsibility? When I was fulfilling my responsibility, my son was fighting for his life.


    Samwell felt a pang of empathy for Rudolf''s loss, but he couldn''t let it distract him from his mission. "I understand your pain, Sir. But there are larger issues at play here. The red demons are becoming more and more restless. If they break free, the consequences could be catastrophic. We need your help to keep the peace." He felt the weight of his words as he looked at Rudolf, who was still seething with anger. The place was silent as the rain had stopped some time ago but the occasional sound of Rudolf''s thunderous breathing kept them on their toes. Samwell could see the pain and grief etched on Rudolf''s face.


    He knew that Rudolf was a man who had lost his son whom he considered his everything, and he could feel the weight of that loss as he looked at him. But he also knew that Rudolf had a duty to his people, a duty that he had abandoned when he disappeared after the Parvians lost.


    Rudolf was akin to a vengeful deity, never forgetting those who had wronged him. But after the Parvians lost and closed their borders, both he and Sierra disappeared. It was only a few days ago that Samwell learned of their location from his father. It was a secret, but due to the breach, he was compelled to tell Samwell.


    Samwell pleaded with him to listen.


    Sir Rudolf, you misunderstand me. I have only come to invite you back home. Your presence alone can calm the unrest caused by the breach. Three cities were razed in a single day by those monsters.


    When Rudolf heard the news, he fell silent. The people had done nothing wrong; they did not deserve to be devoured by those creatures. He was getting furious, the situation mentioned in the letter was far graver than he had anticipated. Samwell saw the opportunity and seized it.


    "Concordia wants you back."


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 5 : The Deal and Concordia

    CHAPTER 5


    THE DEAL AND CONCORDIA


    From the beginning of the imperial calendar, a place of unknown origin called Concordia had emerged in the sky, hovering above the shared waters of Parv, Grimgar, Utar, and Clandor. It started as a collection of ancient ruins brimming with secrets, attracting only the most daring ones, but eventually evolved into a place of knowledge and learning. Concordia became a neutral ground that welcomed all, regardless of gender or race, with the lofty goal of guiding them on the path of knights and mages.


    Rudolf, a proud Concordia alumnus, treasured the institution deeply, as did many renowned individuals throughout the world including his adopted son, Samson. The mere mention of its name held a special place in his heart, causing him to halt any arguments.


    Samwell, the king, spoke up once again."The Concordia Node was the first to detect the breach and respond, but unfortunately, several red demons had already infiltrated our borders. Matters escalated rapidly, forcing my father to entrust me with the crown so he could focus on repelling these invaders." He paused to check on Rudolf, choosing his next words carefully because discussing them with him was too sensitive. He took a deep breath and lowered his head as he said,"After the Elven war, ties between humans and Elves became strong."


    He hesitated, then continued." It was not anyone''s fault. Sam did wrong, and he was made to pay. You know this. You''re simply trying to externalise your grief by finding someone to blame."


    Rudolf knew the young king was speaking the truth, and he wasn''t angry at the elves to begin with. Instead, he was upset with the other human nations who had supported them out of fear of Sam''s growing strength. It was the only thing holding him back from attacking Clandor, and he knew it.


    Samwell kept his head low, avoiding Rudolf''s gaze after delivering his message. He found solace in looking at Sierra, weakened as she was, now felt more comfortable than the behemoth in front. He addressed her directly, mentioning his knowledge of the deal she had with his father, and hoped no one had disturbed her during her stay in this place.


    Sierra retorted, "You are here, aren''t you?" Her gaze was unwavering, reminding him she was still the same Sierra as she was before. But he had a proposition for her: freedom from her duties as high priestess. He asked if she was willing to step down from the high priestess position of Yudwin Temple. But Sierra wasn''t pleased with his interference in the temple of Indu and questioned his motives. "Since when do foreign countries interfere with the temple of Indu?" She taunted.


    Samwell smiled instead, explaining that he wanted to set up a special trade route with Grimgar and Indu if she supported his chosen candidate for the high priestess. He was hoping to make this the first step of his reign as king. But Sierra saw right through his ploy, chuckled and asked, "You are not the king yet, right? "


    Caught off guard, Samwell struggled to control his expressions, and Sierra confirmed her suspicions that his father had put a condition on his crowning. Samwell''s succession depended on his ability to make a new high priestess, and Sierra held the key to his coronation. She asked him to explain why she should agree with the conclave, her amusement apparent in her voice.


    Samwell took a deep breath, realising he couldn''t fool Sierra. He had to choose his words carefully, knowing that this was a delicate matter. The fate of his reign and the kingdom depended on his ability to sway Sierra to his side. He complimented her, "You are as sharp as ever, high priestess. But, I came prepared."


    "So propose your offer Samwell". She asked, a smirk clear on her face.


    Samwell nodded understandingly and said, "Well, I recalled my father¡¯s deal with you, about the child¡­.I have made some improvements in that deal for you. An employment contract as dean of mages for you and not to forget sir Rudolf as dean of Knights. This must be tempting, right?"


    Sierra interjected, denying the proposal quickly, "It is enticing, but it''s worthless to me since I am not leaving this place¡­"


    She wasn''t done, yet, and he stopped her in the middle, "You will be part of Concordia, staying away from politics and backstabbing. And my father promised to keep his end of the deal with you, too. No one will be stupid enough to bother you."


    Despite any opinions the couple may have had about Norwin, the agreement they made with him allowed them to live in peace up until now. Norwin''s reputation as the first-ranked knight in the world carried weight and ensured that no one disturbed their solitude on the Ghost Isles.


    However, Norwin taking responsibility for their time in Concordia was not just a formality. If they ignored his words now, it would be an open invitation for others to come to the Ghost Isles. Norwin was the only thing stopping outsiders from reaching them, so his words were an indirect call for them to return to Concordia.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Although they needed protection, it wasn''t for themselves but for Hans. Staying in Concordia, where he would be safe even without Norwin''s influence, was the best option.


    Samwell presented his offer once again. They could take on the positions of Deans in Concordia and have the child enter as a special admission. Concordia was known for protecting their people, so as long as Hans was with them, he would be safe.


    Sierra gave no reaction to Samwell''s offer, but it was a new experience for Hans. Overhearing their conversation, he came to the conclusion that these people were there to take them back. He had only seen his grandfather and grandmother before, so seeing others naturally piqued his curiosity.


    However, when Samwell mentioned him, the boy''s curiosity slammed his fear down, and he stormed out of the room, ignoring Sierra''s warning. To Hans, Samwell and his companions looked far docile than beasts his grandmother had warned him about. But when Samwell saw Hans''s face, he took a few steps back and fell on his bottom, clearly taken aback. "Is this my brother''s child?" he asked Sierra urgently, "I know the truth, my father told me but I still have to ask".


    Instead of answering, "What do you think?" Rudolf posed a question to Samwell. Resulting in?Samwell looking at the child once again, remembering his father''s exact words but no matter how he looked at the child, he found him normal. But his father was not the one known for his jesting. He sighed, realising that Rudolf had not told the child the truth, and pressed him, "You should tell the child the truth. The longer you wait, the more hurt he will be."


    Hans couldn''t comprehend the direction of their conversation, but he was positive they were discussing him. Sierra was hesitant about revealing the truth that Hans was not human. She finally turned to the last person that came, an elderly priest named Ekdamir, her father figure who had raised her and knew her better than anyone else.


    She greeted him with reverence, but the elderly priest just stared blankly at her. In his eyes, the high priestess was a powerful figure who did not yield to anything, but seeing her in this powerless state saddened him. Responding to her imploring gaze, he said, "My poor child, did you have to sacrifice everything for this...thing?" (referring to Hans)


    Sierra didn''t detect any mockery in his words, only genuine concern for her. She knew that she had almost sacrificed herself in order to revive the dead child she had received after the Elven war. Hans was, in alchemical terms, a perfect flesh golem created from Sam''s body, and she had fuelled his life by sacrificing her divine mana through the taboo spell known as EquivalentExchange.


    Samwell didn''t want Ekdamir to cross the line when his neck was on it, so he stopped him, "Let them tell the boy, Priest Ekdamir." He said while paying no attention to Rudolf''s intimidating glares and focused instead on the curious boy in front of him.


    Hans was an identical copy of his brother, and if he hadn''t known the truth from his father, he might have believed the child to be his nephew. However, there were subtle differences, such as Hans''s golden eyes and light brown hair, that set him apart from his brother or Parvian royalty who had black hair and eyes.


    Although Hans was not human, it was something that only those with extraordinary perceptions like Ekdamir could see. For any ordinary person, it would be difficult to discern that this was not a human.


    Ekdamir also noticed the immense amount of divine mana that Hans contained within him, and he chastised Sierra for risking her life and using the EquivalentExchange spell. He scolded her, saying, "No matter how desperate you were, you should have not done this, Sierra."


    Sierra respectfully lowered her gaze and responded, "Don''t worry, Elder Priest, my divine mana is slowly returning." But Ekdamir continued to rebuke her, warning her that Hans was now a vessel for divine mana, like an artefact of Yudwin temple and that people would hunt him down because of it. He turned to Hans and spoke directly to him, "Because of you, she will lose her position as the high priestess."


    The old priest''s voice was heavy with resentment. He had raised Sierra since she was brought to the temple and had watched her work tirelessly to become the High Priestess. Rudolf''s arrival nearly ruined it all, but Hans dealt a definite blow to her career. Even if Sierra chose not to resign, it was unlikely that she could maintain her position because she used the taboo spell of creating a life.


    Hans cast a withering gaze at the resentful old man who had been berating his beloved grandmother just moments before. He found himself repulsed by the elder''s disrespectful tone towards her and decided to speak up. "That position would have meant little to her, as she is not there. But with me" He paused for a moment and then added in a low, menacing tone, far more mature than his age.


    "I am more important to her than any high position or title. So, old man, I suggest you watch your tone, No, just shut up."


    The old man was taken aback by Hans''s boldness, if a glare could kill he would have been dead by now. Showing disrespect to Ekadamir was not what Sierra wanted. She was signalling Hans to stop but Ekdamir forgot his resolve to let the child know the truth through Sierra''s mouth and said in anger, "You are not human," he said pointedly. "Just a taboo."


    Hans stood his ground, undisturbed by the words. His lack of knowledge regarding the concept of race served as a shield against the hostility of the elder priest. He may not have fully comprehended the discussion, but he knew of human nature through the literature he read when he ran out of the story books. His words cut through the awkward silence like a sharp sword, "What is so good about humans? you all run on greed and envy, dragging others down all your life. I am glad I am not one of you. I am alive and will continue to be so, I''ll be better than your inferior race. So shut up?"


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 6 : The decision

    CHAPTER 6


    THE DECISION


    As Hans spoke with biting wit, Samwell couldn''t help but be reminded of his younger brother''s taunts. He was impressed by the child''s boldness and cleverness, so much so that he clapped in awe without even realizing it.


    "Boy, he is something," Samwell exclaimed, turning to Sierra with respect. "If I wanted to use the child, I could easily depose you, but I''m not using him. Please consider my sincerity."


    Sierra was quick to call out Samwell''s flattery,


    Your sincerity is that you are threatening me.


    But Samwell shamelessly replied,


    Just as the child said, choose what is more valuable to you. Indu can survive without you, but your boy can''t...


    Despite her protests, Samwell''s words had an undeniable impact on Sierra. She was offered a deal that seemed to force her hand in ceding the ruling title to Samwell''s chosen candidate. The only silver lining was the involvement of Concordia, which had always wanted to reclaim Rudolf, the famed prodigy raised in that place.


    Sierra turned to the child and asked with concern,


    Are you okay, child?


    Hans, who didn''t fully understand the complexities of being human, didn''t like the pitiful gaze he was receiving from others. He turned to face Samwell and said, "What''s so cool about being a human? They come into someone''s house and force them to do things they don''t want to."


    Rudolf couldn''t help but stifle a laugh at Hans''s words, happy to see Samwell silenced. But the silenced man seemed more intrigued than angry, recognizing the child''s efficiency with words, much like his younger brother.


    on the other hand, for Hans, the laughter was jarring, and he turned to Rudolf with a deep sense of discomfort etched on his young face. "Gramps, are we being oppressed?" he asked. "Because I feel like we are oppressed here. I don''t like this feeling. I wanted to leave this shitty place on our terms, not because someone forced us to do it."


    Hans was riding the momentum, it was Rudolf''s turn to be grilled after Ekamir and SamwellHe couldn''t stand the way Rudolf was letting them run rampant with their tongues. But Sierra intervened and stopped Hans from going further, saying to her husband, "I''ll follow whatever you choose," before taking Hans inside with her.


    Hans had no choice but to follow her, but he couldn''t help but ask her, "Granma, why are we listening to them? They aren''t stronger than Gramps, right?"


    Sierra knelt down and took hold of the child''s shoulders with both hands. "You asked me why the sword is strongest in the sheath," she said. "This is a prime example of that. They may be weaker than us, but we have to obey their will. In civilization, the powerful do not always win, but those who win are considered powerful."


    Hans still didn''t fully understand the situation, but his immediate concern was with the identity of the people who could force Rudolf to do something he was not willing to do. "Granma, who are these people?" he asked, sensing Sierra''s attempt to eavesdrop on their conversation.


    Granma, who are these people?


    Sierra''s response was delivered with a heavy heart, as though the words weighed down on her. "The people you see here are from Genas''s land, the very place you''ve been yearning to go," she said, her voice tinged with a sense of resignation that spoke volumes about her feelings on the matter.


    Hans, buzzing with excitement, pressed on with his questions, ignoring Sierra''s resigned mood.


    "Which country?" he inquired eagerly.


    Sierra countered with a question of her own,


    How many are there?


    Hans stretched out his fingers and began counting them off one by one.


    First is Grimgar in the centre, Parv in the east, Sunfall in the west, Utar in the north, and Indu in the south.


    Sierra gave him a pat on the back and added,


    You missed the non-human ones.


    Hans quickly interrupted,


    Clandor of Elves, northeast of the continent''s end and ForgeLand of Dwarves at the west end of the land...


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Sierra nodded, acknowledging Hans''s quick response and added,


    There are two more places not mentioned in the books brought here. One is called the deadlands, a place ruled by extraterrestrials called red demons. They took over a vast region of Utar, but the people of Genas stopped and encased them in the grand Utar barrier. Another one is Madaruka, you don''t need to know about it right now."


    Sierra went on to explain,


    I was raised in Indu as their chief priestess.


    Hans, not understanding the term, made a questioning face. Sierra elaborated,


    Treat it as a chosen queen.


    Hans smirked, impressed he said,


    So you were something BIG.


    Sierra chuckled, forgetting what was happening outside for a moment and defended,


    Your grandpa is from the current strongest nation, Grimgar and he is pretty famous too.


    Hans was still preoccupied with Sierra''s previous explanation of the unfamiliar places, which were absent from the books in the house. He couldn''t shake off his curiosity and asked her about the red demons.


    Sierra''s face grew sombre as she recounted the past. It was a time of great turmoil and loss for the Genas. She began narrating the story that had almost consumed their youth.


    "It was twenty-six years ago, in the year 1036, when our child Samson turned nine. A massive tear appeared in the sky above the North Sea, near our shores. That was a harbinger of the impending War of Survival, also known as ''The Great Northern War,'' in which we suffered greatly and were eventually forced to flee. We do not have records of this war here."


    Sierra continued, "Before its downfall, the region was a vital trading hub with a delicate diplomatic relationship between humans and elves. But that day, out of nowhere over the Geni Port, a bright purple light lit up the sky, turning everything within the radius of hundreds of kilometres into charred black ruins. On that unfateful day, the busiest port on the continent was transformed into a graveyard, as silent as death itself."


    "The story did not end as they came whom we call Red demons, armoured in red, some had multiple arms and bug-like wings. They were skilled in unknown magic and began killing the people of the North, earning that cursed name"


    Not a single citizen survived the massacre. Rudolf and some powerful men went to confront them but barely escaped with their lives. We managed to gain a foothold in the struggle in later years, but we had already lost half of the territory to the north - the northern part of Utar."


    As She reminisced about the past, she felt a wave of unease wash over her. The breach in the barrier meant the end of their long-lasting peace, and she knew it was only a matter of time before they would have to leave. She looked at Hans, unaware of the gravity of the situation and spoke,


    it looks like your wish to leave will soon come true.


    She sighed, as the sole possessor of Divine Mana, it was Sierra''s duty and obligation to heal others. In case of a breach and invasion, her mere presence guaranteed fewer deaths. In contrast to what she thought of Hans, the boy had also realised that something terrible must have happened for King Grimgar to act personally.


    Meanwhile, Rudolf was having a discussion away from them, and his expressions supported Hans''s thoughts. The old man turned, his eyes searching for his wife from afar and his grim expression meant many things but Hans only caught that he will really soon be able to leave this place.


    Rudolf returned, and upon seeing Sierra''s worried face, he broke the news.


    It seems like we have to go back," he said, his voice heavy with concern.


    "When?" Sierra asked urgently.


    "Not right now," Rudolf replied, "The crack was big, but they pretty much handled it with Concordia''s reserves."


    Sierra''s impatience was palpable as she asked, "So when?"


    Rudolf''s response was calm and measured. Within two years, approximately.


    It was much later than he had anticipated. Nevertheless, the news was good, and the simple-minded child was overjoyed. As he looked around, he noticed that Samwell was standing there, staring at him.


    Hans''s face suddenly contorted as he realized the reason behind the heavy rainfall over the past few days. Someone was trying to open a SpaceDoor here, and it was causing all sorts of problems. He reprimanded Samwell, imitating Sierra''s obnoxious tone.


    "So, King Samwell was the reason for continual rain over the past few days," he exclaimed.


    Samwell looked at Hans with confusion, unsure why the child was looking at him as though he had stolen his toys. Nevertheless, he apologized, saying "Sorry, little fella."


    Hans was not pleased with Samwell''s tone. "Who is a little fella? I''m eight, not a kid or little one, and my name is Hans. Do you have any idea how boring it gets when it rains here?" he retorted.


    It was true that the bad weather was caused by the men who were trying to bypass the Ghost Isles'' mana for days. Faced with a barrage of questions from Hans, Samwell sought help from the elderly couple. But all he received was a look that said, "It''s your problem. Deal with it yourself."


    Samwell sighed, finding himself alone to deal with Hans, He said,


    You are more arrogant than royalty, you know.


    Hans had no inkling of how strong these people were and even if Sierra said they have to follow their wishes, Hans felt differently. They were afraid of Rudolf so he replied with even more arrogance,


    Well, you are in our territory, mister. Things die like flies here.


    When the group heard this little boy''s manner of speaking, everyone became silent. If his earlier manner resembled Samson then this time it was When the group heard this little boy''s manner of speaking, everyone became silent. His demeanour was eerily similar to Rudolf''s, but instead of cursing, he made witty comments. Samwell turned to Rudolf for justification, but he only met his eyes, filled with nothing but pride.


    "I raised this one too," Rudolf said with a smile. "What were you expecting, a cow before the harp?"


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 7 : Men wage Wars for women

    CHAPTER 7


    MEN WAGE WARS FOR WOMEN


    As Hans absorbed his grandfather''s words, a feeling of pride bloomed inside him like a flower reaching for the sun. His head lifted towards the elders as if daring anyone to challenge his newfound confidence. He was determined to seize this opportunity to get some answers he sought but was too hesitant to ask his grandparents. With a deep breath, he turned to face Samwell, meeting his gaze with unflinching determination.


    As if waiting for a signal, Samwell''s lips parted and his words cut through the awkward silence. "What is it you desire, Hans?" he asked, his voice measured and steady.


    "Just answer my questions," Hans replied, his tone firm and resolute. "My grandparents hardly tell me anything, so I need to know."


    Simple, just answer my questions. Granma and grampa hardly tell me anything.


    Samwell nodded sagely, his eyes softening in understanding.


    "Then ask away," he said. "I''ll do my best to answer."


    Hans wasted no time, firing off his first question like an arrow shot from a bow.


    "Why are you forcing us to leave?" he demanded.


    Samwell''s expression grew solemn as he replied,


    Because we need your grandparents. These are dangerous times, and if the great Utar barrier is breached, there will be no safe haven for anyone. That''s why we''re calling back all able-bodied individuals.


    Hans wasn''t satisfied yet. He fired another question at Samwell, his doubt apparent.


    If the situation is this dire, why is my grandma so opposed to leaving?


    Samwell''s eyes flicked towards Sierra, and for a moment, a shadow passed over his face. But he composed himself quickly and answered Hans with care. "It''s not entirely clear to me why she''s protesting, but the answer probably lies with my little brother, whom you resemble."


    Hans hesitated, sensing there was more to the story than Samwell was letting on. "Why is she so worried?" he pressed. "I just look like him. He can''t be a bad guy, right?"


    Samwell let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping with the weight of his words.


    "It''s complicated, kid... I mean, Hans. For some, Samson was a descendant of the gods, a hero destined to bring salvation. But for others, he was a harbinger of destruction, a force to be feared. Everyone has their own interpretation of him. To your grandparents, he was like their own child who was abandoned when he was no longer needed."


    As Samwell gazed at the child before him, memories of his younger brother flooded his mind. The boy in front of him bore an uncanny resemblance to his beloved sibling, who was now long gone. A bittersweet smile flickered across Samwell''s face, replacing his usual stern expression.


    "This resemblance of yours," he began, his voice tinged with melancholy. "It will bring both joy and trouble."


    Hans furrowed his brow in confusion. "Why?" he asked.


    When one person has more power than another, it breeds jealousy.


    Why? Hans asked again.


    Samwell let out a heavy sigh again. "When one person has more power or possessions than another, it breeds jealousy," he explained. "It''s just the way we humans are. We always want what someone else has, and if we can''t get it, we try to tear them down."


    Hans struggled to grasp the concept of greed and envy, his innocent mind unable to comprehend such darkness. But Samwell was quick to reassure him. "Not everyone is like that," he said. "My brother was a great king, and his people loved him more than anything. They were willing to die for him, and he would have done the same for them. There are good people in this world, too."


    Hans pondered this for a moment before posing another question. "Then why did a great person like your brother die?" he asked.


    Samwell''s expression grew heavy with sorrow. "My brother had a vast wealth of rare sunstones, but he was stubborn and refused to share them," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "In the end, it was his downfall."


    As Hans struggled to understand the concept of the rare sunstones and their significance, he interrupted Samwell with a question. "Isn''t it just a magical ore?" he asked, hoping for a simpler answer.


    Samwell shook his head. "No, it''s much more than that," he asked.


    How much do you know about mana ores?


    Hans shrugged, admitting,


    Not much, just that they''re condensed mana.


    Samwell explained further, "There are three types of mana ores found in nature," he continued.


    The first is the mana stone, which is an exhaustive resource that becomes useless after depletion. The second is the mana gem, which is a crystal of small size but high concentration. It''s expensive, but it can recharge itself after use.


    Hans listened intently, but when Samwell stopped at two, he couldn''t help but ask,


    Didn''t you say there were three?


    Samwell nodded.


    Yes, there is a third type of ore, but it''s also exhaustible and contains too much power. Researchers still struggle to define its origin.


    Hans was fascinated, but also overwhelmed by the complexity of it all. He realized that there was so much he didn''t know about the world beyond this place. As Hans fell into a contemplative silence, Samwell took the opportunity to speak.


    "Apart from my brother, many people possess the power of sunstones, but none have matched his proficiency," Samwell said, his voice tinged with pride and sadness. "The only one who came close is my father, Alliance head Norwin. He helped Sam build the Grand Utar barrier that imprisoned the red Demons in the Deadlands."


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    Hans couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy at the thought of Samson''s incredible power and the admiration he commanded from others. He was starting to understand the darker aspects of human nature, and how envy could be a dangerous thing as he himself was feeling jealous of him.


    Changing the subject, Hans asked, "What are the red demons?" He had already heard about them from Sierra, but he was curious to hear Samwell''s perspective.


    Samwell sensed that Hans was not well-versed in the world''s lore and thus provided a brief explanation without delving too deeply into the well-known tale of the red demons that circulated throughout Genas. He did not wish to squander their time with a story intended for young audiences.


    Samwell began to speak, his voice heavy with the weight of the past.


    Not long ago, a race from another world had invaded, their entry point being the northern nation of Utar. The humans had lost their land, becoming nothing more than livestock to the invaders. To halt their advance, Samson had provided sunstones, while our father, Norwin designed the Grand Utar Barrier, now renowned throughout the land.


    "However," Samwell continued, "as I''ve mentioned, sunstones are a finite resource. Some of the stones have already begun to lose their power, creating openings in the barrier and allowing the red demons to escape."


    The way Samwell defined red demons was similar to Sierra, but if sunstones are losing power, then they could fix it by just replacing it, so he laid out his innocent thought in front of his talking guest.


    Hearing this, Hans offered a simple solution. "Why not just replace the old sunstones with new ones?"


    Samwell let out a sigh before responding.


    In Genas, there are no sunstones. They never existed. According to the mage tower, excavation or creation of them is impossible. That''s why people believed they were a gift from the gods, sent to save us from the red demon onslaught.


    Hans, perplexed, interjected.


    But you just said that Samson had many of them. There must be some left.


    Samwell''s response was filled with bitterness.


    That''s what I like to believe, but we lost the location of the sunstones when he died. He didn''t share that damned thing with anyone until his last breath. It was the primary reason the world abandoned him in the Elven war, and he perished at the hands of the Clandorians.


    The mention of the Elven War piqued Hans''s interest, and he looked at Samwell curiously. Samwell let out a sigh, not expecting to have to delve so deeply into history when asked to answer a child''s questions. He began to speak, recounting the events of the war.


    Samson of Parv and the Clandor Elves battled each other in the Elven War, which was the first large-scale conflict between humans and elves. The difference was that other human nations sided with the elves instead of Sam, as he refused to share the power of the sunstones with anyone.


    Hans asked,


    Is that why no one supported him?


    Samwell nodded.


    Yes, Sam believed that the sunstones held a greater purpose and refused to use them for personal gain. He stuck to his principles till the end, and the war never saw a single sunstone from his side.


    Hans became confused.


    "But aren''t the red demons a greater purpose?" he asked.


    Hans had previously believed that his grandfather, Rudolf, could defeat anything he wanted, but he now realized that the world was much more vast and dangerous than he had initially thought. King Samson had opted to preserve the sunstones at the cost of his life, and his actions clearly held great significance.


    Feeling a loss of confidence in his grandfather''s strength, Hans grunted.


    Shit, I am losing confidence in my grampa¡¯s strength.


    Samwell reassured him,


    Sir Rudolf is undoubtedly strong, but he is just one knight. Numbers have strength, Hans, and it has always been the greatest advantage of our kind. That''s why you should always live with others, not alone.


    Samwell''s words of reassurance fell on deaf ears as Hans couldn''t stop thinking about King Samson. His mind was consumed with questions, so he couldn''t help but ask Samwell once again.


    "Why didn''t Gramps help him while he was in danger? If he held this much importance, you should have saved him," Hans pressed on, not considering Rudolf''s regretful feelings.


    Samwell sighed deeply, knowing that this was a painful topic for many. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before answering carefully.


    "I couldn''t save him because he did something pretty bad," Samwell explained.


    Even his own people betrayed him for it. The Alliance supported the Clandor, and the war happened while Sir Rudolf was fighting red demons alongside Lady Sierra. Unfortunately, the news hardly travelled to Deadlands.


    Hans''s curiosity had been piqued by the word "Alliance" for some time, and now he finally had the opportunity to get an answer. Samwell, anticipating what was to come, cursed his own mouth. Every time he introduced a new word to Hans, it seemed to create even more questions. He let out a heavy sigh before explaining,


    "The Alliance is an organisation formed by all the Nations of Genas with the purpose of stopping the red demons."


    Hans wasn''t convinced, and he mocked Samwell.


    If the Alliance''s goal was to defeat the red demons, then why did they oppose someone who could have helped them?


    Samwell gave a sombre response.


    The Alliance was already against King Samson because he was hoarding the Sunstones. They feared that if he found himself on the verge of defeat, he would use the location of his secret treasury to bargain for help. But when he died without informing the Alliance, they shot themselves in the foot.


    Samwell''s voice was low as he recounted the tale of Samson''s downfall to Hans.


    In war, Samson could have used sunstones in committing genocide against elves but he kept his word to the bitter end that sunstones were for a greater purpose and never used any of it," he said, his eyes glistening with respect for the late king''s honour.


    Hans was not Samson so no matter how hard he try to deduce the dead king''s inner thoughts. But doing something so irreparable to elves that they launched a war against him was more enticing to know. "Just what did he do to elves?" he asked, unable to resist the urge to know more.


    Samwell revealed with a tinge of embarrassment.


    He was obsessed with their crown princess and couldn''t see her marrying someone else, so...he abducted her.


    Hans was stunned.


    Woah! Seriously? He does not sound like someone...who gets killed because of a woman," he quipped.


    Samwell realized that Hans was expecting a more dramatic reason for Samson''s death, such as stealing a treasure or destroying the Elven woodland. But the truth was simpler than that - a great man like Samson met his demise because of a woman.


    Samwell''s smile turned embarrassed as he continued to explain the situation to Hans. "Yes, it was shocking news because she was the bride of his best friend. Samson, Reina, Elanor(her betrothed), and one more person were all inseparable friends," he said.


    Hans was surprised by this revelation, exclaiming,


    Woah!, Woah!, he snatched his own friend''s bride?


    Samwell didn''t want to delve any further into the topic, so he quickly added,


    That''s how the smartest person I know died an unsuitable death.


    But Hans was still struggling to understand why Samson had to die. He became fond of his character like the protagonist of his favourite stories. "Why? Just why did he have to go out like that?" he asked Samwell.


    Samwell replied,


    Being deeply loved by someone makes you strong, but loving someone deeply gives you madness. Your grandfather knows this all too well. He fought for two days straight to win the heart of Lady Sierra, and he succeeded. But not everyone is so lucky. My brother was not. He loved deeply, but his love was not returned, and it ultimately led to his downfall. You''ll come to understand this one day when you find that special someone who captures your heart.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 8 : The Strongest Knight of the Past

    CHAPTER 8


    THE STRONGEST KNIGHT OF THE PAST


    Rudolf had initially believed that Samwell could control his tongue, but that notion fell by the wayside. It was not information that Hans needed to know, and he shook his head in disappointment while glancing at the child. Hans had been convinced that if the topic was Rudolf, he would have fought for Sierra without hesitation, but he was not prepared for it to be a well-known incident. He understood who Samson took after, but their outcomes were vastly different. Rudolf emerged victorious, while Samson met his demise.


    Sierra was lost in thought and did not seem to be paying attention to the conversation. Samson was not simply an adopted son to her; he was everything. He was the last memory of her deceased sister, her nephew whom she had raised as her own, and discussing his death was not something she wished to do.


    Rudolf picked up on her emotions and wanted to shift the conversation, but Hans was not particularly tactful when he was curious. In the midst of comprehending all of this, a thought struck Hans, and he directed another question to Samwell.


    "If he was your brother, doesn''t that make him Grimgar royalty? How did he become the king of Parv?" he asked, seeking clarification.


    Samwell responded without hesitation,


    Lady Arahan, Samson''s mother, was my father''s second wife and the sole princess of Parv. Her father and the king, before he passed away, summoned his only descendant, Samson, and crowned him as the new king.


    Hans was taken aback and asked to confirm,


    And people just accepted it?


    Samwell chuckled before responding,


    Opposing him was not a healthy choice. Whoever spoke against him lost their heads. He ruled with absolute tyranny.


    "So, he was a bad king, after all?" asked Hans.


    "No, on the contrary, Parv flourished in his reign. It was a short golden age for the regressing nation. According to rumours, they still follow his policies for governance without any question. A book called Mandate recorded his laws and future plans for running the nation," explained Samwell.


    "So, did Parv recover after the war?" inquired Hans.


    "We don''t know how much Parv progressed since it is an isolated country, but I am sure..." Samwell began to say before Rudolf interrupted.


    Spare the kid from politics, Samwell.


    Samwell looked embarrassed and said,


    Ah, yes. It''s not something a kid should worry about.


    However, Hans was not deterred and asked again,


    Why is it isolated?


    Samwell glanced at Rudolf, and the old man understood that Hans was eager to learn about the recent world events in his pretend class. The child was naturally curious, but today, he seemed to be obsessed with Samson and Parv.


    Samwell thought the child would ask about the world or Concordia, where they would move in two years, but all he asked about was Samson. Seeing no objections from Rudolf, the future king continued, "After the war, Concordia intervened, and various peace treaties were signed. Parv paid a hefty price as war reparations to Clandor, and Grimgar claimed the body of their fallen prince, but no one found his artefacts."


    Hans nodded, giving the impression that he understood,


    So they closed their borders, to prevent further attacks, right?


    "Yes," replied Samwell.


    Hans was intrigued by the idea of a nation completely cut off from the rest of the world.


    "But what is stopping others from making a move? They just closed the borders. It''s not like you can''t access the lands, right?" He asked Samwell, hoping to learn more.


    Samwell''s response was awkward. "Actually, we can''t," he said.


    There is a corrosive fog surrounding the nation that eats up anything that tries to penetrate it. Many warlocks and warlords have fallen victim to it in the past, and even beasts cannot survive its corrosive nature.


    Hans nodded, impressed. "So it''s a perfect defensive shield," he said.


    "No," replied Samwell.


    It''s perfect imprisonment. They can''t come out either.


    Hans was puzzled.


    Why such aggressive measures? Did they become very weak after defeat?


    Samwell stumbled over his words for a moment, "Aggressive measures?" he repeated, the words did not suit a child''s tongue. He responded,


    No, it was because they feared retribution from the world. They were without their protector who was fond of making enemies here and there.


    Samson was a man of unwavering strength and pride. He refused to bow down to anyone, and his attitude rubbed many people the wrong way. Envy and jealousy festered in the hearts of those who resented him, but they knew better than to act against him. However, when Samson fell from power, his enemies saw an opportunity for retaliation. They sought to destroy his land and erase his legacy.


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    Recalling his brother''s actions, Samwell warned Hans of the danger of associating with the Elves. Samson had killed many of them during the war, and they would seek revenge by using Hans as a target. Hans expressed his concern, questioning why he should return to Concordia if he was already marked for revenge. Samwell reassured him, confident that if he followed his instructions and remained cautious, he would be safe. When Hans asked what these instructions were, Samwell gave a simple yet crucial piece of advice:


    "Do not leave Concordia."


    Hans let out a deep sigh, frustration creeping up within him. His new life seems like some sort of imprisonment to him. He made peace with the situation but there was something else he was interested in now. He couldn''t help but ask, "That book, ''Mandate,'' can I get a copy of it?"


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    Samwell looked at him incredulously before turning to Rudolf, who replied with a snarky comment, "Just answer the brat. He eats books for breakfast." The remark hinted at Hans''s insatiable appetite for reading.


    Samwell shook his head, a frown etched across his face. "It''s not possible, at least not for me," he said, disappointment evident in his voice. "After losing the body of their king to Grimgar, those extremists prevented anything related to him from leaving their country. That book was protected on a whole other level. Even glancing at it was not allowed to others."


    But the notion of a book that no one else could see only intrigued Hans further. He made a mental note to add reading this forbidden book to his list of things to do when he eventually visited Genas.


    Just as the conversation seemed to come to a halt, Ekdamir interjected, his voice soft yet firm. "This is not what I came for," he said, turning his attention to Sierra. "I wanted you to come back and resume your rightful duties. You worked hard to get to that position. Doesn''t this choice make that work fruitless?"


    "No, elder Ekdamir," Sierra replied with conviction., I am making of my past, so my hard work can never be fruitless. Her words held a sense of determination, hinting at the strength within her.


    Ekdamir remained silent his eyes fixed on the determined woman before him. He knew all too well the stubbornness that lay within her, the indomitable spirit that drove her towards her goals. She was dead set on seeing this thing through to the bitter end.  So he had no choice but to give up, despite knowing how difficult this decision would make her life, but as always, walking a floral path was not her style.


    But he was not going to abandon his protege. With a gentle smile, he spoke, his voice comforting her,


    Though I may not be able to assist you directly, do not hesitate to reach out to me in times of need.


    "Thank you, Elder," she replied with gratitude.


    The old priest simply smiled in response, saying nothing more and Samwell heaved a sigh of relief because it seemed that there was no objection to his arrangement. but the thought of what would happen if Indu and Grimgar''s deal failed was still a nagging worry because it was not over until it was really over.


    On the other hand, Hans was silent. The reality was finally sinking in him. He got what he wanted, a way to leave this place, but he also got to know that he was different from his gramps and grandma, a non-human. The situation was quite baffling to him. There was no precedent for him on how to live or will he would be like others or not. Thoughts like these are starting to eat him up.


    But then, Sierra noticed his distress and pulled him into a comforting embrace, offering words of reassurance. "You''re not a worrier, Hans," she said. "Just remember that you''re here because Yudwin had a plan for you. You have a purpose, even if you don''t know what it is yet."


    Despite his lack of religious leanings, Hans found himself believing in Sierra''s words. There was something about the way she spoke that always made him trust in her wisdom.


    Seeing him composing quickly, Samwell couldn''t help but smile. As he grew more and more attached to the boy, one of the reasons behind it could have been the striking resemblance the child bore to his late brother. However, there was something about Hans that set him apart from Sam. A certain charm, a naivety that was endearing. He was in his thought and suddenly Hans broke the silence again but this time the question was not for him but for the lady caressing him.


    Granma, do I have divine mana in me?


    His words broke Sierra''s reverie, and she let out a light chuckle before responding.


    I cannot say for certain. As of now, you have not shown any signs of mana manifestation, and historically only women have been recorded as possessing divine magic.


    Hans persisted with another question.


    Are you strong like gramps?


    This time it was Rudolf who answered, his voice filled with a tinge of regret.


    She was, but her powers have not fully returned, yet.


    Hans felt a wave of guilt washes over him, convinced that it was his fault. He looked at Sierra with concern etched on his young face, but she reassured him that her weakening was temporary. Samwell chimed in, diverting the conversation to a lighter note.


    When you said you''d ask me questions, I thought you''d inquire about Concordia or Grimgar, Sir Rudolf''s birthplace...


    With a hint of disinterest in his voice, Hans interrupted Samwell''s train of thought.


    It looks like you''re itching to tell me, so just tell me what Concordia is.


    Samwell obliged, his voice taking on a reverent tone as he spoke about the prestigious institution.


    It''s your grandfather''s former school, with centuries of history to its name. It''s where he became a knight and taught children like you. He even held the position of Dean of Knights.


    Pausing for a moment, Samwell continued, his voice now taking on a more practical tone.


    As I''ve mentioned before, if you follow my arrangement, no one will dare to harm you there. Concordia may remain neutral in most matters, but it won''t tolerate anyone messing with its people.


    Seeing the spark of interest in Hans''s eyes, Samwell began to elaborate further, mentioning how Rudolf had become the youngest Warlord, the highest rank a knight could achieve, thanks to Concordia''s teachings and support. As Hans grew more and more invested in the idea of going to Concordia, Samwell couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. For a child as smart as Hans, it wasn''t difficult for a seasoned politician like him to lead him towards a particular path.


    Hans asked Samwell, thinning his eyes in doubt,


    Elves will be there, right?


    "Yes," Samwell replied reassuringly, "but don''t worry, so do many professors, along with your grandparents".


    Hans was intrigued, but still uncertain,  he inquired,


    Don''t elves consider themselves superior to other beings?


    "That''s an outdated notion," Samwell clarified. "Elves have become much more peaceful now. In fact, the Elven council used to oppose the idea of Concordia teaching elves. However, after the war destroyed the council, there was no longer anyone left to object."


    Hans pondered over the implications of the Elven war for a while before finally breaking the silence.


    So the Elven war changed a lot of things¡­


    But before he could continue, Rudolf interjected, dismissing the conversation with an air of authority. "He''s dead, end of the story. I don''t want to hear any more about that Elven nonsense," he declared, his head hung low in contemplation.


    Rudolf repeated himself, this time with more urgency.


    You should leave now and stop filling Hans''s head with these strange ideas.


    The visitors all took a step back as they sensed an ominous energy emanating from Rudolf. All the things he showed till now were nothing compared to this. His aura was now engulfed in a deep purple light, with sparks of lightning crackling around him. all four could see the doors of death opening before them.


    The Knight spoke with a commanding tone


    Leave Now.


    And the heavens added the aesthetics with a loud bang of thunder, cutting the conversation and marking the end of the guest''s meddling in the Edenberg family''s business.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 9 : The Mana Property

    CHAPTER 9


    THE PROPERTY STONE


    Rudolf''s patience had worn thin with Samwell''s incessant meddling. He had never intended for Hans to learn so much, not until he was ready to face the consequences. His dissatisfaction was palpable, his aura crackling with electricity as he was like the eye of a storm. The surrounding winds howled in support of his fury, adding an ominous soundtrack to the tense atmosphere.


    In a low, menacing voice, Rudolf declared,


    In two years'' time, I shall return. And the first fool to ask me about Sunstone or any other nonsense shall feel the bite of my sword, unseasoned.


    Samwell could feel the weight of Rudolf''s wrath bearing down upon him. He raised his gaze to the sky, hoping for some sign of respite, but instead, the thunder rumbled in his ears like a warning. He knew it was time to leave, to retreat far from this place of turmoil and unrest. So all he could do was nod and accept his words. They had arrived early in the morning, but the meeting had dragged on for the entire day, with no end in sight but Rudolf''s menacing yet positive response gave him some satisfaction


    The night always fell early upon the Ghost Isles, its inky blackness enveloping everything in a shroud of darkness. And tonight was no exception - if anything, the night seemed to bring with it a sense of foreboding that Samwell and his companions were unaccustomed to. The king had wanted to speak with Hans some more, sensing some inexplicable connection between them, but the boy had already succumbed to sleep.


    Disappointed, Samwell surveyed his eerie surroundings, a creeping feeling of dread worming its way into his gut. His instincts urged him to leave this place, and he knew better than to ignore them. Hastily, he ordered his knights to fix the SpaceDoor portal and bid farewell to the elders, eager to depart before the night''s horrors could fully take hold.


    As the unknown guests departed, Sierra heaved a sigh of relief and buried her face in Rudolf''s broad chest. Drawing comfort from her husband''s embrace, she ventured to speak. "Can we trust Samwell''s words?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.


    Rudolf''s gaze softened as he looked down at her. He replied,


    For now, it seems like the best option, Parv has little contact with other places, so it''s possible to avoid them to some extent. But we can''t rely on that forever. Hans is the best bargaining chip anyone can have on their throne.


    Sierra nodded in agreement, snuggling closer to Rudolf''s warmth. He tightened his arms around her, chuckling softly at his wife''s childlike behaviour. But then, a sudden thought crossed his mind.


    He said as he mused aloud,


    I still find it hard to believe that the ''Rules of the Good Nation,'' which Sam wrote down to pass the time, turned into something that Parv''s old snakes follow to the letter.


    Sierra''s surprise was evident as she asked,


    What did he write in that book?


    Rudolf''s expression darkened slightly as he replied,


    The last time I checked, it was incomplete. All he said was that he was writing about what he would do if he became a king. I thought he was joking, but it turned into something serious.


    Leading Sierra to their chambers, Rudolf continued,


    I was scared for Hans; I thought he would have a hard time accepting it.


    Sierra''s voice jumbled as she kept her firm grip, embracing her husband,


    He''s not showing it, but this must have surprised him.


    Rudolf nodded, then added,


    The more we ask, the worse he will feel. So we just need to distract him, and he''ll forget about it in no time. The boy has no notion of race anyway.


    The couple drifted off to the dreamlands, and the weather outside seemed to calm down as if it were respecting their time of rest. But as if with a snap of a finger, dawn broke, and Rudolf sneaked into Hans''s chamber, rudely rousing the boy from his slumber. As expected, Hans was not pleased.


    "Oh dear god, give some fricking intelligence to this poor soul," he grumbled, rubbing his bleary eyes. He glared up at his grandfather''s laughing face and continued, "Gramps, what in god''s name are you doing? Would you like me to bother you when you make love to Granny?"


    Rudolf''s expression remained blank for a moment. He remembered that Hans had made a similar threat a year ago, but he knew he could handle the boy''s silly bravado. Ignoring the threat, he spoke cheerfully. "Come on, you lazy brat. We only have two years," he said, pushing Hans to get up and start their training.


    Rudolf was a man who never forgot a grudge and always sought to settle any score. He saw this as an opportunity to teach Hans some manners. As they stepped outside, Rudolf threw him a wooden sword that Hans caught it with ease, still rubbing his sleepy eyes.


    Knowing his grandfather''s intention, he said, facing him head-on,


    I''m guessing you''re going to beat me up today since I threatened you, Gramps


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    Hans let out a loud voice, calling for Sierra. When she arrived at the door, he turned to her and exclaimed,


    Granny, watch closely. Today is the day I finally defeat this old man."


    Rudolf''s face fell, wondering if his intentions were that transparent to the boy. Seeing the confusion etched on his grandfather''s face, Hans interjected with a hint of sarcasm,


    Gramps, it''s all written on your face. It''s not hard to guess.


    Rudolf calmed down, but his frown was betraying his effort; as a grade 90 warlord, being caught by this brat was a blow to his pride. Yesterday was the only time he showed Hans his full aura and from today onwards, he was ready to prepare this brat for the harsh world he had yet to face. He ignored Hans once again and focused, and a bright purple veil of energy enveloped him.


    Hans interrupted once again, this time asking,


    Why is it paler than yesterday?


    Aren''t you observant? The intensity of the colour varies depending on how dense an aura is. Now shout it out to me, what does the purple aura represent?


    Hans replied in a sarcastic tone,


    Wow, such a tough question.


    Rudolf got irritated and asked in a loud voice,


    Just answer the damn question, you brat.


    It shows that you have thunder mana property.


    Right. So tell me about every type of mana?


    Hans made a grumpy face. It was elementary knowledge that Sierra taught him in his toddler days. He indifferently answered in a textbook way,


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    There are three families of mana, first is Elementals, containing fire - bright orange, water - indigo blue, ground - light brown and wind which is pale green.


    Hans paused a bit and continued,


    The second family is called advanced containing Thunder - purple, ice - cyan, magma - red, wood - translucent.


    Rudolf interrupted,


    And the third one?


    Be patient, gramps, I am speaking, aren''t I? The third family is called Rare, dark with black colour and light with bright white. Satisfied?


    Instead of Rudolf Sierra, who was silently looking at them, said,


    There is another family called unrecorded having time, space, and divine property. I possess the divine mana, the one and only in this world. If we talk about space mana, we only found it in inorganic things like mana stones.


    Hans was never told about this unrecorded family of mana, which made him think hard, but Sierra already answered what he was going to ask.


    Time is the authority of gods and space magic doesn''t exist in living things but gems and stones.


    Hans was going to speak, but he got interrupted by her again,


    And the rarest of the mana property is wood, there are only two recorded persons possessing that.


    This time Hans didn''t let Sierra get ahead of him and asked,


    Then why is wood mana in advance, not unrecorded?


    Because those who possessed it were well known in the world, one of them saved a nation from famine in the past. And in contrast to space which emerged only in inorganic things and the divine, which appeared only in the chosen ones. Wood mana occurs in some intelligent species of plants, and this mana also comes in abundant stones.


    Rudolf interfered in their talks,


    We are deviating from our real purpose here, the squeaky focus here.


    Yes, sir.


    Now tell me why knights exist.


    Because of mages, isn''t this why Sir Dietrich created the aura method?


    Rudolf sighed and said,


    Don''t live in the fictional past, I am asking in the present-day scenario.


    Hans stayed silent, so Rudolf answered,


    To be a mage, one must have talent and be very good at it, but for a knight, talent matters little and only hard work makes a difference. For a long time, a person holding a single type of mana was considered useless, but when knights appeared, that stereotype vanished. Now the Knights have a large population of mana users.


    Hans said,


    Why are you telling me this, I have already decided to become a knight.


    Rudolf sighed and said,


    It''s not up to you to decide what you will be until you awaken the mana property within you. A person must possess a single type of mana to form an aura, but what will happen if you awaken multiple mana properties?


    He paused a bit and said,


    Then you can kiss goodbye to your sword.


    This was news to Hans, he thought to himself, so becoming less talented was the only way to become a knight. He was praying for him to only wake a single type of mana. He was in a daze and Rudolf broke his daydream by giving him a glass pebble small enough to fit in his tiny hands.


    Hans asked the old man,


    It''s a property stone. Can I awaken my mana now?


    Hans has been trying this procedure since he was six, but until this day, he hasn''t awakened any kind of mana. He quickly gripped the pebble and just like every other time, the property stone refused to shine in any colour. The boy didn''t get disheartened. After all, it was not his first failed rodeo. Everyone born in this world possesses some kind of mana, having none was unheard of. He said to Hans in a serious tone,


    You have it inside you. Don''t whine, I have a way, but it will be painful for you. Do you wanna try it?


    Hans answered in annoyance,


    Why didn''t you tell me sooner?


    That means yes, right squeaky?


    Of course.


    Rudolf signalled Sierra, and she got ready to heal anything that might happen to Hans. The old man brought out all kinds of mana stones that he could find, except the Divine and the Time, for they did not exist, at least not to his knowledge. Hans asked in curiosity,


    What do you want to do with these?


    Rudolf showed a wicked smile and said,


    We are going to jumpstart you by doping.


    Hans took a step back and asked again,


    Why do I think you are enjoying this, old man?


    Because I am, now, kid¡­


    He broke the firestone into smithereens and asked Hans to inhale the powder. Hans did what he was told hesitatingly. When the powdered firestone entered inside, Hans felt a sudden headache, which almost split his head. He cried in pain and after a while, he calmed down with the help of Sierra.


    Rudolf asked with a wicked smile,


    Do you wanna continue? We have a lot to test, but for now, it is safe to say you do not possess fire mana.


    Hans asked away,


    Why?


    Because if you did, you would have released the fire mana inside of you instead of almost peeing the pants.


    Hans looked down on his nether region and sighed in relief. Thankfully it was not wet. He glared at the old man who was laughing at him because he got him. After detecting another glare from his wife, he coughed and said,


    This is the method we used to test late bloomers like you. So do you wanna continue?


    Hans gulped his nervousness and said while showing false confidence,


    Bring it on.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 10 : The Shattered Dream

    CHAPTER 10


    THE SHATTERED DREAM


    The pain caused by this strange way of finding out the mana property was something he could bear. Keeping this in mind, Hans asked for the rest of the Elemental mana to be tested. But his suffering bore no fruit as he tested negative for all four of them. Not having fire, water, air and land meant that he was progressing towards his goal, a future that he had envisioned since the day he picked up a sword which was becoming a Knight. This was all because a person was less likely to have multiple mana properties of the Advanced (Thunder, Ice, Magma, Wood) or Rare (Light and Dark) mana families.


    Rudolf was hoping for the same, not because of his greed to teach the boy but because Hans showed a talent for swordsmanship. He never acknowledged Hans''s talent to keep the boy''s head from filling with arrogance but he knew in his heart that Hans was a prodigy. This was also the reason why Sierra never tried to teach anything to him about mages.


    When Hans recovered from pain and fatigue, Rudolf tried the Thunderstone. He was hoping the child to have the same mana property as him but Hans also tested negative for this. Both breathed a sigh of disappointment but the disappointment only increased when magma and ice were also tested false. Rudolf looked at the two stones he was holding in his hands, these were of dark and light mana. Hans yelled at him and gritted his teeth, expecting another stinging pain.


    There was no one in the world who was born without mana. But seeing him fail even in the dark and light, made him doubt this belief. A wild theory ran through his mind and he pushed a space stone towards Hans. This gave Hans a headache far greater than anything, and Rudolf''s ears almost bled due to Sierra''s scolding. Unfortunately, Hans was not in the right mind to enjoy the scene.


    When Hans regained consciousness, he saw Rudolf fidgeting with the last stone in his hand. The pain caused by the other stones was like an ant''s bite compared to the space stone. After he had calmed down a bit, Rudolf said to him,


    This is the last one, squeaky,


    Hans steeled his mind and inhaled the last powdered stone. But contrary to what he had prepared to feel, there was no headache but a pleasant feeling inside. The place where he sat suddenly blossomed, small plants and grasses sprang up, and within moments his surroundings turned into a lush green field. Hans was nervous and didn''t open his eyes. If he had failed in this stone too, then it meant, god had played a dirty joke on him.


    Sierra told him to open his eyes and following her cheerful voice, Hans mustered the courage and finally opened his eyes. He saw himself surrounded by a small green field which was still growing. He looked up at Rudolf and Sierra''s faces, who were looking at something amazing even by their standards.


    After the blooming stopped, Rudolf mumbled,


    Son of a bi..., what is this? This is not possible!


    The last stone was wood stone, but having wood mana was unheard of, at least not in non-plant species. Wood stones were mainly used to enhance crop growth or herb farming. Hans looked at Rudolf in a flurry, a sign that he had shattered his expectations, so he becomes happy with the achievement. He turned to Sierra, who was thinking the same thing as Rudolf, and looking at the child''s gaze on her, she smiled at him and said,


    Congratulations Hans, you became the third person in our history to possess the wood mana.


    Hans asked in nervousness,


    It''s a good thing, right? I can be a knight, right?


    Yes, but I don¡¯t know how you could use the wood mana in swordsmanship.


    Being able to become a knight was good enough news for Hans, having wood mana was still better than not having one, so he was happy with the current result. He pulled Rudolf out of his amazement and asked him,


    What now?


    Yeah, you¡­you.. should try to convert the mana into aura now.


    Hans sarcastically said,


    I am a god; I know everything, right?


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Oh sorry, try feeling the mana of the surroundings, you could feel the same sensation as before.


    Hans tried, and it worked. The mana surrounding him was giving him the same warm feeling as before. He got happy and asked Rudolf again,


    What now?


    Rudolf replied,


    Just like basking in the sunlight, feel the mana with your skin and imagine it seeping in.


    Hans didn''t get how it was possible, but he just did what he was told, and it happened. The mana was entering Hans like water in a dry sponge. Then suddenly Hans felt a sudden pain in his heart and he lost control of absorbed mana. His Mana came out repeating the same incident of giving birth to many plants, but unlike last time, he was in pain.


    Sierra and Rudolf were both startled; It was not something that should had happen at this stage. Hans calmed down again and was seeking the elders for an explanation. Rudolf did not realise why this was happening but Sierra knew, she said to them,


    It''s a cross-familiarity disorder.


    Rudolf refuted immediately.


    It''s not possible, he tested negative for every other property¡­


    He stopped in the middle, intensifying the suspense for Hans. The boy panicked and asked,


    What are you talking about?


    Sierra replied to him,


    This is probably because of the divine mana within you. When a person is born with mana from different mana families (elementary, advanced, rare and unrecorded), it collides with each other. In your case, it is the wood of the Advanced and Divine from the Unrecorded family.


    What are you talking about?


    Sierra pushed Rudolf aside, grabbed Hans''s shoulder, and spoke.


    Your wood mana is struggling with divine mana inside you. So you can''t form an aura.


    Her words sounded nothing short of divine punishment to him. Hans became depressed, but the possibility of becoming a mage was still there until her next statement broke that prospect as well.


    It''s also possible that you won''t be able to store mana in your heart...


    Hans completed her sentence in a gloomy voice,


    So I won''t be a mage either?


    The elders kept silent, there was nothing they could say to make Hans feel better.  Not becoming a knight was itself disastrous news, but neither being a mage was making him miserable. This meant that he could only be a powerless person in a place where power ruled everything.


    He turned to the elders. Tears were not stopping from his eyes and he kept staring at Sierra. He wanted to call her but his mouth could not hear him and he kept on wailing. Sierra could not bear to see him drowning in sorrow and hugged him saying,


    When one door closes, another one will open. After giving you the blessing of life, Yudwin won''t abandon you. So wait for it.


    Sierra continued to hug him, and he cried at his terrible fate, having given him life but without the tools to protect it. Hans sobbed for a long time before falling asleep in Sierra''s arms. She tucked him on his bed and went with Rudolf to her chambers.


    The day was long and Hans slept the whole time. And now in the night sky, the moon and countless stars were showering the dim light. Hans had woken up in the middle of the night and from the roof of their house, he was stargazing in agony. He was trying to think of something else, but the thoughts of mana and aura kept reminding him of his misfortune.


    The main culprit of his misfortune was the divine mana within him. A power he could not use, yet this wasted power was not allowing him to use mana or aura. He tried several times to create an aura by suppressing the divine mana. He failed and keep failing but as Rudolf always said he was as stubborn as a mule and his stubbornness eventually paid off. A warm veil shrouded him and he rejoiced but his happiness was short-lived. His aura was consumed by divine mana the next moment, leaving him in pain and despair.


    Sierra and Rudolf had also woken up but decided not to hinder him from coping with the situation. Suddenly a thought emerged in Rudolf and he held Sierra''s shoulder in front. Unable to control his power in excitement, and almost shaking her firmly he asked her,


    Hans looks exactly like Sam, right?


    Sierra responded


    What is that supposed to do here?


    Rudolf continued,


    they look so alike that you can say they are the same person, right?


    What are you blabbering, dear?


    Rudolf suddenly become happy and said to her,


    Maybe he still has a chance?


    Rudolf ran towards the storage. The situation reminded him of Samon''s words ¡°I will need this, so make sure you deliver it to me when there is no hope¡±.  The loud sound of his knocking in the storeroom caught Hans''s attention. He forgot his sadness for a moment and jumped straight into Sierra''s arms, looking at Rudolf, who was scouring things like a madman.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 11 : A Tailored Hope

    CHAPTER 11


    A TAILORED HOPE


    The stars rarely showed in the deserted skies of the Ghost Isles and it was quite a sight to behold. But not today, instead of marvelling at the beauty, Hans was cursing his fate in silence. He was trying to create an aura once again but a loud voice downstairs pulled him out of his focus. He didn''t have to ask who was making all these noises in the house regardless of the sleep of others. His current situation was quite troubling and the sound of knocking was putting stars on it. So he came down, wanting to reprimand the offender, but Sierra''s worried gaze and call for a hug softened him.


    He quietly asked Sierra.


    does he not care about others'' sleep? What is he even doing?


    Sierra spoke up.


    I''m not sure, but he is losing it.


    Rudolph searched for a while, discovering the many things he had accumulated during his time in the Ghost Isles. He was unsure whether the object he was looking for was here or elsewhere. Meanwhile, Sierra''s little joke amused Hans a little and distracted him from his monotonous state. She didn''t want to give him any false hope, so she kept quiet. After throwing many things here and there, Rudolf burst into laughter and shouted.


    I found it.


    What? Sierra and Hans both asked at the same time.


    Rudolf smirked and added,


    "Limitless"


    Hans glanced over and apathetically said.


    So it''s a book.


    Hans was the kind of kid who used to jump with excitement at the sight of a new book, but this time he was doing the opposite. Seeing him down, Rudolf said the classic "Don''t judge a book by its cover kid".


    It was a book covered in tough leather for preservation and locked with various spells. Rudolf handed it to Sierra and asked her to unlock the book. Hans''s disinterest towards the locked book was because even if that book carried the world''s devasting spells, it was useless to him until he could form a mana heart. But that was impossible until his useless divine mana stops interfering with Wood mana.


    Seeing him down again, Rudolf stroked Hans¡¯s head and said,


    I''m not bragging, but the author of that book was on a level where calling him a genius was an insult.


    Hans understood who he was referring to, but this was not enough to make him feel good. He replied to his words in a sullen voice,


    So what?


    Rudolf replied to him,


    Kid, you don''t understand. We don''t know how you came to be but you are probably one of his successful experiments.


    Hans sarcastically replied,


    How encouraging!


    Just listen to me you brat, when he handed me the book he said, ¡°I will need this so make sure you deliver this to me when I need it¡±. Maybe he was referring to you.


    Hans''s ears perked up at the mention of those words. He learned about a book called Mandate, which became the treasure of the Parv. And reading another book written by him seemed like a good way to distract himself from the gloom. So unknowingly, he was waiting for Sierra to unlock the book.


    Rudolf kept stroking his beard and added,


    I know for a fact; the book is for someone having a Wood mana property.


    These words were music to Hans''s ears in comparison to the series of the bad news he had heard since yesterday. He suddenly remembered, Rudolf calling the book "Limitless" and it sure was a tempting title.


    Sierra was thinking the same thing, hoping the book would be of some help to their child. But there was nothing worse than having that last hope crushed. So he reminded the two men,


    Sam wrote that book when he was 16, and you know how he was in his teenage years. Don''t count chickens before they hatch.


    Rudolf answered defending their hope,


    That brat kept torturing my ears whenever he got the chance with his weird theories, so I don''t think he would pull a big one on me like this. Probably? He clearly told me to hand this book over to him.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Rudolf lost some confidence because of her words and turned to Hans and said, "It''s better than crying all night, isn''t it?" Hans realized that his nocturnal events were not as hidden as he wanted.


    As far as he understood, Samson was a man of intellect, his actions might be ambiguous, but this book would be worth reading at least once. He gathered his thoughts and looked at the troubled Sierra, struggling with the seals. Meanwhile, Rudolf was bolstering his and Hans¡¯s confidence by telling him about the time when he wrote this book,


    He was a sixteen-year-old boy, dreaming of mapping these lands. The thing that fascinated him most was the unique mana methods of beasts here. He tried to replicate their style and received a backlash that caused him to be unconscious for a week.


    Rudolf continued after taking a small breath


    After waking up, he told me of a way to get an infinite amount of mana. But your grandma beat him even harder when he reiterated his hypothesis.


    He sneaked a glance at his wife and whispered in Hans''s ears.


    Because of his frantic experiments, he had several dates with death. And it was mostly from the backlashes or her beatings


    Hans asked with an amazement


    Granny could beat someone?


    Rudolf whispered in his ears


    Oh, you do not know how short-tempered she was then.


    Hans smiled after a long time, which lighted up the dreary mood. The old man got happy to see him cheering up, so he finally glanced at the struggles of her wife. She was an excellent mage, and releasing some seals was like child''s play to her, but these seals meant business.


    Rudolf asked her in concern


    Is there a seal that you can''t handle, dear?


    Sierra sighed and replied


    No, but that brat had to turn the unsealing process into mana equations. Now at this age, I have to revise Mana Equations for teens.


    Rudolf added to the conversation


    I shouldn¡¯t have bugged him with the book. I remember him threatening me about sealing the book in a way that I can¡¯t open it.


    His reminiscence got interrupted by Sierra''s declarations of lifting the seal. Rudolf and Hans urged her to open the book. The first page of the book greeted them with only one sentence.


    <blockquote><hr>


    " Prove Your Worth "


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans did not pay attention to the words and turned the page or tried to do so, but all the pages seemed stuck together. He curiously turned to Sierra, suggesting that the seal was still there, but Sierra shook her head, saying that it was not the seal.


    Rudolf was thinking back to the time Sam wrote this and trying to jog his memory to see if he missed anything. He remembered something and said.


    Sam was into blood seals then.


    He took hold of Hans''s right hand and pricked his index finger. The boy cried, but he paid no heed to them and placed his blood-stained finger on the front page. The page absorbed the blood and after a moment the words written and the bloodstains disappeared.


    Rudolf was startled and took the book from Hans''s hands and put it on the table. He was turning the pages quickly like a madman but the book was empty till the end. He looked apologetically at Hans but the boy couldn''t understand why his old man was doing this, so he asked him.


    What are you doing?


    Rudolf scratched the back of his head and replied to him anxiously,


    It looks like Sam played a prank on us, squeaky; it''s all empty.


    Hans asked them in surprise.


    What are you talking about? Can''t you see things written in it?


    His words led Sierra¡¯s eyes to the book but even with various spells she also saw nothing. She turned to Hans and asked him,


    What is written in it?


    Hans started reading the freshly appeared text that only he seemed to see


    <blockquote><hr>


    To the reader, whoever you may, I don''t know how you unlocked this  but you should return it to me. The only way you could get anything from this book is to have wood mana, and this is nearly impossible.


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans felt like he had become the hero of the stories he read with Sierra. Wood Mana and Blood Seal were making this book a specific item for him. with the feeling of the chosen he continued his reading.


    <blockquote><hr>


    but, if you are who I think, you were not able to make a mana heart or create an aura because of divine mana in you, and now you are wondering how do I know it.


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans was reading it aloud and suddenly stopped after these words. He looked up at the elders, who were staring right back at him. The words were right. Hans was thinking how in the god''s name Samson knew it. The elders urged him to read ahead.


    <blockquote><hr>


    I wrote this book for you, Hans¡­


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans stopped one more time, and the book fell from his grasp. He hurriedly picked it up again, dusting it off. The words made Rudolf burst into laughter and he said,


    See, I told you; he wrote this for the brat,


    Hans asked him, feeling surprised.


    How¡­I mean, he even knew my name.


    Sierra said,


    The person who brought you to us said your name was Hans, so we left it that way.


    Rudolf added his words in a prideful voice,


    The more you try to understand Sam, the more you will get confused.


    Hans read the next sentence.


    <blockquote><hr>


    You must have been shocked and wondering about me, right? You were born not as an experiment, but a failsafe in case I perish before my time. This is a guide I prepared for you in that situation. So sadly, if you are reading this, then I am not in this world. I am just wondering which bastard bested me.


    <hr></blockquote>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 12 : Not My End

    CHAPTER 12


    NOT MY END


    Samson¡¯s choice of words reflected his confidence, and it was humorous for Hans to read. He wished he could have met the man and talked directly, but deadman tell no tales, at least not to his knowledge, so he resumed his reading.


    <blockquote><hr>


    Enough about me. Perhaps my parents have already spoken to you about yourself, I created you because my actions to change our destinies made many enemies. I died, means I failed. We are not perfect and will never be. As long greed exists, people will wage war to please it, ignoring the bigger picture that we are fastening to our doom.


    Red demon is just a reminder. I believe there is worst yet to come for us, but I don''t hope for you to do something as grand as save the world, or avenge me. I have one request, just take care of my mother, Sierra, and Master Rudolf. I never called him father, I should have.


    That''s all I ask of you in exchange for this..


    <hr></blockquote>


    Sierra teared up, feeling touched but sad for Hans. Samson''s words defined Hans as his means to show filial piety but that was wrong to Hans.


    Hans caught her sad look and confidently said patting his chest,


    I would have, even if he didn''t ask.


    Sierra said to him,


    Hans, you don''t have to mind his words, you do not exist for us; you need to know this.


    Hans said with amusement.


    Wow, I didn''t even thought that way, until you spoke granny. Now I feel pretty pathetic.


    Sierra just stared at him, dumbfoundedly. Usually, he joked like this with Rudolf. whereas Hans chuckled, seeing her surprised expression he said,


    I was just kidding, grandma; I don''t mind taking care of you two. It''s a child¡¯s duty to look after his parents after all.


    Rudolf intervened.


    I can take care of my wife by myself...


    Hans apathetically interrupted him,


    Yeah, yeah, gramps.


    Hans was feeling much better now. All his worries and anxieties were evaporating like camphor burning on Yudwin''s stake. He felt that God had denied him the opportunity to shine. However, with this book in his possession, he could easily outshine all others. After all, the strongest knight wrote this book for him, predicting or probably knowing the hurdles he was yet to face. And thus providing the solution within its pages.


    When he learned that Samson was sixteen as he wrote this book, the little admiration he felt for Samson reached new heights. He focussed on the unfinished page and started reading loudly, but Sierra stopped him saying.


    The book is only for your eyes, child. So do not tell the contents to anyone, including us.


    Hans nodded and ran to his room to complete his reading


    <blockquote><hr>


    I started writing this book at the behest of Osiris. She showed a future where the adversaries far worse than the Red Demons came. Ravaging our world at will, killing our people like cattle for a feast.


    For contingency, in case of my unforeseen death, I had to leave some sort of way for this wretched world. I wrote the knowledge given to me in a series of books called ¡®Books of Fate¡¯.  The first one is for you and your task is to grow strong and protect the one I cherised. Others who recieved the remaining books will take care of the world, you don''t need to involve yourselves in their mess.


    I advice you to follow every page. The book itself is a sentient artefact, it will only show you what you need to know.


    Don''t greed over other books. this is enough for you to amass the power that others can only dream about. And absolutely in no circumstances share this book with others unless you wish to put a target on your back. This was fated for you so it should remain with you.


    This Book will show you a way to gain Unlimited Mana


    END OF PAGE 1


    <hr></blockquote>


    As he touched the pages, Hans felt a surge of excitement. Samson''s books held the key to something unknown, something that had the potential to change his life forever. The first book revealed the way to harness unlimited mana, but what else could be hidden within the other tomes? was the only thought that lingered in his mind


    Another book by Samson, named "Mandate" resurfaced in his mind. Curiously he turned the page, hoping for something more wonderful to be found but as the book read his mind, the words baffled him.


    <blockquote><hr>


    PAGE 2


    Let me repeat myself: If your book ownership becomes public knowledge, those who know about them will seek you out, lusting for their power. And they are not alone, those who have the ''mandate'' will act and take it back at any cost.


    There is a record of every person keeping the books in the mandate and yours is not an exception. So be careful with your actions don''t look for the rest of the books. They are as useless to you as this one is to others.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°Good luck; and if you can, please convey a message to my mother and father that I have always loved them and this is not my end.¡±


    END OF PAGE 2


    <hr></blockquote>


    .....


    ...


    ..


    .


    Hans lay sprawled on the hard wooden floor, his small form curled around the thick book he had been reading. He had been so engrossed in the pages that he hadn''t even noticed when sleep had overtaken him.


    It was Rudolf, his gruff and often ill-tempered grandpa, who found him there the next morning. But to his surprise, instead of the usual scolding, Rudolf simply watched as Hans giggled in his sleep. He knew all too well the struggles that the young boy faced, and he couldn''t bear to wake him up harshly.


    The old man''s attention was suddenly drawn to the book in Hans''s grip, its tough cover and aged pages betraying its importance. His eyes narrowed as he chastised Samson for being so deceptive. Without a word, he snatched the book from Hans''s hands, feeling the weight of its knowledge in his grasp.


    But before he could examine it further, the boy stirred from his slumber and, with a startlingly swift movement, took the book back from Rudolf''s grasp. It was as if the book held some sort of mystical power over the young boy, and he clutched it close to his chest as if it were the greatest treasure in all the world.


    Rudolf let out a frustrated sigh, his plans for the morning thwarted by the bewitching power of the book. With a muttered curse, he lifted Hans by his collars, still clutching the treasured tome tightly in his grasp. The boy floated a few inches above the ground as Rudolf made his way towards the kitchen, his grip on the boy firm yet gentle.


    Sierra''s voice echoed in the background, urging Hans to leave the book behind, but the boy refused to be parted from his beloved treasure. Rudolf couldn''t help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the boy''s stubbornness, but he also couldn''t deny the curious allure of the book.


    With a deep breath, Rudolf pushed his curiosity aside and focused on the task at hand - getting Hans to breakfast. The book would have to wait for now.


    Hans stared at their troubled expressions, asking them while filling his mouth with a slice of boiled meat.


    Can''t Parv lend us the Mandate Book?


    Sierra replied


    "Why are you asking that?"


    Hans explained


    He wrote about Mandate in this book.


    Rudolf inquired hastily.


    What did he write?


    Hans, knowing that Samson would not mind sharing this with them, discussed the contents of the book in detail.


    It is also a "Book of Fate."


    "Books of Fate?" Sierra asked in surprise.


    Hans replied to her while raising the book.


    According to this, he wrote multiple books but asked me not to get involved with them. I think differently, if someone got all of them, then that person might become the strongest, just like him.


    As he pondered Samson''s advice to not seek out the remaining books, a fierce determination rose within him. He knew that if he was going to play this game, he would need to do it on his own terms. So he made a decision. He would read the remaining books of fate, every last one of them, until he understood, exactly what Samson intended to do with them.


    Hans asked the elders,


    Did Samson have any kind of power that he could pass on?


    Sierra answered nonchalantly


    Yes, it was an artefact¡­


    She stopped herself from further speaking on the matter and said,


    This might grow into something big that we can''t handle, Hans.


    She stared at the book as if it was a forbidden thing and grasping her intentions, Hans tighten his grasp, holding the book more firmly. He declared, full of resolve to see it to the end,


    No, it''s mine.


    Seeing his unwavering gaze, Sierra sighed in frustration and asked Hans,


    Can You promise me you won''t look for other books?


    Hans asked


    Do I have to keep that promise? He asked me not to search for it too.


    Yes, even if he asked you to, I would have stopped you.


    Hans looked down at the book, clenching it with his small hands and finally said,


    Sorry, Grandma, but I can''t stop myself from searching for those, but I will do it when I am super powerful like Gramps, that is what I can promise.


    Hans was waiting for her affirmation and just like every other parent, she gave in. making him jump with happiness. He started gulping the food fast so he could read more. He was naturally curious and was restraining himself from asking them more about Samson blatantly. But there was something he had to know, so he carefully framed his words.


    Can I ask you something about your son?


    Sierra calmly responded


    What do you wanna know?


    How was he? Asked Hans


    Rudolf interjected with a proud smile and said,


    For one, he was a lot smarter than you. I only need to teach him one step and he could devise the next by himself, unlike someone we know.


    Hans pouted on hearing this, with gaming eyes he asked Sierra and she responded,


    He was an obedient child who matured early and never made us worry. He always felt insecure, after all, he was abandoned by his biological father. He worked hard in being the best in everything. My only regret is that I couldn''t make him feel more secure.


    Hans responded to her regretful words.


    "Please don''t worry. He left me for you because he cared about you so much. I always felt loved here, and I''m sure he did too."


    Sierra was just staring at him, and after a brief pause, she said,


    Oh, our squeaky has grown. He could even console me.


    Hans continued with a flushing face,


    He left you two a message saying, "I always loved you and this is not my end."


    She felt a sense of relief wash over her. The words had brought her the closure she had been desperately searching for. Rudolf, who stood by her side, was also affected by the words he had just heard. His eyes were moist with tears, but he refused to let them fall. It wasn''t suitable for his personality, he would have said. However, as he heard the final words of Sam''s message, a sudden realisation dawned on him - "this is not my end".


    The room was quiet except for the sound of their breathing, as they both contemplated the meaning behind those words. What did Sam mean? What was he trying to tell them?


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 13 : Thoughts of the Parvian King

    CHAPTER 13


    THOUGHTS OF THE PARVIAN KING


    Rudolf sat on the couch, his son''s empty book open before him. He had been pondering for some time, trying to make sense of the words his son had left behind. "This is not my end," his son had written. He felt a shiver run down his spine as he uttered those words, thinking what could his son have meant by them? Was he suggesting that he would return somehow, even in death?


    He leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. He had always known his son to be smart and determined, but this was something else entirely. It was as if his son had been trying to tell him something, some deeper truth that he couldn''t quite grasp. As he sat there, pondering the meaning of the words, a thought occurred to him. Perhaps his son had meant something more metaphorical, something that didn''t involve a physical return. Maybe he had meant that his legacy would live on, that his spirit would continue to inspire those who came after him.


    Rudolf felt a sense of clarity washing over him as he glanced at Hans from the sides. The brat looked like Sam and sometimes acted like too, he thought maybe his dead son was referring to his second coming through Hans. With these thoughts in mind, he asked the boy who was busy in some idle chatter with Sierra.


    Does it mention where the rest of the books are?


    No, but he wrote about Mandate having records of them, their locations and their possessor.


    Hans asked again, hoping to get a positive answer,


    Can''t we just borrow Mandate? I think they will listen if grandma asks them. After all, she was their king¡¯s mother.


    Hearing his words, Sierra couldn''t help but feel a tinge of frustration. Sam was a mystery, and the knowledge he kept hidden from her felt like a wall between them. But his every action had some meaning attached to it. Sam didn''t share these things with her, which meant she shouldn''t interfere with them.


    Lost in thought, Sierra was brought back to reality by the sound of constant tapping on the table. It was Hans, who had been waiting for her patiently. She sighed, feeling a bit relieved and said.


    I think I should not meddle in...


    Hans couldn''t help but make a grumpy face as she spoke. He took a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts. one of the books was in Rudolf''s possession and he had just acquired it. The other known book belonged to Parv, but Hans had no idea how many others existed. All he knew was that the Mandate was the key to solving everything.


    As he sighed in frustration, Hans felt like his curiosity leading him down a never-ending rabbit hole. He felt troubled, lost in his own thoughts when Rudolf suddenly inserted his opinion into their conversation.


    "Acquiring the Mandate will indeed solve everything, Hans," He said in his deep, reassuring voice. "But we must tread carefully. we are talking about the treasure of Parv here"


    He added with the same deep voice,


    At Least finish this one first and think about the rest later, seeing the thickness of it, it''s not even that long I guess.


    Hans gave a nod, taking in Rudolf''s words. As he turned his attention back to the book in his hand, he couldn''t help but agree, the book was not as thick as a book of spells should be. In fact, calling it a book was an overstatement. It was more like a collection of handwritten notes, bound together in expensive hard leather.


    Hans pushed aside thoughts about the other books of fate for now, determined to focus on the book before him titled "Limitless." He was eager to learn more about the strength that Sam possessed, the strength that had made him so formidable. Yet, before he could even ask, the words escaped his lips.


    "What sort of strength does Sam possess to make him that strong?" Hans asked, turning to Sierra and Rudolf with a curious expression.


    Rudolf, being his teacher, took the initiative to answer his question. With a thoughtful look on his face, he began to explain the source of Sam''s incredible strength.


    "Well, for starters, Sam was a knight, and a powerful one at that," his voice deepen and measured. "He had Wind aura and possessed many powerful artefacts. Fighting prolonged battles was his speciality, and he had a way of wearing down even the strongest of opponents."


    Rudolf paused for a moment, lost in thought,


    "I remember when we used to spar together, he would always surprise me with his strength and quick reflexes. Even when he wasn''t as strong as I was, he could still match me."


    Hans listened intently, his mind racing with the possibilities. He knew that he had a lot to learn if he was to match Sam''s strengths and skills. Rudolf''s words had given him a glimpse of what that man had achieved, and he was determined to surpass even those accomplishments.


    <div>


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    <div>


    But one thing lingered in his small mind,


    How? How did he do that? Matching you, I mean.


    Rudolf sighed and said,


    Because Parvians claimed to be the descendant of the man you idolise. I never believed it until Samson hammered that fact.


    Hans became more excited and asked to confirm,


    You mean, Sir Dietrich, the knight king.


    Rudolf nodded, agreeing with Hans. The boy turned to Sierra in surprise, and the lady who always recited those stories spoke,


    I was born as the princess of Parv, the older sister to Arahan, Sam¡¯s mother. The temple of Yudwin came for me when I awoke the divine mana. I had to leave Parv, disowning everything that I have born with, even my name.


    Hans who had been standing in excitement, sat back in his chair, his brow furrowed in thought. Finally, things were starting to make sense.


    A proud smile spread across his face as Rudolf patted his chest and said,


    "Hard work was required to succeed in Knight discipline, this world was an unfair place to begin with. Sam was a talented person who worked harder than anyone. A fortunate one, whose hard work did not betray him. He became an insurmountable wall that no kind of labour could cross".


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Hans sat there, a wry smile on his face, as he pondered the irony of it all. Here was a man, someone who had undoubtedly achieved great things in his life, only to meet his end because of a woman. It was almost comical, in a dark and twisted sort of way. And yet, even as he felt a chuckle rise in his throat, a part of him was fascinated by the story. Who was this woman, he wondered, who was strong enough to take down such a talented and accomplished man? What was her story, her motivation?


    But he knew better than to ask. The atmosphere in the room was already heavy enough, weighed down by the grief of the elder couples who had lost their friend. To bring up such questions would only add to their sadness, and Hans didn''t want to do that.


    So instead, he turned to the book on the table beside him, running his fingers over the worn cover. Maybe there were answers here, he thought, hidden within the pages. He dragged himself back to his room, lying in the bed he opened the book and began to read, losing himself in the world of words and ideas.


    <blockquote><hr>


    We got to the ghost isles today. Everyone opposed Master and mother leaving the war, but I wanted them to take a break. But I could understand why people would have been afraid of their absence. these two were fighting for nearly six years and they deserved some rest. It was bound to attract anxiety in public, but for once, I wanted them away from this bloodshed.


    Meeting them after six years, I could see that time was not fair to them. Master¡¯s bright face was haggard and his eyes sank deep. My beautiful mother almost aged twice in the battlefield. This felt like a reminder to me that I was not strong enough to take their responsibilities, but if you are reading this then, I even failed to do the basic thing as their son.


    The main thing a child could do for their parents is being healthy and well. I clearly failed at that, so please do it for me.


    END OF PAGE 3


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans understood the inner thoughts of a sixteen-year-old boy who desired strength for no other reason than to make his parents'' lives easier. While lying in his bed, Hans turned the next page and continued to read.


    <blockquote><hr>


    Today, the teacher told me about the rumoured mana method of the beast of Ghost Isles. I couldn¡¯t believe that there are some ways through which they could use mana directly without absorbing it. I tried experimenting with their way of using mana and got a backlash. For a full week, I was unconscious. Mother beat the crap out of me when I woke up, so I decided not to tell her next time when I practise.¡±


    Next day, while observing the beasts, I concluded that the beasts have some sort of filter that can filter their desired type of mana from the pure mana of nature. So my hypothesis of getting mana without storing it becomes false. It is a real letdown that I can¡¯t imitate the beasts. But fortunately I came around a beast known as treants and while fighting it I found out the beast having wood mana property was very adept in using nature¡¯s raw mana. It was hard to beat a treant because mana was dancing to their rhythms and its attacks grew more powerful as the time increased while I was losing my stamina and aura. I had no choice but to follow my teacher''s first lesson- ¡®if you can¡¯t beat it, then just run¡¯, so I ran home.


    Fighting treant has become my daily routine. It is a fascinating beast. As a beastmaster, I really want to subdue one and take it as my summons. After our daily struggles and observing the flow of mana surrounding it, I reached the conclusion that the wood attribute was best to manipulate the pure mana of nature directly.


    I started researching wood mana possessors and came around two people of the past one of them was known as harvester, his real name was not known but people worshipped him as the saint flora and according to Reina and Eleanor there was no one born with that mana in elves.


    END OF PAGE 4


    <hr></blockquote>


    As the fourth page ended, Hans closed the book, secured it, and dashed to Sierra and Rudolf to inform them of his findings, like an eager kid thirsty to show off. When he saw them, Samson''s words flashed through his mind: these two had fought their entire lives for others, and now the red demons have breached the barrier.


    The threat of another war was looming over their heads. A thought came to his mind, ¡°Rudolf and Sierra might have to fight once again¡±. Just like Samson, Hans also wanted to provide a comfortable life for them. To do that, he must grow strong, stronger than anyone. He had unknowingly inherited Samson''s will, and his resolve to learn from this book had grown even stronger.


    He came to the kitchen, jumping happily and greeted everyone. It was noon and Sierra had cooked a lot of dishes that Rudolf had hunted for them. He sat and began gulping the food only to be stopped by Rudolf''s odd expression.


    Seeing him stop in the middle, Rudolf asked the boy,


    What is it, squeaky?


    Hans snapped out of his thoughts and excitingly told them about the context of the book. He spared the unnecessary details, one thing that troubled him was that Sam knew about Hans when he was sixteen and, additionally; he knew his thought process and actions. Farsightedness and intellect were one thing, but he literally was predicting everything happening in the future.


    It was beyond anyone''s calculation so he asked them,


    How it was possible for a sixteen-year-old to know everything happening right now?


    Rudolf got baffled and asked back,


    What?


    knowing everything that is happening to me.


    Sierra replied to Hans,


    The god Osiris is the answer.


    She turned to Hans, who was innocently looking back at her. She added,


    Hans, you are a believer of Yudwin. You must not stray away from the temple¡¯s path as Sam did.


    Now it was Hans''s turn to get startled. He spoke the same words as Rudolf "What"?


    Sierra continued,


    Sam¡¯s faith in Yudwin grew weaker when he got introduced to the Parvian god¡¯s ways. He became an avid devotee of Osiris¡¯ temple and spread her teachings to his people.


    Ignoring Sierra''s concern, Hans asked her,


    What do you mean by god Osiris is the answer?


    Sierra asked Hans


    Do you think this is all a coincidence? You can''t have an aura or mana circles (mana heart) but, yet you get a book stating that you could become a mage and achieve the dream of an endless mana supply.


    Hans asked doubtfully


    That''s what I am wondering about. No matter how thoroughly he planned to guide me, it is just absurd that he knew these things, happening ahead of time.


    She responded positively,


    Osiris is not only the goddess of warfare and destruction but is also believed to be the controller of time. Sam told me about many events of the future that were yet to come. He must have written these things after receiving her guidance. But no matter what, the goddess you must always serve is Yudwin.


    Hans agreed, but he also became curious about this god that Sam had believed in. She must be someone great for Sam to follow her, but seeing his grandmother¡¯s attitude towards the foreign god, Hans didn''t push his curiosity further and ended the conversation by asking his final question.


    Gramps, what are Treants?


    ***


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 14 : The Forest of Treants

    CHAPTER 14


    THE FOREST OF TREANTS


    Rudolf savoured a hearty bite of meat, relishing its rich flavour as he cast one last gaze at the boy. With a contemplative air, he mulled over the lad''s question before parting his lips to offer a response.


    Hans, apart from humans, elves and dwarves, there are creatures living in high mana zones like Ghost Isles called beasts.


    "Gramps, tell me something I don''t know," said the boy with an obvious gaze.


    Rudolf clenched his fist in front of Hans''s face, adding the words "Shut up and listen first brat". Releasing his clenching, he spoke once again,


    But there are some special plants or trees that could use mana and those things are called Treants. They come in many forms. It could be as small as a sprouted bean or as big as a thousand year''s old trees,


    Hans asked again, thumping the table in excitement,


    What about their class?


    Rudolf answered


    There is no class division for those since only Ghost Isles have them. One could be of class one or class seven.


    "Are they strong"? asked Hans again with a questioning gaze.


    Rudolf answered him again


    I won¡¯t say they are strong, but they are tenacious bastards. It''s hard to kill one. If you leave any part of them alive, it will regrow in no time and come back to bite it in your ass with a forest of them. So I don''t want to mess with them if possible.


    Hans found his thoughts increasingly consumed by the Treants now. And just like Sam in the past, he wanted to meet one himself. He coaxed his Grandpa with his puppy eyes to take him to see a Treant. Rudolf saw this coming from the moment words of Treants escape the child''s mouth. He sighed and nodded, indicating his agreement.


    After sharing a leisurely midday meal, Rudolf forced himself to set about making preparations, not eager to grant Hans''s wish and introduce him to one of the annoying forest Treants.


    Though Sierra didn''t try to stop them, she could not help but issue a warning, cautioning them to be careful in their little adventure. With a gentle peck on Sierra''s cheek, Hans bid her farewell before taking his place on Rudolf''s shoulder, a position he had grown quite accustomed to. As they made their way through the wilds, Hans''s heart beat with anticipation, eager to experience for himself the wonders that had so captivated Samson.


    As Rudolf led Hans through the heart of the central forest, a place teeming with formidable mid-range predators, the air crackled with tension. Though these things were not a threat to them, the sight of these creatures gathering in groups would make even Rudolf''s blood run cold, forcing them both to flee for their lives.


    Rudolf imparted his knowledge of the Treants'' ways, cautioning that though they posed no immediate threat, they were fiercely territorial and would not hesitate to attack any perceived intruder. Despite their cautious steps, fate had other plans, as the pair suddenly stumbled upon a group of ferocious beasts, their muscles rippling with power.


    As Rudolf came into the sight of the creatures, some scampered away while the others paid no heed, sensing that he posed no threat. Soon after, their attention was drawn towards a peculiar sight- a treant, its body resembling an uprooted tree, snaking through its roots with an eerie grace. Its numerous branches seemed to serve as hands, waving in the air as if beckoning to them. A humanoid tree, few feet taller than Rudolf yet its movements were far slower than what Hans had anticipated. Unable to contain his curiosity, he turned to Rudolf and spoke,


    Do the Genas also have Treants?


    Rudolf responded,


    They are, but they are rare. I never saw any of the plant-type beasts in Genas.


    Hans was carrying a small journal with him and was writing whatever he found. He interpreted Ghost isles as a special place where beasts differed from the mainlands and as far as he inferred, Treants were just awakened trees that gained consciousness and mana.


    As they walked further, his keen eyes caught sight of yet another uprooted tree. This one, however, had a unique feature- a face-like structure on its enormous trunk, distinct from the previous one. The humanoid form of this treant was more pronounced, with limbs that moved with much effort, creating a cacophony of sounds as if large boulders were being dragged around.


    To his surprise, the surrounding beasts showed no signs of disturbance, granting the treants an unobstructed passage. Rudolf''s words were proving to be true, even the most powerful creatures bowed down to these slow-moving behemoths


    For what seemed like hours, Hans had been observing the Treant in awe. But his fascination lay not in their grandeur, but in their mastery of mana. He longed to witness the power they wielded and the energy they commanded. But alas, a treant would only use mana to defend itself, and no beast in their right mind would dare to provoke a single treant, for the overprotective nature of their kind was well-known throughout the forest. So, Hans could only watch and wait, hoping for a chance to see the treant''s magic in action.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Hans could feel his impatience growing with every passing moment. He was eager to witness the treants'' magical abilities, and the waiting was making him restless. Suddenly, he sensed a pair of eyes on him, and it made him uneasy. He turned to Rudolf, hoping for a quick explanation, but the old man didn''t detect any fluctuations in the mana around them. The constant stare made Hans irritable, and he closed his eyes, asking Rudolf to put him down.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    Taking a deep breath, Hans drew upon a skill that Rudolf had taught him long before. It wasn''t a skill that required mana, but one that honed his senses, a skill that was essential for a knight. As he focused on his inner self, his senses sharpened, allowing him to detect even the slightest movement or change in the environment.


    Slowly, he opened his eyes, and what he saw before him left him speechless. It was a Treant, its gaze fixed on him as if studying him. Hans could feel the energy radiating off the treant, and he knew that it was the creature''s mana that he was feeling. Excited and nervous, Hans could hardly believe his luck - he was finally going to see the treant''s magic in action.


    He pointed toward the source and said to Rudolf,


    It feels like that thing is calling me.


    Rudolf tried to stop him, but with a firm rejection, Hans started moving forward, leaving Rudolf no choice but to follow him cautiously. As Hans went deeper into the forest, they came face to face with hundreds of treants, who fixed their gazes on them.


    Rudolf broke cold sweat and tried to pick Hans to flee, but he got rejected once again. He was growing impatient because if the treants wanted to do anything to them, he would need to up his game this time. But his worries were for nought as Hans opened his eyes, his golden pupils shined a dim light and all the treants shook like welcoming him.


    Hans ran towards the biggest one, putting his hands on it. Rudolf panicked and was about to go for Hans but the other treants politely stopped him. He only sensed curiosity in the treants, so he calmed down. But ignoring his anxiety, Hans was enjoying his surroundings. The biggest Treant opened the two bright hollows, that looked like eyes, and started using mana to grow little plants surrounding Hans.


    As Hans made contact with the treants, a wondrous transformation unfolded before his eyes. In an instant, the forest was awash with a kaleidoscope of colours as flowers and foliage sprouted from every surface. The treants had harnessed the very essence of nature, bending it to their will with effortless grace. It was as if they had an intimate connection with the surrounding mana itself, controlling it with a mere thought. They were in no need to form a mana heart, they could control the mana around like nothing, just as the book stated.


    As Hans observed in awe, he realised with this the treants possessed an almost boundless reservoir of mana. Hans didn¡¯t realise how time flew while conversing with Treants. No words were needed, they were sharing their thoughts with a mere touch.


    Some more moments ticked by and the time of departure drew closer. Hans felt a warmth in his heart that he hadn''t experienced before. For the first time, he had made some friends, and he promised to return the next day to visit them.


    On their way home, Rudolf turned to Hans,


    "What was happening there?" He asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.


    Hans couldn''t help but smile as he recalled the incredible experience he had with the treants.


    They asked me how a Treant like me looks like a human. They thought I was one of them.


    "You have a knack to surprise people, squeaky", said Rudolf in wonder.


    When they finally reached the house, they found Sierra anxiously waiting for them. Without any regard for her tired husband, she rushed to Hans, searching for any sign of injury. Normally, Hans would take pleasure in tattling to Sierra about Rudolf''s mischievousness, but this time he decided to act maturely.


    <div>


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    <div>


    Rudolf recounted the bizarre incident of the treants mistaking Hans for one of their own, and Sierra couldn''t help but burst into laughter. She playfully teased Hans, saying, "Well, at least our ''squeaky'' is a tree now."


    After talking a lot about his day during dining, he went up to his room and opened the fifth page with anticipation


    <blockquote><hr>


    If you are as curious as I am, you should have visited the forest of treants, where the unexpected might happened to you. Who knows, they might have even become curious about you, and have thought of you as one of their own kind.


    Instead of reading my theories here, ask a treant if it can teach you to control nature¡¯s mana. Show them your utmost sincerity, and they might take pity on you and share their knowledge. They have a soft spot for their offspring, and if my hypothesis is correct, they might be able to understand you.


    But if you cannot, this book will introduce you to my hypothesis. Some of them might work for you, but you and the treants share the same mana affinity, albeit different in structure, and learning from them is the best coarse.


    Once you learn the way, we will embark on a journey of experimentation with your mana. Some may fail, but some will pass, and I am confident that you will soon tap into the pure nature''s mana and use it to your will.


    Convincing a treant might be challenging, but I have faith in you. You are different from me. My presence and mana nature always subconsciously invade their will for submission, but you can approach the elder of the treants and relay your thoughts to it. May the magic of Osiris be with you, and good luck.


    END OF PAGE 5.


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans realised all that the book stated here was true. He couldn''t understand the treant¡¯s language, but their mind got connected when he touched the Treant, resulting in a conversation without words. Once again, he marvelled at Samson¡¯s thinking and got excited about testing the experiments.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 15 : The Past, The Present and the Beginning

    CHAPTER 15


    THE PAST, PRESENT AND THE BEGINNING


    The dinner was exquisite, but Hans didn''t take the time to savour it. He gobbled everything up quickly and rushed off to his chambers. Once there, he grabbed the book he had been reading and settled into his favourite armchair. As its name suggested, the book Limitless was a collection of spells for mages and the final blow to his dream of being a knight. He loved swordsmanship, but what could he do else give up his sword. Sad but stubborn as a mule he was, he decided to keep practising the sword.


    With a heavy heart, he rose from his chair and snatched up his training sword. It was a comforting weight in his hand, a familiar extension of his body that he couldn''t bear to be without.


    He made his way to the backyard, the sword cutting through the air with a satisfying whoosh as he practised his forms. His mind drifted to thoughts of the future, of what lay ahead for him without his beloved weapon. It was a bleak and uncertain picture, one that filled him with anger and frustration.


    In a fit of emotion, he pushed himself harder than he had in weeks. The sword danced in his hand, striking out with lightning-fast precision. The exertion left him exhausted and breathless, but also oddly exhilarated.


    He stumbled back to his bedroom, the book he had been reading still clutched in his hand. He tried to focus on the words, but the weight of sleep was heavy upon him. With a sigh, he surrendered to the dream fairy, letting his eyelids drift shut as he drifted off into the dreamlands.


    As she did every night, Sierra made her way to the boy''s room, a smile on her lips and warmth in her heart. Hans was a remarkable child, with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a deep love of books.


    He lay there in bed, the book still clutched in his hand, lost in a world of magic and wonder. It was a common sight for Sierra, but it still filled her with a sense of awe. The boy was destined for greatness, of that much she was certain. His curiosity and thirst for answers were the prime qualities of a mage, and he possessed them in spades.


    Sierra leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, then whispered a soft goodnight as she made her way to her own chambers.


    <blockquote>


    Get a grip, Captain.


    No mercy for the damn elves.


    These abominations must die today


    You cannot succumb to these monsters, captain.


    They are diseases to get rid of.


    </blockquote>


    Hans found himself in a strange place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces all shouting at him. He couldn''t make sense of what they were saying, but somehow his body knew what to do. As he moved through the crowd, he caught snippets of their words. They were encouraging him, urging him to be strong and to not waver.


    He felt a surge of determination well up inside him. He may not have understood what was happening, but he knew that he had to keep moving forward. With each step, Hans felt his confidence grow. He was no longer lost and confused, but instead felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be. The voices of the unknown people echoed in his mind, urging him on towards some unknown but vital goal.


    As Hans looked down, his eyes fell upon the body of a male Elf. The creature''s long black hair was matted with blood, and its once-beautiful features were now twisted in pain. With a heavy heart, Hans realised that he had been the one to deliver the killing blow. His hands trembled as he looked around at the other fallen Elves that littered the ground. The weight of their deaths was almost too much for him to bear. But then he saw the survivors, the remnants of the Elven army that had once stood against him. Their eyes burned with a mix of fear and hatred as they stared back at him.


    Hans felt a surge of panic well up inside him. All he wanted was to get as far away from this place as possible. But no matter how hard he tried, his body refused to listen to him. Instead, he found himself moving forward, his sword raised high above his head. It was as if some invisible force was propelling him forward.


    He finally laid his eyes on the growling elf at his feet, and the battered elf shouted in agony.


    <blockquote>


    We are the descendants of god, flee my people so we would have another chance to strike back¡­ make sure that no human could walk the Gena¡­


    </blockquote>


    Hans watched in horror as his sword sliced through the air and cut the man''s head clean off his shoulders. The sound of metal meeting flesh echoed through the battlefield, drowning out the man''s final, pitiful words. The sight of the decapitated body seemed to inspire the humans around him, their cheers and war cry growing louder with each passing moment. Hans felt a strange mixture of elation and disgust wash over him.


    As he surveyed the carnage around him, Hans felt like an outsider in his own body. It was as if he was watching someone else carry out these brutal acts, someone else who was consumed by a desire for power and revenge.


    But even as his mind recoiled from the violence he was inflicting, Hans could feel a sense of purpose taking hold of him. He was fulfilling his destiny, achieving the goal he had worked towards for years. The fall of each enemy only made him more determined to see the battle through to its bitter end.


    With each swing of his sword, Hans felt a growing sense of power and control. He was the hero of this story, the one who would vanquish the enemy and save the day. And as the war cries of his fellow humans rose up around him, he knew that nothing could stop him from achieving his ultimate victory.


    After the massacre, he looked towards the sky and mumbled with a voice different from his,


    <blockquote>


    if you are seeing this, then do not speak a word of it


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    </blockquote>


    The words woke him, as he opened his eyes, he gasped for air, his heart pounding furiously in his chest. The dream he had just experienced felt more like a vivid hallucination, a distorted reality that was hard to shake off. He could still hear the man''s voice echoing in his head, haunting him with every syllable.


    He fumbled around his bedside table, searching for the glass of water that he kept there every night. As he took a sip, the cool liquid trickling down his throat brought him a sense of relief, but the images of the dream still lingered in his mind.


    Hans''s heart calmed a little but his body still trembled from the vivid dream. He knew it was not just a dream, but a warning from someone, or something, beyond his understanding. The voice that spoke to him was not his own, and the image of the violent execution was all too real.


    This was not the first time he had experienced such a sensation, but this time, the vision was clearer, filled with gore and bloodshed. As he lay in bed, trying to make sense of what he had just witnessed, he couldn''t shake off the feeling that there was more to this than just a simple dream.


    The world outside was still cloaked in thick darkness as if the night had decided to linger longer than it should have. And the weather had its own opinion on the matter too. It was pouring outside.


    With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes, letting the sound of the rain lull him back to sleep. The rhythm of the droplets hitting against the glass seemed almost like a lullaby, soothing him into a deep, peaceful slumber.


    SOMEWHERE COLD AND UNREACHABLE


    The piercing, crimson-orbed eyes opened slowly, taking in the world around her. With a barely audible murmur, the black-haired elf whispered the prophetic words,


    So it has begun.


    IN HANS¡¯S ROOM


    The first light of dawn crept through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. It was a new day, but there was something different about it. Rudolf, the usual morning rouser, was nowhere to be found. Instead, it was Hans who roamed the house, his mind still haunted by a strange and unsettling dream.


    As he moved silently about, he couldn''t help but dwell on the images from the dream - the piles of corpses, the sense of guilt that weighed heavy on his mind. His favourite spot on the doorsill beckoned him, despite Sierra''s warnings of ill fortune but the rain made him sit in front of the fireplace.


    The man from the dream had been powerful, Hans realised. Strong enough to rival even Rudolf, the greatest knight he knew. The man''s words echoed in his mind, tempting him to dwell on the dream, but he knew he had to push it aside. He had other things to focus on - his studies, his duties.


    Reaching for his book, he buried himself in its pages, letting the words take him to another world far from his troubled thoughts. The warmth of the fireplace bathed him in a soft glow, and he lay on his stomach, the book propped up in front of him. For a while, he forgot all about the strange dream and the worries that came with it.


    <blockquote><hr>


    PAGE 6


    I believe the first experiment has given you trouble, so let¡¯s begin with our second experiment, which is ¡®planting a seed''.


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans furrowed his brow, his mind clouded with scepticism as he scanned the text before him once more. But alas, the words remained unaltered, just as he had read them before. With a deep breath, he pushed aside his doubts and ventured forth.


    <blockquote><hr>


    It''s highly probable that you may have witnessed treants conjuring plants seemingly out of thin air. This remarkable observation has led me to believe that the Wood mana property, as named by the elves in ancient Elven text, is a more accurate representation of this phenomenon than the human designation.


    <hr></blockquote>


    Life mana? Ancient Elven Text? Hans got more curious and continued.


    <blockquote><hr>


    I borrowed the ancient text from Clandor, of course, without asking them. I planned to return it to them before long, but it sure created the havoc in Clandor and the Elven Council were searching it like madmen. Seeing them in trouble was a pleasing sight for Elanor and Reina, both were royals but had very little influence on Clandor because of the Council.


    <hr></blockquote>


    A smirk crept onto Hans'' face, his mind''s eye conjuring images of a group of devious elders in a state of utter perplexity upon realizing their prized possession had gone missing. The mere thought of Samson''s audacity in robbing the protected text right under the noses of the Elves amused the young lad to no end. With a chuckle, he delved deeper into the text.


    <blockquote><hr>


    I have included some translations from the ancient text in the next book, named THE SOLAR MAGE. I''ll disclose its location at the end of this book. This is the second and the last book you must have. So where were we? Ah yes, put a seed inside an empty pot without giving it any soil, sunshine, and water. You need to supply mana from outside into the seed, like controlling the flow of it. Be cautious if you give it in huge amounts, it might break it.


    To achieve this, you must learn the treant¡¯s way of manipulating mana regularly. If my hypothesis is right, as it should be. It''s my hypothesis after all, you will learn their way quickly.


    This experiment will become the foundation for you to manipulate nature¡¯s mana, and how much you take control from nature in one go will determine the scale of your spell. Because the spell we will develop here does not contain circles like others, it can be as grand as the seventh circle or as small as the first circle. There is no restriction. It solely depends on you, imagine yourself at the front of the well (nature), the well contains unlimited water and you have a bucket which can draw water (mana) from the well, it depends on your own strength how big of the bucket you can pull from it.


    You need to keep doing two things: first, increase the size of the bucket by honing the method of tapping in nature¡¯s mana, and the second one to increase your control over it. Good luck with this experiment. I believe you will be successful in these trials. It might take a lot of time, but if you build a solid foundation here, you will have fast progress in upcoming spell creations.


    END OF PAGE 6


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans closed the book, grinning ear to ear. Since Treants have taken a liking to him, he could just ask them to teach their way. But it was not the sole reason for his grin. The title of the second book, "The solar mage," was piquing his curiosity.


    All he knew about mana attributes were Elementals like fire, water, earth, and wind. For advanced attributes such as magma, Wood, ice, and thunder. Dark and light were rare. That''s all there was to it, but Sam mentioned Solar, which was not even in the unrecorded family of mana. He wanted to ask about this from the elders, but sadly, they were currently asleep.


    Another thing that grabbed his interest is that Samson, a knight by trade would teach spells. It was hard to believe, as knights were more often associated with swords and shields than the intricate workings of magic. Yet, something told him that these spells could be the key to turning the tides of many battles he was going to face.


    He was giggling, lying on the floor, oblivious to the world around him, he failed to notice a pair of piercing eyes fixated on him from the shadows.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 16 : The Uninvited Guests lessons

    CHAPTER 16


    THE UNINVITED GUEST''S LESSONS


    A sense of unease crept over Hans as he sensed an unfamiliar gaze trained upon him. In a sudden flurry of movement, he scrambled to compose himself, only to find that Sierra was the one observing him with a curious expression. "You''ve been quite engrossed lately," she remarked, her tone hinting at a hint of playfulness. Hans let out a resigned sigh but remained silent. Sierra persisted, "Is it that interesting?"


    Sierra, a skilled mage in her own right, stood before a tome promising the tantalizing prospect of infinite mana. Despite her claim of disinterest, it was clear to Hans that the book held a certain allure for her. Taking a moment to catch his breath, Hans responded with a wry smile, "You nearly gave me a heart attack, Granny."


    Sierra pressed on, her curiosity piqued,


    What secrets does the book contain?


    Hans reached down to retrieve the book from the floor, his eyes alight with admiration.


    Its author was truly a genius.


    Rudolf, who had been lurking just behind Sierra, couldn''t help but interject,


    If Samson caught you calling him a genius, you''d hear it to no end.


    Rudolf replied from behind her,


    Samson would have smacked your head if he heard you.


    Hans rolled his eyes in response, aping Rudolf''s gruff tone,


    Yes, yes, I know, calling someone a genius is an insult, I get it...


    Sierra cut in with a biting retort,


    But geniuses tend to die young, only simpletons as your grandpa lives long.


    Hans laughed in response, clearly tickled by Sierra''s sardonic humour, while Rudolf merely grunted in annoyance. "I don''t need you to be a genius, Hans," Sierra continued, her tone suddenly serious. "I just want you to stay alive for a good long while."


    Without hesitation, Hans threw himself into her waiting embrace, offering a heartfelt reassurance, "Don''t worry, Granny. I won''t leave you, even if you try to get rid of me."


    Hans said, snuggling in her embrace,


    Speaking of which, I had that weird dream again.


    Sierra reached out to pat his head comfortingly, a look of concern etched onto her face.


    What did you see this time?


    "It was...strange," Hans began hesitantly. "I was in the dream, but I wasn''t myself, killing a bunch of elves with a sword, and I was so strong..." His voice trailed off, a sense of unease settling over him once more.


    Sierra''s expression grew solemn as she listened, her mind racing to make sense of the troubling dream. She knew of someone who had the gift of glimpsing into the future through dreams, but she couldn''t be sure whether Hans'' unsettling vision was a premonition or simply the product of his vivid imagination, fueled by his love of reading fictitious stories.


    "Whatever it is," she reassured him, "we''ll figure it out together, my child." She gently patted his head, urging him to let go of his worries and focus on the present. Hans felt a sense of comfort wash over him as he looked up at Sierra''s kind face, knowing that he could always count on her for guidance and support.


    With a renewed sense of determination, Hans drew in a deep breath and strengthened his resolve to become stronger, and quickly at that. He knew that his loved ones were worried about his safety, and he wanted to ease their minds by showing them that he was capable of handling whatever challenges came his way.


    Samson''s request for Hans to protect the people in his absence was unnecessary, for Hans cared deeply about his family and would do whatever it took to keep them safe. With each passing moment, he felt a growing sense of determination and purpose, driving him ever closer to his goal of becoming the powerful mage that his family needed him to be.


    As the rain poured down in a relentless deluge, Hans found himself growing increasingly restless and bored. He longed to delve deeper into the pages of the book in front of him. But he knew that skimming through its pages would do him no good, and that to truly master the lessons contained within, he would need to seek the guidance of the treants themselves.


    Unfortunately, the weather was not on his side, throwing temper tantrums from early morning and showing no signs of letting up. Hans sighed and tried to distract himself from his impatience, but the sound of the raindrops tapping against the windowpane only served to heighten his frustration. He knew he would need to wait until the storm passed, but the thought of being trapped indoors for another day was almost too much to bear.


    Rudolf and Sierra were leisurely enjoying their afternoon, savouring the warmth of their tea and the comfort of their home. However, their tranquillity was suddenly disrupted as both of them abruptly became serious and hastened towards the doorstep where Hans was lounging with a storybook. Hans was caught off guard by their sudden shift in demeanour and asked them what was wrong.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    Rudolf''s frustration was palpable as he exclaimed, "Something is approaching, and it''s coming with a large group of beings." He had grown weary of unwelcome guests recently, so this new arrival only added to his annoyance. As the hoard drew nearer, Hans recognized the familiar figures of his new friends, the treants. Unlike Rudolf and Sierra, Hans couldn''t contain his excitement at the sight of his tree-like companions.


    Sierra deliberated on their options as the treants surrounded their home. Their collective power could easily overpower Rudolf, causing her to worry. However, after observing how peacefully they were calling Hans, she eventually relented.


    Without hesitation, Hans reached out and made contact with the oldest treant, conveying his sincere desire to learn how to harness mana like a Treant. The old being responded with positivity, demonstrating the process by sprouting and growing its own branches.


    Hans retrieved the seed from his pocket and presented it to the treant, curious to see what would happen. A small branch from the treant extended and gently lifted his hand, its touch transmitting control signals to the seed. As if awoken by the treant''s mana, the seed started to absorb the surrounding energy, rapidly sprouting and growing into a flourishing plant before their eyes.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Hans felt the treant''s touch acting like a catalyst, opening him up to the raw power of nature. The treant guided him, teaching him the art of manipulating mana, and Hans absorbed every bit of knowledge like a sponge soaking up water.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    As he focused, Hans felt the flow of mana shifting according to his will, causing plants to sprout up around him at a rapid pace. However, he knew that this was only possible due to the elder treant''s connection to him, and he had yet to master the art of mana control on his own.


    Hans spent several blissful hours with the treants, who treated him like one of their own, sheltering him from the unrelenting rain. They taught him everything they could about the raw mana of nature. As the sun began to set, the treants bid him farewell and scattered off into the forest, leaving Hans with a newfound sense of wonder and knowledge.


    Sierra felt relieved that Hans was unharmed, pulling him inside the house and bombarding him with questions.


    "Why did those creatures come looking for you?" she asked, her worry still evident in her voice.


    Hans smiled, feeling a sense of pride in his accomplishment.


    They said I called them.


    Rudolf interjected,


    Did you call them? How?


    Hans shrugged.


    I don''t know how, but I just wanted to see them, and they sensed it somehow.


    Rudolf rolled his eyes at Hans''s comment.


    You are an unending thread of surprise, squeaky.


    Hans grinned.


    Maybe I am born superior, gramps.


    Ha! Don''t talk like an idiot elf.


    Hans halted his words, determined not to let senseless arguing with Rudolf ruin his newfound knowledge. He didn''t care about the surprised expressions on his grandparents'' faces at the moment. He had just completed his first experiment in mastering the treant way of magic, as Samson had written. Now, he wanted to use it without the aid of the treants.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    A sudden memory jolted him, something he wanted to ask but had forgotten in the morning''s panic and the treants'' visit. He turned to Rudolf and Sierra and posed his question.


    What is solar magic?


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans stood there, waiting for his grandparents to answer his question. But when they looked at him with confusion, he realized that maybe they didn''t know what solar magic was either.


    It''s in the next book of the ''Books of Fate'', he explained to them.


    Rudolf furrowed his brow, trying to remember.


    "Solar mage...solar mage...," he muttered, lost in thought.


    Sierra, however, couldn''t resist teasing him.


    "Don''t overtax your brain, Rudolf. It''s not meant for heavy usage." she joked.


    Turning her attention back to Hans, she said, "I''m not sure about the book or the mage, but it sounds like it has something to do with the sun."


    Hans held back, resisting the urge to use sarcasm to point out the obvious. Sierra, on the other hand, was lost in contemplation. She knew that asking about the second book was risky; if the wrong people found out, it could lead to dangerous consequences. The secrets her son kept were powerful, and there were many who would stop at nothing to find them, so she warned Hans.


    You promised to not look for it until you are strong, so stop being curious.


    Hans nodded in agreement, and Rudolf added to the conversation,


    You will eventually know about the second book if it''s for you in the end, anyway. Now show me what you learnt from those walking trees.


    Hans nodded obediently once again, realising the weight of his grandparents'' concern. He knew that the secrets of Sam''s legacies were not to be taken lightly, and he didn''t want to cause any unnecessary harm. Instead, he focused on Rudolf''s request, eager to show off his newfound knowledge.


    With a small smile, he held out his hand, focusing his attention on the mana surrounding him, trying to mimic Treant''s way of manipulation. It was a delicate balance of power, and he tried to rush the mana into the seed without overwhelming it.


    He felt the mana respond, but progress was slow compared to the effortless growth he had witnessed with the Treants. Nevertheless, he persisted, pouring his concentration into the small seed, and after a while, he felt a familiar warmth in his hand. A small sprout began to grow from his palm, twisting and turning as he willed it to and it did not take a while for the seed to transform into a tiny plant.


    Hans marvelled at the tiny plant he had managed to grow, the first one he had created without the help of the Treants. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.


    Rudolf''s eyes widened in amazement, and Sierra looked on with a mixture of pride and apprehension, while Hans was drenched in sweat and strained from the mental effort. Manipulating mana demands a significant amount of focus, and Hans was pushing himself beyond his limits to expand the size of his mana bucket (mentioned on page 6 of the first book, an example of a well and bucket of mana).


    Despite the difficulty of the task, Hans didn''t relent. He smiled with satisfaction as he gently removed the growing plant from his hand and placed it in the backyard. With the roots firmly anchored in the earth, the plant''s growth accelerated at a remarkable pace. In a matter of moments, the tiny plant had blossomed into a towering tree, nearly as tall as Rudolf.


    Sierra grew worried as she noticed Hans struggling to catch his breath, but her concerns were quickly put to rest as she saw the elation on his face. She was astounded by Hans''s progress. It had only been a few hours since he learned how to manipulate the flow of mana, yet he was already performing it with the skill of an expert.


    Hans yearned for more, the beauty of using nature''s mana was it had no limits.  And so, he challenged himself to push beyond his limits, to expand his vessel(control) for drawing mana from the world. He scattered a handful of seeds upon the earth, and with arms outstretched to the heavens, he bellowed a commanding cry, bending nature''s mana to his will, "Grow!"


    The seeds seemed to awaken at his call, bursting to life with frenzied vigour. Before his eyes, saplings erupted from the ground, exploding into a profusion of trees, each heavy with a bounty of fruits in every shape and hue. Though mentally drained, the thrill of his accomplishment overwhelmed Hans, and he collapsed onto the ground, laughing uncontrollably.


    But as exhaustion gripped him with a vice-like hold, a deep slumber soon took over, and he sank into the realm of dreams, savouring the sweet fruits of his labour.


    As Hans stirred awake in the dead of night, he discovered Sierra sound asleep in a reclining chair at his bedside. As he surveyed his surroundings, he was struck by a profound change. Everywhere he looked, he could see the world in a whole new light, as if every object was pulsing with vibrant waves of colour that intermingled with one another, weaving a tapestry of energy that flowed all around him.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    He turned his gaze to Sierra again, and there, he saw the strands of mana spiralling into her chest and coiling around her heart. The strands sucked inward in a mesmerizing spiral, and the rotation of the spiral shifted counter-clockwise as the remaining mana flowed outward from her heart. It appeared as though she was inhaling these multi-coloured strands of energy through her heart as if she was breathing mana from her heart.


    Rudolf groaned, knocking his head in annoyance, and quipped, "If you''re gonna stare that hard, get your own blasted wife, squeaky."


    Hans clutched his head in distress. The ruckus stirred Sierra from her slumber, and in no time, the old man was spilling the beans about Hans''s supposed lewd activities, accusing the boy of gawking at her wife''s chest.


    Sierra turned to Rudolf, inquiring with a hint of teasing,


    Is he already at that age?


    Flushed with embarrassment, Hans vehemently refuted the allegations, but Rudolf wouldn''t let up, teasing him relentlessly. Frustrated and agitated, Hans finally snapped and shouted, "Can''t you see what''s really happening here?"


    But Rudolf remained unconvinced, interpreting Hans'' outburst as a pitiful attempt to dodge the conversation. Yet, Hans was not to be deterred and yelled again, this time with even more fervour.


    There is light going in her heart. Gramps, you moron.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 17 : The Human Standards

    CHAPTER 17


    THE HUMAN STANDARDS


    Sierra stopped Rudolf from laughing and pondered, realizing that getting caught in this situation must have embarrassed the little man. She knew that it was not something a growing boy could overcome on his own, but her perspective shifted when Hans mentioned the colours entering her heart.


    "What do you see, Hans? Say it clearly," she asked, urging him to explain further after studying more closely.


    "It''s like you are the centre, and these strands move spirally inward towards it, and after a while, the motion reverses as these things are released from your heart," Hans replied after concentrating harder.


    Sierra nodded, curious to know more, and asked,


    Now tell me the difference between the colours entered and exited.


    Hans focused even more and answered,


    Not colour, but it loses some brightness after the release.


    Sierra released some of her mana, and Hans quickly commented,


    Now it is like before.


    Smiling, She praised him, saying,


    Your Gramps is right. You have a knack for surprising others.


    She continued,


    That''s how the mana heart of a mage collects mana. It is like a cycle. The raw mana outside contains every mana property like a mixture, that''s why you see many colours band together. A mage''s heart acts like a filter and stores the compatible mana and releases the rest. In my case, I store the golden strands and let out the rest. That''s why you see it dimmed down after the release.


    Hans asked,


    then if the mage stores the compatible mana inside, doesn''t that create imbalance outside?


    Sierra felt proud of his observation and replied, "Being a mana user goes against the very nature of things, my child. Not everyone can do it. Mages keep releasing the mana bound inside through spells, returning it to nature again. That''s the cycle of mana, and you have to be at least a world mage (Eight Circle) to see these things."


    Instead of Hans, Rudolf said in surprise,


    Are you for real?


    Sierra confirmed, "Yes, I am. This is called ManaVision, an upgrade to the ability of ManaSense that your knights use. Instead of sensing the mana, Hans could detect what mana others possess, just like me, a world mage."


    Rudolf said in frustration,


    I know what ManaVision is, dear, but this brat is using it. Are you sure?


    Before she could respond to Rudolf, Hans intervened, surprised, "It''s a good thing, right?"


    Sierra cheerfully replied, "Of course, it is. A world mage uses this to create a Sanctuary."


    Rudolf, still in shock, muttered,


    The boy is learning to run before toddling.


    With a sneer, Hans retorted,


    That''s human standards, old man. I am born better, as I said before.


    Rudolf fought the urge to knuckle Hans in the head once again. He had already told the boy not to act like the haughty elves who took pride in their lineage, but Hans had already ran over to Sierra, teasing him about his failed attempt. Sierra pulled Hans in front of her and began to explain.


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    "Listen closely," she said, her voice filled with determination. "When a mage reaches a certain level of proficiency, they begin to influence the mana around them. It is then that ManaVision surfaces... Ah!".


    As she spoke, a sudden realization struck Sierra, and she turned to Hans with a knowing look in her eyes. "I understand now," she said with certainty. "You are controlling the mana around you, right? yes, yes, which is why the book is called Limitless. It teaches you to take control over the infinite mana pool of nature and allows you to shape it to your will. I''m right, aren''t I"


    Hans chuckled in amusement at his grandmother''s sharp mind. "You are smart, grandma," he said with a grin. "But yes, you are right. I can tap into the limitless mana of the world around me."


    As Sierra watched, her amusement bubbled over as her intuition was proven right once again. Meanwhile, Rudolf''s frustration was palpable as he muttered, "This boy is turning scarier with each passing moment, my dear."


    Ignoring him, she turned to the boy and confirmed once again "We need to see if it''s a fluke or if you can do it willingly. Close your eyes and imagine the warmth of your eyes dissipating from the corners. Then open them."


    Hans followed her instructions and opened his eyes to see everything had returned to normal. Sierra asked him how he saw things, and he told her the truth. She instructed him to concentrate harder and focus more, but Hans interrupted excitedly.


    "I can see the strands of mana again!"


    Rudolf responded in disappointment,


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.So it wasn''t a fluke.


    Hans retorted,


    See, Gramps? I''m better than a human, right?


    Rudolf muttered,


    Yeah, yeah, show off.


    Hans then turned to Sierra and asked,


    Does that mean I can create a Sanctuary too, whatever that is?


    Rudolf interrupted,


    Do you even know what you''re saying, squeaky?


    Hans shot back,


    Yeah, it''s not something to eat, old man. Just stay quiet for a moment.


    Rudolf struggled to control his urge to beat the boy once again, while Sierra answered Hans'' question.


    "I know you defy common sense, but that would be too terrifying, Hans. A mage has to reach the eighth circle to create a sanctuary."


    Hans then asked, "What is a sanctuary?"


    Sierra explained, "A world mage''s most powerful spell or ability, in which the mage establishes an area of high mana that only listens to them. Mostly every mage''s sanctuary behaves differently. Mine heals everyone who comes under the area."


    Hans complimented Sierra,


    Cool, I knew you were awesome, grandma.


    Sierra ignored his flattery and asked him,


    Are you okay?


    Hans replied,


    Yes, I was just tired. Soon I will grow strong enough to protect you, grandma.


    Sierra pinched Hans''s cheek and told him,


    You just started today, squeaky. Say those words to me when you''re stronger than my husband.


    This was the first time Sierra had taken Rudolf''s side in front of Hans, which made the old man feel butterflies in his stomach. However, Hans''s next words ruined the moment.


    "Don''t worry, gramps will be biting the dust soon."


    With a playful grin, Sierra tugged at Rudolf''s arm, pulling him out of Hans''s chambers and into the hallway. As they left, the young boy drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the endless hours of playing with ManaVision. Unbeknownst to him, his control over the raw mana was growing stronger with each passing moment, as if he was regaining long-lost abilities.


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    The following day, Rudolf awoke to a surprising sight. Instead of having to rouse the boy from slumber, he found him seated by the window, fully engrossed in manipulating a blob of raw mana. The more he practised with ManaVision, the more powerful and prolonged his control over the mana became.


    The idea of possessing unlimited mana was now within the boy''s grasp, and he eagerly anticipated discovering what more the book had to offer. With eager anticipation, he turned the page and delved deeper into its secrets.


    <blockquote><hr>


    PAGE 7


    If you are on this page, it means that you have successfully grown the seed into a plant, well congratulations first on succeeding. You might have realised the growth of the seed depends on how much mana you can control...


    <hr></blockquote>


    As Hans delved deeper into the pages of the book, he was struck once again by its uncanny ability to predict his every thought. It was as if the book itself was alive and responding to his every whim, answering his every question before he even had a chance to ask it.


    Undeterred by the strangeness of it all, Hans persisted in his reading,


    <blockquote><hr>


    Despite the vast potential of raw mana manipulation, there are certain limitations to the power. If there were none, then the infamous Ghost Isle could''ve have easily conquered the entire world by now. The concentration and mental fortitude required to effectively manipulate raw mana are immense, and not all individuals possess this level of capability.


    But fear not, The human brain has a remarkable ability to adapt and learn through repetition. With consistent practice and dedication, even the most difficult tasks can become second nature.


    This is what sets humans apart from beasts, as they lack the cognitive capacity to reach the level of control necessary to master raw mana manipulation.


    ¡°In light of this, it is essential to devise a spell that is suitable for you to train and hone your skills in manipulating raw mana.¡±


    END OF PAGE 7


    <hr></blockquote>


    This page was short. Hans got excited to learn his first spell and hurriedly flipped the page and read the words in bold letters. It was the name of his first to be ''spell'',


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    PAGE 8


    SPROUT


    An ability to create or grow any plant you desire with nothing.


    You have grown a plant from the seed right, but have you seen a treant using seeds,no right? I bet you didn''t because they didn''t need a starting point like a seed.


    <hr></blockquote>


    As Hans read through the book''s pages, his mind wandered back to his first encounter with the Treants. He recalled how these ancient creatures had the power to grow entire flower beds without the need for any seeds. Nature seemed to bend to their will, as they effortlessly moulded it to suit their desires.


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    With a wistful sigh, Hans set aside his memories and returned to the present, picking up where he had left off in the book''s pages.


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    In this we will imitate what they did. Just as you connected with treant, try to do the same with the seed. They might not respond to you like them, but you will understand how it comes to existence. For this lesson to be completed, you have to achieve two things. First, create a seed with just raw mana and second thing is to grow it. There is a limitation in the seeds found in nature, but your creations will be superior as it focuses not on survival but the task intended. You might not understand my words clearly now, but you will soon. You could even grow a tree indefinitely.


    Hint- for creation, study the seed structure and try layering the mana as its structure


    Now start what I said and I will see you on the next page.


    End of page 8


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans hastily closed the book and dashed off in search of the seeds he had collected from his backyard garden. Scouring through his possessions, he stumbled upon a floral seed that could grow into a plant almost as tall as him.


    Following Sam''s instructions, Hans attempted to connect with the seed using his raw mana. To his dismay, the seed did not respond in the same way as the Treants, but he could sense the minute strands of mana weaving themselves into an intricate pattern to form the seed.


    Hans tried to replicate the pattern by combining the fine strands of raw mana in the same arrangement. His initial attempts resulted in nothing but repulsive creations, far from the intended seed. Despite numerous failures, Hans persevered and finally succeeded in creating an exact replica of the floral seed. Overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment, he sought out the elders for praise and validation, feeling like any other child his age.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 18 : The Journey to Limitless Begins

    CHAPTER 18


    THE JOURNEY TO LIMITLESS BEGINS


    It was afternoon and both of the elders were just sitting and discussing something. Hans came up to them, excited with an obvious expression, eager to be asked what had happened. So the lady humoured the boy. "Did you learn something new, child?"


    Hans maintained his excitement and pulled her by the hand to their backyard. He wanted to surprise her, and his actions did. Hans opened up his empty palm and a fluctuation of mana became visible in his palm. First, it was as small as a grain of sand, but it grew and formed a quality seed.


    Sierra and Rudolf never saw a wood mage before, but they knew that what Hans did was not normal. A man can not create life. It was a god¡¯s domain as far as they knew, but both of them didn''t interrupt the child who was happily looking at their way. They realised before that judging Hans by human standards was not fitting, so they let the child enjoy his achievement.


    Hans did not grow the self-created seed before coming to them, so the next step was also his first try too. He threw the seed into the ground and poured the raw mana into the seed, but unlike other times; the seed did not grow slowly but sprouted instantly into a seven metres tall thick plant with many flowers several times larger than the original one.


    The growing process was so fast that it could have been called instant growth. All three of them got surprised and Rudolf let out the words, "What blasphemy he is studying?"


    Hans took those words as a compliment. He hid his surprised face and acted as he was aware of this. He proudly said, "What do you think? I am amazing, right?"


    Sierra said while patting his head. "Yes, you are Hans."


    Hans left the surprised elders behind and ran into his room. He wanted to learn more and was yearning for an action spell because his actions till now looked cool, but it was suitable for a farmer rather than a battle mage, which he aspired to be after his dreams of becoming a knight got shattered.


    He opened the book and resumed,


    <blockquote><hr>


    PAGE 9


    VEGANBIND


    As you would have seen, the seed produced by Sprout has no limit to its growth, as long as you supply the mana in it and its structure can hold. It would have outgrown its normal size by several times. It might not be the thing you wanted to do, but it is a necessary foundation for the upcoming spells.


    This spell is what I call a perfect restraining spell and you could also use it as a weapon. Now, for creating this spell, you must raise a vine just like you have created the plant. If my thoughts are right with mana manipulation, you can gain control over the vines. It will act as a whip, but the beauty of this vine is that it won¡¯t consume any of your mana and won¡¯t disappear until you free the mana held in it


    So get a vine seed and start practising. After successfully creating a vine and controlling it to your will, you can read further.


    .


    .


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans closed the book and ran to Rudolf. The old man, who was still in the backyard observing the overgrown flower plant from before, got surprised not because Hans had spooked him or anything, but because he didn''t know what Hans would do next. Rudolf asked in haste, "What do you want, squeaky?"


    "Not much, but can you find me some seeds for vines? It would be better if it is a classified plant, not the normal one."


    "Do you need it now?"


    "Come on gramps, don''t laze around."


    "Hey! I provide you with three meals a day. Can''t I get some respect here?


    Hans looked at Rudolf dumbfoundedly and replied with an unconcerned face, "NO, get going now."


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    Rudolf glared at him but had no choice except fulfilling his wish, so he left for the task. In the meantime, Hans hung around with Sierra until the old man came back late in the evening. With not even a concern about how he was, Hans went for the bag he was holding in his hand and opened it. Several types of different seeds were a welcoming sight for him. Rudolf knew that he will have to go on these errands from time to time, so he had already picked up almost every type of seed he could find in advance.


    Hans praised Rudolf with a grin."Being lazy is efficient, gramps."


    "Why do I think you are insulting me, brat?" Rudolf responded.


    "You could take it as an insult, but that was a compliment."


    The old man grunted, his laziness brought several test subjects for Hans. Little did he know that this act of Rudolf was going to give him one of his deadliest spells. It was late for experimenting, so Hans only recorded the mana structure that had made the seeds. Surprisingly, he could easily memorise the pattern compared to the things Sierra wanted to teach him through literature.


    He was having a hard time sleeping because of overexcitement, but eventually, his exhaustion won over his enthusiasm, and he fell asleep. In the late morning, he was sorting the seeds and doing something in the backyard. Sierra was with him throughout the time and with a bit of time she asked the boy while sorting. "What spell are you working on?"


    "A restraining spell." Hans answered.


    "That''s why you need vines, right? I recommend you this." She picked a dark green seed of Turtle vines, an industrial class raw material, which is used to make tensile ropes in the Genas. It was famous for the perfect balance of toughness and flexibility. Hans agreed and produced the seed with mana in his hand and soon the vine grew instantly in the shape that Hans was thinking.


    It was easy to manipulate the movement of these vines while growing. These creepers suddenly surrounded Rudolf, who was munching on some kind of fried snack, and on seeing the perfect execution, Hans tightened his hold. He made the creepers with the purpose of restraining and because of that, these were several times stronger than regular ones, but Rudolf didn''t like what Hans was doing during his snack time. He just flicked his aura, and the vines got blown away.


    Rudolf laughed at his disappointed face. This spell was meant to restrain knights and mages, but it was too weak to even hold his old gramps. Hans was standardising knights as Rudolf, without knowing that his old man held the ninth rank in the world of knights.


    He consoled himself by saying that he had not even read the whole page, so the outcome should not discourage him. He told Rudolf that he will perfect the spell and make him acknowledge it. After he ran inside, Sierra chided Rudolf for his childish behaviour of belittling Hans''s efforts.


    Hans reopen the book and find the line where he left off,


    <blockquote><hr>


    PAGE 9


    VEGANBIND


    As¡­


    This¡­


    So..


    .


    .


    I hope you have created some creepers and might be able to control them as you wish but you see, these are fragile things that can¡¯t even hold a second class beast, so you need to mutate its origin for producing stronger and more tenacious vines.


    First, we will mutate the vine into a poisonous type that will numb the target so it won''t struggle much. It will not make the vines stronger, but our target weaker. Follow the steps.


    Step 1: create a seed of normal vine and a poisonous plant


    Step 2: pass the raw mana on both while trying to connect them with each other


    Step 3: maintain focus, this is a fragile connection which could break easily. Now grow it till it bears fruit and seeds.


    Step 4: pick the seed and let the flow of mana stop.


    You will see the fragile mutated vine that you have created would wither away because it was not meant to exist but in your hands you have a fruit of a brand new species. Try learning its structure and mana patterns. Here you go a mutated VeganBind with poison features.


    END OF PAGE 9


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans couldn''t hold himself to try this out. Rudolf already had picked several seeds, and it didn''t take long to find a perfectly suitable poisonous plant. His selection was another vine that was weak in strength but potent in its poison, called poison ivy. Others knew the poison as purple sleep used in medical facilities as a knockout drug.


    Hans showed an evil smile and started doing what Sam had written. As he followed the procedure and acquired the mutated VeganBind seed. It was time for round two with Rudolf. He found the old man enjoying the rare sunshine of the Ghost Isles. Hans tried to be as sneaky as possible, but both the elders were waiting for what he was up to. They already realised Hans was approaching Rudolf the moment he appeared around, but they chose not to expose him.


    Both Rudolf and Hans were smiling wickedly inside, imagining the face of their opponent in disappointment while Sierra was waiting to see who would win this round.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 19 : The VeganCarnage

    Chapter 19


    The VeganCarnage


    Rudolf had closed his eyes, pretending to be off guard, but the boy had stopped further away from him, making him wonder. Instead of creating the seed in his hands, he was remotely spawning it right beneath Rudolf¡¯s sun Lounger and he succeeded. the old man sensed some changes in the vicinity but did not react to them. He was confident about breaking whatever creepers that this little brat had made.


    Instantly, vines spawned, encasing Rudolf tightly from beneath. The old man nearly got surprised but didn''t show his expression to Hans. he felt the vines were not stronger than before. The only difference was the dark purple colour that had taken over the usual green.


    He laughed at Hans, "Changing colour is not an improvement brat... Oh...I ..I..see, it''s poison."


    Rudolf did not feel numb as he should have, but the tingling sensation of poison trying to enter his system was making him alert. He raised his aura a little, but this time the vines didn''t shatter like before but got loosened. Seeing his little strength fail, Rudolf increased the aura a little more and shattered the vines.


    Hans cried in disappointment. He believed that he finally got this old knight, but it turned out to be a pipe dream. He ran inside the house, shouting that he will be back. Sierra came to her husband and asked, "Was it really poison?"


    "Yeah, if I wasn''t careful, that could have made me a little numb."


    "Hans is improving." She commented.


    Rudolf said in seriousness, which turned into shamelessness. "No, that brat is evolving. I am getting scared, dear; I need a hug." However, Sierra turned him down and went chasing after Hans while remaining silent. Rudolf got disappointed, indirectly fulfilling one of Hans¡¯s real objectives, but the boy was nowhere around to see his downed face.


    Hans was preparing for round three, but instead of taking the help of the book, he was trying it out on his own. He observed his first and second failures, the first was because the vines were not strong enough and the second was because the poison was having a hard time penetrating Rudolf¡¯s thick skin. He searched in his stash of seeds and found a tough-looking seed, which was more like a pebble of metal.


    He thought of including this feature in the VeganBInd, it would undoubtedly increase the toughness of vines and, for skin penetration; he needed something that could scratch his target¡¯s tough skin at least and for that, he also found a perfect plant.


    The metal pebble was a seed of a plant called OrganicIron, which used to coat things in metal and another one was called Fine hair Regasia, a bushy plant which was home to a bug-type beast. It has fine hair like a syringe that secretes formic acid to protect the beast living inside of him. The fine hairs were like tiny sharp blades, and this was what Hans needed. He didn''t need the old man to bleed, but if some of the numbing poison could enter him, he could achieve his goal.


    He started the experiment of mutation with three seeds: mutated VeganBind, OrganicIron seed and fine hair Regasia. He failed many times, but in the end, he achieved what he wanted. But before preparing for round three, he wanted to perfect this developed VeganBind. He was searching in the stash and found an unusual-looking seed which was matte dark.


    Hans could feel that this thing was alive, but was not capable of intelligence like treants. He tried to find out about it in the books, but it was a total mystery. His curiosity led him to the man he was trying to take down. On seeing Hans coming to him, Rudolf got cautious and asked him, "So ready for the next failure," However, Hans shook his head and threw the odd-looking seed at him and said, "What is this?"


    Rudolf cautiously catch the seed considering it a new trap but when his worries became fruitless, he remembered where he had picked it up; he replied to Hans casually, "I don''t know, I just thought it was interesting, so I bought it for you."


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    "How irresponsible?" Hans complained, "What if it''s poisonous, or carries a disease?"


    "Do you take me as a moron, brat?" Rudolf said, enraged.


    "Don''t know, a moron would never know that he is a moron, anyway." Rudolf took some time to process what Hans had just said. He was concluding, but Hans interrupted again, "Where did you get it? I mean geography, its location?"


    Rudolf felt the boy was looking down on him but a more terrifying existence was glaring at him from the child¡¯s back, so he just sucked up and told him, "It was from a barren land. That thing survived there, so I thought it could be interesting."


    From Sierra''s point of view, her husband should have not brought something unknown for their child to play with. After all, this place was Ghost Isles. Hans had already studied the weird-looking seed and was perfectly confident in replicating it, but he was feeling ominous. He decided to use the strange seed first instead of integrating it into his VeganBind.


    He found his life practice target and aimed his hand at him. Sensing malice from Hans, the old knight got alerted. Hans was playing dirty with the only aim of beating his grampa. His intent was so strong that Rudolf''s senses marked him as an enemy. It can by no means be said that a child sees his grandparent as such, but rather as prey.


    With some visible twirls of mana strands right between Hans and Rudolf, an ominous thing was forming. Sierra sensed it way before them and jumped to pull Hans back. But she was late. The seed finally formed, and it screamed like a wounded beast. Its shrieks were strong enough to plant fear in others, but fortunately, its opponent was one of the strongest men.


    With its shriek, the seed fell into the ground and tentacles like creepers grew out of it. They acted like octopus legs, but they were dull black with ends that looked like sharp edges. The seed kept crying and attacked the nearest person, ¡°Rudolf¡±.


    Instincts of Rudolf were telling him not to take this abomination lightly. Hans had his controls denied on the crying seed, and its tentacles matched Rudolf''s swings. Rudolf had summoned his sword ''ThunderClap'' and was seriously fighting with this ominous thing. The seed was alive just like Hans felt while he was observing its structure and Hans¡¯ making it with raw mana had seriously evolved its qualities.


    Rudolf had to make genuine efforts this time to subdue it. He was looking at Hans with astonishment, just like Hans was looking at the disposed seed. the feeling of almost kissing the feet of death was still giving him goosebumps. If Sierra didn''t pull him at the right time, then he was a goner for sure.


    The child laughed without realising that his grandpa was wearing a creeped-out face, Rudolf was genuinely flustered so he shouted back, "Hey brat, were you planning to kill me?"


    The book did not teach Hans any offensive spell, but this crying seed was powerful enough to make Rudolf use his aura and ThunderClap to fight seriously. His expectation of what more the book had in store for him was making him giggle. He thought deeply, If he had released multiple of those seeds around Rudolf, then he could have easily hurt him.


    Hans was giddying up while both of the elders were genuinely concerned for his mental health. He assured them and said, "I shall name this TheVeganCarnage." He  took out his journal and noted down the discoveries about seeds. He didn''t see the full prowess of the crying seed, but this was not something that he could experiment with on his own. He looked at Rudolf like a researcher looking at the lab rat that sent chills down the spine to the old man.


    "Gramps," Hans said grinning, "let''s go hunting."


    Rudolf felt relieved, he thought he had to fight several of those crying seeds by himself, but Hans seemed to be interested in seeing the full capacity of the strange attack. It was not bigger than an almond, but it sure packed the power to dominate a class four beast with its mere presence and it acted like it had intelligence. He was also getting curious, he killed it too soon to know about its capabilities. Sierra did not object to them but only warned them to stay a safe distance from the strange seed.


    Soon the young and old reached their hunting ground. Rudolf was ready to take Hans away and escape the range of crying seed on his command. Hans spawned the seed as far as he could and with the shriek, the seed conjured instantly and its eight speared tentacles sought prey hiding in range. With high speed and precision, it pierced the heads of a beast per tentacle.


    Its actions were fast, and it even found a beast which was in stealth and running away. Hans and Rudolf observed the crying seed which was targeting the head and sapping its fluids. They could visibly see the penetrated heads had shrunken brains. The crying seed withered after killing the beasts in its vicinity. It looked like the seed needed brain fluids with mana to survive.


    Hans noted his findings in his journal, and Rudolf acknowledged Hans''s naming capabilities. "You named it perfectly kid, it''s really carnage."


    "It''s VeganCarnage gramps," Hans corrected, proud.


    "What part is it VEGAN. It''s terrifying. Can you control it?"


    "I don''t think so. It''s like killing is hard-coded in its instincts and if not careful, I might end up becoming its food, too."


    "Yeah, use it in moderation."


    Hans wanted to know how well these crying seeds worked together, but he got disappointed because when he released two of them, they attacked and ended up killing each other. So his plan to attack the same target with many of them failed before hatching


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 20 : The Hunting Roadblock

    Chapter 20


    The Hunting Roadblock


    Hans was trying to sleep, but he was a little disappointed by the situation. All day long with Rudolf in the forest, he tried to control TheVeganCarnage, but it didn''t even listen once. It was a powerful weapon, but a weapon that can''t be under control was nothing but a liability, and Hans didn''t like that term.


    So instead of something which he can''t control, he started diverting his mind towards what he could. The thoughts of strengthening VeganBind were acting like a stimulant that kept him awake. He finally got tired, with a lot of ideas wrecking in his mind and got some shuteye, but Rudolf¡¯s loud voice dragged him down from dreamlands quickly. He actually slept for at least six hours, but the feeling of just closing his eyes and instantly waking up was irritating him.


    He was cranky, so Rudolf offered him advice, "Why don''t you try your restraining spell on hunting, ON YOUR OWN?"


    Hans always tried to talk Rudolf into this, but this time the old man proposed this on his own, so his crankiness just vanished and he finished his breakfast in the open fields, which had almost become the lunch, and urged the old man to hasten up.


    It was different from yesterday''s control exercise, where he was under the supervision of the old knight. Today, Rudolf won''t be interfering with him or guiding him, and he has to be responsible for his every action.


    Hans was not on Rudolf¡¯s shoulder like he usually sat on their outing. Rudolf wanted the brat to feel that hunting is not only about attacking and pinning down the prey but stamina and physique, which he was lacking. He expected Hans to lose some vigour while trekking but since the start of his weird mana practice, the raw mana was strengthening him physically. They came across a herbivore beast and Rudolf marked it as their target today. He shrouded himself in the aura and his presence disappeared. His act clearly meant that he wanted Hans to do everything. If someone else saw a boy of eight years hunting in a beast zone, not to mention Ghost Isles, he would have reported Rudolf to the Knight Association for child abuse.


    It was an absurd idea that an eight-year-old boy was here hunting a class second dark Krillin, although it was a herbivore that looked like a big scary goat with a dark brown hide, when provoked it could tear apart limbs of an adult with just one hit from his front leaning, almost a metre crowned horns. It could impale anything with the strength of two metres tall and a muscular body.


    Hans was feeling the itch to use TheVeganCarnage but held back because if that spell failed and the Krillin got lucky, the thing he was imagining doing to the beast could also happen to him.


    He focused and spawned a VeganBind seed under the Kirillin, instantly bounding its four legs and stretching them in opposite directions, making the beast drop against its soft belly. A wicked smile came to Hans¡¯ face as he constructed a seed at a safe distance. With his high elevation and gravity adding the extra force, the seed quickly fell towards the beast. He jumped higher right after creating the crying seed for extra safety and shouted for aesthetics ¡°TheVeganCarnage¡±.


    With a loud screech, more of a roar, the crying seed made its presence known and later came the dangerously sharp-speared vines. The Kirillin beast panicked. He didn''t have the slightest idea what was happening because everything unfolded so fast. Just when it tried to free itself from the restraints, the drowsiness caused by the poison hit it.


    The strong lustrous vines with dark purple colour were in a different league than the previous form of vines. Its fine trichomes (plant hairs) have lost all their flexibility because of mutation with OrganicIron plants. It was better to say that the advanced VeganBind was like a torture whip with tiny poisonous spikes  The new features genuinely surprised Rudolf. He almost said attaboy to Hans, but he held back. The boy was already arrogant enough and his praise would have raised his nose higher.


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    The Kirillin tried to break the vines but its struggles progressed the poisoning, making the beast more numb. The tentacle of crying seed came like the grim reaper at the defenceless Krillin. Rudolf even felt sorry for the poor beast, but there was no guilt in Hans¡¯s eyes and, just like that, the boy killed his very own prey.


    The most painful thing on the first hunt was not the strength of the target but the guilt of taking its life, but Hans was only feeling proud of his accomplishment. It was not that he was heartless, but he was told multiple times by Rudolf, ¡°feeling bad for the enemy will lead you to doom¡± and he understood one more thing, the law of this place was to kill or be killed.


    Rudolf also observed another thing: the number of tentacles in the crying seeds increased by one, and it became more violent, too. With a newly expanded range, it hunted nine beasts before withering out. If used cautiously, it could become Hans¡¯ trump card. The only downside was that he couldn''t use this among his allies unless he wanted to kill them all.


    Both of them came to the hunting ground and saw the impaled Kirillin. The crying seed precisely aimed at the head and left the body intact, the targeting ability of TheVeganCarnage and its terrifying speed already set this spell in a league of its own. Rudolf had to use ManaSense so he could see the spell in action but he couldn''t catch everything because he was late in activating his skill.


    Hans was maniacally laughing like a sadist, but Rudolf¡¯s smack on his head stopped him as the old knight reminded him. "To complete the hunt, you must secure the game. So stop idling around and collect all of them."


    Rudolf was trying to see how this little brat would collect the corpses, but his jaw almost dropped to the ground when he saw his vines coiling around every prey and dragging them towards Hans.


    Hans smirked and after he read Rudolf¡¯s expression, he said while pretending pitiful, "Gramps, you won¡¯t bully me by carrying the heavy beasts home, do you?"


    This irritated Rudolf, as the boy effortlessly hunted the nine beasts. Five of them were reptiles which he didn''t like to eat, so he did not touch them and started field dressing(skinning and collecting eatable parts of the game) the remaining ones. As they were returning home, Rudolf said to Hans, "From today, I ban you from using VeganCarnage for hunting."


    Hans didn''t refute him this time because he knew what Rudolf¡¯s fundamental principle for becoming strong was and he also believed in those words ¡°the easier it gets, the weaker you become¡±. If he depends on this spell, then he will have no chance of improving further.


    The boy was going regular hunting for days, improving his control over the raw mana and, with the improvement of spawning and activating speed, he became efficient in VeganBind. Rudolf also allowed him to field dress his game and pointed to his wrongdoings and, with the same schedule few months have passed. Hans was improving and at the behest of Sierra, he focussed on mastering the single spell that he learned.


    His method of hunting was simple: restrain and then choke the beast to death while knocking it out. This method was not bloody like others, but they have to detoxify the meat before cooking it.


    It was one of his regular hunting days, but the boy had met his match today. Rudolf had picked a destination which was not suitable for Hans¡¯ vines to act as he wished. It was a hot region on another island with an inactive volcano. Giant salamanders were one of the heat-loving creatures that lived in this place. The burning body of the beast was failing the VeganBind to restrain it. The moment it coiled around the salamander¡¯s body, it burned the vines and attacked Hans.


    Hans might be not able to restrain the beast, but his vines were helping him to dodge the beast¡¯s attack by acting as Hans¡¯ elongated limbs and pulling him to avoid the attacks in opposite directions. Thanks to that, Hans was improving his manoeuvrability, but not being able to restrain the giant salamander was turning a frustrating thing for him.


    The orange-scaled salamander already had the protection of its reptilian armour, but on sensing danger, it released the embers, which looked like it had burning skin. Today''s failure made Hans return home empty-handed. He was wrecking his brain for improving the existing vines, but he didn''t find any suitable mutation for its VeganBind.


    He gave up and opened the book for the answers.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 21 : The Knight Rankings

    Chapter 21


    The Knight Rankings


    Samwell came in the fourth month of 1063 and the year was reaching its end. Hans and the family didn''t have much time left to idle around, so he left his vainglorious ego to fend for itself after failing to think of a solution about the fire beast and accepted to look for help in the knight king''s book.


    <blockquote><hr>


    PAGE 10


    FAILING OF VEGANBIND


    You would have made mutated a seed or two on your own, but they might not have been strong enough. Let me tell you, the place where this spell failed.


    First - on armoured type beasts, generally speaking, those beasts have strength and momentum that is hard to retrain. The poison becomes useless because it doesn''t penetrate the armour.


    Second - on fire type beasts, fire easily burns the wood, which is the general rule and commonsense of the world.


    Third - on slimy beasts, they could slip from any sort of grip. The only way to beat them is by using blunt force.


    <hr></blockquote>


    It was time that he stopped being surprised by the author''s far-sightedness but he was still got amazed by him once again. He only felt the need to overcome fire type, but the author already had pointed out the places where he would feel his power lacking. He expected Sam to include solutions to these problems as well, and he became happy after reading the next lines.


    <blockquote><hr>


    For the first problem, you ought to increase the tensile strength of your vine by mutating the seed by OrganicIron. And on dealing with these strong type beasts, use the terrain and trees to slow them down. Restraining their body won''t work alone. Make your vines act as chains nailed to the trees or boulders.


    For the second, there is a deep underwater plant known as Tubula,  a plant with tube-like stems. It eats planktons by filtering the water. Its hollow stem stores water. Fusing it with your VeganBind will give you two advantages. First one, the vines will become heavy and second fireproof until your vines have water inside.


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans already fused the OrganicIron and for his fire problem, he found the solution. Sam wanted to have water running inside the vines, which was a completely different element, so he was unsure if it can produce water in the vines. With doubt, he read the third solution to save his time.


    <blockquote><hr>


    For the third problem, it''s pretty simple actually. Instead of blunt force that we do not have, we will slice it by fusing the vines with a blade leaf plant; it possesses sharp-edged leaves. The plant had evolved itself to avoid being eaten by herbivores. I don''t know how the vines would change after these modifications, but I am sure it would help you learn.


    The above listed problems are just a few that I could think of right now, but I am sure these will not be the only ones you would face, so keep striving on to make this stronger on your own.


    END OF PAGE 10


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans requested the two new plants from Rudolf, which made the old knight whine, but he had no choice except to go on this elementary quest of resource gathering. Getting the blade leaf was way easy because he already knew its location, but Tubula was the problem. Apart from eating reptiles, he also hated seawater and Hans was asking him to dive deep to pluck this thing.


    Three days have passed since Rudolf went to collect the plants, and Hans was seriously worried about him. He might have always teased him, but deep down, he cared for his grandpa¡¯s safety. They were already running out of food, so he decided to go for another hunt.


    Sierra couldn''t allow the child to go alone, so she tagged along. Hans could feel that his grandma was a big deal, but all he had heard about her was a mage that specialised in healing others. Hans acted mature all of a sudden and asked her to follow closely while reciting the dos and don''ts about hunting that he had learned from Rudolf. She genuinely listened to the lecturing child who was pretending to be a professional hunter.


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    While trekking up the hill, a FrostBird ambushed the duo. The white flying bird with a wing span greater than ten metres. It was nothing like what Hans had faced till now alone, and it was his first time facing a flying beast, too. His VeganBind failed to reach the bird and the frost bird dived at them after skilfully manoeuvring around the slithering vines. Hans was readying himself to release the crying seed, but at that moment.


    Sierra glowed in gold and said,


    HigherPower


    With her extended hand, five concentrated circles came out and before Hans could realise anything, the bird lost its life with no injury and fell right in front of him.


    It was Hans''s first time seeing a regular spell in action. He read that the concentrated circles represented tiers of the spell and seeing her spell had five, that meant it was a fifth-tier spell. He was feeling embarrassed that he boasted about him being a professional hunter and talked big about protecting her.


    He always thought that Sierra was a healing mage, but her killing a FrostBird with a single spell was enough to prove her capability of giving and taking life as well. Seeing him shocked, Sierra asked him,


    What are you surprised about? Fetch our dinner.


    Hans snapped out of his embarrassment and dragged the bird with the VeganBind while Sierra led them back home. The boy didn''t talk much on their way, but he was thinking; the couple was so strong, so what could be threatening enough for Sam to make him for them? Another thought came to his mind, so he asked Sierra in a low voice,


    Granny, Gramps is ranked ninth, which means there are eight more people stronger than him, right?


    Sierra nodded in affirmation and added,


    The knight association ranked them and every ranked knight has a chance to climb higher once a year, but Rudolf never challenged anyone, so I don''t know how much stronger he is compared to others above him.


    Then who is the strongest?


    You have heard his name before, Norwin, Samwell¡¯s father.


    What kind of person he is?


    A straight-up jerk. If it was possible, I would have killed that bast¡­ man.


    Is he that strong?


    Yes, squeaky, he is a knight of Ice''s aura, and additionally, he has several beasts accompanying him. That man also possessed the world''s strongest blessed sword, making him an absolute monster in terms of strength.


    Did gramps ever fight him?


    No, but they used to be friends, but not so much now.


    So Norwin, was he ever defeated?


    Sierra smiled and replied,


    As I have told you, when you are a ranked knight, you are allowed to challenge higher knights once a year and if you defeat them; you get their rank and another chance to challenge higher rank at the same time as a reward.


    Hans asked in curiosity,


    So did he get defeated?


    Yes, a knight came and defeated Rudolf and kept climbing the ranks and almost beheaded Norwin.


    Let me guess, it was Sam, right?


    Sierra warmly smiled and nodded in affirmation. Hans was feeling proud like it was his own achievement. He laughed, thinking about how much Norwin would have suffered humiliation when he got his rank back as a charity because the ranked one died. He lowered his head and got sad all of a sudden and Sierra asked him, noticing his sullen mood after the excitement of the previous conversation,


    What got you down all of a sudden?


    It''s just I can''t participate in ranked battles, mages don''t have that right?


    Yes, mages prefer to be low-key,


    Hans pouted.


    But they should also have rankings too.


    Sierra responded with an explanation.


    For a mage, the element of surprise is everything. These showy fights take that away from you as your weakness and strength become public knowledge.


    Hans understood, but he was still not content, like every kid he dreamed to be known in the world. He might have glanced over the purpose of his creation, but this fact was like a splinter in the feet that kept reminding him of Sam¡¯s words. So he wanted to prove to himself that his existence was not just for the sake of Sierra and Rudolf, and making a name for himself and getting acknowledged by the world was the only thing that an eight-year-old could think of.


    Waiting for Rudolf was becoming tedious since the three days wait turned into ten days, but Sierra¡¯s confidence was not budging a bit that he would return safe and sound. He was also interested in knowing their story, but Sierra was adamant about not telling him.


    In those ten days, he called treants two more times because of his boredom, but he did not acquire anything significant but only the knowledge of the plant species which felt irrelevant to him at this time. The thought of creating a stronger VeganBind with the thing Sam mentioned was the only thing lingering in his mind, neglecting the vast knowledge he just got from treants.


    With the help of treants, Hans mastered the sprout spell and could easily create a small farm of different kinds. According to Sierra, the fruits and products of Hans¡¯s created plants were rich in mana that was in high demand among nobles and aspirants. She joked with him about becoming a wealthy farmer instead of a mage. After all, money was another way to protect themselves.


    Using your special abilities to earn money was not unheard of. The wealthiest person in this world had used her special ability to glance into the future and obtained the undiscovered mines and potential knights and mages early.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 22 : The SeedBullet and Mutilate

    Chapter 22


    The SeedBullet and Mutilate


    Hans had enough of the wait and Treants turned out to be a not ideal conversationalist, so he shoved his resolve of mastering everything before moving ahead into the pothole and turned to the next page, only finding something more interesting.


    <blockquote><hr>


    PAGE 11


    THE SEED BULLET


    This spell would become your one shot, one kill spell, and the next spell scheduled to cast after restraining your target. Learning to restrain them was necessary for this spell to work because it is a high damage attack which required time to prepare like channelled spells of a regular mage. You could improve your casting time from practice, but getting this to work instantly will not be an easy feat.


    <hr></blockquote>


    This was what Hans needed. He had no way but to strangle its prey after capturing it. The approach of restraining and strangling required time and failed when the beasts were airborne or came in groups. He needed a spell like this.


    <blockquote><hr>


    This spell would be like archery, but instead of arrows, we would be firing bullets like dwarven muskets with faster triggers and long range. Unlike their muskets, you would have unlimited bullets with more penetrating power.


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans didn''t know what kind of weapon was a musket because books about dwarven technology were taboo to publish. The nation ForgeLand was an armed nation that did not bother the world but followed one ironclad rule. Apart from dwarves, no one is allowed to use their technology unless it is granted by them.


    Hans continued,


    <blockquote><hr>


    You would have already got the OrganicIron seed, a metal like pebble, reforge its shape like a capsule with a pointy end and you would have the bullet used in the musket. Remember, the weight is inversely related to penetrating power and speed, but losing too much weight would amount to nothing, so you need to find the perfect balance on your own. My suggestion is to start with heavy bullets of half the size of your finger.


    What after creating bullets? Follow my instructions carefully because it could become a little tricky to understand¡­


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans paused his reading to make the seed bullets first, it didn''t take him a lot of time to make modifications in OrganicIron seed. He made several different types of bullets and was ready to test them. His research and application of bullets took his mind off of Rudolf¡¯s absence.


    Hans continued reading,


    <blockquote><hr>


    So how to proceed after creating bullets? Follow my instructions carefully because it could become a little tricky to understand. Set a target approx ten metres away from you and try to see the surrounding mana. If you can¡¯t, then ask a treant.


    After seeing the strands of mana, try concentrating the strands to make a straight path not thicker than the bullet. After making the path, try straining it like a stretching a rubber till it reaches the target. Let''s call this a mana path. Place the bullet at your ends and release the tension from your end.


    You will see the bullet will follow the mana path with high speed and hit your target since mana in nature wants to be free from restrains, it will quickly revert back but this will provide your bullet with propulsion. This will be hard to make and you will face many failures, but it will be a devastating attack. I have seen firsthand what a dwarven musket could do, and yours will be several times stronger than them.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    After mastering and modifying it you could even take out the enemies from long distance and having no sound of firing the musket will provide you the advantage of an assassin.


    END OF PAGE 11


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans now focused his entire concentration on creating a dense route and stretching it to the target, but either the mana path broke or snapped back at him, both resulting in a recoil and making him bounce back. But with a lot of hits and trials, Hans found an easy way. He first concentrated all the strands right in front of him into a dense sphere and after stabilising it, Hans tried to stretch it until it met the target. This needed a lot of calculations, but he soon reached an understanding of how much he should collect initially to reach the destination.


    He succeeded and followed Sam¡¯s words by placing the bullet in his side of the end and releasing the strain. The bullet shot itself with momentum and penetrated the tree, which was its target. Hans was genuinely surprised to see the firepower that even impaled the boulder behind it.


    The result was more than Hans had expected, but the downside was that it took a lot of time to create this and if, in the meantime, the target moved so all the preparation could have become fruitless. He needed to make sure the target stays immobile all the time, and this was the place of VeganBind to shine.


    But instead of feeling sullen because of the long time requirement to cast a SeedBullet, he was feeling quite satisfied with his progress and was thinking of improving the seed bullet even more. Suddenly a thought came to his mind, and he called Sierra outside because what he was trying to achieve was a little dangerous by himself.


    On her surveillance, Hans created the mana path, Sierra focused ManaVision to the extreme and was able to see a straight line of mana. She had no idea what it was and what Hans wanted to do, but Hans was pretty serious when he asked her to pull him back with any sign of danger.


    Hans created the crying seed right on the mana path and left the control on his side of the end. He wanted to achieve the same effect as bullets but to his surprise. The crying seed got burned because of high speed without even reaching the target. The high friction reduced it to ashes.


    His train of thoughts stopped by Sierra when she asked what Hans was doing, so Hans showed her the regular SeedBullet. It was a feat in itself, but he was down because he failed to achieve a perfect way to shoot VeganCarnage at the enemy.


    Since there was no mention of the crying seed anywhere, Hans was new to everything about it. He thought of coating the seed so it could survive the high-speed travel until it reaches the enemy. Hans thought of a hollow cone that contained the crying seed. He wanted to test it out, but the sun was setting and night out was strictly prohibited for him. The only option left with him is to wait for the night to pass.


    NEXT MORNING


    Hans was ready and waiting for her grandma to show up outside. The idea of testing out his own advanced SeedBullet was more enticing to him than following the author''s words. Both of them were searching for prey, but thanks to his hard luck, they couldn''t find a single beast for an hour.


    After one more hour, his luck changed, and they found a tough opponent. It was a TwinHeadedPanthera, a heavy-furred huge cat of almost twice the height of an adult human with two heads. Hans and Sierra hid, and fortunately, the beast was just resting by the lakeside. It was something Hans could not take care of, so Sierra was trying to conjure her spell, but the boy stopped her. He finally found a test subject, which was strong but fortunately immobile, and Hans wanted to exploit this chance.


    He succeeded in creating the mana path without disturbing the surroundings and just as he envisioned, the conical bullet holding the crying seed formed and it cried as it was shot with high speed.


    Unaware of what was happening, the loud cry of the seed woke the beast up, but it was too late to respond. The cone didn''t have the solid structure like SeedBullet to penetrate and pass through things. It''s just pierced a little at the beast¡¯s belly where Hans had aimed. The beast roared in pain. It was not enough to kill him, but it was sure painful to bear.


    To their surprise, the crying seed was trying to emerge from the tight encasing but didn''t have enough strength to push itself out so sharp threads that failed to form tentacles of Carnage seed sprang out of it, trying to push out the conical casing to attain their final form. In its struggle, it ravaged the beast¡¯s body and sliced through everything that it could touch and the aftermath of it was too horrible and gory to witness, no one could tell what sort of beast remain it was, even the bones were chopped up along with every organ. It was just like poorly minced meat.


    Hans never expected this result either because VeganCarnage was not this brutal. Sierra was looking at him in surprise and her words, which he couldn''t hear, made him come to his senses. Hans vomited what he ate for breakfast. He thought he had a strong stomach, but the incident proved him wrong this time.


    This was a cruel and powerful attack but there was a downside too. The seed didn''t have the speed because of its weight, so long-range was not possible and retrieving the target was not possible either. Apart from that, this was Hans''s most powerful attack till now. So he named the attack, which suited it.


    Mutilate


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 23 : Giant Salamandar Once Again

    Chapter 23


    Giant Salamander Once Again


    Sierra thought she couldn''t get surprised anymore, but Hans was breaking her assumption right and left. There was no way a child could deal with a TwinHeadedPanthera, but the beast didn''t even get the chance to retaliate.


    Hans also realised that too, and that was the reason for his joy, ignoring the fact that he was puking his innards out because of the gore. Having this attack was akin to having the bragging rights which he wanted to smear in Rudolf''s face. Feeling his absence once again, Hans got worried and his sudden downfall of the mood confused Sierra.


    In the Genas, TwinHeadedPanthera was considered a class four beast and required a lot of higher-level people to take down, but Hans achieving that in one shot was a terrifying thing on its own accord.


    They found something suitable which Hans hunted with VeganBind and SeedBullet with perfection, but the experience became bland after witnessing the power of Mutilate. As they came home, they saw the old man waiting for them.


    Hans ran at him, almost hugging the old man, but stopped and hastily inquired,


    Did you find it?


    Rudolf frowned and remarked,


    So much for my well-being, you cold-hearted brat.


    Hans thought a little and then asked again?


    Mhm¡­ So did you find it or not?


    Rudolf gave up and showed Tubula and BladeLeaf plant to Hans. He had returned after twenty long days and this kid of his didn''t even show gratitude for the man''s troubles. Rudolf was missing those days when Hans used to follow him around like a puppy.


    With a miserable expression on his face, he looked for Sierra and spotted her smiling at him. Rudolf approached her and embraced her passionately, which Sierra returned warmly. Hans didn''t know that he sent his grandpa on a very dangerous errand. Rudolf was hiding a grave wound on his back from the kid, but her wife knew better.


    She dragged him inside for healing, while Rudolf glanced at the ungrateful child, who spared no time in idle chatter and started perfecting the VeganBind. After learning SeedBulet, Hans¡¯s control over raw mana improved significantly.


    He became busy changing his VeganBind vines by combining all types of seeds, and after two months of hard work and continuous training, he optimised his hunting perfectly with more advanced VeganBind of metallic black colour and sharp long leaves sticking into the thick tubular stem.


    The whiplash of the vine was strong enough to shallow wound anything and instead of strangling with the vines could behead any beast by coiling around the neck. The paralytic poison made it deadly, and the watery liquid inside the vine made it fire-resistant and heavy to some extent.


    After training for five more months, it was time to take his revenge on the giant salamander. This was the seventh month of 1064 and in just six months, they had to leave this place, so Hans had to become strong enough to stand on his own.


    Sierra tagged along, this time to see Hans¡¯s progress. As usual, Rudolf banned him from using Mutilate and Carnage so he had to use his non-gory spells: VeganBind and SeedBullet.


    They were looking for the giant salamander on the fringes of the inactive volcano and soon reached the hot gaseous geysers. there was no way to predict when a geyser of hot gases could explode at them which made traversing more difficult.


    The geography of this place changed in a few months. Hans spotted a giant salamander and Rudolf alerted the beast, so Hans could not assassinate it because, ideally, carrying out a successful assassination was a really tough thing and things barely worked as planned in real life. He wanted Hans to experience the element of surprise that the boy was an expert in giving others.


    The couple vanished and Hans found himself staring the beast eye to eye. He summoned the newly created vines which he was calling Orca vines. And the black metallic vines surrounded Hans.


    This was the only Giant Salamander around this area and the beast seems to recognise the brat. He stood on his hind legs and mocked the boy to try his best. He was still believing that this human couldn''t stop him.


    Hans replied to the mockery by spawning an orca vine near the beast and whipping it. The attack left a shallow wound on the giant salamander and the beast came down to four legs again. The beast got annoyed because Hans had managed to attack him with this stupid plant.


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    On the contrary, Hans was wrecking his brain to exploit the environment, but it seems everything was in favour of the giant salamander. The beast furiously started gushing towards him after receiving the whiplash.


    Hans created a mana path quickly, and since the giant salamander was running straight to him, he targeted the spot where the beast would be present in the next moment and stretched the mana path as hard as he could. With the perfect timing, Hans shouted.


    SeedBullet


    This time, Hans chose the heavy bullet which penetrated the solid bedrock in front of the charging beast. The sound and vibration of the impact stopped the salamander in its tracks.


    Hans was aiming for this because it was an area full of geysers. A new one came out, tearing the hole created by him, and throwing the Salamander in the air. The heat released by geysers was harmless to the beast, but Hans wanted the salamander to stay put in one place.


    Just as the salamander reached the final height and started descending. Hans straightened out another mana path and was waiting for the falling Salamander to come into his (crosshairs) sight of the projectile.


    SeedBullet


    Just as it touched the drawn mana path while falling, he launched another seed. It was penetrative in nature and could pass through solid rocks. It served its purpose by passing through the tough scaled skin of the Salamander from belly to the back, severely injuring the arrogant beast.


    Hans could finish it off with another one of SeedBullet because the injured beast could barely dodge now, but that beast had made fun of him and the boy couldn''t let that go. He summoned the orca vines around the fallen beast.


    VeganBind


    The orca vines spawned in a second from beneath the beast and quickly crawled and coiled the beast. Giant Salamander''s experience this time greatly differed from the past, because these vines were shaving its skin as it moved.


    The giant Salamander started burning the vines but, to its surprise, the vines were intact which made the beast more lethargic. Salamander started burning the vines with everything he got. Hans knew that these vines were not fireproof, but the time needed to finish the salamander off was in the frame of survivability for these orca vines.


    The vines coiled around the beast¡¯s neck and with a swift movement beheaded the salamander. Rudolf was very pleased with Hans¡¯s success, he praised the boy for finally becoming a hunter.


    Hans was not showing, but he was very happy inside. It was the first time that Rudolf had praised him instead of criticising his mistakes and arrogantly showing the better way to do it. Seeing Hans using the geyser as a way to make the target flustered for earning the golden chance to slay it precisely was the reason for Rudolf¡¯s praise. Sierra was happy to see both of the men in the house not bickering for once.


    They were not always like this. She remembered how much Hans clung to Rudolf, but everything changed when he started learning the sword from her husband. Rudolf left no remark and physically incorporated his teaching to Hans at his every mistake.


    He wanted to make sure Hans learned everything perfectly, but his act of tough love led their relationship astray.


    With the compliment boosting his arrogance, Hans finally said with a sneer,


    Watch out, old man, your days are numbered.


    Rudolf laughed aloud and replied to the child,


    As if dear squeaky.


    She said to both of them,


    Now, now, let''s go back home. I don''t like this place, it''s too hot.


    Hans shouted in excitement,


    Yes, let''s go.


    MEANWHILE IN CONCORDIA


    In the boardroom of directors, the chairman¡¯s proxy was asking about reports from the executives. The Concordia was like a corporation where the chairman was at the top and the eight directors under him controlled the whole place.


    Aredhel Winters, who was director of the economy, asked the proxy.


    When is the appointment of new deans?


    Walter, the director of information, responded to her back,


    Aren''t you close to them?


    I am not asking you, director Walter.


    The proxy replied before this became another fish market. Both these directors were like an old couple who were always trying to have an upper hand on each other.


    Their terms start next year.


    She asked back,


    And what are your preparations regarding the troubles they would bring?


    The proxy replied in a clear tone,


    No one in their right mind would go for sir Rudolf¡¯s head, and touching the high priestess is a matter on another scale.


    Aredhel replied,


    But I have heard about the conclave of the Indu high priest, Lady Sierra¡¯s resignation and the deal between Grimgar and Indu is finalised. They became political allies in these volatile times when Parv is rumoured to be opening its borders.


    It is not our business director. Concordia has never interfered with the world''s politics and it will remain the same. These are the words of the chairman.


    Everyone became silent. No one knew the chairman personally. He lived on the highest island of Concordia and was a mystery himself. Finally, Aredhel said,


    But you can''t exclude some morons from attacking the deans.


    Concordia will follow its policy. No one can touch what belongs to us.


    Walter added,


    Of Course, our Director Aredhel wants someone to come after Sir Rudolf and Sierra, right? So she will finally have an excuse to kill her kind, right?


    Aredhel just smiled, and that was enough to acknowledge what Walter had just said.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 24 : The Armadino, The Swamp Toad and To Genas

    Chapter 24


    The Armadino, The Swamp Toad and To Genas


    Hans felt the need to test out his spells on two more types of beasts that Sam wrote in the book. Only a few days have passed after his hunt of the salamander and he dragged Rudolf to the forest back in search of Armadino, a heavy-duty beast which is known for its strength and momentum.


    It was comparable to the height of an adult human but with a heavy body and armoured with some minerals crystals in its body which protected it like an exoskeleton. According to the information recorded, this beast was capable enough to breach a castle gate on its own with adequate momentum.


    Hans has never seen this beast, which is said to have the ultimate defence. Hans was not using a direct method that he used in hunting Giant Salamander, but more of a tracking and trapping approach.


    After their long stay in the forest, they found the tracks of Armadino, which was searching for dew-filled grass in the morning like its habit recorded in the bestiary. Hans soon found the spots filled with these grasses and destroyed everything except one where he was setting traps for this heavy-duty beast.


    With some freshly dug holes that contained VeganBind inactive seeds, the holes already made the terrain uneven. Armadino can only make his charging momentum on plain ground, but Hans digging around set some preventive measures against Armadino from charging at him or fleeing at the same time.


    Hans had taken care of one problem, but the VeganBind was not strong enough to restrain this strength-oriented beast completely and he knew it too. His SeedBullet also lacked the piercing power of its defences. The only solution he could come up with was exploiting its sole weakness, the tiny eyes.


    It didn''t take long for the Armadino to reach this place. It was in a cranky mood because some maniac had destroyed its sweet grazing spots. The beast was not a fool, either. It understood what was going to face and was charging at full speed at Hans''s likely location. his charge was sending vibrations through the ground and Hans got ready for the battle.


    Because of the several potholes in its way, the beast crashed very badly and rolled in Hans''s direction. The VeganBind got activated, coiling everything that it could get its grasp on. The orca vines didn''t even scratch the outer armour of the beast and the poisonint was farfetched. These vines were also not strong enough to hold it completely, but a moment of stillness was the only thing Hans needed.


    SeedBullet


    A long needle-like modified bullet pierced the Armadino¡¯s eyes and damaged its brain inside the thick skull, killing it on the spot.


    The result and to test of the new VeganBind satisfied Hans, and he went on to test out this weapon on another target. He was targeting the slippery beast called Swamp toad. It was their sixth day inside the forest and Hans was living the life of a hunter. Eating berries and roasting meat became a new normal to him.


    They soon reached their fifth swamp, where he finally found his prey. As soon as she heard an imitation of the mating call by Hans, she came out. The female toad was an enormous creature with bloated red lips and a yellow body covered in slimy swamp water. Its dark stripes revealed her age, and this was a full-grown adult.


    The swamp toad became enraged at not seeing the male and took a leap towards Hans, trying to crush him beneath, but the boy was ready. He already rigged the place where it appeared with the orca vines and the toad in the air looked like a kite tied to the string. The toad suddenly stopped in midair and fell down. Hans already predicted that his SeedBullet won''t work and would slip against its slimy skin so he didn''t even try it.


    The place where the beast fell was like a pit of snake-like orca vines, which were eagerly waiting for the toad. Just as the beast fell into that pit, the vines slithered on the toad and, with its fast movement and tight grip, it started shaving its skin and soon dismembered the female toad''s limbs. The toad died because of blood loss and Hans achieved everything he wanted. His orca vines perfectly passed all three problems that Sam mentioned and now he was ready to turn a new page of the limitless.


    They returned home and after a hot bath, Hans''s fatigue took over and the boy slept for at least twelve hours. Hans found that he still had some areas that he could improve and focused on optimising his SeedBullet. With the remaining time, he regularly hunted to sharpen his skill and, just like that, three more months passed.


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    With three months of tough training, he improved in making two Seedbullets simultaneously and VeganBind had improved further in its speed and strength. The year 1065 was just three months away and the small space connection just closed after delivering another letter to Sierra. The letter brought the news of a new high priest succeeding her, and a pickup was scheduled in three days for them to Grimgar.


    It was earlier than the decided time, so Rudolf and Sierra were a little concerned because they will not have the protection of Concordia till their appointments. They were instructed to take on their duties at the start of the new year of 1065. They have to survive on their own for three months.


    Rudolf assured her by saying,


    Hey, I still have a county in my name. I am a Noble after all. We will be fine for some time.


    The title which you had bought from Grimgar king.


    Rudolf, embarrassingly refuted,


    They awarded me, dear.


    Sierra didn''t say anything, but she also knew how those nobles treated her husband behind his back. Their disgusting gaze might have not affected him, but she didn''t like those people who looked down on her husband. If possible, she wanted to avoid going to Edenberg county, but it turned out she had no choice in the matter.


    Hans, on the contrary, was collecting everything he wanted to bring back. He didn''t know whether they would come back or not, so he selected his things carefully since there was a weight limit for transporting.


    The rain got heavier with the lightning in the sky. The phenomenon was identical to when Samwell came, so Hans was waiting for the people to come and it didn''t take long for the SpaceDoor to form, but this time only a single person came.


    He was a bulky figure like Rudolf, but his clean shaved look made him look way younger than his gramps. Hans exceedingly greeted him, but the knight knelt and addressed him.


    It''s my pleasure, young Lord.


    Hans looked back at his grandparents, asking what to do. They taught him everything except the way of aristocrats. Hans lacked the common sense of civilisation and divided everything as black and white like things to kill or not.


    Rudolf accepted the knight''s greeting and said to the kneeling knight,


    Arise, sir Richardson.


    With his command, the kneeling knight stood and said to Hans,


    I am the servant of Edenberg county, Aldrich Richardson, a dominion Knight of grade 88, pleasure to meet young Lord.


    Hans responded to him.


    I am Hans, a Mage.


    There was a sudden awkwardness between them, so Sierra broke the silence and said to the knight,


    I hope you are well, sir Aldrich.


    The knight hesitated a little but replied,


    Yes, I was well, countess.


    You know I don''t like to be called that.


    Yes, Lady Sierra.


    The knight was staring at Hans, but there was no maliciousness and only curiosity in his eyes. Apart from very few people, the existence of Hans was a well-kept secret, so the knight was plainly curious about their young Lord.


    The knight was familiar with Sam and the child with the same look suggested only one thing to outsiders, that it was Samson¡¯s son, but the odd thing he felt around him was not making any sense to him.


    Seeing his confused looks, Rudolf told Aldrich,


    He is Hans, from now on he will be your ward.


    Aldrich got even more confused, but this was no place to clear his confusion. They will exhaust more space stones from the county''s treasury as they wasted more time here. He urged the lord and lady to haste and Sierra cast some sealing spell to their house before stepping into the SpaceDoor while Hans shouted in excitement,


    To Genas.


    The SpaceDoor was like a thick grey and odourless smoke. Hans was experiencing space travel for the first time. He started feeling jittery inside when the SpaceDoor started to function. Within a few moments, a blinding light welcomed him and Hans greeted the people waiting for them by puking on his arrival.


    He had no time to see who was welcoming him or where he was, but with this, he understood one thing: that he should avoid space travelling in the future.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 25 : An Embarassing Return

    Chapter 25


    An Embarrassing Return


    Hans was feeling dizzy, not knowing what was happening, a lot of people were running around him and they carried him inside the building, which appeared more like a mansion from the fairytale, but he was not conscious enough to look around clearly.


    A young woman came running at Hans with a bowl of water and requested Hans to rinse his mouth. Another one came with some warm water and politely asked him to take it in with small sips.


    Hans just did as others told him, and when he regained his composure, he found everyone was staring at him. An elderly man''s coughing sound signalled everyone and all of them lowered their gazes. This act made Hans look at the elderly man who was coming to him. when the elder reached him, he sat on one knee in front of him and asked with concern,


    Are you okay, young Lord?


    Hans''s vision searched for Sierra, who was sitting just right by his sides. She replied to his gaze.


    This is our home in Grimgar. These people are servants of the house.


    She said to the servants who were also curious about the child that they came with their lord and lady. Most of them were relatively new and did not know Samson. so there was no need to elaborate.


    He is our grandson and your young Lord. Give him some time to adjust.


    She dismissed everyone, and the servant went to do their work. The place was way livelier and fancy than their home in Ghost Isles, and Hans was silently enjoying the significant upgrade in his living standard. There were only two people remaining in the hall, the knight named Aldrich and the elder, who silenced the servants with just a signal. The elderly man said to Rudolf,


    It''s late but welcome back Count Edenberg.


    Skip the formalities, Hodges.


    Then lord, pardon, but who is the child? I didn''t know that lord Sam had one.


    Aldrich was also curious about this, so he was also waiting to hear the answer. Rudolf and Sierra prepared a story ahead to explain the situation about Hans. Rudolf introduced Hans to others.


    He is Sam¡¯s son. I don''t know about his mother, but we got him after Sam''s death and since it was dangerous for him to stay here; we left for the Ghost Isles.


    The elderly man responded to him,


    I was wondering why you left. I almost thought you have forsaken your duties after lord Sam...


    He stopped and looked at Hans, who was also feeling surprised, like others. He didn''t know that Rudolf was going with this setup. The elderly man politely bowed to him and said,


    Oh, dear, where are my manners? I am Benedict Hodges, head butler of the Edenberg household. You can call me Hodges, young Lord.


    Hans knows from the stories that people here were treating him as a prince, so he imitated the prince in stories and said with arrogance,


    I am called Hans.


    Sierra almost burst into laughter, but Rudolf couldn''t hold himself back from laughing. Hans got pissed looking that his grampa was ruining his first impression and glared at the old man. Rudolf got the meaning of his glare and said,


    Oh, don''t worry, you already spoiled your image when you threw up right in front of everyone¡­


    A fast SeedBullet got fired right at the face of Rudolf, which he quickly dodged by slightly turning his neck. The bullet struck the pillar, making a loud sound of impact, and affixed itself to the pillar like a nail on the wall.


    Hans had become very quick at casting SeedBullet in short ranges. Both Aldrich and Benedict got surprised. The swift attack was one thing, but he aimed it at Rudolf. They never saw someone survive after acting this way, but Rudolf¡¯s calmed demeanour suggested it was a regular thing.


    Sierra chided Hans lightly,


    Hans, I told you to not act like this.


    But gramps was making fun of me.


    Sierra turned to Rudolf and scold him too,


    I told you too, not to provoke him.


    Both of them just pouted. The scene was unbelievable for Benedict and Aldrich. They didn''t know what happened in the past ten years, but Rudolf was betraying his reputation as Alastor.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Rudolf turned to Benedict and said,


    You see, that''s my position in this family. The brat knows nothing about manners. So arrange someone to teach him about civilised life.


    Another SeedBullet flew past Rudolf and the old knight shouted Hans,


    Hey give it a rest, will you?


    Hans pouted and turned his face to the sides. Benedict smiled politely and said,


    I thought he was quite different from his father, but he sure inherited his temper.


    Rudolf answered,


    I would be glad if he also inherited his skills¡­


    Hans interrupted him.


    You wanna have a go, old man.


    Rudolf mocked him again,


    See, he is all talk.


    Hans stood aggressively and said,


    That''s it...


    Sierra patted the table with enough force to make a loud voice.


    Quiet down, you two.


    She said to everyone,


    I feel like I am raising two children. Rudolf, stop acting like a child and Hans if you wanna be respected, then act a little mature.


    Sierra sighed and asked Aldrich,


    Aldrich.


    Yes, lady Sierra,


    You would have heard that we will be in Concordia for next year and Hans would be studying there as an early admission, but being the son of the Parvian king will do him no good, so I want him to enrol as your ward.


    Yes, I understand, my lady. Associating with Lord Sam will bring nothing but trouble for the young Lord right now.


    So we are on the same page.


    Of course.


    I remember you had a daughter, right? Where is she, in Concordia?


    The smile on Aldrich¡¯s face vanished when his daughter was mentioned. The change in his expression was so significant that even Hans caught it. Instead of him, Benedict replied to her,


    My lady, will you please follow me?


    Both Aldrich and Benedict¡¯s expression was so grim that the atmosphere became quite tense and all of them visited a room that was isolated inside the mansion. The servants were also looking at them.


    Hodges opened the door and all three witnessed a frail young lady with her hands and legs tied. She was covered in bandages, but those cannot clearly hide her rotten skin. The wounds were mostly self-inflicted by intensely scratching herself. In short, she was in terrible condition.


    The dense smell of medicinal herbs reached Hans¡¯s nose, and he covered it with his hand. Sierra looked pitifully at the girl. She was quite a cheerful person who followed them around everywhere in her toddler days. She looked at Aldrich and asked him,


    If the situation was this bad, why didn''t you send for me earlier,


    Aldrich said in frustration,


    Because mana doesn''t work for her, but I can''t lose her, my lady, so please help her. I am...


    Sierra already started before his words ended.


    God¡¯sGrace


    A golden light collected in Sierra¡¯s hand, which slowly reached the bedridden girl shrouding her. The wounds on her skin were visibly healing and hope returned in Aldrich¡¯s face, but it was short-lived since the wounds reverted instantly, crushing the newfound hope for the girl.


    He already knew that it might happen, but still, Sierra was the most powerful healing mage in existence and he had hoped she could help her daughter. With strong herbs, it was possible for his daughter to bear the pain, but she was living the life of a living corpse. She already lost her sanity a long time ago and now the only thing he could do is to let her go peacefully.


    He was wallowing on his knees, but Sierra didn''t give up and tried everything she could do. Benedict politely took Hans away. A father helplessly agonizing over his daughter was not a scene he wanted a child to witness. Hans asked the head butler while strolling away from the room.


    Is she Mr Aldrich¡¯s daughter?


    Yes, my lord, you could call me Benedict.


    No, no, gramps will say again that I lack manners.


    He smiled warmly, but Hans could tell it was a fake smile. He asked again,


    What happened to her?


    Benedict remained silent, so Hans asked him again, but he emphasised his words like a command,


    You call me young Lord, then you won''t answer me. Isn''t it hypocrisy?


    Sorry young Lord but...


    Should I command you to tell me about her?


    Hans''s tone and demeanour were different this time, with an undaunting gait, eyes that peered downwards and an adequately relaxed expression that not suited a child. The only thought that came to Benedict''s mind was that this child was accustomed to the life of a strong person. It had been a long time since he felt this much pressure from noble.


    Hodges looked at his hands, which were perspiring. He understood that blood cannot betray and answered.


    She is sir Aldrich¡¯s daughter, her name is Vanessa. She was a student at Concordia...


    So what happened to her?


    She failed in her graduation and came back as a person you just saw, she lost both her mana and sanity. At that time, she was badly injured. Concordia did everything, but she could not recover.


    Was she a good person?


    She was smart, and her way of thinking reminded me of Lady Sierra. She cherished the people who were kind to her and sought justice if they were wronged. So yes, young Lord, she was a good person.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 26 : The Killing of Vanessa Richardson

    Chapter 26


    The Killing of Vanessa Richardson


    After hearing the response about her character, Hans kept looking down and said,


    I hope she will recover soon.


    It surprised Benedict to see how calm Hans was after witnessing the gruesome state of Vanessa. After his peculiar entrance, he thought the boy had a weak stomach, but his demeanour took a very different turn as he ordered him to tell everything.


    Hans said to him,


    Mr Head Butler, I am hungry.


    Benedict pointed at a servant stationed near him and ordered,


    Go to the kitchen and ask them to prepare some snacks for the young Lord.


    Then he turned to Hans and said,


    Please follow me, young Lord.


    He led the child to the living room where they had gathered previously. Hans didn''t get the chance to see the mansion before, but this time, he thoroughly enjoyed the wall work and decor of the new home. It was as grand and beautiful as he could imagine, and one more time he felt thankful to Samwell for making them come back.


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    Soon, some light refreshments were brought to the table. Hans saw pastries and macaroons for the first time, and when he placed a spoonful of cake in his mouth, everyone there could see a visible happiness in his face. It was his first time tasting something like this. In the ghost Isles, all Sierra cooked was meat and meat and meat, so he never got to try anything like these. This was the day that Hans found out that he has a sweet tooth.


    The chef who was waiting for his response got happy by seeing Hans¡¯s giddying expression and excited legs that swung alternatively. He resolved himself to prepare more delicious things for him.


    After a few hours, Sierra came back from Vanessa''s room. Hans expected her to be fully well by now, but the expressions of others were betraying his expectation. He was fully confident in Sierra¡¯s ability, and it was his sole reason to remain calm even he saw something a bit strange in the room, but at this point everything seemed unique to him.


    When she was treating her, Hans had already toured the whole mansion and was excited to talk about things with his grandma, but the atmosphere did not warrant that. Aldrich looked like he had lost several years of her life and Sierra was full of sadness. Rudolf was angry that the situation which could not be dealt with. Hans wanted to enjoy his life here, but everyone was behaving like their world has ended.


    He was far from understanding the feeling of loss since he did not know human relationships, so it was hard for him to figure out what was going on, but he knew it was not his place to say something. Head butler urged Hans to follow him to his room, but he wanted to understand why everyone was this sad so he stayed for a moment.


    Aldrich cried in agony.


    Now it looks like we have to let her go. I can''t see her in more pain. She was fighting this for two years.


    The tears that did not suit this knight kept coming out of his eyes. Sierra had no words for him. Losing a child was the most painful thing for a parent.She could understand what Aldrich was going through, but his situation was way cruller than hers. After all, her daughter was in torment, and there was nothing he could do except let her go.


    Hans never saw her Grandma like this and everyone''s disheartening mood was making the atmosphere more sullen. Hans could feel a pricking pain in his chest with his heart beating violently and not knowing why his eyes were welling up, too. The one thing he could tell was that this elevation in his heart rate was not because of the excitement he had felt while hunting.


    Hans walked quickly to the sick girl room and opened the door with a bang. The sound attracted the attention of others. Hans¡¯s eyes gleamed with light and he extended a hand while covering his nose with another.


    He tightened his control over the mana around her and grabbed something from inside Vanessa. There was a lump of dense dark red mana inside around her heart, which was visible from his ManaVision. As Hans grasped that mana from the distance, Vanessa cried in pain.


    Aldrich moved as fast as he could. He just talked about euthanizing her, but he was not ready to lose her. She was all he had. He grabbed Hans''s shoulder to stop whatever he was doing. Hans was angry at this new emotion, which was pissing him off on a deep scale, and Aldrich¡¯s meddling tipped the balance further. He turned his head back a little and shouted, "let go".


    Hans did not direct his words at Aldrich, but the resisting lump of mana he was trying to pull. But the knight felt the immense chill, like if he hesitated a little, he would lose his hand. He instinctively pulled his hand back, and with a loud screech, Vanessa finally silenced.


    Others arrive just a moment later and saw Aldrich on his knees. In front of them, Vanessa rested peacefully, but the pain was not the only thing she was missing. She rested breathless, and it was no big question whether she was alive or not. The servants also witnessed Hans killing Vanessa and started whispering.


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    Rudolf had taught Hans from the beginning to deliver a swift death instead of letting the beasts suffer in pain. He was shivering on realising that Hans might have done it to end the child''s sufferings, but this was a way out of the line.


    He shouted furiously at Hans,


    even if there was no hope for her, you had no right to kill her.


    Hans, who was feeling relieved after the pain in his chest finally got subsided but Rudolf¡¯s words angered him more, he shouted back with a voice louder than him,


    What are you? A moron, I took out the thing which was causing her pain. Why would I kill her? It will only make grandma more sad.


    His words snapped Aldrich out, and he hurriedly went by her daughter¡¯s side. It was shallow, but there was a pulse in her. Sierra immediately cast another spell.


    God¡¯sGrace


    This time, her body did not reject the spell, and it worked like it meant to be. Her wounds were healing at a visible pace and within a few moments, she turned normal. She was quite skinny, like her bones barely had any meat on it, but it was still a relief that it cured her from the suffering.


    Hans looked at Rudolf and repeated his words,


    MORON.


    Rudolf did not refute his words and asked,


    What did you do?


    Hans showed a gooey stuff on his hand, which was condensed in a wobbling sphere.


    I told you stupid grandpa; I took this thing out of her. It was eating her while her mana was fighting against it.


    Suddenly, that gooey sphere was trying to break out of his control, so Hans focused the raw mana around him and crushed the gooey ball into smithereens. No one was paying attention to these two but the girl who was recovering vigour by the spell.


    Sierra concluded,


    It''s good. Her vitals are normal, and circles are still intact. With some nourishment, she will be back to normal.


    She felt relieved, and didn''t listen to what Hans said, but hugged him tightly. Aldrich was their long-term acquaintance, and she didn''t want him to feel the same pain she suffered after losing Sam. Hans didn''t know what she was thinking, but he could feel she was no longer sad.


    He asked her,


    So you are not sad anymore, right?


    Yes, my sweet boy, but you should tell before you act, understand?


    Yes, then, can we eat more cake from before? It is the best thing I ate till now. It is so sweet, like berries with a smooth¡­


    She stopped him and said,


    Yes yes, let''s eat that.


    Hans became happy and dragged her out of the sad room to the place where he had eaten sweets. the servants started gossiping about their young Lord succeeding in curing something that the greatest healer Sierra failed. it was not an accurate thing that transpired, but they didn''t care for details.


    This was bound to be excellent gossip material among the commoners, which was something that Hans had to worry about in the future. Some servants still remained in Vanessa''s room and the rest of them followed Hans to know what exactly happened. Sierra asked Hans while he was happily waiting for the cake to be brought.


    What happened back there?


    Hans asked dumbfoundedly.


    You didn''t see with ManaVision.


    The chief Butler interrupted them in surprise. He didn''t know that he shouted those words,


    MANAVISION,


    Hans looked at him and said,


    Are you a mage too, Mr Butler?


    No, no young Lord, isn''t it a mana technique used by world mages(8 circle). You, you are not a world mage, are you? It is impossible even in Madaruka.


    Rudolf replied to the astounded Benedict,


    No, he is not. That would be a world defying nonsense.


    Hans turned to Sierra, who was surprised for a different reason. Hans had used ManaVision, but her ManaVision couldn''t see anything like Hans''s. He replied to her,


    There was something inside her that was eating up her mana, and when you tried to heal her, your mana burned it, but that thing started eating it too. So I just plucked that thing out and blew it up.


    Hans'' words sounded like it was no big deal for him and people are exaggerating things, but the rest of them knew how much of a strange thing Hans had done. Aldrich kneeled in front of Hans and bowed with head on the ground. It was very disgraceful for him as a dominion knight, but he didn''t care. The child in front of him was akin to his god, who saved her daughter.


    Hans said to Aldrich,


    You are supposed to be my guardian. My gramps will say I have no manners if you keep doing this.


    Rudolf got an itch on his forehead. He sighed and said,


    Oh, let it go squeaky.


    How can I, a mannerless brat will let it go? It would conflict with the words of mighty Rudolf Alastor.


    The atmosphere became light because Hans was making their lord speechless and the words and tone from the child were way cuter to ignore. Sierra asked Aldrich to lift his head up and said to him,


    It''s a servant¡¯s duty to serve their lord, and it''s their lord¡¯s protecting them.


    She said these words for Hans to hear, which he totally ignored because he was busy stuffing himself with macaroons and after realising everyone looking at him, he turned to her, asking if she said something. No one replied but chuckling sounds were coming from everywhere.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 27 : Fake it till you Make it

    Chapter 27


    Fake it till you make it


    With Hans munching around like a squirrel with both of his hands and Sierra wiping his face with a handkerchief, changed the previous gloomy atmosphere with a bright one. While everyone was focused on Hans¡¯s cute antics, the head Butler Benedict said to their still tensed chief Knight Aldrich,


    Now relax a little, your daughter will recover soon.


    Yeah, but...


    Then why are you still this tense?


    It''s about our young Lord. I can''t put it into words but when I tried to stop him, I felt my life would end at that moment.


    Stop it, you are overthinking; he is just a boy.


    Aldrich showed him his shivering hand and said,


    Yeah, but can''t you see this? There is no circle when he was casting the spell and what''s up with the ManaVision?


    Benedict proudly replied,


    To me, it looks like the apple didn''t fall far from the tree. With lord Sam, we saw the strongest knight of all time. Maybe it''s time to see a mage for a change.


    After eating and laughing, Hans needed rest. He didn''t tell anyone, but extracting that thing from Vanessa was a tough challenge, even for him. He didn''t feel lethargic before because of the excitement, but now the fatigue hit hard, making him asleep in Sierra¡¯s lap.


    Hans suddenly opened his eyes in the middle of the night. It was not because he finished his beauty sleep, but because there was an uninvited person in his room. He jumped out from his bed to create some distance between them while drawing a clear mana path and was ready to attack at any moment.


    The hidden person said,


    Impressive instincts.


    Hans shouted as loud as he could so he would wake others because his gut feeling was telling him there was no way he could beat this guy, but there was no reaction from the outside. The hidden person became visible, but a dark shadow was masking him. He said again,


    You are smart too,


    Hans asked him,


    What do you want?


    The shadow replied,


    Nothing. I was just curious to see the child claiming himself as Samson¡¯s son.


    And,


    And you are bold for sure. Most of the people can''t even speak in front of me.


    And,


    pft, and you are fake. Samson never fathered a child, I would have known, so what are you?


    Hans humoured the man,


    Who knows?


    The shadow increased the pressure while asking him,


    Are you playing with me, boy?


    Naah, but If you wanted me dead I would have been dead already.


    It doesn''t mean I can''t hurt you.


    Hans felt incoming danger and shot two bullet seeds at different locations than the shadow. Aimed for the head and the heart. The person¡¯s actual body got hit, but the response was very bland. Hans felt his bullets got connected with the target, but the damage was insignificant.


    The person laughed after a while,


    Very impressive. You could detect my original location.


    The shadow that he was showing Hans was just a projection. His body was hidden in the dark and detecting its presence was a real feat in the eyes of the intruder. He was laughing in marvel at the boy''s skill but stopped after a bit and said.


    I see my boring days vanishing away.


    Hans asked in frustration while preparing for the mutilation seed.


    What do you want?


    I told you ¡°nothing¡±, you are just a poser but you are an interesting one. I will give you that and you saved someone to whom I was indebted to¡­ damn I am bleeding.


    After feeling the sudden pain in the hit locations, the hidden person started laughing maniacally and added,


    It''s nice meeting you Hans, you might not carry his blood, but you are worthy of having that face.


    Suddenly, the darkness vanished from the room and the person¡¯s presence got erased. Rudolf barged in quickly and found Hans sitting on the ground. He was frantically searching for the intruder, but Hans stopped him.


    You are late, gramps. Who the heck was that?


    Rudolf asked Hans in all seriousness,


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    What did he want from you?


    Hans looked passed at him. The servants and the knights stationed for security were staring back at him. Sierra ordered them to leave. When Hans got secluded with his grandparents, he released a long breath that he was holding back to appear calm in front of others and said,


    I almost shit my pants. Oooh, that was scary.


    So what did he say?


    Just the plain truth that I am not King Sam¡¯s child, and I am a poser. And I saved someone¡­ was he an acquaintance of Vanessa. I think he said he was indebted to her.


    Rudolf frantically asked him,


    What did he use? I mean, what kind of power?


    I think he was using dark mana, his body was hidden and there was a shadow talking to me...


    Hans stopped in the middle and chided his grandpa


    And how come you didn''t detect him?


    Rudolf mumbled,


    Dark mana, shadow..shit, it''s Xandor.


    Hans asked him,


    And who is this Xandor?


    none of your concerns.


    Hans wanted to ask more, but Rudolf¡¯s attitude about the topic was clear. His sleep was gone because of the incident, as his heart was still pounding. He lay on his back and was looking at the ceiling. Xandor was the only word that was in his mind. A person capable enough to infiltrate undetected in Rudolf¡¯s presence has to be a big name in Genas.


    Hans opened the door and found Rudolf waiting for him.


    Now, where are you going, squeaky? You really wanna shit your pants.


    No,


    The way I see that you are not taking this seriously.


    Gramps, if that guy wanted me a goner, then I would have already died, stop making ruckus and go to sleep.


    And where are you going?


    To see the sleeping lady.


    Why?


    Because I can''t stay curious,


    She only opened her eyes a few hours back.


    Hm¡­ Mr Head knight didn''t come. This means he is with her, right?. she must be awake by now.


    Hans ran to their room and entered. The vigour had returned to the girl. She was an eighteen-year-old with a beautiful face, long dishevelled hair, and unlike before, she regained a lot of mass in her body. Her big eyes were staring right back at him.


    She was pretty even when she was recovering from that horrid condition. Hans turned red because the words were not coming out of his mouth. Vanessa became confused and said while pointing her finger at him,


    Sam...


    That word snapped him out. He sighed and said,


    Oh, I am getting tired of that name already.


    Listen, lady, answer me, do you know anyone having dark mana and was capable enough to avoid my Gramps?


    She became confused and asked him,


    Who are you?


    Hans clicked his fingers and said,


    Focus here, dark mana, strong, capable enough to avoid Gramps.


    She kept looking at him dumbfoundedly, and Hans continued,


    I thought you were smart. Did you suffer mental damage or something? I am the person who saved you¡­


    She quickly replied to him,


    No, I don''t know anyone of that calibre.


    Are you sure,


    Yes, the only high-level person with dark mana I know is professor Walter, but he is not strong or crazy enough to barge in here.


    Hans was amazed, he didn''t mention anyone barging here, but she caught on, he said,


    So you were smart after all. See ya in the morning, sleeping lady.


    Hans left just like he came, Vanessa kept staring at the closed door for a while. She felt nostalgic about seeing the baby face of a person that she missed a lot in her childhood. Sam didn''t have any friends back home and he spent a lot of time taking care of her since her toddler days. She was just a child of their head knight, but the people here never let her feel the absence of her mother.


    She said to her father,


    You didn''t tell me that he looked exactly like his father.


    I also didn''t tell you that he is as scary as his father too, daughter.


    He seemed cute.


    Aldrich sighed and thought while staring at his hand, he might be many things, but cute was not how he would describe him. Rudolf asked Hans what did he find about Vanessa. Hans responded with the name of professor Walter but Rudolf straight out rejected the idea. He was sure that the only person in this world that could pull this off was Xandor.


    Seeing him not responding, Hans asked again,


    Now, who is this Xandor?


    Rudolf sighed and answered him, he knew that Hans would not rest till he found the answer,


    He is from Parv, a fanatic follower of Sam.


    Then shouldn''t he have treated me nicely?


    You are still alive. That''s him treating you nicely. Even death is not an end when you are meddling in his business.


    Rudolf saw him not satisfied with the answer so he added,


    Hans, do you not understand what a child of a king means?


    Hans replied instantly.


    Of course, a prince.


    Then what that makes you?


    Ah, I see now. That makes me prince of Parv, but aren''t we making this up?


    Yes, but others don''t know the truth. Your existence makes you a threat to the people ruling there.


    Then why are we going with this dangerous setup?


    Because if we do not, then people will ask, why do you look like him?


    Can''t we just tell them the truth?


    That will make us even more suspicious. They will think we are trying to deceive the public to protect you.


    Hans sighed and said,


    So no matter what, they will point me out as the prince of Parv.


    Yeah, you are in pretty deep shit.


    Hans glared at him, and Rudolf added,


    Don''t look at me like that. You wanted to come here knowing this will be a dangerous place.


    Hans knew that there would be dangers here, but on his first day at Genas, he faced an opponent who could kill him without any trouble. He thought that with Rudolf; he was pretty much invincible, but this old knight just lost his credibility.


    He sighed and said to the old man,


    I have to fake it till I make it, then.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 28 : Meeting the Corrupted Compass

    Chapter 28


    Meeting the Corrupted Compass


    After the visit of the unknown dark mana wielder, supposedly Xandor, Hans turned to the God he does not believe in for his survival at least until he reached Concordia. Just before dropping him off in his room, Rudolf informs him that the only place he could live without worry is Concordia.


    He was not wrong. That place was very intimidating as an enemy. They only allowed mages and Knights'' families to live there. Even a farmer or stone mason was a knight or a mage, which also made that place a hell of a lot more expensive to live in. Usually, Concordia always stays neutral and didn''t interfere with the world''s politics, but it all changes when one of theirs gets harmed.


    Hans laid on his back in the bed, trying to get some shuteye, but couldn''t sleep this time either. He thought after knowing who the intruder was, he might sleep a little, but the effect was reversed. After tossing and turning, he finally fell asleep and no one in the Mansion tried to wake him up, even though it was late afternoon.


    He felt another presence staring at him that had broken his sleep. The presence was quite close to the bed and was stalking him quietly for some time. He was praying that this time his grandfather would notice to it first, but Rudolf was nowhere to be around.


    This got him scared and his habit of hiccuping responded with the weird noise making the person staring at him chuckled a little. Hans found the voice different, and he slowly opened his eyes, only to see none other than Vanessa looking at him. This made him feel relieved, and he started massaging his chest to stop hiccuping.


    She looked different from what Hans had seen until now. With clean clothes and recently washed hair, she was nothing but beautiful. Hans got embarrassed when he realised what he was doing in front of her and pulled the blanket over him to hide his embarrassed expression. Rudolf¡¯s voice came from outside the room ¡°is he hiccuping? He must be scared¡±. The boy wanted to shout at Rudolf, but Vanessa was still in the room. He didn''t want to ruin his image any further.


    Vanessa replied to Rudolf,


    No, Count Rudolf, our young Lord, is quite cute.


    Wait till you hear him cursing, Vanessa.


    Hans slowly spoke up from inside the blanket.


    Can you leave for a moment?


    Vanessa replied to him gently,


    Yes, come out when you are ready, young Lord.


    Her voice was sweet, and her way of saying was gentle and that made him shiver all over. He didn''t understand what was happening to him. These were all symptoms of him being scared, but he was not hiccuping. His heart was racing and his face was burning. He didn''t know this feeling too. After coming to Genas, Hans felt many emotions that he was not used to.


    When he calmed down, he made himself presentable and walked out of the room to get surprised again by the girl. She was leaning back beside the door. Hans couldn''t maintain eye contact with her and simply looked down.


    She asked him,


    Shall we go down, Young Lord?


    Hans just nodded in agreement, and she walked right a bit behind him, making him nervous again. The gossip of him facing an assassin was already spreading among the servants, so she thought that was making him nervous. She came closer and whispered in his ears, which surprised him even more.


    The more you think about last night, the more you will get stressed.


    The cause of his nervousness was not Xandor or whatnot, but because he was not sure how to deal with this girl. The sweet smell of her perfume was making him shiver even more. He tried calming himself by taking long breaths and seeing him do that, Vanessa got even more concerned. She confronted him by blocking him right at the front and asked,


    Young Lord, are you alright?


    Yes, yes I am, can you¡­ can''t you just stay a little away...from me...


    Vanessa made a troubled expression. She wanted to get along with her saviour so she was behaving as politely as she could, which was not her true nature. She asked him in an even more polite tone.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Did I do something wrong?


    Her melodious voice was one thing, but her sweet expression was the one that was making Hans hazy. He was very close to having a mental breakdown. He jumped back a little and shouted at her.


    just...Stay away.


    Vanessa got startled and tried to remember what wrong she did to make the kid feel this way. Sierra came right behind her and said,


    He doesn''t know how to talk with pretty girls. It''s not your fault, Vanessa.


    The new revelation was more surprising for her, on the other hand, Hans was flustered and avoided her.


    Sierra continued with her words towards the girl.


    Stop the pretence. He would like you even more if you behave like your usual self.


    Should I?


    In their conversation, Hans found a perfect time to escape. Rather than being stuck between these ladies, he felt it was far more comfortable to be with the old men in the house. But Rudolf just got excellent material to mock him, and sparing this chance was not like his character.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    He asked Hans,


    So squeaky. How was it, meeting a pretty girl for the first time?


    Oh shut up, gramps.


    He laughed, seeing the child¡¯s flustered face. After making fun of him for a while, he said to him,


    Get used to it Hans, what will happen to you when you see Elven girls?


    I feel like I don''t wanna meet them.


    It''s alright you will get used to it. Just stare right at them, if you can.


    He burst into laughter but stopped when Sierra came down with Vanessa. Hans didn''t want to be mocked again, so he forced himself to look right at Vanessa, who was smiling at him. It didn''t take him long to lower his gaze, and Rudolf burst into laughter once more. Suddenly the laughing knight got covered in vines which were trying to gag him.


    Aldrich got surprised and became cautious, it was clear that this was Hans¡¯s doing but there were no light circles formed around his hands this time either. A mage couldn''t activate spells without mana circles manifesting around the body. Vanessa mumbled in surprise.


    He really is special, as he should be, Lady Sierra.


    Rudolf kept tearing down the vines, but Hans was keeping up with his speed. Sierra stopped both of them and said to Hans.


    It''s okay, Hans, this is normal. You wanted to live among others, don''t you?


    Hans didn''t reply to her, and she continued,


    You know you will be entering as a Richardson in Concordia, right?


    Mhm¡­


    Then that makes Vanessa your sister, right?


    Mhm...


    Then do you know the duty of a brother to her sister?


    Hans looked at Sierra in confusion. He didn''t know what Sierra was talking about, but the lady has a knack for manipulating Hans very well. He was a child who would go all the way if she entrusted him with responsibility and the lady exploited the very thing,


    A brother is responsible for her sister¡¯s happiness, to protect her from any harm.


    Hans¡¯s eyes brightened up, and Sierra struck the anvil while the iron was hot.


    How can you take that responsibility when you are this uncomfortable around her?


    She had Hans in hook, line and sinker. He stood up and declared,


    Don''t worry, I will be her brother.


    Then you don''t have to feel awkward around her. She is going to be your elder sister, right?


    Hans looked straight at her and said,


    Then she doesn''t have to talk weirdly. After all, she is going to be my sister, right?


    Everyone was looking at Vanessa, and she was thinking about how easily the boy got manipulated by Lady Sierra. He was very gullible and innocent, which made him look very innocent and cute. She nodded and said to Hans,


    So it is alright if I call you Hans.


    Hans felt comfortable hearing that, and he acknowledged her back.


    yes, then I should call your sister or sis Vanessa.


    Whatever you prefer, Hans.


    Aldrich was stopping her to not address their young Lord this way, but Rudolf signalled him to stop. Tying Hans with the word "responsibility" was the best way to get something from him. But meeting Vanessa was going to shape Hans¡¯s future in a very different direction because Vanessa was thinking of removing his gullible nature first and foremost so no one could manipulate him any further.


    There are roughly three months in her hand to shape Hans into something that suited him to be called Samson¡¯s child, but she didn''t know that her decision would birth the most narcissistic and psychotic Mage of all time.


    Sierra asked her to guide Hans so he could adjust to the world of people, but Vanessa''s influence was akin to a corrupted compass for Hans. She replied to the lady,


    Don''t worry, my lady, I will make sure that he develops a mindset which helps him live longer.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 29 : Insensitive but Efficient

    Chapter 29


    Insensitive but Efficient


    Vanessa was looking at the young Lord who had become her brother in name. Everything was new to Hans, and he felt like an innocent boy who knew nothing about the world, but one thing that was hammered into him from birth was getting whatever he wanted; it doesn''t matter if it was by hook or crook and meeting this new sister who shared the same nature made that rule stronger.


    Sometimes he felt like his supposed father, who walked the life of a powerful person. It was not solely because he knew Rudolf would back him up no matter what, but he was capable and confident of pulling his weight and he was proving this in right front of Vanessa.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    He had never fought anyone other than Rudolf, so he was curious to know the difference between his grandfather and the others. For this, he asked Aldrich to spar with him which the head knight denied at first, but Hans was pestering him like there was no other day and finally, the knight humoured him.


    Vanessa was expecting to see new things from Hans not only because he was Samson¡¯s child, but he was the sole user of wood mana. His existence was a surprise to the world itself and his mana property did not diminish the element of surprise, either.


    Aldrich kept denying Hans not because it was a waste of the time to fight a child, but because he instinctively knew that he had to be serious from the start and that could hurt his young Lord.


    Right from the start, Hans kept attacking Aldrich with SeedBullets from any direction possible. The attacks were quite fast, but it was not that difficult for Aldrich to deflect. Suddenly, he felt some tremors beneath him. He said to Hans while jumping back,


    You have to do better, young Lord,


    Hans sneered at him and shouted,


    Got you.


    SeedBullet


    Hans was suppressing the speed of bullets to let Aldrich his guard off and he launched the projectile with top speed and precision, predicting where Aldrich would be. His opponent came in a drawn trajectory of Bullet and had no choice but to block.


    The loud impact of the bullet with the sword was not for only show. Aldrich didn''t use any aura skills and the sword without any imbued aura was vibrating because of the clash. Aldrich was looking at Hans''s face, which clearly meant that it was not over.


    Hans doesn''t like that his SeedBullet was not working on someone other than Rudolf and on a person who was fighting him without even an aura. Even Rudolf had respected him by using the aura. He didn''t want to use this, but his pride got the better of him as he shouted at Aldrich.


    You will die if you don''t take it seriously?


    Mutilate


    With a horrible shriek, a fast bullet was shot at the falling Aldrich and the feeling that Aldrich was trying to forget about Hans came all over him. He knew that it was an absolute death if he didn''t use his aura.


    The attack was unknown to him, so he used his aura skill.


    Skill - AuraImage


    Quickly, a clone of blue aura formed that pushed the main body away by sacrificing itself.


    Hans got to see a new skill. He was sure that moving in the air was not possible, but this was a difference between an experienced knight and a novice mage like him.


    The aura clone got hit with the conical bullet and all of them saw the rampage of crying seed that shredded the clone into countless parts. The attack was too fast and Aldrich was glad that he used the aura skill to avoid this attack. Being a dominion knight meant there were very few things that could intimidate you, but for some unknown reasons, his young Lord seems scary in his eyes.


    He turned to look at Hans, who was not expecting Aldrich to come out of this unharmed, but he forced him to use a satisfactory aura skill. The head knight landed on the ground, but he failed to sense something that was waiting for him because of how surprised he was by Hans¡¯s attack in mid-air.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Where he had landed, a creeper sprung up, gripped Aldrich''s body and threw it in a straight path towards the Hans. The trajectory was just above ground level, and on his path towards Hans, the vines kept spawning over and restraining his fast speed by ensnaring him over and over. When he finally reached to Hans, He was covered and coiled by orca vines to the point where only his head was visible and one of the sharpest blades on him was aiming at his throat.


    Hans smirked at him and said,


    You lost Mr head Knight.


    Rudolf stood up, clapping for his little boy, no matter how much they bicker, but the boy¡¯s performance surpassed his imagination. Of course, if Aldrich had fought seriously and wanted to escape from this restraint it was very easy to do so, but he accepted his loss like a knight because doing this much to him was commendable enough.


    Vanessa was looking at this battle on the sidelines but she thought Hans was not even completely ten and his battle instincts were at their peak. He kept improving his attacks to exploit any loophole he found. He started weakly to make Aldrich lose his guard. This showed that he was used to fighting battles with stronger enemies. It might be Rudolf¡¯s influence, but it was something that comes with experience or one has to be born with it.


    She said to him,


    Hans, you fight like a knight. That will get you killed.


    He was expecting some praise, at least from her, but Vanessa was outright criticising him. He thought his plan was perfect, but her next words surprised him.


    A mage is suspicious by nature. They didn''t even let their guard down after finishing the opponents for good. You tossed your opponent at yourself. If somehow he had avoided all of your restraints, then something bad might have happened to you.


    She was right, but it can''t happen in a spar, so Hans did that to look cool in front of her but his act backfired on him. Her attitude was not of someone looking down on him, but it was filled with concern and a yearning to improve him.


    She added,


    A mage might have more destructive power than knights, but they will lose almost all the time if fought directly. So a mage has to be more cautious.


    Hans had read that knights came into existence to kill the Mages, but he didn''t realise the win-to-lose ratio was this bad. He was unaware of the working of the world, so he carefully listened to her words and followed her out of the training grounds, leaving Rudolf, Aldrich and the spectating knights in training in awe.


    Aldrich asked Rudolf,


    I never knew a mage of wood mana can be this scary. Just how did you train him?


    With a lot of beating. But the brat grew up on his own.


    From that day onwards, Hans started following her everywhere. They were eight years apart and looked like an elder sister guiding her foolish younger brother. Hans genuinely began to listen to her, and she kept treasuring him as an actual brother. Vanessa also knew how dangerous the upcoming days were for him, so she resolved to erase this naivety from him.


    She started to change him little by little into a person like Samson and in the next few days, she already had him wrapped around her fingers. He did everything that made her sister happy, and she used his affection to toughen him up.


    Hans was used to living in a world where strength meant everything, so she started by changing his mindset. Vanessa referenced a lot of incidents where the weak people won over the strong by using law, money and strategies. She was contrasting Hans''s belief of "strength triumphs everything" and the boy had a hard time adjusting to this new philosophy.


    Her way of changing Hans¡¯s mindset continued and when they got close, Hans asked her how she ended up like that (referring to her sick condition) but she replied what she told the mage tower associates that ¡°she didn''t remember much, she was doing graduation task and the next thing she knew was she got back in Concordia and the pain kept coming back¡±.


    Being around her all the time, Hans also had developed a habit of not taking everything told to him by others for the facts, that included her too. She was hiding something, and he felt it, but chose not to push her further because she did not seem comfortable remembering those things.


    Vanessa dedicated every moment of hers to teaching Hans all she knew about mages and knights and the current situation of the world. She wanted Hans to develop a cynical nature suited for his survival, so she focused her way of doing things to influence him.


    Rudolf already arranged various tutors to teach him about basic things like history and calculations but Hans only took Vanessa''s tutelage seriously.


    And with three months of being under her influence, Hans had changed a lot. He already possessed confidence and charisma, but he had developed a ruthless level of rationality and determination to achieve whatever he set his mind to.


    Vanessa believed that people never change, they could hide their true nature behind a mask called maturity or growth, but deep down they are what they used to be, and she instilled this in Hans.


    Those thoughts heavily affected Hans to become relentless, dominant, and unforgiving. However, he also developed a particular skill in calling out others¡¯ failures with a chilling degree of insensitivity, and this is where he started to run into trouble with others.


    He started to believe,


    Being insensitive is better than being inefficient.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 30 : Burying the Past

    Chapter 30


    Burying the Past


    The fateful day of his departure to Concordia has arrived. After the first intrusion, Hans never got any visitors, and he lived his busy but peaceful life under Vanessa''s guidance while Rudolf and Sierra got occupied with their duties in Edenberg county.


    Hans was relaxing under the sun, putting his head on Vanessa''s lap, who sat leaning on a sparse tree, allowing the adequate amount of sunshine which didn''t irritate them. It was the time of the afternoon, just after he finished learning the history lessons.


    The weather became cold as the winter hit them at the end of the year, so they were used to enjoying their time together under sunlight after everyday lessons. She was not like a strict older sister but a doting one who couldn''t help but find Hans''s every action cute.


    However, she didn''t spare any moment to make Hans mentally stronger. He felt a bit mature in front of others, but around Vanessa, he remained as goofy as ever. He didn''t want to part with her, so he urged her with pitiful eyes,


    Sis Vanessa, can¡¯t you come with us too, Concordia, I mean?


    The place held many of her good as well as terrible memories, but after overcoming the suffering and knowing Hans, she started debating her resolve of "never going back to the place where she lost everything".


    She forced herself to say,


    Fine, if you wanted me¡­


    She didn''t get to finish her words, but Hans suddenly jumped in her embrace. Vanessa started rubbing her cheeks into his and finished her words.


    I can try, but it''s not us who gets to decide on this.


    Oh, I am sure if I ask grandma nicely with a cute face she won''t deny it.


    You have become sharp, lil brother.


    Of course, use everything you have, that''s what you taught me, right?


    She snuggled him and said,


    Yes, that''s what I taught you.


    She suddenly stopped and asked him,


    Hans, do you know why you are entering as Richardson but not as your grandpa¡¯s?


    Hans shook his head. After developing the common sense of this world, this bothered him the most. If the world is all about connections, then why were his grandparents were trying to break his powerful connections to them?


    Vanessa answered,


    To give you freedom, for a bit.


    Hans completed her words.


    So my actions cannot be restricted by the fact that I am their grandson.


    You have become smart, lil brother, but that''s not all. When you are related to someone like them, people start to expect things from you and that expectation becomes a shackle that drags you down. I always taught you to not pay any heed to others¡¯ opinions, but you are also a human after all.


    Hans understood what she and his grandparents wanted to do, but he joked,


    Nah, I was smart to begin with, but living with my dull gramps made me a little dumb.


    Vanessa couldn''t comment on that, so she said,


    In my time, there were staff wards. They lived with their parents and walked on eggshells to not affect their parents'' standings.


    She continued after a brief pause,


    So being my brother will give you that freedom among students at least.


    Vanessa kept setting up his hair after he hurriedly sat up to answer her. He kept staring at her with a smile on his face, so she asked him,


    Why are you staring?


    Just cause I am happy you are coming with us.


    This is not final yet...


    I will throw a tantrum and it will get final, so sis, tell me more about a student''s life in Concordia. You didn''t tell me anything about it yet.


    Vanessa thought a little, then said,


    As you have seen in the Genas¡¯ map, it is a group of floating islands that exists to teach children with the goal of amity among different races and classes. It started as an institution and now it grew into something like a small nation.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Hans had another question whom he couldn''t find a clear answer,so he asked her,


    But as you have told me, humans can''t see other than themselves flourish, so why don''t they attack Concordia?


    Because Concordia doesn''t support anyone and has remained neutral since its dawn. It won''t care what happens in the world and acts like a strongly protected well with a small world inside of it.


    Hans asked a hypothetical question,


    Suppose all nations together attack the Concordia, then what will happen?


    Vanessa asked him back,


    What will you do if you are outnumbered and outmatched?


    Hans replied quickly,


    As you have said to me, ¡°Bide your time and wait for an opportunity that will undoubtedly come. if you are patient, then you may exact revenge.¡± I will make a deal with one of them and with betrayal, I will win.


    Vanessa patted his head on learning to think this way and said,


    The Concordia will do worse than that, because there will always be a place that emerged as the new Concordia which others feared, so the alliance between them should be foundationally weak. It will support one of them and with the idea of backstabbing, resulting in Concordia''s survival and victory.


    Hans threw another question at her.


    But what happens if a powerful nation like Grimgar starts a war with them?


    This is a time of peace because they all are focused on red demons, but when those not existed, the balance between countries was very fragile. If it happened at that time, Concordia would have partnered with Sunfall and thoroughly destroyed the Grimgar with a plundering ratio of ten to none. None for Concordia and any nation would be eager to get all the Grimgar.


    Hans concluded,


    So, Concordia is like a hornet¡¯s nest and poking it will only hurt you.


    See, you have become good at understanding things.


    Hans giggled and asked her again,


    So what should I expect to face as a new student?


    Vanessa replied to him,


    The admission test for Grimgar must be over by now¡­


    Then why did I not take it?


    Patience, Hans, let me finish first. There are two ways for a person to enter Concordia, by regular admission, that is for everyone, even non-mana practitioners, and the other method that you were using is the recommendation system.


    And what''s that?


    She sighed because Hans was acting restless. He forgot her teaching whenever he became curious about something. Before he could get even more excited, she answered him.


    A dominion knight (grade 80 - 90) or a world mage (eight circles) could recommend a single person per year. But if their recommended person fails after the first year, they will lose their privilege with Concordia, so people hesitate to recommend someone.


    Then how many students will be in the first year?


    A Lot but many of them might not be able to use mana or aura. The teachers will categorise you into four sections, namely A, B, C and D from the second year onwards, the cream of the four sections will be together and the rest of it will be sent back.


    The information did not satisfy Hans, so he expectantly looked at her and she added some more,


    The best thing about Concordia is, there is no social class system, so they will force you to treat everyone equally. You could even slap a royal and get away with it only if you are capable of maintaining your education there.


    Their conversation ended at this point and Vanessa told him that learning everything about that place in advance will ruin his experience. She wanted to talk with Sierra about her tagging along separately, so she forbade Hans from forcing Sierra into it. Hans agreed to it and was waiting anxiously for the result of their talk.


    Vanessa was facing Sierra¡¯s questions. The soon-to-be dean of mages asked the former student,


    What happened to you back there? If you answer it truthfully, I will allow you.


    I decided to not live in the past and exhaust myself by hating someone. I want to focus on my present, lady Sierra.


    Will you be alright? You might run into that very someone¡­


    It doesn''t matter; I am going there because young Lor... NO, my little brother asked me to.


    Sierra looked at her doubtfully.


    Are you trying to return the care you received from his father?


    Initially, I wanted to return the gratitude because he saved me, and then I wanted to be good to him because he was Samson¡¯s son but he is not a replacement or anything to distract me from the pain, I genuinely care about the boy and want to see how his story would unfold.


    Sierra said seriously,


    Then promise me that you will bury your past and Hans will never know about it.


    Vanessa instantly replied to her, she was also planning to not involve anyone in her past because avenging herself was neither a priority nor a possibility in this lifetime,


    Of course.


    Sierra wanted to at least hear her story. She was the daughter of her old acquaintance, and it was not in her nature to leave this stone unturned. She wanted to use this to make her tell what happened back then, but Vanessa really wanted to forget things and Sierra respected that.


    Sierra reminded her again.


    I am not trying to stop you¡­


    Vanessa interrupted her.


    I know you don''t want to get Hans involved,


    No, you silly girl, if Hans knew it then he would seek the truth alone without telling us. You don''t know what the word responsibility means to him, so I wanted to know early what trouble he would cause.


    Vanessa assured her that no one knows and never will, but she didn''t know how much Hans was going to shake this world because of that.


    ***

 Bonus and Story So Far - 1

    The Story So far - 1


    Pre story -


    Samson Parv, third prince of a foreign nation, gets recognised as the king of Parv and raises the declining nation to a powerhouse by becoming the strongest entity in the world. Later, he waged a war against the Elven Kingdom Clandor but his own race indirectly supported the elves against him, fearing his growing powers.


    Sensing his death and betrayal right from the start, Samson penned all of his knowledge into several books, no one knew how many and distributed it to whom he deemed worthy.


    Main story -


    The first one chosen by him was his own creation, Hans, made from the alchemy of the caretakers of his old parents. Samson laid a plan to grow the child strong enough so he could protect the one he loved the most.


    After finding out his incompatibility with aura and inability to make mana circles, the first book of fate found its way to Hans, giving him a hope of becoming a mage. Giving up his sword, Hans followed the words of the first book of fate and learned to hone the mana, breaking out the tradition of storing it in the forms of a circle into the heart.


    The book gave him the ability to master never ending mana and control over the wood mana property. With the help of Treant, a creature of nature, Hans honed what he lacked in control of nature¡¯s raw mana and in the course of nearly two years, he learned five spells.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.30435%">Sno.</td>


    <td style="width: 12.3349%">Spell Natme</td>


    <td style="width: 81.3608%">Description</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.30435%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 12.3349%">Sprout </td>


    <td style="width: 81.3608%">mimicking any seed and modifying its growth and yield</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.30435%">2</td>


    <td style="width: 12.3349%">VeganBind </td>


    <td style="width: 81.3608%">a restraining spell which summons dark purple vines with sharp metallic blades and paralytic poison. This is used for restraining and offencive measures.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.30435%">3</td>


    <td style="width: 12.3349%">SeedBullets </td>


    <td style="width: 81.3608%">a hard metal shelled seed with penetrative power far greater than a musket rifle bullet</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.30435%">4</td>


    <td style="width: 12.3349%">TheVeganCarnage </td>


    <td style="width: 81.3608%">a predator type crying seed, it grows 7-9 tentacles with speared ends and auto targets the heads of whomever in vicinity including its caster. A dangerous spell that only deactivates after killing everyone in its range including another same seed making it one at a time spell</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.30435%">5</td>


    <td style="width: 12.3349%">Mutilate </td>


    <td style="width: 81.3608%">TheVeganCarnage + SeedBullets =  a short range killing spell that even wont leave a corpse intact</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    In late year of 1064, he went to the civilisation, the central kingdom of Grimgar, for three months before leaving for Concordia to learn more to be a mage. There he met a girl, eight years older than him, and surprisingly, became her younger brother. She erased his naivety and ingrained him with the mindset of a mage. This concluded the first Act ''The failed Prodigy''.


    World setting


    This world follows an Imperial calendar system of 13 months, with each month having 28 days made into 4 weeks


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 73.9414%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 30.8824%">Months</td>


    <td style="width: 69.1176%">weather</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 30.8824%">1 - 3</td>


    <td style="width: 69.1176%">winter</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 30.8824%">3 - 7</td>


    <td style="width: 69.1176%">summer</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 30.8824%">7 - 11</td>


    <td style="width: 69.1176%">rain</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 30.8824%">11 - 13</td>


    <td style="width: 69.1176%">winter</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 75.0271%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">the other seasons like spring and autumn come in between the weathers like usual</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Geography -


    There are two moons of genas.


    One sun


    Three great races that rule this world


    Humans, Elves and Dwarves


    Humans and elves have similar lifespans because Elven gods are dead. Elves show the mana from the moment they are born, but humans show signs at the age after seven.


    Humans share border with their kind with the exception of Parv, Utar and a small part of Grimgar that collectively connect with Clandor


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">Sno.</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">Territories</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">location


    </td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Dominant Race</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">Ruler</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">Culture</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">Parv</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">East</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Humans</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">Prime Minister - Aratya</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">A democratic nation of forty states</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">2</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">Indu</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">South</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Humans</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">High Priest - TBA</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">A religious country which follows God Yudwin</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">3</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">Sunfall</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">West</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Humans</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">King - TBA</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">TBA</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">4</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">Utar</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">North</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Humans</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">King - TBA</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">TBA</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">5</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">Grimgar</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">Central</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Humans</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">King - Samwell</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">A social Hierarchy system of a kingdom</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">6</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">Clandor</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">Northeast</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Elves</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">


    King - TBA


    Council - TBA


    </td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">A diarchy system where king control all the internal affairs and the Council handle all the external affairs</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">7</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">ForgeLands</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">West of Sunfall</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Dwarf</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">Clan - TBA</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">An armed nation that focuses more on technology and engineering than Mana.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">8</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">DeadLands</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">a part of Utar</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Red demons</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">TBA</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">A extraterrestrial race that invaded Genas and made its home in Untar later sealed inside a spherical barrier.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">9</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">Ghost Isles</td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">South of genas</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Beasts</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">NA</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">one of the most dangerous place in Genas where power rules all</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.63044%">10</td>


    <td style="width: 10.4348%">


    Concordia/


    FloatLands


    </td>


    <td style="width: 8.91304%">in middle of Parv Grimgar and Clandor</td>


    <td style="width: 15.6522%">Board of Directors</td>


    <td style="width: 17.7219%">Chairman - TBA</td>


    <td style="width: 40.539%">


    A collection of floating islands not too high in the air above the shared waters of Parv, Indu, Grimgar and Clandor.


    An expensive place to live in because of high standard of living and the minimum qualification to live in being a knight or mage.


    Focused on the Concordia Academy


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Mana Methods


    A person mage or knight needs to absorb mana in pure form or as their own mana or an aura, but a person could only absorb the familiar mana and discard the rest. In nature, mana is in collective form, so if a person is compatible with fire, he should only absorb fire mana. If he tries to absorb another kind, his body or heart will burst and he will die.


    Cross familiarity disorder - Cross family mana makes 99% people useless. There are a total of four families of mana.


    Note - learning stages of knights and mage looks similar because Knights mana methods are based on mages'' but modified for a warrior


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.41304%">Sno.</td>


    <td style="width: 13.1888%">Mana Family</td>


    <td style="width: 80.3982%"> </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.41304%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 13.1888%">Elemental</td>


    <td style="width: 80.3982%">


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">Human Name</td>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">Elven Name</td>


    <td style="width: 50.0686%">Colours</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">Fire</td>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">Pyro</td>


    <td style="width: 50.0686%">Bright Orange/ bright blue(E)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">Water</td>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">Aqua</td>


    <td style="width: 50.0686%">light Blue</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">Ground</td>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">Terra</td>


    <td style="width: 50.0686%">light Brown</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">Wind</td>


    <td style="width: 24.9657%">aero</td>


    <td style="width: 50.0686%">Pale green</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.41304%">2</td>


    <td style="width: 13.1888%">Advanced</td>


    <td style="width: 80.3982%">


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 26.0631%">Thunder</td>


    <td style="width: 24.9871%">Electro</td>


    <td style="width: 48.9498%">Purple</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 26.0631%">Ice</td>


    <td style="width: 24.9871%">Cryo</td>


    <td style="width: 48.9498%">Cyan</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 26.0631%">Magma</td>


    <td style="width: 24.9871%">Lava</td>


    <td style="width: 48.9498%">Crimson red</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 26.0631%">Wood</td>


    <td style="width: 24.9871%">Life</td>


    <td style="width: 48.9498%">No color</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.41304%">3</td>


    <td style="width: 13.1888%">Rare</td>


    <td style="width: 80.3982%">


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 26.064%">Light</td>


    <td style="width: 25.2391%">Lux</td>


    <td style="width: 48.6968%">Bright White</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 26.064%">Dark</td>


    <td style="width: 25.2391%">Death</td>


    <td style="width: 48.6968%">Black</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.41304%">4</td>


    <td style="width: 13.1888%">Unrecorded</td>


    <td style="width: 80.3982%">


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 26.1997%">Divine</td>


    <td style="width: 25.2398%">NA</td>


    <td style="width: 48.5582%">Golden</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 26.1997%">Space</td>


    <td style="width: 25.2398%">Space</td>


    <td style="width: 48.5582%">Grey</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 26.1997%">TIme</td>


    <td style="width: 25.2398%">Tempus</td>


    <td style="width: 48.5582%">???</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.41304%"> </td>


    <td style="width: 13.1888%"> </td>


    <td style="width: 80.3982%"> </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ManaSense(K) - knights used it to sense mana and aura in their surrounding


    ManaVision(M) - mages could identify the mana property and its flow through eyes


    Note - there is no way to sense an aura because it is visible through naked eyes as different colours


    Using property stone - to determine what type of mana an individual possesses.


    If this fails, use the late bloomer method, crushing every type of mana stones and inhaling it. If the property match the person will release the same type of mana or else have a terrible headache,


    Knights


    A force created to kill mages, knights does not need to have talents but a will of doing hard work, so there is a systematic system to make sure knights surpass mages.


    Where hard work mattered most


    Feel mana around the body, and like basking in sunlight, try to absorb it inside through skin.


    Aura - absorbing mana from nature and nurturing every muscle in the body. After the muscle becomes used to holding aura, the knight can recall the stored power in them to conduct it in its weapon, making it stronger using it for skills.


    Bloodline(Humans) - using aura method caused a mutation in the body and this mutation is passed genetically.


    Skills- the set of moves that affect nature or generate a volatile energy to attack or defend in various ways.


    They measure the amount of aura that a person can store as grades. The creator of the aura method decided the ideal rules for aura training as mastering a single aura skill for every decadial (10) grade


    <h2 style="text-align: justify">Aura properties</h2>


    Conductance - only transferable to non-living things


    Storage - body


    <h3 style="text-align: justify">Types of aura attacks


    <ul style="text-align: justify">


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Aura burst - similar to mana discharge</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Aura conductance - transferring the aura into a weapon</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Aura skills - the attacks</li>


    </ul>


    <h2 style="text-align: justify">Learning stages</h2>


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">Grade</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Name</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">Mastery</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">0 -10</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Apprentice Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">Learning to generate aura and conduct it in the weapons.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">11-20</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Initiate Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">Learning first aura skill and perfect it till grade 20</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">21 - 30</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Novice Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">Second Skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">31 - 40</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Senior Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">Third Skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">41- 50</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">High Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">Fourth skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">51 - 60</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Warrior Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">Fifth Skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">61 - 70</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Veteran/Master Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">


    Sixth Skill


    <ul style="text-align: justify">


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Humans- bloodline training only for knights


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Elves - spirit contracts</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Dwarf - inherit the blessings from the ancestors - to give to the weapons</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">71 - 80</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Grand Master Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">seventh Skill - mini ultimate</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">81 -90</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Dominion Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">Domain skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3043%">91 - 99</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9755%">Warlords</td>


    <td style="width: 70.7202%">Ultimate skill and From this point onwards the growth grades are ambiguous because some people hit their limit when they cross 90 grades but some keep growing. The knight is not required to follow the rule of learning a skill per decadial grades</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Mages


    Where talent mattered most


    Try moving surrounding mana in a circle, as your heart as the centre. Then try to move some of the strands inside your heart from that rotating circle. After absorbing the strands, match the direction and speed of mana to outside rotation, in of your heart.


    Mana- absorbing mana from nature and storing it in the heart. There are many methods of doing it but there is not any significant difference between them. By doing so in early stages, the heart becomes strong. The mana needs to form a vessel in the heart to store the mana, which is called a circle.


    Spells- the way of altering nature¡¯s mana or producing the filtered mana from the heart for achieving any purpose is called a spell. There is a certain motion in a circle inside the mana heart, which is remembered through the names of the spell. The number of circles projecting outside while casting a spell shows how much mana the spell is, consuming and how powerful it is.


    They measure the amount of mana that a person can store in circles. There is no restriction of learning a set amount of spells for mages.


    <h2 style="text-align: justify">Mana properties</h2>


    Conductance - only transferable in living things, for ex - healing


    Storage - heart


    <h3 style="text-align: justify">Types of spell


    <ul style="text-align: justify">


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Mana discharge - a burst of mana from the heart for suddenly making space or damaging everyone surrounds you</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Defensive spells - barrier spell</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Quick spells - </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Channelling spells - casting time is inversely proportional to damage dealt</li>


    </ul>


    <h2 style="text-align: justify">Learning stages</h2>


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">Circles</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">Name</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">Mastery</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">0</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">Apprentice Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">Learn to store mana and form a mana Heart</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">Initiate Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">First circle successfully formed and mastered at least two spells [Concordia limits the initiates from learning more than two spells at this stage]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">2</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">Novice Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">Four spells</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">3</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">Senior Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">reaching three circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">4</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">High Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">reaching four circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">5</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">Expert Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">reaching five circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">6</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">Veteran/Master Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">


    reaching six circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master


    <ul style="text-align: justify">


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Humans- NA (this is the reason human mages are weak)</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Elves - spirit contracts</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">7</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">Grand Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">reaching seven circles and able to cast a devastating spells</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">8</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">World Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">reaching eight circles and able to create a mana Sanctuary </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.39626%">9</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7559%">Warlock</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8478%">reaching Nine circles and possessing few Ultimate spells</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Beasts so far..


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.84039%">Sno.</td>


    <td style="width: 18.8925%">Name</td>


    <td style="width: 14.0025%">Location</td>


    <td style="width: 60.2646%">Features</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.84039%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 18.8925%">Dragon</td>


    <td style="width: 14.0025%">???</td>


    <td style="width: 60.2646%">fire breather, ???</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.84039%">2</td>


    <td style="width: 18.8925%">Dapple lizards</td>


    <td style="width: 14.0025%">Ghost Isles</td>


    <td style="width: 60.2646%">


    A non poisonous reptile of dark black colour with yellow pupils and horns above the eyes. its unique white spots were the one that distinguished it from other beasts.


    - Autotomy


    - Camouflage


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.84039%">3</td>


    <td style="width: 18.8925%">Dark krillin</td>


    <td style="width: 14.0025%">Ghost Isles</td>


    <td style="width: 60.2646%">equivalent to second class beast in Genas. a herbivore with a dark brown thick hide and a goat like stature. it had two big horns that could impale anything</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.84039%">4</td>


    <td style="width: 18.8925%">Giant Salamander</td>


    <td style="width: 14.0025%">Ghost Isles</td>


    <td style="width: 60.2646%">a heat loving creature that usually lived near volcano. it skin burned to protect itself from predators.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.84039%">5</td>


    <td style="width: 18.8925%">FrostBird</td>


    <td style="width: 14.0025%">Ghost Isles</td>


    <td style="width: 60.2646%">The white flying bird with a wing-span greater than ten metres. A high agility beast controlling the ice element as its will


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.84039%">6</td>


    <td style="width: 18.8925%">TwinHeadedPanthera</td>


    <td style="width: 14.0025%">Ghost Isles</td>


    <td style="width: 60.2646%">a two headed large feline beast with thick hairs covering its entire back. it loves the chilly places and could tear anything that it can put its fangs on.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.84039%">7</td>


    <td style="width: 18.8925%">Armadino</td>


    <td style="width: 14.0025%">Ghost Isles</td>


    <td style="width: 60.2646%">a heavy duty beast that charges to the target with huge momentum with a crystallised armour that protected it from predators.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.84039%">8</td>


    <td style="width: 18.8925%">Swamp Toad</td>


    <td style="width: 14.0025%">Ghost Isles</td>


    <td style="width: 60.2646%">A huge toad, poisonous in nature and always ready to mate. its body secretes a sticky mucus that could make a aura spear slip.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A little more about Hans


    He is someone with the Intutive, thinking and judging personality traits, a decisive person who loves momentum and accomplishment. He gathers information to construct his creative visions, but rarely hesitates for long before acting on them.


    Sterngth -


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Efficient</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Energetic </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Self-Confident </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Strong-Willed </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Strategic Thinkers </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Charismatic and Inspiring


    </li>


    </ul>


    Weakness -


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Stubborn and Dominant </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Intolerant </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Impatient </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Arrogant </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Poor Handling of Emotions </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Cold and Ruthless </li>


    </ul>


    Appearance - Medium length brown hairs with a natural quiff and golden eyes, he is smaller than the average kid of his age.


    Trivia - He idolises two people, the real one is his teacher in name, Samson, and second is the fictional character called Knight King Dietrich.

 Elven Lies I Chapter 31: A dream of Fame

    Chapter 31


    A Dream of Fame


    With the year 1065 just around the corner, Hans and his family were preparing to leave for Concordia. Thanks to Vanessa''s hard work, the boy had finally grasped the manners of a decent man, and his slightly elegant way of speaking was showing proof.


    Sierra settled on Vanessa to be her assistant, which satisfied Hans''s desire to not separate from her. He was going as a recommended student and a ward to Aldrich Richardson. During his three months of stay in the County, not only he changed mentally, but the changed appearance was also noticeable.


    He got a new haircut with a medium-length natural quiff that complemented his golden eyes and new gentlemanly vibes. His looks were not enough to kill a lady with a glance, but they made him quite presentable as compared to his previous rough appearance.


    The only thing that was going to make him stand out was his short height. He was already two years younger than most of the students attending the first years, and his height was not doing him any justice either. The servant packed the belongings, not forgetting the sweet treats for their young Lord, and the company left the mansion.


    SOMEWHERE ELSE


    A ladylike figure was meeting someone in a secluded place. The hooded person bow and knelt in front of her and greeted them,


    My queen,


    The lady spoke to the kneeling person,


    You have a task, observe a boy Named Hans, entering as a first-year.


    The person remained silent and waited for further instructions, but the lady whom he called queen didn''t add anything extra. The kneeling person asked her,


    Do you want me to get rid of him?


    The queen replied in a solemn voice,


    No, not yet.


    The person got confused because of the ambiguous order, but assured her,


    I will do as your command.


    EDENBERG COUNTY


    The party was on the move, and this was the first time they had brought Hans outside. After the visit of the unknown dark mage. Rudolf was adamant about Hans leaving the mansion, so Hans was eagerly looking forward to seeing the new things.


    They finally reached the SpaceDoor associated with Concordia. It was very different from what Hans had imagined, not like a loose rift that he had seen in Ghost isles but a well-built enormous architecture, a semi-circular arch that was stopping any mana to move outside. The smokey grey-coloured space mana was whirling inside of that enormous arch.


    Hans found the SpaceDoor beautiful, but it was not the only thing he was looking at with ManaVision. He was observing the crowd of children that were going to travel together with him. He got excited and almost forgot about his space sickness.


    Aldrich moved ahead of them to inform the person in charge of SpaceDoor about the arrival of his lord. Rudolf was planning to proceed quietly but his plan fell apart as the SpaceDoor Manager came running in and greeted them with a loud voice, which attracted everyone''s attention.


    There was more publicity this year due to the official announcement six months earlier that Sir Rudolf was returning to Concordia with the High Priestess as Dean. It was an opportunity for new students to learn from the man himself, so they put in extra effort to get in.


    When the people heard that Alastor was standing among them, they began to clamour, and Rudolf had no choice but to reveal himself. He greeted everyone politely and said,


    I hope to see you all in next year too.


    These words were addressed to the students who were going in as first-years as many of them would be rejected after one year. These words were nothing to him, but it was everything to the aspiring knights out there.


    They shouted in excitement, and the man made his exit with his companions. Many speculated about the people travelling with him, but no one knew who they really were because they had disguised themselves with an artefact, thanks to Sierra.


    Hans knew that his grandfather was famous, but that in itself was something else to see. He also wanted the same treatment. He was in deep thought and did not realise that they had come to the SpaceDoor. The act of everyone bowing in respect surprised him enough to snap out of his thoughts.


    His grandpa was a living example of the saying, "If a man has fame, what is the value of other ornamentation?" A dream was born in him to surpass his old man in fame.


    They stepped inside, and within moments they were at the Concordia. The space travel was more comfortable than his previous experience as he did not feel any nausea and was in very good shape.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    The SpaceDoor didn''t let them enter the Midlands, but an entry island known as the land of opening. This was the island which was connected to the outside world. Concordia¡¯s security protocols were strict for entering and exiting. This was the farthest guardians of students could accompany them. The senior students came and took the entrants in an orderly fashion. The first-years followed the seniors like ducklings following mama duck.


    Hans was not sent among them, but before they stepped into the inter Concordia SpaceDoors, he glanced at the students with his ManaVision and became quite uncomfortable. All of his life he lived believing that he was quite special, like the protagonists of the novels that he used to read.


    But what he inspected from others were bi and tri-mana properties. Hans knew for a fact that having more than a single mana type was a sign of talent, and here they were as common as rodents in the old house.


    His confidence in being number one here was shaking, and these were only part of admissions. The real deal was waiting inside. Concordia boasted of being impartial, but the "recommended" were treated differently in the beginning because they surpassed everyone in talent.


    The one thing when Concordia becomes partial to is when they discover a talent that was worth nurturing. This happened with Rudolf too, when Concordia discovered his raw talent and tenacity, they threw every resource they could to make him the youngest warlord in history.


    After Aldrich bid them goodbyes, Rudolf lead them to the receptionists and asked the lady looking at him,


    Four Midland, please.


    The receptionist looked at them in surprise because entering directly to Midland meant the child with them was on the recommended list. She asked him,


    What is the name of the child?


    Hans answered in confidence,


    Hans Richardson.


    The receptionist matched the name and papers submitted by Rudolf and approved their entrance. With another one of SpaceDoor, they finally reached the institution. Whatever Rudolf had told Hans about the institution turned out to be a cheap gimmick of this grand place.


    Hans was growing restless and was eager to explore, but one of the senior students came to them and asked the group,


    Is there a Hans Richardson?


    Hans, hearing his name, raised his hand and the senior boy, who was not even sixteen, hurried and shouted at him,


    Why are you so late?


    He looked at the adults and wanted to scold them for almost missing Hans¡¯s initiation ceremony, but he was stunned because he recognised whom he was going to yell. The man was looking at him with happy eyes. Meeting him was nothing but an honour for any student at Concordia.


    The boy said in excitement,


    Oh, sir.. bewitched¡­Sir Rudolf.


    The boy closed his mouth with both of his hands. Rudolf has a teasing name in the world, they called him the Bewitched knight and he almost made the mistake of calling him right to his face. Rudolf didn''t mind him and just said,


    You must be the boy in charge of recommendations, right? Take the boy. He is the brother of my wife¡¯s aide.


    The senior student looked at the lady and realised that she was a newly appointed dean for mages. He quickly greeted her and looked at the boy, who was looking here and there like a country bumpkin. He turned his attitude totally 180 and politely asked Hans to follow him and Hans learned another lesson about how much connections mean in this world.


    He said his goodbyes to the family. When he was leaving, Vanessa stopped him by the shoulders and said,


    Remember, Lil brother, the nail that sticks out gets hammered first.


    But what if I still wanna be that nail?


    Then be a nail so strong that the hammer will think twice before striking.


    Hans chuckled and left, leaving everyone in worry. He understood Vanessa¡¯s advice, either be low-key or shine so brightly that no one can touch him. This was not only for today''s initiation ceremony but for all of his life in Concordia.


    The senior asked Hans,


    So do you know, Sir Rudolf?


    Hans could see the excitement on the elder boy¡¯s face, but he replied calmly,


    Not closely. My guardian is the chief knight of their mansion.


    So how come you came with them?


    My sister¡­


    The senior interrupted,


    Ah yes, she is lady Sierra''s aide, right?


    Yes, but senior, you were calling gra..Sir Rudolf something.


    Oh, you will know soon. Here, sir Rudolf is known as ¡°the bewitched knight¡±.


    Hans looked at him with questioning eyes, but the senior added,


    We call him that in respect.


    Hans doubted that calling someone bewitched was a way of showing respect. He also heard the same thing from Samwell back at Ghost Isles and was curious about this, but Rudolf never allowed him to know about it, even in the mansion, no one talked about that. He guessed it must be about her granma and by chance he crossed his path with Rudolf¡¯s fanatic so Hans strike the hammer of conversation in him.


    Why the bewitched knight though?


    The senior looked like he was going to explode because he was so excited to tell his favourite tale to another one of his juniors, who seemed to know nothing about his own lord. Hans regretted poking his curiosity at this senior.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 32: The Bewitched Knight

    Chapter 32


    The Bewitched Knight


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    The senior looked at Hans in disbelief and was eager to tell the story himself. Hans humoured him, but the elder boy asked first.


    You really don''t know, or are you just messing with me?


    Hans faked an expression of his distaste and said to him,


    It''s your choice not to tell.


    <div>


    <div>


    The senior didn''t get a straightforward answer, yet he started the story.


    <div>


    <div>


    After setting a record of reaching grade 80 at the mere age of 17, he was asked to go to Indu for a mission. And then, he fell in love with the future high priestess there but received protests from everyone, including the lady herself. He had no proper status to pursue her. He changed his fate after being discovered by Concordia, a commoner born in Grimgar Street, but being the youngest Dominion Knight was still not enough for the Yudwin Temple to accept him.


    The senior asked him,


    Do you know why everyone respects and aspires to be like him?


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans shook his head in denial and the senior replied to him,


    Like most people, he came here as a commoner, upon reaching adulthood, became a noble of the Grimgar kingdom and married the most beautiful and unapproachable woman of the time. And he achieved all that through sheer hard work, without any bloodline or talent.


    <div>


    <div>


    His story was motivating enough to inspire anyone, and Hans had to admit it. He became more and more curious as to why he was called a bewitched knight, so he asked the over-willing senior,


    The senior laughed proudly and said,


    It is said that Lady Sierra and the Temple rejected him several times, but he never stopped pursuing her and when Indu''s rebels stood against the Temple and nearly killed his self-proclaimed lady. He snapped and kept the rebel army at bay for two straight days and did not allow a single man to pass him without rest.


    He paused and added,


    That battle is called the battle of bewitched knights, and so is his epithet.


    Hans never thought this was the story, it was hard for him to believe that Rudolph was once an impulsive man who fought for a woman without thinking. He inwardly thought that Samson must have inherited this from him on a higher level. Hans wanted to avoid the same scenario, not knowing what his future had in store for him.


    On the other hand, he was laughing inside, imagining his grandpa all sorts of stuff like waging war for granny felt cringy and on seeing the senior¡¯s face, this does not seem to be the end of the story.


    The senior added more,


    <div>


    <div>


    He led the Templar Knights for three consecutive years to crush the rebellion in the name of love for Lady Sierra. He also reached a grade of 90 in those years. After he had done so much for the temple, they had to accept him, and even Lady Sierra fell in love with him. This is the tale of the bewitched knight, so you better not forget it, newbie.


    Hans felt the story was exaggerated, but it has to feel like a larger-than-life thing to become an inspiring tale. He lived with both of the main characters of the story, so it was hard for him to believe every detail, but it was a fact that Rudolf still held the record for being the youngest warlord in history, and Samson, even being a genius could not break that record.


    His grandfather had every right to be idolised. He got everything a student can dream of, power, respect and beauty that everyone envies. After that, Hans did not say much, leaving the senior in silence, who wanted to tell the child many more things but was forced to keep quiet because he was not asking anything more.


    <div>


    <div>


    In no time, both reached the Grand Hall. Hans was the last to check in and someone else guided him to his allotted seat. When Hans made his entrance, people were staring at him, inspecting him to see if this boy was worthy of sitting in the front rows reserved for recommended students.


    The hall seating was divided into two sections, with the first two rows reserved for recommended students who did not have to participate in the rigorous selection process, so the kids sitting there were absolute monsters in terms of talent.


    Those who passed the entrance examination were seated from the third row onwards. The recommended students for these kids were their future goals and obstacles.


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    But they were finding it hard to believe that a small and younger boy was sitting in the front rows. His late arrival felt like a disrespect to their hard work and, unbeknownst to him, many had already marked him as an enemy.


    There were over 200 students in the hall and they were all checking him out. If Hans had shown his fears now, it would have been over for him, so he arrogantly looked at them with his ManaVision.


    He walked proudly in front of them with a bold gait, glancing at each one with derision that put everyone down, teasing them all the more, and reached his seat. He haughtily sat down in his position on one knee, placing the other.


    Hans was doing this to establish a fact among the students that he was at the top of the food chain here because what he saw with ManaVision was unbelievable in his eyes. Recommended students were cut from a different cloth, especially in the talent department. So he finds the need to show them that he was different too.


    He was wondering what kind of food these children had eaten to make them so terrifying. He was in deep thought, but all the students'' attention turned to the main stage, where suddenly a green-clothed woman appeared.


    She declared,


    We have received the news that your new deans have successfully taken their positions. Aren''t you chicks lucky?


    A silence followed by hootings ran in the entire hall and the addressing lady made everyone silent with her mana-enhanced voice.


    Let''s start the initiation ceremony.


    AT CONCORDIA BOARD HALL


    After Hans left with his assigned guide, another one, a higher official, welcomed all three of them and asked them to proceed to the Board hall, where the directors were waiting for them. Rudolf walked next to the officer, and the two women silently followed him.


    It didn''t take them long to reach the Board hall. The officer congratulated him on the appointment and asked Vanessa to wait outside with him. The husband and wife entered. It was a large room with a semi-circular table. Rudolf was familiar with this palace. Looking at the very back, his eyes fell on the high seat, which always seemed empty, but today a person''s shadow was sitting on it.


    Rudolf became surprised because the chairman, a mystery in Concordia, was present to welcome them. The eight seats below them were also not empty. Today, everyone was present, which was not the case every time.


    The first person to speak was a stoic lady,


    It''s good to see you again, old man.


    Rudolf turned to the familiar voice and replied,


    I wish to say the same but¡­


    Sierra interrupted Rudolf before he screwed this up on the first day, and the old knight stopped his words in the middle. The lady continued to speak, but she got cut off in the middle by a burly voice. The interrupting person wore a black robe with golden embroidery and his ceremonial copper mask.


    Welcome back, Sir Rudolf. I was a big fan of yours in my younger days. I was not a Concordia student, but I always considered you my senior.


    Rudolf didn''t know this person. Many things had changed in Concordia during his absence and this new director climbing the ladder was also one of those things. He politely asked the dark-robed director,


    And who might be you?


    Ah pardon me, I am Walter Jimenez, grade 90, a warlord knight of the dark aura.


    Oh, so you are the professor that my acquaintance talked about.


    Walter showed his surprise with his voice. The thought of Rudolf knowing his name surprised him. He asked the newly appointed dean of knights,


    And from whom you have heard of me, sir Rudolf?


    Vanessa...


    Ah, I thought so. I have heard that her affliction got treated the day lady Sierra showed up. It''s great to have her in our Concordia with you and the former high priestess, too.


    Rudolf said with a smile,


    Since you know this much, then you must hold the position of director of information, right?


    Yes, guilty as charged.


    Walter and Rudolf were dancing to the same tune, and Rudolf started to like this person. Walter asked Rudolf,


    Did you decide which house your grandson will go to?


    All the good feelings vanished the moment he mentioned Hans, Walter also felt the harmony disorienting, so he corrected quickly.


    I am also the current Housemaster of Prophets. I want to have that kid in my house. If you allow me, I could pull some strings.


    Rudolf asked in discomfort,


    Isn''t that a house where high-nose arrogant nobles go?


    Your child is not exactly a low-profile person either, sir Rudolf, and I hope he will continue the tradition.


    Let fate take its course, director Walter.


    As you wish, sir, but please call me Walter.


    Then Walter, let me ask you, why do you want him to be in your House?


    You see, his father (Samson), more than once saved my bacon. I just wanna make sure he will have no problems here.


    The lady director, who got cut off early, said in a hurry,


    Concordia doesn''t do favours. He is not entering as a staff ward.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 33 : House Selection

    Chapter 33


    House Selection


    Vanessa had informed Hans in advance of the Initiation ceremony, where the Houses are chosen for the first years. This was carefully chosen by taking several characteristics of the students into account like their personality, talent and mostly potential recognised by some mysterious thing.


    Hans was in deep thought but the announcement of the lady in green broke his trance


    I am professor Martha. Before you belong to the MAGE department or KNIGHT department, you all will be in the Foundations for a year which is under my jurisdiction. The foundation department has already divided you according to your earned scores into A, B, C and D sections with Recommended students all being in A with some of the regulars that exceeded the scores in admission.


    Martha was glaring at the Recommended students, she hated the fact that these high nobles who were born with privileges, overshadows the hard-working regular students. She has heard that there was a special admission this year and was granted admission before even reaching the age.


    Her eyes fixed on Hans, who was staring nonchalantly at her, which angered her even more. This act of Hans came as arrogance in her eyes but the boy was just following his belief of not getting intimidated by anyone.


    Martha couldn''t just stare at a single student the whole time so she turned away her gaze from him and Hans got relieved because the staring competition was just a few breaths away from giving him hiccups. He couldn''t understand why everyone here is out to get him, not knowing his actions were the ones that incited this.


    Martha continued with her explanation,


    At the end of the year, the Foundation class will evaluate all of you and decide whether to promote you or send you back. All of you will be provided with the quality education needed, so there will be no difference in your skills in the end. Our institution boasts to have no discrimination but that is just a ruse, the hard workers are cherished and pardoned and the lazies are thrown out even without the mistakes.


    She looked at everyone and declared,


    From now on, you will all be designated a House and you will move through your House areas as your name is called...


    Hans looked at the sides, there were separate areas where a few senior students were already present. Each House area was named differently, the first one where Hans glanced was the area filled with elves and humans mixed. It was his first time to see the race that boasted of their beauty and it was not just an exaggeration, they were all lean, tall and unnecessarily beautiful.


    The house of mages known as Sentinels was capable of turning a mage into a powerful weapon in the shortest amount of time.


    Hans turned his eyes on the next house which had the fewest people, this was the house of leaders, Prophets. These people practically ran Concordia in administration, so mostly nobles and heirs of the houses are chosen here who focussed on succession rather than combat.


    The next one was the house of knights, Talons. This would have been his dream place if he was a knight, a place where Rudolf used to belong but that was not going to be the case. He sighed and turned his head to look at the next house, it was the house of rangers, Seekers. This is the place where the archers, scouts and assassins were made.


    The last one was called the house of protectors, Keepers. This house specialised in defence. Hans wanted to be a part of either sentinels or seekers because it aligned with his speciality. Professor Martha started speaking again,


    <div>


    <div>


    To build trust among yourselves, all of you will share a common dorm in the foundation department''s castle and move to House Castle only after promotion the following year. Your houses are already decided for you and I won''t be hearing any whining about not getting the house of your choice. Your houses have been selected by the omniscient stone after carefully observing your destiny.


    Hans also has heard about this treasured stone of Concordia, capable of predicting the destiny of others. Its location was secret even within the Concordia itself. Martha started reading the list from the bottom, it was clear to everyone that she hated the Recommended students but no one dared to talk back to her because the Foundation department was her absolute authority.


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    Chad Walsh - Keepers


    Margot Corbyn - Sentinels


    Prunella Mccarthy - Talons


    Chris Holdger - Talons


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Hans was carefully observing the individuals, almost every elf was chosen in sentinels, proving the common notion that Elves were born to be mages. He didn''t know when the HouseMasters arrived, but they were sitting in their designated areas. He caught sight of the Sentinels'' housemaster, an elf woman, feeling uncomfortable with the vast population of elves in the Sentinels, his desire to be one of them already started fading away.


    His name was finally called,


    Hans Richardson,


    He stood up and many eyes were looking at him, Martha finally announced,


    Prophets.


    Hans''s expressions were as if he had eaten something bad, this was the administration, a non-combatant house. He was not the only one with this expression, the Sentinels'' Housemaster stood up upon hearing the decision. She wanted the child to be a part of her house.


    Suddenly there was a sound of clapping and everyone turned to look at the source of the sound, it was the Prophet''s area and the clapper was none other than Walter Jimenez. The Director of Information and House Master of the Prophets wanted to pull some strings to get Hans into his house but it turned out that luck was already on his side.


    Martha didn''t understand what was so special about the boy that both the Housemaster showed this much interest. In her eyes, Hans was nothing but an arrogant brat that doesn''t even have an ounce of mana within.


    Seeing how happy his future HouseMaster was, Hans accepted his fate and moved to his House area. Walter welcomed him with enthusiasm. He was glaring at the Sentinels¡¯ HouseMaster, it was a widely known fact in Concordia that both of them never got along. Walter always suffered in the past because of the lack of combatants in the house so he was happy that a child of Hans''s calibre was in his House.


    He believed that a child of a behemoth should at least be a monster and that''s what Aredhel, Sentinel¡¯s HouseMaster was thinking too. He patted Hans¡¯s back and said,


    I am Walter, your HouseMaster. A word of advice, If you find any troubles.... don''t seek me out, solve it on your own but just don''t murder anyone, it''s a bit hard to resolve. Solve it with your wits not by fists. Got it?


    Hans didn''t know where he had heard his name but he nodded positively to his words and Walter ended their conversation by saying,


    Don''t let me down, kid. Remember our words are ¡°Victory isn''t everything but the only thing¡±.


    Hans smiled on hearing his words, he understood why the omniscient stone had chosen this house for him. Their way of thinking aligned with his own. Hans tested him by saying,


    So as long as I am not caught, I can do anything, right?


    Walter didn''t say anything but just grinned softly. if Hans was going to be as domineering as his father then this professor was eager to see that happening.


    Hans turned around to see who the others selected to join this house but out of more than 200 children, only three were assigned to Prophets. One of them was a familiar face sitting in the front rows, a girl who was royalty from Sunfall kingdom. She had an air of high and mighty around her and chose not to talk with her peers. The other one was a dwarf who was also emanating the same vibe as the Sunfall princess.


    Hans thought it was finally his time to get some friends but making friends seems harder than he thought. He remembered Vanessa¡¯s words, friendship seeks no exchange but the same emotions and with the first impressions from these houseMates, he unconsciously decided not to be close to them.


    Walter wanted the three of them to be at least acquainted so he coughed and told the newest members to introduce each other and their seniors who took precious time from their busy schedules to make the newbies welcomed.


    The princess of Sunfall took the initiative like a true leader,


    I am Cassidy Clive, a royal princess of the Sunfall Kingdom, a two-circle mage of ice and thunder mana.


    Having two attributes of the advanced family was surprising, this situation was itself declaring how much potential this girl possessed. The seniors were happy to see talented people among them and Walter was showing visible happiness.


    The dwarf was next and with an arrogant tone he declared,


    I am Garen Ironborn, I use a Warhammer, a knight of grade 10 with a magma Aura.


    Both of them were special and possessed mana from the advanced family. Everyone turned to look at the last entry into the House. Hans smiled at them and said,


    I am Hans, a mage of wood mana, I don''t need stupid circles to do the magic.


    The people were staring in surprise, possessing the wood mana was enough to be the unique in current time but not needing mana circles was a blasphemous idea. Even his arrogant Housemates were looking at him with surprise.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 34 : The Winters Mother and Daughter

    Chapter 34


    The Winters Mother and Daughter


    The last thing for this initiation ceremony was a duel between two new students decided by Martha but before she could say something. The always silent HouseMsaster of Sentinels spoke in a raised voice to Walter from her area,


    I had no idea there was another mage of the second circle among the first years, it''s a shame that we didn''t get her.


    Sentinels'' area was exactly opposite to Prophets'', her remark drew everyone¡¯s attention and Walter who thought that there was only a single child with two circles suffered a huge blow. He thought this time Prophets got the most talented ones


    Aredhel pushed a girl forward and asked her to introduce herself; the student under the hood stepped forward and pushed the hood back. She was a fair-skinned beauty with deep cyan eyes that could captivate anyone but the thing that stood out the most was her silver hair which was different from the usual golden hair of the Elves.


    Even in Elves, there were two divisions, normal elves and High Elves. The second one possessed a terrifying amount of mana as compared to any other race and this rare beauty was a high elf like her mother Aredhel.


    Walter shouted at Aredhel,


    Don''t you have any shame, woman? Showing your daughter.


    Aredhel gleefully mocked him,


    So what if I am shameless, your distorted face is reward enough.


    Martha already knew about the child because she was a staff ward and had an amicable relationship with her. So she was surprised on knowing that there was another talented person in the Prophets like her and it was a human child too.


    The girl who became a spectacle for her mother didn''t lower her eyes even once, she was used to the spotlight and contemptuous gazes so she bravely stood her ground against the numerous stares. Hans was also looking at her and found confidence instead of arrogance in her face.


    She said,


    Delimira Winters, a quad elemental mage of the second circle.


    Hans took a long breath and soon released it, a quad Elemental, his expectation and Vanessa''s word came true, people he monsters. Walter knew that her daughter who sometimes visited Concordia in her early years was talented but reaching the second circle and possessing all four Elements of mana was making him sad for himself.


    It was not rare that children inherited mana properties like their parents but she inherited all of her mother''s mana properties. Hans was too busy staring at the girl with ManaVision, he failed to see her clearly because of the robe she was wearing but there was a light inside her that was shining like something he never saw in anyone.


    Hans''s eyes also led to the other elves who were showing their visible discomfort but soon it turned into disgust. He looked more intensely at her but found nothing to be disgusted about. Walter patted him on the head and said,


    Hey no matter how pretty the girl is, you shouldn''t stare at her that way. She is probably the strongest this year (first year).


    Hans replied quickly in confidence,


    Nah, I was playing the staring game with her.


    I don''t mind you playing any game with her but you should see, her mother is also playing the same game with you.


    His words led him to see the houseMaster of Sentinels, staring at him intensely. Hans lowered his gaze immediately, any mother will feel angry if her daughter was ogled by someone. Martha felt more pissed with Hans because of his behaviour, neglecting the fact that he was just a ten years old curious boy.


    She announced again,


    Since you all have received your houses, you will be moved to your dorms but before that, we have to see who will become the fresher king. I will choose a person and he could challenge any of you for a duel.


    Being the fresher king meant respect so everyone was eager to be chosen by Martha but the lady in green was looking at Hans. Hans was not afraid of any fights but he did not understand why there was some hostility in her eyes but he could not care less so he showed his confidence, provoking Martha even more.


    Martha said,


    Hans Richardson of Prophets, come forward.


    With a click of her finger, the seating area got swapped with a cemented floor and the boy made his way towards it. Martha looked at him with scorn and said,


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    You can challenge anyone you want, they will have a choice to accept or not. If they refuse then I will pick a suitable person for you.


    There was a weird satisfaction in her tone that he didn''t like but he has to go with the flow now. Hans asked her,


    Do I get anything if I win?


    Martha smiled and said,


    The honour of having your name on the wall of fame and the title of Fresher king.


    Hans didn''t care for honour but the fight itself, he wanted to scale himself against the so-called genius here. As far as he observed, the strongest mage here should be the girl known as Delimira Winters. He looked straight at Delimira and challenged her which she straightforwardly refused, surprising everyone. She was probably the most powerful person here and no one had thought that she would refuse the challenge. Hans was one of them so he tried to provoke her,


    Getting scared on the first day, are you?


    She replied in a cold voice,


    You should learn more words before trying to incite me, shorty.


    Hans mumbled silently,


    sh..shorty...


    Hans wanted to provoke her but he was getting provoked instead. He was only curious before but now, he wanted to beat her. Martha interrupted before he could say anything Martha interrupted,


    You can not force someone to duel here. Since your opponent has refused, I will choose your duel partner.


    She scrambled in papers but a sudden voice stopped her, a tall elven boy was coming forth from Sentinels. He was the holder of the first position in regular admissions and before Martha could say anything, he said,


    Please allow me to fight, professor, I currently hold first place in admissions.


    Martha was looking for a suitable person that could let Hans learn that having a background was not enough to survive in Concordia. Choosing the best candidate on her own for a younger opponent would have gained her criticism but the story would be different if Hans accepted it on his own. She looked at Hans and asked him,


    He is the best in admission, I have not chosen for you, if you don''t want to I will choose an appropriate person for you.


    Her words were twisted and if Hans chose to back out from this then he will be looked down on as a person who ran away from a challenge. Hans smirked and accepted.


    Martha acknowledge their decision and explained,


    This will be a knockout battle between both of you and if you want you can surrender in between by accepting your loss.


    Hans intervened,


    What I can''t do in this duel?


    Martha asked back,


    What do you mean by it?


    Hans looked at her in annoyance and said,


    Obviously, I can''t kill him, so what other things are prohibited?


    She was confused why the child who was going to lose said those words but she replied,


    Only killing is prohibited, but can you even hold your own, your opponent is placed first in admissions.


    Hans replied to her mockery with a grin and serious tone,


    You better prepare a stretcher.


    The elven boy came in front of him and Martha asked them to introduce themselves as the custom of duels. He said to him in a quiet voice, difficult for others to hear,


    How''s your sister? I heard she got better.


    Hans was perplexed by the tone of his opponent who was mentioning his sis Vanessa with this much hatred and seeing his confused face the elven boy added,


    Oh didn''t you know, your sister ran away leaving her friends behind as bait, I thought what happened to her was retribution from the gods but that bitch got cured, that''s not fair, right?


    Hans glared at him and replied,


    Hey, I don''t give a shit what happened before, mention her one more time and you are dead.


    You won''t understand, I will kill her myself. One of the people that she used for bait was my elder brother and she will pay for it.


    So what?


    The elven boy wanted Hans to feel disgusted at Vanessa by reminding him of her shameful deeds but Hans just looked at him with scornful eyes so he shouted at him,


    She used her fellow teammates as bait¡­ If my teammates can''t have my back then they should at least be a proper bait for me. What''s wrong with it?


    The Elven boy laughed in frustration at him and said,


    So it''s in your blood.


    Hans looked at Martha who was also surprised to see that there was some bad blood between these people. She was reluctant to announce the start after knowing that but both the parties in question were emanating hostility towards each other. She thought if something happens she will intervene and signalled to start the duel.


    The Elven Boy introduce him first,


    Rominick Stalon, first circle, fire and ground mage from Sentinels.


    Hans replied with the same tone,


    Hans, wood mage from Prophets.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 35 : The Fresher King

    Chapter 35


    The Fresher King


    Till now many people including Martha were not known of his mana properties, she looked in the bundle of documents that she was holding and found his name and mana properties listed. She now understood why Aredhel and Rudolf were behaving like that and why Concordia allowed the special admission. it was not because of his backing but because he was the rarest talent. She let her prejudice make a bad impression but she was too prideful to admit that. Martha realised, If this child got hurt then she should be prepared to face some consequences from Concordia authorities.


    She sighed and signalled the start of the duel with no good feelings. Many were looking forward to seeing how Hans, a wood mage, fights. Hans was already prepared when his opponent was bashing him with words and without losing the element of surprise, just as the starting signal of the duel, the tiled floor started erecting the tiles like something powerful was slithering around. Everyone thought it was Rominick¡¯s doing but both the mages in the platform knew who was doing it.


    Romnick was surprised at first but all Hans did was just shake the ground and upheaval some tiles. He was cautiously waiting for Hans to cast his spell but there was no mana circle in sight even after the ground stopped shaking.


    He mocked Hans,


    Is that all a special admission can do?


    Hans replied to him,


    You seem to have information about me but if you wanted to look me up then you should have done a proper job.


    Hans yelled,


    VeganBind


    The orca vines, metallic black with sharp-bladed leaves and fine metallic hairs, rupture the ground beneath Romnick, making him fall into the small pit that vines have dug underneath him.


    Rominick tried to jump when he realised the ground was caving in but a small vine grabbed his feet and dragged him down while many of the similar things slithered onto his body, cutting him here and there.


    Hans didn''t use poison in the VeganBInd this time because he wanted Rominick to feel the pain and as he intended his opponent screamed in pain making Hans feel satisfied. The grip and movement of orca vines were so painful that it was making his target irrational and instead of thinking of a way to destroy the vines, the poor excuse of the first-place admission just tried to break those physically.


    A bloated vine came out of nowhere and entered his mouth gagging him completely. With his all four limbs restrained, the elf couldn''t move an inch even if he wanted to. Realising how messed up the situation was, Romnick bore the pain somehow and cast his fire spell.


    Embers


    It was a spell fueled by his first circle meant to burn everything in the surrounding area. The signature blue flame that represented Elven fire mana, different from human¡¯s orange flames, came and tried to burn the vines but to no avail, the vines were fine.


    Rominick felt that his attack might have somehow made those vines more agitated since it was increasing the grip. He looked at Hans who was just looking at him with apathetic eyes and a hand raised at him.


    The vines loosened up in his hand, giving him hope and with a little bit of struggle he set his hands free but unbeknownst to him, Hans wanted to give him some hope before taking everything from him.


    Romnick reached his mouth and tried to remove the gag but suddenly the vines which were restraining him by the legs slammed him on the ground just like a washerman slams the cloth into the rocks by the banks. Hans didn''t stop there, his vines that coiled around Romininck were providing the cushions so he wouldn''t pass out early and he kept slamming him right and left.


    The brutal scene reminded Martha of his words, she realised Hans was not a boy who only relied on connections. This had gone too far in the duel and she wanted to intervene but Walter was stopping her, he wanted to see how far Hans would go under the restraints called rules of the duel.


    But the students were just children of twelve and thirteen years of age and some even never saw a real fight up front. It was a cruel experience that was going to latch onto their minds for a long time.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Hans stopped the slamming and reached Romnick slowly, the vine gagging him slithered away, and the thoughts of defeating and humiliating Hans were not in his mind anymore. The only thing he wanted was to surrender and get away from this demon but his voice was not coming out because the gag had injected a paralysing poison in his tongue. With all his limbs restrained again.


    Hans came to him and asked in a loud voice,


    Do you wish to surrender?


    The elven boy wanted to but neither he could speak nor move. He looked at Martha who was worried for him and with a terrified expression he was relaying his thoughts to her. She started to move towards the platform but Hans¡¯s words stopped her.


    Professor Martha, I haven''t broken the rules and he didn''t surrender, is that how Concordia honours the duels here?


    She stopped, Hans was using his words to make the duel continue. He turned back to Romnick and said with a wicked smile,


    Clench your teeth, you shitshow.


    Hans began the physical onslaught of his fast punches straight to his face. It was more of a physical thing for Hans. His small fists were not strong enough to make his opponent feel pain like earliest slammings but he felt satisfaction in doing it with his own hands.


    After making a bloody mess and realising that Romnick was going to pass out soon, Hans stopped and took some steps back as he was wiping the blood from his fists and declared,


    I concede


    He looked at the almost passed-out Romnick and said to the panting boy,


    Have all the honours in the wall, pisspot.


    He arrogantly returned to his place and Martha called the medical team urgently to take Romnick away. It was not hard to heal his wounds, he could even recover in a few days completely but what Hans inflicted on him was mental damage that was beyond fast recovery.


    In the duel, Hans had restrained Martha with the honour of Concordia so after the duel, she showed her displeasure with how he mocked this sacred Initiation Ceremony. In the end, she came to him in anger and shouted at him.


    What do you think you just did? Do you even know what others give to be on the wall of fame?


    Hans looked at the angry lady and calmly replied,


    I lost, isn''t that what you were aiming for from the start?


    Martha has forgotten her objective, she wanted Hans to be defeated in the Initiation Ceremonial duel but the way he did things was devoid of any honour. She replied blatantly,


    There was no honour in how you fought¡­


    Hans intervened,


    I didn''t break any rules¡­


    She didn''t let him finish his words and intervene again,


    There was no respect in your duel.


    Hans became silent for a moment and with his lowered gaze he said with a chilling voice,


    Listen here, Professor, I don''t know the reason for your hostility but The way you talk about honour and respect, that mindset will get me killed and I don''t plan on dying soon. I don''t know about others but I constantly fought hard for my life till I reached here so I won''t allow anyone to go on a power trip at me. If you wanna piece of me then come straight, do not sacrifice innocents.


    Hans looked at the stretcher moving away and added,


    Well in his case, he was not so innocent after all.


    Hans left her speechless and before he could damage her pride further Walter intervened,


    Apologise to her Hans, she is your elder, you should respect¡­


    Hans turned towards his House Master and said straight to his face,


    If I bend once, I have to keep bending. Is that what a member of the prophets is supposed to do?


    Previously he restrained Martha with Concordia¡¯s name and now he restricted Walter with his house¡¯s honours. It was true that he took things way far but Martha was wrong since the beginning and Walter knew how hostile she always has been against the children from Recommendations, and her thinking was right too but Hans was an outlier.


    IN THE INFIRMARY


    The boy was bandaged up and was healing. Suddenly a female figure appeared before him, he tried to look at her but couldn''t make out who she was. She started speaking and the battered-up Romnick just listened to her words,


    I did not abandon my friends, they just died, so give up your revenge and move on, just like I did.


    Romnick mustered up all of his strength and asked her,


    Why?


    She replied in a grim voice,


    Because no one can deal with the person responsible for that.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 36 : The Winters Mother and Daughter

    Chapter 36


    The Unwanted attention


    If Hans¡¯s action could be worded in a single word, it would be ¡°Ruthless¡±. The Initiation ceremonial duel turned into one-sided bullying. Walter understood that Hans was like an unrestrained Horse, the more you force him into submission the more he will retaliate. He was eager to see how a wood mage fights and no matter how hard he tried he couldn''t sense a speck of mana in his body even when he was fighting. There was no remnant of the casting circles like he was just commanding mana to do his bidding.


    He knew how he should control this unrestrained horse but this was not the time for that, he had to stop him from further damaging Martha¡¯s pride. He tried to converse with her but she abruptly lashed on him,


    Didn''t you say no one could harm the talents of Concordia and you just stood there without doing anything? Is this what this place means to you?


    Walter came near her and replied to her calmly in a quiet voice,


    You also said that Concordia is a place without any prejudice, but look at your actions. You should look both ways. He is the rarest talent of these times and he will grow into a splendid mage with this pace pouring everything into his growth. Do you wish to make him your enemy?


    She didn''t say much and left for her position, Walter sighed and looked at the source of his troubles who was still tense. He said to him,


    Hey kiddo, you are at school not in war, let loose a little.


    Hans calmed himself down and listened to his next words,


    Martha, she is not a bad person.


    Hans looked at him with a questioning gaze and the man replied to him,


    The school calls itself discrimination free but it still exists. Martha has it under control for now. but she was once a victim of the social hierarchy as a student here. Despite having talent she was bullied by the recommended students to the point she thought of leaving this place but she grits her teeth and stayed to make sure that what happened to her won''t happen to anyone again.


    Hans understood his words but refuted them,


    But that doesn''t give her any right to judge me?


    Yes, you are right indeed but her work here gives her the right to be respected.


    Hans already marked her a bad person and realised that he was doing the same thing Martha did to him. After seeing him becoming calm and reasonable again, he asked him, what he was curious for,


    Why did you concede? You could have engraved your name alongside your father and grandfather.


    Hans got startled to know that there was someone who knew of his origin but his words were news to him and now regret was showing up in his eyes. He wanted to humiliate Romnick for a lifetime and engraving his name on the wall permanently was the ideal solution he came up with in anger. He smarten up his reply and said to him,


    He will be humiliated whenever he sees his name on the wall of fame.


    Walter chuckled and replied,


    But your eyes are telling a different story, kiddo.


    Hans closed his eyes and turned away. He tried to make up for his regret with some cool words but was caught on. There was an area in the grand hall which was hidden away from others, a place where guests and higher professors were observing the students. A director leaned to his left side and said to Rudolf,


    It looks like the apple didn''t fall far from the tree, Sir Rudolf.


    Rudolf who was nervously biting his nails got out of the trance from sudden words and responded back,


    Oh, I was so nervous.


    The director continued the conversation,


    What to be nervous about if you have a kid like that?


    That''s not it, I thought he would kill on his first day.


    The director got silent after hearing his response and was in deep thought about how should they raise Hans. But the mysterious chairman, who always remained silent like his presence said from the back,


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    Looks like this would be an interesting year.


    The chairman who seldom spoke was showing his favour for the first years so a bootlicking professor praised him by saying,


    Yes, sir chairman, this is the finest batch we got in some years.


    I am not talking about the batch.


    With his last words, the man disappeared like he was never there to begin with, and no one spoke after this because they started thinking about their own interpretation of the chairman''s words. They all turned towards Hans and Walter, Rudolf was contemplating whether being in Chairman¡¯s sight was a good or bad thing for Hans.


    Walter announced in a loud voice,


    Hans Richardson, you have gone too far, beating up someone in a duel with that bad and disrespectful attitude towards the elder. You should visit me in four days, I will decide your punishment.


    With this, Walter gave Martha some face and disciplined Hans in front of everyone and Hans seemed to catch his intentions so he respectfully accepted his wishes. Walter was not done yet, he continued by addressing all of the first years,


    Remember my words carefully, you first-years, being weak is not a major flaw because here you can overcome it but there is no solution for being stupid. So think before you act.


    Hans let loose his tense face and let his cute and lively demeanour take over. Walter couldn''t distinguish whether the boy was putting up or it was his natural appearance and he was not the only one feeling that way, Martha was stupefied by seeing a person who was so arrogant just a moment ago could turn into something like this.


    Hans never believed he looked cute and always thought Vanessa and the other servants were just doing lip service but it was not really the case. Walter was barely holding himself from bursting into laughter so he asked Martha,


    Shall we end this Professor Martha,


    Before Martha could say something, Aredhel intervened, she has to say something after all a student of her house was thoroughly injured, she said to Walter,


    What about my half-dead student, Walter?


    Walter quickly replied to her,


    Oh don''t you worry, I would give him a befitting punishment.


    The boy looked at the HouseMaster who looked serious, he thought that Walter was only putting on some airs but his expressions were scaring Hans slowly. He turned towards Hans and said,


    Oh don''t give me that look, you will be hating me soon.


    After hearing this Aredhel had a satisfied expression, Martha who was interrupted by this bickering duo spoke up,


    Both of you do your own thing on your own time and let me finish my task.


    She continued and addressed the students,


    You all will be partnered with a student of your counter class like a mage with a knight and vice versa respective to your genders. The dorms of First years are in Midlands, near the School itself. So you will be isolated from your seniors, your seniors are banned to converse with you until you reach the second year, so do notify me of anyone who sneaks into first years dorms.


    She sorted some papers and gave them to her assistant who burned those in a small brazier. After this act, written words in the air were shown, they contained the information of allotted partners and their room numbers Hans was searching for his name and suddenly someone patted his shoulder. Hans turned around and looked at the individual who was staring right back at him and asked


    What?


    The boy who was a foot taller than hans scratched his head and pointed towards the writing, where his name was written together with Hans and said


    Looks like We are Roommates for the time being.


    Ah, Hans understood and asked


    What do you mean for the time being?


    Oh, don¡¯t you know, you could change your roommates after a month if you don¡¯t like it, but I hope we could be roomies, you were cool back in the fight.


    Hans was embarrassed and replied,


    And that cool fight cost me a punishment.


    Both of them laughed at the situation and the head foot taller boy told Hans


    My name is Chris, Chris Holger, I am a tenth Grade knight with the thunder aura and twelve this year.


    Hans found nothing but genuinity in Chris¡¯s voice so he replied,


    As you know I am Hans Richardson, a wood mage, I am ten this year. I came from Edenberg County.


    Hans was looking at Chris curiously because Chris did not mention where he came from and Chris caught his looks asking for where he came from, so he responded while scratching his head,


    It''s complicated, but you are from Dean¡¯s estate, right?


    Hans humoured him,


    Yeah, both of you have the same type of aura, right?


    Chris asked him in surprise,


    Oh, How do you know?


    I just can.


    Chris said with pride,


    I wanna be like him when I grow up.


    Hans was looking at this boy with ManaVsion, he remembered Vanessa telling him whom to make friends with and he remembered her exact words "Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness". He could instinctively feel that he could be friends with him so he teased him,


    So do you also have a lady waiting for you?


    Chris understood what Hans was aiming at and quickly responded,


    No, there is no lady Sierra waiting for me, I just want to have the same grit as him to stand against the world alone and come victorious.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 37 : Meeting Chris and not so Friendly Elves

    Chapter 37


    Meeting Chris and not so Friendly Elves


    Chris avoided answering about his origin and Hans sensed some story in his words but it was really rude to ask someone about their past when you have just met him for the first time. The two of them were walking out of the Grand Hall talking but three grey-hooded students stopped them. They were blatantly showing hostility. Hans had a short fuse so he avoided creating more trouble by changing his direction the three encircled the two of them again but instead of Hans, Chris stood up against them.


    What is the meaning of this?


    The three of them said simultaneously


    This is not your business so move on.


    Chris didn¡¯t do as they demanded and said


    But I am dead set on making this my business. Didn''t one of you humiliate Lady Aredhel enough, you want to hurt her dignity more by ganging up.


    One of the three responded,


    That woman has no dignity left to hurt,


    And with his last sentence the situation got heated up, Hans didn''t understand why Chris was reacting in such a way and lost it when Aredhel¡¯s name was mentioned. He grabbed Chris''s shoulder with the intent to stop him but the commotion was already seen by Martha. She was coming and Hans did not want to be a part of this nonsense anymore, his eyes welled up and tears started flowing out. When Martha came she thought Hans started trouble again but he was on the verge of crying out.


    She asked him,


    Mr Hans, creating trouble again are we?


    Her tone this time felt friendly, it looked to Hans that she was trying to bury the hatchet and he felt that way too after Walter told him about her. He burst into tears and pointed at the three of them and accused them,


    They started talking badly about my sister like the other boy, and I can''t do anything but listen because of the rules. This is not fair.


    Chris and the three accused were looking at Hans dumbfoundedly, he was blatantly lying. It was a good story in which the comrades of Romnick looked like ganging up on Hans. He was acting so natural that no one could doubt him but he missed one thing, these three were not the students here.


    Martha said to Hans,


    Stop fooling around.


    Hans stopped his whining and asked nonchalantly,


    Wasn''t that convincing?


    it would be but these three are not from here.


    Ah then... it''s not my mess, I didn''t do anything this time. Hans said it like his tearing up never happened.


    Martha looked at the brat who was not even shameful after getting caught lying blatantly but he was not the focus here, the guest students invited by Aredhel were. The three of them removed the hood and Hans saw the three elves staring at him.


    She summoned Aredhel here because her guests were creating a mess and the Sentinels'' houseMaster came with her daughter. Delimira glanced at Chris and understood what happened here, she said to him,


    Can''t you just hold back, stupid?


    She turned towards Hans and after looking at his face, she said with a warm smile,


    Looks like this girl knows how to use tears too.


    Hans mumbled,


    Girl, girl...


    This was the second time she pissed him off so he was going to lash out at her but Chris was gripping his shoulder hard signalling him to not get involved with her. The situation upfront looked more troubling so he made a mental note to teach this high nose Elf a lesson in future. Aredhel asked the three elves,


    Clandor asked me a favour to let you three observe the initiation ceremony. Do we have a problem here?


    The three replied in unison,


    No lady Aredhel.


    Hans noticed that there was no respect for Aredhel in their tone before but they turned their attitude in her presence. The trio turned back and started to leave but one of them turned towards Hans and said,


    Your reckoning will come.


    Hans didn''t even know these guys but it was not in his nature to take threats from someone. His will was turning Mana around him cold and he said to the trio with a chilling voice filled with murderous intent, spooking the high-level people around him,


    Hey, jackasses, I can''t go nuts here so find me when I am out. I will show you what it means to threaten me.


    The trio knew that they were stronger than him but an innate fear surfaced when they made eye contact with Hans, Chris and Delimra didn''t feel the change of mana mixed with bloodlust that well but Aredhel and Martha understood what it was. Having this degree of intent was not possible for a child to carry. Hans sighed, he wanted to keep his emotions in control but people here were not helping him at all.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Walter came running before Hans could create more trouble but found the situation resolved. He patted his back and encouraged him,


    You are doing fine, kiddo, continue like this, and we will have the second coming...


    Aredhel stopped him,


    This is why I asked them to put him in my house. You will lead him astray.


    Hans didn''t know that sentinels wanted him and he was not the only one surprised here. Choosing someone before the omniscient stone made its decision was not unheard of but it was a rare occurrence.


    Walter replied,


    <div>


    But his parents let his destiny take its course and we agreed on this, right Aredhel? Now hush, let the newbies find their own way.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    Chris left for a moment to pick up his luggage and when there was no one around the boy, Walter turned to him and said,


    You seem to make enemies quickly, kid. It''s not a good practice. A certain someone lived like that and see, where it got him.


    Hans knew whom he was talking about and he was right because, in the end, Samson only had enemies but no friends around him. He understood and asked the one thing that had crossed his mind before the troubling events


    Professor, why do you know... about me?


    Your father saved me many times, I was a mercenary before coming to Concordia.


    Hans didn''t get his answer from that and his doubtful expressions were evidence of the fact, so Walter added,


    I am a director here, kid, and so is Sentinel¡¯s Aredhel. We choose to keep it secret but it''s not hard to find out about you when you resemble your father almost completely.


    He nodded and asked another question,


    we have fewer members, three from two hundred doesn''t seem right.


    Walter smirked and answered,


    Our house is called the House of leaders. If we make everyone a leader then who will follow us, silly boy?


    Professor Walter looked at Chris who just came beside Hans and asked him,


    You are Bernard¡¯s son, right?


    Chris got alerted but Walter continued,


    Don''t worry, those pricks won''t come here, as long as you are in Concordia that is. Now hush and go to your rooms. Let this man rest a little.


    Hans remained silent, he was curious about Chris but the mood suddenly sunk after their brief encounter with those elves. He looked like he knew Aredhel well and Walter seems to know his father too, but the thing that was making him most curious was that it looked like someone was chasing after his roommate.


    Seeing Hans bottling up his curiosity Chris responded to his anxious gaze,


    I carry a lot of baggage my friend, I will tell you if we get closer someday.


    Yeah sure, no pressure.


    Chris replied with a chuckle,


    but your eyes do not agree with you, Hans.


    Hans kept smiling and Chris added,


    I hate to be the rude one when I asked you not to ask things but I have to ask, the duel seemed personal...


    Yeah, it was, that prick was saying some shit about my sister.


    Chris suddenly turned jolly about hearing that and asked Hans while smiling,


    How old is she?


    You just heard me say that I beat someone half dead because of her right?


    Yes but I am not saying anything bad about her.


    then why I am having the urge to beat you,


    Relax I just asked her age, little Hans.


    Chris, you have no chance, she is way older,


    Hearing this Chris''s enthusiasm hit bottom and Hans suddenly felt good. she was eight years older than Hans but she was just six years apart from Chris. They were walking towards their allotted room, numbered 117. Hans had the privilege of being recommended so his stuff was already sent over to the room. He was helping Chris to carry his luggage and they were chatting idly until they reached the Foundation Castle.


    The castle was huge in size with a very big grass field right in front of it. It had four entrances in all directions. The duo entered from the south gate and found their room. Upon entering the room, Hans saw a familiar figure inside, waiting for him.


    He jumped right in her embrace, and the words of Romnick came into his mind, he didn''t want to be bothered with it but those words were pricking him. Vanessa said while caressing his back.


    I didn''t do those things, Hans, trust me.


    Hans only heard these words from her and all of the shit that Romnick said about her vanished from his mind. He replied to her,


    I am sorry that I have to hear those words from you sis. I should have unconditional belief in you, you are my sister after all.


    Don''t worry, it''s natural.


    Chris coughed and the brother-sister pair separated, he was staring at his new roommate for lying to him about her age. He introduced himself as gentlemanly as he could and Vanessa said what was required of her in the situation. She asked Chris to take care of Hans and simply returned to the dean¡¯s office without even giving her name.


    Chris turned towards Hans who was glaring at him like he read his mind. so he said to him,


    You have a pretty sister, my friend.


    Yeah, and she has a very scary brother too.


    MAGE TOWER GRIMGAR


    In some luxurious office, the Elves that warned and disturbed the peace of Hans, stood proud in front of a young man. He was staring at them for a while but all the elves stood in confidence. They are new recruits that took pride in being a member of Mage tower and right now they were in front of the Tower Master of Grimgar.


    The Tower Master was the one who sent these three in the veil of Clandor and now it was time for his actions to bear fruit. His Aide said to the three,


    What did you three find?


    One of the elven trio replied,


    It''s as you showed in the picture and the trashy attitude that you talked about was also identical.


    These words put a smile on the Tower Master¡¯s face and he saw all the conversation recorded in the memory stone in excitement. After learning everything he dismissed them and ordered his Aide,


    Secretory,


    Yes, Tower Master,


    What do you see when you see these three,


    they excellently finished the job, sir.


    The Aide took a brief pause because he realised that the eccentric master of his wanted to hear something else, so he added,


    Apart from the task, these three are excellent prodigies, Master.


    The Tower Master got serious and replied,


    But I see loose ends, tie them carefully, Secretory.


    The Aide got flustered but could not question the Tower Master¡¯s orders. seeing him disturbed the tower master continued,


    That brat threatened them, let''s make it real like Parv retaliated to protect their prince¡¯s honour.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 38 : Delimira, A dangerous Nut

    Chapter 38


    Dellimira, A Dangerous Nut


    When Vanessa left the boys, they finally had a chance to be comfortable in their new place. The room was fairly large and well-furnished. It had a long couch with two beds opposite each other. The walls were white-washed neatly and the furniture still had papers stuck to them. Hans and Chris removed the papers from the furniture and started cleaning up.


    After settling their things, both of them sat in their bed and took a breath of relief. They all had a whole day ahead of them to explore the Concordia or precisely the allowed part of Midlands. Hans seemed strangely comfortable with his roommate and it seemed like the feeling was mutual with Chris.


    They talked about each other and Hans found out that the aura was not the similarity that his new friend shared with his Gramps, both were training fanatics while Chris laughed at Hans after knowing that his main hobby was reading books and eating desserts.


    They both were enjoying each other''s company, it was the first time that Hans was conversing this much with someone of his age. He remembered Vanessa¡¯s words, a friend might not be someone who shared the same thoughts or hobbies with you but one who makes you comfortable around him and Chris was acing the comfortable part.


    Hans wanted to know everything about his new friend but chose to suppress his curiosity to not appear as a rude person but Chris caught him and asked,


    You seem curious to know where I come from, right?


    Hans nodded and Chris replied to him,


    I am from Clandor, my father is sort of a diplomat from the human side.


    Hans stood in surprise and asked him,


    No way, those condescending people allowed a human in their country.


    Chris chuckled on hearing Hans¡¯s response and agreed,


    Yeah, and many humans don''t like that and this sorta makes me a target. I wanna be strong enough to protect my family, that''s my reason for being here Hans, what''s yours?


    Hans thought a little and said,


    I don''t have a reason like you Chris, I just want the world to know that I exist, not as someone''s dying wish but as myself.


    Chris didn''t understand what Hans was talking about and Hans was pondering why he was telling Chris his inner thoughts. After learning that Samson made him for looking after his parents, he tried to make his peace with it but deep down he wanted to deny that it was only the sole reason.


    Suddenly Chris realised that guardians or family members are not allowed on Campus so How come Hans¡¯s sister came inside like nothing, he asked him,


    Hey, how come your sister can come here?


    Hans looked at him dumbfoundedly and realised that he never told him about her,


    You see Chris, she is the assistant of Lady Sierra, your idol¡¯s wife.


    No way, are you for real?


    Yeah, but if you want me to introduce you to Rudolf, then it will be hard¡­


    No no, I don''t need you to introduce me, I want him to notice me for my hard work.


    Hans scratched his head in embarrassment and to divert Chris he asked him,


    But what''s with you and Sentinels, you almost sound pissed when those three jackasses insulted Aredhel, I mean Professor Aredhel.


    Chris thought there was no point in hiding it after telling Hans this much, he replied to him,


    I can''t tell you the details because it''s not my thing to share but she was never around much, so her daughter Delimira, was mostly raised alongside me.


    So are you childhood friends or special friends?


    Chris rejected the notion immediately,


    Hell no, please don''t pair me with her, she is a demon, Hans, DEMON.


    Chris almost seemed to be afraid of her and this is what not Hans was expecting but his curiosity was perking up. He wanted to know more but Chris spoke before he could even ask him while remembering his past years,


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    You can''t hide anything from her, and she won''t lose any chance to bend you with that leverage.


    Hans asked him,


    So you got extorted that much, boy that''s just awful.


    Chris added,


    It''s not just extortion, when she gets obsessed with something, no one can stop her. She didn''t like me hanging around with others so whenever I made a new friend somehow that friend ended up hating me. I am pretty sure, she was always behind it.


    Hans was puzzled, he thought if he was this troubled then why didn''t he just end his friendship with her? So he asked this to him and got replied pretty fast,


    You see Hans, I didn''t want to offend her at that time, but when I got selected here I made up my mind, I would break free from her.


    Hans explained like a veteran analyst,


    She is not that strong and even if she is a staff ward, her authority will be limited here unlike Clandor.


    Chris looked at Hans like he was a wall who couldn''t understand a thing after his detailed explanation so he added,


    Hans, her mother, controls the Economy of Clandor and Concordia. She is practically the richest person in the world.


    Hans plainly said to him,


    What does money have to do here?


    Chris looked at Hans who was acting like a naive innocent boy and added,


    Look, Hans with just one of her words, our life here will end. For example, she could make our entire batch hate us by just making things difficult for them and saying she was doing that because of us. She could ban or overcharge us for using the private facilities outside the campus.


    Hans asked in curiosity,


    Like?


    Chris asked back,


    What do you like to eat most?


    Cakes, I guess.


    Chris looked at him astoundingly and asked him once again,


    How much does that cost?


    Five coppers, I guess.


    Imagine every shop charging you a gold coin for that.


    Hans stood up again and shouted,


    That is nuts.


    Yeah, she is a dangerous nut when she comes after you and that''s why her money is a scary thing. Why do you think I had no friends? The moment they get close to me. They suffered her wrath. So Hans we have to be careful.


    Hans was getting scared now, it was the first time he was afraid of someone not in terms of strength. He was thinking that civilization was getting far scarier than the Ghost Isles. Suddenly reality hit him and he turned to him and spoke in annoyance.


    And now I am your new friend so she will come after me, shit. Then how the hell you planned to cut her off?


    Chris nodded and with an intelligence oozing face, said,


    It''s simple, find a new toy for her.


    SENTINELS CASTLE


    Being a staff ward comes with many privileges and not living in dorms was one of them. Delimira was happy that she was now free from the strict life of Clandor. The elven Nation was a matriarchal hegemony and her mother was the king¡¯s sister making her royalty by law which restricted her a lot so Concordia was like freedom to her.


    Her mother was never there for her so she was happy to spend time with her. Aredhel bought freshly brewed tea and sat beside her, she asked her daughter,


    So, can you become close to him?


    Mother, can''t you just tell me what you want from that shorty (Hans)?


    Aredhel sighed and said,


    Delimira, you know why I didn¡¯t allow you to enter Concordia when you were invited as a special admission.


    Because you must have seen something that brings more profit as always.


    It''s not always about money, daughter.


    Delimira didn''t want to guess but the whole situation was pointing at one strange person, she said,


    Don''t tell me you let me in that hellhole for two more years just so I could be in the same years as him.


    Aredhel responded positively which annoyed Delimira more, so she asked in frustration,


    why?


    Because I have seen him in one of my future sights, he is destined to kill your father.


    But, my father is already dead.


    No, he is not, I saw him getting killed by his hands. You must make sure to stick close to him all the time. It''s better if you become friends with him.


    Then tell me when I will meet Theodred.


    Daughter, I can''t predict the time, but you will meet him soon.


    Delimira sighed and saw her mother¡¯s scheming expressions which showed she was brewing something more than the tea. She didn¡¯t have any memories of her father but she also wanted to know about him too. Her father was hated by Clandorians so she did not have a place to ask about him but Bernard, Chris¡¯s father, assured her that he was a good person.


    She asked her mother in a serious voice,


    So What should I do, observe him or isolate him?


    Neither, just be close to him.


    That is asking a lot mother.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 39 : The Richest woman Aredhel Winters

    Chapter 39


    The Richest woman Aredhel Winters


    Hans looked at him with a stupefying gaze, he never thought Chris to be a person that will transfer his problems to another when he couldn''t solve them. Seeing the way he was looking, Chris said to Hans,


    Your comfortable life is also in line here Hans, do you wanna take chances?


    Hell no, so do you have any candidates?


    Chris was thinking but suddenly their door started to be knocked continuously, Hans had a bad feeling about it and Chris annoyingly opened the doors to see the girl in their discussion right in front of him.


    Shit


    Delimira scowled and said,


    ¡°Shit!¡± You have some nerve, Chris.


    No I mean, this is the boys'' dorm, you are not supposed to be here.


    And who can stop me?


    Hans was just looking at her and she was more domineering than anyone he had seen. Chris stammered a bit and said to her,


    So, what are you doing here Deli?


    She calmed her tense face and replied,


    Nothing, I just wanna see how you are living in these small quarters.


    Can''t you just treat me as a stranger here?


    Delimira ignored his pitiful words and replied to him,


    Did you tell your little roomie about our relationship?


    Hans looked at Chris with a suspicious face and he caught Hans looking at him with a doubtful expression. He was frustrated with her mind games and said to her,


    There is no relationship between us, please Deli, let me live in peace, please.


    Delimira made heartbreak expressions, and Hans was now doubting Chris¡¯s words. Anyone could tell by just looking at her that Chris was being a jerk to her but everything was sorted out when she replied to his words,


    So you are ditching our years of friendship for a boy, I don''t know you swing that way.


    Hans thought, If there was ranking in acting then this girl would be at the top, he teased Chirs by taking a step away from him pretending scared of Chris being a Homosexual which annoyed the boy even further. Delimira was one thing and now Hans was joining the fun too, he expressed his annoyance and said to him,


    Are you for real, Hans?


    Hans chuckled and said,


    Well, you have to acknowledge, her acting was top notch and it was funny too.


    Delimira didn''t like the fact that someone was making fun of her friend and wanted to give him some peace of her mind but Chris read her actions and pushed her out saving Hans some unwanted trouble. He said to her in a loud voice,


    I will tell Theodred everything about you, once I meet him, you know right, lady Aredhel also saw me with him right?


    Deli got annoyed and shouted back at him,


    You must be out of your mind to say that to me¡­.


    He closed the door and leaned on it with his back, releasing a long breath of relief. Hans unaware of the danger came to tease him more,


    brother, are you sure you can do this to her?


    You stupid, I just saved you and you are making fun of me.


    What?


    Didn''t you look at her face, she was practically giving you a death stare.


    Hans reviewed his actions and didn''t find anything concerning and Chris let this dense fool on his own. He heard a new name from Chris and asked him,


    And who is this Theodred?


    Chris answered in plain words


    Her fictional boyfriend.


    Fictional?


    Chris gave him a tired look because to explain about Theodred he had to say a lot of things and he was not in the mood to discuss that guy. He had already suffered a lot from this non-existent guy because Delimira kept fantasising about him and he had to listen to her day and night.


    Hans was also not in the mood to let go of this juicy content so Chris had to say,


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    Listen, do you know why Lady Aredhel is one of the richest people in the world?


    She must have inherited a lot.


    No, she has the power of Clairvoyance, she could glance into the future events so whatever she invests in is bound to thrive, locations of mana stones, gold, and silver, she practically owns almost all the mines of Clandor.


    Boy, I am envious, that''s a pretty neat power.


    I don''t know how her powers work but since she was fighting over you with your HouseMaster means, you have a lot of potential. She has a habit of finding prospective talents and sponsoring them. Many of the powerful people are raised by her and they treat Delimira as a princess which is another reason to not bother her.


    So this Theodred guy must be one of them?


    No, she didn''t find him yet, according to Delimira he is to become the most powerful Elven knight.


    So what''s the relationship between him, her and you?


    Ah that, when Deli was a kid she once threw a tantrum to find who she will end up with so lady Aredhel looked at her future and found him. After that, she searched for him but found nothing. She also saw me alongside him in the future.


    Chris paused briefly and added,


    But I don''t think that guy actually exists and Lady Aredhel made this whole story to let Deli off her back.


    Why?


    Because if it was true he would have already been with us.


    Hans was stuck on this guy being the most powerful Elven Knight. He was intrigued to fight anyone who was called the most powerful in anything. His trains of thought derailed because Chris¡¯s stomach made a loud noise.


    Chris was grabbing his stomach and embarrassedly said,


    Ah, I am hungry.


    Hans searched for the bag of desserts that the servants packed for him, he didn''t want to share those with anyone but sharing was the common thing to deepen the friendship. So. he found the bag and hesitatingly took out the cake slices.


    Chris was looking at Hans with expectant eyes but when he saw cake slices, he was disappointed because he was not a sweet loving guy but that made Hans happy. Hans opened his palm and a small plant grew over it and a yellow pulp fruit visibly grew bigger and ripened up in mere moments.


    After the ripening the plant dried up and disintegrated as Hans wished, Hans tossed the fruit at Chris and started looking at his cake slices with his watering mouth. Chris was baffled and looked at his new friend who was acting like this was nothing.


    He said to Hans,


    So are we not going to discuss what you just did?


    Hans replied with a carefree expression,


    I am a wood mage, brother, what do you expect?


    Chris also knew that his friend was a rare existence whom he cannot compare with anyone. He looked at the fruit in his hand and started peeling it off, it was no different than the real fruit. He put a slice in his mouth and found that this was the best yellow pulp fruit he ever tried.


    Vegetation created by Hans was close to a perfect existence because there were no impurities of inorganic substances absorbed in their growth. Chris gobbled up the fruit in a jiffy and looked at Hans for more. Hans had to stop the spoonful of cake in the middle to create some more for him.


    They spent their remaining time exploring their campus while looking out for Delimra who was searching for them but they finally had to face her at the dining hall at dinner. The food was lavish which many of the first years never had the chance to look at before but the duo was sitting across from Delimira, who was in a bad mood. She didn''t say anything to them but just glared.


    After coming to their room both sat on their beds with medicine for indigestion. Hans said to his roommate-turned-friend,


    I never had this uncomfortable dinner in my whole life, and I can assure you I had my fair share of odd dinners.


    Hans was used to eating on the go in hunting with Rudolf and sometimes had to consume raw things but even that didn''t give him indigestion. The Elf''s death stare and silent treatment were something on a different scale.


    Chris was looking at him without saying anything so Hans said to him,


    Do something about her, I don''t wanna eat in that tense environment again.


    Chris refuted,


    Do you think I want this?


    Hans pulled over the blanket, it was still winter in Concordia so he was under several layers. Seeing him sleeping without any concerns Chris asked him,


    Hey, what about her?


    Brother, let the ¡°future us¡± worry about that, sleep, good night.


    Hans fell asleep in mere moments and Chris had no choice but to think alone but he was also tired and didn''t know when he fell asleep too.


    Dawn was still in its infant phase and the birds were singing in a melodious chirping but the harmonious music of morning was broken by a loud sound which is used to wake the sleepy heads. Hans was most cranky when he was disturbed in his sleep, he turned to see Chris who had already awoken.


    Hans irritatingly referred to the loud sound and asked him,


    Who is this madman?


    This is our wake-up call, wake-up sleepy head.


    Hans turned to see their window, there was barely any sunlight, he turned back to him and asked,


    For what?


    It''s morning training.


    Hans remembered reading this in his schedule, he got up but his whining did not stop. Chris had to drag him to the training ground for their A-section class. Many of the students were also drowsy like Hans but his drowsiness ran like a scaredy cat when he encountered the death stare of Delimira winters again.


    Hans asked Chris,


    Hey, why do I think her target is me, not you?


    Chris cheerfully looked at her and it seemed to be true, he replied to Hans,


    Hans, my friend, I think I found her "new toy".


    SOME UNKNOWN PLACE


    A man came running in excitement to an Elder¡¯s abode and rudely entered without permission. He excitedly asked the man of the house,


    Arat, is it true?


    the Man called Arat shouted,


    Now, who leaked the confidential information to this nutjob?


    The derision did not stop the spirited man and he violently shook Arat, not considering his old age to get his answer.


    Oh come on, tell me, he really exists?


    Arat barely managed to stop him and replied,


    Yes, it appears that King Samson left an heir.


    The excited man laughed like a madman and shouted,


    It looks like we will come to light soon, Prime Minister.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 40 : Setting up the Hierarchy

    Chapter 40


    Setting up the Hierarchy


    Delimira did not like that she had to get close to Hans. She had always hated those more haughty than herself, but her mother, who calculated every step of her future prospects, prevented her from taking early admission when she was offered at ten. It was just to wait for Hans and now the time had come for which she had been patiently waiting for ten years.


    Honestly, Delimira was not so eager to meet her father but her mother was a different story, she went all in and chose to defy Clandor, just to be with the man looked down on by elves. There was a popular rumour that her husband abandoned them but Aredhel firmly believed that it was not the case.


    After knowing Hans will be the one to kill him, her mother kept quiet, getting rid of Hans was a surefire method to keep her husband alive but instead of getting rid of him, she wanted to use him to track down her lost love as it was necessary for Hans to find him first in order to kill him later.


    Delimira also understood her reasoning so she agreed to follow her words but every time she looked at this little brat, she got pissed for no reason and right now she was feeling the same.


    Hans felt a chill and looked ahead to find out that the nut job was glaring at his direction with her deathly stare. He thought she was looking at Chris but as the glare continued and he realised he was the target, not the friend beside him. He sighed and mumbled, ¡°come on, do I have to handle this, early in the morning¡±.


    Hans asked Chris,


    Hey, I think she is eyeing me, not you.


    Chris looked at Delimira and found that Hans was deducing the truth, he knew what was happening. Delimira acted like this when something pique her interest and she became determined to do something about it.


    He turned towards Hans and replied to him,


    Hans, my friend, I think I found her "new toy".


    Hans turned to him and asked excitingly


    Which poor bastard is he?


    But Chris was smiling shamefully staring at him,


    It''s you, my dense friend.


    then do something about it.


    take one for me, my friend, finally freedom!!!


    This is not backstabbing but buttstabing, you snake in the sleeves.


    Chris didn''t mind his ranting but he was also curious why she was showing this much interest in Hans. No matter how much he reviewed Hans''s past actions, the only conclusion he could find was that Delimira should have ignored his roommate but her eyes were clearly telling that she was planning something.


    He finally replied to Hans,


    It looks like she is interested in you.


    He chuckled and added,


    And in a bad way.


    Then do something idiot, I don''t want any kind of her attention.


    Chris looked at him and sneered while saying,


    You shouldn''t be talking that way to your only saviour, my friend.


    Oh sorry, get her off my back, please.


    Chris looked at him with a troubled smile and said,


    But I don''t have a way and she looks determined.


    Well, tell me what kinds she doesn''t like and couldn''t be in their presence.


    that''s confusing the answer is you, she should have ignored you completely but here we are, the world is full of mysteries like this...pft...


    Hans found his roommate was thoroughly enjoying the situation but he had enough, the only way to settle this was to have a face-to-face confrontation. He stood up from stretching and told Chris,


    That''s it, I am solving this the hard and old-fashioned way.


    How?


    Getting rid of the problem itself.


    Hans moved confidently in her direction while the student got interested because it looked like there was an early show in the morning to watch. The buzz rose as he faced the girl who was a head taller than him. she was peering down at his eyes, and after the little staring contest.


    Hans asked her,


    Do we have a problem?


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    Who knows?


    Hans felt a vein popping up in his forehead, it was not possible to have a conversation with this girl. He said clenching his fist by the back,


    Then let''s settle our differences like a mage.


    Do you think a battle is a solution for everything?


    Then what do you want?


    mmm, Nothing.


    Then stop giving me that death stare.


    She replied nonchalantly,


    I don''t want to.


    Hans felt another vein popping up, he was this close to losing it. Above the training field, in the platform, two people were observing the students. They had just called all the students of A class into the ground and didn''t even show themselves up. This was a yearly non-official event where the class Hierarchy was set by the students themselves.


    They thought students this was the event going on and rested in their places. Hans was the hot potato right now but he couldn''t be at the top of the food chain until he could defeat Delimira, the strongest mage this year. The senior student who was assistant to the professor in charge of physical training asked him,


    Shouldn''t we stop them, looks like that boy is going to snap at any moment.


    The professor said to his assistant


    Didn''t you recognise him, he wrecked a ''regular admission'' yesterday pretty badly, he should understand that not everyone is a chump change here.


    Hans was not getting what he wanted so he shouted at her loud enough to be heard by everyone,


    Delimira Winters I Challenge you to the duel.


    She smirked like she achieved what she wanted and looking at her, Chris felt a bad omen, he came running at Hans to stop him from taking things further but it was too late. By the time he reached them. Delimira announced,


    Fine, since our audience (the training instructors in the platform) is not objecting, I believe we have their permission.


    Chris stopped his steps right behind Hans, the cat was out of the bag now. He turned Hans to him and reminded him,


    Listen, buddy, she is cunning, don''t let your guard down.


    Don''t worry, I am confident in my strength.


    Chris kept reminding him but Hans was dead set and ignored it, he was furious by remembering things she said to him previously. He came to Concordia to enjoy his life and live on his own terms. He doesn''t want a roadblock like her to come in his path.


    Delimira added,


    Since I am a second circle, if you can even make a single hit on me, I will consider that my defeat.


    Hans was even more pissed at her, she was looking down on him, he replied back to her,


    No, this will be an all-out battle.


    Delimira did not refute but provoked him more,


    So are you not confident in making a first hit on me?


    Grr...Fine, but we both play by the same rules, if you managed to hit me once then It will be my loss.


    Chris felt this like Hans was playing right into her palm, and he was right, Hans was in her trap from the beginning. Chris grew up with her and knew that Delimira was fighting other mages and knights from a very young age. It was because she didn''t hang around with kids of her age but the prodigies sponsored by her mother; fighting them was her only hobby.


    There was more to fighting people than strength and mana, what bothered the opponent the most was the psychological attacks and Delimira was well-experienced in that area. In contrast, Hans may have fought many dangerous beasts, but he was the complete opposite of her in terms of experience against mages and knights.


    Delimira smirked and added,


    How about a wager, we ought to get something out of this duel, right?


    Hans said,


    Yeah, the loser fulfils the winner''s wish.


    Delimira sneered and agreed,


    Fine by me.


    The training ground was cleared in a jiff and both parties started the battle without any courtesy. Hans might be arrogant and confident but his opponent was a so-called genius and the strongest person in their class right now, so he remain cautious of her moves.


    She provoked him by asking him to come at her with the index finger but Hans didn''t bite. No matter how much he was provoked when it comes to battles, he never acted overconfident and since the battle was gonna be decided by the first hit, there was no need to use advanced Orca vines so he used the variant of vines which was quickest and hit her.


    VeganBind


    The vines sprouted from beneath her, but she avoided them by jumping back not knowing another surprise was waiting for her, Hans knew that she would dodge and because of that, he intentionally hampered the speed of sprouting and rigged all four directions with VeganBind so it didn''t matters where she dodged, she was going to meet the hidden vines.


    Hans smiled but she was also smiling back, she cast her first spell, and two concentric pale green circles summoned beneath her feet, just before she made the contact with the ground,


    Windwalker


    The glowing circles launched her forward at Hans with quick speed.


    Hans used the same tactics as he used in fighting Romnick. Many vines tried to obstruct her path but she skillfully gilded her way to him and upon reaching him, she said,


    A mage¡¯s weakness is close combat, so let''s see how you will face me, shorty.


    Instead of jumping back as everyone predicted, Hans dived in, he thought he only needed to make first contact and this will be over. His punch came straight for her smug face but another two concentric circles of brown colour appeared right before her face.


    RockShied


    A hard slab of stone protruded from the ground and defended her from Hans¡¯s punch. The slab was fixed in place and did not even shake by the impact but the main purpose of the slab was not to defend her from the punch but to obstruct his vision, it was momentary but she managed to disappear from his sight.


    Hans felt a presence behind him so he jumped right but got welcomed by a finger flick on the forehead. The contact was made and he lost the battle with not a spell but a finger flick, it was more humiliating than anything for him.


    He fell on his bottoms while Delimira stood right in front of him with a smug face and said to her,


    You lost shorty,


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 41 : Strength is not the only Way

    Chapter 41


    Strength is not the only way


    Hans was itching to refute but this was his reality. He punched the ground in agony and before anything else happened, the physical education professor and his assistant made their presence felt. The hierarchy was set so there was no need to turn it into a dogfight.


    She said to him,


    I will claim that wish, sometime soon, so be ready, Shorty.


    Chris grabbed hold of Hans and pulled him back. Hans did not understand what happened at the last moment, he clearly felt that someone was behind him, he instinctively dodged her but she appeared out of nowhere and the result was his defeat.


    He asked Chris,


    Hey, what the hell happened? I clearly felt her from behind.


    my friend, the moment you went for her, was the moment your defeat was written.


    What?


    Why do you think she was glaring at you?


    Hans was thinking and got many possible answers but none of them was satisfactory. Chris understood that and answered,


    It''s simple, you are short-fused, and she expected you to explode. She rejected the duel with you so it agitated you more and with the handicap too. She knew your pride won''t allow you a handicap battle and you will either propose the same or reject it completely but see, what happened when you rejected her proposal. you got manipulated and proposed the same condition.


    Hans looked back at his past actions and everything Chris was saying felt true. he realised that she was in control of everything from the very beginning. He was glaring at Chris for not mentioning this sooner.


    Looking at his dubious glare, Chris refuted instantly,


    You idiot I was telling you from the start to not fight her, I even warned you before you went on and challenged her.


    Hans admitted he was adamant about not listening to him since the beginning and now he had an embarrassing defeat to bear, on top of that, he didn''t know what that manipulative Elf wants from him. The thing which was troubling him the most was why he felt her behind but not from the right. So he asked this from Chris and he replied,


    Hans, you are not proficient in duelling, right?


    Hans acknowledged Chris''s words. He was more prone to fighting beasts or heavy foes like Rudolf and Aldrich, who didn''t use their head in battle because they didn''t feel the need. But this was not a reason to be mistaken about the presence he felt behind him.


    It started in his early days when he could instinctively detect anyone aiming at him in close proximity. He soon got the answer he was looking for by Chris''s next words.


    And you are extra sensitive to intent, too.


    What''s that?


    It means you could feel that something intends to harm you or not. This is called battle sense, usually, a knight develops this.


    Yes... I guess.


    Chris smiled at him and said,


    It''s a very good thing to have but Deli exploited it against you since you can''t differentiate intent and presence.


    Hans was looking at him with more doubt in his eyes so Chris explained further.


    If someone doesn''t intend to hurt you, your battle sense won''t alert you, that''s why she flicked you like she was playing. Her emotions did not contain the intention to hurt you so when you couldn''t feel her intent you unconsciously focussed on the changes in the environment to feel her presence.


    Hans reiterated the words which he understood,


    so feeling the intent means battle sense and observing the change in environment is what you call presence, these are the two ways for finding the location of the enemy in the battle, right?


    yes, She distracted you with the gust of wind because you don''t know the difference between intent and presence since you are not well-versed in fighting mages, well most of us are not either but she is different.


    Hans couldn''t understand it completely but the gist was, he lost because is misunderstood the gust behind him as her and she suppressed her emotions that rendered his battle sense useless.


    it was not an overstatement that she was currently the strongest one but one thing that was bothering him more was how come she and Chris knew this when he himself was not even aware of it.


    He asked back Chris,


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Hey, one more thing, how do you two know my strengths and flaws?


    I found out because of the way you lost but she, that''s how keen she is, she only required to see you fight once and she could practically dissect every flaw in you, or how to use your strength against you.


    Before knowing about her prowess he was still confident in defeating her but now his confidence was shaking. That keen observation of hers was not something that a person could have without going through intense training. Apart from her odd behaviour, this was enough to earn her his respect.


    The physical education professor looked at Delimira and Hans and asked,


    Do you two have problems?


    Delimira confidently denied and Hans followed. The physical education professor was a retired knight with a big scarred face through his eyes. The assistant confidently followed him and announced,


    For the whole first year, you all will have to be present here in the morning and our professor will guide you to keep you healthy. We won''t be doing some intense things like your peers from earlier but the light exercises. So form a line and get started.


    With five laps around the ground, all forty children of class A ran approx five kilometres and with the light stretches were dismissed to their dorms.


    Hans, who was feeling embarrassed before, recovered during the exercises. He wowed to recover his honour in future but the lost wager was troubling him. He repeatedly asked Chris what she would ask of him but Chris cheerfully enjoyed the fact that he was possibly off the hook from Delimira.


    Hans called him,


    Hey buttstabber, you ready?


    Chris sighed,


    Are you really gonna keep calling me that,


    Yes, buttstabber, you sold me out.


    Buddy, I didn''t sell you out, ask her why she is so infatuated with you.


    Like hell, she would answer.


    Yeah, let''s go. It would be more embarrassing than the morning''s blunder if we get late on our first day..pft...


    Hans ignored his teasing and both of them left the dorm building. Exiting the building, Chris inwardly stopped when he noticed Delimira waiting for them and was ready to run away but she caught him.


    You have really grown something down since we left home, haven''t you?


    Hans chuckled and felt relieved that he was not alone with her and was glaring at his buttstabber friend who was ready to run, leaving him alone with her without even warning him.


    Chris sighed and led the trio to the lecture halls. Hans and Delimira were already famous and he was profiting from their reputations. Many people approached him because Delimira''s face clearly said, mind your own business and Hans was just plain scary after his stunt in the initiation ceremony. The only approachable person in their group was Chris and he was enjoying his day because unlike before Delimira was not focussing her attention on him.


    Hans sighed and turned to her,


    Just tell me what you want.


    What, can''t wait?


    The tension is killing me.


    She smiled all of a sudden and said to him,


    Good for you then.


    Hans felt that talking with her was like he was in an anger management class. He kept breathing to calm his mind. The three of them reached the lecture hall and Chris dragged Hans at the back. Hans asked him why they were sitting at the back and Chris looked at Delimira who was planning to sit at the front.


    Hans whispered to him,


    Nice.


    But soon after they separated, Delimira came and sat beside Hans at the back. Hans whispered to Chris again,


    Swap seats with me.


    Am I out of my mind?


    You buttstabber.


    Buddy, I can stab you several times wherever you want but just keep her off my back.


    Chris looked at Hans pitifully and added,


    I am sure now, you are the new toy.


    Seeing both of them whispering, Delimira got annoyed as she was listening to everything while the other party was whispering as softly as possible. Pointing her finger at Hans, she said,


    Hey shorty, I am claiming my wish now,


    What?


    You need to do what I ask of you, without asking questions


    Hans annoyingly replied,


    In plain words, you are telling me to be your slave, and without any time limit too.


    Then how about you follow me for three months, I can''t reduce more than this.


    Heck no, a month at most.


    Fine, shorty.


    Chris facepalmed and said to Hans,


    How gullible you can be, you idiot.


    Hans realised that he got played again and it was into a month of slavery but what can he do but tolerate her for a month? Chris was the only one who was happy right now and was chirping with others.


    Their homeroom teacher came and the class became silent, she introduced herself as Janet Rease, a high Knight of grade 47. She was responsible for the A class. She only demanded one thing in front of them, " The ''A'' class is the cream of the crop and all students must be promoted to the next year''s class."


    Getting as many students promoted to the next year will give her merit so she was fully invested in the students and seeing her confident look. All the students got motivated and replied to her in unison that they understood.


    After the little introduction, she told them the first lecture will be on Concordia¡¯s history by none other than the Dean of the Foundation department, Professor Martha.


    Hans felt uncomfortable hearing her name, last time she looked like she had given up the prejudice against him for being a recommended student but having to see her was not what he wanted right now.


    ***

 ELven Lies I Chapter 42 : The first day, A New Beginning

    Chapter 42


    The first day, A New Beginning


    Delimira was taking strange pleasure in troubling Hans, pushing him to the point of snapping and then retreating. Chris on the other hand was talking with another girl sitting beside him. The day wasn''t starting the way Hans expected.


    At first, Delimira found Hans annoying and forced herself to get close to him but she started to get little joy from playing this naive boy. Her teasing finally halted when Dean Martha entered the hall and Hans, who previously didn''t want to face Professor Martha, was glad to see her again. Seeing this troublesome professor in his mind was much better than sitting with these two.


    Martha inspected the class of boisterous children and begins to tell the history of Concordia, most of the stuff Hans already knew about, what the place was and how it came to be. The history lecture went on for about an hour.


    Martha asked a question to the class,


    What is the main requirement for becoming a mage or a knight?


    Someone raised the hand and answered the well-known things like aura and mana properties but it was not what Martha was looking for. She searched and found the boy hiding his face, she warmly smiled at him and asked him,


    Mr Hans, let''s see if you are only good at fighting or have some knowledge too.


    Hans sighed and answered what Rudolf had taught him,


    For a mage the only thing needed is an innate talent, a person in the mage discipline will fail. No matter how much effort he put into it, he can''t be a mage if he lacks that.


    Martha clapped her hand once and asked again,


    What about knights?


    Knights are fundamentally different, they grow as much effort and hard work they put into.


    Excellent answer Mr Hans, you are taught well.


    It was not some hypocrisy or sarcastic thing, Martha was truly complimenting the boy. This was not an answer one can find in a book but only from the experience of an experienced person. Delimira and Chris were also taught this analogy but most of the students heard it for the first time.


    Martha asked Hans again,


    So Mr Hans do you consider yourself to be talented?


    No one made me realise I am not, professor.


    Martha sighed and asked him to sit. She thought after his little defeat in a morning exercise, he would have toned down his arrogance but she was wrong. She continued to explain what Hans said.


    As Mr Hans had said, to be a mage, you can put in effort but you will not reach the true heights if you lack talent and there is no cure for it, that''s why a single mana property holder never opts to become a mage. Knight discipline originated for those people and it soon overtook the mages'' populations because your efforts do not betray in this field.


    Martha continued,


    Most of you already know that the ''knight'' discipline is a very systematic study, divided into 100 grades with every decadal grade you pass, you learn new aura skills till you reach grade ninety, which is becoming a Warlord knight. After that, you are allowed to learn as many aura skills as you want.


    He glanced at the students, some of them were paying attention and some of them were just plainly ignoring her, this was one of the reasons why she hated the recommended students. Since these were the high nose nobles who already got their tutors to teach them about the knights and mages way before.


    But some of the A-class students were unknown of these concepts so she chose to continue. A regular admission interrupted her by raising her hand. Martha allowed her to ask,


    Professor... what will happen if I learn more aura skills per decadal grade?


    I was going to tell you that... this is a systematic study for a reason, breaking the set rules will hinder your growth. Performing an aura skill requires the aura to be manipulated in a form of your choosing. if you perform different manipulation when your body is not ready to handle them. it will break you so all of you that aspire to be a Warlord, do not be greedy because your journey is slow and steady.


    Martha took a brief pause and added,


    And that''s why we have the foundation year (first year), so you can learn about silly mistakes.


    Martha cleared her throat and said things about mages,


    For mages, there is no proper procedure because every mana property behaves differently for them. When you get promoted to the next year, all the students in the mage discipline will be assigned mentors of the same mana. Being a mage is more like self-creating a method tailored for yourself.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Since she asked a lot of questions from Hans, the boy returned the favour,


    Professor, did someone ever break grade ninety-nine, what about grade 100 or more?


    Martha didn''t get annoyed at his question but replied happily,


    Currently, to my knowledge, there is only one person in grade 99, Alliance head, Hero king Norwin Grimgar. There is one person rumoured to break that threshold.


    Hans asked again,


    Who is it?


    Sir, Dietrich the knight king or you can say ''Father of Knights.''


    Hans continued,


    But I thought that was only a fictional character,


    Silly boy there is no smoke without fire, just as I can''t prove his existence, you can''t deny it either.


    Hans stayed silent after that and Martha rested her lecture. There was a fifteen-minute break before the next lecture and since first-years are not allowed to roam outside during a break, the lecture hall was buzzing with idle chatter.


    Chris asked Hans,


    Hey buddy, who taught you these things?


    Ah.. my guardian is a Dominion knight


    Delimira interrupted their conversation and pointed at Chris while saying to Hans,


    So what, his father is a Warlord.


    Hans didn''t get offended by her tone and looked at Chris,


    Are you for real?


    Chris embarrassingly said,


    yeah, but don''t ask me more about it, he never taught me much


    Hans asked in a roundabout way,


    Hey, I am not asking about your family but since you are from a Warlord household, you must be pretty strong so, why were you not ranked in admissions?


    To avoid unnecessary attention, look what you did to Romnick, it would have been me if I ranked first.


    Hans annoyingly looked at him and said,


    I hate hypocrites like you.


    Hey, you can''t decide how someone lives his life,


    Hans got diverted from what he was actually curious about, but asked something else,


    So you are strong, right?


    Yeah, I would say I am strong.


    Then how about we compete with our swords?


    Chris asked back in surprise,


    You know how to use a sword.


    Hans laughed inwardly at his destiny which robbed him of his dream and nodded affirmatively,


    I was trained as a knight until my mana property forced me to leave that path.


    Chris exclaimed as he remembered how Hans discovered his mana type. He turned to Delimira and told her in excitement,


    Hey Deli, you know, my friend here is a late bloomer. He got tested by doping.


    Delimira made a painful look and said,


    That must have hurt you a lot, I wish, I saw you.


    What are you, a sadist?


    An accurate description, shorty!


    Hans was hating this word since the beginning but he knew that if he asked her to stop saying that to him she would say it more often so he did not refute her. Chris was feeling the tension between them so he interrupted,


    So Hans are you good with swords,


    Yeah as long as one doesn''t use Aura, I am confident I can beat anyone, at least in the same age bracket.


    Delimira did not lose the chance to tease him and added insult to his injury,


    Yeah just like you planned to beat me.


    A vein popped up in his forehead but he calmed himself by taking long breaths, it was an anger management session all over again. There was one thing that Chris did not like, someone, acting smug in front of him on swordsmanship.


    His father had thoroughly beaten him in the way of swords since his toddler days with the strongest swordsmanship ever created. Chris did not lie about his father teaching him much because he never taught any aura skills to him.


    He replied to Hans''s challenge,


    I accept but don''t cry after I beat you.


    Hans shot a sneak remark at Delimira,


    At least you will fight using your strength, not with mind games.


    Chris glanced over at Delimira whom Hans was indirectly pointed to but she was ignoring their chitchat. The next professor, Mateo Murray, a grade 74 knight came to the lecture hall and stopped the chattering of the students.


    You numbskulls know what you will be learning today right? I am in charge of teaching you about knights, in my class, aspiring knights will learn how to become one and mages will learn how to beat one.


    He continued,


    The first year is all about theoretical knowledge which is not my strong suit, so bear with me even if I bore you. You need credits to be promoted from my class, so don''t piss me off because I am a petty person who will hold grudges for quite a while.


    So since I warned you guys let''s start your first lecture on Aura Theory


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 43 : The Knight Hierarchy

    Chapter 43


    The Knight Hierarchy


    The way Mateo, the professor of Aura theory introduced himself, reminded Hans of his math tutor back in his mansion, stern and stuck up. Both were adamant about not having any rebellious students.


    He was in his early thirties and looked like a man who did not have much experience in teaching but Hans was about to find out an excellent example of not judging a book by the cover.


    The professor started his class,


    First, let me tell you why this lecture is beneficial to you. For an aspiring knight, it''s a no-brainer that using an efficient method of creating aura is useful, but for mages, you get to glance into the inner workings of a knight, you can exploit them or aid them in battles.


    So without further do, let''s get the introductory section over with,


    He looked at the students who were paying full attention to him and started speaking with a stern expression,


    What is an aura? To answer this we need to know about mana, right? Mana is the basic building block of our world and aura is a secondary form of this mana. For knights, the mana absorbed through their body, especially skin, muscles and bones gets converted into a by-product called, Aura.


    He paused a bit to see if his student were focusing or not then but found the attention satisfactory and continued,


    This secondary form gets stored in the body and released at the will of the person. Aura cannot be used to conjure things like the mages do but it can affect nature and surrounding mana more aggressively than mages. This is an elementary thing you need to know about the aura. We will continue to advance in this as we go deeper in our next classes but it is good enough for today''s introduction.


    He was tired of discussing the upcoming topic every year, but the compulsion and some of the students not being aware of it, made him speak. He sighed and started,


    You people must have known that there are a total hundred grades in aura training, right? There is no hard evidence of a grade above 99 but there are many unanswered questions, but first-years do not need to dwell on theoretical topics like that, only focus on what can be achieved.


    So the existing power structure for knights is like this,


    Grade 0 - 10 (apprentice) in which you learn to generate aura and have the ability to conduct it in anything. This is the basic requirement to be in A-class.


    Grade 10 - 20 (initiates) in which you will select a first skill suitable for you from our vast collections. The library already divides the skills year wise so you won''t have trouble learning it but if you can''t then you do not belong here. So choose the skill that the professors recommend you, and don''t be greedy if you cant increase your mastery by the year, then you won''t pass the grade 20 mark and fail the year.


    Grade 20 - 30 (novice), similarly to initiates, you will be allowed to learn the second skill when you cross the 20 decadal grade.


    Grade 30 - 40 (senior knight) - Third skill


    Grade 40 - 50 (high knights) - Fourth skill


    Grade 50 - 60 (warriors) - Fifth skill


    Grade 60 - 70 (Veterans) - Sixth skill, I belong to this category. Every race learns different things when they reach this point, some humans learn the power of their bloodline while elves make contracts with spirits and dwarves inherit the blessings from their ancestors.


    Grade 70 - 80 (grand masters) - Seventh skill, this will be your strongest attack skill till now, it will be quite fun to learn and from this point, you become a real powerhouse.


    Grade 80 - 90 (Dominion knights) - Domain skill, you have to create this on your own


    Grade 90 + (warlords) - from this point onwards you will become an existence of mass destruction, we have less than 100 warlords in the world, so you can understand how rare it is to reach there. But doing this much hard work has its own rewards, you won''t be restricted to learning a single skill per decadal grade.


    Mateo released a long breath and asked his students,


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    So is there anyone who has learned the skill yet?


    No one answered, everyone knew that Concordia has the best skills, so whoever taught these young children did not teach them skills but only trained them in the aura. Mateo expected this and he added,


    To get credits in my class, a knight has to reach at least grade twenty, which means you have to master the first skill completely to pass in my class. And for mages, you just have to be less arrogant.


    The mage discipline students were looking at him baffled, then Mateo smirked and said with a stoic expression,


    I was just saying, it is an additional requirement to the main one that is you have to beat a grade 20 initiates, promoted at that time.


    Listen closely, whoever fails my class will be sent back to the boonies where you came from, so pay attention not only to learning but your behaviour too, since I can¡¯t be tolerating fools. That''s it for today.


    The tense class got relieved after the strict professor ended the lecture, and the class started buzzing with the noise of chatters. Hans turned his head to Chris who was hitting on the girl sitting beside him, he asked him,


    Hey, do you really not know any aura skills?


    Hans my friend, the threshold to pass the admission was to have a grade of 10. I don''t want to be an overachiever.


    So do you wanna learn something specific?


    Yeah, there is a skill that I am eyeing.


    Which one,


    You will see,


    What''s with the suspense?


    Chris didn''t say anything after that so Hans diverted the topic of conversation,


    How many warlords are there?


    Less than a hundred, officially.


    Then which rank your father belongs to?


    Hans, that is a touchy topic.


    Hans was frustrated because Chris was behaving so secretive so he shouted annoyingly,


    Oh just spill it, will you?


    He is under 20.


    This time too, Chris didn''t give a definite reply but a warlord below rank twenty is some achievement, so Hans poked him again,


    Then what''s his grade?


    Chris was not fond of people talking about his father so he was getting annoyed. Delimira caught him getting irritated, so she replied instead of him,


    He is in grade 92, shorty. Now shut up.


    Hans didn''t mind Chris¡¯s change in emotions and quickly added,


    So why is he ranked below Rudolf?


    Chris sighed and replied to his inconsiderate friend,


    Grade only shows how much aura a person has, it''s not a metric for measuring strength. In his younger days, Sir Rudolf, despite having four grades lower than King Norwin, stood in a stalemate battle with him.


    Chris found Hans¡¯s words disrespectful towards his idol, so he chided him more,


    Hans sir Rudolf is made his home in rank nine, he is neither climbing up nor falling down. That''s why there are no rank changes these years. So you better pronounce his name with respect.


    Hans thought the rank change probably stopped because Rudolf was nowhere to be found in these years and before he could put these words into his mouth, Delimira added,


    Yeah, our deans are pretty scary, sir Rudolf is one thing but with Lady Sierra, Concordia is at its strongest right now. Mage tower and association must be so envious of this place, enough for me to get curious to see their arrogant faces crumbling.


    according to Vanessa, there was no ranking among mages so Hans was curious how the mages distinguish who is the strongest. He didn''t want to make more conversation with Delimira but instead of Chris she was more actively replying to him. So he just plainly said to her,


    Who is the strongest mage right now?


    She responded to him with a snarky face,


    Who knows, mages don''t usually bark about their strength like knights.


    Her remark attracted everyone¡¯s attention which made Hans slit even more under the desk. She was blatantly mocking every knight present in the class but oddly enough, no one said anything to her. She added to her words,


    But there is the strongest spell holder and that is our dean. A spell that can''t be blocked or avoided, you have no choice but to die if it is fired on you, it doesn''t matter how strong you are either.


    Hans had heard several things about his Gramps but Sierra was still a mystery. He didn''t want to let this chance go to know more, so he asked her,


    Why is she called Iron Lady?


    And why should I keep answering you?


    Delimira showed her attitude, Hans felt lucky that he at least got answers to some things from her before she turned back to her usual condescending mood. He felt he will not get any more answers from her so he turned back to Chris but before he could ask him, Chris replied to his unanswered question,


    I don''t know, Hans. You will eventually find it.


    Hans shook his head denying that he was not going to ask about that and asked what was on his mind,


    How much do you know about Parv?


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 44 : Mage Hierarchy

    Chapter 44


    Mage Hierarchy


    The moment Hans mentioned PARV, the mood between the three got tense. Hans had expected Delimira to behave like this since she was an elf and Parv was an enemy nation for them but Chris was showing more hostility than her. Hans was thinking that Chris living in Clander might be the reason for this hostility.


    Chris broke the silence between them in a grim voice,


    Why are you asking me about Parv, Hans?


    Hans felt he should carefully frame his words, so he diverted them.


    Because I didn''t find much in books about it, it is mysterious. you know me right I''m naturally curious.


    Instead of Chris, Delimira interrupted in middle and said in irritation,


    Hey, shorty we are giving you a finger and you are sitting at our head. (giving an inch and taking a mile)


    Delimira was usually very difficult to read but this time it was plain as day, as Hans could clearly see that she was agitated. Chris¡¯s hand came to his shoulder as he gently grabbed them and said while looking down,


    Parv is bad news, don''t get curious about it and stay away from anything related to it.


    After seeing how edgy Chris was, Hans thought to himself, what would happen if Chris knew that he was talking to the alleged prince of that very bad news? The tension somewhat eased when their next professor made her entrance.


    It was none other than Sentinel¡¯s houseMaster and Delimira¡¯s mother, Aredhel Winters. Normally a high-positioned professor was not assigned to the First year but she volunteered to oversee Mana Theory Class this time. It was no brainer to others that it was because of her daughter but Delimira and herself knew the real reason was sitting beside her.


    Aredhel was similar to how an elven woman is depicted, lean and beautiful, she looked a lot like Delimira but the Winter''s junior had a distinctive feature that made her stand out, even from other elves, her hair was of silver instead of the usual blonde.


    One more thing that Hans noticed was that, unlike the other elves who preferred to stay in groups with their kind, she was like a lone wolf. He had decided long ago that he would not be nosy with this condescending girl, but her antics and behaviour keep breaking his resolve.


    Aredhel addressed the class,


    I am your professor in charge of Mana Theory classes, Aredhel Winters. So let''s start our lecture with the first question.


    The whole class was looking at her eagerly because she didn''t tell them about the credits or objectives like their previous professor and jumped straight into the lecture. Almost everyone was thinking the same but their attention shifted to her as Aredhel asked them,


    What is Mana?


    It was the most basic question that everyone in the class knew the answer to, but she wanted to tell them her own views, instead of the textbook contents. So she did not select anyone to respond, but answered it herself,


    Mana is the energy of this world. We, a little more intelligent species, use it to make our life easier. Rather than using it for taking lives, I want you all to think of it as a gift from a higher power for aiding it in the betterment of the world.


    Aredhel was a bit different than what Hans had imagined, she was a battle mage who focused on teaching mage warfare to the seniors so her words contradicted her actions. She looked at the new students who were in disbelief and added,


    Is it awkward to hear this from a battlemage?


    The class atmosphere was not tense like in the previous lecture and so far she felt more friendly than any other professor. A warm smile that gave others the confidence to speak their mind was quite a welcome sight in the eyes of students. One of the students answered her question in the affirmative and she continued,


    Before the discovery of fire as a weapon to hurt others, what was its main purpose of it? To warm people in the cold, to cook food. Just like that, mana was also used for convenience, so take a mental note that you are not learning mana just to destroy things but build a better world, and this is a responsibility of a mage.


    Her words felt right to Hans, instead of using mana as a weapon if it was used to benefit the lives of others. This world would have been a utopia but this world was a messed up place and he saw himself as neither capable nor willing to fight the flow of things around here.


    Hans always felt pointless about reading the hero''s struggles to change things in the books. For all their life, Heroes lived miserably to be happy at the end and the villain who lived all their lives in happiness dies at the end. If he compared their lives, a villain enjoyed his time more than anything.


    This was the reasoning that ten-year-old Hans was giving to himself. That''s why he stayed far away from the thoughts of doing anything heroic. It was a shortcut to misery in his mind.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    She kept telling and motivating the children to see mana as a non-combative thing and it might have sounded ambitious but it became boring for Hans. On the other hand, the students were excitingly listening to her thoughts, and even the knight discipline students were also paying attention.


    She was explaining the circle methods that he was not using so the topic became more tedious for him.


    ¡­


    ¡­Mages condensed main their heart as taking in it as rotation¡­.


    ¡­inside the circle mana kept rotating¡­.


    ¡­The more circles there are, the more mana you have¡­..


    ¡­Each circle can store mana twice as much as the precious one¡­¡­


    ..


    .


    After her detailed thoughts on mana, she came to the topic of mana resources which piqued his interest, so he started paying attention.


    Mana is stored naturally in two things, an exhaustible resource called mana stones and another rechargeable resource called mana gems. We can find mana stones in mines but gems, which are much smaller in size, contain more mana and are only found in highly concentrated mana zones. Even after complete depletion, it will recharge itself after a few days.


    She was moving ahead from the topic of resources so Hans raised his hand, Aredhel asked in a sarcastic tone,


    So you were paying attention after all.


    Hans got embarrassed since he was caught but still asked his question,


    What about sunstones? which category do they fall into?


    Aredhel replied without changing her warm expression,


    That is not of your concern right now but since you asked I will answer, but before that, answer me this, what do you think is inside sunstones?


    Hans quickly replied,


    Isn''t it mana?


    Then why do we call it sunstone?


    Hans was thinking, why didn''t he ask himself this question earlier, he never thought about why these things are called sunstones. He shook his head in denial and Aredhel answered her own question,


    Because they don''t contain mana but a similar thing that our sun has, uncontrollable and powerful energy?


    Hans quickly fired his next question,


    But I have heard that some people have controlled that energy in the past.


    Aredhel showed a little discomfort and Hans realised that she was also an elf and the person he was referring to was Samson, their sinful enemy. Aredhel controlled her expression and answered,


    yes there was and still, some people could control it with artefacts but you should stay away from them, right?


    Hans realised that she was speaking the truth, sometimes unnecessary curiosity becomes the reason for someone''s downfall. He responded,


    Sorry professor.


    It''s okay, you will learn these things in higher classes, so be patient.


    Hans nodded positively and sat down. Chris whispered to him,


    Hey, what is a sunstone? And what control? There is something that you know and I don''t, tell me.


    Hans imitated Aredhel and replied to his curious friend,


    you will learn these things in higher classes, so be patient.


    Chris got annoyed and focussed his attention on Aredhel. Hans glanced at Delimira and found her behaviour odd, she was like she saw a ghost or something. He did not bother her and did what Chris was doing, focussing on the lecture.


    it was not like Delimira was scared of something but she was baffled, her mother was never the one to show her real feelings but she could sense her real emotions and it was after Hans asked about sunstones.


    ..


    .


    Now all of you have heard about knight hierarchy, right? Our mages are divided by the number of circles they possessed,


    0 circles known as apprentices that are mostly the first-years, but I guess in this class most of you are first circles called initiates who can learn and use spells with little power, mostly two spells at best.


    Then comes the second circle called Novice, and the requirement of mages to pass the first year, with an additional qualification of mastering four spells. For knights, you will all pass without worry so just maintain your attendance.


    The knights started appreciating their new professor even more and she continued,


    Then comes the third circle called senior mage, you will be considered a true mage from this stage onwards. Your spells will be more effective with less mana consumption. Since there are no restrictions on learning spells in numbers, you are free to learn as many as you can from this point but keep the institution''s curriculum in mind.


    Then fourth circle high mage, fifth circle Expert mage, sixth circle Veteran mage, and seventh circle grand mage, you will be a distinguishable person from this point.


    She looked at the students who were fully paying attention and added,


    From the eighth circle, your spells would affect the real world so the term that originated for them is World Mage and then the ninth circle is Warlocks, a nasty existence.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 45 : The First-Year Representatives

    Chapter 45


    The First-Year Representatives


    When Aredehel ended her explanation about the Mage hierarchy and the difference in the levels. instead of satisfactory eyes, students were more startled. it was because she ended her lecture with an odd note, calling Warlocks, the most respected and powerful mages as a ''Nasty Existence'' not to mention her being one of them too


    She knew what her students were thinking so she cleared it once more,


    Yes, you heard me right.


    Becoming a warlock is akin to an unachievable goal for every mage and even if later it turned out to be a pipe dream, every youth aspired to be one. The most talented mages of the era were the ones who could touch the dream of making it to the ninth circle that''s why Genas had very few warlocks among the mana practitioners.


    Aredhel added,


    A single Warlock is capable of changing the geography of the lands, there is a popular saying in Clandor "The serpent, the king, the beast, the Warlock, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought not to be awakened from sleep."


    A student raised her hand for a question and Aredhel allowed her to ask,


    Then why not Warlords, professor?


    Aredhel snickered and replied,


    You can at least talk some sense to them, but not to the one I mentioned in the proverb.


    She added,


    I do not mean to look down on warlords but If we compare them to ninth circles, you will need at least three of them to deal with a single Warlock.


    The knight student did not refute it, because that was a universal truth, the definitive advantage the knights have over the mages was their numbers. Hans was eyeing at Chris, teasing him that he will never be able to beat him alone. Delimira suddenly raised her hand and Aredhel signalled her to ask what she wanted to know.


    She stood up and pointed his finger towards Hans and asked her,


    What about him, he does not have any circles but he can use spells.


    Delimira was constantly analysing things so she did not like something she could not understand, so Hans¡¯s unknown way of using mana was something that was ticking her off. She has to know the ins and out of his method for devising a solution to deal with this variable''s existence. Previously if Hans had used more spells or was a little less impulsive, then she did not have had the confidence to win a quick victory.


    Hans was baffled, he didn''t know that she realised it this early, he whispered to her,


    You knew?


    Delimira replied to him with her usual condescending tone,


    Who do you think I am?


    Aredhel sensed a tension between them and answered her daughter,


    People have secrets, Ms Delimira, you have too, we better not pry into it.


    Aredhel dismissed the class, this was the last class for today. Hans felt quite good after Aredhel picked his side over her daughter. While everyone was planning to move out, their homeroom teacher had some other plans. The professor entered and pointed them to sit down for a bit.


    She made her way to the podium of the hall and said,


    As you all know, Concordia does not have a strict schedule for classes, so you should always look for new announcements on the notice board. Your professor will give you a theoretical lecture once in a while and then assign you a task that you have to finish in a limited time. You will be awarded credits by your professor''s standards so don''t be careless about them.


    It was not only for first years but for all of the students, Concordia focused on nurturing students so that they can find their own answers and have their professors guide them if they''re stuck on something. This helps the children to learn and study on their own and promote bonding with their peers because most of the tasks required collective thinking.


    Janet continued,


    When you don''t have lectures scheduled, you are free to spend the time as you wish but I recommend you visit the library from time to time. It''s your future, not mine, you have to be responsible for your choices.


    She glanced Hans¡¯s way and the boy started thinking, what did he do wrong this time but his worries vanished when she pointed at Chris and Delimira. She made them come forward to the podium and said,


    And lastly, Concordia strictly bans private fights, so if you want to settle some differences, then officially challenge other parties for the duel in the vigilance of proctors. If any one of you witnessed a fight or was forced into one, Contact these two.


    Just like Hans, everyone was thinking about why she was saying to report the fights to these two. Janet coughed a little and answered their unasked question,


    These two are selected as the strongest knight and mage of this year, so I made them representatives, they have the perks of receiving extra credit each month and if you want to replace them, you can challenge them for the duel, being a firstyear representative, they can''t refuse any challenge, with some terms and conditions.


    Hans raised a question,


    What will happen if you participate in a private fight?


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    She suddenly became chirpy and answered him,


    I am glad someone asked this, If you are found involved in private fights, then the instigator will have to pay a hefty fine with expulsion and a lifetime ban from Concordia and its facility. You might not know how severe this is so read the rule book.


    With the departure of their homeroom teacher, the class dismissed and the trio went straight to the cafeteria for lunch. There were many cafeterias on campus and the foundation department had its own. All three of them sat and Hans showed the perfect aristocratic way of eating which surprised his companions, his manners were too refined for a country bumpkin he appeared to be.


    Delimira asked him with suspicion,


    Hey, don''t tell me you are an illegitimate child of some nobility.


    Hans replied with a sarcastic tone,


    What a way to start a conversation,


    So, are you not?


    Hans sighed and responded,


    My sister is strict when it comes to manners.


    And who is she?


    Why are you so interested?


    it was not a major secret that he could keep anyway so Chris replied instead of him,


    She is the aide of Dean Sierra, he is from Edenberg county.


    Delimira was unknown of the fact, she felt backstabbed by her mother who was negligent enough to keep her in the dark about this vital information. She clenched her fist with a spoon in it but maintained her holier-than-thou attitude and said to him,


    So, you are from Edenberg county


    Hans ignored her and looked at Chris who didn''t even ask before sharing this with her. Chris was not gonna take the criticising looks from him and whispered in his ears.


    Don''t make her curious or else she will find out the things you intend to hide.


    Hans suddenly realised that she could do things like that after all, in this new world money was a scary thing. He replied to her politely,


    Yes, I am. I was kinda adopted by her family.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    This was news to Chris as well, and hard to believe because the affection between him and Vanessa didn''t feel like he was adopted. Hans lacked the concept of blood relations so he really treated Vanessa as his real sister. He was not going to go into detail about her relationship with her, so for diverting their attention from the topic he asked Chris,


    Do you have any siblings too?


    Yeah, a punk little brother.


    Hans turned toward Delimira expecting an answer but he was ignored as he expected. He continued to ask Chris while eating food elegantly,


    So do I receive any special treatment for having a representative as my friend?


    In your dreams buddy?


    I can probably arrange a meeting with Rudolf..sir Rudolf I mean.


    Chris looked at Hans with anticipating eyes and said,


    You said you couldn''t earlier.


    Well, things change from time to time, like having you in power is a serious motivation.


    Chris chuckled at his shamelessness and responded,


    I am sticking with my earlier thoughts, I will impress him on my own.


    Hans showed a mischievous smile and said,


    What about our little sword fight?


    Oh don''t you worry, I don''t run from sword fights, so let''s go to the duelling arena after our meal.


    Both did not eat to the fullest so they could fight freely and after finishing the appropriate portion, they left for the duelling arena and Delimra accompanied them. It was their first time roaming around in these parts, so they were enjoying the view. Even Delimra who came here several times didn''t get to enter the campus so it was also a fresh experience for her.


    They finally reached the duelling area for first-years, it was empty as expected, well, no one was crazy enough to apply for duels like these two on the very first day. Chris asked Hans,


    So you wanna fight for a representative title or just a regular fight?


    Hans didn''t have to think hard about this so he replied quickly,


    Nah, why would I take unnecessary responsibility, it will be limiting my freedom.


    Chris was genuinely surprised, he thought Hans would have wanted the representative title,


    are you that confident about winning?


    Yeah, you can keep doing the chores for professors, that title is nothing but a scam, brother.


    Chris went to apply for proctor vigilance, and Hans was left with Delimira in awkward silence. She broke the ice by saying,


    I don''t mean to brag but Chris has practised swordsmanship from an early age, I never saw someone as talented as him.


    So are you worried about me, Ms Winters?


    Nah, just accept your loss and move on Shorty.


    She never said anything that didn''t piss him off. Hans was adamant about venting his anger on this duel. Chris came with a yawing Proctor, the man didn''t think that some first-year dare to apply for the duel this early. No one apart from the four of them was present in the scene and the proctor looked at Hans who didn''t seem like an initiate (grade 0-10) so he confirmed with him,


    So you two are fighting each other and the restraints are not using aura, right?


    Both the participants replied in unison,


    Yes.


    The proctor sighed, his beauty sleep was disturbed by these two punks, he asked again,


    Do you wish to record this duel?


    Chris replied quickly,


    Yes.


    The proctored smiled like a merchant who was scamming a customer,


    That would be a gold coin for you


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 46 : The Imperial Sword Arts

    Chapter 46


    The Imperial sword Arts


    Hans and Chris both got surprised to know that the service would cost them a hefty sum of 1 gold. With a single gold denomination, a normal person could eat to their heart''s content for days in a good restaurant.


    Hans asked the proctor, believing he was scamming them,


    What, it comes with the price?


    Proctor replied in annoyance,


    Hey, they pay me for proctor work but recording the fight costs memory stones and that would be 10 gold. You should be grateful that for first-years it only costs one coin. What more do you want?


    Chris turned to Delimira and she realised what he was aiming for. She was the richest among them, she caught his intentions and with a sigh paid the money to the proctor. He accepted the coin and readied the stone. He looked at her and said,


    The little lady parenting these two children can come to the side.


    Delimira chuckled at his comment and cleared the arena. The proctor asked them to pick their preferred wooden swords and after both of them got ready, the first-year duelling ground got activated. A circle around ten metres in diameter appeared encircling both of them.


    The proctor said in a rough tone,


    I don''t want to deal with any bloodshed so the one who could disarm the other or force his opponent out of the shiny circle will win. I could decide the winner at my own discretion and you will not question my judgement.


    He looked at both of them standing in front of each other and said with a nod,


    So, tell me when you are ready.


    Both replied in unison and the match started with the proctor¡¯s command. Chris had chosen a sword which was a little thicker and heavier than Hans''s. On the other side, Hans was stretching his legs and started swinging his hand holding the Epee sword (Bastard sword). They both pointed the sword at each other. Chris challenged Hans to make his first move.


    After starting to learn from the Limitless Book, Rudolf stopped Hans''s sword training but the boy kept practising on his own, just to keep himself physically active. Hans replied to his challenge by lunging at him and performing a forward slash which Chris blocked pretty easily.


    It was an easy-to-block attack because Hans was testing the waters first but Chris mistook it as Hans''s looking down on him so he got annoyed and said to him,


    Hey if you don''t take this seriously you will lose pathetically, now try again.


    Hans replied to him,


    Why don''t you attack for a change?


    Fine by me, but don''t whine if you lose quickly.


    Chris performed the diagonal slash with a footwork that was oddly similar to Rudolf. Both used a similar type of sword so it was bound to have a similar pattern but the moves were identical and unfortunately for Chris, Hans was adapted to handling these heavy attacks.


    This slash boosted by the heavy momentum came at him. Hans had never managed to block this whenever he practised with Rudolf. So he developed a way to tackle this attack, by just avoiding him with his own modified footwork. Apparently, learning things were tough for him than creating his own ways.


    Hans elegantly avoided the attack, by slanting his body parallel to the incoming sword. He dodged the sword narrowly but his movement contained precision like he had done these thousands of times.


    Hans put his sword on his shoulder and sarcastically said to Chris,


    Is this your best, my friend?


    He was using the same tactic as Delimra, when someone¡¯s best attack fails they get flustered and their rationality gets taken over by instincts. And just what happened to Hans in his fight with her, the same thing happened to Chris.


    He still didn''t know how Hans dodged his heavy slash. The attack was hard to block and with his strength boosting the momentum of the slash and it was not practical to avoid this fast attack either but Hans managed to do that.


    Hans¡¯s quick and free movement clearly put him above others but he did not lean towards quick swordsmanship. Chris got serious and rushed at him with a volley of those diagonal slashes. Sometimes attacks came from the right and sometimes from the left without any specific pattern to confuse Hans more.


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    Hans showed his mastery of avoiding those attacks and kept dodging the sword with the same precision and when Chris finally thought that he succeeded Hans elegantly diverted the flow of the blade by using its own force. Any bystanders could easily tell that Hans was used to this swordsmanship. Chris was losing stamina fast but Hans was keeping his cool.


    He mocked Chris again,


    Is this your best, my friend, I didn''t even break a sweat?


    Chris was looking at him while panting, it was not like he didn''t have more sets of moves but this volley of diagonal slashes was the set he was most proud of, so he couldn''t just accept his best attack failing to connect even once. It was his pride shackling him from using different things. Meanwhile, Hans was loving this playstyle of Delimira, it was a satisfying moment when he got into the head of his enemy. He was enjoying playing Chris more than the sword duel. He provoked him further,


    Come on Chris, Sir Rudolf won''t be impressed if a mage beat you here, right?


    Chris never entertained the thought of tasting defeat by Hans before entering this duel, at least not in swordsmanship but now the thought of his defeat entered his mind and he started to get anxious. If he loses to a mage in a sword fight then it would be too shameful to hold his head high again. He lost control over his technique and let his instinct follow the movement.


    If his earlier way was calculative then this new way was like a ravaging storm. Hans provoking him was a way to get the edge over this battle but it backfired on him. Chris was slashing and stabbing the moment he showed any gap. This was getting troublesome and Hans''s hands were getting sore by deflecting the incoming stabs mixed among the slashes. Chris had more strength than Hans so he just could not straightforwardly block him without receiving any recoil.


    He was thinking of an ideal way to reach victory but Chris got pretty fast as he let go of his thinking and his instincts took over. There were way too many gaps in defence but Hans was neither quick nor stronger to exploit those. Hans bide his time to wait for Chris to take a breather and when that happened, he created some distance from him, his opponent seemed to have lost his vigour and this was the perfect moment to exploit the situation.


    He took the initiative and bent his body as far as he can to decrease his height further. this act provided him with a boost and less area for Chris to target. As he rushed ahead, Chris tried to counter him with a strong thrust.


    Hans barely avoided the thrust by slightly lowering his head on left but since Chris¡¯s muscles were sore his speed of taking back the stab was slow. Hans used this chance to strike on his grip and Chris received the first blow.


    Hans smirked and said,


    This is just a start brother.


    Despite his frail-looking stature, Hans was born and bred in the wilderness, since he was attuned to feeling the intent of hostility. He was also capable of letting others feel his intent too. He marked Chris as his target and Chris could feel that an overwhelming attack was coming.


    Hans started using the same move that Chris was so proud of, the volley of diagonal slashes but his were more precise and accurate in targeting Chris''s gripping hand. He was aiming to disarm Chris rather than pushing him out of the circle.


    With exhausted stamina, Chris failed to dodge or block many attacks and finally, with a decisive upward slash his sword flung out and the winner was decided. Delimira, on the sidelines, couldn''t believe what she witnessed, winning was a different thing but Chris never even manage to deliver a single attack and it was just humiliating for him. Hans, inconsiderate of his friend¡¯s feelings, was jumping in joy.


    But since Chris received those volleys of diagonal slashes, he could feel, Hans was more hone to those attacks than him, he just stood there lowering his head. Hans on the other hand always felt using mind games was a sign of cowardice before but he enjoyed using it more than the sword battle. Now he understood the joy of controlling the battle at his own pace. He looked at Delimira and said,


    Your fighting style is really satisfying.


    She understood why he said that, Hans imitated her tactic but she was surprised not because of that but because his swordsmanship was identical to what Chris and Bernard, his father trained in. No matter what, no one in this world was capable of deciphering that sword in a single go and it was also not something that a no-name kid like Hans, a ward of a dominion knight can learn and use.


    Chris was still looking at the ground and the proctor¡¯s voice entered his ears as he declared,


    Hans Richardson, flawless victory. Here is your recording. Now get the hell out of here.


    The proctor threw the stone at Hans and disappeared. This was the first time he saw a memory stone, it was a shiny pebble, smaller than a quail¡¯s egg. When he was busy admiring the stone, Delimra came to the defeated Chris and asked in concern,


    You okay


    No, I am pretty fucking far from okay, I never landed a hit, a single hit Deli.


    It was because he was playing with you, psychologically, he might have caught that from me.


    Chris refused to believe that it was all psychological, of course, it played a part in his defeat but Hans¡¯s skills were clearly shown in the fight. A part of him was relieved to know that Hans was not a knight, if he was then there will be no one capable of outshining him in this generation. This petty thought was eating him as he felt insecure for the first time in his life. He never ran away from rivalry but the gap he just saw made him waver. He said to her,


    No Deli, it was not only that, he knew my every attack and a way to skillfully avoid it too. This swordsmanship is considered the best in the world and is the hardest to master. He is a mage and is two years younger than me. It is a humiliating defeat.


    Delimira replied,


    It is but you told me once, it''s better to suck your loss and prepare to get better, right?


    Chris sighed and looked at Hans who was in a very good mood, he asked him with a bittersweet expression,


    Hey Hans, do you know, Imperial sword arts?


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 47 : The Backfired background check

    Chapter 47


    The Backfired background check


    Imperial Sword Arts, this was the first time Hans had heard the name, Rudolf never mentioned the specifics while teaching him and he didn''t care to ask since it became pointless later. To this point, Hans never realised that he was practising the technique that came from the country of Knights, Parv.


    He asked in surprise while glancing at the wooden sword in hand,


    What imperial sword Art? Is that what this is called?


    His expression was clearly stating that he genuinely did not know, so Chris told him,


    Yes, its variants are taught worldwide but the true essence of it is not known to many. it is probably the strongest sword art in existence.


    Hans looked at his wooden sword with proud eyes and said,


    Strongest you say, then how strong a technique would be that breaks this?


    He chuckled and continued,


    Before knowing your technique I was not sure of how to beat you, but now, pft... I am just a bad match for you brother.


    Why?


    Because I know every ins and outs to counter this so-called imperial sword arts


    Delimira rained on his parade by saying,


    Hey, that technique truly shines when combined with aura, so you can''t beat him, at least with a sword, idiota.


    Hans just plainly stared at her, he realised the fact and her words truly brought rain on his parade, it was true that he had devised a counter for every movement but he never faced that technique with aura. He became gloomier than Chris after Delimra hammered the hard facts on him.


    Hans mumbled,


    Darn it.


    Chris asked him again,


    Hey, who taught you that sword art?


    Who cares, can''t you see my victory turning to ashes?


    Chris annoyingly shouted at him,


    You inconsiderate jerk, at least think of me who lost to you.


    Hans replied imitating Delimira¡¯s condescending attitude,


    Who gives a rat''s ass about you?


    Chris was astounded by his words, Hans was getting influenced by Delimira more and more, and he was not in the need of another her. He looked at her who was glaring at Hans, he thought openly imitating her won¡¯t sit well with her but Delimira was thinking some other things.


    She was around Hans because the situation needed her to be but this time she was really curious about this brat''s origins. She patted Chris''s shoulder and whispered to him,


    Don''t worry Chris, I will know every detail about him tomorrow.


    Chris understood what she was talking about, he thought Hans was not in proximity of having her secretly investigate him, but it turned out that Deimira went ahead and commissioned a background check on him.


    Hans pouted at Chris,


    Hey where is the nearest dessert shop here, I need my sugar to forget this shitty feeling.


    Chris grabbed Delimra¡¯s hand and urged her to go with them, it was to prevent her from doing things on her own. The trio went on their quest to find the nearest dessert shop and apart from Hans, the two were not interested in sweets but the boy walking in front of them.


    Yesterday after receiving the task from her mother to become close to Hans, she immediately commissioned a full background check on him. Till now she was not much eager to receive the report but today''s incident changed her perspective. She might have sunken his mood because he was flying high but she too know that Imperial sword art was not some backwater technique.


    There existed some organisations that did such work in Concordia, despite it being illegal as long as it paid well it was possible to unearth everything about the target and Delimira was not exactly short on money.


    SOMEWHERE ELSE


    A damped room, with a lamp flickering the light on the table, and three men were conversing discreetly.


    So what is the progress, of the investigation?


    Can''t we extort some more from clients, I heard it came from some rich brat.


    Are you out of your mind?


    Tsk, but just who is this kid, there is nothing about him, this needs some extra motivation(asking for more money with a gesture).


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    The room became silent, the other two knew how foolishly greedy this man was. one of the three who was listening till now said,


    Are you sure we are not kicking a hornet¡¯s nest?


    The greedy one interrupted,


    Look at this bastard, there is no gain without risk, you coward.


    The timid one replied,


    No, but I am just getting a bad feeling from this job


    This pessimistic bastard.


    The middle one supported the timid one,


    Yeah, everything from the top to bottom is faked, Did you find anything discrete?


    The greedy one replied,


    No, I can''t even find where he came from. That''s why I am saying we should charge more.


    Someone suddenly knocked on their door and these people got alerted. They were cautiously waiting for the other side to say something but after hearing the secret words they eased up and unlocked the magic seal on the door.


    But what they saw contradicted what they were expecting, a bloodied face and a foot taller man holding that with his one hand. He greeted them with a wicked smile and the three people who were inside, trembled in fear, the timid one recognised the face of the man, he was on the forbidden list of people not to mess around.


    He asked while stammering,


    Wha.a.t arrre you.u.u doing... Here...Ssir?


    The man kept smiling evilly and threw the battered man on the ground. He entered the room by stepping into his head and crushing it without any struggle. This act instilled more fear in them. His voice was naturally heavy and with that heavy voice he asked the man who spoke earlier,


    I didn''t know if someone in these boonies could recognise me. I thought of leaving this to my subordinates'' hands but I was closer so it''s your bad luck.


    The stammering man picked a little courage from the inside and said while stopping his stammering, the man before him was known for generosity and forgiveness so he pleaded as politely as he could,


    Please forgive us, we will make amends for whatever we displeased you with, please spare our lives, Hero king Norwin.


    The moment those words left his mouth the whole building froze instantly, and all three of them died without knowing why. A woman in her thirties came beside the man who was still releasing cold breath from his mouth and said,


    Do you have to go this far, sir?


    Of course, I had to, I made a deal, and I intend to honour it. It is not the time for the world to know about the child.


    She became silent and Norwin asked her


    So did you find the one who commissioned it?


    Yeah, it came from Concordia.


    Which bastard wants to die this early? Wait this will be fun, send a word about this to Rudolf, he will make a mess out of this.


    The woman was still surprised that a man who had never taken a step for his children was taking measures for an unknown child. Even if it was some personal deal, his acting on his own was a sign of something else, so she pried into his thoughts


    So, you care about the child?


    Norwin laughed aloud and said,


    When the time is right, I will kill him with my own hands. That thing is just a painful reminder of my past.


    ON THE SAME NIGHT, CONCORDIA


    Aredhel was anxiously waiting for his daughter. She called her immediately after receiving words from Walter. When Delimira entered she asked repressing her anger,


    Did you order a background check on that child?


    Delimira replied with annoyance,


    Are you keeping tabs on me? finally acting like a mother for a change, I see.


    She had grown up on her own, her mother had left her with her brother¡¯s family since her toddler days. She craved motherly affection but Aredhel never had time for her. She understood her mother had her own troubles but she was absent when she needed her the most. So her acting concerned ticked her off.


    Aredhel was not oblivious to her thought process but she couldn''t just blurt out her own problems to her child. It was a parent''s duty to make their children''s life as worry-free as possible. She replied to her,


    That annoying man, Walter, told me about it. Don''t do things like this, I don''t want you expelled.


    Doing this is, of course, illegal but Concordia which boasted discrimination officially put extra effort into preventing this kind of activity. She continued with concerned eyes,


    Do you know if Walter makes a molehill out of this, you could get expelled?


    Delimira was always born with high perception and she could feel some subtle worry in her mother¡¯s eyes which was clearly not from the fear of expulsion. she knew that Walter was a political rival of hers in the Board of Concordia which led her to realise that she might have created some troubles for her.


    So she just said,


    Fine, I won''t do anything endangering your position. Are we good?


    Aredhel felt relieved and allowed her to go to her room. Being a staff ward(child of working staff) has the privilege to attend school from their staff quarters.


    Walter who was waiting in the shadows came forth and said to her,


    I came here in good faith to warn you but you made me the bad guy.


    Aredhel apathetically replied,


    Aren''t you gonna use this leverage?


    Walter chuckled and replied,


    Of course, I will.


    Then tell me what do you want?


    Walter put on his business smile and said,


    Back out from the position of leading second years in Glory Wars, next year.


    Aredhel could feel her vein bulging in her forehead. ''Glory Wars'' was the annual event and from the next year onwards this was opening to the Second Years too. She was competing with Walter to take charge of it.


    Backing out from this race would be detrimental to her career but it was a small price to pay for her daughter¡¯s mistake. She added a condition of her own.


    Fine but how will you make sure that Rudolf never hears of this?


    Walter sighed and told her,


    By telling him first.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 48 : The Bothersome Second Year

    Chapter 48


    The Bothersome Second Year


    It was the second day for the first years and Hans had squeezed some nap time in between morning Exercise and breakfast. His sweet sleep came to the end with Chris''s constant stare, being sensitive has its own disadvantage. He opened his eyes and found Chris¡¯s face near his, which startled him and he jumped out of the bed. His stare was not as bothersome as the foul smell of sweat that was enough to burn his nasal hairs.


    After his defeat, the only thing which occupied his mind was to perfect the flaws of his sword technique. For a knight, there was nothing more humiliating than getting beat up in a sword fight with a mage. After the annoying morning Exercise, he also squeezed some time but for sword training rather than nap like Hans. He went on his own to practice swordsmanship and just returned to see the source of his damaged pride sleeping soundly.


    Hans yelled at his sweaty friend,


    You need a shower, and lots of cologne, you stink like a dead dapple lizard.


    Chris smell his own arms and made a pleasant face, he replied to him,


    Yeah, this is the smell of hard work.


    No, it''s disgusting you freak, go take a bath or flush yourself


    After he got himself clean, Hans noticed an odd mark on his right palm. Chris detected his gaze and explained to him,


    oh, this, when you were sleeping, all knights trainees were called, this is called measurement mark, it keeps telling us of our aura capacity.


    Can''t you just tell yourself?


    Only high-grade knights are capable of that.


    Hans did not ask much after that and both of the boys went on for their breakfast. The third and uninvited guest came and sat beside them. She was looking at him with annoyance. it was all because of him that she got scolded.


    But Hans couldn''t bear the glare and asked her,


    What now?


    Just having a thought of smacking your head.


    Why don''t you try and see what happens?


    Chris got baffled to hear what Hans said, arguing with her was one thing but his friend was outright provoking her. Hans resolved that he was not going to take this any longer. She could do whatever she wanted but he won''t be submissive ever again.


    Surprise to them, she didn''t refute this time and just finished her plate. Her silence was more effective than her arguments and Hans suffered indigestion once more. They had all the day for themselves since there was only a single class in the evening and in addition, it was a guest lecture.


    A book was strapped into his waist which was piquing Chris¡¯s interest since they left the room. Finally, he couldn''t hold his curiosity back and asked him,


    What''s with the old-looking book?


    Hans looked downside and strapped off the book and waved it in front of Chris,


    Oh, this, it''s just an empty book, I ought to look like a mage, right?


    Carrying the accessories won''t make you smart, but the library will, buddy.


    I was born smart, it''s the knowledge I lack.


    Can¡¯t you let me win once?


    Not gonna happen.


    But you let her win.


    Hans turned at her and said while provoking her,


    it was not by choice but she could very well try now.


    But unlike his expectation, Delimira was still maintaining her calm and once again Hans failed to incite her. It was bothersome that she was behaving passively. They finished breakfast and left the cafeteria. there were many familiar faces from all four sections, talking in groups, and creating their own factions within the first years.


    It was just the third day and Hans''s two House members, Cassidy the princess of Sunfall and Garen the dwarf were already leading the factions with more members than others. Hans was neither interested in joining nor creating his own and, Delimira and Chris followed the same thinking.


    They reached the detached temple-like building, it was grand and twice the size of the academic building where they attend lectures. Hans thought he would find some upperclassmen here but Delimira enlightened these ignorant fools that the entrance for first-years was separate.


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    They arrived at the reception and were required to register once to use the facility. There were two receptionists, a young man and an older woman. Chris went ahead to charm the lady and the young male receptionist was enchanted by Delimira. the young man was not staff in the library but was only doing part-time work in the library to earn some more coins.


    Hans sighed, in his company, one was a fly and another one was the bait for others. He worried about his future self and went ahead to register first. The woman who was conversing with Chris noticed their badges.


    There was a single sword badge on the left pocket of his black uniform, making it clear that he was the first-year representative of knight discipline. She turned over to check the other two and noticed the girl accompanying the boys. Delimira also had a badge in the form of a circle, donned on her left pocket of the white uniform.


    Since knights wore black and mages wore white, she looked at Hans who was also in white. It doesn''t take a genius to understand that this trio was probably the strongest group in the first years. She belatedly recognised professor Aredhel¡¯s daughter and stopped her idle chatting with Chris.


    What can I help you with, miss Winters?


    Hans mocked her without giving Delimra any time to answer,


    And people say this place is free of discrimination.


    The receptionist lady looked down in embarrassment but Delimra came to save her and said,


    Just process my registration.


    After successfully registering, the three casually traversed the library with the exception of Hans picking up the books he liked and at the end of their ground floor tour, he was carrying many books in his trolley.


    Chris asked in amazement,


    Are you gonna read it or are you just showing off?


    Kinda both, didn''t I tell you my hobby is reading?


    Chris and Delimria both looked at him like he said something unbelievable. By no means Hans looked like a book worm but soon they understood what he s really the truth. Once he started reading there was nothing that could break his concentration.


    Even after lunch, he maintained his reading streak, most of the books were about geography and bestiary. Alchemy rarely intrigued him but since Concordia¡¯s main source of income was alchemy, there were many books on elementary knowledge of it, so he just browsed them casually.


    There were many things he found different from what he knew from his collection at ghost isles. All of his knowledge was outdated since his books were not updated frequently like in this library. He also gained knowledge of newly discovered species but he didn''t find what he was searching for.


    He went and asked the receptionist,


    Where can I find books on red demons or any information related to them?


    The receptionist got baffled and another person who was looking down from the first floor replied to his question,


    Here on the first floor, first years. Wanna come here, I could grant you some special privilege.


    Hans looked at his uniform, he was in black clothes with two swords in his badge, making him the second-year representative. He found nothing wrong in his intention and was gonna move towards him but suddenly Delimra grabbed his shoulder and replied to the senior above instead of Hans.


    Stop scheming, Gazel.


    The second-year knight Gazel laughed and asked her,


    So, is it your toy, you should have told me?


    The transformation was undone, his appearance changed completely and his uniform converted from black to white alongside his badge. He was an elf and representative of second-year Mages. Hans had no idea that he was using a transformation. He used the ManaVision on him and found that this person was a third circle mage making him a senior mage. But his words were ticking him off.


    Delimira increased her strength in the grip to warn Hans not to be impulsive. She replied to Gazel,


    Only a prick like you calls someone a toy.


    Chris and Hans turned to her instantly, her past actions and words did not match a bit. Gazel responded to her with a wicked laugh and she returned the favour with a remark,


    You inconsiderate fool, this is a library, stay silent.


    He got serious and said,


    And who will report me? You? You don''t wanna take a step in Clandor again.


    Hans removed her hand from his shoulder, it was not his problem so he just wanted to move away from it but Gazel had some other plans. He provoked Hans,


    Hey you short bastard, do you know how much money you cost me?


    Hans turned to him, it was his first time listening to this crap which made him surprised. He never knew this Gazel but he was claiming that he owed him money. Before he could ask how this happened, the second-year added,


    I used to run an information agency, your background check request came and overnight my organisation was wiped clean, just who are you, bastard?


    Hans looked at him calmly and responded,


    If it is true then shouldn''t you be afraid of me?


    Hans¡¯s words felt like he ordered that to happen and Delimira finally understood what her mother was trying to hide from her yesterday. She turned to see Hans¡¯s expression and found him confidently glaring at Gazel.


    Gazel was startled, he didn''t know why his organisation vanished yesterday so he was just shooting in the dark while investigating their latest requests. He looked in anger at him and asked again,


    Who the hell are you?


    Hans annoyed him again by saying,


    I don''t wanna tell you.


    Gazel was boiling in anger meanwhile Chris thought Delimira was a bad influence on Hans, and he was turning as condescending as her. The senior clenched his fist and finally exploded,


    I don''t care who you are but you messed with the wrong person, you have taken something of mine so I am gonna take something of yours...


    Gaezel''s threat was still ongoing but Hans stopped him by pointing his index finger toward Delimira and shamelessly saying,


    Take her, she is my best friend.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 49 : The Crying Seed in Concordia

    Chapter 49


    The Crying Seed in Concordia


    Chris bursts out laughing when he heard Hans talk about Delimira being his best friend. Meanwhile, Delimira who was going to drag Hans back one more time, let her hand stop in the middle. Hans was maintaining eye contact with Gazel without showing any sign of withdrawal.


    Since his battle with Chris, he was cranky and needed something to vent on, so he kept inciting Delimira before, but she was not catching the bait. He declared in a raised voice, as a means to ask the two behind him while glaring at the senior above.


    Hey representatives, what will happen if our ''respected senior'' picks a fight with me?


    Delimira apathetically responded,


    The senior will get suspended or worse, expelled.


    Hans added,


    And what if we add the charges of running an illegal organisation and investigating a student?


    Delimira became silent because she was the one who commissioned it in the first place, but there was no need to mention it since it was impossible to find her, at least for Gazel. Seeing her silent, Chris added himself in conversation,


    He will definitely get expelled and his family will be barred in Concordia.


    Family barring was a very harsh punishment, it meant the individual¡¯s family will be banned forever for using Concordia¡¯s facilities like alchemy and craftsmanship, which were the best in the world.


    Hans did not know what family barring was but since Gazel''s face was turning into something that was giving him satisfaction. He did not show his lack of knowledge in the matter and sneered at him, adding,


    With these odds, You still wanna pick on me?


    A sudden voice broke the tension,


    He could have an unofficial duel, if he wants, I can allow that.


    All of them turned to the source of the sound and Found a bulky man, dressed in full black, pleasantly looking at the kids. He came forth and repeated his sentence,


    I said I can allow him to vent his anger on you, Hans.


    Hans was baffled so does everyone, the man looked above at Gazel and said,


    Master Gazel, How is your father doing? A Lot of time has passed since we met for drinks.


    Gazel got happy to find backing in this situation, and he respectfully replied to him,


    Professor Walter, my father is a bit busy, I would relay your kind words to him when I get the chance.


    Walter looked at Hans with concern and turned to Gazel saying,


    Ah, it looks like one of mine troubled you. How do you want to settle this?


    Gazel smiled wickedly and said,


    I wanna vent some anger on him as you said. Can you make sure it goes without a hitch?


    Walter replied to him with the same expression,


    Of course, I was already suggesting that, but since you are laying hands on one of mine, it warrants some compensation, right?


    It was not hidden from the seniors how greedy Walter was and dealing with a greedy person seemed easy for Gazel who lacked nothing. He put on a business smile and said,


    Don''t worry, I won''t be beating him much, just worth up to five hundred gold coins.


    Five hundred gold was a hefty amount for anyone since a single gold coin could let you live lavishly for a few days. Whereas for Walter, it was a small amount but little drops make the mighty ocean, so he agreed happily,


    It''s not great but 500 gold would do.


    Delimira shouted at the professor,


    What are you doing, aren''t you supposed to stop them?


    Grow up girl, this is how the world works, you should know who to offend or who to avoid, kids need to learn this early so they could survive longer, I am just helping you young ones realise this before.


    Walter looked at the two receptionists and said,


    If I heard any word of this outside, both of you will hear from me, you know what will happen then, right?


    He turned to the happy Gazel who just threw a pouch of five hundred gold at him and said,


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Let''s change the places before, Ms Winters could contact her grumpy mother.


    Delimira looked at Walter who was just staring at her, she was in the middle of informing her mother with a communication orb in her hand. Suddenly a dark sphere surrounded all of them and when they came into the light they were outside.


    Hans was having a bad feeling, he just wanted to rub on the senior''s face but it now turned into a brawl with odds, not on his side. Walter was the HouseMaster of prophets, and he could easily get away with this as long as Hans won''t get killed.


    Walter finally said to Hans,


    I told you to stay out of trouble, but you need some lessons. With this, you will learn how the real world works, youngest.


    Hans turned to Gazel and became cautious. Walter added with a stern expression


    Don''t resent me, boy. Depending on your performance I could reduce the due punishment for you.


    His words sounded like he wanted Hans to get beaten. Instead of thinking about what was in this professor¡¯s mind. Hans focused in front of him, Gazel was stretching his arms in confidence. The only mage he fought till now was Delimira who toyed with him psychologically and Vanessa who always prioritised him not getting hurt. Gazel in front of him was almost a third circle mage and he was experienced like Delimira so Hans chose to remain vigilant.


    Walter started the duel,


    Since it is not an official duel, there is no need for formalities. Let''s start.


    Not knowing another person''s mana was a disadvantage. Walter was making sure that Hans do not get an upper hand in any way. Meanwhile, Delimira was looking at her communication orb which was not getting any signal. She was looking for this place to at least find where they were but it was not yielding any results.


    Before Walter transported them, she managed to connect with her mother but she did not get any answer. She was concerned because It was not a duel but a fight and Hans knew that too, so he started using his strong attacks from the beginning,


    SeedBullet


    The metal seed was shot with a moderate speed and struck the forehead of Gazel. It was not strong enough to drill a tunnel in his head but it sure did the damage.


    Gazel became disoriented for a while, Hans didn''t use this opportunity for the attack but instead spread various orca vines seeds. This battle was disadvantageous for Hans because his attacks need some preparation time and since the library, he rigged while conversing with Gazel got switched with this unknown place, he had to start over.


    The second-year mage took out something shiny from his pocket, it was a potion. The potions and artefacts were the game-changer items which could turn any winning battle into a humiliating loss and it''s the sole reason they were banned from the duels.


    Hans grunted and got ready for what was coming, as Gazel shouted,


    Well, you have done it now, how dare an insignificant bastard as you hurt me?


    He broke a vial and the scrape in his forehead healed instantly. This was the power of having money and items that Hans was not used to. He had already seen Gazel with ManaVision and found out that he had ground, water and wind mana properties.


    The only thing that could trouble him was fire and that was only in prolonged battles, but fortunately, Hans''s opponent this time did not possess that. Gazel shouted in anger and cast his first spell,


    VentusVulnus


    Several wind slashes conjured at Hans¡¯s right side which made him jump to the left where another thing was waiting for him.


    QuickArena


    Unlike spells that originated from the caster, the spells like QuickArena which was way far from its caster do not show any bright rings. So it was hard to predict where the spell was going to appear. If the victim was not a specialist in detection he could be ambushed. And it started, the ground converted into a quicksand pit, which started swallowing Hans.


    But sadly for Gazel, Hans had ManaVision, he could see the high concentration of mana forming where he decided to jump. The more Gazel thought of his plan working the more he would have underestimated Hans and he was wagering on this perception.


    Seeing his plan working, Gazel started laughing and shot another spell,


    BoulderSmash


    It was a projectile spell which conjured a big rock that shot itself towards Hans and scored a successful hit.


    Gazel saw Hans falling unconscious and bleeding through the head. He was already sunken till his waist but the first thing Concordia teaches the students is to make sure that their target is really down. He launched another BolderSamsh towards him.


    Chris and Delimira pleaded with Walter to stop before something bad happened to Hans but the man was adamant about continuing this. He was excited to see how far this could go on and how much this will blow later.


    After verifying that there was no movement in Hans, Gazel walked towards him and said,


    So tell me who you are, you bastard. Do you still think you are more influential than me? You must have thought that eradicating my people was a joke¡­


    Damn, it hurts like hell.


    Hans¡¯s painful voice reached him and Gazel got startled, a first-year surviving two boulderSmash was not a regular thing. This alerted Gazel and he got a bad feeling so he drank another vial of potion. it was to heighten his senses and he started to observe his surroundings.


    Hans said in a fierce voice,


    It''s no use, I don''t like loose ends.


    Along with his words, the place started to shake and Gazel¡¯s heightened senses were telling him of incoming danger but it was not from a particular direction. All the place was designated dangerous in his sense. He looked at Hans not believing the situation.


    Hans was raised from the quicksand as a long tree grew right beneath him. it embraced Hans in branches like a lover back hugging him. The tree grew with a visible pace and as Hans came out from the sand pit completely, the trembling of the ground subsided. Gazel thought it was over but his senses started tingling more aggressively.


    A giant vine of thickness similar to a grand carriage sprang out from the ground, slithering like a serpent. It kept diving into the ground and emerging from nowhere, till the whole area was reshaped. Hans was redirecting Gazel as he was trying to dodge the unending vines to the place of his choosing and at the perfect moment.


    SeedBullet


    One after another the fast-moving seed penetrated both his knees making him cry in pain. Gazel quickly took out the healing potion and put it in his wounds, his pain got dulled as his wounds started to heal. But it was just the start of a vicious cycle.


    Hans keep shooting the SeedBullets and Gazel kept using the potion. he was healing quickly that does not mean there was no pain. Hans was returning everything he received from him in several folds. As Gazel ran out of potions, Hans decided to finish and said in a grim voice,


    God is calling you, senior.


    Mutilate


    A shriek that instilled fear in many beasts in the Ghost Isles finally made its appearance in Concordia. The fear it inflicted on the beast there was reflected the same on Gazel too, as he could feel his end coming. Hans released the conical casing containing the crying seed at full speed.


    Seeing the ominous thing coming to claim him Gazel quickly turned to Walter for help but his smiling face greeted the scared Elf. All of his hope to live vanished, but the crying seed got hit with another fast-moving spell


    All heard another loud voice, enhanced with Mana,


    WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?


    Gazel turned his hopeless face and saw the lady he despised, as the angel saving his elven bacon. While Hans was glaring at her, not because his strongest attack got nullified like nothing but because she meddled in the hunt and that, he could not tolerate.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 50 : The Big Picture

    Chapter 50


    The Big Picture


    Aredhel knew that her daughter won''t contact her if it was not an urgent situation but she was not able to reach her. this was making her anxious. She tracked her recent locations in a hurry which led her to the ground floor of the library, the place her communication orb was before her disappearance.


    She got angry seeing Walter''s lingering dark aura there. They had already made a deal so she believed Walter would not cross her and after scaring the receptionists she found out what had happened there.


    She flew tracking the dark aura and saw the land reshaping itself. In the midst of it, there was a long tree holding a battered boy. She was already having a headache imagining the trouble it would bring if Hans was that boy, but before she could focus on clearly identifying him. A loud scream entered her ears and the object of that scream shot itself with a very fast speed toward the sentinel boy, whom she just saw.


    She quickly used a fifth-circle spell


    TempusBullet


    It was a self-created spell of hers, which contained three elemental mana, a strong structure by ground mana, and its speed provided by fire and wind. It had more penetrating power than the conical casing of Hans and on impact, it killed the crying seed instantly.


    Everyone turned to her as they heard her mana-enhanced boy,


    WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?


    Hans got annoyed, their fight was interrupted and it looked like this was the extent of how much he could beat Gazel. Aredhel came in anger and repeated her words, this time aimed at Walter,


    WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?


    Walter replied,


    Tsk, you just have to crash the fun.


    He hopped on the vines till he reached Hans and, Delimira and Chris followed him. Hans sat on his bottoms to relax a little. He had to take the attack head-on, just to let Gazel down his guard but it doesn''t mean he was not feeling the pain.


    Delimira poured some liquid on Hans¡¯s wounds and the effect was the same as when Sierra healed him. He was staring at the vial in her hand and asked,


    What is this?


    My five gold coins.


    Hans didn''t speak a word after she mocked him with the price of a healing potion pouring on him. While they were cheerfully talking, there was tension between Walter and Aredhel.


    Walter spoke up, not to Aredhel but to Gazel,


    You see, running an information organisation will only charge you a simple fine and a few days of suspension but bribing a professor for making a private fight has some serious consequences. I will add a few cherries on the top like, extortions and discrimination then you will be set for a life outside this place, your family included.


    Gazel was looking at him stupefied, it was all the set-up from the beginning to increase his charges. but what he did not get was why Walter was going this far and seeing him not believing, Walter clarified,


    Gazel Robins, henceforth on the charges I mentioned before, your family is barred from using Concordia privileges.


    Gazel could see his father killing him on his return; he could not allow this decision to pass on. It was time to use the last straw, that is using family connections to scare him off. He shouted at Walter with this intent,


    Do you think you can treat me like this, I am from a council family. You will regret this day.


    He turned towards Aredhel and said in a commanding tone,


    HouseMaster, relay the words to the Clandor council¡­


    Walter laughed loudly at his last attempt to use family connections and said to the elven boy,


    You moron, you are barking at the wrong tree. Why do you think Elves don''t like our dearest professor Winters? She aided Parvians in the purge of the Elven council.


    This was news to everyone, even to Delimira, she didn''t know her mother was involved in the Elven war. The only thing about being not respected in Clandor sounded true in his words for her, since she knew the real reason behind the scorn of other elves was her biological father.


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    When she was thinking all that, Chris and Hans had their own thoughts, Hans was thinking about how deeply was she involved with his supposed-to-be father and Chris was also pondering about that too since his family also became victims of the Elven War.


    Aredhel was despising Walter more since he was distorting the truth so she stopped him,


    I did not help anyone.


    No, abandoning your kind means aiding the enemy, Winters. Ah, I can''t say enemy, after all, you were quite chummy with king Samson, right?


    Aredhel was feeling a twitch in her eye. She was close to losing it but controlled herself and said,


    It''s not the place and time to dig up the past, Walter, LET IT GO.


    Walter didn''t speak anything after that, while Gazel was thinking of a way to avoid the worst-case scenario but one thing keep coming to his mind, he was a high-profile person too, so he didn''t get why he was facing this situation because of Hans.


    After staying silent for some moments, Walter turned to Gazel and said,


    When I was talking about the lesson of learning who to offend or to avoid, I was talking about you, fool. I was the one who got rid of your little shop. How dare you investigate one of my members.


    Gazel refuted


    But you said..you took my money¡­my father won''t like it¡­


    Walter smiled and threw the money pouch at Hans and said to him,


    Here is your welcome bonus kid, we prophets always return twice what we receive, pay back the little miss Winters.


    Hans could not say that he understood Walter''s motives but his attitude right now was up to his liking. He took out 10 coins from the pouch and gave them to Delimira. He had a feeling that Walter was up to something else but he was not sure what it was, he stood up smirking and threatened the weary Gazel,


    Watch your back in the dark, senior.


    Suddenly, anger took over Walter¡¯s face and Hans was thankful that it was all directed at Gazel,


    I have drawn quite a big picture for our youngest, how dare you include yourself in it.


    Gazel was out of his wits, he replied,


    But you will be charged with Bribery too.


    So what, I am the one reporting, I just have to pay it back, that is the law here. You don''t have witnesses on your side and you won''t be foolish enough to let us scan your memories, right? The council has too many secrets, god knows how much we could dig.


    Gazel was cursing his fate, he didn''t have any choice but to accept whatever Walter was charging him with and beg his father for mercy. They could buy back Cocordia¡¯s privileges, of course with a heavy price but his expulsion was permanent.


    Walter looked at Aredhel who was still in the air and said to her,


    Take the kids back with you. I will take care of this mess, so it doesn''t smear in your pretty face, just like I took care of the stupid commission.


    Aredhel sighed, Walter was coercing her and Delimira was feeling guilty for providing the means for it. The sentinel¡¯s HouseMaster looked at Gazel with hateful eyes. He had cost her a lot of things in just two days. She thought of thoroughly reforming the Sentinels and grabbed the kids with some invisible force to fly away.


    The three started floating towards her. This was the first time flying experience for Hans and it sure was far better than sitting on Rudolf¡¯s shoulder. He enjoyed the view from the sky but he could not share his experience with Chris and Delimira since both were dead silent for some reason.


    It was a short trip, Aredhel dropped them at the entrance of their lecture hall and disappeared without saying anything. Hans was expecting to receive some sort of scolding from her but there was nothing. He was doubting how much this mother and daughter pair knew about him.


    He turned to Delimira and threw the bait,


    It was you, right? The one who commissioned the information check on me?


    But surprisingly Delimira showed the expression clearly stating what the hell he was talking about. Chris knew about it too but lying with a straight face was one of Delimira¡¯s many quirks.


    Hans said to them,


    Whatever, thanks for speaking up for me.


    Delimira was startled this time and replied,


    When did I?


    [referring to when she pleaded with Walter to stop when Hans got hit with the first boulder]


    Hans innocently said,


    Then I must have heard wrong.


    This annoyed her more than his gratitude. Chris sighed and pushed them inside the hall. The three kept sitting at the back but since there was some time for the professor to arrive. The duo of Clandor were interested in many things to learn about Hans.


    He asked while scratching his right cheek,


    What was the screaming thing and how come you can do that massive spell?


    Hans thought for a minute and thought since it was going to happen more and more, he decided to tell him with some sprinkle of lies,


    My friend, the massive spell is called Sprout, it''s a kind of spell to grow anything that I have studied before, of course with any modification I want, but it takes time to create something that big.


    Chris got annoyed and said,


    That''s not what I asked, I wanna know how you could do that massive spell.


    Ah, that. I have so much mana that I won''t even feel bad to brag about it


    Delimira interjected,


    Then what was that screaming thing?


    Hans and Chris both turned to her in surprise, they both felt she would never be the one to ask first, but Hans¡¯s performance was far impressive to ignore. Since she healed Hans before, he decided to repay the goodwill by satiating her curiosity, in satire of course.


    A very dangerous spell.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 51 : The Ancients of Madaruka

    Chapter 51


    THE ANCIENTS OF MADARUKA


    Delimira didn''t get the proper answer she was expecting and the displeasure was clear on her face. She was simulating what she would have done had she faced the bizarre attack in Gazel''s place. The last attack just didn''t look dangerous but she could feel the menace that froze her on spot. She was not able to gather any confidence to take it head-on.


    Hans took her dissatisfaction as her thinking that he was looking down on her in their previous fight and did not use this attack on her but before he could clear this up she instantly asked something else from him,


    The last thing, I mean that crying spell would have killed Gazel, right?


    Hans apathetically replied,


    Pretty much, yeah.


    She got angry at him all of a sudden and chided him loudly,


    Are you out of your damn mind, stupid? Concordia can only protect you until you abide by the rules. The moment you break them, you will get abandoned.


    Hans wanted to refute her words but she was right, in the heat of the moment, Hans could only see Gazel and nothing else, it was not like they were mortal enemies that he warranted death, but the sudden rage came out of nowhere and he even allowed himself to get hurt, which never happened before.


    He belatedly realised that things would have gone pretty bad, after all, Gazel talked like his background was way higher than others. if Aredhel did not intervene, he would be in deep shit right now, so whatever he felt toward Ardhel for intervening in the fight vanished like thin air.


    And just to make sure how much he would have been in trouble, he asked her,


    Just who was that jerk, anyway?


    She sighed, this was the day when she had to speak most of the time and it was only because of this short fuse in front of her. Hans, unaware of the fact that by pure luck he had skipped the huge problem, looked at her with more anticipation.


    Listen, you ignorant kid, Clandor have a diarchy system, the royal family with Elven Council rules it. The council mostly lost its power when many of the elders died in the Elven War but they still have powerful positions in Clandor.


    Hans skipped the part where she called him an ignorant kid and asked her in return,


    So, killing him would have provoked that old Council, right?


    Hans had heard about the purge of the Elven Council in the War against Parv but it seems there were things he did not hear from Samwell in Ghost Isles. so he asked Delimira since she was so willing today,


    But I heard King Samson killed all of them.


    Hans did not know when he said Samson¡¯s name, there was subtle admiration in his words which was clearly showing on his face. That made Delimira and Chris a bit uncomfortable again. She asked him in return,


    Why do you say his name with that admiration?


    Hans instantly replied without thinking much,


    He is sorta my Hero.


    You don''t have the faintest idea what he did?


    Hey, My Hero needn''t be a good guy, no matter what you say, that man single-handedly dominated the world¡­


    Chris completed Hans¡¯s words,


    And died a lonely death by betrayal.


    Hans turned towards Chris who unexpectedly interjected, and replied to him,


    Didn''t I tell you, a bad guy lives all his life as he wishes just to die at the end and good guys live all their life in the struggle just to be victorious at the end. If I can, I would live like him where the world would be at my feet...


    Chris said with anger,


    Then you will be betrayed like him too, you fool. having power is good but having unnecessary power is very bad.


    Hans didn''t make fun of him, because there were some repressed feelings in his lashing out. It seemed he was not the only one who was interested in his so-called father, Chris knew much more about him for some reason but it was also clear that it was not a good reason from his expressions, so he just looked at Delimira for answers.


    She said to Hans quietly,


    Just never mentioned anything related to Parv in front of us.


    But¡­


    Ahann¡­


    Hans had to give up because she was forcefully stopping him and their guest lecturer just made the entrance. A middle-aged lady in her late thirties, donned in white robes with a beautiful smile on her face, was in front of them. It was two days since Hans saw his grandma, so he instantly became happy and forgot about the intense conversation.


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    Almost every student here has heard of her, she was the former high priestess of the Yudwin temple, the religion followed by most of the Genas'' people. But this was not the only reason for these just teenagers to know about her. Concordia pressed the fact that Rudolf returned to the School with her wife in admission this year.


    Apart from being the Dean of mages, she was the divine healer who can heal any type of injury, past or present and in these two days she healed many of the disabled people who almost ended their careers because of work injuries. She instantly became famous and her title of Iron lady got replaced with the divine healer in the student¡¯s minds.


    This is all the first years know about her so Sierra introduced herself


    I am Sierra Edenberg, your dean of Mages, a World mage [8 circles] and the only one of divine mana.


    There are many people possessing the capabilities of healing through mana, it''s an innate ability which was not influenced by any mana family but divine mana was on another level. Sierra calmly smiled at the student looking at her in awe and said to them,


    I am not here to teach you about anything grand, but just to converse with you all about your future. Concordia is a new start for all of you. I hope you will not only learn here but will also make memories and bonds for a lifetime. Studying is necessary but you need to have people, whom you can trust your back with. Understand?


    The student replied in unison,


    Yes


    She continued,


    Can any of you tell me What your future will be after graduating from Concordia?


    A student who wore glasses and looked like an intellectual person raised his hands and stood up to answer.


    The knight Association for Knights and mage tower for mages.


    Sierra nodded but this answer was not satisfactory for her. She asked again,


    I am looking for a more descriptive answer, anyone else?


    But no one tried to answer it, of course, some of them knew but hesitated, so Sierra took the charge and answered them.


    You could go under the Knight Association or Mage Towers or Concordia Union,


    The Concordia Union was like an almost unachievable dream for any aspirant here because it was the place for the elite of elites. First. it was very difficult to enter and second, it was hard to grow within, since every one of them was the best of the best. If Knight association and mage tower boasted the numbers, the union didn''t even need to boast of the quality.


    Seeing the disheartened faces of the student she added,


    It always looks hard until it''s done and a child¡¯s job is to dream, you need not think like adults and rationalise things. Dream big and work yourself towards it to achieve it.


    Sierra looked at the staring faces of the children and said again,


    I am not promoting the Union but I have seen their power first-hand many times. It''s always impossible until the Union steps in. so try to enter the High academy where you will be nurtured as a member of the Union.


    It was not some hidden thing for students, Concordia provided education on two levels. The first part was the school for four years where some selected few grow up to grade sixty or fifth circle but after graduating few of them got chosen for the high academy where the real powerhouses like Rudolf were made as a part of the Union.


    The student who answered before raised his hand for a question and granted permission,


    So, Dean Sierra, how can I be a part of the Union?


    Sierra nodded, she was expecting this question and answered,


    You know about the graduation test, right?


    The student shook his head in denial so Sierra explained,


    Before red demons, the test was different but now, you will be given some tasks that you have to finish in Deadlands and if you become an overachiever there, you will be invited to the High academy.


    The students kept asking things about their future and the conversation between her and them continued for a long time. Hans noticed that Chris was not as enthusiastic as before. He whispered in his ears.


    Hey, cheer up.


    But Chris kept his head down. Hans didn''t understand him this time, for a guy who idolised Rudolf was showing not any interest to make an impression on his wife. Contrary to him, Delimra was actively participating in the conversation.


    She was in the middle of asking something,


    Can I ask you something personal, dean Sierra?


    I will answer that after hearing it, Ms Winters.


    Delimira cautiously asked,


    How can I become more powerful than the ancients?


    The whole class became silent and Sierra was startled for a moment. Ancients were the secluded people who lived in Madaruka, the farthest of the north in Genas, with unending lifespans. They hardly interfered with normal people and held the power akin to gods. So aiming to surpass them was like a fruitless endeavour and a bitter memory for her.


    Sierra answered her,


    I did not surpass them yet, Ms Winters.


    Delimira hesitated a bit but asked again,


    But.. but. Your son did?


    Hans got flabbergasted, she just told him not to mention Samson in front of Chris and now she was asking about him in front of the whole class. He turned towards Chris and his friend also betrayed his expectations. Chris was focussing on Sierra like he was also eager to know about it.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 52 : The Dead Mages

    CHAPTER 52


    THE DEAD MAGES


    Mentioning Samson was unofficially banned in the world, he almost sent the world into a war between Elves and Humans, and Delimira asking about him does not look right, so Sierra replied to her straightforwardly.


    We will not be discussing a war maniac. Parvians are off the topic from now on, understand Ms Winters.


    Delimira sat down in disappointment. She had her own reasons to know about it. After all, her life got messed up because of an Ancient''s meddling in Elven affairs. things are escalating in a direction Hans could not understand so he asked her quickly,


    What was that?


    She questioned back,


    What?


    Ancients, why do you want to surpass them?


    That''s none of your business, shorty.


    Hans ignored her insult and asked again,


    Then, what about Samson surpassing the Ancients?


    Delimira looked at him with doubtful eyes,


    You said, he was your hero, but you don''t even know his most-known achievement?


    Hans''s curiosity slammed his pride down and he accepted his lack of knowledge and urged her to tell him. It was all because he could not ask things about him from his grandparents in fear of saddening them. But unlike her condescending attitude, she answered him this time,


    You know sometimes an Ancient comes to us, I mean we don''t have any means to stop their demands. One of them went to Parv and demanded something, their king didn''t like it and beat the shit out of him. It was the first time an Ancient got beaten up, so before Parv could suffer their retaliation, king Samson went to Madaruka alone and the conclusion of their so-called talk was, all Ancients were forbidden to enter Parv.


    What did they talk about?


    Seriously, King Samson was not known for his conversational skills, idiot. In my mother''s words, "He spared them".


    Wow, then he beat everyone there.


    No shit.


    Then what about me being talking of him is different than you being the one to talk?


    Because unlike you, I am not deifying him. He was the bad guy, the only thing I am interested in is how he achieved the strength to oppress the Ancients.


    Hans was not getting any clear idea and in all their conversation Chris stayed silent. Hans asked her again,


    Have you ever seen him, I mean there was not a single picture of him.


    Delimira stare at him for a moment, making him nervous and said,


    Naah, after the war, his records were erased by Alliance.


    She turned towards Sierra on the podium and said,


    The only people who know about him aside from Parv are his parents.


    Hans was also looking at her grandmother, feeling that there was a lot he didn''t know about his fake father. Another student asked Sierra,


    Greetings dean, what are the professions I can get after becoming a graduate?


    Sierra showed a warm smile that Hans was familiar with and replied to her,


    Since I am a mage, I¡¯ll start with professions exclusively for mages,


    First, is the SpellMasters, only mages with the highest academic performance got to choose it because they will be responsible for creating new spells.


    Second, is the RoyalMage, the mages who are known to be strongest among their peers will be scouted by different royal families allowing them to bask in glory and fame. These mages earn most of the money among any mage profession. There is a sub-branch of this profession Which is called FreeLancers that can be recruited on a contract basis by anyone who desires their services.


    The third one is the Holy Mages, apart from healers those who wish to serve the temple of their ethnicity can go there for recruitment. I myself was chosen for the Yudwin temple and finally retired as the high priestess, the holyMages hold a significant amount of political power since believers of the gods follow them blindly.


    The fourth one is Enchanters,  these mages work on creating artefacts along with blacksmiths. They also enhance weapons and defensive items by imbuing those things with magic and mana stones. It also has a wide variety of it that you will explore more of later.


    The last one is not known to many, but those mages research the worldly phenomenon and try to discover new methods and study things like sunstones, these mages are known as Mage Researchers. It is not a popular profession but it is needed right now. Concordia recently established this section in the Mage department and Mage tower is leading this right now.


    Sierra just finished her explanation and a student of ember hairs raised his hand, she let the boy ask,


    ¡°So which is better, Concordia¡¯s Mage Department or Mage Tower?¡±


    Sierra didn''t think twice and answered the boy truthfully


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    Of Course, Mage Tower.


    Everyone was expecting her to take Concordia¡¯s side since she was part of it but Sierra answered in a way that no one expected. The students were mumbling with a confusing face, but she interjected and asked the whole class


    You all are wondering since the Mage tower is stronger, so you must go to Mage tower in future, but do you know why is that?


    No one replied again so she answered,


    More than seventy per cent of mages in mage tower comes from Concordia, students that graduated from Academy would apply there as mages.


    She paused for a brief moment and continued,


    Mage tower strictly follows social hierarchy, even nobles get treated according to their ranks. So stop dreaming of going there now and start working hard. Before inviting you to take the admission test, you were all monitored for more than a year, so you don''t need to belittle, you are competent enough to make your dreams come true by yourself.


    Sierra looked at the wall clock and said


    Looks like our time for today is over. I¡®ll be seeing you children if we could schedule another guest lecture, please try to find the same things that I talked about in respect of knights too.


    All students greeted the Dean by following Chris and Delimira. Hans wanted to talk with Chris about what was his beef with Samson. Knowing what his eyes were asking him, Chris said to him first.


    Sorry about it, but because of your idol my family suffered a lot, so will you please not ask about it?


    Hans realised that his father was a diplomat from the human side living in Clandor, so there might have been some mishaps during the war, he let go of his curiosity, but there was something bugging him so he plainly asked him,


    Then, you don''t have problems learning with Rudolf, after all, he was his father/teacher?


    No, because no matter what Sir Rudolf doesn''t mix personal things in his teaching and I am the same. I have no qualms with him, he was just the man who raised him, it''s not his fault that situation turned this way.


    Hans sighed on hearing this, it was proof that they had bad blood between them. He responded,


    Then Chris you better never mention anything bad about king Samson to him. He is not a man who would take any insult about his son.


    I am not that dense Hans, but thanks.


    Hans was worried about his friend¡¯s future but the day was already tiring enough, the incident in the library, the fight with Gazel and a long lecture with dean Sierra. The three of them were exhausted, the trio broke up and Delimira went on her own way. She needed to confirm some things with her mother.


    AT CONCORDIA BOARD HALL


    The executives were involved in a heated discussion and suddenly someone shouted,


    You are out of your mind, Walter.


    Walter had brought Gazel in front of everyone and was accusing him of various charges of intent to kill, bribing a professor, organising an illegal company and forcing his social status on other students


    The shouting man yelled once more,


    Do you take us as a joke? You clearly schemed this and it''s so obvious too.


    Walter knocked the Elven Boy out and confidently said,


    So you like the odds of the hot potato¡¯s (Hans¡¯s) assassination attempt over my scheme?


    Assassination, my ass, it''s just a children¡¯s scuffle, we could have managed this with some punishment.


    Walter sighed as he spoke while counting in fingers,


    Norwin, Rudolf, Sierra and who knows what will get involved. The only condition Sir Rudolf stated was to let his boy unharmed and on just his second day an elf of the Elven council tried to harm him.


    The shouting man refuted,


    That''s not happened, you¡­ what do you want to achieve?


    Walter interjected,


    House Sentinels'' reformation, put pressure on our Elven Friends and save this (Gazel) stupid brat''s life. I want to send him back to his country so his death would not be our responsibility.


    Do you think, the council boy will die by Samson''s child?


    No, Parvians are on the move, they already killed three elves of Clandor because those stupid bastards nudged their young prince in the wrong way. Parvians are coming and I do not want Concordia to become a battlefield between them and Elves.


    Then you shouldn''t have let the situation explode, you intentionally created the strife...


    Yes so his expulsion will be imminent, we don''t need Parvians on our tails.


    Another director exploded,


    Do you think we are scared of that regressed nation?


    No, but can you name a single country crazy enough to bear its fang on us except those bastards?


    Chairman''s proxy was present and after some deliberation, he spoke,


    What do you propose?


    Walter showed his confident smile and said,


    Play along with my scheme, the focus of the event would be me not the boy.


    How?


    Let''s play this way, a director was caught taking bribes and got suspended, from further investigation our knights found out about Gazel of Sentinels, doing any shit as he pleased. So we charged him for the crimes that I mentioned and this will help Professor Winters to strictly reform Sentinels so council children can tone down a bit.


    Aredhel who was taking everything till now interjected,


    I don''t need your help in managing my kids.


    But you should not deny riding the wave, Winters.


    Aredhel was silent, no matter how much she hated this, it was an ideal solution than handling the scorn of those three monsters (Norwin, Sierra and Rudolf). Concordia Union (main force) was already dispersed after the events of the Utar Barrier cracks.


    The Chairman''s proxy commented,


    If that was you after then you should not have let them fought Walter but whatever.


    The remaining six directors discussed everything among themselves and decided to go with Walter¡¯s suggestion and release another order to strictly monitor the children from the Elven Council. The Council and Parv, both were like wounded beasts and it was better not to provoke either of them.


    For maintaining amicable relations with The Council, the family barring of Gazel was cancelled and a personal letter, only to be seen by his father that explained how Gazel almost became the spark igniting a war, was sent along with him,


    Aredhel agreed to their orders and it was time to honour the deal with Walter for sparing Delimira from this mess. She said to the Board,


    I am taking back my candidacy from the glory wars junior league, professor Walter can have it, I have a lot on my plate right now and Professor Walter seems out of work for a while with his bribery suspension.


    The Board didn''t need a lot of time to discuss it since both parties were agreeing without any objection and Walter chuckled inside because the way Aredhel gave up her candidacy looked like she was throwing away the chance not because she lost to him.


    Her way of giving things up was as classy as it could get but Walter accepted it and was finalised as the leading professor for Glory Wars the next year.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 53 : Aredhel’s Closet

    CHAPTER 53


    AREDHEL''S CLOSET


    After separating from the two, Delimira was anxiously hurrying towards her home. She was worried that her mother had to suffer because of her bad decision but when she reached home, her mother was not there yet but the study she was not allowed in was unlocked.


    Aredhel was stubborn about no one visiting her study, one of the reasons being, there were a lot of dangerous uncompleted magic formulas and her future investment plans but the doors keeping everyone out from those secrets were opened right now.


    Delimira did not spare any thoughts on the dilemma of going in or not. She confidently entered the room and found many investigations and pictures of the ancients and the Elven hierarchy.


    Her mother was secretly investigating higher-ups of the Elven Council and the royal family. Suddenly Walter¡¯s words came to her mind. She kept thinking about what he said and after seeing the relentless investigation on the Elven rulers in front of her, she thought there was more to her mother than she initially thought.


    There was a big reason supporting her suspicion, Aredhel was exiled from Clandor for marrying her non-Elf father. She was the first case in Elven history who was half-blood since Elves being the superior race of Genas, could not bear any children with humans or dwarves. Her father was said to be from the other world and the sole reason for her being hated by Elves.


    Aredhel regained her footing in Clandor as the major investor that moved the economy of Nation but this did not put a stop to the scorn Delimira had to receive from the high nose Elves. They abhorred her existence because she was not pure blood.


    She had to live her childhood in the Royal castle, at her King uncle¡¯s place, as a ward that kept her mother in check. There was a lot of politics involved whenever her mother made a move and since Delimira was now a Concordia people, Aredhel was free from worries and her secret room was clearly showing that she was going to make a move soon against Clandor.


    She came across a thick book which was regularly picked from the shelf. It was the only book which was not covered in dust and as she skimmed through it, she found an old photograph of two men with her mother. one was her father and another was whom he recognised at first glance.


    She said to herself,


    Damn, so this was the reason.


    Suddenly, she got spooked as she heard another voice,


    What are you doing here, daughter?


    Delimira elegantly closed the book along with the picture and put it in its place. She sighed and was going to reply to her mother but a sudden thought stopped her. Aredhel asked again in a stern voice,


    This is off-limits, Deli.


    Deli burst into a laugh and said,


    Do you think I fall for this kind of cheap trick, mother? You wanted me to see this, you wanted me to be here, am I right?


    Aredhel asked,


    What gave me away?


    Your perfect timing, there is no way you will leave this place open, it is your secret closet after all. And there is no sign of a break-in. You already knew I would be curious about the only clean book on the dirty shelf. You wanted me to look at the photograph of Hans¡¯s father and mine together with you. Right?


    Aredhel sighed and said,


    You never disappoint, daughter, but I wish you would be a little more like your father.


    And how was he?


    A bit dumb.


    She continued,


    So ask away what you should be curious about


    That''s Hans¡¯s father with you and dad, right?


    Yes.


    So where is he? Is Hans playing a secret identity game¡­ah that''s why Walter took extreme measures against Gazel.


    Yes, you are right but that man died a long time ago.


    Aredhel''s voice became shaky remembering Samson while she glanced at the picture of the three of them, neither of those men was with her now. The expressions she kept hidden were clearly showing on her face. Delimira never thought that her mother has this sentimental side too.


    She asked again,


    So, who was he?


    His name is Samson, king of Parv, and that''s making Hans the last heir of Parvian royalty.


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    Delimira chuckled but stopped after seeing the dead serious face of her mother, she said,


    You weren''t kidding? That shorty is the spawn of the most hated person in this world.


    History is written by the winner, my daughter.


    The words erased the confusion from Delimira. Her words meant that history was distorted to hide the real truth. She asked her mother quickly,


    So what was your relationship with him,


    We were friends, he had his own reasons for doing what he did and after your father was thrown into Deadlands by our own people, I wanted to be in the War, but I was stopped and asked to build my own power in case he failed to eradicate the council. He was a man with a plan but failed in the end.


    So you were really allies,


    Hmph, yes.


    So was he not an evil person?


    That''s debatable but ¡­.


    Delimira interrupted her, she was not interested in the morality of the dead king but in what she should do next. she asked in doubt,


    When you asked me to get close to that shorty, you didn''t lie about my father, right?


    No, I didn''t, he will kill your father and that vision hasn''t changed yet. We have to change it, so Deli, I want you to keep that kid out of trouble, Walter is bad news, he runs by his interests. I don''t want my friend¡¯s child in danger and be used by him.


    Delimira looked at her behesting mother and replied,


    Apart from his face and being obnoxious, he does not share anything with his father mentioned in the stories.


    Aredhel commented,


    The only truth that historians told the world about him was his nature, calm and coldhearted, quite the opposite of his kid.


    Yeah, he is definitely not calm. but isn''t it hilarious, the first mage in the Parvian royal family of knights?


    Aredhel ignored her giggling and said,


    So can you promise me you will keep him out of trouble and stop others from bothering him?


    Like I did with Chris, right?


    Yes, he still thinks you were bullying him all along.


    Delimira smirked,


    I cannot say I was not, mother.


    Delimira happily went to her room and as Aredhel was closing the study, a person came out from the shadows and said to her,


    Did she believe you?


    I know my daughter well, she needs to feel special. Sharing the secret with her will do the trick.


    The man was none other than Walter. He nodded and said,


    I hope so, for her sake at least. But why I am the bad guy again?


    Because you are.


    NEXT DAY


    Chris was beaming ear to ear while Hans was uncomfortably staring at him. They have just returned from their morning training. and his roommate was happy because he finally got what he wanted all along.


    Hans was still in a daze about what happened in the training, Delimira followed him like a baby duck. She was not the same as before, as her ego flew away last night. Another thing to notice was, she ignored Chris entirely signalling his liberation from her grasp.


    Throughout the training Delimira stuck with Hans, making others who were aiming to make friends with her, aka the most beautiful girl, jealous. Hans was unnecessarily gaining enemies and hateful gazes. They tried to talk with her but she ignored them like they were insects.


    Most of them were not interested in her appearance but in the power and wealth that supported her from the background and because of their hateful stares, Hans had to retire early with Chris which led to this conversation.


    Chris said with happiness,


    Thank you, my friend.


    Hans annoyingly replied,


    What is happening?


    Congratulations on officially becoming the new me, she has taken interest in you.


    But I don''t feel good about that.


    Chris burst into laughter and patted his back,


    Listen, buddy, accept it as fast as you can, that''s what I did, I already told you, the more you get her curious the more troubled you will become.


    Hans resolved and said,


    Like hell, I am gonna distance myself from her...I am leaving for professor Walter¡¯s office.


    Hans quickly left for Walter¡¯s office in Prophets¡¯ castle to avoid his newly found stalker, ignoring his lively friend. It didn''t take him long to reach the Prophets¡¯ castle. It was far more majestic than the foundation castle premises where the first-years currently lived and studied.


    Hans took the staff entrance to avoid the senior students and reached the HouseMaster¡¯s office. He knocked on the door and Walter asked him to enter. He was sitting across from Walter and the conversation he had thought of enduring got started,


    You must be curious, ask away.


    Hans hesitatingly asked,


    What was the big picture you were drawing, you said it to Gazel, that second-year senior.


    Walter become startled and responded,


    You go for the tough questions right away. Hmm.. let me return the favour, where is the first book Limitless, bookholder Hans.


    Those words felt to him like the rug was swept out from under his feet, it was just the fourth day here and his secret was already out. He became alert and didn''t know how to react to the question. Hans was simulating every outcome in his head but none of them was successful to get him out of this predicament, at least not without losing the book currently tied to him on the waist.


    He thought he was really careless about carrying this hot potato with him. Walter got amused by his reaction and opened his drawer. He took out something wrapped around in cloth and put it on the table. Fixing his eyes on Hans and with a stern voice, he declared,


    This is the second book, Solar mage.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 54 : The Known Book Holders

    CHAPTER 54


    THE KNOWN BOOK HOLDERS


    Sensing the air getting tense, Walter laughed aloud. He could feel the hostility and Hans¡¯s will to fight to the death. Hans had already prepared Mutilate, aiming right at his Professor¡¯s head but there was no change in Walter¡¯s attitude. Hans disliked that Walter was not even flinching, his worry-free and lax attitude made him realise that he was really not a threat to this man before him.


    Walter spoke up,


    Weak charges ahead but strong wins using their heads.


    Hans humoured him,


    I don''t think my head is strong enough to knock you out, Sir,


    Tsk, look at this kid, I am imparting words of wisdom and he is making lame jokes.


    I will not go down easily.


    Walter sighed and said,


    I just said something, you didn''t get the meaning? You can''t beat me or run away from me, defeat is inevitable so what should you do?


    Hans was already sweating bullets and his complete focus was on surviving right now so diverting the brain power to thinking was not an idle choice he could go for. Seeing him not getting his word, Walter said in disappointment,


    In times like these, you should cut a deal with me, kid? I thought you were smart¡­


    Hans interjected,


    I don''t think I have that option.


    Of course, you don''t. But trying won''t hurt. A calm mind and sharp wit is the weapon of our house Prophets.


    Hans relaxed a little after hearing his words, it looked like Walter was not going for his book at this time. He calmed further on seeing his lax attitude. His eyes finally laid on the wrapped cloth. It was hard to believe that the second book was in sight this early but as Walter unwrapped the cloth covering the book, the similar leather binding convinced him that it was another book of Fate.


    As Walter opened the book he said,


    It was really hard to break its seals but it''s written in some pattern and I lack the key to decipher it. Mind taking a look.


    Hans glanced in and frowned in confusion, it was not clear what this eccentric man wanted but he was surprised that he too could not read it. He forgot to be on his guard and quickly took the book from Walter, frantically skimming the pages but the result was still the same. No matter what he tried he couldn''t understand the patterns.


    He closed the book and looked at Walter anxiously. There was no way out if Walter was out to get him and his hand unconsciously reached the book in his waist. Walter was not stupid, he already had figured out that Hans was carrying Limitless with him but he neither was interested in reading it nor have the capacity to fend off the trouble to come after snatching it away.


    Seeing him nervous again the professor laughed and said,


    Oh, don''t be a chicken, I am not aiming for your book, I was told every book has an owner¡­


    Hans interrupted and asked,


    What do you want from me, sir?


    Now you are asking the right question.


    Walter paused a bit and continued while maintaining eye contact with him,


    You see, if you hadn''t come to Concordia for studies, it was my job to bring you here. If neither, you would have come here for me after you finish reading that. So, eventually, we would meet and have this conversation, your father made sure it happens.


    Hans sighed, he once again praised the meticulousness of Samson. But he couldn''t understand the relationship between Walter and him so he asked him,


    But why are you still following his will?


    That man saved my life¡­


    Hans interjected,


    Professor please, we both know that is not the reason.


    Hans did not know what Walter wanted so he just shot in dark and hit the spot. Walter laughed again and said while clearing his throat,


    Now, you act like his son. We made a deal.


    Care to elaborate, professor,


    Every book has a holder, the ¡®Book of spells¡¯ and the ''Book of Day'' belongs to you, the ''Book of Ruling'' is Parv''s property and the ''Book of Death'' is in hands of Xandor, that''s all I know of but there is a book which does not have any holder. King Samson disclosed its location to me with the condition that I follow his words to the letter.


    And what is it?


    To give you this.


    Are you going to?


    Naah, No way.


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    I thought so, but you are showing me because there is a way for me to get it, right?


    finally, our youngest is learning to use his head. You asked me what big picture I was talking about, right?


    Hans nodded and Walter continued his words,


    The third one, the ''Book of Power'', is hidden away in Alliance¡¯s treasury. You only can enter it as the Glory Wars winner.


    But I can only take join that in the third year, I can''t wait that long, how about you lending me the second book first?


    Don''t be hasty, let me finish first, there will be a junior league next year and you will be able to take part in it, win and bring me that book. We will exchange it. That is the big picture.


    Aren''t you just wagering too much on me, I might not act like one but I am just a kid. There will be Mage tower and Association, not to forget strong people from our sides too¡­


    Do you know any kid who could kill a class three like a walk in the park, at least put some effort into making excuses, you brat.


    Hans realised that there was no backing out from this but he was not going to accept these conditions,


    Then give me some special privileges...


    Is 500 gold not enough?


    So it was a deferred payment.


    Walter was surprised by his use of words,


    It was bribe money, wait¡­what...Where do you learn this word?


    Hans also did not know the meaning of the term but he unconsciously used it,


    Whatever sir, we have a deal then, but I need to train privately.


    Don¡¯t worry, I have a perfect punishment for you to train, I am sending you to Agrilands for the next six month


    Hans had learned about all the necessary islands of Floatlands from Vanessa and asked Walter in a tone that felt like there was an equal partnership between them,


    What will I do on the farming Island,


    They have the rarest species of plants, poisonous, dangerous and many other types. I will talk to your professor so you needn¡¯t to attend the lectures. Is this privilege enough for you?


    Hans didn''t say anything back, this was enough and in the Agrilands, he could read his Limitless, away from the prying eyes. But from the way Walter arranged things for him, it was clear that he knew how Hans created the spells but he decided not to ask further.


    In his eyes, Walter seems close enough to Samson for him to leave the book for safekeeping and deliver it to Hans. He had many questions about the past but current ones are required to be answered now, so he asked him,


    Is that all to the Books of Fate?


    I don''t think so, but the Book of Power, Ruling and Death is common knowledge, the powerhouses are in search of the Book of Power but they did not know the exact location.


    That was all Hans needed, he was not on the list of holders and Walter also wanted it to remain the same. There was something else he was curious about,


    Who was the one to order the investigation on me?


    Some Graduated students, you needn''t know about them.


    Why?


    It was not because of you, but your sister on papers,


    Vanessa?


    Yeah, she was also in Prophets and after she failed to graduate and returned like that, the situation¡­


    Walter wanted to involve Hans in his personal goose chase. He was investigating her case which was the only stain on his career since his directorship. But Vanessa had kept her mouth shut about the incident and claimed to have lost her memories. He thought provoking Hans might let her tell the truth.


    And as he thought, Hans was showing his discomfort when Vanessa¡¯s name was mentioned.


    Why? he asked Walter.


    Walter pretended to be surprised and said,


    You didn¡¯t know. Her case was strange, her whole group got killed and she was brought back by some of her classmates in poor condition. Many believed that she killed her group, and some said she went crazy. There were many speculations but along with her memory, the case was also lost. We were not able to scan her memories either.


    Hans remembered the boy who fought with him in the Initiation ceremony, He also said something similar to this but when Hans went to find him, he had already dropped out from Concordia. There were already many problems in Hans¡¯s life and another was sprouting as Walter kept talking.


    Hans snorted in frustration and Walter replied to him,


    Don''t worry about it, focus on getting stronger, it will solve everything.


    Walter had sown a seed inside Hans''s mind but it was long before he could harvest it. Hans nodded because getting stronger was the only thing he could do right now. He did not have to live in Agrilands but had to provide help for four hours per day, five days a week. It was like a part-time job which many students did in Concordia, after their first years.


    Walter asked


    Anything else?


    There was one more thing that was bothering him so he asked Walter quietly,


    Who else knows about me... my origin?


    All directors and some old professors, having different hair and eyes cannot hide the same face, right youngest?


    Hans sighed and clarify his question,


    Is Delimira aware?


    Walter replied instantly without any surprise,


    Why would Aredhel shove her daughter in danger, knowing the truth about you will only endanger her. But kid, even with the oath of secrecy, you only have at most a year before Parv finds out about you. So enjoy your freedom while it lasts.


    Hans shook his head left and right in frustration and decided to forget Walter¡¯s latest words. He asked again,


    When should I start?


    Right now.


    But I have a class after a few hours.


    It''s your grandfather¡¯s lecture, he won''t be talking about anything beneficial to you and I will arrange it so you could prioritise the private matters. You won''t learn anything worthwhile in the foundation classes since you have a different basis, to begin with.


    Hans was convinced since in mage classes, the professors would teach about circles and in knight lectures, it''s all about the aura. Everything would be just a waste of time so he agreed and left the office but before leaving, Walter had tossed him a pass necessary for travel.


    After Hans left, Walter became stern again. He kept thinking that if the second book was intended for the boy then why he could not understand, it either means it was not the time or his youngest member has an excellent lying face.


    He also nudged him about Vanessa¡¯s case. Walter had his own speculations but it was nothing without any solid leads. As the director of information, he didn''t care about any justice for her but solving the case would let him have leverage over the culprits since they were able to mask this incident as nothing, they must be powerful people and having leverage over them would be beneficial for Walter.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 55 : AgriLands and The Griffin’s Nest

    CHAPTER 55


    AGRILANDS AND THE GRIFFIN''S NEST


    Wearing the white mage uniform and hood on top, that was enough to make him look mysterious but a book tied on his hip was adding a researcher look to him. Hans had switched ''Limitless'' with another book before coming to SpaceDoor. As he faced the observing looks of the SpaceDoor manager, he showed him the pass along with the permission letter he received from Walter.


    The Manager understood the objective and permitted his travel to Agrilands, the main food production place of the FloatLands (Concordia). Area-wise, it was the biggest island in Concordia, primarily used for crop farming but since it belonged to Concordia it was not some common farmland.


    Several facilities were researching the crops and herbs for increasing efficiency or evolving them into a specific goal in mind. Recently this place developed a herb called Stasis plant, which became popular for hemostasis(stopping the bleeding), no matter how grave the wound was, a potion aided by this herb was able to make the fresh wounds disappear and Hans had already tasted this potion through his wounds without knowing what it was, all due to Delimira.


    The facility that developed it was called the Botanical Garden, where Hans was assigned to. A person was waiting for the recruits for assistants, who were set to arrive this morning. Hans was greeted by this man while feeling queasy because of Space travel.


    The boy looked around and saw he was not alone, there were a total of ten people, much older than him in the recruits and soon he was ordered to follow them. Hans along with the group of recruits started following the mage.


    The place felt too peaceful and calm for Hans, the power of nature was strong in this place as he was breathing the refreshing and clean air along but the regulated temperature warming the place made it more comforting. He felt a gaze on him. It was from none other than the mage whom he was following.


    Hans made a friendly face which the mage replied in kind, For him Hans was a wonder as Walter described in the letter, a mage researching the plants getting a wood mana practitioner was akin to finding a sunstone trove. After they reached the Laboratory, the man excluded Hans from the group and took him to the senior researchers.


    Everyone was looking at Hans like he was some sort of interesting research subject, and Hans was anxiously questioning Walter¡¯s intentions of sending him here. He was frankly intimidated by what these people wanted from him.


    But nothing major happened apart from the people questioning him about many things. After knowing that Hans could create plant life with more efficacy just from mana, he was tasked to record the mana structure of the created seeds assigned to him.


    With this, the Botanical garden got a chance in mass producing the herbs and vegetation after thoroughly researching Hans¡¯s self-created seeds. Hans was also happy since he gets to play with rare and expensive plants. It was rather beneficial to him because once he study those expensive herbs, he could make them as he wishes too.


    But he soon find out, it was hard. The structures of herbs needed for creating potions were more complex than what he was doing till now, and creating a single seed with more efficacy was giving him constant headaches. He was only allowed to work four hours a day but felt that he was doing high-paying work without receiving any gold, which made him think that he was being exploited but had no choice other than to do it.


    After his punishment work was over he went back to the Midlands and left for the lecture hall in hope of being able to attend it but reached after the lecture was over. Soon Delimira found him with Chris following her.


    She was looking at Hans upside down, still having a hard time believing her mother¡¯s words. This shorty was the spawn of the famous evil King Samson. Hans didn''t like her objectifying gaze, it was similar to what he experienced in Agrilands but instead of arguing with her the silence was more pleasing for him.


    He turned to Chris and asked him,


    What did I miss?


    Chris was on cloud nine after the lecture since it was his idol¡¯s lecture, he excitingly replied,


    A lot, buddy a lot. You can¡¯t believe it¡­


    Delimira stopped him, she was already tired of listening to Rudolf''s achievements through Chris''s mouth. She dragged Chris by her hand and asked Hans to follow her. Hans thought they were going to the library but it was a cafe visited by rich people.


    The place was called Griffin''s Nest and was as grand as its name. A two-storied cafe of huge capacity, renowned for its desserts and beverages along with its high-class interiors. it was the first choice of any noble to visit in his pastime.


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    Hans stopped before entering and asked Chris,


    Hey, it looks expensive, do we have to go there?


    Instead of Chris, Delimira spoke,


    You got 500 gold coins yesterday, right?


    Hans grabbed his money pouch anxiously and took a step back. Delimira snickered,


    Don¡¯t worry I bought the shop this morning, we don¡¯t have to mind ourselves here.


    Hans was still hesitating so Delimira added,


    And they have killing desserts, FOR FREE.


    Hans replied as he took the step inside,


    I was taught not to get enticed by free things but, what the hell...


    Chris looked at his pitiful friend who was bought with only a few cakes and followed the two inside. As they entered the staff greeted her very politely, they all were practically fawning at her while escorting the trio upstairs. Hans felt embarrassed because he thought that Delimira was going to make him splurge his measly 500 gold earlier but the reality was something else. He laughed at himself for behaving like this in front of her who could buy a place like this on a whim?


    Delimira knew that befriending someone might need emotional exchange but when you have a lot of money, you could buy temporary friends. She was in thought and the waitresses escorted them to their private room. It was the grandest room in the establishment which got permanently reserved along with the buying contract this morning. Hans looked around the place that practically breathed luxury.


    Seeing both boys wandering in their thoughts, Delimra took the lead to sit on the lavish couch and took a piece of cookie from the table. Hans was still adjusting while Chris was in some other fantasy of getting a chance to learn from Dean Rudolf.


    As they both sat, Chris started telling him that there will be a selection of elites among the first years specifically to train for Glory Wars. It was similar to what Walter had told him. To get the second book he had to score first place in this event.


    Chris elaborated thinking Hans was the one lacking knowledge,


    Hans my friend, Glory wars is a Global competition among mages and Knights, previously only third years and fourth years were allowed to partake but from next year second-years are going too.


    Delimira added,


    There will be three leagues from next year, junior for second years, senior for third and fourth, and Higher for the graduates.


    Hans nodded showing he understood what they were telling him, it was definitely more than what Walter had told him. Chris got excited again and added,


    And to add to it, Dean Rudolf will pick some people from first years to train them separately next year, isn''t it exciting?


    Hans nonchalantly said,


    I am a mage, Chris. A MAGE. Why should I get excited?


    Chris had forgotten the fact that Hans was a mage after facing him in a sword battle but after realising it he became stiff. Fortunately for him their order came and Hans''s mind went blank after smelling the dark scent of chocolates. The food was worth the expensive price and the strong scent justified the belief.


    Hans looked at Delimira with a watering mouth, asking her if it was really okay for him to eat it. She almost giggled at seeing his silly face. Receiving a nod from her, Hans dug his spoon into the brownie and the hot chocolate seeped out from it. As he tasted the first bite Hans said without minding the people,


    Mhm, aah, that''s it...


    Chris stopped him from saying anything further,


    Hans, stop making this weird.


    M..paht.. Pierd..noice..


    Delimira said to Chris,


    Let him eat, I don''t think there is anything in his head except the brownie right now. I think buying this place was the right decision.


    Both left him alone and Delimira asked Chris,


    So, will he(Rudolf) really teach you?


    Chris had confidently replied to Hans previously, but when he saw Rudolf looking at him in the lecture, there was neither disdain nor any good feelings in his eyes like he was looking at some ordinary kid. He was the first-year representative and that said something about his skills but Rudolf thoroughly ignored him and after hearing the same question from Delimira, he lost the confidence from before. He was in deep thought but Delimira jolted him out so replied,


    I don¡¯t know, why did you ask?


    Because if I were him, teaching you was one thing, I won''t spare a moment not harassing you.


    That''s the difference between you and him.


    Delimra said while accepting his rude comment,


    I hope so.


    She also wanted him to be accepted as Rudolf¡¯s trainee, despite their unfateful relationship Chris practically worshipped him and her uncle Bernard (Chris¡¯s father) sent him here even knowing Rudolf¡¯s appointment. Bernard''s confidence in Rudolf meant, the man could distinguish between personal and professional affairs.


    She placed herself in Rudolf''s shoes and asked, how she will treat a person whose father indirectly caused her child¡¯s death but no matter what, the only answer she could come up with was far worse than simple harassment.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 56 : A Dubious Friend

    CHAPTER 56


    A DUBIOUS FRIEND


    All three were in their own thoughts, Hans was occupied with how the next thing to the brownie would taste, Chris was thinking of ways to make a good impression on Rudolf and Delimira was more focused on extracting Samson''s secret from Hans.


    She saw Hans had finished munching on, so she asked him,


    What was your punishment?


    Hans wanted to say, what does it matter to her but seeing the empty plate on the table he was compelled to answer her politely, just as she wanted.


    He sent me to Agrilands.


    Then those researchers must have had a field day.


    Hans looked at her strangely, he thought she knew what happened to him but unlike his thoughts, Delimira was talking from experience. Hans told them about his not-so-called adventure and how he was treated as a test subject there. The mood became light and the awkwardness started to disappear.


    Chris was blabbering about his training schedule and it was clear that he was going to drag Hans with him. Delimira also expressed her willingness to follow them, Chris didn''t want her near him for the time being but lacked the guts to refute and Hans lacked the reason after her proposal to make this shop their usual hanging spot.


    Going along with her means free food and a good ambience. Hans was weighing his options but as usual, his stomach won over his rational thinking. But he was not clueless about what was happening, he wanted to know her real intentions so he asked her politely,


    Can you please tell me, what is that you really want, Ms Winters?


    Hearing him formally asking her sounded somewhat awkward for both of them but Delimira knew, it was the breaking point, her answer could make or break their relationship going further, so she replied sincerely.


    She looked at Chris and said,


    I..I lack friends, I just don¡¯t want to lose the only one I have, and since he is stubborn to be close to you. I just need to do the same.


    Hans rolled his eyes and said,


    So in short, you want to be my friend, right?


    When Hans put her words like this, it sounded embarrassing to her so she just nodded in accord. And for Hans, It was not wise to reject friendship from a person who could buy an establishment on a whim but he wanted to know how far she could go for this.


    He asked her,


    Then How about we make a deal Ms Winters? Teach me the High Elven (the old language of elves).


    Delimira answered him without hesitating a bit,


    fine


    Chris shouted at her,


    Hey, hey, the other high elves won''t just scold you for that.


    Delimira responded with the same expression as previously,


    Like I care.


    She turned to Hans and asked,


    I am up for it so, do we have a deal?


    Hans did not have any need to learn High Elven, he simply wanted Delimira to reject his proposal but she was also aware of what Hans was aiming for, so she happily accepted that and betrayed his anticipation. Since he proposed the deal he had no choice but to accept. He regretted not asking for the things he really valued, not some elven nonsense but the ship was already sailed.


    Hans sighed and accepted her so-called friendship. Delimira threw another question at him,


    you are still carrying the book and what''s with the outfit?


    Tread carefully Ms Winters, my sister bought this for me.


    Okay, then what''s with the book, it looks different.


    He knew as he was carrying the book, someone would ask the question and he was going to establish the fact that he carried different books with him. This will allow him to hide ''Limitless'' in plain sight, it was the best solution he came up with. He unbuckled the book and showed them while opening it.


    It was totally blank and Hans gave the excuse,


    It''s for writing my findings in AgriLands, assistants are made to write many things.


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    The book felt too big for taking notes and too expensive for Hans to have and it was clearly creating suspicions. After the incident with Walter, Hans already had switched the Limitless with a similar-sized book, of course with expensive hard leather too. Since Delimira knew of his lineage she decided to poke the matter more.


    It looks expensive. Do you wanna sell it? How about I give you 1000 gold?


    Hans picked up the book and looked at her, weighing his options, initially the value of the book was two gold coins but if he sell it to her, then what would he do if she wanted to buy every book he carried? The plan of hiding ''Limitless'' in plain sight was gonna crash at this rate. So he hastily replied,


    It''s not for sale.


    Delimira showed a smug smile and replied to anxious Hans,


    So it''s that precious to you or I am not offering a good price?


    Hans was glad that he brought the fake one instead. He suddenly felt cold by looking at her expression, she would have found out in no time about the value of Limitless in just one sentence. As he thought, getting close to her was not really a wise choice, so he decided to put a guard around her.


    Hans gave her the book and said,


    I am only selling you once, but no backsies.


    It means you have more valuable books too, what about the previous one, is it for sale too?


    Hans was now seriously weighing, whether he should listen to his stomach or not, Delimira was really dangerous and quick-witted in finding things. He took back his book and she kept showing a smug face like she was onto something.


    With the announcement of the Glory Wars, Junior League, the first years were motivated to the point where not a single one was slacking off. Getting to win the event was a shortcut to a good life even for their descendants.


    Of course, Hans was different from them, with his obnoxious punishment he was skipping several classes and was doing things even after his allotted work time in Agrilands. He made regular visits to the Griffin¡¯s Nest Cafe where he caught up with Delimira and Chris. He could learn things from Chris but having delicious free food was one of his ways to get rid of the mental fatigue he built up from working in the Botanical Garden.


    Hans followed the same routine in continuation for a while, working overtime and successfully completing the work of six months in six weeks. Now there was no one who could disturb him there. With the newly acquired excuse and free time, he wanted to experiment with his new findings.


    There was a place in Agrilands which was called the ManEating forest. A place where plant life dominated everything and as soon as Hans knew of it, he wanted to explore that region. Walter had arranged for him to get into the region without any problem.


    The security was lax since there was nothing worthy to explore and that also was the reason for the diminished interests of researchers. But for Hans it was a place of wonders, it only recorded to have the herbivores of class one and the predator here were some of the plant species. Hans did not understand why this place was called ManEating forest.


    These predator plants were immobile but were efficient in setting traps and like this, the ecosystem continued in this small place. Unfortunately for those predators, Hans did not follow their commonsense, since he was sensitive around the wood mana they used. It was easy for him to tell what was a trap and what was not. He wanted to see with his own eyes how these predator plants hunt so when he found one he went for a high tree and patiently waited to see mother nature at work.


    It didn''t take long for a naive Antler beast to come for the bait, that the predator plant had prepared. Class one lacked intelligence so it was pretty easy to fool them by baiting.


    Sniffing around here and there the Antler took a step into the trap and in a flash, it got impaled by bamboo spears from the ground and lost its life.


    Hans was eagerly waiting to see how this plant was going to eat it and his wish was granted as the impaling bamboo spears got retracted to the ground and the corpse was absorbed in the place like sinking in the green quagmire.


    Hans noted that quickly and tested the quagmire by throwing a rock but the place became solid and hard in mere moments. Seeing the predator plant called SharpDeath, he was happier than the munching plant itself. Hans wanted to examine every bit of it because there were no seeds available to raise them.


    Hans activated his orca vines and uprooted the SharpDeath, it struggled a bit but without the contact of soil, it died pretty quickly. He was not able to learn its inner working after its death so he went on searching for another SharpDeath.


    After finding another one, he restrained every bit of it and started scanning the predator plant with the touch he was taught by treants. As soon as he touched the plant, the thing became servile like it was ready to dance according to Hans¡¯s will. It took nothing but two days for Hans to recreate this SharpDeath trap but the regular one was not satisfactory for him so he merged it with OrganicIron and turned the speared bamboo into metallic spears.


    Hans did not change its name and recorded it as a self-created spell, SharpDeath. His modified SharpDeath trap was stronger and deadlier than the regular one and was controlled by his will. With the mind of mastering more predator plants, Hans went on his way of deep exploration of the ManEating Forest.


    INSIDE THE LECTURE HALL


    He is still not coming today, I think prof Martha won''t tolerate his absence much more.


    Chris replied to Delimira,


    Since when were you this concerned?


    Shut up Chris,


    Chris replied,


    Relax, his houseMaster got his back, he won''t leave him hanging dry.


    He was exempted for four hours a day, not for six weeks straight.


    Chris smiled and said,


    So you were counting days too.


    Delimira looked at him annoyingly and said in a serious tone,


    Shut up, since when did you grow a pair to think of teasing me?


    They were just idly chatting, more clearly Delimira bashing him but suddenly Professor Martha pointed them,


    Ms Winters make sure that your friend, Hans shows up for the next lecture, I think it''s time we have a little chat.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 57 : Arent you my friend

    CHAPTER 57


    AREN''T YOU MY FRIEND


    Unaware of happenings in the Concordia, Hans was fighting another predatory plant called Parasitic creepers in the ManEating forest. Hans had searched for this for three days and finally manage to find it. He wanted to incorporate the skill called absorption on its orca vines.


    If this become successful, his orca vine would be able to suck energy from the opponent and supply it back to him, but he was facing an issue in merely capturing one. This was a cheat-level ability but god had made everything fair and did not give any other strong ability to these plants. He thought his days of running out of stamina would be over after this so he eagerly searched for this cursed plant. The creeper was unusually weak but was tough to fend off because there was no end to it.


    Hans kept killing it but he was still far from reaching the parasitic creeper''s main body. Crying seed did not identify plants as enemies so his most powerful weapon was nothing but a liability here and he got to know that the hard way. Yesterday his VeganCarnage aimed itself at Hans, ignoring the plants in the vicinity. It was all because the damned thing was not a cannibal, It died on its own after some time while giving Hans a run for his money.


    After three whole days of absence adding on his skipping classes, Hans finally got close to the core of the Parasitic creepers, he just needed a touch to subdue it, but the core started sucking his energy. Fortunately, with some struggles, Hans managed to win the energy tug of war.


    As his understanding of Parasitic Creepers increased, he managed in recreating some of his own parasitic Vines. Hans looked at the creeper which gave him a hard time and enjoyed destroying it in a fit of revenge. Hans already had spent four days here and it was time for him to go back.


    The first month of the year was already over and the second was on the verge of finishing itself, Hans¡¯s most important day of the year was just around the corner, and it was the sole reason for his hurrying back. But before he could go back there was one more important thing he had to address, that is, incorporating the parasitic nature in Orca Vines.


    After the rigorous hit and trials that should have ended hours before, already consumed his half day, Hans faced failure right after another in not being able to merge the parasitic nature with Orca vines since his already perfected vines were opposite to the absorbing nature. The VeganBind attack discharge property was clashing with the absorption.


    Hans finally got his hands on this and now it was not at par with his expectation, the Parasitic creepers were incompatible with everything he tried so the disappointment increased further, but the good news was somewhat balancing his mood.


    When he tried this Parasitic creeper on a class one beast, the vines broke easily but as long as it was intact they regularly supplied the energy it sucked from the beast to Hans, replenishing his stamina. It was similar to mana transfer but instead of mana, the stamina was being transferred.


    Mages were always considered to have poor stamina and this ability was denying that stereotype. Since Hans had the same feeling as eating sugar on receiving the energy from the Parasitic vines, he named it SugarDrain.


    There was nothing much to do here for now. He failed to find some plants but it was not like this place was running somewhere else so he decided to take a break from it. When he was in the Ghost Isles, he found a peculiarity about the book Limitless, if Hans wrote anything on it, that gets recorded and becomes invisible to everyone but him like the words written by the original author.


    So he started writing his own discoveries in the book, the lie he told Chris and Delimira about writing records in the book tied to his waist was not total nonsense. After quickly writing his findings he left the Agrilands.


    Hans ran to his room to take a refreshing hot bath, the cold was worse in the FloatLands except for the place he was for four days. Agrilands was under the spell for managing the ideal temperature for plant growth and this place was freezing compared to that.


    After almost half an hour in hot Water Hans covered himself up with warm clothes and went to the Griffin¡¯s Nest Cafe. Delimira had already instructed the staff to treat her guest to whatever they asked for, so he was choosing the perfect time that aligned with their lectures to visit the establishment but today was not his lucky day. He was welcomed by staff and then greeted by Chris and Delimira from behind.


    Already three days have passed since Martha called Hans for an audience but the boy was not even in the Midlands for these days and they only crossed paths because a lecture was suddenly cancelled. This spoiled Hans¡¯s plan to not run into them. Chris slammed his back with enough force that made him took a few steps forward and Hans shouted at him while rubbing his pained back,


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    Hey, what''s the deal?


    You are asking me, where were you? If you had not come today, I would have asked your sister.


    I was in Agrilands, I told you I would be late when I left, didn''t you hear me?


    Buddy being late means, arriving late on the same day, not missing for three. If I didn''t run into professor Walter, you would have been reported.


    Hans was still rubbing his back and replied,


    Fine, fine, but why are you here?


    Delimra replied,


    Another crack appeared in the Grand Barrier, but it was small so some of the assistant professors had to go there.


    Hans never liked any word that came out of her mouth and she was keeping that preconception alive, except for the time she told him to visit this place whenever he felt like it. Delimira didn''t like the way Hans was looking at her so she added,


    Professor Martha was missing you too, shorty.


    Now, what does she want from me,


    Hans remembered his rough time in the botanical garden facility and added,


    I already suffered enough because of her.


    Delimira replied,


    She asked for your majestic presence in the next lecture because you were skipping classes for a long time.


    Hans replied to her with a lax attitude,


    Since I am going to get yelled at anyway, I should stall as long as I can.


    Then What excuse are you going to give her?


    You are a smart person, Ms Winters, make some excuse for me, after all, Aren''t you my FRIEND, friends have each other''s back.


    Seeing his smug face asking arrogantly, almost bulged a vein in her forehead. She didn''t want to estrange this so-called friendship with him so she kept the anger to herself and Hans sipped his hot cocoa and stretched his legs, relaxing in the expensive room was giving him more joy than the fact he shut Delimira up for once.


    The next day, After eating his fill at breakfast, Hans left early for the Agrilands. Since the ManEating forest was quite far from the SpaceDoor of Agrilands, he has to waste his precious two hours just to reach there on foot.


    Today¡¯s target was OpenMaw which he failed to find yesterday. He had already cleared most of the suspicious places in previous days, so he was quite positive to find it today. The masking ability of this OpenMaw was so stealthy that even Hans had a hard time finding out but as god took pity on his struggle to find his target he, fortunately, found one which was in the process to digest its prey.


    The plant itself was as huge as a giant''s hand, clasping the struggling beast in between those huge hand-like leaves. The structure was made of two hinged lobes and on the inner surfaces of the lobes are thorn-like projections that cause the lobes to snap shut when prey comes in contact with them.


    Hans cautiously made his way to the plant without disturbing it and touched the plant stopping its munching. The plant stopped for a while but feeling Hans¡¯s intent of not harming it, the plant started eating his prey again. Sadly it was also not compatible with his existing spells but having an additional trap attack was far better than not having one. He got what he wanted so he made his exit swiftly


    AT LECTURE HALL


    Martha¡¯s eyes were still searching for Hans but not finding him led them to Delimira who was trying her best to avoid the professor. But as an experienced teacher, she found her and asked,


    Didn''t you tell Mr Hans that I was calling him?


    Delimara looked at Chris and he whispered to her,


    Don''t look at me, You are the smart one.


    Delimira looked back at the Professor and said,


    Yes, professor,


    Martha made an annoyed expression and asked her again,


    So why don''t I see him here?


    He has hemorrhoids


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 58 : The Birthday

    CHAPTER 58


    THE BIRTHDAY


    Delimira''s words hung heavy in the air, shattering the previously jovial atmosphere of the lecture hall. Just as the awkwardness reached a fever pitch, a sudden burst of laughter broke through, spreading like wildfire through the audience. Even Martha couldn''t help but shake her head in disbelief at the sheer ridiculousness of Delimira''s claim.


    Despite the obvious absurdity of the excuse, Martha played along, asking the pointed question,


    If he truly has hemorrhoids, why isn''t he seeking medical attention?"


    But Delimira simply smirked, her eyes dancing with mischief. "You know boys and their pride, professor", she responded, her words dripping with mockery.


    Martha''s eyes narrowed as she fixed her gaze on Delimira, fully aware that the excuse she had given was nothing short of ridiculous. It was disheartening to think of how far kids were willing to go for a moment of amusement these days. With a heavy sigh, she dismissed the class, her mind consumed with thoughts of the strange boy and his mysterious origins. Walter''s peculiar behaviour around him only added to her suspicions, but she knew better than to stir the pot without all the facts. Determined to get to the bottom of the matter, Martha made a decision to confront Hans herself,


    Concern etched on his face, Chris turned to Delimira, muttering,


    Hans won''t be happy about this.


    Delimira shrugged nonchalantly.


    "He asked me for an excuse that the professor couldn''t argue with. Looks like we''ve done our job," she said, glancing over at Martha''s retreating figure.


    Chris refuted instantly,


    There is no ''WE'' only ''YOU''.


    Delimira sighed at his friend''s cowardice and gathered her things to exit the lecture hall. As both made their way back to the Boys'' dorm, a sense of unease settled in Chris''s stomach. He knew Hans wouldn''t take kindly to their little charade, no matter how much he had asked for it. And as they approached the gates, his fears were confirmed - Hans was waiting for them, but he wasn''t alone.


    Professor Martha was making her way towards him, her expression serious. Chris frantically signalled for Hans to run, but the hapless boy couldn''t make out what he was saying, and before they knew it, Martha was upon them. Even Delimira and Chris, who had been planning to stay out of it, sneaking away from this mess were soon caught in the crossfire.


    "How''s your bottom, Mr Hans?" Martha demanded, her eyes narrowing.


    Hans looked bewildered, glancing over at Chris and Delimira for guidance. But with Martha''s eyes fixed on them, they stayed silent.


    "It''s a bit sore, but I''m managing fine," he finally responded.


    Chris bit down on his lip to stifle the laughter that was threatening to spill out. Even Delimira was struggling to keep a straight face. Martha wasn''t amused but still gave another chance to them, hoping the kids to admit the truth.


    "You should be in a medical facility for hemorrhoids, Mr Hans. Moving around like this will only make it worse," she scolded.


    Hans was dumbfounded, muttering "hemorrhoids" repeatedly under his breath. He couldn''t believe that such a lame excuse was used to deceive a seasoned professor like Martha. Glaring at Delimira, who seemed to be avoiding his gaze, Hans turned to Martha and awkwardly admitted,


    "Yes professor, I do have HEMORRHOIDS."


    Martha was clearly irritated and snapped at the group,


    Cut the crap, you three. Do you really think I''m that gullible to let you get away with such a flimsy excuse?


    Hans, realizing that his weak justification had not gone unnoticed, put on his best apologetic face, which usually worked with his family. He implored Martha,


    I''m sorry, something came up and I won''t be able to attend class. Can you please hold off on your wrath for two days? Tomorrow is my birthday, and you wouldn''t want to ruin someone''s special day, would you?"


    Martha did not give him long.


    "Come see me in my office the day after tomorrow," she said, her eyes filled with ridicule for these three.


    As Martha walked away, Hans glared at Delimira and suppressed the urge to knock her head.


    "Hemorrhoids? Are you out of your mind, Ms Winters?" he fumed.


    "I didn''t know she would come here on her own," Delimira defended herself.


    Hans was getting angrier by the second, but a sudden idea crossed his mind. Turning to Delimira, he said with a sly grin,


    Hans was getting angry with her but a sudden thought clicked with him and he said to her,


    "Now you know, it''s my birthday tomorrow. As my FRIEND, you should give me a present, right? And I expect something expensive, considering our ''having each other''s back'' friendship," he added, emphasizing the word EXPENSIVE.


    Delimira couldn''t help but smile smugly as she agreed to Hans''s demand for an expensive gift. Money had always been an easy way to solve problems for her, but it seemed to irritate Hans even more. The young lad believed that the key to remaining wealthy was to lead a frugal lifestyle, and he assumed that spending money on him would trouble her. However, he failed to consider that she had already splurged on an upscale shop just to be in his friend circle.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    As they moved forward, Delimira asked Hans what he planned to do after their meeting with Martha. But Hans was thinking of the opposite, he scoffed and vowed to drag the situation out as long as possible, letting Professor Walter handle the aftermath. Whereas Chris warned him that Martha could fail him in midterms, to which Hans confidently replied


    "There are makeup exams my friends, focussed on practicals, I do that fabulously".


    The boys parted with Delimira but despite his bravado, the rumours about his supposed hemorrhoids were starting to take a toll on him. Everywhere he went, people whispered about his bottom, and he couldn''t help but curse Delimira under his breath. With Martha breathing down his neck and the teasing eyes of others, Hans was at his wit''s end. He sought Walter''s guidance in dealing with his more pressing problem: MARTHA.


    Throwing his belongings in his room, he rushed to Prophets'' castle to find his HouseMaster, but Walter''s response was not what he had hoped for. "No, don''t agitate her further," Walter warned.


    She could very well stop you from passing. Not even a director could interfere.


    "But I thought you might have some say in the matter," Hans pleaded.


    "No," Walter replied flatly.


    Hans felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Shit," he muttered.


    "Yeah, you are in deep shit," Walter said bluntly.


    Who told you to play hooky for weeks? But it''s not irredeemable. Just beg her.


    Hans hung his head, realizing he shouldn''t have boasted in front of Chris and Delimira about Walter''s supposed influence. Walter was about as reliable as Rudolf (sarcasm). Breaking the silence, Walter added,


    By the way, how''s your ass, youngest?


    Hans let out a long sigh, his disappointment weighing heavy on his shoulders as he trudged back to his dorm. He had boasted to Chris and Delimira about Walter handling things, and now there was no way he could admit the truth. So, he resigned himself to sleeping it off, hoping that tomorrow would bring a better day.


    The next day, Hans woke up with a renewed sense of excitement. He had never celebrated his birthday like a kid in Ghost Isles, and when Delimira invited him to Griffin''s Nest with whomever he wanted, he couldn''t help but feel a surge of joy. He quickly told Vanessa, who was just as excited for him and spent the rest of the day catching up with Rudolf and Sierra.


    Hans was fortunate that his birthday fell on the seventh day of the week, a holiday in the Float Lands, which meant he had no classes to attend. Chris was quick to discover that Hans had never celebrated his birthday properly before and immediately took it upon himself to plan a party. However, Chris'' lack of artistic vision meant that Delimira was forced to handle everything by herself. As the party time drew near, Hans led his sister into Griffin''s Nest with a sense of excitement and curiosity.


    The cafe was awash with a warm glow from the various artefacts placed around the room, each one contributing to the magnificent display of colours and lights. It was obvious that no expense had been spared, and Hans couldn''t believe the beauty that surrounded him. The staff, who had worked tirelessly to make this celebration happen, were ecstatic to see the look of surprise on the birthday boy''s face.


    Vanessa, on the other hand, was suspicious. She couldn''t fathom why anyone would spend so much money without an ulterior motive, and her scepticism about the elf girl grew stronger. The awkward silence between her and Delimira was palpable, and the tension among the guests was starting to rise.


    Thankfully, the clever staff came to the rescue and changed the mood of the party with some light music. Delimira, knowing Hans'' love for hunting, turned on a projection artefact, and tiny forms of wild beasts from Class one to Class seven appeared and roamed throughout the room. Hans was thrilled, acting like a kid in a candy store as he named every creature he recognized. It was a sight to behold, and the projection served its purpose in diverting everyone''s attention away from the tension.


    As the projection ended, Delimira''s voice dripped with haughtiness as she asked,


    So, are you satisfied?


    Hans looked at her with a questioning gaze, unsure of how much money had been poured into the decorations. Delimira, sensing his confusion, pointed to herself and added,


    I mean, your FRIEND''S present.


    Despite her arrogance and superior attitude, Hans was genuinely impressed and had no intention of demeaning her hard work.


    "Yeah, it was amazing," he replied.


    Turning to Chris, Hans asked eagerly,


    So, Chris, what did you get me?


    Chris looked awkward and hesitated before replying,


    Buddy, you shouldn''t be so blunt about asking for a gift. It''s customary to receive gifts, not ask for them.


    Hans looked puzzled but Chris handed him a box wrapped in gift paper. Hans tore into it like a hungry animal, revealing a book on the habits of different beasts. It may not have been hard to get, but Hans appreciated it nonetheless.


    Looking to his sister for a gift, she reminded him that presents should be opened after cutting the cake. Hans had almost forgotten the sequence of birthday celebrations when the cake was brought out by another staff member. It wasn''t big, but the aroma of chocolate made Hans''s mouth water. He cut the cake and shared it with the others at the party. Chris even tried to smear cake on his face, but Hans dodged it playfully.


    The atmosphere was cheerful and Hans enjoyed his first proper birthday celebration. Vanessa gave him a memory stone, a low-level artefact that could record events around him. It was a one-time use item, but it could serve as evidence or an alibi for a reckless guy like Hans. He was grateful for the thoughtful gift.


    Hans was grateful for the gifts he received from his friends. Delimira had gone all out to arrange the party, Chris gifted him a book he had been wanting to read, and Vanessa had given him a useful low-level artefact. Hans beamed at his friends and exclaimed, "I can''t wait for next year''s celebration!" But the excitement was short-lived, as the group was met with an awkward silence that quickly dispersed with joyful laughter and Hans with a face that kept asking why were they laughing.


    After waking up, Hans started rubbing his knees and said to them,


    It is time to put you to good use.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 59 : Bloody Reasons

    CHAPTER 59


    BLOODY REASONS


    Hans had risen from his slumber before the sun had even peeked over the horizon. He perched on the edge of his seat, his fingers tracing soothing circles on his knees as he grumbled to himself, "Don''t fret, I''ll protect you. But just this once, let me put you to use."


    His mind was working overtime, trying to conjure up a plan to avoid the impending wrath of Martha. Just as he was about to give up, his inner child piped up with a brilliant idea that made him smirk. As he mulled over the plan, he became increasingly confident that it would work.


    Without hesitation, he made his way to Martha''s office, knocking on her door just a few minutes before her lecture. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for her to answer, hoping that this ploy would be enough to keep him out of trouble.


    And he was right about Martha''s response. With only a few minutes to spare before her lecture, she didn''t scold him much, and he breathed a sigh of relief. However, as she led him back to the classroom, he couldn''t shake the feeling that he had missed something important.


    The room was filled with students chatting and gossiping, and he could feel their eyes on him as he made his way to his usual spot. It was as if he was a spectacle, a rare sight to behold. As he sat down, he strained his ears to listen to the whispers around him, and as he expected, his embarrassing story about bleeding through his bottoms had become the talk of the class.


    Suddenly, Martha''s voice cut through the chatter, and Hans looked up to see her gazing at him with an intriguing expression.


    "Can you sit comfortably, Mr Hans?" she asked.


    Hans shifted in his seat, feeling uneasy under her scrutiny. He stole a glance at Delimira, who was sitting right beside him, before turning back to Martha.


    "Yeah...yes, professor," he replied awkwardly.


    Martha arched an eyebrow. "Should I bring you the doughnut pillow?" she offered.


    Hans shook his head, a flush creeping up his neck. "No, I''m fine, professor," he murmured, wishing he could just disappear.


    He gritted his teeth as he listened to the snickers and chuckles around him. It had been two long days of enduring the same jokes and teasing from others. He was growing weary of the constant taunting, but just as he was about to lose hope but unexpectedly, Martha stepped in to save him.


    She rapped her knuckles on the table, effectively silencing the class, and cleared her throat. "Since Mr Hans had to miss our lectures due to unavoidable BLOODY REASONS," she emphasized, "we''re going to have a pop quiz session to quick him up to speed".


    She paused, looking at the troubled faces of the class and smirked saying,


    There won''t be any bonus credits awarded, but for every wrong answer, your points will be deducted


    After Martha''s announcement, buzzing filled the hall. Hans could feel the collective animosity of his classmates directed at him. They all glared at him as if he were a common enemy, a nuisance that needed to be eradicated. It was clear that Martha had achieved what she had aimed for - to turn Hans into a target of their scorn and ridicule. There was nothing more troublesome than the hate of one''s peers, especially when it came from losing their hard-earned credits because of someone else.


    As Martha scanned the room, looking for the first person to call on for the quiz, she couldn''t help but feel a bit guilty. She couldn''t believe that she was taking revenge in such a childish manner, stooping to the level of her students. She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to gather her thoughts and emotions.


    Martha''s eyes scanned the class, looking for the next victim to face her pop question. Finally, her finger pointed at a random student. "It''s a first, so let''s start with the easy one. When was Concordia discovered?" she asked.


    The student grinned, feeling confident, she replied,


    In the imperial year 220, and in 236 the Concordia as an institution was established.


    Martha nodded approvingly, but her expression quickly changed.


    You are right, but you just ate up my second question, so the next person will face a higher difficulty.


    The people who were glaring at Hans before turned their hostile gaze toward the girl sitting back in her seat, lowering her head in embarrassment. Martha''s voice grew stern as she warned,


    Just answer what I ask. Being overwise is not smart at all. Now, the second one is...tell me about the descent of Osiris, focus on when and why.


    The boy hesitated, but finally answered,


    In the year 576, when a demonic creature made its way to Genas. A goddess descended from the skies with her several children. She killed the creature but in the battle her eldest son Imhotep got separated from her, and it is said she is still searching for her lost son in Genas.


    Hans had never attended a World History class that Matha taught. And this was Hans¡¯s first time learning about Osiris, a god whom her grandmother disliked a lot. He grew up learning about the goddess of life Yudwin but had little knowledge of Osiris and her children.


    Curious, he leaned over to Chris and whispered,


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.Hey, why are we learning about foreign gods?


    Chris didn''t seem to care and just shrugged, but Delimira chimed in quietly,


    Osiris''s influence may have died down after Parv closed its borders, but Concordia still follows its teachings. This place doesn''t follow any religion but teaches everything useful.


    Hans got his answer, he felt acting rude towards her is not right, especially since she had been so generous with her money. Martha interrupted his thoughts by asking the next question,


    So where is Imhotep rumoured to be?


    In the Armed Nation ForgeLands.


    Pointing towards a dwarf she asked in haste,


    is it true?


    The dwarf got startled by the sudden event but answered,


    It has to be, we worship him.


    Martha nodded and followed up with another question,


    Why is it called an Armed Nation?


    "Because Imhotep, as the bearer of technology, gifted them with the knowledge of advanced engineering, and instead of relying on mana, those people started using their technology as a primary means of living. That''s why their technology far surpasses anything else," the student explained.


    Martha was impressed with the response and continued with more questions,


    When and how did Humans, Dwarves, and Elves unite for the first time?


    "In the year 234, to fight against the beast king who threatened world peace. It happened after he succeeded in destroying the sacred tree of Clandor and killing the Elven Gods, stripping them of their long lifespan," another student answered confidently.


    Martha nodded, impressed once again, and posed another question,


    Who is Lavoisier?


    "Lavoisier is the second child of Osiris who went searching for his elder brother and came to the FloatLands. He is called the bearer of alchemy, and that''s why the alchemy of Concordia is unbeatable," another student replied.


    Martha''s questioning continued but her inquiries lacked the same spark and intrigue as her initial ones. Honestly, he regretted not attending Martha¡¯s class before. She taught pretty interesting things but his view of history as not a boring subject reverted when she kept talking about previous kings and policies.


    Instead, Hans found himself captivated by tales of Osiris, the god whose existence was supported by numerous accounts of eyewitnesses in Genas. The allure of this mysterious deity was too strong to resist, and like all fascinating things, it was also in Parv. Thinking this he sighed and focussed on Martha, not wanting to further incite her fiery temper.


    As the lecture came to a close, the disapproving glares of his classmates did nothing to dissuade Hans from his aloof behaviour. Ignoring their disdain, he remained true to his obnoxious nature, much to the dismay of Martha. She had hoped that Hans would make amends and become more involved with his classmates, but instead, his actions only served to isolate him further.


    There was another lecture just after Martha¡¯s and it was none other than the Mana theory. He had always found it to be a pointless subject, given that he possessed a unique approach to handling mana that differed from his peers. Despite his initial desire to skip the class, he was forced to sit up straight as Professor Aredhel made her entrance, her eyes immediately falling on him.


    "Well, well, well. If it isn''t Mr Hans, gracing us with his presence today," she remarked, a sly grin spreading across her face.


    Hans couldn''t help but roll his eyes.


    "Seems like the professors are having a field day today," he muttered under his breath.


    Not hearing him clearly, She asked him again, so he replied to her coquettishly,


    Yes, I was feeling magnanimous today, Ma''am.


    Aredhel smiled but sent shivers down Hans''s spine, and his apprehension proved to be well-founded when she proposed a spar to start the class. Though Hans had been itching for a rematch against Delimira, Aredhel had other plans, summoning a human boy with a rare mana property of light. In elven culture, such mana property was a symbol of royal blood, but in humans, it was just a rare occurrence.


    As the students made their way to the training grounds, Hans couldn''t help but wonder about the human boy named Lux. Chris and Delimira were equally clueless about him, except for the fact that he was a weak mage who had chosen to pursue the path of a single-property mage, despite the low chances of surpassing others in the field.


    Upon arriving at the training ground, Chris directed Hans''s attention towards two men who were engaged in a conversation. They were Walter and Rudolf, and their chat was interrupted as they spotted Aredhel leading the first years towards the training grounds.


    Hans couldn''t shake off the feeling of guilt as he thought about Lux. Winning the match was not his only concern now. He had to show his full strength in front of Rudolf, his grandpa. As he locked eyes with Rudolf, he could sense the weight of his expectations. Meanwhile, Lux became visibly pale at the sight of the two senior professors watching him. He was already anxious about facing Hans, who had gained a fearsome reputation for showing the harsh reality of the world on the very first day.


    The spar was on the verge of starting, but Aredhel interrupted and whispered something to Lux. Hans was curious about what she said because he knew Aredhel wouldn''t say anything irrelevant at this point.


    Aredhel declared,


    This is the first duel of our class, respect your sparring partner, and do not overdo anything. It''s for learning and overcoming your shortcomings. Do you both agree?


    The boys nodded in agreement, but Rudolf chimed in with a tempting offer,


    Let''s make this more interesting. I will fulfil a reasonable request of the winner, how about it?


    Most of the students there regretted not being the one sparring now. Hans was a scary opponent but with the reward that high, facing him was worth the possible beating and the first traitor betraying Hans was none other than his friend.


    Chris raised his hand,


    Professor Aredhel, Can I swap with Lux.


    Aredhel smiled and said,


    NO


    Hans glared at his friend in enmity and the sparring finally began as both the student faced each other, Lux calmer and more confident than before.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 60 : Ignorance is a Choice

    CHAPTER 60


    IGNORANCE IS A CHOICE


    The tension crackled in the air like static electricity as Hans and the newbie, Lux, faced each other down for their spar. Lux, a mage barely initiated into his first circle, was about to fight the scariest person in their class, and he knew it. His confidence was at rock bottom, and he felt like he was about to be thrown to the beasts.


    But just as all seemed lost, a glimmer of hope shone in Lux''s eyes. Aredhel, ever the wise and experienced warrior, had given him some advice that might just make the difference. And that''s what was troubling Hans - he could see that Lux was starting to believe in himself, and that made the situation dangerous.


    For Hans, this was not a stage where he could afford to mess up. Since his fight with Delimira, he had honed his skills and learned the art of not giving in to provocations. He had learned how to use his opponent''s weaknesses against them, and he had grown stronger as a result. But he knew that he was not the only one growing - Lux was a wild card, an unknown entity that he could not afford to underestimate.


    Ingrained into him since his training days with Rudolf was the idea that he should never underestimate an opponent, no matter how easy they might seem. And yet, Lux was just that - an opponent who did not seem to pose much of a threat. But Hans knew better than to let his guard down. He was ready for anything - or so he thought.


    Lux stood nervously before Hans, his stammering words betraying his reluctance to be there. "I...I am Lux Jott, thirteen and a Light apprentice mage(0 circle - cannot use conjuring magic)," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please go easy on me."


    Hans responded with the same formalities, but he could feel the tension rising inside him. He had never been one to play defensively, and the idea of standing still and waiting for his opponent to make the first move made him uneasy.


    But he reminded himself of Vanessa''s words, words that she had drilled into him during his stay in County. A mage fights with distance, she had said, and he knew he had to keep his cool and maintain a safe distance from Lux.


    Using his ManaVision, Hans stretched the mana path for SeedBullets, ready to strike at his opponent. But to his surprise, Lux seemed to become more relaxed, betraying his expectations. Hans could see the glint of recognition in his opponent''s eyes - this was what Aredhel had told him to wait for, but he had not expected to see it so soon.


    Lux took a deep breath and channelled his mana, forming the first spell he had been taught, and the spar had officially begun.


    ~ LuminousBody ~


    It was a spell that was neither an attack nor a support spell, but rather a beacon that called for help. His entire body flashed like a mana lantern, blinding everyone around him - including Hans, who had made his eyes more sensitive to mana using ManaVision.


    The sudden flash left Hans disoriented and vulnerable, giving Lux the perfect opportunity to strike. Summoning his orca vines, Hans felt the frustration as they rampaged around the training field, failing to catch anything.


    Lux, however, was quick to exploit the opportunity. He cast the second spell taught to Light mages - a spell taught with the purpose of fleeing.


    ~ FlashSteps ~


    A support spell that increased his speed for a short time. With lightning-fast movements, he swiftly avoided the orca vines and closed the distance between himself and Hans. Before Hans knew it, Lux had placed his wooden knife on his throat, ending the spar in his favour.


    For Hans, losing his eyesight for a moment was not the most detrimental aspect of his loss. It was the fact that his most trusted ability, ManaVision, had turned into a major liability that had impacted the battle. The advantage of being able to see mana clearly and counter the conjuring spells had become a disadvantage,


    The spar had ended as quickly as it began, leaving Lux stunned by his own victory. It was as if he had known Hans''s every move beforehand, just as Aredhel had coached him. He couldn''t believe he had defeated the scariest person in their class in mere seconds.


    Hans, on the other hand, sat dumbfounded on the field, struggling to come to terms with his defeat. "What? How is this possible?" he muttered, his mind racing to understand what had just happened.


    But Lux couldn''t revel in his victory for long, as he could feel Hans''s battle senses locking onto him. Losing was one thing but it was humiliating to lose in front of Rudolf, someone whom he couldn''t show his defeated back. Hans''s seriousness was palpable, and Lux knew he was in trouble. But before Hans could react, Rudolf appeared at his side and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him up to his feet.


    You lost, beat it. There are no second chances on the battlefield


    Hans remained silent, staring at the ground in defeat. He could accept losing honourably, but not being able to put up a decent fight was unacceptable to him. on the other hand, Delimira knew of Hans''s loss in advance, in more simple terms, she realised what was going to happen the moment her mother got involved. While Chris felt a weight lift off his chest as he watched Hans facing the same situation of defeat as him.


    Rudolf proclaimed Lux Jott as the victor and imparted a valuable lesson to the young students.


    Strength is an advantage in battle, but it does not guarantee victory. I have seen many weaker individuals take down stronger foes in my long life as a knight


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Hans pretended to accept his defeat gracefully and stood up to face Lux, putting him on edge. However, his words were surprisingly cordial.


    Thank you for the spar.


    Lux sensed no hostility in Hans''s tone, as Hans had come to terms with the true culprit behind his defeat - Aredhel, who had interfered before the spar.


    The other students had gathered outside the training field, and Professor Winters posed a question to Hans.


    Do you know why you lost, Mr Hans?


    Hans responded matter-of-factly,


    Having someone who can see into the future is pretty handy, Professor Winters.


    Aredhel''s disappointment turned into frustration as she looked at Hans. It seemed as if he didn''t understand the reason for his loss. She let out a deep sigh and replied,


    If I could truly glance into the future whenever I wished, I would not be an exile, Mr Hans.


    The new information would have been shocking for him but her first words etched to him more. He believed that Aredhel''s supposed ability to see the future was the sole reason for her family''s wealth and success. But now, he realised that he had been mistaken all along.


    Seeing him remain silent Aredhel responded,


    You lose because of experience and lack of knowledge.


    Still grappling with his defeat, Hans tried to keep his composure as he asked Aredhel to elaborate. She didn''t mince words, pointing out that he had missed all the essential Mana theory classes.


    Hans had always thought that the Mana theory classes were a waste of time, but now he realized that they were the reason for his defeat. When he asked Professor Winters for further explanation, Aredhel spoke up with an informative response.


    "You have heightened senses not suited for your age, but you rely too much on your prematurely developed ManaVision. Acquiring high-level skills without experience is bound to have flaws," she explained.


    Aredhel continued, revealing her own experience as a powerful warlock.


    As someone who has reached the ninth circle of magic myself, I know the ins and outs of ManaVision. The more sensitive your visions, the deeper the blinding effect it has on you. If you had acquired it with proper training, you would have understood its flaws.


    Hans understood the message. Aredhel was telling him that his lack of experience in using ManaVision was the reason for his defeat. He let her finish without interrupting, realising there was more of what she was conveying.


    Aredhel waited for Hans to respond, but as he remained silent, she continued,


    "Your ManaVision creates a significant disparity between your eyes and other senses since their levels are vastly different. Therefore, when you lost your sight, you fell into confusion because your other senses couldn''t keep up with the level of your eyes. That was your first flaw," she explained.


    Hans interrupted,


    There are more?


    Aredhel chuckled lightly and continued,


    The second one is that you missed the mana theory classes, which resulted in you not knowing the beacon spell of help, LuminousBody, and its uses that I taught in the class. It doesn''t matter if you could use the mana property or not. Learning about spells is always helpful. You could face them in battle or use them with your allies.


    Turning to Hans, she asked,


    So, Mr Hans, what did you get from my long explanation?


    Hans quickly responded,


    I need to hone my other senses to the level of ManaVision.


    "No," replied Aredhel, shaking her head.


    Hans stood there, still trying to process Aredhel''s words. He thought he did not miss anything from her long explanation but what more she could mean was the only thought spinning in his head.


    Aredhel said with a playful grin,


    Do not miss my classes.


    Laughter filled the classroom as Aredhel''s comment hit the mark, causing Hans to feel flustered. It was clear that she was teaching him a lesson for skipping her classes. Hans scratched his head, trying to think of a response when Aredhel spoke up again.


    "I also taught Mana discharge in classes that you missed and it is vital," she said. "Let''s see, Delimira, you two are friends, right? Teach him what I taught in class. I think Mr Hans is smart enough to catch up with you in no time."


    Aredhel turned to Hans and asked, "Is that fine, Mr Hans?"


    Hans nodded in agreement and with that, the class was dismissed, and Griffin''s Nest became a new studying spot as Delimira took on the role of Hans''s temporary teacher in mana theory.


    Hans agreed and the class was dismissed. From this day forth Delimira became Hans''s temporary teacher for his makeup class in mana theory and Griffin¡¯s Nest turned into a studying spot.


    AT THE FOOT OF SLEEPING GIANT MOUNTAIN


    In the foothills of a snow-capped mountain range, situated in a narrow valley that was often battered by relentless winds and icy storms. The entrance to the hideout was hidden behind a large boulder that could only be accessed by a treacherous and winding path that was barely visible through the thick blanket of snow that covered the ground.


    A man came running to the solid wall and went inside like it was a curtain. As he entered, he was greeted with a dimly lit cavern that was carved into the rocky walls of the mountain. The air inside was thick with the scent of burning wood, and the sound of voices and footsteps echoed through the vast space. The walls were lined with makeshift shelves that were filled with weapons, ammunition, and supplies, while makeshift tables and chairs made from scavenged materials dotted the room.


    These people had done their best to make the cavern feel like a home, with furs and blankets draped over rocks to create comfortable seating areas. A large fire pit dominated the centre of the room, providing warmth and light in the otherwise dark space. The flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the walls, giving the room an eerie, almost mystical feel.


    Despite the harsh weather conditions outside, the hideout was bustling with activity as the people prepared for their next mission. Some were sharpening their swords, while others were loading up packs with food and supplies. The atmosphere was tense and focused, as everyone knew that they were risking their lives for the cause.


    The man who entered earlier, had his eyes searching for someone but was suddenly stopped by another man, "What is the matter?", he asked.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    "Where...where is the commander?" the first man gasped.


    "What happened?" the second man inquired.


    We found it, the location of the ''Wind Gem''.


    Xandor, who was flipping through his half-torn and expensive-looking book, emerged from the shadows and asked urgently,


    Where is it?


    "Greetings, Commander. It''s in Clandor, the royal family has it," the man replied.


    The man who had blocked the ranger earlier cursed,


    Damn it, we don''t have enough firepower to take on the Clandorians.


    Xandor spoke in a grave voice,


    Then we''ll just have to rob someone who has it. Prepare everyone; we are raiding Concordia soon.


    ***

 The Story So far -2

    The story so far - 2


    <hr>


    As the story progressed, Hans successfully enrolled in Concordia as a mage and got selected as a member of house Prophets. He got punished and worked in the Botanical garden, a research facility in Concordia. two months of his first year came to an end with this ACT II - MONAMI.


    Hans Richardson (10)-


    In order to obtain the second book, he must first emerge victorious in the perilous Glory Wars and subsequently procure the coveted Book of Power from the heavily guarded treasury of the Alliance as his price.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 66.7857%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book Name??</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Holder</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book of spells - Limitless</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Hans</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book of Day - The Solar Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Walter</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book of Death - Immortality</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Xandor</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book of Governance/ Ruling - Mandate</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Parv</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 66.5865%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">Sno.</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">Spell Natme</td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">Description</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">Sprout </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">mimicking any seed and modifying its growth and yield</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">2</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">VeganBind </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">a restraining spell which summons dark purple vines with sharp metallic blades and paralytic poison. This is used for restraining and offencive measures.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">3</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">SeedBullets </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">a hard metal shelled seed with penetrative power far greater than a musket rifle bullet</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">4</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">TheVeganCarnage </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">a predator type crying seed, it grows 7-9 tentacles with speared ends and auto targets the heads of whomever in vicinity including its caster. A dangerous spell that only deactivates after killing everyone in its range including another same seed making it one at a time spell</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">5</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">Mutilate </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">TheVeganCarnage + SeedBullets =  a short range killing spell that even wont leave a corpse intact</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">6</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">SharpDeath


    </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">sharp metallic bamboos, erupt from the ground and suck the target into a green quagmire</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">7</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">SugarDrain


    </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">a parasitic vine, weak in phyque, sucks energy(stamina) from target and resupply to Hans</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">8</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">Ensnare


    </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">a trap similar to a venus fly trap but in a huge size with strong gripping power</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Delimira Winters (12)-


    Got close to Hans with the objective of finding out about Samson and his father''s whereabouts. Aims to kill an ancient


    Chris Holger (14) -


    Hans''s roommate aims to become Rudolf''s disciple despite his father''s ill-fated relationship with the man himself.


    Xandor -


    Planning to attack Clandor after robbing something from Concordia


    Vanessa-


    Her story still remained a mystery.


    Aredhel Winters -


    The wealthiest person in Concordia, searching for ways to find her missing husband.


    Walter -


    His actions remain moody as he secured his position as leader of the Junior League in Glory wars.


    Knight rankings unveiled


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 65.5952%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">Rank</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Name</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">Aura type</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">Grade</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Norwin Grimgar</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">Ice (Cryo)</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">99</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">9</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Rudolf Edenberg</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">thunder (Electro)</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">90</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">17</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Bernard Holger</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">???</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">92</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">20</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Walter Jimenez</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">Dark (Death)</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">90</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Grade only signifies how much of an aura a person has, not the actual prowess


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Mage Hierarchy


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 66.3462%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">Circles</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Name</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">Mastery</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">0</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Apprentice Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">Learn to store mana and form a mana Heart</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Initiate Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">First circle successfully formed and mastered at least two spells [Concordia limits the initiates from learning more than two spells at this stage]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">2</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Novice Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">Four spells</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">3</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Senior Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching three circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">4</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">High Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching four circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">5</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Expert Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching five circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">6</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Veteran/Master Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">


    reaching six circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master


    <ul style="text-align: justify">


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Humans- NA (this is the reason human mages are weak)</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Elves - spirit contracts</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">7</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Grand Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching seven circles and able to cast a devastating spells</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">8</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">World Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching eight circles and able to create a mana Sanctuary </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">9</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Warlock</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching Nine circles and possessing few Ultimate spells</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Knights Hierarchy


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 66.9071%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">Grade</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Name</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Mastery</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">0 -10</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Apprentice Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Learning to generate aura and conduct it in the weapons.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">11-20</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Initiate Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Learning first aura skill and perfect it till grade 20</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">21 - 30</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Novice Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Second Skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">31 - 40</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Senior Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Third Skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">41- 50</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">High Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Fourth skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">51 - 60</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Warrior Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Fifth Skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">61 - 70</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Veteran/Master Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">


    Sixth Skill


    <ul style="text-align: justify">


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Humans- bloodline training only for knights


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Elves - spirit contracts</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Dwarf - inherit the blessings from the ancestors - to give to the weapons</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">71 - 80</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Grand Master Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">seventh Skill - mini ultimate</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">81 -90</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Dominion Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Domain skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">91 - 99</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Warlords</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Ultimate skill and From this point onwards the growth grades are ambiguous because some people hit their limit when they cross 90 grades but some keep growing. The knight is not required to follow the rule of learning a skill per decadial grades</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 MAP UPDATE 2.0

MAP UPDATE 2.0


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The muddy yellow circle is the Great Utar Barrier, imprisoning the red demons.


    The faded white circle is the OSIRIS''s reach over the world

 Elven Lies I Chapter 61 : The World of Adults

    CHAPTER 61


    THE WORLD OF ADULTS


    Every mage knew that mastering the Mana Discharge ability was crucial, but for Hans, the traditional way of acquiring the technique left him uncertain. It was the second day of his tutelage under Delimira, she roughly explained to him what mana discharge was but all her words flew way above his head because another thought had occupied his mind the whole time.


    Sitting with his temporary teacher, Delimira, in their usual training spot, Hans couldn''t shake his restlessness. Yet again he remembered Aredhel''s words about her exile and, in a moment of stupidity, he asked the uncomfortable question.


    Mind if I ask what led to your mother''s exile?


    Delimira rewarded him with an indifferent expression. The reason for her mother''s exile was not a secret, but it was not something she wanted to discuss lightly. After a moment of silence and his unrelenting gaze, she decided to give him a brief explanation.


    My mother defied Elven Laws and was exiled for it.


    Hans had already guessed as much, but he wanted to know the specifics. Did she refuse to fight for the elves in the war as Walter said back then, or was it something else entirely? that pissed her people off. He struggled to decide, and his confusion was etched on his face.


    Finally, he lifted his head and locked eyes with Delimira. "Just why?" he asked, his words tinged with curiosity and a deep desire to know the answer.


    Delimira looked at him, confusion etched on her face. "Since when did you get interested in my personal affairs?" she asked, her eyes looking directly into his.


    "I can''t sleep if I don''t satisfy my curiosity," Hans replied instantly, his eyes still fixed on hers.


    "Then happy insomnia to you. Now, can we focus on why we are here?" Delimira shrugged him off with these words, her tone curt and businesslike.


    Hans didn''t quite understand Delimira''s behaviour towards him. Despite claiming to be interested in being his friend, she always seemed to be pushing him away, bailing out like she was forcing herself around him. He always sensed an ulterior motive hidden behind her sincerity but it was not like she would spill the beans herself if he asked nicely. Instead of pushing the matter any further, he turned his attention back to the reason he was with her in the training field.


    Without skipping a beat, Delimira quickly assumed her role as Hans''s tutor and flashed a book in his direction. "My mother suggested this book. It''s so easy that even a mule could learn Mana discharge from it. You''re smart enough to figure it out on your own, aren''t you?" she said, her tone still curt and dismissive.


    Hans took the book, feeling a sense of disappointment wash over him. He had hoped that Delimira would show him a demonstration or provide some guidance, but she had simply given him a book and left, adding a mockery on top of it. He watched as she walked away, feeling a bit frustrated.


    With a long sigh, he opened the book, only to find that it was a huge disappointment. The book solely focused on Mana heart, a foundation for mages that he never had. He laughed at himself for expecting too much, but he knew that he had to make the most of what he had been given. After all, he didn''t want to face the smart mockery of Aredhel if he failed to learn the technique.


    For the next two hours, Hans immersed himself in the book, absorbing every bit of information that he could. It was a dry read, and he struggled to stay focused at times, but he persevered. By the time he finished the book, he had a basic understanding of Mana Heart, at least how it worked for normal mages.


    He packed up the book and headed back to his dorm, exhausted and tired only to be greeted by his roommate who was walking practically naked after a shower. Despite having repeatedly asked him not to do so, Chris didn''t seem to care.


    "Hey, how many times do I have to tell you not to walk naked here?" Hans grumbled in annoyance.


    Chris turned to him, still drying his hair with a towel.


    "Why, we''re both men here. Wait, you''re not a man yet, right?" he teased.


    Hans was too tired to argue, so he let out a deep sigh and said,


    Just give it a rest.


    But Chris was energised from his shower and wasn''t about to stop teasing him.


    You''re just jealous of my muscles, buddy. And don''t you see the towel?


    Hans couldn''t help but feel a little envious. Despite having the strength from consuming mana beasts his entire life, he didn''t have the muscle mass to show for it. He was forgetting the fact that he was just ten at the moment and comparing himself with a fourteen-year-old, knight discipline student.


    Chris continued to speak after noticing Hans turn silent, feeling bad about touching a sensitive topic. He tried to offer some words of encouragement, saying,


    You''re still growing, buddy. Cheer up.


    Hans remained quiet for a moment, then remembered the question he wanted to ask Chris.


    "Hey, you spent quite some time in Clandor, right?" he inquired.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Chris nodded.


    Yeah, I did. What''s up?


    "What''s the deal with Professor Aredhel being an exile?" Hans asked.


    Chris, who always felt like a person with a loose tongue, hesitated for a moment before responding,


    It''s not my place to share, buddy. But let''s just say it''s all for show. She can come and go as she pleases, but she has to keep up appearances.


    Hans nodded in understanding,


    Yeah, that makes sense. It would be crazy for Clandorians to exile someone as wealthy as her.


    Chris quickly changed the subject, trying to lighten the mood by teasing Hans,


    So, how was it? Deli is a terrible teacher, right?


    Hans replied with annoyance,


    Terrible, terrible... she is... She just threw the book in my face and left.


    Chris didn''t believe him and said,


    Naah, you must be exaggerating.


    Hans corrected himself,


    Okay, okay, she didn''t throw it, she just gave it to me and said a mule is smart enough to learn from this.


    Chris teased him again,


    Wow, she said that? You must be high in her eyes.


    Hans looked annoyed again, but Chris chuckled and tried to reassure him,


    Take it easy, man. It means she really thinks you''re smart enough to grasp that complicated technique on your own.


    Hans wasn''t convinced and with thinned eyes, he said to his talking friend,


    Chris, sometimes I wonder how you survived in Clandor with that mind of yours. If I fail to learn this then I''m basically worse than a mule to her.


    Chris thought for a moment and replied,


    Hmm, yeah, she could have probably meant that.


    Hans let out a frustrated sigh and held the book up to Chris.


    This is useless to me. Did you master Mana Discharge, or as they call it in the Knights, Aura Burst?


    Chris grinned.


    Yeah, I''ve got it down. Your big bro''s a pro.


    Hans''s eyes lit up.


    Then show me!


    Chris hesitated.


    I don''t know, buddy. It''s not exactly appropriate to do here.


    Hans rolled his eyes.


    Come on, no one will know. I''ll show you mine when I can.


    Chris cringed, and shouted,


    don''t say it like that


    Hans looked at him, confused.


    What? I just want to see yours first.


    Chris took a deep breath and walked up to Hans, holding his shoulders. Unconsciously finding himself in a situation he wanted to avoid, he said,


    Hans, my friend, before you start worrying about mastering Mana Discharge, you should work on your communication skills.


    Hans looked confused, so Chris added,


    Let''s work on making you a man first.


    Hans perked up at the prospect of learning something new and asked,


    What, what''s that?


    Chris assumed the role of a senior guiding a junior and gestured toward the ceiling as if wiping something in the air.


    "It''s about the world of men and women," he said.


    Hans sighed, removing Chris''s hand from his shoulders and replied,


    The world only has males and females, what''s your point?


    Chris chuckled at his friend''s ignorance and asked,


    Ah, my dear friend, how do you think babies are made?


    Hans was taken aback and stumbled over his words,


    You marry a girl and then¡­ shit, I really don''t know. But how is it related to this?


    Ignoring his friend''s question, Chris searched for something besides his bed. It didn''t take him long and he found what he was looking for - a novel that was passed down from seniors to juniors. Hans had no idea about it, having been absent most of the time.


    With a snicker, Chris handed the book to Hans and said,


    Welcome to the world of adults, my friend.


    Hans asked,


    What''s this?


    "The answer to your every question, a gift from our seniors - To your Hand in the Dark Night," Chris replied, chuckling to himself as he drifted off to sleep.


    Hans felt uncomfortable and peculiar while reading, as new things kept flooding his mind. The words and actions he did not know were settling in his innocent mind, burning his face in red blush. He stopped several times but somehow kept coming back to the book, and the night passed. Finally, he understood what he had done to Rudolf many times back in the Ghost Isles; walking into his room, spoiling his nights just to see him annoyed. Many thoughts were running wild, corrupting his innocent mind.


    Chris opened his eyes early in the morning, rubbing his eyes only to find Hans staring at him closely, with bloodshot eyes and dishevelled hair. Startled, Chris shouted at him, "What the...you scared me, you son of a...!"


    Hans said to Chris with a serious tone,


    You degenerate bastard, what did you give me?


    Chris forgot his shock and burst into laughter,


    See I told you, it is far more important to know than mana discharge, right?


    Hans neither acknowledged nor denied it, but he replied to Chris,


    We should burn this damn book. It''s...it''s wrong.


    Chris jumped out of bed and snatched the novel from Hans''s hand. He yelled,


    This is the treasure passed down from our seniors. Don''t you dare do something to it, unless you want to make enemies of the entire male student body, I mean the entire Concordia. Got it?


    Hans turned away from him and stumbled into the lecture hall, way earlier than the starting time. Every girl he laid eyes on reminded him of the illustrations and racy content from the novel. He found it difficult to look at any of them without turning beet red.


    He arrived early to avoid the crowds and slumped into his seat, hoping to catch some much-needed sleep. The extra time he had earned before the class flashed by and he was awoken by a strong fragrance that permeated the room. The scent of Delimira''s soap mixed with his already foggy mind made it difficult for him to breathe. Last night''s revelations had shaken him to his core.


    Delimira turned to Chris and asked,


    What''s wrong with him?


    Chris snickered and replied,


    He read something unbelievable last night


    Delimira scoffed and said,


    Oh come on, that''s elementary knowledge.


    Chris continued to chuckle and said,


    Yeah, it was definitely elementary.


    Hans didn''t have the energy to argue with them. He just wanted to clear his mind. He never thought he would be so desperate for a professor to arrive early, but now he was practically begging for someone to come and distract his corrupted mind.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 62 : The Otherworlder

    CHAPTER 62


    THE OTHERWORLDER


    Hans sat in the lecture hall, anxiously awaiting Aredhel''s request for a progress report. But as the lecture came to a close, he realized that nothing of the sort would be happening. Seeing no one asking him anything, he quickly fled to Agriland - a place where he could bask in the warm sunshine, possibly sleep and escape the biting chill of winter.


    With only one lecture in the morning, Hans was free to spend the day however he pleased. Instead of practising, he allowed himself the luxury of sleep, skipping lunch and indulging in hours of peaceful slumber. When he awoke, he felt a sense of calm wash over him - a feeling that he could only attribute to the tranquil atmosphere of Agriland.


    As the day wore on, Hans''s thoughts turned to his next challenge: mastering the art of Mana discharge. He knew that the answer lay within the sentient Book that was tied to his waistband. So before opening it, he prayed in front of the book, beseeching it to reveal Mana discharge method and opened it.


    An awkward grin spread across his face as he laid eyes on the very first words of the page


    <blockquote><hr>


    Page 12


    MANA DISCHARGE....


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans shut the book in haste and looked at the blue artificial sky above, "Sentient artefact my Butt!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the plains. "You''re watching me from above, aren''t you, Samson?" But receiving no reply from the sky, Hans sighed and reopened the book, determined to confront whatever the so-called genius planned for him.


    <blockquote><hr>


    MANA DISCHARGE


    It is a powerful technique that many mages use to push back their enemies. While it may not be as flashy as some other techniques, it is a reliable and effective method for controlling the flow of battle.


    Other mages, use their mana heart to suck in a large amount of mana from nature and holding it in the mana heart until it can no longer be absorbed. When the mage let loose his control over the absorbed mana, it ejects itself in all directions like a rubber band snapping back to its original shape. This creates a blast radius that can harm both foes and allies alike. This is called the spring effect of mana.


    While you may not be able to create the spring effect due to the lack of a mana heart, you can still achieve a similar effect through creativity and control over the surrounding mana


    Mana discharge is a great mana technique to push back your enemies but it loses its power several times because it is focused on omnidirectional. We will focus on the direction of our desire.


    To achieve this, you must create a spiral flow of mana that converges towards you, the center of the technique. As the concentration of mana around you increases, take a step forward in the direction you wish the blast to go. Remember you need to take a complete step not ta partial one. By focusing the technique in a particular direction, you can ensure that it packs a punch and hits your intended target.


    In essence, that''s the core of the technique. While I believe you''re capable of achieving even more than what I''ve written, I must caution you to be careful when using it. Though it may not seem dangerous in the hands of others, there could be potential backlash for you specifically. Therefore, I urge you to keep my words in mind and exercise caution when utilising this technique.


    End of Page 12


    <hr></blockquote>


    The words on the page seemed simple enough, and Hans believed he could master the technique after just a few attempts. Little did he know, he couldn''t have been more wrong. As he successfully created a spiralling flow of mana into himself, he quickly realized the weight of the dense mana made even breathing a challenge, let alone taking a single step.


    It felt as though his body would be torn apart if he dared to move even a muscle. Though he managed to succeed in the first step of mana discharge but couldn''t complete the step because his other leg couldn''t follow the first one. He had to relinquish the collected mana every time when that happened due to the exponential increase in weight as the mana concentration rose.


    Despite dedicating an entire day to practising, failure was the only result that greeted him. Exhausted and disheartened, he returned to his dormitory and slept for several hours after a light dinner. His same schedule continued for days with the same result, not even improving a bit.


    When the weekend arrived, Hans fabricated an excuse to visit his sister, Vanessa, leaving him free to search for Sierra. Though he missed her company, his true motive for seeking her out was to get help in Mana Discharge and another one was to inquire about Aredhel''s exile, a matter that had been weighing heavily on his mind for the past few days.


    Hans found himself sitting in the private quarters of the Deans, surrounded by the comforting embrace of Sierra and the nitpicking of Rudolf about his childish habits filled the room with idle chatter. the atmosphere he missed dearly was right beside him. As they chatted idly about his life at the academy, Hans couldn''t help but feel a sense of unease brewing inside him. He knew what he wanted to ask, but he didn''t know how to broach the topic.


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    Just when he thought he might never get the chance to bring it up, Sierra spoke up.


    "Anything interesting happen to you, my child?" she asked, her eyes twinkling, filled with a desire to connect with him.


    Hans seized the moment and blurted out his question.


    Do you know why Professor Aredhel was exiled?


    Before Sierra could answer, Rudolf interjected with his usual crankiness.


    "Because Elves went bananas on a daily basis," he muttered, shaking his head in disapproval.


    But Hans was undeterred. He fixed his gaze on Sierra with a determined look in his eyes.


    "Please tell me," he pleaded.


    Sierra nodded, she could not disapprove of Hans''s puppy eyes,


    "It will be a long story," she said.


    Hans grinned, saying,


    I have plenty of time today.


    Sierra hesitated for a moment, knowing that the story she was about to tell was a long and complicated one. But she saw the earnestness in Hans''s eyes, and she knew that he wouldn''t let it go until he had heard the whole thing. So she took a deep breath and began.


    Listen closely, my dear Hans. In the past, when the red demons invaded Genas and wrought destruction upon our land, they were not the only beings to cross over into our world. There was another world, the name of which I cannot recall, that was attacked and completely destroyed by these invaders. However, one person from that world managed to survive and find his way to our land.


    This individual played a crucial role in helping us during the invasion and we hailed him as a war hero and saviour. But for Aredhel, he was much more than that. They had fallen in love and promised to spend their lives together. However, fate had other plans for them, as you can''t see him with us.


    Hans cut in with a confused expression on his face,


    So let me get this straight, Delimira is the child of that man from another world who saved us from the red demons, but the Elves didn''t approve of him because he wasn''t of their high lineage?


    Sierra nodded, surprised to see how fast Hans reached the answer


    "Yes, that''s right. usually, the higher order race like elves cannot birth a child with others but he was different from us since the beginning " She responded.


    Hans furrowed his brow as he said,


    But that''s ridiculous! If he saved us and helped defeat the red demons, shouldn''t they have been grateful?


    Rudolf chimed in,


    Well, you see, Elves have so much unnecessary pride. They place a lot of importance on their lineage and status. To them, it doesn''t matter how much someone has done for the greater good, if they don''t meet their standards, they won''t be accepted.


    Hans let out a sigh,


    That''s just stupid.


    Rudolf shrugged,


    I told you, Elves are nuts.


    Hans couldn''t help but agree with his grandpa. It seemed that sometimes even the most heroic deeds could be overshadowed by narrow-mindedness and prejudice.


    Sierra finished her explanation with a thoughtful tone,


    But there could be more to the story than what we know. Who knows what really happened to him, some say, elves conspired and killed him, and some even said that he is chained and imprisoned somewhere in Clandor. We can''t be sure of the public knowledge.


    Hans was sitting in Sierra''s lap, listening intently. She turned him and asked,


    You are asking me this because of your new friend?


    Hans shook his head.


    No, it''s just been on my mind for a while.


    Vanessa, who was preparing tea, chimed in,


    Don''t believe everything the elves say, little brother.


    Hans smirked and retorted,


    I don''t trust humans either, sister.


    So, you do remember my words?


    Of course, you told me being sceptical will help me live longer.


    Vanessa''s smile grew wider as she listened to her brother''s reply. Ever since she took on the task of teaching Hans, the elder couple had stepped back and allowed her to take charge completely.  They were both proud of Vanessa''s efforts to prepare Hans for whatever challenges lay ahead, but it was bittersweet to see him grow up so quickly and miss out on the carefree joys of childhood.


    Rudolf wanted to test how much his child had grown away from his wings so he offered a friendly spar with him. Hans accepted readily. As he continued to spar with Rudolf, his physical strength and agility improved noticeably. In addition to his swordsmanship, he also showcased his mastery of new spells like SharpDeath, SugarDrain, and Ensnare. Although these spells proved to be ineffective against the veteran knight, they still managed to surprise the two ladies witnessing them.


    Not one to waste time, Hans quickly sought the advice of his trusted family members on how to improve his mana discharge skills. Despite the wealth of knowledge and experience possessed by Sierra, a world mage of eight circles, and Rudolf, a grade 90+ warlord knight, they were unable to provide him with any tangible solutions.


    But Since Hans was under the vigilance of his trusted family, he wanted to push himself further. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, moving the surrounding mana into a dense spiral that created an intense pressure that both Sierra''s ManaVision and Rudolf''s ManaSense could perceive.


    As the dense mana continued to swirl around Hans, he could feel the weight and pressure building up on his body, threatening to tear him apart. With a deep breath, he completed a single step in a direction away from his family and let the mana loose, unleashing a powerful blast of energy propagating in that direction.


    The sound was deafening as the mana spiralled out of control, ravaging everything in its path in their backyard. The intense display of power was enough to draw the attention of many onlookers to the Dean''s quarters.


    The aftermath of Hans''s attack left him feeling both exhilarated and in pain. He couldn''t help but admire the damage he had caused, imagining his enemies writhing in agony under his spell. But the pain of his torn muscles and damaged skin reminded him that he had pushed himself too far.


    He shouted, to his coolest yet deadly spell in work,


    Sweet¡­


    He staggered and collapsed onto the ground, his body giving out from the strain. Sierra rushed to his side, using her healing spell,


    ~ God¡¯s Grace ~


    Slowly restoring his body to its former state. The spell had worked its magic on Vanessa before, and now it did the same for Hans.


    As the night crept in, Hans lay in deep slumber, his body slowly regaining its strength under the watchful eyes of Sierra in the Dean''s quarters. She knew Hans was reckless, but this time, his carelessness had pushed her to the brink of anger. How could he not prioritize his own safety? She sighed heavily, casting a healing spell on the boy whose face was contorted in pain. Despite the healing, Hans remained unconscious, his body exhausted from the ordeal.


    Vanessa had to inform the dorms about Hans staying out for the night. The dorms were not strict for those related to the staff members so it was easy to convince the authorities, especially when Sierra''s name was used in things.


    The following morning, Hans woke up excitedly, only to find Sierra''s angry gaze fixed on him. It was unusual for her to be this mad. She demanded in a stern voice, "Is this also written in your book?"


    Hans felt a lump form in his throat, but he involuntarily nodded, feeling relieved to find the book still attached to his waistband. In a bid to make Sierra relax, he added a little white lie, "It was written that when I use the mana discharge, I must use it in your presence."


    "So you also learned lying from that damned book, too," She asked pulling his ears.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 63 : A different Dream

    CHAPTER 63


    A DIFFERENT DREAM


    Sierra was relentless in pulling the boy''s ear, causing Rudolf to step in and attempt to calm her down with his words. However, his eloquence didn''t suit his knightly demeanour, and Sierra continued to resist.


    Hans, who had been observing the scene, spoke up, "Granny, I need your help to master this mana discharge." However, she initially remained silent, knowing that he had been severely injured before.


    Hans pleaded, "Please, let me recover on my own. I need to own this." After some hesitation, she reluctantly agreed, and after ensuring that Hans was at his best, he attempted the mana discharge once again.


    This time, it wasn''t as difficult as before, and his body didn''t feel the weight of the dense mana as much. With a loud sound, the storm of mana surged forward, targeting Rudolf. Despite the backlash, Hans successfully pushed his grandfather away for the first time in his life.


    In a moment of excitement, he jumped up, only to be met with a sharp pain when he landed. Gritting his teeth, he determined not to faint from the agony. He knew that the mana discharge was a potent weapon, capable of even pushing back Rudolf.


    Rudolf, for his part, was more surprised than excited by his child''s growth. He had never imagined that Hans would possess such powerful spells that could make him take a step back, let alone several. The shock of the confrontation was evident on his face.


    Their child was growing stronger by the day, just like their first one. If anyone had suggested that Sam had shrunk himself and was now attempting to become the strongest mage, Rudolf would have believed it.


    Vanessa applauded Hans''s feat, while Sierra watched him with concern. She had watched the entire event through ManaVision, and though it was true that Hans wasn''t as badly injured as before, he wasn''t entirely fine either. She swallowed her worries, not wanting to dampen her child''s spirits.


    After just four hours, Hans had made a full recovery. He always had a remarkable ability to bounce back quickly from any injury, and this talent had only grown since coming to Concordia. It was almost as if someone was secretly nurturing him with potions, though in reality, she knew that no such thing was happening.


    As the off days of the week drew to a close, it was time for Hans to bid farewell to his family and return to the dorms. Chris was in the hall, chatting with others when Hans approached him. As soon as the others saw Hans, they made their excuses and left the two friends alone.


    Chris, as usual, put a hand on Hans''s shoulder and they returned to their room. Hans''s beaming expression was a dead giveaway that he had some exciting news to share, so Chris humoured him and asked, "What''s got you so happy?"


    Hans giggled,


    I mastered the mana discharge!


    Chris raised an eyebrow sceptically,


    Buddy, that''s really elementary. Many of our classmates have done it in just a day.


    But Hans was quick to defend himself, saying confidently,


    Mine is different.


    Hans chuckled to himself and left Chris to ponder over the mystery of his "different" mana discharge. It had been a tiring day for him, so he went to bed early, hoping to catch up on some much-needed rest.


    But at some point during the night, he opened his eyes to find himself in an unfamiliar place. The sky above him was a dazzling array of colours, shining with an otherworldly brilliance.


    As he tried to take in his surroundings, everything was almost too bright for him to handle, causing him to squint for a moment. And then, he heard a voice ¨C a voice that was far more melodious than Vanessa''s. It seemed to be coming from somewhere far off, yet the words were crystal clear.


    "Why do you have to go? I will never forgive you. I will destroy everything that you cherish".


    Hans struggled to move, trying to free himself from something that he can''t see, but found his body rooted to the spot. The girl''s voice continued to echo in his ears, sending shivers down his spine. He strained his eyes to see where the voice was coming from and what he saw left him breathless.


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    Before him, stood the most enchanting girl he had ever laid eyes on. Her long, lustrous hair flowed in the wind, creating a mesmerizing dance around her. Her eyes, a bright shade of red, shimmered with unshed tears, adding to her ethereal beauty.


    As Hans continued to gaze at her, he couldn''t help but feel a pang in his heart. Who was she? And why was she crying? Despite his best efforts to move closer, he remained stuck in place, his body as immobile as a statue.


    The mysterious girl continued to weep, and as Hans looked around, he realized that they were surrounded by a vast field of sunflowers. But in the distance, there stood a looming structure, a tombstone of sorts, that seemed to be the cause of the girl''s sorrow.


    Hans couldn''t help but wonder whose grave it was, but as he tried to read the inscription, he found that the name had been scratched out. It was then that he noticed the girl''s ears, pointed and long, like those of an elf. But her hair was as black as midnight, a rare sight, not known for an elf.


    As Hans pondered over the girl''s identity, he suddenly felt her attention shift towards him, her once sad demeanour turning colder and more hostile.


    Who dares to come here? She demanded, her voice carrying a sharp edge that made Hans realize that he was not welcome there.


    Hans felt a chill run down his spine as the girl''s voice echoed in his mind. He couldn''t shake off the feeling of fear that had settled in his bones. As he stirred in his sleep, he found himself abruptly waking up in his bed, gasping for air and yelling at the girl.


    His sudden outburst jolted his roommate Chris awake. At first, Chris was ready to give Hans a piece of his mind, but the sight of his friend''s shivering and gasping for breath made him realize that something was seriously wrong. Hans frantically looked around for the girl in the field, but all he saw was Chris staring back at him with a concerned expression.


    A sharp pain pounded in Hans''s head, reminding him that he was back in reality. The sensation was so intense that he blacked out again, leaving Chris no choice but to call for help. The dorm manager quickly arrived and together they carried Hans to the infirmary, hoping that the medical staff could find a way to calm him


    As Hans slowly regained consciousness, he found himself surrounded by familiar faces. His sister Vanessa sat by his side, holding his hand tightly, while Chris and surprisingly Delimira were there as well. Despite the throbbing pain in his head, Hans managed to weakly reassure his sister, "I am alright, don''t worry."


    Vanessa''s voice quavered with emotion, on the brink of breaking down into tears. Her words stumbled out in a stuttering cadence.


    Do you not understand how much you mean to me?


    Hans lowered his eyes apologetically as he listened to Vanessa, fully aware that she had become practically devoted to him. He combed through his memories of their time together, but he couldn''t recall a single moment when she hadn''t put his well-being before her own.


    Vanessa, who had lost everything in her life, had found solace and comfort in acting as Hans''s guardian. Her voice was filled with sadness as she asked him,


    Then why do you keep doing this?


    Although Hans wanted to speak up, he knew deep down that this time it was not his fault. It felt surreal, almost like the Elven massacre he had witnessed on the Ghost Isles. He recalled the image of a weeping girl standing before a tomb, a symbol of someone''s tragic demise. The thought struck him that if he were to die, many people would feel the same despair, including his dear sister.


    Taking hold of her hand, he said,


    "I can''t promise that I won''t end up here again, sis, but rest assured, I won''t leave this world before you do". He resolved never to want his loved ones to experience the same pain and sorrow as that girl in my dream.


    Sierra and Rudolf watched from a distance as Hans appeared to be physically unharmed. Sensing that there was no need to cause a commotion, they continued with their work as usual. Once Vanessa regained her composure, Hans turned to Delimira and asked about what he had seen in his dream.


    "Ms Winters, do you happen to know any elves with black hair?" he inquired.


    "Why do you ask?" Delimira responded, trying to confirm something.


    "It''s the second time I''ve dreamt of one," Hans explained.


    He vividly remembered the dream where he had taken over someone''s body and watched as they mercilessly slaughtered elves, including the black-haired one. However, he wasn''t willing to share the gruesome details with the others.


    "And with red eyes too, right?" Delimira asked, confirming her suspicion.


    Excitedly, Hans asked,


    So you do know?


    Delimira responded,


    It''s a fairy tale about elves. According to the legend, the first elven king to unite the elves, King Clandor, had the blood of the Elven gods, which caused his eyes to turn red and his hair to turn black.


    Hans asked,


    So is it something special, or is it just about appearance?


    Delimira replied,


    Were you not paying attention? It''s about the blood of the Elven gods. The ability to control unrecorded mana. He was believed to be a space mana user, but that''s only hearsay.


    Hans then asked,


    Do you happen to have a picture of him?


    Delimira became annoyed. It was early in the morning, and she had come to the hospital to check on Hans, but he was only interested in old elven legends. She retorted, "Why would I carry his picture with me?"


    Hans went silent, realizing that she had a point. Delimira then asked him,


    Why are you dreaming about old elven legends?


    Hans replied instantly,


    The heck I know.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 64 : ManaStorm and SugarDrain

    CHAPTER 64


    THE MANASTORM AND SUGARDRAIN


    Hans decided to elaborate on his dream to satisfy everyone''s curiosity as to what had caused him to faint. Once he had finished describing the scene, Chris couldn''t contain his laughter and began to tease him.


    "So you fainted just by hearing her shout?" Chris quipped before adding,


    So how pretty was she?


    Hans was taken aback by the question and couldn''t help but feel his face flush with embarrassment as he remembered the otherworldly beauty of the girl in his dream. He stammered out a response to Chris, "a lot, she was an otherworldly beauty. I have never seen anyone like her."


    Vanessa, who was standing nearby, couldn''t resist pinching her brother''s cheek affectionately and admonishing him playfully.


    "It''s too early for you to be chasing girls, dear brother," she teased.


    As Delimira overheard their conversation, irritation crept over her. She was confident in her beauty, and the fact that Hans suddenly praised some random girl in his dream was making her angry. Without a second thought, she stormed out of the room while yelling at the two boys,


    You''re both idiots!


    Hans watched her leave and couldn''t help but giggle, turning to Chris to say,


    That sure pissed her off.


    Chris, curious about the reason for Hans''s laughter, asked,


    Why are you giggling?


    Hans pointed towards Delimira''s retreating back and replied,


    She never lets me have the last say. But now, I''ve got the perfect weapon to shut her up.


    Chris joined in on the giggling, while Vanessa, worried about her brother''s future actions, cautioned him,


    Do not hurt a lady''s pride, Hans. They say ''hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'' for a reason.


    But Hans didn''t take her advice seriously, not knowing that he would soon regret his actions.


    WINTER¡¯S HOME


    Delimira stormed into the room, her feet stomping with irritation as she asked her mother,


    Mother, how much do you know about God''s Blood?


    Her mother''s interest was piqued and she asked back,


    Ho... What makes you interested in it?


    "Nothing, just cause," Delimira replied.


    "If you tell me the reason, I will tell you something you don''t know," her mother countered, always looking for a trade.


    With a sigh, Delimira revealed,


    Shorty saw two of them in his dreams.


    Aredhel''s eyes widened in surprise,


    At the same time?


    No, he saw someone way before and one just now.


    Aredhel chuckled with a sense of satisfaction as she responded to Delimira''s question,


    Previously, I thought Hans was not really his son, but now I am sure he has Parvian blood in him.


    Delimira looked at her mother with confusion and asked,


    What are you talking about, mother?


    Aredhel replied,


    Nothing. As for my end of the deal, the God''s Bloods did exist in the past, but since the Elven gods have forsaken us, we not only lost our long lifespan but also the ability to conceive a ''God''s Blood.''


    The following day, Sierra called for Hans to visit the Yudwin temple. She wanted to ask Yudwin to bless him because he kept hurting himself. There was no way to turn down Sierra when her goddess was involved, and since Hans was on medical leave, he had plenty of time to follow her wishes.


    THE NEXT DAY


    Hans reluctantly accompanied Sierra to the temple where the former high priestess prayed for him. Despite never having faith in Yudwin, Hans always believed that it was Sierra''s power that kept him alive.


    He had heard about being a stillborn and Sierra using her divine mana to save his life, but there was no concrete evidence to support this work as Yudwin''s doing. Despite his doubts, he couldn''t bring himself to argue with his grandmother, who only had his best interests at heart.


    After leaving the temple, Hans made his way to the training field where the day''s lecture was taking place. He was running late, but to his relief, Aredhel Winters, the professor in charge, was also running behind schedule. He quietly slipped in next to his friends just as Aredhel made her entrance.


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    Aredhel greeted the class with a smile,


    My apologies for being late, something came up. But before we begin, how about Mr Hans demonstrates his mastery of Mana discharge?


    Hans remained calm and collected, knowing that they were outside and there was a possibility of this happening. Whereas Delimira grabbed his wrist and warned him, "you better have something".


    Hans shrugged her off and retorted,


    Didn''t you say a mule can learn mana discharge from a book? I may not be entirely human, but I''m definitely better than a mule.


    Proudly, he stepped forward and addressed Aredhel, while casting a glance in Chris''s direction,


    Is it alright if my friend takes the hit? He was curious about it yesterday.


    Chris was taken aback by the sudden proposition. Although he was indeed curious, he had never expected to become a practice dummy. Aredhel nodded her approval, and Chris reluctantly made his way to the front. His reluctance, however, did not stem from fear, but rather from the hassle of it all.


    Aredhel addressed the class, her eyes glinting with excitement.


    Today, we have a unique opportunity to witness the simultaneous display of a mage''s mana discharge and a knight''s defence against it. Pay attention, this will be a valuable lesson.


    Hans flashed a sly grin at Chris and taunted him,


    Relax, my friend. You have nothing to worry about. This is all ELEMENTARY.


    But Chris knew better than to let his guard down. He swung his blade a few times, loosening up his muscles and mentally preparing for the challenge ahead. He had learned that nothing was ever straightforward when it came to Hans, and he was determined not to be caught off guard.


    Hans felt a surge of excitement as Chris covered himself with a veil of aura, his body shining a faint shade of purple. Hans had learned from his previous encounter with Rudolf that even his sole physical defence wouldn''t be enough to counter his mana discharge. And Chris was no warlord, but he was prepared to defend against anything, turning his aura defence to the maximum.


    Hans was impressed to see him giving his all It would have been disrespectful not to reciprocate with equal fervour. With a sly grin on his face, Hans closed his eyes and began to concentrate. He had already given a name to his mana discharge and he called upon it with all his might.


    ~ ManaStorm ~


    As he said those words, the mana in the area reciprocated his conviction. Swirling around him, it grew denser and heavier, bearing down on him with increasing intensity. The flow of mana invisible to the naked eye was now starting to leave traces in the dusty field.


    This was far different from the mana discharge that other mages used. Chris understood the gravity of the situation and increased the aura around him. He was prepared to use Aura Burst, a technique that releases a shockwave of aura in all directions, similar to mana discharge.


    With a wicked smile, Hans called out to Chris,


    Get ready.


    With a single step, Hans advanced forward, and the spiralled mana stretched out, shooting towards Chris like a catapult. The dense rotation of mana hit Chris with such force that he was sent flying several meters away, his Aura Burst completely negated. The sheer power of Hans'' "ManaStorm" was unlike anything Chris had ever seen before.


    Chris was in shock as he saw his blunt sword shattered even with aura conducting in it. This was the second time he had faced Hans and once again, he was completely overwhelmed by him. However, Hans was not in a good condition either. He was gasping for air, leaning forward and holding onto his knees for support.


    Despite this, Aredhel clapped for the marvellous performance. She was impressed by Hans''s display of power, but she also knew that it was not enough. She commented,


    It''s useless if you can''t finish off your opponent after doing this much damage to him. The recoil is pretty bad in your case.


    Hans gritted his teeth as he tried to catch his breath. Aredhel''s words stung him, but he knew she was right. He couldn''t afford to waste his energy like this in a real battle. Suddenly, a cunning idea struck him. He pointed his finger at Chris and shouted,


    ~ SugarDrain ~


    A parasitic vine, which he had recently acquired from the Man-Eating forest, sprung out from the ground and coiled around Chris''s legs. the grip was not strong enough to be noticed after the deafening blast. And it immediately started to drain Chris''s energy and supply it back to Hans.


    Noticing his condition of quickening lethargy, Chris started tearing the thin vines but with every touch, he felt his strength draining. He looked at Hans who was getting better with significant speed. Hans released a deep breath, this spell was a help in transferring the energy(stamina) from his target to him.


    Frustrated, Chris yelled at Hans,


    You darn mosquito, stop it!


    With a wide grin that stretched almost to his ears, Hans dispelled the energy-draining spell and turned to Chris.


    "I could finish him now, professor," he declared confidently, addressing Aredhel.


    Acknowledging Hans, Aredhel replied, "Indeed, Mr Hans. Now, take your exhausted friend back to your spot." She emphasised the importance of today''s practical lecture on perfecting everyone''s mana storm, while Hans and Chris rested under the shade.


    Eager to tease his friend, Hans turned to Chris and said,


    Oh, come on! You wanted to see me using it.


    But Chris was not amused. In fact, he was quite annoyed and shouted,


    "It doesn''t mean you can suck me dry", feeling awkward from his own words he added "you mosquito!"


    Hans let out a weary sigh and replied,


    Glad that you added the mosquito part, you sounded...


    Chris rolled his eyes and shouted,


    Oh, shut up.


    As Chris lay on the bench with a damp towel covering his face, Hans observed the other students practising their mana discharge techniques. He had been hoping to see how Delimira would perform, but he had missed her turn while chatting with Chris.


    After regaining some of his energy, Chris sat up and turned to Hans.


    "Hey, do you remember the black-haired fairy from your dreams?" he asked.


    Hans''s eyes lit up with excitement.


    "How could I forget her?" he exclaimed.


    Confidently, Chris replied,


    Then let''s see her.


    Hans looked surprised.


    "How?" he asked.


    Chris pointed at Delimira and said,


    Everything is possible if you have a Winters around you.


    Little did they know, their casual conversation was about to set fire to their otherwise calm lives.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 65 : Resurgence of Chaos

    CHAPTER 65


    RESURGENCE OF CHAOS


    With bated breath and hopeful hearts, the two young lads eagerly awaited the arrival of Delimira. Hans, unsure of how Chris intended to accomplish their goal, was nevertheless buoyed by the knowledge of Winters'' vast resources. When she came to them, both pretended to have a deep conversation.


    When she finally arrived, they feigned deep conversation, eager to begin their scheme. Chris turned to Hans once more, his mischievous grin belying his true intentions.


    "Hey, let''s take a look at your elven fairy," he suggested.


    Hans played along, feigning ignorance.


    "How?" he asked.


    "Well," Chris replied,


    we could borrow an Image crystal from our friend here.


    Delimira raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed.


    "That''s expensive," she protested.


    Chris pleaded with her, his persuasive tone almost convincing.


    "Oh come on, Deli," he said, "Hans was whining all night about how much prettier she was than you".


    Hans felt a jolt of shock run through him. Chris had thrown him under the falling sword and he was left scrambling to defend himself. But it was too late - Delimira was already giving him a death stare. He wanted to lash out at Chris, but he knew the damage was already done. All he could do was hope that Chris had the plan to salvage the situation.


    Chris had already requested Delimira to bring the image crystal to class, but at the time, she did not know the purpose and hadn''t paid much attention to it. Chris had waited until this moment and she finally realised overhearing their conversation, why he had asked for the expensive object.


    You asked me to bring this for your own selfish desires," she argued flashing the stone right at their faces, her voice firm and resolute. Ignoring her protests, Hans snatched the crystal from her hands and turned to Chris. "How do we use it?" he asked eagerly.


    Chris, however, had other ideas. Turning to Delimira and pointing towards the crystal in Hans''s hand, he asked slyly,


    Are you not confident, holding your own against her?


    She bristled at the question, her indignation clear. "That''s beside the point", turning to Hans she retorted,


    Shorty, the crystal is a consumable, expensive, and one-time-use item. Can you afford it?


    Hans was undeterred. "But you''re a rich heiress," he pointed out.


    Don''t be a miser, WInters.


    Turning once more to Chris, Hans asked eagerly,


    So how do we use it?


    Chris shot a glance in Delimira''s direction, but she remained silent. "Just remember her," Chris instructed.


    The crystal will imprint her image on its own.


    Delimira, true to her nature, had brought a top-tier image crystal, capable of rendering the image with stunning lifelikeness beyond that of lower-quality crystals.


    With eyes tightly shut, Hans followed Chris''s instructions. After a few moments, an image began to form within the crystal. Projected before them was a lifelike figure, a beautiful black-haired woman sitting before a large stone with an inscription that remained obscured from view. Her eyes, moistened with tears, gleamed like red pearls, and despite the sadness etched on her face, she exuded an irresistible charm.


    Both boys were captivated, but it was Hans who was truly enthralled. He had never seen her with such clarity in his dreams, and he eagerly took in every detail. The girl appeared older than him, but her beauty was timeless, and she seemed to share a similar age as Vanessa.


    Delimira''s pride had taken a massive hit, the girl in crystal sure[assed her or any other she knew in terms of charms and Chris wasted no time in teasing her, remarking, "Yup, she''s way prettier and hotter than you."


    Before Delimira could respond, her mother suddenly appeared before them, quickly shattering the crystal. Hans was on the verge of losing his cool, but he managed to restrain himself. Aredhel''s usually calm demeanour was replaced by anger, it was way different from a mother protecting her child¡¯s pride. Something about her behaviour was off, and Delimira couldn''t help but notice.


    Her mother was not one to show emotions, but her reaction was intense and unsettling. She reprimanded the three of them and abruptly dismissed the class, leaving everyone shaken. Chris, ever the joker, tried to lighten the mood by quipping, "Wow, your mother really does love you."


    But his attempt was in vain. Delimira and Hans were lost in their thoughts, pondering why Aredhel had lost her composure. If she was upset about them using class time for leisure, why didn''t she scold them then and there?


    Hans was remembering the projection to look for something that he might have missed but there was nothing that piqued his interest. A long time had passed but curiosity was killing him so he finally gave in and ran to his sister¡¯s quarters. She was the only person who would do anything for him without asking.


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    Hans couldn''t shake his curiosity about the image projection and wondered if he had missed something. Unable to resist any longer, he made his way to his sister''s quarters, knowing she would do anything for him without question. After waiting anxiously for hours, he finally met with her in the evening. As soon as she saw him, she patted his head and asked, "What brings you here, dear brother?"


    As Aredhel''s adverse reaction was still fresh in his mind, Hans gestured to Vanessa to keep quiet by putting his index finger on his lips. Vanessa quickly activated a soundproofing artefact, catching everything before Hans could even explain the situation. This was one of the many things he admired about her.


    In a grim voice, Vanessa asked,


    What happened?


    Hans replied,


    Do you have any image crystals?


    Vanessa retrieved one from the drawer beside her table and handed it to him. Hans repeated the process and showed her the image of the black-haired Elf. Vanessa didn''t show any adverse reaction, just awe that something so beautiful could exist.


    However, the crystal wasn''t of high quality, and Vanessa made a pouting face as she realized her 500 gold coins had just gone to satisfy her brother''s curiosity about an elven girl. She couldn''t help but feel upset that the beautiful image wasn''t worth the cost.


    Hans didn''t appreciate Vanessa''s disinterested gaze at the projection, which was only half the size of Delimira''s crystal. He wanted her to examine it closely, so he urged her to pay attention.


    "Sis, take a closer look," he said.


    Vanessa responded,


    Yeah, yeah, you have very high standards, dear brot¡ª HOLY SHIT!"


    Her sudden outburst caught Hans off guard, but it also meant that she had noticed something significant. Before he could ask her about it, she immediately contacted Sierra and urgently requested her to come to the room. It was unusual for a servant to summon her lady to her room, but Vanessa was afraid and Sierra came running.


    <div>


    <div>


    As soon as Sierra arrived, she glanced at the crystal and promptly destroyed it. It didn''t take her long to figure out who was responsible for bringing such an object into the house. Before she could say anything, Hans spoke up, "This was the second time."


    Sierra''s expression turned serious as she asked,


    Who else saw this?


    Hans knew better than to withhold information from his sister and answered obediently,


    Me, Delimra, Chris, and Professor Aredhel. She also broke it just like you did.


    Sierra nodded,


    I''ll talk to her. Now go back, it''s not your business.


    Vanessa, who had regained her composure, stopped Hans from leaving and implored Sierra,


    If what I saw is true, then Lady, he needs to know so he can avoid it.


    Sierra bit her lip, realizing that Vanessa had a valid point. She let out a long breath and turned to Hans,


    She was wearing something in her hand. Do you remember it?


    Hans thought back and replied,


    Yes, on her right hand, a bracelet.


    "It was actually a ring that could shrink and expand," Sierra said,


    Sam''s most powerful weapon, a power he could bestow or transfer to others. Because of its unknown location, you are the target of many.


    "But I don''t have it," Hans protested.


    Sierra nodded, "Yes, you were, but what is this?" She held up the crumbled crystal in her hand and added,


    You have somehow become related to it now.


    Hans remained silent and Vanessa added to Sierra¡¯s words,


    Sam was strong but the thing that made him strongest was that ring. With this, you could treat Ancients from Madaruka as tissue papers.


    His mind raced with the possibilities that the ring held, and how it could have been used by Samson to bend the Ancients to his will. Vanessa''s words echoed in his mind as he pictured the immense power that the ring could grant its wielder.


    With a furrowed brow, Hans turned to Sierra and posed the question that burned in his mind,


    What was the speciality of the ring?


    Sierra hesitated for a moment, her heart not wanting to tell him more but she had to speak, for his little boy, so that he could understand the gravity of the matter. After a moment''s pause, she spoke in a sombre tone, her words measured and deliberate.


    "The ring," she began, "is a powerful artefact. It grants its wielder control over every type of mana, regardless of whether they are a mage or not. With it, one can grow strong enough to defy even the most skilled of warlocks."


    Sierra''s eyes flicked to Hans, gauging his reaction before continuing. "After Samson''s death, everyone was frantically searching for the ring. But it was never found, until now." She gestured to the crumbled memory stone on her hand, a sense of urgency in her voice.


    "But if the wrong people find out, it could spell disaster. The Ancients, beings with unfathomable strength, would surely come for it. They live in seclusion beyond the Grand barrier and rarely meddle in human affairs. But if they do, no one here has the means to stop them."


    Sierra paused, her gaze settling on Hans once more.


    So, I implore you not to tell anyone. The consequences could be dire.


    Hans listened carefully, his mind racing with the implications of what Sierra had just revealed. The only incident that he knew of involving them with ordinary people had been told to him by Delimira. And it was also the reason she wanted to kill one. She did not share the details but Hans somehow could recognise( why? ) the eyes burning with revenge.


    But one coming after him was a whole other story, it was already a miracle that they did not grace him with their presence till now, Perhaps he held no value in the eyes of those ascetics, and he intended to keep it that way for as long as possible.


    Samson had made every Ancient submit to him and Hans was no fool to be late in realising that the ring would have been the true aid that made him achieve that. An artefact capable of achieving this feat is something else and the Ancients naturally abhorred such power, the very existence of the ring was a threat to their way of life. Hans couldn''t help but wonder about the name of the ring, and he asked Sierra in a hushed tone.


    "Ring of Chaos," she replied, its name resonating with the power that it held. Hans couldn''t help but feel a sense of foreboding as he pondered the implications of the ring''s true capabilities.


    Sierra said her final words before departing, leaving Hans alone with his thoughts.


    I will talk to Aredhel, many thanks to Yudwin. If she had not seen this, we would have been in deep trouble.


    Hans watched her go, the weight of her words lingering in the air. He couldn''t help but wonder how many eyes were on him at that very moment, and how much those eyes had seen.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 66 : The Second Year Promotion

    CHAPTER 66


    THE SECOND-YEAR PROMOTION


    It was as though a veil had been lifted from Hans'' eyes as he finally understood why his grandparents had taken him to live in seclusion with them. Despite being surrounded by people, they had deemed the classless beast zone to be a safer place to raise him. And now, with the ring of Chaos in play, it seemed their fears had been justified.


    Everyone coveted the power of the ring, and if it was confirmed that Hans had any involvement with the next ring-wearer, Concordia''s fear of retaliation would not be enough to deter his pursuers.


    He couldn''t help but curse himself. It seemed like trouble had a way of finding him no matter what he did. He knew that pursuing the matter of the Ring of Chaos would only lead to more disturbance, but he couldn''t let it go. There had to be another way to approach this sensitive matter.


    Lost in thought, Hans found himself rethinking the time when he had possessed the human slaughtering the god''s blood elves. It was a dark memory, one that he tried to keep buried. But just as he was delving deeper into the memory, a hand shook him, bringing him back to reality.


    He turned to see Chris sitting beside him in the dining hall, not realising when he had come there, and his food remained untouched on his plate. His deep thoughts and undecipherable mumbling had attracted the attention of those around him, who were now staring at him curiously.


    Feeling self-conscious, he quickly finished his meal, hardly tasting the food as he swallowed it down. The night had been filled with revelations and he needed to rest his mind. He knew that he couldn''t ignore the matter of the ring of Chaos, but for now, he needed sleep and without a word to anyone, he made his way to his room and slipped into slumber.


    <div>


    <div>


    As he slept, a soft hand gently caressed his forehead. The touch was surprisingly gentle, yet the callouses and roughness revealed his owner''s life of hardship and struggle. A voice whispered, barely audible, "Why must my blood suffer such tragic fates again and again?"


    Hans stirred in his sleep, sensing the presence of someone in the room. But when he opened his eyes, there was no one there. Confused, he rubbed his eyes and settled back into bed. As he drifted off to sleep once again, he couldn''t shake the feeling that someone, or something, was watching over him.


    WINTER¡¯S HOME


    An uninvited but expected guest burst into Director Aredhel''s home, causing Delimira to become nervous. Aredhel did not want her daughter to get involved, but she also understood the dangers of half-knowledge. She had to tell Delimira why she broke the image crystal and gave her a firm warning not to covet the cursed ring.


    Sierra glanced at Delimira, who was standing beside the resting couch, wanting the child to give adults some privacy but catching her intentions, Aredhel spoke first.


    It has been a while since you last met my daughter, Lady Sierra, isn''t that right?


    Sierra had seen Delimira around Hans and Bernard''s son before, but she never wanted to pass on any judgment from the previous generation to the new one, so she remained silent. However, it was true that she had encountered the elven girl before.


    Sierra responded with a gracious smile,


    Yes, she still has her father''s eyes.


    Delimira felt a sudden pang of confusion. How could so many people know about her father, yet none of them did anything when her parents were being wronged? Though she wanted to ask Sierra, this was neither the time nor place for that discussion.


    Sierra was a mover and shaker of nations, and Delimira knew why she had come. She wanted to keep the Ring of Chaos incident under wraps, and Delimira understood the logic behind it. After all, the Ring of Chaos was the most potent artefact ever crafted, and it was resurfacing once again with Hans being the only clue.


    "What can we do for you, Lady Sierra?" Delimira inquired.


    Sierra smiled warmly at the young girl and replied,


    You seem calm and reasonable, my dear. You already know what you have to do.


    <div>


    <div>


    Sierra turned to Aredhel and, to Delimira''s surprise, thanked her for protecting Hans before leaving. Delimira was perplexed by the lack of threats or warnings, and there was no mention of the ring. She looked at her mother with doubt, as Lady Sierra was reputed to be unreasonable and quick to issue threats, yet her actions were the opposite of what was rumoured.


    After seeing Delimira''s confused expression, Aredhel asked,


    So, what was your first impression of her?


    "She seems kind and reasonable," Delimira replied, still processing the unexpected encounter.


    Aredhel, who was known for her stoic personality, broke that notion and burst into laughter. Delimira was taken aback by her mother''s sudden outburst, and her confusion only grew until her mother explained her perspective.


    "Her not threatening us meant we were never a threat, to begin with," Aredhel said, still chuckling. "Her silence said, ''know your place and don''t act out.''"


    Delimira furrowed her brow.


    "But I did not sense any malice in her words," she said.


    Aredhel placed a comforting hand on her daughter''s shoulder. "Her staying silent is far more terrifying than her acting violently, Deli," she said. "We of the old generation know the real Edenberg that people need to watch out for is not Sir Rudolf but the Iron Lady Sierra, your future master."


    CLANDOR ROYAL PALACE


    In a cosy chamber, a regal elven maiden sat perched upon a plush chair by the warmth of the flickering hearth. Clad in a resplendent red gown and adorned with a crown befitting her status, she leisurely perused a letter that had recently been delivered to her. Beside her, a precious Image stone lay, which she idly twirled between her fingers as she read.


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    "My queen," the missive began. "Though my sight has been limited, I managed to catch a glimpse of an incident that made Aredhel Winters act out. I have sent an Image crystal along with the letter. Please take a look at it.


    As she finished reading, the elven lady ceased her fiddling and activated the crystal. A vision of a God-blooded Elf materialized before her eyes, standing before a tomb-like structure and sporting the Chaos ring on her wrist. She murmured in astonishment,


    Finally, after so long, a new owner surfaced.


    CONCORDIA


    The incident was never mentioned again, and Delimira and Hans kept their lips sealed about it. Chris, on the other hand, remained oblivious to the whole affair and would sometimes jest with Hans about his dream girl. Life in Concordia flowed smoothly after that, devoid of any unexpected twists and turns.


    Hans diligently attended his classes, yet despite his intellect, his academic performance was nothing short of disappointing. He found solace in practising his swordsmanship, which served as a way to keep himself physically active. But try as he might, his search for information about the God Blood Elf from his first dream, the one with the black hair who died at his feet, proved fruitless. It was as if every lead he followed led him on a wild goose chase, with someone deliberately erasing every possible clue.


    Oddly enough, he didn''t feel as though someone was intentionally leading him astray out of malice. Rather, it was as if an unseen force was quietly safeguarding him from the shadows, someone he hadn''t yet met.


    But whoever or whatever it was, it clearly didn''t prioritise Hans. And so, he eventually forgot about it and focused on his studies. As the first year drew to a close, many students from the lower sections began to shine, some even surpassing their recommended peers.


    Hans''s position as Professor Walter''s favourite pupil proved advantageous in securing the necessary attendance for promotion to the next year. But it was a double-edged sword - Walter''s constant interference in Hans''s affairs earned him the animosity of other professors.


    Unlike the subsequent years, there were no annual exams for the first years. Rather, they only needed to leave a good impression on their teachers and gain more than half the votes of the professors that taught them.


    It was not a question that both students who held the representative title for the whole year, Delimira and Chris sailed through their promotions with glowing recommendations and full votes from their professors. But Hans wasn''t so fortunate; he had hoped that his practical skills, as well as Walter''s backing, would be enough to secure his passage into the next year but he couldn''t be more wrong. He faced strong opposition from many of the professors and was ultimately denied advancement.


    He thought Professor Walter would lend him a helping hand, but Walter refused to intervene, "it is your mess to solve", was the only word the housemaster left him. Hans could have easily used his dean''s influence to secure his promotion, but he refused to be seen as someone who had been granted special treatment. The only remaining option was to seek aid from an organization in Concordia that could vouch for him. After some contemplation, he decided that his best bet was to reach out to the Botanical Garden, the research facility located in Agrilands.


    However, gaining their recommendation required signing a cooperation agreement for the upcoming year. By doing so, he would secure the letter that would override the professors'' authority and ensure his promotion. And so, with no other alternative, Hans made his way to the second year, with the Botanical Garden as his backing.


    As per the Concordia guidelines, students were required to depart from the foundation castle after their first year and move into one of the distinct HOUSES: Sentinels, Prophets, Talons, Seekers, and so forth. Hans found himself among the ranks of the Prophets, whose castle stood apart from the others in its privileged stature. Here, each student was bestowed with an abundance of resources, thanks to the significantly lower headcount.


    Hans was awarded a room of his own, a considerable upgrade from his previous accommodations. His new space was spacious, well-lit, and decorated with lavish furnishings and stunning wall murals. The atmosphere was akin to a luxurious hotel''s royal suite. It was clear that the Prophets reserved such indulgences for their select few, who were often the future leaders of the world.


    Yet, amidst the opulence, Hans could not escape the sense of unease that had crept upon him. He knew that everyone around him was a liar and a backstabber, motivated by nothing but personal gain. His own family had warned him against placing his trust in anyone from the Prophets, cautioning him about the cutthroat nature of their House. The memory of their words lingered in his mind as he surveyed his new surroundings, wondering if he would ever find a true ally within the walls of this privileged place.


    Though all the House Castles in Concordia were separate, they shared a common space amongst themselves - except for the abode of Delimira. From the outset, she had been living with her mother in the private quarters of the HouseMaster, a bit far from Sentinels castle.


    Chris, on the other hand, had found himself in the bustling Talon castle - the most populous of them all. To his discomfort, he was assigned to share his room with a senior, bound by an unspoken rule that he must follow their every word to the letter. In the Talon House, it didn''t matter what the instruction was - obedience was paramount. The seniority system dictated that juniors were meant to be worked to the bone, all in the name of teaching them the essence of subordination.


    Chris knew that a harsh and gruelling existence awaited him within the Talon castle''s walls for at least three long years. As he stood within the daunting walls of the Talon castle, he knew that his ability to withstand the demands of his senior would be tested. With a deep breath, he made his way towards the HouseMaster''s quarters to report his arrival, steeling himself for the challenges that lay ahead.


    Hans too found himself standing outside the HouseMaster''s office, preparing to report as the newest member of the Prophets. Among all the Houses in Concordia, the Prophets were entrusted with the weighty responsibility of overseeing the administration of the Floatlands, including the Concordia itself.


    As Hans knocked on the office door, he heard a voice from inside beckoning him to come in. Walter, the HouseMaster, greeted him warmly, expressing his delight at the arrival of their youngest member.


    However, Hans couldn''t help but interject with a tone of bitterness,


    I almost failed, Professor. The wounds of betrayal are still fresh.


    Walter chuckled in response to Hans'' comment, a wry smile playing across his face. "Do not trust anyone here, kid," he warned. "This is a battlefield, and don''t expect anyone to take your side until you have some leverage over them. That''s just how things work in our House - we''re here to create the perfect leaders, not babysitting"


    He continued,


    Your father was groomed here, and so was your sister, almost.


    Hans nodded his understanding, and Walter moved on to another topic. "Have you selected the compulsory subjects for our House next year?" he asked, getting straight to the point.


    Hans had done his research before arriving at the Prophets'' castle. He knew that the courses in the second year would be different from the first, with students being given a stipend and the freedom to choose their own work within their House for the three compulsory subjects. The goal was to groom them in their respective fields, but there were also three electives available for students to choose from.


    As Hans discussed his course selections with Walter, he mentioned that he wasn''t particularly strong in finance or economics and was considering a managerial subject. However, before he could finish his sentence, Walter interrupted him.


    "You won''t be taking any of the compulsory courses," he said, surprising Hans.


    Hans couldn''t hide his delight at this news, but Walter quickly chided him for showing his emotions so openly. "But you will be taking these instead," he added, as he handed Hans a list of courses


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 67 : The Attack on Concordia

    CHAPTER 67


    THE ATTACK ON CONCORDIA


    As Hans sat across from Walter, he kept his face neutral, heeding Walter''s latest advice. But Walter''s words had a peculiar tone to them, causing Hans to sense that there was more to this than meets the eye. Sure enough, as Walter handed him a piece of paper, Hans could see that there were strings attached to this offer.


    Hans scanned the list of choices, divided into three departments: mage, knight, and production.


    <hr>


    From mage department


    Spell theory


    Mage battle


    <hr>


    From knight department


    Soul weaponry


    Swordsmanship


    <hr>


    From production


    Agriculture - (Botanical garden facility)


    Beast hunting


    <hr>


    As Hans continued to scan the paper, his mind raced with other thoughts. The choices presented to him were no coincidence - each option seemed tailor-made for his interests and skillset. But before he could delve any further into his thoughts, Walter interjected. The man had a way of interrupting Hans at the most inconvenient times.


    "We made a deal," Walter said firmly, "and now I''m showing you my sincerity by paving your way to the Glory Wars Junior League. But you have to win, Youngest. You have to win that damn thing."


    Hans knew that Walter was right. The one thing he could rely on when it came to this man was their exchange deal. Walter had promised to give him the second book, and in exchange, Hans had agreed to compete in the junior league and secure a runner-up position at the very least to enter the treasury of Alliance.


    The First-years at Concordia were often kept isolated from their seniors, leading to a lack of knowledge about their accomplishments. But in the sixth month of the year, the event did happen and Concordia secured third position in the senior league and second in the higher league.


    It was expected, Concordia had lost the rights to host the event to the Alliance some years ago, and the school had not made much of an effort in the Glory Wars after that. Instead, they focused their attention on the Red Demon Trials, a graduating event for seniors, and most of the under-graduates spent their time developing their skills further rather than showing off in glory wars.


    But now, Concordia was determined to reclaim its former glory and the upcoming junior league was the perfect opportunity to do so. The school was buzzing, promoting the events since the beginning of the year and adjusting its schedule to focus on the big event.


    Hans left Walter''s office and quickly submitted his choice to the Prophets'' second-year management. He had Walter''s written arrangement in hand making the process quite easier.


    As the tenth month came to a close, the first annual holidays were just days away. The Concordia academic year followed a unique schedule, with classes running from the first month to the tenth, followed by a three-month holiday.


    With just a week left until the holidays, Hans and his friend met at the Griffin''s Nest cafe as they often did. Today, they were there to celebrate their successful promotion to the second year.


    As they sipped their drinks, Hans turned to Chris and asked,


    So, did you get settled in the Talons?


    Chris was holding back for some time and Hans''s question poked him like a balloon and he also burst like one. "My roommate is a third-year senior, man. My luck sure sucks. Out of all the seniors, I got stuck with the one with the worst personality." His disappointment was palpable, and Hans and Delimira shared a sympathetic glance.


    <div>


    <div>


    "Why?" asked Hans, curious to know more.


    Chris looked at Hans with annoyance and said,


    The first thing that jerk of a senior said was that if I made a girlfriend he would kill me.


    Hans couldn''t help but laugh out loud.


    Well, looks like you''ll have to stay single then.


    Chris ignored Hans''s mockery and turned to Delimira.


    So, did you move into the dorms?


    Delimira replied indifferently,


    No, I''m staying with my mother. It''s much more comfortable.


    Chris was annoyed at both of them. He was the only one suffering through this ordeal, and it seemed like no one cared. Already knowing the luxurious treatment of the Prophets, no one bothered to ask Hans about his living conditions. Hans was ready to flaunt any moment, but he had to remain silent because no one seemed interested. It left him feeling disappointed.


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    So he interjected with some small talk.


    "When are you guys leaving for the end-term holidays?" he asked casually.


    Delimira spoke up first, pointing towards Chris.


    "He''s leaving in a few days, but I''m staying put," she replied.


    Chris couldn''t resist teasing her.


    "Oh, if she goes now, I''m sure they''ll betroth her to some noble prick," he joked.


    Hans raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    Wait, didn''t you say she was already betrothed to some guy named Theodre..?


    In a rush, Chris attempted to shut his blabbermouth friend''s mouth, but it was too late. The water had already spilt out. Delimira shot a furious glare at Chris, her anger towards him mounting by the second. In frustration, Chris turned to Hans and shouted,


    You weren''t supposed to say that to her face, man!


    Hans tried to mumble a response, but Chris''s hand-gag muffled his words. Delimira, on the other hand, spoke in a sharp tone,


    What kind of friend are you? You told him that?


    For once, Chris found some courage and decided to talk back.


    Oh, come on, Deli. He''s just a fictional character that your mother made up to make you happy. If he actually existed, she would have found him by now.


    <div>


    <div>


    As Chris continued to speak, Hans knew that his friend was digging his own grave. He couldn''t stand by and watch Chris do something unsalvageable, so he interjected again,


    So what was his name again?


    Delimira''s anger quickly turned towards Hans, as he stuck his thumb into someone else''s pie. She shot him a cold and dismissive look, saying,


    None of your business.


    Hans knew that Delimira might not consider him a true friend, but he still cared deeply about Chris. He thought that diverting her anger towards him was the right thing to do. So, he tried to lighten the mood by joking, "Noneofyourbusiness, that''s a long name."


    Delimira was about to express her true feelings of anger towards both of them, but something suddenly happened that made her stay silent. Ever since her toddler days, she had always been very sensitive, perhaps something she inherited from her father. She could feel her senses going haywire, and it was enough to leave her speechless.


    Hans braced himself for Delimira''s lash-out, expecting her to spare Chris. But as she fell silent, an odd feeling started to creep up on him too, as if something was off about the situation. Chris could sense the tension building between his two friends and feared they might come to blows. But before he could say anything, both Delimira and Hans covered his mouth with their hands.


    "Shhhh..." Delimira whispered, "Something''s not right here. We need to leave."


    Hans nodded in agreement, acknowledging Delimira''s sharp judgement. Chris followed their lead, and as they exited the building, the eerie silence that had surrounded them was broken, as if they had just stepped out of a vacuum.


    Delimira''s quick senses kicked in, and she cast a spell to shield them from any possible danger.


    ~ WindShield ~


    A spherical ball of rotating wind enveloped the three, shielding them from all directions.


    Suddenly, a bomb went off right behind the cafe, engulfing everything in the vicinity. The building was destroyed, but Delimira''s spell remained unwavering. When the shockwave stopped, she looked past her WindShield and was ready to head towards the bomb blast. However, Hans grabbed her hand and stopped her in her tracks.


    Delimira frantically shook off his grip, asking him,


    What are you doing? We need to help people!


    Hans stood firm, and shouted back at her,


    Stop, you idiot! No one is insane enough to kill someone in Concordia!


    Delimira was about to refute his claim, but as she looked at the still-standing WindShield, she realized that the bomb was not lethal. Then Hans added words with confidence,


    It''s a distraction.


    Hans scanned the area with his ManaVision, but there was no sign of life. Had everyone in the cafe been killed, or was there no one there to begin with? He realized they hadn''t seen any staff fleeing the scene.


    "There is no one there," Hans concluded.


    Chris was still fixated on their previous conversation. "Distraction for whom?" he yelled.


    Delmira shook her head.


    Certainly not us. We need to alert the people rushing here.


    Suddenly, another bomb exploded nearby, and several more followed in quick succession. The trio hurried to Concordia, where they ran into their seniors. Hans tried to speak to them, but they were too shocked and panicked to listen to a first-year student when bombs were going off here and there.


    But Delmira was different. Her words made sense to some of the seniors, and they divided into groups. Half of them went to investigate the bombing, while the others accompanied Delmira to Sentinels to brief Aredhel on the possibility of a distraction.


    Chris chose to split up with Hans and head to Talon''s castle, while Hans made his way towards Prophets. As he sprinted towards Walter''s office, he noticed the guards giving him a wide berth, not wanting to disturb the high-end noble. He burst into the unlocked office and was met with a scene of utter chaos - the place had been completely ransacked.


    His mind immediately went to The Solar Mage book, and he hurried to the drawer where he had seen Walter keep it. But his heart sank when he found it missing, and he couldn''t help but curse under his breath.


    Hans had never considered Walter to be foolish enough to leave such a valuable book lying around, but the fact that it was nowhere to be found made him uneasy. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts and noticing the absence of powerful people from the castle. He pondered, Just what the heck happened during their time in the cafe?


    With a growing sense of unease, Hans left the office and made his way towards the only person he could trust to give him the answers he needed. He burst into Vanessa''s office and blurted out,


    Hey sis, did something happen?


    Vanessa greeted her brother with a warm smile,


    Oh my, you are visiting quite often, dear brother, not that I mind.


    But Hans wasn''t there for a friendly chat. He pressed on,


    Oh, come on don''t change the subject.


    Seeing Hans this anxious, Vanessa spoke the truth,


    We captured a spy from Eclipse this morning, that''s why the higher-ups are in Area 11


    Hans''s heart skipped a beat as he remembered the forbidden island of Floatlands where the most dangerous criminals were held. And the name Eclipse only added to the gravity of the situation - they were the notorious secret organization that had split from their mother nation "PARV" under the leadership of Xandor.


    Vanessa furrowed her brow in thought before responding,


    That''s not enough of a distraction. If people get hurt, it will negatively impact the negotiations.


    Hans still seemed unsure, so he asked her,


    What does that mean?


    It means it wasn''t a distraction. Were you with your friends?


    "Damn it", she cursed, "Then your friends are in trouble. It wasn''t a distraction, but an attack. All three of you are special enough to be used as bargaining chips."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 68 : The Fifth Book

    CHAPTER 68


    THE FIFTH BOOK


    Hans''s words lingered in Vanessa''s mind, churning up a tempest of thoughts and ideas. Her mind raced as she considered the possibilities, the risks, and the rewards. In the end, it took only a moment for her to reach a startling conclusion - the bomb attacks on the town plaza were merely a ruse, a cunning attempt to abduct one of the trio.


    As Vanessa''s lips parted to divulge crucial information, she withheld one critical detail. The mere thought of uttering it tightened her chest because Hans was closer to Chris and if Eclipse really targeted him then he was good as dead.


    Nevertheless, she pressed on, choosing instead to disclose a different tidbit. "Delmira," she spoke softly, almost as if to herself. "Now there''s a name worth considering. She''s the heiress of the Winter company, the daughter of a prominent director in Concordia. A useful exchange hostage, to be sure."


    Although Hans had never been particularly fond of her, the mere thought of her sudden disappearance did not sit well with him for some reason. He clenched his chest, trying to grab his violently beating heart. He was really getting an ominous feeling like he would regret it all his life if something happened to her.


    Turning to his sister Vanessa, he implored her for guidance.


    Sis, what should we do? Can we really trust Concordia to follow through with the exchange?


    Vanessa offered a reassuring pat on his head, attempting to quell his unease.


    Calm down, It''s all just my speculation for now, dear brother. We must confirm whether or not she''s been taken first.


    But Hans remained restless, pressing on with his concerns.


    But what if...?


    She assured him again,


    Well if it''s true, she is a valuable hostage so they won''t hurt her, so don''t worry.


    Her words worked wonders on Hans and he breathed a sigh of relief, believing that the mere fact of her value as a hostage would ensure her safety.


    Then she''ll be okay...let''s go then.


    But Vanessa quickly intervened, halting him in his tracks by literally grabbing him by the shoulders, declaring


    You are not leaving this place, young man.


    Hans protested but Vanessa''s tone brooked no argument. "No buts," she reiterated firmly. "I''m serious. You''re not leaving this place, period."


    She forced Hans to sit in and initiate communicating with Lady Sierra but despite her best efforts, Vanessa''s communication orb failed to connect with Sierra. It was a frustrating setback, but she couldn''t let it stop her. With a heavy heart, she made the difficult decision to leave Hans behind. Area 11 was likely to be the epicentre of the impending battle, and she couldn''t risk his safety.


    When she left, leaving him with his anxious thoughts that did not help a bit but grew his restlessness to no avail, for the reason he couldn''t quite articulate. Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, he slipped away from the quarters, leaving behind a message for Vanessa to track him down.


    As Hans ventured deeper into the fray, he encountered countless individuals trying to deter him from reaching the blast zone. But he was no novice when it came to evading, deftly slipping past them at every turn. He climbed to a high vantage point, determined to use his unique ability, ManaVision to track down Delimira''s unique mana signature.


    Her mana was distinct, with a quality unlike any other he had encountered before. It was only after learning of her mixed heritage that he began to understand why. Hans pushed himself to the limits of his ManaVision, straining his eyes and his mind to expand his senses to their fullest extent.


    His head throbbed with the strain of using his abilities to the limit, but he refused to let the pain distract him. There was no time to waste ¨C Vanessa would soon return and track him down the moment she see the note He just had to stall the abductor but Delimira losing to them meant they were strong, maybe far stronger than he could handle.


    But it did not mean he was going to stop, With a fierce determination in his heart, he made up his mind and set off in pursuit of Delimira''s captor. The orca vines came to his aid, giving him a power boost as he leapt over buildings and bounded through the streets, conserving his stamina for the inevitable showdown to come.


    With every step, he drew closer to his target, his heart pounding with anticipation and mostly fear


    AREA 11


    In the dimly lit room, the deans and HouseMasters stood tall and imposing, their eyes fixed on the trembling figure before them. Though many of the most powerful figures of Concordia had chosen to remain in the Midlands, those who had gathered in Area 11 were the finest the Concordia could offer.


    It had been the Talons who had caught the spy and brought him to Area 11. And now, they stood guard outside the interrogation room, their eyes peeled for any signs of trouble.


    The skilled interrogator had already uncovered the meeting point, and Walter took it upon himself to investigate the liaison. Even though it was likely to have changed, he needed to be certain.


    With the powerful alchemical solutions still inside him, the spy continued to sing like a bird. It was widely known that no one could resist the power of Concordia''s interrogation techniques. He revealed that the primary goal of Eclipse in Concordia was to steal the sunstones given to them by Parv to stop the Elven War.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Eclipse believed the sunstones were rightfully theirs, but the spy, being low in the hierarchy, did not know the exact plan of the organisation. The treasury where the sunstones were kept was tightly secured, and Concordia made sure that it was almost impossible to rob them.


    As they were speculating their own theories, Vanessa came knocking in a hurry. She barged in without showing any courtesy to the higher-ups and spoke of the possibility of Delimira being abducted. Aredhel''s face sank at the news - abducting her daughter for the sake of a low-level spy was highly unlikely. It was evident that Eclipse was after a bigger fish like robbing the sunstone reserves. But Concordia won''t hand over something so dangerous to Eclipse even if her daughter''s life was on the line.


    Aredhel knew how ruthless Eclipse was. They had no qualms about slaughtering anyone who stood in their way - even children. Panic was etched on her face, but she forced herself to remain calm. She knew that time was running out and the only hope for her daughter''s safe return was Rudolf.


    She isolated herself and the Thunder knight with a sound barrier, and with a pleading voice, she uttered the words that would make or break her. "If you want to see your son again, find my daughter," she said, her voice quivering with fear.


    Rudolf''s eyes turned cold as he heard her words. He looked at Aredhel with a mix of anger and desperation. The room started shaking as he gathered his lightning aura, ready to unleash his power.


    "If this is a lie, you will pay for it, no matter what," he threatened, his voice sharp as a blade.


    With those words, Rudolf vanished into thin air, leaving behind a trail of electric sparks that illuminated the room. The air crackled with energy as he went in search of Aredhel''s daughter


    THE MIDLAND FOREST


    The Midlands, while smaller in size compared to Agrilands, was a land of lush greenery among the tall castles and monuments. It was home to a sprawling forest, which was considered one of the greenest expanses on the floating island. Hans had finally tracked down the abductor and his captive and was now observing them from a safe distance, watching their every move with eagle eyes. The abductor, with an air of arrogance, sat lazily in the open space, exhibiting a blatant disregard for any potential threats. Beside him lay Delimira, seemingly unharmed, yet completely paralyzed and utterly helpless.


    Hans didn''t know about this man in front but he learned a lot about Eclipse in Concordia. This group of formidable extremists had either been excommunicated from or had left Parv, and they were led by the indomitable Xandor. Driven by a fierce desire for revenge against those who had taken the life of their beloved king, they were gathering their strength with the intention of toppling the allied nations.


    After hearing the name Xandor from Rudolf back in the County, Hans had to know who the man was, so he found quite a lot about him in Concordia library. Xandor was a mage of dark mana, the sole mage who had achieved control over death. His mastery over the undead had earned him the reputation of a one-man army, a description that was by no means an exaggeration.


    Hans gazed upon the unassuming figure before him, a middle-aged man clad in plain clothes without a hint of armour. At first glance, the man seemed harmless, his unremarkable appearance belying any hint of danger. But as their eyes met, a cold dread crept up Hans''s spine, tightening his throat with the fear of imminent death.


    Despite his initial fear, Hans knew better than to underestimate anyone connected to the dangerous Eclipse organisation. As the man before him spoke to Delimira, the dread that had gripped Hans dissipated, replaced by a growing sense of unease.


    "Well, well, would you look at that?" the man said with a sly smirk. "Looks like your knight...Mage in the white cloak is here, princess."


    A frustrating voice came from afar,


    Oh, Shit!!.


    Delimira could not turn her head to see but she could recognise that childish voice anywhere. She was not happy to see him here, There was no way Hans could get her out of the situation because she belatedly realised who this man was. As she pondered on the gravity of the situation, the only thought that kept swirling in her mind was that the entirety of Concordia might need to join forces to take down this evil force.


    Hans emerged from his hiding spot, recognising the voice of the captor immediately. It was the same voice that had haunted him back in the County, and now he found himself face-to-face with the leader of Eclipse. He cursed his luck, knowing that he was no match for a warlock, not to mention as powerful as Xandor. As equivalent to a mere two circles novice mage, he had little hope of running away from this battle.


    Desperate for a way out, Hans considered his options. He knew he needed to buy time and hope that someone stronger would come to his aid. With measured steps, Hans moved closer to Xandor and spoke in a low, unwavering voice.


    You wanted to be found, didn''t you?


    A sly smile crept across Xandor''s lips.


    Clever brat. Yes, I wanted to see how much you''ve grown in the past year.


    Hans narrowed his eyes, his expression grim.


    Then you should have come to me.


    <div>


    <div>


    Xandor let out a chuckle, his eyes fixated on Hans with amusement. "Risking your life for an elven girl, you act like a child," he taunted. "But I can''t blame you. It''s in your blood to protect her, isn''t it? You''ll go to her like a moth to the flame, unable to resist your instinct to keep her safe, again and again, and again.


    Xandor''s words were equivalent to nonsense to Hans right now and kept falling on deaf ears because something else had occupied his mind since he came to face the Eclipse leader and it was not Delimira. It was something that should have been kept hidden by Walter. He cursed his stupid HouseMaster for his carelessness and overconfidence. It was undoubtedly the second book of fate.


    Xandor''s smile twisted into a wicked grin as he watched the panic in Hans''s eyes as the boy''s eyes got fixated on the book in his hands. The Eclipse leader had shed his harmless facade, revealing himself to be a dangerous and cunning adversary.


    "I am Xandor," he introduced himself with a flourish. "The first commander of King Samson Parv."


    Hans had wanted nothing more than to see Xandor gone, but now the situation had changed. The second book was in Xandor''s possession, and Hans knew that he could lose it forever. The whole situation was a mess, a direct result of Walter''s carelessness and overconfidence. As he looked at the book in the Warlock''s flaunting hands, he knew that he had to act fast if he hoped to salvage the situation.


    Xandor toyed with the book in his hand, his smirk still firmly in place as he watched Hans''s reaction.


    "I am the holder of the fifth book," Xandor declared, relishing in the power that came with the possession of such a coveted item. "Book of Immortality - Death." he finished with heavy words.


    Hans cursed under his breath. He knew that Xandor was not a man to be trifled with, and the stakes of this game had just been raised to an unfathomable level.


    Xandor chuckled at Hans''s distress, clearly enjoying the predicament he had put the other man in. "Now choose," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "The girl or the book."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 69 : Three Steps of God

    CHAPTER 69


    THREE STEPS OF GOD


    Xandor''s curiosity was piqued as he pondered which path Hans would choose: power or life. He had a peculiar intuition about Hans, one that the young boy himself was not aware of. He yearned to test the limits of Hans''s psyche and discern how much control he possessed over the thing that silently influence his decisions. He was sure of Hans''s answer however, the boy''s response startled him.


    Without the slightest hesitation, Hans replied,


    "The book."


    Xandor''s disappointment was palpable, a tussle between his rational and emotional sides. Part of him longed to hear the answer that Hans had given, but the other side yearned for the opposite response. He had hoped to see a glimmer of Samson''s unwavering loyalty in the child''s eyes, even if it was forced by a "thing" in his head but all he could discern was an unquenchable thirst for power, similar to his own.


    Hans impatiently demanded,


    You have the answer, now give it to me.


    Xandor let out a deep sigh before replying,


    I don''t want to.


    Hans protested,


    But you just asked me to choose.


    "I never promised to give it to you or spare either of you," Xandor retorted.


    Hans gritted his teeth in frustration. He had assumed that Delimira would be used as a bargaining chip so his choice won''t influence her safety but he feared that the book might be lost forever if he didn''t act quickly. So, he made a hasty decision and chose the book.


    Xandor wasn''t the only one let down by Hans'' choice. Even though she was paralyzed, Delimira could hear the conversation between the two clearly. Her relationship with Hans was not so deep to risk their lives for each other but still, she had thought of Hans as a dependable person, but his decision to choose a book over her life left her feeling deeply disheartened. Regardless of his motives, Hans''s reliability in Delimira''s eyes had hit an all-time low.


    Completely unaware of Delimira''s thoughts and feelings, Hans was singularly focused on acquiring the solar mage book. As he pondered his next move, he remembered the close call he''d had with Xandor in the past, his Seedbullet almost wounding him. This time, he could draw three mana paths for the attack, and all of them were aimed squarely at Xandor''s head. Although TheVeganCarnage and Mutilate were his most powerful spells, Hans didn''t want Delimira to be caught in the crossfire so his hand got tied in a fight that he can''t win before it began.


    Hans was under no illusions about his chances of winning this fight. Given the current circumstances, he knew that if he didn''t take the initiative, he''d be killed without even leaving a scratch on Xandor''s face. His only hope for survival was to put some distance between Xandor and Delimira, giving him enough space to unleash his most lethal spells.


    Xandor had been through enough battles to know how to read his opponents, and his previous encounter with Hans had given him insight into his choice of spells under high tension. With a wicked smile, he skillfully dodged the three SeedBullets coming for his head and swiftly took the paralysed Delimira with him.


    With each step Xandor took, the distance between him and Hans grew wider, and since his junior made the first move, he had to demonstrate the vast difference in their strengths. With a calculated ease, he channelled his magic into a spell, one that brimmed with a potent energy of at least six circles.


    "LET ME SHOW YOU THE TRUE POWER OF A WARLOCK," he spat, relishing the chance to unleash his might upon a brat who dared to attack him first.


    ~ SummonBattalion ~


    In an instant, Hans found himself surrounded by an army of nearly a thousand skeletal warriors, each one brandishing a sword and shield. Though individually they posed no threat to him, their sheer numbers were overwhelming, and Hans knew he couldn''t handle them alone.


    He couldn''t help but wonder if the intense magic he was wielding would be detected by Concordia. Yet, it was possible that Xandor had the power to conceal it, just as he had done before in Edenberg County. Hans realized that he needed to create an explosion so powerful that it would shatter whatever veil of isolation Xandor had cast.


    But there was a catch. After unleashing such an attack, Hans would be utterly defenceless. All he could do was hope that someone was nearby to help him when it happened. But the truth was that he was gambling on his luck, and he knew it. In theory, he knew how it worked but he never got a chance to visualize it beforehand.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Undeterred, he began to swirl the mana around him, increasing its density by several folds. With every passing second, his power grew, and the air around him crackled with energy that seemed almost to leave traces in the surrounding.


    FIRST STEP


    Hans took a step forward, stretching the centre of the swirling mana without relinquishing control. The strain and weight of the mana caused a familiar pain to course through his body, but he was not going to stop there. It was time for him to step up his game. He shouted and pushed even further.


    SECOND STEP


    As Hans took another step forward, the pressure doubled, and the skeletal army that had been closing in on him felt its weight upon them, slowing their advance. The surroundings started to shake, causing the trees to sway violently, as though a powerful storm was brewing.


    To Xandor''s surprise, Hans had already surpassed his expectations, unleashing an unprecedented level of power. However, unexpected scenarios were not what Xandor wanted. He had hoped to see Hans on his knees, pleading for mercy. To make that happen, Xandor added more mana to the skeletal army, raising the spell from the sixth to the seventh circle.


    THIRD STEP


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans refused to stop there; he was determined to push beyond his limits. Despite barely being able to hold onto the turbulent mana, he took another step forward, crying out in agony as the pain tore through him, causing wounds to appear all over his body and blood to gush out.


    Finally, Hans stopped, gasping for breath as he struggled to maintain control. After a moment, he let out a fierce yell, releasing the overly stretched mana in a burst of energy so hot that it scorched the surrounding grass, plants, and even the soil.


    ~ ManaStorm ~


    Hans had secretly practised it, but he could barely take the second step without injuring himself. He didn''t know how he had succeeded this time.


    The violent tornado of mana continued to expand forward, disintegrating everything in its path. It crushed the army of undead skeletons in mere seconds but didn''t stop until it had erased everything within a 300-meter radius


    Although Hans knew that this attack couldn''t harm Xandor, his aim was to break down any possible barrier and attract someone to his location. The shockwave alone was enough to reveal his position.


    Hans could feel the excruciating pain surging through every fibre of his being, tearing his muscles apart and cracking his bones. Blood was still oozing out of his every orifice, yet he refused to succumb to unconsciousness. He knew he had to remain conscious, for he was facing a foe more dangerous than any he had ever faced before.


    Xandor had achieved his half-goal, bringing down the sad reminder of his king to his knees, but the satisfaction he thought he would get did not come. Unscathed and menacing, he materialised before the battered Hans and addressed him in a mocking tone, "I must say, you are quite something, brat."


    <div>


    <div>


    His gaze shifted to the barren wasteland around him once more and a smirk played at the corner of his lips."Neutralizing my almost seventh-circle spell is quite the feat, even if it''s a one-time use," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.


    He reached down and roughly grabbed a handful of Hans'' sweat-soaked hair, pulling him closer. "If you want the book, then bring me the ''Rebellion''," he demanded with a sneer.


    Upon hearing Xandor''s proposal and realizing that he was not going to be killed, Hans''s will weakened, and he finally succumbed to unconsciousness. The unstable mana storm had already knocked out Delimira some time ago and had successfully achieved its purpose. As a result, a continuous drumming sound reverberated through the sky.


    Xandor''s face paled as he uttered a string of curses under his breath. "Why is this pacifist bastard moving now?" he exclaimed, his eyes frantically scanning the area to catch a glimpse of the man. But before he could react, the man appeared right in front of him and delivered a punch so swift that it sent Xandor flying.


    The situation was far from over, however. With an unseen force, the mysterious man raised his hand, causing Xandor to freeze in place before being pulled back towards his initial position. With a voice filled with rage, the man declared, "I had enough of your charade, no blood of mine shall spill, not again, not in front of me."


    <div>


    <div>


    Having known the man in front of him for a long time, Xandor understood the gravity of the situation and the potential for it to quickly escalate. As the leader of Eclipse, he possessed a wealth of battle experience and knew the importance of taking risks to achieve success.


    Determined not to succumb to another attack, Xandor pushed forward, allowing himself to be pulled towards the mysterious man while surrounding himself with dark mana. In a dramatic show of defiance, he cried out, "Protecting a fake, Han!! If only you had taken action sooner, I would still have a king to serve, you pacifistic son of a bitch."


    Just as a clash between Xandor and the mysterious man seemed imminent, another voice echoed as thunder aided his descent. Rudolf the Warlord had finally managed to find Hans''s location and with all his might, he bellowed at the top of his lungs.


    "XANDOR!" His voice carried an immense sense of rage, powerful enough to consume anything in its path.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 70 : The Mysterious Man

    CHAPTER 70


    THE MYSTERIOUS MAN


    Rudolf always harboured wishful thinking that somewhere, in some form, his child was still alive. He was Samson after all, a man with a thousand plans and Ardehel''s words only breathed life into his hope. He knew the woman would not joke around with a matter as serious as her daughter''s life. There were many ways she could have asked Rudolf for help, but her forceful approach only added credibility to her words.


    As Rudolf scoured the midlands in search of the missing daughter, his faith in Ardehel''s plea only grew stronger. just, as he leapt through another vast expanse, he suddenly heard a deafening sound followed by a shockwave, oddly similar to the mana discharge that Hans used on him during their weekend practices. A cold shiver ran down his spine because he knew without a doubt that it was Hans''s attack. The same attack he had promised not to use unless his life was at stake. Now that his child was involved, the stakes had been raised even higher.


    With no time to spare, he leapt towards the source of the explosion and landed amid a scuffle between Xandor and an unknown man, surprising them both with his bold entrance. Xandor, already preoccupied with the mysterious figure, was now faced with an added nuisance which was a headache in his own rights.


    The Warlock let out a low, exasperated click of his tongue, stepping away from the chaos unfolding before him. The power of the Warlord''s thunderous aura had already broken the pulling force of the mysterious man, so he got free without risking anything contrary to his initial thoughts.


    As Rudolf surveyed the desolate surroundings, his eyes fell upon Hans, battered and broken, lying helpless behind the mysterious man. He did not sense any malice from the man, he even appeared to be protecting Hans. Shifting his gaze back to Xandor, his fury surged within him, and he raised his sword, ThunderClap, poised to strike him while simultaneously guarding himself against the mysterious man with unclear motives.


    "What the fuck did you do?" Rudolf bellowed, his voice seething with anger. "What have you done to my boy, Xandor?"


    Xandor retorted, his voice dripping with disdain,


    Don''t look at me, Alastor. You''re the one who raises monsters.


    But that was not what Rudolf wanted to hear, feeling the absence of mana in the surrounding. He demanded, with increased aggression,


    I''ll ask you one more time, what the fuck did you do?


    Xandor''s response was nonchalant, delivered in a tone of relaxed indifference,


    It wasn''t me. That ''FAKE'' is to blame.


    As Rudolf seethed with aggression, Xandor continued to evade his questions, leaving him with no answers. His eyes returned to Hans, and he knew without a doubt that his boy''s life hung in the balance. No expert opinion was necessary to understand that it would be hard for Hans to maintain his life in this condition.


    The thought of losing yet another precious life of his child, ignited a fiery anger within Rudolf, causing his aura to reach new heights, thickening and condensing the air around him. He steeled himself to finish this quickly, determined to prove once again why he was known as Alastor, the feared one and take the kids away from this mayhem.


    But before he could act on his resolve, the grim voice of the mysterious man interrupted him, his words devoid of everything.


    "You have a choice," the voice spoke, cutting through the tension like a sharp blade. "You can save the boy or fight him to the d..."


    Rudolf drunk in rage cut off the man''s words in short, declaring,


    I don''t need your help. Stay out of this.


    But as the expected answer failed to materialize, the expression on the mysterious man''s face shifted. He released a breath, and a presence so powerful washed over the entire Concordia bringing everyone to their knees. and Xandor and Rudolf were not exceptions either.


    As the sheer force of the mysterious man''s will dominated everything around, Rudolf suddenly realised who this person was: the old monster who had been tasked with guarding Concordia''s reserve. Despite the countless bloodshed that had taken place, this man had closed his eyes, remaining neutral, neither taking any sides nor stopping anyone.


    His being here only added to Rudolf''s sense of bewilderment. But the man''s presence was a favourable sign, so he decided to seize the opportunity. With a sense of urgency, Rudolf turned to the mysterious man and made his request, still on his knees. "let me take the girl as well,"


    As soon as Rudolf spoke, a fierce determination ignited within Xandor. He pushed himself beyond his limits, breaking free from the pressure that had subdued him just moments before. With a quick and calculated move, he seized Delimra and held her hostage for negotiations.


    Seeing that the mysterious man had not made any moves, Rudolf understood the extent of this man''s generosity. So before Xandor could ask for a parley, Rudolf took out his subspace stone and projected out the spy whom he had stolen right before the Investigation Committee.


    He locked eyes with Xandor and said,


    You don''t leave your man behind, do you?


    As Xandor''s lips curled into a sly grin, he couldn''t help but feel amused by the situation and replied,


    I like how well you know me, I didn''t even have to threaten you.


    The exchange of hostages went off without a hitch, but the mysterious man remained silent, observing from the sides. As soon as it was done, Xandor couldn''t resist a parting shot. "If I had known this pacifistic bastard was coming here, I really would have targeted your treasury. What a disappointment."


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Rudolf was incensed by Xandor''s callousness, clutching both children in each hand as he shouted at him.


    Shut up, you bastard! You didn''t even spare the child of the man you once served!


    Xandor''s anger flared up in response. "That is not a child," he spat, "He''s not even human. Just a fake replacement."


    But before Rudolf could retort, the mysterious man stepped forward, his face finally showing some rage. "Go now," he ordered Rudolf, "I need to have a chat with this child."(referring to Xandor)


    As Rudolf stormed off, Xandor couldn''t help but feel a creeping sense of unease. This man in front of him was not one prone to anger, and yet the fury that radiated from him now was unlike anything Xandor had ever seen before. He watched in horror as the man finally let go, his rage turning everything red. The people of Concordia stood in stunned silence, marvelling at the spectacle unfolding before their very eyes like a curtain of red shrouding everything that they could see.


    But as if things weren''t bad enough, a sudden downpour added to the grimness of the situation. The rain came down in a deluge of crimson as if the heavens themselves were weeping tears of blood. It was as if some vengeful god had decided to punish the masses for their sins.


    As Xandor watched the spectacle unfold before his eyes, he couldn''t help but feel a creeping sense of dread. He had hit the hornet''s nest, a nest so big that could swallow him whole. The ever-known pacifist was now turning into an aggressive man, and Xandor was the target of his wrath.


    As he stood there, sweat pouring down his face, he knew that there was no way out of this mess. The furious man in front of him seemed capable of tearing him limb from limb, and the rain of blood only added to the sense of impending doom.


    It was then that Xandor uttered a warning to the world, a Parvian phrase that had been passed down through the ages, a phrase that he had forgotten.


    When the blood soils the skies and Rain paints the land red,


    A Parvian sun shall rise, filling all with dread.


    "FUCK!, FUCK!" Xandor''s anger boiled over as he confronted the mysterious man. "Why now? Why didn''t you save Samson? You had enough power to turn the world upside down, you son of a bitch! He was also your blood!" His eyes were moist as he screamed, his frustration and pain palpable.


    But the man before him remained unmoved, stoic in the face of Xandor''s outburst. "He made his bed, he ought to see it through," the man said simply, already calmed after knowing Hans was safe from this maniac.


    Xandor gritted his teeth, his anger still simmering just below the surface. But then the man fixed his eyes on him, and he felt a sense of dread settle over him. "I won''t kill you," the man said, "but a lesson must still be instilled in a child (referring to Xandor) when he makes a mistake. So clench your teeth, kid."


    As the man moved, the ground beneath him cracked and split apart. Xandor tried to strike back, but his attacks were futile against the man''s impenetrable defence. Each blow he received was like a hammer to the bone, sending shockwaves of pain through his body.


    Xandor knew that he couldn''t take much more, but he also knew that he wouldn''t be killed - not by this man, at least. He was biding his time, waiting for an opening. And finally, it came. After enduring a fifth brutal blow to the face, Xandor saw a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The twelve captains of Eclipse came back, finishing their tasks. As he stood up with the support of one of his captains. The man stopped for a moment and looked at them, some were familiar faces and some were new.


    But it was not a problem for him, he smirked and said confidently,


    Do you think numbers could help you, kid? You just gave me more people to beat.


    Xandor retorted,


    Screw you, you fucking ''Ancient''. A full-scale war was never my intention to begin with. My captains returning here meant I had achieved what I came for.


    Xandor smirked and cried out, "INGRESS!" Suddenly, a bright light pillar fell on the members of Eclipse and they vanished into thin air, leaving the man with empty hands.


    The man sighed and checked his fists. It had been a long time since he had used them, so long that he felt unfamiliar with the impacts. He uttered, "Why do these people still have the privileges of Osiris? Why is that God still protecting them?". He calmed down and the red expanse returned to normal. The downpour halted, and peace was restored to Concordia once again.


    After the exhilarating battle against Eclipse, word spread like wildfire that Concordia had emerged victorious without suffering any harm. However, with a heavy heart, the academy urged its remaining students to depart for their holidays as early as possible. This unexpected announcement caught Chris off guard, leaving him no time to bid farewell to his dear friends who were still lying unconscious.


    Delimira did not get any serious injury but the impact of three-step ManaStorm was too much to bear for the young elf. Hans, on the other hand, was healing quickly but his condition was rather serious so he was to remain in the medical ward but Delimira was shifted to her mother''s private quarters. Meanwhile, Concordia urged the remaining students to leave as early as possible. Due to this, Chris had to leave without saying his goodbye to Hans and the quickening speed appeared slower.


    A week had come and gone since the incident, and the world had continued to spin on its axis as if nothing had happened. But for Delimira, it was a single moment. Although not seriously injured, she was still reeling from the impact of the ManaStorm. And then, finally, she had opened her eyes. At first, everything was a blur, and she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. But as her vision slowly cleared, she saw her mother sitting beside her, watching over her with a mixture of relief and concern.


    The experience of being abducted by Xandor left a deep and lasting impression on Delimira. Although she tried to hide it, the fear and trauma that she had endured overwhelmed her. She had fought with all her might when he came for her, but it had been futile. In the end, she was taken away helplessly, even her screams were not allowed by the man to be passed.


    At that time, fear had gripped Delimira''s heart. Xandor was a notorious killer, known to have slain countless elves without a second thought. The thought of what he might do to her left her trembling with terror.


    To make matters worse, the memory of Hans abandoning her there only added to her fears, shattering her sense of safety and security. The betrayal had cut deep, leaving her feeling vulnerable and alone in the face of danger. She tried to let go of that horrendous memory as she was healed by Sierra but in her recuperating days, sometimes the memories came back to haunt her.


    And when it does happen, she found himself staring at the sleeping Hans in Medical care because there was something else Xandor said which does not sit well with her. she remembered his exact words


    "It''s in your blood to protect her, isn''t it? You''ll go to her like a moth to the flame, unable to resist your instinct to keep her safe, again and again, and again."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 71 : Winters at Home

    CHAPTER 71


    WINTERS AT HOME


    As the holiday season officially began, the reckless boy, who had been lost in a deep slumber, finally stirred awake. His family, filled with concern, surrounded him, eager to hear his first words. But much to their surprise, the first thing that escaped his lips was a curse of frustration.


    "Damn it," he muttered, his eyes scanning his surroundings. "He escaped, didn''t he?" His family was bewildered but fully aware of what he meant. Ignoring his own condition, the boy''s mind wandered far from the present moment, consumed by the memory of the one who had slipped through his grasp, taking with him the precious second book.


    But Sierra, suddenly possessed by a fiery passion, stormed towards him. Grabbing Hans by the ears, she held him in a vice-like grip as she bellowed, her voice echoing throughout the room."Do you have nine lives? How dare you face a warlock?" Her words hung heavy in the air as she glared at Hans, her rage barely contained.


    As Hans tried to squirm his way out of the situation, coaxing Sierra coquettishly not minding his image in front of two guests also looking at him, Rudolf interjected, his voice dripping with disdain.


    "Stupid brat," he spat, "If our Chairman hadn''t made a move, you would have been toast."


    Hans winced as Rudolf''s words hit him like a blow to the gut. But despite the pain, he couldn''t help but be curious. He knew that the Chairman was the most powerful figure in all of Concordia, a man who rarely showed his face in public. But could he really have taken down Xandor? The thought left Hans wanting to know the details.


    Hans rubbed his ears gingerly, still tender from Sierra''s earlier punishment, his gaze shifting towards Rudolf. His curiosity was piqued, and he couldn''t help but ask,


    then did he win?


    Rudolf''s face lit up with a proud smile as he spoke. "Xandor had to run, tail tucked between his legs," he declared. "All of Concordia witnessed his power. His domain almost covered all of the Midlands. If it wasn''t for your urgent condition, I would have gone to see the battle first-hand. But I have heard, Xandor couldn''t land an attack, even once."


    It was all exciting stuff but Hans could sense this was not all that happened, and he interrupted his grandfather''s excitement. "I see a ''but'' coming, gramps," he said, cutting Rudolf off mid-sentence.


    Rudolf sighed, realizing that his grandson was not as interested in the epic battle as he was. "Yeah, you''re sharp in situations like these, haan!" he replied.


    Hans nodded, asking his next question. "Then what was his goal?" he queried, proving Rudolf''s previous words right.


    Rudolf began to speak, recounting the events of the attack. "You see, we captured a spy from Eclipse loitering around the Midlands, but it was probably a ruse, a bait for us to tighten our security at their fake objective," he explained.


    Hans couldn''t help but interrupt him in the middle. "And what was it?" he asked, eager to know more.


    "Let me finish, brat," Rudolf scolded and continued. "We found out that they were aiming for our sunstones reserve. So, our strongest forces laid a net to capture him. The Chairman himself took the task to confront him, but Eclipse aimed at our various research facilities, running on sunstones or working on them. It was far less compared to the treasury, but collectively it''s enough to see through a small-scale war. I don''t know what his aim is, but the peaceful times are over," Rudolf finished with a heavy sigh.


    Hans was troubled by the news, but he knew that the scale of Xandor''s work was beyond his comprehension. He couldn''t measure it, at least not yet. So, he focused on what he wanted to know most. "Did the Chairman take something from Xandor?" he asked, hoping for answers. But Rudolf just shook his head in denial.


    Feeling frustrated, Hans shifted his gaze to Delimira, who was looking at him with hateful eyes. He knew what was on her mind, and he finally got the chance to answer her question.


    It was something I was forced to choose over her life. A book that he was carrying,


    The two children remained fixated on each other, but Delimira''s contemplations were cut short when Hans addressed her with a smirk. "You made it out alive," he remarked as if that was the only thing that mattered.


    Vanessa scolded him, empathizing with Delimira''s situation because she had once been in the same predicament, but without anyone coming to her aid. When Delimira had awoken a few days before Hans, she had recounted what she could recall, which was only fragmented memories. However, one thing she remembered clearly was that Hans had somehow betrayed her. Vanessa assured her that whatever Hans had done, he must have had a reason for it at the time, but Delimira''s faith in her words was beginning to waver.


    Delimira continued to glare at Hans, so he replied in a gentle tone. "Xandor never intended to harm either of us," he stated.


    "What makes you say that?" Delimira demanded, not willing to let the matter rest.


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    "Because we''re in Concordia," Hans explained adding,


    This is the one place that isn''t after him. Shedding blood here would only instigate war. I''m certain that even this invasion didn''t result in any casualties.


    The expressions on the faces of the others confirmed his words, so he nodded sagely. But Delimira interrupted him, her eyes flashing with anger. "But you betrayed me!" she exclaimed. "You chose a stupid book over my life!"


    Hans narrowed his eyes, and then retorted,


    Are you a fool? I had no idea what that lunatic was planning. The moment I had shown any regard for your life, he would have used you as leverage against me. I had to consider the alternative.


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    Despite his best efforts to wriggle out of the situation, Hans''s excuse fell flat. None of them found it convincing, but they had no other choice but to believe him.


    Rudolf, who was typically oblivious to the atmosphere in the room, finally caught on to what Hans was up to. He released a deep breath, drawing everyone''s attention to himself, and spoke to Aredhel.


    "We need to talk, Aredhel. It''s time," he said.


    Rudolf had been wanting to talk to Aredhel about what she had told him regarding seeing his son, but she had postponed the conversation until after Hans had woken up.


    "I will find you soon, Sir Rudolf," Aredhel assured him.


    She then turned to Hans and thanked him sincerely.


    I am indebted to you, Mr Hans. She is all I have.


    "Are you for real?" Hans asked in excitement. Indebting Aredhel Winters was an easy shortcut to wealth, and he had wanted to ask for something in return. However, Rudolf intervened, saying, "Hans went there to save his friend. Don''t tarnish their friendship by awarding him Aredhel."


    Hans clenched his fists, frustrated by Rudolf''s interference. But there was still one thing that Aredhel was confused about, so she asked Hans, "How did you manage to find her?"


    In an effort to impress Aredhel, Hans answered her question about how he was able to find her daughter truthfully. "She has a unique mana mixed in her, I could see it," he said. Aredhel understood that Hans was able to see traces of her husband''s mana, something that even she could barely perceive.


    Aredhel was well aware of Hans''s unusual ManaVision and another prowess that no one in this room knew of, so it came as no surprise to her when he identified the unique blend of mana in her daughter. Without probing further, Aredhel bid farewell and left the room with her little girl in tow.


    Hans was relocated to the dean''s quarters, and for good reason. A decree from high above was issued to keep his traumatic experience a secret from everyone else, including the professors. The incident that took place in Area 11 was known to others but Xandor in Midlands was a delicate matter that could have a negative impact on the image of Concordia, especially since it involved two innocent children and the most wanted man in the land.


    The cover-up was of little concern to Hans; instead, his mind was fixated on the enigmatic words that echoed in his head: "If you want the book, then bring me the ''Rebellion''." The memory of the fight and conversation with Xandor lingered in his mind. Xandor had said many things, but Hans dismissed them as meaningless words meant to provoke him. He came to the conclusion that Xandor needed him, and that was why he had taken the book. Perhaps the fight was just a way to test his abilities. Hans found himself lost in these thoughts for the entire day, his mind deciphering these words.


    As he stood on the balcony, staring out at the sunset, Hans wondered who he should ask about this "Rebellion" that Xandor had mentioned. His legs were still weak from the fight, so he didn''t put too much stress on them and sat back in his armchair. Suddenly, there was a knock on his door, and Rudolf entered his room.


    "We have guests," Rudolf said.


    Hans inquired hearing unexpected words.


    Who?


    I believe it''s your friend.


    A sudden thought crossed Hans''s mind, realizing that the only person he could barely call a friend in Concordia was Delimira. He wondered if there was any reason for her to be there unless she already knew everything about his origins.


    He concluded that it wouldn''t be difficult for her to find out, as she had seen Rudolf and Sierra at the hospital, and Aredhel was well-informed about his situation. As he descended the stairs, he saw two familiar ladies waiting for him. One was Aredhel Winters, and the other was her daughter, both dressed casually.


    Delimira''s silver locks, which were usually tied back, were now flowing freely, and her deep cyan eyes complemented her hair, as well as the blue dress she was wearing. In one word, she was stunningly beautiful. Aredhel, as usual, was indifferent, but her elven beauty could not be concealed behind her emotionless expression.


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    Hans had never paid much attention to Delimira''s face before, as her antics had always bothered him. But tonight, she looked stunningly beautiful, and he found himself completely mesmerized. It took him a moment to snap out of it as she noticed him and turned to face him.


    Stammering slightly, he asked,


    Why are you here?


    Delimira replied without hesitation,


    Just following the mama duck.


    Hans couldn''t resist provoking her,


    I''m still waiting for your gratitude, Winters.


    Delimira smiled and gracefully bowed in the aristocratic way of Elves, saying,


    Thank you, Prince Hans Parv.


    Hans was taken aback, as were Rudolf and Sierra. Aredhel quickly intervened, chiding her daughter to be more polite. She then turned to the others and explained,


    She found a picture of us in my study, so I had to tell her. I hope that''s okay with you two.


    Hans, Rudolf, and Sierra were stunned by Aredhel''s unexpected revelation. It was so obviously a lie but before Hans could say anything, Rudolf lashed out,


    As if, who are you trying to fool?


    Hans, unable to hold his tongue, blurted out in surprise,


    Gramps used his head for once.


    Rudolf shot a warning glance at Hans to silence him and continued,


    But I don''t care what you tell her, you know the consequences...


    Hans interrupted,


    But I care! What the hell? You can''t just say that out loud!


    Vanessa quickly intervened by grabbing Hans and covering his mouth. She bowed slightly and invited the guests in, apologising for Hans''s sudden bad words while the boy struggled to remove his sister''s hand


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    Rudolf observed Hans struggling and winced,


    You knew Aredhel was aware of your identity, so why are you overreacting?


    Hans pointed an accusatory finger at Delimira and shouted,


    But she doesn''t have to know.


    Aredhel''s voice was warm as she asked,


    Is there a problem with my daughter knowing your identity?


    Hans replied immediately,


    Yes.


    "Why?" Aredhel asked.


    "Because any achievement I make will be attributed to me being my father''s son, not my own hard work. It''s the same for your daughter," Hans explained with a sigh.


    Confused, Aredhel inquired,


    What do you mean?


    "People say about her, ''She can do this because she is the daughter of Aredhel Winters.'' Her talent and hard work are disregarded simply because of her lineage. I don''t want to be treated like that," Hans elaborated.


    Aredhel looked at Hans seriously and stated,


    It seems like people''s opinions matter a lot to you.


    In a matching tone, Hans responded,


    Yes, it does, I am not that strong.


    As both professor and student conversed, the rest remained as the audience, not wanting to interfere but suddenly, Hans asked an unexpected question that startled everyone.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 72 : Clairovoyance and Inheritance

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    CHAPTER 72


    CLAIRVOYANCE AND INHERITANCE


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    Delimira''s eyes were fixated on her mother, who was engrossed in a lively conversation with Hans. It was a peculiar sight, considering her mother''s usual reserved demeanour. The expressions on her mother''s face, which had previously been devoid of any emotion, now blossomed with excitement and enthusiasm. Delimira couldn''t help but be surprised at the sudden transformation.


    Noticing Delimira''s astonishment, Sierra leaned in and whispered, "You know, your mother used to be quite the talker back in the day. We even had to physically restrain her from talking too much!" The memory brought a smile to Sierra''s face, as she fondly recalled the days when Aredhel''s chatter was a constant source of amusement.


    Aredhel spoke at length, and Delimira listened silently until a strange question from Hans caught her attention.


    "Why did you name her Delimira?" he asked Aredhel with sudden curiosity.


    Delimira, along with everyone else present, was taken aback by the question. Aredhel responded with a question of her own,


    Why do you ask?


    Hans replied,


    Because it is not an elven name or from any other language.


    Aredhel raised an eyebrow at this response,


    You know High Elven?


    Hans cast a fleeting glance at Delimira, remembering her promise that she never mentioned again, and said,


    No, someone was supposed to teach me, but I think she forgot.


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    "Then how did you know?" Aredhel asked, her expression suggesting that she already had an inkling of the answer and adding,


    Do the words themselves come to your head?


    Hans was taken aback by the question and rose to his feet. "How did you know?" he asked in surprise.


    "Of course. There was a possibility, a slight one, but it was there... after all, you carry the Parvian blood" Aredhel replied, casting a knowing glance at the elders in the room. Rudolf and Sierra remained silent, knowing that they had concocted the lie that Hans was Samson''s son, but it seemed that Aredhel somehow was adding proof, solidifying that lie.


    As the three of them turned to Aredhel, she asked Hans, "


    So, what does your name mean in elvish?


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    Hans knew that his name meant "God''s gift" in human language, but as he delved deeper into the meaning of his name in elvish, a few words flashed through his mind. "A new beginning," he said, his tone pensive and introspective.


    Aredhel wasn''t surprised by his answer, but the rest of the group was taken aback. Delimira, in particular, couldn''t help but ask,


    If you already knew the high elvish, then why did you ask me to teach you?"


    Aredhel replied instead of Hans,


    The knowledge of the past flows within his blood. In fact, before the incident with the image crystal, I had my doubts if he was truly Samson''s son, or if Samson had employed some trickery to shrink himself.


    Delimira cast a bewildered look at her mother, not believing her inference. But Aredhel, who never patted her, patted her today and said, "You have no idea what he can and can''t do." Turning to the elders, she continued, "But he never had this power; its even rarer than the Imperial bloodline that Parvians are so proud of."


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    Sierra interjected,


    What are you saying? He carries the knowledge of the past!


    Aredhel asked her in surprise,


    You didn''t know your own lineage?


    "I do know the imperial bloodline that only a select few inherit, but Hans doesn''t have it," Sierra clarified.


    Aredhel shook her head in response and explained, "Not the imperial bloodline, but the power of inheritance. Only a very few with your bloodline are born with this power, and they receive the knowledge of all previous holders of the same power. That''s where the name INHERITANCE comes from. Not only knowledge is passed down, but their skills, habits and memories are passed down as well. You may already be dreaming about the past without even realizing it."


    Rudolf asked in disbelief,


    And how did you know?


    "Because what Mr Hans saw and showed in the Image Crystal was not just a dream, but an event from the past. Most likely, it was something a previous user saw. He must be seeing her through someone else''s eyes," Aredhel replied with a knowing tone


    Hans interrupted,


    So you do know who she was?


    "Not was but is" She emphasised, adding.


    And yes, I met her once with your father but he introduced her as the crafter of the ring and also as the one who has the same power as you.


    Hans interrupted,


    But she is an elf, not Parvian.


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    "She is not just an elf but much more, a God-blood elf is an entirely different thing, Mr Hans. For them, race is a thin boundary" she instantly refuted.


    Hans sighed and asked as he had an inkling of how he was using this power,


    So what I am dreaming of is the past of the people who held the inheritance power, right?


    "Correct," Aredhel nodded. " You understanding the elvish tongue is most probably because one of the previous owners must have learned it."


    Hans pressed further.


    But apart from the fragments of knowledge, nothing is passed to me.


    Aredhel smiled.


    Aren''t you a sword prodigy? Do you think the level you are at now comes from just talent and training? If you had been a knight, I would expect you to break your grandfather''s record of the youngest warlord by at least two years.


    Hans couldn''t contain his excitement as he interrupted her mid-sentence. "Wait, just Wait for a minute!" he exclaimed. "I once had a dream where I was a fearsome warrior, slaughtering mountains of people."


    "You have the answer then." She said with a smirk.


    Rudolf couldn''t help but voice his objection. "so inheriting their experience for nothing, that''s cheating, isn''t it?" he whined.


    Aredhel shook her head in denial,


    No, it would have but it''s like a skill that Mr Hans can''t use properly.


    Hans couldn''t help but feel disappointed. He asked,


    Why?


    Aredhel''s response was firm.


    Because the power of inheritance is exclusive to Parvians, and those were all knights. Do you get it?


    Rudolf couldn''t help but burst into laughter at the sight of Hans making an irritated face, but the moment quickly passed as the boy''s thoughts drifted to a more pressing matter. Turning to her, he asked, "I also felt them watching me in those dreams, Any idea why?"


    Aredhel shook her head. "I''m not sure," she replied, "but you have the same power so it''s also possible that someone with that power is watching you now from the future."


    Hans couldn''t help but let out a frustrated sigh. "Damn it," he muttered, "there''s no such thing as privacy then.


    He grunted as others watched him. The ability to peer into the memories of his mighty ancestor was undoubtedly advantageous, but alas, it remained beyond his command. The visions materialized sporadically, without warning or consent. and Aredhel also did not know much more about it. All she knew was that the individual who harnessed this ability to its fullest was the descendant who several hundred years ago called down Osiris to the mortal realm.


    Oddly enough Hans did not ask her about this individual person since this big power already occupied his tiny mind. The power was intriguing, surpassing even that of Samson. To be born with such a talent felt like a dishonourable advantage, yet Hans''s fate had played yet another cruel trick on him. He lacked the way of a knight, a vital ingredient for inheriting the power to its fullest potential. Despite wielding the potent force of limitless mana, capable of upheaving the world, Hans once again longed to become a knight.


    Hans turned to Aredhel, desperation etched on his face. "Can I ever gain mastery over this power?" he asked, hoping for a glimmer of hope.


    Aredhel, with a firm shake of her head, denied him any semblance of control.


    Both your Inheritance, which delves into the past, and my Clairvoyance, which glimpses into the future, are abilities that manifest on a whim.


    Hans let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping in resignation. He needed something else to focus on, to distract him from his uncontrollable gift. "Tell me then," he implored Aredhel, "who was that god-blood elf?"


    Aredhel thought of something and explained


    True forger of the Ring of Chaos, likely a god, child of Osiris, much like the bearer of technology, Hellforge''s Imophet, or Concordia''s Lavoisier, known as the bearer of alchemy...


    She glanced at Sierra and added further,


    Her name is Aadya, the bearer of power, from the land of Parv.


    Sierra suddenly interjected.


    I thought it was just a myth,


    Aredhel responded calmly,


    I have seen her up close, she is the real deal


    Sierra''s voice rose in volume as she continued, "If she was real, why couldn''t she save Sam? Why did he have to die?" Her frustration was evident, and Aredhel could sense the conversation taking a sour turn.


    "I do not know, Lady Sierra," Aredhel admitted hesitantly. "But I do know that she was quite docile around Samson"


    Aredhel was about to steer the conversation towards Hans''s mother when Rudolf intervened, his arm around his wife. "Let the past remain in the past, my dear," he said, his voice gentle but firm. The atmosphere in the room seemed to relax, and Aredhel postponed the conversation to some other time.


    Meanwhile, Delimra was jolted by a sudden thought. The idea of Hans possessing a way to access past knowledge was sinking in deep, and she muttered in her inner voice that was as clear as day,


    Then he would know how to craft the Ring of Chaos.


    As Rudolf absorbed those words, a sinking feeling settled in his stomach. The possibility that Hans held the key to the lost crafting method of the Ring of Chaos was becoming all too real. Aredhel had denied Samson''s true status as the ring''s forger, instead attributing its creation to a mysterious figure named Aadya who only Hans could see in his dreams.


    The situation was escalating, Hans was already the target of a wild goose chase but now the chase was turning out to be true. A throbbing headache only added to his mounting stress and frustration, causing him to curse under his breath.


    Ah, darn it!


    Contrary to Rudolf''s sinking feeling, Hans erupted in a burst of excitement.


    Hell yeah!


    He thought that he could truly become as powerful as Samson with the ring, all the while unaware that what Aredhel knew was only a half-truth. The forging of a new Ring of Chaos was impossible due to the lack of materials left in the world, further adding to the potential disappointments awaiting Hans on his journey.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 73 : Krosh Arts

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    CHAPTER 73


    KROSH ARTS


    The mention of the otherworlder, followed by the supposed God named Aadya and the ring of Chaos, had Vanessa on edge. These were no small matters, and she certainly did not want her brother Hans getting involved with them. However, as she watched him jump with excitement at the mere possibility of knowing the forging method of the artefact, she couldn''t help but feel more anxious because the situation was evolving in a bad way.


    On the other hand, she couldn''t help but feel grateful for Aredhel''s intervention in putting a stop to this dangerous development earlier. Still, her anxiousness was apparent since she knew that secrets had a way of unravelling themselves in due time.


    With a sigh, she decided to steer the conversation back on track. Turning to Aredhel as she asked,


    So Professor Aredhel, you never told us the meaning of your daughter''s name.


    Aredhel turned to gaze at Vanessa, a girl who wasn''t meant to be there but had become an unlikely confidante to Sierra. She responded to Vanessa''s question with a simple answer,


    I don''t know, her father named her and he never mentioned the meaning. He was not from here as you know.


    Hans nodded in agreement, indicating that he had been previously informed of this fact. Meanwhile, Delimira sat quietly, looking down, unable to comprehend why her mother was reopening old wounds by discussing her father, whom she herself knew through stories.


    As Hans delved deeper into the topic, asking if Aredhel''s husband was not an elf, Aredhel confirmed,


    Yes, he came from another world, chasing Red demons who purged his world.


    A sudden realisation hit Hans, causing him to clasp his hands in surprise. "Oh, now I get it," he exclaimed, "That''s why she has different mana than anyone I''ve seen before. It shines brighter, even from far away. That''s how I found her last time."


    Aredhel chuckled, already aware of this fact, and replied playfully,


    So if my daughter ever goes missing, I know who to come to find her.


    Hans couldn''t resist making a joke, responding,


    Sure thing, but I''ll have to charge you a hefty price next time. My Gramps is a miser, so my allowance is like ant poop.


    Rudolf was quick to scold Hans for his impertinence, saying sternly,


    What do you say, you brat?


    Hans refuted,


    Gramps, her daughter could buy a caf¨¦ and I still have to eat in the cafeteria because I''m always short on money.


    Rudolf''s anger flared up,


    Who asked you to spend money on weird things? Who pays thousands of coins for strange seeds that don''t even grow? You get scammed left and right. Giving you money is like throwing it down the drain!


    As the argument escalated, Sierra was forced to come out of her sunken mood and threatened both of them,


    If you want dinner tonight, you both should shut up.


    The words had an immediate effect, silencing the room. For once, Delimira found herself enjoying the company. She didn''t have to pretend or watch out for anyone. The room felt pure, far cleaner from her usual environment filled with ulterior motives which she was used to. And seeing her mother conversing without any ambition for once, looked comfortable in her eyes. She thought about how good her life would have been if she grew up in this kind of family instead of the prison called the royal palace. But her thoughts were interrupted as Hans asked Rudolf,


    "Gramps, you never told me how you''re acquainted with them."


    "Didn''t I tell you? We were allies in the war against the red demons," Rudolf replied.


    "That''s all?" Hans asked, surprised.


    Rudolf thought a little and said,


    She was also friends with Sam. There were three friends of Sam in Clandor. Oh, and her husband was one of them too.


    "Oh!" exclaimed Hans.


    Aredhel chimed in,


    Those were good times, no worries about the future, just plain, simple life. Ah¡­


    Sierra also agreed with her,


    Yes, that was a good time...


    The idle chatter between elders continued, Hans and Delimira quietly listened to their words as elders reminisced about the past. At some point in his small life, Hans wanted to ask something from an elf if he ever got close to one so he asked Aredhel who seemed like she could provide him with an answer.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Professor Winters, can I ask you something?" he asked.


    Aredhel replied sipping the tea


    It''s not like you''ll stop if I deny it, Mr Hans, so ask away.


    "I have heard that Elves used to live thousands of years. So why do humans and Elves have similar life spans now?" inquired Hans not wasting the chance.


    Aredhel not expecting this question was startled for a moment but explained to him,


    That''s not hard to answer. Just like Osiris, Elven gods used to stay here in these lands, but for some reason, they left, and with them, so did the longevity blessing on Elves, but our birth rate returned to normal.


    Hans found the answer to be anticlimactic, but he accepted it nonetheless. Then, Aredhel fixed her eyes on Hans and asked a question of her own.


    So, Mr Hans, why do you think Elf and human relations are sour?


    Hans gazed at Aredhel, contemplating what she wanted to hear from him, before cautiously stating what he knew.


    Because your kind thinks highly of yourselves and finds humans as barbarians and beneath them.


    Aredhel smirked, "Not barbarians but my kind do think the other thing" She added, "But what about your kind? They abduct young elves to increase their lifespans."


    Hans was taken aback, this was news to him so he asked to confirm,


    Is that possible?


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    Aredhel''s voice held a hint of disdain as she spoke,


    I will spare you the gruesome details, Mr Hans, but humans have devised a way of using a unique herb that works on young elves. It can extend their lifespan by one or two years with the sacrifice of a single young elf.


    Hans was taken aback once again, his eyes wide with shock as Aredhel continued.


    But let''s not forget, Elves have not always been righteous either. They have long looked down upon humans and suppressed them with magic in the past. The Elves'' greed to remain a superior race and the humans'' desire for longevity have led to this vicious cycle. It''s hard to say who was in the wrong first.


    Hans inquired,


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    What was your point, professor?


    Aredhel paused for a moment before responding,


    Hans, can I call you that?


    "Of course," replied Hans.


    Aredhel continued,


    Hans, as the wielder of Inheritance, you have the power to peer into the past. It will allow you to witness many events and conflicts, but you would only see the past from a human''s perspective, only one side of the story. So I wanted you to be free from any prejudice that you may gain after witnessing those events. You are from the next generation, and I want you to be free from the past mistakes that we or previous people made.


    Sierra and Rudolf both shared this belief too, which was the reason they refrained from intervening in Hans''s friendship with Chris, the son of the man who caused Samson''s downfall. They wished for Hans to grow up without being burdened by the past. And Samson had the same view as well, which is why he made it clear early on the first few pages that he didn''t want revenge to be sought on his behalf.


    Delimira was also intently listening to the conversation. Previously, she had become fascinated with Samson''s hidden power that was capable of suppressing ancients with ease. Now, she had learned that it was a ring that Hans may be capable of crafting in the future. While the elders were focused on protecting Hans from others, they seemed to have overlooked the fact that Delimira was also one of the people chasing the ring now. Hans''s worth had just increased exponentially in her eyes.


    Each person in the room had their own thoughts, veering away from Rudolf''s original intention of questioning Aredhel. Rudolf cleared his throat and addressed her, but Aredhel cut him off mid-sentence."Before we continue, may I ask a favour from Lady Sierra?" Aredhel requested.


    Sierra inquired in a low voice,


    What is it?


    "I would like you to teach my daughter the KROSH ARTS," she replied politely, seeking her permission.


    Delimira was aware that her mother''s sincerity would not last long, and it seemed like she had reached her limit. Before, Aredhel had mentioned to Delimira that she would make her Sierra''s disciple, but she didn''t know that it was for the Krosh art, an infamous skill of the past. People had forgotten about it because many unique personalities had risen since the time when this art had made its name known. However, she also knew that mastering this skill was impossible at least not without Sierra''s guidance.


    Delimira was looking at Sierra who was in deep thought, waiting for her answer but Hans suddenly came close to her, nudging as he whispered, "Hey, what is Krosh art?" it was a new concept but no one was explaining it to him so he asked her cause she looked like she had the answer.


    As She turned towards Hans, a heavy sigh escaped her lips. She couldn''t help but ponder over the sheer lack of knowledge that he possessed about his own household. The desire to be both a mage and a Knight was a coveted dream for many, and Krosh arts had almost made it a reality. However, the progress of this art was only supported by divine mana, leaving aspiring imitators to forfeit their very lives in the pursuit of its power.


    Delmira paused to collect her thoughts, taking a deep breath before delving into the intricate details. As she began to explain, she couldn''t help but notice the excitement that lit up Hans''s eyes, but she knew that she had to burst his bubble before it grew any larger.


    "Unfortunately for you, it''s strictly for women only," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "And even if it was not, you must possess the mana circles required to practice it."


    Hans''s face fell, "Darn it", a curse escaped his lips. Delmira couldn''t help but feel a small sense of amusement at his frustration, a guilty pleasure she had come to enjoy over the year. But her joy was short-lived, as a sense of unease began to settle in her stomach. It wasn''t that she doubted Sierra denying to teach her Krosh arts. No, her concern was rooted in the knowledge of the immense pain that it could bring upon those who attempted to master this power.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 74 : The Resurrection key

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    CHAPTER 74


    THE RESURRECTION KEY


    Sierra made up her mind about the request but as she gazed at the girl standing before her, barely in her teenage years, she felt a pang of sympathy for the difficult path that lay ahead of her. That leads her to hesitate for a moment so before declaring anything she addressed Ardehel.


    "May I ask you something?" She inquired softly and receiving a nod from Aredhel in response, she continued, "Why are you willing to push your child to the brink of exhaustion and beyond? Your daughter has a natural talent for magic; she is already an exceptional mage. Why do you want to subject her to such hellish life?"


    Sierra''s voice carried a tone of genuine concern and care, her heart aching for the young girl whose future was being decided which also reminded her of Arahan. She vaguely remembered her own sister asking the same favour as Aredhel in the past and also the consequences that were brought by her choices. She hoped that Ardehel would hear her words and take them to heart, for the sake of her daughter''s well-being.


    Aredhel''s voice was laced with desperation as she pleaded her case to Sierra."You don''t understand," she implored. "My daughter is driven by a thirst for power that I have never seen in anyone else. I fear that if I do not guide her, she will take the wrong steps in her search for it. With the art of Krosh, at least she can defend herself against the ancients, just as your sister did." She paused to see Sierra''s reaction and continued as she thought the lady was being persuaded "And I have seen her using it through my clairvoyance, so I know that she will prevail in the harsh trial." finished Aredhel with a fact that was going to happen.


    Delimira''s eyes widened as she turned to her mother, finally realizing that there were many things her mother had seen about her future but had chosen not to disclose them. One such secret was her successful learning of the Krosh Arts.


    It was only through her incessant questioning and pestering in the past that Delimira learned of Theodred''s significance and his role in her future. She longed for a life where she could break free from the shackles of constant vigilance and hatred, to find her happiness. And, her mother had given her the answer she had been seeking as ''Theodred'', the person fated to bring her all of that.


    Hans''s thoughts were straying in a different direction. He couldn''t help but think of Sierra''s sister, Arahan, who he knew was the birth mother of Samson. When Ardhle mentioned the ancients, it reminded him of Delmira and her talk of Samson''s ability to defeat them.


    It was no mystery to Hans that Delmira was interested in the Parvian king, despite the bad rumours that surrounded him. He had never been particularly interested in the Ancients before, as they were known to be the good guys, still defending the Genas on the other side of the Deadlands. But now, Delmira''s constant interest in them had sparked a new level of curiosity in him.


    The thoughts of both children came to a sudden halt as Aredhel spoke to Sierra, who was still looking intently at her daughter. "I don''t want my daughter to suffer the same helplessness that I did," Aredhel declared, her tone firm.


    Sierra asked again seeking confirmation. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. But it was Delmira who responded with unwavering confidence., "I want this," she declared, her eyes sparkling with determination. "The pain would be nothing compared to the power I would gain. I''m willing to endure it."


    A grin spread across Delmira''s face as she spoke, and Rudolf spoke up in support of the young girl. "Do not disrespect her resolve," he said, his voice full of admiration. "She looks confident, not like our squeaky one who cries at the mere mention of mana property tests."(chapter 9)


    Hans''s ears perked when his name was mentioned and he shot a withering glare at his grandfather, knowing that his embarrassing nickname had been revealed to Delimira. He watched in frustration as Delimira turned to him, stifling a laugh. Irritated with his grandfather, Hans demanded to know Delimira''s nickname from Aredhel. But all he received was the brief and unremarkable name "Deli."


    Getting his expected response, Delimira turned back to Rudolf and inquired,


    Why squeaky though?


    Rudolf hesitated. He had spoken without thinking, and Hans was now glaring at him with fury in his eyes. But Rudolf did not want to exacerbate the situation, so he refuted his stare by saying,


    She is your friend, it''s fine, beat it.


    Hans raised his voice in protest, retorting,


    No, it''s not.


    Delimira giggled but Vanessa interjected her tone grave.


    Ms Delimira, please refrain from calling him that.


    The seriousness of Vanessa''s tone caused Delimira''s laughter to abruptly cease. Meanwhile, avoiding the children''s scuffle, Aredhel who had been waiting for Sierra to give her response, finally received a positive answer."Fine. I''ll teach her." said Sierra, still reluctance in her voice but it was a yes nonetheless.


    Delimira was brimming with happiness, ignorant of the pain she would have to endure in the future. As the time for the impending "TALK" approached, Aredhel subtly asked Hans to show her daughter around, saying to get the hell out of there in a roundabout way. Hans was curious and wanted to eavesdrop, but Sierra''s expression made it clear that he should not interfere.


    Reluctantly, Hans escorted Delimira to his room upstairs. She was uninterested in what her mother was going to talk about with the dean couple but Hans was practically bursting with curiosity. As he gazed at her intently, wanting to know what were they talking about, but she suddenly asked, "Do you know about Krosh arts?" distracting him with a more enticing topic.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Hans''s mind was like a kaleidoscope, constantly shifting from one fascination to another. Despite his occasionally chilling degree of intellect probably coming from his weird power called Inheritance, his curiosity often got the better of him. Delimira''s question about Krosh arts was like a siren''s call, pulling him away from his concerns about what Aredhel and the dean couple were discussing. And Delimira shook her head as her expectations turned true.


    Hans asked, his excitement evident,


    I thought it was impossible to have the aura and mana heart in the same body


    Delimra seemed unfazed by Hans''s excitement as she casually replied,


    It still is, but there was a way some years ago. Queen Arahan was called a sword mage because of it. It''s her method, and I don''t know how it works, but it''s like regularly breaking the mana circles


    Hans winced, "Aah, that would be painful for sure," he said not believing what he was hearing, the thought of breaking mana circles regularly seemed excruciating.


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    Delimira asked, ignoring Hans''s distorted face,


    What do you live for?


    "So are we asking personal questions now?" retorted Hans with a smug face.


    "Be a jerk then," Delimira said, unfazed.


    Hans let out a sigh and answered,


    I don''t know... Maybe to let my grandparents live in peace, and my sister Vanessa too. And of course, to become a powerful mage.


    Delimira shook her head.


    Those are all general things. Deep down, there has to be something you really want. What is it?


    Hans thought for a moment, but he couldn''t come up with anything. Turning back to her, he asked,


    Give me a glimpse, tell me yours first.


    When he asked that from Delimira, her face started filling with hatred as she spoke,


    Me, I want to kill someone and then leave the cursed place called Clandor for good.


    <div>


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    <div>


    As Delimira''s expression filled with hatred, Hans decided not to push her any further. Instead, he recalled the thrill that had surged through him when he had first stumbled upon the Book of Fate. He had wanted it more than anything, ignoring anyone that stood in his way. And so, he revealed to her his deepest desire.


    "I too have something that I want, Winters," he said, his voice tinged with determination. "It''s like the legacy of King Samson, and I''m determined to retrieve it, no matter what."


    AT LIVING ROOM


    Rudolf idly stroked his stubbled chin, his mind preoccupied with the weight of the words Aredhel had spoken to him in the prison. She had promised to clarify everything in two weeks'' time, and he had been counting down the days ever since.


    Without warning, Aredhel took out an artefact, similar to the size of a pebble from her pocket, a sleek and advanced device that Rudolf had never seen before. He watched in fascination as the device behaved similar to a memory stone, projecting a recording of an adult man, someone Rudolf immediately recognised as Sam.,


    "I made this in case she needs your help protecting her daughter, possibly if I died" Sam''s voice crackled through the memory stone. "That child is key for me coming back and everything. So protect her well, teacher"


    Rudolf felt a knot form in his stomach at the implications of Sam''s words. He had raised him and trusted him implicitly, but no matter how much he wanted it to be true, the gravity of his words was too much if that turned into a vain hope.


    Aredhel''s voice broke through his thoughts.


    He asked me to show this to either Parvians or you. I need your help, Sir Rudolf.


    Rudolf was still out of it and was mumbling,


    I have not seen his body but he got killed with the Karmic blade...even healing was impossible..even with Sierra''s divine Mana, so how?


    Aredhel defended with a barrage of questions,


    Why didn''t he use his ring or sunstones? Why did he insist on fighting as a knight with just one hand?


    His frustration mounting, Rudolf suddenly erupted in a shout. "It was all because of his stupid pride!, he was Parvian, they are all crazy bastards" he bellowed.


    Sierra stepped in, her voice calm and measured. "Resurrection is a concept of the gods," she said. "No one in this world has the power to bring someone back from the dead, not even Osiris herself."


    Aredhel''s voice was firm as she spoke countering her.


    Yes, but what if he''s not dead? We don''t know what Parv is hiding behind that thick fog, and Sam never spoke nonsense.


    Rudolf interjected, "He was a human, not a¡­ wait a minute," He turned to Sierra and a possibility ran through his head so he asked her to confirm "What if the magic is not from our world..." he turned to Aredhel this time and said with the same tone "Delmira is your husband¡¯s daughter after all. I remember Samson joking about your husband being a god of some kind and having the ability of resurrection."


    The words jolted Aredhel, catching her completely off guard. She struggled to make sense of them because she was not aware of this, but her daughter''s safety was her top priority. She didn''t know what Samson had planned for Delmira, but she knew that his message would secure her daughter top-level protection for the time being. The thought of losing her daughter again filled Aredhel with a deep sense of dread and fear, and she was willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe, so she used her strongest card to secure the protection of the infamous Alastor.


    Rudolf chuckled as he watched his wife''s expression change. "This is getting interesting," he said with a smile. "Maybe we''ll finally get to meet our son in the future, dear."


    Aredhel was waiting for the exact moment and hammered the final nail in this conversation, "Protect my daughter". It was a mother''s instinct, to do whatever it took to keep her child safe. In response to her plight, Sierra, who had accepted Delimira as her disciple, nodded in agreement. It was her duty to protect her disciple, but there was a hint of doubt in her voice as she spoke. "But your daughter doesn''t know otherworld magic," she said. "And her father isn''t around to teach her."


    Aredhel''s voice was filled with confidence as she made her declaration.


    "He is still alive," she said firmly.


    Rudolf and Sierra looked at her with surprise.


    "Did you see through Clairvoyance?" Rudolf asked, his eyebrows raised.


    "Yes," Aredhel replied. "I couldn''t glimpse into Hans''s future, and now I know it''s because his INHERITANCE power was obstructing me. But when I met the god-blood elf Aadya, she strengthened my ability, and I glimpsed one of his events that is crucial for everything."


    Sierra''s question came out quickly, her curiosity piqued.


    "And what is it?" she asked.


    Aredhel took a moment to think before answering.


    Hans must not kill my husband," she said, her voice serious. "He is destined to fight him to the death, in a way to protect the masses.


    Rudolf''s eyes widened in shock at Aredhel''s revelation.


    "Pft... he''s protecting the masses, that''s bullshit," he chuckled. "But still, when is it going to happen?"


    Aredhel''s face darkened as she thought about the nightmare that had haunted her for so long. She released a heavy sigh before finally speaking.


    On his graduation test.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 75 : The Awkward Dinner

    CHAPTER 75


    THE AWKWARD DINNER


    As Delmira stepped into Hans''s room, she was greeted by an impressive collection of books that lined every available surface. It was hard not to notice the sheer volume of research that he had accumulated within a single year of his stay in Concordia. Delimira turned to him in doubt, she was sure that Hans could barely understand Half of the books but still bought them.


    She glanced at the collection once more and thought, Hans had undoubtedly splurged an obscene amount of money on these treasures, mostly original editions that boasted the same content as their more affordable counterparts, but with a staggering price difference.


    As she examined the books, Delmira couldn''t help but understand why Rudolf had whined about Hans being scammed left and right. Whereas Hans quietly observed her, not saying anything, he had a favour to ask her but felt awkward starting the conversation. It was not like he was hiding his zeal. And Delimira being sensitive to these things broke the silence with a perplexed expression on her face, as she blurted out, "What?"


    Hans, in response, posed the same question back to her,


    What ..?


    She remarked,


    You look like you''re dying to ask me something.


    After a moment of hesitation, Hans let out a heavy sigh and spoke with a sense of urgency in his voice,


    Promise me you won''t tell anyone about gramps and grandma.


    Without missing a beat, she responded, unlike every other time when she would have pried for more information, with simple words, FINE


    As his eyes caught her glance, lingering over his collection of books, a thought suddenly struck him. They had spent the past year together, but he couldn''t honestly say that they were true friends. Rather, they had been give-and-take companions, always striking deals whenever they needed something from each other. He had grown accustomed to this dynamic, but her sudden acceptance of his request caught him off guard, however, he couldn''t deny the relief he felt knowing that his secret was safe with her.


    Delmira also realised what Hans was thinking and clarified,


    I can¡¯t spread my teacher¡¯s family info like anything.


    Despite the existing distance between them, Hans couldn''t help but feel that the gulf between them had widened even further. Her tone was noticeably colder and more distant than before. The unease didn''t sit well with him so he asked point blank.


    Why do you sound so¡­ FORMAL.


    With a hint of reluctance, Delmira finally revealed what she had been withholding all this time. "I''m sorry, but I cannot simply get chummy with the one who nearly took my life," she confessed, her voice laced with obvious unease. "Every night, I am haunted by the memories of that harrowing day. But it''s not the face of my abductor that lingers in my mind; it''s yours, the one who valiantly saved me," she explained, her voice filled with sarcasm.


    Hans, on the other hand, staunchly defended himself, his voice brimming with a sense of wounded pride. "You seem to have forgotten, Winters, I SAVED YOU" he interjected, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on Delmira.


    "I admit that I was initially swayed by your explanation in the morning", she said with a tone of defiance and counted, "But upon deeper reflection, it''s clear to me that you had no qualms about leaving me in that explosion."(referring to ManaStorm)


    Hans, clearly annoyed by her accusations, cut in,


    Hey, It was obvious that he wouldn''t have let any harm come to you, given that-...


    Before Hans could finish his sentence, Delmira interjected, completing his thought with a hint of bitterness in her voice. "Because a dead hostage is of no use to him. At that moment, I ceased to be your liability and instead became a bargaining chip that Xandor had to protect."


    Hans wanted to say the same words to her but hearing from her mouth felt like he had done something bad. He believed that a strategic person like Delimira would not object to his actions, but her current expression suggested otherwise. It was apparent that she was thinking emotionally and wanted to hear him apologising at the least. But doing so here would mean acknowledging all the accusations she had made against him. Thus, he found himself unable to articulate his words.


    An awkward silence descended upon the room as both children fixed their gazes on each other, each waiting for the other to back down first. However, they never determined who gave in first since Sierra summoned them downstairs.


    Hans and Delimira descended the stairs, surrounded by an awkward atmosphere. Hans hadn''t had the opportunity to dispel the negative energy that hung between them. Initially, he had assumed that this mother-daughter duo had come for a brief encounter, but he now found himself seated across from them at the dining table, fearing for his future indigestion.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    As they began to eat, Hans''s eyes kept darting towards Rudolf, who seemed to be ignoring him completely. Instead, Rudolf was busy praising his wife in front of the guests, while occasionally stealing glances at Delimira which was bothering Hans more and more.


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    Hans was taken aback by his grandfather''s sudden acting, but before he could say anything, Rudolf spoke up, declaring


    Winters, your daughter will not be participating in the Glory Wars.


    Aredhel did not argue and simply agreed, saying,


    Whatever you deem safe.


    Delmira remained as quiet as a mouse, unlike her argumentative nature. Hans felt that her competitiveness only ignited in front of him but in front of adults, she seemed to adopt a meek persona. It was all because her decisions were always made for her, whether it was Eleanor, her uncle in Clandor, or now her mother. But the thought of not being able to participate in the event that she had been preparing for the entire year left her feeling disheartened.


    Hans stopped eating upon hearing the conversation. Unlike Delmira, who had been thoroughly educated in etiquette and manners, Hans was raised to be a free spirit. And now adults hindering his plan to embarrass her in front of everyone opposed his free-spirited nature, he longed for a public victory against Delmira, but his gramps was standing in the way of his plan for no apparent reason that he could understand.


    Feeling increasingly irritated, he interjected while glaring at Delmira,


    Oye, Winters, if you don''t speak up for yourself, no one else will.


    Delimira looked at Hans, who was nonchalantly munching on his food, and then everyone else turned to her with expectant looks. A little nudge and encouragement could wield a great deal of influence over a child''s mind, and Hans''s words had precisely that effect. For once, Delmira felt she had to speak


    "I want to participate in the Glory Wars next year," she spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Hans let out a sigh and mocked Delmira,


    Looks like someone didn''t eat enough, tsk..tsk...


    But Rudolf outright denied her words making Hans interject once again,


    Why are you putting your finger in someone else''s pie?


    Rudolf warned sternly.


    Because it''s dangerous,


    Hans was caught off guard and almost choked on a piece of bread. He quickly patted his chest and took a gulp of water before turning to Rudolf.


    Others might think she is your grandchild. You didn''t even stop me.


    Rudolf instantly retorted, saying,


    Because you''re stubborn as a mule.


    Hans couldn''t deny that, but he was still taken aback, so he asked,


    But why are you suddenly being nosy, all of a sudden?


    Rudolf''s voice softened slightly as he replied,


    Her value has sky-rocketed. She''s become far more valuable than you, squeaky.


    "But you have no right to stop her." Hans protested.


    Rudolf flicked a bean right at his forehead and said,


    Her mother has no problem with it. Why are you flaring up? Do you care for her that much?


    Hans shot back one too, defensively saying,


    She''s not some weak mage, old man,


    Rudolf grunted at Hans''s obstinance. He did not want to involve him in the previous discussion. So he looked past them and asked Sierra,


    Where is Vanessa? he would listen to her.


    Hans immediately opposed,


    Don''t drag her into this.


    Rudolf snapped back,


    Then mind your own damn business.


    They were arguing over her participation while she sat there silently. Delmira never thought that Hans would take her side, let alone argue for her choice, she appreciated Hans a little in her heart without knowing his true motives.


    To mediate between the intense Rudolf and Hans, Sierra chimed in,


    Hans, Glory Wars is not just an event. It rarely happens, but people die in it. If someone aimed for her head, can you guarantee she would survive?


    Instead of Hans, Delmira finally spoke up,


    Why would he need to guarantee that? I am far stronger than him.


    Hans might have taken her side because he wanted to face her at the event, not because of the friendship that everyone there was thinking about. But declaring this in front of everyone meant challenging his pride, and he was not one to take that lying down.


    Rudolf realized the direction the conversation was taking, but he was too late to intervene. Hans stood, pushing his chair back and declared,


    Hey, let''s duke it out and settle the hierarchy once and for all.


    "You better not regret this, Squeaky." she taunted, accepting the challenge.


    Hans felt a vein pop in his forehead in irritation at her mockery, and he held back the urge to lash out. He told her to stop calling him that, and she politely responded, "Make me if you can." mocking him further.


    Her polite words filled with a challenge which only made Hans more irritated, and he reminded her,


    Hey, I was on your side earlier.


    Delmira stared at Hans for a moment, and he had the feeling that she was peering into his thoughts. She clicked her tongue and replied,


    Nah, you have your own motives for it.


    Hans fell silent. He never knew how she could always detect whenever he lied or tried to manipulate her. No one else was this skilled at catching his lies. Breaking his thoughts, Delmira added, "Fine, if you win, I promise I will never call you by that name. But what if I win?"


    Hans asked her,


    What do you want?


    She responded with a smirk,


    Another favour from you.


    Hans said teasing her.


    Is collecting favours your hobby?


    She spoke, pointing out and wagging her finger at him


    I am a merchant''s daughter. Money is valuable in business, but ''favours'' outrank them. Do you accept it?


    Hans retorted.


    Fine by me. Just don''t cry after you lose,


    <div>


    <div>


    Dinner was interrupted as everyone came to the training field of the Dean''s quarters. A place which is regularly razed by Hans''s ManaStorm. Rudolf was facepalming himself, as he had wanted to avoid this situation, but his grandson was influenced by him and had inherited the trait of not taking blows to his pride unwillingly.


    Before the duel began, Rudolf asked his boy,


    Brat, she''s a girl. Take it easy, understand?


    Hans smirked and replied out loud,


    All I see is a mage, and in the name of gender equality, I will nail every necessary fact into thick skulls like hers.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 76 : The Battle of Prides

    CHAPTER 76


    THE BATTLE OF PRIDES


    Sierra observed her new disciple''s deft wordplay, which was so impressive that it even led to a wager being proposed for their upcoming duel. While Sierra was impartial to the outcome of the duel, she couldn''t help but notice that Delmira had complete control of the situation - something that Hans was clearly lacking. Every act of hers was aimed to impress Rudolf, indirectly, that she too was capable of defending herself just as well as Hans.


    As Sierra turned to her young boy, she couldn''t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. All he seemed to care about was winning, and Sierra knew, the Glory Wars were not just about brute strength. To emerge victorious, one needed a mentality like Delimira''s - a person who could rally a team and make the most out of any situation. Just then, Aredhel appeared by her side, asking her thoughts on both young ones.


    Sierra didn''t need to ponder long, before responding. "If we only compare the fighting styles, when it comes to one-on-one combat, Hans will be in his true element. Even when hunting beasts, he controls the battlefield completely and takes his time to end his target," she responded. "As for your daughter, I have observed her in classes and outside, and I must say that she possesses exceptional mana management skills. However, she has never truly revealed her full potential, so I cannot speak much about her fighting style."


    Away from their objective assertions, Hans was gazing at his opponent, he had been looking forward to facing Delimira for some time now, and finally, the moment had arrived. He knew that she was observant and knew his fighting style well, so he reminded himself to be cautious and stay on full guard.


    As the duel commenced at Rudolf''s signal, Hans quickly equipped himself with ManaVison, not with its full potential, he did not want to do a mistake like he did fighting Lux in the past. His first aim was to set the terrain to his liking. But before he could even make a move, he saw Delimira surrounded by a powerful water mana spell, which she had cast in a flash, powered by second-circle magic.


    ~ AquaBullets ~


    It was similar to SeedBullets, but instead of seeds, she fired heavy water drops at Hans with tremendous force. Despite being a second-circle spell it had minimum mana cost thanks to the small size of the conjured water.


    However, Hans was no novice when it came to duels. He had seen this coming from miles away and swiftly dodged it with ease. But Delimira was not surprised. In fact, she was counting on Hans to dodge it. Her aim was to keep him busy and not give him time to rest. She had observed Hans for a year and knew that he had a habit of bullshitting at the start of every battle, which was not for show. He needed time to set up any spell or to spread his influence over the surrounding mana. She didn''t know the details but she had deduced this much by just observing him so she chose a cost-effective spell to not allow whatever he did to take control over the terrain.


    As Hans quickly grasped her intentions and realized that disturbing the land was not going to work against Delimira. Instead, he chose to confront her head-on. In the midst of doing so, he conjured his own mana path for SeedBullets, aiming at her limbs.


    Facing Xandor had helped him in increasing his simultaneous shot count, and he was now able to shoot up to three shots at a time easily. He raised his hand, pointing at Delimira and shouted, his spellcasting more potent than ever


    ~ SeedBullets ~ X3


    He conjured three mana paths all aiming to leave Delimira with no escape, targeting her predictive position of dodging. However, she surprised him by choosing to hold her ground.


    Delimira knew that Hans had been using ManaVision to track her movements, so she made a strategic decision to obscure her own actions, shrouding herself in water mana. She expertly concealed her next move from his sight, and the ground below her began to quake.


    ~ Groundwall ~


    In a heartbeat, a massive wall of solid bedrock rose up in front of her, forming an impenetrable barrier against Hans''s SeedBullets. The wall had been so expertly crafted that not a single seed made it through. Another three same slabs of rocks conjured, floating around and concealing her blind spots for defences.


    As Hans''s initial attack failed, he knew he needed to get Delmira out of her defensive position. His next move was to use his entrapment skill, which he knew she would have to dodge if she didn''t want to get caught.


    ~ VeganBind ~


    Black, lustrous orca vines sprouted from the ground, carrying everything from poison to bladed leaves, But it was not quick as it was supposed to be.


    Because Delmira was prepared. She had seen Hans fight many times before and knew almost every move he could make. When she had cast the Groundwall spell, she had also conjured a thick slab below her to stop the incoming attacks. The VeganBind was no exception either.


    Looking at the expected result she smirked as she spoke,


    "You can''t even touch me, shorty."


    But Hans''s vines were not easily deterred. They devoured the slab and continued towards Delmira, surprising her with their tenacity. Although they missed their initial timing, Hans had succeeded in his plan to lure Delmira out of her Groundwall fortress.


    Hans replied in the same tone as hers,


    "You were saying something, Winters?"


    Delimira clicked her tongue, she had studied and analyzed every move of Hans, but his seemingly unlimited supply of mana was something she was yet to figure out. She wanted to test his endurance and see how long he could keep up his relentless attacks, but as the battle dragged on, she began to feel the strain on her own mana pool. Dodging his SeedBullets and countering his VeganBind was taking a toll on her, and she was not the only one. Aredhel couldn''t help but also be surprised at the seemingly endless stream of mana that Hans was unleashing.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    As the battle of attrition continued, Delimira realised that she couldn''t keep up with Hans''s relentless attacks forever, and knew that if she didn''t break out of this defensive stance, she would lose due to mana exhaustion by default. Hans, on the other hand, was grinning with satisfaction at his opponent''s waning mana pool, He didn''t want to win this way but a victory was a victory after all.


    But just as the tension in the air was mounting, Delimira''s quick thinking allowed her to turn the tide in her favour. With a flick of her wrist, she cast her next spell and became stationary for a moment.


    ~ WindShield ~


    The WindShield spell she conjured was the same one that had saved them from the explosion impact caused by Xandor''s bomb in the civilian area. But this came with a modification, a complete sphere of fast-rotating wind formed around her, and she levitated at the centre of it.


    The SeedBullets flew towards Delimira and penetrated the WindShield successfully but it was not good news for Hans. The sphere of wind distorted the trajectory of the bullets, throwing them off course. Hans tried to recalculate the angle to correct the path of his attack, but Delimira was already on the move.


    The transformed Windshield, now was a spherical ball, allowing her to move at high speed while staying completely protected. It was a brilliant modification to the spell that she had accomplished on her own, but it came at a great cost to her already dwindling mana pool.


    Hans was growing increasingly frustrated. He had never encountered a defensive spell that could be used for a movement like WindShield before. He racked his brain for an ideal solution, but before he could come up with anything, a volley of aquaBullets was fired his way. He quickly dodged using his vines to pull himself out of the target zone taking a brief breather.


    During the whole battle, Hans only suffered a physical strain but Delimira suffered both as her mana already dwindled to 60%. Wanting to reduce her mana even further, Hans started thinking about his options again, SugarDrain was too fragile to enter the wind sphere, and the orca vines were failing to restrain her as they couldn''t enter the sphere either. His seed bullets were still getting bent by the wind even with the increased speed that he bestowed on them.


    All of his attacks were being countered and in the heat of the moment, winning was the only thing he could think of. He couldn''t afford to worry about Delimira''s safety, for he knew the elders might interfere if things got too out of hand. With a deep sigh, he focused on his next spell, forming the crying seed, but suddenly, an intense pain shot through the right side of his head at the last step, disorienting him. He stumbled, trying to shake it off, and got a hold of himself just in time to dodge Delimira''s swift attack.


    <div>


    <div>


    He gritted his teeth and attempted the spell again, but the same sharp pain pierced his head, throwing off his concentration. Hans cursed under his breath, wondering why this was happening to him. With his plan failing and his head throbbing, Hans realised that his only option was to outlast Delimira in the fight. Endurance was his strength, and he drew upon the spells he had learned in Agrilands, ones that were kept secret from others.


    ~ SharpDeath ~


    It was a deadly spell, akin to a minefield that would erupt with sharp and spear-like bamboo, capable of penetrating even a knight''s aura defence. But that was just the beginning of Hans''s plan. He quickly followed up with his next spell


    ~ Ensnare ~


    Summoning predatory plants that would have looked out of place in the training field. To cover his tracks, he swiftly converted the entire area into a lush grassland using his sprout mix with them.


    The transformation left Winter''s daughter and mother in disbelief, their jaws hanging open. Before this, Delimira was thinking of conserving her mana until she knew the extent of Hans''s limits, but this sudden turn of events was taxing on her. Meanwhile, Hans appeared unfazed, seemingly not depleting his mana reserves at all.


    As the random attacks keep sprouting, she kept dodging them. Her movements were swift and agile, but even the most skilled fighter could not evade forever. Eventually, Delimira''s defences faltered and it was all Hans needed to strike. He waved the surrounding mana with fierce determination, forming his most tense and focused mana path to date, capable of rendering her windShield defences useless and directing it straight towards her stomach.


    However, just as he was about to launch his attack, the same sharp pain he had experienced before struck his head, causing his mana path to losing its tension and resulting in a decrease in the penetrative power of his SeedBullet. Despite this setback, the metallic seed still managed to strike Delimira with a force akin to a dirty gut punch, causing her to wince in pain and clutch her stomach.


    Meanwhile, Hans shouted, clutching his head hard,


    What the hell is wrong with me today?


    Both paused momentarily, Delimira still reeling from the impact and Hans frustrated with his inability to fully unleash his attack. In his disorientation, Hans reverted to using the SharpDeath and Ensnare combo, conjuring the spells with wild abandon, much like a berserker with no clear strategy.


    As Hans regained his bearings, he saw Delimira gasping for air, clearly struggling to keep up the fight. He couldn''t help but smile, knowing that victory was within his grasp. But just as he thought he had her beat, Delimira surprised him yet again by summoning every last bit of energy she had left. putting her everything in one last attempt


    ~ GurgesDomitor ~


    It was her mother''s iconic water spell that had once swept away entire hordes of enemies. Delimira was most skilled in water mana, and she had cleverly adapted the powerful seventh-circle spell into a second-circle version, just enough to achieve her goal.


    As Hans watched in disbelief, He couldn''t help but cursed at the huge spell.


    "WHAT THE HELL!!" he shouted.


    The mana around the training field began to shift and swirl, quickly forming a hollow raging vortex that encased them both. He had no idea what Delimira was planning, especially since the original GurgesDomitor had never been used in this way before.


    The atmosphere grew thick and moist, signalling the imminent strike. With no time to conjure a ManaStorm, Hans acted on pure instinct and enveloped himself in a spiralling shield of modified orca vines.


    Amidst the rustling of leaves, he caught Delimira''s voice,


    "It''s no use."


    Hans bellowed with unyielding determination


    "it ain''t over till it''s over, Winters"


    The orca vines coiled tighter and more fiercely than before like they were responding to Hans''s will, turning the encased protective shield of vines akin to that of a towering tree with roots that ran deep. He braced himself for the impending attack, ready to weather whatever was coming his way.


    But in an instant, the once empty vortex dome was now filled with water that rushed in with a ferocity that swept away all of Hans''s predator plants and uprooted the lush grassland that he had so quickly created. Even the vines that had transformed into a towering tree were no match for the force of the water. The pressure and speed of the deluge were akin to that of Rudolf''s swift and powerful slashes


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans felt himself, engulfed in the swirling waters, spiralling uncontrollably until he was unable to distinguish up from down. As he struggled to find his bearings, he felt a sudden pressure against his neck. Gasping for air, he opened his eyes to see Delimira, a triumphant smile on her lips as she held a knife to his throat.


    "Squeaky," she panted, "you lost.", the exhaustion finally caught up with her as she collapsed onto him.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 77 : The Aftermath

    CHAPTER 77


    THE AFTERMATH


    The swirling torrents spun Hans around and around, taking him on a wild ride as he felt himself losing consciousness. The world faded to black as he drowned in the raging waters. When he finally came to, he gasped for air, coughing up the water he had swallowed. He felt the cold edge of a knife pressed against his throat, and the sound of Rudolf''s voice echoed in the silent battlefield, declaring Delimira the victor. Hans couldn''t help but curse under his breath.


    "Ah, damn it. This is embarrassing on so many levels"


    As his vision cleared, he saw Delimira, his frenemy, aiming her knife at his neck, gasping for air as if she was on the verge of passing out. It didn''t take long before she collapsed onto him, completely unconscious. Hans looked up to see the elders running towards him, and he couldn''t help but overhear.


    "It seems I have a genius disciple to teach."


    He did not have to guess whose voice it was as he flipped Delimira over with utmost care. He stood up, trying to brush off the incident as if nothing had happened to him, while his wet clothes clung to his skin and his ears still ringing from the impact of the water, but despite this, he appeared unfazed.


    Among the elders, the only person who was surprised was Aredhel. She couldn''t believe her own eyes. Her daughter had used GurgesDomitor transformed for a second circle spell, and yet, what surprised her, even more, was that Hans seemed to be full of energy while the winner lay exhausted, contradicting her win.


    Delimira regained consciousness with Sierra''s help. Still exhausted, she fixed her eyes on Rudolf and said, "I do not need anyone to protect me." Then she turned to Hans and added, "I am stronger than you, got that?"


    Hans realised that he wasn''t at his best during the fight, with his spells not working as they should. However, he knew that claiming this as the reason for his loss would be nothing more than a feeble excuse. Delimira had given it her all in the battle, and he couldn''t be so shameless as to diminish her hard work with a half-hearted justification that he himself didn''t fully understand. And how could he say anything after being pummeled by her spell? He was boiling inside, not because she had won, but because he really did not have any counter for that huge spell. Even if he conjured the crying seed there was no guarantee that it won''t attack him back.


    As these thoughts ran amok in his mind, he looked at her, realising that she too was fighting for her pride, not just to defeat him. She craved Rudolf''s approval for the Glory Wars just as much as he did. Despite his own disappointment in himself, Hans offered his hand to her in a gesture of respect and understanding.


    Despite his initial thoughts that she will stick to her pride and reject his helping hand, she accepted it, and to her surprise, thin vines slithered from Hans''s hand to hers, reversing the effects of his SugarDrain spell. Almost instantly, her breathing stabilized and she regained her energy, while Hans himself felt a bit exhausted from the transfer. But she was not the only one surprised as Rudolf grabbed his shoulder to get a better look at what was happening, "That''s a new one." he remarked in amazement.


    Hans, feeling the pain from Rudolf''s overpowered grip, "Yeah, ss... because of that Chris calls me a mosquito," said Hans.


    "But wasn''t it the other way around?" asked Rudolf, as he removed his hand.


    rotating his shoulder to relax his muscle from the grip, Hans chuckled as he said,


    "It works both ways, gramps."


    Rudolf couldn''t help but shake his head, his confusion cleared, as he remembered not to measure Hans with ordinary standards, "You are really a surprise, brat." he said, grinning ear to ear like it was his own accomplishment.


    <div>


    <div>


    As Hans and Rudolf kept talking, giving each jab with words, a sudden memory popped into Delimira''s mind and she grabbed Hans''s collars, interrupting the wordplay between grandfather and grandson. "Stop looking down on me! Why did you not use that odd spell?" she yelled. She remembered Hans using a scary spell that her mother had countered at the start of the year. Hans did not use that in their fight and this fact was like a bitter pill that she had to swallow, so she shouted, demanding an explanation.


    Hans''s pride was already hanging by a thread, but he found a way to save his face in her words. He concealed the fact that he tried and failed to conjure the crying seed and answered, "I don''t hate you Winters." he said, attempting to pry Delimira''s grasp off his collar, "Why will I kill you for no reason."  His words sounded like he really went easy on her. Giving her a bitter feeling while feeling satisfied.


    <div>


    <div>


    But before he could say anything more, Rudolf intervened and lifted Hans up by the back of his collar like a piece of a rack, causing Delimira to lose her grip. He fixed Hans with a stern look and uttered in a grim tone, "Only winners have the right to glee at losers, brat. so drop your lips."


    Aredhel interceded to prevent any ill feelings between the children."Delimira has a remarkable perception. She had an edge from the start since she already knew all of your spells and had developed counters for them. She might have even anticipated the sequence in which you cast them." But in contrast to what she was trying to propagate, Hans felt a twinge of irritation at her words which only sounded like boasting about her own daughter, but he held his tongue and listened as she continued, "If you wish to defeat her in the future, you must use something she has never seen before. And you must succeed on your first try, or risk being countered."


    As the words flew in the air, Delimira felt like a hollow victor, "Don''t beat yourself up, child" Sierra said, putting an assuring hand on her shoulder as she continued, " Even if Hans wanted to, he can''t use those spells on whims." Hearing those words, Delimira looked up, feeling that her victory was not as hollow as she thought. Grabbing her attention, Sierra added "He wouldn''t be able to control them in such a confined space and probably could end up killing himself if he''s not careful. So, You won fair and square."


    The once-tense atmosphere began to relax as the parents calmed the children. Hans, however, couldn''t shake off the feeling of defeat and kept looking towards his room where he had left his book of spells: Limitless. He had already made up his mind to master new spells during the three-month break, and this fight had only fueled his determination.


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    Looking straight at Delimira, Hans said confidently,


    "Just wait and see. Meet me after three months and I''ll pay you back for this defeat."


    "It seems like I have to prevent both of you from participating in the Glory Wars," said Rudolf, bursting their bubble with a stern remark,


    This was not what Hans wanted, second book was on the line at that competition so he argued thinking of various excuses,


    "If I didn''t have that throbbing headache... and a bit more space... I would have won..."


    "tsk, tsk," Rudolf clicked his tongue in disappointment, "If it were real, you could have easily died," he said.


    Hans cursed, "Damn it". What Rudolf said was the truth, partial but it was still the truth. This, for some odd reason, made Delimira happy. Honestly, she was not so into Glory wars, she only was eager because both Hans and Chris were dead set on going. As Hans glanced at her, he noticed her grin and narrowed his eyes in irritation. In response, she playfully mouthed the word, her lips silently moved to form a word


    "S.Q.U.E.A.K.Y."


    Hans almost forgot the bet and the thought of wager came back biting him. It was not like he was some idiot that would fall for the same trick twice but this time, he was confident and eager to cancel out the first favour but ended up topping up one more, all because he had let his guard down and fallen prey to her cunning. Gritting his teeth, he asked confirming first, "What would you ask?"


    "Im gonna collect a few more before cashing in all, in something big, that annoys you to death, Squeaky."


    She continued chuckling, happiness evident on her face, pure and clear. As Aredhel observed her always composed and quiet daughter finally opening up with others. A relief came over her face knowing her daughter was enjoying herself in this company. Yet, a heaviness lingered in her heart, as it always did whenever she thought about leaving her daughter behind in Clandor. She knew it was safer that way, but guilt gnawed at her nonetheless.


    Lost in her thoughts, she was jolted back to reality by Hans''s sudden lashing out,


    "Why are you stopping me?" he demanded, his voice raised at Rudolf.


    "You''re not fit for the preliminaries," Rudolf said, his hand held up in a calming gesture as he explained patiently, "I''m not saying you won''t pass, but it''s a team survival battle and you''re a lone wolf."


    Hans bristled at the remark.


    "So what?"


    "Having people around will restrict your style, brat. Earlier I did not pay any mind to this but I am concerned now."


    "I have three months and the next half of the year to train." said Hans, undeterred and declaring arrogantly, "I have three months and the next half of the year to train." Then turning to Delimira, he added, "I''ll have a match with you again, after three months - " Rudolf cut off in the middle, "Wait a minute, brat," he said, turning to Sierra. "What are your plans for the girl?"


    Sierra paused thoughtfully before responding,


    "She is quad-elemental, but honestly, she is more inclined towards water, ground, and a bit of wind mana. So I thought perfecting her wind abilities or teaching her fire mana would be the ideal first step."


    "Hmm..," Rudolf considered for a moment, "Hold on," he said turning to Delimira and pushing Hans towards her. "Since both of you are so eager to go, " he paused a bit and said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "How about we go camping first? Of course, a deadly place for at least a month."


    Delimira was confused but Hans was annoyed at his suggestion. He had been looking forward to focusing on improving his skills, not going on an unproductive camping trip while babysitting a newbie. He lashed back at his grandfather, protecting his sacred holidays, "Gramps, your delusion is getting worrisome."


    Rudolf knuckled Hans''s head to shut him up and responded,


    "That will be like training for the preliminaries. You have to learn to adjust yourself to your teammates, while this child will experience the place for the first time."


    As Delimira furrowed her brows in confusion, Sierra stepped forward to clarify the situation for her new pupil, "Since I have taken you under my wing as a disciple, you will follow me wherever I go." she said, her tone gentle yet firm and Delimira listened, her eyes fixed on her new teacher while Sierra explained, "And while Rudolf calls it camping, the truth is it''s a beast zone."


    "Oh!," Delimira had initially thought that she would have to return to Clandor in a few days, but this turned out to be a pleasant surprise for her. She despised that place and wished to avoid it at all costs. Although she understood her mother''s reasons for leaving her in Clandor, becoming Sierra''s only disciple unexpectedly brought her independence.


    Delimira''s joy was palpable on her face, a contrast to her usual practice of hiding her true emotions. She had thought Rudolf was suggesting the camping trip as a personal teaching opportunity. Many would consider it an honour and a golden opportunity.


    Excitedly, she asked,


    "Will you be teaching us?"


    However, his response greatly disappointed her. "No, you can only learn survival on your own. I will let you learn about the place before throwing you there, so - " Hans interrupted, "I am not a babysitter - "


    Infuriated by Hans''s interruption, Delimira retorted,


    "Will you just shut up for a moment? The elders are talking here."


    Hans stupefied, thought maybe today was not his day. He had already lost physically, and now it looked like verbal defeat was on its way. But he could not just back away from this. He sighed and pressed on, "His camping means he will throw us into a beast zone without any supplies, and we need to survive there for a month. I can''t keep myself at full capacity if I have to constantly look out for you, YOU DENSE ELF."


    Hans''s insistence made Delimira unusually quiet and noticing the situation, Sierra reprimanded him,


    "You are becoming increasingly disrespectful, young man."


    Hans immediately countered,


    "But Grandma, you know I need to learn new things too. My bitt just got handed to me, I can''t afford to be complacent anymore."


    "That still doesn''t excuse your rudeness towards a young lady in front of her mother." Sierra chided him, "If I were in her position, I would have taught you a lesson you wouldn''t forget." Hans just quieted down, accepting someone up above was teasing him today, nothing was going his way. His grandma usually allows him to do as he pleases but her stern gaze was clearly telling him that from now on, it won''t be like this.


    And Sierra was clearly aiming for that, she had spoiled him too much and his recent behaviours are going overboard which concerned her. So, she decided to discipline him with tough love, similar to what she used on Samson. On the other hand, Rudolf was taken aback by Sierra''s sudden rebuke of Hans; she had never before disciplined or scolded him like this. Despite the satisfaction of seeing Hans being put in his place, He interrupted and addressed Hans, saying:


    "Listen to me first, you brat. And yes, you are correct. I need you to babysit her throughout the whole month. You are not allowed to hunt by yourself or collect resources and definitely do not get smart with my arrangement. You only need to teach her what I taught you."


    Hans retorted,


    "What will I get by wasting my entire month?"


    "You will get the chance to participate in the Glory Wars if you successfully manage to survive without me interrupting,"


    "Hmm..." Hans thought for a moment and then said,


    "Add a thousand gold coins on top of it, then I¡¯ll do it."


    "Forget your participation, then,"


    Hans grunted,


    "Fine, you miser. Where will you take all that money?"


    "It''s mine, not yours. You need to earn it yourself if you want to spend more," rebuked Rudolf once again.


    Hans sighed, accepting the forced task and asked about the beast zone,


    "When and where?"


    Rudolf smiled, knowing well that it would irritate Hans on another level, "You are going to the four-star mountains ¡°Dead Gorge¡±. Hans remembered and whined as Rudolf anticipated, "Ah! No! It''s freaking humid there."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 78 : The First Inheritor and the Fatal flaw

    CHAPTER 78


    THE FIRST INHERITOR AND THE FATAL FLAW


    AT WINTERS QUARTERS


    As the mother and daughter stepped into the familiar embrace of their home, Delimira realised the true intentions of her mother''s decision to associate her with Sierra. It wasn''t just about learning the Krosh Art, but a shield of protection that came with the connection. Her new teacher was this close to snapping at Clandor, and the elves knew better not to disturb this ticking bomb.


    When she was in thought her mother''s voice came, pulling her back to reality as she heard her asking,


    "I presume you are happy, Deli?"


    She just stared at her mother''s face, filled with concern and expectations. The affection, she wanted in her earlier days from her mother finally came, however, she had already forsaken those thoughts. There was an estranged feeling between them, but she held great respect for her. In her eyes, Aredhel Winters was a woman who had built a successful business empire on her own, breaking the world''s prejudice that a man is necessary for a woman to succeed. a tenacious and powerful woman in short. Yet, Aredhel''s only weakness was she herself, who lived as a ward of the elven king.


    Although the royal family did not mistreat her, she still found herself in a hostile environment, suffering numerous betrayals and attempts on her life from a young age. As a result, she stopped trusting anyone and developed an irritating personality, forcing herself to keep everyone at arm''s length. Chris was the only one who managed to break through her walls. They shared the same fate of being unwelcomed and unwanted in Clandor, with Chris facing assassins even more than her.


    She found comfort in his company and began to grow stronger together, yearning for strength for obvious reasons. However, at a certain point in her life, Chris moved forward and left her behind. He broke through the elven prejudice and proved his worth, ultimately being accepted as a member of Clandor, a feat that Delimira could not achieve. Unfortunately, not all elves sought Chris''s genuine friendship. Many had ulterior motives, seeking to exploit his happy-go-lucky nature. This was the point where she began to bully him and his new so-called friends, becoming a barrier for anyone seeking his company, whether genuine or fake.


    Although Concordia provided her with a new opportunity, and when she almost had forgotten, she was abducted by the most dangerous man in the land. She shivered, thinking it again and as these thoughts were making a home in her mind, her mother weaved a perfect net of protection for her this time, not from all but at least from the Clandorians. In response to her mother''s anticipated question, Delimira replied,


    "Yes, mother. I am happy."


    Aredhel felt relieved, "I wish I could do better." she said, an emotion of helplessness flushing to her face as she apologised, " I''m sorry that you have an incompetent mother, Deli."


    If she were any other daughter, she may have burst into tears too, but feeling sorry for others was a thing of the past for her. Instead, she simply embraced her mother and allowed her to wail. After some time, when the river in her mother''s eyes dried out completely. Aredhel said to her daughter, patting her head


    "You have to suffer a bit, I know you don''t like the boy, yet I kept pushing you into his company."


    Initially, Aredhel did not want her daughter to get involved in Samson''s business any further. However, because of the deal, she made with him in exchange for glimpsing her husband''s demise, compelled, she allowed Delimira to get involved in his second coming or whatever key he referred to. She yearned for nothing more than to see her daughter live a life of peace and security, free from the dangers and chaos that had plagued her childhood. For this reason, she searched tirelessly for Theodred, a powerful high elf with the skills and strength to protect Delimira. But no matter how hard she tried, he seemed to slip every time, like sand through her fingers.


    His prowess was not the thing she desired but her daughter''s happiness that she foresaw in that glimpse. Her daughter, wearing a genuine smile, one she had yet to see till now. And to shorten their fateful time of the meeting, Winter''s company made finding that elvish man their top priority.


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    She still remembered the day when her daughter had wailed in her arms, asking for a life that was at least not full of dread and loneliness. The reason she disclosed Theodred to her daughter was so she could hope that her future was not so bleak. That''s how Thoedred became a source of hope in Delimira''s tough times.


    Lost in her thoughts, Aredhel was pulled back to reality by Delimira''s words, as she spoke,


    "Dealing with Hans is far better than being in Clandor, mother."


    Aredhel spoke, "But you have to be - " only to be cut off in the middle by her daughter. "At least I will get stronger, and now I could even learn krosh arts. That was a wise decision," she said nodding in affirmation.


    Aredhel looked at her daughter, feeling sorry again that she had to grow up fast, "I should not have asked her to teach you that...," she said continuing, " but you have the talent and physique that the original maker, Queen Arahan, lacked. So her methods seemed wasted just lying around...but Lady Sierra was not exaggerating about the pain - "


    Delmira concluded, interrupting her in the middle,


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    "As long as it makes me stronger, I don''t mind even being a disciple of a red demon, mother."


    She went to their study to research everything about Dead Gorge, a four-star danger-level beast zone. After all, she could not allow Hans to boss her around.


    DEAN¡¯S QUARTERS


    Simultaneously, a heated argument was unfolding between Hans and Rudolf. With a raised voice,


    "Why Dead Gorge though?"  Hans demanded.


    "Because the glory Wars might happen there?" said Rudolf with a sharp and curt tone


    "And where did you get that info?"


    "Your HouseMaster, Walter got that for you,"


    Rudolf''s words, caused Hans to bristle with anger. The mere mention of Walter''s name brought back memories of his carelessness and loss. His voice raised to an even higher pitch "ooh! That man is very.. reliable." he spat out his words full of sarcasm.


    Rudolf sighed and continued,


    "Even without Winter''s child, I was planning to send you there."


    "Mh..mh..mh" Hans whined, "Can''t you change the location?"


    "No, I already prepared it a week ago. Now, a quick test on your memory." said Ruodlf throwing a glimmer of hope for his stupid grandson, "If you can tell me everything correctly, hm... I might think of changing the location - "


    He wasn''t even finished when Hans started speaking like a record, queued to play.


    "Dead Gorge, located a few hundred kilometres to the east of Grimgar, is mainly inhabited by reptiles, and home to Lizardians, a native race of intelligence capable of conversing in the common tongue and habitat building. And it is freaking hot and humid there."


    Amused hearing the ranting, Rudolf replied with a smirk


    "See? I know you are prepared for the place."


    "What about changing the location?" Hans interjected.


    "I said I think about it and I did, ''NO''."


    "I can recite all the other locations." said Hans, attempting to change his gramps mind, "How about ''Frozen Tooth,'' similar to its level - "


    Before Hans could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by his grandfather.


    "Do not kill any Lizardians unless they attack you first. You just need to hide and survive there for a month."


    Hans winced at Rudolf''s determination to not change the location and stomped off to his room. The day had been long and frustrating, so the sleep fairy pulled his eyelids without any resistance. However, suddenly he opened his eyes because of the cold and weightlessness he felt as he found himself in the sky, falling from a great height. He bellowed with all his might, "Ah! NOT ANOTHER FRICKIN'' DREAM," but this time he heard a response.


    "It''s not a dream, you stupid descendant. Try surviving the fall."


    Hans jolted back to reality as he heard that voice. As he saw the ground rushing towards him, he tried to generate as much fauna as he could cushion his fall. Flexible vines kept coming from the ground, catching him, slowing his fall, and with many of them, he found himself on the ground, covered with the vines, and a frustrating look towards the man who let him in this unasked adventurous fall.


    "Who are you? You fu...," he shouted but abruptly stopped seeing the change in the environment.


    The levitating figure at the front had done something, causing him to shut his mouth abruptly. The place, which was full of mana until now, was now empty like a void had swept every ounce of it. The situation was not something trivial, without mana around, Hans was toast. As he looked up, he found the man smirking back at him. Hans winced at that smile; he had just faced Xandor a few days back, and now another powerful person was in front of him.


    "Hmm... so that''s how you function," responded the man.


    He remained silent, so the man continued,


    "But this is a fatal weakness."


    Being powerless right now had made Hans come to his senses, and he asked politely,


    "Sir, whatever you seek, I don''t have it."


    "Do you mean this? " The man took something out from his storage ring and flashed it before Hans, adding "Your father left you something quite odd."


    As Hans cried internally when he looked at his beloved legacy in the hands of a man he could not touch, a feeling of resignation washed over him,


    "Can you give that back?" he pleaded.


    The man was surprised and asked,


    "I thought you were willful, not this docile."


    "I know when to submit, sir," Hans replied, his hand still hanging in the air, asking for the book.


    "Here, take this," the man threw the book back into Hans''s embrace and added, "You need to do something about your flaw, kid. None can control the mana of the surroundings like you, but many can eliminate the mana from around." Seeing Hans confused, the man added, "And stop peeking at the past. I told you not to share it with others, but you sang like a canary."


    Hans was startled. These words meant only one thing: before him was an inheritor like him, but that also meant the man also carried the Parvian royal blood. Still confused, he asked him again, more politely than ever, "Who are you, sir?"


    "I thought I was your idol... but I can''t blame you for not recognising me."


    Hans took another glance at him. The person was not as bulky as Rudolf but felt like a chiselled and lean body was hiding under those loose clothes that made him appear harmless. An expression of calm on his face, but also one that conveyed weathered years of harshness. In short, the man emanated a peaceful vibe.


    As Hans observed him, the man did the same and finally spoke,


    "I am Dietrich Parv, your first ancestor and the founder of Concordia."


    "And I am GOD OSIRIS," Hans objected instantly, "Who are you duping -". He closed his mouth with both of his hands, "SIR" he added for politeness, his quick-to-refute habit had ignored the fact that this man made him powerless with a glance, voiding all mana from around like nothing.


    Seeing him respond like his usual self, the man chuckled and said,


    "I''m what you people call an Ancient, young one. The name you have given us defines itself. We live so long, practically forever, earning that name from the Genas."


    Hans was startled once again. He did not know much about the Ancients, but they were super powerful, as Delimira had once described them to him. Hans focused on the words that the man had said: "DIERICH PARV, FOUNDER OF CONCORDIA, ANCIENT"


    Realising something, Hans pointed at the man and confirmed,


    "You...you are the Chairman. You fought Xandor - "


    "Fought, as if" the man refuted, "It was just beating an insolent child."


    His words felt like he was jesting, Hans didn''t know anyone who would consider Xandor an insolent child, but the man claiming to be Dietrich had so much confidence in his words and charisma dripping like honey from a comb that Hans couldn''t deny it. He asked again to confirm,


    "Are you really Dietrich Parv of the legends?"


    "I''m not sure about the legends, but I was the first king of Parv who united all human territories under one flag - "


    "To defeat the mage king, right?" Hans interrupted him in excitement, fully believing him.


    The response through the man''s expression was lukewarm as if Hans had said something wrong. It was the first time Hans had seen something falter in the charismatic face of this self-proclaimed Dietrich. The man remained silent but did not take long before speaking again.


    "As an Inheritor, you will see the past yourself but Im not here for that, I just want to ask you, why did you lose to her? I was enjoying the duel but you had many chances, you could have won easily, you don''t seem to have a soft spot for her, so why do you lose?"


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 79 : The Chairman of Concordia

    CHAPTER 79


    THE CHAIRMAN OF CONCORDIA


    Overwhelmed with excitement, Hans disregarded whatever the person, Dietrich or not, was saying. He was undoubtedly strong, as his actions spoke for themselves. It was only after recalling Rudolf''s words that Hans realised Eclipse had to retreat with their tails between their legs upon this man''s arrival. Although Hans had many questions, the man was more interested in why he had lost the duel, prompting him to explain his defeat before asking any questions.


    But, Hans''s third favourite activity was to ask questions, and he wasted no time in firing his first one:


    "Since when are you observing me?"


    "Since the moment you stepped into Floatlands." The man replied.


    Hans asked, confused,


    "Why?"


    "Is it wrong for an elder to watch their family''s children as they grow?" the man retorted.


    Hans persisted,


    "Are you really Dietrich?"


    The man sighed "Since you''re having a hard time believing me," he replied, "you can call me Chairman like everyone else."


    Hans inquired, nodding


    "That sits well with me, so Chairman, Sir, how old are you?"


    "Why do you ask?"


    Hans pressed on,


    "You referred Xandor as an insolent child."


    After pondering for a moment, "Which year is it?" the Chairman asked.


    "It''s 1065."


    "Add a few years into it," asked Chairman.


    Hans asked, surprised


    "For real?"


    "I told you, that''s why people refer to us as ancient. We have outlived many generations," replied the Chairman.


    Hans then asked,


    "How many of you are there?"


    The Chairman hesitated "Hmm...but why am I telling you this?" he said, " I came to question you, not give you answers."


    Hans persisted,


    "You said you''re my elder, that makes me your last living descendant, my father is dead. Can''t you be a nice guy and help me out here?"


    "You have a slick tongue, descendant. Fine, it has been a long time since I talked to one of my own." Chairman sighed and continued, "You asked, how many of us are there, Hmm...Frankly, I do not know. The last time I checked, there were four or five of us."


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    Hans was determined to continue his line of questioning and asked with even more vigour,


    "How do you become immortal?"


    "We are not immortal, silly descendant," the Chairman replied. "We bleed when we get hurt, and pain is unavoidable. It''s just that we do not age."


    Hans asked, still curious.


    "Why?"


    "It''s a perk of growth. For me, it was crossing the 100th grade, but for mages, it''s the tenth circle, I guess,"


    Hans exclaimed.


    "But that''s impossible!"


    "That''s why there are very few of us, and here comes my concern for you. Do you know what an Ancient gets after breaking the impossible wall of growth?" Chairman asked, making Hans more curious and added, "An ability to influence surrounding mana, like you are feeling right now." t


    Hans clenched his fist, trying to grasp the mana around but it was dead silent, he still wasn''t feeling any mana in nature; it was like it had been dispelled from the area. He looked at the Chairman and said, "It is a fatal flaw, no doubt." he paused "But won''t I be safe until I plan to fight an Ancient, sir?"


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    The Chairman shook his head at his foolish descendant, "Getting rid of mana is something anyone can do with artefacts," he said "but the difference between now and then will be that the user of the artefact couldn''t use mana or aura either. That''s how we killed mages back in the day since they were all weak physically."


    Hans rebuked,


    "That''s playing dirty, isn''t it?"


    "Will you not play like this if you get the chance?" the Chairman questioned.


    Hans didn''t answer but smiled, which spoke volumes about his alignment. He was told to use everything at his disposal; that''s how a mage fights. The Chairman, knowing his inner thoughts well, added, "Since you are the first mage in our family, I thought I should pay you special attention. But then I remembered the day thousands of years ago when you peeked into my past -"


    Hans interrupted, inquiring,


    "You mean the time when I was in your body? Now that I think of it, I wasn''t able to see your face, but I feel like it should be you. But why were you killing elves?"


    "We had a dispute," the Chairman responded.


    Hans countered,


    "But Elves and humans didn''t fight a war like that. At least not until Sams...my father went nuts over a girl."


    "Yes, for a man so smart and wise, he died a pitiful death." The chairman said, asking "Do you not share his resentment?"


    "Why should I? Actions have consequences."


    "You speak like my old student." The Chairman spoke, reminiscing his past,


    Curiously, Hans asked,


    "Who?"


    "The second one, born after me as the wielder of INHERITANCE, but it was half-baked, just like yours."


    Hans thinned his eyes, focussing he said


    "Half-baked?"


    The Chairman tussled Hans''s hair, "Our blood carries two hereditary powers, royal bloodline and ability of inheritance." he explained, "Royal bloodline is rare, but side branches could be born with it, but only the pure blood will possess the power of ''Inheritance''. So when I found him, I was startled he was born with Inheritance only, just like you. So I had to teach him differently, but a mage in the family is a challenge, even for me"


    Hans kept looking at his supposed ancestor but the man asked him once again, why he lost. So, with a deep breath Hans explained, he had lost fairly, and if he had to blame something, it would be his headache. Dietrich nodded as he scanned Hans once again, mumbling "There is something wrong with your head." He grumbled and then asked, "What will you do if you find yourself with no mana around?" Suddenly, he summoned a sword and attacked Hans, cleaving it vertically.


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    Hans was quick to dodge, and rolled sideways, his eyes fixed on the Chairman.


    "What is the meaning of this?" he asked in a serious tone. "


    "I want to see how good you are with the sword," Dietrich replied taking another stance to attack Hans again.


    Hans raised his hand,


    "Then give me one too", he said, asking for a sword.


    But Dietrich responded with another slash, faster than before, and this time it appeared from the back. Fortunately, Hans''s instincts warned him, and he dodged once again. "Good, good, now I will get serious, young one," Dietrich said as his single slashes from before turned into volleys and then barrages, but Hans skillfully avoided them all. Of course, it was only possible because Dietrich had adjusted himself at Hans''s level, but not getting hit even once was making him both proud and hurting his pride at the same time. He smiled, finally taking the fight to another level, including aura in the fight.


    Hans shouted at him,


    "That''s cheating!"


    "Yes, it is," Dietrich admitted with pride,


    Barely evading his attack, Hans accused him.


    "You are from the noble knights family."


    Dietrich laughed, drunk in adrenaline "No, we are not," he responded, continuing his attack while saying, "Our origins were of a craftsman family, born into slavery. We were cutthroats and wicked, killing our families and enemies alike. That''s how I rose, and so does our family." He added, "There is no honour if you are dead."


    Hans was taken aback and his disappointment was evident in his speech,


    "I can''t believe I''m hearing this from the first knight in history, known for his altruistic nature."


    Another attack came, thrusting at Hans as the Chairman retorted, "I still am, foolish descendant. Giving back to others is in my nature, whether it''s a grudge or grace." Surprised, he added, "But you are exceeding my expectations. Should we increase the difficulty a bit more?"


    Dietrich expanded his hand and conjured water that took on a solid shape stronger than iron and formed a sword suitable for Hans. He threw it at him, and Hans understood his intentions. As he caught the sword, the air around him changed as if he had caught a wooden plank while sinking.


    Hope was a weapon that bring far greater despair to a man and Hans was going to learn this the hard way. He took up a new sword and assumed an unfamiliar stance, holding the sword horizontally with a bent elbow above his shoulder, ready to defend against any overhead attack with enough space to absorb the incoming blows. It was a perfect defending stance with no flaws.


    The Chairman smiled and switched to a different sword style. In response, Hans shifted the sword to his left hand and tightened his grip with his ring and pinky fingers. Dietrich laughed at the sight and exclaimed, "Now that''s how an Inheritor fights, already knowing the counter to every sword style."


    Although Hans didn''t quite understand what he meant, he had an unusual confidence that the man in front of him wouldn''t be able to touch him at this level. However, that confidence shattered as Dietrich transitioned to a style similar to the Imperial Sword Arts he had been taught. Hans quickly prepared himself, knowing how to counter all of the moves.


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    As they clashed swords, Hans quickly realized how wrong he was. Despite the simplicity of Dietrich''s sword moves, he couldn''t block them. Even when a move required four steps, Dietrich executed it in three or even two steps. Skipping momentum-generating steps(ready moves) but somehow it gave his attacks even more force.


    Unable to compete, Hans fell on his rear, his body and clothes battered. He was thoroughly beaten and disappointed, while Dietrich seemed to be enjoying his time with Hans. Giving him a moment to rest, Dietrich asked him to get up. But Hans responded with puppy eyes.


    "Sir, I am just a kid and you are a thousand-year-old monster, how can I compete?"


    "Oh, so you do these kinds of things too. Aren''t you too shameless?" Dietrich chuckled.


    Hans was not late in delivering a witty response.


    "Didn''t you say our family was cutthroat and wicked? I am just using whatever works for me."


    <div>


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    Dietrich lowered his sword and the one in Hans''s hand transformed into water, slipping through his grasp. Though he wished to keep the sword, it didn''t seem like an option at the moment. He gazed at Dietrich with hopeful eyes, waiting for his response.


    "Fine, I''ll spare you for today, my foolish descendant," said Dietrich, causing Hans to breathe a sigh of relief. But Dietrich wasn''t done speaking yet. "If your father had an ounce of your sword talent, perhaps he would have survived," he said, shaking his head in disappointment.


    Hans was suddenly struck with confusion, unable to reconcile the image of Samson that he built as the greatest knight ever known with the idea that he was not actually skilled with a sword. Dietrich could sense his confusion and sought to clarify. "Samson was not a skilled swordsman." he said "He was undoubtedly strong, but when it comes to sword fighting, he falls short compared to you or any other talented sword wielder."


    "But, he was the strongest knight, none could withstand his sword". Refuted Hans defending Samson.


    Dietrich smiled hearing his words "That''s what he wanted the world to believe and it is true that none could withstand his sword," he explained "But there was trickery involved and it came from his unique talent, a talent that none of us had, our true origins as craftsmen. Your father was a genius in problem-solving. If he lacked strength, he would devise a way to decrease his opponent''s. If his opponent was faster, then he could make them slower. He didn''t win his battles because he was stronger than others, but because he made others weaker than him. He could outthink anyone."


    Hans stared at Dietrich in disbelief as the man made a shocking confession.


    "He bested me too."


    Hans was taken aback. "For real?" he asked.


    Dietrich nodded.


    "Yeah, that brat had forged a ring as I did in the past, but his was way more powerful than mine. I still can''t believe I lost so miserably without even raising my sword."


    Hans was curious. "Why did you fight him?" he asked.


    "That brat held a grudge," Dietrich said. "I was teaching him the real Imperial sword arts, but he was not talented enough to perform it, so I dismissed him. He did not like it, and you know the result, I tasted defeated after some time."


    Hans chuckled at Dietrich''s annoyance but defended himself,


    "I am not laughing, but can''t you feel proud? He was also your descendant."


    "Yes, I was proud. He was a true craftsman." Dietrich admitted, "I almost broke my vow to not interfere with the family. Almost saving..."


    Hans felt a powerful connection with this man like he could rely on him no matter what happened, just like when Dietrich saved him from Xandor. But then a sudden realisation from the past made him feel sad, and his happiness vanished.


    Dietrich was quick to notice the sudden change in Hans''s mood and asked, prying for the boy''s reason,


    "What got you sullen all of a sudden?"


    "You see," Hans lowered his head and said, "I was told that I was not human, but that Samson made me from alchemy or something."


    Dietrich confronted him with confidence, "Yes, you do not feel entirely human, but that doesn''t mean Samson isn''t your father or that our family''s blood doesn''t flow through your veins. Do you not remember me telling you that only the purest blood of our family has the power of Inheritance? And that is the proof of your last name ''Parv''. So clear those doubts, Hans. You are my descendant and possibly the masterpiece of your father.


    He added, humouring him,


    "Ask me whenever you want to sit on that throne, and I''ll make sure every head is bowed before you."


    Hans''s ears perked up at the thought, and he asked, "Really?"


    Dietrich chuckled,


    "No, kid, how gullible you are. I stopped meddling in affairs irrelevant to Concordia"


    "Then what''s the point of having a strong person like you" Hans pouted, "when I can''t even do whatever I want?"


    Dietrich sighed at his pout and playfully poked his cheek, saying,


    "Depending on someone else''s strength will cripple your future. But do you know why I brought you here in the middle of the night?"


    "Because you''re into stuff that people do at night," said Hans with an innocent face.


    Dietrich sighed, "Now I understand why Rudolf beat you so much", he said tussling his hair and added, "Because I will teach you how you can get rid of that fatal weakness of yours. I don''t want the only mage in our family to die miserably".


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 80 : To The Dead Gorge

    CHAPTER 80


    TO THE DEAD GORGE


    "Because I will teach you how you can get rid of that fatal weakness of yours. I don''t want the only mage in our family to die miserably".


    Hans couldn''t shake the words as they rang in his mind, he gazed at the imposing figure before him and thought, anything learning from this man was a boon in itself. Despite the man''s caring demeanour, Hans had come to learn that nothing in this world came for free. Caution took hold and he found himself asking, "What do you want in return?"


    "Do I have to get something in return for helping you out?" asked Dietrich, with a questioning gaze.


    Hans didn''t hesitate to reply,


    "Everything comes with a cost, and there are no exceptions to this rule. sir chairman."


    "But I don''t have anything to ask for, foolish descendant," Dietrich replied nonchalantly.


    Confused, Hans continued to ask,


    "Then why? Why are you - "


    "If we go into detail, I''m your great-great-great----grandfather, " Dietrich interrupted him, cutting off his words in the middle and explained, "It means I''m your family, and family helps each other without expecting anything in return."


    Hans was taken aback, meeting people in this world who always seemed to want something from him had left him feeling jaded, but this person was different. He felt genuine and the warmth in the man''s eyes reminded him of Sierra, who had always looked out for him expecting nothing but for him to remain safe and sound. Overwhelmed, he closed his eyes and smiled.


    "Then should I call you Great Grandfather?" he asked tentatively.


    The man chuckled.


    "You''re quick to make connections, descendant,"


    "it doesn''t sound bad, right? We are family after all". Hans cheekily confirmed and Dietrich couldn''t resist ruffling the boy''s hair,


    Hans''s willfulness shone through his smile as the warmth in his heart grew, but he couldn''t forget what newly-discovered flaw his great-grandfather had told him and it was the core of his power. He had been slow to realize it but luckily a solution presented itself, and Hans asked for it, giving an anticipation look at his great grandfather.


    "I can''t discuss it with you now," Dietrich replied, picking Hans up. "You have hunting training to do tomorrow, right? When you come back next year, we can talk about it."


    With a snap, they were in Hans''s room. He looked around, surprised, and commented,


    "Gramp''s credibility is falling from new heights. There''s a stranger in the house, and he''s still sleeping like a log."


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    Gently placing Hans on his bed, Dietrich teased, "Do you think being an ancient is all about having an unending lifespan?" He answered his own question before Hans could respond. "We all have our own tricks up our sleeves, kid."


    He went on to say, "While calling me ''Great Grandfather'' is nice, you''d better be prepared to call me ''Teacher'' the next time we meet. I''ll teach you the true Imperial Sword Arts, not just the flashy techniques you''ve learned. This style has a unique step-skipping nature that only I know, and only an inheritor can learn it."


    "What''s the point, I can''t even use aura" Hans retorted.


    Dietrich, wearing an amused smile said," you''ll be learning your father''s way kiddo, fools charged ahead while intelligent exploit the loopholes." With that, Dietrich flicked a finger on Hans''s forehead, and the boy immediately fell asleep. "Rest up," he whispered before vanishing into thin air.


    NEXT DAY


    Hans woke up, feeling pain coursing through his body. In the rush of adrenaline from the night before, he had forgotten that he had pushed himself to his limits while going against his ancestor. As he dragged his battered body down, he saw Aredhel and her daughter staring at him in surprise. Seeing his condition, Delimira couldn''t help but ask,


    "What happened to you?"


    Hans responded like it was a chore,


    "I fell off the stairs."


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    <div>


    Delimira couldn''t help but notice Hans''s weary tone as he responded with what seemed like an excuse. "Can''t you come up with a better excuse?" she retorted, hoping for a more honest answer.


    But Hans replied with the same weary tone,


    "Can''t you get a hint? I don''t want to talk about it."


    As Sierra joined the conversation, she noticed Hans''s injured body and immediately rushed to help. However, her rough handling only added to his pain. "Grandma!" Hans protested, and Sierra without asking much, quickly healed his injuries. Feeling relieved, Hans clenched his fists and whispered to himself, "Now, this is nice." Meanwhile, Rudolf entered the room munching on something and asked Hans what happened to him. Irritated by the same question, Hans replied,


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    "Xandor came last night, and we fought until his heart was content while you were fast asleep."


    Rudolf looked here and there in anger and shouted.


    "What, that bastard?"


    Hans let out a sigh and responded,


    "Gramps, don''t you think it''s time to increase your grade? Warlord at 90 doesn''t look so strong to me anymore."


    Understanding that Hans was jesting, Rudolf calmed and knuckled the boy for playing him but this time, Hans effectively dodged him. The movement came as a surprise for both as they looked at each other, their eyes fixed and their surprise apparent. Hans had never managed to dodge the incoming knuckling before but this was odd. He belatedly realised a single fight with Dietrich had sharpened his senses and instinct. There was much Dietrich had not disclosed about that spar and now he was regretting it. He thought, "he should have complied with his request to fight more", gritting his teeth he cursed loudly,


    "Aah! Damn it!"


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    Both the elder looked at Hans, and thought it was odd, their grandson should be dancing in joy after avoiding Rudolf''s blow as he always wanted, not to curse in frustration. They did not ask for more and Rudolf turned to Delimira, making a mental note of Hans''s progress while asking the girl politely,


    "Did you do some research on the place?"


    Delimira did not disappoint him and nodded in agreement, so he tested her a bit, saying,


    "Tell me a bit about it."


    "It is classified as a four-star danger level beast zone. The star denotes the rarity of resources that you could excavate from there. It is home to reptile beasts and is hot and humid," she replied with a textbook answer. Rudolf nodded, acknowledging her readiness and curiosity. In return, she asked him, "When are we going there?"


    Rudolf showed a wicked smile, making Hans uneasy. The old man said,


    "I will follow you, and if you make me step into your matter, you both will not participate. Agreed?"


    Both nodded and Delimira, who did not receive a clear answer, asked him again. She wanted to be prepared, but Rudolf was just being Rudolf. He grinned and said loudly, "You both are leaving right now." making her startled. She did not have any survival equipment for the hot place and that is what Hans felt uneasy about too. Looking at Rudolf''s wide grin, he couldn''t help but said in unison with him,


    "A hunter should always be prepared for surprises, lesson no. 1."


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    Turning to Delimira, Hans greeted her with a sarcastic tone,


    "Welcome to hell, Winters."


    It wasn''t like Hans enjoyed making the comment; he was also dejected at the thought of entering that infernal place. Rudolf led them to the SpaceDoor near the quarters, which was already set and ready to send them to the Dead Gorge. As the children were walking front, from behind Rudolf stopped Delimira and spoke in a low voice, "You may not like him much, and I know the brat is annoying, but he is the best option you have now, so learn from him well."


    Hans and Delimira shed their winter clothes in front of the SpaceDoor, which the attendants collected. It had been foolish to wear winter clothes in Dead Gorge, but they were soon going to learn the consequences of that decision. Before they could proceed, Aredhel approached Hans, who was hugging himself to keep warm.


    "A word with you, Hans?" she asked.


    Hans scratched his head and followed her, still shivering. Concordia was located above the cold saltwater lake of Deemar, which separated Parv and Grimgar, making it relatively colder than other places and he had removed his winter wear for their departure to Dead Gorge making the situation colder.


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    Aredhel turned to Hans, "Can I trust that my daughter will be safe with you?" she asked.


    Hans stared at her and responded,


    "You don''t seem to like me very much, Professor."


    "What gave it away?" she asked with a non-surprising tone.


    "Just a hunch," Hans said. "Delimira doesn''t seem to like me much, but I don''t sense any hatred from her. Your feelings towards me seem closer to hatred."


    Aredhel shifted the blame onto Hans''s father and replied,


    "It''s not you, but your damned father."


    Hans didn''t feel curious about what had happened between her and his father. He had grown tired of Samson''s schemes to the point where he even doubted the sincerity of leaving the book behind for him. He asked Aredhel in a sarcastic tone,


    "So what did you want from a person whom you don¡¯t like much, professor?"


    "Me aside, can I trust my daughter''s safety with you?"


    Hans responded,


    "Gramps will be there, professor."


    "No, I want your word", she responded and pressed on "Will my daughter be safe with you?"


    Hans thought that Aredhel had a weird way of asking for favours. Just a moment before, she acknowledged, she did not like him, and now she was asking the same person to keep her daughter safe. However, as he saw the worry in her eyes for her child, Dietrich''s words about family rang in his head, and the only thing he could say was what she wanted to hear.


    "I don¡¯t promise unless I can keep it, professor," he said pressing on his next words "That''s why you have my word that there is nothing you have to worry about."


    "Thank you, Hans," Aredhel said gratefully and Hans rejoined the others who were waiting for him, together with Delimira, he stepped into the SpaceDoor and disappeared not knowing there was a surprise planned for him, an event that is gonna push his calm life into chaos.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 81 : Dead Gorge really?

    CHAPTER 81


    DEAD GORGE REALLY?


    As Hans and Delimira stepped into the SpaceDoor, Hans immediately got hit with the same nauseating feeling he experienced in his first space travel. However, in addition to that, his guts were telling him something else too, he couldn''t pinpoint the cause but the foreboding he felt as he stepped into the grey smoke of the SpaceDoor was definitely not from the turbulence. And it proved right as he opened his eyes an hour later.


    THE SLEEPING GIANT MOUNTAIN, CLANDOR


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    The mountain range, as long as the sleeping body of a giant which divided Parv and the Elven land Clandor, was an anti-mana zone, a barren land where nothing could survive and acted as the natural barrier for both countries. But the human mind had no bounds as some had discovered how to live in that dread full and cold place and these people were up to no good either. At the foot of the mountains on the Clandor side, there was some activity going on. A man, covered in snow, entered the underground, tunnel-like gateway and brushed off the snow from his sleeves as he asked


    "What are our gains, Commander Xandor?"


    Xandor lifted his head and responded,


    "You are late, First Captain."


    "My apologies," the captain said. "The Utarians(people from Utar) resisted more than I had anticipated."


    "Very well," Xandor replied, anticipating "As long as you were successful."


    The man''s huge smile caused a bit of snow to slide down from his beard. His confidence and grin confirmed the mission''s success and Xandor answered his question, "We have retrieved all the sunstones from the research facilities," standing up he added, "Now we have enough resources to proceed with the next phase of the plan,"


    The man then asked,


    "Commander, did you see him too? The child, is he really the heir?"


    "Even if he is," Xandor responded, "it does not matter. Once we wield the power of our king, we won''t have to kneel before anyone - "


    "What about the traitor, Commander?" the man interjected, hoping to crush the enemy as he clenched his fist in rage.


    Xandor replied,


    "It''s not a priority at the moment."


    "As you command, Sir," the first captain said confirming another thing, "That monster in Concordia, won''t move, will he?"


    Xandor looked at his subordinate and remembered the man to whom he was referring. He sighed and reassured everyone present, "That man can''t leave Concordia." he added, "Have the other captains returned?"


    The first captain replied instantly.


    "Yes, they are awaiting your orders, Sir,"


    "Then summon everyone," Xandor stated, his voice as grim as it could get, "we have waited enough, it is time for the world to feel the fear of the Eclipse once again."


    SOMEWHERE UNKNOWN


    The bitterly cold wind, along with the snow, battered the almost-naked bodies of two children who had just been thrown into the snowy mountain. Hans woke up, furious at Rudolf, hugging himself tightly while shivering from the cold. Looking over at Delimira, he saw that she was in no better spirits. He nudged her, waking her up as she spoke rubbing her eyes,


    "What is this?"


    "This is the classic prank by Grampa, Winters," Hans replied irritably.


    Delimira repeated Rudolf''s earlier words,


    "A hunter should always be prepared for surprises, lesson number one... Right?"


    "You learn fast, Winters," Hans said, throwing another question at her, "Now, what should we do?"


    "We need to find shelter.. first," Delimira replied slowly, "but.. where... are we?"


    Hans had been pondering the same question himself for a while, but the only place that came to his mind was another beast zone, having similar level beasts as Dead Gorge, a place he had suggested switching the intended training zone with, but Rudolf had failed to mention that he already did.


    He took a good look, mumbling, "The chilly wind and snowy mountain, accompanied by a dense forest at the base." And looking up, he spotted the tallest peak in sight, and his doubts were cleared. This peak resembled a sharp tooth of a beast, and the area was aptly named Frozen Tooth.


    He glanced over at his companion, who was dozing off not because of sleep but losing consciousness due to the frigid temperatures. "Get a hold of yourself, Winters!" He shouted at her, "Start circulating your mana if you don''t want to turn into a popsicle. This place is no joke."


    Despite Hans''s natural resistance to severe weather conditions, thanks to the nourishment from strong beasts since his youth, he still felt the chill. This meant that Delimira was likely in worse condition. He observed her lips had already turned blue from the cold, and her leg was stiffly frozen in the snow. They both wore thin clothes, having shed their winterwear earlier, a decision that came back to bite them hard.


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    Hearing his loud shouts as some lost whispers, nothing was clear to her ears, she just wanted to close her eyes and rest. suddenly a sharp pain pricked her cheek and she opened her eyes frantically, rubbing her cheek which Hans had slapped hard. As she glared at him, getting back some senses she thought, this was not what she had envisioned either, staying up all night researching Dead Gorge. Sadly, her efforts had been in vain.


    She subdued her pride, realizing it was not the time to be stubborn and rebuke Hans for slapping her. Mustering a little strength in her legs, she stood up, grabbing Hans''s hand. and asked,


    "How long we were out?"


    "Maybe an hour or so," Hans swiftly replied. and upon glancing at her with ManaVision. He felt a bit guilty, cause he was doing not bad in the harsh weather, but she was not. Despite having mana circulating within her, it was not helping her keep warm. In fact, the abundant water mana within her was acting as a cold conductor, preventing her from generating enough heat to warm up.


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    Looking at that, Hans halted her and, to give her a boost, he shared some of his energy through SugarDrain. However, this was not a permanent solution, as he had a limited amount of energy himself. He quickly located a suitable spot, directing his orca vines to excavate a cave, then used some cold-resistant vines to isolate the inner walls, completing the task in a matter of moments, much to Delimira''s surprise. As she stood there, somewhat taken aback by the swift work but Hans jolted her back as he looked at her incredulously.


    "What are you waiting for, an invitation?" he chided.


    Shaken out of her daze, she followed Hans into the makeshift cave, which extended deep into the mountain. Walking slowly, providing strength to her legs, she moved as fast as she could but Hans wanting to close the cave sooner took her hand and led her further inside quickly. Once they were deep inside, he sealed off the entrance to keep out the cold. However, the cave alone could not save them from the biting cold. Hans knew they needed to generate warmth from within, and he had an idea. He recalled a fruit called Isota that contained fermented juice, which had an alcoholic nature that could warm them up.


    As he sprouted the tree, remembering its fruit''s formation process, he mumbled "The more ripen the fruit, the more effective it is." Isota''s tree grew as he wanted and he plucked the aged fruit and handed it to Delimira, who grimaced at the sour taste as she sipped the icky juice. But Hans urged her to drink more, and soon they both felt the warmth spreading through their bodies, ignoring the strange taste as they downed two more fruits each. She chugged all she could and felt her mana recovering as her cold went away. She was able to stand on her own, a sign that she had recovered from the earlier stages of hypothermia.


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    As Hans pondered, Delimira expressed her frustration,


    "So, your grandpa gave us false information and got us into this mess."


    "Yeah, classic gramps." he said, nodding "I already suffered like this once, Aagh!! stupid grandpa."


    Trying to move on from the mishap, Delimira asked,


    "So, where is Frozen Tooth?"


    "It''s located at the northern end of Grimgar, just before the border to Utar." Hans answered patiently, " It''s a beast zone, home to the native species known as Evil Monkeys. They''re the intelligent lifeforms of the area and can even speak and understand the common tongue."


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    Delimira listened attentively, but her confusion lingered.


    "Did your grandpa ever mention the Frozen Tooth before?" she asked, choosing her words carefully to avoid irritating him further.


    "No," Hans responded promptly, his mind preoccupied with other thoughts.


    But she persisted.


    "Then how do you know about it?"


    Hans took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding. "Winters, I don''t have the books in my room for the show. I''m not the lowest in class because I can''t study, but because my priorities for learning are different," he explained. "As for the Frozen Tooth, this territory is too cold and windy. We won''t survive without fire magic." He looked at her expectantly, hoping she could conjure up even a tiny bit of fire mana. He never saw her using it but she was the so-called genius of the Winter family so he took the chance and urged her to try conjuring fire, explaining that the fermented juice they drank only expanded blood vessels to increase blood flow, similar to alcohol.


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    Delimira, undeterred, attempted to summon her fire mana, but it didn''t come out. Seeing failure, Hans felt frustrated but tried to remain calm.  He held her hand by the back of the palm, turning it upside down, increasing the concentration of mana above her palm and encouraging her to try again. He was not capable of separating mana like others but he sure could increase the concentration around.


    Once again, Delimira tried and once again she failed, however this time, Hans couldn''t help but raise his voice in frustration. "Come on, try again!" he pressed on.


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    Despite her initial failures, Hans didn''t give up on forcing Delimira to summon her fire mana. As the effects of the Isota fruit began to wear off, he quickly thought of a new plan. He aged the Isota tree, collecting its dried leaves and twigs, and placed some of them in his other hand, then he guided Delimira''s hand to the top of the pile and commanded her to try again.


    When Delimira complained that it wasn''t working, Hans pressed on, "DO IT NOW." With Hans creating friction between the mana strands in Delimira''s hand and the pile, the heat aided her mana conjuration, and a spark ignited, sending some embers on dried leaves and twigs, soon engulfing them in a small fire. Hans released her hand and carefully placed the small fire into a pile of twigs and branches that he had gathered. He sat close to the fire and kept adding more fuel(dried twigs) to it.


    Delimira, on the other hand, was watching him in amazement, realising for the first time just how resourceful Hans really was. Until now, she had never really taken an interest in him, and their relationship had been mostly transactional. But as she watched him taking the lead she couldn''t help but agree with Rudolf''s assessment of him.


    As she sat by the fire to warm herself. She saw a chimney-like structure in the closed cave, providing an exchange of air, an excellent modification to the abode, Turning to him she saw, he was creating more wood like nothing. growing a small tree, ageing them for dry wood. Finally, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she asked him the question that had been on her mind since he first used magic in front of her.


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    "Don''t you have limits on your mana?"


    "No," Hans replied confidently, "I have an unlimited supply."


    Delimira was sceptical and responded,


    "If you don''t want to tell the truth, just say so. Why lie?"


    Hans looked at her, taken aback by her accusation. "I thought it would be pointless to lie to you, so I told the truth," he said innocently.


    Delimira remained unconvinced,


    "I don''t need to use my perception to know that''s an absurd lie."


    Hans simply shrugged and said,


    "Whatever you say, Winters. Whatever you say"


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 82 : Food, Clothes and Shelter

    CHAPTER 82


    FOOD, CLOTHES AND SHELTER


    Sitting by the small fire, chugging a few more of aged Isota juice, she finally had returned to her top-notch state. As she marvelled the inner lining of the makeshift cave once again, she inquired about their next course of action.


    Hans pondered, thinking of how much Rudolf could allow him to help her as he knew that Delimira was inexperienced in this matter. Looking at himself he thought, if worse comes to shove, he could live off with only vegetation conjured through ''Sprout''. However, Rudolf might accuse him of exploiting loopholes. He scratched his head in a bit of annoyance and concluded, that Rudolf not interfering with his ''Isota'' conjuring was probably his last limit.


    "We can¡¯t depend on this cave forever, we need to find a real shelter, possibly made by some beast." He answered.


    Delimira narrowed her eyes and responded,


    "So, a hostile takeover?"


    "That sounds particularly pleasant coming from you, Delimira Winters," Hans replied with sarcasm and continued, " It''s a matter of survival: either it''s you or them. Choose wisely."


    Delimira, questioned quickly,


    "Why can''t we stay here for a month?"


    "We don''t know the terrain here very well." Hans spoke like a veteran, explaining, "If an avalanche happens, we could get buried alive, even Gramps would have trouble finding us." He turned to her and extended his hand, summoning some vine-like threads resembling yarn to wrap around her and his limbs. Hans thought, It wasn''t ideal, but it would at least help them retain some warmth. However, if they planned to survive here for an extended period, they would need thick fur or hide from the same beasts that could provide them with shelter in this area.


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    So he suggested,


    "We need to go hunting. It will provide us with food, shelter, and clothing."


    Delimira quietly followed him out of the cave. His tone implied that he knew what he was doing, and she didn''t want to question someone who had more experience than her. As they stepped out of the cave, the bitter wind greeted them once again.


    Hans and Delimira debated whether to wait for the weather to improve or to descend the mountain immediately. Hans was uncomfortable with unknown factors, so he insisted on trekking down the mountain. Although the layered, coiled vines were slightly uncomfortable, they were doing the job, keeping them warm to some extent.


    They descended the mountain without any hitch, arriving at the base in silence. Hans had instructed Delimira to conserve her energy, but in truth, he wanted her to remain quiet. To his surprise, she followed his instructions to the letter. And upon entering the snowy forest, Hans asked her, "Can you use your AquaBullets?" She nodded wordlessly, and Hans instructed her once again, "Get ready to attack when I give the command."


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    Delimira assumed a fighting stance, and two faint circles appeared on her hand. With Hans''s simple nod, she could fire her AquaBullets and Hans acknowledged her readiness. He signalled with a gesture to look beyond the bush in front of them.


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    With her attuned senses, Delimira quickly spotted movement in the bush, she readied herself for an attack. Hans gave the signal, and she fired a volley of AquaBullets, taking out whatever was lurking there in silence. Using his ManaVision, Hans confirmed the kill and ensured that they weren''t stealing someone else''s prey and rather than venturing out to collect their target, Hans used his vines to drag the kill back to them. It was a class one herbivore, the Kapi Rat, similar in size to a calf, with a thick hide and lots of fat. Delimira experienced conflicting emotions - the thrill of success in her first kill, mixed with the guilt of taking a life.


    Hans had experienced similar doubts in the past, so he reminded Delimira of the words of his hunting teacher, Rudolf: ¡°Killing without a cause is wrong¡±. She looked at him and then he added, "You kill because it''s necessary, and we don''t have the luxury to starve Winters, so get your sh... Snap out of it." Hans might have learned those words but he never followed them, if a beast so much as glared at him then his death certificate already got ready in his mind.


    But it was a necessary thing for her to listen at this point. Suppressing her guilt, she asked in a whisper,


    "How long will this last us?"


    Hans replied, "It''s not enough to sustain us for long. We can''t kill too many, we need to find a single beast that can provide us with everything we need - food, shelter, and clothing." He followed Rudolf''s advice and reiterated his words, "Always target what can satisfy your maximum needs." And using his orca vines, he ravaged the still-warm corpse, spreading its blood everywhere as he explained, "This is the bait for checking who is at the top of the food chain here, the predators will come swarming for the kill and we can determine if this place is safe for us to idle around."


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    Hiding in a recently dug hole and blending in with the surroundings, Hans was only worried about the single possibility of them being on the hunting grounds of the aggressive Evil Monkeys, known for their territorial nature. However, as Hans and Delimira huddled together in their hiding spot, his fears were unfounded as the bait attracted a bipedal beast of the second class, Ursa. Hans let out a sigh of relief on seeing the ferocious beast in front. Delimira, curious, whispered to him, "Why do you seem relieved?"


    "These Weaklings are not fools to stay in Evil Monkeys¡¯ territory," he explained.


    Delimira found it hard to feel relieved facing a beast capable of using Origin power (mana attacks of beasts), but Hans assured her that they could handle it as long as she followed his instructions precisely. She nodded, agreeing with his words as she saw Ursa beast, lifting the carcass while scanning the area for ambushes, but Hans and Delimira had hidden perfectly, making it impossible for the beast to sense them. The Ursa started to drag the carcass away, and Hans instructed Delimira to tail the target from a safe distance. He had already masked their smell with the makeshift winter wear he had made from the vines, so they blended in with the environment as they move.


    Hans constantly was on the lookout, this was the place where having ManaVision was the most advantageous thing, but fortunately, he found nothing out of the ordinary. They followed the Ursa until they arrived at a well-hidden cave and he signalled her to halt, warning her of the danger ahead.


    He shared his knowledge about the Ursa, explaining that if the beast brought the carcass to its home, it was most likely a male providing food for a female. The females usually consumed their food on the spot, indicating that there could be a family of Ursas inside.


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    As she heard those words, her heart sank, contemplating the thought of killing innocent beasts with families. She hesitated, and her doubts were not lost on Hans. He prodded her, reminding her of their situation." Think about it, Winters." he pressed "How are we going to survive out here? We''ve found food, shelter, and clothing. We can''t afford to give that up now."


    Delimira was torn between her conscience and her survival. She couldn''t possibly fight off three Ursa on her own, let alone one. "Are you crazy? How can I fight them all? They''re all second-class beasts," she muttered to Hans.


    "That''s why I don''t like how they teach." Hans shook his head as he expressed his discontent with the teaching system of Concordia. "They only show you the pretty side of fighting, but in the real world, you have to kill to survive. But listen, I''m not telling you to confront them head-on. Use your head. I''ve already given you some hints." he remarked.


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    Delimira racked her brain, but she couldn''t find a solution and seeing her struggle, Hans offered another hint,


    "Isolate them and take care of them one at a time, Winters."


    "But how can I do that?" Delimira asked.


    Hans clicked his tongue in disapproval.


    "That was the first hint. It may sound heartless, but Ursa values family. Do you understand now?"


    "You don''t mean.." she hesitated, "no, not that - "


    Hans nodded, interrupting


    "Yes. If you trap one, his screams will call his family out, and you can take care of them one by one."


    "That''s very...inhuman, Hans," she said appalling.


    Hans replied coolly,


    "You are not human, and you are not an elf either. Forget your morals and focus on survival. It''s everyone for him..herself here."


    She disappointingly confirmed,


    So we need another bait to lure one out, don''t we?


    "Good, you are learning". commended Hans for her quick thinking.


    Delimira, too, possessed the power of Ground elemental mana, enabling her to excavate holes and set traps like Hans. She discovered a ravine, a narrow passageway near, and ingeniously devised not one but many traps with protruding spikes of hard rock inside deep holes. She then covered it with a fragile layer of ice sheet frozen in instant from the water she conjured.


    Upon seeing her handiwork, Hans acknowledged her abilities but informed her that they did not need to kill another creature to lure the Ursa out which made her happy for some reason only to regret it later. Hans explained that the male Ursa is extremely protective of their abode, and attacking it would surely cause it to erupt in a fit of fury, thus exposing itself to them.


    Having spent the majority of the day recuperating and descending the terrain, nightfall was imminent, and the temperature would plummet once the sun vanished beyond the horizon. Hans grew more anxious since Delimira required time to tackle the beasts individually but despite his concerns, he hoped that their plan would proceed without a hitch. He scratched his head as he recalled the advice of his grandfather, which shredded his hope.


    "You must be prepared to improvise, as things rarely go as planned in such places." he shared the word of wisdom with her and as she understood, she nodded and advanced towards the concealed entrance of the hole. Upon arrival, she detected the presence of three Ursa but breathed a sigh of relief at not finding any young ones. Regardless of the situation, she couldn''t bring herself to harm a defenceless cub, even for survival.


    She took a deep breath and the cold wind entered her body, jolting her once again, and reminding her where she was. With a barrage of AquaBullets, she started, targeting the Ursa that brought food for the family. But Ursa sensed the incoming attack as she wanted and defended itself, turning, he charged at her with an alarming speed.


    Panicking at the sight of the charging beast, Delimira swiftly pivoted towards the ravine, running as fast as she could and the Ursa chased her relentlessly, nearly catching up, and almost clawing once but she skillfully evaded it and leapt over the trap.


    Drunk in rage, Ursa fell victim to the trap, as his weight shattered the thin ice sheet covering the hole, causing the beast to plummet onto the razor-sharp stone spikes that impaled him without resistance. The creature bellowed in agony, and though Hans and Delimira were waiting for it, hiding in the shadows, the Ursa continued to cry out until its final breath, succumbing to its injuries. But No other Ursa emerged from the cave as they wanted, and their plan went along with the sun, which vanished from the frigid sky.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 83 : The Ursa Major

    CHAPTER 83


    THE URSA MAJOR


    "Anything that can go wrong will definitely go wrong." Hans knew of this saying as Rudolf had mentioned it many times while hunting. And Hans realised it again as his strategy like he had feared ended up failing - going downhill like the setting sun. Though Delimira had succeeded in killing first Ursa, their original goal of attracting his kin did not come to fruition. He sighed looking at the darkening sky and started mumbling facts


    "Ursa has stiff necks, which makes it difficult for them to turn their heads." he said, turning to her and adding, "That''s the way to fight them - "


    "Wait!, fight? " she interrupted, looking straight at him, her questioning eyes apparent.


    Feeling her gaze and knowing how startled she was, Hans pointed at the cave and answered her,


    "Yes, you are gonna fight them head-on, the night is almost here. We won''t survive the night without that cave."


    She grimaced, accepting the limited options and thought of how to confront the beasts, contemplating using GurgesDomitor as her last resort. It was her most powerful yet taxing spell, but even with that she was not confident about taking two beast head on and if one escaped then she would be at his mercy. On the other hand, using it inside was a surefire way to target both at the same time with precision. However, she knew it wasn''t safe to use inside the cave. It could make the cave damp and unusable, or even cause a cave-in.


    Turning to Hans, she asked,


    "You said we can''t survive the night, but can''t we attack them at night?"


    "We can" Hans replied, "But beast sense became sharp in the night while our dulls down"


    "Mine won''t change" Delimira confirmed.


    Hans was also the same so he judged that attacking at night would be the better option, particularly since they had secured food and clothing. The shelter could wait a bit longer. While Delimira was working on constructing a makeshift shelter, unfortunately, she witnessed Hans skinning the animal, promptly making her queasy.


    He waited patiently for Delimira to calm down and then covered her with the thick hide he had managed to skin. It was smelly, but it provided warmth, and Delimira accepted it gratefully. While her expressions betrayed her gratefulness as she made some awkward faces due to the smell, so Hans covered her in flowers to mask the odour. This made her look like a big bokeh, and Hans found it amusing, causing him to suppress his laughter by covering his mouth.


    However, Delimira grumpily interrupted him by pointing at the carcass and demanding,


    "Stop fooling around and tell me why they didn''t follow him."


    Hans cleared his throat, stopping his grin and secured every edible part while binding the rest on a makeshift cart for later use. "One of the possible reasons for Ursa¡¯s home already in a situation of what we are plotting to do." He explained tightening the grip.


    Delimira in surprise, clarified,


    "But I did not see anything else",


    "The Invader is probably further inside," shaking his head, he continued, "And since the cave is loosely guarded and the captives are not running, it only means there is no hope for them to escape. That also means the invading beast is strong."


    As he continued explaining, they reached the cave after a brief walk. Delimira mentally prepared herself for the fight against two Ursa and possibly something even scarier. As she was getting ready mentally, she couldn''t help but notice Hans dragging the first Ursa''s remains behind. she asked, not knowing his intentions,


    "What''s with the luggage?"


    "To provoke our friends inside", He explained with a grin that showed it was not a necessity but solely for his amusement.


    However, they were taken aback by a shocking sight: one of the Ursas was trampling on the other two that Delimira had seen earlier. This Ursa was twice the size and had several scars on its rear. It was of the same species, but far stronger, bigger, and definitely more frightening.


    "Damn it, damn," Hans panicked and shouted, "Winters screw the cave, just flood it". His actions were justified as the Ursa inside the cave was not just common second class, but Ursa Major, an evolved form of the same race reaching class three easily.


    The Ursa glared at the two and attacked first, conjuring a boulder from seemingly nowhere and throwing it at Delimira. Hans had already moved away from the entrance while she barely dodged the projectile. She found the Ursa Major approaching her, sending shivers of fear down her spine. and shackling her in place.


    "He''s using his Origin power to instil fear in you. Wake up, Winters!" Hans bellowed, snapping her out of a trance, adding "Go inside right now. If he comes out of the cave, we can kiss Glory Wars goodbye,"


    He warned urgently, whipping her inside with a conjured vine and heard her cursing at him but he shouted back.


    " Flood the damned cave".


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ~ GurgesDomitor ~


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans''s demands were obeyed by her, although she feared for the stability of the location. A whirlpool formed, enveloping Ursa Major and trapping him within. The swift current carried him away on multiple rotations until he was finally ejected out of the cave from the vortex. Whereas Hans used the same vine that had hurled Delimira into the depths to retrieve her quickly out of the cave.


    Despite her frustration with Hans, she refrained from lashing out at him, since the situation in front demanded her full attention. Once they emerged from the area, she noticed Ursa Major attempting to rise, disoriented and shivering as his wet fur rapidly froze. Not wasting the golden chance, she added more water to the fur,


    ~ AquaBullets ~


    Before the beast could get rid of his disorientation, the rain of frozen water bullets struck his rear like a dwarven Gatling gun. Agonized screams escaped the creature as he whirled around, seeking the culprit who flooded his new home. But as he turned, Delimira fired another offensive spell,


    ~ WindSlash ~


    She carefully aimed the attack on his snout, aiming to finish this once and for all but the beast roared and the sheer pressure from the mana-filled roar, nullified the spell-like nothing.


    Delimira knew that using GurgesDomitor always exacted a high toll on her mana reserves. Even now, she felt her reserves running perilously low. Yet, if she had not used the spell earlier, she would never have been able to corner the Ursa Major as effectively as she had. She calculated, with the mana left in her, only one or two more heavy spells she can conjure, so she decided to gamble on a new thought strategy.


    ~ Erupto ~


    It was also Aredhel¡¯s spell, which blended the power of fire and earth elements to mimic a volcanic eruption. However, Delimira lacked the necessary mana reserves and mastery over the fire element to replicate the spell accurately. But her half-baked spell was what she was aiming for.


    The spell caused the ground to give way, swallowing up the Ursa Major half and she seized the opportunity to launch another spell, exploiting Ursa''s submerged position.


    ~ Uorago ~


    This conjured up a treacherous quagmire that ensnared the Ursa Major, gradually sapping away his strength. And within moments, the quagmire froze solid, encasing the beast in ice and burying him halfway into the ground.


    Seeing her fight, Hans thought, had he been an examiner, he would have awarded Delimira a score of 90 out of 100. The only deduction was due to her lack of mana to complete the job. Nevertheless, her ability to think on her feet and carefully ration her mana consumption was admirable. Not a single spell, except WindSlash, had been wasted.


    He extended his hand towards the Ursa Major, his palms facing the exhaustive creature. The orca vines slithered forward, entangling themselves around the creature''s neck. With a swift clench of his fist, the vines applied pressure and snapped Ursa''s neck in one fell swoop.


    He turned to Delimira, acknowledging her and offering his support as she basked in the glory of her first victory over a class three beast. But there was one doubt he had about the Ursa Major, it shouldn''t be this easy to beat a class three since he barely used any Orign attacks and as he excavated the creature from the pit, he noticed a not-so-old injury that had weakened the Ursa and contributed to its defeat. Clearing his earlier doubt, he decided not to rain on Delimira''s parade. She was overjoyed to have slain a class three beast.


    However, Hans was troubled by the nature of the injury on the Ursa Major. The wounds appeared to be caused by javelins or spears, weapons typically used by the evil monkeys of Frozen Tooth. Hans began to mutter to himself, considering the possibility that the natives might have been hunting the Ursa and now they might target them.


    As if on cue, an evil monkey emerged from afar, charging towards them, ravaging everything in its path. it was still hundreds of metres far so Hans quickly moved to stand beside Delimira, recognising that she already gave her best in the fight with Ursa Major and was in no way near a level of fighting let alone dodging the attacks of the incoming foe.


    With a sense of urgency, Hans swiftly stretched three mana paths for seedBullets, predicting the position of Evil Monkey. But his eyes were busy scanning the surrounding area for any signs of movement as he knew that the Evil monkeys of Frozen Tooth often travelled in packs, and he braced himself for the possibility of a full-blown assault. But as he waited, filling his entire surrounding with Ensare and SharpDeath, he noticed only one figure approaching in the distance.


    Realizing that the Evil monkey was alone, he put his trap spells on standby and hesitated for a moment, considering his options. He weighed the consequences of attacking the natives first, as it could provoke a full-scale retaliation from the rest of their village. Alternatively, if he didn''t act quickly, the lone native could slip away and inform the others of their presence.


    Although it was a risky gamble, Hans and Delimira were preparing to face the impending threat of the Evil monkey. However, as the native approached at a clear distance, they noticed that it was running toward them in a panicked frenzy as if it were being pursued by something else. Before they could react, a powerful and unfamiliar attack struck him.


    ~ FireBolt ~


    Instantly, the evil monkey was charred to a crisp as a bolt of lightning surged from a distance


    Hans strained his eyes to see because it was not an aura skill but a spell and Rudolf clearly was not a mage. He focused more and saw an unfamiliar magic approaching him. Quickly, he pushed Delimira behind, and she too sensed the impending danger. Fearfully, she asked, "What now?"


    "Shh," Hans covered her mouth. He knew that survival was unlikely, but he still had a trump card up his sleeve - VeganCarnage, his most unreliable yet powerful attack.


    Having set up numerous traps in anticipation of the evil monkey''s arrival, all they could do now was wait for their unsuspecting foes to fall into their trap. However, they soon realized that these enemies were no fools.


    Meanwhile, Hans kept mumbling,


    "Please, don''t be Xandor, anything but that madman..."


    Both of them saw it was not an individual but a group, a party per see and it was stopped in their tracks by a mage, who had spotted the traps. Hans clicked his tongue, realising that his handiwork had been discovered. But what truly terrified him was the wicked tone of a knight''s voice as that man shouted, looking at the two


    "JACKPOT"


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 84 : The Miss Teleportation

    CHAPTER 84


    THE MISS TELEPORTATION


    As Hans looked ahead with ManaVision, he realised that these were not just run-of-the-mill people - each one of them possessed a significant amount of power. Quickly counting, he determined a squad of thirteen, consisting of four mages and the rest were knights. The weakest of them was positioned in the middle, hiding behind the squad like a VIP. However, as Hans increased his focus, he felt that even the weakest one was out of his league.


    Observing the significant power gap, he became more anxious, there was no way he could attack or outrun them if he was a normal mage of two circles that is, but he was special and had a few surprises planned for the approaching party. They were now just a little bit further, well within range of his many Ensnare and SharpDeath spells.


    In addition to the deadly traps they had set, a secret weapon was being formed at a distance. Hans had deliberately slowed its development, but it was taking shape steadily. One thing that perplexed Hans, as to why Rudolf had not shown up yet. He had joked about his grandfather''s unreliability many times, but he did not desire it to turn true, at least not when the situation was this uncertain.


    As tension increased he felt time slowing down, calming, he assured himself by believing Rudolf was probably running late and would eventually show up at the right time, like a typical protagonist in a story. Lost in such thoughts, Hans was caught off-guard as the mage who had previously cast FireBolt suddenly interrupted everyone''s march, giving a frown to Hans''s confident face as a result. They all stopped at an elevated ground, and a knight from the back smiled wickedly at the sight of Delimira and Hans. His eyes were salivating, similar to that of a Batwolf that had just found a herbivore, which gave Hans a shiver in the spine.


    Out of nowhere, the man bellowed, "JACKPOT!" and Hans instinctively took a step back, pulling Delimira closer to him as he shouted, "Shit, these people are perverts." He tightened his grip on her hand as another vine coiled around his leg, ready to fling them away. However, the reaction of the escorting group was peculiar as they suddenly burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs, at the knight who had been named ''pervert'' by Hans.


    The man in the centre lifted his sheathed sword slightly, pounded the ground with force, and shouted, "Silence!" The resulting roar was similar to that of the Ursa Major, but several times more powerful. Despite not being even a Dominion Knight, he still had the aura of grade seventy or higher. And as a result, the shockwave unearthed all of Hans''s traps, buried in their path. And it was not all, the vine coiling around Hans''s leg and his secret weapon, the crying seed, were both destroyed and swept away amidst the foliage and snow.


    Witnessing the aggression of their leader, another knight stepped forward, attempting to appease the old man. "Take it easy, sir," he said, "these are just kids."


    However, the elderly man, despite his advanced age, possessed immense power and had shown it first-hand. He raised his hand to smack the knight as if scolding a disobedient child and then glanced at Hans momentarily before addressing his foolish subordinate,


    "That kid was planning to take off your head, fool. Never underestimate royal blood. They''re made differently."


    As the old man continued scolding his knight, Delimira had a sudden realisation as she recognised the white cloaks that everyone was wearing. It was very bad news, not only for them but for the peaceful world of Genas as well. Seeing her stunned expression, Hans whispered to her with an awkward laugh mixed in.


    "Winters, we''re dead..."


    Right as Delimira was going to disclose to Hans the identities of the individuals dressed in white cloaks, the group suddenly vanished and popped in front of them. They were too near to Hans to form a crying seed again. Resigning to his fate and expecting the worst, he sighed, but to his surprise, the man in the centre of the group knelt before him and exclaimed,


    "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, your majesty, Prince Hans!"


    The rest of the group joined in, shouting in unison,


    "Your Majesty Prince Hans!!!"


    SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE AT CONCORDIA


    After sending the kids through the SpaceDoor, Aredhel turned to Rudolf and asked in concern,


    "When are you leaving?"


    "In a bit," Rudolf replied with a gruff voice. "I sent the kids to a place near the beast zone so they could be ready for the survival exercise that I''ve prepared first."


    Just then, a woman approached them. Rudolf turned towards her and asked,


    "What?"


    "Nothing, sir. There was an urgent letter for you, scheduled to be delivered only after you sent the kids. I''m just here to give it to you," the woman explained.


    Rudolf had a bad feeling about the letter as he opened it while glancing at the SpaceDoor. He read:


    <blockquote>


    Dear Alastor,


    I am taking the prince with me as there are assassins in Dead Gorge. I''m not sure whom they came for, but you should go their first. It looks like the world needs to know who they are messing with. I promise to return them safe and sound in the name of my late king.


    Arart of Parv.


    </blockquote>


    Rudolf crumpled the letter in anger and grabbed the collar of the SpaceDoor manager. He demanded, "Where did you send the kids?" But as the manager investigate, the SpaceDoor showed the destination as UNKNOWN.


    In a fit of rage, Rudolf almost beat the manager to death. Aredhel was on her knees, regretting ever getting involved with Rudolf. She had hoped her daughter to grow in his shadow peacefully, but the opposite had happened. It had only been a single day, and her daughter was already in the hands of the Parvians.


    Rudolf''s communication orb lit up, and he heard a very annoying voice.


    "Hey, Alastor!! MY FRIEND, how are you doing? So when are you coming?"


    Rudolf gritted his teeth in anger."Dijkstra" he responded with a word that he did not want to utter.


    The man laughed at the other side and replied,


    "Oh, I felt elated hearing your voice, but what''s with the lousy tone of yours, Come fast, or else I''ll kill all these bastards, and you will never know which of your kid was the target."


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "Where are the kids?" Rudolf shouted at the orb


    Bleep...


    "Fucking, bastard always cut off in the middle" Rudolf grumbled as the channel closed abruptly, and he almost broke the orb in anger. Calming himself with deep breaths, just as he always did when talking to Dijkstra like an anger management routine. When his nerves were somewhat calmed, he turned to Aredhel who was still in distress and comforted her by saying, "Arat is a man of his word, and he will return them safely."


    Aredhel remained in shock, and she did not respond. Rudolf had to raise his voice to snap her out of it,


    "For god sake, get a grip woman. You need to find out who is responsible for this."


    Aredhel finally responded, saying,


    "Somebody... on our side must have leaked the children''s itinerary. I''ll...I will investigate and find out who sold the information."


    "I will go with you," added Sierra supporting her up and detaining the woman who delivered the letter. She then turned to Rudolf, "It looks like your friend is waiting at the Dead Gorge," she said, "make sure you at least capture one before he kills them all."


    Rudolf turned to the manager, and shouted,


    "Set it to the Dead Gorge and do it correctly this time."


    CURRENT TIME AT FROZEN TOOTH


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans felt uneasy about the silence. The powerful people in front of him were all kneeling, and he thought in relief the outcome was way better than he was expecting. While he was staring with his mouth open and thoughts running wild, Delimira nudged him, prompting him to speak up. Hans came to his sense and asked while remaining cautious.


    "May I know who you are?"


    The oldest man who knelt first inquired in response,


    "Can I stand first my prince, you see I have bad knees."


    Hans thought, who in the world with the bad knees could use Aura burst so wild, but the beckoning and expecting eyes of the kneeling person begged for a response. "Yes, please do," he replied awkwardly.


    The man stood up, brushing off the snow from his right leg and as he stood the rest followed the suit. He removed his hood and wiped his white robe clean. There was a shining golden coat of arms on it, depicting a Gryphon (Griffin) with a sword.


    It was the emblem of Parv and as soon as Hans recognised the emblem, his doubts were confirmed. This was his first time meeting someone from Parv. Sierra had already informed him that Parv would soon realise his presence in Genas and will approach him. However, she also mentioned that there were two factions in Parv: those who supported the monarchy and wanted the royal family to regain power, and those who supported the new democratic laws and opposed the monarchy.


    Hans had a feeling that these people were supporters of the monarchy as they were behaving, but he wasn''t sure and was not going to let his guard down like a fool. The daylight had already faded, and the moon was making the snowy forest even colder. He needed a place to rest but these people were nothing but variables. He carefully examined the man''s face, and he was surprised by what he saw. He was expecting a man similar age to Rudolf, but instead, he saw a wrinkled face of an elderly man who appeared to be in his eighties, however, that very man exuded a vitality in contrast to his age.


    The man finally introduced himself,


    "I am Arat, the prime minister and current ruler of Parv."


    "What do you want with me, prime minister?" asked Hans at point blank.


    Arat shook his head, appearing relaxed, and wanting Hans to do the same as he said,


    "Don''t worry, my prince. We didn''t come here for you."


    Hans covered Delimira even more, "She ain''t going nowhere." he declared raising his voice.


    Arat smiled and replied,


    "Don''t worry, my prince. We didn''t come for her either"


    Hans was bewildered and wondered what was the purpose of this meeting and Arat cleared his confusion, stating, "You see, my prince, you were not supposed to come here either. I received information that assassins were in Dead Gorge". He paused to take a look at his listener and added, "So I simply hijacked the SpaceDoor to get you out of there."


    Hans interrupted, surprised,


    "You can do that?"


    "Of course, we can. We are from Parv". replied Arat, smiling proudly.


    Upon hearing this, Hans felt a surge of pride. Earlier, Dietrich had dispelled his doubts and he had come to accept that he was a member of Parv''s royalty, regardless of the reasons or methods involved. Now, hearing Arat speak of these events with such nonchalance, Hans felt that same sense of pride. Despite being labelled as a defeated and divided nation, Parv had once stood tall, taller than everyone else in terms of mana technology.


    As Arat continued, Hans came back from his thoughts "Anyway," Arat said, "I was supposed to send you back to your county, but I couldn''t resist meeting you in person. I''m sorry for that," he added, though his body language strongly denied any apology.


    Hans caught that and replied sharply,


    "Well, you certainly have a unique way of showing someone you miss them, Prime Minister Arat. You threw me into a four-star beast zone."


    Arat felt awkward. No one, not even this young prince''s father, had ever spoken to him in such a manner before. The rest of the escort were agape, witnessing Arat being rendered speechless. It was a rare occurrence indeed.


    "My apologies for the trouble, my prince," Arat said, still feeling embarrassed. "We were already here, and your descent point suddenly got surrounded by Evil monkeys, so we had to lure them out. Sorry for the inconvenience." This time, he genuinely meant those words.


    Hans chose not to argue, realizing that being dropped into a group of Evil monkeys would have been a cruel and terrifying way to go out. Arat looked at both children and reached into his spatial storage to retrieve some winter wear. Delimira was familiar with this device and its rarity. It was so scarce that only a select few well-known individuals possessed it. The rest of the world relied on space compression to make objects smaller and fit them into their pockets, but this technology was something entirely different.


    Even the clothes shrank to fit their wearers. Parv''s advanced mana technology was being demonstrated by Arat, and he felt a sense of pride looking at Hans, who was covered in Parvian insignia and the rest of the escort shared the same feeling.


    Arat commanded his escorts to warm up the frozen cave of Ursas, and the knight who had been labelled a pervert, ignited the cave from within with his fire aura, while his colleagues continued to tease him with his new monicker awarded to him by the royalty.


    As the cave became somewhat decent and warmer than the frigid outside, Arat escorted the children in and ordered his people to prepare warm food for the children. Soon they were sitting with hot bowls of soup, a standard military ration, surrounded by warm clothing and a comfortable environment. It would have felt like heaven if it weren''t for the fact that these luxuries were given to them by powerful people with unclear intentions.


    Hans began eating the soup without hesitation, and once he confirmed it was safe, Delimira followed suit. However, Arat interrupted Hans, "Were you not taught that eating food given by strangers might turn into something bad?" he asked with some concern.


    Hans retorted sarcastically,


    "Just like how you were not taught that kidnapping someone just because you want to see them is bad too."


    Arat was once again at a loss for words, not because he was incapable of countering a child in a word game, but because he chose not to. He smiled slightly and commented,


    "You have a sharp tongue like your father."


    There was a reason for Hans to suddenly have the courage to retort, these people did not mean harm at least not until whatever their objectives were achieved So He finished his soup and turned to Arat, his eyes sharp and serious, similar to the chilling environment outside. He asked,


    "So who is aiming for my head?"


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 85 : The Prince of Parv

    CHAPTER 85


    THE PRINCE OF PARV


    Hans was done measuring Arat and now he craved direct answers. As he contemplated the different scenarios, he arrived at a conclusion: "The involvement of these people marked the beginning of a game where his life was at stake. Those who coveted his father''s power would come at him from all sides. The Parvians were among the first to make a move." With a bone-chilling intensity that could make anyone tremble, he turned to Arat and demanded, "Who''s after my head?" His attitude had taken a complete turn; no longer the petulant child but exuded the dangerous vibe of a killer who was suppressing his rage.


    "Is it Parv, Clandor, or some other shit?" he said fixating his gaze on Arat''s face.


    "My dear Prince," Arat responded to him in a composed tone, "such crude language does not befit your status."


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans let out a sigh and shot back,


    "You just informed me that someone is targeting me. How do you expect me to take it lightly - "


    "You''re just a child. Allow the adults to handle this issue." Arat interrupted, attempting to pacify him, "I only informed you to get rid of suspicions"


    As Arat glanced past him, he noticed Delimra silently eating and replenishing her mana.t his attempt made Hans to be on guard more, he obstructed Arat''s line of vision with his hand, and pointed to himself, firmly stating,


    "Look here, only here."


    Arat chuckled at the sight of the child attempting to protect Delimra. "I have no intention of harming her," he reassured him but Hans gazed past the mage, who had been the most active member of the group that evening and locked his sights on a particular knight. With a sneer he said,


    "Why don''t you say that to the Jackpot guy, who''s eyeing her?"


    The rest of the group burst out laughing at the knight again, and feeling embarrassed the knight whined to Hans,


    "Come on, my prince. I''ve never seen an elf with silver hair before. Please don''t make me out to be a pervert."


    Ignoring the knight''s plea, Hans turned his gaze back to Arat and said sternly,


    "You only talk to me, nobody else. Got it?"


    "Understood," replied Arat, sighing and not wanting to ruffle the child''s feathers any further.


    Hans summarized his understanding of the situation thus far. "So, someone has put a hit on me, and the hit was scheduled to take place at Dead Gorge. You somehow intercepted the message and called us here in the middle of nowhere. The adults, meaning my grandpa, is taking care of the assassins in Dead Gorge. Is that correct?"


    "Correct, Prince," confirmed Arat.


    Hans somewhat sighed in relief,


    "So, I''m not in the middle of any stupid survival exercise, right?"


    "I don''t know what you were going to do there but it probably is not what you should do here," confirmed Arat again.


    With a grin, Hans stood up from the rock


    "So, I don''t need to hold back anymore." he said adding a question, "When are you going to send us back?"


    Arat hesitated for a moment before responding, "Our god does not favour me as much as your father, so I cannot simply use SpaceJump on a whim. It will take some time, approximately another twenty days before I can initiate the process."


    Hans looked at the old man in disbelief,


    So, we don''t have to search for a Space Door or create one?


    "No", Arat prompted, replying with pride in his voice, "that''s for low-level countries, not for us Parvians."


    Hans shrugged off the boasting, saying,


    "Says the people who closed their borders out of fear - "


    Hans realized belatedly that he should not have mocked the Parvians in that way. It was probably a sensitive subject for them, as they had suffered greatly in the war, and the memory of the tragedy made them visibly upset. And Delimria, quick on her feet appeared from behind Hans and placed her hand over his mouth, closing it shut before it could do more damage. "Please understand, he speaks without thinking," she said, attempting to salvage the situation.


    Arat snapped out of his thought and replied,


    "You must be Aredhel¡¯s daughter."


    Hans didn''t want Delimira to talk to the Parvians, but he knew it was his fault that she had to. The Prime minister looked at Hans, "To be honest", he said taking a pause, "we don''t know which of you is the real target since you both were high profile. Xandor before and now this, things sure are chaotic..."


    <div>


    <div>


    As he listened to Arat, Hans''s eyes shifted to Delimira, lost in contemplation. He recalled his sister''s advice about his friends sharing similar values as his, and the possibility of Delimira being the target gained momentum in his mind. He gently removed her hand from his mouth and asked, "Are you okay, Winters?"


    Delimira simply replied,


    Mhm.


    Hans had been expecting a day like this ever since Samwell''s visit to Ghost Isles, but he didn''t know how Delimira had been living her life. As she retreated to her place, she was thinking if she is the real target, then who was aiming for her, her mother was only rich and lived a humble life giving others like a pushover sucker, in short, she did not have enemies but there were still some people who hated her.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    She started mumbling nonstop so Arat had one of his mages put Delimira to sleep to ease her worries, while Hans kept a cautious eye on her. When she had fallen asleep, Hans asked Arat the real reason for summoning him.


    Arat quickly replied,


    "I told you, I wanted you to avoid the ambush."


    Hans wasn''t satisfied with that answer.


    "Then you would have sent us somewhere else or just informed my gramps but you did not, so spill it."


    Arat asked if Hans was just acting naive in front of Delimira, but Hans denied it, explaining. "a scared ally is far more dangerous than a strong enemy." His words simply meant that he didn''t want to scare her even more, pointing out throwing her into a dangerous situation and then suddenly an entourage of "Scary Parv" had shown up with news that someone might be after her. He was giving excuses but Arat interrupted him.


    "She must be someone close to you," he said.


    Hans denied it, explaining that he had made a promise to her mother.


    "A man''s words are as precious as gold," he added.


    Arat complimented Hans on his credible nature, saying,


    "At times like this, you resemble your father - "


    "so what was the real reason" Hans interrupted.


    "I didn''t lie about the assassin part", said Arat adding "but you did not believe me completely right?"


    "Of course, who would believe some stranger right away, assassins or whatever. You must have another motive for me to be here.


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans acknowledged that he had been sceptical of Arat''s claim. and the old man smiled in response, impressed by Hans''s casual demeanour he said,


    "I wanted to see if you were worth staking my country on, and I''m convinced now. I''m going to crown you."


    Hans responded with indifference,


    "I thought being the king''s child automatically gave me the right to succession."


    Arat''s tone grew serious.


    "I don''t care about bloodlines. I saw a leader who could lift Parv out of poverty and Samson''s shadow. That''s why I supported him. And I see the same potential in you."


    Hans interrupted him, realizing his previous words had been taken seriously.


    "Hold on, you just met me and I never said I wanted to be king."


    "It doesn''t matter," Arat said firmly. "when you are my age you develop discerning eyes and now these eyes want you to be king, so I will make you one. Your choice is irrelevant."


    "What if I insist?" Hans asked.


    "Try your best to avoid it," Arat replied, "but I''ll make you come willingly to claim the throne."


    Arat exuded confidence as if the idea of Hans becoming king was a foregone conclusion. He did not know how meticulous and scheming Arat really was. After all, Arat had managed to unify the nation in just a year after the fall of Samson and could crown a beggar if he deemed him worthy.


    But Hans was unaware of these, he sighed and asked,


    "Is that all?"


    Arat shook his head, denying and took out a small glass vial. He started walking towards Hans and spoke with a hint of remorse,


    "I held you in my arms when you came from your mother''s womb first, not your father''s. Who would have thought we would meet again like this? Please forgive me, an incompetent man who can''t even protect his prince."


    Hans only saw the sincerity in his eyes but his words were baffling to him, he thought and was told that he was not a human, an alchemical product made by Samson However, what the old man was saying was not in line with what he had been told, it was a completely different story altogether.


    He interrupted Arat,


    "What Mother?"


    Arat looked surprised and replied,


    "You didn''t know about your mother?"


    "Do I have one?" asked Hans, still in disbelief.


    Arat nodded,


    "Of course, how do you think you were born?"


    Hans didn''t feel like explaining all the details to this stranger, but he couldn''t deny the truth he saw in Arat''s words. He decided to clarify his own understanding,


    "But I was created through alchemy, not born naturally."


    <div>


    <div>


    Arat countered,


    "It''s true that you are not a typical human. You are better, more evolved, faster, and stronger, and you are meant to surpass the limitations of humans. However, that doesn''t change the fact that you were born out of your mother."


    "So is she alive?" asked Hans with a hint of curiosity.


    Arat''s expression turned crestfallen as he replied,


    "I do not know. All I know is that you were not born out of love, but out of necessity. King Samson was determined to father a child who could surpass human limits, and despite his affection for another woman, he chose someone to bear you."


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans was stunned by this revelation. While Arat seemed truthful, he couldn''t be sure if the man was telling the whole truth, so he decided not to trust this information fully and to test Arat''s knowledge, Hans revealed,


    "I was dead as an infant. Granny exchanged her divine power to fuel life in me."


    Arat responded confidently, "Who says you were dead? We simply induced a temporary state of suspended animation to deceive our enemies, as per our king''s orders. You could have been easily revived had you not been taken from Parv. Our medical technology is far more advanced thanks to Osiris. You were never meant to go to Sierra, and neither were they meant to go into seclusion. Everything fell apart when your father died."


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans didn''t know what to make of this, but if it was true, then there was someone he could call his mother. Samson being his father was no longer just a metaphor. He had always felt distant after learning that he wasn''t the real grandson of Sierra and Rudolf back in the Ghost Isles, which sometimes made him feel insecure. But this story could make all of his desires come true. A father, and a mother, he wanted this story to be true.


    The reason for his wishful thinking was so he could say that Rudolf and Sierra were his actual family, as he had believed during his Ghost Isle days. swept in emotions he asked Arat about her,


    "Where is she?"


    Arat maintained his disappointed tone as he replied,


    "I do not know. She appeared out of nowhere and disappeared after giving birth to you."


    Hans was sceptical and said,


    "Then you don''t have anything backing you up on the story."


    Arat clarified, "Yes, I do not have. That''s why I don''t have any reason to lie to you. I could have let someone pretend to be your mother so you could actively return to Parv. Fooling a blood relation is as easy as writing your name on paper with our mana technology."


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans was feeling overwhelmed and decided to let go of the idea of finding out more about his supposed mother. He responded to Arat, "I do not wish to know more about this."


    Arat respected his decision, replying,


    "Yes, as you wish."


    Hans then turned his attention to the vial in Arat''s hand and asked,


    "What is this vial?"


    Arat responded, fiddling with the vial,


    "Your birthright."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 86 : The Birth Right

    CHAPTER 86


    THE BIRTHRIGHT


    Arat was unaware of the beliefs that had shaped Hans''s upbringing, but he knew it was time to return what he had been holding onto for him. Fiddling with the vial, he thought of the day when young Samson had succeeded in excavating Osiris''s power from the ruins. And with that, he rebuilt the nation from the ground and bolstered the royal family''s power during his era.


    He showed the vial to Hans and as Hans examined the vial closely, it contained a thick, honey-like substance that was transparent like water. Despite using ManaVision, there was no visible distinction he picked in the vial''s contents. So he inquired, "Is this my birthright?"


    <div>


    <div>


    Arat affirmed,


    "Indeed, it is a privilege bestowed upon those born in power."


    Abruptly, Arat exerted pressure on Hans, rendering him completely immobile and despite his attempts, Hans could not budge an inch. The elderly man pricked Hans''s neck just below his right ear, warning him, "This will be very painful. Brace yourself and clench your fist."


    Opening the vial, Arat allowed the trail of blood to enter the liquid and upon contact with the red pigment, the mixture began to bubble like magma in a volcano and a long, thread-like creature emerged, slithering into the small opening in Hans''s neck.


    The threaded creature paved its way from the neck to the brain, giving Hans an agony worse than he ever felt. The pain was unbearable, far surpassing his experience of inhaling space stone powder back in Ghost Isles. Unable to withstand the intensity any longer, he lost consciousness.


    The escorts approached Hans and laid him down on a bed near the fire. And throughout the painful ordeal, Hans experienced profuse sweating and disturbing nightmares. However, this was not something that could be remedied with healing magic, as the pain was meant to be felt.


    He awoke suddenly, gasping and covered in sweat. Despite the chill of the surrounding environment, he was perspiring as if in a scorching region. He gazed at Arat, who was seated before him, and shouted, or tried to shout but his voice hoarse, barely came out "..What ..have... you done.. to me?"


    <div>


    <div>


    Arat placed a finger to his lips and whispered,


    "It''s the middle of the night, do you want to wake everyone up?"


    Hans glanced over to see Delimira sleeping soundly, while Arat''s people dozed around the brazier. The only person awake was the guard stationed next to Arat. Ignoring him, Hans confronted Arat directly, demanding, "What is inside me? A parasite, insect, or poison? Did you use it to manipulate me into taking the throne?"


    Amused by Hans''s accusations, Arat retorted,


    "That wouldn''t be a bad idea, but it''s not the case. I''ve already told you, it''s your birthright."


    Despite Arat''s response, Hans remained perplexed and silent. Noticing his confusion, Arat elaborated,


    "It''s a way for us to connect with our God. Try saying ''COMMAND CENTRE''."


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans was taken aback "What do you mean by ''Command Centre''?" he asked not knowing what those words meant. However, the activation only required the utterance of those words and Hans experienced a brief moment of eye pain, causing him to close his eyes. Upon reopening them, he noticed a rectangular box moving within his field of vision.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 97.8792%">


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 97.8792%">


    Connecting to ARST


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 97.8792%">


    ¡­


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Flustered, Hans shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of the strange thing in front and asked,


    "What is this?"


    With an ever-knowing tone, Arat responded,


    "It is your connection to God, a privilege of being born into the Royal Family."


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Connecting to ARST


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Failed


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    .


    .


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Searching for Secondary Unit


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    ¡­


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    .


    .


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%">


    <tbody>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td>


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


    <td>


    Unit Found : 05IRIS


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    connecting...


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <div>


    Bewildered, Hans asked,


    "What is happening?"


    "Just let it work for a minute," replied Arat. However, the strange thing was causing immense pain in Hans''s head. Suddenly, the pain vanished, and he could focus on what was in front of him.


    And Arat instructed,


    "Say ''Register NEW USER."


    <div>


    <div>


    Instead of complying with Arat''s request, Hans asked in shock,


    "You can see this too?"


    "No, but it must have been written in the last line. This also happened to me. Just say it," Arat responded.


    Hans objected,


    "But it says ''Existing Profile Detected. Do you wish to load it?''"


    Arat took a moment to think and then said,


    "That''s strange, then say that instead."


    Hans did as he was told.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Status : Connected


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Terminal: 05IRIS


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Blood matched, Loading the Existing profile, please wait...


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The box changed with new information.


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : Two Profiles Found


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">- GodKing


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">- LittleSun


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : Loading profile with the highest privileges


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">- GodKing loading...


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : Loading Godking


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Status - ERROR</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">- Mutated DNA found</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans found a disappointment washing over him, the name sounded cool in his childish mind but it was not something he could control. he waited and the blue box with notice flashed again.


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : Loading next profile


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : Loading LlittleSun


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Status - loading successfull


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">- Executing Command Centre</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="width: 79.8046%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    Status : Connected


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    Terminal : 05IRIS


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 55.5404%">


    Profile Name : LittleSun


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 44.186%">


    Health: 100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    Clearance level : Interim Administrator


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    PRIVILEGES


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    SOLAR BODY : INCOMPLETE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    LOCKED


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    LOCKED


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    ...


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans gazed at the semi-transparent box that continued to follow his sight and asked Arat,


    "How do I get rid of it?"


    Shaking his head, Arat responded,


    "Say ''DISMISS''."


    Hans repeated the word, "Dismiss," and the box vanished as if it had never been there. Curious, he asked Arat, "What was that?"


    "That was the power that Osiris had bestowed upon Parv. You can call upon her to support you in any situation," replied Arat, asking "How many privileges did you see?"


    Hiding the one he could see, Hans shook his head, saying,


    "Many, but it says ''LOCKED''."


    Arat looked satisfied and responded,


    "There is one called ''INGRESS'' that could help you instantly transport from one place to another. We used it to take over the SpaceDoor of Concordia."


    With curiosity piqued, Hans asked,


    "So, can I use that too?"


    "No," Arat denied instantly, and added, "Not right now. You need to have Osiris''s blessing through her main temple in Parv. I just wanted to let you know that this thing existed."


    Hans made a grumpy face, feeling like someone had just shown him his favourite dessert and then taken it away. He responded,


    "So, you were trying to entice me?"


    "Yes, did it work?" asked Arat in anticipation.


    Hans mumbled,


    "Damn it, yes. Privileges from a god, who doesn''t like it."


    Arat chuckled at his response but asked in a firm tone,


    "So, What was your clearance level?"


    Hans responded with a question,


    "What is yours?"


    Arat was startled for a second, not expecting Hans to ask first, "Chief of Staff ". he responded and then asked, "Now tell me yours?"


    Hans was uncertain about what Arat was after, so he had initially wanted to hide this information from him, who seemed overly interested in it. However, he decided to take a gamble and trust him since there was no other option," Interim Administrator," he finally replied.


    "Your father had an Administrator level," Arat remarked.


    Hans wanted to gain something from the situation and said,


    "You should do a better job of enticing me. At least give me one privilege. Who knows, I might visit Parv for more."


    Arat laughed along with the guard beside him, they were looking at this cheeky kid who was trying to get something from Arat who was known to be the most shrewd person in the whole of Genas.


    "You need to do far more to get something from me, my prince. But to be honest, I can''t do this. It''s God''s territory, not mine."


    Since they were speaking about gods, Hans brought up the topic that he was curious of,


    "I had a dream where a black-haired elf visited me."


    Arat responded,


    "Ah, you''ve seen Aadya, the bearer of power."


    This piqued Hans''s interest, prompting him to ask,


    "So you do know her?"


    "Almost everyone in our country knows her," Arat explained. "She''s the daughter of the Goddess. Don''t let her beauty deceive you; she''s far more fearsome than Osiris herself."


    Hans was still confused, so he asked,


    "Despite the mess with Clandor, why do Parvians worship an elf?"


    Arat clarified, "Clandor was just on the opposite side of us in war. We don''t detest elves. In fact, in Parv, there''s a state called Freeville where many races live in harmony - elves, dwarves, lizardians, and others." He added, "I personally did not see her many times but she sure adored Samson".


    Hans expressed his doubt by asking,


    "She is not my mother, right?"


    Arat burst into laughter and denied it, saying, "No. I''m sure, not 100% but mostly, If you had black hair and red eyes, you would look like her, just a little bit though. But my prince, she is the embodiment of the end. Not a mortal but a celestial entity. She had shown her favour once in the past. You know that the Kingdom of Parv had a major power shift in the late 500s. The person favoured by her rebelled against the royal family and established himself as the new king. It was your ancestor then she slept until woken up by Samson."


    Hans let out a sigh, Aadya felt way different from Arat''s perspective than Aredhle''s. But something in Arat''s tone was bothering him for quite a while. He asked cautiously,


    "Is it okay that you keep calling him Samson, not Highness or King or any other dubious thing?"


    Arat laughed bitterly, saying,


    "He is welcome to come and discipline me. I even wish for that to happen."


    A sudden sorrow oozed from Arat, which made the warm cave a bit colder. To change the subject and distract him, Hans asked,


    "What do you mean by ''the embodiment of the end''?"


    Arat explained, "There is a prophecy about her that she will bring the end of the world. It''s just superstition passed down by our people, but a healthy fear of such things is necessary to prevent us from crossing certain lines. Her existence alone is enough to instil that fear."


    Hans responded,


    "But what if the prophecy is true? then aren''t you harbouring something capable of bringing about mass destruction?"


    Arat''s voice became ominous, changing the atmosphere all of a sudden that woke the escort from their sleep, "If it were true, other nations would be kneeling before us, Prince. After your father''s death, Aadya vanished from the world. I searched for her seeking her strength for revenge, but without royal blood, I cannot enter the main temple and wake her up."


    Hans looked at Arat sceptically and asked,


    "So, you want me to open the temple and bring her forth to avenge my father?"


    Arat was confused,


    "Isn''t avenging your father your duty as his son?"


    Hans shook his head,


    "No. He left me a note, asking me not to go after his enemies and live a quiet and safe life somewhere."


    Listening to him, Arat felt disappointed, he had hoped to rope Hans into his quest for revenge, as he believed that only Hans could awaken the sleeping Aadya and restore Parv to its former glory. He had been living his late years for the sole purpose of avenging his king."You don''t look like a person who listens to his parents well, Prince Hans," Arat remarked.


    Hans chuckled at Arat''s comment but didn''t say anything further. The moon was hung above and he already wasted a lot of night so he picked up the comfortable cloak and settled down to sleep, not wanting to hear any more revenge talk.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 87 : Dijkstra - The sad Death

    CHAPTER 87


    DIJKSTRA - THE SAD DEATH


    A new day had dawned in the perilous white mountains of Frozen Tooth, where the danger level remained at four stars not due to any monstrous threat, but because of the harsh and deadly weather conditions. Despite this, Hans had slept soundly through the night, thanks to the mages and their magical artefact keeping their cave warm.


    As was his habit, Hans woke up at the first light of dawn, but to his shock, he found himself holding something soft in his hands. Upon opening his eyes, he found himself lying face to face with Delimira, under the same furred hide. Her hands clasping in his, creating the only barrier between their faces. Startled, he jumped out of bedding and nearly stumbled into the brazier. if it was not for the knight that stopped him from hitting it, he would be dancing in the fire right now.


    Arat addressed him sternly,


    "She is under a spell, which means you crawled to her side -


    "But I was way there", refuted Hans, pointing to a faraway place.


    "Tsk, tsk, that''s not acceptable, especially after all she has spoken for, Prince."


    Hans was taken aback,


    "How did you find out?"


    "You really crawled into her bed?"Arat asked in doubt, his eyes widened.


    Hans flustered revolted,


    "Not that! The thing about her spoken of."


    "We may not venture often, but we always know when a big money mover makes a move," Arat replied proudly showing off Parv''s information-gathering skill and instructing someone to wake the elf girl up, but when she arose, the memories of the previous night weighed heavily on her. Hans looked to Arat for guidance, but the older man merely shrugged and said, "Don''t look at me. I''m not good with kids. That''s why I never had any."


    Hans said to her in his rough tone,


    "Cheer up Winters, focus on today, and let the future I worry about tomorrow."


    Even his quirky words that usually made her snap did not work and she replied,


    "How can I? When I know it''s me, I am sure."


    Arat chimed in, doubting her suspicions,


    "Why do you think that?"


    "I just know it," Delimira replied, shivering not from cold but from something else.


    Seeing her this distress, which did not suit her, Hans turned to Arat, hoping for an answer. He never thought it was this easy to shake her up but Arat knew the reasons and he relayed to Hans, "She met Xandor, and he carries a curse with him, the stronger the mentality the harder the effect, it makes people mentally vulnerable and there is no cure for it - "


    Hans just listened, thinking when the curse''s effect will end meanwhile Arat weighed the possibilities and concluded that Delimira being the target was unlikely since Hans had a higher value. Nevertheless, they had to be certain so he reassured her, "We''ll find out for sure." after a brief pause he continued, "Do you think we only caught you, children - ?"


    But before he could finish, the knight who had been on watch duty chimed in,


    "There''s a crazy war machine loose in Dead Gorge right now."


    DEAD GORGE


    Yesterday, upon receiving the letter, Rudolf wasted no time and immediately departed to Dead Gorge. But despite searching the area fervently, he was unable to locate the person he sought, only coming across a seemingly never-ending trail of dead bodies. It was clear that the responsible party was none other than Rudolf''s self-proclaimed friend however the sheer body count meant the opposite party was pretty serious about the assassination. Undeterred, he persisted in following the gruesome path, and today, he finally came face to face with the man he had been searching for.


    Rudolf''s attention was immediately drawn to Dijkstra, who stood before him adorned in a bright robe that fluttered in the wind, now dyed in deep red with the blood of his victims. However, the golden coat of arms of the Parv was still emblazoned on his robe, featuring a gryphon with a sword. For once, Dijkstra appeared to be questioning someone rather than adhering to his usual ''killing first and asking later'' strategy. He overheard the man say,


    "Who sent you, you bastards?" but the masked individual was struggling to breathe as Dijkstra was holding him by the neck.


    Before this maniac could take the masked man''s life, Rudolf intervened, swiftly removing the Dijkstra''s hands from the victim''s throat and rebuking him.


    "You should stick to what you''re good at, Dijkstra, asking questions is not your forte," he scolded.


    "Ah!! " Dijkstra exclaimed, then turning to his friend he said, "Alastar, you found me!" He then gripped the man''s neck once again and added, "But if I don''t bring back a name, Arat will chew my head off"


    <div>


    <div>


    Their conversation continued while Dijkstra maintained a firm grip on the assassin''s neck but upon hearing the name Dijkstra, the assassin began to panic. In their community, there was a saying that if one were to ever face Dijkstra, it was better to pray for a swift death. The man asking him questions was a sadistic individual who derived pleasure from toying with his victims before finally granting them the mercy of death.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Trembling with fear, the assassin belatedly realised that the second person to arrive was Rudolf Edenberg, another well-known figure. knowing full well that there was no hope, the assassin began to sing like a bird, pleading with Rudolf to spare his life.


    "I will tell you everything I know, please spare me - "


    POOF!!


    Assassin did not finish speaking but his head exploded out of nowhere and it was not some so-called poison or curse to stop him from spilling beans but Dijkstra himself as he grew irritated when his captive began to spill everything as soon as Rudolf arrived. It was a blow to his pride, so he raised his aura to intimidate the man. However, the assassin, just like a fragile glass, exploded due to the pressure.


    "You fucker, we needed him!" Rudolf yelled at Dijkstra in anger


    Dijkstra, in turn, retorted,


    "He should have spoken up when I asked him first."


    Rudolf let out a frustrated sigh, every time they worked together he found it tiresome to deal with Dijkstra''s childish and jealous antics. Gritting his teeth, he turned to Dijkstra and said,


    "Then maybe, introduce yourself first before intimidating."


    "So that''s how it works." responded Dijkstra chuckling at Rudolf''s comment and then gazing off into the distance he added, "There''s a rat hiding over there. Whoever catches him first gets to ask the questions."


    Rudolf feigned interest, knowing that he had to participate in this charade until Dijkstra was satisfied, putting in minimal effort in their race to catch the assassin, and as expected, Dijkstra caught him first. Intimidating the assassin, Dijkstra demanded,


    "I am Dijkstra. Spill the beans."


    The assassin was so terrified he peed his pants upon hearing the name, and Dijkstra''s joy at this fact was evident. his wicked smile added to the horrors and the masked man stuttered,


    "We didn''t come for you."


    Dijkstra annoyingly said,


    "Of course, you don''t you fuckwarts, you are not fools... or wait, are you? - "


    "Who sent you?"Rudolf interjected,


    "I..I rea..lly don''t know. We were just tasked with killing the boy and taking the elf girl with us,"


    Rudolf asked massaging his temples,


    "Where?"


    "To our guild," the assassin replied.


    <div>


    <div>


    Rudolf''s patience was wearing thin, and his aura of killing intent permeated the air around them. Observing this, Dijkstra grinned wickedly at the assassin and asked,


    "Which guild?"


    The assassin trembled as he replied,


    "D.DDARK HAN¡­"


    Dijkstra pressed on,


    "Where is it?"


    "In the.. Reinhardt duchy,


    Rudolf chimed in, demanding to know,


    "Who were you affiliated with?"


    "We are..independent. We are an...an independent guild,"


    Rudolf then asked,


    "Exact location?"


    "It''s in the central city of the Reinhardt duchy. You..you can find it in the underground of So...olvik''s auction house,"


    When they got what they wanted, the assassin¡¯s head popped like a balloon and this time the culprit was Rudolf, not Dijkstra. The Parvian knight looked at him from top to bottom and remarked,


    "You have become rusty, Alastor, how many corpses did I have to drop so you could find me?"


    "Move it, Dijkstra," said Rudolf disregarding his comment.


    To which Dikstra inquired,


    "So where are you heading now?"


    "Where else, Reinhardt duchy?" Rudolf replied, asking Dijkstra, "What are your plans?"


    Dijkstra hummed, amused by the idea in his head and responded swiftly,


    "What else, join the fun. Arat wants a clear message to be delivered."


    After popping the head, Rudolf had calmed down to some degree and responded thinking a bit,


    "You do know that I am the Count of this country which you are trespassing."


    "Yeah, no shit your highness,"


    Annoyed, Rudolf retorted,


    "You are still as obnoxious as ever."


    "Come on," Dijkstra exclaimed, "it will be like the good old days, rampaging in someone else''s city. It''s fucking peaceful times Alastor; I need some entertainment."


    Resigned, Rudolf replied,


    "Fine, follow me. It''s better if you are in sight rather than rampaging without reins."


    Dijkstra laughed madly in excitement and followed Rudolf to the Duchy.


    FROZEN TOOTH


    Arat noticed Hans''s confusion and explained,


    "That man is synonymous with the Parvian army. This will send a clear message to their heads if he didn''t pop them first."


    "Who did you send?" asked Hans showing visible curiosity on his face.


    Arat grinned as he said,


    "Dijkstra, The Sad Death."


    "And that is supposed to ring a bell in my head."


    Ignorant as Hans was of the world, he didn''t recognise the name, but Delimira did. She knew Dijkstra as the most unpredictable warlord in Genas, who once went on a killing spree just because a foolish noble disturbed his sleep. She understood that Dijkstra''s involvement meant that Parv was serious this time, and there would be many casualties. She devised a clear explanation for Hans to quickly understand and said


    "If there was a record of the most kills in this world, ''Dijkstra - the Sad Death'' would be on top of it undoubtedly."


    After hearing her words Hans found the situation amusing,


    "It looks like something fun is going on while we are stuck in this damned place," he pouted.


    Delimira, startled by his callous attitude towards the lives that were at stake, asked him,


    "You call that fun?"


    "Why not?" Hans responded, "They came to kill me first. Isn''t it funny for them to get what they deserve, possibly by the scariest warlord, as you have said?"


    Delimira reminded him that he was talking about people''s lives, and killing without thinking was no different from their attackers. But Hans dismissed her naive thinking and explained


    "Winters, if someone comes after me, then it''s self-defence. And self-defence should not stop until everyone related to that is dead."


    He added,


    "I''m just disappointed that I''m not the one doing it. I don''t like someone else doing my work, and now that I think of it, it''s pissing me off."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 88 : The Return of the Bewitched knight

    CHAPTER 88


    THE RETURN OF THE BEWITCHED KNIGHT


    Dijkstra effortlessly trespassed the duchy despite its strict checkpoints, adding another achievement to his infiltration record. On the other hand, Rudolf entered the territory through formal channels, and his visit was reported to Reinhardt Duke Carlisle, puzzling the lord of the territory as to why this madman was entering his domain. Soon, another report arrived, informing the Duke that Rudolf''s destination was the central city of the duchy sending an ominous feeling to him.


    Along with the checkpoint report came a personal letter, only intended for the Duke''s eyes. He started reading, praying his gut feelings to turn false.


    <blockquote>


    Some people messed with me,


    Let me deal with them and I''ll leave.


    </blockquote>


    "Damn it" he shouted, as he had anticipated, his instincts were consistently accurate. He let out a frustrated sigh, the ominous feeling that had been lingering within him had evolved into a cause for concern. While the duchy was not weak by any means, provoking Rudolf would only result in an increase in fatalities. He tapped the table thinking, it was wiser to allow him to deal with the idiots instead of meditating or stopping him.


    Along with these thoughts, he wrote back, clearly stating that he had only two days to conduct his business before leaving the territory. Rudolf agreed to the condition and proceeded to the central city. And when he was busy with his formalities, Dijkstra had already got the information, obviously obtaining it through some extreme measures.


    He shared his findings when Rduolf came back to their inn with the Dukes'' permission in hand. The two of them were en route to Solvik''s auction house, which, according to Dijkstra''s findings, was being used as a front for the assassin guild. As they arrived at the auction house, Dijkstra turned to Rudolf and asked, "How do you wanna do this?"


    In a menacing tone, Rudolf replied,


    "As Loudly as possible, none is innocent in this place."


    Dijkstra''s face lit up with a grin, and he commented,


    "See, there was a reason I liked you this much my friend."


    "Shut up, Dijkstra," retorted Rudolf sharply.


    As they entered the Solvik auction house, Rudolf approached the front desk and demanded,


    "I want someone killed. Who should I speak to?"


    The receptionist was taken aback, and Dijkstra spoke up casually,


    "If you don''t want to be that someone, I suggest you speak, woman"


    Their bloodlust was clear, and the receptionist understood the gravity of the situation. She politely bowed and led them inside, explaining,


    "I''m just a clerk. Please speak to the manager for further details..."


    Dijkstra came close to Rudolf and whispered,


    "Alastor, she just signalled her allies."


    "It does not matter", Rudolf declared with indifference.


    Dijkstra locked eyes with the woman, and she became frightened. She had already alerted the assassins in the house, and it appeared that these two were aware of that fact. The woman began to plead for her life, saying, "I''m just trying to make a living, sir. Please spare me."


    With a wicked expression on his face, Dijkstra replied menacingly,


    "Well then, you should start looking for a new job. RUN!, woman, RUN!!"


    It was not her first rodeo in this job but when she caught a glimpse of the man''s grin, the woman was overcome with terror, and she fled from the auction house as though her life depended on it. Even when her legs gave out from exhaustion, she continued to run without looking back. Rudolf glanced over at Dijkstra, who seemed to be enjoying the spectacle, and asked, "Did you really have to do that?"


    Dijkstra rolled his eyes and retorted, "Oh, spare me Alastor, scaring women is the only joy left in my life. As I''ve said, these are some fucking peaceful times. Besides, you should know that I''m a reasonable guy. If she had followed us, she would have ended up dead."


    Rudolf heaved a sigh accepting the fact he was not dealing with a normal person,


    "Yes yes, You are a nut, I get it, I''ve yet to meet a Parvian who is not insane."


    Dijkstra chuckled at his comment, and the two of them made their way towards the manager''s office. Some guards tried to stop them, but Dijkstra''s intense gaze alone was enough to make them vomit and shit in fear before going to whatever afterlife they believed in.


    Rudolf opened the door to the manager''s office and faced the elderly man with round glasses. "Where can we find the entrance to the assassin''s guild?" he asked gripping his sword''s hilt strongly.


    The manager was a more seasoned individual than the timid receptionist earlier, and although he clicked his tongue in irritation, he kept his cool as he responded.¡°I don''t know what you talking about¡± he said with a firm tone denying everything. But, just as he finished speaking, his head exploded like a tomato.


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    There was no question who was the culprit behind it but the two men in front of the manager''s secretory looked like reapers coming to claim his life. Soaked in his late superior blood, he couldn''t even utter a single word due to shock and his trance was broken by Dijiktra¡¯s words "Congratulations, you just got promoted to manager, now new manager please tell me where are the assassins"


    The frightened secretary, who was trembling and had wet his pants, spoke up, "Please, follow me." He led them through a concealed passageway that led down to the entrance of the guild. The burrow was situated directly beneath the auction house and consisted of a shabby underground building.


    Rudolf instructed the secretory in a haste,


    "Clear the auction House, now."


    Without hesitation, the secretary sprinted upstairs as if his life depended on it and on seeing him running like no tomorrow Dijikstra said to Rudolf in doubt,


    "Mmm...Handling this here won''t make loud noises, Alastor."


    To which Rudolf swiftly responded "That''s why we¡¯ll blow up the whole Auction house" A calmness was in his voice, akin to the calm before the ravaging storm.


    Dijkstra smirked as he complimented his old pal,


    "See I told you there was a reason I liked you."


    After a period of time had passed and the majority of the auction house had been vacated, Rudolf extended his aura. A dark purple domain with the occasional crackle of thunder surged forth, instantly alerting both assassins and the authorities of Reinhardt. Rudolf then made his first move.


    Skill: MountainSlash


    The sword''s aura expanded, reaching a great height mimicking a giant sword, it obliterated the ground and ceiling as it sliced through the underground guild building, killing numerous assassins with a single strike. And without any delay, Rudolf executed his second skill


    Skill: Nimbus


    Rudolf''s aura shifted, and blue lightning bolts shot out from his body, randomly striking any vengeful assassins who approached him after the blast.


    Meanwhile, those who managed to survive the attack and were wounded were confronted by the sinister Dijkstra. He enjoyed giving his prey a glimmer of hope before snuffing it out in the end. With a grin etched on his face, Dijkstra allowed some of the assassins to escape, but just as the poor assassins thought they had successfully eluded the duo, Dijkstra stabed the ground in front and unleashed his skills, which aimed to inflict serious injuries rather than death.


    Skill: Upheaval


    Solid pillars jutted out of the ground, lifting the wounded with great force before abruptly retracting back into the earth, causing the targets to plummet downward. As the targets fell, the pillars shot up once more, striking them with even greater speed, causing their injuries to worsen and transforming them into a blood pool with numerous strikes.


    Amidst the cries of agony, one could hear the sinister laughter of Dijkstra, snuffing out any hope the targets had of surviving the ordeal. But not all fell victim to the duo''s attacks, some advanced assassins managed to sneak up on the knights but as bad luck loomed over them, they couldn''t penetrate their defences. The onslaught continued, Rudolf inflicted clear and sharp wounds meanwhile Dijkstra made a mess by squashing his foes.


    And after sensing none of the assassins standing, Dijkstra picked one and started pouring a healing potion on him. knowing his companions'' tendencies, Rudolf asked,


    "Now what are scheming Dijkstra,"


    Dijkstra responded in an indifferent tone,


    "We need to spare one to spread our message. It will warn the world not to mess with ''you'' - "


    "We can''t just disclose Hans like that." Rudolf intervened.


    Dijkstra retorted instantly,,


    "I know Alastor, I am not insane, at least not now."


    The healed assassin awoke to the sight of his fallen brethren and those who had barely survived being crushed by the moving floor like a living monster swatting them to death. Fearful, he locked eyes with the two older men who stood before him, one serious and another with a wicked smile.


    Breaking the tension, Dijkstra spoke,


    "Remember to tell the world what happens when you mess with the disciples of Sierra."


    <div>


    <div>


    Despite Dijkstra''s words, the healed assassin''s mind was in disarray and he couldn''t focus on anything but begging for his life." Please spare me, my lords. Please spare me," he pleaded.


    Dijkstra repeated his previous words and added, "When news of this incident reaches us, you will be spared. I have marked you with my aura. You have one month. If word of today''s incident doesn''t reach me within that time, you will explode like a firecracker - boom phsss..."


    The assassin passed out again and Rudolf asked Dijiktra with a questioning gaze


    "Do you still like playing the villain ?"


    Not like his usual response, Dijkstra reminded Rudolf of something important,


    "You seem to have forgotten, Alastor, that if the prince and the girl were some poor bastards without any backgrounds, their bodies would have been left to rot in that fucking gorge."


    Rudolf murmured in agreement, admitting,


    "I know showing sympathy to our enemies is a betrayal to ourselves, but whenever I am with you, I can''t help feeling bad for my enemies."


    Rudolf then picked up the unconscious assassin and added, "But you did not have to do this, I''m dead set to let the world know that I am PIssed." Looking at him with expectations, Dijkstra happily left the auction house following his friend''s lead. Since Dijkstra was in disguise, it was difficult to recognize him without his signature skills, and Rudolf''s presence in the front provided a perfect cover.


    As many watched, Rudolf drew ThunderClap from its sheath and hurled it into the sky. The sword sliced through the clouds with immense speed, heralding the return of the Bewitched Knight as he unleashed his mightiest skill.


    Skill: ThunderGod''sWrath


    Dijkstra''s eyes sparkled with anticipation as he eagerly waited to witness his friend''s most powerful skill. He almost jumped like a child in excitement when he saw, the dark clouds above, spiralling and sending a dread full feeling down to its witnesses. The ominous swirl in the sky sent a colossal lighting bolt from its epicentre, striking the grand auction house and destroying the various spells of protection of Reinhardt duchy in one fell swoop.


    If Rudolf hadn''t controlled its strength, the attack would have wiped out a quiet chunk of the city but he controlled it well to only target the building. However, the sight of the destruction caused everyone to flee and Rudolf got surrounded by the Warlords of the territory joined by Duke Carlisle. In a loud voice, the Duke commanded "Screw the two days, get the fuck out of my city now." But someone else also showed up stopping Rudolf from moving and amid the chaos, Dijkstra disappeared bailing out on Rudolf and also nabbing the fainted assassin.


    Although Rudolf was famous for fighting an army to avenge his wife''s injury, the recent incident was about to shake the world again. People already knew him as a man who was tied to his wife¡¯s apron strings, and now another gossip was emerging that he had gone crazy in avenging his wife''s disciple.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 89 : The Royal Business

    CHAPTER 89


    THE ROYAL BUSINESS


    The atmosphere in Frozen Tooth was livelier than in the Reinhart duchy, thanks to the escort knights teasing remarks to the ''PERVERT'' Knight. They were all cooking breakfast for the party while, Hans had already adapted himself as the highest-ranking figure ordering everyone around as he saw fit, occasionally glancing at the gloomy Delimira. He left her on her own since he lacked both the ability and the motivation to take care of her emotionally.


    As the Parvians made the cave their base of operations, Hans suddenly had a thought and asked Arat,


    "So, What brought you here in the first place?"


    Arat fixed his eyes on the child''s bright eyes, debating how much to tell him, "We came in search of the Greater Aqua Gem." he answered giving up on his reservation,


    "Why?" inquired Hans as he could not make sense of Arat''s reply.


    Arat replied,


    "That is a matter for the royals. I don''t mind sharing the information, but only if you are willing to accept the throne right now."


    Hans retorted with the same tone as Arat, "There are no royals in your country..." but on seeing a wide grin on Arat''s face, he took a step back, and Arat laughed at the boy''s flustered expression. It was a pleasant sight to see the younger version of Samson, who was both mature and goofy at the same time. He reminisced the past when Samson had to grow up quickly due to many responsibilities waiting for him, and this was the reason Arat wasn''t forcing Hans to leave right away.


    Since Arat was in deep thought, Hans looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to them. He then asked, jolting Arat out of his reminiscence of what he had been curious about since he heard its name, "What is the book ''Mandate'' about?"


    Arat replied,


    "That''s also Parvian royal business."


    "Oh, come on," Hans pleaded, "throw me a bone at least."


    "Very well, Your Highness," Arat explained, "it is called the ''Book of the Ruling: Mandate.'' It''s just a guide on how Parv can become stronger even without its king, in addition, it contains records of all the books and their holders. I know who possesses which book and which ones are still unclaimed. But apart from that, we also have the ''Book of the Hero: Prophecy,'' which contains all the future events that are yet to happen, preparing one individual to take the helm of the world, including the fate of people close to Sam."


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans became excited upon hearing another book''s name and forgot what he was going to ask about the Mandate. He exclaimed,


    "So it''s basically a book of prophecies as its name, right?"


    Arat sighed, shaking his head with a subtle anger rising steadily in his expression.


    "Sadly, the book is sentient, and we are unable to break its seal since it was not meant for us but for someone undeserving,"


    Despite seeing the hatred in Arat''s eyes, Hans continued to pursue his curiosity and fired another question related to the book.


    "Does it contain the fate of people, like death and all?"


    Arat confirmed,


    "Yes, and one of those fates has already been averted. - "


    "Whose fate was averted?" inquired Hans with a serious expression.


    "Your foster sister, Vanessa. According to the book, she was supposed to die. I heard she suffered from some strange ailment, but she is alive and well now."


    Hans suspected that Arat was unaware that Vanessa''s strange illness was actually caused by a parasite that he had extracted. But Arat added, breaking his previous assertion as he said, "In the Book of the Hero, her death is written as murder, not illness though." Hans was taken aback and urgently asked, "Who?" He was deeply disturbed by the thought of his sister''s impending death.


    The mere thought of losing her sent him into panic mode. He didn''t know whether her fate had been altered or merely postponed, and the uncertainty only intensified his need to protect her. Unconsciously, his power of inheritance was superimposing his feelings, forcing him to take long breaths of anxiousness. Arat stepped in upon seeing the odd situation, and in an attempt to ease his worries, he offered to investigate the matter.


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans asked in a worried tone,


    "And what will you gain from doing that?"


    Arat replied instantly,


    "Your goodwill and trust, perhaps even the desire for revenge may spark within you."


    "if that''s all you want, then please do that for me", Hans sincerely asked Arat.


    Arat nodded and said,


    "I''ll inform you when I find out. Don''t worry. But what will you do when you find her supposed killer?"


    "I don''t know my father. But Vanessa is different. I can''t take any chances while she is alive and well," replied Hans


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    Arat was pleased with Hans''s determination, as it aligned with his own plans. However, a troubling thought crossed his mind, causing him to become serious and ask Hans:


    "You met Xandor, right? What did he want from you?"


    Hans was taken aback by Arat''s sudden change in tone but asked instead of answering,


    "I heard he was part of Parv. What is his deal?"


    "He is a dangerous man".Arat explained, "After the king''s death, he refused to submit to anyone and declared he would create his own world. In simpler terms, he is a lunatic who you should avoid at all costs and he blames you for Sam''s death."


    Hans was perplexed and asked,


    "Why?"


    "There is much in the veil, my prince, and I do not know it completely either. However, Xandor is different. To him, Samson was his god, and he was the only one closest to him. So, be wary of Xandor." Arat emphasized, "Whatever he wants, just do not do it."


    Hans wasn''t typically one to trust his gut feelings, but he couldn''t help and feel that Arat could answer his questions truthfully. So he decided to reveal the truth to him - that Xandor had taken the second book and demanded to exchange it for something called Rebellion


    Arat''s expression contorted in a mixture of anger and frustration as he exclaimed,


    "Darn, that necromancer!"


    Hans asked him,


    "So what is Rebellion?"


    "It''s your father''s cursed sword."


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "So the alliance treasury possesses both the Book of Power and Rebellion. They certainly do not disappoint," he murmured to himself.


    Arat heard it well and grew flustered, interjecting,


    "Who gave you that information?"


    "I have my sources," replied Hans.


    Arat continued,


    "My prince, that Book of Power is just bait, supposedly containing all of Samson''s power inscribed in words, but it does not actually exist. But why do you think it is in the alliance treasury?"


    Hans contemplated the question, but none of his thoughts provided a valid explanation. And Seeing Hans deep in thought, Arat elaborated, "When the world learns about the Books of Fate, the holders might become targets. So, Samson spread the rumour of his everything is inscribed in a book, ownerless, to create a wild-goose chase and provide breathing room to the holders until they fulfil their purpose. Every holder has a mission to fulfil. You and I are merely chess pieces that your father is controlling even after his death. Isn''t it fascinating that whatever we are doing or will do, he has already calculated it in his plan?"


    Hans didn''t share Arat''s enthusiasm for being controlled by his deceased father and Arat was not some dumb old man who couldn''t catch Hans''s inner feelings. seeking the perfect opportunity he hammered the final nail in their conversation about Xandor, "Do not get involved with Eclipse and the Books of Fate. It''s not meant for you."


    As Arat finished talking, Hans found himself nodding in agreement. He couldn''t resist the sincerity in Arat''s eyes this time, which showed that he truly cared for Hans''s well-being. Though Hans didn''t know what Arat ultimately wanted, besides waking up a god and destroying everything but Parv. As he kept looking at Arat''s sincere gaze, he felt a similar vibe around this old man, similar to Rudolf and Sierra however there was something that he can''t pinpoint so he just nodded.


    Seeing him agreeing, Arat said in loud voice, alerting the escort


    "Buckle up, we are continuing our search for the gem."


    Hans turned to Delimira and said, "It looks like we are going to be here for a while, Winters." However, Delimira did not share his enthusiasm, so he left her alone and joined the escorts in discussing their path forward. Hans asked them, "Do you have any idea where the gem is, or are we just brute-forcing the whole area?"


    A female mage, impressed with Hans''s vocabulary, responded to his question, "We and the natives were both present when the gem surfaced, but we were too late to claim it." she said and added while letting out a sigh of disappointment, "so its with Evil monkeys.."


    Hans asked with glee stretching in his face,


    "So are we going to steal it?"


    The mage corrected him like she was correcting a bad habit of a child,


    "No, my prince. Why fight when we can negotiate? Everything has a price, after all."


    Hans retorted,


    "Yes, but a greater gem like that cannot be bought with money, especially from the natives of the Beast Zone where gold means nothing, Madame. - "


    "Why would we offer gold to these primates?"Arat interrupted, "The artefacts to help fight the severe weather should be enough to negotiate."


    Hans chuckled at Arat and added,


    "You lack desperation, Prime Minister. Fine, but I will go for the negotiation."


    The escorts immediately responded in unison,


    "No, it''s too dangerous."


    Hans smirked and confidently stated, "Don''t you all want to see the capabilities of my Parvian blood?" He then turned his gaze towards Delimira and spoke louder so she could hear him, "If I didn''t have all this baggage, I wouldn''t have been caught by you." His words were meant to provoke a response from Delimira, hoping she would argue back and return to her former self, but she remained silent, struggling with a mental breakdown; she had never caused harm to anyone in her life but the disdainful looks from others kept piling up in her mind, and the attempted assassination was the final strike breaking her fragile walls.


    Her depression was not something that Hans''s childish tactic could cure nonetheless he was trying to cheer her up as well as he could but his ways still were ineffective. Of course, the effect of his words on knights and mages of the escort was similar to Delimira''s. So Hans added to provoke them, "So are you telling me all thirteen of you are not strong enough to pull me out of the danger from measly natives?"


    It was a challenge to the pride of escorts but they were not so foolish to get enticed by this level of mockery. Arat, on the other hand, wanted to see him in action so he readily agreed, ignoring the worried faces of the escorts.


    Hans got ready and Delimira was forced to follow them. They had already initiated the talk sometime before but Evil monkeys were not cooperating. Last time they were attacked by them and chased every last one of them to death.


    Arat said to him,


    "Let''s see your ways with words, my prince, how do you plan to convince them to exchange?


    Hans reiterated his knowledge of Evil monkeys to confirm if that was fit with the current time or not, "These natives are violent primates with thick white fur and are intelligent enough to converse with us. They possess a variety of wide-range attacks strong enough to obliterate everything in their vicinity, correct?" he asked.


    Everyone nodded in agreement. they thought they had to debrief him about them since it was not common knowledge. Meanwhile, Hans thought about his sad wallet that always seemed to be empty, he had blown up all of his allowance on different books and this was the result of his splurge.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 90 : The NIghtmare of Evil Monkeys

    CHAPTER 90


    THE NIGHTMARE OF EVIL MONKEYS


    Despite being preoccupied with his duties, Arat was able to find some time to spend on Delimira. He sought her out in the spot where she sat idle, and upon seeing him, she stood up anxiously. She couldn''t help but feel like an unwanted burden in this place. However, she eventually expressed her belated gratitude to Arat for providing her with warm shelter and food. Arat received her gratitude with kindness, but couldn''t ignore the uneasiness in her voice. "Will you be alright staying away from him, for a while?" he asked her, pointing at Hans.


    Delimira glanced at Arat''s face and easily discerned that he genuinely appreciated her expression of gratitude, but his concern for her was feigned, concealed by his perfectly composed face. She accepted her circumstances with resignation, knowing well that her attitude was inconsequential in the eyes of these people. It would not have mattered in the past since she was accustomed to being alone, but the successive threats to her life and the fear enhanced by Xandor''s influence had shattered her mental fortitude. At this point, all she wanted was to return to her mother.


    She gazed at Hans as he moved around carefree, realising he was the only person she could trust in this place. "He could have fled," she thought, their friendship was not strong enough for him to stand by her through thick and thin. But no matter how complex the situation was with the Xandor incident, Hans still came searching for her. And this time too, he stayed by her side and even shielded her from harm.


    This restored some of his lost credibility, a small but reassuring gesture that she could rely on in this cold and unforgiving place. If it was up to her she did not want to be separated from him until they returned home but she nodded in agreement since Arat''s eyes wanted only one answer.


    <div>


    <div>


    Both of them turned their attention to Hans, who asked the group what they should do if the natives refused to negotiate. But their response suggested they were already prepared for such an outcome. The answer was the same as what Hans had proposed earlier: "Steal it." As a result, they divided themselves into two groups, with one group serving as a distraction while the other sneaked in to find the object. They had both a main plan and a backup contingency in place.


    Hans finally turned to his anxious companion, but Arat reassured him,


    "I have instructed these two to protect her, so don''t worry."


    Hans kept his gaze down as he spoke, "When death comes, commands become shit, Mr Prime Minister." He then turned to Delimira and shouted, jolting her out of her saddened state, "Winters, get a grip. You have to fend for yourself now." He shifted his gaze and fixed on Arat this time and added, "I''m taking a big risk here. I won''t leave two capable people to guard her while she waits cooped up somewhere, knowing well that they could increase my chances of survival."


    Delimira couldn''t help but laugh at herself, "Yes that kind of person he is," she thought laughing at her previous thought that Hans could be considered a real friend this time.


    Meanwhile, hearing the child''s words, Arat smirked and replied,


    "You should trust your people, Prince Hans."


    Despite the sense of trust, Arat exuded, Hans couldn''t help but feel that sometimes, Arat was like a snake slithering around trying to grasp when he could swallow him whole. As this was not the time for that, he trusted him momentarily not forgetting Vanessa''s words ''The only people who can betray you are the ones you trust.''


    "We both need something so let''s stick with that." Hans responded, "You will find the gem and we will go home, not to forget you finding me everything about sis, that''s it."


    Arat asked with a pout that didn''t suit him,


    "You get two while I get one? What a fair trade, Prince."


    Hans quickly responded to Arat''s sarcasm, "I thought you were receiving ''my goodwill'' and ''trust'', or perhaps ''sparking a flame of revenge inside me''. It makes it four to two, Mr Prime Minister, should I increase my side?"


    "You sure use the gift of gab at the right times."


    Hans smirked and stole a glance at Delimira again, before turning to Arat and declaring,


    "It''s better for her to hide than to consume the firepower of two people - "


    "But we can manage fine, either way," Arat interrupted.


    "NO" Hans replied firmly, ending the conversation but Delimira interjected,


    "Are you really going to be like this? They say they can protect me - "


    "you are a mage, you have beaten me", Hans said, cutting her off and maintaining his firm tone, "prove that it was not a fluke"


    "But -"


    "Winters, these people are not obligated to protect you. You have to survive on your own,"


    After suppressing her urge to say more, she didn''t speak further since no one was willing to listen, and quietly followed the people. Eventually, all arrived at the Evil Monkey village after a brief trek for an hour. They stood on a cliff, a bit far from the destination, gazing down at the village below and taking in the sight.


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    The village was located in the midst of a frigid, snow-covered valley, nestled at the foot of a large, rugged mountain. It was like a half cave structure that they dug at the foot of the mountain, sealing their abode from the three sides and only offering one as an entrance and exit.


    Hans couldn''t contain his excitement as he laid eyes on the Natives'' residence for the first time. It was like stepping back in time to when tribes and clans roamed around. The village was made up of small, robust huts and cabins constructed from the sturdy branches of the trees that grew in the valley. The roofs, on the other hand, were steeply pitched to shed the heavy snow that falls from the above mountain peaks.


    Hans had read about this but he did not know that the Evil Monkeys have also cleverly engineered the walls to be well-insulated, to keep the harsh winter winds at bay. As he looked at the entrance, he could find many of them, each with their own unique appearance and personality. Some are tall and broad, while others are smaller and more nimble. All of them are covered in thick, shaggy fur that provides an extra layer of protection against the cold.


    Resisting the urge to admire the scenery further, Hans followed his training and focused on surveying the hunting ground. His gaze automatically landed on the native patrols tasked with vigilance and guarding the village. He observed guard posts positioned along the perimeter of the village. As he continued surveying the place which only gave one way in and out, he concluded as he murmured,


    "it is like a trap inviting people in, only to ambush them from within"


    <div>


    <div>


    Once he had assessed the situation, Hans gestured towards a spot situated a distance away from the village. He suggested Delimira to head there and create a shelter using the remaining meat as cover. Pointing at the putrid smell coming off the aged meat he said like an expert,


    "Despite their harsh living conditions, the Evil Monkeys are clean creatures and actively avoid foul odours, making this the perfect cover for you."


    With her safely hidden away, Hans proceeded to the village entrance alone while the escort and Arat surrounded the perimeter, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances. Hans knew that he was not a significant threat to the Evil Monkeys and hoped that they might let down their guard. He thought, in previous encounters, the escorts must have been too intimidating, leading to hostile confrontations. so he wore the most innocent face he could get out and reached the entrance of the village.


    As he was detected, the Evil monkeys surrounded him, greeting him with grunts and howls, their body language asking his reasons for coming here, so he said in loud and clear words,


    "I.CAME.BARTER."


    A towering Evil monkey, with bulging muscles, confronted Hans. Its size was nearly ten times larger than him, and its voice was deep and menacing." WE.NO.NEED.NOTHING." he said.


    Hans took out the artefact from his pocket, pointing at the native with his small hands. It was the very artefact that kept their cave warm yesterday. He received it from Arat as a bargaining chip since many Evil Monkeys die in infancy due to the harsh cold, it could become a valuable chip to get the aqua gem. Activating the artefact in front of everyone, with an aim to entice the natives, Hans said, "I.CAN.GET.COLD.AWAY"


    "Grrr..." the towering evil monkey grunted, "NO.SHINY.THING.GIVING." he declared.


    The creature standing in front of Hans appeared to be a mere representative of the village chief, who was preferring a gem, worthless to them over the lives of his village offspring. Hans increased the range of the artefact, and the warmth spread throughout the area near the gate. The guards could feel the heat penetrating the cold, and after seeing their comforted but ugly faces, Hans addressed, "ARE.YOU.SURE.YOU.NO.EXCHANGE."


    Hans couldn''t discern the creature''s expression with his eyes but he knew that greed must be surfacing in their mind. The representative in front of him turned his head slightly and let out a loud cry, " O ooh oa ooou ohahaaaa oo ooe."


    Hans thought the puppet in front must be asking what to do from the real chief and a similar reply came in a loud voice back. He could probably understand many languages because of his resurfacing power of inheritance but the Evil Monkey tribe¡¯s tongue was not one of them.


    Upon hearing the response, the representative native looked at Hans and roared as loud as he could, this got escort alerted and they got ready to attack at any moment. But Hans was not started a bit, he knew and aimed for this situation to happen from the beginning, he smirked and said, "I talked first, now it''s self-defence, you bastards."


    ~ Mutilate ~


    The conical-cased crying seed found its target on the representative¡¯s torso and with a horrifying scream, the native shredded in many unrecognisable parts. The guard evil monkeys were shocked, as they had deemed Hans to be as harmless as a lamb in their tribe


    Once started, Hans knew that there was no going back so he did not stop there. He knew that the Evil Monkeys were masters in wide-range attacks, so so he decided to force them to use less destructive measures. He flung himself into the village and charged straight to the most densely populated area.


    This move alarmed the Parvians, who abandoned their plans and rushed to rescue Hans. However, it would take them some time to reach him, as Hans had started the attack, catching both the Parvians and the Evil Monkeys off guard.


    Meanwhile, Hans was venturing deeper and deeper towards the centre, his move was akin to a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the natives couldn''t act freely, but on the other hand, he couldn''t easily escape. Arat was practically biting his nails in anxiety. He had wanted to see Hans''s prowess, but it had gone too far, and now Hans''s life might be in danger. The escorts shared his concern, but they couldn''t act rashly now. Their presence would only bring out the higher-ranked evil monkeys, so they approached Hans''s supposed location stealthily.


    Hans finally reached the centre and stopped on seeing he was surrounded by the whole village. Hans said in loud voice, Aah, the fresh wind of the wilderness. Suddenly, several orca vines sprouted and targeted the weakest natives who were not warriors but breeders and common folk. The orca vines ran rampant, dismembering many of them in a matter of moments.


    There were only screams and terror in the village, the race that went haywire when one of them was hurt, did not wait further and dived into rescuing the villagers. The warriors among them shouted and tried to uproot the vines but little did they know the orca vines were highly paralytic and the one who uprooted it started feeling lethargy in an instant.


    Hans did not miss the opportunity, since the bait did its job, now it was time to collect the game. In no time, the paralysed natives were swiftly beheaded by the very vines they had uprooted, coiling around their necks, twisting, and severing them from their bodies. The situation quickly spiralled out of control, and the natives'' mistake of underestimating Hans''s lack of mana came back biting their red asses.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 91 : The Backstab

    CHAPTER 91


    THE BACKSTAB


    As the cries of Suffering ran wild in the evil monkey village, the high-ranked warrior responsible for safeguarding the outskirts raced to the scene. But what they saw was a gruesome display of slaughter and the culprit was dancing around, avoiding the splattering blood of their fallen kin. Fueled by a raging inferno of vengeance, the high-ranked warriors of the Evil Monkeys let loose thunderous roars, all surrounding Hans and inciting their comrades to rally and muster the courage to fight back but Hans was not one to lose momentum at this point.


    There were so many that he did not have to aim the mana path for his SeedBullets, so feeling the rush in the face of danger he unconsciously smiled which gave an ominous feeling to all who surrounded him, including the escorts who stealthily reached his location, eager to jump in to save their prince who looked like in no need of saving.


    The game of massacre begins as Hans aimed first at the strongest warrior who was raising the morale, a shoo sound emerged and something entered the warrior with a decisive blow that made him take a few steps back. His pounding became silent as he suppressed the pain, not to let this attack demoralise his kin but the pain was not something to laugh at even for him. He glared at the human child and started conjuring a heavy ice crystal above his head, aiming at the human child, he was a high-rank warrior and the size of his giant conjured crystal was proof of his power.


    However, Hans did not hit him with something ordinary, It took him relatively more time than seedBullets to produce a single Mutilate bullet and it was more effective in instilling fear in enemies. As he was waiting for this moment, he shouted,


    ~ Mutilate ~


    The conical crying seed was already inside the warriors and with the time it took Hans to speak the word, it started coming out of the casing, crying like a wraith trying to agonise its enemies. The fine threads shredded the high-rank Evil monkey from inside and the tribe village became silent, only the shrieks of the warrior echoed, instilling fear as Hans wanted


    Seeing the horrifying death of their comrade, the shouting ceased but the anger touched the sky and what Hans expected did not happen. The already injured evil monkeys raised themselves in front of their comrades to be the meat shield and started closing into Hans.


    Feeling unsatisfied with the response, Hans rained SeedBullets aimlessly but it didn''t put a dent in their closing speed, the injured ones took the attack head-on, and even when they were dying they did not stop moving in. Frustrated, Hans said in seriousness,


    "My desperation is far greater than yours, you red asses."


    Arat ordered the escorts to remain on standby because he could inherently feel the atmosphere around Hans changing, Hans was already on one knee but the look in his eyes was saying everything was under his control. And as the enemy came close, Hans bellowed,


    ~ One Step ManaStorm ~


    The stretched mana swirled around Hans, amassing the vast elastic potential energy. it was not something crazy like he did to Xandor because what he wanted was not to kill but push them back, instilling in their head that he still can handle all of them. He took the first step and with a loud boom, the violent and strained mana went loose, pushing all the marching Evil monkeys back with a torrential force. The attack also inflicted slashing damage as Mana tore their flesh, resulting in many being gravely injured.


    Arat and the escorts have already closed in the village and were just a few metres away from Hans when he released that massive amount of mana. honed in sensing the dangerous situation, Arat gave the escorts a signal in advance so they could protect themselves from what was coming, however, they still felt the impact. But It was no hard thing to figure out that after an attack like that, Hans would have been severely exhausted. Arat and some other people knew that the first book was with him but its contents remained a mystery for them so no one knew that there was no limit to Hans¡¯s mana.


    The misconception quickly made them engage in a fight to make their way to the centre. The snow that formed the cloud due to impact finally settled but what remained in Hans¡¯s place was just a small black thing, vibrating in its place and a sound came from nowhere like a god declaring a decree to mortals.


    ~ TheVeganCarnage ~


    It felt like the thing heard Hans¡¯s voice and started screaming like a hungry beast forcing Arat''s instincts to run at max speed and he instantly ordered his knights and mages to run away from it. The shrieks turned into something and all witnessed an attack far more horrifying than mutilate. Many sharp tentacles sprouted from the tiny seed and started targeting the heads of evil monkeys. It was so swift and deadly that it was hard for a normal person to see.


    The evil monkey finally got scared and started running away from the thing. But the attack was true to its name and ran amok killing many until they cleared out from its range. TheVeganCarnage was Hans''s ultimate that even Rudolf didn''t underestimate but it had a weakness, it was bound to its place and had a definitive range. And when there was no prey left in its range, it calms down and disintegrate and it happened this time too but not before it took several high-ranking Evil Monkeys with it.


    The fight commenced between Parvians and Evil Monkeys as the escort started searching for hidden Hans in worry.


    DELIMIRA LOCATION


    She could inherently hear the screams and cries of the natives, the constant sound of their agony was scaring her more and more. She thought of herself as a strong-minded person but she felt her mental fortitude breaking several times since she came here. Suddenly she felt a small vibration beneath and sensed something fast approaching, she calmed herself, ready to attack at any moment but Hans popped out from the ground. She dispersed the spell in a fluster, almost killing him but relieved she couldn''t move fast enough.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Just as she was about to ask something, Hans approached and clasped her firmly. Suddenly, thick vines twisted around them, forming a ball-shaped enclosure. She hesitated before questioning, "What''s going on?" but Hans simply instructed her to grip him tightly. Then, a supple yet sturdy vine propelled them towards the south of the native village. As they neared an apparent collision, another vine emerged from the earth, passing them along like a game, transporting them to the next one. This continued until they safely exited the beast zone.


    Hans had planned this way before they came here and he separated Delimira with watchful eyes of escort for this purpose too. He had safely hidden a seed of orca vine in Delimira''s pocket which was modified for digging purposes and that vine kept digging a tunnel to the centre of the native village. A grin spread across his face as his scheme unfolded flawlessly. He recalled how he intentionally stoked the animosity between the Parvians and Evil Monkeys, allowing him ample time to escape.


    EVIL MONKEY VILLAGE


    A knight in the escort said in amazement,


    "He is more like a miniature Dijkstra than his father."


    "You are right about that Pervert"


    "Stop calling me that, you bastard - "


    "I saw you tucking the prince with the girl yesterday."


    "You saw that?"


    "Everyone did, you pervert."


    "Stop calling me - "


    "The prince gave you the name, you should be honoured."


    "Honour my ass."


    "Then why do you put them in the same bedding?"


    "Dunno, I guess, I wanted him to fulfil what his father failed."


    Arat did not like what these people were wishing for so he shouted,


    "Getting involved with an elf is the last thing I want for him."


    "But Prime minister, what if he wanted to?"


    "Then there might be another Elven War."


    Another knight shouted,


    "Stop chatting and kill them first, I can¡¯t sense our prince."


    Arat gave a firm order to kill these things fast because some troublesome fellows in the village were waking up.


    OUTSIDE THE FROZEN TOOTH


    "So you planned this all along," asked Delimira.


    "Yup, they were practically strangers and I have trust issues, Winters."


    Hans looked at the sky and mumbled, "Damn, I need to learn to fly, that was awesome - "


    "And chilly," she completed his sentence. Despite the chill, she felt a sense of relief, knowing that Hans wasn''t being entirely a jerk at that time.


    The fast traversing through the air left both cold as they shivered despite wearing the white robe of Parvians. clasping herself she asked him further,


    "So where are we.. Hans?"


    Hans looked at her weirdly,


    "So are we on a first-name basis, WInters?"


    "You saved me twice now, I would be a bitch if I kept calling you shorty or squeaky."


    "I found even your compliments repulsive, Winters."


    "Deli, call me Deli."


    "Fine Deli. We''re at Grimgar, now hood up and cover your ears."


    "Why?"


    Hans looked at her in annoyance and asked,


    "Do you really not know why? Or are you just saying it to hear it from my mouth?"


    "Hey, I don¡¯t know. The only place I visited apart from Clandor royal palace is Concordia."


    "For real, not even the Elven lands itself."


    "Yeah, I had a situation, I couldn''t leave the royal palace."


    Hans looked at her straight, he found her situation amusing because he was in the same boat. She quickly asked another question,


    "So why don''t you want others to know that I am an elf?"


    Hans did not wanna utter those words but had to say,


    "Damn it, because you are... You are too pretty and it will attract a lot of trouble."


    Delimira did not expect this answer but found it satisfactory as she nodded. She looked back and asked again,


    "Can we really escape from them, they had a scary lineup."


    "Of course, we can¡¯t but I have left quite a mess there to clean up, that will take them a while at least."


    "But they treated you good, isn''t it?"


    "The situation was oddly in my favour like a perfect plan had been executed, I can''t pinpoint what, but Arat felt dangerous in a different way, like I will regret all my life if I get involved with him, "


    She nodded, as she found herself not getting a read on Arat, suddenly she recalled another thing


    "What about the trading of artefact?"


    "Oh!" Hans took something out of his pocket in surprise and the area got warmed, "I almost forgot this little thing."


    "No way! You even robbed Parvians".


    "It was not my intention but, they called me prince, I don¡¯t think they should mind me taking this baby."


    Hans justified, but something flashed in front of him,


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : A Parvian artefact detected, unlocking a privilege ¡°SCAN¡±


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "What the f¡­" startled, he shouted.


    ***

 THE STORY So FAR -3

    THE STORY SO FAR - 3


    Hans''s arc (11)


    He got to know about his hidden power of INHERITANCE and now firmly believes that he is the legitimate child of Samson, heir to the parvian throne. With the second book being in Xandor''s hand, he must do as Xandor ask him, which is to bring rebellion, his father''s cursed sword from the alliance treasury. So the goal of winning glory wars remained unchanged but only the players changed in the deal.


    He lost to Delimira for the second time but their sour relationship mended into not sweet but a normal friendly one. He got to meet three Parvian figures, Xandor who shows animosity, Dietrich the strongest existence till now and Arat, a venomous politician. Xandor was threatening while Dietrich was what Hans revered since his birth so meeting him made him very happy. Arat, on the other hand, seems trustful yet Hans couldn''t completely trust him. So creating a chance, he ran away from him.


    His biggest gain was something called a command centre, a network through which Parvian royals and executives were connected with God Osiris and asked favours from her.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 66.5865%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">Sno.</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">Spell Name</td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">Description</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">Sprout </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">mimicking any seed and modifying its growth and yield</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">2</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">VeganBind </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">a restraining spell which summons dark purple vines with sharp metallic blades and paralytic poison. This is used for restraining and offensive measures.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">3</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">SeedBullets </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">a hard metal shelled seed with penetrative power far greater than a musket rifle bullet</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">4</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">TheVeganCarnage </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">a predator type crying seed, it grows 7-9 tentacles with speared ends and auto targets the heads of whomever in vicinity including its caster. A dangerous spell that only deactivates after killing everyone in its range including another same seed making it one at a time spell</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">5</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">Mutilate </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">TheVeganCarnage + SeedBullets =  a short range killing spell that even wont leave a corpse intact</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">6</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">SharpDeath


    </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">sharp metallic bamboos, erupt from the ground and suck the target into a green quagmire</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">7</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">SugarDrain


    </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">a parasitic vine, weak in phyque, sucks energy(stamina) from target and resupply to Hans</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 6.31704%">8</td>


    <td style="width: 15.9714%">Ensnare


    </td>


    <td style="width: 77.7116%">


    a trap similar to a venus fly trap but in a huge size with strong gripping power


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Delimira''s arc (13)


    Acknowledged Sierra as her teacher to learn the Krosh art, aiming to become the second sword mage. She barely won against Hans in their second round and during the mishap with the survival exercise, she got a mental breakdown under the influence of Xandor''s contact, when an attempt on her life happened twice a week. Hans taking her out of the Frozen tooth calmed her a little and she finally acknowledged him as a friend.


    Chris''s arc (15)


    He had no choice but to hurry his departure after Xandor''s attack.


    Vanessa''s arc


    Hans got to learn that her death was prophesied in one of the books of fate, as murdered. so a veil of death still looms over her head and Hans asks Arat to find out about it.


    Rudolf''s Arc


    He met with his old friend, Dijkstra, a nutjob warlord as both wreck havoc in Grimgar, trying to find the person aiming for Hans or Delimira''s head


    PLOT PROGRESS


    Xandor and Arat both were searching for greater mana gems, Xandor struck Concordia to acquire sunstones to launch an attack on Clandor, for a greater wind gem. Meanwhile, Arat came to the Frozen tooth for a greater aqua gem. why they are searching for those remained a mystery but Hans was thrown into that turmoil, fighting Xandor and abducted by Arat. Two new books of fate were disclosed in this ACT.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 66.7857%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%; text-align: center">Book Name??</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%; text-align: center">Holder</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book of spells - Limitless</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Hans</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book of Day - The Solar Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Walter/  Xandor</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book of Death - Immortality (new)</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Xandor</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book of Governance/ Ruling - Mandate</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Parv</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 60.868%">Book of Hero - The Prophecy (new)</td>


    <td style="width: 39.132%">Parv (meant for someone else)</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Knight rankings unveiled


    Stolen novel; please report.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 65.5952%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">Rank</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Name</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">Aura type</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">Grade</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Norwin Grimgar</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">Ice (Cryo)</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">99</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">9</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Rudolf Edenberg</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">thunder (Electro)</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">90</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">10</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Dijkstra</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">Ground</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">92</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">17</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Bernard Holger</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">???</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">92</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 8.90909%">20</td>


    <td style="width: 42.5455%">Walter Jimenez</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">Dark (Death)</td>


    <td style="width: 24.3636%">90</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Grade only signifies how much of an aura a person has, not the actual prowess


    Mage Hierarchy


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 66.3462%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">Circles</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Name</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">Mastery</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">0</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Apprentice Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">Learn to store mana and form a mana Heart</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">1</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Initiate Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">First circle successfully formed and mastered at least two spells [Concordia limits the initiates from learning more than two spells at this stage]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">2</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Novice Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">Four spells</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">3</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Senior Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching three circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">4</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">High Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching four circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">5</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Expert Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching five circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">6</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Veteran/Master Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">


    reaching six circles, Free to learn as many spells that they can master


    <ul style="text-align: justify">


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Humans- NA (this is the reason human mages are weak)</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Elves - spirit contracts</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">7</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Grand Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching seven circles and able to cast a devastating spells</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">8</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">World Mage</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching eight circles and able to create a mana Sanctuary </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 7.35931%">9</td>


    <td style="width: 20.7792%">Warlock</td>


    <td style="width: 71.8615%">reaching Nine circles and possessing few Ultimate spells</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Knights Hierarchy


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 66.9071%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">Grade</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Name</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Mastery</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">0 -10</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Apprentice Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Learning to generate aura and conduct it in the weapons.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">11-20</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Initiate Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Learning first aura skill and perfect it till grade 20</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">21 - 30</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Novice Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Second Skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">31 - 40</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Senior Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Third Skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">41- 50</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">High Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Fourth skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">51 - 60</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Warrior Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Fifth Skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">61 - 70</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Veteran/Master Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">


    Sixth Skill


    <ul style="text-align: justify">


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Humans- bloodline training only for knights


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Elves - spirit contracts</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Dwarf - inherit the blessings from the ancestors - to give to the weapons</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">71 - 80</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Grand Master Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">seventh Skill - mini ultimate</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">81 -90</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Dominion Knight</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Domain skill</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 11.3831%">91 - 99</td>


    <td style="width: 17.9927%">Warlords</td>


    <td style="width: 70.6242%">Ultimate skill and From this point onwards the growth grades are ambiguous because some people hit their limit when they cross 90 grades but some keep growing. The knight is not required to follow the rule of learning a skill per decadial grades</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    MAP UPDATE 3.0


    Pale yellow circle - Great Utar barrier


    Faded white circle - Command Centre range(Osiris''s Influence)

 Elven Lies I Chapter 92 : An Intresting development

    CHAPTER 92


    AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT


    A sound rang in his head, jolting him all of a sudden and his eyes were greeting the unfamiliar yet known box which only he could see, "What the fu¡­", he almost cursed but what was written in that window stopped Hans in mid.


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : A Parvian artefact detected, unlocking a privilege ¡°SCAN¡±


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Startled by his sudden outburst, Delimira searched her surroundings but saw no one approaching. She began to panic, realizing that they were defenceless without the protection of Parvians. "What''s happening?" she asked. "Did you see someone?"


    Hans shook his head. "No, it''s nothing like that. Come here for a second," he said, pointing at the box. "Do you not see this bright slab of light in front of me?"


    "It must be in your head. Did you eat something bad?" Delimira asked, trying to make sense of the situation.


    Hans almost chuckled. "No, not through the mouth at least," he said, touching his neck and whispering "COMMAND CENTER" under his breath. Meanwhile, Delimira kept an eye out for any potential surprises. As the unfamiliar box''s window appeared before him, there was one peculiarity that caught his attention.


    <table style="width: 79.8046%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.8034%" colspan="2">


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.8034%" colspan="2">


    Status : Connected


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.8034%" colspan="2">


    Terminal : 05IRIS


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 50.6275%">


    Name : Hans Parv


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 49.1759%">


    Health: 100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.8034%" colspan="2">


    Clearance level : Interim Administrator


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.8034%" colspan="2">


    PRIVILEGES


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.8034%" colspan="2">


    SOLAR BODY : INCOMPLETE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.8034%" colspan="2">


    SCAN : it allows you to scan various things even a person and give the relevant results saved in the records. If not found, you can register it as a new entry to help others connected to the Command center.


    (Interim Administrator perk )


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">NO limits.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">you can assign clearance level to the thing you register.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">You can read other people''s facial expressions to predict whether they are saying the truth or not. [note - Accuracy and Precision might vary]


    </li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Reading SCAN Hans mumbled,


    "Well, this is an interesting development."


    He concluded the new privilege must have been unlocked due to the artefact activated by him, it was called SCAN for looking into artefacts and things, even a person. One thing that piqued his interest more was the interim administrator perk that enhanced the SCAN, no limits on usage and reading people¡¯s expressions was enticing him to try this right on. Looking at Delimira, vigilant as ever, he called her and activated SCAN through his words.


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : Unknown species found, do you wish to register.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans said dismiss and the notice box disappeared just as Arat had told him previously. now, he wished to test something out so he asked her to lie to him about anything. it didn''t take long for him to hear her words.


    "I enjoy your company, Hans," she said, with a smile genuine as ever.


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : Subject¡¯s lying probability is 100%, [ Caution advised ]


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans dismissed again and turned towards her,


    "Not a shred of honesty was in it, haan," he said, shaking his head.


    "You told me to lie."


    Hans grumbled a little and fixed his eyes on her, "I always wanted to ask you something," he asked, pointing, "How do you always know that I am hiding something or lying?"


    "It''s written on your face."


    "Do I have a tell"


    "No," she hooked her head and continued "I am just attuned to reading people"


    Hans grew curious


    "How?" he asked


    "When you live among those who constantly have it out for you, you develop these senses."


    In contrast to Delimira, Hans relied on his instincts, which made it difficult for him to discern the authenticity of the Parvians. He had already harboured doubts about Arat''s sincerity even before the latter injected him with the strange substance. As he began to question his decision to trust Arat and accept whatever that man was preaching, that''s why he decided to do what Vanessa had taught him "Trust today and get betrayed tomorrow." As a result, he chose to flee rather than wait.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    leaving those thoughts at some corner in his mind he took out the artefact from the pocket and said,


    SCAN


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : This is a Parvian artefact registered to the Royal treasury called Mother¡¯s Warmth. It warms the area like a mother embracing her child in the cold nights. It can maintain an ideal temperature for about 14 hours of continuous use and can extend to 24 hours if the area of effect is shortened.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans said in excitement,


    "Sweet mother of God."


    This new scan was more of a thoughtful present from the god to him. They both started moving further south, while Hans kept playing with his newfound toy called SCAN on the way. After a lot of walking under the artefacts shroud of warmth and resting from time to time, they finally reached a civilised area, a village covered in snow


    Hans asked her,


    "Hey Deli, does your mother have any companies in Grimgar"


    "Yes, but I would not trust those people."


    "Why, aren¡¯t you paying them?"


    "Hans, paying does not mean I have their loyalty, someone might out-pay them more for my head. I don¡¯t think that the PM of Parv was lying about the assassins though."


    "You bought that?" Hans was surprised because he thought of it as Arat blowing his own trumpet.


    "Yes, didn¡¯t you - "


    "I told you I have trust issues", interrupted Hans, saying "I can''t tell who is genuine or fraud so I choose not to trust strangers."


    Delimira let out a chuckle,


    "You will live a long but lonely life that way," she remarked.


    "Whatever, Winters," Hans brushed her off, and they headed towards the closest house in the village in search of a communication orb. However, they were quickly shooed away without any proper conversation. Hans was eager to contact Rudolf to arrange for their pick-up, but they soon realised that finding a communication orb was no easy task. The villagers were reluctant to speak with them, two children covering themselves under the expensive hood asking for shelter spelt nothing but trouble for them.


    Having been born into wealth and privilege, both belatedly realised that for some, affording a communication orb could cost their lifetime savings and they were searching for that kind of luxury in this boony village


    Despite the difficulties, they persevered and searched for the most well-maintained house, hoping to fish out the wealthiest person. However, the sudden snowfall made it even more challenging, as no one answered their calls. the villagers were already reluctant to talk before and the snow had finally placed a lock in their mouths. Hans looked up at the sky, which was now covered in snow. They had already spent a significant amount of time travelling to this remote location, but no one was showing them any hospitality.


    Hans looked at Delimira "So what should we do, Winters," he asked, " I''m feeling like becoming a bandit right now."


    "Then someone might report us."


    "That would be better, I don¡¯t think I can sleep outside today, follow me," he said pointing to the next house.


    Delimira hurried after him towards a dilapidated house that was barely illuminated. Hans kicked the door, and it flew open as it was so weak. Inside, they found an elderly woman living with two young children. Despite the loud commotion, no one in the neighbourhood seemed to take notice of them. Both saw the old woman hugging her children tightly, pleading, "Please spare us, we don¡¯t have anything, please just the children, spare the children."


    Hans answered in a grim tone,


    "Do you think your children could survive these harsh winters without you old lady? If you die, these two will suffer miserably before finding you in the afterlife. Is that what you want for these two?"


    The old woman was clearly frightened, and Hans'' question left her speechless, making her unable to even plead for her children''s safety. She was feeling miserable, but Delimira''s composed tone provided a glimmer of hope.


    "Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t bother you, we just need a place to warm ourselves and fill our bellies, and we will be out of your hair in the morning."


    Still, on her knees, the old woman listened to their uninvited guest and replied,


    "I''m sorry, but we don''t have any food."


    Hans let go of the wrapped thing on his back and said to her,


    "Then cook this, you can also eat it if you want, it would be spoiled after today anyway."


    <div>


    <div>


    The children living in the house had gone without meat for quite some time, and when Hans presented them with a piece of a second-class beast that he had managed to kill, they were practically drooling with anticipation. Unfortunately, neither Hans nor Delimira knew how to cook the meat beyond simply roasting it.


    After enduring two difficult days and the bland military rations cooked by the Parvians, the duo was longing for a delicious meal. The old woman watched the children with a mixture of concern and hoped as they brought out the meat.


    She belatedly noticed the gryphon with a sword insignia on the duo''s clothing, a symbol that was deeply ingrained in the minds of the villagers. While they might not recognize the coats of arms of the nobles or Grimgar royalty, the gryphon with a sword was well-known to them. There was a time when Parv had implemented a policy to invite suffering commoners to live in their nation, which not only helped in increasing the population but also provided a chance for the commoners to be a part of a nation that upheld equality.


    <div>


    <div>


    The old woman was hesitant as she looked at the visitors, but Delimira''s words brought her back to reality. "So, are you willing to cook or not?" she asked, hoping they could satisfy their hunger.


    Knowing better than to keep her mouth shut to live long, she cautiously took the meat and requested her uninvited guests,


    "Please sit by the fire"


    They did as the woman suggested but there was no change in their temperature as both were in the shroud of the artefact. However, the children of the house sat far from them, since their mother was adamant and warned her children to be far from the visitors. it could not escape Delimira''s watchful eyes as she glanced at the fire once again which was definitely not enough to warm the entire house. So she nudged Hans.


    "What?" Hans responded


    She pointed at the far-seated children and Hans asked again not getting her point,


    "What? you have a mouth use it, Winters"


    She sighed and said,


    "Activate the artefact you cold-hearted jerk."


    Hans responded to her negatively,


    "What if they show greed over the artefact and get themselves killed, unnecessary goodwill causes Harm, Winters."


    She knew that greed causes a significant decrease in rationality but she did not feel that happening in this household. She insisted Hans activate the artefact to which Hans sighed, "You will be responsible for this, WInters," he responded as he turned on the Mother''s Warmth. And it did not take long for a layer of warmth to shroud the entire house, warming it up as she looked at the surprised expressions of the family and just like she sensed, the old woman had nothing but gratitude in her eyes.


    She nudged Hans again,


    "See I told you."


    "Whatever Winters."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 93 : Hanss Business

    CHAPTER 93


    HANS''S BUSINESS


    The old lady cooked the meat, with every seasoning and spice that she could find in her abode. As she contemplated preserving some for her family, sneaking a chunk so they could survive an urgent situation but feared it may draw the wrath of the visitors. She thought, carrying a powerful artefact and wearing intimidating robes, a Griffin with a sword, the insignia was enough to demand both fear and respect.


    Despite her desire to hide the leftovers, she ultimately decided against it, but in her heart, she wished that the visitors might forget taking the leftover however dismissed the notion as she knew the chances of that happening was quite nigh after all the beast meat was valuable enough to attract a noble.


    She shook her head, laughing at herself for thinking like this. Initially, she thought it was not a good idea to see their faces because someone might come to silence her family but after these people warmed her home with a magical artefact and sat quietly waiting for food to be cooked, she mustered some courage to take a sneak peek. She saw two young people, not much taller than her own children, covered with hoods, their chin and mouth barely showing.


    But suddenly she felt someone''s gaze and lowered hers immediately. She kept looking down as she served the food, the old woman''s children watched eagerly, their rumbling stomachs yearning for a taste. They hoped that there would be some remnants left after their guests had their fill. While Hans remained silent, Delimira graciously extended an invitation to the youngsters to partake in the feast. Overcome by their hunger, the children eagerly joined in, munching as much as food they could.


    When Hans had his fill, he asked the old lady,


    "This must be not all of it, what happened to the remaining amount - "


    "Hey!" Delimira interjected, "they are in need of it - "


    The old lady, in fear of Hans, responded quickly,


    "I have packed it for you with some salt so it could be preserved for a while."


    Hans nodded, he would have not forgiven if they stole it, and knowing his intent behind the question, the old lady felt relieved that she held back her urge but she was quite sad, the remaining amount, if smoked, would have been enough to provide her family with a meal for a week.


    Seeing her like that, Delimira said,


    "There is no need, you can have it. - "


    "Hey Deli", Hans interrupted, "Are you out of your mind?"


    She ignored Hans and said to the old lady,


    "Use it to feed your children, we can always find food on our own."


    Although it would have been wise to decline, the old woman felt compelled to accept the offer. Her children had been suffering from hunger for a while, and her husband, who worked in the coal mines, had been away for some time. Unable to bear their suffering any longer, she readily agreed to the proposal.


    Hans, on the other hand, was in a grumpy mood. It wasn''t due to the loss of some food, but rather because he believed that if one cannot take responsibility for everything, one should not get involved in the first place. With the bedding arranged by the fireplace, Hans cautioned the family not to set foot in the room unless they wished to be devoured by the traps he placed and he was not joking, the floor was filled with Ensnare and SharpDeath.


    The family followed the warning and as the night passed, Hans deactivated the artefact so it could recharge itself. They did not know how much they had to travel to reach a place capable enough to contact Rudolf and they lacked the most basic thing, money. He wanted to leave early but there was a commotion in the morning that derailed their departure plans. Some unfamiliar faces have shown up in the village but to Hans''s relief, they were not the same Parvians he had met before. He asked Deli to sneak out of the village and she agreed as further involvement might endanger them.


    They exited through the back door shown by the anxious little boy of the house, he seems to be asking for help through his eyes but Hans was not the one to show compassion. He did not want to get involved in someone else''s mess. The duo opened the back door only to be faced with some burly men stopping them. Hans sighed and said as politely as he could,


    "I just want to leave, please - "


    The burly man laughed aloud, cutting his words in the mid, and called the rest of his gang. his men dragged most of the villagers with them and soon all the people were looking at Hans and Delimira. Seeing the pitiful faces of the villagers, Delimira forget the harsh treatment these people have shown her yesterday and wanted to say something but Hans was different, he gestured to her to stay silent as he asked the burly man.


    "What can I help you with?"


    "We are raiders, you foolish child," the man said with a wicked smile, "You look like a noble, your parents could pay a hefty price, right?"


    A sudden idea hit Hans, a faster way to reach home. He thought, he could just go with the raiders and let them do the heavy lifting, contacting Rudolf and calling him here, but Delimira was the problem. She was a young elf who fetched a far greater price than the kidnapping ransom in the underground market. he sighed as he saw his idea flushing out in the wasteland and asked the raider chief who was speaking before,


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Are you not afraid of the nearby guard post?"


    The raiders laughed aloud,


    "Those suckers are too busy, warming their bodies with women."


    An elder, unafraid, suddenly shouted at them,


    "You will all go to hell, you bastards, you nabbed our women and sell them."


    Hans did not want to hear the details; it was not his responsibility and he wanted to avoid everything till their safety was guaranteed. He looked at Delimira, she was ready to attack these men. Hans had quite the feeling about how this was going to end so he said to her, "It''s not our problem, Winters. We will leave without getting involved, period "


    "But they are humans, don¡¯t you feel wrong abandoning your people."


    "Says the girl who hates her kind." mocked Hans.


    She could not refute it but if she left the family who provided them warmth and shelter, it would leave a bad taste in her mouth. The only way to get Hans involved in it was to make it personal. As she was hatching a plan, a raider shouted at the chatting duo, "We will be taking you two."


    Hans shook his head in disaprovval,


    "That would be problematic, just let us leave and I will forget about this," he said, drawing the last straw.


    "Do you not fear me imp, I could kill you right now."


    Delimira put down her hood and removed the scarf that was hiding her beautiful face and pointy ears. Everyone was surprised to see the beautiful elven girl, she was not an adult right now but it was no surprise to see the growing beauty in her. Hans frantically turned to her and glared. So she responded to him,


    "Now it''s your business, Hans."


    "Damn it, Winters," Hans whispered as if he was shouting and asked the old lady who was also surprised as the raiders were celebrating that they found a treasure trove, "Does the lord of these lands not know about this?"


    The old lady answered politely but her contempt for the lord was clear in her words


    "Who would care for the boonies?" she said, with a shivering voice


    Hans annoyingly asked,


    "Which bastard is the lord of these lands?"


    "It is part of the County of Edenberg."


    Delimira burst into laughter and Hans bowed his head in shame, thinking, "Shit, this is so embarrassing, it now really became my mess to get involved with". Rubbing his forehead he asked the laughing raider as he uncovered his hood.


    "What sort of business you do?"


    The raiders¡¯ laughter increased, they thought Hans was just a short man but even the baby fat on his cheeks did not vanish yet and he was talking to them as a man in charge. The old lady knew that he was a child with his voice but he was too young to put her hopes on. But suddenly the loudest raiders got impaled by something that popped out from the ground and everything became silent with his death.


    Hans spoke again, this time with a grim voice that does not suit a child,


    "I asked what business you do, Mr raider."


    With a swoosh sound three more raiders got killed with seedBullets, penetrating their heads and Hans said again,


    "Are my words still not clear to you? you should have let me pass, you bastards."


    The summoned orca vines quickly coiled around the raider chief, he shouted ¡°a mage, a mage¡± and tried to use aura but he was neither strong enough to break them nor resist the paralytic poison. however, he managed to instruct his gang, shouting,


    "Run and bring back the guard from the post."


    The raider chief was dragged to Hans¡¯s feet, but as his underling escaped. The chief said while laughing loudly, "Don¡¯t think it is over,.. we were not the match for you but you will regret... not leaving with me, at least you would have returned to your home but now when the knights of guard post are involved... they will play with that elf over there to their heart''s content... before selling her and..you, you will die too."


    Ignoring everything, Hans just asked,


    "Do you have a communication orb?"


    "No."


    "Then you outrun your usage, Mr Raider." Hans said pointing to his orca vines, "Any last words, not that I care."


    As the raider saw, the boy who was wet behind the ears had cold eyes which did not suit him, he mercilessly killed his comrades without flinching meant he was adept at killing and was confident on looking down on them. The raider chief knew that he wouldn''t survive if he did not speak something sensible here and he said, stammering,


    "If you s..spare mme.. I would te..tell you a secret path. The knights don¡¯t know it yet."


    Hans looked in the direction where the raiders ran off and saw the escapes being dragged back by his orca vines. Some of them managed to escape but the rest of them got caught. The raider chief got shocked by seeing most of the members tied down by the creeper coming back to him like it was some ghostly occurrence. A scene of some haunted place and Hans''s menacing voice was adding to those horrors as he heard the boy again.


    "Now, I will ask you again, what business do you do in these lands?"


    The raiders did not speak, it was not that they were not willing but they were shocked at what happened to them in just moments however, Hans took that as denial and shot his most gruesome attack on one to set the example.


    ~ Mutilate ~


    Swoosh¡­ a seed with high velocity and roar penetrated the torso of a raider and then the sharp threads first severed his limbs, and as the raider''s cries echoed throughout the whole village, the rest of the threads started shredding more of his body parts in small chunks, like a sadist wanting to hear more cries, spraying his victim''s blood on rest of his comrades and instilling a permanent horror in other''s mind.


    ***

 Elven LIes I Chapter 94 : Cleaning up

    CHAPTER 94


    CLEANING UP


    People watched in fear as something grated the whole man into a puddle of flesh and blood, nothing remained solid in him and many raiders unconsciously relieved themselves in their pants. Villagers were no exceptions either. Before they saw Hans as a noble pushover whom they could scheme into helping the village but now the mere thought of him in their mind rang the danger bell on high alert.


    Delimira, on the other hand, knew Hans as a person who can''t hold back, there were many occurrences where he did reckless things but butchering humans like a beast topped the charts, and she understood that he had the power to back his reckless actions. She had once seen him using this Mutilate attack when they had met a senior elf in the library but its full potency had not been apparent to her until this moment. A thought came to her mind, as she uttered to herself," Mother really saved that fool back then."


    She laughed at herself, wanting to face this spell before, not knowing it was so gruesome, as she remembered Hans''s words, "I don''t wanna kill you winters." A sudden shivering came to her, not because of the cold weather but the thought of being on the other end of this spell.


    In the midst of chaos and cries, Hans turned at her to see if she was okay, but instead of being in a panic he found her observing his attack, he remembered her words from when she defeated him at the dean¡¯s training field and smirked as he said,


    "You were right, it is foolish to give me time for preparation."


    Turning back to the raiders Hans asked again, "What do you people do - " and he was not even done with the words when the raiders started speaking frantically, Hans chose the clearest one first as he sang like a canary, afraid but still spoke everything he could remember.


    "We just rob and kidnap a few people, men for labour and women for prostitution."


    "And what of elves?" asked Hans, pointing to the leader, suggesting it was his turn to speak.


    He wanted to show Delimira, what a foolish act she did by disclosing her face and the leader spoke, stammering in fear, knowing well, not answering now will lead to a gruesome death, "Elven girls go for a high price," he spoke, mustering some more courage, he spoke in a low voice " They are used for noble pleasure and some humans used them in breeding, the elven infants are known for being used in alchemy for life-prolonging potions. So the high-level people like knights and mages go crazy for them in the underworld."


    Hans looked at Delimira and said,


    "Now, you know how foolish your act was."


    Delimira, stayed silent, shocked to hear those words. She thought "These banned practices were still ongoing in dark corners of human territories, which should have stopped ages ago when the treaty between their races, ensuring peace." Now it became clear to her, why Hans was adamant about hiding that she was an elf.


    She apologetically looked at Hans and he turned his gaze away, receiving the response he wanted and looked at the villagers who were in fear of him. but one mustered some courage, the old lady whose house they stayed, at came close, lowering her eyes she urged "Please leave quickly, the escapees will bring Guard-knights here and they are not good people."


    Hans coldly said,


    "I am counting on it I need the frickin communication orb"


    He raised his voice a little "Winters, it''s your mess, you better be prepared to kill." he declared, not accepting any excuses.


    The old lady was grateful that these people stepped up but in her eyes, they were too young to fight the trained knights of the Guard-post. She believed the Parvian attire will cause a greater mess so she said in concern,


    "It''s not your country, please leave while you can."


    Hans looked her at in doubt, "Do you know this symbol?" he asked, confused.


    She replied,


    "Why do you think no one was willing to let you in, we could easily be charged with treason."


    Smirking, Hans grabbed a chair and sat in between the tied raiders, awaiting the arrival of the Guard-knights. And He didn''t have to wait for long, as the escaped prisoners managed to fetch a group of six knights within half an hour.


    Hans saw an entourage of knights coming, as they rode on horseback through the snow-covered paths and made their way to the village gates. However, only the strongest knight approached Hans, without dismounting from his horse.


    The Guard-post officer shouted at Hans, "Some gentlemen complained that you took the whole village hostage." He turned to the villager as they cowered in fear, and with a wicked grin he added, "Isn¡¯t it right my dear people."


    The village feared the Guard-post more than the raiders but there was an elder who had nothing to live for so he showed his contempt towards the knight and shouted back, "No, it''s these people who attack and plunder our village and you, you knights just play ignorant and receive women and money from them. - " An aura slash went to the elder with a swoosh, aiming to slice him as it sliced his words.


    Hans was not the one to move to save others but Delimira was different. She stopped the attack at a perfect time, as the slash was blocked just a hand away from the elder''s neck by her WindShield spell.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "A mage, how cute," amused, the mounted knight remarked.


    There were six who came at the plight of raiders and one was talking with Hans while the remaining stood far back, they were informed that there was a mage with some annoying spells so they were cautiously waiting, sending the strong one first. And Delimra¡¯s spell attracted their attention, the leader hidden with the remaining five got stressed, mages at a young age meant they were part of some organisation or a noble family, this could escalate into something he did not want.


    However, before he could relay his words to the speaking knight, the foolish knight asked Hans, as rudely as he could"


    "Who the hell are you - "


    "None of your concern," Hans responded sharply, adding, " Attacking the people whom you should protect, protecting the raiders, exploiting women, bribes, ignoring the crimes, letting human trafficking flourish - "


    Annoyed, the speaking Guard-knight interjected,


    "Even if you are noble you can¡¯t stick those charges at us, we are from the Knight association."


    Hans looked at him with a chilling degree of coldness and added,


    "Never stop me again, you fucker. And worst of all is doing it in my own land."


    The Guard-knight got startled because those eyes were not of some noble playing a justice game, it was of an executioner''s, but it was too late, a small ball-like figure came rolling down to the five knights behind and it cried so loud that many had to cover their ears. And amidst its horrifying cry, they heard the boy yelling,


    ~ TheVeganCarnage ~


    There were five Guard-knights with the escaped raiders that were waiting in the back. Upon hearing a shrieking sound right from the front which was enough to freeze them in fear. They were gripped with terror and began to flee, however, the small entity unleashed speared tentacles, impaling their heads, not even sparing the horses.


    The screams of the crying seed far suppressed the fearful cries of its target. as it moved like a living thing targeting everything in range. If Mutilate was like a slaughterer then this one was like a dysfunctional assassin, swiftly killing its target but announcing itself to take credit.


    But not all had succumbed to the carnage seed, two skilled knights that detected the crying seed early managed to avoid the monstrosity but now they were in Hans''s cold gaze which scared them the same as the thing before them.


    Despite the lingering fear that gripped the villagers, they couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction as they shielded their children''s ears and embraced them tightly. In a matter of moments, a ten-year-old boy had vanquished the Guard-knights whom they had been too intimidated to even speak out against.


    Delimira on the other hand was not so elated, first Mutilate and now TheVeganCarnageknew, She knew Hans had killing attacks but she did not know that they were this deadly. Remembering the qualification of a Guard-knight, she thought, " A person could apply for a ''Guard-post'' if they reach grade 40 so the killed knights are at least of that grade and he butchered them like nothing." shaking the feeling off, she looked at Hans who was staring at the Guard-post officer before him.


    "I am having neck pain, you fucker get down from that damned horse," he said with his irritation apparent.


    The knight quickly stepped down from the horse, not wanting to argue with some senseless killer. lowering his gaze he heard Hans ask the surviving knights to come and kneel in front of him along with him too. He was thinking of a way to wiggle out of this predicament but the boy in front asked again.


    "How many flares do you carry, if I''m right three flare shots mean emergency, right? shoot it and call everyone here," he said.


    One of the two surviving knights shot all three in the sky, not delaying any further, their hopes of surviving lay on the possibility of someone coming here to stop this monster child. And It did not take long for the nearby knights to come to the village either. They came galloping, hearing the emergency in this boony was a rare occurrence and they did not want to take any chance, since firing three shots was equivalent to invasion.


    They surrounded the village perimeter and one of the knights commanded his horse to step in. The horse got spooked on seeing his brethren, lying slaughtered without a head, feared he stopped, not wanting to take any step in this bloody mess, a wise choice that he would tell his foals to come. But his owner, ignorant as he was in horse''s eyes, shouted loudly,


    "Who the fuck dared to do this?"


    Hans shouted back,


    "Come close you bastard, I don¡¯t have a loud voice."


    The knight dismounted because his horse was set on not moving further and continued, cautiously closing the distance between him and the child but a gap between his shin armour and the knee was targeted by SeedBullet and he cried as he knelt.


    Hans said, smirking in the cold,


    "Now that¡¯s the way you greet your lord, you bastard."


    The knight''s painful cries called many of his colleagues into the village and Hans asked the group, raising his voice a little,


    "Are you all Guard-knights?"


    A man in his forties came forward from the back and asked while raising the wounded knight,


    "And who might you be?"


    "None of your fucking business, now tell me who the hell are you before you lose your job or head or both."


    "You have some nerve kid, hurting a ''Guard-knight'' in front of me, even if you are noble you have to answer for killing the knights."


    Hans frustratingly said


    "Are you deaf or just plain dumb, I asked you to tell me who the fuck you are?"


    "Easy there, kid, you don''t want me to discipline you instead of your parents."


    Before the situation escalated further, Delimira came forward because the numbers were not in their favour as many knights have surrounded the place.


    "Tell your name and designation, he is really in bad mood," she asked the speaking knight


    Instead of the knight who was talking, a knight in the back shouted


    "She is an elf, see! see! this is the problem - "


    Shoossh¡­


    A sound of a fast-moving object came and the knight who was blurting nonsense got hit, right between his eyes. it was a SeedBullet, modified for blinding the target as it releases chilly pollens on impact, rather than impaling and hurting the target. Resulting in both eyes of the knight swelling immediately as the knight cried, dropping from the horseback, the chilly feeling in the eyes was maddening him. Marvelling at the intended result, Hans smirked and said aloud.


    "You can''t see the elf now, problem solved, now onto the main subject, who is the head here?"


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 95 : The Domineering Young Lord

    CHAPTER 95


    THE DOMINEERING YOUNG LORD


    Observing Hans''s lack of hesitation as he launched an attack on the Guard Knight in front of the large crowd without a trace of fear in his eyes, the Knight who had been speaking earlier stepped forward. He recognized that anyone willing to take such risks must either be reckless or have a formidable background. Thus, he introduced himself as Sebastian, a Warrior Knight ranked 56 and responsible for overseeing four villages in the area.


    Hans calmed himself, pointing at the tied raiders and guard knight alike, "Now Mr Sebastian, care to explain how these scums are still breathing in your presence," he asked, mocking the knight, "Being you a 56-grade Warrior knight, overseeing the security of our county, did the count cut your salary or something?"


    <div>


    <div>


    Sebastian shifted his gaze beyond Hans and noticed that three out of the six subordinates responsible for the village were bound. He bowed his head in acknowledgement, realizing that it was a classic instance of corruption where the higher-ups had been bribed to overlook such crimes. However, he could not tolerate the embarrassment and decided to discuss the matter with Hans.


    "It appears that you have apprehended the fugitive human traffickers on our behalf and mistaken my knights among them. On behalf of the Guard Knights, we express our gratitude to you," Sebastian stated, slightly tilting his head slightly to look at Hans, but was taken aback when he saw the boy grinning wickedly, sending off negative vibes. However, his concerns were soon dispelled as Hans let out a sigh and spoke, "It appears that you are correct."


    Sebastian was relieved, even though some of his men had lost their lives, it seemed as though the boy had no intention of escalating the situation any further. However, the discomfort from his earlier grin lingered in Sebastian''s mind. And just as he was about to issue an order, he saw the girl grabbing hold of Hans''s hand and heard her say, "What are you doing? You know what was really happening." He looked, observing Hans''s next action with concern.


    But Hans replied in a loud voice that he intended to be heard by everyone


    "Suppose I force punishment on the corrupt officer," he said looking directly into Delimira''s eyes, "then after finishing their sentence they might come to their posts again and then they will definitely harass the citizens more in retaliation. We should not force these people into more miserable life, Deli."


    His words were heard by everyone, and some of the guard knights felt ashamed for protecting the corrupt individuals who tarnished their profession''s reputation. It was a highly respected job that many aspired to, and the corrupt officers were dragging its prestige down. So Sebastian made up his mind to thoroughly Pummell the bribed knight, after Hans¡¯s departure.


    And those words have a different impact on Delimira, understanding that rashly interfering might only add to the villagers'' suffering. However, she couldn''t shake off her frustration at being powerless in the situation. She also found it odd that Hans was not his usual self, as she knew he typically didn''t care about the plight of the villagers. This left her wondering about his true intentions, repeatedly asking herself the question. Just then, she heard Hans speak to Sebastian.


    "What will these criminals face"


    Sebastian replied,


    "They will face the charges of human trafficking and larceny, with a minimum of five years of jail time."


    "And the one you are protecting," asked Hans turning to the three knights.


    Sebastian said nothing for a while then replied aggressively


    "I will make sure that the responsible person will not be able to eat or wipe with his hands for a long time."


    "hmm¡­but what if I insist on harsher punishment."


    Sebastian has to protect his underlings, even if they were corrupt, they were his.


    "I don¡¯t think that is possible, you have already killed many of my men and several raiders too."


    "Fine, then."


    Sebastian sighed in relief and asked the child,


    "Now please tell me, who are you so I can compile my report."


    "I am from the Edenberg Mansion, on a surprise visit to our territories, but people protecting the place are as shit as I heard."


    The limping knight beside Sebastian looked at the child and said,


    "Why did the mansion send a child and how do we know you are not lying?"


    Hans looked at the knight menacingly and said,


    "The same child has you on his knees, interrupt me again and you will lose that mouth of yours." looking at Sebastian, he added, "Call everyone that came here with you."


    Hans had felt many people outside so he wanted to see how many of the knights came here and on Sebastian''s signal everyone came in. There were more than fifty knights, and Hans neither had the means nor any desire to fight this number. He looked at the party of knights and asked,


    "Since you saw the flare, you must have brought a communication orb with you to report to higher-ups, bring that here. I will prove my identity right now."


    Sebastian signalled again, he too wanted to confirm his identity and a knight came with cautious steps, recalling this child was capable of using some sort of trap spells. He took every step very carefully and handed over the communication orb to him. Hans only remembered two orb patterns. He contacted Rudolf first but the unreliable old man was not answering. "Tsk," clicking his tongue, he mumbled in annoyance "He is as useful as a dog¡¯s tail." So he contacted Aldrich, his acting guardian, the orb got connected and the recipient asked,


    "Who is this?"


    " It''s Hans - "


    "Young Lord, where are you?"


    "Sir Aldrich, It''s urgent, come pick me up."


    Hans passed the orb to Sebastian and said,


    "Here my credibility, Tell him the location"


    The mention of "Young Lord" caught almost everyone''s attention, leaving them startled yet still unsure of the child''s identity. The knight provided Aldrich with the precise location for opening a temporary SpaceDoor. Since it took some time to establish the connection and create the portal, Aldrich immediately began working on it. The guard knights looked at Hans with suspicion, and the one who had brought the communication orb knelt down and respectfully asked, "May I ask who you are, young master?"


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Hans grinned and said,


    "Finally someone sensible in this forsaken guard post, I am Hans EdenBerg. Probably the future lord of these lands."


    As the villagers heard those words, they saw some hope in improving their situation and the rest of the knights stepped down from the horse in haste, they were in dilemma, the people carrying Edenberg''s name were very bad news and if it was true then all of their head would fly the moment head knight of the mansion stepped in. Sebastian was the one who was getting more anxious, he had insisted on protecting his corrupted knights in front of the Edenberg, thinking he was just some noble. The backlash this decision was going to bring him was as clear as day. He knelt quickly and said,


    "Please forgive me for not recognising you Young Lord".


    Hans just smiled, finally seeing what he wanted from the start and rose from his chair, walking to Dewlimra he instructed, "I told you to put your hood on, Winters." Delimira compiled quickly, not refuting a word. She thought of his actions, calculated from the start, turning the ordeal into an early way to reach the destination. Meanwhile, Sebastian remained on his knees since he had not been asked to stand up yet. Ignoring him, Hans glanced at the entourage and asked, "Who is next in line after Knight Sebastian here?" sending an early foreboding doom to Sebastian''s already anxious mind.


    A man came forward in Hans''s response, "I am the second in command here, Young Lord." he said, however, Hans ignored his introduction too and instead, commanded him to register the complaints and problems of the villagers and resolve them promptly. He also added that he would send someone to cross-check the progress.


    The Communication orb lit again and his holder passed it to Hans. It was Aldrich again, informing him that a temporary SpaceDoor will open in approximately two hours. as Sebastian and the corrupt knights heard those words, their doubts became clear, since opening a SpaceDoor required vast wealth, they understood the child before them was the real deal. Hans acknowledged Aldrich and returned the orb. He turned around, intentionally showing the back of his white robe that carried the coat of arms of Parv to the knights, and asked Sebastian,


    "Even after seeing this, you still don''t know who I am, Sebastian?"


    Looking carefully, he belatedly recognised the Gryphon with a sword and started sweating bullets in the cold weather. An Edenberg with Parvian connections, he did not have to think twice since he had seen the elven war up close. Agony washed over Sebastian and Hans got amused seeing this. "Parvian name really carried fear," he thought and added his salted words to his injury,


    "I intentionally wore this to let you know who are you messing with, you are going to soil your pants soon, Sebastian."


    Earlier Sebastian thought there would be some repercussions but now he could not guess what his fate will be in the two hours. as he was diving deeper in agony, Hans went into the house they stayed the night to rest for two hours. With Aldrich coming to pick them up, there was no need for any more concern. He had almost three months to himself and he was just glad that this month-long training was ending in just three days.


    Delimira apologised to Hans for unknowingly causing more trouble and Hans just stared back at her in contempt. It was not that he was afraid of anything but she did not know how big of a headache she had avoided just because there wasn''t someone stronger.


    Two hours flew by and Hans felt the change in mana, a prelude for SpaceDoor opening, he stood up and said to her,


    "That''s our cue."


    As he came out to only see Sebastian still kneeling, his sight lead him to another man and he happily greeted him,


    "Oh, sir head knight, you don¡¯t know how happy I feel to see you."


    "The feeling is mutual, young Lord, what happened, I was informed that you went missing."


    "Yeah, something like that."


    "No, my daughter keeps asking me if there was news of you, every hour."


    Hans scratched his head and said,


    "You did not tell her yet."


    "Yes, I came for you first, Count is not receiving, either."


    Hans replied with a sarcastic tone,


    "Yes, my old man is VERY RELIABLE."


    Aldrich looked at Hans¡¯s clothes and said,


    "Oh my! Those clothes suit you better, young lord."


    "Yeah, I do think so."


    Aldrich asked about the situation and Hans told him everything about meeting the Parvians in short and the things that happened in the village. Aldrich replied in a solemn voice,


    "What do you want to do then?"


    "These knight association bastards think that they can walk all over me."


    "Young lord, I am also part of the Knight association"


    "Oh, then, these guards post bastards think that they can walk all over me."


    Hans said to Sebastian, "Hey Sebastian of grade 56, look at the people who you were protecting." And as Sebastian raised his head to them, the orca vines that kept them tied, slithered towards their necks and painfully beheaded them while Hans continued, "Know your place, you bastard."


    It was true that Hans would not have been able to kill them if Aldrich was not present but he finally felt good after killing the corrupt knights while borrowing the dominion knight¡¯s presence. Hans was not about doing justice but would do anything to make him comfortable and leaving the corrupt knights would have given him a lump in the throat.


    Sebastian saw his knights as they were painfully beheaded, he couldn''t care less about them now, his own life was in danger but Hans patted his shoulder and added,


    "I won¡¯t kill you but whenever I see some corruption, I will think of you and who knows, I might pay a visit or two to vent. So live with some dignity so I might change my thoughts about you."


    Sebastian saw those sharp eyes, staring at him as Hans threatened him, his words tightened his heart as he lowered his head. And seeing him like this, Delimira who was just behind Hans, asked him, " I thought, he would die the moment your head knight come"


    "Killing is almost the answer to every problem but it is still ''ALMOST:''" he emphasised in the later part and added, "I''m not some psychopath, murdering people right and left"


    Delimira looked at him in bewilderment,


    "Tell those who died just now"


    "Naah, they deserved every last bit of it"


    Pointing to Sebastian she whispered,


    "Then why spare the one who allowed it to happen."


    "Cause if I end him here, what are the odds that it will not happen again, at least this way, our poor Sebastian will think three times before allowing this again," Hans justified, adding, "Fear is a very powerful tool Winters, one should know how to wield it properly."


    Delimira not expecting words of wisdom from Hans''s mouth asked in surprise,


    "Who taught you these things,"


    "Professor Walter said it once, as foolish as he is but I''ve to admit he said pretty darn things sometimes - "


    Aldrich interrupted their chatter and said to Hans while glancing over at the girl beside him,


    "Oh, this must be Lady Aredhel¡¯s daughter."


    "Yes"


    Then hurry young Lord, we are literally emptying our coffers on opening the SpaceDoor. Hans looked at the unstable portal and even before he stepped in, the queasy feeling came back to him. He sighed as there were no options.


    As the trio prepared for the departure, the villagers gathered to bid their farewell to the child who saved them from their painful misery. But it was not possible if Delmira did not risk her life, exposing herself and forcing Hans to take action so they appreciated her more. It was the first time in her life to receive genuine appreciation from someone so she was enjoying the hero treatment, forgetting her troubles for a while.


    Hans urged her to come swiftly and when he took a step into the unstable portal. Something flashed before him.


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : An Unstable SpaceDoor is detected, unlocking a Privilege ¡°INGRESS¡± </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 96 : The Parvian Way

    CHAPTER 96


    THE PARVIAN WAY


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : An Unstable SpaceDoor is detected, unlocking a Privilege ¡°INGRESS¡± </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans retrieved his first step. He could hear Aldrich saying something, but his attention was on the thin slab of light, floating in front, checking the details, he mumbled


    COMMAND CENTER


    <table style="width: 79.8046%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    Status : Connected


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    Terminal : 05IRIS


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 55.5404%">


    Name : Hans Parv


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 44.186%">


    Health : 100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    Clearance level : Interim Administrator


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    PRIVILEGES


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    SOLAR BODY : INCOMPLETE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    SCAN : it allows you to scan various things even a person and give the relevant results saved in the records. If not found, you can register it as a new entry to help others connected to the Command center.


    (Interim Administrator perk )


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">NO limits.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">you can assign clearance level to the thing you register.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">You can read other people''s facial expressions to predict whether they are saying the truth or not. [note - it is not always true]</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    INGRESS (New!) : it allows you to call the space shift and transport you to the locations under the area covered by the terminal. In addition, you can take over any Space shifting mechanism and manipulate the destination.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Once a month</li>


    </ul>


    (Interim Administrator perk )


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Usage limit reduced to 20 days.</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    LOCKED


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    LOCKED


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans chuckled like he got the new toy and dismissed the command centre. As he stepped out, Aldrich and Delimira followed him, thinking there must be something wrong. But his action involuntary caused the Guard knights to panic, thinking that the young Lord had changed his mind to punish Sebastian. However, nothing they fear happened.


    Meanwhile, Aldrich was confused as to why his young Lord was doing this since he didn''t feel any anomaly and Delimira, also confused, followed him without asking for any explanation. Seeing both of them flustered, Hans dismissed the command centre and said, aloud


    COMMAND CENTRE: INGRESS


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 81.5418%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : Activating INGRESS</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Choose Your Destination</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">1. Parv, Royal Palace</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">2. Osiris Temple, Parv</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">3. Edenberg county mansion, Grimgar</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">4. Midlands, Concordia</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">5. Yudwin Temple, Indu</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">6. DeadLands ( Unavailable )</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">REGISTER NEW LOCATION</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : You have to be physically present at the registering location.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : Do you wish to register the current location as Ingress Point.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 80%">


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 48.4438%; text-align: center">YES</td>


    <td style="width: 48.4438%; text-align: center">NO</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans said NO and chose ¡°Edenberg County mansion, Grimgar¡±. And the moment words left his mouth the window disappeared and all the people could feel something coming from the sky. Not knowing how it worked, Hans shouted at Aldrich and Delimira,


    "Do not move - "


    He was not even finished yet and a bright pillar of light fell upon them. A feeling of weightlessness followed as his body began to levitate and with a swoosh, the three got sucked above and vanished from the eyes of the people looking at the light in awe.


    EDENBERG COUNTY


    Although Aldrich may not have had the chance to inform the lord about Hans nonetheless everyone in the mansion was informed and was preparing for their young lord¡¯s arrival with eager eyes. Hodges, the head butler, led the servants outside where they formed two lines facing each other, as they had been taught to do.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    As he checked everything once again, a concern crept into Hodges'' eyes, fixating on the closing SpaceDoor. Despite his vigilance, there was no sign of anyone coming and the SpaceDoor closed completely. Retrieving the communication orb, he attempted to contact Aldrich to inquire if there were any issues. However, just as he looked at the orb, a brilliant light fell from the sky and landed at their doorstep.


    Without delay, the knights of the mansion sprang into action and stood at the ready. As the light dissipated, the servants beheld Hans, clad in white with a shining Parvian insignia on his chest. Although Hodges had witnessed this phenomenon before, he was taken aback, not expecting to see it again so soon. All heard the childish voice filled with excitement, as Hans shouted,


    "Now, that¡¯s what you call a space jump."


    From a distance, Aldrich had seen this phenomenon before, but he had never had the opportunity to travel through it. The girl who accompanied them was even more astonished, still trying to process what had just occurred. The journey through the SpaceDoor was brief, but she felt as if something had lifted them up and transported them to this new location. Startled, she approached Hans and asked,


    "What is this?"


    "I don¡¯t have a freaking clue," Hans said, still laughing in surprise, "but this shit is awesome."


    Hans was elated beyond belief, wondering why Arat had granted him such an incredible gift. Having access to SCAN was enough of a privilege but INGRESS was something else entirely. He recalled the multitude of locations stored in the command centre, including the Osiris temple and the Parvian royal palace, both of which were inaccessible to others. He thought, with a mere gesture, he could just call forth that amazing beam from the sky and like snapping a finger, he would be there.


    As he giggled with joy, everyone stared at him in disbelief. Taking a hold of himself, Hodges cleared his throat and his act brought the servants to their job again. All said in unison,


    "Welcome back, Young Lord."


    Hans also snapped out of his daze and acknowledged the greeting with a nod. Turning to Delimira, he invited her inside,


    "What are you waiting for, Winters? I am not that inhospitable, come in."


    Hearing his remark she nodded, feeling as exhilarated as when she left the Frozen Tooth. She wasn''t sure how much longer she would be allowed outside, given the recent troubles that had stirred up. Removing her uncomfortable hood and face covering, she took in the fresh air and the sights around her.


    Her beautiful face, with its striking cyan eyes and silver hair, greeted everyone and left them in awe. As a growing girl, she was truly stunning, and the servants couldn''t help but glance back and forth between Hans and her, eagerly awaiting an explanation from their young lord.


    Hans was momentarily taken aback, but Delimira''s giggle only enhanced her already sweetened beauty. Before anyone could concoct wild stories about the barely eleven-year-old Hans, he explained or more so declared,


    "She is... My friend."


    Hodges coughed once more, and the servants were dismissed as he guided the children inside. "You two should clean yourselves," he said to them. Hans glanced down at his clothes, noticing that his white Parvian overcoat was dirty and had an unpleasant smell. He turned to Delimira, who was quietly taking in her surroundings.


    Unlike his young Lord, Hodges was well-versed in taking care of guests and approached her, saying,


    "Please be comfortable. We will arrange something for the lady to wear."


    Delimira politely said,


    "I don¡¯t mind, anything -"


    "But I do, young lady" Hodges interrupted, "Take your time in the bath, and we will arrange everything during that time. We can''t be called inhospitable, as our young lord remarked."


    Hans overheard this and interrupted,


    "What, Mr Head Butler?"


    "When our lord and lady are not here, you are in charge, young lord," Hodges explained. "But you did not even invite her or introduce her formally to the servants. How are we supposed to treat her?"


    Hans grunted, and Hodges turned to the servants and commanded them,


    "She is the daughter of Edenberg''s friend and high elven nobility. Make sure you treat her with the utmost care."


    Delimira was taken aback and questioned Hodges,


    "Did Lady Sierra mention me?"


    "No, but I know who you are, young lady." Hodges responded and his words surprised her even more, as he continued, "You were born in this very place. I was one of the few people here at that time."


    Understanding, she recalled her mother telling her that she stayed at her friend''s home in her early years of exile. Nodding in response, she followed the servants to her assigned room and after she left, Hans asked the head butler quietly,


    "Do you really know her mother?"


    "Yes, young Lord."


    "Then you must know the whole story."


    "Yes, I know."


    Both looked at each other for a while, then Hans added in little agitation,


    "Get a hint, head Butler."


    "As you have said, I am the Head butler, and one of my principles is not telling anyone the happenings of this mansion, young Lord. And just as a reminder so you won''t mess this up ¡°Do not mention anything about your father to Lady Aredhel¡±


    Hans was baffled and was looking at Hodges more curiously. The head butler got composed in no time and added,


    "Your father was the one shielding her from Clandor and his death pushed her towards a miserable life"


    "For god sake, she is the wealthiest person I Know"


    "I already said much, and cautioned you, young Lord. So behave well"


    "Am I really your Lord Mr Hodges, your tone does not tell me that?" he said, letting out a sigh and walking towards the kitchen, realising that he wouldn''t get any further answers from the stubborn butler. However, before he could take another step, Hodges stopped him, much to his surprise, it wasn''t for the reason that he had expected. Hodges insisted that Hans take a bath first before proceeding any further, explaining that it was important for the host to be well-dressed in order to properly welcome their house guest.


    <div>


    <div>


    Hans was forced to take a bath and unlike his friend, he was out in a jiffy. He thought there was no reason left to not go into the kitchen and eat something good, but Hodges had other plans. Hans looked at his head butler who was stopping him like an annoying mother-in-law in irritation, but there was no change in Hodges''s tone or temper. He asked the head butler, "Now, what?"


    "The dresses came, you need to choose some good ones for the lady," Hodges replied.


    Hans got annoyed and replied, holding himself back from raising his voice,


    "You can choose one yourself, or take everything, Head Butler."


    "But what if we choose something bad?" the head butler asked.


    "Didn''t you see her, head butler?" Hans retorted, "Even a rag would look good on her. Now I am going to eat something good, and no more excuses, got it?"


    A Pleased expression came to Hodges'' face, disturbing Hans as the Butler replied, conceding


    "I am not sure about the dresses, but you gave the right answer. How about I order them to make something more delicious while you receive the guest formally? Please wait in the drawing room, young Lord."


    Hans saw how pushy Hodges was acting, so he just accepted it. He remembered something and relayed it to the head butler as Hodges was visiting the kitchen.


    "Mr Hodges, she does not like sugar, so ask them to make something...a bit...different, I guess."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 97 : The Broken Privilege

    CHAPTER 97


    THE BROKEN PRIVILEGE


    As Hans mentioned Delimira''s taste, Hodges smiled and nodded, which caused him to feel uneasy. But ignoring him, he sat on the soft sofa seats, feeling happiness in his rear. After spending several days on hard bedding and wooden floors, he welcomed the comfort of the sofa. Now that he could only wait, he turned his attention to the Command Centre and began exploring it, hoping to uncover more about this so-called onion, which every layered peeled surprised him more and more.


    He uttered,


    COMMAND CENTRE


    And like it was waiting to respond, the light slab appeared right before his eyes, with the familiar things written on it.


    <table style="width: 81.9761%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7272%" colspan="2">


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7272%" colspan="2">


    Status : Connected


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7272%" colspan="2">


    Terminal : 05IRIS


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 55.3888%">


    Name : LittleSun


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 44.3383%">


    Health: 100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7272%" colspan="2">


    Clearance level : Interim Administrator


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7272%" colspan="2">


    PRIVILEGES


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.7272%" colspan="2">


    SCAN : it allows you to scan various things even a person and give the relev¡­


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.7272%" colspan="2">


    INGRESS : it allows you to call the space shift beam and transport you to the locations under the area covered by the terminal. It also allows you to take over a SpaceDoor and manipulate the destination.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Usage : Once a month</li>


    </ul>


    (Interim Administrator perk )


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">reduced the Usage to 20 days


    </li>


    </ul>


    You have used your chance, time remaining for the next Call is 19:23:51


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.7272%" colspan="2">


    LOCKED


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    According to the interim administrator perk, the time to summon the next Ingress was now only twenty days. Hans pondered over various strategies that might help him unlock more privileges. He recalled that he had activated SCAN by unknowingly activating an artefact, and INGRESS had been activated when he passed through the SpaceDoor.


    There were many things he could try, but his thoughts were interrupted like everyone else as Delimira descended the stairs in human clothes. The butler cleared his throat again, reminding everyone to return to reality, staring at his Young Lord to do the formal deed. Hans looked at him in annoyance and commented,


    "Your throat must be hurting Mr Hodges, you should see the healer."


    "I can''t just leave this mansion in your hands, seeing you are still ignoring the manners, Young Lord"


    "Aagh," Hans grunted, "for fu-"


    Hodges interrupted, stopping him in the middle,


    "You are at the mansion, Young Lord, please hold down your bad habits inherited from Count a bit"


    Hans sighed and formally introduced her to the household, saying,


    "She is Delimira, heir to the Winters company and Lady Sierra¡¯s only disciple, take care of her with that in mind."


    All the present servants greeted her warmly, and as someone who never shied away from attention, Delimira confidently descended and requested that everyone treat her well in return. Until now, she had ample opportunities to wear human clothing but had always preferred the traditional Elven dress, which was close-fitting to the skin with metal work on the edges. Her current attire, an evening gown, was simple yet elegant enough to captivate people''s attention, especially with its perfect fit for a young noble lady of human society.


    As Hodges led her to the seating area, he silently commended his own excellent taste, a mumbling voice that was clear to Hans''s ears. Shortly after, the evening snacks arrived, and Hans was eager to rush to the table and devour everything in sight, but Hodges'' unrelenting gaze prevented him from doing so. And noticing Hans''s restraint, Delimira asked him curiously.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    "What''s stopping you?"


    Hans glanced at Hodges and replied,


    "I suppose it''s my mother-in-law."


    <div>


    <div>


    Delimira let out a brief chuckle but quickly suppressed it as the reality of the situation dawned on her. Despite the comfortable atmosphere, this place was vulnerable to assassins since it was only protected by a Dominion Knight. She couldn''t help but worry that the good people around her might become collateral damage if an attack were to occur.


    Meanwhile, Hans, oblivious to her concerns, struggled to eat with elegance under Hodges'' scrutinizing gaze. He seemed to pay little attention to his guest''s worried expression and Hodges sighed seeing his lack of interest in his guest and asked her,


    "Is something troubling you, young lady?"


    Hans finally paid attention to her and said to her,


    "Don¡¯t worry, no one is insane enough to barge in here... Xandor is an exception though but I don''t think he would come."


    <div>


    <div>


    Despite his attempt to calm her down, it seemed that his own words had made him uneasy. Various thoughts were swirling in his mind, and the fact that his grandfather was not responding to the orb was particularly vexing. To prevent himself from developing any anxiety-induced indigestion, he decided to ask Hodges a question.


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    "Are you still unable to contact Count or Lady?" he asked, both to comfort Delimira and to put his own mind at ease.


    Hodges answered, declaring,


    "We won''t be hearing from him sooner, young Lord."


    Hans asked him jokingly,


    "What? Did he get arrested or something - "


    "Yes," Hodges confirmed, nodding his head


    "Hey! Hey! I was just joking," Hans said dumbfoundedly, he jested to lighten the mood but it became true. He asked the head butler what happened and the butler sighed, " People were just forgetting him as the so-called Bewitched knight and he just had to refresh that memory." He looked at the two kids who were staring at him for more information. So he relayed what he received after Aldrich went to pick them up. "Our maniac Sir Count attacked Reinhart''s duchy and trashed a building with an attack dangerous enough to decimate a city. Do you think the king will take it lightly so right now, Count Rudolf is on house arrest at the capital."


    This was worrisome news, Rudolf was strong but not enough to take on several higher-grade warlords under the Grimgar nation. As Hans was thinking this, Hodges said in assurance,


    "Oh don¡¯t worry, he would be receiving royal treatment there. The king just took him because the aristocrats were not shutting up. Lady Sierra and Vanessa almost collected all the evidence, he would be home soon."


    Hans took a breath in relief but he did not know why that happened so he asked the head butler what Delimira was also thinking,


    "Why? Why did he do that?"


    "From what I heard from the official statement, someone commissioned assassins for his dear wife¡¯s disciple. Seeing his wife in anxiousness, the Bewitched knight turned mad and wrecked the assassin guild, only a single one survived his wrath to tell the tale."


    Hans and Delimira were agape from bafflement because it was not just exaggerated but it crossed the line of commonsense for them, but it was the only thing people were talking about ¡°The Return of Bewitched Knight¡± and it was all thanks to a madman named Dijkstra.


    Hans burst into laughter, clenching his stomach hard, thinking of what a weird way the story has escalated. Meanwhile, Delimira¡¯s anxious feeling disappeared because she knew with a story like this no one in their right mind would try something, at least not for a while. She finally got relaxed and asked Hodges to contact her mother, Hodges handed her the communication orb and she went to her room.


    As Hans saw her leaving, he finally attacked the snacks in front of him. Ignoring Hodges every plight to the boot, since most of the day was already spent, so soon the night came and both came to the dinner table. The mishap in Frozen Tooth might have erased some awkwardness between Hans and Delimira but there was not much to talk about between them without Chris so they only ate silently and went early to sleep.


    AT CONCORDIA


    The night had just begun and Sierra was working on some documents with Vanessa. Suddenly the communication orb lit and she heard a familiar voice from that side answering it.


    "Greetings, Lady Sierra."


    "Are the kids sleeping, Hodges?"


    "Yes, they were tired."


    "Did something else happen?"


    Hodges thought for a bit and replied,


    "Young Lord came back with Parvian attire and with their way of travelling too."


    "Was Arat with them?"


    "No, according to Aldrich, the young lord called the space shift on his own. He is regaining his father¡¯s authority."


    Sierra massaged her temples and asked,


    "Is he alright?"


    "Yes, for now, but I am sure everyone had seen that flashy way of transportation, soon the words will travel - "


    "Well, I hope Rudolf¡¯s blunder will cover this up."


    Hodges added,


    "Yes, it is my first time feeling that he turned mad at the perfect time. Can I ask, when you are coming back?"


    "Tomorrow morning. I have handled things here and sent the evidence to Grimgar too. Rudolf will be released shortly."


    "Mind me asking," he hesitated a bit and said, "I don''t think the official statement is legitimate, what really happened?"


    She sighed and said,


    "I will tell you with the children tomorrow, good night Hodges."


    AT FROZEN TOOTH


    After spending two days fighting and eliminating every last Evil monkey in the village, the Parvian Entourage rediscovered the fact that even with these natives being a handful, why they survived to date. They had formidable warlords and warlock-level entities, hidden away for ambushes.


    A knight finally beheaded the largest evil monkey with the Battleaxe and asked Arat in loud voice,


    "Hmph..hmph¡­ did you know where the prince is hiding?"


    Arat had a hunch but he did not have the chance to confirm it till now because Evil monkeys were not giving them any breathing room. He realised Hans¡¯s plan when he caused the dogfight between Parvians and evil monkeys but now his suspicions were realised. He started laughing madly and said,


    "It looks like we are robbed of our artefact"


    "So did he run away?" the knight asked, cleaning the blood from his axe.


    "Yes, he managed to get away, this put the rest of our plans to hold." Arat said, chuckling in frustration "Damn it, this was a golden chance to entice him."


    The twelve people beside him were exhausted and the scenery of the native¡¯s corpses was not idle to discuss things, but Arat pulled something else from his robes and said,


    "This would have been perfect to help him in making his decision."


    All members of the party were fixated on a large golden crystal that Arat held in his palm, its size so immense that it could not fit into a single hand. This crystal was a sunstone, an object of such immense wealth that it could buy a small city. However, for Hans, the value of the sunstone lay not in its wealth but in the power it possessed and the special connection he had with it.


    The female mage who had helped Hans and Delimira in the cave asked,


    "What now, Prime Minister? A chance like this won¡¯t come again."


    Arat was rubbing his temples and declared with a grim voice,


    "It looks like we need to go to Concordia next year."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 98 : Another Inheritor

    CHAPTER 98


    ANOTHER INHERITOR


    "Armin, Armin." Hans tried to turn back, focussing on the voice that was calling him by a different name, "Haaa," he sighed, realising it was yet another Inheritor dream. he watched as he grasp the cold surroundings, similar to the Frozen Tooth yet a bit different. Since the height was quite similar to his own, he deduced that he was experiencing the life of a child similar to his age. As he turned a strong punch greeted his face and he bled profusely through both of his nostrils.


    "How dare you ignore your little brother." the assailant asked, showing his bloodied fist.


    The connection this time between Hans and this new person was a bit strong as Hans also felt the pain but as always all he could do was take on the onslaught together with the real body. As if this was not enough, another boy joined the fun and then punches and kicks rained on Hans as the real body cowered, coiled in fear. Hans shouted "At least shield your head you moron" and right then, as if the real body have heard Hans''s plea, his hands moved covering his head.


    He knew that as his power grows his connection with the past became strong but he did not like that the pain was transmitting in his body. Bullying was one thing, he never let anyone even stare at him so the feeling of being bullied was quite pathetic. He could feel the helpless emotions turmoiling within him. Fortunately, an older person came, dressed in Armour he looked quite majestic and Hans saw hope as the boys halted the beatdown.


    The boy looked ahead and so does Hans as he heard the real body say


    "Father¡­"


    But the man this body called father looked at him with disgust. His intimidating eyes did not suit a father just like his tone," Pathetic, you are as useless as your mother" he said as he came near, giving Armin a wooden sword. He asked, "Stand, I wish to see your progress."


    Struggling, Armin stood as Hans watched from within, he knew very well how perilous this body''s condition was, his ribs broken and his writs aching yet the boy took the sword. A wave of emotions surged like it was the chance that the real body sought. Without waiting for a do, he lunged with a forward slash but was too slow for the veteran ahead. His father not only blocked it but kicked him in the gut without holding back adding a verbal mockery


    "A bastard like you can¡¯t amount to anything."


    Rudolf might have given him some tough love but this was going overboard, never in his small life had he been ever treated like this so the anger was rising within him but in contrast to his emotions, Armin, the real body owner was helplessly praying for his father to be stopped. However, his father targeted the place which was already hurt. The disgust of that man towards his child was apparent and as the connection remained strong, both Hans and Armin struggled to gasp in the cold air. They lay in the snow, unable to move, yet no one came to rescue them. As Armin''s emotions took over his, Hans felt afraid for the first time in his life. His heart rate elevated as he clasped his heart and lost consciousness only to wake up in his bed


    "What kind of Shit was that? He asked himself, feeling cranky because of the things he saw, almost to the point that he thought this inheritor power as a bane than a boon. Washing his face with the cold water on a chilly night, he woke himself up completely. He looked outside and it was late morning. He wanted to lash out at something or someone, so the best thing for him was practising the sword with the knights of the estate.


    He nodded at his own decision and hurriedly opened the door. But his cranky attitude took a complete turn when he saw the people there. Rudolf, Sierra, Vanessa and Delimira were looking back at him as he ran down the stairs. Vanessa came in a hurry and hugged him while tousling his hair.


    Hans returned the embrace and came with her to the elders. He saw Rudolf looking at him weirdly so he replied with a smug face,


    "I heard you went crazy for your lady Gramps."


    "Yes, he is alright," confirmed Rudolf as he sighed.


    Disappointed with the response, Hans provoked,


    "What! No comebacks."


    "Haaa...Why don¡¯t you compete with your friend?" said Rudolf pointing at Delimira.


    Hans looked at Delimira and all the losses in verbal conflict came to his mind. He grunted as Rudolf managed to piss him off without saying anything. Seeing the smug face of his grandpa was not something he could just let go of. But before they could go for each other, Sierra asked Hans to sit and it was not a request so he followed without any refusal.


    Sierra was massaging her temples, she was getting tired of this charade of Hans and his adult child husband. She was shaking her head as she saw Aredhel who just had come to their mansion, knowing what she was thinking Sierra assured her that she already had checked both the children in the early morning for any injuries or curses and there was nothing concerning. Both ladies continued their chat and Hans finally took notice of Delimira, sitting with her mother just like Vanessa sat by his side. And when the atmosphere became more comfortable, it was time for Hans to get some answers or probably provide some too.


    "Now, how did you manage to get ¡®Ingress¡¯"Rudolf asked first.


    This surprised Hans but as he realised who Rudolf was, the feeling jumped out of the window and he responded,


    "It¡¯s pretty neat, right? A very old man named Arat gave me this thing and said it was my birthright."


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Yes, it''s very neat but that thing could be tracked down all the time, so how did you manage to get away from him? You are not capable of that, well no one is. The people with him can even Chase Norwin to the depths of hell."


    Hans felt proud for no reason, he managed to fool pretty strong names that he did not even know about. He hurriedly ran to his room and brought the Parvian artefact and iterated the things in detail, "Well, sis told me ''The arrow shot by the archer may or may not kill a single person. But a well-thought strategy can kill even babies in the womb.''" He said looking at Vanessa and continued "I heard they were looking for an aqua gem - "


    "Why?" interrupted Rudolf.


    "Tsk, he did not tell me why, stop interfering gramps," he added, so where was I, yes, the gem was with Evil monkeys, natives of Frozen tooth. That PM Arat wanted to exchange the gem with this and as he was testing me. I created an irreparable fight and ran. I made them busy so even if they had the means to track us, they should not have the time." He explained feeling proud of his well-executed plan.


    Rudolf looked at the artefact and said with a smug smile,


    "And in the process, you also robbed them, nice going squeaky."


    He then turned to Vanessa and added,


    "You are teaching him some pretty grim stuff, kid."


    Sierra took Vanessa¡¯s side and said,


    "I don¡¯t mind, whatever she teaches, as long as our boy gets to live one more day, I am up for anything."


    Vanessa was standing proud as Hans winked at her. Then he turned towards Aredhel who was comfortably sitting with Delimira and asked,


    "Mmm¡­ Does a Name Armin ring a bell to you, professor Aredhel?"


    Aredhel stopped taking the sip and put down the teacup on the table, "Did you see something again?" she asked back,


    "Yeah, it was not to my liking."


    "You should ask about him to Lady Sierra, she is his descendant after all."


    Hans turned to her and she started speaking,


    "You do know who was the first king of Parv?"


    "Yes, sir Dietrich, right?"


    "Yes, but there is no official record of him, in the mid-500s, the true descendant of him came to light as he successfully overthrew the king of their times. I don¡¯t know if it is right or exaggerated but Armin came, he fought and conquered Parv out of nowhere."


    "So he was just someone who rebelled."


    Sierra smiled and replied,


    "He did not even bring a single person with him, all of that he did it alone."


    "Now that¡¯s something." Hans got excited, he felt really good after knowing this event like he himself was the one who did the deed. After the sort of treatment he received from his family it was good that his story had some achievements in his name. His thoughts were broken as Aredhel interrupted him.


    "So what did you see?" She asked.


    "Nothing much, but him fighting an overwhelming opponent."


    Technically, he did not lie but spared some details as he did not want this person to be looked down upon by anyone and when everyone seems to buy his words, Rudolf intervened


    "You and your bogus shit."


    Hans was starting to begin his verbal fight with Rudolf but Hodges chimed in,


    "My lord, what happened to your side?"


    Hans¡¯s curiosity suppressed his desire to taunt Rudolf and he also looked at the old man with anticipation.


    "Nothing much, I met a mad bastard, if I hadn¡¯t gone all out many of the people might have died because of his fits."


    Hans asked for details and Rudolf let out a sigh, "I forgot you enjoy things like these." he said, adding "That maniac had already killed many assassins before I could interrogate one. But fortunately, some survived his hunt and we discovered their hideout in Reinhardt''s Duchy. So we went there and created a huge mess. Dijkstra -"


    "What? That damned madman was in Grimgar."It was not the habit of Hodges to interrupt their master in the middle of the conversation but he unintentionally spoke. Whereas Hans was thinking about where he had heard the name and recalled the knight with the Sad death monicker. He jumped out of his seat, pumped up and wanted to know every inch of detail.


    Hodges realised he interrupted his master as everyone was looking at him, he apologised quickly and Rudolf continued,


    "Dijkstra is currently tracking the bait we set but their objective was to kill Hans and bring Winter¡¯s daughter alive. So I think it was the girl they were after."


    Delimira got irritated, she lived all her life in a cage called the Clandor royal family palace and finally when it was time for her to spread her wings. The people in the shadows were readying their knives to clip her down. However, seeing her troubled Rudolf assured again and added, "Dijkstra won¡¯t stop until he finishes the assignment, it means whoever they are, they are on the hunting list of the worst person they can imagine so, you basically won the lottery, girl. That madman taking your side is the best thing one could ask for."


    Hans on the other hand was practically jumping in excitement, he asked quickly,


    "Is he that badass?"


    "What badass, who is teaching you these words?"


    "Oh come on Gramps, give me something."


    "Do you know what people call him?"


    Hans knew his title but not the meaning so he shook his head in denial So the old knight responded


    "The Sad Death. There is no worse way to go out than a death granted by him."


    The title now felt a bit childish and Rudolf realised what Hans was thinking,


    "The assassins started singing like birds with just his introduction, squeaky," he added.


    Pumped up once again, he was on cloud nine, now he truly wanted to meet this man, he was in thought but Aredhel¡¯s words pulled him back from cloud nine.

 Elven Lies I Chapter 99 : The overstaying Guest

    CHAPTER 99


    The OVERSTAYING GUEST


    Aredhel desired for her daughter to live a life free of concerns and entrusted her care to Sierra. However, even with this arrangement, others continued to pose a threat to her child. Her daughter was the sole remaining family member she could call her own. Worrying about her safety, even more, due to the confirmed words of Rudolf. Emotions surged within her, overpowering her rational thinking as she was compelled to take the decision.


    "I will send her back to Clandor, she will be safe in the royal palace," she said in a sombre tone, expressing regret to her daughter, for she was aware of how much her child dreaded the idea of returning to Clandor. But it was the only place that kept her safe till now, Rudolf was strong but even with his name backing her daughter was not enough to stop those who targeted her and she was right to think so.


    Delimira on the other hand had no say in the matter and her sunken mood was affecting Hans very badly for some reason. She lifted her head and looked Hans in the eye and just like that it was over for him. He started mumbling, "I am gonna regret this, am gonna regret this, gonna regret this, regret this, shit." He cleared his throat and said to Aredhel while clenching his teeth hoping no one hears him,


    "HAU ABAT LEEVING HAR HEER?"


    Everyone''s questioning gaze looked at Hans in bewilderment and sighing he responded to their unasked question,


    "Damn it, how about you leave her here, professor."


    Not receiving her response he explained further, "With the stunt my gramps pulled, I don¡¯t think anyone would be ballsy enough to attack her again, at least for three months and that Sad or whatever death, Dijkstra won¡¯t rest till he kills the perpetrators. So there is no need for her to leave this place, after all, she is the disciple of the Iron Lady, do you think anyone could harm one under her protection? She could even resurrect someone from death." with this he said everything he wanted in a single breath and this was the extent of what he could do right now, so he signalled her to stop giving him the sad eyes treatment.


    Aredhel calmed as the words brought some rationality back to her and she said to Hans,


    "Fine, but I have a condition."


    "Lady, I don¡¯t think you are in a position to ask anything else."


    "No, I want the same words from you, the very words you said before leaving for the Dead Gor¡­I mean Frozen tooth. Your promise that she will live here without trouble."


    Hans got irritated and replied to her,


    "There is a dominion knight, a former pope and even a Warlord here, what assurance I can give that they won¡¯t?"


    "I was assured that my daughter would be safe with them, but see what happened."


    "That was just an.., who could have predicted that?"


    "But you kept your promise, you brought back her safe and sound even fooling the shrewdest man in the land, this speaks something. So do I have your word?"


    Hans irritatingly replied,


    "I''ve enough on my plate, I can''t take - "


    "I have your words then" she declared cutting off his words in the middle, " I''ll leave her here,"


    The visible happiness came back to Delimira''s face and looking at her, Hans couldn''t resist thinking that he might have unwillingly fallen into this viper''s scheme.


    "Ah damn, I think, I got played again," he mumbled.


    Shaking his head at Hans''s mumbling, Rudolf went ahead and asked Ardehel,


    "So when are you leaving Winters - "


    "Hush," Sierra stopped him, adding "Hans learn these impolite things from you."


    Hans snapped out of his self-mumbling when his name was mentioned and commented,


    "Yes, Gramps is the bad influence, Grandma."


    "You little - ." Rudolf managed to knuckle Hans¡¯s head and finally got rid of the stuffy feeling in his chest that he was feeling from suppressing his anger for so long. whereas Hans was rubbing his head while mumbling something as Vanessa caressed him, chiding him to behave. She said, "Can¡¯t you irritate him less, I can¡¯t even shout at him."


    "Soon sister, soon, I will have my revenge."


    Hans had made a mindmap of how he would spend his time here. It was dangerous to open the Book Limitless in Concordia but this was his home. He was planning to finish the book in these three months. Acting like a child of his age he went to his grandma asking her to numb the pain, he wanted to get back at his old man and suddenly a thought clicked in, so he asked Rudolf,


    "So the royals just let you go?"


    "Who can stop me"


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Is that why you could even not respond to your communication orb"


    "What can I do, they confiscated my things, even my second dearrest, thunderclap was not with me."


    "And you are the so-called bewitched knight, whom the world fears."


    Rudolf felt irritated again and wanted to beat Hans once more and something appeared in front of Hans,


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : The subject in vision is exploding with anger, calculating the odds, running is advised.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans smiled on seeing this message but Rudolf took it as a challenge to his pride, another message appeared,


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice :it is evident that the subject in vision will try to harm you in just moments, running is advised with the highest priority.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans was quickly flung back by his vines to the second floor. Rudolf on the other hand was just a moment away from delivering his tough love knuckle but Hans dodging at the perfect timing startled him, he felt like the boy read him. This came as another insult.


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : The subject in vision will make another move, creating distance is advised.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This started because he received a blow from Rudolf, Hans thought another privilege is activated but he does not have any time to open up the command centre and read things thoroughly. Instead of running further, Hans appeared right behind his grandma and teased Rudolf to come at him if he could.


    Hans was acting his age and the people in the mansion were already familiar with this but the guests were seeing it as a surprise. Delimira never had imagined Hans who was killing people here and there just some time ago could act like a child.


    Sierra stopped both of them and shouted at her husband, who once already behaved like a child in front of the guests. It was also a well-known fact in the house that Hans was prioritised over their lord by the lady and guests were witnessing that too. She asked Ardhel to stay with them for a few days but Aredhel excused herself because the holidays were the time when she managed the Winters company.


    Hans kept showing his tongue to Rudolf in every window he could find while in Sierra¡¯s embrace. The revenge he talked about with Vanessa was not this but he did not miss the chance. Ignoring both adult and young child, Sierra asked Aredhel again, "What you will be doing apart from managing things?"


    "I should retaliate, now, enough is enough. I will investigate more freely since I am not sending my daughter back. She will be safe, right?"


    "Didn''t you get Hans¡¯s words, forced or not, he treats his words as an unbreakable vow, and I''ll not be the one who let his beliefs shatter."


    "That''s all I could ask for, thank you."


    Ardehel took her daughter to the guest room for some more privacy. She asked her daughter,


    "Do you want to stay here?"


    "Yes, I like it here."


    "You did not even spend a complete day here."


    "It''s lively here at least, with no one to watch out for, I feel free."


    Aredhel was sad to know that even with the power and wealth she possessed, she couldn''t let her daughter feel free. She smiled and said to her


    "Then enjoy your stay here my daughter, and come back soon."


    "Yes Mother, and...thank you."


    It was the first time she heard her daughter say these words yet these words which were full of gratitude gave her heartache. Suppressing her emotions she left the guest room and since Delimira was going to be a long-term guest there, the servants prepared another room for her, right beside their young Lord with the notion that the two were close friends. And in just the next room Hans was lying in his bed, searching for something in the air. He had summoned the command centre but there was no extra privilege unlocked. It was still the same, only two privileges: SCAN and INGRESS. But he found something changed in SCAN.


    <table style="width: 79.8046%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    COMMAND CENTRE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    Status : Connected


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    Terminal : 05IRIS


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 55.5404%">


    Name : LittleSun


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 44.186%">


    Health: 100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    Clearance level : Interim Administrator


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    PRIVILEGES


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    SOLAR BODY : INCOMPLETE


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    SCAN : [ AVAILABLE ] [ PASSIVE ]


    it allows you to scan various things even a person and give the relevant results saved in the records. If not found, you can register it as a new entry to help others connected to the Command centre.


    (Interim Administrator perk )


    <ul>


    <li style="list-style-type: none">


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">NO limits.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">you can assign clearance level to the thing you register.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">You can read other people''s facial expressions to predict whether they are saying the truth or not.[note - it is not always true]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Can automatically give you sound judgement when needed, can be toggle by setting SCAN to ACTIVE (NEW)


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.7264%" colspan="2">


    INGRESS: [ UNAVAILABLE ]


    it allows you to call the space shift beam and transport you to the locations¡­


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    LOCKED


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    LOCKED


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    As Aredhel set off to return to Clandor, Hans occupied himself with his new toy. Meanwhile, Sierra invited Delimira to make herself at home in their humble abode. The warm hospitality extended to Delimira prompted her to consider exploring the mansion. In a contented state, she strolled towards Hans''s room, where he was engrossed in playing with his latest acquisition. Though the mansion lacked the grandeur of the royal palace in Clandor, it exuded a sense of tranquillity that she found comforting.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 100 : A Miniature Sanctuary

    CHAPTER 100


    A MINIATURE SANCTUARY


    Delimira came knocking on Hans¡¯s doors and he was forced to close his barely opened Limitless, with a deep breath he put a smile on his face and opened the doors. He maintained a forced smile as she asked,


    "What will you be doing, today?"


    Hans quickly replied with a friendly tone,


    "I will sleep through the day, Winters."


    Delimira could see that he wanted her out of his hair but she insisted,


    "Oh, don¡¯t be a buzzkill, I thought we became friends, you even asked me to stay here, squeaky."


    "You wanna be a bitch that badly?" Hans attacked her with her own words that she spoke when they left Frozen Tooth


    She came back to her usual tone and retorted,


    "You were the one who called me Winters first"


    "Fine Deli, what do you want?"


    "I just wanna look around your home but walking alone without the host is awkward."


    "I will ask Hodges-" He stopped in the middle, realising that Hodges would probably force him to show her around so if he was going to do this eventually, he decided to do it before he was asked to, "Fine, wait a minute," he said and closed the door. He hid his book in his vast collection and change his attire and look to accompany her. Hans did not see himself as having an inferior face, after all, Samson had the same features but Delimira could make even the most handsome man next to her look like a dried squid so he thought he should at least put some effort to not lack behind her.


    He thought, there was no point in exaggerating this further and focused on showing her around so he could get out of her hair quickly. Although it was still winter, the climate was milder compared to the bitterly cold weather of Frozen Tooth. Nevertheless, Hans continued to use the pilfered artefact in his room to keep himself warm. After dressing appropriately, he picked up the artefact and opened his door.


    His changed attire sure surprised her but she did not comment, since his mood could turn back as quickly as waves on the beach, However, she could not help but ask,


    "Are You still using that stolen thing?"


    "I did not steal it," Hans refuted instantly while activating the artefact, "this belongs to my¡­ family. I am just¡­ borrowing it." he hesitatingly added while leading her to the kitchen first since it was his favourite place and then the small library of the mansion. The servants were dusting off the almost closed places like the library and archives. It was rarely used since their lord and lady were never in the mansion and were not on the scholarly side as their Young Lord.


    On their way servants greeted them and Hans politely returned the greeting. This was another change Dellimira had noticed, the Edenbergs treated the servants with respect, it was so much that Hodges could interrupt the speaking Lord if he deemed fit or chide Hans if he felt like it. She observed the same in Parvians when she saw the escort butting in Arat''s conversation. it was quite a contrast to Elves since In Clandor servants were not allowed to speak before they were asked to.


    <div>


    <div>


    Lost in her thoughts, Delimira had walked out of the mansion and was now following Hans to the training field. She had wanted to step out of the confines of the mansion, which was the reason she had insisted on exploring the place with Hans. As they walked, Delimira caught sight of the knights who were in the midst of their afternoon training, under the leadership of Aldrich. And upon seeing their young lord approach, they stopped their training, but Hans motioned for them to continue as he said to her company,


    "Now the tour is finished Winters, can I go now?"


    She did not respond but kept staring at him like he missed something. Hans corrected,


    "Can I go now, Deli?"


    She showed a satisfactory smile and ask him for one last thing, at least for today,


    "Where is Lady Sierra?"


    Hans looked at the sun and replied,


    "She soon will come back from the temple, why don¡¯t you hang around with sis Vanessa till then?"


    She made an uncomfortable face and replied,


    "I don¡¯t think she likes me much."


    "What? Sis Vanessa likes everyone."


    Hans dragged her to the study, where Sierra mostly spend her noon time and since she was not there, her aide, Vanessa was sorting things up. He confidently left both girls together and escaped before any could say something After his departure an awkward silence followed but Hans was not the one to waste a single moment in this charade. He had only three months to learn new things without hiding like in Concordia. He was going to his room but met his verbal adversary.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    They both stared at each other and nodded in a truce for a moment. Rudolf was the one to break the silence first,


    "What are you doing here?"


    "Babysitting, and you, gramps?"


    Rudolf couldn¡¯t hold to the truce. He looked at him with a smirk and said,


    "Me too, Babysitting"


    Hans did not wanna start anything new so he just let his comment go. He was gonna make his exit but he was reminded of something so he asked his old man,


    "How much should I trust Arat?"


    "Oh, that''s complicated, did he say anything else to you?"


    "Yes, something that shook me to the core."


    "What?"


    "Gramps, you all say I am not human, so how I came into this world?"


    "That''s a mystery, squeaky because we did not witness - "


    "Arat said I had a mother."


    Rudolf just kept staring at him for a while so Hans interrupted,


    "Genas to Grandpa, you still present?"


    "Yes yes, maybe Arat said it so you would want to go with him."


    That was a valid inference that Hans did not expect from Rudolf but it fit perfectly. If his mother existed then Rudolf and Sierra would have at least known about her a bit. He left Rudolf distressed and shut himself in his room. After he left everyone and ran towards his room, there were two places in the mansion that was filled with awkward silence, first was Sierra¡¯s study where Deimira and Vanessa were bearing uncomfortable silence and the second one was Rudolf who was contemplating Arat¡¯s words. But away from them, Hans had opened his book.


    <blockquote><hr>


    Page13


    SILVA ORTUS


    This will be your fourth genuine spell from the book, I hope you have created the many of your own. The special thing about this spell will be its similarity to the Sanctuary of Wolrd mages(eight circles). This will be tiring to learn so prepare yourself ahead.


    You have mastered the sprout, conjuring the seed, transfer the mana in it to grow it rapidly, that¡¯s the base of your every spell. Now I want you to raise a forest.


    Yes, you read right, with this spell you can modify any terrain you want with seeds of VeganBind already present in many places. This will reduce the time for VeganBind exponentially, the forest created by you will be your territory, hence I called this miniature sanctuary.


    Then how to master it? First, start with a ten-metre box and gradually start to increase the area as your mastery increases. SilvaOrtus is also a base for you to master my most known domain ability VOID ZONE. You will learn that after finishing the SilvaOrtus. The combination of SilvaOrtus and VoidZone would be enough to put most of the enemies at rest.


    Remember this spell is just an accumulation of various sprouts and a forest must have different type of trees like your spells. This will teach you how parrallelism in mana theory worls and I must warn you ahead, this will be time-consuming but you need to reduce it by presetting the different terrain you wanna create, like the different maps in your mind with the features like how big it will be, which trees it will have, where will be the VeganBind seed, and everything.


    I trust you can achieve it.


    PAGE 13 ENDED


    <hr></blockquote>


    The feeling that he had not felt for a long time came back to him. Whenever he read Samson¡¯s words it felt like he was under his tutelage but his words which earlier sounded like a well-thought procedure started turning into a father¡¯s guidance. He knew that he should not believe Arat¡¯s words but he wanted them to turn true. The idea of having a mother was giving him butterflies and the power of INHERITANCE passing down to him, as a pure-blooded Parvian supported Arat¡¯s words to some degree.


    Hans was entering a rabbit hole of daydreaming, he struggled with many what-ifs questions but it did not took him long to come back to his senses. It was all because he remembered his sister¡¯s words when he asked about her past. He mumbled her exact words,


    ¡°We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future; a person of discernment always deals only with the present moment¡±


    Vanessa always had a huge influence in Hans¡¯s life and this time too, her sway and words helped him to make up his mind. He looked at the book in front of him and buckled it in the waist. It was time to master this SilvaOrtus.


    ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS, UTAR


    "What is it?" Asked Norwin


    His trusted Aide responded,


    "Rudolf Edenberg wiped out an assassins guild"


    "I don''t even have to ask why, just tell me if our people are involved or not."


    The Aide became silent but seeing Norwin frowning at her sudden state, she replied,


    "Its complicated, sir -"


    Abruptly she had to stop as another scout came running frantically and reported,


    "Concordia was robbed of Sunstones by Eclipse."


    "How much?"


    "Enough to fund a small war?"


    "Who they are attacking?" asked Nowrin, expecting an answer.


    "We do not have the information yet, sir, Alliance head."


    Grunted, he ordered,


    "Investigate so I can finally kill those sour bastards," and the room became chilly as Norwin''s excitement rose.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 101 : Things in the Head

    CHAPTER 101


    THINGS IN THE HEAD


    Hans introspected what he had learned till now, if mana discharge was not considered as a spell then there were only two spells that he truly learned from the book Limitless. TheVeganCarnage and Mutilate were self-created, and so does Ensnare and SugarDrain. He recalled the first spell he learned from the book specialised in restraining and the second was to put down the restrained target, both of the spells complemented each other and now he was learning to change the terrain to his liking but as he began he understood it was not as easy as others.


    He was practising since late morning and now the sun was hanging high in the sky. He drew a Ten-metre box in the ground, setting the area as his initial goal but controlling every bit of mana in it was far-fetched, Hans was not even able to raise several plants in a five-metre radius simultaneously. If he took time and raise the plants one by one, it was pretty fast too, but his goal of realising parallelism was giving him a bad break.


    As he continued without rest, the training knights looked at him in awe. Their training regime had already halted for some time but they stood there watching their young Lord growing and drying trees one after another. They were familiar with this but every time he did that, it sure surprised them.


    Before long, he became fatigued from his unproductive training. He shook his head, attempting to alleviate the piercing headache that had resulted from casting Sprout spells of various types and when he found some comfort, he checked the book once again but it was still useless. He was groaning in frustration and a familiar voice interrupted him, looking up, he saw Vanessa as she asked,


    "What happened?"


    Hans sighed and replied,


    "Nothing, I am trying something new."


    "Like?"


    Hans explained her whole SilvaOrtus and with a bit of thinking she responded,


    "Why don¡¯t you start by growing a single plant forest first and then gradually start changing as your mastery over it increases, one to two, two to four and so on?"


    Hans thought for a while, he had not tried this because of Sam¡¯s words ¡°A forest cannot have a single type¡±. If learning SilvaOrtus was a step-by-step process, Hans was directly attempting the last step. Realising that, he sprung up from the ground and started applying Vanessa¡¯s suggestion but she stopped him in middle. Not understanding her action, he looked at her with questioning eyes and she answered.


    "Lady Sierra just came back from the temple, she is asking for you."


    Hans once again looked at the sky and replied to her,


    "Grandma just came, It must have been more than three hours since I left Winters with you, so what was she doing all that time?"


    "She has nerves of steel if I must say," Vanessa sighed as he responded, "Remaining seated without saying anything all the time. Even I started to feel restless."


    Hans chuckled thinking of her stern face and followed Vanessa inside. They did not go to the study but drawing room and as he reached the place he heard the conversation between them. Delimira was standing in front of Sierra like someone waiting for punishment. He heard Sierra talking to her,


    "Mostly everything is settled, we didn''t find the true culprit but whoever they were, Rudolf¡¯s actions already sent a clear message. So we''ll start your tutelage of Krosh arts from tomorrow."


    She paused feeling Hans¡¯s presence and asked her,


    "Now tell me the reason, why you seek power?"


    "Will my answer affect your teaching?"


    "No, it will not, I just like honest answers."


    "There is someone I wish to kill."


    "Not an excellent reason but hatred is a greater motivation than anything, however, remember my dear, it''s easy to get consumed in it."


    Delimira hesitatingly replied,


    "I hope, No, I will not - "


    "Since I said I will teach you, you can call me, teacher."


    "Yes, teacher."


    "Now tell me how much you know about Krosh art."


    "It is developed by the late queen of Grimgar, a way to be a knight and a mage at the same time but only she succeeded and despite the method not being so secret, the world never saw another sword mage."


    "Yes, you are right, because others did not have me as my sister did" (Grimgar''s second queen, Samson¡¯s biological mother). This was the first time Hans saw his grandma bragging about herself but he was wrong and she proved to him by saying, "It''s not aura that is used in Krosh art but dead mana." There were a total of three listeners in the room and all were shocked because dead mana is poison, it happened when the circles of a mage broke, and its mana remained in the body. seeing the surprised faces, Sierra added,


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    "The Krosh art''s first step is to regularly collect dead mana inside the body."


    Delimira who was quicker in wits than Hans replied instantly,


    "Then, I have to break my two circles."


    Vanessa intervened,


    "Ouch!, That would be extremely painful."


    She herself suffered from her circles breaking and the pain still haunted her. It was also the reason Sierra was not adamant about teaching the technique to others. Even with her divine healing, neither the human nor the elf¡¯s body could withstand the torture of circle breaking on a regular basis. She recalled her sister, the creator of the method, suffering a backlash from this and ended up weakening herself. She looked at her pupil, offering her the last chance to back out from this but Delimira was adamant to see this to the end. She asked Sierra confirming her goal once again,


    "If I could withstand, can you guarantee that I will become the sword mage?"


    "Yes, I am several times stronger than in my younger days but the pain would be real and yours alone to bear, I can¡¯t help you with that."


    "Then worry not teacher, I will succeed after all I am just a partial elf, the blood of someone far stronger also flows in these veins."


    "If I did not know that, I would have rejected your mother already," affirmed Sierra.


    Delimira smiled as she said after a bit of thinking,


    "Then I guess, I only have today as a painless day."


    "Yes, do whatever you want today because, from tomorrow, it will be hell."


    Delimira thought to herself and looked at Hans and a bad feeling hit him. He started shaking his head left and right, signalling Delimira to not do any bothersome thing to him. However, she smiled at him and asked her teacher.


    "Can I go outside for a while, I want to see things..."


    Hans was startled, it was actually not a bad thing for him to be dragged into this because last time, Xandor¡¯s stunt ruined everything. He was locked in the mansion for all three months and he thought, a small break won¡¯t hurt the rest of his practice. He looked at her grandmother in anticipation and as Sierra saw that both the children were looking forward to this, she took out something and placed it on the table. It was a small jewellery box meant for the girl and she said while looking at her,


    "It''s a present for my student."


    As Delimira opened it up, Hans shifted near her to see what it was and found plain stud earrings which didn''t suit Delimira''s extravagant style.


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice :An Artefact is detected


    Arahan¡¯s Beads


    Allow the wearer to change his facial features and also protect him from the prying eyes


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hans knew what it was but he was still startled. Everyone was looking at him asking what happened to get him shocked. He sighed and replied,


    "Its name is ''Arahan¡¯s bead'', for disguise, right?"


    "How did you know?" asked Sierra in surprise.


    "Things just keep popping into my head these days, was I right?"


    "Yes, my sister used these to travel discretely, now it is in hands of her successor."


    Delimira got happy and wear it quickly. She asked in a hurry,


    "How do I use it, teacher?"


    "Just think of what you wanna change in your face, it will create an illusion for others."


    Delimira thought of something and her elven ears turned into of humans''. She turned to others in excitement and asked,


    "Now, I look like a human.


    The only change Hans detected was her ears so he remarked,


    "Like hell Winters, humans are not this -"


    "This what?"


    "P..pretty. Jeez,"


    "Thanks for the compliment."


    "It was not a compliment, I mean you should change your overall clock [ face ] too."


    "Then why were you stammering,"


    "Whatever" He resigned and turned to Sierra and said, "Since she is new here, I will personally guide her in the city, Grandma?"


    Sierra chuckled at his cheekiness and knew he was aiming at something else,


    "You are also new to the outside Hans but I agree, I can¡¯t just stop you from spreading your wings," she said.


    Hans became happy, he thought he would be stopped and there was a place he wanted to visit since he knew about it so he struck the hammer when it was hot


    "Then we will go without escorts, right? - "


    "No, that¡¯s dangerous." intervened Vanessa.


    "Come on sis, we both just returned from Frozen Tooth, what worse can appear here?"


    Sierra stopped both and looking at her eager boy she said,


    "Whenever someone said those words, things escalate so Aldrich will accompany you - "


    "But"


    "No buts, however, he will be under your command and if you choose, he will not tell us a word of whatever you are planning"


    "You are not duping me are you?"


    "I''m not your grandpa, my boy"


    "fine, don''t break my trust, Grandma"


    "You really are becoming cheekier than before Hans"


    While their conversation continued, Vanessa made arrangements for the carriage to be prepared. The county''s emblem on it was sufficient to deter many difficulties since Rudolf''s name had reappeared in Grimgar. However, Hans was more thrilled than Delimira about venturing into the city because he had been eager to explore it for the past year. In Concordia, first-year students were restricted to a few locations, so he had never had the opportunity to wander around the bustling city and see the sights he had only heard about.


    In this situation, both Hans and Delimira were exactly the same. One was away from it and the other was imprisoned in a castle. The both of them did not want to waste a little of their time, they got ready quickly and went to the carriage. At this point, Hans did not realise how much he will regret coming with Delimira.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 102 : Eclipse Covering the Sun

    CHAPTER 102


    ECLIPSE COVERING THE SUN


    The carriage ran and soon reached the county¡¯s busiest place, the Market area. There were not many places outside the ForgeLands where one could see a dwarf. Concordia has them but the only dwarf Hans had seen till now was his fellow house member Garen, the young dwarf who was plain stupid in his eyes since he lived for the moment, totally opposite to him. He wanted to meet one since they used alchemy and technology for getting by, avoiding mana like plague.


    Delimira''s suggestion for an outing made him happy mostly for this reason since Edenberg County was the only place in Grimgar where dwarves had their own territory. Eager to see their machinery, known to be so advanced that could stop and rival any mana attacks, he unconsciously showed his excitement for it while the other party, Aldrich and Delimira took it for something else.


    As both became busy looking outside at the things that looked like fantasy to them, they passed through the baker¡¯s street but before Hans could open his mouth Delimira said,


    "We are not stopping at any food shops, Hans."


    "Why?"


    "Because you did not bring the money, I did"


    "How much?"


    " A LOT "


    Hans just quieted down without any qualms after hearing her. Food was not his priority right now, he could get anything he wanted in the mansion, and the main attraction he wanted to see was dwarf places in the first place. He asked her,


    "So where do you wanna go, first?"


    "My store?"


    "Do you have one here as well?"


    "Yes, my mother expanded her business last year."


    "Damn, how rich are you exactly?"


    She remembered Hans bragging about his sword talent after beating Chris and replied to him in the exact tone of his,


    "I have so much that I don¡¯t even feel bad bragging about it."


    "Tell me honestly, you can¡¯t digest anything without dissing me, right?"


    "Hmm¡­probably."


    "Why store though? Mr Hodges bought so many clothes already."


    "Hans, my poor friend, a girl can never have enough clothes and the ones butler bought were too plain for me"


    "Then how much time it would take?"


    "I will be done in a jiffy."


    Hans nodded without knowing what he had to face in that jiffy. The carriage stopped in front of a store called Velma¡¯s Boutique. The most famous clothing store in Grimgar, run by well-known designer Velma in the capital city. This was just a branch but looked so extravagant, perfect for looting a whale like Delimira. Hans was thinking, one of these days, he will scam her out of money but his wicked thoughts were put to stop by the store staff that came running out to welcome their customer.


    He was still inside sitting beside Aldrich and Delimira, unaware of the fact how much riding in the county¡¯s carriage would weigh in the commoner¡¯s mind. Glancing at his surroundings, he found the commoners gazing at the door with expecting eyes, they did not know who from the count¡¯s family was coming here without any guards. The carriage driver opened the door and Hans came out first.


    He was standing for quite a while, looking at the people who were staring at him. He turned to look back, but Delimira was still seated inside,


    "Do you need an invitation, Ms Wintersr?"


    "No, offer me your hand first."


    "You are enjoying this, aren''t you?"


    "Yeah, now hand"


    Hans let out a sigh and did as she asked. She stepped down the carriage like a princess, in her human disguise but anyone in a sane mind could not ignore how pretty she looked. Delimira didn''t bother the stares and stepped inside the boutique without looking at others, like the nobles of the human side. Her act and the air around her alerted others that she was a significant person of high class. On the other hand, Hans thought her behaviour would earn her some scorn but he got to witness the popular belief of people, you are not wrong in anything as long as you look rich.


    Laughing at himself, he followed her inside, it was a store exclusively for young women, and Delimira being the age of thirteen considered their customer. Despite being the women''s store there was an avid population of males inside the store. Some were fathers, some lovers and Hans did not feel comfortable as their stares fall on him. The people inside were waiting for the adult who bought them here to come but no one entered after them, not even an escort guard. The situation was perplexing, so the manager asked the two,


    "What can I help you, young lord and lady?"


    Delimira answered indifferently.


    "Just some clothes"


    The manager kept looking at the door, waiting for someone to come inside but no one came. She only heard Delimira¡¯s scorn.


    "Do you think I can¡¯t pay for mere clothes?"


    "No dear customer, why don¡¯t you follow me to the VIP room?"


    As she showed the way, both followed her inside. The VIP room was for two kinds of people, one who really was from an extraordinary background and for the punk noble children who dress and dash in the name of their family, and later the store has to collect the sum from the noble¡¯s mansion which was an awkward chore for them. She was leading them, eagerly awaiting someone to pay first and Delimira did, making the manager happy that these two were not from the latter category. She happily welcomed them inside. Seeing her actions, Hans asked her in confusion.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Didn''t you say it was your store?"


    "I did."


    "Then, Why pay in your own store?"


    "One must pay to buy things, that''s an unwritten rule in mother¡¯s company, no matter who or what she is."


    "Yeah, Yeah, it''s all good, but what the heck I''m suppose to do here?


    "Wait for a while, it will not take much time."


    "Fine"


    Hans sat on the couch with down shoulders while the staff kept showing one dress after another and the jiffy turned into minutes and into an hour already. That was all because the saleswoman had realised Delimira was walking money, and enthusiastically continued showing her dresses. Her compliments were raining like cats and dogs but not even a single one succeeded in affecting Delimira¡¯s choices. But not far from them, Hans sat, grunting. It was turning into a bad day for him and it became worse when the branch owner came to visit the VIP customer.


    Her name was Madison, a young lady in her mid-twenties. She saw Delimira in her trial dresses and proposed an offer of giving her every dress she tried on for free with one condition. However, before she states her condition, Hans sprung from his seat and stopped her,


    "Hey, Deli, you already ate an hour, we need to go."


    "Wait, Hans," She turned to the branch owner and asked,


    "What is the condition?"


    "Give me your portrait rights."


    Hans got agitated,


    "Ah, darn it, we have enough money, Deli we should go."


    Ignoring his rant, Delimira nodded, accepting the offer. Contradicting her past action, she justified, ¡°Whoever said rich splurge money on a whim was an idiot¡±.


    Hans might be not interested in seeing her in different dresses but others were having their fill. The manager utilised this situation more efficiently by capturing her portraits in open. Attracting others to see the event. The result of this activity lead Hans to stay there for more hours but oddly he was not as grumpy as he thought. He was not believing that he allowed his precious time to be wasted in this charade. This already happened several times in the past year, he had enough words to shut her up but he just couldn''t say it out loud, as something stopped him from saying it to her.


    But this was enough, his patience ran out and he decided to look for Aldrich, who was ordered to stay inside the carriage. And as if the dominion knight had heard his intentions, he presented himself.


    "You are looking for me, young lord."


    "Yeah,"


    "Just make sure she finishes this soon and take her home, I am going somewhere."


    "That I can¡¯t do."


    "Why?"


    Aldrich made a confused face and responded,


    "For someone so smart, you ask dumb questions, young Lord."


    "Stay away from Mr Hodges, his influence is bad" Hans retorted,


    "Haah...I can¡¯t leave you alone young Lord"


    "Nothing will happen to me."


    "I am concerned about others, young Lord. what if you start restructuring mugs of every other that piss you off."


    "See, Hodges is bad news but that felt like a compliment."


    Scratching his head, Aldrich added,


    "I am more concerned about you now, what is my daughter teaching you? At this rate, you will end up in something worse - "


    "Jeez, fine already," He said, and after giving some thought he continued, "Leaving her here alone would be bad, right?"


    Seeing Hans talking some sense, Aldrich hastily answered,


    "yes, very bad, she is your first guest and you are ditching her already."


    "I was just asking, head knight."


    Aldrich calmed down after hearing it, and asked just to satiate his curiosity,


    "Where were you planning to go?"


    "The dwarven settlement."


    "It''s better to stay here then."


    "Why?"


    "Even Lord Count is rarely allowed in that place."


    "What? But they are in our lands."


    "Yes, however, the one who forged the ThunderClap lives there and his only condition was not to be disturbed, so you won¡¯t be allowed there."


    "That s a bummer, but there will be loopholes..." He looked at the never-ending event in front and sighed as he relaxed his back on the couch. The whole day was wasted but somehow looking at her, chewing someone else for a change felt that it was not so bad after all.


    ECLIPSE HIDEOUT, THE SLEEPING GIANT MOUNTAIN


    A dimly lit room and in it, a big table, surrounded by a handful of powerful people, the view was something else. As Xandor had assembled his mightiest force once again, all twelve captains of Eclipse were present and with the arrival of brains of operation the conversation began. He put an image stone and a projection of Genas¡¯s map hovered above the table. Alternatingly pointing at two locations, he continued


    "All captains, sort our forces into two. Our time has come. We are hitting Clandor and Utar Royal treasury with full force at the same time."


    The first captain, a warlord of unknown grade, Bryan said in affirmation,


    "I am leading the Force to Clandor. With the courtesy of Concordia, we now have enough sunstones to breach the Clandorian defences."


    Xandor chimed in with a heavy voice,


    "As much as I want to, it''s not time for revenge, this is a mission of heist, stealth is of paramount, I will tolerate no nonsense, Captain Bryan?"


    The second captain Adrian, the toughest warlord in Eclipse said in a grim voice,


    "Then I will lead the mission to Utar, what is our target?"


    Bryan interrupted,


    "I thought you would fight with me for Clandor, second captain."


    "It''s bland if I can¡¯t kill the elves."


    "Just say, you can''t do it because of ''your loud noise''"


    Adrian remained silent, he was third in Eclipse Hierarchy and the only dominion Knight among the captains. But he belonged to the rarest community born in Parv. His unique bloodline allowed him to up his grade to 99 in no time, even without any backlashes. So saying he was the strongest force in Eclipse was not some understatement and the only reason he was the second captain was that the first one has to strategies the whole force and has to be in the rear, not in the front which he liked to be. He ignored the first captain and asked Xandor again,


    "What are our targets, Commander?"


    Xandor emphasised again,


    "We are not there to kill but take the greater gemstones. I''ll be in Clandor with the first captain, snatching the Wind gem or any other thing useful in Clandor. Meanwhile, the rest of the captains will follow Second Captain to Utar and take the Thunder gem. "


    Adrian nodded in affirmation and asked again,


    "How many corpses are you gonna take, commander?"


    Xanodr showed a cruel smile,


    "All OF THEM."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 103 : The Battle in Utar

    CHAPTER 103


    THE BATTLE IN UTAR


    Hans and Delimira had returned late but the grim atmosphere in the mansion was something else. Ardhel had returned in just a day and on seeing her daughter again she embraced her tight in concern. Delimira, awkwardly returned the embrace as she got surprised by her reaction. Looking at her confused daughter Aredhel added,


    "It looks like you might not be able to go to Clandor again Deli,"


    "Isn''t it good news Mother, I never liked the place, compared to that, this is far better."


    "I guess, I was the only one thinking for you to at least be accepted by our people" she sighed and continued, "but I wished for too much."


    "What happened?" Delimira asked, frowning her brows.


    Ardehel was silent but Rudolf shouted in anger and it was not some half-assed rage that he showed against Hans. He was genuinely angry so Hans did not dare to joke, like his usual antics. Things are coming one after another and he wanted no part in it. He thought, "Attack on Concordia, the hijacking of SpaceDoor, assassination attempt, Parvians and now who knows which bastard is flying high this time."


    His thoughts halted as Rudolf said in a furious voice,


    "We found out who wanted you dead."


    Hans looked above, glancing at his grandfather''s face, however, the furious knight was not looking at him but at Delimira, which declared that she was the real target, not him. Rudolf was pacing back and forth, wanting to release some of his anger while Sierra attempted to quiet him down but Rudolf was not listening to her either. He hated those who targeted kids to vent their frustrations because they could not get rid of their parents.


    Rudolf looked at Delimira, wanting to say everything he know but Sierra interrupted with the intention to shut him up, however, he replied,


    "The kid has the right to know, she might die without knowing why?"


    Deli separated from her mother, making her sit down and asked Rudolf to continue,


    "Your own kind is after you kid," he answered.


    Delimira sort of guessed this already as she knew, she was hated by Elves but it was not to the extent that her existence was an eyesore to be killed. She lived all her life in Clandor but never faced any death threats till now. Looking at Rudolf, she asked for more explanation and Rudolf entertained her question.


    "Dijkstra has found the place where the request came from. It was not just some kidnapping, they wanted to make an example out of you by executing you."


    Delimira anxiously asked,


    "Then what now? - "


    "I can¡¯t allow a kid to leave my eyesight knowing she might die - "


    Sierra intervened,


    "Calm down for a second Dear, she is my disciple and she ain''t going anywhere."


    Taking a long breath, Rudolf calmed down as he saw the glaring eyes of his wife. He was not behaving this way because she was Aredhel¡¯s daughter or the key that Samson mentioned. He would have done this for anyone in her situation. That was his real nature, he always hated the ones who use kids in their plots and this was also the reason, he hadn''t interfered with Chris. He glanced at Aredhel, feeling she knew who the culprit was in Clandor and his hunch was spot on.


    Aredhel already had doubts about who might be behind this, but what Dijkstra had said was not believable. On the other hand, Hans was puzzled because he had already understood the situation up to that point, and could not understand why these people were so gloomy. So he said,


    "She already did not want to go back to Clandor, they can¡¯t touch her in Concordia, and they might be the biggest idiots to come here. So why are you all worrying?"


    She was in a similar situation as Hans and that¡¯s why he was not understanding what a grave situation she was in. To make him understand Vanessa said,


    "Dear brother, the life of being hunted is not a pleasant one."


    "Ah, sis, gramps always says - ''Prey always has the chance to evolve into a predator''." then he turned to Delimira and added, "Don¡¯t think, just improve, and evolve."


    Delimira said in her usual smug tone,


    "When did I say I was worried?"


    Hans turned to his grandparents and said,


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "See, she already made full recovery. Now, tell me which bastard requested that I be murdered and she be abducted? - "


    "Language, and what can you even do, brother? interrupted Vanessa and declared," Don''t get involved"


    But Hans was adamant about this and did not back down,


    "I should at least know the name, sister," he said with determination.


    Rudolf burst his bubble, intervening, "There is no use knowing, they might be a group but the individual who commissioned the hit will die soon, Dijkstra takes orders very seriously, even if his target is in hell or way stronger than him, he will make sure they die even if it takes him years. he enjoys impossible hunts."


    He finished the words, not knowing another storm apart from Dijkstra was approaching the Elven lands. Aredhel on the other hand, returned to Concordia, she now had the names and was not going to put her trust in a maniac like Dijkstra. In the past, she kept believing that Clandor would eventually accept her daughter and even when some threats arose, she believed it was from the council side, not the royals. But the reality was what she had not expected, it was time for her to have a heart-to-heart with her king brother whose aide was mentioned as the person responsible for this blunder.


    Away from these warring situations, Hans had started practising the SilvaOrtus, by breaking it into several steps and succeeding in growing a grassland over a huge area was proof that he was getting better at achieving the first step. And now looking at the fruition of his efforts, he thought of switching to the next step but a painful scream made him run towards its source. However, he was not the only one who noticed. There were already many people on another side of his training field.


    He entered the crowd, moving in the gaps and finally reached the place. He saw her grandmother healing Delimira, and without further ado, he activated his ManaVision. The situation was what he thought, Delimira was on her first circle and dark red smoke filled her body. He recalled what Vanessa said, dead mana, the residue remained in the body after a circle of a mage is broken.


    Hans usually did not get affected by someone else¡¯s pain but the way she was crying was sending him an angsty feeling. Sierra asked everyone to leave so she could solely focus on her young disciple but that still did not calm the painful voice echoing through the mansion. Her screams continued for a few hours and did not stop till she fainted. Hans''s productivity was zero in those hours. He wanted to focus on his own training but his mind kept diverting toward Delimira, it was not solely because she was painfully crying but the envy he felt thinking, if she succeed then she might achieve what he wanted all along.


    ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS, UTAR


    The Land, half stolen by Red Demons would have been the nation having the biggest land mass in Genas but it all changed after the invasion. It was a pure blood bath at that time but after encircling the red demons inside the Grand barrier. It became the safest place to be since the headquarters of Alliance was built in this very place. But at this time Adrian, the second captain was ready to attack this very place with everything he got.


    Among the twelve captains, six were Warlords, five warlocks and Adrian was the only Dominion knight but it was said among the powerhouses. But in the Eclipse, the only one who could contend with Norwin in terms of Aura was also Adrian, the fourth-ranked knight in Genas with fire aura which contrasted Norwin''s ice.


    It was relatively peaceful this night and people were fast asleep but suddenly the sound of war drums beating loun in the ungodly hour of the night alerted everyone. This was the signal of Parvians going to war and was not heard for a long time.


    Norwin¡¯s aide came running into his room but the loud drumming sound had already woken him up. He did not expect Eclipse to have balls so big to blindly charge in the alliance¡¯s headquarters. A chill started to spread from his room as he took out his blessed sword FAITH and jumped right from the window without any piece of armour.


    Adrian saw the Alliance head coming to him and smirked. It was his job to take on this icy behemoth who just froze his own castle in hurrying here. He was honey to attract strong flies like Norwin and the rest of the ten captains were the actual ones in charge of making this mission successful. They charged ahead first, taking their underlings and leaving Adrian behind to face the ranked one knight.


    The battle between Eclipse and Alliance ensued as the sword of two Grade 99 Warlords clashed, sending the hot and cold waves to the Nodes supporting the Grand Barrier.


    CLANDOR OUTSKIRTS


    Dijkstra was facing an odd situation, he had successfully infiltrated the Elven nation but he was in front of some old faces, one he hated and the other he missed. The other two had the same reaction.


    Xandor grunted as he asked Dijkstra,


    "What the fuck you are doing here rear commander Dijkstra."


    "I would have returned the words to you Xandor but you know me, I am not a man of words - " He did not even finish his words and attacked Xandor, not thinking of any consequences of clashing swords in someone else''s nation and continued thrusting his blade at Xandor but the other face that he missed was blocking his sword, protecting the very one he wanted to kill. He grunted,


    "Move away Bryan, I ought to kill this son of a bitch."


    Bryan parried his attack and pushed him back while protecting his commander he shouted back,


    "What are you? An idiot, brother, you wanna alert everyone here."


    "That bastard brainwashed you, return home with now."


    Bryan sighed and refuted,


    "No, he did not, I left on my own. Parv is just not Parv without our king."


    "And you think this lunatic deserved to be followed after him?"


    Xandor finally spoke,


    "I believe you came here to finish something, we are too. So why don¡¯t we go our separate way?"


    Dijkstra might be reckless but he also knew that if Clandor got alerted of his presence, there was no way he could fulfil what he came for. And regretfully, he sheathed his sword and asked Xandor,


    "Do you come here for the traitor?"


    "Do you?" Xandor asked back in doubt.


    Dijkstra answered,


    "No, not today"


    "Me neither" Xandor replied, adding "His life is not mine to take, traitors ought to die from whom they betrayed."


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 104 : The Growth in Rivalry

    CHAPTER 104


    THE GROWTH IN RIVALRY


    Two days have passed since Delimira had broken her second circle, she kept relapsing after it and Sierra had to nurse her all the time. They have achieved the first phase intended to become a sword mage but Delimira had not regained consciousness till now. Hans had visited her sometimes, and looking at her with ManaVision, he found her whole body smokey, filled with dead mana, crawling inside her. He tried to control the dead mana inside her and realised that the only mana that his control did not reach was this.


    He was thinking of her acquiring yet another powerful thing which was out of his calculation. And on one of his visits, she opened her eyes. Hans ran to Sierra, to inform her of somewhat good news but another worrisome news had already seeped into the mansion. Looking Hodges down in worry, Hans asked about it and the butler responded, showing him the newspaper


    "They attacked Alliance Headquarters"


    Hans snatched the newspaper to read in detail and was running in excitement after reading. The Eclipse emerged again and sent a clear message that they are powerful and soon will come for revenge. Adrian the fourth-ranked knight had fought Norwin in stalemate and forced the hero king to summon his beasts. Soon he found himself in front of Rudolf''s study and barged in,


    "Hey gramps, did you read, today¡¯s news?" he asked.


    Rudolf was not surprised, after all, he had already received the news last night in more detail. He was discussing the same thing with Sierra and looking at her Hans told her about Delimira waking up. Sierr nodded and asked him to leave the adults talking. The attack in the strongest body of Genas was a ballsy move but what surprised them more was their way of executing the attack, Eclipse as the feared ones, had not claimed a single life after launching such a big attack like they were slapping the strongest force in Genas.


    They continued to ponder giving each other some assertions and reasonings while Hans ran back to the resting Delimira and showed her the news. She carefully read and then asked him,


    "Was there no news of the undead army?"


    "No," Hans responded, " Xandor was not mentioned."


    Delimira frowned,


    "Then there is definitely more to it."


    "Of course, there is, after raising that lineup, they went ahead and did nothing like - "


    Both said in unison,


    "THEY WERE A DISTRACTION."


    Both looked at each other then Hans said first,


    "But why?"


    Delimira just stared at him so Hans asked,


    "What?"


    "It''s really easy to have a conversation with you, Chris would have taken ages to reach that conclusion"


    "Stop the flattery, but a distraction for what?"


    "Dunno, they are your people. Prince Hans."


    "Looks like you recovered well to run your mouth Winters."


    "Yes, your majesty."


    Hans was used to her way so he did not mind her much but asked another thing,


    "So can you summon krosh spirit?"


    Delimira asked with a frown,


    "You were studying?"


    "I had to, you are going through a power-up, I at least need to know the ins and outs to keep you in check."


    Delimira smirked, "Not now, but I''ll soon have it, the krosh Spirit," she said, trying to feel her strength by clenching her fist. She started sitting up but Sierra entered the room and ordered her to lie down, there was still one more day she needed to rest. And Hans did not waste much time there, it was evident that Delimira was going to grow under Sierra. One thing Hans liked in Delimira despite her irritating demeanour, was that she worked really hard.


    Reaching his training ground, he resolved, It was time to speed up his training. He picked up the book and opened it to read again, trying to find something that he missed. There was a change in his practice regime. He stopped practising swords since he came here and this day too, he skipped it. Delimira was growing so he concluded, to grow his mage prowess, he needed to accept the fact that he was forever a mage so sword training was just a waste of time, at least for now.


    Taking in a long breath he summoned an entire field of similar plants in mere moments, he also noticed since the practice of Parallel sprouting, his activation time for VeganBind and the production time of SeedBullet has significantly decreased. Before this Hans had to do every production linearly but now, he could germinate orca vines and seedBullets simultaneously. This also heightened his control over mana, and as the day passed, another one dawned crisp and clear.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    He was in a self-created garden, far more beautiful than the one gardeners were pruning right now, they could feel their livelihood threatens just with one glance at the majestic garden of their young lord, filled with vitality and mana. Not knowing their thoughts, Hans was feeling proud of finally succeeding in SilvaOruts. It was not just ten square metres but a big area covered with a flower bed. All of his sudden improvement was a result of witnessing Delimira''s growth in power, causing his gears to shift to the next level.


    As Rudolf used to say to him in the past ''The rivalry is best to boost a person¡¯s growth'' and it was pushing forward to both of them because Delimira was thinking the same. Hans found a nice spot and like the garden had heard his will, the place protruded and the hard branches came out making an idol structure to sit. Smirking he sat and was proud of himself. He felt connected with the whole place and recalled Samson''s words when he called this a mini sanctuary, he just needs to think and things happen on their own. Satisfied with the accomplishment, he went ahead and started practising to improve its casting time.


    The SilvaOrtus of this scale took him half an hour and to apply this practically, he needed to achieve this instantly. He took out the book, but before opening it, he glanced around, feeling surprised that no one had come to praise him like they usually did for his every little accomplishment. Oddly enough, there was no knight in training present, they usually marvelled at every little thing Hans did so not getting the awe expressions from them somehow rubbed him. He came out from his garden and followed the cheering sound from somewhere.


    Reaching the place, he saw his old man and Deli clashing swords, well Deli¡¯s was not a sword but a rapier. Hans felt betrayed as Rudolf was using aura against her, something he had never done when practising with him. But what surprised him more was her keeping up with the attacks. The envy was hitting him hard, however, he knew he needed to observe her closely to avoid any surprises when fighting against her in future so he shoved his feelings and concentrated on her.


    The most surprising thing he observed was when the spar heated up a dark smoke gushed out of her and her skin started to show visible cracks like a drought land but in those cracks, he could see a faint light. As the cracks increased, the smoke followed and Delimira¡¯s enchanted beauty turned into something threatening and Hans envied that look too. It looked like something straight coming out of fantasy books.


    He sighed and suddenly she disappeared jolting Hans once more as his ManaVison failed to detect her presence but Rudolf was different even if he could not see, his experience had honed his senses into catching the faintest movements around him. Moving his sword to the back, he blocked an invisible sword and she appeared, Hans gritted his teeth and mumbled,


    "Shit!!"


    He came here to brag but did not feel like doing now, He sneaked out front of the field before anyone could see him there. Racking his brain for understanding her disappearance, he realised that Krosh art was the polar opposite of his, where he dealt with live mana Deli was becoming the master of the dead. This gave him another headache and he searched the book for more answers.


    THE ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS, UTAR


    The attack was short but effective like they were measuring the capabilities of Alliance. Norwin and Adrian really fought tooth and nail the other night as the mountain they fought on turned into a sea of ice and fire. Norwin was analysing the situation as his aide was addressing the alliance members. Most of the nation¡¯s leaders got summoned to the headquarters. Reina, the representative and queen of the Elven Nation Clandor said,


    "For what reasons they resurfaced in this bold way?"


    The aide replied instead of Norwin


    "I don¡¯t know but we do not suffer any casualties, I like to say we are strong enough to achieve that, but I will be lying. They were toying with us."


    The queen responded,


    "I know that is why I am asking, what was the motive?"


    "We do not know."


    The conversation soon turned into a heated discussion and the world leaders started throeing their opinions while their leader Norwin was thinking something else entirely.


    OUTSKIRTS OF CLANDOR


    Adrian had to put more strength into running away than clashing with Norwin. In times like these, he envied the skills of Dijkstra who possessed the guts to literally spank Norwin¡¯s ass and run away many times. He didn''t suffer any wounds but was exhausted and upon reaching the rendezvous point, he was given a palm-sized metallic sphere. looking at the object, Adrian said,


    "Command Centre: SCAN"


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : This is the eye from the idol of the thunder god, worshipped in the late 400s.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="width: 79.4788%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Notice : A Greater Thunder Gem is within the object


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Adrian smiled and ordered his force to a complete retreat.


    ROYAL CITY, CLANDOR


    Since Utar was protected by Alliance, no sane person was going to attack the place and that confidence followed by lack of security was what allowed the Eclipse to daringly sneaked in but Clandor was home to the most cautious race on Genas and their security, similar to their scepticism was no joke. It was a well-protected nation and the capital housed many powerful warlocks, If Parv boasted of being the nation of knights then Clandor was equivalent to the nation of mages and their mages were far more powerful than others. Their knights on the other hand lacked but were catching up to others quickly proving there was a reason behind their arrogance and holier-than-thou attitude.


    The journey to the royal castle was full of dangers for Xandor and his first captain Bryan. It was a covert operation and they couldn''t afford to be reckless because the country was under the jurisdiction of the second-ranking Knight and the agenda of fighting clandor was not in the schedule for them. Xandor''s ultimate objective was to create an army of the undead and use the ensuing pandemonium to acquire the "Blessing of the Wind," an esteemed ceremonial necklace that had been handed down through generations of the Elven monarchy.


    The thing about the great mana gems was that they were hard to detect as almost every one of them was covered in some sort of protection, appearing as a jewel. So even their owners were not aware of possessing it, and not breaking the prejudice, its current owner, Princess Allynna was enjoying her day, unaware that she was going to see the scariest man in the world.


    As the Eclipse duo forged ahead, Dijkstra lurked in their shadow, hot on their heels and with his sights set on the Clandor royal mansion. His objective was to take down the Elven King''s aide and even the World''s second-ranked knight could not stop Dijkstra from claiming that life.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 105 : Saving the Elven Bacon

    CHAPTER 105


    SAVING THE ELVEN BACON


    The news of Eclipse¡¯s attack on Utar was not even aged for a day and another one came hitting the world like a slap in the back of the head. Hans and Deli were still discussing their motives, probing each other''s theory but Hodges running into the home frantically broke their discussion. Looking at a letter in his hands, Hans snatched it from him and did not yield to his plights for not reading the confidential content.


    However, Hans tore the envelope without reservations and Hodges went ahead to tell their lords. It was news sent by the Headquarters so he was expecting something exciting. But the contents confused him more as he read:


    <blockquote><hr>


    To Count EdenBerg,


    With the utmost concern, we are informing you that Eclipse had attacked the royal capital of Clandor with thousands of undead led by their commander Xandor. The whole capital was turned upside down and the civilians faced the long and dreary night as corpses ran amok the living. Xandor had targeted Princess Allynna but failed because of the noble sacrifice of Cornell, the aide of the Elven king.


    <hr></blockquote>


    This was the content Hans read as Deliimira was covering her mouth in shock, the only one who treated her with warmth was her cousin Allynna. She was three years younger than her and followed her around like a baby duck. If Delimira cared for a single elf, it was Allynna. As far as she could deduce, assassinating her looked like the revenge that Eclipse sought since taking her from Reina and Eleanor would be far worse than killing them.


    But she was relieved on hearing the news and was in the middle of calming down but a strong hit on Hans¡¯s head made her turn over.


    "Oye, Squeaky, you brat, you dare read the confidential content, what if it was some trap magic, aiming to blow your head?"


    Hans refuted while massaging his head,


    "You already did what the trap magic failed, gramps."


    Rudolf did not bicker with him, He glanced at the letter, attacking Utar and Clandor right after another was a serious business and his bratty grandson has read the contents aloud. He rubbed his temples and went inside leaving Hans alone as Sierra called Delimira for their training, she was set to recreate the second circle today. She needed to create and break mana circles to increase the dead mana. The process was painful but the result was worth bearing it.


    Hans looked at his book, he had succeeded in creating the SilvaOrtus but it needed an awful amount of time. Deli''s progress at a visible rate was making him anxious and finally pushed him to break his resolution of not moving ahead without mastering the previous pages. Giving in, he turned the page


    <blockquote><hr>


    Page 14


    VoidZone


    As I have written before, SilvaOrtus was the base of this spell, if you are viewing this page before the end of the book, it means the book has judged that you have surpassed the plans and expectations.


    Just like dominion knights, mages have a sanctuary, a spell granting them an area with the cost of Half of their mana, allowing them to convert the channelling spells into quick ones.


    VoidZone is my domain,it gave me three perks, it allowed me to restrict any mage even warlocks to regenerate their mana, additionally stopping anyone¡¯s mobility and assassinating a knight without lifting a finger. This is what made people fear me and now, It''s your turn to inherit it. My domain will be your sanctuary and in three steps you will master it.


    First - Antimana Field


    The broken thing about mages is they kept generating the mana as their mana hearts kept filtering the mana from the outside and this is going to break that. You have learned to control an area full of mana in SilvaOrtus, the AntiMana field is the next step. Unlike nurturing and moving the mana as you wish, you have to make it still, it is going against the nature of ever-moving mana particles and this will take a toll on your body. Frankly, I do not know how the ability would affect you.


    It will be harder than anything you have tried, just like grabbing the water by the hand. Mana will definitely want to return to its original state of moving. so be prepared since this will require immense concentration.


    Second - Invincible armour


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    The reason no mage was able to hit me with any spell was because of the still mana particles that hindered the movement of anyone within the influence, even you. But this comes with a boon too. You could increase the density of still particles around you and the highly densed mana will acts like a protective shield that blocks every type of mana attacks from reaching you, even the hottest fire conjured with mana and the sharpest light won¡¯t be able to do any damage to you, that is as long as you stay still and the attack was formed with pure mana.Be aware of the inertia since it will do the damage.


    Do note, the aura is fundamentally different so don¡¯t be stupid and use it against the knights until you are sure that their strength is inferior to your mana control. But you can give them this invincible armour, it will affix them, whether in the sky or land making them an easy target as you repare your ultimate attack.


    The only drawback of doing it this way is that mana cannot be still and dense to the degree needed for Invincible armour around moving objects. Your target wether its you or your enemy, must be still before activating it.


    And the last thing to note here is you need to have the AntiMana field before making this dense armour. it is a step by step process, step one is needed before step two and three.


    Third - Inectio


    You know what happens if a knight tries to make a mana circle, yes, they die a gruesome death because of clashing inside their body, that¡¯s why there is no one who could use aura and mana together.


    After fixing a knight with invincible armour, you might not be able to hurt them but you can force them into making a mana circle, the clashing aura will take your job and kill the knight for you or might render them useless for a time being.It is also useful in interrogation.


    To summarise


    Antimana Field - stops regeneration and cancels the sanctuary of mages


    Invincible armour - totally blocks mana attacks and blocks physical attacks as much as you have control over the mana


    Inectio - forcefully creates a mana circle inside the knight.


    You will need years to perfect this and it''s a tiring process so get ready to include it in daily practice. Good luck.


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans could not keep himself from laughing in excitement not knowing how hard it will be to master this. The ability which made Samson a fearful figure was right in front of his eyes asking him to just take it, So how can¡¯t he be excited about it? He smiled knowing Delimira was not the only one going through a power-up, he was following her behind at a steady rate. Both of them were competing with each other unaware of their third friend who already surpassed them in previous days.


    Chris left Concordia a week earlier than them and his father finally started him to teach the aura part of Imperial sword arts. According to legend, the Imperial sword arts were said to be so powerful that they only required a sword to channel its aura. Flashy aura skills were not necessary, and even without them, one could surpass others if one mastered the art of aura conductance. However, the technique demanded a significant amount of aura, as it was designed for only a select few, such as Samson and Adrian.


    After successfully mastering the conductance method of Imperial sword arts, Chris needed another Aura skill since the conductance took a toll in his aura reserve, he could only use this to get out of a jam he could not clear with any other means. He had mastered his first skill when he reached grade ten and now it was time for him to master another one.


    The abilities of knights were centred around manipulating aura to suit their needs. Each skill had its own distinct method of execution, shrouded in secrecy only to be passed on to a select few. Although it was not recommended to create one''s own skills due to the difficulty of making them powerful, self-created skills were often the best fit for their owner. And Chris was in between self-creating his second skill under the guidance of his father, the former left commander of Parv in some distant place far from the troubles of Capital.


    CLANDOR


    After hearing the news, Reina rushed back to the Royal palace, her daughter almost died at the hands of Xandor. It was a miracle that she survived. As far as she recalled, Xandor was more of a grim reaper to elves, during the war on Samson¡¯s command he solely eliminated eight of ten Council families, the powerhouses and warlocks of Clandor. Her anxiousness was fueling her aura as she flew with all her might.


    On the other side of the capital. Xandor kept cursing,


    "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!, that son of a bitch, that stupid son of a bitch, I swear I will kill him"


    Bryan couldn''t help but shared Xandor''s sentiments as they failed miserably, not because their preparation lacked or anything but because of an outside variable. If they originally went ahead with the plan, the Elves would be mourning their princess right now but Dijkstra just had to ruin everything. He clenched his fist, and because of his brother, the mission went haywire, when he and Xandor infiltrated the royal castle amid the chaos, finding and killing the princess was like taking candy from the child.


    However, at the critical moment when stealth was needed the most, Dijkstra made his grand entrance by exploding a side tower alerting the royal guards. He Cleaved the body of Cornell vertically making a spectacle for others and escaped, leaving Xandor to handle the aftermath and gifting him the credit of his deed.


    ***

 Elven Lies I Update - Back from Hiatus

    BACK FROM HIATUS


    Hello, everyone!


    It''s Proxybaba, the aspiring writer of this series. I want to express my gratitude for your continued support in reading my work. Throughout this journey, I''ve noticed a transformation in my writing, thanks to all of you. Your valuable feedback has played a significant role. As a result, I''ve decided to upgrade from the title of ''Amateur'' to ''Beginner.'' With this newfound confidence, I''ve made the decision to resume updating the series. I''ve taken the time to learn from my mistakes and sought guidance from professionals to enhance my writing. Now, I am ready to embark on this journey once again.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Some changes you might observe in the series going forth


    - the paragraph space is gone [ it was not consistent ]


    - the dialogues are in quotes while monologues are in italics [ it was confusing before ]


    - No colour change in the text [ it was distracting ]


    These changes will be soon reflected in older chapters. That''s all folks, I hope you will continue to show your support. and the new chapter will be available tomorrow.

 Elven Lies I Chapter 106 : The Advancement

    CHAPTER 106


    THE ADVANCEMENT


    "Oh, come on, a month is over and I''m still struggling with this VoidZone," Hans shouted. He was pulling his hair in frustration since he couldn''t even take the first step in this so-called ultimate skill of his father. "Well, it''s the last spell of the book but really," he paused and got annoyed again, "Deli is growing daily and Im eating air every day. I''m not jealous or anything but it feels really bad." he pouted and started his fruitless struggle again.


    However, unlike him, Delimira was progressing with astonishing speed. She had already broken her second circle once again, doubling the amount of Krosh (dead mana) in her body. And it was not the only sore spot of Hans. He just took a break from his weird training and came to rub salt in his wounds by himself by looking at Delimira''s training." She grew up again," he grunted. Seeing her growing exponentially was one thing but Sierra¡¯s undivided attention was another that was troubling him.


    "Tsk, tsk," he was clicking his tongue non-stop and was glaring at the two. And, his discomfort couldn¡¯t escape from both teacher and disciple¡¯s keen observations. "Don¡¯t get jealous, she is bearing a lot," Sierra said finding sympathy for her pupil but Hans replied grumpily, " I know, I know! But I also know she will succeed one way or another." His words were loud and made their way to the gasping girl, "I didn¡¯t know, you had this much confidence in me." she teased him, the words from him oddly cheered her up, almost erasing the pain she was feeling till now.


    However, Hans ranted, "Do hell with confidence, an opportunist like you will not turn this in vain."


    "Well, You are right about that¡­" she said with a smirk but Rudolf broke their conversation, "So what are you up to, Kiddo?" he asked Hans." Nothing much," Hans responded, and glancing at Delimira he continued, "learning to kill a sixth circle mage, I guess." He aimed those words to rain on Delimira¡¯s parade and was expecting her to refute but she remained silent. One thing she had learned from Sierra about Hans was, he might act recklessly but he was dead serious when he learned things. And if Hans said, he was learning to kill a sixth circle then it was gonna happen, sooner or later.


    "What? no reaction, a kid just claimed he is learning to kill a sixth circle mage for god sake. Are they in cahoots to piss me off or what?" Hans thought. But unlike his thoughts, everyone was thinking their own things, Deli was thinking her own thing, Rudolf was in his thoughts about what new thing this brat would come up with and Sierra was whispering some words to her dear student that he can¡¯t hear. "Agh," Hans grunted and stomped out, giving the three a giggle but Sierra said to Delimira again, "See I told you, Hans will catch up in no time, it''s scary when talented work hard. You need to up your game, dear disciple." Delimira only nodded and turned to tweak her dead mana.


    Hans was gain in his not-so-secret garden."I''ll show them, just their agape faces will be enough to soothe me when I pull off VoidZone on them but this is really hard, hmpf, hmpf." But call it jealousy or efforts, today his training was bearing fruits. "Yes, that''s what I was talking about, more, expand more ¡ª " "POOF!" his three metres spherical VoidZone went like a blasted ballon in seconds."Haa," he sighed, but then accepted the reality, VoidZone was a skill that instilled fear in many. It was something that needed time but he had taken his first step so this needed some rewards. He went inside to increase his sugar and after eating to his full, he opened the book again. "I need something that shows instant results to get my mood right," he mumbled as he turned pages.


    <blockquote><hr>


    Page 16


    VeganBind Modification


    It''s time to upgrade our restraining spell, VeganBind needs offensive power. Find some strong alcohols and a five-star fire flower seed. if you soak them in alcohol they''ll burn for a long time.I recommend using dwarven alcohol. note that when they come in contact with alcohol, their fundamental structure changes. This will happen quickly so you''ll have a little window to observe its mutated structure.


    Our end goal here is succededing in recreating that very alcohol sokaed fire seed with mana. then merge that mutated seed with VeganBind. Now enough with the words, you know the drill, get them to grow with nothing and try to merge them and optimise their characteristics. With some hit and trial, your vines would able to engulf their prey in the fire, do note it is akin to burning the plant itself, so it won''t last verylong and will be weak in strength so don''t use it for restrain. I named this modification ''FlameBind''.


    The second modification will be with sound. Find a tree known as a widow''s wail. It''s a four star tree, it will be easier for you to get than a fire flower. It has various small and big holes and when air passed through them, you could hear the cries of the trees capable of hallucinating the one hearing it. You just need to combine it with the most flexible vine, for this I recommend you to find snake vines, which is a common plant with a star rating of 1. I named this spell SonusBind. This will be helpful for you when you face a knight who usually have high sensitivity to sounds and heightened senses. This way you can turn ther strength into a fatal weakness.


    Do what you have always done and keep trying until you succeed.


    END OF PAGE 16


    <hr></blockquote>


    "Distorting senses, haan! Brings back some embarrassing memories," Hans recalled his first-hand experience when his sharp senses were exploited and his butt was handed to him by LUX, a guy with zero presence in his first year. "Let''s see what more is ahead," he turned the pages and read what he anticipated after Vegan Bind modifications.


    <blockquote><hr>


    Page 17


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    SeedBullet Modification


    You can¡¯t win every time, a wise man knows when to flee and this might aid you. VolcanicRoots, a little quantity of it burns quickly and creates smoke which is a thousand times its quantity. It can block ManaSense and ManaVision but it has to be burned with natural flame, not conjured through mana. You just need to create a fraction of the roots and encase it in the highly flammable fire flower seed; it will burn as soon as it comes into contact with each other. Dwarfs use this to escape from others and call it smoke screen, another thing taught to them by Imophet. So I named it SmokeSeed


    The second one is called BlastSeed, and you could probably guess, this is also something used by dwarfs. They use the minerals mined from the ground and use their combination to make explosives. It will be far inferior to Sunstones but it is strong enough to break shells or disorient a fourth-class beast. It is also based on fire flower seed, combined with minerals like ground shit ( sulphur) and baby sugar (saltpetre). It will create an explosion equivalent to a four-circle fire spell.


    You could always combine them with SeedBullet, giving you a total of three types of bullet: piercing, smoke and explosive. You will be equipped with the full arsenal of Osiris that the dwarves keep to themselves.


    END OF PAGE 17


    <hr></blockquote>


    Hans could acquire everything easily on the required items, except the rated five-star fire-flower. The stars in any plant and resource indicated the difficulty of procuring them. Since there was no way of knowing which class of beasts roam the beastzones, it was hard to categorise a beastzones by the classes it has in them. Nonetheless, the unique resources found within them were distinctive enough for the older generation to assign star ratings to the beastzones.


    That''s why the beast zones were classified into stars, a one-star BeastZone has one-star rarity herbs and resources like mana stones. So something from a five-star beast zone ought to be expensive and beyond his reach. "It looks like, I have to ask old man," he muttered and went to search for the man of the house.


    Rudolf was sparing with Delimira, matching her level and pointing out her mistakes. It was another chance to find a weakness in Delimra¡¯s swordsmanship or rather rapier arts since she ditched the traditional sword after learning Krosh arts. But every time Hans found some weaknesses, it was never to be seen again."Just you wait, I''ll catch up in no time." he clenched his fists and waited in agitation as the spar continued.


    After a while, Rudolf was done with correcting her, he saw the expected face of Hans and understood something ominous coming to him. He approached Hans and said before the boy could ask, "If you seek money, we do not have it. We burned a lot in opening the SpaceDoor twice this year."


    Rudolf had shut him before he could even ask so his eyes led him to the wealthiest person in the household. He needed to come up with a scenario so she would willingly give him money. After scheming in his head, he shouted at Rudolf, "Gramps, don¡¯t embarrass me in front of her."


    "Hmm," Rudolf glanced at her and then spoke to Hans again, "It''s fine as long as you don¡¯t ask for money, squeaky." But Hans responded quickly, "I just need a little ---"


    "Oh, I know how many zeroes your ¡®little¡¯ has."


    "How stingy you can get, old man?"


    They started bickering in the middle of the training field and Hans knew if he would stand up to Rudolf about money, Delimira would intervene and she did. "Just what do you wanna buy?" The words made Hans giddy inside, the first step was to make her speak and then it was smooth sailing. He went ahead to the second step which was hurting her pride. "You can¡¯t buy it with your measly allowance Winters, don¡¯t interrupt, I need to make this old man cough up some coins."


    His words ¡®measly allowance¡¯ irked her as he expected. "I WILL BUY IT." she declared. "Hook line and sinker, I learnt these things from you, winters." he thought but this was not enough to make this success so he provoked her more, "No, you can¡¯t, it''s darn expensive." Delimira''s face itched at these words and she spoke with firm resolution, "NO, THERE IS NOTHING A ¡®WINTERS¡¯ CAN''T BUY IN THIS WORLD."


    "You will turn your back once you hear the price, Winters so just stay out of this."


    "Fine, I promise, whatever it is, I will buy it for you."


    Hans almost smirked and challenged her again, "You won¡¯t go back from your words, right?" Delimira was on the verge of an explosion but she calmed herself and asked looking down at Hans, "Just state the price." Hans knew this was the moment, "A five-star plant, so ready to eat your words, Winters." he said mocking her a little.


    Delimira thought whatever it was, it wouldn¡¯t be something this exorbitant. She could still afford it, with some advance allowance. "Order it squeaky I WILL PAY." She thought gritting her teeth and Hans had his own thoughts, "Sweet, I won''t mind you call me anything after this Winters." This was the first time he manipulated her so his happiness got doubled and he went out of her hair quickly, fearing she would change her decision.


    Vanessa who was observing them with Sierra came to Delimira "You got played." she said to her and Delimira quickly responded, "I knew he was doing this to make me pay but it''s really darn expensive." Sierra added while gripping her temples, "You don¡¯t have to pay ---" But Delimira interrupted her master, "No, I have to, I gave him my word. I just need to pitch three months of my allowance for it." She said it like nothing but the listeners were offended, a five-star plant would have easily cost thousands of gold coins but this brat in front of them was so chill about it. Whatever they were thinking of stopping her exorbitance, disappeared somewhere else.

 Elven Lies I Chapter 107: The Silent Musket

    CHAPTER 107


    THE SILENT MUSKET


    "Deli took care of the fire flower, so now I only need the dwarven alcohol" Hans muttered as he went to find Hodges and found the butler ordering servants around. "Hey, Mr Hodges, I need to go out," he said grabbing his tailcoats. "Just, why?" Hodges asked back, his irritation apparent on his face. Hans doing something has always started with one thing and ended up doing another and most of the time Hodges end up clearing his messes. "I know I''m not likeable but isn''t it too rude to show on your face." Hans retorted seeing his expressions.


    "Was that shown on my face, Oh my, I''m getting old?"


    "Tsk tsk," Hans clicked his tongue and continued, "I''ll spare you for a bit then since I don''t have the main ingredient yet. But we''ll be going to some pesky place after that, so get yourself ready even if you don''t want to." Hodges was sighing one after another, his young Lord and the so-called pesky place will surely be doubling his troubles. "Young Lord, can''t you be like other kids." However, Hans ignored the old man''s tired expressions and went to do his regular training, his trip to the Dwarven community was postponed anyway so there was no use becoming a lump in Hodges'' throat.


    He found Vanessa on his way to the garden and asked her to follow him. Being a mage, he believed she might possess valuable insights to offer him. "I''m definitely not doing this because I feel less attention on me," he thought. Vanessa on the other hand was humming silently, "So what are we going to do today, lil brother?" she asked and Hans instantly replied, "Some scary stuff sis, really scary stuff."


    They continued this training regime for the next half month, he doing VoidZone''s first part and Vanessa trying to increase his proficiency and now his efforts were showing. The really scary thing about Hans was that once he start mastering things there was no stopping him and Vanessa was experiencing this first-hand once again."Woosh" a sound along with a small wave hit her and she got startled.


    "I only knew it existed but this is really..." she uttered not feeling mana around, "How did you do it, Hans," she asked. it was the ability that she only had heard about, the VoidZone. But Hans gasped as his control grew weaker, "Tsk, damn it," he shouted and continued, "It was for mere seconds, but I succeeded." Vanessa asked him once again, "How did you do it, all of the mana was gone for a while ---" "Come on sis," he interrupted and with a smug face answered her, "I am my father''s son after all."


    "Then you shouldn''t stop here, " Vanessa encouraged him, "try it once again, I know you can do it better this time," and Hans nodded, expanding his control once again. He could feel every mana particle in his vicinity and this time he felt in more control. "It''s not complete," he said gritting his teeth," it''s just the first step, aagh... " and finally his control over Mana was released. He fell on his bottoms but there was no exhaustion on his face only pride. "How long was it, this time?" he asked her.


    "Several minutes and it was more than ten metres radius, dear brother, I know I tell you this often but you are really special."


    "Hihihi," Hans giggled, "I don''t like flattery sis --"


    "But your face tells otherwise Hans" she interrupted, "so what is the next step? You said it was the first one!"


    "Next should be stopping everything," Hans expanded his control once again and it was easier than the previous tries, but making InvincibleArmour was way tougher than AntimanaField. Since it needed him to stop every particle in his control, which went against the nature of mana particles that were to remain always in motion. And to add to the difficult task, he needed to compress nature¡¯s mana into a thin film around him but he was facing a problem in reaching the equilibrium. If he put more compression, the dense mana shackles him within but if he exerted more force from in to out then the film broke. But since achieving the first step, his greed over mastering VoidZone also touched the skies.


    "I can do it, damn it," he shouted to encourage himself and tried it once again however, it resulted in nothing but failure. He gasped and said, "Well, mastering two things in a single day feels like a stretch ---" "Get up," Vanessa helped him out to stand and spoke, "Getting a decent rest is also an important task, little brother."


    Hans followed her advice but was thinking another thing, "Should I try the last step first." And after this day, the knights of the mansion started feeling cursed. One after another, the knights stationed as guards started vomiting. "Hmm, the third one was relatively easy" he muttered as he noted down the data. Some less fortunate trainees in the mansion also became his experiments without consent.


    "Hmm," He added another entry today, "Okay, I just need to practice, the AntiMana field. I suck at the InvincibleArmour and Inectio... it needs proper test subjects, I can''t go off killing Mansion''s people." And after a few more days have passed, he could feel the progress in AntimanaField but the next two steps didn''t progress as he wished. He was deep in thought when a knock came on his door, "Young Lord, Young Lord, your order has arrived ---"


    "Finally," Hans opened the door and ordered Hodges, "Prepare a carriage and don''t make a molehill out of this."


    "Haa," Hodges let out a sigh and asked him, "So where are you causing trouble this time?"


    "Dwarven Community ---"


    "They might not be welcoming, Young Lord"


    "Do you think, I''ll ask them nicely?"


    "Aah my head," Hodges grasped his temples and went to inform Rudolf but the Count did not object even once, he was sure that the dwarves will probably not even allow him to enter but his guts were giving him a feeling they would. And to prove his gut feeling right, Hans ventured to the market and now was facing the gates of the Dwarven community. "Stop your foot," a dwarf not much taller than Hans stopped them at the gates "GO BACK HUMAN," he shouted once again.


    Hans let out a sigh, "Nothing goes, as I wish." He had asked Hodges to escort but the shrewd old man had passed this torch to Aldrichand the head knight kept denying it but in the end, had no choice but to accept. But compared to what was going on in the Mansion, his troubles were irrelevant. When he went on his little adventure another news hit the Count¡¯s place. They received a letter that the new King of Grimgar, Samwell was going to grace them with his presence along with the prince and princess of the nation. But instead of joy and excitement, the environment became gloomier. "What for?"Rudolf shouted at Hodges, "Why is he coming here?"


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "Ahem, ahem! Control yourself master" Hodges said clearing his throat, "He is just returning from Utar, the mess Eclipse caused is still in the veil. The Alliance declared that Eclipse was probing their strength and they won..." But Rudolf completed his sentence, "Like hell, they won. They still do not know why Eclipse made a bold move without Xandor leading them. And they only killed that Elf chief of staff. What was his name again?"


    "Cornell," Hodges quickly answered, "Aide to the Clandorian king."


    "Yes him, but do you think Xandor would put up this big of an act just to kill a small fish? There is definitely something else and the Alliance is in blind."


    Hodges coughed, their conversation have gone in some other direction so he reminded him again, "So how do we prepare to welcome the king---" "Aagh!" Rudolf grunted in annoyance, he was already tired of hearing this, "For fuck sake why can¡¯t I catch a break."


    AT THE DWARVEN COMMUNITY


    This place was exactly what Hans had thought, filled with the smell of iron, sweat and the sound of hammers constantly hitting the anvil. A place for products that did not respect the territory lord, just like him. Hans was pacing to the entrance whereas Aldrich was worried that dwarves might hurt their young lord¡¯s feelings. They were rough people who cursed first and speak later so other races just avoided them.


    A dwarf not taller than Hans already had stopped him from entering the gates making Aldrich step up but before he could introduce his young lord, the dwarf started his ranting filled with the dense smell of alcohol. A normal child would have felt disgusted but Hans was oddly happy, confusing his escort knight. He took out a badge of the Edenberg family to show it to the dwarf but the midget instantly refuted, "That ain''t mean shit here, pipsqueak."


    "Fine, then what pull weight around here," Hans said like he knew how to deal with these people and the Dwarf replied glancing the child up and down, "Booze? a fucking strong booze."


    Hans took out another thing from his pockets but this time it was a pouch filled with his saved-up money, "I came here to buy that." he said giving it to the drunk midget but the dwarf shoved his money pouch into Hans¡¯s pocket back and raised his head by the nose, saying with pride dripping from his tone, "We barter here shrimp, what shit you got?" And, with a smirk on his face, Hans said with intimidation, "Something a low-level thug like you can¡¯t see, bring me to your chief."


    Aldrich was showing his attitude of ready to jump at Hans¡¯s command so the dwarf responded with the same vigour, pointing at the escort knight "You tryin'' scaring me, with that? ----" "Swoosh" a shot that the dwarf was used to went past his ears. "What the fucking hell..." It was oddly similar but different at the same time. A shot from the musket created loud noise, but what passed through was as silent as a woman¡¯s whisper to her lover.


    The dwarf was sober now, their kind did not want their technology used or created by others so a musket firing right at their door was very serious business. The dwarf looked at Hans with infuriation and shouted to inform his brethren."We got a rat here, come out y¡¯all."


    "I knew what kind of attitude can pass through these thick-skulled dwarves." he thought the only way for a dwarf would pay a mind to humans was when a human threatened them or make them curious and he was doing both. Surprisingly, It did not even take a few seconds and Hans was facing many dwarves, some brought the Warhammer, some anvils and some came with the broadswords. Hans did not show any sign of backing down and said,


    CONTROL CENTRE: SCAN


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    NOTICE - The race [dwarves] in front of you are extremely agitated, think twice before speaking something.


    Caution advised.!


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The control centre did not help much. Hans needed to show his domineering behaviour, he took a step inside the dwarven community like he was strolling in his backyard. He was waiting for someone with authority to speak and as he wanted a voice came from the very back. "You¡¯ve balls of steel or mad worm in your head."


    "I don¡¯t like both analogies," Hans replied, intentionally sounding arrogant."I prefer being reckless." The dwarf who talked before asked in irritation, "So who the fuck are you? And how did you own a silent musket."


    Hans replied, "I can only answer to the chief, so are you the one ---"


    "Not interested." the dwarf firmly replied but Hans was not going to lose an argument with the midget, "Fine, whoever wants to learn how my Silent musket work, can find me at the corner inn. I will wait exactly for an hour and whoever comes first can have the workings of my silent musket."


    Hans had learned these tactics from Vanessa who still finds time to teach things Hans about getting things from the people that they don¡¯t wanna share. His words were not finished yet but the dwarves started a heated conversion in their native tongue. Hans was familiar with some words and could predict the rest. These shortlings were talking about Hans¡¯s genuineness and discussing what to do if that was their technology. And after a heated debate, their chief who spoke from very far earlier came into the light asking, "What do you want in return?"


    "Now, someone with sense is talking." Hans maintained his smug attitude and added, "Some alcohol and dwarven supplies."


    The dwarf Chief scanned Hans from top to bottom and shouted, "You are just a newborn shit, wanna drink the dwarven booze. I ain¡¯t taking responsibility for your noble ass."


    "My ass is my business," Hans replied and asked further "So are you bartering or not?"


    "Give me your words, that you will tell all about the silent musket," the dwarf chief asked, making Hans smile inside. And hiding his scam he answered with confidence."I promise to tell how my attack works, do more damage and be as silent as the wind itself. If you can¡¯t imitate it then it''s your incompetence." The dwarf looked at the metal pallet that was stuck in the ground, it was really a bullet from the musket, and there was no sign of mana in it just like their bullets. The chief looked at Hans with serious eyes this time and asked,


    "This is an innovative thing and you are sharing it just for the booze that you can¡¯t even drink, why?" the dwarf chief asked with suspicion in his eyes.


    Because you people are not competent enough to imitate this, even if I share every intricate detail. I''m just getting free booze" Hans mocked the artesian blood in the dwarves openly and this was a hammer to the dwarven pride. Every dwarf was looking at Hans like he ran a carriage over their dog. And a female dwarf, twice the muscles and the age of Hans chided in, "What if you choose to hide the important details?"


    "My words are my bonds that I was taught not to break. That''s my pride like the forging is yours"


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 108 : Meeting Dwarves

    CHAPTER 108


    MEETING DWARVES


    ¡°Woah! His every word is calculated, and he definitely knows how to push these dwarves around. Just where did he learn all of this?¡± Aldrich thought as he watched his young Lord bicker with dwarves, unaware that her daughter was the culprit behind it. When Hans had told Vanessa about his future visit to the dwarven community, she had elaborated how he could get what he wanted from them without any money spent, and Hans was following her plans to the letter.


    ¡°So what do you say? Are we doing this or what?¡± Hans asked them, snapping out of Aldrich from his thoughts.


    ¡°Follow me, Human,¡± the chief said, and everyone cleared a path for Hans to enter. However, unlike Aldrich, there was not a shred of nervousness on Hans¡¯s face. ¡°Why are you freaking out,¡± Hans asked his knight and got a reply, ¡°Because you do not have to clear this mess, I do.¡±


    ¡°Stop worrying, what worse ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say anything, young Lord. Just don¡¯t say those words.¡±


    ¡°For a guy who doesn¡¯t believe in gods, you surely believe in superstitions, Mr Aldrich.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not taking any chances, but why in the world¡¯s name you''re buying Alcohol, Young Lord.¡±


    ¡°For ¡ª¡± ¡°Cut the chit chat,¡± the dwarf whom they were following interrupted, ¡°That¡¯s the place¡± he pointed them to a bar and continued, ¡°Find a guy named Koznot, and tell him what you need. Then ask him to send you to the testing grounds.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Hans responded, and both entered the bar while Aldrich had to bend a little to enter the Dwarvian abode. ¡±Who is Koznot?¡± Hans asked aloud, and the pub owner answered, asking them to come to him. ¡°Since you are here, you must have permission," he said to his visitors, asking, "So, what can I get you?¡±


    ¡°A full barrel of your strongest alcohol,¡± Hans said.


    ¡°So what are you giving in return.¡±


    ¡°I already made a deal, so just give it to me.¡±


    ¡°That''s not how things work, kid. If I ask things, you should answer me.¡±


    ¡°This is really annoying,¡± Hans thought and answered, ¡°I¡¯m gonna show my silent musket ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fuck, Imophet¡¯s hairs, you have that?¡± Koznot asked in surprise, ¡°How in the hell¡¯s name do you have that?¡±


    ¡°None of your business, but tell me something about Imophet that is not known to others, and I¡¯ll let you in on my secret.¡±


    ¡°Imophet, aye, the first son of Osiris. He came to us around 500 years ago and gifted us the boon of technology ¡ª¡±


    ¡°That is common knowledge ¡ª¡±


    ¡°But you know, he is no god. Just a different being who can only talk and do nothing.¡±


    ¡°Hmm..¡± Hans thought and added, ¡°That¡¯s odd, he is a son of god, and yet he can¡¯t do anything but talk!¡±


    ¡°Yes, now tell me how you made the Musket.¡±


    ¡°Follow me to your testing ground, and I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    ¡°Kay, you, human child,¡± Koznot answered and shouted at his worker, ¡°Oye put our liquor in their carriage.¡± And turning to Hans, he said, ¡°I think you don¡¯t know where our testing ground is, follow me.¡±


    Hans nodded and followed Knot out. It did not take them long to reach the place, an open place with black dust covering everything and many dwarves waiting for him. ¡°Darn, I hope they won¡¯t get angry.¡± he was thinking that, but Koznot interrupted him once again, ¡°So what are you making.¡±


    ¡°Things like yours smokescreens and blast bombs.¡±


    ¡°That, can¡¯t be made with alcohol ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know. I need it for another experiment.¡±


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°And what that will be ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Show some respect, then I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Hans answered, looking straight at Koznot, and the dwarf instantly replied, ¡°You¡¯ll get respect here by only showing something amazing, human brat.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Hans turned and looked at the curious eyes on him. "Phew," he sighed, and shifting his gaze to some empty bottles lying, he stretched his hand front and called. SeedBullet. ¡°Sheek¡­¡± Something flew past them and broke the bottles one after another.


    ¡°What?¡± Almost every dwarf said in unison. They all thought Hans was using a musket from somewhere, but it was more of a spell than a technological weapon. ¡°So you played us human spawn,¡± the chief dwarf said, clenching his teeth. However, Hans remained calm and answered, ¡°I never said it was a weapon, but it''s still deadlier than your musket, right? At Least you get to see something amazing.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it''s way faster than our rifles, and its fire rate is amazing, but it doesn¡¯t feel like a spell either, so what is it?¡±


    Hans thought this time he had to give them a definite answer, or these dwarves won¡¯t let him go unharmed. So he explained the whole mechanism, but it agitated dwarves more, ¡°Are you with the tower pricks,¡± one of the midgets asked?


    ¡°No, I¡¯m from Concordia.¡± Hans firmly objected, but the dwarf was not stopping there, ¡°Then how do you plan on making smokescreen and blast bombs.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you once you sell me the items I want.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t play with a dwarf¡¯s curiosity, Human. First, tell me what you intend to do with alcohol. You clearly are not planning to drink it. So what are you making - alcohol bombs?¡±


    ¡°No, I plan on modifying a spell of mine ¡ª¡±


    ¡°You also said you need materials for making blast bombs and smokescreens right? You ain¡¯t scamming us for them?" the dwarf asked suspiciously, and then, demanded, "Show us what you modify with the alcohol first. If it''s impressive, we¡¯ll sell you the materials at dirt price.¡±


    ¡°So, you are just letting me go. I sorta fooled you.¡±


    ¡°Look at the bright side. There is no one yet who can make a silent musket. We will be the first ones to make it.¡±


    ¡°You bunch are optimists?¡±


    Koznot instantly replied, ¡°But we also don¡¯t forget if someone scammed us of materials. So you better do something impressive with alcohol or you will have one hella nightmare to watch for.¡±


    ¡°That I can say for sure, ¡± Hans assured them and safely got out of the Dwarven community. ¡°Phew,¡± Aldrich sighed, ¡°Young lord, can you tell me these things before? Lying to a dwarf is a very bad thing ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then you wouldn''t have let me do it, Mr Aldrich.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I ---¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t exactly lie to them, and you just have to satisfy the dwarf¡¯s curiosity. They are pretty simpletons, you see,¡± Hans replied and climbed into the carriage, "To home," he ordered the coachman.


    AT THE MANSION


    ¡°Oh, this blasted royalty. Xandor, that prick. He should have killed Norwin the least. I¡¯d have gone to the funeral in a great mood. Aagh...It''s far better than welcoming our dear king.¡± Rudolf whined as the employees kept running, tidying things one after another.


    ¡°Unfortunately, my Lord,¡± Hodges said as he came hearing Rudolf¡¯s whinings and continued, ¡°King Norwin¡¯s stars are shining too brightly. He won¡¯t be going anywhere sometime soon.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk,¡± Rudolf rebuked, ¡°if someone hears you saying this, your head will roll, Benedict Hodges.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it after yours roll first, my Lord,¡± Hodges calmly replied, leaving Rudolf to look at his sarcastic smile. ¡°Damn, it. Now what? Your face keeps bringing the unfortunate news these days, Hodges.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I almost forgot. We received another message, the king and his entourage will open the SpaceDoor in ¡ª¡± A loud sound and distortion in mana stopped him, and he finished, ¡°They are here.¡±


    All gathered at the entrance except Hans since he was still coming back from the market. Amid the waiting, Deli asked her master, ¡°Do I need to keep anything in check? They are Grimgar''s ruling authority.¡±


    ¡°NO, it''s them who need to keep their manners in check,¡± Sierra responded nonchalantly, making Delimira giggle a little at her master¡¯s response. She was with her all the time, so she had forgotten the world used to call Sierra - the iron lady that bent against no one in the past. Looking around some more, she searched for a familiar face, ¡°Where is Hans?¡± she asked, and Vanessas answered with a serious look, ¡°He went to buy some things.¡± she paused while glaring at the spaceDoor, and after a few moments, completed her words, ¡°They are here.¡±


    An entourage of almost twenty dominion Knights stepped out first to check everything, expanding their domain to feel everything. The mages followed them, a lineup of all eighth circles spread in every direction. ¡°Are they going to war or something, My Lord.¡± Hodges asked Rudolf, ¡°You sure you didn¡¯t do anything bad.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember doing anything that drastic Hodges. He pretty much bought everyone from the palace¡­Hodges, make sure Hans doesn¡¯t do anything stupid. I don¡¯t want any more headaches.¡±


    ¡°Can we send them before he comes back, My Lord?¡±


    ¡°I do want that too, Hodges,¡± Rudolf mumbled, and it was not so faint that it could escape from others. So Deli being curious, asked Sierra, ¡°Why is Dean Rudolf panicking, Hans is reckless, but he is not an idiot.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the problem, he knows very well that Rudolf and I would step up no matter what." she sighed and continued, "All royals are somewhat prickly, and Hans doesn¡¯t entertain people more arrogant than him. You got the picture, right?¡± These words sent Delimira into deep thought, ¡°So there is no stopping him once they get him pissed,¡± she finished and Sierra confirmed, nodding, ¡°Yes.¡± And as her words parted her lips, their King finally stepped out from the SpaceDoor.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 109: The Annoying Royalty (1)

    CHAPTER 109


    THE ANNOYING ROYALTY (1)


    ¡°Woah, wait,¡± Hans commanded in haste, and Aldrich was not one to dilly dally in sensing some scary presences in the mansion. After all, he was a dominion knight, one of the mighty existence in the county. ¡°Are we under attack or what?¡± he muttered. But Hans on the other hand was expanding his influence further and further to know more. Since his mastery over the AntiMana field, his senses had grown so much, and if he let loose the control, it could smoothly cover over hundred metres.


    ¡°Hmm. I wasn''t told that Uncle was visiting, ¡° Hans muttered, but it could not escape Aldrich¡¯s ears,¡° Uncle?¡± he asked in surprise. The only one his young Lord could call Uncle was the king himself.


    Hans jumped out of the carriage and went right in with a bang, ¡°Ha, I was right. What are you doing here, UNCLE,¡± he shouted without holding his manners and continued taking long strides towards him only to be stopped by one of his dominion knights. With visible displeasure on his face, the knight said, ¡°He is the king of the country ¡ª¡°


    ¡°And you are just a knight, so shut up. Grown-ups are talking here. Haan !¡± Hans instantly refuted.


    ¡°You are still funny Hans,¡± the king chimed in, not wanting to make an issue of this since he knew Hans would be guaranteed to make a molehill out of this. Shifting his gaze to the voice, Hans commented, ¡°And you still keep useless people around Uncle.¡±


    ¡°Uncle,¡± the king was surprised at first, but thought that Hans was going to call him only once, not continuing this charade for long, but since he called him uncle once again, he was startled. ¡°Hearing uncle sounds good, but you were very reluctant in the past,¡± he asked in confusion.


    ¡°Well,¡± Hans spoke with a smug face, ¡° I was pretty pissed last time. I hate rain, and you caused it for days.¡±


    ¡°But calling me Uncle, it sure is not Count Rudolf¡¯s idea.¡± The King said, thinking hard, but Rudolf interrupted, scolding Hans softly, ¡°Hey Squeaky, shut up and come here. Don¡¯t cause any mess.¡±


    ¡°Chill old man, I¡¯m talking to a family elder here ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ah, my head,¡± Rudolf clasped his head and whispered to his wife, ¡°Dear, shut this blabbermouth before he causes any more trouble.¡± But before Sierra could say something, Samwell spoke happily, ¡°Hmm¡­ Uncle sure sounds nice.¡±


    ¡°Then give it to me?¡± Hans extended his hand as the king exchanged glances with others in the room, not understanding what was happening. And after not receiving any answers, Hans looked at the King and spoke up, ¡°When an elder visits the young one, he should bring some gifts, right? You won¡¯t lack common sense, won¡¯t you UNCLE? This is your second visit, and you brought too much annoyance again.¡±


    ¡°Woah, he sure is a nutjob,¡± Deli almost said aloud, and Sierra signalled him, ¡°Get him.¡± so she reached Hans in a jiffy, and interrupted, ¡°Hans, you must¡¯ve hit heatstroke ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking, it''s fricking cold out¡ª¡±


    ¡°That''s what I¡¯m saying, what nonsense are you talking, shut up.¡±


    But like his previous visit, Samwell did not get offended by him. Instead, he played along, ¡°Sorry I didn¡¯t bring anything this time either.¡±


    ¡°You have a thick ski uw..¡± Delmira was forced to shut his mouth with her hand and asked the king politely, ¡°Pardon him, he is not mentally stable, right now. I should bring him to his room.¡± After saying that, she practically dragged him out of there. And when they reached his room, Hans removed her hand and shouted at her, ¡°What the hell, Winters ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Haha:¡± she laughed holding her stomach, and said, ¡°That was awesome.¡±


    ¡°So, you aren¡¯t going to lecture me ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why would I? I¡¯m not your mother.¡±


    ¡°Way to rub salt in my wounds, Deli.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry about that, but you really are a nutjob. Aren¡¯t you? That''s the fricking king of your nation.¡± She emphasised, but Hans refuted, ¡°Then he should act like one. Why is he going with the whole powerhouses of Grimgar.¡± And the answer came from the door, ¡°That¡¯s probably because Eclipse is making a mess.¡± Hodges replied to the children. ¡°And why are you here, Mr Hodges? You should serve the guests, shouldn¡¯t you?¡±


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    ¡°My job became a lot troubling thanks to my young Lord disrespecting the king on his face ¡ª ¡±


    ¡°Then,¡± Deli interrupted, ¡°it''s okay to do that behind his back.¡±


    ¡°Nice one, Deli,¡± Hans said, cheering up.


    ¡°Aah, aah, my head, my problems are multiplying,¡± Hodges whined, clasping his head while both, Hans and Delimira laughed it out. Forgetting that there were some difficult matters discussed right below their floor. But Hans did not forget that entirely, and after teasing Hodges for a time, he asked him, ¡°Why is he here?¡± and Hodges replied, ¡°Most probably because of the blunder Xandor caused.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t they got their ass handed to them by Alliance ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Language, young Lord ¡ª¡±


    ¡°People are dying and you are worrying about me picking bad words, just give me the answer, Mr Hodges.¡±


    The butler sighed and thought, ¡°Just when will I get a chance for retirement?¡± and answered Hans, ¡°That¡¯s what Alliance is preaching, the reality is something else¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡± Hans asked, tightening her brows. However, Hodges contemplated before answering and reached the verdict, if the words were going to enter children''s ears anyway, it does not matter if it was from his mouth so he spoke the truth, ¡°They aimed to steal something, Alliance still don¡¯t know what it was and the attack on Clandor.


    ¡°And how did we get to know that?¡±


    ¡°Sir, Dijkstra was there, he went there to Kill Cornell, the one who commissioned young Winters lady''s assassination and spoiled Xandor¡¯s plan on the way. So he wrote back to Count Rudolf some time ago, explaining everything.¡±


    ¡°Wow,¡± Hans turned to Delimira and said, ¡°We were right, Winters... Winters.¡± He shook her since she was in a daze and asked Hodges, ¡°She must be alright, I mean, the princess, she is alright, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she is fine and suffered nothing. She should thank Dijkstra. He unknowingly saved their royalty. I¡¯m sure he is sitting in some corner and plucking his hair after realising it.¡±


    ¡°Thank god Allynna is well.¡±


    ¡°So who is she to you,¡± Hans asked, ¡° I thought you didn''t like anyone there.¡±


    ¡°No, she is different, if you met her, you are gonna like her a lot, unlike us, she has a pure heart.¡±


    ¡°Me liking an elf,¡± Hans denied the notion and continued, ¡°Befriending one is enough Deli.¡± And he turned to Hodges, asking him, ¡°So until when are you stuck with us, Mr Hodges?¡± Hodges found a nearby chair and he said, sitting as he rubbed his knees, ¡°Until I''m told not to, young Lord.¡± Hans made an annoying face and replied, ¡°That¡¯s one way to waste my time.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t help it, young Lord, you act first, think later.¡±


    ¡°No, I do not,¡± Hans said as he turned to Delimira for affirmation, but she just looked at the other side, totally avoiding his eyes and asking her to agree with him. ¡°Traitor, Winters.¡± But she responded to those words, ¡°You know that¡¯s right, Hans.¡±


    ¡°So, I¡¯m the reckless idiot,¡± Hans shouted as he slipped towards the window and, shouted as he jumped out, ¡°then this reckless idiot is going to his private garden, don¡¯t follow me, or I¡¯ll get nuts with our guests.¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t cause anything if he is busy with whatever he is doing,¡± Delimira assured Hodges, and both descended the stars. ¡°Mr Butler, is the attack on Alliance the sole reason for the king of the Grimgar to visit this place?¡± Hodges nodded in concern and added, ¡°I hope so because I don¡¯t want to handle any other messes, our Count is one thing, and now the young Lord is acting like him too.¡±


    ¡°Well, they are family after all,¡± Delimira commented with a smile, and Hodges replied to her with the same demeanour, ¡°Him being reckless is fine, I just do not want him to turn like his father.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Delimira asked with confusion, it was apparent that this household respected Samson a great deal, so he was a little taken aback by Hodges¡¯s words and the old butler was sharp enough to catch her puzzled thought. So he responded in kind, ¡°His father would have killed half of the knights by now. Even in younger days, just for the reason they bought a massive force in his territory.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t argue with that,¡± Delimira responded, ¡°It''s threatening to be under the watch of these powerful figures.¡± Hodges was the one startled, ¡°I thought, you would think of him as a crazy, drunk in power.¡± Delimira shook his head and replied to the butler, ¡°Unlike Hans, his every action means something, right?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯d have liked you young lady, he had a few friends who could understand him.¡±


    ¡°Was Mother one of them?¡± Delimira asked, anticipating an answer, but Hodges shook his head and replied, ¡°No, but your father was, and a child named Mormon.¡±


    ¡°Mormon?¡± Delimira asked back, and Hodges responded, ¡°Yes, he died young, but before our Young Lord Samson befriended Elves, they were almost inseparable. His death shook him pretty badly then the elves pulled him out of his misery. That''s how he ends up being friends with your mother.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know this ¡ª¡±


    ¡°A very few people know this, young lady¡­ Ah, we are here.¡±Hodges said as they reached the hall, and Delimra left him to be seated right next to Sierra.


    As everyone turned to her, ¡°She is my disciple,¡± Sierra introduced her to the royal family, and they got a reply from the young prince accompanying the king. ¡°I¡¯m the second prince, Abrahim, and she is my only sister, Princess Cynthia.¡± But the princess had her own set of words to say in her introduction, she lifted her gaze towards Delimira and remarked, ¡°Are you the slut I¡¯m seeing all over the royal capital?¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 110 : The Annoying Royalty (2)

    CHAPTER 110


    THE ANNOYING ROYALTY (2)


    It was quite the adventure for Abraham to assist his father, King Samwell, on his journey to the Alliance, and he was enjoying the travels if he was honest. Being in the fifth year of Concordia, he hardly got any chances to spend time with his father, and when his father declared that he was going to stop by Edenberg County, his joy became doubled since he was mostly learning the management and administration in Concordia. There were hardly any encounters between him and the Dean of Knights, Rudolf Edeberg, the man he respected most after his grandfather.


    With these thoughts lingering, he waited, anticipating his father to ask him to introduce himself to the Count couple. ¡°I¡¯m the second prince, Abraham, and this is my only sister, Cynthia,¡± he said with every ounce of respect he could show.


    ¡°Are you the slut I¡¯m seeing all over the royal capital?¡± the princess of Grimgar said, spoiling Abraham¡¯s effort, ¡°Hey, Cynthia ¡ª¡± he clenched her hand, but the water was already spilt. ¡°Excuse me,¡± Delimira spoke up first.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one striping in posters, or am I wrong?¡± Cynthia asked as if she didn¡¯t say anything rude, but Sierra meddled in, ¡°Princess Cynthia, she is my disciple and child of a family friend.¡± This meant a warning, but being a royalty, it sounded to her as a plea to stop. However, she was not gonna stop there. This was coming from her damaged pride. She was a tri-attribute mage herself, studying in the mage tower, and was a fourth circle mage at the mere age of fifteen. And because of the overwhelming talent she possessed, she could see the vast amount of mana inside Delimira in just two circles. And her having the quad element mana was not hard to sense either. If that was not enough, she was far greater beauty than her as many had said in the Mage tower. So things kept adding, and her inferiority complex gave her a huge blow.


    She remarked to Sierra, ¡°If she was this precious to you, then you should have stopped her from stripping like a slut in the advertisement ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Cynthia, stop this,¡± Abraham shouted, but the princess jibed him instead, ¡°What? Do you also want her skirt like every other horny dog in the capital ¡ª ¡±


    ¡°YOU GUYS ARE DIGGING YOUR GRAVE HERE¡± Vanessa inserted herself in the conversation, but her word choice was too grave, alerting everyone in the mansion. However, even when her father is signalling her to stop, Cynthia didn¡¯t care, ¡°You are just a daughter of a dominion knight. How dare a peasant like you threaten me.¡±


    Vanessa remained calm and shifted her gaze towards the king himself, she asked in a grim tone, ¡°Are you sure you wanna do this.¡± And Samwell understood that it had gone too far, he was here for a friendly visit not to create tension between future pillars of Grimgar kingdom, ¡°Cynthia, Stop this instant,¡± he said with a serious tone and looking at the Count couple, he sincerely apologised, ¡°She is my only daughter so I spoiled her a bit too much.¡± A King apologising for things like children''s squabbles was unheard of, so Rudolf accepted, and since Samwell stepped in, there was no reason to stretch this long. Sierra was checking on her disciple, and Vanessa intervened again, ¡°Do not let Hans know about this ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not insane, senior,¡± Delimira responded with a wry smile. She was mocked all her life, and this much was nothing. But after receiving care of Edenberg''s household, she grew a bit soft, so the comment and the gaze of Princess Cynthia had left a bad taste in her mouth. Though, it was not like she could go ballistic like Hans, so she just gritted her teeth and let it be. However, even after the King apologised in person, the mood remained gloomy in the hall. So Rudolf broke the silence and, aiming at Samwell, said, ¡°When the formality is over, we¡¯ll have some conversation about this, like gentlemen.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you just let it go?¡± the king asked in return, but Rudolf was adamant, ¡°I should, but when I think deeply, it seems the children don''t know who I am these days. I even went nuts on several accounts, but kids these days keep forgetting ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Talking about kids,¡± Samwell dodged the conversation and interrupted him, ¡°Where did you send my nephew, sir Alastor?¡±


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    ¡°You are dumb or what?¡± Rudolf raised his voice, alerting every one of the royal knights again. Observing the sudden change, he calmed down a little and whispered, ¡°You wanted him in this mess. Do you want to charge us with treason that badly, or what?¡± This made Samwell chuckle, and he responded, holding himself back a little, ¡°Well, if he was here, the possibility of having that would be very high.¡± He kept laughing for a while, so Sierra chimed in, ¡°I would¡¯ve asked my DISCIPLE to show you around, but chances of happening that went poof, so how about you two sit the boring conversation with adults,¡± she said staring at the royal children and asked Delimira to go do her daily tasks.


    For an hour, they discussed and pondered over the Eclipse incident, and Rudolf shared the news he got from Dijkstra, omitting many details, of course. But when things started to settle in, Samwell asked Rudolf, ¡°I heard, Hans met the Parvians.¡± And Rudolf was not surprised by that, it was not uncommon for a king to have many eyes and ears in every corner of the kingdom, and a cautious person like Samwell has to have them. But Rudolf simply replied, ¡°You¡¯ve to ask this from the brat directly. Hodges,¡± he asked to bring Hans into the hall, and surprising everyone, Hans came drenched in alcohol¡¯s scent.


    ¡°What were you doing?¡± Rudolf asked in irritation. So Hans snarkily replied, ¡°Drinking, what else.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you smoke too?¡± he took another jab or tried to, but the boy was way ahead of him. ¡°I should quit that, right gramps?¡±


    ¡°Agh,¡± Rudolf grunted in silence, ¡°Ah, my neck¡± he clasped the back of his neck and whined, but Hans shifted his focus on their guest instead of enjoying the miserable expression of his. ¡°So what do we have here? I thought it was more of a pitstop than a long visit. When are you leaving King Samwell.¡± he said, looking down at the king. And as he expected, someone took it as a thorn in their throat. ¡°Not your majesty, not my king, no respectable titles, how dare you address him casually?¡± a knight yelled, but before he could finish his words, he suddenly fell on his knee, throwing a blood geyser through his mouth, and Hans commented without even looking at the knight, ¡°You should control your dogs well, King Samwell,¡± he said with a voice filled with arrogance. Samwell mumbled as he shifted his gaze from Hans to his knight kneeling behind the boy, ¡°That was a dominion knight ¡ª¡±


    ¡°He''ll live, don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t start a losing fight, but one should adhere to the proper manners. How dare this peasant to get loud with me.¡± And as his voice was the mandate of heavens, the knight vomited more blood. But this was not the end of his suffering, clenching his heart, he struggled like a fish out of the water and finally collapsed into the ground. Even when their comrade fell, nobody moved. The Knights didn¡¯t know what and how this was happening, but protecting their king prioritised everything.


    However, the hot-tempered Cynthia was not that keen, she shouted, ¡°Stop, this instant ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk,¡± Hans shook his head, and turning towards the startled Samwell, he said, ¡°A dog is one thing, but you should at least teach some manners to your daughter. At this rate, she¡¯ll get herself killed.¡±


    This was a challenge and mockery towards the king of this land, and no matter how much Samwell liked Hans, this crossed the line, ¡°Are you threatening ¡ª¡± but before he could finish, his daughter ranted with fierceness, ¡°You dare, threaten me.¡±


    ¡°Oye,¡± Hans responded with a heavy voice, and suddenly everyone felt the change in the room like a subtle wave had just grazed them. And they all realised the vanishing of mana, air filled with stillness and so dense that it  felt like they were submerged in the water.¡±Do you know?¡± Hans asked her, ¡°What the worse could happen if I snap your neck here, right at this very moment?¡±


    ¡°You ¡ª¡±


    ¡°And don¡¯t give me any pathetic excuse, like I can¡¯t cause I damn frickin can.¡±


    Samwell found the boy¡¯s confidence and will, shrieking loudly that he was not just saying empty words, and even if he can¡¯t, he didn¡¯t want to stick around to see that. Raising his head, he ordered every knight to stand down. They had already unsheathed their sword and were ready to strike any moment. But they were not the only ones, Rudolf, Sierra, and Aldrich were also ready. However, Rudolf was puzzled, ¡°This is the fucking VoidZone, that brat pulled out the VoidZone,¡± he mumbled so loud that everyone heard it. This was the most terrifying skill, more commonly known as Samson¡¯s domain, which had instilled fear in many, and the dominion knights of royal guards understood what happened to their fellow companion. It was one of the effects of VoidZone, where knights died like flies.


    But breaking that silence, Hans asked Cynthia once again, ¡°Now tell me, princess, do you know what the worst could happen if I kill you right now.¡± But observing the attitudes of others, she became speechless. Her confidence had taken a grave hit after learning and hearing the mumbling of the knights. This maniac could really kill her, that¡¯s the only thing that keeps wrecking chaos in her mind. So Hans answered, ¡°Nothing. Do you know why? Because your father is a king, he would be forced to choose between revenge and Grimgar. ''Cause no matter who came to stop me, I¡¯ll escape and make my life goal to burn Grimgar to the ground. there are many eager to help me achieve that.¡± He turned to Samwell and continued, ¡°Now, Laugh because the possibility of having that would be very high. ¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 111 : It Was All Acting, Grandma

    CHAPTER 111


    IT WAS ALL ACTING, GRANDMA


    ¡°He knows.¡± That''s the only thing that ran through everyone¡¯s mind. The first one to throw his stare at Delimira was Rudolf, but the girl outright denied it, shaking her head left and right, so his eyes led him to Sierra who was as surprised as he was. ¡°Which idiot, created this mess,¡± he thought, and to not exaggerate this already volatile situation, he tapped on Hans¡¯s shoulder and said,¡± You should stop now.¡± And turning to Samwell, he returned him his own words, ¡°He is the only child of our house, so I spoiled him a bit too much.¡±


    Hans tried to loosen his gramps grip on his shoulder, but it was as firm as it could be, not budging a bit, so he started pouring his best effort. However, Rudolf pushed further, ¡°I told you to stop Hans, he is our king, after all, you should respect his position,¡± he whispered into the boy''s ears.


    ¡°NOT MINE,¡± Hans emphasised his words which Rudolf had a hard time understanding at this moment, so he asked Hans, What he was talking about, and Hans uttered once again, ¡°I said. He is not my king. I¡¯m not from Grimgar. I was born in a powerful nation which forced the world to unite, just for standing against, and still, they couldn¡¯t do shit.¡± And when no one said anything in response after his declarative statement, he continued turning to Samwell, ¡°I¡¯m no Edneberg. I''m my father¡¯s son, he named me Hans, meaning, a gift from the gods, and I''m as much Parvian as he was. So before you people do anything stupid, beware to not accelerate his second coming.¡± He then turned to the butler, who was in some sort of trance, and shook him up with his bold authoritative tone, ¡°Hodges.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes sir,¡± Hodges replied quickly.


    ¡°Our guest filled their bellies, and we showed a frickin hospitality despite their annoyance.¡± Then turning to the King again, he said or more of declared, ¡°They are leaving.¡±


    No one in their right mind would act like this against the ruler of the nation where they were living, but the mansion people didn¡¯t know what was backing Hans. And they were right to worry, it was not like he was an official royalty of Parv, and even if he was, Parv was thousands of kilometres apart from this place, but Samwell understood where his confidence was coming from. The purpose of his visit was to find out if Arat really made contact with Hans and if it was true, what did they talk about, but seeing Hans act like this, most of his doubts were somewhat cleared.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he responded, ¡° since my children were at fault and you showed where you stand, Hans Parv. We¡¯ll get out of your hair, but you ruined your chance here. You will certainly regret it ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bring your brats, next time you wanna talk about something serious.¡± Hans interrupted, ¡°It''s not me, but you who are ruining your chances because of your pride. You are a king not a fool for your children, so don¡¯t get emotional,¡± Hans glanced at Cynthia and continued, ¡°You have a nation to look after, not just a pathetic wannabe mage.¡±


    Samwell didn¡¯t say anything after that, and his entourage opened the return SpaceDoor on the king''s command. And for the sake of formality, Hans and the family came to the doors to drop them off. In between the tense situation, Rudolf managed to whisper into Han¡¯s ears, ¡°Are you possessed?¡± he asked as he couldn''t believe his eyes, Hans¡¯s gait, his words, and his every action, reminded him of Samson, and he was not only one, the people who knew the late king of Parv were thinking the same but when it became apparent that the SpaceDoor of royal closed. hans returned to his former self, ¡°That was frickin close, hick, hick,¡± Hans shouted and started hiccupping.


    ¡°He is still the brat,¡± Rudolf said as his bottoms fell on the ground, ¡°This was intense, we almost had a civil war.¡± Everyone could agree with those words, but Hans was looking at the message floating before his eyes


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    SpaceDoor destination changed to the Frozen tooth successfully.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Enjoy yourselves, hick! You royal prickheads, hick! hick!.¡± Hans laughed, continuing to hiccup.¡°That was awfully closed, little brother.¡± Vanessa said as she came beside him. ¡°Yeah,¡± Hans replied as he kept a firm press on his chest to stop his situation and when it stabilised a little, he added with a loud voice, ¡°But all went well as you said, sis.¡±


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°What?¡± everyone shouted in surprise, Vanessa was the last one they thought that snitched royals to Hans, and Delimira was the one who felt most betrayed, so she came close to her, turned her by the hand, whispering, ¡°You asked me not tell him, senior.¡±


    Removing her hand slowly, Vanessa replied calmly and clarified, ¡°You telling him, and me telling him has different outcomes.¡± Then she bowed before Rudolf and Serra, ¡°Please forgive me, lord and Lady. I wanted to make sure that they treat Hans as Samson¡¯s son, not some happy-go-lucky chump they can use in future.¡±


    ¡°Phew, it''s alright.¡± Sierra, known for her iron will and never showing anxiety, finally breath in relief, and added, ¡°A reminder should have been nice Vanessa.¡± She was not angry because the situation could have become difficult but not unsalvageable, so it was good as long as the outcome was good for her. So she didn¡¯t mind, however, Vanessa kept apologising until she got a verbal acknowledgement from her. Since even if the fight broke, they were not the ones to lose much. Sierra still sensed Vanessa feeling apologetic so she said, ¡°Well, for one thing, it feels good to see royals who came with a momentum returned to the capital embarrassed ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, they are not going to the capital, Grandma.¡± Hans interrupted, ¡°I sent them to the Frozen tooth. They should know their place, Auch, ah ¡ª¡± Sierra pulled Hans¡¯s ears, raining on his victory parade, ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting ahead of ourselves, Prince Hans parv, you are no Edenberg, haan?¡±


    ¡°It was all the act, granny, acting. You see¡­acting..ouch ouch¡± Hans rubbed his ears as she finally let go of them. But when everyone was thinking of their own things, Delimira asked Hans of what she did not understand in this chaos, ¡°What is this VoidZone? Is that Swoosh thing you did, Hans?¡± However, instead of Hans, Rudolf answered him, ¡°It is a three-part skill, first disconnects your connection with mana, so regeneration of mana and aura is cancelled, second can kill knights as long as they are not careful, and the third one provides a shield like defence to the user, stopping the user from getting any magic damage ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you put a frickin banner out, gramps,¡± Hans chimed in, ¡°Dissecting my trump card like some third-rate skill,¡± he retorted, but Rudolf instantly replied, ¡°Everyone knew of this but still fell prey to it in the past, kid.¡±


    ¡°Do you think using this is easy, there are many scenarios to think of, and it''s darn difficult to pull off. I was secretly concentrating Inectio, for an hour on that knight.¡±


    Rudolf got surprised by those words so he asked, ¡°Did you know he was going to act up ¡ª¡± However, instead of Hans, Delimira answered, ¡° He looked like the one who is eager to be noticed, right Hans?¡±


    ¡°Yeah... that¡¯s what I was going to say Deli,¡± Hans replied, scratching his head, ¡°of course SCAN judged the possibilities, but it''s not you guys need to know,¡± he thought and came out of his thinking when Sierra asked him, ¡°But you send them to Frozen tooth? ¡±


    ¡°Oh, that! I learned a little trick from Arat. That aside, my act was satisfying right?¡± he asked with anticipation and Delimira was the one who responded first, ¡°Yes, very. I feel light like some weight got lifted from my chest. And how do you say, yes, it was frickin cool.¡±


    ¡°Hihi¡± Hans giggled but Sierra and Rudolf¡¯s response was different, they still cautioned Hans to be careful because a loose mouth is the culprit of most death in Genas to date, and they didn¡¯t want Hans to be one of its victims. They were this carefree because what Hans said to Samwell in the last was true; Samwell was not the idiot, he ousted his elder brother to Deadlands and obtained the throne without fighting. So there was no way he would make an enemy out of Hans since he can¡¯t nip him right now. They were whispering to one another, but suddenly Hans raised his voice which drew their attention to him again.


    ¡°Hey, where are you going?¡± he asked departing Delimira, and she nonchalantly replied.¡°You showed something pretty scary. I need to train more so I can catch up to you again ¡ª¡± Hans rushed to her and interrupted, ¡°Like hell, I¡¯m gonna allow that again.¡± He turned to Rudolf and Sierra, and shouted back, ¡°I¡¯m gonna train some more.¡± And both of them disappeared. There were not many days left for their holidays, and something scary was eyeing Hans at this very moment. ¡°So, I can go back there,¡± a ghastly figure muttered, standing right before the Edenberg couple''s eyes, hiding his presence like a master, ¡°Xandor, that fucking lunatic, made chaos at the right time, and Arat being careless, is the god truly on my side after all.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 112 : Ghost of the Past (1)

    CHAPTER 112


    GHOST OF THE PAST (1)


    ¡°Are you that eager to get your head cracked?¡± Koznot, the dwarven bar owner, said, hitting his table. He was facing Hans, who just came here, demanding the materials for his following modification. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you ask me for a demonstration first? Don¡¯t you wanna know what I did with your alcohol?¡± Hans responded without getting intimidated.


    ¡°We just let you go last time to give a face to the Count ¡ª¡±


    ¡°But you asked me to show what I can accomplish with your stuff. You sure you don¡¯t wanna see it?¡± Hans interrupted again, but Koznot remained firm and asked him to leave. However, before Hans reached the doors, another dwarf stopped him and, turning to Koznot, asked loudly, ¡°It won¡¯t hurt to take a look, old bones.¡±


    ¡°These younglings and their nonsense, fine ya,¡± Koznot responded, swatting his desk with the wiping cloth and continued, ¡°Follow me to the testing field, and you better have something worthy of my time.¡±


    While escorting to the place, Hans whispered to the young dwarf beside him, ¡°What happened to him? The last time he asked me if I needed materials, I should show him something incredible, but now he is chasing me away. Is he drunk in the morning or what?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that!¡± the young dwarf responded, scratching his short beard, ¡°It''s nothing new, he is just grumpy. His mood will flip if you have something decent to show. Dwarves are known for their curiosity after all. If you can perk it up, we can be quite generous and give things for free.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I have read. A dwarf gave away a legendary sword to a human just because he outlasted him in a drinking game, and the weapon wasn¡¯t even in the wager.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it was our tribe chieftain back in our homeland. you know Hellforge right?" Hans nodded to his question, so he continued, "You could also get something similar if you make him happy but you''ll get your head cracked if it''s something mediocre.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    ¡°He is a psycho, and most of the old ones are. so if you plan on stopping at Hellforge, write your will before.¡±


    They reached the testing field where many dwarves were already present, testing their inventions, and the chief of their ragtag group was also there. ¡°What dragged your wimpy ass here Koznot,¡± the chief asked, and the bar owner responded, ¡°This human wanted to show something.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then show it.¡± the chief asked Hans, unlike Koznot, he was in a cheery mood, and hearing those words, Hans stretched his hand out and started focusing. First, a seed formed in his fist, it was the fire-flower seed that he mutated soaking in alcohol and merged it with his vines, and when he got the feeling, he shouted out.


    ~FlameBind~


    The seed wiggled, floating in his hand, and vines sprouted out, surprising the dwarves. But the red-green vines which were enough to startle the dwarves, didn''t stop there. Soon they engulfed themselves in the flame upon contact with the air. Writhing like a serpent, it launched itself, swiftly enveloping the testing dummy. And, within seconds, consumed the target, turning it into charred ash.


    ¡°That''s no magic. It was the real plant,¡± Koznot said as he was dazed. He was more amazed by the existence of a wood mage rather than the powerful FlameBind. But there was something he couldn¡¯t understand, as far as he knew, this was not possible by any wood mage of the past. So, getting out of his shock, he continued, ¡°You are not conjuring things, but it is permanent. What are you, a god? No, it''s half, but how come a half-god exists in these lands and a part human on top of it?¡± He was muttering things and his word choices intrigued Hans, ¡°What do you mean half-god?¡± he asked in curiosity. It was something new that he had heard from anyone about him. Koznot was talking to himself, jumbling his words, so the current chief of the group shook him, ¡°What are you mumbling oldy?¡±


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    Koznot shifted his gaze and replied, ¡°Can¡¯t you remember, Imophet asking us to merge with him?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, But every one of us failed ---.¡±


    ¡°However, this brat feels like the one who succeeded or a part of it succeeded," Koznot responded, still staring at Hans, "I felt it when he birthed that seed. It''s a fucking life, no magic or wood mages in the past were capable of doing this.¡± he then took few steps forward, closing his distance to Hans and asked, ¡°Are you also capable of making other living beings?¡±


    ¡°No, only plants,¡± Hans responded quickly, eager to know more about this half-god theory, and Koznot didn''t fail him, ¡°That¡¯s why I said a part of him is a god, not a complete one. Wait..¡± Koznot paused for a bit and asked in haste, ¡°You were born in the motherland, right?¡±


    ¡°What motherland?¡± Hans asked back, so Koznot corrected himself, ¡°The sleeping Mountain range that separates Parv and CLandor. The resting place of Mother Osiris. The founding god and mother of Imophet.¡± He elaborated, but Hans made a grumpy face, hearing his nonstop rambling, and asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you just say, Parv? And, yes, I¡¯m probably from there.¡±


    ¡°Iron balls, no wonder.¡± The other dwarves kept staring at him more and more like they had found another interesting thing to watch for, and Hans became busy answering them one by one. It was not like he could run away from them. A curious dwarf was much more dangerous than an angry one, and he knew that very well. However, apart from the bustling atmosphere, there was also a transparent, ghostly figure following him quietly. He was levitating right above him, and after listening to Hans carefully, he couldn''t help but say, ¡°So the first book he talked about was for his son, greedy bastard. Even in the end, he left it for his blood while sending me in this limbo, just because I wanted more.¡± He stared at hans once more and realised again how much he looked like his father, sighing he continued, ¡°As long as the most powerful one, the book of Prophecy, remains unclaimed, I still have a chance. I¡¯ll kill this pipsqueak and claim all he has¡­. But I need to find that first so I can go back and form a body.¡±


    Unaware of the malice, Hans finally took a breath of relief as the dwarves stopped their unceasing questions and asked them what he came here for, ¡°Can you give the GroundShit and BabySugar, now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, Rudar,¡± Koznot shouted looking at another dwarf, ¡°bring whatever this midget wants.¡±


    ¡°A midget calling me a ¡®Midget¡¯, it seems I¡¯m really short, even with dwarven standards. Why can¡¯t I just grow some height, it''s been a year, and I grew, what, two or three millimetres.¡± Hans thought as the dwarf called Rudar brought him the stuff. He didn¡¯t want to stay anymore in this place, and even the offer from Koznot to a trip to the dwarven forge couldn¡¯t entice him. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving,¡± he said and quickly got out of the community. However, he was not alone, the ghostly figure still followed him in his every step. His ethereal existence was incapable of harming anyone, but it gave him the advantage of complete stealth. Even the warlords couldn¡¯t detect him, and Rudolf was not the exception either.


    ¡°So did you buy everything?¡± Rudolf asked, finding Hans running around the backyard. ¡°Yeah,¡± Hans replied and ran past him, leaving him in wonder, what his brat was up to. Finding himself in his private training space, Hans said to himself, ¡°Let''s begin.¡± He tried his best, reading the lines in the book again and again, but he couldn¡¯t create the GroundShit and BabySugar since it was inorganic in nature, ¡°Now what?¡± It was the first time something that Samson wrote turned out to be false. But giving up the upgrades of SeedBullet¡¯s explosive and camouflage ability was a waste. ¡°Let''s try merging things with what I have,¡± he said to himself again and started creating a seedBullet pallet with the materials as the centre. But the result for BlastBullet was somewhat disappointing. It was heavy and had a short range no matter how tight the mana path for the projectile is stretched. "well. that''s it for the range, let''s see the firepower ---"


    ¡°Boom,¡± the explosion went off, sending shivers to the mansion, alerting everyone as they hurried towards its epicentre, only to find Hans, squatting, his hands covering his ears, painted in the black ash and coughing up the billowing smoke. ¡°Squeaky," Rudolf shouted in anger, "I just want one day, just a single day without any trouble. Can¡¯t you help your grandpa here? My bones crackle even when I do not move. I¡¯m old, kid, I¡¯m really old for this kinda shit¡ª¡±


    ¡°Where does your age go when you go out with grandma, in your so-called secret outings, Haan¡­cough, cough,¡± Hans retorted, coughing up again. He was ranting and arguing with his grandpa, however, the ghost lurking around was surprised to see the size of the explosion, ¡°This brat just cleared the entire field, its potency is at least twice the size of mana bombs from my time. This is serious, he needs to die. Should I call my minions? No, I first need to find that thing, I need to bypass the Parvian fog with it. The Book of Fate is a secondary objective, as long as it''s not the book of prophecy. Yes, yes, let''s first find that damn thing.¡±


    Sierra came later, and just like her usual routine, she first checked Hans for injury and then nagged him to her heart¡¯s content. Then came Rudolf¡¯s turn, ¡°You have one job, and you aced it, dear husband. Can¡¯t you keep an eye on a single child? Do I have to do everything around¡­¡± and it went on for a long-long time.

 Elven Lies I Chapter 113 : Ghost of the Past (2)

    CHAPTER 113


    GHOST OF THE PAST (2)


    ¡°So, what are you up to now?¡±


    ¡°What does this thing do?¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t it be dangerous?¡±


    ¡°Hey, squeaky, watch for the explosion.¡±


    ¡°Gramps,¡± Hans shouted back, ¡°just stay still for a minute. I¡¯m trying not to blow this up.¡±


    ¡°But ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Jeez, don¡¯t you have something else to do, gramps?¡±


    Hans sighed, since that unfortunate day, Rudolf was following Hans like a little girl stalking her crush, and it was getting annoying on so many levels for Hans. Rudolf interfered in every little thing he was doing. So, frustrated, Hans pushed him with all his might, ¡°Just give me some space, Grandpa. I¡¯m begging you.¡± However, even with Hans¡¯s full force, Rudolf couldn¡¯t budge a bit, ¡°No way, Squeaky,¡± he responded, ¡°My ears still hurt from your grandma¡¯s nagging. I¡¯m not taking chances here. Just one more week, and you¡¯ll be back in Concordia. Aah, it feels working there was more of a vacation than returning home ¡ª¡± ¡°Boom,¡± ¡°Ah! My head. What now?¡± Rudolf asked, almost fuming, but Hans innocently pointed at the Manor¡¯s front, ¡°It''s not me this time.¡±


    ¡°Which bastards grew balls that big to attack my place,¡± Rudolf said as he jumped to the entrance in one leap. ¡° Show off,¡± Hans commented and followed him on foot. He needed to run through the Manor since they were in the backyard at the moment. He ran straight, passing through the anxious servants " I should''ve gone around the Manor. I thought this was a shortcut." He kept his pace, evading them.


    ¡®Go downstairs, underground, hurry up.¡¯


    ¡®What''s happening.¡¯


    ¡®Just evacuate fast, don¡¯t dilly dally here.¡¯


    ¡®Yes, we¡¯ll be just a burden here.¡¯


    Hans found Hodges in his most active form yet, escorting the servants hastily. He looked past him, no one was following them, and it confused him, but the old butler¡¯s experience told him that they would soon see blood. They both crossed paths, and Hodges grabbed his hand, stopping him he said,. ¡°Young Lord, come with us.¡± he pleaded, but Hans shrugged him off, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll run if I can¡¯t fight,¡± and disappeared from Hodges''s sight, making him more worried.


    ¡°You finally caught on, slowpoke,¡± Rudolf remarked without even turning back. ¡°There are ten people, all very strong. Be on guard,¡± he added. However, his words surprised Hans, ¡°What? That''s something, I thought you would send me to hide.¡± he remarked, and he was right, but Rudolf knew this was bound to happen sooner or later, so he deemed, it was better for Hans to experience his first fight under his eyes. ¡°These are not the beasts, they can think and improvise. Don¡¯t drop your guard even after killing them.¡± He cautioned him, but Hans remained playful, ¡°Wow, you are asking a ten, no Eleven-year-old child to kill someone ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Squeaky, stop joking, this is serious,¡± Rudolf shouted in seriousness. However, Hans replied, turning to his enemies while keeping his laidback attitude, ¡°One of my favourite characters once said this,¡¯ It''s your funeral fuckers'',¡± Then he raised his right hand, ¡°Swoosh.¡±


    ~SeedBullet~


    A sharp and piercing bullet impaled one of the mages in the group, but surprising Hans, the mage didn¡¯t even flinch. So, he couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°What are these?¡±


    ¡°Damn it,¡± Rudolf cursed and alerted his side, ¡°This is a death squad, they feel no pain. Don¡¯t relax until you kill them completely.¡± However, what troubled Hans was who sent them. ¡°Is Samwell gone crazy? He sent this many after me.¡± he uttered, but Rudolf denied it, ¡°These are not from Grimgar.¡±


    ¡°And, which birdie told you,¡± Hans retorted, but instead of his grandpa, Sierra answered, ¡°Because he is no fool.¡± She paused, scanning the still opponents and added, ¡°Six mages, all of the seventh circle and four knights, of grade seventy. This is troubling.¡± Unlike Rudolf Sierra had her own thinking, she turned to her disciple and asked, ¡°Take Hans back ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, Grandma, I can fight ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shut up Hans." Sierra interrupted in all her seriousness, "The most powerful thing you can do is VoidZone, but it will affect us too. You are a liability here.¡±


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    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Hans shouted, standing his ground, and debuted his new spell.


    ~SmokeSeed~


    With a puff sound, Hans and everyone got surrounded by smoke, heavy and grey, and he vanished. The smoke created by SmokeSeed was no ordinary thing either, it distorted everyone¡¯s ManaVision, disabling anyone tracking him. ¡°Deli, find him,¡± Sierra pressed on, and Delimira ran towards Hans¡¯s most possible location, a perfect sniping point. And on any normal occasion, her guess would have been right, but Hans wanted to confront these people head-on. He was running around, jumping and climbing, weaving the mana path for his projectiles. ¡°I know they are Samwell¡¯s goons. Gramps is wrong. After all, the only one I pissed off recently is that idiotic king.¡±


    Masking his presence, He reached the backs of the uninvited guests, but his crying seed couldn¡¯t find the time to show up since many of the County¡¯s knights were engaged in the battle. From the front of them, Rudolf, Sierra and Aldrich are confronting them, and from the back, Hans was aiming at his target, ¡°Let''s see how you handle things in my territory.¡±


    ~SilvaOrtus~


    The ground shook, alerting everyone. It was a huge movement, and everyone could feel something big slithering underground. And, in no time, they all saw a forest encasing the Manor. It was Hans¡¯s biggest spell yet, and gasping, he said, ¡°Now there is no escape for you idiots. My traps will take care of you if you come here, Haa!.¡± he took a long breath and continued, ¡°It''s hunting time ¡ª.¡±


    ¡°Found you¡±


    INSIDE THE MANSION


    ¡°So, did the master find it?¡± one mage asked another. They were overturning a very dangerous place in search of their master¡¯s artefact. ¡°I¡¯d have played sick if we were not so understaffed,¡± the first mage continued, but his partner in crime was too busy scouring the Count¡¯s bedroom. They just turned over his study and couldn¡¯t find what their master wanted. ¡°Damn it, just where does he keep it.¡± The second one finally responded in annoyance, ¡°Returning after attacking the Alastor is already a stretch and if we failed our objective. It would be really bad for us.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, you''re right,¡± The first one agreed, ¡°but do you think they can identify us?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter since King Grimgar has our backs.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it''s just that, he doesn¡¯t know it himself,¡± the first one laughed as he went to Hans¡¯s room.


    HANS¡¯S LOCATION


    ¡°Found You.¡± These words ran a shiver down Hans¡¯s spine. He was sure that no one could follow him. ¡°Even Gramps could not track me, how?¡± he mumbled, and the knight made his appearance, responding to those words, ¡°I¡¯m just the one extra sensitive here. I¡¯m a tracker after all.¡±


    ¡°Then you came alone, right?¡± Hans responded with a smirk, but it couldn¡¯t stretch to his ears, and the knight¡¯s punch straight to his guts welcomed him. A full-fledged strike from a grade seventy who wasn¡¯t holding back could shatter anything. And a tender boy was not something that could survive. However, even when Hans was tired, his senses rang a dangerous bell in his ears, and he encased himself with turtle vines just before the punch got connected. It reduced the impact, and several vines sprouted, making spiderwebs, grabbing him and slowing down his trajectory.


    ¡°Pfaa¡­¡±With a bloody mouth, Hans shouted back, ¡°I¡¯m in control here, cough, cough,¡± he coughed again and asked, ¡°Who sent you?¡±


    ¡°Where is the artefact?¡± the man asked only one thing but nothing else.


    ¡°Now, what¡¯s this shit? What artefact?¡± Hans responded in frustration. He really did not know what these people wanted. The only thing he had in the name of the artefact was Mother¡¯s embrace, and its sole function was to warm the surrounding in winter and to create this much chaos for that, it doesn¡¯t seem plausible. ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad for one thing, they did not come here for the book,¡± he thought as he felt his book tied behind his waist. However, the knight responded oddly, ¡°I like that you are not answering quickly. You see, I travelled a long way to beat you." the knight stepped forward, clenching his fist for another punch, "I won''t be disappointed with this¡­¡± With a poof sound, he appeared before Hans again, ¡°Time for the second stri¡ª¡±


    ¡°Right back at you,¡±


    ~SharpDeath~


    With twice the speed of the incoming knight, the steel-sharpened bamboos erupted, impaling one of his legs. ¡°Aagh, should I cry like this?" the knight mocked showing off that this was nothing, but there was one thing that confused him, "How can a mere trap hurt me?¡± startled, he asked himself. But Hans was not one to wait, ¡°And this is for punching me, bastard,¡± he shouted as he put his every ounce of power into a punch and connected it to the knight¡¯s guts. Returning the favour, however, It didn¡¯t send him flying, but the damage was significant since the knight almost coughed up some blood.


    Wiping his mouth, the knight said, ¡°So I should take you seriously, that¡¯s what you are telling me, right?¡± His words left his mouth, and channelling his aura, he covered his body with it. ¡°You won¡¯t be leaving here alive, brat.¡±


    ¡°You are the one walking right into my trap ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh! Is that so?¡± the knight interrupted as he crushed the SharpDeath¡¯s bamboo with his foot. ¡°You can¡¯t hurt a grade seventy with these tricks,¡± he said.


    ¡°Tsk,¡± Hans clicked his tongue, but he also knew that SharpDeath was not on the level of doing anything against a grade seventy. It worked before because this knight treated Hans as a kid and let his guard down, but now the very knight was marking him as an opponent. Hans started moving his mind gears in full swing, his opponent was too close to use Crying Seed. However, his trump card was something else in this fight. ¡°Let''s see, how my hard work bears fruits," he said as he spread his control over the surroundings."It''s Time for the second coming."


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 114 : The Dynamic Duo(1)

    CHAPTER 114


    THE DYNAMIC DUO (1)


    In terms of control or power, Hans¡¯s VoidZone was nowhere near its original state and had a significant disadvantage. It made him rooted to a place, making him a sitting duck if someone managed to reach him. However, he had a plan of his own. It was his debut in a real fight, and he wanted to see how far he could go with his father''s ultimate technique. His hand stretched out and shouted with everything he got.


    ~VoidZone~


    A small wave released from Hans, making a hemisphere of his controlled mana, covering more and more area. It went past the knight, and he could feel the disconnection to the mana, halting his aura regeneration. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± he shouted. He had never felt anything like it before, even fighting the big names. ¡°What is this spell, or its a domain of a knight, But I can¡¯t sense anyone beside the brat ¡ª.¡± "Swoosh," His thoughts were interrupted, and SeedBullets rained on him one after another, there was barely any interval between them. So he was forced to use his aura, covering himself in defence. ¡°This is bad,¡± he said to himself, knowing if he kept defending, he¡¯d eventually run out of aura, and that is what Hans was aiming for, but it was his secondary plan.


    ¡°Battle of attrition, No, I never like that kinda fight, no matter the odds. Just a little more,¡± he thought and shouted at the defending Knight, ¡°That¡¯s not the only thing I can do.¡± He started mixing several VeganBind and forcing him to use more aura to enhance his evasion. ¡±Just a little more. Just keep moving back.¡±


    ¡°Snap,¡± the knight had unknowingly retreated to the back and fell victim to Hans¡¯s predatory plants. However, with a little effort, the plant froze before it could do any damage. Nonetheless, it became another thing that knight had to watch out for. Grunting in frustration, he shouted, ¡°I was asked not to kill you until we find the artefact, But this is getting annoying¡­¡±


    Skill: Blizzard Strike


    He started swinging his sword randomly, but the slashes froze the path as they went on strike Hans. Even his VeganBind didn¡¯t manage to stop them, and it reached him, forcing him to move and breaking his control over the mana.


    As some breath returned to him, the knight felt the mana around. ¡°So that¡¯s how it works, it¡¯s a scary ability but with a great flaw.¡± The knight said as he continued to return Hans¡¯s favour. It was now Hans¡¯s time to dodge. ¡°Should I just go nuts, I¡¯ve unlimited mana anyway.¡± Hans thought, ¡°No, it will probably lead everyone here, Gramps will throw me inside. ---¡± The knight got annoyed, finding Hans thinking something else while fighting him, ¡°How dare you ignore me, brat,¡±. It was scratching his pride, he was going easy on him because he needed the information, but his patience got a limit, and Hans¡¯s act just crossed them.


    Skill: Sword Hails


    Unlike the blizzard Strike that froze anything on contact, this time, his aura manifested and turned into various ice swords. ¡°One two three¡­..twelve, damn it¡± Hans counted as he shouted. All were aiming at him. ¡°This is a problem.¡± But soon he slapped his cheeks, coming back to his senses, "Focus, man focus." As the ice swords targeted him, he said aloud,¡° Problems are opportunities, So get out of my face.¡±


    ~VoidZone~


    His act sent a little fluctuation, covering the surroundings in his hemispherical control again. And the Seventy grade knight again felt his connection to the world''s mana dissolving. However, unlike before he didn¡¯t get startled. ¡°You think, I don¡¯t have enough aura to send these things to you.¡± But ignoring him completely, Hans thought, ¡°I can negate three, that leaves nine to fend for ¡ª¡± ¡°Swoosh,¡± all the ice swords shot like javelins towards Hans, and three got negated quickly by SeedBullets, but the rest came like rushing bulls. Its spread covered all of his evading positions. ¡°He is leaving no room for manoeuvre, haan! I have a defence too, you sucker.¡±


    ~VeganBind + FlameBind~


    With speed and agility, he swiftly summoned a barricade of entwined vines to intercept the airborne ice swords. Reinforcing it with another layer of Flamebind from the back. However, this fusion slightly compromised its firepower, but Hans was not in need of any. He wanted a barrier that could work on the incoming attack, and he got one. When the ice swords tried to stab through the green vine wall, the flame bind melted them before they could reach him. ¡°Shweek,¡± but one managed to graze his legs. ¡°Shit! There goes my agility,¡± Hans shouted as the pain reached his head. ¡°I can¡¯t dilly dally now, I need to make sure that he can¡¯t negate my crying seed before it makes contact, or should I use the third ability of VodZone, Inectio? But that sod won¡¯t stay still like I want.¡±


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°So you are not just a brat, you got some moves, But you¡¯ll soon be running out of mana¡­¡±


    ¡°In your dreams... Iss..¡± he felt the pain again, ¡°I just need you to stay put for a minute. Only if I have a pair of extra hands¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do You Need Help?¡±


    Both knight and hans turned to the source of the voice, ¡°A second circle came to kill herself.¡± the knight interrupted. However, hans needed this variable, ¡°What are you waiting for Deli, an ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Invitation, oh yes please,¡± Delimira completed Hans''s sentence, adding, ¡°I thought you might get grumpy if I meddle in.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Hans asked, twitching his brows, ¡°Since when were you here?¡±


    ¡°Since you went flying.¡±


    ¡°So, you saw the whole thing.¡±


    Nodding, she again replied, ¡°Yes, but what are you doing, you can¡¯t take on a grade seventy, it''s idiotic to fight with a clear outcome. Let''s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°Do you think, I¡¯ll allow it ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± Delimira said in a tone that clearly showed she was looking down on him, ¡°If I want to take him away, even your whole company can¡¯t stop me.¡± The knight remained silent because he knew those confident eyes, they weren¡¯t lying. But Hans was genuinely surprised, ¡°Hey, where does your confidence come from?¡± he whispered to her as she came beside him and looking at his twitching face, she responded, ¡°I also learned some decent tricks, Hans. Do you think I was doing nothing when you learned VoidZone? So get ready, we are leaving here. It''s not our stage yet.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Hans refused, and his stand was firm, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn idiot, there is a difference in power. We can¡¯t take him on.¡±


    ¡°No, they came blowing up our doors, we ought to serve them well, and I can¡¯t watch someone act ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Act cooler than you, I get it but ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then stop that bastard for a while, buy me some time.¡±


    ¡°Aagh, you stubborn fool. Tsk, how much time do you need?¡± she asked, and Hans instantly responded, ¡°As much as you can buy, get that guy rooted.¡± His words left him, and Deli unbuckled her rapier from the waist, asking Hans in a muffled voice, ¡°So, do you still believe Samwell sent them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this fool kept asking me for an artefact that I don¡¯t have¡ª ¡±


    ¡°Brats, if you finished your goodbyes, shall I escort you to your death doors,¡± the knight interrupted, but Deli cut him off again, ¡°Stop meddling, we are talking here,¡± and glancing at Hans, she asked, ¡°How confident are you?¡±


    ¡°If all works well,¡± Hans responded, ¡°he¡¯ll be begging for his life.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine by me, but don¡¯t delay much, I¡¯m still not very good at using Krosh art.¡± She unsheathed her rapier, making the knight curious and finally realising who she was, the knight got delighted, ¡° A second circle, with a rapier, guess this is my lucky day, I get to kill the Parvian brat and the new sword mage. This is bound to give me a promotion.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, congratulations on your ascension,¡± Delimira responded, standing in Hans¡¯s front. ¡°I¡¯m fighting out of my league here, so hurry.¡± Closing her eyes momentarily, she concentrated and shouted. ¡°Let''s get this over ¡ª¡± ¡°Swoosh,¡± the knight¡¯s sword cut off her words in the middle like the air horizontally. ¡°Tsk," Delimira got annoyed again, "I was in the middle of talking, you pansy.¡± Her skin started to crack up, like a drought land, and from within those cracks, a dense dark smoke gushed out. And, pointing her rapier she asked the knight, ¡°Tell me who sent you and get out of here. Hans seemed pretty confident, you¡¯ll lose your life here ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey Deli, stop acting like a wuss and attack him already,¡± Hans shouted from the back. ¡°Tsk and this moron asked me to buy time, what do you think I¡¯m doing, idiot?¡± she glanced at him, and her thoughts must have been conveyed since Hans belatedly realised what she was aiming at and started preparing for his ultimate move. Delimira asked the knight again, ¡°Tell us who sent you here?¡± The knight, still laidback, crossed his arms, ¡°Hmm since I¡¯m killing you anyway. I should at least tell you, it''s your king Samwell Grim¡ª¡±


    ¡°It''s not him then!¡± Hans and Delimira interrupted in unison. A subordinate sent by Samwell will never acknowledge himself as one, and he addressed Samwell as ¡®your king¡¯, he thought he was talking to children but he was thoroughly wrong. Both Hans and Delimira were intelligent enough that someone was pulling the strings from behind. ¡°Hans,¡± Delimira said without looking back at him, ¡°Did you mess with anyone else?¡±


    ¡°No" Hans instantly denied, "Not that I know of.¡±


    ¡°Is your plan ready?¡± Delimira confirmed again, and Hans felt the control reaching over World''s Mana again. He was not just simply chatting while conversing with the enemy. ¡°Now,¡± he shouted.


    ~VoidZone~


    His control over mana widened, and the knight felt disconnection once again. And as Delimira was waiting for the moment. She smirked, ¡°We are really compatible now, Hans,¡± she declared, not feeling any restriction in Hans''s VoidZone and closing her eyes again she shouted.


    Krosh art first move - Mirage


    The smoke surrounding her acted violently and disappeared along with Delimira.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 115 : The Dynamic Duo (2)

    CHAPTER 115


    THE DYNAMIC DUO (2)


    ¡°You¡¯ll be the only one capable of fighting beside him, at least, until he fully masters his half-baked VoidZone.¡± Sierra had said these words to Delimira, and it became true to her, the moment Hans released the VoidZone for the first time. ¡°A power that disconnects one from outside mana, it would have been dangerous if I was a mage or knight, but I don''t run on mana like others.¡± A smirk etched on her face, ¡°We are really compatible now, Hans,¡± she said, making her first move.


    Krosh Art First Move - MIRAGE


    The smoke surrounding her acted violently, rotating like a tornado and with a poof, it disappeared along with Delimira.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± Hans and the Knight almost said in unison, staring at each other. Hans readily activated the ManaVision to the maximum, but he still couldn¡¯t see her. ¡°Damn it, just how much she is hiding ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No more than you, Hans.¡± a reply came, echoing from all sides. It was hard to pinpoint the source, ¡°Where are you ?¡± Hans asked, his eyes moving left and right But Delimira answered, still hiding, ¡°Our eyes are not compatible to see dead mana, at least not outside someone¡¯s body. Watch and be amazed, Hans.¡±


    ¡°Show off ¡ª¡± Hans muttered, and then suddenly, the knight raised his sword to the left, ¡°Clink,¡± he changed the stance quickly to the right, ¡°Clank.¡± He said, his eyes also searching like Hans¡¯s, ¡°I admit, I didn¡¯t expect this, but you are looking down on my experience, little wench. CLINK¡± he blocked again. Delimira was practically invisible, leaving no traceable tracks, yet the knight defended as he could see her. But Hans was on his own thought, ¡°Oh! This is why she was confident,¡± Hans realised, ¡°Can¡¯t leave her own, focus, Hans, get your shit together.¡± Using VoidZone multiple times in succession was not a walk in the park for him yet, so he focussed once again, holding the world mana in his firm control.


    Meanwhile, Delimira stayed true to her purpose. She was forcing the seventy-grade knight to remain rooted in one place. However, she knew if continued, her dead mana reserves would eventually run out. Hans was the focal point of this battle, and the knight also knew that, but whenever he tried to make a move on Hans, the invisible rapier poked her. It was not any significant damage to him, but getting hit by a child is not something a prideful knight like him could take lightly. ¡°Darn this wench, I¡¯ll kill you the most brutal way ---¡±


    Skill: Vortex Shock


    A skill similar to her own whirlpool spell hit Delimira. It was an omnidirectional skill, filled with the knight''s Icy aura. It was a taxing skill even without the effect of Hans¡¯s control over surrounding mana, so having the effect of VoidZone made it more burdensome. However, its push had unveiled Delimira. ¡°A stealth skill. It''s nothing much when you are still wet behind your ears.¡± He lunged at Delimira who was still trying to shake off the confusion.


    Skill: Blunt Strike


    His sword got covered with a blueish aura, changing its outer shape into a mace ¡ª


    ¡°I¡¯m still here,¡± Hans interrupted as the mace swung and struck the empty air. Turning to Hans, the knight became furious. For the first time, he had to worry about his aura reserves and when he finally got the chance to strike the wench, poking him like an annoying bee. Hans had snatched her in front of him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you feel embarrassed? You carry Samson¡¯s blood, and you are hiding behind a girl¡¯s skirt,¡± he provoked Hans, but being incited by Delimira for a long time had made his skin thick. So this level of provocation was hard to work on him. ¡°And what¡¯s wrong with it?" Hans refuted, "I won¡¯t mind hiding behind when the skirt is enough to deal with a knight like you ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hans, fling me to him, now.¡± Delimira interrupted in an orderly tone, and Hans followed, ¡°Yes ma''am.¡±  He sent Delimra at the knight like a bullet, and the knight shouted, ¡°Come here, you suicidal wench, come,¡± He was ready, filling his sword with the aura, ready to cleave the incoming opponent, and when Delimira was about to reach, he took the stance, his sword raised above, ¡±I¡¯ll send you to hell ¡ª¡±


    ¡°THIS IS HELL. YOU CAN¡¯T FALL BENEATH.¡± She declared, concentrating once more, putting her all in one last attack.


    Korsh Art Second Move - EMPTY CUT


    The rapiers became two, as she appeared in front of him, each in one hand but the second one was different, it was made from dead mana. The knight knew that the second one was not a physical weapon so he increased the aura output, yet that dead mana sword passed through his like air and struck his chest, giving him a fatal injury. Dead mana in a healthy body was a disastrous thing and he realised it soon as he could feel the mana poisoning.


    ¡°That''s all I need,¡± Hans shouted as he was waiting for this moment, ¡° Deli move.¡± Exploiting this opportunity, Hans stretched a quick mana path and shouted again, ¡°Got you?¡± The knight quickly raised his defence, since due to the wound his movements became restricted and he knew his agility had fallen below to evade the incoming pallet. He was sure of his defences, and it would have worked. However, he miscalculated because it was not the regular SeedBullet.


    ~Mutilate~


    The crying seed appeared but quickly got stopped by the knight. The knight¡¯s aura managed to slow the bullet down to quite a degree, and he was physically strong enough to stop the projectile which lost its momentum. He clasped his fist tight, catching the seed in his firm grasp. A smile came to his face, ¡°Is that all you got ¡ª¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t your parents teach you not to take things from strangers, Mr knight soon about to die?¡±


    His words were not even finished, and the knight felt something wobbling in his grasp. The fine threads came out of his fist and moved frantically, shaving away his skin and flesh while the knight cried in agony, trying to shake off the weird thing. ¡°Fuck! What is this, you¡¯ll pay for this, aagh.¡± The knight might have had immense pain resistance, but something shaving off his hand like a salami being prepared made him scared out of his wits. He was angry, losing an arm and fighting two children was shameful but it need to be done, he raised his sword above his left, ¡° Now, not even death can save you from me.¡± He said, severing his hand and engulfing himself in his icy aura.


    Skill: Sea serpent


    The aura gradually increased, bright blue, shining bright like pearls flowing within it. layering over and over the knight''s body. it was no wonder that this was the most powerful skill of grade seventy, but Hans was not gonna stick around to find out. For him to release a complete VoidZone, filled with all three traits - anti-mana field, invincible armour and Inectio, was something yet to realise, but there was no better place to grow than the pressure of a life and death battle.


    ~ VoidZone Complete ~


    The radius of his influence grew and showed the knight why VoidZone was among the most troublesome things to confront. Sustaining an injury and preparing the powerful skill has made him immobile, and the time Delimira bought him was enough to activate Inectio. His conjuring aura skill got negated in an instant as his own aura denied its use. If completed, the skill would have formed a gigantic serpent shape, but what was about to become a giant serpent turned into a metre-long snake made of snow.


    The knight was startled, and Deli was not the one to miss the chance. She got ready and concentrated once again. This was really the last bit that she was saving for running away, but since she could see the glimmer of victory. It was not her style to not give her all.


    Krosh Art First Move- MIRAGE


    Disappearing, she pierced the already wounded, severed side of the knight, digging her rapier half inside the chopped shoulder. No matter death squad or pain resistance, this was bound to hurt, and it did, the knight wailed in agony. He tried to bash her to the ground with his other hand, but she had already run away doing damage and appeared right beside Hans.


    ¡°Woah, you are a sadist, Deli.¡±


    ¡°Do you have time to joke around?" she poked the place where he was punched earlier, and Hans dropped to his knees, ¡°Damn this hurts.¡± He turned his anger to his rooted opponent and in VoidZone¡¯s complete form, the Inectio worked like a charm, sending the surrounding mana to the knight¡¯s heart as his body loaded with aura and started clashing the foreign mana. It gave nothing but devastating pain to the knight.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?" Delimira asked raising him, "This was not that bad when Samwell came ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because I couldn¡¯t kill a king¡¯s knight. I don¡¯t wanna flag my grandparents as rebels. ¡± Hans responded. They both closed the distance with the withering knight, rolling like a baby who got his candy stolen. ¡°Woosh,¡± his complete VoidZone got cancelled, ¡°I couldn¡¯t hold it even for a complete minute, so pathetic Hans¡±. Clicking his tongue, he approached the knight, ¡°So how are you feeling, Soon to die, Mr Knight.¡±


    The knight was not in any state to answer, VoidZone might have cancelled, but Hans was still forcing the outside mana into his heart and his body was fighting the invasion. Rubbing his stomach, Hans could still feel the pain from the punch before, ¡°I¡¯m a vengeful person, but I¡¯m willing to let it go. So Mr knight, I¡¯m giving you one last chance, tell me who sent you?¡± Hans slowed the invasion in his opponent¡¯s heart, but the knight kept looking at him like he was not gonna say anything.


    ¡°Your eyes,¡± Hans pointed out, ¡°I like the eyes filled with loyalty, let''s notch up a bit. Frankly, I don¡¯t care who sent you. He would come at me again anyway. Let me get some revenge for sending me fly.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that was quite the show,¡± Deli added fuel to the fire, gesturing how Hans flew through her hands "Swooo..." and it irritated Hans as she wanted. He turned to the knight with more menacing eyes, ¡°This will hurt like a bitch.¡±


    ¡°Hans, language¡± Deli interrupted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t act like my mother, Deli."


    ¡°Still,¡± she asked, ¡° Aren¡¯t you going overboard with your vocab these days.¡±


    ¡°It comes naturally to me, I can¡¯t help it.¡±


    ¡°Pluck, cough¡± the knight vomited the blood and started clenching his heart, ¡°What is this? Aagh¡± he cried as he came to his senses, Hans¡¯s inectio was not so powerful to kill him instantly as his father¡¯s, so his control was gradually weakening. But Hans didn¡¯t care and explained, ¡°This is called Inectio, you should keep moving while fighting me, idiot. Didn¡¯t you know, it''s common knowledge to fight against someone with a VoidZone ability?¡±


    HANS''S ROOM


    ¡°Fuck,¡± the one scouring Hans¡¯s room said as he fell on his bottoms, holding the white robe of Parvin insignia. ¡°We are dead, you shit captain, you didn¡¯t tell us we are messing with a Royal Parvian.¡±


    ¡°What are you so afraid of?¡± the other one said, turning over the bed. But the one holding the robes almost shouted, ¡°These are the royal robes, stupid. Last time, our master lost his body when he went up against one.¡±


    ¡°Our orders were to infiltrate Alastor¡¯s home and search for a Parvian artefact. That''s it. Don¡¯t think of anything else. Our squad is the last in rank, so before they disband us¡­this is our only chance to redeem our status as the weakest squad. Find the artefact, and let''s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°They will hunt us down even if Rudolf forgets or thinks it is a drag to pursue us.¡± The first one glanced at the Parvian insignia, ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t wanna die. it''s better to be disbanded than die. I really don¡¯t wanna see ¡®The Sad Death¡¯. That barbarian skins his enemy and makes shoes with it.¡±


    ¡°It''s an overstatement," the other one said while he took a brief pause, he had an unfortunate encounter with Dijkstra once. That man slaughtered his whole group because they were loud and chased off the rabbit he was hunting. "He is a madman. If he really tracks us back to our home. Many of our innocents will die. Let''s send a retreat signal. It''s the captain''s fault for withholding information. I¡¯ll take the brunt.¡±


    The one holding the robe, folded it neatly and put it back like it was a sort of sacred object. He never found anything said by his superiors to his liking, but now his vice captain''s words of running back felt music to his ears.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 116 : Now, What did I do?

    CHAPTER 116


    NOW, WHAT DID I DO?


    The loosening of VoidZone''s grasp might have given the suffering knight some breathing room, but it didn¡¯t relieve his condition. His heart was still the battlefield of nature¡¯s mana and his own aura. Just what Hans felt when he tried to create an aura back in the Ghost Isles. The knight gasped, taking heavy breaths, and Hans finally closed into the panting knight, ¡°So you wanna go for round two ¡ª¡± Hans asked but got interrupted.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll tal ¡ª agh¡±


    ¡°Hey, Hans, stop,¡± Delimira expressed, shaking her head, ¡°he was going to talk.¡±


    ¡°Oh! I must not have heard him,¡± Hans replied, curt, cutting off his Inectio and both Delimir and the knight took some breaths of relief for different reasons. But she couldn''t help remark. ¡°And he says, I¡¯m a sadist,¡± only to get Hans¡¯s wide smirk as a response. On the other hand, getting another glimpse of the excruciating pain, the knight gestured for him to stop, ¡°I¡¯ll talk, please stop.¡±


    ¡°What is this? You are going to snitch this easily. I really dislike disloyalty ¡ª¡±


    ¡°You should try feeling what I¡¯m feeling right now.¡± the knight rebuked but Hans cut him off again, ¡°So you¡¯ve recovered enough to talk back, haan¡­¡± He said in fury, getting a firm grasp over the knight¡¯s heart once again.


    ¡°Aah, damn it, I said, I¡¯ll talk¡­please, I beg you, stop please.¡±


    ¡°Now, you are taking the right way,¡± Hans said, glancing at Delimira and continuing, ¡°I told ya, he¡¯ll be begging to stop.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, Prince of Parv, I get it so wipe the smug out of your face.¡± She responded and turning to the almost fainted knight, she asked, ¡°What are you waiting for? Spill everything.¡±


    ¡°I''m from Sunfall royal guard¡­ No, no ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hans,¡± Deli shouted to stop him but Hans was as baffled as the knight himself. He instantly responded, ¡°It''s not me, this time.¡± Both turned to the knight who was shaking violently, but suddenly stopped. Even his withering pain washed away, and those empty eyes, lit with vitality. ¡°Spawn of Parv, I¡¯ll come kill you so keep your neck clean till then.¡± ¡°Plop,¡± the knight exploded like a water balloon, not even his bones remained; it was a scene like something had melted him from the inside. ¡°What was it?¡± Hans asked Delimira, and she answered what she thought, ¡°Do ghosts really exist? It looked like he was possessed for a minute.¡± And When she came to her senses, she asked him, ¡°Why is a Sunfall royal guard involved with you? Not even your father had contact with them?¡±


    Hans was thinking the same, the only Sunfall person he knew was Cassidy, his Prophet house member in Concordia and even with her, he had no contacts whatsoever. ¡°Who knows, he definitely said ¡®SPAWN OF PARV¡¯. My father really lived a wild life, and now I¡¯m paying the compensation. Did he nab another princess, or what?¡±


    ¡°Well, they say sons resemble their fathers. We¡¯ll see when you kidnap one for yourself.¡± Delimira joked, not knowing one day her words would turn true, also unaware of what the future had in store for him, Hans bit back, ¡°Like hell Winters. I ain¡¯t dying because of a girl.¡± She shook her head, only wanting to go back, so both started running back to the manor, but suddenly a signal went off high in the sky, and the attackers started fleeing back. And by the time they reached the main battlefield, the former entrance of the Manor. All they saw were the traces of an intense fight. But before Hans could say anything, a strong knuckle welcomed his head. ¡°Oye, Squeaky, How many times, did I say not to use your head and run when I say so ¡ª¡±


    ¡°But I ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Thock,¡± another one grazed his head. ¡°Don¡¯t talk back, you punk.¡±


    ¡°But we killed him." Hans stressed, "We killed a grade seventy knight. Doesn¡¯t that mean something?¡±


    ¡°Of course it does," Rudolf also stressed, " That knight is an idiot.¡±


    ¡°Stop it dear, ¡± Sierra came wiping a smear of blood from her face, and Rudolf asked in disbelief, ¡°What? You are letting it slide.¡±


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    ¡°Yes ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Really grandma?¡± Hans asked, rubbing his hand on the head bump, but Sierra shattered his expectation saying, ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean, you won¡¯t be punished later, child.¡± She turned to Rudolf again and said, ¡°It seems all ran away.¡± "Yeah," Rudolf also acknowledged their absence. However, Sierra couldn¡¯t help but pass a remark to her husband, ¡°You¡¯ve grown weaker, dear.¡± She saw the traces and continued, ¡°If it would''ve been past you, they wouldn''t have had the chance to enter our home.¡±


    Rudolf looked at his bloody fist and didn''t have any words to refute, and seeing his lord silent, Hodges came saving his face, tallying the damage and informing the result of the attack, ¡°We had fourteen unwelcome guests, eight knights and six mages. Aldrich killed one, the young Lord killed one and¡­¡± ¡°And what? Mr Hodges,¡± Hans said in anticipation, and Hodges completed his sentence, ¡°And Lady Sierra had killed six mages. Haa.." he sighed,  "I kept forgetting that she was called ¡®The Iron Lady¡¯ ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wow, I know grandma was awesome, but¡­¡± Hans turned to Rudolf and mocked the poor man, ¡°Why did Gramps score zero?¡±


    Taking criticism from his wife was bearable but not from the brat, so he responded in fury, ¡°Because unlike you two, I had to know which bastard had the galls to do these things in my mansion.¡±


    ¡°A Sunfall royal guard,¡± Delimira, who was listening to everything from the back, responded. And Hans nodded, supporting her claim as he explained things further. ¡°Now, what did I do?¡± he shouted, taking a few steps back.


    ¡°Did you hit Cassidy, their princess,¡± Rudolf asked back.


    ¡°No, she ain¡¯t my type?¡±


    ¡°I said ¡®hit¡± not ¡®hit on¡¯, idiot¡±


    ¡°No, I really didn¡¯t do anything this time. They kept asking for the Parvian artefact.¡± He argued, taking the Mother''s Embrace out from his inner pockets. Since the moment he got the artefact it never left his side once, and it was purely because this was his sole connection to Parv. Once again, he activated it and the shroud of warmth covered everyone like a blanket, ¡°That¡¯s all it could do. Do you think they would be this crazy for just a warming artefact?¡±


    ¡°No, but is that all it could do?¡± Rudolf asked back.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Growing his suspicions, Rudolf asked with thinned eyes, ¡°Did Arat give you anything that you are not telling us?¡±


    ¡°No¡±


    ¡°Are you sure, squeaky?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± pointing to his head, Hans asked, ¡°This is not an artefact, right?¡±


    ¡°No, it''s not. It doesn''t work if the Parvian court does not place it by themselves. I don¡¯t know how it works, but they probably didn¡¯t come for that.¡±


    ¡°Then, that''s all I got from Arat¡± He turned off the ¡®Mother¡¯s embrace¡¯, and meanwhile, when the men of the house were chatting, Sierra patted Delimira¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Good job, dear disciple.¡± Delimira nodded silently. However, Sierra took her silence as the young lady feeling gloomy, she asked in a sympathetic tone, ¡°I know, you fought alongside Hans to take down that damn pest. And he is stealing the limelight ¡ª¡±. ¡°No, it''s not that¡± Delimira stopped her master before she could misunderstand further, ¡°I¡¯m just pondering.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sierra asked. ¡°You''ve said, Hans¡¯s ultimate weapon wouldn''t work on me ---¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that an advantage, you should be happy about?¡±


    ¡°But Hans never fought with me with everything he got, and just to compete with him on these unequal grounds, I had to put my everything. I can¡¯t see myself defeating him ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why do you have to be the one defeating him?¡± Sierra asked, and patting her shoulders, she turned her to him and whispered, ¡°Unlike before, you are friends now and aren''t fighting alongside each other, trusting your backs completely on someone matters the most. You are not enemies after all.¡±


    The words left Delimira perplexed, she never had thought of it this way. All she was thinking of surpassing Hans, but when she thought she had left him behind. He jumped up, setting a new bar for her. Sierra knew what her thoughts were so she added, ¡°Rivalry makes you better but it must not be your end goal, disciple. Think deeply, why did you start this arduous journey of Sword mage? Surpassing Hans might have triggered your path, but you have your own story to finish." She stressed, "Or competing with Hans became so important to you that you have forgotten?¡±


    ¡°There is a man, I wish to kill,¡± her own words rang in her head. She started all of this because she wanted to put down the man who ruined her family. Sentencing her father to challenge an impossible task. Exiling her mother from her homeland. ¡°Yes, I must¡¯ve forgotten because my life was going so well ¡ª¡± ¡°No, you stupid girl. It''s your right to live a happy life. I¡¯m not stopping you from being happy. I¡¯m telling you,¡± pointing to Hans, she continued, ¡°You have got a reliable friend, not just a rival to compete.¡± When she heard those words, her imagination started creating a bigger story. No one was capable of fighting besides Hans but her and it was definite that Hans was not going to stop there. She was his perfect partner and when these thoughts clicked in her head - The junction of two flawless gears had initiated a sequence, propelling the wheels of destiny forward and setting the rhythm for the intertwined journeys of Hans, Delimira, and countless others still waiting to join them.


    ¡°Yes, I have a friend now,¡± she responded with warm eyes as she looked at Hans jumping around in excitement.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 117 : Back to Concordia

    CHAPTER 117


    BACK TO CONCORDIA


    Two days have passed since the trouble fell on the Edenbergs. Rudolf had anxiously waited for the investigators sent by the Royals to leave his territory, and today was that fortunate day. ¡°Just a few more hours Hans, let them go without a hitch.¡± He was saying this to his reckless grandson who was ever ready to make a mess, but oddly enough, he agreed. Only a few days, then he will leave for Concordia, looking at the investigator turning his home like they own the place was stinging him, but just for the sake of not delaying himself, he held it in. He really wanted this awful holiday to be over soon. He was taking long breaths to calm himself, but his thoughts suddenly got abrupt, and he asked his grandfather, ¡°Why did you not tell them about Sufall being involved?¡±


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t wanna deal with it,¡± Rudolf stated.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ that''s acceptable." Hans returned the words, nodding, "After all, this could turn into a very big headache.¡±


    ¡°It''s nice to see you being so understanding ¡ª¡±


    ¡°But can¡¯t we go back, a bit early?¡± Hans interrupted.


    ¡°And, here I thought, you were thinking of your grandpa. You just wanna return ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Life in Concordia was more peaceful. Look what mess I got into after leaving that place, Frozen Tooth, Parvians, Grimgar Royals, and now Sunfall. Tsk, tsk, I never thought I¡¯d miss the school so much.¡±


    ¡°But you also met Xandor there. Maybe you are the jinx, Squeaky" Rudolf said in all seriousness, "No matter where you go, trouble has a way to find you.¡± And those words sent Hans introspecting, ¡°Dang it, you are right, gramps.¡± He acknowledged with a frustrated face. ¡°Haa,¡± Rudolf sighed, no matter how much he tried stopping Hans, his foul language, unsuitable for a child¡¯s mouth doesn¡¯t seem to halt. So he gave up correcting it, ¡°Sierra can take care of him.¡± So, patting the mumbling Hans''s head, Rudolf asked, ¡°It''s four days early. Do you really wanna go back?"


    ¡°Can we?¡± Hans asked with sparkly eyes, and Rudolf replied positively, ¡°Yeah. I think there will be more investigators to come later, let''s get out of here. Get your things in order. We¡¯ll leave in two days.¡± He declared, and just like a snap, two days passed. Many more people had come in that brief interval, some showing genuine concern and some satiating their curiosity, but Rudolf did not drag their meetings and dismissed them with the excuse of preparation for his departure. He had ended his final meeting and came downstairs, where Hans was waiting. He was the most eager to return, and then he saw a familiar face, coming from the other side, ¡°Well, well, it seems you are not using those beads. Got tired of your human looks, Deli?¡± he asked her and got a swift reply. ¡°You ate up my two days of holidays, Hans¡± she said looking over somewhere else, but Hans slid right in front of her and asked, ¡°You do not want to go back?¡±


    ¡°Of course, being here is more fun. Master Sierra could teach me more than Concordia combined.¡±


    ¡°But, Concordia is where less nuisance is, Deli ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± she interrupted, ¡°So, where are the elders?¡±


    Hans turned her over by the shoulders, ¡°There they are,¡± he said, and ran towards Rudolf in excitement, ¡±Gramps, Gramps, let''s go with Ingress ¡ª¡± ¡°PUCK,¡± Rudolf¡¯s reply came, not in words but in the form of tough love. He retorted, ¡°You wanna announce to everyone? That thing is akin to a lighthouse on a moonless night, which could be seen from miles away, ¡±Do not play with Parvian things, they all are flashy. Damn, those nutjobs have no fear ¡ª¡±


    ¡°You are saying something, dear husband ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rudolf scratched his head and said nervously, ¡°I was just commenting on how fearless your former family is, dear.¡± Sierra nodded and continued her chat with Vanessa and Hodges. Meanwhile, Hans nudged his gramps, rubbing salt in his wounds, ¡°Poor, gramps, his right to speech is basically a forged paper.¡±


    ¡°Squeaky,¡± Rudolf growled in a low voice, and Hans quickly made his way towards the ladies. ¡°Just what did he get messing with you?¡± Delimira couldn¡¯t help but ask Rudolf, and the old man answered, ¡°He is petty, jealous and filled with senseless pride. Couldn¡¯t beat me, so this is the only way he can think of.¡± Intensifying his gaze, he asked her in continuation, ¡°You are with him most of the time. Do you think my words are wrong?¡±


    ¡°No, but I can only agree with petty and senseless pride. I¡¯ve yet to see him jealous. That would be a fun show to watch,¡± she answered, not knowing the moment she sees his jealousy would be the time he¡¯ll send her to see the hospital¡¯s ceiling. And with some basic formalities and instructions, they left the County¡¯s mansion. Then followed the embarrassing scene of Hans puking his breakfast all over Concordia¡¯s Midlands. ¡°Agh darn this," he mumbled, "My way¡­ Just wait a bit¡­ I¡¯ll never use these old SpaceDoors again,¡± he remarked, and covered his mouth once again.


    ¡°So, How were your Holidays, Deli?¡± Aredhel welcomed them back and asked her daughter. She was waiting for them to come for a while, and even when Sierra assured her after the news of some fools barging into the Edenberg¡¯s Manor and there was nothing wrong with her daughter. A mother¡¯s heart was too fragile to calm without seeing her child. So she asked inspecting her daughter, ¡°I heard there was a problem ¡ª¡±


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    ¡°I fought a grade seventy ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t¡± Hans interrupted, ¡°I fought, you just helped a little.¡±


    ¡°You are really petty, Squeaky.¡± Delimira commented, and Hans instantly responded, ¡°We are in Concordia, Deli.¡± He gestured his hand like a zip lock over his lips, and continued, ¡°Better watch what you say here ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, your Highness.¡±


    ¡°Zip it, Winters.¡±


    ¡°How long do you think you can hide it? Every other person already knows it. So what¡¯s the point?¡±


    ¡°As long as I can Winters. At least it is peaceful in the class.¡±


    ¡°You hardly ever attend the class.¡±


    ¡°Well, she is not wrong,¡± Hans thought, but he never saw people with contempt eyes and also knew he did not want to see it, at least not yet. ¡°Still, Winters, ZIp it.¡±


    ¡°Haa,¡± She sighed, ¡°fine, Hans.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you are just agreeing right away ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What do you take me as ¡­¡± While both bickered, Sierra brought Aredhel up to date. Grimgar royalty visit and the sudden attack of Sunfall royal guards. Hearing all that, Aredhel sighed and remarked, ¡°It''s all your son¡¯s doing, Lady Sierra.¡±


    ¡°But he hardly knew people from Sunfall ¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not entirely true.¡± Aredhel said, recalling, ¡°When Sam got his hand severed, I was there. He kept cursing Sunfall and some betrayal, but he laughed madly like he had done worse. Maybe they were those people.¡± Rudolf, hearing the words got his temples stressed, ¡°Ah, just how many did he piss off, they are not leaving Hans a breathing room.¡± He said glancing at his wife, who returned the answer with a fiery gaze, ¡°What are you looking here for?¡± she asked, and Rudolf responded, ¡°I wonder whom he got his temper from, dear?¡±


    ¡°I must have been treating you too nice, right Dear husband?¡± Sierra responded with a chill-filled voice leaving Rudolf to coax her. Meanwhile, Hans and Delimira were eavesdropping on the elder¡¯s conversation and seeing his grandfather¡¯s behaviour, Hans couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°And they say, courageous is the middle name of my gramps ¡ª ouch ouch, granny.¡±


    ¡°It seems our dear Hans lost his mind. He should rest a little.¡± Sierra said as she continued to pull Hans¡¯s ear, and with this, the Winters and Edenberg parted. It was somewhat true that Hans was not feeling well since travelling through SpaceDoors always upset his stomach and gave him a severe headache. So he slept the whole day. ¡°Swish, swish,¡± the cold wind kept slapping his cheeks, and he woke up only to feel a familiar feeling, ¡°Damn it,¡± he shouted, looking here and there, he was falling from the skies and knew well who threw him from above, ¡°Great grandfather, do you think I will fly or grow wings if you keep dropping me from the skies?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the Chairman appeared and matched his descending speed, ¡°Who knows? Maybe you grow wings! Your father might have given you that.¡±


    ¡°Really,¡± Hans asked in anticipation, but Dietrich burst his bubble laughing, ¡°You are still gullible after meeting those idiots?¡± He pointed down, and Hans saw the ground fast approaching. He stretched his hand and shouted BeanStalk. And like the fairytale, a huge beanstalk sprung, erupted like a volcano, aiding his descent as he slid through it and reached the ground safely. ¡°A beanstalk from the story," Dietrich commented, "Well it still couldn''t beat the wings growing from the back but ---¡±


    ¡°I thought you were joking,¡± Hans said with suspicious eyes.


    ¡°Ah, was I, foolish descendant.¡±


    A FEW HOURS BEFORE, HANS¡¯S ROOM


    ¡°Sleeping¡­you are sleeping.¡± The ghost who followed Hans to the Concordia spoke, ¡°All my mages died because of you. Just you wait, Samson, I¡¯ll kill your child in the most torturous way ¡ª¡±


    ¡°And how are you going to do that, care to elaborate.¡± A heavy voice rang from his behind, If he had hairs, all would have been erect. No one in the world could sense him, not to mention see. But the lean man behind him was staring right into his eyes. ¡°You, you can see me?¡± he asked the man, however, the man uttered the words again, but this time with a chilling tone and startling the ghost. Both remained silent, the lean man waited for a reply that was yet to come, and the ghost because of the troubling thought of who might this man be. So breaking the silence, the lean man asked him, ¡°Was what Samson did to you not enough? Do you want me to erase you?¡±


    ¡°How? Just how can you see me? I¡¯m dead!¡±


    ¡°Then stay that way. or are you not? Then let me test,¡± stretching his hand forward, the lean man tried to grab the ethereal body, but as the ghost expected, it went through him. ¡°See, I told you, I¡¯m dead,¡± the ghost responded, elated by the fact that the man in front could only see him but not touch. But his smile went to a hike when the man grabbed him from within. ¡°How is this possible,¡± the ghost shouted, ¡°who the fuck are you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it seems my manners need an overhaul, I keep forgetting to introduce myself.¡± Pointing at the sleeping Hans, the man declared, ¡°I¡¯m that kid¡¯s elder, his guardian of a sort. I don¡¯t know what your beef was with his foolish father, but that kid is off-limits¡­ wait, why am I talking this much?¡± Dietrich asked himself, it would be solved easily if he kills this half-dead ghost, he thought and added, ¡°That fool of a descendant, always left loose ends.¡± He started to gather the mana grabbing the ghost but the ethereal body was not just for show, it started resisting, and amid the tug-of-war battle, he spoke to Dietrich, ¡°The legends were not lies, You are Dietrich, the first knight. But even you can¡¯t stop me if I wanna leave.¡±


    Discarding what Dietrich had grasped, he separated most of his ghostly body. However, Dietrich had a significant amount in his grasp, and as he clenched his fist, the discarded part in his hand disintegrated into nothing. But in that short period, the ghost disappeared, leaving Dietrich startled since even his wide senses couldn¡¯t find him again.¡°Interesting, there is someone who could leave after I want him dead? Is the world becoming interesting again? Should I try leaving the floatlands?¡±

 Elven Lies I Chapter 118 : Someone to boss around

    CHAPTER 118


    SOMEONE TO BOSS AROUND


    ¡°So how is it? Great grandfather, witnessing the fairytale right at your eyes,¡± pointing at the gigantic beanstalk, Hans asked Dietrich, and as the lean man observed the sky reaching the plant, he couldn¡¯t help but humour him, ¡°Don¡¯t you think the thousand-year-old me would have seen far more interesting things than these.¡±


    ¡°Then how about this,¡± closing his eyes, Hans concentrated, he wanted to show off, and his influence over the surrounding mana started growing tremendously. ¡°VoidZone,¡± he shouted and succeeded in creating a full-fledged VoidZOne. ¡°Impressive, foolish descendant," Dietrich marvelled at the scene and continued in a cherry mood, "I almost removed the foolish part...wait, it''s not complete.¡±


    Hans was startled hearing those words, he was expecting more of a praise, but since he was told his VoidZone was not complete, it made him somewhat happy that there was more to this already overpowered ability. He almost giggled, but stopped himself and replied, ¡°But this thing aside, do you know how frustrating my holidays were? I''m never leaving this place again.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ children like holidays the most. And you wanna keep yourself in school. What an odd thing to do ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, you have no idea. First Arat had me, then I learned someone had sharpened their knives for my neck. And if it was not enough, when I finally reached home, Deli learned an annoying ability, even my most powerful spell doesn¡¯t work on her. Then the royalty graced us with their high noses, and we got attacked afterwards.¡± Hans was ranting nonstop, venting his three months of irritation on his listener. His year at Concordia, compared to the three months of holidays, was far more peaceful. He paused to breathe for a second and resumed again. ¡°Then I learned that Sunfall is messing with me, Why?¡±


    ¡°Hold it, foolish descendant, I¡¯m not your therapist. And As I¡¯ve told you, your VoidZone is yet to be completed. You are underestimating that ability, it rendered me useless when your father used it. Do you think Krosh arts would stand against it after you hone it to its full potential?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t doubt VoidZone, but Krosh art is not your run-of-the-mill technique either, great grandfather.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it isn¡¯t? Arahan developed it to fight Ancients since they could tap in surrounding mana - stopping mana and aura regeneration ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Hans asked and Dietrich responded with a frown, ¡°Do you wanna explain me your own skill?¡±


    ¡°No, No, my wise ancestor,¡± Hans saratically replied, adding, ¡°Why did she wanna fight Ancients?¡±


    ¡°That''s in the past, Foolish descendant. Let it be, but Krosh art never managed to do what it was designed to, it never suppressed the Ancients, but at least, it allowed her to fight them on equal grounds. That''s why your father made the Ring of Chaos, it was so domineering that it could repress Ancients with just a gesture.¡±


    ¡°Then, where is it? In Parv?¡± Hans asked with sparkling eyes and Dietrich gave in, ¡°As far as I know, Samson lost it in a fight. That was the deciding factor of him losing the Elven war too.¡± Listening to those words left Hans in a frown, ¡°Damn it!" he cussed and added in an irritating tone, "Father should have left me the ring. I¡¯d be a hotshot if ¡ª¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you one without it anyway?¡± Dietrich asked, glancing at Hans''s frown transforming into a shameless smile. ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that, hihi¡± Hans laughed, but he suddenly stopped and pried his thousand-year-old elder, ¡°You know how to forge the ring, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    With more anticipation, Hans asked him muffling his voice, ¡°Can you teach me.¡±


    ¡°It''s not a problem, but you can¡¯t forge it?¡±


    ¡°Why? I can gather the materi ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, you need to collect the mana gems of the highest quality. That itself is a challenge, but with time, resources, and patience, one can eventually do it. The main problem is the base metal. It does not belong to our realm. When I forged my ring, before my ascension to an ancient. I used the elven god artefact. And after using it, I tried destroying it since it was so powerful, and the gems were gone, leaving the base intact, that metal was indestructible. So I hid it, but your darn father unearthed it, and forged it once again." Dietrich sighed, quietly saying, "And it was even more powerful than mine.¡±


    ¡°So, is there nothing left of that metal?¡± Hans asked with more anticipation, but Dietrich responded with a sarcastic tone, ¡°Do you think If there is any, I would have left my humiliating defeat untouched.¡±


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    ¡°Your face seems to answer the question," Hans answered, adding, ¡°Great grandfather, but do you know, Arat was searching for the highest quality water..aqua gem. I wonder why?¡± Hans tested his great-grandfather, but Dietrich remained calm. Tousling his hair, he avoided the topic, ¡°Let''s talk after I confirm things. The turtle is finally coming out of its shell.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I mean, you¡¯ll be seeing Arat again soon. They are calling a world summit in Concordia in a few days.¡±


    ¡°Wow," Hans responded nonchalantly, "it sounds like a big deal.¡±


    ¡°It is," Dietrich confirmed, "but that¡¯s not why I brought you here.¡±


    ¡°Do you have anything to give me?¡± Hans said, raising his hands, ¡°Come on, give me.¡±


    ¡°I indeed bought you here to give you something, but I have yet to decide. I heard the elders give their young ones something called passing gifts. You didn¡¯t flunk your first year. So what do you want from this old man?¡± Dietrich asked and Hans'' eyes lit up, but before he could demand, Dietrich put him off, ¡°Except money, that is one thing you have to earn by yourself. Giving you something like that would be cheating on your hardworking peers. And no expensive potions either. ¡±


    ¡°Tsk, do you also dabble in mind reading.¡±


    "No, it''s written on your face, but why do you like money so much?" Dietrich really wanted to know his reasoning, so he couldn''t help but ask. Surprising him, Hans responded to his question with an adult-like perspective, "After coming out from the Ghost Isles, I learned that even if you lack strength, you can buy it with money. The aristocrats are so weak they could die with just a snap, but they pay a handsome amount to powerful people to do their bidding. Getting yourself strong is not the only way in this era of capitalism, great-grandfather."


    ¡°What an excellent answer, descendant,¡± Dietrich said aloud, laughing.


    ¡°So, I finally got rid of the foolish part ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, you are a hundred years early in achieving that, but you just amped up your gift, foolish descendant. So think very carefully and ask what you want?¡±


    ¡°An underling¡­ yes, an underling. I¡¯m probably the youngest student here. I need someone to boss around.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll see to it then, but you have to pick one yourself.¡±


    ¡°Do I get options, sweet ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, we banned the practice since there was more abuse than mentoring but I could just resume it¡­¡± Dietrich mumbled, but Hans couldn¡¯t care, since he was getting his first unofficial slave.


    AFTER TWO DAYS


    ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you bored eating this,¡± Delimira pointed at the dessert Hans was gobbling up, but he was too busy answering her. And when he found her still waiting, he answered after finishing his mouthful bite, ¡°No, ''cause I¡¯m not paying.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you save something from the allowance ¡ª¡±


    ¡°It''s just one gold, Winters, one gold a week ¡ª¡±


    ¡°That would be too much for any ordinary second-year student, Hans.¡±


    ¡°But, I ain¡¯t ordinary Winters.¡±


    ¡°Yes, your majesty.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I asked you not to call me that.¡±


    ¡°Then stop acting like an arrogant prick.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, so when is Chris coming? We became seniors, Deli. It''s almost time for the new batch of first years ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I heard he is escorting an important guest.¡±


    ¡°Wow, he climbed the elven ladder pretty fast.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it. Concordia does not allow the parents in the midlands, whoever they are.¡± Delimira shrugged off and asked, ¡° Have you heard? Second-years could have their pick on first-years. We will be mentoring and adjusting them to their new life in Concordia. Isn¡¯t it exciting?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I might have caused that. Great grandfather sure grants wishes on a different level.¡± Seeing Hans remain silent, Delimira nudged his elbow with hers, ¡°What?¡± she asked, skimming him deep in thought, ¡°I presumed you¡¯d be more excited. We¡¯ve juniors to order around Hans.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but how are you gonna pick yours?¡± he asked, there was no precedent on how to choose a perfect one. He was not good at reading people like her, so he was thinking of getting some pointers in making the idle choice. And Delimira answered, but it was way different from what he hoped for. She said, ¡°You are the lucky one. My mentee has already decided for me. it''s not like I don¡¯t like her or anything, but I can¡¯t treat her like a junior. After all, she is my cousin.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± making an annoyed face, Hans added, ¡° You are babysitting the elven princess.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and I don¡¯t think Chris would opt for the mentoring program." She shook her head and said in a sad voice, "You are the only one getting a proper junior, Hans.¡± She almost sounded disappointed but Hans was not thinking of consoling her, he wanted to hear the selecting criteria, so he blatantly asked her, ¡°So if you were me, how would you take your pick?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± she thought and finally spoke, ¡°¡¯ll choose the most desperate one rather than the strongest. They are easy to spot, and you¡¯ll find them in commoners quickly. They came here to change their life, and if you could help them a bit, they would appreciate it for eternity.¡±


    ¡°Commoner, desperate, and I¡¯d add, a bit talented.¡± Hans mumbled, ¡°Let¡¯s see who fits the whole criteria.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 119 : I choose You (1)

    CHAPTER 119


    I CHOOSE YOU (1)


    ¡°So Princess, are you ready?¡± Chris asked the little girl beside him, standing before the SpaceDoor to Concordia. Today was the day he had to return and resume his studies. It was also the day he was tasked to bring the elven Princess Allynna to Concordia. She was ten, and in recent years was the second to be accepted there through the sheer amount of potential possessed and was underage like Hans.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied to Chris, flinging her golden hair and showing off her traditional elven outfit. She was smiling, staring at the SapceDoor. It was her first time travelling through space, and she was enjoying every moment. But suddenly she asked Chris, teasing, ¡°So did you confess to her yet?¡±


    ¡°Who? Me and Deli, pardon my language princess, but are you out of your mind? I barely found another person for her to latch on.¡±


    ¡°You talk as if she is a parasite, but who did you find?¡± she asked, wondering about the poor soul her cousin was tormenting now and Chris blatantly responded, ¡°You¡¯ll see, but don¡¯t accept some royal treatment from him. Treatment¡­ just don¡¯t annoy him too much¡­ It''s even better if you don¡¯t talk to him. Ah! My head, it¡¯s already throbbing thinking about it.¡±


    ¡°Is he that bad?¡±


    ¡°No, not bad, but he has a quick temper and even quicker hands. Deli and he... both act like enemies of past life, but she has softened around him. And he is fun to be around too. You¡¯ll like him, I can¡¯t say the same for him.¡±


    Allynna was surprised listening to Chris''s words, she was scarred by meeting Xandor and seeing the bloody work of Dijkstra right before her eyes was not anything comforting, but this bought a boon for her. She was the heir of the matriarchal rule of Clandor, so it was decided from early on that she would remain and grow up in the Elven lands. However, Xandor¡¯s appearance in Clandor forced her mother to send her to Concordia. Since they also had internal enemies they don¡¯t know of. It made the Clandor couple accept Concordia¡¯s invitation for Allynna.


    However, unknown to her parents'' thoughts and struggles, she was pouting, acting her age, unlike Hans and listening to Chris¡¯s comment that Hans might not like her much, she responded to him, ¡°Who doesn¡¯t like me, look here, did you see anyone cuter than me?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that princess,¡± Chris shook his head rapidly, ¡°Please, Hans would send you flying if he sees any of this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a princess, princess of Clandor.¡±


    ¡°You will be just a junior irritating your very volatile senior in Concordia. All are equal there, at least they say so, and Hans seems to exploit that very well. So, just stay away from him as much as possible.¡± Chris stressed on, and before Allynna could ask anything else, he patted her gently and added, ¡°Princess, remember, if you were chosen for the first battle, crush your opponent with everything you got. Hans might change his attitude since he is pretty famous for doing that.¡±


    ¡°Did he win ¡®The Fresher King¡¯ title?¡± she asked with sparkling eyes, leaving Chris heaving before answering, ¡°No, you¡¯ll understand soon.¡± He signalled the operator, and the SpaceDoor got connected. ¡°Wlop,¡± and in a brief moment, they felt the turbulence. ¡°Since this is your first time, You¡¯ll feel a little nauseated, princess,¡± Chris stated, but the water was already spilt. ¡°Too late Chris, agh.¡± She shouted and started puking as soon as she stepped out of the SpaceDoor. ¡°Eew, what the hell?¡± she heard someone and raising her head, she found Deli, concerned, and another person making a sickening face. ¡°This must be him, ugh...¡±


    ¡°Yikes," Hans commented clicking his tongue, "tsk, tsk, no control ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Says the one who pukes every time he travels through,¡± Delimira interrupted and started rubbing Allynna¡¯s back. Leaving him be, but the act surprised Chris, ¡°I was expecting some words in return. Did Hans get numbed or what?¡± But it didn¡¯t take Hans to break his silence. However, his target this time was not Delimira. Turning to the startled Chris he said, ¡°I see, you started to carry Elven baggage, my friend.¡±


    ¡°Elven baggage,¡± the words echoed in Allynna¡¯s ears, she was warned beforehand about Hans¡¯s manner of speaking, but this left her dumbfounded. ¡°I¡¯m a princess. Shouldn''t he should at least pretend to be polite to curry some favours?¡± She wanted to refute it, but before she could say something. Chris stopped her and signalled Deli to shut his rude friend.


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    "Haaa..." Deli sighed, pulled Hans closer, and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of her, else I swear, I¡¯ll put a banner of you with Squeaky written all over the Concordia. ¡±


    ¡°You make some terrifying threats, Deli.¡± He looked past her and said to Chris, ¡°Find me when you get rid of her,¡± and left the Clandorian trio behind. It was not like he was fond of making enemies out of Allynna, but he was genuinely surprised, ¡°What the hell is she?¡± Hans said to himself. He had seen the so-called elven princess with his ManaVision, ¡°She doesn¡¯t have any circle but still possesses the mana amount of the second circle. If she was not the queen¡¯s daughter, I¡¯d have fought Deli for her. Or should I¡­ If I can¡¯t find anyone useful.¡± He nodded, saying to himself, ¡°Let''s scan someone useful, desperate and talented. Where are you?¡± He kept observing the incoming first-years right on the SpaceDoor junction with his SCAN privilege, but none was satisfying his condition.


    Meanwhile, Deli and Chris had escorted the princess to the grand hall for the initiation ceremony. ¡°What is he doing?¡± Chris asked Delimira, and she answered shrugging off her shoulders, ¡°Who knows, maybe searching for his minion.¡±


    ¡°I see you got chummy with him!¡± Chris commented, feeling the absence of annoyance she had before for almost everyone. But that soon reverted as she turned to him, ¡°It seems, I¡¯ve left you happy for a long time, Chris. Wanna catch up ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No thanks¡± he pushed Allynna towards her and ran, shouting towards Hans, as he entered the grand hall too, ¡°Hey, Hans wait for me.¡± As Chris went to Hans, Allynna couldn¡¯t help but ask her cousin, ¡°You seem...more free, sister.¡± Pointing at Hans through her eyes, she asked, ¡±What is he to you?¡±


    ¡°He, a friend, a very dangerous and psychotic friend,¡± Delimira stated. However, Allynna couldn¡¯t understand the meaning of her words, but nodded like she did, and soon the initiation ceremony started. Like theirs, the first few rows were filled with recommended people, while the remaining were filled with the passed entrants. Soon the division began, and one by one, the new students started assigning to their respective houses. Allynna went to the Sentinels as planned a long ago, and several names were being called one after another.


    The Dean of the Foundation department, the green-robed Martha, announced the top scorer of the entrance test, Vanir Dorfiel, a mage of bi attributes - lightning and magma, to Prophets.


    ¡°An elf, what are they feeding in Clandor, last year it was Chris and now another one.¡± Hans commented, and their HouseMaster, Walter responded, ¡°If Clandor did not have the internal conflicts, it would have been the strongest nation, kiddo. But fortunately, there is ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Haa¡­¡®Fortunately¡¯, you seem to use the words I really like, Professor.¡±


    ¡°I know right?¡± Walter humoured him and pushed him forward, ¡°Let''s welcome our newbie, it looks like we¡¯ll be only getting one this year.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hans resisted, ¡°I¡¯m not good with words, Professor.¡±


    ¡°Oh, beat it, you got some glib tongue farmboy. Just do your thing.¡±


    Vanir was a head taller and two years older than Hans and was anxiously looking at the members. The house Prophets were known to make the future leaders, but there were some rare occasions when the commoners were unfortunately chosen into this house and painted their future black. He didn¡¯t want to be like his predecessors, but his determination was not going to change the reality since only influential pricks got chosen in this house, and they bury the commoners into the work, reaping their efforts.¡°I¡¯ll not live like that again, I''ll change it ¡ª¡±


    ¡°So you are our newbie,¡± a short boy, who seemed much younger than him asked, so he politely replied, ¡°Yes, and who might you be?¡±


    ¡°Who me? You got balls asking your senior question before introducing yourself.¡± Hans said with a chilling voice and it was loud enough that everyone around clearly heard it. looking at the familiar scene, Martha who was opposed to this mentoring program sighed, "This is why I don''t want this annoying thing to remain in history."And Vanir, not knowing how to handle the situation, just kept looking down. ¡°Hey. Hey Junior. Your senior is asking you to introduce yourself.¡±


    ¡°Tsk,¡± instead of Vanir, Martha interrupted, ¡°Stop torturing the poor soul. I don¡¯t understand why this wretched mentoring program got resumed, what was the chairman thinking? Sending our recruits to the prickly seniors.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he got scammed, Professor Martha. Long time no see by the way.¡°


    ¡°Shut up Hans, Aah my blood pressure,¡± Martha said raising her voice, clasping her temples but Hans passed another comment, ¡°It''s good to see you doing well, Professor.¡±


    ¡°Haa¡± she sighed, talking to Hans was always annoying for her, and after she found out who he was, she couldn¡¯t just treat him as a normal student. Meanwhile, some of the recruits were informed of the name Hans Richardson. The senior to avoid the most, if they wanted a peaceful life, and Vanir was one of them. ¡°What luck,¡± Vanir started criticising his bad fate.


    ¡°Oye, junior.¡± Turning back to him, Hans asked Vanir, stressing, ¡°You scored the first position, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Vanir shouted as loud as he could.


    ¡°I like the enthusiasm but tone down a bit. We are not alone here. We should respect our audience before startling them, don¡¯t you think?¡± He smirked towards Professor Martha and said to her, ¡°Professor, you should take your blood pressure medicine.¡± He announced, ¡°In the name of tradition, the star rookie of our house challenges the Allynna of Sentinels.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 120 : I choose You (2)

    CHAPTER 120


    I CHOOSE YOU (2)


    "Let''s see if this princess is only bark or if she can bite.¡° Hans thought and declared, "Our star rookie wants to challenge Alynna of Sentinels,'''' surprising everyone, even Vanir himself. He was an elf, and picking a fight with the royalty was basically mutiny. He started praying for someone to stop this crazy bastard, and his prayers were answered as Delimira responded to Hans¡¯s taunt, ¡°Do you have an itch that you can¡¯t scratch, Hans?¡±


    ¡°Naah, I¡¯ve got a friend named Deli to scratch those," Hans responded with an annoying smile but soon turned serious, "Sentinel, don¡¯t but in, this is the right of our newbie," Hans responded, showing his shameless smile and continued, "She is free to bury her head into the ground like a certain bird we all know, I''m not forcing her, am I?" And looking at her furious face, he asked, shifting her gaze to all the Sentinels, "So is your House going to refuse the challenge? That would put a bad record though ---¡±


    ¡°Just what do you want, Hans?¡± Delimira asked, almost clenching her fists, and Hans answered in a way that even got her surprised, ¡°GIVE.HER.TO.ME,¡± he declared, pointing at Alynna and added, ¡°No matter how much I searched, there is no one here who could handle a candle against her potential."


    "He has lost it, isn''t he? You moron, do you forget she is the daughter of the one who killed your father. there is so much bad blood between your families, and you want her as your mentee." She didn''t speak those words, but Hans could read them on her face, "I don¡¯t care whether she is the queen''s daughter, winters. Just hand her over.¡± he stated.


    "He is not kidding! He really wants her!" Deli was observing him thoroughly, trying to grasp his intentions, steps, body language, and words, all agreed with her initial conclusion, ¡°You are serious, aren¡¯t you?¡± Hans didn¡¯t need to put the reply into his words, and Deli understood all without hearing. "Just how much of a headache this will create." She gritted thinking about the outcome, and responded, ¡°I can''t,¡± she firmly denied.


    ¡°You can¡¯t bloom her talent, Deli?¡±


    ¡°So you mean to say you surpass Concordia¡¯s professors in teaching,¡± She said with a smirk, digging a trap for Hans in the web of words. ¡°Damn it Deli.¡± But Hans was not one to give this easily. ¡°No, but it would be faster with my ways.¡±


    ¡°You mean slaving her away.¡±


    ¡°Let''s avoid the derogatory terms, shall we?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I''ll let you her in your shenanigans, Hans?¡±


    ¡°You know me Deli, If I can¡¯t have it. I¡¯ll break it.¡±


    ¡°You know me too, Hans. What''s mine will always remain mine.¡±


    The tension between the two second-years almost turned the air in the grand hall cold, and breaking the tense atmosphere, Martha asked, ¡°Ahem¡­So is Sentinel going to accept the challenge, or not? I¡¯m running out of my medicines, here.¡±


    ¡°NO¡± both Delimira and Aredhel responded in unison leaving Hans furious, "Who cares if she is the queen''s daughter, sins are not inherited. I don''t have any bones to pick with her, So why won''t she just give in." He was thinking while Delimira added, pointing at Vanir through her eyes, ¡°And I don¡¯t think our star rookie wanna trample over a little girl who doesn¡¯t know how to fight, right?¡±


    Vanir almost agreed, but Hans''s glare stopped him from acknowledging it. He could clearly read them, they were saying if he nodded once, his life would turn a tragic turn. Meanwhile, Allynna whispered to Delimira, ¡°Chris asked me to fight with everything he got, and I learned how to fight sister, Father taught me ¡ª¡± ¡°No, this is no simple fight, Ally,¡± Delimira interrupted, ¡°It is never simple when he is drooling with his eyes. He genuinely wants you as the mentee, even knowing who your mother is¡­¡±


    ¡°What does my mother have in this?¡± Allynna asked, giving another headache to Delimira. So she just plainly replied to distract her, ¡°All he wants is a slave in the name of a mentee.¡± It worked as she intended, and before Hans could add something more unruly, Walter came to his rescue, ¡°A prophet does not trample over the week, we should let chicks grow and then thoroughly crush them later.¡± He then turned to Vanir, ¡°Youngest, choose someone else yourself. There has to be someone whom you want to beat up badly.¡±


    ¡°Can I, even if he is a noble ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oye, Junior¡± Hans was really angry. Not getting what he wanted was enraging him. He was not into mentoring and stuff, all he wanted was a junior whom he could order around, but he did not know why he was thinking he should get the elven princess no matter what. And, when Vanir kept looking at him with questioning eyes, he added in an angered voice, ¡°You better kill the person you name or else you¡¯ll have to watch your back even on a bright day."


    ¡°He is not joking,¡± Walter whispered to Vanir, ¡°You better be at your best, among your all seniors, Hans has the most frightening personality and even far frightening background. So we have a little control over him.¡± That got Vanir more terrified, even HouseMaster was warning him, "This is bad, what should I do? It took my all just to reach here, I do not want to return home just because I pissed off some senior." He whispered back to Walter, ¡°Do I really have to kill someone?¡±


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    ¡°No, that''s not possible¡± Walter refuted, pointing at various locations, he continued, ¡°You can¡¯t see but many of the professors are evaluating you first-years and changing Hans¡¯s mood is relatively easy, just do something extraordinary, even if you lose, he won¡¯t say anything if something interesting happens. He is a kid, and right now he is throwing tantrums. It''s just that his tantrums have a very big scale.¡±


    ¡°You are not helping, sir?¡± Vanir commented, helpless.


    ¡°Just do your best out there,¡± Walter responded, pushing him forward, ¡°now name your opponent.¡± And taking a heavy breath, Vanir stepped a little further, he was the single circle mage, and that was his limit of talent as he couldn¡¯t blossom due to a lack of resources and guidance. He looked at Martha and called, ¡°I challenge Virion Zinven.¡±


    Martha sighed, ¡°Another Sentinel, Haa..¡± looking at Aredhel, she nodded, ¡°Let''s get this over with, Virion Zinven, step forward.¡±


    A tall elf, filled with noble and aristocratic vibes, stepped forward, his eyes looking down on Vanir. They knew each other and shared a bad past. So, feeling Vanir¡¯s fiery gaze on him, he mocked, ¡°Would you look at that? A commoner is looking into my eyes. Guess the past beatings were not enough to teach you?¡±


    ¡°Stop chit-chatting,¡± Martha interrupted, explaining that this was the sacred duel for the title of Fresher king and the privileges that the title carried. The name in the wall of fame was so enticing that Vanir wanted to punch Virion¡¯s face straight away, but Martha had asked them to introduce themselves. So heaving, he said first as a challenger, ¡°Vanir Dorfeil, a first circle mage of magma and lightning attrib ¡ª¡± interrupting him, Virion also started, ¡°Virion of Zinven Family, a grade 16 dark attribute. Ready to teach this peasant a lesson.¡±


    Martha didn¡¯t like the Prophets very much not to mention Hans, but what she hated was the people like Virion, nobles who wanted to establish authority over commoners even when Concordia was adamant about equality. So she unconsciously leaned on Vanir¡¯s side and prayed for his victory. But as the seniors behind the curtain glanced at Vanir with their experienced eyes, they realised Vanir''s potential was not something he could rely on, he had half of the size of mana compared to any normal first circle.


    However, many didn¡¯t know that Vanir might be lacking the mana pool, but he had talents in spell crafting. From a young age, he could feel mana and understand the spells way better than others. He was tweaking and adjusting them, optimising to fit his minuscule mana pool. The Zinven family, being the territory lords of Vanir¡¯s homeland, was suppressing the commoner¡¯s talent with brute force but since he was in Concordia, he was ready to show off what he was capable of, "It''s time I get what I deserved. If I can just have my name on the Wall of Fame, it will be enough to prove my innocence..." He got enraged, thinking of what these nobles did to his family, he put his first spell into use


    VulcanoLectulo


    The mana from him, shrouded the whole platform, turning it into a floor of lava. Some of the spots remained untouched but traversing through them was a stressful task for anyone of his opponent''s calibre. For a first circle, it was an impressive display of a spell and was enough to earn him some brownie points from the professors observing in secret. But Hans was most surprised, ¡°It''s not deep but not shallow, he left some spots untouched like he calculated everything and designed the most tricky path to reach him. But it cost him half of his mana..."


    "Now, you understand?" Walter said hearing Hans''s inference, "He is the top scorer for a reason."


    Hans turned back to Vanir, "Yes, these eyes of mine, can''t show me this kind of thing." His interest was lighted again, and he muttered," Now, what will you do, youngest?¡± Unlike last year when two second-circles entered, this year''s admission was pretty normal, many didn¡¯t reach the first circle and the highest grade knight was Virion himself. And this taken-for-granted accomplishment was going up his head. He was trained in manoeuvering skills by the famous teachers of the territory so, it was not impossible for him to traverse that tricky path like Vanir was thinking. Jumping and frolicking, he stepped on the unaffected floor and started closing into Vanir. And since VulcanoLectulo has also limited Vanir¡¯s movements, he appeared as a sitting duck. if Virion reached him first, it was over for him so he cast his second spell.


    CorronaShield


    It was the generic defensive spell of lightning discipline in which several rings made of lightning surrounded the wielder to defend against physical attacks. But when he cast the defensive spell, it boosted Virion''s morale even more. He taunted Vanir, ¡°Running out of Juice, peasant,¡± and charged at him full speed. He was taught the weaknesses of this spell, and conducting his aura of darkness, he painted his sword in pitch black. And with the ecstasy of an almost-won battle, he started shredding the CorronaShield and reached near the left side of Vanir. ¡°Die peasant.¡± putting his all he delivered an upward slash, or at least he¡¯d have if Vanir¡¯s eyes were not telling him something else. As the sword was reaching Vanir¡¯s neck, he spoke, ¡°You fell for it.¡±


    SwirlingJump


    A sudden explosion just below Vanir''s feet hurled him into the air, while swirling lava on the floor returned to Vanir''s location like a whirlpool, causing Virion many burns as many embers of liquid fire fell on him, but this all was not. As Vanir descended on Viroin from mid-air. He took out his trump card,


    Lightning bomb


    A surefire spell, made from spherical concentrated lightning, ready to devastate the ugly burned body of Virion descended upon him. As the lightning bomb was about to make contact, Viroin started to see everything in slow motion. He knew that this spell was going to send him to hospital for at least a week. Virion was scared, and seeing his face full of fear almost healed all the emotional wounds of Vanir. He was gonna enact his revenge but suddenly a vine slithered the platform, avoiding the hot places and coiled around Vanir¡¯s hands. Shifting the intended area of damage from Virion¡¯s head to his almost nether region.


    The bomb barely missed his mark, and Hans shouted from the Prophet¡¯s corner, ¡°Vanir Dorfiel of house prophets gives up this match.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 121 : I choose You (3)

    CHAPTER 121


    I CHOOSE YOU (3)


    ¡°A murderer''s son going to Concordia. Do you think I¡¯ll allow that?¡±


    ¡°Beat him until he accepts the charges.¡±


    ¡°Confess. Confess.¡±


    ¡°Get these bastards out of my land.¡±


    ¡°Confiscate their home.¡±


    ¡°Get the fuck out, you cripple bastard.¡±


    Vanir recalled every word the Zinvens had said to his family, slandering, and falsifying the charges just because he had submitted a spell modification to the tower, bypassing the territorial lords. , Vanir imagined his tormentor''s face shattered by his spell. Lightning Bomb was soon gonna achieve his revenge, but out of nowhere, something clasped his spell hand and forced him to change the trajectory.


    ¡°No,¡± he shouted as his perfectly thought plan shattered. Then he heard the annoying voice of his lunatic senior. ¡°Vanir Dorfeil of House Prophets gives up this match.¡± The sudden declaration confused the first years, however, others felt the deja vu. The scene of the past was repeating itself right before their eyes.


    "Lucky me, I found a better one."


    However, for Vanir, Hans was nothing but someone who ruined all his planning. Angered, he shouted at Hans, ¡°Just why did you do this? You asked me to kill my opponent. I was doing what you told me. Or do you think a commoner beating a noble ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t give two shits about the nobles, Junior,¡± Hans replied with a wicked smile, stating, ¡°This is a tradition I started.¡± And grabbing Vanir by his chin, he turned his face to the barely standing Virion. ¡°Just look at that pathetic face. Not all victories are satisfactory. Now he¡¯ll live as someone you spared, and engrave his name on the wall of fame as a winner and Fresher king. Every time he sees that, his blood will boil thinking that a commoner he looked down on his whole life, handed him a victory as alms.¡±


    Vanir turned back to Hans, and his wicked Senior continued pointing his head, ¡°That¡¯s how you do permanent damage, Junior,¡± leaving him baffled, and he kept looking at Hans, who was staring somewhere else, the Sentinels. Finally, with a huge grin on his face, Hans shouted, aiming his words at Delimira, ¡°Enjoy your second Empty Victory, Sentinels.¡±


    ¡°That nutjob,¡± Delimira muttered silently, but her contorted face said much more. She was boiling with anger. This also happened last year, resulting in Hans''s opponent dropping out due to shame. Hans had a nasty habit of rubbing salt in the wounds and was very good at it. Walking to the Virion, his expression changed to the innocent one, and he sincerely congratulated him. And as he took a quick look at his juniors, he shouted, his voice propagated with mana, ¡°WELCOME TO THE CONCORDIA.¡±


    ¡°Mr Hans¡± Martha rained on his parade, ¡°if you are done, shall we end this.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Am I that of a big deal that you¡¯ve to ask me, Professor?¡±


    ¡°Just get out of here before I send you to your punishment for this year too.¡±


    ¡°Yes ma''am¡± Hans jumped out of the battle platform, and the ceremony ended. Meanwhile, behind the invisible curtain, a professor commented to Rudolf, ¡°He sure knows how to entertain, Dean.¡± And Rudolf, pressing his temples, responded, ¡°I think I need to have a talk with this entertainer later.¡± Some laughed, and one added, ¡°Go easy on him, at least I¡¯m looking forward to next year''s admission.¡±


    Meanwhile, in the grand hall, Sentinels, who already hated Hans, were fuming from both ears and noses. On the other hand, Walter was rubbing salt on Aredhel¡¯s pride, leaving others to do their thing. Upon realising what Hans had done, Vanir felt grateful, his notorious senior had given him more of a satisfactory victory than he could have achieved on his own. ¡°Well, he is interesting, at least,¡± he thought, but he saw a very beautiful turned ugly elf marching at their corner. ¡°Senior..senior ..watch it ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What the hell, Hans? ¡± Delimira forcefully turned Hans, but he responded calmly, ¡°Oh, I thought I would at least be slapped. Interesting development, Deli.¡±


    ¡°Just answer. What were you thinking? This was different from last time,¡± she said, pointing at the agonising Virion, ¡°He had nothing to do with you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but Deli, he is from Sentinels, and I''m from Prophets. Do I need any reason to humiliate him? We might be friends but remember, our Houses are rivals.¡±


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    ¡°Agh,¡± she grunted, and Hans said scanning Allynna, ¡°Well, I could say it was personal too.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think of it. She is elven royalty. Do I need to put it in exact words, what will really happen if you got what you wanted?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s why I¡¯m giving up. So stop nagging.¡± Hans pushed her back a little and added, ¡°I must have gone insane for a moment." he shivered imagining the possibilities, but asked ''cause of curiosity, "What is she anyway? I have seen her mana pool before, it was impressive enough to make me drool. She has almost the same amount of mana as you even without having a circle ---¡±


    ¡°That''s an elven royalty. Do you think they are the same as others? There is a reason they are royals ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What are you saying,¡± Vanir, who promised himself not to get involved with this lunatic senior even if he was grateful to him, said to him, ¡°You could see the mana capacity.¡±


    ¡°tsk, tsk, tsk. No shit, even our juniors butt in when we talk Deli. I need to discipline mine later. But since you dared to interrupt," Hans answered, "Yes, I can see it,¡± pointing to Alynna he continued, ¡°She has almost ten times compared to you. You got a pathetic mana pool for an elf.¡±


    ¡°Hans, don¡¯t you think devaluing your junior on his first day is harsh¡± Chris was observing them silently and spoke up, but his concern fell on deaf ears. ¡°Tsk, tsk, Chris my friend, is your head for decoration.¡± Turning to Vanir, he added, ¡°He got a pathetic mana pool, yet he is the top scorer, he got a pathetic mana pool, yet he developed the spells suitable for him. He got a pathetic mana pool yet he is standing while his opponent is biting dust. He got a ¡ª¡±


    ¡°yes, yes, I get it. So stop it.¡± Chris said, covering Hans¡¯s mouth with his hands, but Hans quickly removed it and added, ¡°You are not getting it. He has a pathetic mana pool, and this is a fact. I''m not devaluing him. As soon as he can accept this, he¡¯ll grow. Didn¡¯t your ideal ¡®The bewitching Knight¡¯ teach this in the class.¡±


    ¡°But you weren¡¯t in the class.¡±


    ¡°I have ears, well moving on,¡± Hans pointed to Vanir and said, ¡°Since I can¡¯t have the best, I¡¯ll forge one by myself. Vanir Dorfeil, I choose you.¡±


    ¡°Sen¡­Senior, Can I deny ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not if you have a death wish.¡±


    ¡°Yay, I¡¯m very happy.¡±


    ¡°Your face doesn¡¯t seem to share the same emotion.¡±


    ¡°I was just born this way, senior.¡±


    ¡°Good, a funny one.¡± He turned to Delimira and added, gesturing, ¡°Shoo, winters. I have a slav... a minion to raise.¡±


    ¡°I knew it, there is no way, our Hans was serious for a mentee,¡± Chris stated, and Hans acknowledged, ¡°Yes, I just wanted someone to run some errands for me ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Like buying food, fetching books, even reserving tables, right?¡± Chris asked, cutting him off in the middle, and Hans answered, nodding, ¡°Right, but since he is so weak, I need to raise him so he could maintain his top position. My things can¡¯t be of low grade.¡±


    ¡°Says who scored the last position.¡± Delimira rubbed him off, but Hans had a retort prepared, ¡°They shouldn¡¯t have set the passing marks to thirty per cent. Why bother putting in more effort if it''s not required to pass? You, people, are idiots over achieving everything. Now shoo, I need to talk to my elf.¡±


    ¡°He is not a pet or slave, Hans.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Hans said dragging Vanir along with him to his favourite place, ¡°Let''s treat you first. I know an awesome place where we don''t have to pay for things.¡± And soon they reached the renovated Griffin¡¯s Nest cafe. It was blasted the last time they were here, and in the last two days, he couldn¡¯t find time to visit this place. But for Vanir who belonged to a poor background, even standing before this kind of establishment was a luxury. ¡°Senior, are you sure this place is free, I don''t have any mon ¡ª¡±


    ¡°It''s free for me...¡± he dragged him inside and said to the manager with a polite smile, put everything on Deli¡¯s tab, please and the manager responded with a nod. ¡°You can do that?¡± Vanir asked in surprise. ¡°Of course, I can. She bought this kinda ''cause of me after all.¡±


    ¡°You have good friends, seniors.¡±


    ¡°Hm¡­ well you are not wrong on that. Sit,'''' he pointed to the opposite chair, and as Vanir sat, he asked what he was holding back, ¡°Just how did you know that I made those spells by myself?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that." Hans stated, asking, "Except corronaShiled, everything was made by you, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But how did you know? There is no way anyone who doesn''t try those spells could tell the difference.¡±


    ¡°Who do you take me for, junior? I¡¯m Hans.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I am asking, senior.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± sipping his dark chocolate, Hans started explaining, ¡°The three spells, all took very less mana than it should be like someone had tweaked them for you. The first one was supposed to cover the whole floor, but you intelligently carved a tricky path, leading your opponent to a trap. That saves you mana and provides a perfect opportunity, right?¡±


    Hans didn¡¯t have to listen to Vanir¡¯s response since his baffled face was answering him, so he continued, ¡°Then using a generic defensive spell that almost all knew how to break, you boosted your opponent¡¯s confidence so he would let his guard down, and finally retracting the magma spell in a way to trap your opponent. Colour me impressed, Vanir Dorfeil. You know how to fight.¡±


    ¡°Just how old are you? You look about my age. This insight is not something a student should have, nonetheless a second year.¡±


    Hans chuckled and said, ¡°Age is just a number, junior. The higher you have, the more responsibility you get slammed with. So I¡¯m more free, just eleven, two years younger than you.¡±

 Elven Lies I Chapter 122 : A good Senior, Probably?

    CHAPTER 122


    A GOOD SENIOR, PROBABLY?


    Vanir¡¯s question had sent Hans into deep thoughts, arranging a perfect answer that did not sound like a brag or filled with narcissism. ¡° I don¡¯t wanna brag," he spoke, "There is none like me born before, and it probably will never be born either. In plain words, I don¡¯t know anyone more talented than me.¡± And he miserably failed to control both bragging and Narcism.


    Seeing Hans''s lax attitude, Vanir thought, "The rumours must be exaggerated, he is just a kid with protagonist syndrome," and commented, testing him, ¡° Oh, wow, that''s some inflated ego, senior.¡± And as he thought, instead of getting angry or putting him in his place, Hans continued in a lax tone. ¡°There is nothing I can¡¯t do. Try me.¡±


    "Yes, Yes I believe you, senior."


    "Ah, look at this cheeky bastard. He wants something for me. This level of inciting is nothing. I''ve been around Deli. My skin is too thick. But let''s just humour him," Coughing and pretending like he was natural in it, he asked agitating, "I said try me, Junior."


    ¡°Then," Vanir paused and asked looking down, "Can you let a cripple man walk again?¡±


    "Are the legs intact?" hand asked rubbing his hand on the chin, pretending to be a deep thinker, continuing, "If it''s not then I need to go to him or he¡ª" ¡°Yes. they are,¡± Vanir said in haste, he never thought of getting the answer he searched for but thought that his god might show help in unexpected places.


    ¡°Then yes.¡± Hans nonchalantly responded, but doubting him once again, Vanir asked with some suspicion, ¡°You are not joking, right?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t joke,¡± Hans said with a severe face, sipping his hot coco and adding, ¡° Except with Deli or Chris or when trying to screw someone, oh and when skipping the classes¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s practically covering your whole schedule senior.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, whatever," he shrugged off and asked, "So who needs healing, a family member of yours? Can¡¯t afford the treatment? That''s easy to solve ¡ª¡± ¡°Please," pushing his chair back, Vanir interrupted, "Yes, the professor said he has a terrifying background. I don''t need much, just letting him live a few more years until I find a cure is enough." Thinking hard he knelt, "I¡¯d do anything. Help me.¡± His eyes begged with utmost sincerity, but it was not something that could win Hans over.


    His lax attitude changed, and  turned into a dealer''s, and taking another sip, he responded, ¡°Your knees are precious, you ought to protect them like your head, idiot.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the power to protect anything. My dignity is not an exception either, sir.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you came here," Hans placed the empty cup back on the table and staring right into Vanir''s eyes, he asked, "For power?¡±


    ¡°You also know my condition, you''ve seen with ManaVision,¡± Vanir paused, tapping his chest, ¡°The most I can reach is the fourth circle. That''s not enough fo ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What a dumb fellow?¡± Hans interrupted, ¡°I chose you. You ought to become a warlock at least. You seem to have a story, but I won''t ask you, and I''m not interested in it either. You probably seek revenge, right?"


    "Yes,"


    ¡°What a niche setting,¡± Hans said, shaking his head, ¡°An advice, I sorta got it from my father with some of my own words mixed in it; Hating someone requires a lot of time and emotions. Why waste your good days on something like revenge? Everyone, even enemies has something unique to offer. My sister told me this, make sure you learn everything they can offer and wait for an opportunity that will surely come. Revenge must never be the end goal but a stepping stone, or else you will find nothing but emptiness in the end.¡± Hans felt like a philosopher, "This is embarrassing. What the heck I''m saying." Meanwhile, Vanir was facing trouble understanding Hans, a moment earlier he had shown a mind full of insight then his childish ego now a wisdom, ¡°Are you sure you are eleven?" he asked wondering, "You certainly look but don¡¯t feel like one.¡±


    ¡°I fidget around intelligent people," Hans said maintaining his intellectual look, continuing, " And I read many books but it''s probably in my blood.¡± These words Vanir recalled Walter''s words again, so he asked confirming, ¡°Yes, Housemaster also said; you have a terrifying background. Who are you?¡±


    ¡°For someone who can¡¯t even safeguard a book, he sure babbles a lot¡± Hans commented, putting his grim face on, ¡°hm... I¡¯ll tell you if I feel like it. But why won¡¯t you sit in the chair? I like looking down on people, but others will complain that I''m bullying a new student.¡±


    ¡°There he goes again, the childish persona,¡± Vanir thought as he observed Hans. He was not a person that trusted anyone easily but the air that was frequently changing around Hans gave him surety that he was capable of whatever he was claiming. ¡°Can you really let my father walk again?¡± he asked, sitting right away.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°I can, but why do you think I¡¯ll do it?¡±


    ¡°Cause you feel like a good person.¡±


    ¡°Good person, pft..." he chuckled, "I was called many things, but not even grandma had said this to me. Fine, I¡¯ll do it," Hans agreed, but before Vanir could rejoice in joy, Hans interrupted, ¡°Then this good person wants something in return. You said you¡¯ll do anything, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, anything.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I have trust issues, you see my father got betrayed here and there, and then lost his life because he trusted the wrong person.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that.¡±


    ¡°No, no, don¡¯t feel sorry, He was pissing people right and left too. This was bound to happen." He dropped his shoulder and relaxed further, continuing, "I never met him. But what I learned from him is not to trust anyone easily. So you¡¯ll have to sign a slave contract. Are you okay with it?¡± This dragged Vanir down, an elf with a slave crest is what even the commoners looked down upon. He¡¯ll not have free will and unconditionally had to follow Hans¡¯s words. And most of all, it was illegal. Slavery was banished from this era, so Hans proposing it meant he had a way around it. ¡°Can I ask what you need a slave for?¡± he implored him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to do anything, It''s just a failsafe, so I won¡¯t die by your hands. However, you know a warlock can break his slave crest, right? Become one and break it yourself.¡±


    ¡°You sure like rubbing salt in the wounds," Vanir said looking down, dejected, "My limit can hardly make me a fourth circle ¡ª¡±


    ¡°You seemed to miss my words earlier," Hans stressed, "My things have to be the best. I wasn¡¯t just saying empty words. You¡¯ll become a warlock. I¡¯ll see to it.¡±


    ¡°Things, Haan, Wahtever," Vanir thought and stated, "Then promise me one thing, you¡¯ll never make me do what I don¡¯t want.¡± But instead of replying directly, Hans asked putting a grin, ¡°And what makes you sure I won¡¯t just back off after enslaving you.¡±


    ¡°You seem like someone who stays true to your words.¡± His words were sharp as he could see what Hans was thinking, even startling him, ¡°A good person and now a person who keeps promises. You sure say the thing I like.¡±


    ¡°So it is a yes, senior?¡± Vanir questioned to confirm and got the response he was hoping for, ¡°Yes," Hans answered, "I¡¯ll give you this world¡¯s most effective healing potion, even the dead might rise using, with the contract, junior.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Vanir bowed with his utmost sincerity, he thought it would take him an awful amount of time to reach the higher academy and learn the art of alchemy to concoct himself or get some higher alchemist favour to treat his ailing father, but it was just one day, and he almost has the solution in his hand. He was thanking his luck, and this is how Hans met his minion, Vanir.


    IN THE FOUNDATION CASTLE, DORMS


    ¡°So everything is settled, Ally?¡± Delimira asked the elven princess. To her, this little girl was the only kind person who didn¡¯t despise her for being a half-blood and treated her like a sister. Her pure heart was one thing yet to be tainted by this world, and she wanted it to remain the same for as long as possible, so she added, ¡°Stay away from Hans.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem that bad. You are friends with him, sister, aren¡¯t you?¡± Allynna asked her in confusion, if he was bad, her sister wouldn''t have befriended him, and what he did earlier seemed like a rivalry between houses. So she had no bitter feelings for him. ¡°Yes, Deli,¡± Chris chimed in, ¡°You seem chummy with Hans, last time I checked, you are at each other¡¯s throats. What happened?¡±


    ¡°I became Lady Sierra¡¯s disciple, haven¡¯t you heard?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was a surprise, to be honest, but Hans is just from their head knight household, right?¡± Chris asked with suspicious eyes and got a quick response, ¡°Yeah, yes, but he lived in the same mansion. We became close during the holidays.¡±


    ¡°But it sure is awkward seeing you this close.¡± His suspicion continued.


    ¡°Why?" Delimira replied in the same tone, "Do you think I¡¯d always have one friend all my life?¡±


    ¡°No, no," Chris shook his head fervently, "Don''t bite me. I was just surprised.¡±


    Heaving, she explained, ¡°I found out, we are not much different.¡± she paused and, turning towards Allynna, added, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you not to get close to him, Ally. It would put me in a very tight spot if I had to choose between you two.¡± One was the person who treated her like a sister and helped her with emotional support and the other was her master¡¯s grandson and the first person who treated her as a rival and friend. It was evident she had to make a choice sometime near future. After all, no matter how much Hans denied the revenge, the enmity between Clandor and Parv was not something that can be solved without another war.


    She was in her deep thoughts and didn¡¯t realise her words were misunderstood by the two. Allynna nudged Chris in surprise, ¡°It seems you lost her Chris ¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, man, Hans you are in big trouble.¡±Chris muttered, all three were thinking different things but Allynna suddenly raised another question, ¡°But how does his magic work? I couldn¡¯t sense an ounce of mana in him.¡±


    ¡°What? I thought you can sense mana from others like your mother," Chris asked confused so Allynna clarified, "I can, that''s why I''m asking, why does he not have any mana in him?"


    "But he could do massive spells without even breaking a sweat,¡± Chris questioned, and Deli responded instead of Allynna, diverting the topic, ¡°You will be surprised, how strong he had become, Chris. Just a few days before, he subdued a seventy-grade knight. Many factors played the part but he still brought that knight on his knees.¡±


    ¡°You are kidding, right?¡± Chris shouted in surprise, and she achieved the diversion, continuing, ¡°I wish I was, But in Lady Sierra¡¯s words; he is a talent that works hard.¡±


    ¡°And here I thought," Chris stated, dejected, "Me reaching grade thirty would be big news.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 123 : The Long Awaited Second Year

    CHAPTER 123


    THE LONG-AWAITED SECOND YEAR


    "Hurry up, what were you doin''?" Hans needled, his impatience riding his face. He''d been standing by the Talons'' castle gates, outside Chris''s new dorm, for what felt like an eternity ¨C a good half-hour. But Chris, still weary from the morning''s events, wasn''t in the mood for Hans''s usual banter. He signalled for a breather. Hans, though, wasn''t one to be easily deterred. "I''ve been waiting here forever," he complained, his tone a mix of jest and genuine annoyance. On the other hand, heaving, a wry smile curved Chris''s lips, "C''mon, cut me some slack," he interjected. "I don''t have the luxury like yours. My bathroom situation involves sharing with a senior who''s in no hurry ¨C seriously, it''s like waiting for a girl to finish getting ready."


    As they hurried along, their playful bickering persisted, with Hans often coming out on top in their exchanges. To steer the conversation in a different direction, Chris glanced around and inquired, "Hey, where''s Deli?"


    ¡°Who knows?" Hans retorted irritably, "Let''s just make it to class first. We''re all in the same class anyway, right? Swordsmanship¡ª"


    "Yes," Chris replied, his head bobbing in agreement. But before he could elaborate, Hans interrupted, abruptly stopping him. "You also went for Soul Weaponry, didn''t you? We''re in that class together as well."


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    "Yes," Chris responded once more, adding, "Even Deli went for that one."


    "What? She never mentioned..." Hans was momentarily baffled. He was sure she chose differently before, and seeing him contemplating, Chris nudged, ¡°You would have known if you weren¡¯t so busy.¡±


    "Hey," Hans retorted with a frown, "I had to sort out the mentoring situation and help him settle in."


    "That''s precisely why I steered clear of that mess. Why add to your own stress?" Chris remarked.


    ¡°Yeah, tell me. I only wanted an errand boy, but I got scammed into the genuine thing.¡± He thought, but these weren''t the words he wanted to share with Chris. Instead, he confidently stated, ¡°I wanted to raise a subordinate.¡± But shaking his head, Chris shot him a disapproving look. "Yeah, right. Your face tells a different story¡ª" "Ha, we reached the hall." Hans tried changing the subject, but another voice came from the back, interrupting him, ¡°What took you idiots so much time?¡±


    "Oh, thank God. She is here." A sneer stretched on Hans''s face, and turning back, he answered first, ¡°Apparently, Chris is living with a lady.¡± And, as he anticipated, Chris''s expression changed. Disheartened, Chris replied,¡° I¡¯d have liked that, but sadly, my roommate senior takes dumps for a long time, and it''s a battlefield after.¡±


    "Ew, didn''t need those details," Delimira chimed in, her face half-covered. Hans joined in with a playful imitation, "Me neither." Witnessing their synchronised reaction, Chris exclaimed, "Oh gawd, they''re multiplying."


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    Sharing a chuckle, they made their way to the lecture hall. The setup wasn''t all that unfamiliar from the previous year, except now there was no wooden sword but steel. With the second-year class being a selection of the best from the prior year, and for those inclined towards different weaponry like bows or spears, they also had separate classes for them, so the numbers dwindled further, garnering extra attention from instructors who provided tailored guidance to address their weaknesses.


    Chris and Hans were sparing like usual and the result was not much different than the last year either.  Blades clashed, whooshing through the air, but Chris was yet to land a hit on Hans. "Come on, Hans! I''ve been training for three whole months. Let me land one hit," he grumbled. But Hans kept switching stances to deflect or evade Chris¡¯s jabs. It seems more like a dance than an actual spar which was rubbing salt on Chris''s wounded pride. And, after doing everything, when his energy waned, Hans swiftly disarmed him with a single fluid motion. ¡°It always feels refreshing to fight you, my friend.¡±Hans commented, and glancing at Deli, he added with a smirk, "Want to have a go, Deli?"


    ¡°No," She denied, surprising both Chris and Hans alike, and looking at their agape faces, she explained, "I know not to take extra stress. It''s pointless to fight when I''m certain I''ll end up losing anyway."


    ¡°Smartass.¡± Hans commented, sheathing his blade and Delimira being the one who must have the last say, responded, ¡°That¡­ I am.¡± And before leaving for her seat, she rubbed at Chris, ¡°I told you. You can¡¯t beat him in just swordsmanship ¡ª¡±


    "I''m a knight, Deli. A knight," Chris declared, his grip firm on the hilt of his sword. Frustrated, he continued,  "It doesn''t make sense that I lack the skills to defeat a mage in a sword fight."


    ¡°Idiot," Deli retorted, "You are headbutting a wall here. Why not test your skills against someone else? I doubt there''s another mage out there who could even withstand one of your strikes.¡±


    They continued talking, pointing out the mistakes of others and discussing what to improve, and just like that, their two hours long class finally ended. Everyone was tired except for one, Hans who looked really energised. He asked, "When is our next class? I''m happy that we don''t have to do morning exercises in the second year." But the two turned to him, almost shooting death stare, even when she knew she couldn''t beat him, she teamed up with Chris and the result was still the same, Hans was unbeatable in terms of the sword, even Rudolf acknowledged that privately when he occasionally sparred with Deli.


    ¡°How can you have energy after this heavy training?¡± Chris asked gasping, and Hans responded, ¡°That¡¯s why I asked you to stop killing babies in the bathroom ¡ª¡±


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Shut up man," Chris shouted, leaping with an unfounded burst of strength in his legs, to muffle this blabbermouth.  And, leaning in close, he whispered, "That''s not something you say out loud, you moron.¡±


    Confused, Deli overheard and inquired, "What''s going on?" Hans turned to her, "I was just asking him to take it easy, mpp¡ª"


    "Enough, buddy." Chris begged, cursing his roommate who spilt everything."


    "Fine, you dolt." Removing his hand, Hans shifted his attention, asking, "So what''s your next class?"


    "Tomorrow it''s Soul Weaponry. But today, in the afternoon, we have a discussion homeroom with Professor Walter. Don''t skip it."


    ¡°I have a production class as well. Damn, Professor Walter went nuts with my schedule.¡± He then turned to Delimira, asking her the same, and she responded the same as Chris, so Hans went grunting to his agriculture class. "But then he quickly became happy because new ideas for experiments kept coming to him during the class. The professor introduced various herbs and things that make things better. He didn''t realize when the class ended. After lunch, everyone got together in the Common room for second-year students. It was the first time all the second-years were in one place. Hans quietly said, ''How many of us are there?'' Chris replied, ''There are more than eighty, and I''m the representative for our year again this time.''"


    ¡°Yes, congratulations, take care of my attendance. And this time, don¡¯t mess with it. You did a fine job last time Chris," Hans complained, "Sending me for the make-up sessions.¡±


    ¡°Hey I told you that was not my fault, Professor Martha was hell-bent on singling you. All my proxies were caught, she even reduced my grades.¡±


    ¡°But you still got a top rank¡­stabbing the back of your friends is an impressive strategy to clear the competition.¡±


    "Hey! ¡ª¡±


    Our homeroom is here," Deli halted their chatter by redirecting their attention ahead. "Looks like he''s really into our little friend here, Chris,¡± she remarked, pointing at Hans. He didn''t miss a beat and replied with a sarcastic grin, ¡°You just can¡¯t help it, can you, Deli?¡±


    "It''s not my fault you make funny faces whenever your height comes up¡ª"


    "Just wait a bit, I''ll be taller than you soon."


    "That''s what you said last year."


    "Hey, farm boy!" Walter''s voice boomed to the back where the trio was bickering. ¡°Eyes at front and mouths shut.¡± he declared authoritatively, and when the trio looked settled, Walter continued, "Eyes to the front, mouths shut." Once they settled down, Walter continued, "I''m your homeroom teacher this year. You''re all the elites, the cream of the crop. Those who didn''t make it are learning trades on different islands. So if you miss your friends, you might see them. They might even have a second shot at your graduation ceremony." Walter looked around, everyone was paying their full attention to him, so knocking his table aloud, he stated with a sneer, ¡°As I¡¯ve mentioned before, I was head storming a project, a junior team for Glory Wars, and it got approved last year. We¡¯ll be choosing a team from you brats, so get your shit together. And as you might have heard, the mentoring program is resumed from this year onward, and oddly enough it was for second years only. I don¡¯t know what the higher-ups were thinking, but this is an opportunity for you all, to create an identity not backed by family or relation among your juniors.¡±


    Suddenly, Cynthia of Sunfall and Hans¡¯s House member raised her hand, ¡°Is it possible to¡­support them financially?¡±


    ¡°I know what your support means, princess, but one who can sell himself once can sell himself twice. So be extra careful if you buy their loyalty that way.¡±


    Class started whispering among themselves, and Hans was not one to miss the chance, ¡°Chris, are you sure you are not taking one?¡± But bobbing his head, Chris nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t have time for that, you and Deli can play the mentors.¡±


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    "Hmm¡­" Hans pondered, then turned to Deli with a sly grin. "Hey, Deli. How about a friendly contest?"


    "What do you want to bet?" she inquired.


    "Wait, isn''t the order usually the other way around? Shouldn''t you ask what we''re competing in first?"


    "Hans," she paused for effect, "Have you ever actually won a bet against me?"


    "Hm¡­well, that''s reasonable, so let''s skip the wager this time," Hans stated.


    "Alright, you chicken. What''s the challenge?"


    "Well, it''s not really between us. Since you''ve taken the talented princess under your wing, let''s see which of our juniors becomes stronger.


    ¡°Fine, challenge accepted,¡± she smiled, commenting, ¡°I¡¯ll show how scary a raw talent is Hans.¡± And Hans sneered back, ¡°And I¡¯ll show you how far one can go when his life depends on it Deli.¡±


    ¡°Buddy,¡± Chirs chimed in with a concern, ¡°You can¡¯t kill your juniors ¡ª¡± But Hans with an innocent face commented, interrupting him, ¡°Breaking a few bones in the name of training is fine, Chris.¡± When the three were discussing things of their own, others asked Walter some more questions about the year curriculum, and the class was let go. As Hans headed out, trailing behind his friends, Walter picked him out from the group. "Hey, farmboy, a moment."


    "Ugh, what''s up now?" Hans muttered, clicking his tongue. He made his way to Walter as everyone else swiftly disappeared.¡°Farmboy, really sir?¡± he asked with a pouting face, ¡°Can¡¯t you call me something decent, my name would be a good choice for once ¡ª¡±


    "I hope our agreement hasn''t slipped your mind," Walter stressed, his tone serious. "Your second book for the one in the Alliance treasury."


    ¡°Should I tell him that he was already robbed, no, he taught me to use everything I can, like a true Prophet member. It''s your fault for losing it, sir.¡± Hans nodded, acknowledging Walter,


    I already knew that. I''ll secure the top spot in the glory wars and claim it. But, sir, is there anything else? I don''t think you''re holding me just for that."


    "Aren''t you getting rather familiar with me?" Walter inquired, his tone slightly probing. Hans, however, remained casual in his response. ¡°We are talking about sneaking out one of the most powerful grimoires (magic books) with unmeasurable power. I deserve to get some leeway¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine, Farmboy. I stopped you because some people from your homeland are coming next week. There is going to be another world summit in Midlands. Students won¡¯t be affected, but they requested a private meeting with you.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t catch a break, what am I? A third-grade novel¡¯s protagonist?¡± He mumbled in thought and spoke, ¡°Is it Prime Minister Arat?¡±


    ¡°You know him?¡± Walter asked, imitating a surprised look after knowing everything and it was not hidden from Hans either but he played along,¡°Sadly yes, is it him who asked for me?¡± Hans asked again and Walter acknowledged, ¡°Yes, but why ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I sorta robbed him,¡± Hans quickly responded, ¡°He probably wants it back.¡±


    "Enough," Walter motioned with his hand, "I don''t want to get involved." Hans grinned, nodding, and fired back, "Is there someone named Dijkstra coming, by any chance?"


    "No, that lunatic is barred from entering Concordia," Walter responded, sensing Hans''s query.


    Hearing this, Hans kicked at the air and lamented, "That''s a shame. I was looking forward to meeting him." And like that, a week flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the atmosphere at Concordia transformed to greet the esteemed delegates from all the nations.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 124 : The World Summit (1)

    CHAPTER 124


    THE WORLD SUMMIT (1)


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    For Hans, it was an ordinary day, but for Concordia, it felt like a grand Festival. There were many new faces, and the security was top-notch. Even the graduates working in Node of Deadlands had come to make the World Summit successful. This happened every year, but since the first years were mostly isolated, Hans and others did not feel this wave last time, but this year it was grander, or one could say volatile. The nation that all were hostile to was head storming the Summit. After ten long years, this was the first public appearance of Parv.


    Since all were busy or enjoying the buzz, the training grounds were empty, but two people were sparring, or more to say, one individual beating the other in a nonsensical way. ¡°Hey, you only know four spells, throw some variations," Hans complained, stating, "I got used to your strategies and pattern a while ago.¡± His vines flung him to Vanir, and rolling mid-air, he knuckled the head of his junior, giving him a big bump at the top.


    ¡°Ha, ha, hmpf,¡± gasping, Vanir stood again, whining, ¡° Just how much mana you have, Senior.¡± Even Saprring daily for almost a week, Vanir thought this more of Hans venting his rage on him instead of learning something. "Agh, this thing again," He cried, crushing some thin creepers. The SugarDrain was the true culprit of exhausting him. He lifted his head and asked, doubting, "You are not a third or fourth circle, right?" However, Hans remained quiet. "Agh, at least, say something," Vanir shouted, stressing, so Hans responded, with a sly grin, "I''m limitless, junior. If you manage to outlast me in a battle of endurance, well, then maybe pigs will fly."


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    "Alright, alright, you don''t have to tell me," Vanir dismissed with a wave of his hand, his scepticism mirroring that of everyone Hans had shared his secret with. Hans sighed, his expressions nonchalant, but Vanir asked, almost pleading, ¡°Senior, when will you give me the potion?¡±


    ¡°After this headache of a summit ends...Woosh ¡ª¡± Hans turned, and said looking at a huge little pillar that fell from the sky, ¡°They are here.¡±


    ¡°They sure have a grand entrance,¡± Vanir commented, so Hans tried to feel his stance, ¡°So you don¡¯t like Parvians either?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me, To the highborn, we are just dead weight, a waste of breath. They all think of their own benefits. At this point, I might shake the devil¡¯s hand if he can pull me out of this misery.¡±


    "You''ve already sold yourself to me, Junior. Even if the devil desires you, he must seek my permission first," Hans proclaimed, turning red hearing his own words, and Vanir shared the sentiment. "Pft," he couldn''t help but laugh, stating, "Do you realise how cringe that sounds?"


    ¡°Yeah, that didn¡¯t come out as I wanted.¡± Hans said contemplating, and Vanir added, ¡°I haven''t signed the contract with you yet, senior.¡±


    ¡°Once I put my mind into something, I have to have it, no matter what ¡ª¡±


    ¡°But,¡± Vanir interrupted, ¡°You let the princess go.¡±


    "You have no fear, huh? Keep interrupting me, and your head might part ways with your body," Hans responded, his tone shifting to seriousness. This time, his demeanour aligned with the rumours that depicted him as volatile and easily provoked. Yet, Vanir sensed that even if he were to push things further, Hans wouldn''t harm him. As he saw it, Hans was unlike the duplicitous people he''d encountered so far. Hans was genuine, speaking his mind without reservation, whether it was good or bad. And in Walter''s terms - Easy to please.


    "So respected, Senior, why did you let the princess go?" Apologising with a glance, he inquired, and as he had anticipated, Hans easily let it pass. "He is just a kid. Professor Walter was right." His monologue took a break when Hans started to speak after contemplating a bit, " I might have lost my mind back then. It''s sort of like¡­ I don¡¯t know why¡­ but I wanted her.¡±


    ¡°Well, she will grow pretty, that''s for sure," Vanir shrugged off, misinterpreting Hans''s words, adding, " Just look at the queen.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what got my father killed,¡± Hans mumbled in an inaudible voice, clarifying, ¡°It''s not the beauty. Probably. I also drool in front of talented people. But still, it is surprising, she didn¡¯t fit any of my criteria and getting her will sabotage many things. It''s more of a headache ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then why did you choose me?¡± Vanir interrupted, and Hans answered, ¡°Because you were a perfect fit, your desperation that fills your eyes instead of dreams that mostly everyone has. You are not here to become stronger, you are here to survive, and that is what I need now.¡±


    ¡°I have lived a shitty life, till now. I don¡¯t even know how my parents are faring without me. And this fucking thing is what saving me, ironic, isn''t it?¡± He smiled at his miserable fate, looking down. But an unexpected reply came through Hans, and it was not something calculative but through his heart.¡°I bet they are happy, even if they don¡¯t have anything to feed themselves, they¡¯d be happy knowing their son is forging his future, trying to escape the life of hardships.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for saying this senior.¡± Vanir stated he never thought he would be comforted by Hans, and the other party was thinking the same, ¡°Nice Job Hans. But where is this came from?" He coughed, carrying the momentum, "Of course, I have to, that''s my mentor''s responsibility.¡±


    ¡°I really won''t tell anyone so just tell me your actual age,¡± Vanir teased with moistened eyes, which rendered Hans''s intent to retort defenceless, he gave up scolding and answered, ¡°I¡¯m really eleven, you idiot.¡± Hans paused, feeling a presence, and ordered, ¡°Go to your dorms, First-years are not to loiter around during summit.¡± And with those words, Vanir made his quick exit.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°What were you waiting for, sis?¡± Hans asked, and Vanessa, who was outside the training grounds¡¯ gate, appeared before him, ¡°You were busy with your words of wisdom little brother, I didn¡¯t want to interfere with you two.¡± She teased him with a glance and Hans chuckled in response, ¡°So did I sound cool?¡± he asked.


    "Yeah," tousling his hair, she responded, ¡°Almost. Let''s go, they probably want to talk to you before the summit.¡± Not having the option to deny, Hans picked his thing and went to his luxurious dorms. After cleaning up himself, he came out drying his hair and rubbing a towel on his head, he asked Vanessa waiting in his room, ¡°So is everyone there?¡±


    ¡°Yeah," she took over and started drying his hair quickly, saying, "I just hope they could discuss themselves like adults, but politicians bicker like children, dear brother.¡±


    ¡°So what are they gonna bicker about?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, yet. I¡¯ll probably be with Lady Sierra, so I¡¯d get to know it soon. Are you curious?¡±


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    "Yes, quite," Hans replied, casting a sneer in her direction. Vanessa matched his tone, saying, "I''ll catch you up on things later, then." Tying his shoelaces, he asked again, ¡°So who are the guests? I only knew every country sent someone.¡± Knowing him well, Vanessa knew his glint in the eye meant he was not gonna let it go until she answered this, so she started speaking whatever she knew of, ¡°From Alliance and Grimgar: Hero King Norwin, Elven king: Elanor from Clandor, Dwarven chief; Nakhok Ironborn, the new king of Utar and current queen of Indu. Sunfall only sent their foreign ministers.¡±


    ¡°And from Parv?¡±


    ¡°Their Prime minister," She replied, doubting, " He only brought three knights. I don¡¯t know if he is just fearless or arrogant.¡±


    ¡°He needs to show that even if he comes like this, even all the nations together can¡¯t touch his single hair. That¡¯s their useless pride that they keep close. I can understand.¡± Hans explained, remembering his past meeting with Arat. ¡°That¡¯s even dumb, dear brother." Vanessa said fixing his hair, "That man probably runs that nation. If others take him out here. Parv can¡¯t do anything to save him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sister, this is not like you, What happened?" Hans looked at her with doubtful eyes thinking, why she is not getting the meaning, so he explained his thoughts while walking to the meeting place "He probably wants that too. But his death only brings more chaos to the outside, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°But what''s the meaning of achieving what you want if you can¡¯t even witness it happening.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that''s stupid,¡± he mumbled, ¡°I don¡¯t know what my father felt knowing the world would change the way he wanted, even after he died.¡± He hadn''t noticed they''d arrived at the restricted area. He was just following Vanessa while lingering in his thoughts. She knocked on the door, and upon opening it, Hans stepped inside. A familiar face greeted him with a smile saying, ¡°It''s nice to meet you again, my prince. I¡¯d have knelt but you ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah yeah you have fucked up knees, Mr PM, so what do you wanna talk about?¡±


    ¡°f..f.., you need an etiquette teacher.. that''s for the latter. I believe you have something that belongs to us?¡±


    ¡°Haa...What a petty old man! Can¡¯t you let me have one artefact?¡± Hans asked, making an annoying face, but Arat, hardly showing his true expressions, kept his firm tone, ¡°That thing belongs to the Parv royal family, and last time I checked, you didn''t accept my proposal¡± he said, looking straight into Hans¡¯s eyes. So Hans instantly refuted, ¡°It just warms the surroundings. You miser.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Arat¡¯s expression changed this time, and he continued, ¡°It''s more significant than that.¡± And, seeing him that serious, Hans remained quiet. So Arat explained further, ¡°Mother¡¯s embrace is an artefact of old times, it shrouds the user with a warmth, which disables all the harmful effects, poison, corruption, pollution, anything that harms ¡ª¡±


    ¡°So this thing is a no-restriction-pass since it can allow anyone to cross the God¡¯s breath that is isolating or protecting Parv." Hans muttered aloud, interrupting Arat and impressing him at the same time. Listening to him the old man laughed, adding, ¡°Guess you use your head too, my prince.¡±


    ¡°You say my prince, my prince every moment you get, but I can¡¯t see an ounce of respect for the title you are so eager to bestow on me, PM Arat.. wait... a minute¡± Hans paused, forgetting the words he was going to taunt Arat with. All because he had realised something that bothered him for a while, ¡°So the bastards who attacked me in the County were looking for this.¡± Hans unhooked the strings on his neck and showed the mother¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Oh, So that''s why you were attacked.¡± Arat nodded as he also found the missing piece of the puzzle that was hounding him. But he still didn¡¯t know who was the instigator. So he tried Hans once again, ¡°Do you know which moron grows a pair to do that?¡±


    ¡°Someone from Sunfall sent royal guards¡± Hans tattled without holding back, unaware that he was increasing Dijkstra''s workload, continuing, ¡°They keep asking me to give them the artefact but all I knew about this then was a warming device. Even that thing, the birthright does not have the information.¡± Hans said to confirm it with Arat, and as he expected, the old man in front of him was nodding, explaining, ¡°Of course, since it is classified. But no matter how hard I think, other people knowing its function and it being the Sunfall is far less possible.¡±


    ¡°Whatever, it''s your thing to solve,¡± Hans knew that as long as he returned it to Arat, those people would leave him alone. But one thing confused him more at this point, ¡°So why were you giving this to evil monkeys?¡± He asked him st point blank. Since this turned out very important to them, no matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn''t get the answer. But Arat''s face was filled with disappointment. Sighing he answered with a question, "Isn''t it obvious?"


    "You dirty old man, you never planned to honour the deal with them, were you?"


    The disappointment faded, finding that Hans understood his mind readily, ¡°Well, the plan was to steal it back.¡± Arat said, almost pouting he continued, ¡°But a certain someone spoiled everything.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for the compliment.¡±


    ¡°Well, I meant as one. You did a fine job fooling us. There was no room for us to chase you. It was a flawless improvement. Guess blood doesn¡¯t lie.¡±


    ¡°But It has to,¡± Hans shook his head left and right, denying Arat, ¡°I don¡¯t wanna die because of going crazy over a woman.¡±


    ¡°There are bigger plots in the play my prince. You are half right and half wrong about your father.¡±


    ¡°Stop, I don''t wanna know the bigger picture you adults keep talking about.¡± Hans gestured surprising Arat because he thought Hans would be more eager to know, but his answer stupefied him. Hans kept shaking his head and answered, ¡°I don''t wanna deify him like you. And it''s not my mess to get involved with." He paused and continued, "Isn¡¯t it time for you to stop moving as he wished, he is dead after all?¡±


    Arat pulled a piece of paper, folded neatly and gave it to Hans, ¡°Open it,¡± he said but before accepting it, Hans wanted to know what it was so Arat responded in kind, ¡° Even if a cog is missing, Fate won''t stop running, my prince, it just takes a different route from an intended one. You''ll understand soon." Pointing at the paper, he explained, "That is the copy of the first page of the book Mandate.¡± The words were not even left from his mouth and Hans had snatched the paper and opened it in haste.¡°I¡¯ll be back, in one form or another. So wait ¡®cause this king ain''t done yet.¡±


    ¡°Fuck!¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 125 : The World Summit (2)

    CHAPTER 125


    THE WORLD SUMMIT (2)


    "He''ll return, alive...NO, this old man must be plotting something." Hans kept his emotions in check. He lifted his head and inquired, "Why are you sharing this with me?" Arat was taken aback, thinking, "Does he not care a bit?" He was known for his lack of surprise, but Hans''s indifferent attitude rendered him speechless. "You''re quite an unfilial son. Aren''t you, prince?" He emphasised, "I''m telling you, your father will return ¡ª¡±


    "You could be lying," Hans cut in, but upon taking a careful look at Arat''s face and the command centre affirming his honesty, he corrected, "Or maybe you are not. Still, I''ll only believe it when I see it, not a moment sooner." He asserted, recognising that the crafty man before him could be as deceptive as a new Monday. But his thoughts were no stranger to the Prime Minister. Contemplating, Arat stated in a relaxed tone, "However, there''s also no evidence that I''m being untruthful, my prince."


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    They locked eyes in a standoff, but Arat being the older, gave in first, intervening, ¡°I brought three documents to show you. The first was from Mandate. Now take a look at this one,¡± he said, producing another paper from his pocket."It''s what we deciphered from the Book of Prophecies ¨C How everyone you loved will die. Don''t you want to take a loo ¡ª¡±


    "What?" Hans swiftly seized the paper, moving twice as fast as before. He read aloud, "My son managed to defeat the Madaruka but at a great cost. He vanished, leaving ##### #### behind. My mother.. she sank into the deep ####n, and my ###cher went ahead and got #### killed by ######. I''ve never felt so helpless... my life and my body shattered. What''s the point of having this much power when I can''t even control a fraction of it? Everything spiralled downward due to the Elven Council; you need to end it at its core. I may have failed, but you must succeed, my #######."


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    "What is this?" Hans yelled at Arat, his anger overpowering his awareness that this might have been something Arat manipulated. But he couldn¡¯t help as he read those words, it felt like Samson''s plea to someone, and it wasn''t intended for him. He realised it was about Sierra and Rudolf''s deaths. Him taking down Madaruka, likely referring to fighting the ancients, and then disappearing, hinted at his own death. This seemed like a prophecy, or rather, what Samson had seen through his eyes, and he was asking someone to prevent it from occurring, but whom he wondered, tugging at his hair and succumbing to the notion that all of it could be true.


    Arat found an opportunity and struck while the iron was hot, pointing, ¡°This book was intended for Bernard, the traitor of Parv.¡± But Hans was not oblivious to what happened back then. After meeting Arat, he researched on his own, mainly asking people of Edenberg Manor and reading the fragmented notes of reports, ¡°Elven Council, didn¡¯t he kill them all?¡± Hans asked, confirming, ¡°He already changed the prophecy, or visions whatever.¡± But Arat burst his bubble, ¡°No," He firmly denied, "Many from their faction survived the war. Clandor still has their influence in their political world.¡±


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    "Ah, what a headache," Hans groaned, rubbing his temples. "But if I died while taking down Ancients, it''s not a terrible way to go, I suppose¡ª"


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    "There''s no such thing as a good or bad way to die; once you die, it''s over, my prince. And you know I''m being truthful because that thing in your head must be confirming it," Arat stated, indicating Hans''s head forcing him to acknowledge, "I can''t deny it. Command Centre is recognising the text; this is authentic content from the Book of Fate." However, there is a positive aspect, which Hans realised. "It confirms one thing: I became unbelievably strong," He looked at Arat in excitement, adding, "A Mage capable of defeating Madaruka. That sounds incredibly powerful, but then who then which bastard bested me?"


    ¡°Ha¡­" Arat sighed, "That is your take after knowing what lies ahead.¡± remarked, deflating Hans''s enthusiasm, and continued, "We''ve also deciphered a few other pages. They didn¡¯t make any sense and were hard to comprehend. But one thing I''m certain of is that in those texts, you weren''t a mage. You were a Knight, a powerful one."


    He stopped abruptly as various thoughts flooded his mind. And Observing Hans''s sudden halt, Arat chimed in, "You''re starting to grasp it now, your father¡ª¡±


    ¡°Never wanted me to be in this conflict,¡± Hans interjected, completing the sentence. Memories of everything that had unfolded since his mana had awakened rushed through his mind. His inability to manifest an aura, almost as if Samson had deliberately veered him away from his set path. Gazing straight into Arat''s eyes, he continued, "That''s why the elven war occurred. He intended to handle everything alone, so I wouldn''t have to shoulder the burden. That''s why he wrote not to pursue revenge and be there to protect Grandma and Grandpa in his place. That''s cheap, getting rid of my potential ¡ª¡±


    "I''ve heard him mention many times," Arat spoke, locking eyes with Hans, emphasising, "That all he desired was for his son to grow up without feeling any responsibility to the world, not to be used or abandoned when not needed."


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    ¡°Well, he definitely won the father of the year,¡± Hans added with a touch of sarcasm but Arat wasn''t bothered; this was the discussion he had intended to have with Hans back in the Frozen Tooth. However, Hans had cleverly evaded it. Arat continued resolutely, " But it all changed when he died without accomplishing his goals. Now you can¡¯t have the life he desired for you.¡±


    Hans sensed what Arat want to accomplish from this conversation, so he asked, aiming to steer clear from this mess, ¡°Didn¡¯t you show me the first paper, he seems to coming back ¡ª¡± ¡°As much as I want to believe, it has been ten years." Arat argued, "I can¡¯t hold back our countrymen anymore. They are boiling with anger. The balance might break any moment, all it needs is a little spark, and we¡¯ll have a world at war.¡±


    ¡°So what do you want me to do here.¡± Hans pointed, not beating around the bush and Arat respectfully answered in the same tone, ¡°Be the one that Samson wrote, become his second coming and take your rightful place. We can¡¯t have a war right now.¡±


    ¡°NO, I¡¯m not him, and I at least now want to honour what he dreamed for me, a happy and carefree life. So long, Mr Prime Minister, I don¡¯t want any part in this mess.¡± Hans declared his stance, this time firmer than ever.


    ¡°You are taking it too lightly¡± Arat shouted furiously, and this was the first time he was showing his anger so openly at Hans, ¡°A happy and carefree life, was a good dream of your father¡¯s, but for it to realise, he has to be here solving things on your behalf, not buried in Grimgar cemetery.¡± He smacked the table, stood up and added, ¡°Whether you like it or not, you already are in deep shit. I¡¯m trying to help you steer in it safely, can¡¯t you see? Your nation has been waiting for you for a whole decade; you hold a responsibility to it."


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to.¡± Hans stood up, matching Arat''s intensity, "I won''t let my life be dictated by words scribbled on paper. Even if I have to commit massacres to change it, I''ll do so, but I''ll do it on my own terms. Neither you nor my dead father has a say in it.¡±


    ¡°So you won¡¯t come with me. Is that what you are saying?" Arat confirmed, sitting back, "You could stop millions of death just by showing up, accepting your destiny, be the prince that everyone wants.¡±


    ¡° A war," Hans nodded, ignoring all the words as they fell on his deaf ears, "Yes, go ahead and do it.¡± He challenged Arat, knowing that he did not want it either and as he expected, Arat argued back.¡°If that were to happen - the first thing everyone would eye for is you. Rudolf and Princess Ira would get hurt saving you.¡± He once again tried to convince Hans, ¡°The words written on that very piece of paper will turn true. Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m trying to stop that future?¡±


    ¡°That will never happen,¡± Hans threw the artefact Mother''s embrace at Arat, ¡°I believe we are done here.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡± Arat grabbed his hand in haste, ¡°Take this at least¡± he pulled the last piece of paper along with a small box, roughly the size of an adult''s hand. ¡°I hope you never have to use it.¡± he pressed on and put both in Hans''s hands, continuing, "It''s an Ancient killing weapon, used by you, in the future, but with the things changed in you. I hope you find a way to construct it and can use it as a mage too. It operates using sunstones. There''s one in the box. You should at least take this, because Parv isn''t the only one eager for a war."


    ¡°You mean, Xandor.¡±


    ¡°Yes but unlike me, he wants to destroy everything. His rage will soon burn everything, so I beg you to stay away from him.¡±


    ¡°Fine, Can I go now?¡± Hans asked with a frown and Arat nodded to his request, ¡°Yes and don¡¯t show the sunstone to anyone.¡±


    ¡°It''s just expensive rock ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and even Norwin Grimgar would make a move for that expensive rock.¡±


    ¡°Then it''s a fricking bomb, aren¡¯t you trying to protect me before. You sure about giving it to me?¡±


    ¡°You are not dumb enough to announce it, and yes. We have plenty of those.¡± Arat finally calmed down and continued pointing at the box, ¡°One other thing, please use INGRESS in modesty. One jump burns several of those.¡±


    "I''ll try, no promises." Hans put the box in his pockets and exited the room. And the three figures who were masking their presence appeared before Arat. ¡°He is stubborn, I wonder whom he get this from, King Samson was rational not this childish.¡± One said, supporting Arat to stand up. ¡°Whom of course his mother," Arat responded, "Who do you think he got these bad things if not from Samson? If it wasn''t for the preservation of Goddess, I would have never agreed to let him born this way.¡±


    ¡°But PM, We are not lying about millions dying.¡± Another one added, looking at the doors where Hans had just departed, "The World is unstable enough, we don¡¯t want Parv to be the spark throwing it into the turmoil.¡±


    ¡°Tell that to our bratty Prince,¡± Arat said, looking at another strange object in his hand and the third one, who was silent till now joined the conversation, ¡°But Sir, You expected him to act this way. Isn¡¯t this why you bought that thing.¡±


    ¡°I expected it, but I didn¡¯t want it to happen, kid,¡± Arat responded, disappointed, ¡°Xandor is way far ahead of us, we need to hurry before he completes it.¡±


    ¡°But we are here for stabilising our almost divided nation. A civil war might interrupt at any moment.¡± The third one said, continuing, ¡°It would have been better if Prince agreed to tag along.¡±


    Arat agreed, nodding and said, ¡°But we can¡¯t have all the things we want every time.¡± Putting the weird object on the table, Arat tapped and said, ¡°ACTIVATE Fabrication.¡±


    The object lit up and projected the image of Hans saying, ¡°People of Parv, the day will soon come when the world will kneel again before us but for that to happen, I have to become strong, so strong that even my father can¡¯t hold a candle before me. All I ask is your patience and the trust that you¡¯ve given to my father. And in return, I promise you the Parvian sun shall rise again.¡±


    ¡°This will buy us at least three or four years,¡± Arat said closing the artefact called Fabricator and continued, ¡°We need to change our plans a bit since our prince is planning to stay here. I can¡¯t just watch him killed.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 126 : The World Summit (3)

    CHAPTER 126


    THE WORLD SUMMIT (3)


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    "Phew..." Hans sighed, thinking to himself, "I nearly said yes. That old codger really knows how to talk, but a war? As I care. This world is in a mess because of adults, so why do they keep bringing me into their fights¡­¡± Suddenly, a pat on his back startled him. "Sis, were you waiting for me?" he asked Vanessa, surprised.


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    "Yeah, what did you guys talk about?" she inquired with curiosity. However, Hans''s reply was a bit distant as his thoughts wandered, "Oh, he was trying to get me to come back with them," he paused, recollecting the words on the paper he had seen. Worried, he asked her, "Hey, Sis, how well do you remember my father?"


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    "I was even younger than you back then, dear brother, but the memory of him... he was clever, I mean really clever ¡ª"


    "I''m aware of that." Hans interjected and, emphasised,  "I''m looking for something more specific."


    "Hmm..." She pondered for a moment before continuing, "Contrary to what others think, I remember him as warm and gentle, trying everything possible to help those he cared about, even if they never recognised his efforts. He never sought recognition or approval."  She chuckled and went on, "He was too proud to ask for that."


    Doubting, Hans asked, ¡°Did he change suddenly, like keeping things close to him like hiding things?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything like that, I was way younger than you.  But I overheard Father talking once. After Sam returned from Parv, he seemed different ¨C colder and more unforgiving. There was no second chance in his eyes, but that applied to him too. He never made mistakes and his every decision turned perfect. Whatever he attempted, he triumphed. That''s why people started saying he could see the future.¡±


    ¡°It was more like he was living a second life,¡± Hans commented, hinting at a legend that every mage dreamed of and Vanessa was not oblivious to where Hans was going with it. ¡°Regression magic is a myth, dear brother," she disagreed, shaking her head to dismiss the notion, emphasising, "No one could do that ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yet the idea of that very myth exists Sister," Hans grinned, "There is no smoke without fire.¡±


    AT THE BOARDROOM


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    Gathered in the Boardroom, encompassing all eight directions, the designated site for the World Summit discussions commenced as Arat began to speak. "I want to sincerely thank all of you who accepted the Summit invitation on such short notice. Before we proceed, though, there are some personal matters I need to address," he turned towards Sunfall''s foreign minister, his gaze staring at their souls, and continued, "Why are you so keen on disrupting world peace?"


    Taken aback by the unexpected remark, the Sunfall foreign minister protested, "What on earth are you saying?" Failing to receive the answer he was hoping for, Arat questioned him further, "Being aware of the incident implies deceit, while ignorance implies incompetence. Take your pick?"


    "What the fuck are you talking about?" One of the ministers stood, angered.


    "So it''s the latter, I''m disappointed in myself thinking you fall in the first category." He sighed but then the air around him changed for the worse, his eyes almost giving a death glare, and he asked with a grim voice, "What were your royal guards doing in Edenberg? This was the fuck I''m talking about, respected dignitaries.¡±


    This stirred up a commotion, triggering discussions among everyone present. While they were aware of the unexpected assault in Edenberg''s county, it had been dismissed as an outburst of old grievances against Rudolf. However, Arat''s accusation suggested something different. The Foreign Minister wasn''t naive; he grasped the implications of Arat''s words. Without delay, he refuted, "I don¡¯t know what are you talking about and there is no proof against us either."


    Arat had been waiting for this response. "Ah, yes," he sighed, "The world is filled with incompetence. I can''t place the blame solely on you...Then I hope to hear these very words again from you when the culprits suddenly find themselves beheaded in some dark alley."


    ¡°Is this a threat?¡± The Foreign minister questioned, locking eyes with Arat. Yet, Arat''s gaze remained steady, as always, and he retorted, "No, this is retribution."


    "Pat! Pat! Pat!" Norwin rhythmically tapped his table, his voice carrying a hint of annoyance. "Is this why you gathered us here, Arat?" he queried, meeting Arat''s gaze with the same directness as the Sunfall foreign minister. The only difference was that he wasn''t unsettled like his counterpart. "Tell me, Parv''s Prime Minister, what''s the real reason behind your sudden appearance? I suspect it''s more than merely pointing fingers at an Allied nation without evidence."


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    ¡°Evidence is required for trials, I don''t give a fuck who is wrong and who is not kid, I''m declaring my judgement here,¡± Arat said without flinching, ruffling and challenging Norwin¡¯s authority right at his face. ¡°But you are right,¡± he shook his head, conceding this time, ¡°I called you all here because I¡¯m tired of a nuisance called Xandor and his rag-tag group of defected Eclipse. And I assume all of you are as well."


    ¡°So why the sudden change? Aren''t you funding them¡± The new king of Utar commented, but Arat was not some rookie in debates, ¡°Them robbing us and we, willingly giving funds are different things, you uneducated child?¡± Taking a pause and glancing at all of them, Arat announced, ¡±Our intelligence found out that Xandor has found some ancient text and is hasting his preparations. We do not know what it is or what his end goal is but I do think it is time to put our animosity in a corner for a while. And kill this tumour for good.¡±


    "And what of your sincerity?" This time, it was the Elven King, who had a deeply strained relationship with Parv, who posed the question. But like every other time, Arat had prepared a response for him, ¡°My sincerity is that I''m warning you beforehand, you imbeciles. He came to your door, killed your right-hand man, almost got your daughter, and you couldn''t do shit. Is that not enough to scare you? You know much better than me how dangerous that bastard is, he single-handedly wiped almost all your council members, did you forget about that too?¡±


    Arat took a brief pause after shutting up Clandor King and continued, ¡°I came here to achieve one thing, Xandor needs to be eliminated and to show that we are willing to work with you and to show that Parv is shaking hands with you, we will resume our participation in the Glory wars as we were used to a decade ago.¡±


    ¡°So what is that Xandor preparing?¡± Norwin asked ignoring all the drama Arat made, this was the only thing keeping his ass stuck to the board room however, Arat''s answer disappointed him. ¡°I don¡¯t know," Arat said while pointing out, "but you do know, me meeting you and discussing this marked me his enemy, right?¡±


    ¡°Then why are you doing this? Even if Xandor completes the weapon, he is not gonna fire it at Parv ¡ª¡±


    ¡°NO, YOU ARE WRONG, Parv might not be the first target, but it will eventually become one since we are the ones who rejected him in his plan of grand revenge. He blames us for Samson¡¯s death. When he was executing the enemies in a faraway land, we got our king killed. We are the incompetent fools who failed to protect his king when he was not there.¡±


    Arat paused again, and when none questioned him further, he concluded, ¡°That''s all I came here to say, Since we are not part of Alliance, I¡¯ll leave the further discussion to you a bunch. Parv will take the leave here.¡± He stood up and walked away and none stopped him. Parv came like a sudden gust and went like one. Only to leave the grand sight of their departure that can be seen from miles away.


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    The discussions stretched for hours, and the decision regarding Parv''s proposal was deferred until after the Glory Wars. The need for more information on Xandor''s alleged weapon prompted them to send out numerous spies and rangers to verify Arat''s claims. Meanwhile, another individual was preparing to depart for a distant destination. Dijkstra had received fresh orders to impart some wisdom to the Sunfall Royal Guards. Actualising the fears of the vice-captain of the squad that attacked Edenberg¡¯s.


    When they exited the room, one of the knights asked Arat in secrecy, "Sir, Why did you not tell them the complete truth?" And, Arat answered, sneering, "Because chaos is necessary to keep order, you fledglings."


    The summit was a place to discuss for nation movers to discuss things but for Concordia students, it was more of a festival, and after separating from Vanessa, Hans was searching for Chris and Delimira. They had set the meeting place, but he was running late. ¡°Darn that old fox, he said so much nonsense. Just where these idiots go, no one is in the central plaza.¡±


    ¡°BEHIND THE CLOCK TOWER¡±


    The words entered Hans¡¯s ears, startling him, he turned frantically, looking for the source, but the voice echoed in his ears again, ¡°BEHIND THE CLOCK TOWER NOW.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, great ancestor. What''s the hurry? Where are you?¡±


    ¡°BEHIND THE CLOCK TOWER, FOOLISH DESCENDANT¡±


    ¡°Yes, I''m going, I''m going¡­¡± He sped up since Dietrich urged him to, ¡°So this was the reason, Darn this Old man.¡± Hans saw his friends and the Parvian PM confronting them. ¡°Get the heck away from them.¡± he shouted.¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± two SeedBullets were shot right beside Arat¡¯s feet. ¡°I said get away from them.¡± Hans came between them, gesturing to both sides to stop. On his left were Chris, Delimira and Allynna and on his right were Arat and his single knight.


    ¡°How is that he found us,¡± Arat asked his subordinate, but the knight had no answers since the artefact of isolation was still working. Hans interrupted them, ¡°You should leave, now ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you even know who you are protecting?¡± Arat asked, his voice filled with anger. However, Hans was adamant about not listening since he knew why Arat was doing this, but it was not right to him, ¡°Yes, I know, HE IS MY FRIEND.¡± He stressed.


    ¡°That friend of yours is the son of a traitor ¡ª¡±


    "Sins are not inherited. Those are my father''s words to me. If you have a score to settle, find the person responsible and address it directly. Don''t take a cheap shot by harming the innocent."


    Arat sighed, and shifted his gaze towards Chris, battered, ¡°You are lucky, traitor, don¡¯t leave this place, I might have some empathy but others are not that understanding. ¡± Changing his gaze, he stared at the Elven princess, but his eyes wanned on the necklace she was wearing, looking back at Hans he warned, ¡°You¡¯ll get killed if you have her around.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for the concern but you should leave, The Chairman already knows you are here.¡±


    ¡®INGRESS¡¯ Arat said the command and the pillar of light fell on him. He had masked his presence by sending two knights before. That¡¯s why he was able to confront Chris. Hans saw them leave and thought, ¡°And he said to do this modestly, how many sunstones did he burn in this fiasco.¡± He turned to take a look at Chris, he was not badly harmed but was shaken mentally, mumbling, ¡° My father¡­he made a choice, he wanted to stop the bloodshed. He chose the path ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Chris,¡± Hans shook him, holding both his shoulders, ¡°Hey, You are my friend. If anyone messes with you then they are enemies, their justifications can go eat shit. As I have said, Sins are not inherited. They have no right to mess with you.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 127 : The Half Book Of Death

    CHAPTER 127


    THE HALF BOOK OF DEATH


    ¡°How did you find us?¡± Delimira questioned, her eyes glancing at Allynna, and she continued, "Even her emergency contact orb failed." But Hans being him, replied in a way that suited his arrogance, ¡°I have a pretty big hook around this place, Deli.¡± And shifting his gaze to the person who should not be here, he asked Deli, ¡°What with this Shrimp? Why is she tagging along when she should be with the first-years?"


    ¡°Shrimp, really? She is the princess of Clandor, the heir of elves. Shrimp..?¡±


    ¡°Like I care, Winters?" Hans said glancing at the necklace that Arat was glaring at before, surprised, he continued, "That old fox wasn¡¯t bluffin ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have an obligation to follow his words, and you can¡¯t tell me what to do either, Hans.¡± She seethed, her anger evident. But Hans disliked her defiance; he spoke with utter seriousness, "She better not be here, Deli¡ª"


    ¡°Oh, shut up.¡± She retorted, catching him off guard. ¡°What?" Hans questioned, "Have you lost your mind? You can¡¯t talk to me like this, and certainly not because of this shrimp ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Her name is Allynna, and if you don¡¯t like her, that''s your problem.¡± She stressed, standing her ground, making Hans grumble, ¡°Ah, my problem, the hell ¡ª¡± "Hey, hey, you two, cut it out. I almost died today," Chris intervened, stepping between them. "Man, I need someone to comfort me, not the other way around."


    Hans was the first to respond, ¡°Did you hear her talking?¡± he asked Chris with a baffled face but Chris was confused, ¡°She had always talked like this to you. So why''s it an issue now?" Listening to his words, Hans sighed, ¡°Yeah, the problem. I thought I had another friend, but it seems, I was the only one thinking that.¡±


    With those words, he walked away from the trio. The situation hadn''t escalated just due to their recent heated conversation. Over the past week, Delimira had been avoiding Hans like a contagious disease, and it had a disturbing effect on his life. Her excuses kept piling up, and when she finally decided to show up, another baggage was hanging around her.


    He was not dumb; he understood that she was trying to minimise the contact between Allynna and him. However, the way she was doing rubbed him in the wrong way, and the dam of his patience finally broke today. And the silence and mutual avoidance between them became a fishbone in Chrsi¡¯s throat. He was trying to make things work out, but neither Hans nor Deli was agreeing to bend a bit. Hans even stopped coming to Griffin¡¯s nest where the Clandorian trio was now. Chris was in the middle of talking to Delimira, ¡°Can¡¯t you be the bigger person? He is younger than you, and you know how childish he can get. I don¡¯t even have a clue why both of you are acting this way.¡±


    She remained silent, and Chris took the liberty to continue, asking, ¡°I thought you wanted something from him, won¡¯t it spoil your plans?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t just back down now, it''s a matter of pride.¡±


    ¡°Ah, these idiots." Chris almost cursed, "Hans is not someone who looks behind, stupid. Don¡¯t you know?¡± Chris said, while Allynna, sipping her tea, added with guilt, ¡°I don¡¯t wanna be the one who broke your friendship.¡±


    ¡°Our friendship isn''t so fragile that it would break from just an argument.¡± She replied confidently, unaware of how wrong she was because the situation dragged on for a month,. Hans even limited his conversation with Chris, causing unease to settle in. "Enough, this has gone on for too long. I¡¯ll see through this today." And as Hans entered the common room, he shouted, "Hey Hans,¡± but Hans left, completely ignoring him.


    SOMEWHERE IN MIDLANDS


    ¡°I warned you not to set foot here, or do my words are just a joke to you,¡± Hans roared, his hand gripping the battered body''s throat tightly. ¡°Xandor and I had a deal, you are making it very difficult for me to follow along.¡± For a month now, these individuals had been repeatedly showing up, always reiterating the same phrase, ''You''re not the intended target.'' Hearing those familiar words once again, Hans made up his mind. ¡°This is gonna change today." he declared, delivering a powerful punch to the smug face of another of Xandor''s minions.


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    EAST OF SUNFALL, NAPRONIA DUCHY


    Countless undead soldiers were advancing relentlessly towards Sunfall''s eastern stronghold. The Napronia family, guardians of Sunfall for generations, now stood on the brink of destruction. They were encircled, trapped amidst the evil forces of Eclipse''s undead, and as if that was not enough, all twelve captains of the notorious group had breached the castle walls, deepening the siege.


    This was the full force of Eclipse that had destroyed the most powerful aristocratic family of Sunfall, and it only took a few hours. As the sun cast its final light upon the ill-fated castles, the Napronia family, glorious yet condemned, stood prepared for their following execution. They gulped hard as the doors of their ancestral mansion crumbled, and any who dared cross paths with Xandor faced swift demise at the hands of his twelve captains.


    ¡°You imbeciles have a choice,¡± Xandor bellowed, his hands squeezing the life from a man, mere moments before standing before the Duke of Napronia, ¡°Either give me what I want and live or die, and I take whatever I came for?¡±


    ¡°Will you spare everyone here?¡± asked the battered duke, his composure steadfast even in the face of danger.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Parvian, no matter how vile you think of us, but we stay true to our words.¡±


    ¡°What do you seek?¡±


    ¡°A little birdie told me you have a half-torn book in your treasury,¡± Xandor stated, gaze fixed on the duke''s countenance, watching as the previous calmness gradually transformed into a grimace. ¡°You seem to know what I am talking about, so what will be your choice?¡± Xandor asked grinning ear to ear.


    ¡°That is something our deceased prince left us to take care of, it''s no use to you ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be the judge of that. Bring me that, and you all will live.¡±


    ¡°You already massacred half of my people ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stay optimist, at least half of them, are still alive," Xandor mocked, asking, "So are you gonna bring that or not?¡± And the duke gestured for someone to fetch the half-book. An unusual nervousness gripped Xandor, a sensation he hadn''t felt even when he assassinated the Clandor council members. He paced back and forth, his anticipation building until he laid eyes on the half-book he so desperately sought, ¡°Alas, the Book of Death is completed.¡± He exulted, his laughter echoing like that of an antagonist from old tales. With a triumphant shout, he taunted, "Do you see this, you wretched spectre? The completed tome is mine, you insatiable wretch. If the King hasn''t already dealt with you, I¡¯d have enjoyed killing you.¡±


    As an ecstasy ran through his body, an unsettling sensation washed over him. He had detected a persistent presence observing him. Although he had sensed it earlier, he had chosen to ignore it as there was no reaction from the source. Yet now, the stare grew increasingly bothersome. "How long will you skulk like a rat in hiding, Dijkstra?" Xandor sneered.


    ¡°Are you stalking me,¡± Dijkstra responded, wondering if it was true. The unexpected encounter with Xandor, right on the heels of their Clandor meeting, left him taken aback. Similarly, Xandor found himself resonating with the sentiment; after Dijkstra had spoiled his great deal of preparations in Clandor, meeting that maniac again brought the memories of that failure. He said in annoyance, recalling how much he lost in the Clandor, ¡°You bastard, what are you doing here?¡±


    "Me?" Dijkstra responded with a comedic gesture, pointing to himself with an exaggerated expression of surprise. "Someone gave our prince a fright, so I''m handling it. And you?" he inquired.


    ¡°Settling old scores.¡±


    "Hmm¡­ the Book of Death. Quite the grand title. A Book of farts, no dead farts, right?


    ¡°None of your business, Dijkstra. It belonged to me, and now it has returned.¡± Xandor responded, and like the captains had heard his inner voice, they got ready unsheathing their swords again. The second captain led the charge, his sword finding Dijkstra''s neck in a heartbeat, only to halt just shy of making contact. Yet, Dijkstra maintained his lighthearted demeanour. "Whoa, whoa, fourth rank, easy there. I don¡¯t wanna die.¡±


    ¡°If you weren¡¯t Brian¡¯s brother, I¡¯d have killed you a long time ago,¡± Adrian added sternly.


    Dijkstra didn¡¯t respond to Adrian¡¯s words. Instead, he shifted his attention to Xandor, quipping, ¡°You sure carry scary people around you buddy.¡±


    ¡°So what are you gonna do now?¡± Xandor asked in return.


    ¡°I¡¯d love to take care of you. but Arat doesn¡¯t pay overtime.¡± Dijkstra responded with a childlike pout, an expression that didn¡¯t suit a forty-year-old man. ¡°That fucking psycho, at least act like your age.¡± One of the captains remarked. However, Xandor had no time to humour a lunatic. Dijkstra wasn''t someone who can overpower this lineup, but he was an unpredictable variable and Xandor knew that very well. To test his intentions, Xandor asked him again, confirming, ¡°So we are going our separate way?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Dijkstra vanished as he spoke, only to reappear behind Xandor moments later. ¡°No,¡± the captains shouted in unison. They had encircled him before, positioning themselves a distance away from Xandor. Swiftly they all returned, exuding a charged aura, and poised to unleash spells. Yet, just as Dijkstra had appeared behind Xandor, he vanished again, playfully tapping Xandor''s head like a mischievous child.


    ¡°So long, idiots. Don¡¯t get killed before I kill you.¡±


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 Elven Lies I Chapter 128 : The Reprogrammable tapeworm (1)

    CHAPTER 128


    THE REPROGRAMMABLE TAPEWORM (1)


    During the past month, Hans might not have been chummy with his friends, but he was actively pursuing knowledge. His primary focus was on soul weapons, and the professor in charge had introduced him to him till the syllabus allowed him - A soul weapon came in two categories, blessed and cursed. The first one could be handed down, but the latter remained loyal to one in its lifespan.


    These weapons were capable of granting extraordinary abilities when supplied with sufficient aura. But what intrigued him the most was the cursed series, where the wielder had to pay the price of wielding enormous power. "What kind of idiot uses the weapon of self-harm? Masochist?"


    "Oh, there are many nutjobs, farmboy," Walter remarked.


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    Since his professor hadn''t provided the information he was seeking, he turned to learning from Walter. "So, out of all the swords, which is the most powerful?" Hans asked, intrigued. However, Walter responded passively, "Each sword can become formidable or worthless, depending on its wielder."


    "Agh, just give me a name?" Hans asked, his annoyance topping his face.


    "Fine, farmboy," Walter motioned for him to pause and began to explain, "Take Sir Alastor, for example. He wields a blessed sword named ThunderClap. However, the name doesn''t truly reflect its power. That sword can control gravity in its vicinity. Then there''s Faith, wielded by Norwin. This sword possesses the unique capability to harness the belief of others, converting it into power for its wielder." Walter carried on, telling him more, but the first two stood among the rest.


    "What about cursed?" Hans asked, this time more curious than ever.


    "You''re probably interested in learning about your father''s sword, aren''t you?"


    "Bullseye, professor, but not for the obvious reasons. Just spill everything." Hans nodded, acknowledging the context, while Walter answered, recalling the information."Hm... Rebellion - the cursed sword forged by Samson himself. It has the nasty curse of eating aura, and sending what it can not digest to people around, essentially opposite of Faith." Walter paused and remarked, "Your father really had issues with his old man." Heaving, he continued," But Faith being the blessed weapon did not eat the strength of others, it just converted their belief into power while Rebellion sucked its user dry. That''s why it was not Samson''s primary weapon, he only used it in emergencies.


    "I don''t get it! What was the advantage?"


    "Hmm... Didn''t I mention this before? The sword can transfer the user''s aura to others. So what would occur if someone holding the sword possesses an excessive amount of aura that they can''t fully utilise¡ª"


    "The sword channels it to allies, making... No, keeping them in top-notch condition even in long battles."


    "See, you aren''t that dumb," Walter teased. But Hans remained quiet, his mind going haywire with another concern. "What if Xandor could use it? Then, aren''t I an idiot putting wings on my possible enemy?" "Agh," he grunted in frustration, "Wait, didn''t cursed weapons can only be used by the owner?" He said it out loud, and Walter responded promptly, thinking of it as another question of Hans, "Of course, anyone other than the owner will die just as it happened in the past."


    "Are you sure, I mean betting your life sure?" Hans asked for confirmation, seeking reassurance. Walter nodded, acknowledging and putting his massive wealth of information on the line, "Cursed swords can never be used by none other than its owner, period."


    Their conversation about the ''Rebellion'' concluded that day, and Hans resolved to concentrate on the present rather than an uncertain future that may not happen, or he prayed it to not happen. "Whatever, Arat said, Samson would be back, he can get his sword back. I just want the second book." The days were slipping by, and having distanced himself from Chris and Delimira, he spent most of his time alone, regularly practising his VoidZone, his swordsmanship and making his spells more efficient. Yet, every time he attempted to push beyond his limits, his body prevented him, as if a tranquillizer kicked in when he tried something drastic.


    One instance was when he aimed to take the fourth step in his ManaStorm practice. The result was him knocking himself out, only to wake up after a deep sleep facing the familiar ceiling of the Infirmary and the nagging of the women around him.


    And today seemed like any other ordinary day, but a small event managed to brighten Hans''s mood slightly. The second-year students were finally having their hunting class, and they were headed to a second-star region in the Floatlands, an island adjacent to Midlands. However, even this brief moment of happiness was shattered by disturbing news that consumed the midlands like wildfire: Xandor had attacked the Sunfall and razed one of their ducal houses.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t that man keep the fire in his pants? Why is he dead set on flashing at the world?¡± Hans was venting his frustration about Xandor, yet this wasn''t the sole problem hovering around him. Vanir rushed in, his expression filled with urgency as he shared another troubling update. Taking a breath, he informed Hans, "Just like you said, Senior, I spotted those around the princess.¡±


    Haa..." Hans let out a weary sigh, adding, "I can¡¯t catch a break. And that stubborn Deli, is she out of her mind? I told her to stay away from her. Alright, today I''m going to put an end to this," he resolved to himself, and gave Vanir another errand to run, Go get Deli and bring her to the back of academy grounds."


    ¡°You mean, Duelling Grounds?¡± Vanir confirmed.


    ¡°Yes, go before those people catch up with her,¡± he said, leaving for the place himself.


    In the meantime, a storm raged across the world since the remnants of Napronia Duchy made a revelation to the Alliance. They confessed to having possession of half Book of Death, a record of similar value to the already known myth: ''Book of Power'' which was rumoured to make Samson - the most powerful knight of this era, hinting that more such books were hidden across the world. This kickstarted an event, a goose chase of the books of fate that the holders wanted to conceal. And Xandor having the complete book compelled them to join forces with Arat.


    Yet, these monumental global shifts scarcely affected Hans. Though many doubted him, they lacked both the means to confirm the truth and the courage to approach Concordia for direct answers. Away from the brewing troubles, Hans was waiting for Delimira''s arrival, he once thought of telling her about what was actually happening around her. "Yeah, I should tell her, this might get dangerous." he resolved to put everything behind him, yet upon spotting the uninvited guest tagging along, he snapped, ¡°Screw this, she needs to be taught a lesson, instead of training they were hanging around. How many days have passed since she focused on getting stronger? It''s all because of this shrimp. It was fine till she came here.¡±


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    ¡°So, what do you want Hans?" Delimira said the words in a tone she didn''t mean, "Your errand boy said you have something ¡ª¡±


    "Get over here. Some sense needs to be knocked into you," Hans retorted, his emotions slipping his grasp. "That wasn''t what I meant to say, damn it," he silently cursed his lack of control. But words were like arrows once released, causing unintended harm and it did, Delimira replied, disappointed, ¡°Yes, that is very you." She paused and raising her head, mocked, "But you never won ¡ª¡± or tried to, but Hans interrupted her, ¡°I¡¯m serious today, you better prepare to lose some teeth, Delimira Winters.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m done entertaining your whims Hans.¡± She rushed to the duelling platform and pointed him to come up. From the second year onwards there was no need for a proctor since many can spar unofficially, and this was it, the unofficial duel. "If I win, I want her gone," Hans declared pointing at Allynna. But Delimira firmly denied, "Not happening."


    "Then I''ll take what I need, Winters," Hans cried, and clenching his fist, he got ready for the showdown. They were now confronting each other, glaring like enemies of past life, and despite Chris¡¯s unending pleas the fight started with a bang, and it was none other than Hans¡¯s two-step Manastorm that sent Delimira flying with a deafening sound. ¡°Krosh art, dead mana, invisibility, Don¡¯t joke with me Winters,¡± he roared, his eyes fixed on her. "Shatter, Smash," his VeganBind went on the rampage, erupting and ravaging the duelling ground. The once solid earth crumbled and morphed as if it were soft butter under a scorching blade, granting her no time to rest.


    His attacks rained down unpredictably, granting him an advantage over Delimira, who was accustomed to anticipating his moves. "Damn it!" she cried out, realising her evasion has led her to an opening.


    ¡°SeedBullet¡± Hans shouted, stretching the mana path right at her head, ¡°This will hurt like hell, so bite it down Winters.¡± Unlike before, this time it wasn''t a metal seed but a wooden one. He released it, sending it hurtling toward her head. However, an unexpected repetition of what had occurred during their previous duel happened again - a sudden, sharp pain came knocking his head, breaking his focus. This caused the mana pathway to waver, the stress dissipating, and the SeedBullet that should have struck Delimira only managed to graze her.


    "Damn it, what is she? The main character of some trashy novel?" Hans grumbled in frustration, pushing through the headache as he drew another mana path. Yet, the same thing kept repeating. In a closely contested battle, even a brief pause could tip the scales. Executing the second move of the Krosh art ¨C the Empty Cut ¨C she darted toward him, gracefully sidestepping all the VeganBind vines obstructing her way. Her blade, crafted from dead mana, swung alongside the rapier, targeting the disoriented Hans.


    However, Hans was feeling a headache, not blindness. He remembered the move that had worked against her previously. "Get lost! ManaStorm!" he yelled and quickly took two steps forward. It was not perfect, but enough to push her back. No matter how much momentum she carried, against the ravaging mana it was akin to a candle before the sun.


    She was thrown back, suffering many wounds, and this time lost her balance in stopping herself. She rolled many times on her journey back to her initial position as a consequence of that mistake. Shaky yet resolute, she stood once more. In the meantime, Hans suffered a huge headache. "What? This won''t work on her either. Fucking, plot armour!"


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    "Argh!" he growled through the throbbing pain, ¡°What is this now? Screw it, I¡¯m not submitting to this?" With his sheer will, he started gathering all of the surrounding mana, spiralling it around him. And with a gasping breath, he taunted the injured Delimira, ¡°Is this what you amount to half blood?¡± And that word, being her reverse scale, turned her furious. Activating the first and second moves of Krosh art: Mirage + Empty Cut. She shot herself at Hans like a bullet. This time faster than ever. Hans almost stumbled, but clutching his head he cried, ¡°Get Lost.¡±


    ~ Three-step ManaStorm ~


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    A self-destructive mana discharge coursed through him, inflicting damage on both himself and the target. The energy surged and tore through the duelling platform, tearing through the slabs that VeganBind''s chaos had left intact, but the sheer force was on an entirely different scale. This was Hans at his peak, a move only witnessed by Xandor until now. Chris, Allynna, and Vanir, the spectators of this duel, stood in awe at the magnitude of power displayed. Delimira, on the other hand, bore the brunt of this barrage and had no chance to be amazed. It felt as if someone had struck the back of her head and then beat her nonstop.


    Her bones shattered, and her body lay battered as she glimpsed Hans, his rage escalating to unprecedented heights as he approached her. Truthfully, she was scared, he was no longer the friend she knew or the mischievous kid from Edenberg. He was a Parvian and he was making a statement as one.


    ¡°I asked you to stay away from her,¡± his voice carried a lethal edge as he seized her collar, hoisting her up slightly before landing a punch squarely on her face. ¡°I asked to stay away from her,¡± another punch followed, breaking her nose. ¡°Stay away from her!¡± The refrain echoed, accompanied by powerful blows raining down on her once-beautiful face, now marred and disfigured.


    The scene''s brutality shook Chris out of his daze. He never fathomed that Hans could descend to such depths of violence. With a belated rush of resolve, he intervened, lunging at Hans and grasping his arm. Yet, Hans''s strength was overwhelming; even while Chris tried to restrain him, his hand continued connecting with Delimira''s unconscious head.


    In a desperate bid, Chris infused his aura and pushed Hans back with all his might. Allynna also joined the fray, placing herself between Hans and the unconscious Delimira. ¡°Stop, you''ll kill her,¡± she implored, tears streaming down her face. She sobbed, ¡°She called you her friend ¨C what a disgusting lie.¡±


    Despite their pleas, Hans remained deaf to their words, lost in his fury. The last thing he registered was a message from the Command Centre.


    FEW MOMENTS BEFORE


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Warning !!!


    A high electronic pulse is detected near the brain.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Warning !!!


    A high electronic pulse is detected near the brain.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    The body of the Host might suffer permanent damage if this condition is not addressed. Scanning the Source


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    A reprogrammable tapeworm is found as the cause. Putting the parasite into Hibernation.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Hibernation/Wake Command Failed.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Adjusting the action. A KILL command is issued. It will erase the program inside the parasite.


    Authorisation Needed


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 98.9276%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 48.9702%; text-align: center">YES</td>


    <td style="width: 48.9702%; text-align: center">NO</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    All he said was yes, and his pain vanished, but the next thing he remembered was Allynna and Chris looking at him with disgust. And, shifting his gaze to the bloody mess behind them, he understood, ¡°Fuck, what happened here?¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 129 : The Reprogrammable tapeworm (2)

    CHAPTER 129


    THE REPROGRAMMABLE TAPEWORM (2)


    Not remembering what happened, Hans moved forward, his strides wobbling. ¡°What¡¯s with my legs, it feels like I lifted a mountain or something¡­wait did I use ManaStorm?¡± Shaking the thoughts away, he stumbled upon spotting Delimira lying unconscious in the distance. "Get up, damn it!" he shouted. But Allynna, fuming with anger, charged at him misunderstanding that Hans was still not done with Deli.


    Nevertheless, Hans, already tired of the events that had unfolded, lacked the energy to deal with her. "Step aside, shrimp," he retorted, halting her in her tracks. "This mess is all because of you. If you hadn''t come here, everything would''ve been fine."


    His countenance turned to the previous, reminding her of the time when Dijkstra cleaved his father''s long-time Aide and concerned about the situation escalating further, Allynna''s tone shifted from anger to pleading. "Please, stop. Don''t hurt her. I''m begging you."


    ¡°What? Why would I hurt her, she needs healing, idiot move.¡±  Hans thought, ¡°What does she take me for? Why would I do something to her when she is passed out.¡± But her pleading continued, almost desperate, ¡°Please, I¡¯d do everything you want, just leave her alone.¡±


    Hans was having a hard time understanding her words, he knew he had some bad reputation among juniors but her acting up this way was just painting him a sadist villain. ¡°It''s not like I did something excessive, right?¡±


    ¡°Then give that thing you are wearing.¡± Hans pointed at her pendant. It had been a birthday gift from her mother, yet to avoid witnessing the brutal scene once more, she impulsively took off the pendant. "Fine, take it, just leave her be," she muttered, flinging her necklace at him.


    Hans smirked, oblivious to the severity of Delimira''s condition. Meanwhile, Chris was on high alert, tending to Delimira. His expressions, however, alarmed Hans. ¡°What is wrong with this idiot, she is just unconscious, a little more.. bloody, a bit grave wounds¡­No, this is an absurd amount of blood." Activating his Manavasion to the maximum, he observed that her mana breathing was still active. But her current state sent shivers down his spine. "Damn it, this is serious. I need to call Grandma..." He turned around, intending to reach his grandmother, only to encounter a massive hand that slapped him, sending him flying. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Rudolf''s voice boomed as he struck.


    As he rose to protest, he found Sierra''s disappointed expression, and it weighed heavily on his heart. "Why is she looking at me like that?" Her disheartened gaze had the power to immobilize him. She turned her attention to her disciples, her features tense as her healing efforts began to yield some results. "She''s in critical condition. Make way." Sierra gently picked Delimira up and vanished in an instant. The others departed, leaving Hans rooted in place. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to follow; his legs simply refused to move. "She''s in critical condition... Ah," he muttered, his heart clenching, his breath quickening. "What is this? Ahh, it hurts."


    "That''s the weight of guilt, young descendant," Dietrich''s voice came from beside him. Not surprised by his sudden appearance, Hans questioned what he did not understand, ¡°Just what happened here?¡±


    ¡°You happened." Dietrich answered pointing to him, "You showed what a dangerous thing a Parvian can be. Nearly sending that girl to her death, foolish descendant.¡±


    "No, there''s got to be some way she got hurt... I can''t recall... Ahh," he began to retch, and as the retching subsided, blood trickled from his nose. "What in the world... Ahh," a piercing ache shot through his nasal passage, right beneath his temples and between his eyes. Then a slithering creature exited from his nose.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Parasite removal - Successful


    Data retrieval - Successful


    Conclusion - It is advised for the host to adapt to life without the parasite. Since the data retrieved from the parasite suggest it was to regulate certain emotions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Did I really... ¡±Hans asked, questioning his actions, and Dietrich who was looking at him responded, nodding, ¡°Yes, I counted, it was seventeen.¡±


    ¡°Seventeen, what?¡± Hans asked anxiously.


    ¡°Seventeen bloody punches, right at her face. She lost consciousness midway, but you didn¡¯t stop. You have a nasty temper ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then what were you doing not stopping me.¡± Has shouted, his anger directed squarely at Dietrich. However, having lived for so long, Dietrich had developed a thick skin. Since people keep wishing things from him or blaming him for not helping when things went difficult, ¡°Meddling in others'' business is a bad thing for them.¡±


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    ¡°You should have stopped playing god for a bit. What if, what if I had killed her..." He stared at his trembling hands, his voice quivering, "She might have died¡­ by my hands.¡±


    ¡°So you learned to feel guilty, now?¡± Dietrich asked him, curious and Hans answered, confused, ¡°I don¡¯t know, It''s my first time feeling this, and this is a shitty feeling, damn it. How am I supposed to face her now.¡± Adding insult to his situation, Dietrich''s tone became teasing, as he spoke, ¡°Oh, I highly doubt she''ll even want to see you after that, foolish descendant. But you used a magnificent trick, you called it what, three-step ManaStorm, yes? It was my second time, but it was impressive.¡±


    "So that''s what it was, no wonder my legs are still shaky. Damn it, I must have lost my mind. She could have actually died," he muttered, yanking at his hair while squatting down. However, he missed a detail which was dawning on him now, ¡°I couldn¡¯t see her unique mana. It used to show in very bright colours like a beacon, but now it just showed plain simple four-coloured mana.¡±


    Turning to Dietrich, Hans hoped for answers, though the hermit''s knowledge didn''t extend to the technological advancements of his own nation. Still, his wisdom was as vast as his age, "Maybe it was due to that thing," he gestured at the thread-like creature, wriggling where it lay, and Hans activated SCAN on it.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Reprogrammable tapeworm


    Installed instructions - None


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">


    Do you wish to see the archived data


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Yes


    </td>


    <td>


    No


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Yes,¡± he chose and the message changed.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Converting the instructions into high-level language¡­


    Object¨C0073 will fully regulate the Host''s emotions and help him make optimal decisions.


    The host of Object-0073 must never hurt and protect the host of Object-0093.


    The host of Object-0073 will receive an SOS whenever the Host of Object-0093''s vitals reach critical values.


    The host of Object-0073 can track the Host of Object-0093 through radio waves.


    ¡­.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Oh shit, she also has one in her.¡± Hans suddenly realised the identity of the second object''s host. He proceeded to recount every detail from SCAN''s results to Dietrich, leaving the hermit deep in thought. After a momentary silence, Dietrich voiced the same question Hans had been pondering, "Why? Why, indeed?"


    "Yeah, that''s the million gold question, great-grandfather. Any guesses on who could have implanted these things in our heads?" Hans asked, his tone laced with sarcasm. Dietrich played along, "Who else but another one of my foolish descendants."


    ¡°Yes," Hans said sighing, "My father. It seems he was dead set on me, never harming Deli and protecting her. Why? Was he indebted to Aredhel or did she die early ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Or maybe because of some preventive measures." Dietrich interrupted, relaying his thoughts, "Who knows you might have been the one to kill her off. I can¡¯t deny the possibility after seeing your actions.¡±


    ¡°Ah, why did I go this far?¡± Hans said looking at his hands, his knuckles still smeared with her blood, ¡°Shit this feeling again.¡±


    ¡°You never felt guilty, right?¡±


    ¡°No, if this is what guilt feels like, then I never want to feel this again.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, you never fail to amaze me. Well, it did say, this thing had helped you regulate your emotions. Feeling guilty, and empathy adds a disadvantage on a battlefield. This thing must have erased those emotions.¡±


    AT THE MEDICAL FACILITY


    Chris and the others arrived at the Medical Ward, entering the room to find Aredhel and Sierra gathered around the patient''s bed. Sierra was diligently casting divine spells to aid in healing, while Aredhel nervously bit her nails. Vanir was taken aback by the presence of two deans on the duelling platform, but it wasn''t hard to understand given that a second-year student was on the brink of death due to the incident. However, the fact that a Concordia Director was displaying such visible anxiety was a clear signal. "Don¡¯t tell me, Senior Hans did that to a Director''s daughter. Damn, it, just don''t end up expelled, senior. You still need to fulfil that promise," he muttered under his breath.


    directed his questions towards the bystanders. "What the hell happened? Explain it now." Allynna promptly began narrating the incident, with Chris filling in the details she missed. However, their account didn''t make sense of Hans''s actions; they knew him well enough to know he wouldn''t do something like this. Frustrated with the incomplete explanation, Rudolf turned his attention to Vanir, his tone intimidating. "You''re the kid that brat keeps around, right? Tell me the things that these two missed.¡±


    But nothing came out of Vanir''s mouth except an apology, "But when did it become a minions job to apologise for his lord, damn it, my lunatic senior," he kept apologising on behalf of Hans from Rudolf, ¡°Senior Hans must have reasons,¡± he pleaded, bowing respectfully. "I admit he went too far in the duel, but please, find it in your heart to forgive him."


    <div>


    "Forgive?" Chris erupted, seizing Vanir''s collar as he gestured towards Delimira. "Can''t you see her? She is hardly breathing,¡± he directed, his finger stabbing at the bed. "It was a duel, not a fight to the death. He should have known when to stop. Damn it." Fuming, he stormed out of the room. And observing Chris''s intense reaction, Rudolf mirrored his sentiments. he intimidated Vanir more and demanded, ¡°Reasonse you say. Now, I wanna know that fucking reason, bring him here, now?¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 130 : The Fucking Reason

    CHAPTER 130


    THE FUCKING REASON


    "Oh, seriously? I had hopes of making a name for myself here, and within a month, the Knight Dean recognizes me on sight. But did it have to be like this?" Vanir grumbled, hurrying off to retrieve Hans. Both department deans were now in the loop, and he hadn''t realized earlier that Hans had practically assaulted the director''s daughter. "Geez, just how big are his balls? I really hope he won¡¯t get expelled.¡±


    He sprinted as though his life hung in the balance, and it didn''t take him long to locate Hans, who was already en route. Overwhelmed by guilt and regret, he couldn''t focus on much else. He entered with Vanir, with the intention of offering a heartfelt apology,


    "Why?" Rudolf''s voice boomed, casting a deep purple aura that seemed to envelop the entire room. "Wow, he''s really mad. Well, I can''t say I did something commendable." With Hans remaining unresponsive, Rudolf repeated his question with intensified fervour, "Tell me, why on earth did you harm her in such a manner?"


    ¡°Phew¡­¡±Hans wanted to say many things, people were following her, Xandor had sent many after the elven princess and Deli being with her had put her in danger many times. He was just trying to protect her, but she was not listening, he wanted to lay out the truth, but everyone''s anticipated eyes made his words twist, "Apology is something she wants to hear but not something she needs now." He looked downward, summoning his courage, knowing how his words going to turn the situation around. Locking eyes with Rudolf, he finally spoke, ¡°Because she is weak. The one who tramples is right.¡±


    "The fuck I said" Hans wrestled his inner self, but before he could utter another word, ¡°Senior,¡± Vanir''s voice interjected, attempting to prevent Hans from digging himself deeper. However, Hans''s sidelong glance silenced Vanir instantly, and he pressed on, ¡°When she wakes up, ask her,¡± he pointed to the unconscious Delimira, stating, ¡°What was she doing when I was grinding my butt off to become stronger.¡± He paused and stared at everyone watching. ¡°Xandor had attacked her before,¡± pointing to Allynna, he continued, ¡°Elven royals whom she is so kind to, have sent assassins to kill her, and god knows how many want to get rid of her. And what was she doing for the past month, playing house.¡±


    He was saying things whatever his mind was conjuring up but breaking his momentum, Allynna interrupted him, she could not take a false accusation, ¡°What? You are accusing my family ¡ª¡±


    Hans pointed upwards, abruptly stopping her, ¡°Interrupt me again Shrimp, and I¡¯ll send you to look at the very ceiling. And what False accusation? Think hard, why did your father¡¯s Aide die a horrible death.¡± Hans paused, looking that no one is interrupting him further, ¡°I don¡¯t care how she lives her life but she needs to remember, the world is changing. It will kill or be killed, in just a few years. Only the strong have a place at the top. And Hans does not have a weakness and will never have one either. So it''s better to break bonds before she becomes a nuisance.¡±


    A low rumble of thunder resonated in Rudolf''s grip, prompting Hans to lift his head and meet his gaze, his gait and everything in contrast to his past self, and at last, he spoke, ¡°And I¡¯m not some chump change you can boss around, Dean Rudolf. Remember it well. I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Hans strode out of the room with his head held high. Not admitting anything in contrast to his earlier plan, but upon exiting the building, he found his face reddening, ¡°Have I always been this cringe, breaking bonds before she becomes a nuisance, what junk have I been reading to come up with this?¡±


    Shaking his head, a slight shiver running through his hands, he rubbed them together. He had changed his words upon sensing Delimira regaining consciousness, ¡°Now, she would hate me more. Why am I screwing this up? NO, at least now she will diligently work herself. And They say hate is a powerful motivation. I hope it works.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Meanwhile, within the medical ward, as soon as he left, Delimira''s eyes fluttered open, tears streaming down like an unbroken dam. She looked at the elders surrounding her and voiced her woes, "Was it so wrong for me to live like a normal girl for just a bit? I''m tired, master. I''m tired of always being on my toes, always looking back, living life on the edge. I was tired.¡± she cried in her mother''s embrace, her grip tightening, rendering her words even more muddled.


    While Hans grappled with his inner turmoil, Vanir, who had followed him for a stretch, inquired, ¡°Who are you, Senior? It''s hard to believe someone can beat up a director''s daughter, and get scot-free. She didn''t utter a word; you even got arrogant with Dean Rudolf ¡ª¡±


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    ¡°Fuck, I said that in the heat. Ahnn... Ahnn¡± he whined, ¡°I¡¯ll get beaten soon, damn it.¡± frustration tugged at his voice as he tugged at his hair. But Vanir persisted, ¡°So you are a big shot, I get it. Then why did you hide from them that some suspicious people kept following her? You... were upset because she wasn''t heeding your advice and putting herself in danger, weren''t you? It wasn''t due to jealousy or anything like that ¡ª¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Jealous? Me? Are you on dog food or something?¡± Hans refuted quickly. ¡°It does not matter, after listening to me, even if she hates me, at least she''ll start taking things seriously. Her determination to bring me down and make me apologise will push her harder. He shivered, looking intently at Vanir, ¡°And you better step up your training. I wasn''t kidding when I said that. If you become a nuisance as well, I won¡¯t think twice before abandoning you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll jump if you say jump, charge if you say charge ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes I get it, you¡¯ll follow my words to the letter¡± Hans cut him off before he could continue, raising his palm to halt any further words. He pulled out the pendant and added, ¡°This is was what attracted those fools, It''s all their fault for this mess. Seriously I''m more pissed than ever,¡± Putting the pendant on, he sent Vanir back to his dorm before heading towards the location of Eclipse¡¯s men.


    ¡°So our fake prince has brought the gift for us.¡±


    ¡°Just hand it over and we will leave the brats be. Can¡¯t believe you were protecting elves with that face.¡±


    ¡°Just let him be,¡±


    The three talked with themselves, staring at Hans wearing the thing they were trying to acquire without trouble. ¡°Let''s get the gem and leave ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Great grandfather,¡± Hans shouted to the skies, ¡°I need a hook here.¡±


    ¡°How about a crane, foolish descendant,¡± the skies reverbed, sending shivers to the three dominion knights. Bringing down their confidence to the ground. The voice echoed again, ¡°He is the owner of the wind gem now, I didn¡¯t care before but this is different. You better not fucking touch him or else, I will flatten the entire sleeping mountains. Now leave.¡±


    ¡°What? No, no wait¡­¡± Hans tried to stop the three from leaving, but the eclipse¡¯s man ran without looking back. Leaving Hans to whine, ¡°Why do you always let people go? Do you not know leaving loose ends is basically fucking up your future.¡±


    ¡°Killing is not the answer Kid.¡± Dietrich said, appearing beside him, ¡°They have beliefs, they might differ from you but those people are working hard to turn them ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Forgiving and forgetting is a privilege of the strong not for people like me. If I spare one they will bring ten, if even that won¡¯t work, they¡¯ll bring 100. They are only standing down because of you. Since even if they brought everyone, they¡¯ll die miserably. This is true power, great grandfather, and someday, I¡¯ll have it myself.¡±


    ¡°Well I''m not planning on kicking the bucket soon, So I''ll see, kid¡± Saying this Dietrich left and Hans went his own way. However, when he finally reached his room in Prophets¡¯ castle, another person, missing from all that was waiting for him by the doors. ¡°Are you on drugs?¡± Vanessa asked him point blank and Hans sighed in reply, ¡°I probably am sis. I can¡¯t control the way I talk. It''s all coming out without the filter.¡±


    ¡°Did something happen?¡± She asked in concern, without even questioning why he did such an act. All she was thinking of was if Hans was alright. Seeing her like that, Hans hugged her, ¡°Only you think of me sis, and Yes, something happened.¡±


    ¡°Wanna talk about it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I probably turned off my emotional limiter. I¡¯m feeling crazy things now.¡±


    Vanessa didn¡¯t ask after that but kept caressing his back. ¡°It''s alright dear brother, I know you are reckless and do things on a grander scale but you wouldn¡¯t have hurt her if you were alright.¡±


    NEXT DAY, CONCORDIA


    In the early morning, Hans was summoned to the Housemaster¡¯s office. ¡°Just one day, one fucking day, Farmboy. I was away and you piled up shit till the ceiling in that time.¡±


    ¡°Quite the words, but she is alright sir, Granny will probably help her run in a few days,¡± Hans said like it was the usual thing. But Walter had many things on his plate, and now the plate was overfilled, all because of Hans''s yesterday''s blunder. ¡°It''s not about whether Lady Sierra can heal her or not, idiot." Walter yelled, "Did you forget, the Glory Wars preliminaries is a team competition? You screwing off your strongest teammates is not the ideal way to go around, stupid.¡±


    ¡°Ha..¡± he sighed scratching his head, ¡°I forgot about that, Can you send me somewhere. It''s better if I don¡¯t show my face for some time. How about an isolated place like last year."


    ¡°Do you think you are on vacation here, Farmboy? Not happening.." he paused as a wicked smile covered his face, "If I can cook this well. This will turn more interesting."


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 131 : Confession

    CHAPTER 131


    THE CONFESSION


    ¡°Darn it! Why is everyone so keen on seeing me fly?¡± Hans yelled as he plummeted from the height. Resisting the wind slapping his cheeks, he lifted to take a good look at his dropper/ ¡°Well, Considering what I did, this is a rather mild punishment from an extremely angry mother.¡± He landed sprouting the beanstalk to support his descent. Looking upwards mid-air, he mumbled, ¡°Professor Aredhel.¡±


    Not entertaining anything, still simmering with fury from the recent incident, Aredhel didn''t hold back her emotions like usual and confronted him directly, ¡°I''m holding back a lot, so you better come up with a damn good reason, or I swear to the World Tree, you won''t be able to eat through your hands.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, not again, Just how many explanations do I have to give, when I have no freaking clue what happened,¡± Hans whispered to himself. Seeing him mutter, Aredhel''s fist clenched, yet she managed to control her anger as she declared, ¡°You promised me her safety. You gave me your word¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but for that to actualise, she has to listen, Not off doing frivolous things, avoiding me¡­¡± Hans paused mid-sentence, realizing his words were coming out all wrong. ¡°What am I even saying? I shouldn''t have pulled that repro...thing. I don''t have a hold on my tongue." He took a long breath and arranged his thoughts once again, "Think before you talk, Hans. She''s a mother, and you''ve hurt her daughter badly. Plus, she''s a Warlock, a damn Warlock. This could turn ugly in an instant.¡±


    Yet, witnessing his hesitance further fueled the fire within Aredhel''s mind. ¡°Is this all?¡± she pressed on, her tone heavy, ¡°You did this just because of jealousy.¡±


    "Why does everyone keep throwing around that word?" he thought, not responding, "Who exactly am I supposed to be jealous of, Allynna¡ª"


    The ground beneath him trembled slightly, a Warlock was unconsciously declaring territory, and that made him snap out of his thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m giving you the last chance, here,¡± Aredhel warned sternly, her voice echoing the whole place, ¡°You don¡¯t know how much I am holding back. One more word of nonsense and I promise you to give twice as much Deli has received.¡±


    ¡°Just tell her stupid, or she¡¯ll definitely see her threat through," he scolded himself, pulling out the pendant he wore. "Do you recognize this?" he inquired, extending it to her and having seen the useless pendant numerous times, she verified, "Isn''t that the ceremonial junk worn by the heirs of the Elven royalty?"


    ¡°No, it''s much more than that.¡± Hans denied, shaking his head as he explained, ¡°This is a wind gem, A tempest one in your language, one of the highest quality, carefully hidden and almost undetectable, but not from me ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What does it have to do with you beating my daughter ¡ª¡±


    "Stop thinking like a distressed mother and start thinking like a Warlock," Hans interjected, pressing, "Why did Xandor attack Clandor? Why did he nearly kill the Clandorian Princess? Can you not piece it together after seeing this?" He raised the pendant and continued, "It''s all because of this object."


    "Don''t beat around the bush; my patience has its limits, Parvian."


    "Haa, so now she''s calling me a Parvian," he sighed, remarking, ¡°I warned Deli not to stay close to that princess, but she just wouldn¡¯t listen. I had to separate them, but I couldn¡¯t. So, I ended up saving the Elven princess from those pursuing this gem. It happened so frequently in the past month that I''ve lost count," he paused, correcting, "Alright, maybe that''s an exaggeration. It was three, or four at most."


    "Then you should have reported it ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why would I?¡± he genuinely inquired, "What obligation did I have to protect her? I was merely intervening because those idiots were only targeting her when she was with Deli," he stated, indicating her with a gesture, underscoring his point, "I remained true to my promise ¡ª"


    ¡°Just for that petty reason. You let someone be in danger.¡±


    ¡°Petty.¡± he exclaimed, his irritation evident, "Fine, whatever. That''s how I operate, Professor. And you appear to forget who that princess is to me. I might not have any hard feelings against her but I certainly do not share a soft spot for a child whose parents killed mine. Why in the world


    would I involve myself with her?" he retorted in response to Aredhel''s statement. And seeing her staying silent, he added, ¡°Xandor charged at elves with everything he got just to obtain this thing¡± he pointed at the pendant once more and asked, ¡°What guarantee you can give that he won¡¯t do the same here? And since I believed Deli to be my friend, I came up with a way to get this thing out of her vicinity. That was what the duel is for¡­ but.. but things escalated."


    Aredhel''s silence heightened Hans''s unease, prompting him to muster his final defence. ¡°If you''d rather have your daughter meet Xandor because of safeguarding the elven princess over some broken bones, be my guest, here I am, do your worst.¡±He paused to gauge her reaction, ¡°But if you are not, ask your daughter to take things seriously. I wasn¡¯t kidding when I said the world is changing. You probably understood why Eclipse is taking these drastic measures. They are probably collecting mana gems for the things you are thinking of now.¡±


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    She still remained silent so Hans kept up his rambling, ¡°What do you think will happen when Xandor wields the world''s most powerful weapon? do you think that her hee hee haa haa will help her survive?¡±


    Her emotions that were always hidden kept showing up after the incident and The rage on her face transformed into a mix of concern and apprehension, which somewhat eased Hans''s anxiety. After a deep breath, he added, "So, if you''re not planning to give me a beating, I suggest you leave."


    Hans waited until Aredhel flew away. ¡°You did it, Hans, you wiggled out. Now, let''s head back... but where in the world am I?" he muttered as he surveyed his surroundings, his frustration growing towards Aredhel for leaving him in the middle of nowhere on this remote island within Floatlands. And It took him nearly a day to make his way back to the Midlands. "Well, I should count my lucky stars that she is letting me go with just this. But Walter must be getting furious. He asked me to show up first thing after breakfast, but I skipped the whole day. ¡±


    LATER THAT NIGHT


    Returning very late, Hans even skipped dinner on his way back to the Midlands. Finally reaching his cosy bed, a knock on his door disrupted his attempt to rest. "Who''s there?" he called out, somewhat irritated. "Open up, dear brother. The Lady wishes to speak with you."


    ¡°This day couldn''t possibly get any worse... Stop it, don''t jinx it. That saying only makes things worse." Sighing, he got out of his bed and reluctantly opened the door. "Fine, let''s just get this over with." As they walked, Vanessa inquired about how he planned to fix the situation, adding a tease in the mix, ¡°I also heard you also screwed off the Count, I mean dean of knights.¡±


    "Yeah, I must have been out of my mind at that moment. This big mouth of mine..."


    "Just apologize. He won''t hold it against you if you do."


    "Are we talking about the same person? Grandpa can be quite petty and he holds onto grudges like a girl ¡ª¡±


    ¡°If you know this, then you shouldn¡¯t have sent a GIRL to the infirmary, dear brother.¡±


    Realising where she was going through with this, Hans responded, ¡°I¡¯ll see it when I cross that bridge sis. But tell me, was Grandpa really angry?" He sounded concerned, and Vanessa shook her head. He managed to put a small smile on his face, only for it to vanish when she added, "No, but the Lady was in quite a foul mood."


    "Oh, damn, this is worse than I thought. I shouldn''t have let those words slip," Hans sank in his thoughts, ¡°I should tell her what I think, even my speculations, who cares if they are right or wrong.¡± Lost in his thoughts, he hardly realized when they arrived at the dean''s quarters. He still wasn''t mentally prepared to face them, continually reshaping the words he intended to say. Yet, when he looked up, he found Sierra and Rudolf staring at him with unyielding expressions.


    <div>


    <div>


    "Regardless of your reasons," Sierra''s voice carried a stern note, "The first step you should take is to kneel and apologize to her, Hans."


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that grandma. I won¡¯t apologise.¡±


    "You do understand that you were in the wrong, don''t you?" she asked, restraining herself.


    "Yes," Hans admitted, "but that doesn''t mean I''m responsible for her loss. If she had put her training first instead. She could have won like always. I won fair and square.¡±


    ¡°I have told you before,¡± Sierra stood up, ¡°The wounds caused by your ManaStorm are akin to poisoning. It infuses mixed mana into wounds. Even with my healing abilities, she''ll need at least a week to recover. You were aware of this, yet you still used it against her. She''s your friend, Hans."


    Initially, Hans had thought whatever she¡¯d throw at him, he would just receive it but things are taking turns for bad and when she mentioned ¡®friend¡¯. The word triggered Hans in a wrong way and he started his rambling. ¡°Friend you say. Eclipse was hounding her and she didn¡¯t even have an idea. Red demons keep breaking the barrier, people are after my head, I have so much to deal with it and that friend of mine doesn¡¯t care any of those things. I need strong people who I can count on Grandma.¡± he continued to vent, the pages Arat had revealed resurfacing vividly in his mind.


    Even if he did not believe those words, the mention of Rudolf and Sierra''s deaths on them had deeply unsettled him. Even now, when he first came here, all he saw was the words actualising before his eyes, Sierra dying, Rudolf wailing, he just couldn''t take it and the dam he held broke easily. He had so many things on his plate, so he burst out, ¡°I don¡¯t need weaklings, if she wanna be the normal girl, she is welcomed to do so, but not around me.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    However, to Sierra, those words sounded like their child has lost trust in their strength. A small child like him who should have enjoyed his younger days playing worry-free, was now worrying for his safety, their backs become unreliable to him. She recalled the events, Xandor confronting him, assassination, drifting into the frozen tooth, then a sudden attack. She became bitter, she called him here to scold but no words came out of her mouth. Rudolf also calmed down realising what his wife was thinking. and how Hans was feeling right now, but he still chided Hans, correcting that he was breaking Sierra¡¯s heart.


    But that had no effect on Hans since everything was falling on deaf ears. He was staring at him blankly, his mind filled with images of Rudolf lying wounded on the ground, lifeless eyes staring into nothingness. A pang of sorrow struck him once more. He explained again what he had mentioned to Aredhel ¨C the wind gem hanging around his neck, his speculative theory about the Ring of Chaos being reforged by Xandor''s hands.


    ¡°Hand over the gem,¡± Rudolf asked, not intending to hear a No for an answer, but Hans responded in a way that no one in the room could think. ¡°No," He denied, taking a few steps back, "You¡¯ll get yourself killed.¡±


    ¡°Is your confidence that low on your old man?¡±


    ¡°Gramps just stay there, I¡¯ll take care of everything. Just stay there with grandma, alright?¡± He didn¡¯t realise that his eyes were crying, silently releasing all the piled-up emotions, startling both Rudolf and Sierra. ¡°Is this his father talking,¡± Sierra whispered to Rudolf, and he nodded silently, replying, ¡°Yes that was something Sam had said once.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 132 : Mentorship (1)

    CHAPTER 132


    MENTORSHIP (1)


    SOMETIME BEFORE. HANS''S JOURNEY BACK TO MIDLANDS


    <div>


    <div>


    "Let''s review the whole mess," Hans thought hard, trying to put together all the information he had. "Xandor is after mana gems, and there''s no doubt he''ll locate them since they are not unique. But why? That''s obvious, if for some reason he has the god metal that great grandfather was talking about then it''s almost certain he''ll forge the Ring of Chaos." Hans shivered imagining his thoughts coming to light, "Most powerful thing to man, in the hands of a lunatic dead set on destroying in the name of revenge, thanks a lot, Samson."


    He sighed, "That''s one thing, but why is the heck he wants Rebellion, a sword that he can''t use or Is Samson, alive and well with them, I got no clue about this. But Since I need to change my death, I have to be strong, stronger than the version of what he saw, I need the second book for that."


    Struggling what to do without anyone guiding him was turning into a headache, and when he asked Dietrich for help, all he got in response was - "It''s your journey, you ought to finish it by yourself." Hans said out loud, imitating Dietrich''s relaxed tone. "And lastly, my family will die, triggering all the events of me fighting Ancients, I can''t think of any other reason why I''ll pick a fight with them. Deli might die too since Sam made sure to force me to protect her..."


    Ugh, this is giving me a headache. Nothing around me is normal. I''m just twelve, and they''re throwing all this at me," he grumbled, glancing at his notes again.


    He realized how much anxiety knowing the possible future could cause. The weight of this little bit of information was so heavy. He wondered how stressed his father must have been, living life knowing what was going to happen. "He should have done everything to prevent these things. I can''t handle this alone. Damn it," he cursed. "That old fox shouldn''t have told me... but no, it''s good that I know. Somehow, I''ll prevent it from happening and to do that I need strong people on my side for it. Maybe I could use Xandor... I''m not that of a grand planner, but let''s focus on what I do the best, leaving it for my future self to deal with the consequences and focus on getting stronger.¡±


    CURRENT TIME, DEANS'' QUARTERS


    ¡°Hans,¡± Sierra finally spoke, her voice a little shaky, ¡°don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t suffer anything as long as I can ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, grandma. It''s my journey, I ought to finish it by myself," he quoted Dietrich and denied firmly, "Don¡¯t get involved. I¡¯ll take care of everything so just stay there and watch over me, will you?¡± he said smiling, but his moistened eyes betrayed him.


    Recalling the past, Rudolf felt a deja vu, this too happened in the past when their son said those exact words to them. Hesitating, he gave the same advice he gave to Samson at that time ¡°Kid, I don¡¯t know what you are trying to achieve, but a single egg can''t break a rock, it is said for a reason.¡± He added, looking down, regretting, "Your father failed for the exact reasons."


    ¡°I know that¡¯s why I need her." Hans said, hinting about Delimira, "She might not have the overwhelming talent, but she has enormous potential. When it blossoms, even if I have to be on my knees. I¡¯ll apologise to her, and I''m confident she will forgive me.¡± Hans said smiling, ¡°She is my friend after all.¡±


    ¡°If you delay further, you might lose her for good.¡± Sierra added but Hans, showing brimming confidence, responded ¡°I¡¯ll make it happen.¡±


    ¡°But ¨C¡± Sierra was going to continue but Rudolf stopped her, Tapping her shoulder he said, ¡°Go what you wanna do, squeaky but know that you have a place to come back to.¡±


    Rudolf understood since this was the talk after which Samson changed for good, maturing all of a sudden, and took the responsibility of a falling nation, rebuilding it back to its former glory, but Hans was too young to do events of that calibre so he wanted to rectify his long term regret, ¡°Go for it kiddo, spread your wing and fly, I¡¯ll be there to catch you if you fall.¡±


    When Hans left, Sierra couldn¡¯t help feeling down. She asked Rudolf in tears, ¡°It felt like a farewell.¡±


    ¡°No it''s not dear,¡± Rudolf responded, caressing her hair and wiping the tears from her cheeks, ¡°He just grew up a little.¡±


    ¡°Then my poor disciple. She will be heartbroken.¡± Sierra stated, ¡°She might not know herself, but Hans¡¯s acknowledgement was the sheer force propelling her.¡±


    ¡°Who knows, this might encourage her further, after all, her competitiveness is no joke either, dear,¡± Rudolf commented, embracing his wife.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    NEXT DAY


    Walter informed him about the verdict on his punishment. He was to face a two-month suspension, with no access to classes or facilities, except for the central library for self-study. Many professors expressed opposition, deeming this punishment too lenient. So, another thing was added to his annual schedule, he had to earn 2000 credits by completing the tasks for Concordia. These tasks were a means for students who couldn''t afford tuition to earn gold, and they were only available to third-year students and above. First-year tuition was free, and the second-year fee was minimal, which they could pay off later once they gained access to the task hall.


    Reading the official notice, Hans let out a sigh. "It says this will start from tomorrow. I''ve got one more day," he murmured, wearing his white robe adorned with two clips on the shoulders that indicated his year. He headed for the common room designated for second-year students. There was another homeroom session scheduled for today, during which his punishment would be made public as a warning to others against repeating his actions.


    As he walked, he noticed others giving him disdainful glances. ¡°Ha these fools, she never even looked at you directly but now, all of a sudden you are feeling bad for her like you are close to her or something." Shaking his head, he entered the common room, and the entire class fell silent. Delimira, still bearing bandages, was seated at the front, a change from her usual spot at the back. Their eyes met briefly, but, Hans¡¯s former self had returned, he was not questioning his choice since he brainwashed himself that whatever steps he took or was about to take, was and would be the right choice.


    He walked past her without uttering a word, but Chris intercepted him, His rage from before had settled down quite a bit, and he genuinely wanted to go back to being friends like before. He said in a deep voice, almost sounding pleading, "Hans, do you really not want to reconcile with her? This could lead to a permanent fallout, buddy."


    However, Hans had anticipated Chris''s reaction, given his nature. Therefore, he had prepared a fitting response. In a serious tone, he replied, ¡°Chris, when Eclipse attacked Clandor, I bet you were scared shitless and hid along with your family while your father took the heat. You would have wanted to fight beside your father, but he would have forced you to step back. Do you know why?¡± Hans stressed, ¡°Because you were so weak that even your father couldn¡¯t trust his back on you.¡±


    Chris''s grasp on his words weakened at those remarks, and Hans pressed on, "Brother, it''s only you who can protect your family, not me, not her, and certainly not the elves you have faith in. When push comes to shove, they will discard you to fend for yourselves, after all, you are not one of them.¡±Pausing, Hans locked eyes with Chris and concluded, ¡°So instead of trying to be an advocate, train like a madman because unlike us, you do not have the privilege to fool around.¡±


    Chris remained motionless, his gaze fixed on Hans as he ascended to the back seat. However, his legs betrayed him, causing him to collapse onto the seat next to Delimira. The weight of those cutting words had left him disheartened, and he was not alone in sharing that feeling. Delimira who was waiting for Hans to turn back to his usual self understood that there was no going back to the times they shared in Edenberg Manor. He was acting, no, he was different from his childish self.


    Her emotions that should have been hatred turned into disappointment in herself. They both being in deep thought didn¡¯t realise when the time passed, and Walter''s announcement of Hans''s punishment for severely injuring Delimra took them by surprise. One credit in Concordia was equivalent to 100 gold coins in reality, so Hans had his work cut out for him. ¡°A fine of 200,000 Gold, this must be the work of Professor Winter, fine I¡¯ll play your game professor.¡±


    As the announcement echoed throughout the room, the class was dismissed for their designated studies. Hans departed in the same manner he arrived and located Vanir. Following their usual routine, they engaged in a sparring session, which ended as it usually did ¨C with Vanir being defeated. Panting heavily on all fours, he stared at the floor, realising that Hans had held back, never revealing the full extent of the ManaStorm he had used against Delimira.


    Taking a long breath Vanir sat, cross-legged, ¡°I''ve got a long way to go before witnessing your masterpiece, senior, right?¡± he asked Hans, prying into his skills and then Hans asked in return, ¡°You mean ManaStorm?¡± Vanir nodded to his questions so Hans added, ¡°It sure has some ridiculous power, but that''s not my masterpiece.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Vanir asked in surprise, ¡°Then what it is?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it better if you force me to use that? This will be a fine milestone in your progress.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m curious.¡±


    Observing the glint in Vanir''s eyes, Hans recalled Dietrich''s recent advice. The chairman had paid him a visit the previous night, engaging in a meaningful conversation. Dietrich had posed a question about what Hans desired with Vanir: whether he aimed to have another friend or a subordinate. In response, Hans had sought clarification on the distinction.


    Dietrich had simplistically explained that friends share equal status, while subordinates are marked by loyalty and unwavering faith in their superiors. Hans vividly remembered Dietrich''s words: "Your father had many friends but no subordinates." This made it clear what he wanted, "I need someone who does what I say, not use his head for thinking." So Dietrich gave him advice, ¡°A secret shared will deepen the trust.¡± Hans had doubted that sharing something would lead to betrayal. So Dietrich gave him a poetic piece of advice that was still echoing in his ears.


    Two shadows lurk, betrayal''s guise they wear,


    One, starved and burdened, crumbles in despair,


    The other, insatiable, hungers ceaselessly,


    In them, our choices echo, in truth we see.


    The first, a hunger unmet, a call ignored,


    Fault lies within, needs left unexplored,


    The second, a misjudgment in disguise.


    Our fault again, trust wrapped in lies."


    Not grasping the meaning completely Hans had asked for an explanation, ¡°There exist exactly two kinds who will betray you. One who is too hungry and can¡¯t handle the hardships, while the other, who is never satisfied no matter how much they get. The betrayal from the first is your fault for neglecting their needs, and the second¡¯s betrayal is also your fault for misjudging them.¡±


    So Hans asked him how he could be sure, and then Dietrich said, ¡°Ask his story, show your empathy and share his woes. That way his sense of loyalty will become a roadblock, stopping him from going awry.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 133 - Mentorship (2)

    CHAPTER 133


    MENTORSHIP (2)


    Recalling everything Dietrich had advised him, he asked Vanir, ¡° Hey junior, it''s time I fulfil the promise I made you.¡± Those words gave Vanir sparkling eyes. Hans had prolonged the promise to provide him with the divine-grade healing potion, for whoever he wished to heal with the excuse of high brewing time. He wanted to test Vanir more before granting his wish. However, Dietrich¡¯s words influenced his thinking. He took a long breath and asked Vanir, which he usually has avoided before, ¡°But, you have to tell me your story first?¡±


    "I believed you had no interest," Vanir stammered, his confusion evident. "Wasn''t it merely an exchange for my servitude, senior?"


    ¡°Yes, it was.¡± Hans acknowledged with a nod. ¡°But a wise man made me think otherwise. I am interested now.¡± These words left Vanir even more bewildered. He feared that Hans might change his mind once he heard his story. Hesitation painted across his face, his voice quivered as he spoke, "Seni... senior... I..."


    Hearing him stutter, Hans reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if you turn out not fit for what I want. I¡¯ll still help you.¡± he said, showing a reliable expression, turning Vanir to his previous self. ¡°I''m capable of sweet talking too..¡± While he was busy praising himself, Vanir took his time collecting his words and stated, ¡°It''s nothing grand but the typical nobles suppressing commoners, senior.¡±


    ¡°Still, I wish to know,¡± Hans stressed, so Vanir began his story, ¡°Unlike you... I mean humans, there are three levels in the hierarchy of Clandor - high elves, nobles, and commoners. You know it, right?¡± Hans nodded, and Vanir continued, ¡°I was born in the outskirts, the south of Clandor, a barony. We didn¡¯t have much, but we were content. My father served the Baron Zinwen as a grade 40 knight. But it all changed when I showed talent in spell crafting. My father was so happy, but my talent overshadowed the lord''s son. After that, my spell formula was stolen from me, and somehow Zinwen¡¯s heir was acknowledged as its creator. I was fuming, filled with anger, but I couldn¡¯t do much.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report his ass off to the higher nobles,¡± Hans asked, agitated, but Vanir''s sudden chuckle confused him. ¡°Pft... Now I am sure. You are not someone who had his share of hardships.¡± Looking down, he continued, ¡°When you are born in the lower hierarchy, even when you say the truth, once a noble denies it. It becomes a lie, senior.¡±


    ¡°That is absurd ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is. But that''s how the world works, senior. Equality sounds good to hear, but division happens in people. If not by class, it will be by wealth. You cannot erase the discrimination, climbing up the ladder with a vain hope that it gets better someday is only an option for people like me. But even that comes with challenges."


    ¡°I thought they made the laws to avoid these things, and looking from the top, it also felt like a perfect system. But you are contradicting my beliefs junior.¡± Hans said wondering, how much nonsense he could utter. "Looking from the top, I don''t know a jack about laws. Empathy Hans, connect with him." Heaving he focused on Vanir''s ongoing words. ¡°...Laws protect the strong and prey on the weak, senior.¡±


    ¡°What happened then,¡± Hans asked him to continue.


    ¡°I was considered a genius in theorising the formulas, and when the Baron found out about his son stealing my credit. He called me through my father and asked me to continue doing my work. I kept theorising like a fool, hoping to get credit somewhere along but that day never came, they kept stealing my efforts. But I couldn''t take it anymore, and one day I got greedy. I wanted my accomplishment to be mine. So bypassing the Baron, I sent the formula to the magic tower, but what came as a reply was me trying to claim little Baron¡¯s work. I was accused, and my greed cost my father his job.¡±


    ¡°What a pathetic bunch, you should have killed those bastards.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, I wanted to. But I neither had power nor standing in Elven society.¡± Vanir responded, his suppressed anger covering his face, continuing, ¡°If that was not enough, they stopped everyone from hiring my father, and debt came out of nowhere, making us broke in one night. My home was so small, and we even lost that. That''s what happens when a commoner gets greedy.¡±


    ¡°Yikes, then who lost the leg, Don¡¯t get me wrong ¡ª¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°When we were driven out of Barony. A noble died, and the Lord framed it on my father. He was interrogated day and night, and when my father lost his mind, they sent him back. But those bastards,¡± Vanir suppressed his rage, ¡°Their torture paralysed my father from the spine. He was my hero, you know! No matter what, he was there for me, even when he knew that going to the mage tower would bring backlash, but he supported me. Now he has a broken mind, a pair of useless legs and always moistened eyes.¡±


    ¡°Then you should have at least submitted a complaint to the royals. They are obliged to listen as far as I know about you pointy ears." Those words made Vanir laugh so severely that he almost rolled, but not because of Hans mocking his kind by the ear shape. He explained after a while, ¡°Royals only care how much power they can control, standing up against a noble and sending them to another faction. That''s not how they work senior.¡±


    ¡°So the baron was from the Royal¡¯s side.¡±


    ¡°You catch on quick, senior. Since Clandor is still a diarchy. Royals take very cautious steps.¡±


    Hans understood his situation, Vanir was just a twelve-year-old, a genius who had his misfortune because of his gifted mind. A young boy wanted recognition but ended up in this pathetic state because of it. But he still wanted to confirm one thing from him, so he asked in a deep voice, ¡°So, what you are seeking here is revenge or is your father¡¯s health?"


    ¡°I learned my lesson, senior. I won¡¯t go against a noble. I just want my father to at least walk on his feet. I am told that his mind is beyond recovery.¡± Vanir got down on his knees, fearing Hans to back down from his words. He had done this many times, growling in front of healers, creditors and other nobles that his pride had left him some time ago. ¡°I don¡¯t know how high your standing is, but please help me, senior?¡±


    An elven prodigy, formulating complex spells since the age of ten. He would have earned his respect, but his growling and begging for help gave a bitter taste in Hans¡¯s mouth. ¡°Let''s cancel the slave contract ¡ª¡± These words felt like a bolt out of the blue to Vanir, his fears on the verge of realisation, all he could think of was Hans changing his mind. However, there was nothing he could offer to him except himself. Crying, he hugged Hans¡¯s legs and started begging more desperately.


    ¡°Listen to me first stupid,¡± Hans kicked him back, ¡°I didn¡¯t say I won¡¯t help you.¡±


    ¡°Then, you¡¯d help me,¡± his eyes sparkled like before, but then sudden confusion clouded them, ¡°What could I possibly have to offer in exchange? I have learned there is nothing free in this world,¡± he asked Hans and received a response. ¡°What I want from you is something that can¡¯t be bought.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me already ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you even know who I am?¡± Hans asked, but Vanir was not capable of choosing right now. He struggled, selling his talents to scholars and working in their name. That''s how a ten-year-old sustained his house and kept his family fed for two years. ¡°Even if you are a devil from hell, and want my soul. I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    ¡°Devil from hell sounds cool, but I¡¯m not. I was born in a war. A child born out of purpose rather than love. Some want my head for things my father did, some covet his power, some are after his wealth and since he is dead. All are aiming for my neck." Hans thought before disclosing, This is a bad idea, but a secret must be shared for the bond to grow tighter. The words of Dietrich ring on his head again, and he reintroduced himself, "I am Hans, son of the Parvian king Samson.¡±


    ¡°Haa... Devil from the hell would have been a good choice, senior.¡± Vanir''s response and tone were lukewarm, startling Hans, so he stressed, ¡°If you stand by me, you will be declared as a traitor of your kind. So, you still want my help?¡±


    ¡°My kind, they never helped me. Instead, the one who used me. The people who were meant to protect me framed me. They straight up sent us to hell, senior.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I''ll tell you, what I seek from you is an ally. A loyal subordinate that I could count on. I¡¯ll always be in danger, and so will the people following me. The strongest of every other place will come after me, and you have to stand against them, defending me. You understand, right?¡±


    ¡°I take back the hardship comment,¡± Vanir said, still not believing that he was in front of the enemy of Clandor. Yet, sighing he continued, ¡°It seems like people born in power have their fair share of trouble to deal with, senior. Do you think I can grow strong enough to protect you?¡±


    ¡°I have to make you one,¡° Hans spoke his arrogance and confidence on another level. Almost convincing Vanir, ¡°Then promise me senior, you¡¯ll become the strongest so I never have to bow before anyone but you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my end goal anyway, Vanir. I do not need to promise that.¡±


    ¡°Then I promise you, Hans Parv. I¡¯ll do everything in my power to not disappoint you. I''ll grow strong, so strong that no one can touch you.¡± Hans smirked, nodding and acknowledging Vanir, and responded, ¡°And I promise you, a revenge befitting your sufferings. I¡¯ll burn that Baronyto the ground myself. No people of mine will have lumps in their hearts. It might sound cringe, but, Be greedy. That''s your right since I¡¯m your Lord.¡±


    Vanir did not know himself, but being selected in House Prophet meant they had strong leadership qualities or the potential to become an earth-shattering entity. Both didn¡¯t know what the future had in store for them, but Hans was getting a feeling that choosing Vanir was one of the wisest decisions he had made, and that¡¯s how he got his first subordinate, the future master of Moon Tower, the commander of mage force of Parv.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 134 - Three Birds one stone

    CHAPTER 134


    THREE BIRDS ONE STONE


    After the heartfelt conversation, Vanir regained his brief confidence. He might not have known what lineage his little backer belonged to in detail, but the definite thing known about Parvian royalty to a commoner like him was that they were all crazy strong. And Hans already had proven his prowess fighting Delimira. "Ahem!", Embarrassed, he asked Hans, ¡°So how should I address you - Lord Hans, prince ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just stick to the Senior.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Then senior, how do you plan on getting the potion? What I need is super expensive.¡±


    ¡°Why are you mentioning money all of a sudden?¡± Hans shrugged him off, saying, ¡°I won¡¯t buy it. Didn¡¯t you hear me before? Who I am?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Vanir said in anticipation, ¡°That''s why I think you¡¯ll have a lot of money.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk,¡± Hans clicked his tongue in annoyance and asked him, ¡°Who are the ones who raised Samson?¡±


    ¡°Who knows,¡± Vanir shrugged his shoulder, imitating Hans and justified, ¡°We commoners neither have the luxury nor the time to know the theatrics of our own royalties, and you are asking me about a foreign nation.¡± This reply left Hans speechless. Vanir was the first person who knew nothing about his infamous father. Sighing, he said, ¡°Then learn some idiot, go to the library, at least get to know the world history,¡± pausing, he added, ¡°Dean Sierra and Rudolf are my grandparents.¡±


    ¡°Wow, really?¡±


    ¡°So will they get it for us?¡± Vanir asked leaving Hans even more speechless, ¡°My father was the one thing, but this idiot doesn¡¯t even know about granny.¡±  Taking a long breath to calm himself, he asked, ¡°Were you living under the rock the whole time? Grandma is the world¡¯s best healer. A potion from her can even wake up dead. Your father¡¯s condition is nothing. He will stand on his feet in no time and recover his mental state too.¡±


    ¡°Really, senior? He¡®ll regain his mind too?¡± Vanir said, his eyes moistened and looking at him, Hans couldn''t help but comment,  ¡°Hey stop crying all the time, You are the genius of spell crafting. Give some face to your dead pride.¡±


    ¡°Sorry sir, I was so busy making ends meet that I never even got the chance to cry for the past two years. It feels like everything will be smooth from now on.¡±


    ¡°What are you mumbling, your hellish life awaits you.¡±


    ¡°That''s fine by me senior. I can do anything if it means becoming stronger.¡± Taking a long breather, he finally relaxed, ¡°But, you must know my condition well, with the way I am now. I can hardly pass the second year. I was trying to work my butt off and enter the apprenticeship in alchemy after failing the third, but you said you¡¯d make me a warlock right? Since it is the least I have to be to protect you ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Well, you aren¡¯t wrong. First, we have to increase your mana pool.¡± Hans said, thinking hard about the option available to him, but Vanir interrupted him in a very commoner way again, ¡°That will be expensive too senior.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk like a poor bastard. You are with me now.¡± Hans rebuked since Vanir kept mentioning money every time he spoke and continued in his annoyed tone, ¡°What I hate the most is spending money and since my bank¡­ let¡¯s  say we are not on talking terms now.¡±


    ¡°Aren''t you contradicting yourself?¡± Vanir asked, and Hans realised his words really came out wrong. One was suggesting to him not to worry about money while the other was telling him to be a miser. And his sudden pause made Vanir understand what bank Hans might have been talking about, ¡°Oh yes, Director Winter¡¯s daughter.¡± He said clasping his hands, ¡°You still haven''t made up with her? She is rich beyond imagination senior. With her help, you could ¡ª¡±


    ¡°If I wanted to use her, I wouldn¡¯t have done things this way, Vanir. She is a friend. I can¡¯t just use her.¡±


    "Wow, a friend, I thought you had some grudge against her..." Vanir gagged himself, realising he was blabbering aloud and quickly changed the subject, ¡°Then how I¡¯m supposed to increase mana?¡±


    "I picked a blabbermouth, I see. Let''s fix his bad habit of speaking out of the turn first." Snickering, Hans responded, ¡° The old-fashioned way. ¡° he said, as his lips stretched ear to ear, ¡°You¡¯ll be eating mana hearts from now on, and it will be raw, junior. So be ready to skip the days when I want you to. We¡¯ll be hunting things ourselves.¡±


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    ¡°Isn¡¯t it dangerous?¡±


    ¡°You seem to have a short memory, you keep forgetting who I am.¡±


    ¡°A child even younger than me, you are strong but ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ha, this habit of his... that sentence would have worked if this idiot knew about my father.¡± He calmed himself again and stated, ¡°Listen Vanir, I lived in Ghost Isles since my toddler days, You know the place right? The most dangerous beast zone in the world. " He explained, emphasising, "My grandfather, Rudolf, a Warlord. He raised me to survive there. So what could a two-star beast zone do to me? You get it now, right? I''m that good at hunting.¡±


    With this, Hans bid farewell to Vanir since there was a lot to prepare, 2000 credits, his schedule for two months in suspension, and the Glory Wars selections. On top of it, he has to get his poor subordinate in shape. ¡°Ha, how much these tiny shoulders of mine can carry.¡± He sighed and went to one place that could help him solve most of his problems, his housemaster¡¯s office.


    ¡°Thud! Thud! Thud!¡± He knocked on Walter¡¯s doors and went inside, ¡°Professor, your favourite student needs your help.¡±


    ¡°When did you become my favourite, you shameless farmboy.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember you calling anyone else with a cute pet name, sir.¡±


    ¡°So what can I do for you, my favourite student,¡± Walter said putting his elbows on the table.


    ¡°First ¡ª¡±


    ¡°There are more than one,¡±  Walter interrupted, and Hans nodded shamelessly, continuing, ¡°First, tell me what are the criteria for Glory Wars selection.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Walter thought and replied, ¡°A little friendly competition ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Can I bypass it somehow?¡± Hans asked and waited for Walter¡¯s reply with anticipating eyes, but Walter denied it firmly, ¡°I don¡¯t run this place, and it would be unfair for others if I just put you on the reservation.¡±


    ¡°I see a ¡®but¡¯ coming sir,¡± Hans asked again.


    ¡°Yes, there is a way, but your little stunt has ruined your chances.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hans responded, confused. So Walter clarified, ¡°There is a thing called seeded position. I''d have recommended you, and the panel for selection would have voted, but do you think, anyone sane would offend Aredhel for you unless you wanna announce who you are, Your chances are ¡ª¡±


    ¡°That''s not happening.¡± Hans firmly denied so Walter tried explaining, ¡°Farmboy, that is inevitable, Almost half of the senior professors know this, and soon the rest of them will too. Even Parv found you so what is stopping you?¡±


    ¡°This is not the time, professor.¡±


    ¡°Fine then you are out of options, but... There is another way too...¡± Walter said, rolling his eyes, and that made Hans excited, buttering up Walter, he asked, ¡°Now, that''s Professor Walter for you, he always has a way ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop bootlicking, farmboy,¡± Walter interrupted and proposed his solution, ¡°Do something so big that others have to choose you no matter what.¡±


    ¡°You mean ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Bring a third-class beast carcass to the Alchemy department, they have the most say in the Concordia. If they can vouch for you, no one would think once to reject my proposal. And it might help you earn some credits for your punishment too. Two birds one stone.¡±


    ¡°Well, it''s some decent tactic and it solves my second problem too, but how about three birds one stone?" Hans suggested, "Let me bring my underling to tag along.¡±


    ¡°What can a first-year help you achieve.¡±


    ¡°Sir you seem to forget what you told me before; We have a very low number of members, and that¡¯s why we can¡¯t do many things to raise our House''s prestige. But one thing you must remember. There is a reason you are chosen in this House." Hnas repeated Walter''s words, asking, "Remember it now. That underling of mine, I¡¯ll make him my sturdy wall.¡±


    ¡°Shutting up me with my own words, fine I¡¯ll get that first year for you, but you should visit the Task Hall. Have a good look at what will give you the most credits first, farmboy.¡±


    Hans left the office, and since half of his problems seemed to find their solution, it was time for him to fulfil his promise to Vanir. With this thought in mind, he went to find his grandmother in Administration. Upon reaching her office, he heard a familiar voice.¡°Aren¡¯t you showing yourself too much brother ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sis, is grandma free.¡±


    ¡°No, she is busy. The summit from before is finally showing its impact, diplomats keep visiting, and Alliance sent another today for discussion.¡±


    ¡°So they are getting serious about Xandor ¡ª¡±


    ¡°You knew?¡± Vaness asked.


    ¡°Of course, I have a head sis, and I dare say a pretty good one too¡±


    ¡°So ask that good head of yours, if you barging in here is a good idea or not?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t help it, I need to fulfil a promise.¡±


    ¡°So what do you need?¡±


    ¡°My grandma, for starters.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 135 - Earning Credits (1)

    CHAPTER 135


    EARNING CREDITS (1)


    Vanessa had sent Hans back rescheduling his visit for the evening, and the moment had finally arrived. Nervously, he was rubbing his hands. He had said many things to Sierra and Rudolf before and had no clue how that would affect him today, but to his surprise, everything was normal, as if the previous conversation had never happened. "So, what are you doing these days, Hans?" Sierra asked him, stroking his head, making his worries disappear. "Aren''t you angry with me, I said a lot?" He asked with his head down. So Sierra lifted his chin and, with her ever-filled warm eyes, replied, "So, you knew you spoke very rudely."


    ¡°Yes, sorry Grandma. A lot was going on that time ¡ª¡±


    "No parent can stay angry with their children, my child."


    "So we''re good, aren''t we?" Hans asked with puppy eyes, which made Sierra laugh. "Your eyes are telling me that you need something from your dear grandmother." She asked, covering her giggle. ¡°Hihi, you can tell,¡± Hans responded, shamelessly smiling ear to ear. ¡°A divine grade healing potion ¡ª¡±


    "Have you lost your mind?" shouted Rudolf, interrupting him and Hans, instead of retorting as usual, said politely, "Just listen for a second, I need this for someone ¡ª"


    ¡°A lot of people will die if that potion resurfaces. But that''s an entirely separate matter. You doing charity will make pigs fly, squeaky.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and Sun will rise from Sunfall, gramps. I¡¯m not into giving things for free ¡ª¡±


    "Yeah, only accepting them." Rudolf finished his sentence, asking, ¡°So why are you asking for that potion? This will send your grandma on bed rest for at least a week." Hans ignored his grandpa''s rambling and asked Sierra, looking expectantly at her, and finally received a reply, "Three to turn magic into the potion and three to rest, my child. That''s why I don''t like making that. It''s better to cast the spell directly ¡ª¡±


    ¡°But I need to send it.¡±


    ¡°Your junior must be very precious to you,¡± Sierra asked, surprising Hans, but he too realised; She was much more experienced than him. So it was something that she could guess. Taking a long heave, he responded,¡° Yes, Vanir, he can..no, he will become a Warlock and a powerful one at that.¡± He paused, taking a look at the expectant eyes of his grandparents and continued his sales pitch, ¡°Since ten, he is tweaking the spells, a spell-crafting genius, Granny. I need him, and the only thing that could entice him is a divine potion to cure his father. The elves are gonna so regret giving him away ¡ª¡±


    ¡°So you are getting loyalty for that potion.¡± Sierra interpreted his words and reasoned, ¡°But Hans, a person who can sell himself once, can sell himself twice.¡± However, Hans has an answer ready, ¡°I¡¯m not buying it, Grandma,¡± he responded, ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for him since he decided to kneel before me.¡±


    ¡°He already did, Haan?¡± She questioned, ¡°So are you gonna buy him growth potions too?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t have that kind of mone¡­are you giving me some?¡± His eyes lit like stars but the man of the house has his own opinions to insert. ¡°Like hell, you¡¯ll embezzle it anyway,¡± Rudolf said, staring at him. Hans was surprised because this was exactly what he was planning to do. ¡°Why has Gramps suddenly started using his head?¡± He was deep in his thoughts then Sierra responded to him in words he wanted to hear, asking him to pick up the potion after a week. Jumping in excitement, he left their quarters, leaving Rudolf, Sierra and Vanessa to discuss things on their own.


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    ¡°So childish,¡± Rudolf said, ¡°Does he think people will stick to him if he provides what they want? His father did that and died, because of his people. If someone doesn''t put effort into achieving things, they won''t value them. Hans must grasp this lesson before something bad happens ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Even if that were to happen,¡± Sierra said, calming him down a bit, ¡°The potion is a little price to pay if he learns it well, and if the elf boy stays true to his words, then it''s good for him too.¡± She turned to Vanessa, who was the first one to voice her opinion on Hans¡¯s matter, but remained silent throughout the conversation, ¡°Vanessa, you must have something on him since Hans is involved.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she spoke nodding, ¡°That elf boy, Vanir, acted as a proxy for many nobles in the achievement of spell crafting.¡± Sierra was taken aback, not because the ten-year-old was practising spellcraft for nobles, but because it seemed surprisingly easy to discover. She inquired, "How did you manage to find it so effortlessly?" Vanessa responded casually, "It''s not as if they were making an effort to conceal it."


    ¡°Those arrogant bastards must have thought a commoner has no way of proving it.¡± Rudolf stated, and Vanessa added, ¡°Yes he does not, have any, he is a commoner and, elves have more hierarchical values than us.¡± She commented, ¡°That elf is more talented in creating spell formulas than realising them. Not a warlock, but he will become something in the mage world, that I am sure of.¡±


    NEXT DAY AT THE TASK HALL


    ¡°Senior! It''s your blunder, so why are you dragging me along?¡± Vanir whined, finding himself in a building where he was not allowed to. But early this morning Walter had made it so he had to follow Hans on his little redemption journey. ¡°Don''t be a wuss, Vanir.¡± Hans responded, ¡°Just do as I say. Do I have to mention the potion every time to make you work?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m just saying, going after a Great Mamba, a class three beast is not a good idea. I haven¡¯t even seen a second class in my life.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you haven¡¯t. What kinda crazy bastard would bring a child to see a second class.¡±


    ¡°You,¡± Vanir whispered, but Hans¡¯s sharp eyes muffled his voice pretty much, and he responded, ¡°I do not start a losing fight, dear junior, so just follow me. They are offering 400 credits for it. And a bonus of 300 if we bring it intact.¡±


    ¡°Its a class three, they are scary existence ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a scaredy cat, didn¡¯t I say, I¡¯ll increase your mana pool.¡±


    ¡°But growth potions are beyond our reach ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I also told you, we are doing the old-fashioned way.¡±


    With this, both left the task hall as the seniors of the third and fourth years saw them agape, two juniors, one from first and the other from second were taking a task to bring a Great mamba in perfect condition. Killing tasks were easier compared to bringing the corpse intact, To do that, high precision was needed. So they were wondering how their two toddler juniors would achieve that, but Hans had no plan to explain their questioning eyes, and Vanir was busy mustering his courage to step into a three-star BeastZone.


    ¡°Haa, I really hate this thing,¡± Hans said, seeing the SpaceDoor and stepping in to reach the three-star island of FloatLands. ¡°Agh,¡± he puked as soon as he stepped out, ¡°It never gets easier.¡± Vanir caressed his back, relaxing Hans and soon both faced a scar-faced instructor, ¡°So you are the punks with connections, take these.¡± He threw two badges and explained, ¡°If you find yourselves in a shitty situation, send a signal but remember, calling for help will cost you a minimum of thousand credits.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t be needing any, sir,¡± Hans responded, standing on his two once again, and dragged Vanir out of the safe zone. He was whining to his heart''s content, complaining. ¡°Everyone is a money-grubbing bastard in this place. Where were the times of helping without seeking benefits go, tsk, tsk, tsk.¡± He was rambling nonstop, and Vanir had no choice but to nod to his every rant. He was scared shitless, but his senior was like strolling in the park.


    Soon they found their first, or one should call many beasts together, It was a herd of herbivores, violent ones, the first class Pecora, a four-legged beast with short horns and a long mane. ¡°We should avoid them,¡± said Hans and Vanir nodded in haste, ¡°Yes, they are at least twenty. It would be insane to fight them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not idiot, I could kill them all, but I was taught not to kill without reason. So tread carefully not to give me one, if you spooked one, they¡¯ll all die.¡±


    ¡°You and your egotistical logic, Senior..mm.m¡±


    ¡°Shhh..¡± Hans covered Vanir¡¯s mouth since his words were ready to spook their next encounter, ¡°Shut up you idiot," he whispered, "That''s a second class, Cordata. They have abilities, they can even ward off predators¡­¡± But it was too late since the beast had heard them. ¡°Can¡¯t it be just Scaled Rabbits," Hans whined, readying himself, "This one can dodge my attacks easily." Stretching his mana path at the glaring beast, he added, ¡°But what the hell, here we go again... damn it, Vanir.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 136 - Earning Credits (2)

    CHAPTER 136


    EARNING CREDITS (2)


    The four-legged beast, boasting a robust frame stretching at least four meters in length and towering two meters in height, locked eyes with Hans. Its lengthy, lifeless horns siphoned mana, and the creature was poised for action. ¡°Shit, this is bad news, Vanir, don¡¯t move an inch,¡± Hans warned him, aware that this was Vanir''s first foray, as well his into the ordinary BeastZone. Ghost Isles had been fundamentally distinct, making this an unpredictable variable. His already drawn mana path readily shifted, targeting the Cordata¡¯s weak spot, ¡°They are sensitive, can stun and quake the ground. Not to forget an incredible charging speed." Hans recalled the words scar-faced in charge, " 1000 credits for calling help. I¡¯ve to make the first move, or else I¡¯ll have a negative balance.¡±


    "If my SeedBullet misses," he muttered, his gaze unwavering as he allowed SharpDeath to manifest along a direct trajectory toward the Cordata. "Let''s give it a warning first, and if it retreats¡ª" His words hung in the air, unfinished. The Cordata responded with a grunting growl, lowering its head menacingly, its mana-infused horns primed for action. With a surge of power, it charged at them with unbridled force.


    "I just wanted you to flee, you fool," Hans sighed, his expression heavy as SharpDeath impaled the charging creature with a barrage of steel spikes. It was a gruesome spectacle, and the beast met a horrifying end. "Damn, this sensation. I shouldn''t have removed that...reprogrammable...or whatever it was." While Hans wrestled with his thoughts, Vanir, who had been nervously biting his nails, now found himself captivated by the sight of this rare second-class beast. Such creatures were a rarity since all the BeastZone were typically controlled by either the Knight Association or mage towers. For an ordinary person, gaining access to this resourceful place was a formidable challenge. ¡°Now what, senior?¡± he asked Hans.


    ¡°Now, we run. This thing will attract trouble.¡± Hans replied, ¡°Our main target is great Mamba ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Main? So we do have secondary objectives?¡± Vanir interjected, prompting a nod of acknowledgement from Hans. ¡°So you were paying attention," Hans explained, "We need four things, cold grass, leather plants, and a magma attribute beast. It is hard to find in this BeastZone. Lastly a thunder-type beast.¡±


    ¡°For me?¡± Vanir pointed at himself, confirming.


    ¡°Who do you think... didn¡¯t I say, we¡¯ll increase your mana?¡±


    ¡°So you are into alchemy too?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Hans denied, shaking his head. ¡°Then what are the materials for?¡± Vanir asked, prompting Hans to respond, ¡°I have my ways.¡± He took out a tome, a parch with all four materials sketched as he stated. ¡°Take care of the herbs, I¡¯ll find the beast.¡±


    "Understood, sir," Vanir confirmed and diligently scoured the nearby terrain, comparing everything he found with the tome. However, luck did not favour them that day. Despite their exhaustive search, they came up empty-handed. They narrowly avoided several encounters with second-class creatures, but sneakily avoided the skirmishes. As the day wore on, Hans decided it was best to spend the night in this precarious environment, selecting a safe spot at a distance from lurking beasts. As Hans prepared for the night, his actions left the young Vanir astounded. "Well, isn''t this rather convenient," Vanir marvelled, watching Hans skillfully construct a shelter seemingly out of thin air?"


    They had drifted into a brief slumber when Vanir abruptly awoke, feeling Hans'' grip around his mouth tightens uncomfortably. "Mm, what are you doing?" he mumbled, but Hans tightened his hold and whispered urgently, "Quiet, you fool." He then turned his gagged face sideways, and Vanir sensed an enormous presence passing by, its every step eerily muffled."That''s a feline," Hans breathed, still keeping his voice hushed. "Don''t make a sound." He slowly released his grip, and Vanir breathed a silent sigh of relief. "What do we do now?" he asked, tugging at Hans'' sleeve, but his senior remained focused on seeing through their makeshift shelter. After a tense pause, Hans responded, ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a protagonist, that''s a ThunderCat, I can¡¯t believe your luck but this thing is too evolved. Probably a class three.¡±


    ¡°Fuck ¡ª¡± Vanir whispered, covering his mouth, he couldn¡¯t help getting scared. A class three creature was far beyond their level of preparedness. Despite Hans''s assurances of being able to fend off the beast, doubt gnawed at him. The most formidable thing he had witnessed Hans do was the VoidZone, and he had no desire to experience any friendly fire. Unlike Vanir, Hans remained composed. "You''re cursing in front of your lord, you mannerless elf ¡ª"


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    ¡°What of formality when we could become that thing¡¯s faeces tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Well your head seems working,¡± Hans chuckled, though he couldn''t shake his own anxiety. None of his traps had been triggered, which meant one thing: the beast possessed some form of detection ability. ¡°This is bad, I depend on traps the most, one one-on-one confrontation is suicidal¡­ But what the hell, we only need the thunderCat¡¯s heart, not its entire body." He sighed, realising, after removing the mind thing, he was getting scared easily, "Snap out, damn it.¡± He shook off his apprehensions, giving himself a pep talk. "I''ll get us through this. Maybe I''m not the best planner like my father, but I''m a damn good improviser," he said with an unfound confidence that even lit up Vanir¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°So Vanir," Hans added, "Be a dear and become a bait for me¡±


    The words almost sent Vanir to hell¡¯s gates, the light left his eyes as soon as it came to him. As he lowered his head, his gaze empty. He whispered, "Can you promise that my father will receive the potion, sir¡ª?"


    ¡°Is this your last will?"


    "mhm..." Vanir nodded.


    "That was sarcasm, you fool! Get that thing a bit farther from me. Who said anything about sacrificing yourself?" Hans retorted, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. He desperately wanted to give Vanir a good smack, but fearing they''d draw the unwelcome attention of their unexpected guest, he restrained himself. Pointing to the right, he readied himself. "When I give the word, run as if your life depends on it, over there."


    "Are you sure there will be a tomorrow for me, senior? No, Lord Hans."


    "Shut up and do as I say. You won''t die. Probably."


    ¡°Way to boost the confidence.¡±


    "Just follow orders, you idiot."


    "Okay, just let me know when."


    "Now," Hans signalled urgently. "Right now," Vanir confirmed, and Hans released the restraint he''d been holding back, smacking Vanir''s head. "Yes, run now," he emphasised. But by this point, even if Hans hadn''t spoken, Vanir would have sprinted as if his life depended on it because that loud smack had already jolted the hyper-sensitive ThunderCat.


    LightningBoost


    Another of Vanir''s original spells was unveiled. Sparks enveloped his legs, enhancing his speed as he shot forward like a cannonball, following Hans'' direction.


    "That idiot had something like this already? He should''ve mentioned it," Hans muttered, hastening his improvised attack and accelerating the construction of the seed. "Come on, come on, hurry, damn it!" Meanwhile, Vanir found himself pursued, and the ThunderCat effortlessly closed the gap, given Vanir''s straight-line sprint.


    Suddenly, Vanir stumbled, a hidden root sending him sprawling and rolling into a nearby tree. "NOW!" Hans shouted, and the ThunderCat, startled by the sudden absence of Hans'' presence, turned its head, unable to detect him with its ManaVision. In the brief moment of confusion, the very root that tripped Vanir sprang to life, coiling rapidly and snatching him up, launching him high into the air toward where Hans stood.


    Snatching its prey away was not to the liking of any feline-type beast. The ThunderCat swiftly closed the gap with astonishing speed, leaping with the grace of a flying creature. However, just as it lunged, Hans completed whatever he had been crafting. ¡°Fuck this shit¡± he shouted.


    ~TheVeganCarnage~


    At the precise moment, directly beneath the ThunderCat, a shrieking seed burst forth, filling the surroundings with an unsettling dread. The ominous scream was so piercing and unsettling that even Hans felt the chill. "This thing evolved again," he mused, shouting in excitement "Who cares, just do your job, my crying seed." But, the unsettling scream was not the sole evolution it had undergone. The speared tentacles, which had previously numbered no more than ten, had now multiplied to sixteen, moving faster than before. One of them struck and pierced the ThunderCat''s thick skull like a hot knife through butter. Its range had doubled from before, but it found no additional prey and subsided more swiftly than its initial lifespan.


    ¡°So, its life reduced, as the size grew. No advanced equations are needed to prove this.¡±Hans reflected, lost in thought until he heard another person''s screams from above. "Oh, damn, I forgot about him." Just before Vanir embraced the ground in terror, Hans caught him with an enormous web of vines. "Next time, just inform me of your plans, senior," Vanir complained, and Hans responded in his usual relaxed and confident manner, "That takes too much time, junior. Just trust me."


    Vanir sighed, not wanting to argue with Hans, especially after witnessing the monstrous entity that had sent shivers down his spine from a distance. He was growing more and more confident in Hans''s extraordinary abilities. ¡°You really are a monster, senior,¡± he commented.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Monster, not the ideal way to compliment, but it works.¡±


    ¡°No, I mean you have scary powers, I mean powerful ¡­¡±


    "Yeah, yeah, I get the idea," Hans interrupted him, preventing further embarrassment. Clenching his fist, marvelling at it, he muttered, "I guess it runs in the family."


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 137 - Earning Credits (3)

    CHAPTER 137


    EARNING CREDITS (3)


    "Time to get our hands dirty," Hans declared, producing his trusty hunter''s knife. He began the meticulous process of skinning the creature and carefully harvesting its valuable parts. With astonishing precision, his hands moved like a well-oiled sewing machine, deftly dissecting the beast until he reached the prized mana heart. Vanir observed Hans''s every move closely, continually surprised by the depth of his skills. Each time he thought he had seen it all, Hans proved him wrong.


    "Here, take it," Hans said, passing the dissected mana heart to Vanir, who looked at it with a mix of curiosity and concern. "What do you want me to do with this?" he inquired, half-expecting Hans to admit he was joking. However, Hans had something else in mind.


    "Eat it," he replied matter-of-factly.


    "I thought you were just kidding earlier," Vanir protested, hoping for a different response, but Hans''s determination took his concern to another level. "I''d probably choke on my own vomit, senior."


    "Don''t be such a coward. Well, actually, you might genuinely risk your life if you consume it as it is," Hans conceded, offering a hint of concern amid his characteristic bravado.


    Observing a glimmer of concern in his otherwise ruthless senior''s eyes, Vanir couldn''t help but exhale a sigh of relief. However, Hans once again surprised him by retrieving the leather leaves, a one-star plant he had brought from the midlands He wanted to find one in the BeastZone but the situation did not entail the wait. ¡°If more time passes, the mana heart will lose its effect.¡± Hans was in deep thought but he was not alone in thought lands, Vanir was pressuring his brain to full swing, he really didn¡¯t want to eat the blood-oozing heart.


    The mere notion of eating it triggered a nauseating sensation, and he struggled to contain it.


    "Senior," he implored with earnest eyes, "you''re not conducting an experiment on me, are you?" His words hung in the air, met with silence from Hans. Vanir pressed on, his voice tinged with desperation, "I might not appear highly knowledgeable, but I''ve studied methods for enhancing mana, and growth potions were the only solutions I ever encountered. I''ve never come across methods like these¡ª"


    ¡°This is the old method, probably lost in time.¡± Hans finally spoke, interrupting Vanir''s protests. But Vanir persisted, "And how do you know it?" Hans sighed, the prospect of explaining everything to his not-so-quick-witted subordinate felt like a daunting task "Oh, how I miss Deli; she grasps things without a word," he mused. Taking another deep breath, he continued, ¡°Listen, Junior, these kinds of things are passed down in my family, that''s all you need to know, got it? Now open your flapping mouth.¡± Hans pulled him closer and shoved the mana heart wrapped with leather leaves, into his mouth. "Don''t you dare let any of it spill."


    Vanir couldn''t help but break into tears. "Yuck, it''s still warm. Ugh..."


    "That''s the point, you fool. This is the proud method of my family for enhancing mana capacity¡ª"


    "But I thought you were from a knight family, and I''m a mage," Vanir protested between mouthfuls.


    "Shit!, I forgot about that. Well, Mana and Aura are basically the same, right? It should work..." Hans couldn''t have been more mistaken. According to the method, the body needed to absorb a mana heart of the same type, along with a counter-attribute element, to prevent it from exploding inside since one already possessed that attribute. In Vanir''s case, he already had the thunder attribute, and the ThunderCat had provided an excessive amount of it. To counter these effects, leatherleaf, a plant known for suppressing the thunder attribute, was ingested. This approach would have been effective if Vanir were a knight, but as a mage, he required pure mana compatible with his heart, unlike aura, which was distributed throughout the entire body.


    Hans''s oversight exacted a heavy toll on Vanir; he suffered from a surge of uncontrollable mana that threatened his very life. "Damn it, he''ll die at this rate. Think, think," Hans muttered frantically. Vanir''s condition deteriorated with each passing second, demanding swift action. Activating his ManaVision, he tried to take control of the rampaging mana and barely got it under control. ¡°Now what? There is no precedent in my memory. Should I expel it, or perhaps transfer it to his mana circle?"


    Calming down somewhat, Vanir gazed upward at Hans, who was panting heavily, mirroring his own uncertain expression. Wondering what their next steps should be, they shared a wordless question. Shaking off the tension, Hans took a breather,  "This is going to hurt," he warned him, his voice filled with resolve. He took a deep breath and synchronized with the pure mana circulating within Vanir''s single circle, allowing the controlled thunder mana to trickle in, drop by drop. However, contrary to their expectations, Vanir felt no pain. Instead, he experienced an uncomfortable tickling sensation. Controlling mana from outside the body was one thing, as it belonged to no one, but within Vanir''s body, Hans''s control felt foreign, and his body resisted, giving a severe strain to Hans''s mind.


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    His nose began to bleed, and he couldn''t help but mutter, "Damn it, how much longer?" However, despite his wishes, the entire process took over an hour, fortunately without any unexpected interruptions. "F...k this..." Hans slumped to the ground, utterly drained. His legs gave out first, followed by his consciousness fading into oblivion. Some time passed, and he gradually regained awareness, gasping as he awoke. "How long was I out?" he asked in a rush, to which Vanir responded with a wide grin, "We did it, senior. You''ve really done it. My mana circle has doubled in size."


    As he listened to the news, Hans reclined once more, the dew-drenched grass providing a soothing respite for his weary body. "I''m never doing that again," he mumbled, "it''s better to buy those growth potions. This stuff is dangerous." However, contrary to his sentiments, Vanir inquired, "So when are we going to hunt another beast, sir? I''d gladly go through it again."


    "Look at this fool," Hans thought, "it''s not as if you''re the one suffering. I''m the one with this irritating headache. But let''s not dampen his spirits; a Lord has to keep his subordinate content, after all." He began to speak, his gaze fixed on his expanded mana circle, "We''ll consider it when you''ve created your second circle." With a sigh, he thought, "Although that might take months." But once again, Hans underestimated Vanir. Aside from a single shortcoming of low mana capacity, the rest was all the strength, he displayed exceptional mana management and that''s how he managed to out till now. Hans had no inkling that he would soon find himself back in the BeastZone, hunting once more.


    Determined to reach his second mana circle, Vanir nodded, misconstruing Hans''s intentions. They both returned to their shelter. It was still night when the Thundercat had attacked, and being a third-class beast, it explained why there were no other creatures around. Consequently, they slept soundly until the afternoon. This marked their second day in the BeastZone, and they had plans to return after the third day. Failing that, a search party would be dispatched, and they would accrue a debt.


    Vanir had awoken earlier, eager to test his newfound mana capacity. However, he was even more curious about something else. "How in the world do such methods exist?" he wondered, unaware that their success was primarily due to Hans''s unique abilities. No one else possessed such precise control over ownerless mana. When Hans eventually woke up, Vanir bombarded him with a barrage of questions.


    Hans, gagging Vanir''s mouth again, shouted, "Will you please be quiet for a moment?" Lingering aftereffects clouded his thoughts; he hadn''t fully recovered, and now Vanir was buzzing around him like an overly excited bee. Eventually, Hans surrendered and began to explain, beginning with an obvious question. "Didn''t I tell you who I was?"


    "I tried to learn about your family, but there was practically nothing on Parv. Even the archives were void of information," Vanir explained, recollecting his limited knowledge of the Elven War. His family belonged to the commoner class and had no involvement in the conflict, leaving him with little to uncover. Initially, he had been mildly curious about Hans''s lineage, but now his interest was piqued, and he continued, "The Parvian king is often portrayed as nothing more than a villain," he paused, trying not to ruffle Hans''s feathers, whispering, "Who got what he deserved."


    Hans nodded in agreement, surprising Vanir, "They are not completely off, ¡± Hans added, "He was undeniably powerful and a brilliant strategist. Even villains have something you can learn from, dear Junior." Hans decided to refrain from unleashing his inner encyclopedia, but Vanir hadn''t satisfied his curiosity yet. "How powerful was he?" he asked once more, and Hans suddenly realized how he must have irritated others when he was similarly inquisitive, as Vanir was now mirroring his earlier persistence.  ¡°Haa..." he sighed and answered, "  He was once ranked first knight and was the very member of our house Prophets ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then why is your last name Richardson?¡±


    "That''s enough," Hans grumbled, "it''s more information than your head can handle. If you''re interested, you can find out on your own." Rising to his feet, Hans declared, "Let''s locate the Great Mamba and get out of here."


    ¡°You really wanna capture it intact, that screaming thing could deal with its instant.¡± Vanir inquired, still harbouring curiosity about the Parvian king despite Hans''s avoidance of the topic. However, sensing Hans''s reluctance to discuss it, he decided to drop the matter.


    Giving Hans some room to breathe. ¡°Well, at least he''s not asking about Father. But the Crying Seed is becoming increasingly unpredictable, and I can''t solely rely on it for the task at hand. Answering all these questions is quite bothersome." He nodded to himself, making a mental note not to pester others when curiosity got the better of him. But there was no helping it since a man can hide his nature but not change it completely and Hans, by nature, was someone who has to have the answers when curious so his mighty resolve was as thick as a paper sheet. He answered Vanir¡¯s earlier question, "Yes, we''ll keep the corpse intact. There''s something new I wanna try, and I need to make a spectacle out of it for our backdoor entry." With that decided, they both departed from the Thundercat''s territory.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 138 - Earning Credits (4)

    CHAPTER 138


    EARNING CREDIT (4)


    ¡°Senior, I¡¯ll die. Haaa¡­hurry, please,¡± Vanir shouted, pleading and running again for his life. He thought after expanding his first circle, he¡¯d have some confidence but poking a sleeping Great mamba was way out of his league, yet Hans had once again forced him to do that. ¡°My shit luck! Come on, senior, where are you?¡±


    ¡°Keep running,¡± Hans¡¯s voice echoed, instructing, ¡°Turn right, left, left, slide, watch the steps.¡± He kept guiding Vanir, and he kept avoiding the close calls. Great Mamba was a class three, a treasure of thousand poisons, and a pandora box for alchemists, but the poison sacs get torn after its death, wasting the hard-hunted resources. That¡¯s why alchemists had asked to bring a great Mamba intact and were giving a total of 700 credits, equal to 70,000 gold coins.


    ¡°To the tunnel now?¡± Hans commanded as Vanir came to the mouth of the underpass, ¡°Just where did it come from, who gives a shit? Run, you stupid legs.¡±


    Both the chasee and chaser entered the dark tunnel, Vanir would have run out of mana before, but not now, he still had some minutes left before his exhaustion hit him, he was using the lightning charge spell, boosting his speed, but his mana had increased not his physique so it was visibly hindering him, closing the gap between him and his predator. The light leak welcomed Vanir''s eyes, and without looking ahead, he jumped out.


    ¡°Now, it¡¯s my time.¡± Hans ran past him, charging at the Great Mamba yet to come out of the tunnel. The tunnel tousled, and the walls started constricting, slithering, tightening the passage, it was all but a huge trap, he had made before. ¡°Nothing satisfies more than a well-trapped prey.¡±


    ~VeganBind ~


    As he commanded, the slithering vines hastened and tightened. Trapping the Great Mamba inside a perfect woven tube of rugged vines. Only its snout facing him by a few feet.


    ¡°Sorry, But I need you to die ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hisss¡­¡± The great Mamba opened its mouth and let out a mixture of a thousand poisons. ¡°Yeah, I forgot, you were a class three,¡± Hans said taking a step back, ¡°Poison charge, death veil and Burning sting, are your recorded abilities, right? But I came prepared, you big loach.¡±


    ~ManaSorm~


    It was just a normal mana discharge, two steps, but enough to push back all the poisonous gas, lifting his head, standing right before the snake¡¯s huge head, he said with a frown. ¡°You mannerless reptile, I was saying, you need to die,¡± he commanded, and the whole structure was brought to the ground, more vines kept crawling over it, one after another, making it sturdier, and completely shutting off the resistance, turning the snake into a green cocoon at the end.


    Then Hans stretched his hand, and a small seed appeared in it. ¡°Let''s test this,¡± he shouted.


    ~SonusBind~


    The seed sprouted, and many vines came out of it, taking his hand as the centre, it started rotating like a horizontal twister. And as it picked up speed, its hollow structure started making a loud noise and suddenly got silent. The sound might be something humans can¡¯t hear, but the snake was withering in pain, doing everything to resist, but the sound was firing shockwaves at point blank near its snout.


    The unheard soundwaves rendered its nervous system, and the process continued for a while, when Hans felt the life withering out of his prey, he stopped. ¡°700 credits,¡± he said in delight, ¡°Right into the bag ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait, just a moment,¡± Vanir interrupted in disbelief, ¡°That was a class three! It just died like this. He was scaring the life out of me just a moment ago ¡ª¡±


    ¡°This is called a hunt, Junior. Nothing is scarier than a well-prepared hunter. Didn¡¯t you hear this saying?¡±


    ¡°I know, but this is ¡ª¡±


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    ¡°Ridiculous right?¡± Hans nodded and explained, ¡°Bait, trap and kill. If you can do it right, you can kill anything or,¡± raising his head he stressed, ¡°or anyone, understand?¡±


    ¡°But not a class three. it would have taken at least twenty people, mages and knights included, and they would have to be at least second circle and grade thirty ¡ª¡±


    ¡°That is if we confront the beast directly. if I allowed it to use its second and third ability, what did you call it before? yes, I¡¯d be his next-day poop.¡± He continued explaining while pointing at the cocooned corpse, ¡°But If one can halt it before, just like I did, then you have a perfect Great mamba on a platter.¡±


    Vanir looked at the almost pitiful Great mamba who died without putting up any fight, almost forgetting that this very thing had given him a run for his money a while earlier. He scanned it once more and said in amazement, ¡°Woah! It''s almost 100 metres long, senior.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it should be, this is an adult.¡± Hans said, rubbing his chin, but suddenly remembered, ¡°Let''s get out of here. ''''They live in pairs ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then what are you waiting for, senior,¡± Vanir said aloud, he was already a few metres ahead of Hans, quietly rushing toward the safe zone. ¡°What a loyal subordinate I have. Wait for me, idiot.¡±


    They ventured forth, continuing their journey towards the safe area. The vines were doing the heavy dragging, while both were walking relaxed. They had just passed the Great Mamba territory, so they were taking their time, and the safe area being a few metres ahead had turned their desperate run into a stroll.


    ¡°But senior,¡± Vanir, who was silent for a long time, finally spoke, ¡°I''m really curious, you made that huge tunnel with just vines, the trap, I mean. And then, did the mana discharge following that weird twister-like spell to kill it.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Hans looked at him with questioning eyes, and Vanir finally stated what he was curious about, ¡°Even a third circle would feel tired! hell, he would be losing his shit, but you are fine like you lost nothing. How?¡±


    ¡°I told you I¡¯ve unli ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that crap.¡± Vanir shook his head. He was dead set on finding out and continued, ¡°I thought we¡¯d be more honest with each other now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you the truth, you untrustful idiot. You are the one not believing me.¡±


    The silence ensued, and both entered a weird staring contest. Finally, Vanir broke the stare, ¡°You were serious?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I am.¡±


    ¡°Those within the mage tower are dying to get more mana, and you have ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m special, didn¡¯t I tell you?¡± Hans interrupted, acting smug, but it got ignored completely. Vanir was stressing his little mind, ¡°Ah shit,¡± he grabbed his temples and continued, ¡°When this becomes known, you will be hunted by those old mages.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you have to hurry, become stronger, Vanir. Mage Tower is the least of my worries now. Shit is about to go down, and the peace you know will be gone soon. I might not be the centre of it, but I¡¯ll not be too far from it either.¡± Hans thought this might motivate Vanir more, and his lineage is far more attractive to the world than his possessing of unlimited mana. And just like that, they reached the safe area, aka, the SpaceDoor to Midlands. The staff in charge lost his marbles seeing the huge carcass dragged behind two juniors. She was a grade forty knight herself, working in this BeastZone and had few encounters with the great Mamba and had no choice but to flee. So from first-hand experience, she knew how strong this class three was, ¡°you are telling me, a second-year hunted it. This ought to be a joke, right¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­hey¡­Ms..¡± Hans almost shouted, but the staff snapped out of it and said with a polite smile, ¡°We will process the corpse and send it to you. The transportation charge would be 1 credit.¡±


    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Hans gestured, startling her and continued, smirking, ¡°I¡¯ll bring it myself. Just send us to the Midlands.¡±


    ¡°You would earn more than 500 credits,¡± the woman clarified, asking, ¡°Are you sure? you wanna handle the headache of taking it with you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, why would I hand over a credit If I can do it myself?¡±


    ¡°This is beyond misery, senior.¡± Vanir commented, but his words fell on deaf ears, and they dragged the Great Mamba into the SpaceDoor, ¡°To Midlands,¡± he shouted, and the Spacedoor sent them back. ¡°Darn this feeling,¡± Hans covered his mouth feeling nauseous, ¡°At least it is somewhat bearable in short range.¡±


    ¡°Senior, can¡¯t I just part here, everyone is staring at us like we are some sort of clowns,¡± Vanir commented, covering his face. He was scared of gazes that kept measuring him, so he was not even confident to lift his head. They had just stepped out of the SpaceDoors, and many people were staring at them like they were in some sort of exhibition. But his word choices somehow irked Hans, so he retorted, ¡°Clowns! Are you out of your mind, Vanir?¡± Slapping his back, Hans ordered him, ¡°Stand straight and look into their eyes, you have accomplished a feat that they could only dream about. Stand tall and tell them with your gaze, your arrogance must be shown on your face. Do not cower, you belong to me now. You don¡¯t have that luxury.¡±

 Elven Lies I Chapter 139 - Making a name for himself

    CHAPTER 139


    MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF


    "You''re my person." The words felt awkward, especially emerging from Hans''s youthful voice. However, they ignited a spark of confidence within Vanir. Lifting his head, he noticed the curious glances of those around him, a far cry from the sceptical stares he''d endured during his fraud charges at the mage tower. His gaze returned to Hans, who exuded unwavering confidence, his fearless stride radiating authority.


    "When will I become like him?" Vanir pondered, almost as if Hans had tapped into his inner thoughts. Hans responded, his voice firm and resolute, "Strength changes everything. You can scheme, plan, or cheat, but when faced with overwhelming strength, all you can do is yield. You inquired about my father, didn''t you? He belonged to the latter category, and I intend to follow in his footsteps. So, Vanir, please, don''t make a mockery of me."


    "Yes, sir," Vanir replied promptly, falling in step with Hans. As they marched together, the verdant cocoon of vines snapped and unravelled, revealing the scaled body of a Class Three beast¡ªthe Great Mamba. The onlookers couldn''t contain their reactions.


    "Are they serious?"


    "A second-year taking down that?"


    "I heard they were having a hunting class today."


    "But it''s just the second year. Weren''t we sent to the first star region back in our time?"


    "Yeah, and there are no instructors or professors around!"


    .


    .


    .


    More spectators gathered, but Hans and Vanir paid them no heed, striding forward with heads held high. However, something nagged at Vanir, prompting him to ask,, ¡°I get your point senior, but why do you have to do this?¡± He took a quick glance at others while asking, and Hans answered, emphasising, ¡°Cause, It''s my trophy after all.¡±


    "But shouldn''t you be keeping a low profile? I mean, considering your background... You''ll be the talk of the whole midlands now," Vanir remarked.


    "It''s intentional, Junior," Hans replied cryptically.


    "Why?" Vanir inquired further, but Hans brushed him off, knowing that he wouldn''t understand. Vanir eventually gave up. The SpaceDoor and Task Hall weren''t too far away, but during that brief journey, Hans managed to capture the attention of nearly everyone. He pretended not to notice, but his eyes scanned the onlookers. "With this, Professor Walter won''t have any trouble recommending me," Hans mused to himself.


    Upon reaching the Task Hall, the person who had requested the Great Mamba''s capture was summoned to inspect the goods. He arrived hurriedly, revealing that he had been eagerly awaiting its arrival. The requester turned out to be an alchemist, which surprised Hans because elves typically didn''t involve themselves in alchemy. Hans was about to voice his thoughts on the matter when the elf alchemist unexpectedly began jumping for joy. ¡°What kinda freak is he? ¡ª¡± Hans was contemplating but then the alchemist held his hand together, clasping them he said, ¡°Thank you, dear student, you saved my rear.¡±


    ¡°That''s 700 credits for you, sir.¡± Hans took a step back, he was facing one over friendly elf holding his hands


    "Of course, of course," the elf replied as he tore a page from a booklet and jotted something down. He then handed the paper to Hans. "Show this to the Task Hall receptionist, and they will update your account." Hans accepted the paper, thinking, "This is convenient," and handed it to Vanir, instructing him to handle the transaction. Meanwhile, he engaged in conversation with the elf alchemist, learning that the elf was merely an apprentice who had recently botched a thousand poison sacs of Great Mamba in their labs and was now given a week to rectify his mistake.


    As they continued chatting, Vanir returned with a receipt. "It''s done, senior. So, what''s next?" Vanir inquired, eyeing the various tasks posted on the wall. This newfound enthusiasm surprised Hans, prompting him to chuckle. "That''s a nice development, he was crying to leave before and now he wants to go for another run.¡± But Vanir was acting up because he had noticed his classmates, who had looked down on him all the time, but now gazing at him in awe. However, Hans quickly dampened his spirits, saying, " ¡°Go rest, I have to go and make a deal with another snake.¡±


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    Startled, Vanir asked, "Who?"


    "Who else? Our dear Professor Walter."


    "Fine, but you''re taking me on the next hunt, right?"


    "Yes, go ahead and boast about it to your friends," Hans replied with a dismissive wave. As Vanir turned to leave, the persistent elf alchemist piped up, asking Hans about his plans. Hans, not quite understanding the question, inquired, "What do you mean?"


    The elf alchemist clarified, "I mean, what are you going to do with your 700 credits? That''s my entire savings for the term." He pointed at the receipt in Hans''s hand and added, "That''s an impressive sum of money."


    Hans recalculated the numbers and nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is. But I need to pay a fine¡ª"


    ¡°Oh, so you were the one who almost killed ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, things just went out of my hands, that''s all.¡±


    "Yes, yes," the elf nodded, offering some advice. "Let me enlighten you. They''ve given you a year, but once you earn enough to pay the fine, your access to the Task Hall will be suspended. Only fourth-year students and higher can take on tasks."


    Hans was puzzled. "What are you getting at¡ª"


    The elf sighed in exasperation. "For a supposedly smart guy, you can act a little dense. I''m suggesting that when you''re close to paying off the fine, select a task that yields a higher credit reward. That way, after settling the fine, you''ll still have a substantial sum left. Understand?"


    ¡°Ah, I get it now, thanks a lot, you are a nice person.¡± Hans commented showing his genuine smile but the elf denied it in haste, ¡°Nice my foot, I¡¯m telling you because you saved me from expulsion, My funds didn¡¯t have the power to hire a full squad of fourth years, 700 credits are not worth the risks, that''s why this task remained on the board for days. You saved my skin so I¡¯m telling you to make the best of your situation¡±


    "Understood, any other advice, Sir Alchemist?" Hans inquired, his eyes scanning the task board.


    The alchemist pointed to another section. "See there," he indicated, "that''s the Redemption Board. You can obtain various items through credits, like a trade store." Hans quickly absorbed the information, but before he could fully process it, the elf alchemist interjected. "You''re a second-year, right?" the elf asked. Hans nodded in confirmation, prompting the elf to continue, "Then consider learning how to create a Golem and investing in mana stones if you have some spare credits. Second and third-years usually don''t have access to Golem crafting since it''s not taught until the fourth year. This will put you ahead of your class, and having a Golem will be advantageous in the Glory Wars as well."


    Hans genuinely thanked the elf alchemist, appreciating the valuable advice. "A Golem, hmm... That''s something I can work on during my suspension. Let''s earn that fine quickly and put this behind us... Oh, wait!.. I need to have a conversation with Professor Walter first."


    As Hans made his way to the Administration, heading for Walter''s office, news of his feat spread like wildfire in the summertime. A second-year student had successfully hunted a Class Three creature¡ªan achievement that was undoubtedly good news, as such talents were bound to bring honour in the upcoming Glory Wars. However, it also ignited a spark of envy among some. The impact of this event varied greatly, even affecting those close to Hans.


    Rudolf, who had trained Hans, couldn''t shake his deep concern. He knew that one misstep in a BeastZone could have resulted in permanent harm, despite the summoning token''s protections. He almost forgot that he was the one who had guided Hans, and he couldn''t help but worry like a parent fretting for their child. On the other hand, Sierra was preoccupied with plotting various ways to grill Walter for allowing the situation to occur.


    Throughout the Midlands, the talk of the town was now about Hans and the Great Mamba. This accomplishment exceeded Walter''s expectations. "Well done, farm boy," he praised aloud as Hans entered his office.


    "Sir, I did just slay a Class Three. Shouldn''t you upgrade my title a bit?" Hans inquired.


    Walter contemplated for a moment before responding, "How about ''Snake Catcher''¡ª"


    "Let''s stick with what you''re already calling me."


    "Very well," Walter agreed with a nod, chuckling. "After all, it''s a farmer''s job to catch snakes in his field."


    "Not the point, but¡ª"


    "Yes, that seeded position. No one in their right mind would argue after the spectacle you put on," Walter responded, his elation evident as he relished Hans''s achievement. He contemplated for a moment before a wicked smile crept across his face. "Let''s stir the pot even more. I have the perfect idea in mind." He pressed a button, and his communication orb illuminated. "Well, if it isn''t our senile geezer," Walter greeted the voice on the other end.


    The voice responded with a hint of annoyance, "What do you want, Walter?"


    "Nothing much, just cashing in a favour."


    "Darn spider''s ass, I should never have asked for your help back then. How many times are you going to remind me of that?"


    "Hey, it''s only the 24th time. I still have several more left in my account." With a snicker, Walter grinned broadly and said, "Let''s organize a special lecture on dissection for all our junior-year students."


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 140 - Making a name for himself (2)

    CHAPTER 140


    MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF (2)


    ¡°What are you cooking, professor?¡± Hans asked after Walter terminated the communication and with a scheming smile his black-bellied professor answered, ¡°A big mess.¡±


    "Hmm, I''ve learned something new today, Professor."


    "And what''s that?"


    "To never owe you anything. I feel bad for that poor alchemist.¡±


    Hans couldn''t shake the uneasy feeling settling in his gut. Walter had instructed the Alchemist department to conduct a public harvesting of a Great Mamba captured by him, and everything seemed to be in his favour. Yet, an ominous sense of foreboding gnawed at him, and his instincts, which had never steered him wrong before, now warned of impending trouble.


    Later that day, the Colosseum was chosen as the most fitting venue, and the Alchemist department hastily dispatched a notice for a special lecture. Given the renowned expertise of Concordia''s alchemists, the finest in the world, a vast audience congregated in anticipation. Even the second-year students, who had missed Hans''s remarkable spectacle due to their initial hunting lessons in the first star region, eagerly assembled. They occupied the second row, followed closely by the first-year students. However, one perplexing detail left them scratching their heads¡ªthe person credited with capturing the Class Three beast was none other than their fellow classmate, Hans.


    But there was one person who wasn''t surprised¡ªDelimira. She knew Hans had the skills for it. Yet she couldn''t help but exclaim, "Seriously, a Class Three...ugh," though she kept her annoyance in check. Their previous fight, which had turned into a nasty incident, was still fresh in her mind. Hans did the unthinkable again and it was rubbing her in the wrong way.


    However, the last one in the trio, Chris was shaken to the core. He had fought a Class Two creature during his holiday training with his father, and it had been a close call, with him giving it everything he had. "Hans is strong, but this seems unbelievable," he said, staring at the nearly 100-meter-long scaled beast. "How much did he train to get this strong?" he asked Delimira, who, while not as baffled as him, couldn''t take her eyes off Hans, standing next to the alchemists in the arena.


    Chris tried to get answers from her, but she stayed silent. Then, someone behind them spoke up. "He hardly sleeps, maybe four hours at most. Planning isn''t his strong suit, but he''s really good at coming up with solutions on the spot. He probably can get out of any situation, no matter how tough." Vanessa added glancing at Delimira, ¡°Did you forget he even survived Xandor? You know it better than anyone here, right Junior.¡±


    ...


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what exactly happened between the two of you, ¡± Vanessa continued, ¡°Whatever it is, you two need to be on the same page, Glory War is no children¡¯s squabble, many have died over the fake game of honour.¡± After she spoke, Vanessa left Chris and Allynna, who were even more confused. "Who was she?" Allynna asked Delimira.


    Finally, Delimira broke her silence. "She''s Hans''s... older sister¡ª"


    "Hold on," Chris interrupted. "What did she mean by that? the same page... it''s more than teamwork, right?"


    Sighing, Delimira answered, ¡°he developed something very troublesome, we complement our fighting style that''s how we fought a grade seventy knight. I was the exception to his power yet look what happened to me.¡± She sounded downcast, not because Hans had harmed her or because he had captured a Class Three beast, but because he was advancing much faster than they were. ¡° I don''t wanna admit it, but he was right, what was I doing when he was working this hard, maybe I needed the wake-up call¡­¡±


    "What''s happening over there?" Suddenly, Allynna exclaimed, jolting Delimira out of her thoughts. Allynna was pointing at the arena floor and asking, "Why is he there?" She was referring to none other than Vanir, who seemed to be riding on Hans''s success, mingling with the alchemists and passing his name to the curious ones.


    Many professors from the higher academy were showing interest in Hans, and they were discussing him among themselves. Each of them was responsible for their own squads, so when a talent like Hans emerged, they couldn''t help but take notice. Vanir wasn''t slipping through their notice either, being a spell crafter who had previously been overlooked by the Mage Tower. He had the potential and the drive to challenge the Mage Tower''s supremacy in magic.


    ''It''s a shame I can''t recruit him now.''


    ¡®Don¡¯t even try approaching the juniors, unless you wanna get your ass fired.¡¯


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    ¡®I know the rules, too, blockhead.¡¯


    ''But why do you think the Mage Tower let a spell crafter slip away?''


    ¡®Yeah, like they even give commoners a chance.¡¯


    ''Well, they should continue doing that, and we''ll become the best in magic too.''


    ''Yes, we''re already the best in alchemy, the association has the finest knights, and the Tower has the top mages.''


    ''True, but most of them were our students.''


    ¡®Concordia should revoke the independent policy, and force the good ones to work here. don''t you think...¡¯


    ¡°This is a place for learning first and foremost, students are and always will be free to choose their paths. Your job is to prepare them for the world, not to make choices for them," the man sitting behind them remarked. He then left the two professors who were chatting, leaving them surprised because they hadn''t sensed his presence until he spoke. Both of them were skilled in their own right, one being a warlord and the other a warlock.


    ¡°Who the fuck was that?¡± one of them asked.


    ¡°Maybe Chairman ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I should have seen his face then, damn it. Do you think anyone knows what he looks like?¡±


    ¡°I guess¡­ NodeMaster Shaerra might know.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯d definitely seen him, after all, she was his last student.¡±


    ¡°Shaerra Clandor is a scary existence¡­ ooh...Just thinking about her gives me the shivers."


    Rudolf and Sierra were eavesdropping on their conversation from behind and were also surprised to hear about the Chairman''s appearance. They had missed seeing him as well. "He''s as elusive as always. Did you get a look at him?" Rudolf asked his wife, but her response was something else since she was thinking about the latter part of the discussion. ¡°Shaerra, the only one who rivalled Sam." And Rudolf nodded in affirmation, ¡°Yes, Sam hated her so bad ¡®cause he lost his spot to her.¡±


    ¡°She is doing fine," Sierra teased, "She even became the leader of Concordia¡¯s node, keeping Norwin in check. She is stronger than you, dear husband ¡ª¡±


    ¡°You just have to rub in, but we never fought." Rudolf defended, rebuking quietly, "How can you say that? Should I try climbing the rankings, rank nine is not doing me any justice.¡±


    ¡°Just stay put, we are not young anymore ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Say that after looking into the mirror, Sierra.¡±


    ¡°Your compliments never failed to amaze me, Rudolf.¡±


    ¡°That was not a fucking compliment.¡± Sadly Rudolf neither had the guts nor the dying wish to say that to her face so he just accepted it as it was and the show Walter had put on, began.


    Taking the stage, he announced that Hans would be chosen as the seeded contestant, and as he expected, no one dared to disagree with his decision. Among the committee professors, there was a quiet discussion, but before anyone could voice their thoughts, Walter spoke up, "In my junior league, anyone can be the seeded contestant, but they have to prove they''re better than this young man here," he said, pointing at Hans. "But I don''t want to throw an outstanding student like Hans into endless battles. So, if you want to challenge him, you should at least hunt a class three beast." He grinned and added a twist, "I would even allow you to fight him if you can bring me another class three in a group."


    His last words clearly meant, that even if you group up, you can¡¯t meet the criteria, at least with dignity intact to challenge Hans. With no objections from anyone, Hans became the seeded contestant for the Glory Wars Junior League. This perk allowed him to skip the preliminary selection, which was set to take place in a couple of months. Once this facade was settled, the alchemists began their special lecture.


    First, they expertly removed the scaled leather from the beast, demonstrating their skill. Hans tried to follow their actions in his mind, but he realised that learning the trade after just one look wasn''t something he could do. "I guess I can''t do everything..." he muttered.


    "What are you mumbling about, senior?" Vanir asked, overhearing his mixed words. But Hans brushed it off and urged Vanir to pay attention to the special lecture. Then, the senior alchemist performing the dissection extracted a cluster of sacs that resembled grapes.


    "These are called thousand poison sacs. They''re the first things to break down after a Great Mamba dies," he explained. Turning to Hans, he continued, "This is the beast''s self-destructive mechanism when it''s near death. You did a fine job, young man. If this had been an official request from the alchemist department, it would have earned you at least 2000 credits."


    ¡°2000, 2000, darn 2000.¡± It was the only thing ringing in Hans¡¯s head, and fuming he turned towards the elf apprentice who requested the task, ¡°Damn it, I got scammed.¡± he almost blurted out, but the elf feeling the deathly stare, only showed a gesture of apology by tilting his head down. ¡°Well, he said it was all his savings.¡± Hans consoled himself, patting his chest to calm down. However, Vanir couldn''t hold back and loudly proclaimed what Hans was thinking, "Senior, we got fooled."


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to your foolish junior, Hans, everyone is watching,¡± He kept patting his chest, ¡°The elf gave quite useful advice¡­ but my 1300 credits.¡± He clenched his fist, ¡°Think of Golems, big sturdy Golems, powerful Golem army¡­ Agh I¡¯,m pissed.¡± Vanir persisted in shaking Hans by the sleeve until Hans turned to him and declared, "Vanir, we''re going to have another sparring session after this."


    "What? Why another venting session?" Vanir asked in disbelief. But Hans was not gonna reason with him, he added, ¡°Prepare to kill me or else your whole body will curse you later.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 141 - The Divine Potion

    CHAPTER 141


    THE DIVINE POTION


    After three days of venting his anger, he visited his grandma''s quarters, concerned about discreetly sending the potion he needed. Upon entering, he found Rudolf working on a flask of sparkly yellow liquid.


    "Is that It, gramps?" he inquired.


    Rudolf looked up and replied, "It better be worth it, squeaky. I really don''t like Sierra in that state."


    Hans teased, "Can''t a loving husband like you take care of her for three days? And people call you caring¡ª"


    "Thok...Ouch..." Hans exclaimed, "Violence from the start; no wonder I''m learning bad things."


    Rudolf retorted, "Oh, shut up, Hans. I''m serious; that potion drains Sierra. So you better ensure the first year will repay its worth."


    Hans declared, "I hate debt, whether it''s mine or someone else owes me one; I''ll collect it for sure."


    Rudolf considered, "Yeah, yeah, talk big all you want, but how are you going to send it to Clandor?"


    "That''s what''s puzzling me," Hans replied, mimicking Rudolf''s thoughtful pose. Rudolf then answered his own question, "I knew it! You might not be aware since you don''t have a family outside, but students send things back and forth to their homes. It can only happen once a month, and it''s backed by Concordia so no one messes with it¡ª"


    "Hans''s face lit up as he exclaimed, ''That solves it. Thanks, Gramps!'' He secured the vial in a firm package and headed for the first-years¡¯ lecture halls, muttering, "Better grab my minion first." It didn¡¯t take him long to reach the Vanir¡¯s class. "Darn my luck, it''s Prof. Martha¡¯s class," he cursed.


    Hans hesitated at the door but was already the centre of attention, including Prof. Martha''s stern gaze. "What troubles are you making in my class, Mr. Hans?" she asked, her brows furrowing.


    Hans pointed at Vanir, sitting in the middle of the class. "I just need that guy, just for a little bit¡ª"


    Martha sighed, growing impatient. "You want to take my student in the middle of a class?" Hans replied, spreading a long smile on his face, ¡°Even if I say pretty please.¡± Seeing his shamelessness, Martha relented, ¡°Whatever, just don¡¯t disturb my class.¡± With this, she signalled Vanir to take his troublesome senior away from her and after they crossed some distance, Vanir asked, ¡°What brings you here?¡± but his half-spoken words came to a halt when Hans showed him the potion, ¡°The thing you were waiting for.¡±


    ¡°Th..thank you, I¡¯ll never forget this senior ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let''s send it and write a letter too,¡± Hans said, nodding. Vanir, tears of happiness in his eyes, readily agreed. He had blamed himself for his father¡¯s condition and his family¡¯s downfall, but in his hand was the means to rectify some of his past mistakes. ¡°Yes, senior, let''s send it,¡± he affirmed, wiping his eyes. After completing the necessary formalities, they dispatched the package to Vanir¡¯s home."


    ¡°Just become the warlock, if you feel that grateful,¡± Hans remarked, observing Vanir''s grateful expression.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do it at any cost,¡± Vanir replied. While he felt thankful to Hans, a sense of responsibility now weighed on him. What if he failed? The question began to gnaw at his conscience. However, before the doubt could take a stronger hold, Hans interjected, ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll become one, I¡¯ll make you because I said so.¡±


    Later, the two of them began accumulating credits, and another week slipped by. Hans now had 1950 credits to his name, earned through hunting, gathering, and a whirlwind of various tasks during the past week.


    "I need a big one, at least 1500 credits. Where is it? Where?" He was on the lookout for a high-yield task, having been dissuaded from taking on a perilous assignment by the hall master due to his limited resources. However, his eyes suddenly landed on a familiar listing. "Agrilands needs a research apprentice - credits depend on the candidate¡¯s capability," he read aloud. "Wait, I''m more than capable, and who better than me for this?" A wide grin once again spread across his face as he set off for Agrilands.


    CLANDOR¡¯S SUBURBS ZINWEN TERRITORY


    "What kind of student lives in a place like this?" muttered the delivery man as he touched down in the Zinwen slums. Surveying the surroundings once more, he added, "And Elves claim we''re uncivilized. They should take a good look in the mirror first. Well, who cares? Dorfeil, Dorfeil. Where''s that parcel? Ah, found it."


    The man spotted a child poking at the ground with a stick, the youngster''s clothing thoroughly dirtied from head to toe. "No matter what, parents should at least watch over their children. Don''t meddle; you''re just a delivery guy, a DELIVERY GUY," he reminded himself sternly, then addressed the child. "Is this Dorfeil¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the child bolted indoors as if he''d seen a ghost, slamming the door shut. He peeked out and in a childlike voice asked, ¡°What to you want mishter?¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    The delivery person tried to reassure the boy, saying, "I''m not a bad person¡ª"


    ¡°Every bat pershon says tat,¡± the child retorted.


    Not making any progress, the delivery personnel retrieved the letter and said, "Someone named Vanir sent a gift for you." Instantly, the boy flung open the door in excitement, asking, " ¡°Did my brother really shend it?¡±


    "Yes, now, where are your parents? I need to give it to them."


    The child ushered the man inside and gestured for him to follow. The mention of his brother''s name by the stranger was enough to dispel any unease the child had been feeling earlier. He was now moving forward with hope. However, just as they had behaved previously, the adults in the house reacted the same way. They grabbed the child and positioned themselves protectively in front of him. A weary-looking woman spoke, "We don''t have anything, please leave."


    ¡°What is wrong with these people? Can''t they see my uniform? Nobody willingly ventures into the slums, and here I am, a volunteer. Now I get it, their hospitality is no laughing matter." Clearing his throat, he continued, "I have a package for Anavan Dorfeil¡ª"


    ¡°He is my husband.¡±


    ¡°Yes, not my concern, just confirm your identity and I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± the delivery man said and resolved, ¡°I¡¯m never volunteering for anything, they fooled me since I was new.¡±


    After completing the necessary formalities, he hastily left the area, as if there were no tomorrow.


    The woman examined the contents of the parcel. She possessed the ability to read and write, as they had once been a knightly family. If not for the oppression imposed by the territory lord, she could have found employment. She then proceeded to open the attached letter


    <blockquote>


    ¡°Dear Mom and Dad,


    I hope you''re doing well. A lot has happened since I came here. I met an amazing person who helped me a lot. At first, some people treated me badly because of our family, but this person protected me. I''ve decided to learn from this senior. I hope you can meet him someday. He heard about Dad''s illness and sent me this box, saying it can help him get better."


    </blockquote>


    The woman whispered, tears welling up in her eyes, "My dear son, all I ever wanted was for you to leave us behind, soar high, and be free. But we are still shackling you. There is nothing free in this world. When will you realize that? Even after all you''ve been through, do you still place your trust in those who hold power? To them, you are just an effective tool to be used.¡± She was filled with worry, but as she picked up another piece of paper beside the letter, she discovered words that didn''t belong to her son written on it.


    <blockquote>


    "Greetings,


    I am Hans, a second-year student currently in a mentor-mentee association with your son. I am compelled to write to you regarding a matter of great concern.


    I have observed your son overwhelmed by feelings of hatred and an intense desire for vengeance. In light of this, I have taken the initiative to send a potion that may provide relief from his suffering. My affection for your son is profound, and my only aim is to alleviate his pain. However, I wish to stress that this potion has the capacity for immediate healing. Therefore, I strongly recommend its gradual administration in small doses. A swift and complete recovery may inadvertently draw unwarranted attention and complications.


    I firmly believe that only a father''s guidance can provide the comfort and support necessary for your son to transcend this painful period. I implore you to consider this matter thoughtfully and exercise discretion in the use of the potion.


    Please rest assured, Your son is in good hands."


    </blockquote>


    ¡°He must be a well-taught noble," Vanir''s mother commented, unaware that Hans had plagiarised most of the content. Skimming the content again, her concern deepened. She muttered, "Vanir has sunken in something that he can''t get out.". She contemplated opening the package but was interrupted by another man, to whom the entire family owed a great debt, entering the room. "What do we have here, sister-in-law?" he inquired, playfully tousling the little kid''s hair. She displayed both letters to him, prompting him to reflect.


    "If this indeed works," the man remarked, "then we may find ourselves facing far more formidable times, sister-in-law."


    "Yes, it would mean that Vanir would be entirely at that person''s mercy¡ª"


    "That might have been the deal, no noble does things like these without expecting anything," The man remarked again, a bit of confusion in his tone, "Getting something that could heal Anavan, is simply not possible even for high-ranked nobilities, and even royals have to open their secret stash. But if that thing works," the man took a closer look at the iridescent liquid and continued with concern, "Vanir may find it impossible to sever ties with this person."


    "Onas," the woman inquired with heightened concern, "what should we do?"


    "It''s inevitable; we must get Anavan back on his feet and in sound mind first, don''t you think?" After a moment of contemplation, he reassured her, "If there''s ever an issue with Vanir, sister-in-law, I''ll do everything in my power to bring him out."


    ¡°If you say so, Onas,¡± she nodded, and they both approached Anavan, who was lying with bedsores. And turning to their benefactor, she added, "Thank you, Onas. We''ll never be able to fully repay your kindness¡ª"


    "No need to mention it. Your husband once saved my life," Onas replied.


    "That happened when you were both just kids."


    ¡°I¡¯m just repaying his favour. I wish I could just ruin this forsaken territory and leave but I¡­¡±


    "I can''t blame you for feeling that way. We should have listened to you when you objected to Anavan joining the knightage in Zinwen," she said with regret. If not for Onas''s intervention, her husband would have perished in prison. Not only did he rescue Anavan, but he also proved that it was all a scheme. Yet, a commoner prevailing over a noble through the law was unheard of, and the case was swiftly closed. She recalled how tirelessly Onas had worked to keep their fractured family afloat, clearing Vanir of his charges, and sending him to Concordia.


    Casting a brief glance at his weathered face, which she could hardly recognize, she reminisced about the past arguments between him and her husband, which had resulted in his departure from Clandor. But when their family was in dire straits, he returned to rescue them, a true miracle in their eyes. So, she refrained from probing into his past years. Her gratitude was immeasurable, unaware that Onas Helieth was the twelfth commander of Eclipse and that their previous argument, which had separated him from Anavan, had been about joining Eclipse together.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 142 - Bleeding Wallet

    CHAPTER 142


    BLEEDING WALLET


    Onas had learned about Dorfeils when he was dispatched to tie the loose ends in Clandor. His initial reaction was one of anger, a desire to destroy Zinven''s land. However, such an act would have brought undue scrutiny. attention. So, he did what he could as an elf of commoner¡¯s standing, but it was not easy to win against noble filling pockets of the law enforcers. Nonetheless, he persevered and succeeded in extricating Anavan, ultimately sending Vanir to Concordia for his safety.


    The name Hans, he had heard before and could have even seen if not the blunder in Concordia, the boy whom his Commander Xandor called fake. ¡°I joined late, so I can''t say for sure. But the commander spoke of their former king''s vision for a nation of freedom. I wanted to see it for myself. Now, with Vanir aligning with Hans... Perhaps¡­No,¡± He shook his head in denial, prompting curious gazes of Vanir¡¯s mother and his younger brother, and resolved, ¡°Commander is right; he is not his father. We can''t rely on others to fix things. We must take matters into our own hands.¡±


    He gave a mouth full of sparkly liquid to Anavan, and with just that small dose, Anavan''s sanity began to return. His once-paralysed legs began to twitch. However, rather than expressing relief, he seized Onas by the collar, startling his wife, and shouted, "You traitor¡ª¡°


    "Mhm. A traitor," Onas responded, gently removing the feeble hand that had once possessed great strength. ¡°Yes, that is so you.¡± he added, ¡°Look. what your loyalty has bought you first, idiot..¡±


    Anavan remained silent as Onas unleashed the thoughts he had suppressed for years. ¡°What I yearned for," he began, "is a life of freedom, where I never have to bow before anyone, where my voice carries weight, and my opinions are valued. That''s the life I vowed to create for myself, and I''ve been working tirelessly to make it a reality."


    He paused, his eyes filled with bitterness. "And what were you doing? You label me a traitor, but take a long, hard look at yourself¡ªyour youngest, your wife, your brilliant son. Examine what your so-called loyalty has earned you, Anavan. See what our own kind has subjected you to, and yet you call me a traitor. There''s no place for us here, and there never will be. To them, we''re insignificant, expendable creatures they can crush at will. It''s time to wake up!"


    ¡°So what do I owe you for help,¡± Anavan responded, his eyes as bitter as the man shouting at him.


    Onas responded, his tone sardonic, ¡°Look at this bastard! Even if you were my enemy, I still would have helped you.¡± He stood up, tidying up his clothes, ¡°Live long old friend, I need you alive and well so you can see and regret how wrong you were when my struggle yields the result.¡±


    AGRILANDS, CONCORDIA


    Hans was famous in Agrilands and not for the reasons of the Midlands. As the exclusive owner of wood mana, he was highly sought after by various facilities there. However, no matter how much they desired his services, contacting him or any third-year student or lower was strictly prohibited by the rules. So, Hans''s arrival in Agriland made headlines.


    Everyone was eager to collaborate with him, and internal bidding competitions ensued. Eventually, a research facility named ''New Age'' secured his services for 1500 credits, to be paid after Hans completed one month of tentative employment. Initially, they were bleeding funds, but soon their investment began to bear fruit as they manufactured numerous miraculous herbs. They worked him tirelessly, not even giving him proper time to rest, and the yield he provided far outweighed their initial investment.


    He appeared utterly drained, his eyes almost sunken into their sockets. However, a subtle joy played across his face. "I did it. Now I have nearly 3500 credits. I''m practically the wealthiest second-year," he murmured to himself, then realized, "Only three weeks left. I need to acquire that¡­"


    As he had been forewarned, upon arriving at the task hall, a fine of 2000 credits was deducted from his account, and he was prohibited from taking on any further tasks. Nonetheless, having 1500 credits remaining was still a remarkable feat. He recalled the elf alchemist who had invested all his savings, a mere 700 credits. "I truly am rich.¡±


    His eyes led him to the Trade centre inside the task hall where they swiftly welcomed him, well aware of his financial standing. Without wasting any time, he made a request, "Golem creation," and reluctantly handed over his account card, lamenting, ¡°My money, my hard-earned money¡­¡±


    He received a receipt confirming the successful transaction. Frustration bubbling, he couldn''t help but vent at the manager, ¡°Why is it so darn expensive?¡± he questioned, and the manager explained, as if reciting a well-practised response, "It''s meant to discourage juniors from acquiring higher-level skills that you would typically learn after graduation if you remained here.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    He then asked and the manager told him like she was trained, ¡°It is to stop juniors learning the higher years¡¯ skills, you would have eventually learned this after graduation if you continued to be here.¡±


    "Then," he retorted, "you shouldn''t have allowed it in the first place¡ª"


    We do have some people with deep pockets," she replied, eyeing him. "But, who cares? It''s free money, after all. Now, how else can I assist you, dear customer?" she asked, wearing a customer-friendly smile.


    Hans, gripping his account card tightly, responded, "Do you have any recommendations?¡±


    "You''ll require mana stones, quite a lot of them, especially if you intend to learn golem creation," she suggested. "How about purchasing some for 100 credits each? A variety of types available¡­"


    Hans was well aware that crafting golems was an expensive business. However, he found himself in need of a less lethal power for competitions, as most of his spells were designed for killing purposes. At the moment, golem creation seemed like the ideal choice. While he could have eventually learned this from the book Limitless, he had spent some years reading his book Limitless and had come to a hypothesis.


    He mumbled, ¡°If I want access to specific spells from the book, I must possess the know-how. The upgrades of VeganBind only appeared when I mastered it to some degree. I can¡¯t wait for it to show up the normal way, I need Golems, now.¡±


    His eyes waned, looking at the price chart again. He then placed an order, saying, "I''ll take two magma and one lightning-type growth potion, and please convert the remaining amount into mana stones."


    With a businesslike smile, the manager responded, ¡°Thank you for the patronage,¡± and returned his account card. Hans sighed inwardly, muttering to himself. ¡°It''s Zero. Now, I¡¯m flat broke.¡± The pain was almost unbearable, but he consoled himself, ¡°It''s for the future, for the future¡­ damn, it hurts very bad.¡±


    Internally grumbling, he hefted the weighty pouch, providing support from below. "This is quite heavy,¡± he exclaimed as he exited the task hall. "Now, where is my minion¡ª¡±.


    ¡°Here, here,¡± Vanir pointed at himself giving Hans a contorted face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any dignity?¡± Hans asked.


    ¡°Who cares?¡± Vanir shrugged him off, staring at the bloated pouch, ¡°What did you buy?¡±


    ¡°You are good at understanding theories, right?¡± Hans pointed at him and Vanir affirmed, ¡°Mhm¡± nodding quickly while keeping his gaze on the bulging pouch.


    ¡°Then I have some work for you,¡± he paused, glancing at the Golem parchment and sighed, ¡°Just as I thought.¡± He muttered, skimming through the content, pushing Vanir further in suspense.


    ¡°What?¡± Vanir interrupted, he couldn¡¯t help his mumblings.


    ¡°This is focused on the central core theory?¡± Hans explained, pushing the production method to Vanir, adding, ¡°It has a fatal weakness, I want it gone¡­ Come up with a better one, instead of one, use more mana stones as a core ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Senior, that¡¯s distributive theory and many mage researchers already declared it impossible. I¡¯m good at theories, not God of theories. I just began to spread my wings you want me to do something that those old monsters failed? ¡±


    "Just come up with the concept and explain how it might work; I''ll handle the implementation," Hans proposed, displaying three vials. "Does this serve as sufficient motivation?¡±


    Vanir was left speechless. These were high-grade growth potions, each of which was worth almost 100,000 Gold. He stood there, stunned. "This isn''t something he could have asked Dean Sierra for; he must have purchased them with his own money," Vanir realized, his eyes becoming misty. He grabbed Hans and embraced him tightly. "Senior," he said, "I wish you were a girl."


    ¡°Then you¡¯d be as miserable as Gramps. That man must have handed over his right to voice after marrying Granny,¡± Hans teased pushing him back but it backfired, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind doing it too, did you not know, your grandma is¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, man.¡± Hans''s face twisted, ¡°Tread lightly Junior ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, that came out wrong.¡± He gestured waving his hands at Hans and silently inserted a question, ¡°But, Is it true?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hans said, his annoyance apparent. But being him around for a while, Vanir got used to his temper and became brave enough to tease him, so he didn¡¯t stop there and asked Hans, ¡°That, Dean Rudolf is¡­ henpecked.¡±


    Hans chose to ignore him, and from then on, the two got busy and the due time of his suspension flew by, During that time, Vanir continued improving his mana capacity and helping Hans to understand how the distributive golem theory is theorised and why it was impossible to coordinate without the commanding core, which the whole golem system was based on to begin with. Circling back to the central core theory.


    Meanwhile, The second years continued their hunting class and the rest of the curriculum. Hans was forcing Vanir, pushing him to explain the theory, he was taking this hard path because all of a sudden, the book Limitless started showing blank pages. He was still betting that the book might show something if he understood how Golem works.


    However, that wasn''t the only challenge he was facing. An additional issue was controlling his emotions, particularly his anger. Since many of his spells required intense concentration, the angrier he became, the more likely his spells would misfire. So like every other kid, he was learning to control his emotions through his elder, Dietrich.


    "So, you''re going back to your classes tomorrow?" Dietrich asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Hans nodded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t beat up your friends.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡± Hans rebuked, ¡° You know that.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you messed up because of the worm in your head.¡±


    Hans sighed, ¡±Yes. And please, don''t ask me to apologise again. I''m tired of hearing that."


    Hearing his reluctance, Dietrich offered some wisdom, No, never apologize too easily, foolish descendant. Once you get used to it, you''ll keep making mistakes because you know that apologizing will make the situation better.¡±


    Hans was surprised. "Wow, I never thought I''d hear¡ª¡°


    Dietrich cut him off. "I mean, don''t do things you have to apologize for, you idiot.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 143 - The Birthday Gift From The Elves

    CHAPTER 143


    THE BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM THE ELVES


    As was often the case, Dietrich''s words sounded impressive but left Hans somewhat puzzled. Nevertheless, that was not his main concern at the moment. Brushing aside his emotions, he inquired of his thousand-year-old ancestor, "But what should I do? The moment I get angry, my spells go haywire. It''s ridiculous¡ª.¡±


    "That worm was controlling more than just your guilt," Dietrich replied, his thoughts deep. "It was helping you maintain your composure. Since most of your spells require flawless precision from the start, any distraction can cause them to fail."


    "It''s not like I didn''t know that," Hans retorted, almost pleading. "Can''t you put that thing back in my head? It was much easier before.¡±


    ¡°But rage is a powerful emotion, my foolish descendant. You must learn to harness it."


    ¡°Mhmh..!!!¡± Hans whined, ¡°But I feel so powerless¡ª.¡±


    ¡°Idiot, that thing was also limiting your potential. You can''t reach your full potential with a limiter. Weren''t you fine after using that three-step ManaStorm?"


    ¡°Oh! I almost forgot.. it always took a toll but¡­¡± he started gathering the mana, spiralling it around, but it wasn''t as painful this time. "You were right. It''s easier, and I can push myself further now."


    "See," Dietrich pointed out, "that limiter was pushing you to play it safe. It was probably there to prevent you from becoming too powerful. It''s a good thing it''s out of your system now. Learn to live like ordinary people. You''re almost there. You need to engrain the construction of your attacks into your muscle memory through repetition so you don''t have to think too much; it should come naturally. Got it? Now, let''s hurry to your room; it''s almost time for your class."


    Dietrich had been assisting Hans for the past few weeks, but he couldn''t help but wonder why Hans had that emotion-controlling device in his head in the first place. However, he soon gave up on understanding it because comprehending Samson always left him baffled. Hans had shared all the details, explaining how he couldn''t harm her before, and the only thing Dietrich gleaned from the explanation was that Samson was deeply determined to protect Aredhel''s child.


    "Hey, hey, dear ancestor," Hans''s sudden call snapped him out of his thoughts, prompting Dietrich to inquire, "What is it?¡±


    "Nothing, really. I just wanted to say...thank you for helping me out, I guess.¡±


    "Wow!" Dietrich was taken aback by those words. "I told you, removing that thing was a good idea¡ª¡°


    "Don''t get used to it, great-grandfather. I''m still the same.¡±


    "Yeah, foolish descendant." Dietrich tousled Hans''s hair, saying, "It''s belated, but happy birthday, kiddo." Then, he disappeared, leaving Hans bewildered. "Where''s my gift, old fox?¡±


    He sighed, pouting. "I was waiting for it for a year, but I''ve got no one to celebrate it with. This kind of feels bad... and depressing too¡­No¡­Get your act together, you idiot, or everyone you care about will die," he scolded himself, slapping his cheeks. "Let''s see how much the fledgling has grown."


    He turned to get dressed, but his eyes drifted to the side lamp beside the bed. "A letter," he said aloud and opened it to read, "For your twelfth birthday, try using the elven pendant."


    "What? Isn''t it just a mana gem? It''s impossible to use without an artefact...wait a second¡­¡± He recalled the explanation in his previous class, an artefact is a device that channels mana from the gem in a specific circuit, right? I don''t need a circuit; I can control it on my own¡ª"


    ¡°Trinnnng¡­¡±


    "Ugh, the bell rang. Just when I was getting somewhere. I''ll look into this later." Picking up his white robe, he hurried to his classes.


    After his daring feat of bringing back an unscathed great mamba, a class three beast, many began to take notice of him. He earned two thousand credits, an achievement even beyond the reach of most third-year students, yet he accomplished it in just two months. This news spread through the second-year students like wildfire. However, no one knew where he had disappeared to, so everyone eagerly awaited the lifting of his suspension. It was an undeniable fact that he would lead the junior team in the Glory Wars, representing Concordia.


    As Hans stepped into the lecture hall, everyone turned to look at him, but no one spoke. In their eyes, he was a reckless lunatic who didn''t think twice. While some hated him, others admired his audacity, yet none had the courage to approach him.


    "What on earth are they staring at? Do I have bed hair or food on my face? Should I check?" Hans turned to one of the students, hoping for an answer, but the student felt a shiver run down his spine and it was evident on her face.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Am I really that intimidating?" Hans asked himself, mumbling as he made his way to his usual spot. He unwittingly caused a commotion among the backbenchers, who scrambled to the front with a single glance from him. "Well, I can''t say this is bad. I''ll probably enjoy this.¡±


    Today consisted of three back-to-back classes, but Hans''s mind was preoccupied with what Dietrich had said, or more precisely, what he had written. He fidgeted with the pendant, studying it intently, but to others, it appeared as if he were showing off his trophy - after all, it was from the Elven royal princess.


    Meanwhile, completely unaware of his peers'' thoughts, Hans remained deeply engrossed with the pendant. However, even the Command Centre had no information on it; all it detected was a dormant artefact that was cleverly concealing a top-quality wind gem.


    "How about..." Hans began, lost in thought, and then suddenly, ¡°Bamm!" He was propelled towards the ceiling as if someone had launched him with an immense force.


    "Agh," he groaned in pain, struggling to regain his footing. "I just redirected it like the artefact''s circuit, and it threw me to the ceiling. What is this thing used for?" He pondered for a moment, various theories he had read over the years flooding his mind. Then, one theory stood out from the rest.


    "Wait, I know what you are," he said, pulling the pendant closer to his face, and startling the students sitting in front of him. His muffled laughter with blood runny nose, only added to their unease, and like him, they were waiting for this damned lecture to end fast.


    Just as the professor concluded the session, after repeatedly questioning Hans about his sanity and when he stepped out from the hall, Hans bolted out, shouting, ¡°THANK YOU, O WISE ANCESTOR ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh! Senior.¡± Vanir interrupted his eureka moment, saying, ¡°I found the theory in libra ¡ª¡±


    "Haha! This day couldn''t get any better," Hans shouted with joy, ignoring the curious onlookers. He followed Vanir to a more secluded spot and urged, ¡°Now spill it junior,¡± he asked, curious.


    "Well," Vanir began, "I discovered a collection of failed experiments in the library, specifically about attempts to create a golem with distributed cores. One experiment focused on enhancing the motor skills of a golem."


    "I sense a ''but'' coming, Junior," Hans remarked.


    "Yes," Vanir confirmed, "the researcher ultimately failed because a central core was still necessary to command the other cores. Removing it didn''t address the fundamental weakness.¡±


    "Any other findings?" Hans probed further.


    "Yes, another one," Vanir replied, "where one mage succeeded in creating a moving core that''s hard to detect, but it became quite expensive. Nonetheless, he achieved it.¡±


    "So, how does it work?" Hans asked with anticipation, hoping for more valuable information. However, Vanir shook his head, a touch of disappointment in his voice as he said, "If I could have found that easily, Senior, you wouldn''t have had to pay such a hefty price.¡±


    Hans continued to gaze at the expensive parchment in his hand, which had cost him a thousand credits. "Is there any chance you can modify the formula based on these theories?" he asked, thinking, ¡°If those pesky fellows had allowed me to access the trade centre more than once, I would have bought everything allowed.¡±


    Hans was deep in thought, blaming his inability to access the trade centre for his failure. But suddenly, Vanir spoke, interrupting his thoughts, "We can theorise all we want, but we still need a central core, period.¡±


    "Suppose we follow everything, could you modify the formula on that parchment?" Hans pointed at the method in Vanir''s hand.


    "Trying it would cost us a hefty sum, Senior. The mana stones you bought might not be enough¡ª¡°


    ¡°The fuck is not enough, it''s 100, no 10,000 gold worth.¡±


    "Apparently, that''s nothing in golem making," Vanir remarked, preventing Hans''s contorted face from swearing further. Hans clenched his heart and parted with his mana stones. As he expected, this was a costly endeavour. They first attempted to create a golem based on the formula from the parchment, but their initial try consumed the mana stone entirely. Their second attempt showed some results; at least the golem took a single step before the circuit depleted the mana stone.


    "Come on," Hans shouted, "that''s a top-level mana stone¡ª¡°


    "It''s not the stones," Vanir commented, "it''s our circuit. It''s not efficient.¡±


    ¡°So you''re telling me I got scammed. These scoundrels must have nine lives," Hans growled, but Vanir stopped him once again. "We must be doing something not right. There''s no way the trade centre could dupe their customers."


    They tried a few more times and almost succeeded in the end, but sadly they had used all types of mana stones. Only the ground mana type showed the most promising results, and it was darn expensive too. Hans stared at his pendant. "How much can I get by selling a mana ge¡­ what the heck, I''m thinking¡­ this is my treasure." He shook his head, denying his thoughts, and stated, "I''ll try to find some money. I have another expensive thing," he said, thinking of what Arat had given him. "I could sell a copy of the weapon''s blueprint to the dwarves or the sunstone to the auction house ¡ª"


    "Senior," Vanir interrupted, "Can''t you just ask someone? You are a prince, after all.¡±


    ¡°That old snake will probably give me everything I ask, but my brain screams every time we meet - Stay the fuck away from him. And I agree with it totally. Arat is bad news; he almost convinces me every time we meet."


    "Just accept and then ignore it. What could he do? You are their prince, after all," Vanir commented, not fully understanding.


    "That''s the very reason I can''t lie to him. The moment I say yes, I''ll be the prince they want, and their problems will become my responsibility. I can''t feign ignorance then; it''s not right.¡±


    "Just when did you become so principled?" Vanir mumbled, but it was enough for Hans to hear.


    "Listen, junior,¡± Hans turned serious, ¡°There are two things I can''t forgo: my promises and my responsibilities. That''s why I never make or take them without thinking."


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 144 - Embezzling Some Money

    CHAPTER 144


    EMBEZZLING SOME FUNDS


    ¡°That¡¯s enough bad news,¡± Hans asked Vanir to go back and headed towards Agrilands, using the pretext of completing his remaining tasks. The SpaceDoor manager, who had grown familiar with him over the past year, allowed him access without much scrutiny.


    "Let''s see what you''ve got," Hans murmured, gazing down at his pendant as he began infusing it with nature''s mana. "I was right, this is acting like a mage''s heart, filtering the wind mana. Come on, my treasure... any moment now." He straightened his back and assumed a squatting position. Just as he was about to give up, the pendant suddenly propelled him high into the sky.


    "What''s with everyone wanting to see me fly? Are you in on it too?" Hans taunted his pendant as though it were a living being, and instead of calling the bean sprout as usual, he started regulating the amount of mana and soon reached a balance, perfectly levitating. "Now, that''s what you call flying. I''m a hundred per cent sure that elves don''t know this. Well, they can''t even use... I''m probably the only one.¡± He shouted, excited, ¡°Thank you, Clandor.¡±


    He accelerated higher into the sky. "I can fly! I can..." His jubilation was interrupted by a swarm of insects. "Ugh, of all the places. Kh-ka," he coughed as he descended. Just before touching the ground, he curled up and skillfully skimmed through the air, launching himself back into the skies. "It''s tough, I can''t use it in a fight, but who cares? I can fly! Hahaha!" He laughed with a villainous glee until his throat gave out, finally returning to his dorm.


    ¡°That was eventful but what about money? Should I rob someone? But I can¡¯t leave Concordia. Who knows which bastard is going crazy over me outside? DO I REALLY HAVE TO SELL THINGS.¡±


    He checked once more; his book, "Limitless," was still displaying a blank page. "Oh, come on, give me something, please," he pleaded, reverently eyeing the book, but it remained frustratingly blank, its pages a monotonous off-white. He looked, quickly skimming through his objects, ¡°No, I can¡¯t sell anything without causing any chaos.¡± he decided firmly.


    He leapt out of his bed, checking the time. "It''s pretty late, but who cares?" He stormed out of his dormitory to Professor Walter''s office, hoping to catch him. As luck would have it, Walter was occupied with his duties. "Good evening, Professor¡ª"


    "What do you need, farm boy?"


    "I want to talk to someone. Can I borrow your Orb¡ª"


    "Here," Walter handed it over without questioning. "You have ten minutes."


    "Thanks." Snatching the Orb, Hans hurried out of the office and connected to one of the two patterns he knew. "Bling, bling. Hutch." The person on the other end answered quickly, wondering who was missing him this late in the night.


    ¡°How are you doing, Mr Hodges.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Young Lord, don¡¯t tell me you are kidnapped again. You hurt anywhere, where should I sen¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait, Mr Hodges. I¡¯m fine. It''s just that I need some money ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Young Lord, young¡­your v¡­voice ..is ..breaking. kkk¡­¡±


    ¡°Drop it, Mr Hodges, it''s not convincing.¡±


    ¡°Money for what young Lord, we are already running low on funds,¡± Hodges complained.


    ¡°Haa.. this miser, cough something up.¡± Hans wore the most polite smile he could find inside him, ¡°it''s not like I¡¯m asking a lot, just to buy a few mana stones.¡±


    ¡°What... mana stones now? Can''t your hobbies be less expensive?" Sighing, Hodges responded from the other side, "If you need funds, you should ask the Count." But Hans was determined to see this through. "If that were possible, don''t you think I would have done it already? So, how much money can chug¡­ I mean spare without informing Gramps?¡±


    ¡°Even if the Count isn''t aware, do you think I can spend money without him knowing¡ª¡°


    "Oh, please, Gramps doesn''t even know how much money he has in his pocket," Hans retorted sharply, leaving Hodges momentarily speechless, mainly because it was so accurate. Despite this, he remained the household butler. "That would be considered embezzlement.¡±


    "Embezzlement is a nice word, I like it. So, how much are you willing to send?" Hans was like an unstoppable train, and he wasn''t prepared to accept a "no" for an answer.


    "Why do you need so many mana stones?" Hodges couldn''t help but ask, and Hans decided to share his reasons. "I''m learning golem making¡ª¡°


    "Then wouldn''t it be better to use Wood-type stones¡ª¡°


    "Their output is too low; I need Ground-type and some others," Hans added, considering the matter carefully. He was about to press Hodges further, but Hodges surprised him with an unexpected response. "How about I send you Wood-type mana stones, starting with the highest grade? You can practice with them to perfect your technique, so we don''t waste any more precious resources.¡±


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "In that case, I''ll need a lot of them¡ª¡°


    "Yes, you''ll receive them tomorrow morning, no problem," Hodges replied confidently. His willingness to provide the stones without hesitation raised Hans''s suspicions. He wondered why Hodges was being so accommodating, unaware of the fact that Wood mana stones were significantly cheaper than others. They were so cost-effective that even farmers used them to rejuvenate their lands, but that was not something Hodges intended to disclose to Hans.


    ¡°But young lord, why are you not asking your rich friend?¡± Hodges asked, slyly hinting at Delimira, knowing there was some tension between them, mostly to rub on him. To his surprise, Hans responded with a statement that left him taken aback.


    ¡°If I borrow money,¡± Hans said grinning, ¡°then I have to return that back, Mr Hodges.¡±


    Hodges began to sweat bullets, ¡°You mean you won¡¯t be returning this money.¡± he asked, a hint of panic in his voice. He continued, "This can''t be hidden in the accounts, young Lord.


    ¡°What do you mean return, I¡¯m just a kid ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What goddamn kid needs thousands of gold, YOUNG LORD,¡± Hodges almost raised his voice, his agitation apparent.


    ¡°A very intelligent and clever kid, Mr. Hodges. Take care of your accounts, aren¡¯t you a veteran in things like this?¡±


    ¡°But ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No ''buts.'' Just send it as you promised by tomorrow. My time is running out. Farewell.¡±


    Hanging up, Hans returned the orb to its owner and continued on his way. "There''s no way he''s going to do this behind Gramps, but whatever," he muttered. "He said he would, so I''ll receive it anyway.¡±


    Hans climbed into bed with these thoughts on his mind, but the sleep fairy seemed to have abandoned him that night. He couldn''t stop wondering why Hodges had agreed so readily. He began to doubt if his own words had manipulated the butler into compliance or if there was something else he wasn¡¯t aware of.


    "Ugh," he grumbled, tossing and turning. "This isn''t working." He searched for something to occupy his restless mind. "Where did I put it? I''m sure I bought it¡­¡± he searched, throwing his stuff here and there. ¡°Ah, there it is¡ªthe Book of Manoeuvring Tactics for a Flying Mage.¡±


    Throughout the night, he devoured the book''s contents. It turned out to be a wise decision, as he had only just learned how to fly. The book illustrated many techniques to utilize flight more effectively, including the concept of aerodynamics, which was typically reserved for senior mages.


    "Aren''t I the smartest? I bought so many of these, and they call me a spendthrift. Well, look at me now!¡± He muttered


    With heavy bags under his eyes, weighing them down like burdens, Hans left for the day after finishing his breakfast. Thanks to the separate dining facilities of the houses, this place provided him with some much-needed peace. No onlookers were casting contemptuous glances his way, mainly because they were all engrossed in their work or simply didn''t regard him as a high-born noble. So, they left him alone. He was accustomed to sitting near Walter''s table, but today he couldn''t spot him.


    "The preparations for the Glory Wars must have completely occupied Him.¡± Hans thought tearing his favourite bread. ¡°Days are passing like a flash and he is determined to secure a victory. Just what is fuelling him to this degree.¡± Hans glanced at the empty seat, muttering, ¡°I even heard that he already narrowed down the students for the remaining nine places, and is going above and beyond to prepare them. From supplying growth potions to enhance their strength to equipping them with high-quality weapons and armour¡­ that man is bleeding his wallet¡±


    Hans gulped down his food, and patting his chest down, he commented, ¡°He is gone mad.¡±


    After finishing his breakfast, Hans went to receive his package. As he examined its contents, he exclaimed, "A set of 20 mana stones... wow, he even sent two low-grade wood mana gems. And he said he didn''t have money."


    While Walter was preoccupied with preliminary selections for the Glory Wars team, Hans delved into the intricacies of Golem-making with Vanir. When they finally succeeded in creating a golem that lasted for a minute or so, Hans eagerly reached for the book tied behind his waist, whispering, "Sweet god Yudwin... Damn it, it''s not here, come on?" To his surprise, something else appeared, almost indecipherable, much like what he had seen in the Solar Mage book. But unlike the second book, some words began to make sense. "El... Eld... Elder form, what the heck is this? It''s only half complete. Do I lack something... Please, give me a golem on the next page, next page... Yes, here it is, wood golems. FINALLY.¡± He shouted out loud


    He kissed the book repeatedly until Vanir asked him, what he was so happy about, reading an empty book. But Hans shrugged off the question and sent Vanir on an errand to bring back the preliminary selection results.


    <blockquote>


    Page 23


    Wood Golems


    "To create Wood Golems, you must first understand how golem circuits function. This knowledge can be acquired through books or alchemists. However, constructing a Golem is a task not easily accomplished, as it relies heavily on the precision of mana control¡ªa skill you should have developed by now. The lifespan of your Golem depends on the efficiency of your Golem formula and your ability to realize it.


    If you were contemplating a distributive method, let me assure you that it is a waste of time. Mastering the Wood Golem spell with Elder form (found somewhere in the book) will render the inherent weakness of Golems, their central core, insignificant. You will possess an unending supply of Golems.


    Now, let''s get started. For goodness'' sake, use a wood gem; they are affordable even for peasants¡­.¡±


    </blockquote>


    ¡°So I was really duped, my butler is an old fox, whatever. Where was I?¡±


    <blockquote>


    Let''s get started¡­ affordable even by peasants, so don¡¯t be miser and spend some money. The process involves three steps: understanding, construction, and realization. You must first grasp the concept of the golem circuit and how mana flows within it. For the second step, imagine the wood gem as the Golem''s heart, with vines serving as veins connecting the entire Golem. This method is faster than aerial conductance because mana can flow through living things." since mana can flow through the living things.


    To complete the third step, command your vines to uproot rocks and boulders. These materials will serve as the exoskeleton of your golem. If you can create this structure perfectly, you will have a powerful golem that is faster than traditional ones and capable of regeneration, provided the core remains intact. You can even move the core inside since you will have control over the internals.


    Here''s a valuable piece of advice: golems are not limited to humanoid structures. , you can mimic other beasts, and remember, huge ones will need more cores.¡±


    </blockquote>


    ¡°Well, it''s all good but what the heck is elder form.¡± He turned back, recalling the same patterns in the solar mage book. ¡°An unending supply of Golems. Consider me sold.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 145 - The Junior Team

    CHAPTER 145


    THE JUNIOR TEAM


    After Vanir departed, he depleted his mana gems and exhausted the stones, diligently following the method taught by Samson and applying the knowledge he had acquired from the golem formula found on the parchment.


    The results from his investment of a thousand credits finally began to show some progress, although it wasn''t something he could boast about just yet. Nevertheless, it was still an improvement over his previous trials. ¡°This is a lot harder, controlling the motor circuits is a constant headache, like trying to control hundreds of vines all at once. I wish they could move on their own," he grumbled to himself, massaging his temples as he felt a throbbing pain in his head.


    "Senior, I''ve got the list. The selection process has just concluded," Vanir exclaimed as he rushed back, waving the results excitedly in Hans''s face.


    Hans said, snatching the list from Vanir and scanning it quickly. "Ah, so they''ve also decided on the positions," he remarked, reading the list aloud.


    [H] Hans Richardson, mage from Prophets. Captain. (M)


    [E] Delimira Winters, mage/knight from Sentinels. Attacker (V)


    [H] Chris Holdger, Knight from Talons. Attacker(V)


    [D] Garen Ironborn, Knight from Prophets. Defender (V)[H] Casady Clive, Mage from Prophets. Attacker (M) [E] Thedas Adly, Knight from Seekers. Attacker (M)


    [H] Lux, mage from Sentinels. Attacker (M)


    [E] Nicolas, knight from Keepers. Defender (R)


    [H] Cherrina Goodwin, Mage from Sentinels. Healer (R)


    [H] Ricter Nomad, knight from Talons. Defender (R)


    ¡°Three from Prophets, professor sure is showing his love for us¡­¡± Hans commented. He had many thoughts to share, but Vanir interrupted him, appearing curious. "I understand that the brackets before their names indicate their race, but what about the latter ones?¡±


    "That indicates their position in the team," Hans explained. "M is for mid, V is for vanguard, and R is for rear. Got it?¡±


    "Yep, crystal clear," Vanir nodded, as if he had grasped everything, and added, "It''s actually a pretty solid team. You even have a healer."


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Hans agreed, "Before coming here, I thought divine mana was the only type capable of healing¡ª¡°


    "It''s just that divine mana does a better job," Vanir explained, "unlike divine mages, regular healers need a medium to heal, like making direct contact with the patient or the injured person." He paused, then added, "And they also can''t turn spells into potions."


    He was contemplating Sierra, the divine mage, who had provided him with a potion that could cause a lot of trouble if it became known. He glanced at the boy who had given him that troublesome potion, noticing him staring back with a sour expression. "What?" Vanir asked, seeking confirmation about what he had done wrong.


    "I was saying something, you discourteous subordinate," Hans taunted Vanir for his interruption, continuing, "Healers are the ones with a special mana transfer effect for healing. They are mages at the core but are trained in mana transference and regeneration. They will often be the first target for anyone.¡±


    "Then you''ll have to protect her, you''re the captain," Vanir suggested.


    "Or she might be a perfect bait¡ª no, she might get hurt," Hans replied.


    "Whoa, you''re losing it again, senior. You''re a bad boy, stop feeling sorry for others. I''m just reminding you of what you told me," Vanir imitated Hans''s tone and continued, "Hans''s decisions were and will always be right. You said that right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Hans collected himself, ¡°she would be a perfect bait. Period.¡± He said aloud, ¡°Yes. I¡¯m right.¡±


    Vanir puffed his chest like he was proud of Hans, belatedly realising, ¡°Damn it, that¡¯s not what I wanted to tell him.¡± Coughing, he stated, ¡°But still senior, you have to prevent her from injuring. Or it might become an extra thing for you to take care of.¡±


    Hans nodded and Vanir giggled, but his face sank all of a sudden, he shouted, anxiously, ¡°Ah crap, I forgot, In the training grounds, Walter was asking you urgently ¡ª¡±


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    ¡°You should¡¯ve told me sooner,¡± Hans cried, running toward the grounds and when he reached the ground, everyone seemed to be waiting for him. ¡°So you are here, after all, your majesty. Did you need an escort?¡± Walter taunted him, almost giving him a heart attack at the beginning of his words.


    ¡°You should have sent someone reliable then, professor,¡± Hans responded, glancing at his team members, he knew everyone but was not close to any except Chris and Sierra and the boy who defeated him in the first year, Lux.


    "Haa... come here, farm boy. We''re going on a practice run," Walter explained, gesturing for Hans to approach. "I''ve already briefed your teammates about the history and rules in detail, so I''ll keep it short for you." Walter continued, "This is the 75th Glory War, and you''ll have two rounds to compete in. The first one is a Team Round, where you''ll be hunting and surviving in a three-star region. So, get your act together.¡±


    His tone suddenly turned serious, and he looked directly at Hans. "It''s hardly happened before, but people have died in the team round since it''s challenging to keep an eye on everyone." Walter paused, glancing at Hans again to emphasize his point. He went on, "This year, the Alliance is in charge of organizing the event, so you need to be extra careful. After a team clears the team round each of you will be eligible to fight in battle rounds. That will be solo, and as you know, the first and second rank will have the opportunity to enter the Alliance''s treasury and choose whatever they want.¡±


    "But sir, is it still not clear what the objective of the first round will be?" Hans asked, raising his hand and drawing the attention of everyone in the room, including Walter, who seemed equally surprised.


    "Have you been living under a rock until now?" Walter responded.


    "What? So everyone already knows?" Hans inquired, genuinely surprised.


    Walter sighed and clarified, "Well, you were suspended, right? The objective is to collect mana hearts.¡±


    Hans considered this for a moment and then replied, "That doesn''t sound too difficult, I suppose.¡±


    Walter raised an eyebrow. "It''s a hundred mana hearts. You need to collect a total of a hundred kills. Do you still think it''s not hard?"


    Hans, however, was thinking one step ahead. "Who says we have to kill a hundred? We just need to have a hundred at the end, right? It doesn''t matter where they come from.¡±


    ¡°Sabotaging, robbing... Not exactly the values we want to instil in children, but that''s the reality of the world," Walter acknowledged, nodding his head. He then turned his attention to his junior team, a group he believed to be the most capable and powerful among the second-years


    ¡°We can do this.¡± Hehe assured himself and declared to his team, "Do whatever it takes. I don''t care. Just bring me a victory. To assist you, we''ll be focusing on team coordination for the next two months. You''ll be excused from classes and won¡¯t be losing any grades. Entering in the glory wars is merit itself.¡±


    ¡°So¡± Hans tried to beat around the bush, ¡°you don¡¯t happen to know the location, right Director of Information¡±


    ¡°Walter chuckled. "Nice try, but you can''t rile me up with that taunt, farm boy.¡±


    Hans pressed further, asking directly, "So, do you know or not?"


    Walter nodded affirmatively. "I do know. It''s Heat Riddance. The Tower and the Association already know, so you guys should too."


    ¡°Alliance is playing cute. Heat riddance is a triple zonal territory.¡± Hans responded recalling his knowledge, explaining, ¡°The outer ring is three stars, the mid is four stars and the inner one is five. One wrong turn, and we''ll be the hot potato. We could step into four-star or, worse, five-star territory.¡±


    ¡°Someone''s been studying, at least. Your teammates knew nothing about the beast zones¡ª¡±


    "Well, I had all the time I needed," Hans commented, briefly glancing at Delimira, who was staring intently at him. "Haa... feisty," he continued, "But there''s another headache. Out of ten, four of our members are water-based or use water mana. That place is like a frickin'' active volcano, sucking up all the moisture." He shot another side glance at Delimira and added, ¡°So mages¡­Delimira who uses Water mana will grow weaker by the moment ¡ª¡±


    ¡°DO YOU THINK, I¡¯VE BEEN PEELING NUTS FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS?¡± Delmira retorted, her response curt and sharp.


    ¡°Jeez, I just wanted to point it out so we could come up with a strategy. Well, I kinda ask for it.¡± Hans admitted with a sigh, releasing a long breath. Not countering, he turned to Walter and asked, "So, I assume we''re in the outer ring, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    However, Hans, almost whining, asked, ¡°Do they have to choose that area?¡±


    Walter smiled at the annoying brat and stated, "Glory wars also serve another purpose. We always choose an overpopulated beast zone. To cull their numbers so they don''t break out of that place. Do you get it now? No complaints. Just follow me for the next two months. Being strong doesn''t automatically make you a good captain.¡±


    ¡°Just the last,¡± Hans chimed in, asking, ¡°Since its alliance. Norwin Grimgar would be there right?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Hans rubbed the coordinate stone that Xandor had given him for their deal. "Oh, man, I almost forgot. He''s currently the strongest knight. That man abandoned my father and even snatched his accomplishments for fame. He can''t be the good guy. I hope I can execute my rebellion plan safely." But just like every other time, there was nothing simple in Hans''s future.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 146 - Mock practice and the conclusion

    CHAPTER 146


    MOCK PRACTICE AND THE CONCLUSION


    ¡°Norwin Grimgar, he is bad news.¡± Hans understood how desperate the situation could become if he got involved with Norwin. Considering it was Norwin''s territory, Hans vowed to avoid stirring any trouble with this behemoth of an existence. His mind raced with thoughts, while Walter, growing weary of the impromptu interrogation, knew that Hans could easily find answers on his own if he bothered to check the official notices. Annoyed, Walter sarcastically quipped, "Any other pressing matters, YOUR HIGHNESS?"


    But Hans took this as an invitation and asked shamelessly, "I promise, this is truly the last one." He couldn''t help but chuckle mischievously before pressing on, ¡°If someone, I¡¯m just saying hypothetically. If I happen to end someone there, what should I do?¡±


    "Simply put, don''t. I mean it, just don''t do it," Walter responded with haste, the mere thought of imagining the scenario brought him a headache. ¡°I¡¯m telling you to not do it,¡± He emphasized, "I''m strongly advising you against it," his hands gently squeezing Hans''s shoulders for added emphasis.


    ¡°But what if?¡±


    Hans persisted, refusing to let go of the matter, causing Walter to almost plead, ¡°The Glory Wars were initiated by Concordia around eighty years ago, but now the Alliance oversees it. So I¡¯m begging you. Don¡¯t kill anyone. We can settle your grudges in red demon trials, I won¡¯t care if you kill a hundred there. But spare the Glory Wars; it''s broadcasted worldwide. Please, Hans.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t have to¡­ do this much¡­I¡¯ll try¡±


    ¡°You punk, I need your word, not a willy-nilly commitment ¡ª¡±


    ¡°So when are we leaving for mock practice,¡± Hans interjected, casting a discerning gaze upon his teammates with his unique mana vision. His eyes finally reached Delimira, ¡°As expected, I can¡¯t see the light in her.¡± Unlike before, when he could distinguish Delimira from miles away, after removing the tapeworm, she had become indistinguishable from the others, a common mage with four types of mana mixed in her heart. He sighed, ¡°Well, no crying over spilt milk, I guess,¡± he turned to gaze at his teammates¡¯ potential and nodded in affirmation, ¡°These guys are strong too.¡±


    Walter cleared his throat, drawing everyone''s attention to him. "Get ready tomorrow at precisely five o''clock, and don''t be late. Starting tomorrow, you''ll be hunting second-class monsters." After delivering his message, Walter vanished, leaving Hans with his newly assembled team. They all knew each other well, except for Hans, their appointed captain.


    In an effort to dispel the awkward atmosphere, Chris stepped forward and inquired, "How have you been, Hans?¡±


    ¡°Growing more powerful. How about you?" Hans replied.


    "Arrogance hasn''t left you, I see," Chris remarked, gripping Hans''s shoulder with the immense strength of a grade-30 Knight, adding a frown on Hans¡¯s calm face.


    ¡°I said,¡± Hans joked, ¡°I¡¯m okay. What did you hear?¡± struggling to remove the grip from his shoulder.


    ¡°Exactly this,¡± Chris loosened his grip saying, ¡°I was also not just peeling nuts, Hans.¡±


    ¡°What''s with this ''peeling nuts'' concept?¡± Hans rubbed his tense shoulder and addressed them. It was perhaps the first time the most narcissistic person they knew was speaking to them in such a manner, and it was unceasing. "You''re all pretty powerful; we''ll win. It''s just hunting second-class monsters. How hard could it be? You guys had your hunting lessons, right?¡±


    Lux, who was more familiar with Hans than the other newcomers, replied, "We''ve only hunted a second-class monster once, and that was exhausting. Until now, we''ve only managed to kill first-class ones by ourselves, except for a few." He gestured toward Chris and Delmira, as well as the other strong members who did it on their own.


    But instead of Hans, Chris chimed in, Until now, we''ve been fighting alone, not as a team¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know nothing about teamwork, but as long as you stay loyal to your positions, I''ll lead us to victory. Don''t worry, because winning this thing might be a matter of life and death for me." He turned to leave, adding, "And if you don''t want to be late, someone should come wake me up early." With that, he departed, leaving some of the team members feeling anxious and Chris to calm them down.


    Oddly enough, Hans arrived at the location awkwardly early, almost half an hour ahead of the others. Members gradually trickled in, and finally, Walter joined them punctually at five


    ¡°Your seniors have spared some Simulation islands for you. So you should use it efficiently.¡± Walter announced, ¡°Buckle up¡­¡±


    "What? Not this again..." Hans protested as a dark, viscous energy surrounded them all, enveloping them. When they opened their eyes, they found themselves in the most renowned place in Concordia¡ªan island-sized artefact known for creating practice environments of any scale imaginable.


    "It''s truly a sight to behold," Hans marvelled, examining the place with his mana vision. "The sheer quantity of mana flowing through here is awe-inspiring. The Chairman certainly has refined taste.¡±


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    As Hans continued to observe the surroundings, he couldn''t help but ask, "Do we know who created this place?" Although the question was directed to no one in particular, Walter, being the professor, responded, "No one knows. It has simply always been here.¡±


    As everyone continued to marvel at the ever-changing scenery¡ªfirst a desert, then an exotic forest, and finally an aquatic shore¡ªHans was deeply engrossed,¡°How the heck this works.¡± He continued thinking, ¡°This is baffling! It feels like deciphering the intricate mana circuits of tens of thousands of golems all at once¡±


    When the environment shifted once again, this time transforming into one with an active volcano, Walter instructed the manager to halt. "That will be all; you can go now," he said, signalling for the manager to leave. Turning to his students, Walter continued, "This is as far as our simulation can replicate Heat Riddance, a region with similar creatures. So give it your all. Your primary objective is to collect ten mana hearts from second-class beasts. You have one week for this task, and make sure to arrange for your food and shelter as well. You''ve received training in hunting class, so let''s see if Professor Buckworth''s salary was well spent or not?¡±


    It took them some time to adapt to Hans''s commands, and while his influence altered their tactics somewhat, they mostly adhered to their assigned positions and tasks. Hans provided occasional support, but his interest in the battle seemed minimal as if his thoughts were elsewhere. However, his detachment was misunderstood by the others.


    In truth, it wasn''t that Hans didn''t want to participate actively; rather, there were simply no suitable opportunities for him.¡°Shit, there are no openings, if I do something it will result in friendly fire. My attacks are useless in the crowd. It would be best for me to be in vanguard not in the mid.¡±


    With Hans contributing relatively little, they managed to complete the task within the allotted time frame, but this achievement was met with a scolding from Walter. He was clearly furious that it had taken them an entire week to accomplish only 10% of the target.


    Walter gave another, in their new assignment, the stakes were higher, with a goal of collecting thirty mana hearts in one week. The team entered the scorching forest with a singular mindset: they needed to complete the task as quickly as possible. While Walter''s anger wasn''t directed at Hans this time, he was determined not to be a dead weight. Hans contemplated his limited arsenal of spells, recognizing the restrictions he faced.


    "I can only use VeganBind and SeedBullets variations," he thought. "No flashy moves allowed. ManaStorm is off-limits, as Professor Walter mentioned earlier. VoidZone would render my team ineffective, too. Crying seed won''t recognize these artificial things as living beings and will target us. Well, I''m working with some limited shit here."


    Hans raised his VeganBind, successfully capturing seven second-class Roaming Spiders. "Vanguard, attack! Rear, start channelling the spells," he commanded, taking charge for the first time. His team swiftly acted on his orders. Garen, the dwarf, bore the brunt of two beasts that had escaped Hans''s traps, while Chris and Delimira handled them, allowing Hans to focus on his strategy.


    "Two down. Mid, protect the rear from potential ambushes. Rear, how far are we from an area spell?" Hans inquired.


    "It''s coming right up," Lux, the light mana user, responded. He launched his LightWrath, and the sheer magnitude of the spell, an onslaught of radiant energy raining down on the seven captured beasts, brought a smile to Hans''s face. "No, that''s nine for you. To hell with a week; we''ll finish it in a day. Move!" he commanded, his vines deftly extracting the bloody hearts from the lifeless bodies.


    As his vines slithered inside of the corpses he was astounded as he felt the detailing, ¡°Wow the visuals are something but they even imitated the insides.! It really feels like it is an actual thing.¡±


    Shaking off his curious mind, his mana vision ran full swing, detecting the mana signature of the beast, far from them. He pointed to specific locations and directed the quicker members of the team to lure the creatures out. Each member followed his instructions without hesitation. Hans''s commands were logical and well-thought-out as if he had extensive experience in this type of situation. While they could sense his presence, what unnerved them was that the more things went according to his plans, the bolder his decisions became. Nevertheless, there wasn''t a single instance where his leadership failed, and within just two days, they completed the task.


    Walter refrained from scolding them this time, but to their dismay, the task became even more daunting after a brief break. The deadline remained the same, but the required number of beast hearts had surged to a hundred. One crucial detail that Walter had omitted was the limited quantity of artificial beasts, which had already been reduced by forty.


    Moreover, the artefact was capable of learning from its trainees, enhancing the intelligence of the beasts with each iteration. This time, the creatures actively concealed themselves from the team, and even Hans struggled to pinpoint their locations. By the end of the week, they had only managed to obtain around forty of the required hearts.


    After their failure, they emerged from the simulation. Walter didn''t say much, only offering corrections on what they should have done differently. However, Hans hated failure, and when Walter urged them to try again, his obsession with victory kicked in. and he ran around with his team. He raced around with his team, searching for the beasts with the determination of a madman. But, despite giving his all, they only reached a count of sixty.


    Upon exiting, Walter asked them about their experiences. Everyone had something to contribute¡ªwhether it was advice, suggestions, or complaints. However, Hans remained silent. So Walter nudged him, "What about you, Captain?¡±


    ¡°We can eventually achieve it," Hans responded. He added, "But we don''t have the time for it. Why should we struggle to break down the door when there''s clearly a knob waiting for us to turn it and open it?¡±


    He looked at everyone, his gaze sweeping over each member of the team. After assessing them, he concluded, ¡°There''s no way we''ll be able to gather all one hundred mana hearts in just one week. There are too many variables out there.¡± He thought hard, about what could help them and suggested, ¡°We should shift our focus to combat¡ªreal, brutal fights. Not with the beasts but the people.¡±


    He cast a hopeful glance at Walter, seeking his approval but Walter inquired, ¡°What about teamwork and tactics?¡±


    ¡°They are already good at this. They do what I say without asking why. As long as they follow. There should be no problem.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you are the captain. We do as you say.¡± Walter stated, asking others if they had any issues but no one objected.


    Hans had realized the limitations of his most powerful spells in group battles and knew he needed to improve without relying on those attacks. ¡°I need an effective method.¡± He muttered as everyone went to their individual training.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 147 - Old friends Meet in The Narrow lane

    CHAPTER 147


    OLD FRIENDS MEET IN THE NARROW LANE


    ¡°It''s a new day, I need to perfect the golem creation. That is the only way I can do the team thing.¡± Hans muttered to himself, and once again, reached for the limitless book, but his eyes kept wandering to the undecipherable page labelled ¡®Elder form''.


    ¡°What the heck is this anyway? I can¡¯t understand shit, wait¡­ Treants¡­ I recognise this..titan.. now what is this¡­Giants.. ha¡­ the hell. Focus on what can you learn Hans.¡± He scolded himself, slapping both his cheeks to shake off his distraction and refocusing on his goals.


    He then started muttering what he already had, ¡°VeganBind, a perfect restraint and sometimes a deadly weapon, but without the bladed leaves, it''s just a tough rope.SeedBullets, my limit is three simultaneous shots, and it takes a lot of time to aim. It''s good one-on-one, but in a group¡­ let''s not demean it so much and say it''s not that effective.BlastSeed has a limited radius, again not good, my own teammates might suffer if not planned properly.¡±


    Hans paused, pulling his hair, ¡°SmokeSeed is the same, as it can also distort mana detection. It''s bad for both us and for the enemy. My trap spells could turn ugly if my own teammates stepped on them. Not to mention the crying seeds. Man, As I¡¯ve said previously, I really don''t have many options here.¡±


    He turned the page, re-reading each word again in search of any hidden insight. ¡°Please, Wood Golem, I''m literally putting my everything on you,¡± he muttered, clanking his purse as he prayed, ¡°Please don''t disappoint me.¡±


    One month passed by; He stood at the mess he made as Dietrich glanced at the almost ruined Maneating forest of Agrilands. Smirking at the scene the chairman commented, ¡°See, I told you so. It was a very good idea to know about mythical creatures, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing, the Gloating runs through our blood,¡± Hans commented, rejoicing at the scene. He practised his newly acquired weapon, a spell to wreak havoc without hurting his members. He was quite happy with his achievement in WoodGolem. But he couldn¡¯t hide his joy of partially awakening, what the book called, ElderForm. ¡°It was halfway done since it probably needed ¡®the Solar mage¡¯ book to complete. Thank you, great grandfather, I couldn¡¯t have deciphered that without you.¡±


    ¡°We still don¡¯t know half of it¡­Wait! My foolish descendant is showing appreciation. The pigs better fly today.¡± He commented, but he couldn¡¯t believe how much power this half-baked transformation bought, ¡°Samson my boy, how much more scarier you can be.¡±


    Meanwhile, Hans was thinking his own, ¡°Oh man this is sick. Who in the world can stand in my way with this power?¡±


    This was the sixth month of the year, the time for the annual Glory Wars event. Excitement permeated every corner of Concordia as everyone rallied to support the three participating teams: the Junior team, consisting of second years; the Senior team, made up of third years; and the Higher team, consisting of graduates.


    ¡°The crowd is no joke.¡± Hans took a glance at the huge communication orb in the great hall. ¡°So that¡¯s how the broadcast works. It should be everywhere in the world too. I can¡¯t make mistakes.¡± He looked at his shivering hands, ¡°Wow, what¡¯s with my hands, am I perspiring? Shit since when did I start getting nervous. Haa.. this crap. And, my Great grandfather said feelings would help me. They are doing some fine job.¡± He mocked, his sarcasm apparent


    ¡°Senior,¡± Vanir came to him, ¡°I bought everything ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why in the world are you here?¡± Hans asked baffled. Vanir was a first-year student, and they hadn''t received much information about Glory Wars during his first year, so Hans was understandably confused. However, Vanir quickly clarified, "New orders from the Chairman. Mentees can accompany their mentoring seniors.¡±


    "Well, he''s certainly showing a lot of love for the second years," Hans commented, hoping Dietrich might hear him somewhere, but there was no response. Instead, Vanir, looking at the higher team, said, "Wow, these guys are serious. Almost all of them are around grade seventy or sixth circle.¡±


    "Woah, hotshot, when did you start being able to gauge their levels?" Hans was baffled once again, but like an amused mimic, Vanir imitated Hans, saying, "Who do you think I am¡ª¡±


    ¡°Someone who is going to see the medical ward soon.¡±


    ¡°Hihi,¡± he giggled, but Hans¡¯s gaze said he was serious. ¡°Don¡¯t joke around senior, I might get scared,¡± Vanir quickly straightened up and began to explain, "You told me how your mana vision works, so I modified it for myself. It wasn''t that hard, but I can''t generalize it. I could have earned so many credits. What a waste, right?¡±


    Hans was startled. "Just what did I pick up? He''s really something. That''s one for me, zero for the elves. Hell yeah, screw Clandor," he said, starting to snicker, humming softly, which gradually attracted the attention of everyone around. However, Vanir''s hand quickly found its way to Hans''s mouth. "Senior, you sound like some cheap novel''s villain. Stop it.¡± Vanir fervently looked here and there, complaining, ¡°What if any heard you?¡±


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    ¡°Don¡¯t be envious, you¡¯ll reach higher than them,¡± Hans whispered in Vanir¡¯s ears to not agitate his seniors. Vanir was right so he didn¡¯t want to rub any of them in the wrong way because he was feeling the pressure that even the seventy-grade knight who attacked Edenberg didn¡¯t had. ¡°Crap, they are really strong.¡±


    Hans was assessing everyone around him, finding the higher team impressive, but even the senior team, comprised of third-year students, was quite remarkable. The fourth-year students were not participating in Glory Wars, possibly following an unwritten rule.


    As they all entered the great hall, the students cheered them on, with continuous hooting and showering of flowers to wish them victory. Three lines were formed, each led by the professor in charge of the team. Hans''s line was led by Walter, the senior team was led by Aredhel, and the higher team had another director wearing a mask.


    "Wow, his grade is even higher than Gramps," Hans thought to himself. "I can''t even measure it. And here I was declaring myself the strongest after only partially mastering Elder form. These guys here are true monsters.¡±


    In addition to the participating teams, several others followed the students, including Dean Sierra, who was a special invitee to Glory Wars due to her ability to prevent any unwanted deaths. Her presence was not only vital to Concordia but to the entire world. Along with her were several first-year students, mostly called as the errand runners for second years.


    Rudolf was also going, and as the dean, he addressed the three teams, ¡°people say winning is not everything in a competition. You should enjoy the time. Isn¡¯t the process more important than the result, right?¡± He paused and glanced from left to right, then continued with a more determined tone ¡°That¡¯s what you say to harass the losers. There is one thing you have to do out there. Win. period.¡±


    The audience erupted in cheers, as enthusiastic as ever, and Hans couldn''t help but smirk at Rudolf''s earlier comment. He had almost believed the initial part of the speech. Soon, they all exited the great hall and headed toward the SpaceDoor that connected to the Grimgar capital city.


    ¡°Haa.. my old enemy.¡± Hans said as he stared at the huge SpaceDoor, ¡°I won¡¯t puke a thing this time.¡± But when he exited the first one to do the deed was none other than himself. Contaminating others to follow him. However, no one was minding him since all were focused on the people beside them.


    After wiping his mouth, Hans turned to see a big man, as tall as Rudolf but with a head of thick black hair, a pointed moustache, and a weathered face, approaching their group with the enthusiasm of a child visiting a park.


    ¡°Alastor, my friend. How are you?¡± He came jumping like a little girl towards their group, prompting Hans to think, ¡°Now who is this cartoon ¡ª¡±


    His question was swiftly answered as Rudolf instinctively took a step back, mirroring the lunge of the approaching man who seemed ready to embrace him. "Stay away, Dijkstra, you son of a b..." Suddenly his coarse changed and he appeared right before Hans¡¯s eyes. Leaving everyone baffled, including Hans, ¡°What the fuck, how did he shorten that distance like nothing.¡±


    ¡°Wow, ¡± the man called Dijkstra, admired Hans like he was examining a pet for himself, He muttered, ¡°No shit, you look the same. I understand why Xandor was kicking up a fuss, singing fake all the time.¡±


    "DIJKSTRA," Sierra stressed, and just as quickly as he had appeared before Hans, Dijkstra vanished, reappearing in front of Sierra on his knees. "Commander Dijkstra pays his respects to Princess Ira," he declared with an exaggerated flourish. But Sierra had no warm words of welcome for him; instead, she regarded him with a weary smile.


    ¡°Why won''t you just die?¡± Sierra quipped, to which Dijkstra responded with a playful pout. "If you''re in such a hurry," he showed his neck and retorted, "you can snap it at any moment, Princess Ira. I promise I won¡¯t move an inch.¡±


    ¡°Tsk,¡± Sierra clicked her tongue in exasperation, and she cast her gaze beyond Dijkstra, fixing her eyes on the oldest man she knew, Arat, asking through them to take this headache away.


    Arat had already begun the process of recalling Dijkstra, but Rudolf couldn''t help but chime in, speaking to Arat in hushed tones, ¡°Are you insane, why is this delusional bastard here of all places? What will you do, if he harasses Norwin again.¡±


    ¡°That would be a sight to see, I missed the last time he spanked Norwin,¡± Arat responded casually.


    ¡°Not helping you crackpot Parvian,¡± Rudolf muttered in frustration.


    ¡°He won¡¯t do it, he promised,¡± Arat assured.


    ¡°Was he looking straight into your eyes,¡± Rudolf asked with suspicions all over his face and when he heard Arat responding positively. He stated clenching his fist, ¡°That means he is definitely going to do something, you..id¡­Please put him on a leash or something.¡±


    As Hans observed the situation, a myriad of thoughts raced through his mind. "He sure is a nutjob, just as Gramps said, but just how is he doing that?¡± He couldn¡¯t decipher how quickly Dijkstra moved. ¡°His speed is unlike anything I''ve ever seen, almost as if he''s using space shifts. Yet there''s no distortion in the mana.¡± His golden eyes gleamed as he utilized mana vision to analyze the situation. However, he realized that he wasn''t the only one assessing someone.


    Numerous pairs of eyes were locked onto him as well. Ten Parvian children, all strong and around his age, stared at him intently. Some looked bewildered, while others seemed to admire him. Yet none of them displayed any malice. Hans was taken aback by this.¡°Now, what do these people want?¡±


    And when they realised Hans looking at them back, their expressions changed to amusement. ¡°What the heck?¡± Hans showed his intentions through a flick of mana. His face turned ready to fight but strangely, this action only further fueled their enthusiasm.¡°These are some weird people.¡± Hans muttered to himself, Gramps is right every Parvian is a lunatic.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 148 - Meeting the Not so Sad Death

    CHAPTER 148


    MEETING NOT SO SAD DEATH


    The SpaceDoor prepared for their guests was outside the capital walls under heavy security. The city walls, fortified with ancient spells and guarded by knights clad in resplendent armour, loomed majestically before them. The gates, engraved with symbols of protection and prosperity, swung open to grant them entry.


    They tagged along with Parvians, and as they passed beneath the arched entrance, the echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the cobblestone streets. The city greeted him, filled with a heady blend of magical aromas, from exotic herbs to alchemical concoctions. Market stalls lined the thoroughfares, showcasing rare spell components, enchanted artefacts, and mystical tomes. Street performers captivated passersby with dazzling displays of magic, and the city''s residents, dressed in flowing robes and adorned with amulets, exuded a rich vibe that he had never seen in Edenberg County.


    ¡°They are rich,¡± Hans muttered, for him this was a moment of profound realisation. The royal capital was a place where the very essence of magic flowed through every stone and whispered in every breeze.


    He sighed at how much the standard of living differed compared to the county. Not far from them, there were numerous carriages stationed. Each ready to carry them to their destinations. Hans sat on one and did not realise when they reached Concordia castle in the capital, all due to the buzz he was witnessing through the window.


    ¡°They all are rich.¡± His thoughts echoed loudly inside. On their way, Walter especially had warned Hans, his words still fresh; Avoid Dijkstra at all cost and he planned to do that. As he entered the grand-looking castle, he realised, that inside the castle, the interior was no less impressive. The foyer was a vast expanse, with a soaring ceiling adorned with magnificent chandeliers that cast a warm, golden light. Intricately woven works lined the walls, depicting scenes of epic battles, legendary mages, and knights.


    His eyes fell on the grand staircase, adorned with a red carpet and flanked by marble statues of famous mages from Concordia, similar to what he had seen in Floatlands. It looked like they were leading them to the upper floors.


    The castle was multilayered, with numerous wings and corridors sprawling in all directions. It was so expansive that each member of Hans''s team would have their own separate room, a luxury that filled them with awe. The first floor was assigned to the Second years as they were told of their designated rooms.


    When the allotment finished, all ran to check them out. Their rooms were spacious and elegantly furnished, each with a large canopy bed draped in luxurious fabrics, ornate wooden furniture, and windows that framed breathtaking views of the surrounding capital.


    Hans¡¯s sight led him to another place, ¡°The security is no joke, most of them are in grade seventy.¡± He calculated, muttering, ¡°I think I¡¯ve underestimated Glory Wars. It''s not just a competition to show who is superior but a grand festival. In which the whole world takes part.¡±


    Walter called them down and seeing their excited faces, he briefly allowed them to enjoy themselves with a curfew on the clock. They had two hours on their hand, and it looked like someone made an appointment with Hans so when they went further away from the Lodgings he discarded himself from the group, telling Chris.


    He found a corner street shop and sat, ordering whatever looked tasty. Another man, whom he recognised without looking sat beside him. ¡°What took you so long, I was waiting,¡± Hans commented, sipping the long noodles with soup. ¡°This is good.¡±


    The man, none other than Dijkstra was a little confused, ¡°You found me following you. That¡¯s staining my reputation ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t detect you, oddly. But I knew you¡¯d be, it''s in your eyes. They are the same as mine, once you are curious. You have to see it through to the end, don¡¯t you?¡­ And here I wanted to avoid this unavoidable.¡±


    ¡°Haa..¡± Gulping the water from the glass in one go, he said wiping his mouth, ¡°I didn¡¯t know little Sam was as smart as his father too.¡±


    ¡°Heard it before. Didn¡¯t care back then. Don¡¯t care now.¡± Hans said indifferently, asking further, ¡°So why are we having this conversation, Commander Dijkstra.¡±


    ¡°But, You are different from your father, aren¡¯t you?¡±Dijkstra prompted. This was the first time Someone had said this, so it made Hans curious and he ended up asking why. So Dijkstra responded, ¡°You are¡­ more fearless¡­If I have to put in the words.¡±


    ¡°Was my father not fearless?¡±


    ¡°No, he was a coward. A weakling.¡± Dijkstra glanced at Hans once more, his relaxed attitude and confidence in an unfamiliar place was boasting that he wasn¡¯t afraid of anything. So he added, ¡°He was far weaker than you think. He couldn¡¯t even go out of the palace without checking several times. It is funny how the world depicts him.¡±


    ¡°Wow! You are uttering some bullshit mr.¡± Hans never took anything personally about Samson, even when people cursed him pointed their fingers, saying he was an evil spawn and all that. He was never bothered, but oddly Dijkstra¡¯s words were rubbing him in the wrong way.


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    ¡°Did I strike a nerve?¡± Dijkstra asked expecting some rebuke and it was written all over his face. So Hans denied giving him what he wanted.


    ¡°Ask anyone,¡± he defended Samson¡¯s name calmy, ¡°All they would say he was the strongest ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Only those closest to you know the real thing, Little Sam.¡± Dijkstra stated, his voice oddly sombre, ¡°Your father was not without faults. He was human after all, his weakness was that he never gave up on his own people.¡± He paused, recalling his former king, the young boy whom he cherished, and continued, ¡°He didn¡¯t had what it takes to judge his own. Once he trusted someone he went all-in for them, getting backstabbed once wouldn¡¯t wake him up so he just had to backstabbed twice.¡± Dijkstra tone heated up like he was venting his disappointment, ¡°That over-sympathetic bastard even justified why he was betrayed.¡±


    ¡°Sympathy, is a virtue, isn¡¯t it? Hans interjected, hoping for some retaliation from the world-renowned lunatic but the response he received was oddly calm.


    "As a human, it is a very good quality to have, but as a monarch gathering his broken nation. It''s a curse. He left so many enemies alive. Saying the world has use for them. He was an idiot who fuckin¡¯ trusted everyone.¡±


    ¡°But¡± Hans tried changing the topic, ¡°I¡¯ve heard he killed everyone opposing him ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that was good times. He had everyone around, and somehow all ended up following the script he had written.¡± Dijkstra ordered another bowl of noodle soup and gulping he continued, ¡°He came to our lands, promising to unite the thirty or so states and rebuild Parv. He was talking big and all he had was Arat supporting him. I joined because¡­ I was just bored if you must ask.¡± He paused, chugging down the water and wiping his mouth, he continued, ¡°Then the boy, still wet behind the ears, started taking big steps and states began to fall on his feet. We saw hope, those who opposed, died horribly. And those who surrendered died at the forefront of the Elven war ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What, why in Elven War.¡± Hans was enjoying the tale but the sudden confusion arose in his mind, so he couldn¡¯t help but interrupt Dijkstra¡¯s flow. However, the old knight engrossed in the past explained it happily, ¡°You see, Arat said if one can surrender once he would surrender twice. The ones who fell fighting for their beliefs were the ones honourable.¡± Dijkstra imitated the muffled tone of Arat, ¡°Not these cowards who waged war when there was a benefit, later surrendered realising they couldn¡¯t win. They were cancer to the true nation. So Samson accepted their surrender on condition they would be at the forefront if the war happened with another country. Then we had the Elven war. Not a single true Parvian lost in that war only traitors and cowards¡­ Except for the king himself.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s brutal. And you said he was we¡­soft.¡± Hans remarked.


    ¡°That was his condition before he stabilised the nation. He changed after uniting the kingdom. He kept giving others second chances. I can¡¯t believe, he once said that a person who is driven by a sense of duty won¡¯t last long, beliefs and the will to see them through at any cost makes you last longer. And in the end, he ended up following the first part of his own quote.¡±


    Hans was listening with an open mind, this was the first time someone was not singing praise for Samson. He was being criticised by someone who truly knew him. He could see how disappointed Dijkstra was since it was quite easy to read him, he never hid anything behind the mask like everyone.


    Suddenly Dijkstra exploded in laughter startling Hans, and added, ¡°Do you know when I asked him why he became so cautious, taking a step only after checking twice? Do you know what he said?¡±


    Hans shook his head, eagerly wanting to know the answer himself, and finally, Dijkstra told him, ¡°He said, the last generation of Parv must survive at all cost, that is goddess Aadya¡¯s decree. So he could only be free after you were born.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s anticlimactic!¡± Hans answered baffling.


    ¡°I know right? But he never said nonsense. Even the old bastard, Arat believes it to be true.¡± Dijkstra turned serious like he had to know at all the cost, ¡°Do you know anything about it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Hans put the bait and Dijkstra, curious, got caught hook line and sinker. Raising his brow, he suggested to the old knight, ¡°But you have to answer something for me. This is our family secret, I can¡¯t just disclose it.¡±


    ¡°Ha, so you were a fucking schemer too, guess blood doesn¡¯t betray.¡±


    ¡°So, You still want to know?¡± Hans rubbed in.


    ¡°Yeah, spill it.¡±


    ¡°Not so fast, Commander Dijkstra. Promise me first that whatever we say will stay in this street shop.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, just tell me if the goddess decree is true. And how much you know about that decree.¡±


    ¡°First tell me about my father¡¯s sword.¡± Hans has to make sure this wouldn¡¯t come biting his ass. And Dijkstra was the one who was willing to spill everything. It was a godsend opportunity.


    Dijkstra asked, startled, ¡°What? Rebellion. Its just a cursed sword. Useless without an owner. All it could amount to now is just a relic of the past. Anyone wielding other than the king would die a horrifying death.¡±


    ¡°So what if Xandor gets the hold of it.¡±


    ¡°Why would that inhuman bastard go for the sword, he is a fucking mage, he should stay a mage¡­well he could unite the scattered Eclipse member with it. I guess.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°That is a symbol of unity, The King¡¯s hard work. He could claim that his possessing the sword is something that Samson wanted, or Samson is helping him from the skies to avenge him.¡±


    ¡°And people will just move¡­¡± Hans asked, curious.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a fucking clue what the name Samson means to us Parvians do you? If Arat hadn¡¯t pulled a stunt a few months back, many more would have joined Eclipse.¡±


    ¡°What stunt?¡±


    ¡°The one where you asked the Parvians to wait for you to graduate. And you coming back, resuming Samson¡¯s work.¡±


    ¡°When the hell did I say that ¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I called it a STUNT, little Sam.¡± He shrugged off the details and stressed, ¡°Now tell me about the decree.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 149 - Venting the Anger

    CHAPTER 149


    VENTING THE ANGER


    Hans sank into deep thought upon hearing about the potential use of Rebellion.¡°So it''s for recruitment, not my business then. If I mess up and lose Solar Mage for good, then I¡¯ll be toast. Even if I cause a grand mess, I could take care of it after mastering both books.¡±


    ¡°Hey, little Sam, don''t go all quiet on me," Dijkstra interjected, snapping Hans back to reality. Hans replied with a sly grin, "Well, I''ve only encountered her once. I got somehow stuck in her space, and she promptly kicked me out. One thing''s for sure, there''s some sort of contract between us and that goddess. Even Professor Aredhel saw her with Sams... I mean, my father.¡±


    "So, she''s real? I wonder if she''d show up if I put you in some danger," Dijkstra mused, his eyes shifting. But Hans showed no fear, which left Dijkstra baffled.


    ¡°Yeah, I know how to handle you, Commander Dijkstra. The more I act out of order, the more curious you grow of me. Your curiosity will keep me safe from your urges. You¡¯re just like me and I know how Deli has manipulated me so far.¡± Hans thought and it was time to say goodbye to this madman.


    ¡°Well, it was nice knowing you, Commander Dijkstra,¡± Hans said as he pushed his stool back. However, with a swift motion, the stool returned to its initial position. "I thought that would work. Do I still have a chance to call for help?¡± Hans wondered.


    ¡°Sit. Arat wants to hear these words," Dijkstra replied seriously.


    "Not interested," Hans refused without really listening. But Dijkstra was insistent, so Hans reluctantly sat back down for a moment. "I''ll listen to what he has to say and then leave."


    ¡°You asked for this from him. It was about a girl named Vanessa ¡ª¡±


    ¡°What about her?¡±This time, Hans adopted a demeanour reminiscent of Dijkstra. So old knight pulled the same stunt, ¡°Entertain me in this Glory war and I¡¯ll tell you in the end.¡±


    Looking the agape face of Hans, he burst into laughter, but his tone suddenly turned grim, casting an ominous shadow over Hans. He followed up with a warning, "It''s pretty nasty stuff. Something a sister would never wish for her brother to know. Do you think you can handle it?¡±


    "Is it really that bad?" Hans inquired.


    "I consider myself a saint when it comes to interrogations. I don''t kill until I have all the information. But with this guy, I ended up killing him before he could tell me everything. I only got one name out of him." Dijkstra set down his bowl and tossed some coins around as he spoke, addressing both the boy and himself. "So, let''s make this event a lively one. I might end up spilling the beans faster." With that statement, he disappeared as though he had never been there, not even a trace of his mana signature remained.


    ¡°Just what the heck happened with sis.¡± He was pissed, It took a lot to make him this angry, but his imagination was running wild, conjuring the worst possible scenarios one after another.


    ¡°Agh, ¡±he grunted shouting, ¡°he shouldn¡¯t have told him half thing.¡±


    FEW MOMENTS BEFORE, GRIMGAR CAPITAL


    After Hans had ejected from the group, the nine enjoyed the festivities of the capital. Different food, fascinating culture, and small events asked them to join the fun.Fascination ran to their faces one after another and they gave in to their instincts, arterial they were children¡¯s by the heart.


    However, a mishap soon befell the group. A mage, not much older than them but already in the fourth circle of magic, began harassing the girls in the group. This alone seemed to bestow upon him a crown of arrogance. Cassidy, a member of the royal family, couldn''t tolerate the taunts any longer. "Hey! Leave before I lose my temper," she warned. However, her warning had the opposite effect on him. "What if I don''t?" he taunted in response, "Will you run to your daddy, crying and weeping?¡±


    Cassady frowned upon hearing the comment. "You don''t know who you''re messing with," she retorted sharply. The boy laughed in response, his tone equally curt. "You don''t know either.¡±


    Before the situation could escalate further, Delimira intervened. "We don''t want any trouble. Let''s go, Cassady," she urged, trying to pull her away from the fourth-circle mage. However, the boy''s interest quickly shifted to a new target. "Aren''t you the poster girl for Welma''s?" he inquired, recognizing Delimira from an advertisement he had seen.


    ¡°I should¡¯ve listened to Hans.¡± Delimira regretted her decision to take on the dress gig in Edenberg; she hadn''t anticipated being recognized here. "You''ve got the wrong person," she insisted, pulling Cassady further away. But the persistent mage seemed undeterred. "Oh, so you were an elf. That''s why I couldn''t find you," he mused, running his fingers through his dishevelled hair and suddenly adopting a more polite tone. "Why don''t you leave this scrawny bunch and go on a date with me instead?


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°No, I''m good where I am. Please excuse us," Delimira insisted firmly, turning to signal for her companions to make a quick exit. However, the persistent mage was quicker. He hastily grabbed her wrist, preventing her from leaving.


    ¡°Oh, come on. I''m way better than them. I''m only fourteen and a fourth-circle mage. Where will you find someone like me?" he argued.


    ¡°I do not care. Unhand me this instant," Delimira demanded.


    And what if I don''t want to?" the boy challenged.


    ¡°What? Do you have any clue who I am? You would end up eating through a straw for the rest of your life," Delimira threatened.


    ¡°Oh, so scary," the boy mocked, laughing at their predicament. He continued with a smug grin, "What can you exactly do? You people are from the great Concordia, the chosen ones, aren''t you? You can''t cause trouble here, or people will say Concordia is bullying the weak. But I''m different. I just had to say you ganged up on me because you found me more talented than you. And you know what? People love to see an upset.


    Delimira knew the reasoning well which was why she had been patiently tolerating the mage. However, others were different. ¡°Haa¡­ to hell with it,¡± Chris grabbed the mage by the wrist, ¡°Remove your hand before I snap yours, bastard.¡±


    ¡°Bastard, did you just call me a bastard, you fucking bastard.¡± The mage¡¯s mana ran rampant, calling him a bastard was like touching his reverse scale. The spot where Chris had caught him began to burn, eventually forcing Chris to withdraw his hand. His palm had suffered slight burns, and the prickling pain was far from pleasant. Smirking, the mage continued taunting, "See, even your boyfriend is weak in front of me. Come on, let''s go. I''ll treat you right.¡±


    Delimira was teetering on the edge, just a hair''s breadth away from unleashing her Krosh art. She had kept quiet to avoid any rumours spreading because of her actions, but this had gone on for far too long. This was a situation that couldn''t be resolved through words alone. She began channelling her mana and sent a warning to the mage with a gust of wind to his face. However, instead of being deterred, the mage seemed even more intrigued.


    ¡°So, you''re not just a pretty face, a quad, not bad, not bad," he commented, his interest growing. "You''re worthy of me.¡±


    There was a reason why mages of lower circles didn''t typically challenge those of higher circles. The one with the greater mana capacity could easily suppress the other, and this was exactly what happened to Delimira. Her mana channelling was abruptly cut off, and the mage pulled her closer, taking in the scent of her hair.


    This situation had escalated into clear harassment, and Delmira, being a person of pride, had reached her breaking point. "To hell with Concordia, he is dying here,¡± she declared firmly. Her team, despite the odds, closed in on the mage, drawing the attention of passersby and even the patrol guards.


    They came in a jiffy and stopped the fight before it could escalate. Since there was no physicality involved on any side, and the witnesses'' testimonies suggested a misunderstanding between the two groups, the guards opted for that explanation to avoid further complications.


    However, they did issue a warning to the mage, though he arrogantly disregarded it. He turned to Delimira and said with an air of conceit, "The name is Ezekiel, the most talented mage in the making. You''ll submit one way or another. Just wait for me, my love."


    ¡°Agh,¡± Delimira grunted and, stomping her feet in frustration, she moved ahead of the group. As the mage''s level exceeded that of the group, the guards escorted them back to their lodging to ensure their safety. However, when the elders of the team saw the junior team being escorted by guards, they were startled. Fortunately, it was Sierra who welcomed them back, although her expression was one of furious concern.


    WHAT HAPPENED?" Sierra demanded, her anger clear.


    Suddenly Chris found himself one step ahead or others one step back. ¡°Fuck these traitors.¡± Taking a deep breath, Chris proceeded to recount the entire incident. As he finished explaining, it became clear why she was known as the Iron Lady. Her immense mana began to surge and churn, creating an aura of intense rage that sent shockwaves throughout the area. Fuming, she turned her attention to the patrol guard and demanded, "Who was that punk? How dare he mess with my kids.¡±


    ¡°Sorry lady,¡± one of the guards replied, continuing, ¡°We can¡¯t disclose personal information. It might cause a problem for the event.¡± However, the moment those words left his mouth, the guard began to bleed, heavy, from every one of his pores and fell on his face. She turned, still enraged to the other guard, ¡°Who was the punk that messed with my kids?¡±


    The sheer anger was enough to make the guard fall on his knees, begging. He started to sing like a chirpy and split the details which Sierra didn¡¯t even ask. ¡°A fourth circle mage, from this year¡¯s wild card winners. A school called Devildom. They''re participating in the Senior league. L¡­lady please spare me.¡±


    Sierra grabbed her hood and started preparing for departure but Rudolf stopped her, grabbing her hand hard from behind, ¡°Calm down, this will cause a lot of problems dear. We don¡¯t want our kids¡¯ efforts to turn waste, do we?¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t know what happened to them.¡±


    ¡°It''s the Grimgar capital. Norwin always know what happens here, so just hold ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you take me for a coward, Rudolf?¡±


    ¡°No, I take you as a dangerous woman on a warpath. That¡¯s why I¡¯m stopping you.¡±


    Sierra quickly glanced at the terrified faces of the second-years. Some of the first years were also watching. Giving into a rage was not a good example to set for the new generation so somehow she calmed down and asked the kids, ¡°Are you guys okay? And where in the god¡¯s name your captain?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m in front again,¡± Chris answered, truthfully. Hans would probably be scolded but after seeing the bloody work of Sierra, he didn¡¯t have it in him to lie to her. ¡°He went separate.¡±


    Walter and Rudolf almost took a breath of relief, if Hans was with the group then they might have to go there personally to sort things out. Walter whispered to Rudolf, ¡°Parvians are all nut jobs, how the hell you are managing to live with two.¡± Rudolf answered back, whispering, ¡°I ask the same question every day.¡± And he checked the guard, he was still breathing. Relieved, he asked her furious wife, ¡°Dear, if a guard dies here, that would be bad for the kids too.¡±


    ¡°Grace,¡± Sierra cast a sixth circle spell, healing and rejuvenating the guard back to life in an instant. Oddly enough, upon healing, the guard thanked his assaulter and quickly escaped with his terrified partner. But Sierra was now waiting for their wonder boy to show up. ¡°Where the hell is he?¡± She mutterd.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 150 - The Joker card

    CHAPTER 150


    THE JOKER CARD


    Sierra anxiously waited, her legs trembling, and then Hans arrived, but the air around him was screaming, not to talk to him. He was pissed and the level of malevolence he was emitting was no joke either. Sierra threw the plan of scolding him out of the window and dismissed everyone.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t kill someone, did he?¡± Walter whispered to Rudolf again and got an instant answer, ¡°if he had, he wouldn¡¯t be that pissed.¡±


    ¡°Oh, thank god¡± Walter sighed in relief, and they, too, retired for the night. Tomorrow marked the start of the Glory Wars, a fifteen-day event they had been preparing for over two years. Excitement pulsed through the participants, banishing sleep, but they forced themselves to rest, knowing they needed to be in top form.


    The night passed, and the next day began with people scurrying around, hurrying to prepare for the inauguration ceremony. Hans was already dressed and ready, but his mood remained unchanged. All night, his imagination had run wild, conjuring up various scenarios he didn''t want to envision. His crankiness was evident on his face, so everyone gave him a wide berth.


    They all left the castle and noticed that the crowd had significantly grown in size. Wealthy merchants, prestigious families, and people from all over the world had gathered to witness the annual Genas event. This was a prime opportunity for merchants to make substantial profits, for reputable families to recruit new talent, and for others to enjoy the spectacle.


    The event was also broadcast worldwide for a nominal fee, but watching it live from the Colosseum, amidst hundreds of thousands of cheering spectators and the thrill of betting, had its unique appeal.


    Hans and the others were waiting in their designated corner of the arena, just like the representatives from other institutions. Hans recognized the host, a famous celebrity who was doing an excellent job of energizing the audience with his charisma. Then, the Grimgar family made their grand entrance, commanding everyone''s attention. The host began his introductions.


    Samwell, the King of Grimgar, arrived with his entire family and took their seats, leaving the middle throne reserved for the Alliance''s leader. Next came the elves, the Clandor Royal family - King Eleanor, Queen Reina, and their son Riftal, who was the other twin of Allynna. They all wore traditional silver garments adorned with elegant gold embroidery, showcasing their timeless grace. Their clothing was free of any distracting frills that had become fashionable among humans these days.


    Their arrival captured everyone''s gaze, and Hans was no exception. He was curious to see just how beautiful this queen was, the same woman who had driven his father to madness. Surprisingly, he found himself agreeing, Well, Father, you certainly had excellent taste. She looks like someone worth waging war over." The only one who surpassed her beauty in Hans''s eyes was the goddess he had seen in his dreams; no one else could hold a candle to her radiance


    As representatives from other nations continued to arrive, Hans gradually lost interest in them. The only one left who truly captured his attention was Norwin, the head of the Alliance. He entered the arena with an imposing aura that inspired awe in the audience. Hans couldn''t help but think, "Wow, he''s strong. Strong like the chairman. Just how much stronger was my father to be able to face this behemoth and emerge victorious?"


    Norwin''s unkempt black hair lightly floated in the air, waving as if responding to his tremendous aura. His mere presence seemed to lower the temperature by several degrees. Despite it being summer, the atmosphere felt more like winter. He looked at the audience with a face that aged well with the sheer amount of experience he had.


    ¡°Hero king !¡±


    ¡°Hero king !¡±


    ¡°Hero king !¡±


    ¡°Hero king !¡±


    ..


    .


    The crowd kept cheering on. To them, Norwin was akin to a god who had imprisoned the terror of the red demon and dedicated himself to eradicating these abominations, even relinquishing the throne to focus on this mission. He embodied the ideal of a good king, and that''s why the people believed in him, empowering his blessed weapon known as Faith.


    ¡°So that¡¯s a ranked first knight.¡± Hans mused while observing the cheering crowd. Suddenly, as Norwin took his seat, the crowd''s jubilant shouts subsided. The event''s organizer, King Norwin, began addressing the people, "I welcome all of you to the 75th Glory Wars. For those who couldn''t be here in person, I hope you''ll have the chance to witness the younger generation making a name for themselves from your comfort."


    Back in Edenberg County, Hodges and others watched the ceremony on broadcast, eagerly anticipating the main events. Like them, the Dorfeil family, who owed Hans a debt of gratitude, also eagerly awaited his turn to perform.


    Following Norwin''s address, the inauguration ceremony continued as the host acknowledged the contributions of wealthy merchants whose sponsorship had made the event possible. He then summoned the Mage Tower teams into the arena. These mages, hailing from powerful families worldwide, were renowned for their talent and pride. Subsequently, the Association representatives, young knights from influential noble families, were introduced to the audience.


    Next in line were the representatives of Concordia, and the crowd''s excitement reached a fever pitch. The majority of those present were commoners, and Concordia symbolized how high an ordinary individual could soar with determination and opportunity. It was an institution forged by and for the underprivileged, a beacon of hope for equitable treatment. Among their competitors, they enjoyed a stellar reputation that extended well beyond the eyes of the common people


    The three Concordia teams advanced in unison, each under the guidance of their respective professors. Hans followed Walter at the rear of the procession, his presence not drawing much attention from others. However, those who recognized him as Samson''s kin couldn''t help but fixate on him. To some, he was a chilling reminder of a harrowing past, while others viewed him as a vessel of divine mana. A few even perceived him as something other than human, but they all shared a common thought¡ª the resemblance was uncanny.


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    Upon spotting Hans walking confidently, his head held high, the once-beautiful countenance of the Elven queen twisted in revulsion. Memories of her past came rushing back, and her animosity, once directed at Samson, now found a new target in Hans. The malevolence emanating from her was clear even at a distance. "Calm down," the Elven king whispered soothingly, gently caressing her hand. Yet, someone in the centre seat was even more infuriated¡ªNorwin. His deep-seated resentment for his own child was an open secret, and Hans''s mere presence exacerbated his fury.


    As their emotions were displayed so openly, Hans mentally catalogued the individuals before him. "Elven queen and King Norwin," he noted. "So they are the ones I''ll eventually have to confront. It doesn''t seem like they would yield to a polite request. But do they think I''ll tolerate their blatant stares? If I could, I''d like to give them a good slap right now."He was already enraged by tomorrow¡¯s news and their treatment was sending his anger to an all-time high.


    a voice in the crowd murmured, deciphering Hans''s expression. The excitement in the air was clear. Turning to his right, the person prodded his companion. "Don''t you think so too, Bernard? You understand that expression better than I do. That''s why you distanced yourself after betraying him, isn''t it?" The incessant nudges from his companion''s elbows prompted Bernard to push Dijkstra away. "Listen, if you''re looking for a fight, let''s settle it somewhere else."


    "No," Dijkstra promptly declined, tearing into a skewer of meat. With his mouth full, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m going to spice up this boring shit.¡±He then vanished, only to reappear on the guest platform beside Norwin.


    "That lunatic," nearly everyone exclaimed, including a flabbergasted Hans. However, what everyone expected didn''t come to pass. Dijkstra merely placed a piece of paper on Norwin''s lap and uttered a single word before disappearing once more. Norwin had no desire to engage with this deranged individual, but he also recognized that Dijkstra wasn''t capable of concocting an elaborate scheme. So, he reluctantly opened the paper, read its contents, and promptly destroyed it. His gaze toward Hans became even more intense.


    ¡°Just what kinda crap did that maniac spew to him?¡± Hans was taken aback. "Did he spill the beans on everything? Damn it, I thought he wouldn''t ruin this for me. Did I just blow my chance at becoming a Solar Mage?" However, despite the intense glares exchanged, nothing more occurred, and the host proceeded to introduce the wild card entry. "Please welcome the team that fought their way to this stage, Devildom. They will be competing in the Senior league."


    Despite being fewer than ten, they managed to steal the spotlight. Their mages were all at the fourth circle, and their knight had achieved a grade of fifty. Hans couldn''t help but mutter in disbelief as he cast a discerning eye over them. "How on earth are they training? Are they chugging growth potions every day?" His astonishment was shared by many others. The seven-person team was comprised of exceptional talents, the hidden geniuses of their generation.


    Just when Hans thought he might be one of the most talented participants, even more, remarkable individuals emerged. ¡°It''s not your day Hans, not your day¡­¡± He shook his head in disappointment. ¡°I was just frolicking in a well, the world is vast.¡± He was promising himself to work harder to improve himself, but his concentration was shattered when he felt an annoying gaze fixed on him. Turning around, he discovered the source of the stare¡ªa young mage from Devildom. Whatever restraint Hans had been holding back, it snapped.


    ¡°The fuck you are looking at me, peasant? Do you wanna die?¡± Hans''s voice boomed, capturing the attention of everyone in the vicinity. Even the broadcasting artefact shifted to focus on the escalating argument just before the competition began. Early rivalries like this were excellent for viewership, and the operator didn''t want to miss out on the drama.


    "Kneel." This time, Hans''s voice carried a commanding tone, and a small VoidZone compelled Ezekiel to drop to his knees. Ezekiel couldn''t comprehend what was occurring; he fought against it with all his might, but nothing worked. His gaze remained locked onto Hans, a defiant challenge in his eyes. "You''re still staring at me. Do I appear to be some kind of joke to you as well?" His words drove the surrounding mana into Ezekiel''s heart, causing him to cough up blood and clutch his chest in agony. This was a method used to kill knights, but it also inflicted significant damage to the mana heart by contaminating it with mixed mana.


    Silence fell over the onlookers as Hans continued to gaze down at the fourth-circle mage. There was no trace of a spell being cast, and not even the Judgement artefact, which could even restrain Norwin didn¡¯t raise any alarms.


    The Devildom boy continued to cough, his pain intensifying. Their teacher, the team''s leader, rushed toward Hans, as it was evident to all that Hans was somehow causing this torment. He demanded that Hans stop, but this only redirected Hans''s focus toward him. "Who the hell are you? Are you looking down on me too?"


    Unlike others, the Devildom team leader was somewhat shrewd. He shouted to the audience, "Is this how Concordia oppresses other students just because we''re more talented? Is it because we come from humble backgrounds and were rejected, so they can''t stand to see us grow stronger?¡± He then turned to Hans, whispering, ¡°Stop this if you don''t want to make things worse."


    Hans, feeling increasingly irritated, ¡°Haa¡­ this turd is threatening me, I don¡¯t like the feeling,¡± and retorted, ¡°BEG! BEG IF YOU WANT TO SAVE THAT SORRY BASTARD.¡± Hans stressed the latter part, "GET ON YOUR KNEES, OR HE DIES RIGHT HERE.¡±


    The Devildom team leader persisted, "I''ll take you to trial. Everyone here is a witness. You won''t be able to escape, even if you''re royalty¡ª¡°


    "Sure, go ahead. If it''s a trial you want, the punishment is the same for attempted murder and murder¡± Hans looked past him, his target, and he continued, ¡°So, there is no point in sparing that bastard.¡± For the first time, Hans raised his hand toward Ezekiel, and the result was Ezekiel writhing on the ground, his agonized cries pleading for help.


    The in-charge looked somewhere to confirm something. ¡°Wait wait.¡± He knelt, pleading, ¡°Please spare his life. We¡¯ll forget the whole thing.¡±


    ¡°Your word.¡±


    ¡°Yes I promise ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Say it aloud so your so-called witness could hear this too.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the in-charge shouted, putting his lungs to work, ¡°My apologies, We won''t pursue this any further. My team member was simply experiencing mana reflux.¡±


    "There you go." As soon as Hans spoke, Ezekiel calmed down, still gasping but no longer in pain. When the in-charge moved to check on his student, Hans added with a hint of disgust, "Next time, I''ll at least gouge out his eyes. That pervert was winking at me and biting his lips." Hans shuddered at the thought, but this revelation made everyone in the junior team crack into laughter because they knew exactly whom that labelled pervert had been winking at.


    "You knew this would happen, didn''t you?" Chris asked Delimira, continuing his deduction. "That''s why you switched positions with me, to shadow Hans from this side.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me using our Joker card? That was so satisfying.¡± She heaved, relaxed.


    But Chris wasn¡¯t done yet. ¡°You even winked at that bastard. He was just returning the sentiment. Poor sod fell for your scheme.¡± Chris mused, a frown creasing his brow, ¡°But why the heck Hans didn¡¯t even doubt that it could not be him, that mage¡¯s target¡ª¡±


    "Hans is a narcissist through and through," Delimira interjected, her expressions indifferent, "Do you really think he believes anyone here is more important than himself?¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 151 - The Game Begins

    CHAPTER 151


    THE GAME BEGINS


    "Calm down, farmboy," Walter approached Hans, who instantly retorted, "I didn''t do anything." He then adopted an indifferent attitude. "Didn''t you hear their team leader or whatever, saying it was their member suffering from mana reflux?" Hans followed the script, but those scrutinizing his actions were left baffled. It wasn''t because of Hans''s shamelessness but because they hadn''t detected any mana emanating from him. "How in the world did he take out a fourth-circle mage?" they discussed among themselves. "There were no spell circles manifesting. He is a mage, right?" These were the questions circulating in their minds.


    However, Arat, seated to the right of Norwin, broke the silence, silently chuckling and muttering, "The second coming is on the way. Parvian sun shall rise again." He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, but those who overheard him understood the deeper meaning behind his words.


    Meanwhile, Aredhel offered her apologies to Sierra for Delimria dragging Hans into this blunder,but to her surprise, the iron lady was proud of what Delimira had done. "She is one clever girl," she commented, while Rudolf sighed in disappointment at his grandson¡¯s behaviour, chiding him silently, "Idiot, at least look at the bright side. You might not be the target of unwanted affection.¡±


    While Hans was struggling to understand why his team was reacting this way, Walter shot him a glare. "You just made some very talented enemies. Everyone on their team is a potential powerhouse in the making."


    "They named their school Devildom," Hans quipped. "Aren''t they just asking for exorcism?"


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, they will grow up to be your trouble farm boy.¡±


    Hans turned to them with a smirk, commenting, "Then I''ll just have to add some names to my murder list¡ª"


    "Be careful, you moron," Walter interrupted his bravado.


    "What moron? They even admitted it was just mana reflux. They won''t go back on their word after pleading on their knees in front of possibly everyone in Genas."


    "I''m not calling you a moron for that, MORON." Walter glanced at Delimira and shook his head, sighing. "Focus on the preliminaries. You know what you''ll be losing if you mess this up, right?¡±


    "Yeah, that fake Solar Mage book from you. But I''ll really lose the original one if I don''t straighten up my act. The thing about Vanessa, that madman eventually would tell me. Since he can¡¯t wait, but what would I do with that info?.. No, no more dwelling." Hans slapped both his cheeks to snap out of it and answered, "Concordia will win the Junior league, sir.¡±


    Walter nodded and instructed the kids to focus on the announcement of the itinerary. The host was reading it aloud, and a large projection was already displayed behind him.


    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">


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    Higher League


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    Senior League


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    Junior league


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    </tr>


    <tr style="text-align: center">


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    Preliminaries


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    <td valign="top">


    Day 1


    (Hunting 1 Class 5 beasts)


    Concordia,


    Mage tower,


    Knight Association


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    Day 1- 5


    (Hunting 20 Class 3 Beasts)


    Concordia,


    Mage Tower,


    Knight Association, Devildom


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    Day 1- 7


    (Hunting 100 Class 2 beasts)


    Concordia,


    Mage tower,


    Knight association,


    Parv


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    Main Event


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    Day 2- 3


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    Day 6-7


    </td>


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    Day 8-9


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    Awarding Ceremony


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    Day 10


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    <td valign="top">


    Day 10


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    <td valign="top">


    Day 10


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    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" valign="top">


    Celebration


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" valign="top">


    Day 10 - 15


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" valign="top">


    Day 10 - 15


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    <td style="text-align: center" valign="top">


    Day 10 - 15


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    Hans learned all about it from the projection, and it was no different from what Walter had told him, with the addition that they had to reach the Colosseum. As long as one person from the team reached and submitted the hearts, the entire team would pass the preliminaries. Hans thought that they needed to fulfil the quota and let someone quickly reach and submit their loot while they distracted other teams. It was a good plan, but for that, they had to reach the number hundred and he also knew it wouldn¡¯t be possible without head-butting with other teams.


    The event''s host announced that each team should advance to the SpaceDoors, connected to their designated locations. "Let me remind you once again, especially the juniors participating for the first time. The use of any kind of artefact is forbidden. Even if you managed to avoid the screening until now, the proctors there will be vigilant, and just a slight hint of misconduct will get you disqualified from the Glory Wars. Your only focus should be on reaching your quota, coming to the nearest safe points to submit, and returning to the Colosseum. Now, step forward."


    Hans and his team of ten stepped through the shimmering SpaceDoor and found themselves in the heart of a hot, tropical volcanic forest. The air was thick with humidity, and the temperature was scorching, making sweat bead on their foreheads almost instantly. Towering, ancient trees with thick, vibrant green foliage surrounded them, their leaves providing only partial relief from the blazing sun above.


    The forest floor was covered in lush, exotic vegetation, and the ground was uneven, with treacherous volcanic rocks jutting out in places. The distant rumble of the volcano echoed through the forest, serving as a constant reminder of the danger lurking nearby.


    ¡°So what now captain,¡± Lux inquired with newfound confidence, his typically timid nature momentarily set aside. He had faith in Hans, knowing that no matter what, Hans would lead them to victory. And after the stunt, he pulled in front of everyone, even those who had previously doubted him now shared a consensus ¨C Hans might be a bit of a psycho, but he was their psycho.


    Seeing the overjoyed team felt unfamiliar to Hans for a bit but it was a good thing that they were showing confidence. Hans acknowledged Lux''s question with a raised hand, signalling for a brief pause. He gazed up at the sun, orienting himself to their location on the eastern side of the outer ring of Heat Riddance. Following the same logic, he deduced that other teams must have been dispersed in different directions. Turning to his team, he addressed them with an inclusive tone, "We have two options: South or North. Let''s put it to a vote¡±


    The newfound confidence his team had in him made Hans more receptive to their input. Instead of dictating their course of action, he was now seeking their opinions, fostering a sense of collaboration among them. But when none responded, he assured, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, unless we face a class three and don¡¯t kill the class ones, we¡¯ll be good, got it?¡±


    "Yes," they all responded in perfect unison, which left Hans slightly taken aback. He couldn''t help but wonder, "Why are they looking at me like that? As if my image has undergone a significant improvement in their minds." He found it genuinely surprising that they were all hanging onto his every word, following his lead without question. After the unanimous vote, it was clear that the North had won by a landslide.


    As they began their journey to the North, Hans couldn''t help but contemplate, "The stories I''ve read so far all indicate that things go south in the North. Let''s see if it''s true." Their path led them to their first encounter with a second-class mana beast: a Stone Hog.


    A pig-like beast, whose skin resembled a mosaic of jagged, weathered stones, forming an impenetrable natural armour that protected it from harm. Its hoofy legs, small but strong, each step it took sent tremors through the earth as its massive, boulder-like body lumbered forward.


    While its inherent nature wasn''t one of cowardice, being suddenly surrounded by ten people was enough to spook the life out of it. The Stone Hog initially attempted to flee, but Hans had ensured that their first target could fight to the death but not escape. They all were inside a makeshift cage of tough vines and when the Stone Hog charged at them, these vibrant vines, absorbed the creature''s charges with ease, stopping it completely.


    The Stone Hog, realizing it had no other choice, braced itself for battle. Upon Hans''s command, Garen, the sturdy dwarven boy, positioned himself in the path of the charging beast. The collision rang out with a resounding "clank," and both were forced backwards.


    ¡°Attackers, target the legs,¡± Hans instructed. Delimira employed her Rupture spell to upheave a slab beneath the creature, further disorienting it and exposing its vulnerable belly. Seizing the opportune moment, Chris swung his blade infused with aura and cleaved into the Stone Hog''s exposed underbelly.


    The Stone Hog emitted a pained groan as the deep wound still left it with a fighting spirit. Hans swiftly issued orders, ¡°Chris back off! Garen hammer it hard!¡± As the command fell, the members moved according. The war hammer met the charging the Stone Hog while Delimira and Chris repeated their previous coordinated attacks.


    Hans turned to Lux and inquired, "How long?¡±


    ¡°I''m ready," Lux responded.


    Upon receiving Lux''s confirmation, Hans signalled the vanguard to fall back. "Smite him!" he exclaimed. Lux''s long-charged spell, BrightWrath, descended upon the Hog, breaking its stoney hide while dealing a significant amount of damage. Meanwhile, Garen''s aura-infused strike landed squarely on the creature''s tough skull, putting an end to its life


    ¡°One down¡­ 99 left.¡± Hans was looking out, for their uninvited guests but none was found except the presence of proctors scattered around. They were just observing and if he couldn¡¯t focus at maximum, he wouldn¡¯t be able to detect them. ¡°No surprises, take out the heart.¡± He ordered and pushed the space pouch for their trophies to Cassady, ¡°Keep it safe.¡± He urged and she nodded, happy, because it was the most important role in the group.


    While Hans continued to keep watch, he couldn''t help but eavesdrop on his team''s conversations. Lux and the others expressed their delight at achieving their first kill in such a short amount of time. "At this rate, we might reach 100 kills in no time," one of them exclaimed with excitement.


    However, Hans knew that their initial success might not last, and the number of potential encounters would likely decrease. The early collectors would have a higher chance of emerging victorious. There was also a chance that they might not encounter another group to rob.


    Suddenly Hans''s attention shifted to Delimira and Chris, who were engaged in a conversation. He inquired about what she was doing, to which she replied, "Preserving food, what else?" as she carefully extracted tender meat from the Stone Hog''s body.


    Chris chimed in, saying, ¡°Did you forget, there will be enough food drops ¡ª¡±


    ¡°We should prepare for worse.¡± She wrapped the meat around the Terrua leaves, and tightened a rope around. Making Hans think, ¡°She really was not peeling the nuts.¡± He nodded approvingly, feeling proud of her for applying the things he taught her in Frozen Tooth.


    With his mind focused, Hans conjured the seed of a mutated plant from Concordia''s agricultural facility. The seed swiftly transformed into a full-grown tree. "Pluck the fruits," he instructed, and the team promptly followed his orders. As they consumed the fruit, their stamina recovered rapidly, almost miraculously. While recovering mana through consumption was known, stamina recovery typically required rest. However, Hans had provided them with something akin to a miracle. Cassady couldn''t help but remark, ¡°You have a cheat?¡±


    "No, I''m the cheat. Hurry up," Hans responded, urging them to pick up the pace as they continued their march northward.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 152 – Narrowing the Competition (1)

    CHAPTER 152


    NARROWING THE COMPETITION (1)


    They continued their relentless hunt, responding swiftly to Hans''s precise commands. Cassady couldn''t help but admire his leadership. ¡°Oh, boy. He is so good at this, don''t you think?¡± she remarked, addressing no one in particular.


    Garen, who shared the same house as Cassady, nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, he hardly talks to us, so we never really knew him, except for those two,¡± he gestured toward the two attackers who were leading their group. ¡°It''s only been three days, and we already have a hideout, collected a total of 48 hearts, and haven''t encountered any other teams. Most importantly, we aren''t even tired.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, this fruit is sour as it gets, but it never lets our stamina down,¡± Cassady remarked, taking a bite of it.


    ¡°I wonder, though,¡± Garen mused, ¡°how did he acquire that fruit? He hasn''t even fought yet, just ordered us around... Not that I''m complaining or anything¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, then don¡¯t,¡± came Hans''s voice from behind them. ¡°Don''t chat, hurry up.¡±His words spurred them into action, and they quickened their pace.


    They maintained their formation while running. Delimira, Chris, and Garen led at the front, Hans, Cassady, Thedas, and Lux were in the middle, and Nicolas, Cherrina, and Ricter brought up the rear.


    They had been following this formation for quite a while, and it had yielded them 48 precious fruits. As the third day faded into darkness, the night took over, and they reached their hidden base, securely camouflaged at the bottom of a small hill. Thanks to Hans''s expertise, their team thrived in this deadly competition, riding his coattails.


    "Since they were in a beast zone around an active volcano, there was no need for fire to keep warm. However, they still needed it to cook their game. Food drops were scarce, as they could lead to unnecessary fights, so they followed Delimira''s approach¡ªhunting for meat and foraging for berries during their hunts


    Hans had made it clear that they wouldn''t hunt at night unless they were truly desperate. So, they worked hard during the day and slept peacefully at night after satisfying their hunger. Each person took a turn keeping watch for about forty minutes, ensuring everyone woke up refreshed the next morning


    However, this was their fourth night in the wilderness and it was Hans''s turn to guard, after Chris. However, Chris was eager to strike up a conversation with his somewhat estranged friend and wasn''t planning to sleep. ¡°Do you think we can finish this in six days?¡± he asked.


    Hans, taking a big bite of the stamina-recovery fruit, replied with a mouthful, ¡°No, we have to finish it even sooner. We need a total of 400 kills for all four teams to pass. Our chances of encountering second-class mana beasts are decreasing every moment, even now. The others won''t be resting like us.'' He pointed at the fruit. ''This thing boosts our stamina but makes us tired and in need of deep sleep for recovery as a trade-off.¡±


    ¡°So, sooner or later, we''re bound to run into another team, right?" Chris sought confirmation.


    Hans nodded, stating, "Yeah, the beast population is dwindling, so others will stumble upon us during their search.¡±


    Chris let out a sigh and expressed his hope, "I just hope that if we do meet others, we won''t have to fight¡ª¡±


    "Like that''s going to happen," Hans interrupted. "We need to avoid it at all costs. Killing beasts is different from targeting fellow mages or knights. Our team may have gotten stronger during individual training this past month, but experience is something that can''t be compensated for. I know that firsthand.¡±


    "But what if we can''t avoid encountering others¡ª¡±


    "In that case, we strike first. Getting ambushed could turn ugly in an instant.¡±


    Chris stood up, dusting off his butt, and advised Hans, "Then, don''t stay awake if you don''t need to. You''re the only one with scouting experience. We need you to be in top shape¡ª¡±


    "I haven''t even taken down a single beast, Chris. You guys have done it all.¡±


    "You''re doing a great job as a captain, buddy. Don''t sell yourself short." Chris left Hans, leaving him pondering those words. "So, I''m doing well now, but for how long?" The night passed, and Hans woke the others up a bit earlier than usual. They all got up without complaint, and Hans explained, "Starting today, we need to hunt more aggressively, so get yourselves ready."


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    Cassady, who had been engaging in more conversations with Hans, chimed in, "Didn''t you mention that the hot region is more dangerous right before dawn?" She peered outside, noticing that the sun still had some time to grace them. "So, why are we taking risks... not that I''m complaining or anything."


    Hans explained, "Because I believe we can avoid a clash with others if we collect the hearts earlier." He had spent the whole night thinking, and the most obvious strategy that came to mind was to be quick in gathering hearts and then make a run for the safe point to submit them. To accomplish this, they needed something close to a miracle ¨C either a large group of second-class beasts and a smart strategy to take them down swiftly.


    After a few hours of walking, their wish was granted. They stumbled upon a nest ¨C the dwelling of fire roaches, a type of insect known for their fiery temperament. Their poison replicated the sensation of burning alive, and they cornered their enemy with a hit-and-hide strategy.


    ¡°Ha, this is good, but also not good," Hans commented, causing confusion among the group. Sensing their puzzled looks, he elaborated, "The irony is, the only weakness these creatures have is fire. But we need to ensure that none of them survive; otherwise, they might alert neighbouring creatures. However, there''s another problem¡ª"


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ricter, their main defender, who was usually silent, finally spoke up, interjected,¡°If we raise a fire big enough to kill them, we¡¯ll be announcing our location, scaring the beast away and inviting our competition in.¡±


    ¡°Well put.¡± Hans commended Ricter, his explanation was to the point. He then added, "And if we encounter a swarm of these creatures, collectively they could rival a third-class beast in combat.


    Chris joined in on the conversation, asking the group, "We need a solution without using fire. Any ideas?" But the confident princess turned to Hans and remarked, "Aren''t you the one who killed a few third-class beasts before?" She made this observation, but Hans immediately rejected the idea, saying, "That was during a hunt; this is... different. My hands are tied here."


    He remembered his lack of contribution to the team when they were all individually preparing themselves after the survival mock practice. He had realized that using Golems was a viable option, albeit an expensive one. Moreover, most of his spells either posed a risk to his team or created a burden for them. Consequently, he delved into studying strategies, the art of war, and everything he could find. His excellent leadership and critical thinking were proof of his efforts.


    As Hans pondered, the others shared their basic knowledge about Fire Roaches and estimated their count at eighty. Hans, growing impatient, felt a burning desire to contribute this time. Lux suggested using traps, which ignited an idea in Hans''s mind. "Ambush!" he exclaimed suddenly, his thoughts racing to formulate a plan.


    After a quick thinking session, He selected Delimira, the quickest and the only person in the group with stealth techniques, to swiftly kill one roach and then lead the rest into their traps. He chose an ashen grassland as the battleground and began manipulating it to his advantage. Some of his creations struggled to survive in the scorching environment, but the Carnivorous plants showed unwavering resilience. They concealed themselves, and Delimira carefully noted where to step and where to avoid. Hans proceeded to explain the strategy to the group. His traps were not potent enough to kill second-class creatures outright, so he assigned others to deliver the finishing blows while the roaches struggled with the trap plants. Everyone nodded in agreement, and Delimira prepared to move, only to be halted by Hans.


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate those insects,¡± Hans said with a hint of concern, adding, ¡°Run if it''s not possible ¡ª¡±


    "If I can''t even do that, then there''s no meaning in my training," she retorted. This marked the first direct conversation between them since the fight, but there was no warmth in Delimira''s eyes. Her response was formal, addressing Hans solely as her captain. This left Hans perplexed and uneasy; his intuition warned him that something regrettable might occur soon. He raised his hand to halt her, but she swiftly disappeared, activating her Krosh art of mirage.


    "Damn it," he exclaimed, then ordered, "Get into your positions and be ready."


    The plan began to unfold a few minutes later when Delimira returned, with the Fire Roaches hot on her heels. She skillfully evaded the traps and crossed to the other side, where the team lay in wait. The Fire Roaches, however, remained unaware of the impending danger, and they fell victim to the modified carnivorous plants with sounds like "snap, Kurt, chop."


    Some of the roaches realised the trap and attempted to dig into the ground to escape, but Hans, being well-versed in their behaviour, had already seeded the earth with deadly trap plants. Those who thought themselves clever soon discovered the extent of his cunning.


    The trap plants showed no mercy to the Fire Roaches, biting at them relentlessly, both above and below ground. While they weren''t powerful enough to kill the roaches outright, many of their prey lost limbs, lower sections, or heads. It resembled a gruesome scene from a horror opera, complete with chilling sound effects.


    After observing for a while, Hans issued the command, "Dig their hearts out." The team moved with swift precision, delivering finishing blows to the injured Roaches, extracting their mana hearts, and tossing them to Cassady. Her role was to catch and collect the hearts, and she performed her task admirably. Meanwhile, Hans remained on high alert, praying earnestly, "Please, please, no surprises.¡±


    However, the carnivorous plants, creations of Hans himself, displayed a degree of intelligence. They realized that what they were consuming were mere empty vessels, as the most nutritious part, the mana heart, had already been extracted. Consequently, they intensified their feeding frenzy. Soon, it became a race against time for Hans''s team, pitted against his own trap plants, which seemed to have forgotten their master''s commands.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 153 - Narrowing the Competition (2)

    CHAPTER 153


    NARROWING THE COMPETITION (2)


    After three gruelling hours of tug-of-war between Hans''s team and his own defiant trap plants, victory finally belonged to the team. They managed to salvage around forty intact mana hearts, pushing their total count to 94. Despite their exhaustion, depleted mana, and dwindling aura, smiles adorned their faces. They now trailed by just six kills to complete the survival preliminaries, and it was only the fourth day of their journey. Their achievement would soon be recorded in the annals of Glory Wars.


    Although they had set out early in the morning, a glance at the sky revealed that dusk was fast approaching. Some advised pushing onward, but Hans was resolute about leaving the area. ¡°Something going this smooth in my life is suspicious.¡±


    Everything had been going smoothly, a departure from his usual streak of bad luck, and this unusual fortune troubled him. Unfounded worries gnawed at him, and he gave the order to withdraw. ''No'' was not an answer he was willing to entertain, and everyone complied


    "What''s going on? Is something wrong?" Chris approached Hans, noticing his growing concern. He understood that Hans''s unease could affect the team''s morale, so he decided to intervene.


    Hans shared his unsettling observation: for a period, he couldn''t sense the presence of the proctors who monitored their progress. Chris, even the non-perceptive, could smell a scheme brewing from miles away. He supported Hans''s decision to expedite their return to the hideout, a relatively safer location, concealed from external threats.


    However, to their surprise, their journey remained uneventful, and they encountered neither ambushes nor even a first-class beast. "This was suspiciously smooth sailing,¡± Hans remarked, as they reached their hideout. He ordered a four-person watch with even intervals. Witnessing Hans''s seriousness, the team complied without questioning, but their anxiety grew. Their loot had grown substantial, and with it came the responsibility to protect it. The creeping unease left none of them with a restful night''s sleep.


    "Just six more and we''re good to go," Hans whispered to himself, tapping his racing heart for reassurance. This was the fifth day, and they left their safe haven earlier this morning. But they were facing an odd predicament, his vines had scoured the beast''s habitat, but for the past few hours, there hadn''t been so much as a squeak. "Where the hell are they?" This question weighed on everyone''s mind, not just his own.


    Meanwhile, Chris''s instincts told him that someone was deliberately causing this. He may not have been a tracker, but his father had taught him investigative skills, and he could sense that the beasts had been chased away recently. Chris shared his findings with the captain, but Hans had already reached this conclusion a few moments earlier. When he maxed out his mana vision, he deduced the culprits: no proctors were watching them. "Those bastards are too busy driving away our prey. Damn it¡ª"


    His mumblings came to an abrupt halt when he suddenly felt a malevolent gaze fixed on him, a sensation of being stalked that made his skin crawl. He was about to order the team to move or fall back when an attack came seemingly out of nowhere, targeting his face. Speed was not Hans''s strong suit, but their main defender reacted before anyone could fully comprehend what was happening. "AuraShield!" he bellowed, blocking the searing attack with his massive aura shield.


    The attack failed to harm Hans physically, but it did manage to separate the vanguard of the team, consisting of Chris, Delimira, and Garen, from the rest. In this tightly bound situation, Hans could only provide support, as the real firepower of the team was in the vanguard. Being separated from them was a significant disadvantage, but that''s exactly what the enemy had intended.


    Hans shouted at Delimira and Chris to retreat, but he was too late. They found themselves encircled, with Delimira facing off against four mages alone, while Chris was engaged by a knight of similar strength. It was evident that the attackers were targeting Concordia''s most powerful team members. Hans quickly analyzed the situation. ¡°There are six of them here, which means the remaining four might attack us.¡± He then commanded, ¡°Regroup, defenders, tighten the defence around the Lux (long-distance mage) and Cherrina(healer).¡±


    The commands were issued and executed swiftly, but Hans soon realized that his analysis had been shit. Using his ManaVision, he discovered the harsh truth: the two opposing teams had allied against them. Panic gripped his thoughts as he recalled a tactical principle: ¡°When a battle seems not feasible, run, run and bite back later.¡±


    He was about to shout for a retreat when all seven of them suddenly found themselves surrounded by fourteen participants. Their mocking voices taunted them, "Where do you think you''re going, freeloaders? Probably running away with your tails tucked. See, I told you this information was solid.¡±


    Despite the trash talk, Hans''s priority was to protect their hard-earned loot and somehow convince these aggressors to back off. However, before he could take action, all fourteen of their assailants¡ªeight knights and six mages, each above grade 25 and second circle¡ªbegan bombarding Ricter''s AuraShield.


    Amidst the onslaught, safely shielded by the wavering AuraShield, Lux managed to convey that he recognized their attackers: members of the Knight Association and the Mage Tower. The one engaged in combat with Chris was the captain of the Knight Association''s team.


    Hans tried looking past the frequent blasts, Chris was locked in a stalemate,his strength evenly matched with his opponent''s. Meanwhile, Delimira desperately tried to break through to them, but the four mages targeting her made her progress difficult. Initially, she used spells, but as the situation escalated, she unsheathed her rapier. Activating her Krosh art, she began overpowering them, but her efforts were thwarted when another opponent joined the fray. This knight, second only to the Knight Association''s captain, tipped the odds drastically, turning it into a five-against-one situation.


    Hans couldn''t hold out any longer. "We''re getting out of here," he shouted, thrusting his hand into the ground and invoking his territory creation spell, "SilvaOrtus." The spell initiated ground tremors, hinting at something colossal emerging from beneath.


    However, just as the envisioned creation began to take shape, the mastermind behind the ambush bellowed, "NOW!" The rumbling abruptly ceased, leaving Hans bewildered. "What the hell?" He couldn''t sense his connection to mana anymore, and even their AuraShield had been cancelled. "What is happening?" echoed the confusion among his team members as they stared at the smirking faces of their adversaries.


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    Meanwhile, Delimira began to struggle, not because her opponents were overpowering her, but because her skills inexplicably vanished, leaving her powerless. The five preying on her didn¡¯t miss the opportunity. She somehow avoided the direct hits but this began to repeat again and again. Her skills suddenly vanished and she kept taking the beating without even landing a single hit.


    As a razor-sharp blade cut deep into her back, Chris''s shout drew Hans''s attention. Seeing Delimira kneeling in exhaustion snapped something within him. "Who cares now? You''re all dead," he declared, raising his hand to activate a forbidden spell, "TheVeganCarn ¡ª"


    ¡°Now¡± the mastermind screamed again and whatever Hans was conjuring turned to nothingness.


    ¡°Damn it, what the fuck is going on?¡± Hans cursed as he surveyed his team. Chris looked utterly exhausted, Garen was managing to hold his ground, but Delimira had been brutally impaled from the back. The sword had pierced her stomach, and her blood flowed like a river.


    Seeing her not standing up, Chris and Hans shouted in Unison. Hans even tried leaving his team behind, lunging at her stabber, but the moment he moved. the halted attacks resumed, this time targeting Cherrina, their sole healer. Fortunately, the defenders bravely absorbed the brunt of the assault, even without their skills, resulting in injuries to all of them.


    However, a sneak attack passed through and knocked Cherrina out cold. "Ugh," Hans groaned in frustration, realizing that only he and Lux were left standing among the seven. Hans desperately attempted to access his mana once again, but it was futile. Lux, sensing the same issue, quickly informed him, "It''s Dispellium; they''re using Dispellium ¡ª¡°


    ¡°Then how the fuck they are using mana and aura, isn¡¯t it suppose to cancel everything in the vicinity.¡±


    "Ha... ha..." Lux gasped as he reached Hans'' side, "Yes, but look, they can control when to activate and deactivate it. It''s entirely in their hands. That substance is illegal, even more so in the Glory Wars. We aren''t even allowed to use artefacts.¡±


    "Proctors!" Hans shouted towards the sky, but there was no response, only the mocking laughter of their enemies filled the air. Amidst the taunts, a voice hidden within the group responded, "Who do you think tipped us off, you fool? How could we use Dispellium if it wasn''t allowed by the higher-ups?"


    Hans realized they were up against an opponent they couldn''t defeat. He racked his brains for a solution, but none came to mind. "Ugh," he kept groaning, but suddenly, the knight who had wounded Delimira shouted in victory, and Hans saw Delimira, who had been struggling to stand, finally collapse to the ground.


    "She''s still alive¡­alive. They won''t kill her. She''s Aredhel''s daughter. Stay calm and think. Worrying won''t solve the problem." Hans tapped his own racing heart, trying to convince himself. He called out to the proctors once more, emphasizing, "Proctors, she''s going to die if this continues. What are you doing? Concordia won¡¯t let you¡ª¡°


    The mage hidden among their enemies interrupted, "There are only three rules in this stupid competition. First, you have to collect a hundred hearts. Second, you''re not allowed to kill anyone. Third, using an artifact is prohibited." He sneered and added, "Have we broken any rule to make the proctors intervene? Last time I checked, Dispellium isn''t a listed artefact. And she''s alive, at least for a while." The mage laughed like a third-rate villain, and Hans realised that his pleas for proctor intervention were in vain.


    Meanwhile, Chris was looking at them closely, he too understood that there was no help coming. Feeling desperate, he decided to take a gamble. He pushed his body¡¯s aura to the limit and deployed an Aura Burst. It had limited influence against Dispellium, but it was the only chance he had.


    However, he had underestimated KA''s captain, the one holding Dispellium. When Chris exposed his unprotected back to him, he suffered the same fate as Delimira. His well-developed muscles resisted, but he was still injured


    "Stop, you bastards!" Hans yelled. Both of his friends were injured, but fortunately, not in vital spots. His ManaVison was telling him that both were breathing, but Delimira was in urgent need of treatment. They needed time. So Hans asked the enemies the question they wanted to hear, "What do you want¡ª¡°


    ¡°All ninety-four mana hearts.¡±


    Hearing the precise number didn''t startle Hans. He knew the proctors were keeping an eye on them, and they were in cahoots with the Knight Association and Mage Tower, forming a ragtag alliance in Heat Riddance. He glanced at his fallen teammates once again, realizing that their hard-earned efforts were about to be stolen. He felt guilty, blaming himself for his poor leadership that had led them into this situation.


    He wouldn¡¯t have felt this way if they lost by fair means, not like this. Clenching his fists, he threw their space pouch at them. This was the first time in his life that he had surrendered, and the feeling of helplessness ate away at him from the inside. He vented, ¡±You didn''t have to go this far. We were competing fairly. They worked hard for this day¡ª¡±


    "Pfft..." Laughter erupted from the group, and the mage who had been speaking earlier said, "Are you delusional? In this world, whoever wins is right.¡±


    "Yes, it''s a messed-up world we live in." Hans glanced at his fallen comrades. "When these idiots started looking up to me, I must have forgotten that¡ª"


    ¡°Kneel¡± the mage demanded, coming out of shadows, his robe covering his face, yet his tall stature puts every other to shame.


    ¡°What?¡± Hans was confused, but also defiant.


    ¡°I said,¡± the mage insisted, "kneel and beg me to spare you.¡±


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t give a damn about this competition.¡± Hans revolted, ¡°You are making a big mistake here¡ª¡±


    ¡°The more you resist, the more they¡¯ll be tortured.¡± He raised his hand, and on his command the group acted, raising their weapons and summoning spell circles.


    "Hey, Captain," one of the mages spoke to their leader, "We''ve got the loot. Let''s stop here¡ª¡°


    "Shut up, you lowlife. How dare you interrupt the royalty here." The mage turned his attention back to Hans, emphasizing his words, ¡°On your knees, bitch. Right now!¡±


    Hans gritted his teeth, his unbending knees reluctantly touching the ground. He had never bowed to anyone before, not even the Grimgar king himself. Now, some second-circle individuals were forcing him. His rage suppressed, he bowed his head and pleaded, "Please, let us go.¡±


    "It''s enough, Arlin! I didn''t sign up to humiliate someone. I wouldn''t have agreed in the first place if it weren''t..." Guernier paused, the knight captain who had been stalling Chris and using dispellium looked at Hans with a hint of pity. Addressing Hans, he said, "We''ve accomplished what we came here for. Stand up."


    Hans, still lowering his head, couldn¡¯t feel the mana around. ¡°They are still using it.¡± He stood up, his eyes changed yet lowered to not rub his aggressors. ¡°One who tramples is right.¡± He thought as he saw this saying turning true. ¡°You got what you come for. Right? Can I take my team now?¡± He asked.


    they mocked as they disappeared one by one, leaving only the knight captain behind. Hans, his anger barely contained, shouted, "What the hell do you want?"


    ¡°Am Sorry.¡± The knight captain finally relented, deactivating the dispellium. Hans felt his connection to mana returning, sending Hans on a regretful trip, ¡°I should¡¯ve urged the chairman to teach me to fight under dispellium. This is a fucked up weakness.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 ELven Lies I Chapter 154 - I’m done playing games (1)

    CHAPTER 154


    I''M DONE PLAYING GAMES (1)


    Feeling his opponent¡¯s, now enemies¡¯ presence gone, he finally let go of his guard. His eyes were red and his mind was in turmoil. He stretched his hand and used areverse SugarDrain on Cherrina. The moment she woke up, he hurried her to heal the bandaged Chris and Deli, he did all he could but he was no expert in handling the wounds, especially blocking the blood flow through green vegetation. The bare minimum he could do was to put pressure on those wounds.


    One by one, his companions began to regain consciousness, their eyes falling upon Hans, who sat on a small rock, as his back screamed in silence. Cherrina was not a divine mana user, she was just a mage of water attribute with the ability to heal through mana transfer so her own output had a limit and her understanding stuck at second circle. So expecting a miraculous recovery was out of the question.


    Instead of dwelling on what he couldn''t change, Hans stared vacantly in the direction where the people who forced him to submit had vanished.¡°I really feel like shit!¡± he muttered, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have felt this way if those bastards have beat me fairly. Heck, I wouldn¡¯t even mind being ambushed, but this¡­this is not acceptable.¡±


    Recalling the moment, his rage almost sent his blood boiling. He never felt this much hatred in his life. He was holding it in, waiting for Cherrina¡¯s confirmation that Chris and Delimira were out of danger.


    Far from them, the mastermind of the ambush, the mage tower captain, was distributing the loot and disbanding the ragtag the alliance. The knight captain who faced Chris, asked the mage captain, Arlin, before leaving, ¡°Was doing all that really necessary? We could have won by ourselves ¡ª¡±


    ¡°If it had been solely my decision,¡± Arlin interrupted, ¡°I would have obliterated them entirely. But our orders were to prevent Concordia from qualifying.¡± He sneered and continued, ¡°Now that we''ve seized their spoils, they''ll have to restart from scratch... as if that''s even possible. The proctors will continue driving away the beasts ahead of them, ensuring those lowborns can''t catch a break.¡± He laughed like a deranged maniac, while the association people left these psychos behind.


    The whole night passed but Hans never turned back, his stare still stuck in some direction. ¡°Captain¡­¡± Cherrina came at Hans, shaking her head, ¡°I can¡¯t help her, she lost too much blood, we need to take her to Dean Sierra.¡±


    ¡°Three days, buy me three days, anyhow ¡ª¡±


    "Didn''t you hear me?" Cherrina replied. ¡°She is beyond something I could fix.¡±


    Hans, still looking down in disappointment, inquired, "And what of Chris?"


    "He might last a few more days, but he''s in no condition to fight."


    ¡°So those darn bastards took out my most powerful people.¡± Hans muttered bitterly ¡°And proctors are playing favourite.¡± He sighed, finally asking her, ¡°How longer she could hold ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Captain,¡± Cherrina shouted, attracting everyone¡¯s attention to them. ¡°I told you, she needs help. Is her life more important or this rotten competition that we can¡¯t win? Didn¡¯t you say yourself, proctors are rigging this, we can¡¯t win anyway ¡ª¡±


    "We can win," Hans asserted, pointing towards the sleeping Delimira. "I know she can hold on, and she''d be furious at me if I gave up now.¡±


    "How?" Cherrina raised her voice, and the team echoed her curiosity. Some were sceptical, pointing out that the proctors would continue clearing away the beasts. However, Hans had been thinking throughout the night and had devised a plan.


    "We''ll hunt in the inner ring," he declared


    "That''s insane!" Chris exclaimed, still struggling as he had just awakened. He had overheard Hans''s plan to venture into the inner ring, home to class threes. "We''re in no condition to face class twos, and you want to lead us to the inner circle?¡± He asked further as he gazed at Delimira''s pale body and implored, "Let''s give up, Hans. We can come back next year. God forbid something happens to Deli... it could be irreversible."


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    "No, nothing will happen to her," Hans insisted, projecting a fa?ade of confidence while harbouring his concerns. Delimira''s mana wasn''t recovering, and she was approaching a critical state. Hans acknowledged Chris''s point, saying, "But you''re right; she needs help. And I know who can provide it."


    His will was heard by nature and their new hideout, a cocoon made of entire fauna, deep in the ashen forest, began to shift and move. "I''ll be back. Make sure she stays conscious.¡±


    Hans departed, his thoughts focused on his contingency plan: ¡°If push came to shove, I could INGRESS them out to Grandma. so there is no way I would let something irreversible happen to her,¡± he assured himself.


    However, Chris and the others were unaware of this plan. As their new hideout continued to move, an array of intricate traps, more complex than anything his team had seen, kept emerging out of nowhere. Hans had designed these new safeguards for their hideout with two primary objectives in mind. First, they would provide the team with a place to conceal themselves from unforeseen dangers. Second, they would deter any potential mutiny. Hans knew Chris''s nature well, and he was certain that as soon as Chris regained a bit of strength, he would attempt to take Delimira away, even if it meant forfeiting the Glory Wars to save her.


    However, besides Ingress, his team also didn¡¯t know Hans had backing too. ¡°Did these people think, only they have people at their beck and call? I have them too.¡± Hans said out loud, as he ventured deeper in the green. Dijkstra had provided him with a whistle for emergencies. Blowing it would signal the Parvian team, and they would assist him without question, even if it meant forfeiting their own loot. However, that wasn''t Hans''s primary objective. He recalled that Parv, being an advanced nation unlike the others, had a highly skilled healer, far more competent than Cherrina.


    With this thought in mind, Hans reached an isolated location. Meanwhile, the Proctors observed from a distance, ensuring that any beasts Hans might encounter were already chased away. They were baffled by Hans''s actions until they felt a sudden tremor. The ashen forest soon transformed into a lush, vibrant environment. Hans was exerting all his efforts, channelling everything into his SilvaOrtus to turn the area into his territory. He filled it with meticulously crafted traps, each one fully aggressive and deadly, while his vines slithered like snakes, possessing everything from poison to metallic leaves.


    He said to himself, ¡°I¡¯m done playing games, heads will fly from this moment on.¡± He retrieved the whistle and blew it as hard as he could. Although no sound escaped the whistle, Hans had a gut feeling that his message had reached its intended recipients. Now, all he could do was wait for the Parvian team to arrive, but his trust in others had hit an all-time low. He was waiting with an attitude of going a full-on war with them, if necessary.


    As he waited, various thoughts raced through his mind. One of them was his regret at failing to anticipate the alliance between the Mage Tower and the Knight Association, as well as the underhanded tactics of the Proctors. Dietrich had once told him that he had an obvious weakness: "Having unlimited mana is nice in theory, but what''s the use if you can''t even use it?" He was overwhelmed by self-blame, muttering, "If my father were in my place, this would have never happened. He would have been prepared for such situations. I''m not cut out to be a leader. I should have never taken on this role.¡±


    Meanwhile, inside the hideout, a heated discussion raged among the eight team members. Chris vehemently argued against risking Delimira''s life for the sake of seemingly pointless competition, while Cassady passionately defended the opposite stance. The team found itself divided into two factions, and it was Ricter, the usually silent defender of the group, who broke the deadlock.


    ¡°Let''s trust our captain, I don¡¯t know him very well, but he is your friend, isn¡¯t he?¡±Richter suggested, breaking his silence. He turned his gaze towards Chris and continued while shifting his focus to Delimira, ¡°He won¡¯t let her die.¡±


    Chris argued, ¡°I¡¯m acting this way because I know him very well. Those bastards made him submit, and he won''t just let it go.¡± Chris stressed, ¡°And we have what, three days? We have to kill a hundred of the Second classes in the inner ring where class third dominates.¡± He questioned, wanting to convince others, ¡°Do you think it would be feasible? We''re banging our heads against a wall. We can''t win. His pride is running him now, not his head,¡± He looked down at Deli, continuing, ¡°These both have the same useless pride. I¡¯m just looking out for them. Hans needs to understand that not all battles can be won.¡±


    However, Richter persisted in his plea for faith, although it stirred a different thought in Chris''s mind. He couldn''t ignore the fact that Hans''s stubborn pride had once brought Delimira to the brink of death


    But, checking his own condition Chris realised even if he wanted to, he couldn¡¯t bring her to the checkpoint. Only one person needed to reach there to seek help, but that would mean withdrawing from the competition. Chris sought the support of others, and Garen agreed.


    Despite the pleas of some team members to continue until Hans returned, Garen ventured outside, only to return in an hour, with a frown on his face, declaring, that their captain had caged them inside.


    Nicolas, another defender, voiced his frustration, saying, "If Hans had this kind of foresight, why did we fall into that ambush in the first place?¡±


    The once-united team was now fragmenting, with arguments flying in all directions. Some made sense, and some didn''t, but ultimately, they had to come to terms with the fact that without Hans, no one would be taking a step outside their current situation.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 155 - I’m done playing games (2)

    CHAPTER 155


    I''M DONE PLAYING GAMES (2)


    A couple of hours later, as the sun directly beamed down upon Hans, he sensed the presence of people entering his forest. All surprised to see a lush forest on the outskirts of an active volcano.


    "There they are," Hans muttered as he counted them. "All ten. This could make things a bit easier." However, he remained vigilant, having learned a valuable lesson about the consequences of not foreseeing things, which had cost his team dearly. He wasn''t about to make the same mistake again.


    As Hans''s vines moved to capture the targets, he noticed a gradual corrosion taking place. ¡°Shit! Someone''s using poison, probably an alchemist among them," he mumbled. He scanned them with his ManaVision again, ¡°These people were hiding their strength, each of them is as excellent as Chris and Deli. I need to be on my toes¡­¡± Increasing his vigilance he took a step back only step on a branch himself. ¡°What the Fuck!¡±


    Cursing his carelessness, he turned to them, praying that they hadn¡¯t heard him but all ten were looking right at him. ¡°What are these¡­¡± Hans asked himself as one of them started waving his hand, happily calling him down. ¡°Ha.. these nut jobs. Why are they so happy, I was gonna take them out.¡± Sighing, he got off the high ground and reached them. And the scene which happened in the frozen tooth repeated, all ten kneeling and greeting him in unison, ¡°Long live Prince Hans. We are here, waiting for your command.¡±


    Hans shivered, ¡°Hoo.. this gives me creeps. Their theatrics, Arat must have taught them¡­ and here I was doubting their sincerity.¡± Coughing, he looked behind, wondering if the proctors were watching, but one of the Parvian instantly picked up his concern and answered, ¡°They can only see but no hear, Prince Hans ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Easy on the prince part¡­ I''m¡­not used to it.¡±


    "As you wish," one of the kneeling members, probably their captain, who was responding earlier, said. Hans instantly asked them to rise and questioned, "Is your healer any good?¡±


    "Yes, she is," the captain responded. "You can call me Eugene. I''m the captain here... wait... Do you have any injuries?" He looked at the back, at their timid but competent healer, hinting for her to be ready.


    Meanwhile, Hans looked at them with ManaVision and SCAN. This bunch seemed decent and, fortunately for him, lacked any hidden intent. Sighing and doubting, he asked, "You were never here for the Glory Wars, so why are you h¡ª¡°


    The captain, Eugene, pointing a finger at Hans, interrupted him before he could finish, saying, "For you, Prince, to help you. Sir Dijkstra mentioned that if you ever need something in here, you will be contacting us.¡±


    ¡°Can I trust these guys? Like I have a choice, stupid.¡± Heaving, Hans asked, ¡°How far are you willing?¡±


    ¡°Just ask,¡± Eugene said, standing, proud, patting his chest.


    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna play this low,¡± Hans was embarrassed to ask, nonetheless he did, ¡°How much you have?¡±


    "Haa¡­" Eugene was embarrassed too, so he prioritized, "Let''s talk after we fix your member. They are the ones injured, right? Please lead the way." He urged Hans to show them the way. On their way, everyone was quiet, but their relentless gaze bore a hole in Hans''s back. Troubled by it, Hans asked them, "Can you not be so uptight in front of my team? They don''t know... me... you got it, right?"


    "Yeah," all nodded, following Eugene, but the Parvian captain was not done. He stated, "What eventually has to come, will come; why struggle delaying it."


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Hans explained, ¡°my father is not so likeable outside the Parv.¡±


    ¡°Yet, no one dares to talk bad about him.¡± Eugene quipped.


    Hearing Eugene¡¯s ramble, a sudden realisation hit Hans, ¡°Yeah, I never heard anyone bad mouth him, why? Heck, I never even heard someone talking about him.¡± He was in deep thought but while he was thinking, Eugene continued to speak, even excited for a change, ¡°You used, VoidZone, right? It didn¡¯t turn the area red, as I¡¯ve heard. But that was the iconic domain of the King, right?¡±


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    ¡°What red? This never happened¡­wait a minute. Chairman used this once too, yes¡­ when Xandor attacked. His domain was so big that it contained whole Floatlands. Wait¡­no..no.. if he recognised this thing that meant almost everyone knew what it was. Damn it, so much for low key.¡± He cursed himself, forgetting that even if he didn¡¯t use it, his face was a dead giveaway anyway. Mumbling he paced up, and soon they all reached the complex entrance he designed to cage his teammates.


    As he stepped in, the trees and bushes started moving on their own, and the only mage of the group, the healer girl entered with Hans. Surprised, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°It¡¯s like a dungeon welcoming its master.¡±


    Hans¡¯s ears picked up the word he didn¡¯t know. ¡°Now what the hell is a dungeon?¡± But he didn¡¯t ask, and soon they entered the green cocoon. The inside people were on full alert, they were not equipped with Hans¡¯s ManaVision but they were not some useless people either. They realised, another team, not far from their entrance and one of theirs entering inside. Being mana-less, Hans was not spotted by them. Chris, recognising the griffin emblem, finally shouted at the newly appeared Hans, ¡°What the heck, who did you bring?¡±


    ¡°Shut up, helping her is our priority right now,¡± Hans responded his attitude firm, not taking any questions.


    Chris offered, ¡°Then we should give up ¡ª¡±


    "Give up? Give up? Why do you think they would allow you to?" Hans, frustrated, turned to the Parvian healer and requested, "Please, help her." As he spoke, the Parvian team''s healer rushed to attend to the fallen Delimira. It was ironic for Concordia that their close-knit allies, the mage tower and knight association, dragged them down but the designated enemy of the world was helping them.


    The parvian mage was trying to stabilise Delimira, unlike the method of healing known to the world, the Parvian method was different. Instead of transferring the mana, allowing the body to increase the self-healing process. The Parvian, mage turned her mana into fine threads. These threads of mana danced across Delimira''s injuries, quickly closing the wounds as if they were being meticulously stitched together. The wounds began to seal, and fresh skin knit together, leaving only faint, barely visible scars in their wake. The speed and precision woke an inferior complex in Cherrina. They were both of the same age but the precision through which she was closing the wounds was something else. Soon Delimira¡¯s painful groans stopped and her pale face finally regained some colour.


    Meanwhile, when Cherrina felt ashamed of her skills, Lux, somewhat familiar with Hans asked, whispering, ¡°Captain, can we trust them ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Thanks to your incompetent captain,¡± Hans mocked himself, ¡°We have nothing to lose anymore anyway ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. You bought us this far.¡±


    ¡°That is not sufficient. I had one job, to think ahead.¡± Hans smiled, the sarcasm on his face, ¡°And I aced it, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°But, You¡¯re our captain ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, I''m not. I''m a reckless cannonball, and it''s time for me to stop trying to be something I''m not. I''m no leader, I don''t have what it takes to command. ¡ª¡±


    ¡°But ¡ª¡±


    That doesn''t mean we won''t make it through these preliminaries. I promised all of you that I''d get you to the main event." Hans paused, stood up, and dusted off his pants. "And I always keep my promises. We just have to do things my way this time." He went outside, to Eugene, signaling Chris to look out for the team. He did this to ensure his friend stayed inside and didn''t eavesdrop.


    ¡°So, about my earlier question?" Hans asked, trying to beat around the bush, but this time, Eugene cut to the chase and inquired directly, "How much do you need?¡±However, Hans¡¯s answer of a total hundred surprised him. Confused, he queried, "I wanted to ask this earlier, but what did you have to fight against to end up in this... condition?¡±


    ¡°People.¡± Hans''s answer was short and curt but Eugene understood everything with one word. As compared to people beasts were more honourable. Sighing he asked, ¡°They took all?¡±


    Hans nodded. ¡°Yes."


    "What do you need me to do?" Eugene asked, his tone conveying his readiness to follow any command.


    "This event doesn''t mean anything to you, right?" Hans inquired, rolling his eyes.


    Eugene responded, "No, we came here to help you if you need it.¡±


    "Then, in response to my earlier question, how much do you have?¡±


    "Hmm..." Eugene pondered, recalling their loot. "About sixty."


    ¡°As I¡¯ve said earlier, I didn''t want to stoop this low, but can you hand it over?¡±


    Eugene agreed. "Yes, of course. But you still need forty more, and with this day gone, you only have two days before the submission. As you¡¯ve mentioned before, I doubt our proctors will let you collect more.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Hans paused, ¡°That¡¯s why I intend to split here.¡±


    "But they will do the same. Even if our teams hunt separately, we can still be stopped.¡±


    ¡°We are not splitting our teams.¡± Hans looked far, his withheld murderous intent finally breaking out. ¡°You''ll take my team to the middle ring and hunt there.¡±


    ¡°Then what will you do?¡± Eugene asked, stammering. However, Hans¡¯s wicked sneer sent shivers down Eugene''s spine, as Hans provided his answer with a heavy voice, "Hunting."


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 156 - Hell hath no fury as mine (1)

    CHAPTER 156


    HELL HATH NO FURY AS MINE (1)


    Eugene took a step back unconsciously, Hans was staring blankly in some direction, where he could see nothing. His blood-thirst was similar to a veteran warrior back home. ¡°So this is the ancestral blood of Imperials. I almost lost my shit there.¡± He controlled his palpitating heart and suggested, ¡°Then let''s form a connection.¡±


    The unfamiliar suggestion caused Hans to unconsciously lower his intensity. A bit confused, he asked, ¡°What connection?¡±


    ¡°With birthrights!¡± Eugene stated, his confusion was not any different than Hans¡¯s. Both gazed at each other for a moment and then Hans broke the awkward silence, pointing to his head and inquiring, "Do you have one as well¡ª¡±


    "Every Parvian has it.¡± Eugene responded instantly, explaining, ¡°It connects us to the God Osiris, and our contributions are rewarded with blessings.¡±


    ¡°You mean privileges,¡± Hans confirmed.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°So can you do INGRESS?¡± Hans asked, curious.


    "Woah!" Eugene waved his hands in denial. "That''s for those with high, no, very high clearance level. To reach that point, I need to achieve a lot.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not how mine works. Whatever. This is not a priority.¡± Hans shook his head and led Eugene and the others inside. "Listen up," he said, addressing his team as he pointed to the newly arrived Parvian team inside. "These good people will help us complete this preliminary."


    He proposed to split up, with the Parvian team assisting them. However, when Concordia''s team members appeared confused by the suggestion, Eugene tried to convince them in his own way. "We only came here as a formality, not to take part in it," he explained, adding, "I''ll truly have indigestion for days if the mage tower or knight association wins this thing, downplaying your efforts. So, if you want to repay our favour, make sure to bury their heads in the battle later.¡±


    Hans interjected, ¡°I¡¯ll be separating with you, leading at least half of them away. You guys, with half of them gone and increased help, you should be able to complete the task. Additionally, proctors have to watch out for the third-class beasts for their own safety, so it will make things a little easier for you, at least finding the beasts that is. Once you reach the required number, don''t look back and return first. I''ll follow you shortly. That''s our plan. Rest up. We''ll begin moving at first light tomorrow.¡±


    "It''s all good, but what if we reach the Checkpoint without you? Won''t you be disqualified?" Richter asked.


    "No, sometimes, team members get lost and separated from the group. It''s the Proctor''s job to find the missing ones. Meanwhile, if the team submits the required loot, all members qualify," Hans explained. "Those are the rules.¡±


    Hans continued, offering them an excuse, "Just say that I got separated from the team." He finished, and no one asked any more questions. To ease the tension, Eugene suggested that they rest separately, and Hans emphasized that no one must harm any of his members, especially Chris. He issued a stern warning to Eugene, who agreed to comply. To confirm their agreement, Hans used SCAN to alleviate his concerns.


    While they were resting, Chris finally let down his guard and approached Hans. "I''m sorry. I''ve doubted your decisions.¡±


    "No worries; I''m doubting them myself. We only need 36 more hearts, and then we''ll qualify," Hans reassured him.


    "But what if," Chris asked with doubt, "we reach a hundred hearts, and those people backstab us? We''re already at a disadvantage in numbers, and you are away¡­ I just ¡ª¡±


    "Chris, my friend," Hans said, patting him on the back, "I don''t mean rub it on you, but those guys hate your dad for backstabbing them. They won''t do the same, even if they want to. Their pride won''t allow it, at least not in front of you. And I have a backup plan just in case, so don''t worry."


    ¡°Haa¡­you are rubbing it¡­but I trust you know what you''re doing," Chris replied. He left to get some rest, though he didn''t show it, he was in severe pain and needed time to recover.


    The anxious night passed, and the Concordia team felt renewed hope of completing this tumultuous event. Everyone was prepared to follow the plan. The two teams were divided into three parts: Cherrina and Chris stayed back with Delimira, while the remaining six followed the Parvian team into the inner ring of Heat Riddance. Hans, alone, sprinted towards the Proctors.


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    As he anticipated, his arrival and the charge of the sixteen others into the inner ring caused the Proctors to split up. Hans muttered as he charged ahead, ¡°You idiots wanna play with me, so let''s play.¡±


    ~Beasnstalk~


    A colossal tendril suddenly erupted from beneath Hans''s feet, propelling him a great distance towards the Proctors


    ¡°Found you!¡± Hans yelled in excitement, his face resembling a beast ready to pounce on his food. ¡°One, two, three,¡­ fourteen. I feel honoured, you are more than half.¡±


    ~SeedBullets x3~


    He fired three consecutive shots, each with incredible speed and penetrating power. However, not a single shot found its mark. The Proctors weren''t mere onlookers; they were formidable elites of the Alliance.


    One of them retorted, "Do you honestly think you can take us on? Now we have every legitimate reason to fight back.¡±


    ¡°So you weren¡¯t mute.¡± Hans countered, anger lacing his words, ¡°Where was your voice when we were under attack from the dispellium?¡±


    Another Proctor responded, "There was no such thing. You got your ass handed to you by two teams working together. There was nothing wrong with it.¡±


    Hans remained silent so another one added, ¡°If you have any qualms file a complaint to the organiser¡­we can¡¯t help you so¡ª ¡±


    ¡°Oh, you are misunderstanding something. I¡¯m not here to talk.¡± Hans emptied his pockets, stressing, ¡°You better have some wealth in stock.¡± His eyes glinted in a golden hue as he added, ¡°A prepared mage is dangerous, and a prepared me is a nightmare.¡± He snickered, ¡°And who says I¡¯m alone? ¡±


    ~WoodGolem - Hydra~


    The ground trembled, its vibrations unsettling the Proctors. They were utterly perplexed by the unfolding events, sensing an ominous presence slithering beneath them. Then, a serpent''s head, as massive as a towering pine tree, burst forth from the earth, swallowing a Proctor whole.


    ¡°What the fuck? He killed!¡± one of the proctors shouted and the next moment he faced the same fate. The same thing kept repeating and four succumbed to the same fate while five barely got away with their lives. All were left in sheer horror as they witnessed an astonishing spectacle, a creature summoned by a boy of twelve ¡ª a colossal nine-headed serpent, crafted from wood and stone, with razor-sharp fangs and each head equipped with distinctive magical abilities. There was one that breathed fire, another that conjured thunder, and a third that controlled water, among others.


    "Kill the boy," one of the Proctors ordered, but the nine-headed serpent, raging like a berserk beast, proved too formidable for them to approach. Hans remained frozen in place, channelling his every effort into controlling the Hydra. It was one of the two trump cards he had prepared for the Glory Wars, but his heart was bleeding, using this much wealth on settling some annoyances.


    ¡°I should be glad these bastards don¡¯t have dispellium with them.¡± He thought as the horror continued.


    They managed to sever three of the Hydra''s heads, but it came at a high cost. They had depleted a significant amount of mana and aura. Hans was not faring well either, the Hydra possessed a devastating power but it didn''t possess infinite mana like him, nor could it regenerate on its own. The creature was weakening as its mana stones were rapidly depleting.


    Hans muttered as he frantically searched the corpses of the fallen Proctors. "They better have some mana stones." He managed to scavenge a meagre amount. "It''s not much, but I can manage with this.¡±


    The Hydra was crumbling, and a glimmer of hope crossed the exhausted faces of the Proctors. One of them shouted, "Let''s kill the brat now ¡ªswoosh!" but before he could finish his sentence, a SeedBullet pierced through his head, silencing him forever.


    ¡°Shut the fuck up. I''m just getting started.¡± Hans declared. A whirlwind of mana already spiralling around him, and he took a step forward, shouting.


    ~ManaStorm~


    It was a two-step mana discharge, not powerful enough to take down the well-trained knights and mages, but it served his secondary plan. The VeganBind began to ensnare them, a delicate but effective hold on each and every one. As they focused on blocking the massive mana discharge, they overlooked the tiny vines latching onto them


    ¡°That¡¯s it for today.¡± Hans declared, vanishing from sight and allowing the exhausted survivors to catch their breath. "Don''t celebrate just yet; I''ll be back soon. That darn Hydra drained everything out of me. Controlling it was no joke. I''m not doing nine heads again.¡± He shook his head as he shivered.


    Hans obscured his presence, blending seamlessly into the surrounding vegetation. He was determined not to be found easily, especially not by those who had risked their lives moments ago. Sighing, he observed them from a distance. "I knew you lot would do this. So predictable.¡± He smiled as everything happened as he thought.


    Hans hoisted himself up, his vines aiding his movement as he traversed the terrain, much like an Evil Monkey leaping from tree to tree by gripping the long vines hanging from them. He was shadowing the Proctors on their way to the Checkpoint.


    ¡°As I thought, These bastards want to tattle, as if.¡± he mused. His eyes landed on a seemingly lifeless figure beside him, a person who should have been a corpse. It was the knight he had shot with a SeedBullet. The projectile hadn''t breached his aura defence, but it had certainly knocked him out cold. ¡°I feel bad for you. Those bastards didn¡¯t even think of checking on you¡­well, I can understand¡­I was after their lives¡­ and it''s a pretty big deal, you know.¡± Hans remarked. Placing his hand on the knight''s swollen forehead, he called out.


    ~SugarDrain~


    A thin web of fine threads cocooned the unconscious knight. It began to siphon his vitality and transfer it to Hans, rejuvenating him. As the process concluded, Hans rose to his feet a new, his once-throbbing headache gone. He clenched his fist and murmured, "Time for round two.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 157 - Hell hath no fury as mine (2)

    CHAPTER 157


    HELL HATH NO FURY AS MINE (2)


    ¡°Where¡­what day is it?¡± The sleeping beauty, who had caused her team great concern, slowly opened her eyes and inquired, "Where are the others?" She attempted to sit up, but a sharp pain in her abdomen forced her back down onto the makeshift bed. She gathered her resolve, saying, "Come on, I need to... we have to collect¡ª"


    "Easy, Deli," Chris interjected, his voice soothing. "Everyone is out there, trying to¡ª"


    ¡°No! No! You don¡¯t understand, I can¡¯t be the reason for this loss. I can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    "We won''t lose, Deli. Stay calm," Chris urged, gently shaking her. "Hans has allied with the Parvians. They''re helping us reach the quota.¡±


    ¡°Those¡­ sell-out proctors won¡¯t allow us ¡ª¡±


    "That''s why Hans is keeping them occupied while our team and the Parvians hunt in the Inner Ring. I know it''s risky¡ª¡°


    "Wait, what?" Delimira cut in. "Hans is doing what?"


    "Distracting the proctors,¡± Chris responded like usual.


    "No, no, no." Delimira''s words came out in a panicked rush. "He''ll end up killing them all. We need to stop him. The proctors... they''re part of the Alliance, the elite. The Alliance won''t take this lightly.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Cherrina chuckled at her remarks, ¡°I know he can go beyond and all,they feigned ignorance and allowed you to get this hurt and they should get punished for it. But Hans won¡¯t go murdering people¡­No he can¡¯t, he is just a kid like us ¡ª¡±


    ¡°You are wrong. It''s not about us losing this competition that would enrage him. He rarely gets angry, but they pushed him to surrender. He had to lower his head because of them. Hans won''t accept that¡­¡±


    Chris interjected, ¡°We need to find him then. At this rate, he¡¯ll get himself killed. As you said, they are elites of the Alliance. With enough justification they could do anything to him ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, you idiots. Agh..¡± Delimira groaned, her face twisted in pain. She asked, "When did he leave?¡±


    ¡°Almost half a day ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shit!¡± Delimira cursed, ¡°We need to inform our deans. Glory Wars is less of our worries now. A real war might break out. What the hell that idiot¡­Can¡¯t he just think before he acts?¡±


    SOMEWHERE IN HEAT RIDDANCE


    ¡°Just what the fuck is he, haa¡­haa¡­¡± One of the injured Proctors gasped for breath, tears streaming down his face. They had been headed for the checkpoint after a psycho kid from Concordia picked a fight, taking out five of his comrades. They had been on the right path, but the forest was in chaos, constantly shifting. In the midst of the confusion, they had all become separated.


    "Where is he? Where is he? Where the hell is he?" the Proctor shouted, scanning desperately in all directions. His rapid breathing and blurred vision were taking a toll on his already exhausted body. It was all because Hans had poisoned them with a potent hallucinogen that he helped develop in Agriland¡¯s research centres.


    "You can run, but you can''t hide," Hans''s voice echoed through the shifting forest, sending shivers down the Proctor''s spine. He tried to hide in a crevice, but something slithered out, forcing him to continue running. "Damn it!" He cried out to the source, which was Hans. ¡°Please stop. I''ll spill everything, please spare me. I was only following orders¡ªswoosh.¡± A SeedBullet penetrated the proctor¡¯s throat, literally rendering him speechless.


    Hans declared, almost disappointed, "Not interested, and I hate snitches." He appeared right before the bleeding Proctor. "Time for a recharge.¡± He said, extending his hand towards the man''s face, he encased the injured Proctor in a cocoon of SugarDrain, sucking his remaining energy until he became lifeless.


    ¡°Hmm.. Let''s see where the others are," Hans mumbled, scanning the surroundings. "Oh, would you look at this bastard?¡± Using a BeanStalk, he catapulted himself, shouting, "You were so close to the checkpoint, but..." He descended rapidly, delivering a powerful blow to the fleeing Proctor. He smacked his head so hard that Proctor¡¯s face kissed the ground like a lovers meeting after a long parting.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Let''s see, VeganBind.¡± he invoked his restraining spell, constricting the struggling Proctor. "How about an overdose of hallucinogens?" The Proctor''s perception twisted into a terrifying nightmare with each passing minute, and soon his racing heart came to a halt. "Ah, he''s gone. Tsk¡­ See this is why you shouldn¡¯t mess with me.. han..¡± Hans kicked the corpse in frustration, concluding, ¡°I should cut down on these fear-inducers; it''s getting boring. Time to round up the rest." Hans patted his pendant, activating the wind gem within. "Haa... I''ve never flown this close to the ground before."


    Hans began to levitate and gain speed, lamenting, "One, two, three... six. I managed to take down six, but these bastards are poor bastards. I almost lost everything creating that Hydra, but that money-swallowing serpent only swallowed four, tsk¡­¡± He began to whine, ¡°My precious mana stones.¡± His frustration mounted, and the repercussions of his actions began to sink in. ¡°Now, how should I weasel out of this¡­think, Hans think¡­ I can¡¯t let them live, that¡¯s for sure.¡±


    After a while, he forced them to regroup, keeping them at a distance from the checkpoint. His slithering vines, thick and lengthy, took on the appearance of the Hydra they had faced earlier, thanks to the potent fear-inducing effect Hans maintained by inflicting minor cuts.


    ¡°The basic instinct when scared is not fight but flight¡ª Great Grandfather was right. That¡¯s how everyone is made.¡± The Proctors forgot they could resist, but when all ten of them gathered, one found his courage and began to make threats. "Do you even know who we work for? Why do we allow the tower and association... it''s all the will of Hero King Norwin. He won''t let you live in peace. So let us go, and we''ll forget everything." The others nodded in agreement, standing behind their fellow Proctor. But then, Hans, a demon in their eyes, appeared, silencing their pleas.


    ¡°Norwin, aye¡­ that makes it easier. And here I was thinking, how to weasel out.¡±Hans muttered to himself, sending shivers down the Proctors'' spines. He paused for a moment and then raised his head, sporting an innocent smile on his eerie face. "You know," he began, "I enjoy reading cliched stories, and there''s a question one of the protagonists in those tales often asks B-grade villains like you: What is two plus two?"


    ¡°Four,¡± several of the proctors answered instinctively.


    ¡°Haa¡­¡± Hans sighed, lowering his head, his voice deepening, ¡°See, you already know too much.¡± He levitated, screaming his lungs out.


    ~TheVeganCarnage~


    And in response to his screams, something appeared right before the Proctors, emitting a chilling cry like a hungry beast. A small black pebble trembled and sprouted several spear-like tentacles, which swiftly grabbed their heads, but as if it was not enough, it started shredding their bodies.


    "This thing keeps changing¡ª¡° Hans abruptly stopped speaking. "What the heck, is it glaring at me?¡± He was confused since the crying seed suddenly stopped and it felt like it was staring at him. The stillness continued and it broke when the crying seed dried out. ¡°Fuck! it scared me. Now I''m fully awake¡­¡±


    The day passed, and with the Proctors gone, there was no one to protect the Association and Mage Tower teams. Recalling them, Hans felt a twitch under his eye. ¡°They''re just kids... desperate to win by any means. They might not even know right from wrong. Yeah, Adults were at fault.I should just focus on gathering more hearts and forget about this. Yeah... they were just...FUCK THIS SHIT. THEY HUMILIATED ME. THEY NEED TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.¡±


    Increasing his pace, he began searching for them. "Forget the main event. I''ll end this Glory Wars right here and now ¡ª swoosh." With heightened speed, he raced toward the nearest checkpoint. Meanwhile, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the Parvian and Concordia hunting teams managed to secure some loot, although the Proctors couldn¡¯t do much, their interference was noticeable. However, with Eugene''s leadership, their count reached 88.


    "You''re quite skilled, Parvian," Cassady remarked, pulling another heart from a second-class shadow cat. "Thanks, princess. You''re not so bad either. How far are we from the goal?¡±


    ¡°Only twelve more, but I don¡¯t understand¡­ what is stopping you from taking this bag?¡± She waved their team¡¯s space pouch filled with their total loot.


    ¡°I can¡¯t. I made a promise to your captain. It is profane to break our words. Our promises are sacred and..." he sighed, embarrassed, "Your captain took our space pouch. You know we can''t submit another team''s pouch, right?¡±


    "So, if that''s the case, then why did those guys," she gestured toward the tower and association, "leave ours with us? If they had taken it, we''d have had no chance of competing at all.¡±


    "That''s precisely why," Eugene explained, rinsing his hands. "There''s nothing worse than clinging to false hope. You could have given your all, with your injured team members, and still not have finished this preliminary, don''t you think?"


    ¡°Pretty much.¡± She responded.


    "They wanted you to experience despair. I don''t know who''s employing this tactic, but their mind is twisted." Eugene stood up and added, "Let''s find a place to settle down; it''s not safe to wander around here at night." And as he found himself a bit isolated from the group, he quietly murmured, "COMMAND CENTRE: Open communications. Connect with Prince Hans." They had established a connection, and it was time for him to report his progress.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 158 - Hell hath no fury as mine (3)

    CHAPTER 158


    HELL HATH NO FURY AS MINE (3)


    "This is Eugene, Prince. Can you hear me?" A voice resonated inside Hans''s head, startling him and almost causing him to collide with a tall tree. "Yeah, I can hear," he replied. He had expected this to happen eventually but found it rather creepy. "Haa...this scared me! What¡¯s happening to me.¡± Hans calmed his beating heart.


    ¡°Prince Hans, akhm¡­¡± Eugene cleared his throat, "we only need twelve more hearts. Tomorrow is the last day, and we might finish by noon. The proctors tried to block us, but we managed somehow."


    "Nice," Hans breathed a sigh of relief and instructed, "Now, rest up and start early tomorrow before dawn. Finish the task as quickly as possible and head straight back to Delimira and Chris.¡±


    ¡°I understand¡± Eugene acknowledged, but a doubt arose in his mind, ¡°Won¡¯t proctors of outer rings stop us from reaching the checkpoint.¡±


    ¡°NO. THEY ARE NOT YOUR CONCERN ANYMORE.¡±


    "Okay, I trust you on that. But the ones monitoring us are more powerful. They couldn''t openly attack us here, as it''s a sensitive area. However, once we leave this place, they''ll follow us. We might reach your friends, but the journey to the checkpoint won''t be easy.¡±


    ¡°You let me worry about it. When you reach them, signal me instantly, understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I got it.¡±


    ¡°Good luck.¡±


    ¡°You too, take care of yourself, prince.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you do not have to worry about me. I¡¯m having the time of my life¡­ found ya, bastards. DISCONNECT¡± Hans came to a halt, the Knight Association team now in his sights. ¡°Not the mage tower¡­ He is the one with Dispellium.¡± Hans clenched his fists, finding the knight captain who fought Chris and apologised like nothing. Hans clenched his fists, spotting the Knight captain who had fought Chris and then nonchalantly apologized. To Hans, he was nothing but the source of his anger, and it was time for him to face the consequences.


    However,these weren''t just run-of-the-mill chumps. Hans might have startled the elite proctors by using the Hydra and their looking down on Hans might have played the role in their demise, but he didn¡¯t have the luxury to use that here. Without the Hydra golem, Hans¡¯s power was fractioned severely.


    He scanned them, they might have used underhanded tactics, but these youngsters were trained from birth, all due to being born into prestigious families. And to prove that point, the tracker of the team wasted no effort and alerted everyone. ¡°There is a rat following us.¡± He shouted, throwing a sharp dagger imbued with his aura, almost missing Hans¡¯s face by hair. ¡°If these jackasses were this good¡­ they should¡¯ve come to us directly¡­I don¡¯t mind being ambushed¡­cause it would¡¯ve been my fault for ignoring it¡­But Dispellium is another thing you bastards¡ª¡±


    "If you''ve got what it takes, then come on! Let''s have a face-off," another knight taunted, shouting toward the spot where the dagger had been thrown. But there was no response. He tried to provoke further, "Ho! So the Mage Tower harbours cowards


    ¡°I''m not from the tower, idiot.¡± Hans whispered to himself, ¡°But there is no benefit in coming clean¡­a story of the knight association ran into a mishap during¡­No, I can''t cover this up.¡± He shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not being the classist, but these brats are from noble families. I already have my plate full withthe dying proctors.¡±


    Hans turned away. Thankfully, his rationality had returned after venting on the Proctors, but a sudden thought struck him: "That doesn''t mean they should go away scot-free, right?¡±


    Hans hatched a plan, commanding all his vines to slither around them, making noises and making them anxious. As he wanted, in no time, the quick senses of the tracker started working against the knight team. Recalling a past lesson, he mumbled, ¡°I learned it well Professor Aredhel, turning your opponent¡¯s greatest strength into weakness.¡±


    Soon the anxious members closed their backs against each other, all turning into maximum defence. But Hans was not just cornering them. Unbeknownst to them, his nearly invisible, hair-like vines were inching closer, avoiding detection because they were all busy observing loud movements. ¡°Yes¡­ "Now, let''s see what you fear the most¡­"


    ~SchizoMania~


    The hair-like vines delivered a small seed to them, which sprouted into inconspicuous flowers. The transformation was subtle and hard to detect, but as the flowers matured, they began releasing tiny pores containing the substance from which Hans''s hallucinogenic vines were derived. This was the very substance that rendered the proctors powerless.


    "I told you," Hans muttered, "A prepared me is a dangerous thing." It had taken time and patience to cultivate these plants, and the conditions had to be just right for this tactic to work effectively. Hans sped away from the scene, leaving the Knights association team to cry, shriek, beat each other up and weep for a long time.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    After some time, leaping through the trees like an agile primate, Hans was reducing the distance to his hideout. He wanted to pull his weight and catch the remaining second class on his own but on his journey back, he never caught a single glance of any beast at all, not knowing that the tower captain went on a killing spree, even after reaching his quota just to make sure there would be nothing for Catch in the outer ring of BeastZone.


    "Damn it, there''s nothing for miles," Hans muttered, gazing up at the dark, starry sky. He calculated that there were approximately two hours left until dawn.


    ¡°Prince¡­Prince¡­we did it¡­we''ve collected a hundred hearts, but those Alliance bastards are tailing us. We''re about to reach your friends, but I doubt we can shake them off.¡± Eugene¡¯s voice rang in Hans¡¯s ears in panic, ¡°They almost grabbed our space pouch¡­ hasten up you idiot, do you want to be their hostage¡­my apologies¡­ where are you?¡±


    ¡°Shit, I can¡¯t reach them in time.¡± Hans pulled out a shiny stone from his pocket, ¡°I also need a reason to take out the rest of the bastards¡­ Thank you, sis. You are the best.¡±He kissed the stone and replied to Eugene, "Ask for me when you get to the others and stay close to everyone. I''ll send help.¡±


    "Understood," Eugene responded without questioning the details, placing his trust in Hans. His trust wasn''t based on Hans''s known abilities, as Eugene had never seen him in combat. It stemmed from the reverence and belief in Hans''s last name, as his bloodline was practically worshipped by the citizens of their nation.


    It took them roughly thirty minutes to reach the cavern where Chris and Delimira were hiding. The commotion outside had already alerted the two, and as a result, all nineteen of them found themselves surrounded by masked strangers.


    "Leave the bag behind if you don''t want to get hurt," one of the masked figures demanded.


    Eugene gasping out of breath, shouted, ¡°Prince. We are here ¡ª Zhum¡­¡± He wasn¡¯t done saying, that the proctors in the mask weren¡¯t prepared, and the Parvians as well as the Concordia team were wondering how they would overcome this. But at the very moment, with a defining sound a bright pillar of light fell on them, sucking them up and they disappeared from Proctor¡¯s sight leaving them baffled.


    Only two people there knew what had just happened: Delimira, who had previously experienced travelling through this and Eugene who dreamed of having this privilege added to his list. , and Eugene, who had always dreamt of being granted this privilege. The term "INGRESS" escaped both of their lips simultaneously, their eyes locking onto each other with understanding. Meanwhile, Hans had just finished selecting the destination ¨C the Eastern Checkpoint ¨C and, in an instant, all nineteen of them materialized before the checkpoint, leaving the SpaceDoor operators baffled.


    Since Eugene was aware that Hans wanted to maintain his anonymity, he confidently stepped forward. "It''s a divine blessing from our god. Now, let''s submit the loot before any more trouble shows up." He urged Cassady to act, but then he hesitated, recalling Hans''s request. "Wait, I almost forgot. Your captain wanted me to relay a message: ¡®Forget''¡ª"


    ¡°Forget about the dispellium and the Proctors trying to stop us, right?" Delimira finished the sentence, leaving Eugene bewildered. "How did you know?" He inquired, still perplexed, but received no reply. Delimira was deep in thought, well aware of what awaited the Proctors once they were alone with Hans. It was evident to her what was about to happen."Damn it," she muttered, moving away from Cherrina, who was supporting her. "We need to inform the deans. Hurry, there''s no time."


    Meanwhile, Hans chuckled as he closed the Command Centre, gazing at the stone in his hand with a sinister sneer. ¡°I really have a good head on my shoulders.¡± He laughed like a maniac, then retrieved another object from his pocket, a communication orb this time. The only way for the proctors to inform the outside world of what is happening here. Picked from the first victim of Hydra. It also served as the location pointer and the very reason he proficiently hunted the outer ring Proctors. Since they cost a fortune and there was nothing dangerous in the outer ring, they were given only one and it was already in Hans¡¯s hands. Looking deeply into it, Hans asked, ¡°Mirror mirror in my hand, tell me where those bastards stand.¡±


    GRIMGAR COLOSSEUM


    The SpaceDoor, which had transported them to Heat Riddance, gleamed as the Parvian team and Concordia exited. On the other side, they were met with scrutinizing and observant gazes. An announcement echoed through the area: "Concordia qualifies, Parv forfeited." However, the announcement didn''t concern everyone, especially not Aredhel and Sierra. The Dean of Mages was primarily focused on Delimira, who couldn''t even stand on her own. She rushed to Delimira''s side, along with Aredhel. The spells were cast one another, her focus was Delimira, but others were just healing in the presence of divine mana.


    The space travel had reopened the grave wound on her, but it soon closed under the focused efforts of Sierra and Delimira spoke, whispering, ¡°Teacher¡­ Hans..he ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let''s talk inside.¡± Sierra offered her support and took a brief look at the other students, ensuring no one required more immediate attention. Chris was still bandaged but it was not that she shared a soft spot for the child so another healer tended his wounds, and she took off with Delimira. But they couldn¡¯t shoo away the uninvited guests who barged in, - Arat and Norwin, both with different reasons. Sierra asked her healing student to continue but Delimira was hesitating, speaking before Norwin, and when it became apparent that he was not leaving. She started speaking, leaving crude details behind, ¡°Hans, he was left behind.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean left behind,¡± Rudolf inserted himself, agitated and seemingly ready to charge into Heat Riddance. But Norwin stepped in, saying, "My men won''t let him die, Rudolf.¡±


    Rudolf''s anger flared, and he retorted, "Do you think you can stop me, Norwin?"


    Norwin responded calmly, "No, nor do I want to. But the moment you step in, that child''s year''s worth of preparation will turn to dust. Do you want that? Be my guest.¡± Norwin sneered, continuing, ¡°You know the rules. If a guardian intervenes, even if the team qualifies, the individual needing rescue will be barred from entering the main event.¡±


    Rudolf clenched his fist, compelled. He knew how much Hans wanted to be in Glory Wars. Understanding her husband¡¯s turmoils, she asked Delimira, ¡°Does he need saving ¡ª¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Delimira interjected. ¡°It''s not him who needs saving, Teacher. Just get this Alliance head away. How can I say, in front of him, that his men would be as good as six feet under right now.¡±


    While she was struggling with how much to disclose, Hans was facing an odd situation. In the middle of the battle, a baffling thing was happening. ¡°Now, what? Is it pouting at me!¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 159 - The wrap-up before Junior League

    CHAPTER 159


    THE WRAPUP BEFORE THE JUNIOR LEAGUE


    Shortly after using Ingress, the proctors became certain that the boy they were tasked to stop, Hans, had not left with his team. They fanned out, thinking they might be holding him here, unaware that they were unknowingly closing in on their own doom.


    Two individuals, a fifth-circle mage and a knight of the sixtieth grade, came across Hans. Upon spotting them, Hans swiftly flung himself away from the proctors, inviting them to follow him and being bad luck shining on the proctors they started following Hans at full speed. The proctors were determined to restrain Hans, preventing his qualification for Glory Wars. However, the young Parvian was not one to adhere to others'' plans. As they chased him, Hans took a drastic turn, vanishing before their eyes.


    ¡°Creee!¡±A loud scream pierced the air, and a fist-sized object plummeted in front of them. Seeing fly past him, the mage taunted, ¡°You missed it, brat,"


    ¡°No, I did not ¡ª pluck.¡± Hans retorted, and with that, the crying seed transformed into The Vegan Carnage. Its numerous spear-tipped tentacles pierced the mage, draining him dry. "That''s odd," Hans mused, "it usually goes for the head."


    However, unlike his curiosity, the surviving proctor held different feelings. "What is this abomination?" the knight of the sixtieth grade exclaimed, shielding himself with his aura, attempting to deflect the spear-like attacks. Nonetheless, the attacks, quick and deceptive to the naked eye, began to inflict damage. What had initially caused minor cuts was now taking significant chunks of flesh with each strike. The knight found himself in a perpetual defensive stance, yet his aura reserves were dwindling rapidly, while the crying seed continued to pick up the speed. The inevitable outcome was clear. With no other options, the knight had to conserve his aura and flee. But it was like Hans had heard those thoughts.


    ~VoidZone~


    A hemisphere of mana, entirely under Hans''s control, hindered the knight''s aura regeneration, and a sudden cut from outside mana turned the situation dire for the knight. He shouted, pleading, "All we were ordered to do was stop you. We didn''t mean any harm¡ª"


    "Yeah, me too.¡± Hans responded calmly, ¡°All I wanted was to win. Why did you have to be on the wrong side?" Raising his head, he extended his hand and declared, "It''s time for you to pay.¡±


    ~SeedBullets x3~


    In a count of three, the wind-tearing metal pellets began targeting the knight. He was already overwhelmed by the presence of the strange creature, and the relentless downpour of bullets, reminiscent of dwarven machinery, only added to his impending doom. His aura shield suddenly faltered, and both the spear-like tentacles and SeedBullets tore through him, riddling him with holes.


    However, an unexpected turn of events followed. The crying seed, instead of vanishing as it usually did, fell silent. It was as if it were gazing intently at Hans. "What the heck? Just go away..." Hans was genuinely confounded. While this crying seed had displayed subtle changes before, nothing was as bizarre as this. The crying seed wobbled and quivered. ¡°What it is? Is that thing pouting?¡±


    Before he could finish his thought, the spear-tipped tentacles retracted slightly, lifting the seed a bit. It took on the appearance of a spider with a fist-sized body and oversized legs.


    ¡°What the hell.¡± The eerie spider-like creature locked a chilling gaze onto Hans, rendering him uneasy. ¡°Fuck this shit.¡± Hans levitated, prepared to make a hasty retreat. However, the crying seed took a step forward, wobbling and staggering like a newborn attempting to take its first steps. As Hans initiated his flight, the seed began to follow him, initially stumbling and rolling, but gradually it picked up the speed, matching Hans¡¯s movements in a spider-like manner.


    "Bloody hell, it can move now.¡± Hans exasperated.


    The spider-like creature seemed to be crying in excitement, but Hans knew, it was not like the seed wanted to hug him and call him mama. It was clear as his speared tentacles spared no opportunity for striking him down. Frustraded Hans cried, barely avoiding the sharp slash, ¡°Oh, come on, Just how fast is that thing.¡±


    After the love chase, both Hans and his wanting-to-eat-him pet meet the group of proctors, providing the crying seed with a new target to play with. "No, no, bad seed. Don''t kill them. I still need some of them alive." The massacre continued until every last proctor had been hunted down, and the seed eventually disappeared for good.


    "Now it''s even harder to control that thing alone. It wants to eat me too," Hans sighed. He glanced at the shiny stone and a smirk formed on his face. "Ho! My already inflated ego is about to burst. I must be the genius of the century... no, how does Samson used to say - yes, ''Calling me a genius is an insult.'' I can say it now too." He laughed manically. "Let''s return. But if I want to succeed in my plan, I should avoid checkpoints.¡±


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    Surveying the bloody mess around him, Hans realized what a terrifying existence the crying seed was. It took Alliance elites like a midnight snack. Shuddering by the thoughts, he gathered what he could, placing it all in the Parvian space pouch, and started his departure.


    "I might need to fly all the way. Heat Riddance and the Grimgar capital are a few hundred kilometres apart.¡± He talked to himself, planning his journey, ¡°I might need a few pit stops to recharge this thing, but I''ll reach on time."


    Hans opened his Command Centre, connecting with the only person he knew how to, Eugene. He asked him to pass another message that he had taken care of everything and not to make a mess before he arrived.


    GLORY WARS COLOSSEUM, GRIMGAR CAPITAL


    Upon receiving the message, Eugene hurried to Delimira. She seemed to know her prince well, so he wanted her to be informed. However, there was another reason too, a prominent one, the only place where non-participants were allowed was the infirmary, where she was recovering.


    The day after tomorrow, she was to take part in the main event, and Sierra was sparing no effort to make her top-notch again. But after she relayed what had actually happened in the Heat Riddance, Rudolf had to physically hold his wife back from blasting off to the capital


    Sierra was a world mage, an eighth-circle and there were several people stronger than her, but she possessed a spell called "God''s Wrath," a one-time-use spell capable of even killing Ancients. This made her a truly dangerous adversary because no one knew when she might snap and decide to erase everything around her.


    She was in the middle of balancing the dead mana and pure mana inside her, which had gone rampant after she was seriously injured. It required more precision than power, so it was taking an awful lot of time. Eugene''s sudden intrusion disturbed her. Holding her temper, she asked the reason. When Eugene relayed Hans''s words, her worries vanished.


    "He must have cooked up something good. I can''t wait to hear it," she commented, sending Eugene away.


    As the seventh day arrived, Hans¡¯s absence started to make Walter concerned more than anyone, ¡°He¡¯ll be on time, don¡¯t worry.¡± Rudolf tried to calm him but Walter¡¯s pacing did not cease. Meanwhile, there was an annoying guest who was as agitated as Walter, Dijkstra. He was loitering around Delimira since she came back.


    ¡°Just when are you planning to leave? You loony bastard.¡±


    ¡°Give it a rest Alastor, this is what, fifth time you¡¯ve asked me. I already told you, I can¡¯t defy Arat¡¯s orders. He wanted me to be here so I''m here.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Delimira curios for a long time, finally asked him.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what you are to Parv, don¡¯t you ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oye, lunatic. Shut your trap.¡± Rudolf came gaging him which made him spill more. He dodged Rudolf with his weird Warping steps and continued, ¡°You are special, at least until we decode ¡®Book of the Heroes¡¯ completely¡­.ooh.. this was supposed to be secret.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I was trying to stop you. You bastard. Why are you dragging that child in your war.¡± Rudolf shouted, almost fuming But Dijkstra, shrugged him off, retorting, ¡°Calm down, it''s not like I told her she is somewhat related to reviving our dead king, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you moronic bastard. You are doing this intentionally. Aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°opssies¡­¡± Dijkstra closed his mouth with one hand but there was no hint in his expression that it came out as an accident. Shrugging off he stated, ¡°Who knows? Life is fun when there is chaos.¡±


    ¡°Please, Shut up!¡± Walter interrupted, coming between the two grumpy oldies, ignoring the baffled Delimira who had info dumped suddenly. He was nervous and mumbling, ¡°Concordia didn''t secure the first position in the Higher League,"


    ¡°They came second, jeez¡­ what is up your ass. Calm down¡± Dijkstra interrupted, teasing Rudolf with his eyes, which only made him more frustrated. But Walter seemed lost in his own thoughts as he continued mumbling, "We lost so miserably in the senior league against those upstarts, what they call themselves - Devildom. We couldn¡¯t even manage to get second position¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, those were some scary bastards, they completed preliminaries with just six members. Even when little Sam gave that guy, what was his name? Ezekiel, a permanent trauma, I thought it would weaken their forces. But when you see all three of their members at the top, it makes you wonder, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Rudolf asked.


    ¡°Just how strong these toddlers become when they reach our level. That would be a fun fight.¡± Dijkstra mused.


    "Haa..." Walter sighed. Conversing with Dijkstra was always a one-way street, while Rudolf was a simpleton who didn''t grasp the complex power struggles. "If none of our teams scored a victory, the world we represent¡ªa non-noble power, a place where talent matters more than lineage¡ªcan''t afford to let them down. People can''t lose their faith in Concordia.¡±


    "Funny, isn''t it?" Dijkstra interrupted.


    "What?" Walter asked, curiosity in his eyes.


    "You say Concordia doesn''t represent noble lineage but talents. But what is your team made of? A Parvian prince, an excommunicated commander''s son, the daughter of the richest woman in this land, and who knows how many people from high society¡±


    The room fell silent, not because Dijkstra had pointed out something they didn''t know, but because they were taken aback by the witty argument he had just used ¡ªNot like Dijkstra at all.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, professor.¡± Delimira who was silently struck for a while, finally spoke, ¡°Even if Hans doesn¡¯t come. Concordia will win. You see I¡¯m quite the vengeful person myself.¡± She stated, her cyan eyes gleaming and her pupils turning vertically slit.It was clear that Hans wasn''t the only one preparing aces; she was exploring her traits from her father''s side.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 160 - I’m a Gift from the Gods (1)

    CHAPTER 160


    I''M A GIFT FROM THE GODS (1)


    Finally, on the eighth day, the day of the junior league''s Main Event, the Battle Rounds had arrived. The colossal arena bustled with an excited crowd, eagerly awaiting the start of the awaited junior league.


    Hodges, Vanir''s parents, students from Concordia, and many other citizens were eagerly watching the event. Vanir''s parents, who had already been startled by Hans''s earlier outburst, were also hoping for a favourable outcome, with Vanir''s father remarking, "It''s all good as long as he treats our son well." His friend''s words still weighed on him. However, his wife suddenly gripped his shoulders and exclaimed in excitement when she saw their son on the screen. "Look, there''s our son! He''s with... why is he there? Is he going to participate too?"


    Vanir himself was also puzzled, wondering why he was standing alongside Chris and Delimira on the representative stage and where his so-called mentor was. ¡°They are making quite a fuss, aren¡¯t they?¡± he commented and Delimira responded promptly, ¡°Of course, their entire elite group has gone missing.¡± She looked directly into Vanir¡¯s eyes, stressing ¡°You still think, it''s not related to your MENTOR.¡±


    No, that would be utter chaos, and Senior Hans is clever. He wouldn''t just act recklessly and throw himself into this.¡­whatchamacallit¡­mess, yes a bloody mess ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then you don¡¯t know your mentor very well. I can bet my whole savings, that no one is alive there.¡± The mention of a bet caught Vanir''s attention, briefly entertaining the idea of how much Hans would appreciate bringing him money.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± Chris stopped him from taking irretrievable steps, ¡°You''d have to bet your entire family fortune just to compete with her pocket money. But I agree with you... Hans may be reckless, but he''s not an idiot.¡±


    All were waiting for the sole person to appear. To know what exactly happened in the Heat Riddance. However, the expected person was nowhere to be found. This silence started to concern even the people from Concordia. They were seated beside the Parvians in the audience, and, having received their assistance, many had formed a friendly acquaintance with them.


    Eugene attempted to reach out to Hans but found his connection requests repeatedly denied. Meanwhile, Lux, a mage from Concordia, grumbled about recent changes to the Junior League. Due to the tight schedule, the main event, known as the battle round, was shortened to three participants per team.


    The screens lit up, shuffling the pairings of the nine qualified participants from the Knight Association, Mage Tower and his own Concordia. ¡°Come on, captain hurry.¡± He prayed for Hans to be not selected for the first round since his absence would disqualify him instantly but as Lux¡¯s close friends knew, there was no worse jinx than him. The first battle was announced - Hans of Concordia vs Ricardo of Knight Association.


    <table style="width: 89.983974%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 34.611532%" valign="top">


    Round 1


    </td>


    <td style="width: 38.176202%" valign="top">


    Round 2


    </td>


    <td style="width: 14.446516%" valign="top">


    Semi-final


    </td>


    <td style="width: 7.620492%" valign="top">


    Final


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 34.611532%" valign="top">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 38.176202%" valign="top">


    Delimira (CC) vs Manard (KA)


    </td>


    <td style="width: 14.446516%" valign="top"> </td>


    <td style="width: 7.620492%" valign="top"> </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 34.611532%" valign="top"> </td>


    <td style="width: 38.176202%" valign="top">


    Chris (CC) vs Obi (MT)


    </td>


    <td style="width: 14.446516%" valign="top">


    ???


    </td>


    <td style="width: 7.620492%" valign="top">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 34.611532%" valign="top"> </td>


    <td style="width: 38.176202%" valign="top">


    Gunnier (KA) vs Omar (MT)


    </td>


    <td style="width: 14.446516%" valign="top">


    ???


    </td>


    <td style="width: 7.620492%" valign="top"> </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 34.611532%" valign="top">Hans (CC) vs Ricardo (KA)</td>


    <td style="width: 38.176202%" valign="top">


    ??? Vs Arlin (MT)


    </td>


    <td style="width: 14.446516%" valign="top"> </td>


    <td style="width: 7.620492%" valign="top"> </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The roster of Battle rounds shown in the air, ¡°So Hans is fighting the extra round. Hey! loony,¡± Rudolf asked Dijkstra, sitting beside him, not by choice of course, ¡°I''m really curious, just what did you give to Norwin earlier? I mean the paper¡­¡± His sudden words not only attracted the subject in question but also everyone else sitting on the elevated platform. All were staring at Dijkstra. ¡°Oh, don''t make me blush¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just tell us already,¡± Arat interjected. He tried asking the same question, but Dijkstra was avoiding the topic like the plague. However, this time, it finally looked like he was going to tell, so Arat pushed him further, and it worked.


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    ¡°Fine! Fine! I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Dijkstra spoke, whispering, ¡°I wrote, or it was more of a challenge - If you are not a bastard of six fathers, then try stopping our prince.¡±


    ¡°Then all this mess is your doing ¡ª¡±


    ¡°It''s fun, isn¡¯t it? Norwin is easy to provoke and it fills an excitement to this mediocre shitshow¡ª¡±


    "You have no idea how many death warrants you''ve signed with that joke, do you?" Rudolf almost shouted, clenching the palm rest of the seat into nothingness.


    Meanwhile, Chris commented looking at the match pairing, "What kind of pairing is this?"


    "Who knows," Delimira answered, pointing above as she continued, "Maybe someone above wants to do some justice for us?"


    "DING." The bell for the battle rounds rang, and the familiar circle, the Judgment artefact, resurfaced over the arena. The examiner came forward, asking for both candidates to step up.


    "Ricardo from Knight Association, present," a tall boy marched forward from the other side. The examiner then turned towards Concordia''s side. "Hans from Concordia, present." A sound came, not from Concordia¡¯s stage but from the audience, and a figure jumped into the arena.


    He removed his cape, revealing a dusty face, reminiscent of a street beggar, and greeted the crowd. His eyes scanned the audience, searching for familiar faces, and landed on Walter, who stood with Delimira and Chris, both looking fine.


    ¡°What the hell is he doing up there.¡± His eyes couldn¡¯t ignore the jumping Vanir by their sides. Finally, his sight led to him on the scoreboard. ¡°We are quite lagging this year, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    Higher league


    1st - Gwen starlight (Mage tower of Sunfall)


    2nd - Jordan kale (Concordia)


    Senior League


    1st - Tywin (Devildom)


    2nd - Gemini (Devildom)


    Junior League


    1st - ???


    2nd - ???


    ¡°Devildom, these upstarts really need an exorcism.¡± He mumbled. Meanwhile, Chris was baffled, and muttered, ¡°I was near the SpaceDoor all night, just when did he come¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who knows? He is here that matters.¡± Walter, coughed, instructing Delimira and Chris, ¡°Don¡¯t lose, I¡¯ve betted my entire fortune on you three¡ª¡± All three stared at Walter like some disgusting thing so he defended himself, ¡°Hey! I¡¯m an adult. Can¡¯t I gamble a bit?¡±


    Far from the noisy side of Concordia, the examiner wasted no time and addressed both candidates, confirming, ¡°This is not a spar or a duel; it''s a battle for the honour of your institutions, but you are not allowed to kill.¡± Pointing to the Judgement artefact above, he added, ¡°It won''t permit any artefacts or foul play, and it restricts anyone from interfering. This means we can''t stop the battle once it begins. So if any of you kills one, you will be barred from Glory Wars forever. To win, you must either knock out your opponent or make them submit.¡± He looked at both again, ¡°If either of you wants to opt-out, say so now.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Hans grinned, stealing glances at the powerhouses seated high, ¡°That¡¯s why, I showed in the exact moment, so none can ask me what happened.¡± Taking a long breath, he answered the Examiner¡¯s question. ¡°No,¡±


    Ricardo from the Knight Association gave the same response, and the audience erupted in cheers. They remembered how Hans had subdued a Devildom member, the dark horse of this year''s Glory Wars, with just a glare. Their expectations were soaring, as they had paid big bucks to be here. To see Concordia trampling on high horses of tower and Association, but nothing worthy of their spent money was seen. They expected a little from the junior league, but it was all that they could pin their hopes on.


    The examiner signalled the artefact to be activated and stated, ¡°Fight with honour ¡ª¡±


    Hans interrupted the examiner, remarking, "There''s no need to involve Mr. Honor in Miss Revenge''s business," as he stared wickedly at Ricardo, like a predator looking down on its prey.


    "Whatever. Introduce yourselves and begin," the examiner declared before stepping aside, leaving them in an awkward staring contest. The young knight, Ricardo, decided to break the silence by introducing himself first, saying, "I''m Ricardo, a grade 28 Knight and the second son of Viscount Klegor of Utar." He drew a fancy sword and pointed it at Hans, taunting, "And who are you, peasant?¡±


    "I''ll tell you later," Hans replied, his gaze fixed on the calm and expectant audience. "Let''s give them a battle they''ll remember for a lifetime." He then bent down on one knee and gently touched the ground.


    "What?" Ricardo, surprised, began to mock him, saying, "Bowing out this ear¡ªdrrr...dr..thud." Suddenly, the ground started shaking, with Hans at the epicentre.


    ¡°You see, I reached the capital early. So I had a lot of time preparing.¡± Hans mumbled, maintaining a sharp gaze on confused Ricardo, ¡°This whole arena, I¡®ve rigged it from below. It''s my territory, and you''re in for a nightmare."


    Yesterday night Hans had tunnelled several wood gems and mana stones he robbed from the corpses of proctors, his vines had dug like a mole, concealing their entire wealth on this very grounds.¡°It''s not that using mana resources was banned but the Chairman said the more intimidating a spell looks more psychological damage it does. Can¡¯t believe I¡¯m doing this just for show.¡±


    The tremors began to intensify, prompting even Warlords in the audience to stand up, not because they felt threatened, but because individuals of their calibre understood what was unfolding. "Even if it''s Hans, this is simply not possible," one of the students commented, surprising those seated nearby. Another student had been about to ask him what he meant when Hans interrupted with a shout.


    ~WoodGolem: Giant Serpent~


    Raising his hand, Hans slammed the ground, and the earth responded with tremors, sending a huge shockwave through the arena. Spectators rose from their seats as they witnessed the ground crack open. A massive serpent-like creature, made from wood and foliage, its jaws wide and fiery red eyes glaring, erupted from behind Hans, towering over him and fixing its gaze on his trembling opponent.


    To those familiar with alchemy, it was recognized as a golem. However, to many others in the audience, it seemed as though the young boy on the screen had pulled a creature out of nowhere. The crowd cheered, seeing something incredible for a change while Arat commented, ¡°He is like an onion,¡±


    He was genuinely surprised by the fact that they were seeing an alchemist in junior league and the boy was even more proficient and quicker than what Devildom people shown off in Senior league. He was filled with pride and listening to him, Dijkstra, sharing his sentiments, supported his words, ¡°Yeah, no matter how many layers you peel, he¡¯ll always have something underneath.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 161 – Gift from the Gods (2)

    CHAPTER 161


    GIFT FROM THE GODS (2)


    Ricardo, the knight facing Hans, couldn''t believe his eyes. ¡°You gotta be fuckin with me!¡± He thought, ¡°How big it is, 80...no..100 metres? The colossal creature before him far surpassed anything he had seen in the Glory Wars. ¡°Even the senior league people didn¡¯t go this far. What the heck he is?¡± He shouted inside but what bewildered him even more was how swiftly it had materialized. Golems typically took weeks or even months to create, but this had happened in an instant.


    He considered the possibility of Hans using a summoning trinket, but the presence of the radiant Judgment artefact above them ruled out that explanation. ¡°Fooling the Judgment artefact is not a possibility. If he was that capable. He wouldn¡¯t have lost to us back then.¡± He reassured himself, unaware that they had employed Dispellium, the bane of Hans''s magic.


    ¡±Meanwhile, Hans and his golem serpent, both locked eyes with Ricardo, menacingly staring and ready to pounce on him at any moment. ¡°You say, you are grade 28. You must have mastered at least two aura skills. Hmm¡­you use wind aura, how ironic¡­My father was a wind knight¡ª Swish.¡± His words were interrupted by none other than his own golem, whipping its enormous tail at Ricardo.


    Skill - WindStep


    Ricardo manifested his aura, propelling himself into the air to dodge the incoming tail with lightning reflexes. However, with extreme agility, the tail''s momentum couldn''t be halted, and it crashed into the protective barrier separating the audience from the arena. ¡°Boom!¡± The sheer impact sent a wave of tremors to the spectators, nearly stopping their hearts.


    The cheers followed after the sudden silence as the audience craved more excitement. They were taken aback by the crashing sound. The Serpent looked like it was modelled after the Great Mamba, a class three beast but it was made from foliage and stones, so they presumed it to be a weakened structure, but the flexibility and weight of that strike was similar to the real deal itself.


    The colossal serpent coiled back, slithering toward Hans, sending shivers down Ricardo''s spine. "He could swat me like a fly.¡± Ricardo thought after narrowly evading the initial attack. But Hans was not going to stop here. One after another, the tail whip continued, raining from all sides. Its massive body was not any hindrance to its speed, and it was probably the quickest golem that any of the higher-ups had seen till now. They even began to doubt whether it was a golem or a mana beast.


    However, Hans was neither interested in their thoughts nor chatter. All he wanted was to slam that knight before him. But the Knight association had raised Ricardo with resources, care, and practical knowledge. And like any, Ricardo knew that the surefire way to defeat the golem was to take out the core or the controlling caster.


    Skill - TempestCut


    A swift crescent slash, imbued with razor-sharp wind aura, sped toward Hans. Its rapid approach left Hans with no escape. He was a mage not a knight with quick reflexes, so he blocked in a very mage way. His serpent, putting its head between Hans and the crescent aura attack. The result was just as he had anticipated: the serpent''s maw was split in two. If the attack had reached a bit further, it might have also capsized Hans.


    Seeing his attack work, a glimmer of hope graced Ricardo. He prepared for another attack. However, that hope slipped away as he witnessed the serpent''s cleaved head rapidly mend itself, erasing any traces of prior injuries. Suddenly, he heard his Team In-charge¡¯s voice, shouting from their platform, urgently advising, "Take out the caster, hurry.¡±


    But to reach the caster seemed an impossible task, for Ricardo, at least with the given circumstances. The serpent Golem was protecting Hans like a mother beast protecting her cub. ¡°All I can do now is wait for the magic within the golem to run out,¡± Ricardo concluded.


    And it was indeed true, as the golem''s large frame couldn''t be sustained by just a few mana stones. Hans had already spent his fortune by creating Hydra and the proctors he hunted were flat broke. ¡°Darn, those beggars.¡± He cursed again, as he stared down at Ricardo.


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    While Ricardo was barely evading the earth-shattering slams, right and left but suddenly the serpent shot something at him. ¡°Come meet your maker, peasant¡± he shouted in excitement, to see the projectile was none other than Hans himself. He welcomed him with open arms, one wielding a sword while one carrying an immense aura by the grip. He thought taking out a mage in close range was favourable to the knight and he was not alone in thinking that, every viewer watching, right at the Colosseum or far away through broadcast thought that too.


    They were quite far and amid his journey, Hans¡¯s hands armoured up, by the tough metallic vines, forming a piercing gauntlet, one taking the brunt of the sword strike while the other delivered a cheap gut punch, almost forcing Ricardo to puke his breakfast out.


    The punch was so strong, the strength not expected from a mage, and aiding the momentum, it sent Ricardo flying. ¡°Where are you going, I¡¯m not done with you..¡± Hans proclaimed. His will seemed to be heeded by his golem, which swiftly moved into position to catch the airborne knight. As Ricardo reached the serpent, it opened its massive mouth and enveloped him within.


    The sight resembled that of an owner feeding his enormous pet. With Ricardo captured within the golem, it slithered toward Hans and swallowed him too. Now in the arena, it stood, raising its head, welcoming the confused looks of everyone. However, after a few minutes, it spat out Ricardo, battered and bruised. While lowering its head, it opened its mouth once more, allowing its owner to step out, holding Ricardo''s sword in one hand.


    No one knew what happened inside the belly of Golem but Hans and his victim, who was first electrocuted, and then barraged by the armoured gauntlets. As Ricardo staggered to his feet, disoriented with his sword, not in his hands, he couldn''t help but exclaim, "What the fuck is he?" In response, Hans thrust the sword into the ground and lunged at him with astonishing speed. He delivered a series of brutal punches, all aimed at Ricardo''s face, and proclaimed, "Time for round two!" With that, he hurled the battered knight into the gaping maw of his drooling serpent.


    He then waited, getting ready, picking up the one-handed sword, and said to his serpent, ¡°Give it to me, boy¡­Swoosh!¡± Ricardo was spitted out again, aimed at Hans but this time burned in several places. Everyone wondered what was in the belly of the serpent, but their thoughts went awry when Hans, in a fluid motion, took first and then second of Ricardo¡¯s arm by his own sword, lastly stabbing it at his back, whispering to the armless pinned down knight, ¡°Don¡¯t die. I''ve yet to introduce myself.¡±


    Hans looked upwards, and the audience fell into stunned silence. Representatives from other countries shared the same bewildered expressions. Finally, he turned his gaze toward Norwin and flashed a sinister smirk. With his face stained by splattered blood, now smeared in crimson, he began to levitate, rising to the same elevated level as Norwin and the other dignitaries, including Arat who moved there when the battle began, feeling proud every second.


    He can fly, everyone was wondering the same, but Hans was not in the mood to humour them. He was here, right at this moment to declare something. His malevolence reached an all-time high. His rage surged the mana around and finally, he snapped. His eyes locked right at Norwin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it squeaky?¡± Rudolf mumbled, ¡°For fuck sake, don¡¯t do it¡ª¡±


    ¡°Zwoom!¡±A sudden wave followed by a deep red hemisphere light encased the humongous Colosseum. The moisture within turned into droplets, levitating in air, at the faces of all trapped within. The people were having a hard time breathing. Several artefacts started failing, some of their magic stopped working while some went haywire with the exception of the Judgement artefact hanging above the Colosseum.


    The scene couldn¡¯t help Arat but wonder about the old phrase that every Parvian must¡¯ve heard once. He started humming in a low voice,


    When the blood soils the sky and the rain paints the land red


    The Parvian sun shall rise, filling the world with dread.


    It was an old phrase, not of Parvian origin, but rooted in elven prophecy. This very phrase had long fueled the enmity between Parv and Clandor, and now the Clandorian Royals found themselves witnessing it unfold before their eyes.


    "I''m Hans," declared the levitating young man, his voice amplified by the power of the VoidZone, something he had never achieved before. After a brief pause, he continued, ¡°And this is what happens when you stand in my way.¡± He emptied the parvian pouch, unloading the battered, butchered and unrecognisable corpses all over the arena. A silent scream welled up within the throats of the onlookers, but the immense pressure of the VoidZone prevented them from uttering a word.


    ¡°They wanted to drag me in this mud fight. If I¡¯ve no choice but to step in, I better be the centre of it. I''m not my father. Many might argue but he was a kind man.¡± He stared deep at Norwin, even with the vast difference of levels, he stared right at them, and continued, ¡°My father, a weakling, if I must say. He left many enemies alive. I''m not weak like him and I certainly do not like leaving loose ends. Whether it''s boot-liking beggars or shit-eating kings.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 162 – Gift from the Gods (3)

    CHAPTER 162


    GIFT FROM THE GODS(3)


    ¡°The audacity of this bastard,¡± Norwin¡¯s voice echoed, shaking off the red VoidZone. However, this only further infuriated Hans. He intensified his control, exerting immense pressure through heavy mana on the others, though it meant little against someone of Norwin''s calibre. The first ranked Knight even added, asking Hans, ¡°Do you have any fucking idea what you are doing ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Saving your skin.¡± Hans declared, leaving everyone, even Sierra, who had been prepared to unleash her one-time-use spell to obliterate Norwin, utterly surprised. "What?" Norwin questioned even more loudly than before. Yet, his infuriating reaction merely brought a wicked smile to Hans''s face.


    "I couldn''t restrain myself when they were tarnishing your reputation," Hans proclaimed, his voice strong and clear. "You see, I have a knack for stumbling into trouble, so my sister made me carry this at all times." From his pocket, he produced the shiny stone, revealing it to the world. "Yes, it''s a memory stone." Activating it, he continued, "And as you can see, I have evidence."


    The memory stone projected an image of Hans holding a proctor by the throat, demanding, "Who sent you?" But the proctor remained mute, in a condition similar to Ricardo at present.


    ¡°Loyalty, I like that. But you see.¡± Hans pointed out, ¡°There are so many of you, others can speak too, you know.¡± Hans shifted his gaze downward, and the perspective changed, focusing on a weird entity battling other proctors. Hans yelled, "Here, boy. Take this," and hurled the man he had been holding toward the strange creature. As the battered proctor''s body entered its proximity, numerous spider-like legs sprang into action, shredding the entire body into noodles.


    Hans turned away from the spider-like creature and observed several proctors struggling. "Eeny, meany, miny, moe...what comes after this... well, who cares," he mused, pointing at a random injured proctor. He then picked him up, and intimidated him, ¡±Now, tell me who ordered you to pull this nonsense, or I''ll throw you like your friend.¡±


    Hans was showing his second victim to others, although in reality, the proctors had witnessed him perform such actions several times, including summoning the strange spider creature. Understanding his fate well, the injured proctor revealed, "King Norwin ordered us¡ª¡°


    ¡°How dare you drag an honourable man like him in this. Die¡± he threw him like the previous one and the same thing followed a few more times. And when the number of proctors dwindled to a handful. Hans¡¯s question started to change. He was asking another, ¡°I¡¯m just gonna ask this once, who wants to make a rift between Concordia and Alliance.¡±


    ¡°I do not know, please spare me..¡± The proctor begged but Hans stressed once again, ¡°I''m giving you another chance, tell me who wants to sow discord between Alliance and Concordia.¡±


    ¡°I only received orders from Alliance to ¡ª¡±


    ¡°You lying piece of crap! Why would King Norwin want me dead? He has no reason. You dare to tarnish his reputation.¡± Hans interrupted, infuriated.


    While Norwin shared his feelings for whole another reasons.¡°Put an end to this madness," Norwin requested his aide, fully comprehending Hans''s intentions. However, she shook her head in disappointment. "We can''t intervene; the match isn''t over," she pointed to the still-active judgment artefact. "No one has been declared the winner yet," she continued, gesturing towards the gagged and bleeding Ricardo. ¡°That brat is using the judgement artefact as his protection ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then stop the broadcast or something ¡ª¡±


    "We can''t," she shook her head again, indicating the broadcasting artefact within the arena, bathed in the light of the judgment artefact. "I hate to admit it, but I''m impressed," She unconsciously uttered those words reminding him of another time in the past. Clenching his fist, he remembered the time of his prime, while Hans¡¯s shenanigan continued. That brat was walking over him like his father did before. The time, when he was challenged for knight rankings, and his first place slipped by his hand all because of one man, Samson.


    ¡°So this is the best this world could offer, a shame, indeed¡± he recalled those words, those very eyes looking down on him, and remembered his most humiliating moment when he had been growling on the ground. King Norwin of Grimgar, the mighty ruler, had been beaten and battered, and his opponent hadn''t even used a sword in the swordfight but had taken down the top-ranked knight with bare fists. The blow to his pride on that day was akin to what Hans was currently inflicting


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    He snapped back to the present as Hans began to address him, "Help me, O hero king, Norwin, the head of the Alliance. Bring me justice. I wish to know who wanted to use my life to create a rift between Concordia and the Alliance. I risked my life to bring you this evidence. I couldn''t even use the checkpoints in Heat Riddance for fear of how many were involved in this. Please, investigate." Hans bowed, placing his fist over his heart, mimicking the way the Grimgar royal family greeted their elders, adding yet another layer of insult to Norwin''s wounded pride.


    Norwin was outright speechless and the other guests shared his stunned silence. Hans decided to address them all this time, "Dignitaries of powerful nations, a humble existence like me, just want to know who was trying to use my life to achieve their goal. I implore the World Leader, the head of the Alliance, to deliver justice for me."


    ¡°Agh..¡± Norwin groaned, wanting to lash out, but his astute aide applied pressure, preventing him from losing his composure. She whispered, "The world is watching, sir. To them, he''s just a young boy seeking justice from the highest pillar of the law. You can''t just go nuts here. The Sword Faith will become weak. Everyone who trusts you blindly is looking at you now. Do you want to spoil your years of dedication, your persona of justice to fall because of a little turd.¡±


    ¡°Fine..¡± Norwin finally spoke, ¡°I''ll FIND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS¡ª¡±


    ¡°One more thing, Hero King. Please protect me in Grimgar¡­ I fear, my disclosing this grand scheme has put a target on my back. Please save my life.¡±


    Many who understood the situation struggled to suppress their laughter, while others praised the child who had fought his way to reveal this information. In the meantime, Norwin was so agitated that his aura began to shake the entire colosseum. His aide once again placed a hand on his shoulder, signalling him to control his temper. Before he could respond, Hans interrupted, saying, "Oh, my apologies. My request may have come across as rude. I must have lost my wits to think that someone could harm me when the Alliance head is personally overseeing my situation. I apologize again."


    ¡°Pfft¡­¡± some broke out chuckles, they couldn¡¯t hold themselves seeing a kid playing Norwin like a banjo. However, for the participants from the Knight Association and Mage Tower who were aware of the actual situation, this was like a bone stuck in their throats. A boy of twelve or thirteen, whom they had looked down upon, had defeated an entire team of elite Alliance soldiers and had now reduced Ricardo, one of the strongest members of their side, to begging for mercy.


    Not aware of their thought process, Hans wore a genuine smile, a stark contrast to his brutal actions up until that point, and the VoidZone vanished, providing relief to those who had struggled to breathe during its presence. ¡°That''s why I chose the perfect timing when even the most powerful knight can only dance to my tune. Your own artefact is protecting me Alliance ¡±


    ¡°Thank you," he said, bowing once again to Norwin, before returning to the ground. His leisurely walk towards Ricardo filled the latter with dread. As per Hans''s earlier command, the heavily battered Ricardo felt his restraints loosen, and even the gag in his mouth came free. "You can surrender now.¡± He whispered with a cherry mood and an innocent smile. His expressions creeping the hell out of him.


    With Ricardo shouting for surrender, the judgement artefact got deactivated and Hans proudly marched towards his members. ¡°Deli,¡± Chris asked her, glaring at Hans¡¯s march back, ¡°He can use Golems, and what was that red light? How are we supposed to compete against him ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t play with me Chris, you are keeping some secrets of your own, aren¡¯t you?¡± She was speaking to him but her eyes were giving death stare to Hans. She commented further, ¡°He needs to be at least this strong for me to have a satisfactory revenge.¡±


    With a sharp "Zzzing," the announcement echoed through the arena, and Hans''s name was advanced to the second group. The roster for the next round appeared on the screens:


    Chris (CC) vs Obi (MT)


    Delimira (CC) vs Mannard (MT)


    Gunnier (KA) vs Omar (MT)


    Hans (CC) vs Arlin (MT)


    The announcer then declared a ten-minute break. The whole team swiftly made their way to the Concordia¡¯s platform, all waiting for their phenomenal captain to return. They were all enthralled by Hans¡¯s victory and the way he took revenge on those proctors. They were full of questions and excitement, ready to fire away at Hans. However, Rudolf beat them to it, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.


    ¡°How can you fly?¡± Rudolf always wanted this skill but all he could do was jump but not fly. Flying was an exclusive domain of wind attribute mages and knights so he was jealous of the fact that Hans being a Wood mage could fly.


    Rudolf''s enthusiasm for answers was written all over his face. So, Hans cast a sly glance at Aredhel and replied, "People keep tossing me from heights, testing if I can fly. I can''t disappoint them, can I?"


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 163 – Dominating the Battle Rounds (1)

    CHAPTER 163


    DOMINATING THE BATTLE ROUNDS (1)


    He was talking in his usual casual tone as if he were speaking to his grandfather, rather than addressing the dean of Knights. The rush of victory and walking over Norwin¡¯s agitated face seemed to have momentarily made him forget the context. However, a swift smack on the back of his head from Walter served as a reminder that he wasn''t alone. Hans quickly corrected his tone and answered while fidgeting with the pendant.


    ¡°A little elf gave me a generous gift.¡±


    Walter''s reaction was one of genuine surprise. He exclaimed, "That trinket!" He was well aware of the pendant''s origins; it was more than just jewellery. His intelligence had also uncovered its secret ¨C a wind gem securely encased within. Yet, no one seemed capable of detecting its true nature. "It''s an artefact... but you can''t use an artefact inside the judgment dome." He pointed upward, indicating the very factor that had made Hans bold in front of Norwin.


    "Who says it''s an artefact? Stupid Clando... I mean, its previous owners didn''t know shi... I mean, they were unaware of the method to use it."


    A relic of the past that no one knew how to use was intriguing for everyone listening, especially for Walter who liked collecting odd things. ¡°Do you wanna sell it?¡± Walter proposed.


    "No way, you''re asking for my limbs here," Hans quickly denied, shaking his head. But Walter was no novice when it came to getting what he wanted. He persisted, "How about 5000 credits?"


    ¡°5000¡­means 500,000 gold¡­ No, get your shit together, you idiot. You can fly with this thing.¡± Hans''s distracted face turned focused, and he firmly rejected the offer. While Walter was undoubtedly disappointed, he didn''t want to spend the entire break bargaining. Instead, he asked the question that had piqued everyone''s curiosity, "Just what was the thing hunting proctors¡ª¡°


    ¡°That! I really have no clue about it. It was not supposed to go down that way.¡± Hans was confused himself. Crying seed ran on instinct before, but now it showed signs of intelligence and even moved. His once invincible weapon just turned into a double-edged sword that also saw him as prey. He shivered at the mere thought of it, but Walter asked another question, the most important one, ¡°Are there any witnesses? I know you just threw shit on Norwin¡¯s face publicly. I¡¯m asking if there is someone left problematic ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I''m not that sloppy. No one will remember when there¡¯s no one to remember, right Professor?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I raised you well,¡± Walter said chuckling, but Rudolf had his own opinions. He knew Norwin wouldn¡¯t take this lying. Hans¡¯s stunt might have cornered the Alliance head and made him untouchable for the time being. Since his little boy¡¯s life was now the reputation of the world¡¯s first-rank knight. However, it also marked him as the clear enemy in Norwin¡¯s eyes. Rudolf finally spoke, his words coming from his heart, ¡°Remember kid, always thinking yourself as invincible is a disease. Many far stronger than you perished thinking the same.¡±


    ¡°I know g¡­ Dean. I was asked to pass the things I can¡¯t handle to elders. It''s not just a matter between me and that trashy first rank. I dragged two giants - Concordia and Alliance in the cute prank he pulled me in. I also know I can¡¯t be as passive as before.¡± Hans looked at the high seat, at the grumpy Hero King, muttering, ¡°He must be feeling so restless now.¡±


    Meanwhile, Chris was in turmoil, thinking, ¡°Do, I have to use it against Hans.¡± He looked at his friend, laughing and depicting all the things he had done during two days. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll put my everything on the line to fight you, my friend.¡± He concluded, ¡°That¡¯s the most honourable thing I can do as a knight. So you better bring your A-game or you¡¯ll lose¡ªZzzing..¡± The signal for the second round, the first match sounded and Chris jumped into the arena without looking back. His name announcing loudly, ¡°Chris of Concordia vs Obi of Mage Tower.¡±


    Chris gazed at his opponent, a slender figure with a coy smile. "Why is my first opponent a girl?" He glanced at the audience, where his father watched from afar. "Finally, he''s out of that prison-like home. I want to show him that he can rely on me," he muttered. "Father, just wait a bit. I''ll prove myself here, so instead of being remembered as a traitor, you''ll be remembered as my father. And for this, I must break the promise I made to you." He turned to his opponent. A mage versus a knight often resulted in the knight''s victory, but Hans was a prime example that it wasn''t always true. "I need to overwhelm her¡ª"


    ¡°Hey, Chris.¡± Hans interrupted, shouting from the back, so he turned. ¡°Remember, gender equality. You better bury her or else ¡ª¡± Chris raised his hand, hinting he understood, ¡°Yes, I got my answer. She is a mage before a girl.¡± Raising his sword, extended forward, resting on his left wrist with the point threatening the opponent. The starting stance of imperial swordsmanship.


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    While her opponent started channelling her mana, ¡°So, does your wound still ache? Captain used a nasty pain enhancer drug ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I thought,¡± pointing at his back, Chris interrupted, ¡°Hans was the only blabbermouth in fighting. I guess all mages are the same.¡± Bending his knee a bit, he lowered his body, ready to launch himself forward, his purple aura engulfing him like wildfire. As there was distance between them, the girl Obi started with quick casting.


    ~Fireballer~


    ¡°Dud..dud..dud¡± fireballs rained like a Gatling going off, rapidly shooting at Chris. It was quick and filled with precision. Chris was only managing to avoid it by hair¡¯s breadth, and the more he moved, the more accurate it started to become.


    ¡°Run like a horned rabbit. Eventually, I will corner you.¡± Obi taunted, ¡°Our mage tower is far ahead of others, integrating tracking formulas in our spells.¡±


    ¡°If I can¡¯t avoid it, I¡¯ll have to take it head-on.¡± Chris stopped evading, his aura reaching to full grade 30. He deployed the aura shield, a technique of shrouding himself in toughened aura sheets. One after another a layered barrier formed around his body and took the pulsing fireballs directly. The force of the impact was not something he could cancel, and it started to show as he began to be pushed back. Moving several feet away from his initial position.


    However, every spell has constraints for how long it can be maintained and Fireballer came to its limit too. With a horizontal slash, he cut off the smoke, blowing it away and got ready, taking his initial stance again. ¡°I¡¯m coming, get ready.¡±


    Skill - Surge


    Transforming his stored aura into its original form, lightening, which coursed in his body giving him a god-like reflex for a short time and aided with the trickiest swordsmanship. He reminded others of Rudolf, a terror for any mage.


    ¡°Where is he?¡± Hans jumped from his seat, his ManaVision trying to locate Chris but the only thing he could catch a glimpse of was lightning moving at super speed, ¡°This is troublesome.¡± He thought focusing on Chris¡¯s movements in the arena. ¡°So he can do this!¡±


    Meanwhile, Chris shouted at Obi, declaring, ¡°You are not my target. Get Lost!¡±


    He was well-versed in tackling mages, his training since birth had given him many experiences. ¡°She wants me in close combat.¡± He looked at the obvious openings asking him to just close the distance. It was a commonly accepted convention that in close-range combat, a knight typically held a significant advantage, but seeing Hans handling things. Chris already had forgone that prejudice. He lunged close, superimposing over Surge skill, and he added another.


    Skill - Crescent Moon strike


    As he shouted the name, many turned their attention from the boy to a grumpy old man grinding his teeth. It was Rudolf¡¯s self-created skill, a concentrated charged lightning arc, a horizontal strike travelling ahead of the body, destroying any obstacle before the knight. It was a magnificent copy of the Warlord¡¯s skill, and the creator himself wasn¡¯t the only one surprised.


    The attack basically destroyed every spell Obi was casting to stop Chris¡¯s charge. It was fast and like other mages, she also lacked mobility. The very reason why it was said a knight always wins in close combat with a mage.


    ¡°So he copied Dean¡¯s skill.¡± Cherrina the group¡¯s healer asked, so Walter responded, ¡°He is good but not that good. It''s probably his father¡¯s doing. Do you think anyone could become the left commander of Golden Griffins? That man can deduce skills just by seeing it once.¡± Walter pointed by the finger, ¡°Look Crescent moon is not over yet.¡±


    Hans had never seen his grandfather use any of his skills before and he never got into any serious fight with Chris so his aura skills were still a mystery for him. So, paying attention to every detail he focused on the arena.


    Destroying the spells like an unstoppable landslide, the crescent moon passed through Obi, jolting her with its electrifying force, leaving her wounded with a slashing pain that drew blood. But as Walter had said this was not the end of Crescent moon strike, it was a skill of Rudolf Edenberg the ninth rank holder of the world; the slashing energy, having pierced through the mage, halted a few meters behind her before swiftly returning to Chris''s sword. Once more, it pierced through her, dealing a physical blow to her back. Despite anticipating the impending strike, she remained immobilised due to the lingering effects of an earlier assault.


    She had a deep slash from front and as well as from back on top of that she couldn''t access her muscles or mana, Chris moved towards her, glancing back at Hans who seemed to be lipsing ¡ª¡°Do it. Do it¡±


    He sighed and turned back to stunned Obi who couldn¡¯t even speak. ¡°You were saying something about my wounds, aching,¡± he asked, stating, ¡°don¡¯t hate me much, I¡¯m just returning your favour.¡±


    With a loud war cry, he stabbed right at the place where he was stabbed, avoiding any vital organs but inflicting the same pain that he felt. After pulling the sword from her back he threw the mage, making an arch of trail of blood in the air. ¡°She is done.¡± He declared, marching back to his team. This marked Concordia¡¯s junior team¡¯s second ruthless victory. It was evident to all that these two were out for blood.


    The one who was cheering like crazy was none other than Hans. Jumping in excitement, he welcomed the victor by bear hugging him, almost choking him.¡°You are a bad influence, Hans. I was a good boy. A really good boy.¡± Chris mumbled, he was a calm-natured person and followed the codes of a knight, wowed to uphold them, so when he pierced the helpless Obi everyone who knew him well was surprised but the Audience was like Hans. They came here to see the blood, and what is better than the Mage tower or the Association¡¯s blood which looked down on them. So they eagerly waited for the third person from Concordia, the pretty girl from the trio.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 164 - Dominating The Junior League (2)

    CHAPTER 164DOMINATING THE JUNIOR LEAGUE (2)


    Chris was trying to calm his palpitating heart, but Hans playfully interjected into his conversation, wearing a smirk. "So, how are you feeling, coming to the dark side?¡±


    "Mostly liberating, but I''ll stay in the light," Chris replied, casting a quick glance at Delimira. "At least one of us has to stay sane; we already have two crazies among us, don''t you think?"


    Delimira picked up on the banter, "I''m not haemophilic like you two," she pointed out. She turned her focus to her opponent and declared, "But sometimes, it''s only right to let them know who they''re messing with."


    Despite their playful exchange, Chris felt a sense of completeness when he let go of his usual moral restraint and allowed his energy to flow unrestrained. He pressed his chest, sensing his heart beating loudly. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know, but calm down a bit. It''s not the time for your introduction.¡±


    The next match marked Delimira''s debut, and as she rose to her feet and gracefully made her way to the arena, her enchanting presence captivated everyone. Her rapier dangled elegantly at her side, a sight that intrigued many, given her mage background. Some in the audience were puzzled, but the astute and wealthy merchants who had placed bets on the contestants had already gathered significant information about them. They were aware that, following the former queen of Grimgar, another sword mage had emerged in this era, and she was precisely the dazzling figure before their eyes. Bets were flying, and the battle was declared: Delimira, a second-circle mage of Concordia, against Mannard, a knight of grade twenty-eight from the association. The match had begun.


    ¡°You see, what I hate the most is being a drag to someone and you people just have to do that ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey, we had no choice but to follow ¡ª¡±


    ¡°I was talking, cut me again and I¡¯ll literally return the favour.¡±


    ¡°Look girl, I¡¯m giving you a ch¡­choice¡­fuck¡­I surr ¡ª¡± he couldn¡¯t even speak a word. His speech faltered, interrupted by an overwhelming fear that enveloped him. With a single gesture, her hand sent shivers down his spine. Her once-human eyes elongated into serpent-like slits, glowing with a captivating yet terrifying intensity. Her fingers transformed into menacing talons, gleaming like polished obsidian. Sinister scales, sleek and iridescent emerged, covering the entire length of her hand. They shimmered with a dangerous lustre, shifting between shades of deep blue and obsidian. These scales were not mere decoration; they were the armour of an otherworldly predator.


    With a swift, graceful movement, she raised her hand, which now bore the unmistakable traits of her beastly lineage. As she waved her hand, it resembled the deadly swipe of a classless beast¡¯s claw. The intense pressure she was emanating was something else but many who once felt this understood how she was using it. The air crackled with energy as the force originating from her single wave sliced through the atmosphere, leaving behind faint trails of smouldering sparks and colliding with the barrier that stood past her opponent.


    The barrier, once a formidable defence between the audience and the bloodbath of the arena, quivered under the sheer force of her attack. A network of cracks spread like lightning across its surface, ¡°Crack! Crack! Crack!¡± She fixed her gaze upon Mannard, his eyes bloodshot and his body seemingly oozing blood from every possible opening. He only took the attack by a margin and he was in his worst possible state. Towering over him, she spoke with her now modified voice, deep and reverberating, ¡°Piss off.¡±


    When the fear of her was gone from him, he realised the pain he suffered. He screamed in agony. Many didn¡¯t understand what happened, some were expecting her to use Krosh art, not a beast transformation and Hans was also one of them. He couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°What the fuck am I - A side character.¡±


    ¡°And she called us haemophilic, right Hans?¡± Chris added, surprised.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I didn¡¯t know she could do that.¡± Walter commented amid their conversation prompting them to turn back. ¡°Do you know what she did?¡± Hans asked before Chris could do the same. So their knowledgeable professor, responded in kind, ¡°She is a monster¡¯s daughter after all.¡±


    Both started finding Aredhel among the audience. ¡°Not her idiots.¡± Walter remarked, ¡°I¡¯m talking about her father - the northern sea monster.¡±


    ¡°I know her father was not an elf but someone who came with red demons.¡± Chris responded, hesitating, ¡°But¡­ calling him a monster¡­ isn¡¯t a bit ¡ª¡±


    ¡°It is what it is, Christopher Bernard Holger, just like you. She can¡¯t deny her lineage. Or your thumping heart is telling you otherwise.¡± It Shut up Chris but perked Hans¡¯s ears, ¡°What was that?¡± He asked, intrigued.


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    ¡°You¡¯ll know in due time, it''s not like me to disclose someone¡¯s secret ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Unless there is a price, right professor?¡±


    ¡°I''m so proud of myself for raising you right.¡± He mused, ignoring the two staring at his shameless face. ¡°What is he talking?¡± Hans asked, side-glancing at his friend, who was avoiding his eyes. ¡°Oh come on, I cant¡¯s hold my curiosity, you know, right?¡± Hans pestered further.


    ¡°In due time, Hans. In due time.¡± Chris imitated Walter¡¯s tone irritating him.


    ¡°Agh¡­¡± Hans grunted at his response and shifted his attention to Delimira who seemed to be staring at him. He focused, trying to make sense of her gesture. ¡°What is she doin¡¯¡ª¡±


    With a firm and deliberate motion, she raised her hand, and using her thumb as a symbolic blade, she drew a swift, slicing motion across her own throat. Hans tried reading her lips, ¡°You. are. dead. Hans.¡±


    ¡°Ohoho! Would you look at her, trying to act cute? Yeah! Bring it on Deli.¡± Hans shouted in excitement while others wondered why both teammates were showing animosity. However, Hans was wondering something else, ¡°Even with the full VoidZone, I couldn¡¯t dent that barrier, but her light swing of Palm cracked that darn thing. I thought I never had to use my hidden card here. But¡­¡± he paused his thinking, looking at Chris, and Delimira walking back, ¡°I have some ridiculous competition here.¡±


    ¡°Zzzing.¡± The Examiner came, still baffled about what happened before, but the higher-ups wanted this incident to not to get any more attention. After all, it was their fault to lose the northern sea monster, their once powerful ally to the red demons for some stupid reasons. Nothing has made Norwin more anxious than this year¡¯s glory wars, especially the junior league. First was Hans and now the elf girl exploring her paternal lineage. He wanted this darn thing to end quickly and fortunately for him, the next round was a normal battle between normal people, but two parties who were at each other¡¯s throats forever were taking this more seriously. The awaited Knight Association vs mage tower; Guernier a grade thirty knight vs second circle mage Omar.


    The match started with a bang, but the audience¡¯s response was lukewarm. It wasn¡¯t like these children lacked or anything but compared to the thrilling one-sided beating brought by Concordia had raised their bar of expectation very high. Meanwhile, both the knight and the mage were struggling on their own. They both lost against Concordia so the pressure from the expectation of their superiors was shackling them.


    Guernier, much like Chris, was a grade thirty lightning aura knight, but now he faced a magma attribute mage. Since Omar was a single attribute mage, his control over his mana was perfect. He kept gaining distance while attacking him from the sides.


    The knight captain didn''t want to show any of his skill in this battle because frankly, the power Chris showed in the earlier round left him puzzled. He had cornered him before using Dispellium, but Chris showed what he was made of in his fight with the mage Obi. He wanted to preserve his aces to fight him, but the mage in front of him was not a piece of cake either.


    Omar was well versed in battle tactics and experienced in fighting knights, after all, he was a descendent of a noble knight family from Sunfall, so all his life he had struggled to make his place in the family.


    Guernier focused, as Omar began with creating a magma field to hinder his movement. It was the original version of what Vanir had modified for his use. While Guernier was taking steps cautiously, reaching Omar. The mage kept harassing him with many small, quick-firing spells, and upon perfect timing, he used his ace spell.


    VolcanicShower


    In a dramatic display of power, the spell unleashed its fiery wrath upon the battlefield. Initially, small stones, no larger than a clenched fist, ascended into the sky, and there, transformed. These once-harmless rocks metamorphosed into molten magma, glowing with a searing intensity, and the lava stones descended like a relentless torrent, casting a fiery veil over every inch of the battleground. There was no safe haven, no blind spot to escape their destructive descent. Upon contact, everything they touched succumbed to their scorching embrace, melting and warping under the blistering heat.


    Even the knight''s steadfast shield proved no match for the relentless onslaught, yielding to the unstoppable tide of molten destruction. The volcanic shower showed no mercy, sparing nothing in its path. As the magma rained down, the situation became dire, leaving Guernier with no alternative, but to unleash the full extent of his formidable skills in a desperate bid to counter the relentless inferno.


    Skill- Thunderstorm


    Aura surged from his very core, erupting outward in the form of a raging tempest. This ethereal storm expanded rapidly, a maelstrom of crackling energy that swept through the falling magma like an avenging force of nature. With sheer power, it wrestled control from the volcanic destruction, sending the molten rocks hurtling in disarray, their fiery potency confronted by the might of the crackling lightning.


    Skill - Thunder Rush


    With unparalleled swiftness, Guernier propelled himself towards the mage with the velocity of lightning itself. His movement imitates the Surge skill shown by Chris, but instead of putting himself in danger by letting the lightning coarse through his body, ThunderRush enveloped the knight in lightning. It was so rapid that it scorched the ground beneath, leaving behind a smouldering trail that marked his trajectory. A nimbus of crackling lightning enveloped him, serving as a protective barrier that effortlessly deflected the mage''s quick spells.


    In an awe-inspiring conclusion to their confrontation, the knight came to an abrupt halt right before the mage, his gleaming sword poised at the mage''s throat. With an air of unwavering confidence, he declared, ¡°I¡¯m the captain of the Knight Association and You¡¯ve lost.¡±


    The outcome was clear; it was an indisputable victory for Guernier. The Examiner arrived to formalise the match''s winner, and the verdict was proclaimed: Guernier had emerged victorious, but the winner was looking somewhere else, his eyes locked with the man he wanted to fight the most - Chris.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 164 - Captain vs. Captain (1)

    CHAPTER 164


    CAPTAIN VS CAPTAIN (1)


    In the first round¡¯s only battle, Hans confronted Ricardo, achieving a dominating victory through an awe-inspiring demonstration of his skill, proving his blood¡¯s might.


    The second round featured four confrontations. Chris dominated Obi with sheer might, while Delimira effortlessly dispatched Mannard with a simple gesture. The Knight captain emerged victorious against the mage tower''s representative, paving the way for his upcoming round three ready to face Delimira in the first match of the semi-finals.


    First round:


    Battle 1: Hans(CC) vs Ricardo (KA) ¡ª> Hans


    Second round:


    Battle 1: Chris (CC) vs Obi (MT) ¡ª> Chris


    Battle 2: Delimira (CC) vs Mannard (KA) ¡ª> Delimira (CC)


    Battle 3: Omar (MT) vs Guernier (KA) ¡ª> Guernier (KA)


    Battle 4: Hans(CC) vs Arlin (MT) ¡ª> ???


    Amidst the deafening cheers of the crowd, Hans saw his name highlighting, it was his turn, his battle in the second round. The winner of this battle was set on fighting Chris in the semi-finals.


    Semi-finals:


    Battle 1: Delimira (CC) vs Guernier (KA) ¡ª> ???


    Battle 2: Chris (CC) vs Hans(CC)/Arlin (MT) ¡ª> ???


    ¡°See you in the next round Chris,¡± Hans said, jumping right into the arena, thinking, ¡°I was waiting for this bastard to show up.¡± He thought staring at his opponent. The mastermind who forced him to surrender. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have minded if he pulled this all of his own but damn these authorities and the sellouts. I¡¯ll personally beat this bastard for what he did to me¡­ no, to us.¡±


    He kept thinking, raising his rage at a steady rate, but Arlin wasn¡¯t some chump either. The Mage captain knew what he was going into, and had the confidence to triumph over Hans who dared provoke the Alliance head openly.


    ¡°You said something before,¡± Hans asked, looking past the examiner, his aimed at Arlin, ¡°As long as we don¡¯t break the rule, everything is permitted, right? Well, I hope you are ready to eat your words.¡±


    ¡°You must be itching t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Examiner.¡± Hans shouted, sending a subtle mana shockwave, ¡°You¡¯ve done your job, fuck off.¡± The crowd cheered at the sudden declaration, they all had forgotten that this was a children''s battle, powerful but still children. Hans¡¯s gait, his rage and even his words contradicted his small appearance and the baby fat he carried. For the people he was their champion, squashing the authorities and the high nose Mage tower and Association as he saw fit. Everyone wanted to see an upset and Hans, no, Concordia was delivering it to them.


    As he heard the hootings and loud cheers, the thought of reprimanding Hans for his unsuitable language ran out of Examiner¡¯s mind, and he signalled the start of the battle.


    Hans roared, aiming at everyone watching, ¡°See clearly, what happens when I truly hate someone.¡±


    ¡°Big words for such a small man¡­ you are not even a man. Does your thing down there even work?¡± Arlin taunted, summoning various magic circles in the air, adding, ¡°Don¡¯t lump me together with those whom you crushed so far. I¡¯m Arlin, the high elf from the Reydi family. The genius of Clandor Mage tower, and you¡¯ll bow before me once again.¡±


    LaguunaShaft


    ¡°Boom!, Boom! Boom!¡± The deafening sound echoed, one after another as the countless magic circles started bombarding Hans. Several pillars of light were all aimed at his position like fishermen harpooning a whale. And being the light attribute, dodging them was near impossible for Hans as his speciality was not the speed. He was greeted by an unstoppable attack which he had no choice but to embrace with open arms.


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    The dust of the trembling impact wasn¡¯t even settled and people were talking, especially about the boy named Arlin being a royal. Since the only one who inherited the royal blood of the first queen of Clandor was able to have light mana in elves. ¡°How dare you raise your head¡± Arlin shouted at the dust cloud, ¡°I¡¯m a royal, you fool. Do you think, you humans sharing the same elements makes us equal? We elves are born differently ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah! fwoosh¡ª¡± The dust cleared in an instant, revealing Hans unharmed, ¡°I¡¯m no human either.¡±


    Arlin was shocked, his surprise contorting his face, his grand attack didn¡¯t even dent Hans. ¡°How?¡± He muttered, but Hans responded with a curt, ¡°There is a saying in my family - There is nothing we can¡¯t not do¡ª¡±


    LagunaShaft


    The scene of bombardment repeated itself, this time several times stronger, Arlin had put his heart and soul into this one, yet the scene repeated itself.


    Arlin was a smart child, several years ahead of his peers in raw talent and mana, but he couldn¡¯t understand what kind of roadblock this short guy was. He wasn¡¯t the only one who was having trouble understanding how Hans was surviving the devastating spell. Chris sharing the same thought, awaiting his next match, asked Walter, ¡°Professor, what¡¯s happening there?¡±


    But instead of Walter, Delimira responded, ¡°It''s very tricky to defeat Hans as a mage, The pure type attacks like light bombardment, which is said to be one of the most lethal attacks, is useless on him. Direct spells don¡¯t work on him ¡ª¡±


    ¡°MAKE.HIM.MOVE.¡±


    A man cried from the audience, surprising everyone, even Hans. All turned to this unknown voice only to find a middle-aged man, tousling his pointy moustache and when he found everyone looking at him, he chuckled, ¡°Oh, did I say that out loud.¡±


    ¡°Dijkstra, I thought he was on my side.¡± Hans mumbled, ¡°Grandpa was right, it''s no use having a lunatic around.¡± Hans looked ahead, Arlin grasping the meaning of Dijkstra¡¯s words.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it works. Before, my spell even had annihilated a class four beast¡ª¡±


    ¡°That must¡¯ve been a very dumb beast.¡± Hans taunted back, asking, ¡°So, are you gonna contemplate over a madman¡¯s words or will come at me? Your best doesn¡¯t feel shit or anything. Is this your royal blood amount to?¡±


    It was not just a question for Arlin, but Hans¡¯s words dragged the Clandor royalty through this mud fight. If he failed to beat Hans here, he¡¯d be the one shaming his family. And once again the man from the Audience rose, ¡°I just can¡¯t take this anymore. You don¡¯t have manners boy, do you?¡± He scolded Hans, while the boy thought, ¡°Since when the fuck he started caring for manners. And what''s up with that geezer anyw¡ª¡±


    ¡°IF HE MOVES, EVEN A LITTLE. HIS INVINCIBLE ARMOUR WILL BREAK. ¡±Dijkstra said, pointing at Arlin.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you put a banner out saying that bastard.¡± Hans almost shouted his inner feelings. The main weakness of his second form of VoidZone, the invincible armour was immobility. Since to have that armour around, he had to make mana motionless around him, which was also a daunting task. But even a little break in his stillness, let the mana particles free, breaking the armour like nothing.


    ¡°It looks like your own kind is betraying you,¡± Arlin pointed out, ¡°Tsk. Tsk. Poor boy.¡±


    ¡°So why did you attack your own kind? Deli, she is a part elf too, right? You almost send her to whatever river you folks call.¡±


    ¡°Do humans not hurt other humans¡ª¡±


    ¡°Exactly, there are assholes in every kind,¡± Hans remarked, trapping Arlin in his own words. However, Arlin didn¡¯t possess the gift of the silver tongue as Hans. However, he did possess something else, an immense amount of mana. Since the start, he was firing his best spell, all because he knew Hans could create or summon that weird snake golem, he wasn¡¯t a fool to test that dangerous mage with mediocre spells. He needed results and LagunaShaft was a treasure spell of Clondor Mage tower. Heaving a long breath he double-cast.


    ¡°I never saw this happening before, two spells at the same time.¡± Hans wondered, looking at the bright sky full of magic circles. ¡°Hans my friend,¡± he said to himself gawking the illuminating skies, ¡°You should''ve talked less.¡±


    Meanwhile, others also shared his thoughts, and Walter was one of them. LagunaShaft was known for its precision which came from its high speed. Without proper equipment, it was a hard spell to tackle, and even harder to avoid. There was only one person he could think of who could avoid that fast of a spell and he was the one who gave Hans¡¯s weakness away. ¡°Hey, Miss Winters.¡± He asked Deli, ¡°If Hans moved even a bit during that bombardment, will he get hurt¡ª¡±


    ¡°Even a single movement will have him facing a spell that could annihilate him.¡± She said nonchalantly, some might misunderstood that she was hoping for that to happen, but looking at the agape faces of Walter and Chris, she added, ¡°Like that¡¯s gonna happen. He is Hans, his persistence could put cockroaches at shame.¡±


    ¡°Cockroach, aye.¡± Walter mumbled, ¡°Well, he better be, ''cause I really need him to be one now.¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± The pillars of light once again, fell on Hans. Some aimed at the ground beneath him, trying to shake him even a bit while others sought the moment when his body showed any sign of movement.


    ¡°Crap! He is trying to make me move.¡± Hans shouted, ¡°Curse you, you lunatic Parvian.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 166 - Captain vs Captain (2)

    CHAPTER 166


    CAPTAIN VS CAPTAIN (2)


    The light pillars capable of decimating everything fell one after another, like skewers falling on the innocent meat on a pyre, and unlike the previous times, the dust wasn¡¯t settled like a swish by Hans. Hinting Arlin managed to pin him down. ¡°Yes.¡± Arlin shouted in victory, ¡°That¡¯s what you get, raising your head against mine, you peasant¡­ the fuck! ¡±


    Hans hovered above the ground, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Hooo! I almost forgot I could fly," he quipped. In truth, he had momentarily forgotten that as long as he remained afloat, he was unaffected by the quaking below. However, he couldn''t afford to reveal this lapse; all eyes were on him, and he needed to uphold his flawless facade. Clearing his throat, he recited Arlin''s words once more, saying, "You said it right, as long as we don¡¯t break the rules, everything is permitted right?¡±


    ¡°Agh!¡± Arlin grunted, shouting at the examiner, ¡°He is using an artefact¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, you naive thing.¡± Hans quipped again, ¡°Do you think the great mages of Mage Tower who built the judgement artefact couldn¡¯t detect an artefact in this arena? ¡±


    LagunaShaft¡ª


    ¡°This is getting annoying¡± Hans interrupted, extending his hand forward. ¡°Shall I take this spell of yours? Zwoom!!¡± With a subtle wave, his VoidZone expanded, not as dramatically as before, but sufficiently to disrupt all mana regeneration in the arena. and Arlin, acutely attuned to the ambient mana, immediately sensed the shift. There was so much his two circles could hold, so his option was rapid regeneration and it was taken away by Hans. ¡°Just what are you,¡± He shouted, exclaimed, his irritation etched on his face.


    ¡°Who me?¡± Hans mused, ¡°Just your average Joe.¡± Not getting any reaction, Hans taunted, ¡°I guess, it''s my time to attack now, right? You better clench your teeth.¡±


    As he declared, the audience cheered, the boy who mocked Norwin right at his face was going to finally shift his gears from passive. They focused on rapt attention. ¡°Swoosh!!¡± Hans moved, propelling forward with an insane flight speed, leaves and twigs swirling in his wake, transforming the arena to his liking. He aimed for Arlin, his eyes cornering his prey.


    However, just as he closed in, a brilliant explosion of light erupted around him. A Lightbomb hit him square in the chest, sending him hurtling backwards through the air. His clothes burned, charring black even hurting his chest. He landed on his feet, albeit in pain, Hans smirked. ¡°This bastard got me¡ª¡±


    "So it''s true, as long as you move, I can attack you.¡± Arlin commented, ¡°You can''t dodge the swiftness of light spells.¡± A self-satisfied grin tugged at the corners of his lips as he spoke.


    ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Hans let out a witty remark, affirming his words, ¡°It''s true. I can¡¯t run¡± He paused a grin etching over his face too, ¡°But I can hide¡­¡±


    ~SilvaOrtus~


    The preparations were already done and as he stated the name, the arena started shaking up, changing from within. And, in an instant, the arena transformed into a dense woodland, with towering trees, mossy rocks, and a soft, earthen floor beneath their feet. It was proof of his mastery over the natural world.


    ¡°You think you can hide in a forest, facing an elf. You idiot¡ª¡±


    Arlin stopped, he was shocked, by the outcome of his senses. Not even one picked where Hans was. ¡°The fuck! He forced me to even use this. tsk..¡± The elf grunted, his hand instantly moving to touch his heart. he called upon the spirit he had contracted with, the elves¡¯ exclusive right. Humans had bloodlines while the once forest dwellers had the power to contract the spirits, but Arlin being a genius had formed a contract in his unripe age.


    He summoned a spirit of light, a radiant deer-like creature with antlers that glowed with blinding brilliance, its presence commanding attention and awe. Standing at a meter in height, the spirit wasted no time in wreaking havoc upon the once-serene forest. Trees toppled, bushes were obliterated, and rocks were uprooted as if a tempest had just swept through the lush landscape.


    In the wake of the spirit''s destructive power, the forest lay transformed. Debris of foliage now littered the ground beneath their feet, while Hans found himself hung in mid-air, surprised, ¡°I thought the contracts are not allowed till you reach the fourth circle¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who do you think I am? You filthy peasant, forcing me to call upon Empyr was a mistake, and you will have to face the consequences.¡±


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    ¡°Look at this fool, blaming me for his own incompetence.¡± Hans heard and criticised the elf inside. ¡°I knew the forest would be nothing for this light mage to rampage, but I didn''t think it would be this early.¡±


    Hans looked at the agitated face of Arlin same as his deer spirit. He almost cried, clenching his fists and his heart heavy,¡°Sorry gramps. I thought I never had to use it and return before the interest piles up.¡± He untied a pouch behind his back and everyone wondered what might come out of this. Since last time, it was battered corpses, so they waited for the suspense to unravel.


    ¡°No artefacts, you¡¯ll be disqualified.¡± The Examiner prompted.


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of this mumbo jumbo? If it can¡¯t stop a junior cheating his way in?¡± Hans pointed upwards at the majestic judgment device. ¡°I know.¡± He shouted and sprinkled the pouch out. Hundreds of wood mana stones spread across the debris of foliage.


    Hans shouted at Arlin, his voice filled with anger as he felt his money running out, "You bastard, you''ll pay for this. It was never meant to be used here. Watch yourself in the night; I''ll be robbing you later.¡± He declared, ¡°I reserved this to fight Xandor, So be honoured you pointy ear.¡±


    ~UndyingArmy~


    He shouted the name and the magic stones beneath the green debris started to wobble. The broken branches and torn leaves started weaving around the stones and hundreds of foot soldiers made from wood appeared. The fruits of his latest chapter he uncovered in Limitless.


    These soldiers, propelled by Hans''s command, boldly stepped forward, acting as a living shield for him. They absorbed multiple hits meant for their master, ensuring his safe passage towards Arlin. Even the radiant spirit deer that Arlin had summoned began to struggle under the relentless assault of these numerous humanoid creatures.


    The battlefield had become a chaotic blur, where it was increasingly difficult to distinguish the remnants of the once-lush forest from the resilient wood soldiers.


    The debris of earlier assault became the fertiliser for Hans to cast this spell of infinite regeneration of wood soldiers. Since, as long as their mana stones remained powered and intact, they would resurrect using the foliage strewn across the ground.


    ¡°What is this madness.¡± Not knowing the taste of failure, Arlin was feeling the emotion for the first time. There was nothing in his life that would have contradicted his intentions, but Hans was proving him wrong at every moment. Even forcing him to use the spirit. Yet the battle wasn¡¯t looming in his favour.


    His mana was running out like a leaking bucket, and his efficiency and management of mana going downhill fast. While others witnessed this with awe, an elf summoning their ancestral spirit at the second circle was something, but Hans¡¯s action of spreading the mana stones and creating the golem-like creatures in an instant had put their mouth agape. Convincing them of their earlier theory - Hans has made an enormous snake-like Golem in an instant. Putting the alchemists in shame who claimed that creating Golems was a hefty task, demanding money and patience.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± The explosions went rampant, the light bombs falling one after another, but like proving their undying loyalty to Hans, the wood soldier bore the brunt. Even when it looked like one soldier wasn¡¯t enough, they grouped themselves, sacrificing them and shielding Hans.


    ¡°No..No..¡± Arlin shouted, frustrated, he was gasping for air, almost exhausted. His mana was not regenerating with enough speed, and Hans was the culprit. Since he couldn¡¯t stay immobile for long. Whenever he was forced to stop by Arlin¡¯s barrages, he activated VoidZone, eating up Arlin¡¯s efficiency in regeneration.


    The scene of Arlin bombarding and Hans steadily shortening the distance between them continued for a while. Arlin almost exhausted physically and mentally, started caving in and Hans finally reached him, near enough to make his first mark on Arlin¡¯s face.


    ¡°I told you to clench your teeth, pointy. thud!¡± His hand flung, breaking the elf¡¯s pretty nose. ¡°I Ain¡¯t done bastard. thud! thud! thud!¡± The relentless punches showered over the so-called royalty of elves, painting his face in red and redecorating it with several bumps.


    His pretty combed blond hair was now in Hans¡¯s grip, dishevelled. And soon the very head of his met Hans¡¯s knee. It was evident, that Hans was not gonna stop this torture soon, and he met everyone¡¯s expectations. Arlin, desperate to mount a defence, tried to cover up, but Hans was relentless. He continued to land punishing blows, each one sending shockwaves of pain through Arlin¡¯s body.


    The crowd''s cheers had transformed into gasps of concern as they witnessed the one-sided spectacle unfolding before them. Mage tower people looked on with mounting anxiety, but their prodigy was trapped, unable to find an opening to counter. One shouted, ¡°Arlin, Surrender!!¡±


    That snapped Arlin out of his daze, putting his all he exploded another light bomb spell, separating Hans and him. ¡°I¡¯m Arlin¡­Reydi¡­ I can¡¯t surrender¡ª¡±


    But the demon-like figure in his eyes spoke, unharmed, ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t like it either --Snap!¡± A vine sprouted beneath Arlin, coiling around his feet and sprung him high in the sky. ¡°Don¡¯t surrender,¡± Hans shouted, plucking up the steel bamboo from Sharpdeath. He calculated and launched it like a javelin at the expected point of his landing. ¡°Don¡¯t surrender,¡±Hans shouted again as Arlin saw his death approaching closer by the moment. ¡°Don¡¯t surrender¡ª¡±


    ¡°I surrender, help me¡ª¡± He couldn¡¯t even finish the sentence and was rescued by the mage tower people glaring at Hans, showing animosity openly. However, Hans felt a gentle pat on his shoulder, ¡°Hey tone it down.¡± Walter responded to the Mage tower people, pointing, ¡° That student of yours should¡¯ve surrendered before. It''s his fault he couldn¡¯t take a hint. Now, Fuck off !!¡±


    ¡°Pftt..¡± Hans chuckled, ¡°You are a bad influence professor.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 167 - Damsel vs Knight (1)

    CHAPTER 167


    DAMSEL VS KNIGHT (1)


    Despite Hans being declared the winner, none from the audience who were cheering him on before even clapped. But that never mattered to him, the moment he saw Arlin. The humiliation he was forced to suffer before resurfaced in his mind. The punishment was still insufficient, and he incurred a huge debt because of that too.


    He turned, ready to lunge at Arlin, carrying on the stretcher. ¡°Easy.¡± Walter gripped him tight, ¡°Where the fuck are you going, do you want to destroy everything we have built till now. It''s just two matches away.¡±


    Hans calmed down and his sight searched the audience, reading their expressions, all terrified. They wanted the tower and association beaten in the Glory Wars, but what Hans showed them was not a competition. He was upping the game every match.


    ¡°You okay now, farmboy?¡± Walter asked.


    ¡°Yeah, tired but okay.¡± Hans glanced at battered Arlin and added, ¡°He was strong¡ª¡±


    ¡°No. Do you need healing?¡± Walter interrupted, not eager to hear Hans¡¯s experience as he was glancing at the boy¡¯s burned chest, ¡°That must be painful¡ª¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hans looked down, his bare skin covered with dried blood, sweat and mud. ¡°Agh..¡± He grunted as the rush of battle calmed down, and he started feeling the prickly pain, ¡°Shit, it hurts.¡±


    ¡°Let''s get you patched up.¡± Walter responded with concern, ¡°You can still fight the next battle, right? You have to face Chris after little Wonter¡¯s match.¡±


    ¡°Agh¡­ I¡¯ll be fine¡±


    Meanwhile, as they were returning to Concordia¡¯s corner, Chris blown away by one surprise over another, asked Delimira, ¡°He is not just a foster son of a dominion knight, right Deli?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what are you talking¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you take me for a fool?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You should remain a fool.¡±


    Chris looked at her baffled, continuing, ¡°That red thing, his amount of mana, the Parvians agreeing to give their loot to us without asking anything in return.¡± He lashed out, continuing, ¡°Back when Arat found us, he backed down just because of Hans¡¯s interference. The Sad death interrupting. He is an Imperial from Parv, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°Yes, your father killed his and aided in the Parv¡¯s demise. Now satisfied?¡± Delimira curtly responded, ¡°You couldn¡¯t just remain ignorant can you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then, how is he okay with me¡­¡± Chris mumbled, ¡°No he must be laughing at me¡­ready to off me on any opportunity¡ª¡±


    Delimra interrupted, looking straight into Chris¡¯s eyes, ¡°Can¡¯t believe Im defending that moron.¡± She sighed, continuing, ¡°You still do not know him, do you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember his words when he stopped Arat ¡ª Sins are not inherited. That was his father¡¯s words and he had enforced them into his mentality.¡±


    ¡°Delimira winters.¡± Her name was announced, and she asked to make her way to the arena. She crossed her path with Hans in the middle. ¡°Don¡¯t lose¡± Hans whispered and got a quick Delimira-like reply, ¡°I still have to punch you seventeen times¡±


    Hans stopped, baffled, ¡°Which bastard was counting¡­oh, great grandfather, you are making your descendant¡¯s life miserable. Can¡¯t you keep things to yourself?¡±  Sighing, he climbed the stairs, reached their platform and saw Chirs with a mixture of emotions, ¡°Now, What is biting your ass? Scared to face me¡­ Haan..¡± Hans nudged him as usual, but Chris remained silent so he encouraged him, ¡°Oh come on brother, may the best one win, right?¡±


    Still not getting a response from his friend he turned to Walter for help, and their esteemed professor had one response for the boy, ¡°Get your ass patched up, farmboy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Hans went on jumping in a cheery mood to their designated healer. They couldn¡¯t use Sierra, but the people organiser had provided it, just to not give any unfavourable advantages to specific people like them.


    ¡°Guernier from Knight Association, grade 30 lightning Knight¡± Guernier shouted, introducing himself and attracting the chattering people¡¯s attention. Even Hans had his head raised to look at what was happening. ¡°Delimira Winters and it is enough. Let¡¯s start.¡±


    Both Examiner and Guernier were baffled, ¡°Can¡¯t you do better¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t talk to cowards.¡± She taunted Guernier, reminding him how underhanded they fought in Heat Riddance, ¡°That was not my doing.¡± He defended.


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    ¡°Whine all you want. To me, you are nothing but a COWARD.¡±


    ¡°Oh, she is rilling him up,¡± Hans commented, dragging his healer to the platform, for a broader view. ¡°You are done?¡± Walter asked, but Hans was excited to see someone else on the other side receiving Delimira¡¯s trash talk for a change. ¡°He must be fuming.¡± He giggled.And as he expected, Guernier unsheathed his two-handed sword, pointing at Delimira, ¡°I¡¯ll make you take those words back¡ª¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t work unless you show what you keep deep in your pants, sir knight.¡±


    ¡°Wha..what?¡±


    ¡°Dipesllium, idiot. Geez.. you are not just a coward, but a moron too.¡± She remarked, her channelling of mana complete. ¡°We have talked enough, Mr moron. Didn¡¯t your teachers teach you, A prepared mage is a dangerous thing to talk to?¡±


    The mana in the air increased, the quad-colour strands spiralling around Delimira, and entering her heart. She said staring right at Guernier¡¯s eyes, ¡°I was holding myself back. Since it was a prerequisite to have no more than two circles before participation. But it doesn¡¯t matter if I reach that stage during battle, right?¡±


    The third circle formed in her heart, giving her a brand new mana capacity and output, ¡°Finally I can use bigger spells.¡± She said forming numerous spell circles in the air, all aiming for Guernier. Surprised like everyone, Guernier was preparing himself for a slash attack that shook the Judgement barrier, but what he was facing now was a third circle Mage.


    ¡°You are mainly a water mage,¡± Guernier said, calculating, ¡°Draw your sword and show me the sword mage. I have the lightning attribute, you are inherently weaker¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let''s change that, shall we.¡± Delimira focused, her eyes glinting blue, ¡°You are just a grade 30. I practised with a warlord of the same element. And he taught me a nifty trick to beat greenhorns like you.¡±


    GurgesDomitor


    The air turned heavy, filled with moisture, swirling around Delimira as the centre. It quickly picked speed, forming a whirlpool as big as the arena. Encasing Guernier and her within. Her newfound mana output was shining brightly, showcasing the power of her third circle and was shrinking every moment.


    ¡°Surrounding yourself with water, facing a lightning-type knight.¡± Guernier quipped, ¡°What a genius move¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the water you are.¡± Delimira pointed out, commanding the spell to sweep Guernier away.


    ¡°Do you think, I¡¯ll wait for it¡± Guernier commented ready to launch himself with his ThuderRush skill.¡±


    WindShield


    Delimira cast another spell quickly, rotating wind, forming a sphere around her. Shielding and separating her from the closing water of the whirlpool.


    ¡°Do you think, your flimsy shield can take my attack¡±Guernier, almost reaching Delimira shouted.


    ¡°It''s not for you Coward. It''s for the water.¡± She pointed past him. The torrents suddenly appeared beside him. Like she was intentionally slowing down its shrinking progress, just to let him guard down. ¡°Shit!!¡± he shouted as the water brought him to an unending joy ride, circling him around the arena several times and finally slamming him into the ground. Meanwhile, due to WindShield rotating at the same speed as the whirlpool, Delimira remained dry.


    ¡°Haa¡­ha¡­!¡± Guernier stood, on guard, gasping. ¡°So you planned to drench me. Do you think I¡¯ll receive a backlash from using lightning¡± Summoining his aura from within he reactivated ThunderRush. ¡°Zapp¡­ agh¡±he grunted, dropping to his knees as he staggered. ¡°What the¡ª¡±


    WindBullets


    ¡°Shut! Shut!¡± Two fast-paced wind spells struck him, one on his leg that was helping the kneeling one to stand, while another delivered a sucker punch right through the gut.


    ¡°It seems to me, you are receiving the backlash, coward,¡± Delimira taunted, staring at the whimpering knight. She recalled Rudolf¡¯s words, Increase the conductance in water. So much that even the self-tolerance of elements render useless for young mage or knight. He¡¯ll zap himself if he uses any lightning attribute. But you can¡¯t form that kind of water unless you reach the third circle kiddo.


    She asked this method specifically to handle Chris, but who knew she would face another knight with the same attribute? ¡°That¡¯s why I stepped up one circle, Dean Rudolf.¡± She answered looking at Rudolf among the audience who was grinning back with pride.


    ¡°Why? How?¡± Guernier asked, deflecting two more wind bullets and zapping himself again.


    ¡°You wanna know, coward.¡± She pointed at the ground, ¡°Another idiot just enriched this land with hundreds of mana stones. It helped me increase mana conductivity. So does the lighting in water.¡±


    ¡°And you call me a coward.¡± Guernier mocked, filling himself with aura and showing persistence, taking in all the backlash. ¡°This is nothing.¡± He shouted, activating his other skill.


    Skill: Thunderstorm


    Aura surged from his very core, erupting outward in the form of a raging tempest. This ethereal storm expanded rapidly, a maelstrom of crackling energy striking himself and the ground alike. But it seems that ground was eating up his skill like a hungry beast.


    ¡°Tsk,¡± he clicked his tongue and retorted, ¡°You rigged the ground as well¡ª¡±


    ¡°I told you, a prepared mage is a very dangerous thing. Water being my weakness is turned yours.¡± Delimira showing her cunningness, cast another spell.


    HydroKinesis


    Taking the water from the highly concentrated place on the ground, she constructed several spears, all floating around her, aiming forGuernier. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± One after another they launched, cornering Guernier and forcing him to move as Delimira wanted. Out of tens of spears, she only remained three, but all three hit the mark as she had planned.


    ¡°Zapp! Zapp! Zapp!¡± The speed he was so proud of was reduced to half all due to regularly shocking himself, and now the three water spears hitting him increased the shock he was enduring. But that was not all, Hydrokinesis was a water manipulation spell of advanced level, where the caster still had control over the water after it hit.


    Transforming into several small snakes, the water slithered, housing themselves in every place they could find in Guernier¡¯s body, his mouth, nose, inside the clothes, even entering his ears and nether regions.


    ¡°Get away from me,¡± Guernier shouted, using the aura to burst and evaporate the HydroKinesis water, and whatever was drenching him. ¡°I¡¯m done taking you lightly, so you should too¡ª¡± His words still hung in his mouth as he saw something unbelievable happening.


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 168 - Knight in Distress

    CHAPTER 168


    KNIGHT IN DISTRESS


    A violent smoke rose from the progressing cracks in her skin, her beautiful appearance turning of a demon. ¡°You should''ve surrendered.¡± She said, her voice echoing, ¡°I''m far more vengeful than our idiotic captain.¡± Declaring, she unsheathed her rapier, now pointing at Guernier. Her voice turned deep as she added with a hint of mockery.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard there is nothing more shameful for a knight to lose a swordfight to a mage. I hope you are prepared. Swoosh!¡±


    Surprising Guernier and every spectator, the mage girl who was under the black cloud of her own, disappeared. ¡°Behind you.¡± Her voice alerted Guernier, prompting him to raise his sword to defend his back. However, instead form his back, the attack came from the front. ¡°Wow, you are stupider than a coward. Who trusts enemies¡¯s words on the battlefield.¡± Her attack did not dig deep but gave a superficial long wound to Guernier.


    ¡°Agh,¡± Groaning, he revolted, the thundering aura, trying to send Delimira flying, but even lightning, the second fastest attribute after the light element was slow in catching Delimira.


    She dodged, the fine lightning cracks like a fish traversing torrential waves. Her using some weird method, rivaling aura was enough of a surprise already, but her speed was another thing entirely for others to witness. It was so fast that tracing her with naked eyes was near impossible.


    Her quick speed was something that startled Guernier, but it was not enough to penetrate his defence that he built with hard training from childhood. Resulting in him only receiving some minor cuts. Apart from the prickly sensation, it was something that he could resist with his towering will. He was still feeling some recoils whenever he used his lighting aura, but it was far lower than previous shocks he received, and he was recovering with each passing moment. ¡°I just need to defend well,¡± he thought, but Delimira was not just doing some minor damage, unaware, each time she slashed, even a minor cut, the dead mana she carried got transferred inside Guernier.


    ¡°Finally!¡± Guernier shouted in joy, regaining his previous speed completely, but only saw Delimra grinning in her smokey appearance. ¡°Krosh art: First move Mirage¡± she called out and disappeared.


    Unlike before, she was not moving fast enough to disappear from eyes, she was literally invisible, and sadly Guernier was not trained to fight invisible enemies. Which resulted in inevitable, Delimira suppressing him, cornering him to only defend.


    She could have won easily, but she found the joy in playing with her food. Poisoning him with dead mana, little by little. It was something that damaged the very foundation, meaning that what dead mana was doing inside Guernier¡¯s body was permanent. The knight was unaware of changes going on in his own body, but the knight association people were experienced and Norwin, whose wife¡¯s technique Delimira used was not oblivious to it either. He urged the Association to pursue the boy to surrender.


    Seeing the seriousness on the Alliance head¡¯s face. The Knight association member hurried, screaming for Guernier to surrender. However, Guernier, just grasping how to tackle Delimira was not convinced. He just blocked her every major attack and was confident about turning the tables. He was so gifted that he learned Delimira¡¯s attack pattern just facing once. And Delimira also understood that the mirage won¡¯t work longer. She glanced at the Association¡¯s people still trying to shout some sense into Guernier.


    ¡°That won¡¯t do. I''m not done yet.¡± She bounced back, giving Guernier some breathing room. Instilling some false hope that he forced her back. Boosted by sudden confidence, Guernier ignored his fellow members. ¡°I¡¯ll win, trust me.¡± He shouted back to them.


    ¡°How cute.¡± Delimra quipped, calling on, ¡°Krosh art third move - HeptaPose¡± dividing herself into seven shadows. Lunging at Guernier with terrific speed.


    Skill: Descending Strom


    Guernier countered, not knowing what might come at him, He deployed his ace skill for Glory Wars. A full offence and defence at the same time, summoning a thunderstorm around him. Mastered to attack his foes and defend him from the attack


    Both skills collide, and Descending Storm destroyed one of the charging shadows. But the sacrifice provided an entrance for the remaining six. Baffled by the sudden hole in his skill, Guernier looked contorted. There was no one there to explain to him that Krosh art was the polar opposite of the mana or aura, and certain modification in it was capable of negating each other, and that is what exactly Delimira did. Sacrificing one shadow so the rest could enter the storm.


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    There was six vs one and mana posioning finally started showing the effect. Eating up Guernier from inside. He shot a blood geyser from his mouth, his stomach churned and his throat gave a burning sensation. He realised what was happening, but as the wise had said, intelligence comes far too late. He looked above, six shadows all pointing the thin rapier at his Thorat. ¡°You lose.¡± All said in unison.


    While the winning announcement was ringing all over the arena, Hans nudged Chris, ¡°You ready¡­¡± But his words fell on deaf ears, as Chris moved down to the arena.


    ¡°What is wrong with him?¡± Hans prompted, but Walter had no answers for him. The first one to cross returning Delimira was Chris so she whispered as their path crossed, ¡°Don¡¯t think much¡­he is your friend¡ª¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m his enemy¡­Deli. This is inevitable. Our paths were always set to clash. Even if we do not want it.¡± Chris paced up saying his piece and Hans followed.


    Suddenly gripping his hand Delimira stopped him. Prompting him to ask ¡°What?¡± But she just remained silent. The awkwardness was increasing and she broke the silence by sighing and added, ¡°I don¡¯t think, I can get my revenge. You better see me in finals, Prince Hans.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I told you to not call me that.¡± Hans shook off her hand, freeing himself from her grasp and added, ¡° And I won¡¯t lose Winters. I still have an ace saved for you¡ª¡±


    ¡°You better use it now, Chris is¡­different now. He won¡¯t be¡­friendly in this fight.¡±


    ¡°Of course, he has to be serious,¡± Hans responded swiftly.


    Sighing, thinking her words were not grasped, she marched back. Leaving both Concordia students in the arena. The top three were already decided and all of them belonged to Concordia. Setting it the winner of junior leagues. Now all were waiting to see the top two candidates to enter Treasures of Alliance as winners.


    The Examiner asked to introduce themselves as a formality, and unlike all other times, Hans followed his words, ¡°Hans Richardson, wood mage Concordia.¡±


    ¡°Richardson..¡± Chris mumbled, saying aloud, ¡°Use your real name.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Christopher Bernard Holger, grade 30 knight, Concordia.¡±


    ¡°So you were asking for the full name?¡± Hans doubted, oblivious to what Chris was asking him. Ignoring his words, Chris unsheathed his sword, covering himself in the ever-moving aura. The tactic taught to him by his father for fighting a VoidZone user. Although it was useful to keep the aura moving, it taxed the user in a long fight, draining their aura reserve with twice the speed.


    Hans caught on, ¡°If he kept moving his aura around, inectio, the third form in VoidZone would be useless. I never thought he could find a way this fast.¡±  He breathed in thinking, his most powerful tool against the knight rendered useless but, Hans knew it very well. If Chris keeps using this method, his aura will be drained sooner or later. ¡°Let''s just bide our time¡ª¡±


    Pointing his sword at Hans, Chris interrupted his train of thought, ¡°Use your best spell. This is your last chance.¡±


    ¡°Make me.¡± Hans taunted, still in a playful mood as his grin stretched to his ears.


    ¡°Agh..¡± Chris grunted in response ¡°You think this is a game, don¡¯t you? You can do whatever, fearing no consequences for your actions. Guess what, that is what led to your family¡¯s downfall. So, show me that violent blood of yours who thinks everyone is inferior to you.¡±


    ¡°What the fuck is wrong with you.. are you on something¡­¡±


    ¡°I should have known when you kept showing the lust for others lives. How could I¡¯ve been so blind.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Hans''s playful grin disappeared, ¡°So you found out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be a fool, your blood is cancer to society¡­why did you have to be a¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shut the fuck up¡± Hans revolted. ¡°While I believed our predecessors'' actions wouldn''t define our future, it appears you think differently. Fine, you wanted to face me at my best. I¡¯ll make sure you understand, that I do not have a superiority complex, I am just born superior.¡±


    ~ElderForm~


    His skin pores woke up, making tiny green sprouts appear, like new buds in the spring. These little shoots started a fascinating process of cell regrowth, creating new vines that spread like tiny veins. These green vessels are filled with a special green substance, like plant sap or blood.


    With each passing moment, everyone watched in awe, as those live veins coiled around Hans, bounding themselves to form muscles. Once small hands were now huge, all covered in green. His physique swelled as layers of fauna started covering him, his chest broadening and shoulders squaring, providing the sturdy foundation for his arboreal stature. And when the transformation reached its zenith, Hans stood as an imposing monstrosity¡ªan incomplete giant, lacking legs and a lower jaw, yet gazing down with an eerie intensity at Chris''s bewildered face.


    A deep, resonant voice emanated from the hollow throat of the tree-like behemoth. "You brought this upon yourself," it intoned, far deeper than Hans''s human voice. He extended his massive hand, poised for a direct punch, and called out, "Come here, Zzzzz."


    An invisible force, exponentially stronger than Chris''s resistance, seized him, yanking him upward, toward the colossal tree monster. He flew like a caught fish and met with Hans¡¯s monstrous fist. With the force of a towering body that spanned tens of meters, Hans sent Chris flying back with twice the speed and bellowed in his reverberated voice, ¡°KNOW YOUR PLACE, HUMAN.¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 169 - The Imperial Bloodline

    CHAPTER 169


    THE IMPERIAL BLOODLINE


    The Elder form, Hans never got to decipher what the book described, but one thing he caught on to was it hinting using himself as the core of the golem. Additionally, instead of producing the golem¡¯s structure from seeds, make it from his own body. When Hans tried it for the first time, his skin pores started generating vegetation, and one time his whole hand turned into a tree. It was hard to reverse at first, but with extensive practice, he found a way to undo it. There was much to decode from the Elder form. But this was enough for him to overpower anyone.


    Finally, when he transformed, he was surprised to see himself becoming a gigantic structure. However, the transformation wasn¡¯t complete. No matter how hard he tried he missed several things. And like his practice runs, he was also missing an entire lower body. His bisected torse, tilted, supported by one hand while another stretched back to punch the incoming knight.


    When Chris collided with his fist, he understood what kind of pain a fly would feel when swatted, and it was not something he wanted to feel again. The sheer force destroyed the Knight Association corner box where Chris crashed.


    The monster was sending shivers to everyone, not many knew, but this was a classless beast called Elderwood, once known for creating havoc in the borders of Grimgar and Indu. However, one day it vanished in thin air, and now it was in front of them fighting in Glory wars.


    ¡°What kind of freaks are in the Concordia¡±


    ¡°They are just kids, but they are putting their seniors to shame.¡±


    ¡°One had almost cracked the barrier, and now one transformed into a monster¡±


    Even Walter and Rudolf, who were watching Hans from a distance in his early preparation days in Concordia, were surprised. They had never seen anything like this before. Sierra, worried about the strange sight, asked Rudolf for an explanation, but he could only say, "I don''t know, dear."


    This left her even more concerned, so she asked, "Is he inside that thing?"


    Rudolf clarified, "No, he is not inside it; he is the thing itself, Sierra."


    ¡°What?¡± She stressed her ManaVision to the maximum and was astonished, ¡°I can¡¯t see him. It''s not a Golem, but¡­ his life force is all over that creature. It''s like¡ª¡±


    ¡°He is an Elderwood himself.¡± Rudolf completed her words, adding, ¡°Now I understand why his way of using mana was similar to of beasts in Ghost isles¡­ I think that¡¯s how Sam made Hans..or engineered..or modified him¡­¡±


    Sierra, concerned for Hans''s safety, stood up, eager to approach and ask him to stop. However, the Parvians sitting beside Concordia, including Arat, stopped her, saying, "Wait, princess, he''s not finished yet.¡±


    ¡°THUD THUD!¡± A sound echoed like someone had started beating war drums.


    ¡°What is happening?¡± People started whispering.


    ¡°Did someone attack Grimgar?¡± They all started looking here and there.


    ¡°THUD THUD THUD!¡± the war drum echoed further, this time more rapid


    Chris was a good guy who rarely disliked anything, but there was an exception to this. He abhorred, Parvians, especially the Imperials, famed for using violence and tyranny. Being raised with elves in Clandor, the enemy nation of Parv. His idealogy took a turn for the worse, he believed his father had made the wisest decision to backstab king Samson and brought the world peace. Now Hans stood in front of him, his very friend whom he wanted to hate, but couldn¡¯t. So he was forcing himself to convince that Hans was his enemy. All he could recall about Hans was the violence and little to no respect he had given to others. His uncontrollable urge when he beat up Delimira.


    ¡°Why? You have to be him. THUD THUD¡±


    ¡°Just why¡­¡±


    ¡°We are destined to fight¡­ THUD THUD¡±


    ¡°I need to beat him, right here and now, THUD THUD.¡±


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    ¡°Or else, he will destroy everything. THUD THUD THUD!¡±


    ¡°What the heck is happening?¡± Hans asked, looking at the source of the drum beating. It was the very place he sent Chris flying. His over-enhanced vision was telling him the mass of aura being constructed in the debris. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, But it has to stop.¡± He muttered.


    ~VoidZone~


    A subtle shock wave originated from the Elderform of Hans, making every mana particle under his control. ¡°Since I¡¯ve grown the size, controlling the mana around is far easier. I can¡¯t allow you¡ª¡±


    ¡°THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD¡­.¡± The frequency of beating increased and even under his mighty control, the aura began to rise in debris. It surged within Chris, causing the surroundings to tremble. The crackling electricity rose, lifting debris high into the sky as if a thunder god had emerged from the midst of the wreckage. Prompting Hans to curse, ¡°Which fucking bastard wrote this broken script.¡±


    Meanwhile, among Arat many stood up, surprised, ¡°Just why does that power have to got to that traitor.¡± It was not some grand question that needed answering. The loud thumping noise was the preamble of the awakening of the Imperial bloodline.


    ¡°Your petty tricks won¡¯t work on me, now. This is your father¡¯s power, Hans. With each beat it exponentially generates aura. See it yourself. THUD THUD THUD.¡± His grade already had crossed the mark of 30 and now rising like a child counting numbers, 31, 32, 34, 36¡­40. Hans was baffled and belatedly realised what was happening, the chairman once told him that he lacked half of the imperial power, he only got ¡®Inheritance¡¯ but not the imperial bloodline.


    He had only wasted a moment in recalling Dietrich¡¯s words and Chris was already on Grade 50. ¡°Ha. For fucks sake. Plot armour has a limit, you bastard.¡±


    Chris had no idea how their friendship would be after this revelation, all he cared about at this moment, right in front of others, was that he had to beat the child of the Parvian king.


    Skill: DivinePunsihment


    Chris jumped high, with a massive force leaving behind a dust cloud, another skill that he imitated from Rudolf¡¯s arsenal, and descended on Hans like a falling meteor covered with electricity.


    ¡°Boom!¡± They both clashed, Hans, protecting himself through his thick arm while Chris used the full force of her grade 50 aura. ¡°THUD THUD THUD.¡± His heartbeat echoed again, filling him with the aura that he lost using the massive skill. While Hans screamed in agony as Chris¡¯s sword pierced his hand, slashing his massive arm. The Elder form was not just a golem, every fibre of his being was connected to Hans, sharing pain and every other sensation.


    ¡°Is that all you can offer? THUD THUD.¡± Chris asked, shouting.


    ¡°You have done it, Chris.¡± Hans declared, regenerating his oozing arm and stopping the green discharge that resembled his blood. His size increased, layering him one after another, the soft green skin was covered with hardened bark, almost as strong as the steel armour. ¡°I¡¯ll stop going easy on you¡ª¡±


    ¡°You just made yourself a bigger target¡ª¡±


    ¡°Come here,¡± Hans called, his hand stretched back to punch once again and the scene of Chris flinging towards Hans repeated. However, unlike the other time, Chris was not surprised and was even waiting for the moment. Putting every bit of his electricity in front, shielding him from the impending collision, he was ready to clash with Hans¡¯s hand.


    ¡°You fell for it.¡± Hans said, ¡°Swoosh!¡± Several SeedBullets penetrated Chris¡¯s unguarded back, impaling his legs. As the severe pain broke his concentration, the lighting aura that shielded him from the front, wavered. Giving Hans yet another opportunity to send him flying. ¡°I¡¯ve told you, Know your place, human.¡± He screamed, and once again, Chris collided with Knight association¡¯s corner.


    ¡°THUD THUD¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know this is not enough to pin you down, come here, you idiot,¡± Hans called out, and the invisible force pulled up Chris from the debris. Let me put some sense into your thick skull. See my superior complex with your eyes, you moron. Come here.¡±


    The scene of Hans calling Chris and pummeling him into the wall is repeated several times. Chris might have had infinite regeneration of aura, but his thick hide could take so much damage. Many wondered how Hans was using psychokinesis. And, when the Parvians had the same question, Arat explained, ¡°It''s another use of VoidZone¡¯s second ability. He is using the mana around him as a rope. It was not even possible for Samson, yet the boy is using it like his second nature. Maybe it''s because of his..this form.¡±


    Arat was only asserting, but he was right, transforming himself into the Elderwood, Hans has established a far greater connection with nature, allowing his all abilities to grow exponentially with only the cost of mobility.


    When Chris had several round trips, Hans asked raising him high, almost unconscious, ¡°Do you had enough¡ª¡±


    ¡°ilween.¡±


    ¡°Say it clearly, Christopher Bernard Holger¡ª¡±


    ¡°I.WILL.WIN.¡± Chris declared and his aura bursted out, releasing him from Hans¡¯s invisible grasp. ¡°Tsk,¡± Hans clicked his tongue, ¡°Just let it go you bastard, you can¡¯t even stand properly.¡±


    ¡°I.WILL.WIN.¡±


    ¡°Look at yourself, You might die at this rate,¡± Hans shouted, almost concerned at this point, adding, ¡°You can¡¯t win, so just surrender.¡±


    ¡°I.WILL.WIN. THUD THUD THUD¡± His will fueled his aura, propelling him to grade sixty in no time. Giving him the perk of reaching grade sixty, the rapid regeneration.


    ¡°Just how far this bastard will go?¡± Hans was puzzled as to what to use against him to stop him. Yet Chris had one track mind now, ¡°I will win.¡± He declared once again.


    Skill: Maelstrom


    <hr>


    ***

 Elven Lies I Chapter 170 - The Master of All

    CHAPTER 170


    THE MASTER OF ALL


    ¡°I will win.¡± Chris, now with rapid regeneration, and almost healed, declared once again.


    Skill: Maelstrom


    The electricity crackled out from his body, with the power that hit grade sixty, forming a gigantic flail connected to his sword¡¯s tip. The weapon was a formidable combination of his will and pure lightning force, its chain-like links crackling with blue sparks as it swung through the air.


    The electrified flail was the proof of Chris''s mastery over the imitated skill of Maelstrom. Indicating that this was not the first time he had used this attack


    ¡°Agh..¡± Rudolf grumbled, not because it looked like Hans was going to receive the beating of his lifetime, but because Chris almost perfectly imitated the skill he had developed on his own, all due to Bernard¡¯s keen eyes in deciphering skills. All three commanders of Parv were masters of their own.


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh!¡±


    Hans was not the one to give time to his opponent, his SeedBullets, more than ten this time, fired right at Chris. But Chris swung the heavy-looking flail effortlessly, shattering the mana paths of the bullets and using the momentum, he increased the reach of the flail and bashed Hans, heavily from the right.


    The impact was cataclysmic. The flail collided with the tree monster''s massive body, sending a surge of electricity coursing through its bark-covered exterior. Bright arcs of lightning danced across the green colossal frame, illuminating the battlefield in a dazzling display of power.


    ¡°Argh¡­¡± The Elderwood-looking Hans let out a deafening roar, its branches thrashing in agony as it struggled to withstand the relentless onslaught of electrical energy. Chris, undeterred, continued to swing his electrified flail with rhythmic precision, each strike delivering a surge of thunderous power that reverberated through the battlefield.


    With each strike, Hans¡¯s once-mighty monster form began to falter. Its bark cracked and splintered, revealing the smouldering, charred wood beneath. The thunderous onslaught continued until, with one final, earth-shattering blow, Chris shattered the colossal creature into a shower of splintered wood and fading sparks. As the remnants of the defeated tree monster rained down upon the battlefield, Chris stood almost victorious, his electrified flail crackling with residual energy. He looked above, focused, trying to find Hans amid falling debris, and spotted the falling boy from the sky.


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    Psychogenic shock occurred.


    Resucicating the host


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    ¡°Haa..haa..¡±Hans gasped. He was electrified, and couldn¡¯t even sense his limbs, yet he conjured a mana path, not aiming at Chris but his landing spot, far from his opponent.


    ~SmokeSeed~


    The seed, a bit fatter than his usual ones, struck the ground, covering it in a cloud of smoke, welcoming Hans in its embrace as he closed the distance to the ground. He was fine physically, with some superficial bruises and minor cuts, but he was in pain as he was deeply connected to the Elderform, every hit he received and every bit that was torn apart from him, was real for him and the pain was still there, sitting inside Hans¡¯s mind.


    Chris was ready, ¡°I know that was not enough for your kind¡ª¡±


    ¡°What the fuck is your problem. Stop being a bitch, Chris.¡± Hans shouted, launching a volley of spears towards Chris, each one finding its mark with unerring accuracy. The heavy steel poles fell on Chris, but he managed to block and then avoid it by increasing the distance. So, when the rains of spears didn¡¯t serve the purpose, Javelins followed suit, piercing through the air and converging on their target with lethal intent.


    ¡°Just where are they coming from¡± Chris pondered as one landed near him, grazing his shin. But Hans was biding his time, his arsenal allowed him to think. He cried, debuting his old spell that didn¡¯t find a chance to show yet.


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    ~BlastSeed~


    A sphere which resembled a fruit rather than a seed, charged at Chris, a lot slower than usual and Chris not knowing what it was swung his heavy thundering flail, but upon contact an explosion happened. So strong, that the shockwaves sent him flying and amid the Chaos, Hans closed the distance, flying as he entered the innermost region where swinging the flail was not practical.


    ¡°You wanna see why we are superior, I¡¯ll inscribe that in your body,¡± Hans shouted, swinging his punch right at Chris¡¯s face.


    Chris bore the brunt, trying to retaliate with his flail, but Hans got even closer, just a breathing distance from him, and delivered another punch with deadly precision, right through the gut. Bending Chris''s back in pain. ¡°Agh¡­I can heal¡± Chris justified, consoling himself, ¡°This much is nothing¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then let''s change it,¡± Hans stated, curt, prompting Chris to raise his head and as he did, he understood what was coming for him. Prepared, he let out his ravaging aura, shouting, ¡°Aura Burs¡ª¡±


    ~ManaStorm~


    Before he could shoot his aura, Hans¡¯s iconic attack met him. The torrential mana that ravaged the air itself finally met its foe. Giving him the microscopic cuts unable to heal with his rapid regeneration.


    ¡°I''m from a family that ruled these lands for thousands of years. You can¡¯t stop me through my own family¡¯s power.¡± Hans screamed, continuing the sarcasm, ¡°And if you possess that very power don¡¯t you belong to the same blood, you idiot¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I hate it myself. If I don¡¯t have this cursed blood flowing into me¡­at least I¡¯d be happ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯d be weak. You are denouncing the very gift that many kill to have. Including me.¡± Hans was enraged, all the time when he was fighting Chris, he never got angry, but Chris hating the very thing that he wanted but couldn¡¯t have, triggered his envy. ¡°Get ready, you bastard.¡± A seed of SharpDeath, the steel bamboo, now transformed with several experiments during his suspension time, conjured into his palm. Now malleable, it stretched and Hans found a spear in his hand.


    With sheer determination and a mind filled with past knowledge, Hans began to tap into the depths of his family''s legacy. With a quick step, aided by the blessing of wind, the elven pendant, he reached the stumbling Chris. His hand moved like a trained spearman, ready to sweep every enemy in his path.


    But Chris was surprised, not incompetent. His hand moved, blocking the sweeping strike, his aura fully conducted, and broke the normal steel spear in impact. The weapon fuelled with aura was far superior to the normal one that Hans used, but thanks to the abundance of mana around, Hans had the means to infinitely generate his now transformed weapons. He quickly conjured, changing the steel bamboo into a mace, its head so heavy that it kissed the ground in its birth, not ready to leave Mother Earth.


    With a sudden burst of explosive power, Hans pivoted on the head of mace at his back foot, initiating a seamless spin. As he spun, his body became a blur of motion, his legs and hips generating tremendous force. His legs were extended, core muscles engaged, and his throwing arm whipped around with blinding speed. The mace successfully connected with the other side of Chris which was unguarded. A blur, a gleaming sphere moving in sync with his body''s rotation.


    Chris was sent flying, since this time due to ManaStorm, his defence was several times weaker. Yet Hans closed in again, thanks to a sprouted vine that snatched him to Chris¡¯s predictive crash position. Confronting and welcoming him, Hans screamed.


    ~ManaStorm~


    And with just a hand distance remains between them. The torrential mana hit Chris again, negating his momentum and giving him several injuries.


    ¡°Shick! Shick!¡± The twin daggers, made from the same materials thrusted into Chris¡¯s stomach. Giving him the first grave injury. They both stared at each other looking directly into each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t run from what you are, Chris. You are a Parvian too.¡± Hans declared plunging the daggers further.


    Their battle sent many people in awe, Chris¡¯s sudden surge in power, Hans transforming into a green monster and then fighting a grade sixty knight with a different weapon. They saw Hans in a new light, a powerful mage with mastery over spears and daggers. His every motion sent them thinking just how well he trained to achieve this mastery level, and his conjuring weapons out of nothing was another thing to wonder.


    They all stood up, as they saw Hans pull out the daggers,not wanting these two friends to fight further. The blood, thick and hot flowed out like a broken dam from Chris. Injured beyond self-healing, Chris clasped his wounds, putting pressure on them. He was astonished, Hans had forced him into this state by using the normal weapons. He laughed at himself, but the blood oozing out from it stopped his snicker. ¡°How can you use these many weapons..how are you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because I embrace who I am¡ª¡±


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    Pain suppression has ended.


    Releasing the nervous system to a normal state.


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    ¡°Fuck!¡±


    <hr>


    ***

 Announcement !!!

    Announcement!!!


    (I hate reading this kind of chapter myself but it''s unavoidable)


    Hey folks,


    I''ve decided it''s high time for a little breather. So, I''m putting the Elven Lies on pause for a bit. But don''t worry, I''m not disappearing into thin air. You know how it goes, life sometimes drags you into its shenanigans, and I''ve got to deal with it. (The real Job!)


    Now, here''s the scoop: the glory war wraps up right here. See ya in the next act, "The Age of Undead." And oh boy, do we have some spicy questions left unanswered. Will Hans manage to nab Sword Rebellion from the Alliance''s treasure chest? Can he score that solar mage in the bargain? What''s the deal with Vanessa, and how did she end up in this pickle? Plus, the big one: where do Chris and Hans stand after their epic showdown?


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Now, I can''t spill all the beans, but you bet we''ll get the lowdown on some of these in our next story phase. The series will kick back into gear after my break with ACT VI - The Age of Undead. But here''s the deal: I''m not just sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere. Nope, I''ll be working my mojo, giving those previous chapters a little makeover to match my current style.


    Mark your calendars: we''re back in action come January 2024. In the meantime, enjoy gazing at that awesome Act Cover art.


    Catch you on the flip side! ???

 Elven Lies I Chapter 171 : Holder of the Book of Heroes

    CHAPTER 171


    HOLDER OF THE BOOK OF HEROES


    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Bernard shouted at his son, ¡°Is this why you learn that power? Hurting the Imperial¡ª¡±


    ¡°You knew?¡± Chris asked, confused as to why his father had not shared this with him. Enraged, he argued, ¡°If you knew about it, then why did you allow me to make friends with him? After what their family has done to ours.¡±


    ¡°Whatever the Imperials did, it ended with me and King Samson. You are as innocent as that young prince".


    "Then what am I supposed to do, I tried my best, and still I couldn¡¯t stop him¡­ I tried¡­ I really gave my all¡­and failed, father.¡±


    ¡°I know son¡­ but that¡¯s how farther you can go under my shadow¡­ I have seen first-hand how powerful the imperial bloodline could be. But to reach that potential, I¡¯m not a teacher.¡± Bernard paused, ¡°You better pray that young prince woke fast. ''Cause there are a lot of people waiting to vent their anger on us.¡±


    ¡°But Hans is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Your friend. Didn¡¯t he?¡± Bernard patted Chis and stressed, ¡°He knew who you were and still he remained a loyal friend. That¡¯s how he was raised, not as his tyrannical ancestors.¡±


    ¡°But," Chris argued, "You can¡¯t change the blood¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yet that very blood, at least some fraction of it flows through your veins. Your mother was a distant relative to the Imperial family. You know that very well, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Chris mumbled looking down.


    ¡°Then is there is a guarantee, you won¡¯t turn out like them,?¡± Bernard asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not like them¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then what right do you have to judge that boy what he could be or not¡± Bernard asked wearing a sad smile.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t see him. I don¡¯t know why I didn¡¯t notice before. But what is written in the Clandor records about the imperials, is right. Violence is their second nature, they don¡¯t think of consequences and crave chaos. What he did to proctors was extreme¡ª¡±


    ¡°All I saw was a responsible leader in him." Bernard emphasised, "I don¡¯t know his reasoning but he prioritised his comrades before him. He sent you all back foremos¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, he did not.¡± Chris argued, ¡°Delimira was on the verge of dying but all he could see was his goal.¡±


    ¡°A leader who forgets his goal is no better than a blind man.¡± Bernard quoted, continuing, ¡°In his actions, all I saw was someone avenging the injustice my son had suffered. A friend avenging his comrades¡¯ hard work.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop finding the excuse to hate him, Christopher.¡± Bernard said in a stern voice, ¡°Someone I respected said to me Sins are not inherited. Not mine nor his father¡¯s shall pass down to young generation. So forget my past, live your damn life.¡±


    ¡°But one day, he will come for you.¡± Chris stated, downcast, ¡°To him¡­ you¡¯d be only a traitor¡ª¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s what I am son. If I feared for my life then I wouldn''t have saved him when Elves searched for any kin related to Imperials.¡±


    His father¡¯s sudden words felt like a bolt out of the blue for him, but hope simmered in his eyes. He thought, maybe he could plead to Hans to spare his father on that account. He looked ahead to confirm his thoughts, but Bernard stated in a solemn tone, ¡°I will bear the weight of my actions. I have earned my death and when my time comes¡ª¡±


    ¡°No. We could find some other way¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hope is the worst enemy of all, my son. It torments you like none other.¡±


    ¡°But the world exists on hope Father.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Bernard let out a soft chuckle, ¡°you learned to gab, influence of your company, I guess.¡± Calmed, after having a heartfelt conversation with his father, Chris recalled what had happened in the arena, surprised and confused by the events, he asked his father, ¡°Just what is he? No human can do it¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. The only thing I can relate him to is the Elderwood. Back in the day, I, King Samson and the other two hunted the last ElderWood. A scary classless beast. We fought for several days and Xandor finally killed that wretched thing.¡± Bernard paused, taking a breather and continued, ¡°This is not meant to be shared son. So don¡¯t whisper this to your pointy friends.¡± He warned prompting a nod from Chris in response and explained, ¡°I asked King what he was going to use him for and he replied, a living weapon. That¡¯s all I knew till I saw the creature reviving in Young Prince.¡±


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    ¡°Oh!¡± Chris understood, nodding. So patting his back, Bernard asked, ¡°Shall we go, now?¡± Prompting Chris to raise his head, ¡°To see how your friend is doing.¡± he said with a warm smile.


    Chris was scared to face Hans, disappointed in himself, he wanted to hide away, but his father urged him to follow. He led him out, there were a lot of things he had to settle with others too, one particular with Rudolf. Reaching the Concordia¡¯s allotted stay. He entered alerting many individuals, but before Rudolf could go ballistic on him, he knelt before him. ¡°I have no words for what my son has done to the boy but, please forgive him.¡±


    ¡°You have some nerve showing your mug here, Bernard¡ª¡±


    ¡°My reckoning is inevitable, sir. But my child is innocent. You used to say, that sins are not inherited. Please abide by your words." Bernard glanced the downcast Chris and said, "My son only fought, putting his everything on the line.¡± Bernard looked past Rudolf, setting his eyes on a young boy lying on the bed, and continued, ¡°This¡­was never his intention.¡±


    ¡°How dare you¡­how dare you teach my skills to that brat.¡± Rudolf bellowed in anger, baffling every listener. Almost everyone thought that the bewitched knight was angry because Hans was on the bed, but this was not the reasoning lingered in Rudolf¡¯s head. Confused like others, Bernard, speechless, stared at bellowing Rudolf. He spoke, hesitatingly, ¡°H..that..because¡­yours are the best skills¡­¡±


    ¡°Even if that is the case. Don¡¯t you have any ethics or morals?¡±


    ¡°He¡­¡± Bernard glanced at his son, standing by his side, ¡°He idolised you from the beginning¡­He wanted to be like you. I couldn¡¯t help but teach him. They are half-baked¡ª¡±


    ¡°Half baked, my ass. You copied everything to the boot.¡± Rudolf groaned, knowing what he said was accurate.


    Bernard, still on his knees, put together his thoughts. This was not how he wanted this conversation to steer, but it started at a very awkward point. ¡°How is he?¡± He asked, anxiously glancing at the lying prince.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Rudolf turned back to Bernard, he finished ranting about what he was holding back about his skills being copied. So now, it was the time to talk about the behemoth in the room, ¡°You know, the only reason you are still alive is because you brought Hans alive, right?¡±


    Bernard nodded, unable to voice his opinion on that matter. So Rudolf asked him, what he was curious about for ages, ¡°Let me ask you just one thing, Bernard Holger. Why did a loyal bastard such as yourself, went on and backstab his king. Did he¡ª¡±


    ¡°No it¡¯s not what you are thinking,¡± Bernard denied firmly, explaining, ¡°It''s not because of his grand plan or scheme. I protected what I swore to protect. I wanted him to live, to live more than anything, but he¡­ he did something that I can¡¯t forgive him for.¡±


    ¡°And what was that?¡± Rudolf prompted, stressing, ¡°Just what happened back then?¡±


    ¡°Please that¡¯s all I can say,¡± Bernard rejected, continuing, ¡°I want you and others to remember him as the mighty king who lived for his beliefs. I failed him, but the least I can do is to protect his honour. What happened back there, shall die with me whenever my time comes.¡± Bernard pushed his son forward, urging him, ¡°So please teach him so the past won¡¯t repeat itself.¡±


    ¡°You mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, you understand correct. My boy is heavily influenced by elves, hates his motherland and you know very well that he can¡¯t flourish under my guidance. You are the only one who could teach him. So today won''t repeat agai¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to¡­ I might have spared you on the account of you bringing Hans to us. But that¡¯s it, my generosity ends there. I''m sorry that I got enraged at him before and here I''m swearing on my honour, I share no ill will towards your son. He has shown an excellent battle against Hans and he is worthy of the praise, but that¡¯s all. You can leave.¡± Rudolf declared and Bernard took his son without urging him further. He knew it was not easy for Rudolf to foster Chris, but this was the only way he could distance Chris from the rising tension in the Clandor.


    Three days have passed since the battle between Hans and Chris and yet Hans showed no sign of waking up. This was the first time Sierra saw her divine spell failing since it showed no effect on Hans except healing his wounds.


    THREE DAYS AGO, CHRIS AND HANS¡¯s BATTLE


    As Hans faced a judgemental window in the semi finals, his friend and opponent faced a new message popping in front of him.


    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td valign="top">


    MISSION PASSED


    BOOK OF HEROES - PROGRESSING(13.29%)


    UNLOCKING CONSTELLATION MOVE OF IMPERIAL SWORD ART


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Chris looked past the message, he saw Hans agonising, his screams echoing everywhere. He did not understood what was happening. Hans was squirming with pain, writhing and rolling down the ground. It looked like something was eating him from the inside and as Delimira reached and held him, he lost consciousness.


    ¡°Wake up you moron,¡± She shook him, adding, ¡°We still have to fight. I didn¡¯t get to settle our scores yet. You need a beating from me. So wake up.¡±


    Chris shivered, confused as to why Hans was acting like this. It was him who had two grave wounds in the stomach, he lost and yet, others couldn¡¯t feel much breath from Hans. It was so shallow that it was hard to tell whether he was alive or not. ¡°Hey¡­Han..s,¡± he mumbled, trying to approach him.


    ¡°Stop it, bastard,¡± Rudolf shouted and his thunder punch aimed right at Chris¡¯s face. It would have blown Chris into smithereens if Bernard hadn¡¯t stepped in to protecting him.


    ¡°Let''s save him first. I can¡¯t let my son carry the same fate as mine. please.¡± Bernard urged Rudolf and Walter quickly stepped in, lifting Hans¡¯s soulless body into his arms, ¡°What are you waiting for, a fucking invitation.¡± He shouted at Rudolf, stressing his words and ran as fast as he could toward approaching Sierra.


    ¡°Hey farm boy, wake up.¡±


    .


    .


    ¡°Hey¡­I¡¯ll stop calling you, so wake up¡±


    ¡­


    .


    .


    ¡°Wake up Hans. I¡¯ll forgive you¡­ just wake up.¡±


    ..


    .


    ¡°Prince, you cannot fall. You have great things to do.¡±


    .


    .


    .


    ¡°Take a good rest, my child, but please hurry, you are all I have¡ª¡±


    ¡°What about me, dear.¡± Rudolf joked, hoping Hans to wake up and retaliate, but he kept sleeping. The only thing he remembered was the glossy message that came like a painkiller before he lost consciousness.


    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td valign="top">


    ACTIVATING FORCED HIBERNATION


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 172 : The Sleeping Prince

    CHAPTER 172


    THE SLEEPING PRINCE


    It was the third day and Hans remained the sleeping beauty of the fables. Chris on the other hand, finally received permission to enter his recovery room. Bernard, his father tagged along with many eyes stalking their actions. One of them was the fastest knight in the world, Dijkstra. Many wondered, even Arat, as to why this short-fuse maniac was this calm, but Dijkstra was only fine outside, inside he was in turmoil over what Bernard was thinking himself- The Elderwood.


    Chris had mustered all his courage to come here, he wanted to hate Hans but what his father said to him before soldered his thoughts that the future he was hoping for could be avoided. However, when he reached Hans, not a single word left his mouth he just blankly stared at him. He felt guilty because every attack of his back in the arena was aiming to take Hans''s life. The good times they shared kept flashing in their minds, he felt apologetic for blaming him.


    Bernard took a good look at Hans, the infant he pulled from the war had grown up. He wanted some of his dishonour to washed away but it remained stained in his conscience. He spoke as his son remained silent, ¡°You¡¯ve grown up well young Prince¡ª¡±


    ¡°You got it wrong. I''m not a prince. Just Hans is fine¡± The sleeping boy woke up, giving many a breath of relief. He was surrounded by a lot of people, some genuinely cared for his well-being, some curious, some wanting the answers and some, so they could relieve themselves of guilt.


    ¡°I don''t want to, but if I happen to sit on that throne,¡± Hans spoke further, clenching his fists in and out, trying to see if everything was working fine. And when everything seemed fine, he added, ¡°Then it will became my duty to avenge him,¡­ We¡¯ll be enemies, sir. That seems unavoidable.¡± His words shook Chris from within, he wanted to avoid this scenario and it was blatantly showing up on his face. So Hans added pointing at Chris, ¡°So, remain still in Clandor and do not leave. I don¡¯t wanna fight with that idiot again.¡±


    When Hans was finished with his words, Arat chimed in making the most of the situation as he declared, ¡°Your son must repent in your place, Bernard.¡± His wise head working in full swing, planning and scheming, ¡°You will never be forgiven for your sins, but seeing your son inheriting some of the Imperial blood, I can¡¯t just let him fall on others¡¯ hands. So he will serve in Parv after his graduation. Earning you pardon as long as you don¡¯t show yourself outside of Clandor." Arat paused as he found Hans glaring at him, as he was trying to find where Arat was going with this. Looking at the contemplating face of Hans, Arat chuckled inside and added, ¡°After hearing the prince, that''s how far my genoristy can go. You are welcome to deny it, I hope you do deny. ¡±


    If it was up to him, he would have ordered the annihilation of Bernard and his son at this very moment. However, doing so would have resulted in upsetting the boy who was quick in running away from the throne. Thinking more, he sighed, adding, ¡°I¡¯m giving in, so think hard¡ª¡±


    ¡°There is nothing to think. He will serve Parv, his motherland as he should have been¡ª¡±


    ¡°Screw you, you old snake, who says I''ll even go to Parv. There was a huge IF in my words before.¡± Hans rebuked, interrupting both, obvious to everyone that he was addressing Arat. Then pointing to Chirs, he declared, ¡°Heis his own person, he is fifteen, and he can decide for himself.¡± As Hans¡¯s words fell, all eyes turned to Chris, asking his opinion.


    Hearing those words from Hans, a little smile etched on Chris¡¯s face as he answered, ¡°I will, if Hans is there.¡±


    ¡°Look at this bastard, I took his side and he is throwing everything at me.¡± Hans chuckled, and a sudden thought hit him, ¡°Oh, yes, I must¡¯ve got the second place.¡± He tried standing up, removing the sheets of cloth covering him.


    ¡°No, you did not.¡± Walter rained on his parade before it could begin, and explained, ¡°You fainted first so Chris was crowned winner, but he was also not in a condition to continue¡­ so.¡­¡±


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    ¡°Damn it¡­¡± Hans cursed, mumbling, ¡°I lost. My chance¡­¡±


    Seeing Hans almost pulling out his hair, Walter asked everyone to leave. And when everyone followed his words, the professor turned to another individual, trying to hide away in a corner, ¡°You too.¡± As Walter pointed, Hans finally set his eyes on the boy standing in the corner. ¡°All three days, except for maybe bathroom breaks, that boy didn¡¯t even move an inch.¡±


    ¡°I inspire loyalty, don¡¯t you think, professor.¡± Hans smirked.


    ¡°Senior,¡± Vanir interjected before Walter could say anything, continuing, ¡°You know, you are my ticket out of misery, right? So promise me you never fall again like this¡­"


    ¡°I can¡¯t promise you that Vanir. Grandpa always says, there is someone stronger than you somewhere. And if I won¡¯t fall, how would I learn to rise again? That¡¯s how this world works. But if you are that concerned, then be the one lifting me. That¡¯s what is in your hands.¡±


    ¡°Haa¡­¡± Vanir heaved, remarking, ¡°That is some hardcore cringe, but I''ll try¡ª¡±


    ¡°One of these days. I''m gonna sew that mouth of yours, Junior. That was probably the coolest thing I¡¯ve said and you botched¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then recover quickly, senior.¡± Vanir jolted out of Hans¡¯s room his eyes moistened with happiness, and Hans turned to Walter, asking, ¡°So professor, mind giving me the book¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh stop it,¡± Walter gestured, waving his hand, ¡°I know that you know that I don¡¯t have the book¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you fu..lost it to Xandor.¡±


    ¡°No, I traded it.¡±


    ¡°What? You backstabber, you promised that to me.¡±


    ¡°Xandor came to me, telling the truth that Book of Power is just a hoax¡ª¡±


    ¡°And you believe him¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you think, I¡¯m still shitting in my pants, farmboy?¡±


    ¡°Why would I even want to know that, eew!¡± Hans squealed.


    ¡°Stop getting smart with me farm boy¡ª¡±


    ¡°So you knew everything, then why did you help me get here,¡± Hans asked, confused, ¡°I mean clearing every obstacles, giving me special treatment and siding with me so I can focus on preparation¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because Xandor added that in the trade. He made a deal with you, didn¡¯t he?" Walter asked, "So what was it he wanted?¡±


    ¡°What will I get telling you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ho, look at this. Our farmboy is acting cute." Walter remarked, "Well, you are talking like a Prophet member. I''m proud of that at least.¡±


    ¡°Haa.. I thought Xandor really stole it from you¡±


    "Do you think, I''m that foolish to let a treasure slip by my hand?¡± Xandor smirked.


    ¡°It''s not you," Hans shook his head, "it''s just that Xandor seemed perfectly capable of doing it.¡±


    Walter wanted to know many things, "How he was that proficient with spears and daggers, heck the boy even knew how to swing a heavy mace. And to top everything, how the hell he could transform into an elder wood?" But he left all the questions in his head and let the boy to rest.


    However, for Hans, rest was the last thing he wanted. The failure to acquire Solar Mage still lingered in his mind. ¡°Agh..¡± He groaned, ¡°There is no use overthinking, I have to get it from Xandor another way.. but where is she, I heard her..she was saying something about forgiving..¡± He kept waiting, but instead of Delimira, the sleep fairy visited him and he drifted off to dreamlands.


    ¡°Armin..you are the king who butchered his own family.¡± Hans raised his head, to take a good look at who or what was talking to him yet with the vast knowledge in his head, he couldn¡¯t recognise the creature, bat-like wings, tall and imposing, with scales that shimmered like polished emeralds. It was a group surrounding him, their upper body was serpentine, covered in iridescent scales that transitioned seamlessly into humanoid torsos. Their arms were powerful and ended in clawed hands, and their faces were a mesmerizing blend of human and lizard-like features. They had striking, slit-pupil eyes, and their hair resembled flowing silken-scaled manes.


    One of the threatening figure suddenly appeared before him, like he had skipped the space and impaled him with his fangs. Hans woke up gasping. ¡°This shit¡­ happens every time I pass out. For real, I need to learn¡­¡± His eyes led him to the person sitting beside his bed as his ranting came to a sudden halt.


    ¡°I heard you won,¡± Hans said, trying smooth talk, but Delimira was not happy hearing it. Standing up, she declared, ¡°I like doing charity not accepting it.¡±


    ¡°Still a stuck up. You seem to be doing fine.¡± Hans remarked, but what she did next started him. ¡°You okay?¡± She asked like something precious of hers got hurt.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to get senti about it. I¡¯m fine, heck I can even run if I try now. See..¡± Hans showed how good of a health he was in.


    "You sure?" She asked once more.


    "Tsk, I''m telling you, I''m fine. I can go another round with Chris." He assured, trying to give Delimira a sense of relief. Or as he thought until she spoke, ¡°Better clench your teeth, Mr Prince.¡±


    ¡°What?" Hans sensed, it wasn''t that she was concerned about him. she just wanted to know if it was okay for him to get hit. "Is a ¡®sorry¡¯ with a capital S won¡¯t do?¡±


    ¡°You are awfully late on that. let''s bury the hatchet." She smirked, "Seventeen times. You hit me seventeen times. As I''ve said, clench your teeth, Mr. Prince.¡± She pinned him down and secured a dominant position on the bed, straddling Hans''s stomach. She began in a rhythm, her punches rained down while Hans cursed, ¡°Which fucking bastard was counting¡­Pow! Pow! Pow!¡­¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 173 : My Best Friend

    CHAPTER 173


    MY BEST FRIEND


    ¡°Hey,.. stop it.¡± Hans shouted, grabbing her hand, ¡°That was the eighteenth¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh!, so you were counting¡ª¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t even counting!¡± Hans was flabbergasted, beaten blue, his face was full of contours, like he had gone through a thorough reshaping. Feeling the ups and downs by his hands, he sulked, ¡°What will I tell others¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just say you fell on your face¡­ha..that was refreshing.¡± She stated, stretching her shoulders. "Now we are even." She said glancing at his staggered appearance and finally broke into laughter. After a while when she had her fill, she asked him, ¡°So what are you gonna do now? Chris wanted to give his chance to you. But this morning, your dear grandpa reached some sort of agreement with Unc¡­Bernard. So he asked Chris to bring something specific out of the Alliance treasury¡ª¡±


    ¡°What should I expect from others when my own family is blowing away my chances¡± Hans interrupted, grumbling, ¡°You can¡¯t count on that geezer, always spoiling my plans. If Chris wanted to give his shot to me, he should¡¯ve let him¡­¡±


    ¡°As I told you,¡± Delimira said rolling her eyes, ¡°Chris is now Dean¡¯s direct disciple. Well, he almost showed Dean¡¯s exclusive skills so I saw it coming anyway¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡­ How I missed talking to you, Deli. Vanir is a dumb idiot.¡± Hans had mixed feeling as he was rubbing his face with ice that Delimira had brought before. "She came prepared," he thought but then suddenly heard someone from the back.


    ¡°Senior¡­¡± Vanir whined from the doors prompting Hans to continue his rant, ¡°See, he is even eavesdropping¡­wait! You little shit you saw everything, didn¡¯t you¡­¡±


    ¡°No senior. I have a condition where I go blind sometimes¡­ I didn¡¯t see you getting ..akhm, akhm.. I never saw anything.¡± He jolted out leaving Hans to cry in his frustration, ¡°My reputation¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop whining,¡± Delimira interrupted, continuing, ¡°At least I spared you some decency. You sent me to the infirmary you cruel¡ª¡°


    ¡°Ah!¡± Hans gestured for her to stop, explaining, ¡°You might not believe me, but I was not in control. I don¡¯t even remember hitting you¡ª¡±


    ¡°What an excuse¡­ I was hoping for some¡­¡± she paused, staring at his eyes and continued, ¡°Wait! you are telling the truth?¡±


    ¡°See.. how easy is to talk with you.¡±


    ¡°So why it happened?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a frickin clue.¡± Hans chose not to disclose the reprogrammable tapeworm in her head. Steering the conversation in another direction, he asked, ¡°So what happened when I was out cold.¡±


    ¡°As I said, Chris became Dean¡¯s disciple and this morning he went in Alliance treasury and brought back some kind of sword.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a third¡­Anything else?¡±


    ¡°And one funny thing happened, some people came to collect money from Dean. So he sort of lost it and levelled a loan shark. They were flashing the official County¡¯s badge. So now, he is pissed as to who stole it.¡±


    Hans turned sideways, mumbling, ¡°Shit, I hope he doesn¡¯t find me¡­akhm..¡± he coughed, steering the conversation again, ¡°So Deli¡­You haven¡¯t claimed yours, right?¡±


    ¡°Nah!, I knew you needed something from there, you don''t work that hard for nothing, right? You even chose not to forfeit, even over my life.. right.?¡± Her eyes thinned and Hans started sweating bullets, excusing, ¡°Well¡­ You wouldn¡¯t have liked losing that way either Winters.¡±


    ¡°Hmm..fine¡± She nodded, asking, ¡°So what is that I need to bring out¡ª¡±


    "Nice!" Overexcited, in joy he jumped from the bed, right into her arms. ¡°There is still a chance left.¡± He clasped Delimira, holding her tight, he stated, ¡°From this day, you are my only friend Deli. Mhm..¡± He snuggled, however, a thought hit him, so he asked without losing his hold, ¡°But, don¡¯t you need something too¡ª¡±


    ¡°What do I even lack? And even if it is true, I could just buy, it¡ª¡±


    Hans''s eyes twitched hearing those words and he said nodding, ¡°Even if you are condescending you are still my best friend, Deli.¡±


    ¡°Get off before this best friend blasts you off, Mr. Prince.¡± she warned.


    ¡°Fine.. fine¡­¡± He removed his hands, rambling, ¡°Can¡¯t a guy be happy¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then hug yourself.¡± She remarked and Hans started his search for something, his hand traversing every pocket. ¡°These are not my clothes.¡± He pointed out, lifting his head, ¡°Where are my things?¡±


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    Delimira pointed at the small wardrobe and Hans lunged at it. He foraged his things and found a shiny pebble, the same size as his palm. He showed it to Delimira, ¡°This is a coordinate stone.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I get it. They come in pairs, always pointing to each other." She said, her eyes thinning in doubt again, "These are for couples, I think¡­ wait what is this.¡± She picked up a bloody paper, ¡°Hans what is this receipt¡ª¡±


    ¡°Burn it. quickly.¡± Hans shouted and she didn¡¯t waste any moment in scorching the paper. But her question remained, ¡°What was it?¡±


    Hans shook his head, denying, ¡°Nothing¡ª¡±


    ¡°You know¡­ I read it. It said debt¡± She chuckled, ¡°Pftt! You were the one who used your family¡¯s sigil as collateral¡±


    ¡°Haa..¡± Hans sighed, there were no secrets when Delimira was around him. ¡°Focus,¡± Hans pointed out, flashing the glass pebble, ¡°You just need to take it in and bring whatever it points to.. hopefully they hid the sword in something trivial.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Delimira nodded, adding, ¡°But what will I get in return¡ª¡±


    ¡°I knew it. It was all going so smoothly¡­ you just had to ruin it, Deli. I was wondering when you¡¯d ask that¡ª¡±


    ¡°You started it,¡± Delimira prompted.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. It was you who started making deals with me.¡± Hans refuted as they both awkwardly stared at each other. Eventually, Hans broke the silence, ¡°Let''s forget the deals. We can do each other favours without asking anything in return, agree?¡± Hans forwarded his hand prompting her to shake and finalise the agreement and she did, adding, ¡°As long as money is not involved.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you miser¡ª¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have added it if you didn¡¯t leverage your own grandpa¡¯s sigil, Hans." She stressed, "And you are an exorbitant spender. If allowed, you might even empty our coffers.¡±


    ¡°You can''t be sure, wanna try?¡± Hans smirked but several thoughts remained in his head. ¡°My spells need money more than anything. I really need a source of income. I can¡¯t take the task till the fourth year. The study work pays shit in Concordia. Grandpa gives so little and now I need the bare minimum of a few thousand of gold per month. Just which great person could give me this¡ª¡±


    ¡°O! Squeaky¡­Prince Haaans.. hello,¡± Delimra waved her hand in front of his face, snapping him out of his daze. ¡°What?¡± He prompted, his tone irritating Delimira. She asked, ¡°Should I be worried about what we are stealing from them¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stealing.. ha.. Winters, you are just taking away what you rightfully can.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m the one taking it away, smartass¡± She stressed. ¡°Not you, that¡¯s why I should be worried about the consequences, right?¡±


    ¡°It''s not something dangerous,¡± Hans stated rolling his eyes.


    ¡°So I just need to bring it out. Right?¡± She confirmed, prompting a nod from Hans and added exiting the room, ¡°Then see you later.¡±


    ¡°You are leavin¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do something about your face Mr. Prince¡­ it looks horrible¡ª¡±


    ¡°It feels horrible too¡­ and Deli, seeing you powerful is nice. Don¡¯t slack off. Or else¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll beat the shit out of me¡ª¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I wouldn''t go that far¡­ at least when I am sane and conscious.¡±


    ¡°Leave it, Hans. You are irritating.¡± She left and Hans sprung up from his bed. He quickly got ready and hurried to leave this recovery room, yet stopped by the door. All were looking at him confused.


    ¡°Which bastard did this?¡± Rudolf shouted fervently looking left and right.


    ¡°I fell on my face, Grandpa.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I believe that.. its obvious someone beat you to pulp. Tell me which bas¡ª¡±


    ¡°I.FELL.ON.MY.FACE. GRANDPA. leave it. ¡± Hans stressed while Vanir irritated him with his occasional snicker. He was going to chew him off, but his eyes fell on another individual trying to shy away. ¡°So, your emotional distress is over, Chris?¡±


    ¡°Sorry about it¡ª¡±


    ¡°What do you get out from Alliance treasury?¡± Hans interrupted not wanting to hear the whole drama again.


    ¡°Incarna, it''s a blessed sword,¡± Chris answered, explaining, ¡°It feeds off on aura and returns it as strength.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just rub in my wounds.¡± Hans taunted making Chris speechless. He was walking on eggshells around Hans, unlike his usual friendly way. So Rudolf dropped in, saying, ¡°He is just peachy because his ass was handed to him.¡± However, to his surprise, Hans didn¡¯t fight back. So he asked him, ¡°Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.. I come to respect my elders, Grandpa¡ª¡±


    ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡­ just selling your name, but you do not need to know that...¡±


    ¡°You did something, didn¡¯t you?¡± Rudolf asked, forcing.


    ¡°Nope¡± Hans looked ahead and grabbing his junior, he jolted out, shouting, ¡°I¡¯ve something to do, see ya.¡±


    ¡°Where are you dragging me, senior.¡± Vanir almost pleaded, ¡°I really didn¡¯t see anything¡­¡±


    ¡°Give it a rest, idiot. Now tell me what Delimira didn¡¯t?¡± Hans asked, shoving Vanir into a dark alley.


    ¡°For one, you are famous. A celebrity, if I say, at least for normal people. Your proctor blunder, as ridiculous as it sounds, made a mountain out of molehill. People are even speculating that it was Eclipse who wanted to form a rift between Alliance and Concordia by killing you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Pftt..¡± Hans broke into laughter, ¡°By all means, continue.¡±


    ¡°So Alliance was forced to investigate an incident that doesn¡¯t exist. But your PM¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not mine.¡± Hans interrupted.


    ¡°Okay, Parv¡¯s PM used this to instil fear of Xandor in the public, probably using this chance to initiate a discussion about Eclipse after two days.¡±


    ¡°He is a snake, a really clever snake and you understand politics,¡± Hans commented, prompting Vanir to continue.


    ¡°It''s not like he was hiding it. Rubbing them every moment." Vanir said thinking.


    "Well, he is usually like that. anything else?"


    "Ooh! I got to talk to my parents, they were wondering whether my decision to serve you was gonna backfire.¡±


    ¡°So what did you tell them?¡± Hans asked, curious.


    ¡°I said, I knew, it was gonna backfire but I assure them that even if you are ruthless¡­ you..are good person to serve.¡± Vanir turned his face away prompting Hans to find his face, ¡°Oh, you are embarrassed right? You are beet red, Vanir, pftt..¡±


    ¡°Stop it senior, you wanna know the rest or not?¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine, continue.¡±


    ¡°You displayed power like none. People will keep you in check even more aggressively. That monstrous form was something, but you displaying mastery over several weapons is bound to attract the annoying flies of Ancients. So be extra careful from now on." Before, Hans could ask what nonsense he was spewing, Vanir said, "That''s what Parv¡¯s PM asked me to tell you¡­ and one more thing, I almost soiled my pants when he came.. the sad death wanted to meet you alone tonight.. The same place where you met him before. He was saying, he is going to give you some answers.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 174 : The Secrets She Never Told

    CHAPTER 174


    THE SECRETS SHE NEVER TOLD


    ¡°Where is he? I''ve been here for an hour.¡± Looking at his table Hans added, ¡°And this is my third bowl of noodles¡ª¡±


    ¡°I was here all along,¡± Dijkstra said, suddenly appearing behind Hans, jolting him out in surprise. ¡°Shit, you scared the hell out of me.¡± Hans rebuked, holding her beating chest.


    ¡°For a man...no...a child...no, it doesn¡¯t suit you either¡­ for a person who kills on second thoughts, you are easy to scare, little Sam.¡± Dijkstra sat down, and flashed the alcohol he always carried. ¡°You want some?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Naah, look at your face. Oh, this is fun.¡±


    "Tsk! You said, you have somethings to answer me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but tell me something first.¡± Dijkstra paused, gulping the wine, ¡°How did you transform into the Elderwood?¡± Many had wanted to ask this of Hans, but Dijkstra was the first one to speak about it. on the other hand, Hans had nothing to hide since he himself didn¡¯t know how it worked, ¡°I just can. It''s not something I can''t explain¡­ I just grow myself into one like a plant into a tree.¡±


    ¡°So you just can, hmm..¡± Dijkstra paused again, taking his sweet time to think and when Hans was just about to snap him out, he asked, ¡°Did you know, what are classless beasts?¡±


    ¡°Yeah," Hans nodded, "Unique beasts which can¡¯t be categorised.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s one way of undermining them. Listen little Sam. A classless beast is not just unique, there are many things that are unique out there. Classless beasts are the one that commands fear even in Warlord ranks. Top-ranked knights can die like flies if they come across one. The only fortunate thing is that they don¡¯t leave their territories and we sure don''t mess around them.¡± Dijkstra gulped another, as he pointed out to Hans, this time with some genuine concerns that were hard to come into his face, ¡°and now.. there is a walking classless beast.. roaming our midst.¡±


    ¡°If I was a classless beast. Do you think, I¡¯d have lost in Glory Wars¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the reason you are talking and walking like a free person, little Sam. To others that was some type of Golem that you pulled, but I know its presence well. We fought one for days eventually killing it, and it was my toughest battle. In result, Samson claimed his heart and after some time. I heard you are born, you are smart, connect the dots.¡±


    Hans remained silent, So Dijkstra added more, ¡°Don¡¯t you think, your mana control over nature is oddly similar to the plant-type beast? We don¡¯t have them here, but in Ghost Isles. You¡¯d have at least seen one.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve,¡± Hans mumbled, all the time he thought his unique method of using mana was all because of his wood element. However, some time ago, he began to doubt all about it. There was no proving it since the only two mages who had the wood element in the past were not officially documented. He mumbled, intending his low voice to travel to Dijkstra¡¯s ears, ¡°What could the elderwood do?¡±


    ¡°Everything you can, but on a bigger scale. Its precision and accuracy was not something one can be proud of. On the other hand, you used those abilities like a master¡­hmm¡­how should I put..yes. You are deadlier than it.¡±


    ¡°Haa¡­¡± Hans sighed, whining, ¡°I already had my plates full being Samson¡¯s son and now an elderwood. My life is just an unending spiral, the more it grows, the bigger the shit it throws at me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just speculating... Im not one of brilliant minds but you are no human. So one has to wonder what are you, or how you came be little Sam.¡±


    ¡°Thanks a lot! I¡¯m feeling more relieved¡± Hans shot a sarcastic remark adding, ¡°Last time, you were going to tell me something. I believe, I¡¯ve entertainedyou enough.¡±


    ¡°Yes. That you did very well.¡± Dijkstra chugged the rest of the wine, and said, ¡°I can¡¯t do this sober.¡±


    ¡°Just what happened with Vanessa¡ª¡±


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°She found out something, she shouldn¡¯t have and paid the price for it.¡±


    ¡°I figured, but what was it exactly?¡± Hans asked, serious.


    ¡°Do you know what your graduation test is like?¡± Dijkstra threw another question instead of the answer, but Hans was riding on patience after waking up from a painful experience. Instead of getting toasty, he answered, ¡°It''s something to do in Deadlands, the red demon barrier.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Your foster sister was quite the average kid, neither too smart to be envied by others, nor dumb to be looked down on. Even her looks were not something that could cause a wars, but she was still pretty and everyone liked her.¡± He paused,feeling Hans¡¯s stare and continued, ¡°And being a daughter of Dominion knight, comes handy in making others like you. But on her graduation test her misery began.¡±


    Hans was shaking his leg, impatiently, eagerly waiting for Dijkstra to say the important part, a habit he had picked not long ago. And seeing him behaving like that Dijkstra stopped going around and said what Hans wanted to hear. ¡°I¡¯ve tracked down her group. As Arat asked me at your request. There were six people, three elves and three humans. But only five came back with Vanessa going half mad with her mana disconnected.¡±


    ¡°What did she see¡ª¡±


    ¡°According to the human boy whom I found¡­ that disloyal bastard. Didn¡¯t even flinch selling out his friend. It was boring.¡± Dijkstra complained.


    Hans commented, ¡°You must have interrogated him¡ª¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Dijkstra denied, waving his hand, ¡°I gave him a choice and he chose to speak without even me touching a strand of his hair. Can you believe how disloyal¡ª¡±


    ¡°What did he tell you?¡± Hans asked, his patience running out.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you¡­wait a bit, little Sam.¡± Ordering another wine, he chugged, ¡°Glup, glup, glup! Haa¡­¡± and took a long breather that smelled strong. A moment later, he opened his mouth, ¡°There was a person in his group named Aelok Torceran, apparently he is the son of Anfaleen, the last Older council member. The one Xandor failed to assassinate during war.¡±


    ¡°Your tone tells me, he should¡¯ve. Right?¡± Hans asked, prompting a nod from Dijkstra. ¡°That would¡¯ve solved and prevented many problems, little Sam.¡± He was getting a bit drunk, as his mind kept swaying in the past. ¡°Where was I?¡± He asked and Hans pointed out so he resumed. ¡°Anfaleen.. yes. He is the Nodemaster of the fifth Node. So they went to him, I don¡¯t know the reasons why though¡­Apparently, she and her other human friend Dave, stumbled upon some human experiments. Since Dave fellow had none backing him and wasn''t important enough to get investigated, he died at Anfaleen¡¯s hand. But your sister was only daughter of a Dominon knight, a knight who served Rudolf. That is some annoying backing. Anfallen could just not kill her so she suffered a fate worse than death. Anfaleen injected her with his prototype, knowing well it would fail and ordered the four students to bring her insane-turned-body back to Concordia - with all sharing the same story - Vanessa Richardson used his friend Dave as a bait and ran away, only to stumble upon some disease like Karma biting back¡±


    ¡°So that Nodemaster did that, just because she found him experimenting on humans¡ª¡±


    ¡°It''s not just Experiments¡­ do you know what is Anfaleen researching? It''s an artificial process of making sunstones. Supported by an Ancient. No one is gonna make an enemy out of him, at least not without any hard evidence. And the testimonies backed by children of powerhouses nailed her case before they could even investigate. Even your own Concordia couldn¡¯t find much. You see¡­ they don¡¯t have the balls to get physical with the witnesses, like me.¡±


    ¡°So that''s why some weirdo said that to me in the Initiation ceremony¡­ I couldn¡¯t even remember his name.¡± Hans recalled the first day in Concordia where a boy accused Vanessa of something like using his brother as bait. But one thing still troubled Hans, and lifting his head he asked Dijkstra, ¡°I¡¯m grateful that she is alive.. but why the hassle of going through this.. it would¡¯ve been wiser to kil¡­her.¡±


    ¡°Didn''t you hear me before, Aldrich Richardson is not a joke, Little Sam. If she had died, then he would have nothing to lose. An almost warlord in that condition is a loose cannon. Unpredictable and dangerous. There is no saying what he would have done and on top of that, Aldrich served Rudolf and Sierra. That is a very dangerous combination that you can¡¯t fathom to understand. People like your father and Anfaleen, who use their heads more than their hands are the ones who could suppress people without killing them. Look what he did, returning her half dead he bound Aldrich to Edenberg county treating his half dead daughter while he erased every bit of evidence¡±


    Hans understood the point, thinking, that¡¯s why his father left a lot of people alive, maybe he was suppressing them in another way he didn¡¯t know of, but one thing still confused him, so he asked Dijkstra, ¡°Earlier you said, something like a brother shouldn¡¯t know abou¡ª¡±


    ¡°An unconscious and helpless girl with three hotheaded bastards with no consequences. What do you think would happen? Connect the dots¡­ I killed the bastard the moment the story went in that direction.¡± Dijkstra washed the bad taste in his mouth with the wine but sadly Hans had no alternatives like this. He felt bad but he was calm.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the response I expected from you¡­you should have enraged by hearing this, ready to pounce on someone.¡± Dijkstra inquired, curious. But Hans was still quiet, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Soon, his index finger began to tap gently against the wooden table, a rhythmic pattern that mirrored the beat of his racing heart. Finally, he broke the silence, confirming, ¡°They are not the people whom I can pounce on, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I was gonna stop you from doing that...you should at least be as strong as your father to fight them, little Sam.¡±


    "Pfft.." Hans chuckled but his eyes showed wickedness contrasting his light laughter. He said, stressing,¡°There are many ways to kill someone, Commander Dijkstra. You don¡¯t have to be as strong as them.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 175 : Borrowing Strong Hands

    CHAPTER 175


    BORROWING THE STRONG HANDS


    ¡°We can¡¯t turn back time but we can always write a new end, my sister said that to me.¡± Hans stated, his calmness turning into controlled anger, ¡°To write the new end, I need names, Commander Dijkstra.¡± His seriousness, almost chilling, gave ecstasy to the Sad Death. Continuing his grim tone, Hans confirmed, ¡°You killed one, three still lives, right?¡±


    ¡°I dealt with the human,¡± Holding his excitement, Dijkstra began to talk and answered what Hans desired to know, ¡°The first one is an Elf named Aelok Torceran a sixth circle mage who joined the fifth Node. His father is a scary man, even with my standards¡ª"


    "Anfaleen Torceran, you said." Hans interrupted.


    "Yeah," Dijkstra nodded, there were only a handful people who could escape Xandor and even less who could put up a fight, Anfaleen fall into the later category. Dijkstra wanted to instil this fact into Hans so he doesn''t do any stupid thing. So he warned, "Anafalen Torceran is a warlock and the Nodemaster, so don''t run to your death little Sam."


    "I may be reckless, but not stupid. I don''t start a loosing fight. so his son is one of three. What about others." Hans asked.


    "Second, is a bastard named Millard, a sixth circle mage in the Clandor mage tower and the last one is Kerym, a fifth circle mage from the Shadow family, and he is here at the moment." Dijkstra stressed the last part to see Hans''s reaction.


    ¡°Here?¡± Hans''s eyes perked up, not with curiosity but because the gears in his mind started spinning, creating many scenarios needed to exterminate this Kerym¡¯s bug-like existence. ¡°Shadow family?¡± His voice hinted at the question so Dijkstra answered, ¡°The children born from Royals who couldn¡¯t claim the throne. They protects the Queen''s family from the shadows, hence the name. He came here in escort of king and queen.¡± Dijkstra paused, thinking that Hans wanted him to snatch this bastard.


    Hans caught his hesitation, but before he could say something, Dijkstra added, ¡°It''s not like that I don¡¯t want to kill that pointy ear, but if I make a move, even if that Elanor bastard couldn¡¯t stop me he still would recognise me. And you know how it will go from there¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not asking for you to nab him. Just be my escort for two to three days.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Dijkstra swiftly replied, prompting Hans to ask, ¡°Don¡¯t you have to ask PM Arat to protect¡ª¡±


    ¡°This seems more fun and that geezer won¡¯t die that easily.¡± Dijkstra said, asking, ¡°But how are you planning to kill a fifth circle mage without my help¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Hans said with a wicked grin etched on his face, ¡°I know a man who is more insane than you. He¡¯ll do that.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make me feel good!¡± Dijkstra said, puzzled.


    ¡°Because it wasn¡¯t the compliment.¡± Hans taunted, steering the conversation through his pace, ¡°By the way, what was the name of the one you killed?¡±


    ¡°Jonik, a knight and a noble from Indu. But why ask the dead man¡¯s name?¡± Dijkstra asked, confused. So, Hans answered, gulping down his soup in one go, ¡°Because he is gonna resurrect soon¡±. Hans stood, ending their conversation and disappeared among the crowd.


    Not knowing his chaotic plan, Dijkstra started shadowing him. As Hans moved, crossing various stalls and festivities, There were many things he wanted to do in the five-day festival after Glory Wars. Two days had already passed but right now, all he wanted was to find Vanessa. He wanted to say a lot of things to her, but when he found her. The only thing he could do was smile, a calm yet sad smile that she caught on.


    ¡°What happened, Dear brother?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Nothing sis, it''s just¡­ it''s good to see you.¡± Hans said, covering his moistened eyes. Prompting her to ask, ¡°You okay? brother¡ª¡±


    ¡°You call me brother, right?¡± Hans said, ¡°You know, I¡¯m powerful, right sis? So you should tell me if someone bothers you, got it¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oho! How reliable.¡± She cheerfully caressed his cheek, ¡°Our Hans has grown up.¡±


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    ¡°I¡¯m not kidding.¡± Hans gently removed her hand, ¡°you should tell me, even if someone stares at you. I¡¯ll pluck his eyes out.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. So mind tagging along with me,¡± She offered her hand and Hans followed holding it. The night was young, and Hans did whatever she liked instead of doing things his way. If anyone saw them together, they might think they were just like real brothers and sisters.


    After a long and happy time together, Hans bid good night to her and came to his room where someone else was waiting for him. ¡°What took you so long,¡± Delimria asked, her annoyance apparent. She pulled something out, two stones, one glass pebble, the coordinate stone that Xandor had given him, while another looked like an expensive piece of jewellery. She added, ¡°I hope, it is what you were looking for. People were eyeing me with weird eyes. Even I felt it was a waste to pick a jewellery out of Alliance treasury.¡±


    ¡°No, it''s alright.¡± Hans checked, the coordinate stone was still pointing to the polished piece. ¡°Don¡¯t you wanna know, what it is?¡± He asked


    ¡°Nope, the lesser I know, the less guilty I feel when it comes to biting it in your ass. And I¡¯m telling you, it eventually will.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doing knowing that, Winters. Good night¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not even a Thank you? Tsk tsk.¡±


    ¡°Do you want another hug, or something?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she backed off a few steps so Hans shut his door in her face, murmuring, ¡°Thanks a lot Deli.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Dijkstra appeared, jolting behind Hans. Making him jump out in surprise.


    ¡°Hey! I told you to stop doing it.¡± Hans complained, but Dijkstra was staring at the polished gem, like he was mesmerised by it. So Hans answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know how, but in it, is the sword Rebellion. And I¡¯m¡ª¡±


    ¡°And you are going to hand it over to Xandor. I might not be the smartest here, but that girl is right. It will come biting your imperial ass sooner or later¡ª¡±


    ¡°I''ll deal with it when the time comes." Hans said glaring at the jewellery piece and confirmed once again. "You said Xandor or anyone, even me, can¡¯t use the sword, right?" Dijkstra affirmed and Hans responded, "That¡¯s good enough for me.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°No buts,¡± Hans gestured, ¡°Xandor has the second book and he is not someone I could steal it from.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll help, just tell me when and where. If I try my best¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, I made a deal and I have to honour it.¡± Hans declared, ¡°I don''t do backstabs.¡±


    ¡°Well said,¡± a shadow emerged from the dark walls, ¡°You might be not the real thing, but you sure inherited his values.¡±


    At this moment, in Hans¡¯s small room, there stood the commanders of Parv. The duo being in the same place was like placing oil by the fire. But there were no sparks yet. ¡°Xandor, what do you want to do with the sword?¡± Dijkstra asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m just retrieving what I hid, Dijkstra. Don¡¯t get involved.¡±


    ¡°So you were the one who stole it when the king fell¡ª¡±


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t. It would have been destroyed by those Alliance bastards, whom you are chummy with nowadays. Don¡¯t you have any shame, they were the same people who killed your king. So, shut the fuck up. You don¡¯t have a say in it.¡± Turning to Hans, Xandor pulled a book, the very thing Hans wanted, ¡°Give me the gem and I¡¯ll happily give this book.¡±


    ¡°Haa¡­¡±Hans sighed, ¡°There is a tiny problem in the transaction, sir.¡±


    ¡°Do you think,¡± Xandor paused, glancing at Dijkstra, ¡°With his help you can do something¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, No. Don''t get me wrong¡± Hans gestured, ¡°I¡¯m true to my words as I¡¯ve said previously. It''s just conditions have changed a little. We will do the exchange tomorrow afternoon, near the meadows south of the capital. And you''ll bring an elf named Kerym, additionally. He is a mage from the Shadow family of Clandor and is in the capital right now.¡±


    ¡°That would be difficult.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in no hurry, Mr." Hans shrugged off his shoulders. "I was even ready to lose that book,¡± Hans stated, continuing as he glanced at Dijkstra. ¡°He might not be able to steal from you, but he can very well prevent you from stealing from me.¡± As he finished and didn''t hear anything from Xandor, he turned serious from laid-back. ¡°I don¡¯t care how you¡¯d do it. I just need him in the meadows afternoon, or else you could find this sword from Norwin himself¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Dijkstra objected instead of Xandor, ¡°Not tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Xandor accepted, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll bring that elf day after tomorrow, afternoon, right?¡± And saying his piece, he disappeared.


    ¡°Why not tomorrow?¡± Asked Hans, prompting Dijkstra to answer, ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± As the silence remained in the room, Dijkstra broke the awkwardness, ¡°So the one more insane than me was him. Well, it is right, that bastard is insane.¡±


    Dijkstra calling someone insane was one thing crossed from what Hans wanted to see in his life at least once, and it was a scene that left him baffled. The night was long, but the buzz of the festival still rang to their doors. Yet Hans slept like a baby without a care in the world. While Dijkstra, sobered, kept gazing at the young prince.


    ¡°Why in the world are you here, Dijkstra?¡±


    ¡°Oh!, Alastor,¡± Dijkstra turned and saw two people, one he liked and the other he did not, ¡°I didn¡¯t see you there Alastor, but what kind of deal Bernard offered for you to take his son as disciple? You must be a saint in the head¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Rudolf instantly denied, ¡°I just owe him something.¡± Rudolf stated as he glanced at Hans¡¯s doors. Dijkstra wasn¡¯t content with the answer so he poked further, ¡°So, if I go for the boy''s head, would you fight me for real?¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Rudolf answered, curt and clear.


    ¡°Hmm..¡±


    ¡°So will You go?¡± Rudolf confirmed.


    ¡°Naah. I¡¯m doing something much more fun.¡± Dijkstra answered surprising Rudolf that this battle junky was denying the chance, even sparing Bernard¡¯s son. Frankly, Rudolf had no confidence that he could stop Dijkstra if he really wanted to hurt Chris. So his response brought some peace in his mind, but the surprise remained, confusing him more by the minute.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 176 : The Secrets He Never Told

    CHAPTER 176


    THE SECRETS HE NEVER TOLD


    Before the day Hans met Dijkstra, Bernard had brought Chris to Rudolf¡¯s doorstep. It was early, not even the sun had visited them but the father and son were at Rudolf¡¯s annoyed face. ¡°I thought I was clear earlier.¡± Rudolf groaned, continuing, ¡°Leave before Sierra wakes up. You know better than me, how nutjob a Parvian imperial can be.¡±


    ¡°What can I do for you to accept him?¡± Bernard pleaded.


    ¡°Here we are alone,¡± Rudolf stated, glancing at Chris, commanding him, ¡°Get outside brat¡­¡± And when Chris left, turning to Bernard, he stressed, ¡°This is the last time I¡¯m talking to you like a civilised person, so you better use this chance to give me some fucking sensible reason.¡±


    However, there was something else in Bernard''s mind, the impending war he wanted to stop was catching fire every second. He explained, "Clandor will soon face a civil war. The damage of the Elven war had halted the civil unrest, but it is inevitable. Soon royals and the new council will be in each other¡¯s throats. I took an oath to protect Queen Reina and I will do so. I just don¡¯t want Chris to be part of it." Bernard paused, if it was upto him, he never wanted to share this, but one can''t have everything like he wants. "His bloodline," he resumed, "The imperial power is not of his own. It was taken away from a newborn and instilled into him."


    Rudolf had disbelieving expressions, even Bernard thought it wouldn''t have made sense if he didn''t witnessed it first hand, "I don¡¯t know what HIS plan was, but I can¡¯t just sit by and let my child be someone else¡¯s pawn. I almost lost my son that day because of his experiment.¡ª"


    "Was this the reason you brought elves to Parv" Rudolf interrupted.


    "No,It was not. But it helped kickstarting everything, my shook up belief, my distrust. And moving on, his erratic decision didn''t helped. I couldn¡¯t trust him so I began to find reasons for what he was doing, but found something else. Do you know why when I brought Hans to you, he was half dead? Samson did something to him. All I did was to save this child. Do not trust him, Rudolf. Samson was not in his right mind, but as if he bewitched every one, they all followed his whim and jumped at hell on his call"


    Rudolf remained silent, it''s not like he believed Bernard completely. He knew this former commander was still hiding things. But some of his rant actually made sense to him. The changes he saw in Samson''s before Elven war was something he couldn''t understand but as he knew the boy very well, he ignored it thinking it was part of some bigger plan. However, what he got was the news of his death. "Hmm.." he grunted, thinking wasn''t his strong suit.


    "What do you hope to accomplish?" he asked at point blank.


    "Please take my son in, I beg you." Bernard pleaded.


    "It''s like you are running from something?" Rudolf asked, doubting "What proof do you have if you aren''t duping me into¡ª


    ¡°You know, I do not have a crafty mind, sir. This is the truth that no one can verify, but my honour as a knight of Parv. I¡¯m telling you the truth."


    ¡°But you are not telling me something.¡± Rudolf insisted.


    ¡°Yes, because, believe me, once you hear it you¡¯ll regret hearing it. Just let him be a good son in your memory.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I don''t want to hear it." Rudolf shook his head, "But a civil war is not something you would be wary of. So tell me what got you spooked?"


    "The moment Chris showed the imperial bloodline...Lets just say, Parv is not the only one looking for that power¡ª"


    "Say in plain words. what kind of a shitstorm am I going into?" Rudolf raised his voice.


    "The Ancient kind." Bernard replied softly.


    "Fuck!" Rudolf cursed and added,."I¡¯ll keep your brat safe and teach him a thing or two¡ª¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Bernard let out a breath of relief and before he departed, he warned Rudolf, ¡°Keep Hans away from Reina, the far the better. She won¡¯t think of consequences if she gets any chance with him.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to say that to me, I know very well. That very thing is what makes her dangerous.¡±


    Bernard called his son in, telling him to follow Rudolf, ¡°Do as he says and don¡¯t even think about leaving his side. Got it.¡± Chris stayed silent, he wanted, no he needed to learn from Rudolf, but the way his father was telling him was confusing him. However, his remaining silent prompted Bernard to raise his voice. ¡°I asked, do you understand?¡±


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    ¡°Yes, Father,¡± Chris answered like a soldier.


    ¡°Haa..¡± Rudolf sighed, ¡°First Hans, then Winters¡¯ daughter and now this one. It looks like I¡¯m babysitting ticking time bombs. It''s happening again.¡± He looked at Chris, ¡°You brat, you better clean your slate, forget whatever your father had taught you about my skills and go claim a sword named Incarna from those alliance bastards.¡±


    NEXT DAY


    Hans was still in bed, wondering why Dijkstra had postponed the meeting and even more why Xandor obliged. But his answers were soon going to be answered by another uninvited guest who just knocked on his doors. ¡°Come in,¡± He answered sitting up, and door opened. Chris¡¯s father entered, yesterday he had a talk with Rudolf and now it looked like today was Hans¡¯s turn. ¡°What Can I help you with, Mr Bernard¡± Hans asked.


    ¡°I just wanted to have a talk with you, Prince Hans¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just Hans, that would suffice. Accepting the Prince title would make you my enemy Mr. Bernard.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Hans.¡± Bernard nodded, and said in an apologetic tone, ¡°Despite my reasons¡­ I know it won¡¯t erase the things I have done to you. I''m sorry for robbing you of your family¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you seek your demise through me?¡± Hans questioned, confused why this man was here, saying the things that would do nothing but agitate him further. And looking at his baffled face Hans added ¡°If that is what you want, I can¡¯t help you. I don¡¯t even hate you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why? I betrayed your father. I got him¡­I was the reason he died. So why?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t understand the loss of something that I never had. I was raised with love and care. Gramps and grandma never let me feel any absence of father and mother. So if you seek my hate I can¡¯t give you any.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Bernard pondered, explaining, ¡°I apologise again, I just wanted to make sure your friendship with my son is genuine or not. But I''m sure that you¡¯d be a good friend to him.¡±


    Hans did not speak further, but there was still one thing that was bothering him, so he couldn¡¯t just stay silent for long, ¡°But why are you sending your precious son to your enemies?¡± He looked at Bernard, raising his head and stared right into his eyes, ¡°I might not share the sentiments of Grandpa, but if someone had costed me my child, I¡¯d see no any reason to not do the same.¡±


    ¡°Even if the child is innocent?¡±


    ¡°Yes, one must return what you received several folds, this is what the Imperial family believes in, you know that very well, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Bernard nodded


    ¡°You still haven''t answered my question, Mr Bernard. Why are you sending your precious son to your enemies.¡±


    ¡°Because that is not the worst place for him to be. And Sir Rudolf owes me a life, yours.¡± He pointed out, continuing, ¡°I rescued you when everyone wanted to see you die. I was the reason you are alive, Hans.¡±


    "But wouldn''t that cancels the debt. you got Samson..my father killed and saved my life. I''m no genius in math but it sure look like it cancels¡ª"


    "No." Bernard denied, firm. "I saved you so he has to save mine. I got Samson killed so I must die. That will cancel my debt."


    ¡°Sure, knock yourself out." Hans said indifferent. He never had any father growing up so he couldn''t fathom the loss but for a while, he imagined how good it would have been if Samson taught him everything right by his side. So he might not harboured any hate for Bernard but it doesnt mean he felt good around him either. "Do I owe you something else ?¡± Hans asked, as his indifferent attitude continued.


    ¡°No,¡± Bernard shook left and right, explaining further, ¡°You know, the power Chris possessed¡­¡± He paused, glancing at Hans from the sides, thinking what would have been like if Hans never lost this power to Chris.


    ¡°Chris possessed¡­ continue, why the sudden pause?¡± Hans asked, snapping him out of his daze.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Bernard continued, ¡°The power he possesses¡­ might become his shackle, you do not know how easy is for some people to manipulate someone¡ª¡±


    "I have some ideas,¡± Hans thought of Sam and arat, even he could think of using this scenario to bind Chris to his purpose. He shook his head and declared. ¡°I need answers in simple words. I hate it when people go around. From what are you running from, Mr Bernard? It''s not Parv, Arat has declared his stand so what is eating you up that you are ready to even part with your son? Answer it clearly. It''s the least you can tell me.¡±


    ¡°Woah! you sure are your father''s son. Rudolf asked me the same thing earlier." Bernard stunned amazed.


    "If my grandpa could see that. Then you are not doing a good job hiding it. or you want us to find it and schemed¡ª"


    "I do not posses a scheming mind. I''m a simpleton, Pr...Hans. Clandor might be engulfed in war soon. It is still a possibility but when it happens¡­I don¡¯t want Chris to be used by elves or Parv or any other thing. Being with you and Rudolf right now is a safe haven for him, at least for now.¡± Bernard looked far, sensing the trouble coming, ¡°I do not have time left. It was nice meeting you Hans and just for your information, do not trust Dijkstra for security, he is very easy to distract.¡±


    Bernard reached the door, turning once again he stated, ¡°Another thing, if you find yourself facing the Elven queen, run as fast you can. Do no. Never meet her. I serve her that is why I know her better than anyone.¡±


    ¡°You can leave, Mr Bernard,¡± Hans said, still indifferent. Bernard went the way he came from and Dijkstra came fuming back, prompting Hans to ask, ¡°Where were you?¡±


    ¡°Finding a Bastard. He had the nerve to throw a stone at me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just for a fucking stone¡± Hans retorted, ¡°You left me here alone, what happened to your promise of keeping me safe for a few days.¡± Hans now understood why Bernard said those words and who was the one who had the galls to throw stone at Dijkstra. Before he could get an answer from him, another knock came saving Dijkstra from one awkward conversation.


    ¡°Hans, are you awake?¡± The girl asked from outside prompting Hans to hum in affirmation. She twisted the knob and entered.


    ¡°Ah. Sis! Did something happen,¡± He bolted out of his bed and before he could rain down questions, Vanessa said, her voice deepening, ¡°Get ready, we need to go somewhere?¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± Hans asked


    ¡°It''s your father¡¯s birthday. You should at least visit him today.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 177 : The Grimgar Royal Cemetery

    CHAPTER 177


    THE GRIMGAR ROYAL CEMETERY


    ¡°My father¡¯s birthday?¡± Hans asked, confused.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Vanessa nodded, ¡°Wear this, she put the formal suit down, continuing, ¡°And come down quickly, Lord and Lady are already waiting.¡±


    She left leaving him stunned. ¡°So dead people also celebrate their birthdays.¡± Hans taunted, as he wore the suit, a black three-piece with a white shirt. ¡°Now, how the heck do I make this?¡± He said to himself after tangling the tie with his finger gymnastic, yet it failed to form a decent structure. ¡°Ugh, dang it¡ª¡±


    ¡°What is taking you so long?¡± Vanessa barged in and found Hans playing with his tie.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do the tie, sis.¡±


    ¡°Leave it,¡± She came close, taking the reins and her fingers moved like magic, forming the perfect tie around his neck. ¡°There you go. Now hurry.¡± She pulled him by the hand and exited the room. ¡°Is wearing black a custom to visit the Late ones,¡± Hans thought as he noticed, Vanessa was also wearing a full black dress and confirmed his doubts as he saw Rudolf in the same suit as his, relatively bigger, but the design remained identical. ¡°He even combed his hair, guess he wanted to look a bit decent to Samson¡­ Even grandma is looking more beautiful.¡± Hans started combing his hair, his finger running through it and setting it up. ¡°I should have put more effort.¡±


    ¡°Where is everyone?¡± Hans asked hinting Rudolf.


    ¡°They are enjoying the festival or market. Some meeting their parents and all¡­¡± Rudolf remarked, taunting him, ¡°You are the only one who sleeps through the noon, and even on a good day, such as this.¡±


    ¡°So where exactly are we going?¡± He asked, ignoring Rudolf¡¯s taunt.


    ¡°Sam is in Grimgar Royal cemetery.¡± Sierra answered, adding, ¡°Now hurry, if you don¡¯t want others to see you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Grandma,¡± Hans ran off to her side and they sat on the carriage, set to lead them to the Royal Cemetery. As the wheels began its gentle ascent towards the cemetery, Hans glanced out of the window at the passing landscape. The buzz of the city ended quickly, and the world outside was a tapestry of lush, rolling hills and trees, their branches reaching skyward in silent tribute to the time that had passed.


    Sierra, sitting opposite Hans, wore a sombre expression, her eyes reflecting the weight of the occasion. In her lap, she clutched a bouquet of white lilies, a symbol of purity and remembrance. Rudolf, beside her, was a stoic, even his neatly shaven face and perfectly combed hair couldn¡¯t hide his sadness.


    Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was a mix of emotions¡ªquiet reflection, grief, and a sense of familial unity. ¡°I really shouldn¡¯t speak out of turn, this is intense,¡± Hans spoke inside and turned to Vanessa. She held a small, handpicked posy of wildflowers, her youthful yet sad eyes matched the gravity of the moment. ¡°Wow, even her. Am I the abnormal here? And they should have told me if they were bringing things. Now I look like an unfilial brat.¡±


    As they approached the cemetery''s wrought-iron gates, Hans could see the old trees that lined the entrance, their gnarled branches forming a natural archway. The carriage came to a gentle stop near the entrance, and the family stepped out, their footsteps echoing on the stone path. They made their way into the cemetery, each carrying their chosen symbols of remembrance, except Hans. ¡°I really feel out of place.¡±


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    He was feeling a mixture of emotions as they entered the royal cemetery¡ª his senses were overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur and solemnity of the place. Before him lay a landscape filled with ornate gravestones and mausoleums, each a work of art in its own right. The gravestones were carved from gleaming marble and adorned with delicate wireworks, depicting the likenesses of long-departed monarchs and nobility. The mausoleums, on the other hand, were grand structures, with towering spires and stained-glass windows that depicted scenes from the history of the Grimgar kingdom. ¡°This is really grand, their budget must be insane¡±


    The air was heavy with memories and history. Flowers and candles adorned the graves, offered a sense of serenity and respect. The silence in the cemetery was profound, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant song of mourning birds. "Oh my god, why is not anyone speaking?"


    Hans followed his elders, wandering among the tombstones, his fingers gently tracing the names and dates etched into the stone. As he went further, he came across a large, imposing monument at the centre of the cemetery. It was a towering statue of a regal figure, undoubtedly the first monarch of Grimgar, with a solemn expression and a crown upon his head. Flowers and offerings were placed at the base of the statue, an evidence to the enduring respect of his descendants.


    ¡°You must¡¯ve been a big shot, fighting the mage king along with my great ancestors.¡± Hans bowed with respect and moved to where his elders were. They stood before an unattended grave, left in that state on purpose. ¡°They don¡¯t even have respect for the dead,¡± Rudolf said, his voice carrying the solemnity.


    ¡°I should have never let you go to Parv,¡± Rudolf stated, caressing the weathered gravestone, his voice trembling with a mix of sorrow and disappointment. ¡°You should have talked, son. We¡¯d have helped you.¡± He paused, his gaze fixed on the cold stone marker bearing Samson¡¯s name. A deep frown etched across his face as he continued, ¡°You should at least have had a proper funeral as a King. Your teacher is sorry that he couldn¡¯t do much.¡±


    Sierra stood a bit far from him, her heart aching for her husband, but she knew that sometimes grief needed its solitary moments. She approached him gently, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Rudolf, dear," she murmured, her voice full of sympathy, "it''s time to come back to us. Samson wouldn''t want to see you like this.¡± But as she tried to console him, Sierra''s own tears welled up. She missed her son deeply, and his absence had left a void in her heart that even Hans couldn''t fill. She laid the white lilies she bought with her, cleaning the place a bit and the couple stood together, finding solace in each other''s presence, even as their grief continued to weigh heavily upon them.


    ¡°What is this..¡± Hans asked himself, his breathing suddenly becoming more rampant, his chest aching like someone was clasping his heart. ¡°I never knew him so why? Why am I feeling this way..¡± A single teardrop escaped from one of his eyes. He looked at Vanessa, even though she was crying and it propelled Hans further. The emotions, unknown to him flooded down and a river of tears broke out through his eyes without permission.


    "Happy Birthday, son," Sierra whispered, her voice quivering as she lovingly wiped away her own tears. She turned to Hans, who stood beside her. His face was marked by streams of tears, yet his gaze remained fixed on Samson''s grave. Gently, she took his trembling hand and encouraged him, "Hans, say hello to your father. He must have been waiting to hear your voice.¡±


    Hans desperately wanted to speak, to convey all the emotions he felt at that moment, but the words seemed to elude him. Sierra tenderly embraced the young boy, who felt overwhelmed by the weight of the moment. Vanessa had her share of things, that she wanted to say, the absence of a person who had the power to set everything right that happened to her lay right in front of her. ¡°You promised me Sam, and you broke it. But I¡¯ll keep my promise. Hans, he¡¯ll grow up freer than you, stronger than you and definitely someone who can keep his word. I won¡¯t let him be like you.¡± She declared, softly wiping her cheeks.


    Since Hans was still breathing erratically, a sign of a panic attack lingered on him. The couple decided to take him back and when they turned to leave, a voice echoed in Hans¡¯s head, the voice he couldn¡¯t recognise yet felt deeply familiar with, the words ringing in his head like they had travelled time to reach him.


    ¡°Your father is sorry to leave you like this son, But I still hope you find happiness in this life.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 178 : The Father and Son

    CHAPTER 178


    THE FATHER AND SON


    ¡°Your father is sorry to leave you like this son, But I still hope you find happiness in this life.¡±


    The words, unheard by any echoed in his head, like he recalled a distant memory. ¡°What is this?¡± He muttered. Somehow those words stopped Hans¡¯s erratic breathing, his vigour coming back to the eyes. However, an unknown sadness shrouded his whole body. He stopped, almost as if someone had held him from behind, stopping him from leaving. And the words rang again, this time the solemnity in them increasing several folds.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your every burden so live free my son. That¡¯s all I want from you.¡±


    Hans tenderly detached his hand from his grandmother''s grasp and softly asked, ¡°Can I stay for a while?" Sierra recognised that Hans required a solitary moment with his father and nodded understandingly. She and others left him, informing him that they would be waiting at the entrance. Hans nodded, acknowledging and stepped forward to his father¡¯s resting place.


    As Hans gazed down at the grave, his emotions welled up within him. He clenched his fists, struggling to hold back tears that threatened to spill. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, and then began to speak, his voice trembling with a mixture of sadness and longing.


    "Father," he stammered, ¡°I.. wish, I could have known you¡­ truly known you. They say you were a great king, a respectable person, but I never got the chance to see that for myself.¡±


    Hans paused, his eyes fixed on the cold, unfeeling stone in front of him. He continued, "I know that you had to make difficult choices for Parv, and perhaps you believed it was best for me to be away from this mess. But for the first time, I don¡¯t know why, I feel your absence¡­¡±


    A soft breeze rustled the leaves of nearby trees as if nature itself was listening to Hans''s heartfelt words. He continued, clenching his chest, "I''ve heard stories about you, Father. Stories of your intellect and your excellent decision making... I can''t help, but wonder, what it would have been like to have you as my guide, yet it feels like you are always with me. You see...¡± A sad smile etched on his face as his moistened eyes, let slip out a water pearl as he continued, ¡°I found the book that you left for me. I''m getting there... Soon I¡¯ll get another one, Father.¡±


    Hans''s voice quivered as he confessed, "I''ve had my share of struggles, Father.You made it not easy for me to survive in this world. Everyone wants something from me¡­ just because I¡¯m your son. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I don¡¯t regret being born, but sometimes, I''ve felt lost and alone. Yet I''ve also learned so much, and I''ve grown stronger because of it.¡±


    Tears began to roll down Hans''s cheeks, but he didn''t wipe them away. He let them fall freely as he continued, "I may never fully understand the reasons behind your decisions, but I want you to know that I''m doing my best to live the happy life you wanted me to. I may not wear the crown, but I carry your blood, and I hope that counts for something.¡±


    Hans fell silent, the weight of his unspoken emotions hanging heavy in the air. He knew that his father couldn''t respond, but somehow, in that quiet moment at the graveside, he felt a connection, a sense of closure he had never experienced before.


    With a final, heartfelt whisper, Hans said, "Goodbye, Father. Wherever you are, I hope you''re at peace now.¡± Hans said and stood up. He began to march down the hill without looking back and a gentle breeze, the power of wind that his father held, brushed his cheeks like he was saying his farewell too.


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    Hans picked up the pace, he wanted to get out of this place, not wanting to feel these grave emotions. He ran, wiping his tears until the iron-wrought gates, the entrance greeted his eyes. Yet it looked like he couldn¡¯t just avoid trouble. A few people, some he knew, some he didn''t, were locked into some heated argument.


    ¡°Haa¡­ This is also your doing Father.¡± He thought and appeared beside his family. His mood was already sunken in sadness and his tone made it apparent as he said, pointing at Samwell, the mediator of Clandorians and his family. ¡°I¡¯m not in a great mood, so just let us go, Uncle.¡±


    ¡°Yes, there is no need to escalate this.¡± Samwell agreed, but an elf was staring down at Vanessa, scanning her from head to toe. But before Hans could say something the elf, who looked like an escort to the king and queen present there, spoke up, ¡°I heard you recovered! Do you remember me rescuing you?¡± A grin stretched on his face as Vanessa shivered down and he continued, ¡°You remember don¡¯t you? How HARD it was. You were unconscious all the time, we TOOK TURNS LOOKING AFTER YOU. Aren¡¯t you thankful?I still feel bad we couldn¡¯t save your boyfriend what was his name, Dave¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ah, for fuck sake!¡± Hans interrupted his rant, ¡°Don''t you remember saying me, I''M. IN. BAD. MOODO? It means, get the fuck out of my face. Or I¡¯ll promise you even the whole fucking Clandor can¡¯t stop me from butchering you, right now.¡±


    ¡°Do you even have any clue who I am you low bor¡ª¡±


    "No, and you seem to have no clue either. Ask them¡± Hans pointed back at the clandor Royal couple who were just letting it escalate. So he stared right at their eyes and declared, ¡°I¡¯m not weak like father.¡± His words shook the one who knew Samson, he was many things, but not weak as claimed by his own son. And seeing their baffled face, Hans corrected, ¡°I don¡¯t share any compassion when I deal with enemies. I just won¡¯t leave you alive like him¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hans¡± Vanessa stopped him, patting his shoulder. But for the first time, Hans yelled at her ¡°What is wrong with you? Getting intimidated by a trash like him. You call me your brother, don¡¯t you? Then do you expect me to just sit back and let some shit walk over you?¡±


    Hans turned to the clandor king. ¡°A servant spouting nonsense before his master is a prime example of how competent the master is.¡± Hans''s words were laced with sarcasm but Eleanor the king responded in calm, ¡°Didn¡¯t someone tell you? Your mouth will get you killed, boy.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, many did, but they don¡¯t know how many I will kill along the way. So if you can¡¯t gaze the consequences get your shit out of my way. I¡¯m barely holding myself from going ballistic here.¡±


    The escort mage, burst out, ¡°I¡¯m a sixth circle mage¡ª¡±


    ¡°26 people,¡± Hans interjected, his sombre tone giving the chill to the listener, as he continued, ¡°26 people were butchered like cattle after they stood in my way. They were all on the same level as you. Didn¡¯t they? You should be scared, you inferior low life. I even feel bad for myself to breathe the same air as you.¡±


    Hans¡¯s comment sent everyone taken aback. That comment was what high elves, the old ones used to direct at humans, the race they deemed inferior, but now a human was throwing those words at them. It felt an irony was slapping their cheeks. His eyes led him to another human accompanying the elves and he let out his frustration. ¡°Mr. Bernard, I told you, that I can¡¯t feel the loss of something that I never had, didn¡¯t I? But now I feel it to my very core. So please heed my request. Never appear before me.¡±


    Bernard couldn¡¯t help but remain silent. ¡°Let¡¯s leave,¡± Hans declared, clenching his aching forehead with one hand while another led Vanessa out of there. Sierra followed them and Rudolf left a snarking remark as he went, ¡°You¡¯ve been served.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that feels refreshing. You know squeaky you have an odd air about you. When you start speaking others naturally feel oppressed, your pressure is no joke.¡± Rudolf tried cheering his mood, but even his rare complimenting didn¡¯t lift up Hans''s mood. He just remained silent, staring at the moving scenery out from the window in silence. They soon reached their stay, but Hans''s sunken mood dragged him to his room, locked, as he had a lot to talk to himself. The whole day passed, but none came to disturb him as instructed by Rudolf. He never realised when he closed his eyes.


    ¡°Stop sulking little Sam.¡± Dijkstra woke him up, continuing, ¡°Didn¡¯t you lecture me, saying, You can¡¯t relive the past but you can always write the new end. Let''s hurry, you need to write an end today, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Hans looked out of the window, it was bright, and the sun was hanging high. ¡°Yes, we should leave.¡± With a practised grace, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. He reached his robe hung by the bedpost, and swiftly in a fluid motion he slipped it on. The deep hood concealed most of his face. ¡°Let''s go.¡± he said as both disappeared, leaving the room empty in silence.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 179 : The Show Must go on (1)

    CHAPTER 179


    THE SHOW MUST GO ON (1)


    ¡°Is he always this late?¡± Hans asked his companion cum temporary guard, Dijkstra, prompting a nod in return. A they waited a bit more, Dijkstra with no strong suit of patience, added, ¡°Yeah, there is no punctuality with that bastard¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shut your trap, Dijkstra.¡± Xandor appeared from a portal of darkness, almost as if he was using a SpaceDoor, prompting Hans¡¯s curiosity about this mode of travel. But he didn¡¯t let his curiosity distract him this time. He glanced at the man, fainted and coiled beside Xandor. ¡°You didn¡¯t kill him, right?¡±


    Xandor said nothing, but kicked the coiled man in the stomach, letting him groan in pain. The pitiful response was the proof that he was still breathing. However, Xandor was taking the risk of exposure so even if he was curious as to why his former colleague and the brat whom others called their prince wanted this high elf. He ignored the odd duo in front and flashed the second book, ¡°I fulfilled the end of my deal, now it''s your turn,¡± He said warning, ¡°Don¡¯t make this ugly, you¡¯ll regret¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait a little, will ya!¡± Hans interrupted, ¡°I need to settle something personal first.¡± Hans wasn¡¯t even looking at Xandor, his whole focus from the beginning was on Kerym. He was drooling like a beast for his prey.


    ¡°Argh!¡± Xandor grumbled, but Hans wasn''t requesting, he was telling him to wait. ¡°Fine, do what you want but hurry, I''m a busy man,¡± Xandor responded, throwing Kerym at him like a rag doll. Now he couldn¡¯t leave, his curiosity became dominant in his psyche and he waited patiently.


    The impact might have finally given some sense back to Kerym, his consciousness came back but fear shackled him tight. He saw, Dijkstra, the sad death on one side and Xandor of Eclipse on another. But there was someone else, who was making his senses go haywire, the sheer amount of blood lust Hans was showing was nothing compared to the other two. Anxiously, he shouted at Hans, ¡°Do you think, you can walk free from this?¡±


    Hans crouched down, raising the squirming elf by his blond hair. Staring right at his eyes, he asked in a dreadful voice, ¡°I¡¯m Hans Parv. Now it''s your turn; Name and affiliation?¡±


    The name Kerym heard was enough to solve the mystery of why Xandor and Dijkstra were here, he knew he fucked up, but he opted to struggle, after all his life was on the line, ¡°If something happens to me, Parv or not, even Concordia won¡¯t be able to protect you.¡±


    Hans tilted his head slightly, his hand coming to rest on Kerym''s chest. He once again asked, all while channelling the raw, unfiltered mana into Kerym''s unprotected body, ¡°Name and affiliation?¡±


    Kerym experienced excruciating pain, the likes of which he had never felt before. The mana heart was an intricate and delicate organ, functioning only when compatible mana flowed through it. However, Hans''s forceful injection of incompatible mana caused indescribable agony. This method of torture was all too familiar to Xandor, but it usually required a mana stone. Every encounter with Hans seemed to bring new surprises, and this time was no exception.


    Unable to withstand the torment, Kerym sang like a bird, revealing his identity. "I am Kerym Rotti, a sixth-circle mage from the Clandor Royal unit.¡±


    Hans smirked and taunted him, "Was that so hard to answer?¡±


    Gasping, and quickly channelling out the mixed mana, Kerym regained some composure, ¡°Are you doing this because of Cemetery incidence,Vanessa¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you think, I¡¯m that free?¡± Hans taunted, his hand commanding the raw mana again, circulating inside Kerym as the man of twenty-something cried like a newborn. His arrogance seemed to run from him as he clasped Hans¡¯s feet, begging him to stop.


    Hans on the other hand, turned to Dijkstra, asking, ¡°So, commander Dijkstra, you have a fair share of interrogation, right?¡± Dijkstra nodded, unaware of what was on Hans¡¯s mind. ¡°Then,¡± Hans spoke further, ¡°How can I inflict a lasting pain?¡±


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    ¡°There are many ways. Hmm..¡± Dijkstra acted like it was another Tuesday dinner for him. He thought a little and came up with an answer, ¡°How about peeling his skin, every time the wind washes him, he will wail in agony.¡±


    Listening to both of them talk, even Xandor felt bad for the elf but Kerym was on another level of distress. His eyes shivering, his palpitating heart almost ready to burst out.


    ¡°Your dagger, please,¡± Hans said and his words finally broke Kerym¡¯s bladder, releasing everything that he was barely holding. But Hans didn¡¯t mind, he was on the rising side. But the moment he got a dagger in his hand, he moved like an experienced torturer. His first target was the right hand and started shaving off his skin while Kerym cried his lungs out.


    ¡°Zwoom!¡± Xandor readily created a sound barrier to maintain some discretion but Hans was too busy to notice this small thing. The very reason he chose this place was because of its isolation. When he finished, almost scrapping his hand to the elbow joint, Dijkstra stopped him, saying, ¡°You should give him a break, do it in intervals, so he doesn¡¯t get used to it.¡± Dijkstra spoke those sickening words as words of wisdom and Hans took it as he intended.


    When Kerym got his little composure back, Hans slapped him hard to jolt him out. He said, his voice still grim, ¡°Now, tell me Kerym Rotti, a sixth circle mage from the Royal unit, Why am I doing this to you?¡±


    ¡°The fuck I know, you lunatic bastard. You¡¯ll burn in hell for this¡ª¡±


    ¡°There is no hell,¡± Hans interjected, ¡°You can¡¯t fall further below¡± His hand came to rest on Kerym¡¯s chest and the sheer feeling of his hand gave Kerym chills of his lifetime. He started screaming even before Hans began.


    ¡°Shh..sh..¡± Hans gestured, whispering in his ears, ¡°The more you cry, the more I enjoy and the more I enjoy, the more I will do.¡± The mana wave entered his body again but this time Kerym resisted, forcing himself to bear the excruciating pain.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need much teaching in this department, little Sam,¡± Dijkstra commented, feeling proud of Hans¡¯s every action But Hans didn¡¯t have the time to listen to his words. His focus and mind were all consumed by the whimpering Kerym. He asked Kerym again, ¡°Tell me Kerym Rotti, a sixth circle mage from the Royal unit, Why am I doing this to you?¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­ha¡­ha¡­¡± Keym gasped, trying to command his breath, a bit of sanity left in his eyes so before retorting he thought a little and responded, ¡°Are you doing this because I took some money from Royals? Did they make a deal with you?¡±


    ¡°Do you think, I¡¯ll work with your stupid Royals? Stab!¡± Hans dug the dagger deep into Kerym¡¯s thigh and twisted it for further experience. Kerym gagged himself, putting a fist in his own mouth. He clearly understood, but Hans was not satisfied with the answer.


    Hans twisted more, whirling as the blood gushed out from the wound. He stopped when Kerym started to speak again, ¡°Is Alliance wants to get rid of me after using me to rob Clandor¡¯s archives.¡± The sudden confession startled the three Parvians. And all thought the same thing, ¡°This elf is a treasure trove for information.¡± Xandor who was just curious before, became interested, while Dijkstra eagerly awaited what next this elf would spill.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I want to hear, you stupid elf.¡± Hans shouted, putting more pressure on the dagger, demanding, ¡°Give me my fucking answer.¡±All three eagerly waited, for something new to come through this elf¡¯s mouth and it did come Surprising them further.


    Kerym began his rant, scared by the gazes of the three, ¡°Did the council find out that I poisoned one of their nobles? no that can''t be, they would not send you to take care of me. It can''t be that you are doing this because I sold humans and elves either.¡±


    ¡°You bastard even sold your own kind?¡± Hans asked, baffled but instead of Kerym, Xandor answered, his anger rising at Kerym¡¯s confession, ¡°To the high elves, the commoners of their own kind are just trash.¡± But that is not what Hans wanted to hear either,"He is around elven royals and was with the old Council leader. Spill something about Torceran you moron." He wanted to drag Xandor into this mess, freeing himself from the radar of investigation and to do this, Kerym has to say something that could shake up the entire system.


    Pulling out the dagger, he said to Kerym as his blood gushed uncontrollably, ¡°Do you remember, Jonik? He went missing all of a sudden.¡±


    ¡°Yes..yess.. I remember him.¡± Kerym answered fervently and misunderstanding Hans he stated, ¡°But I didn¡¯t do anything to him, I swear on my family¡¯s name¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t give two shits about your family name.¡± Hans declared, adding another name, ¡°Torceran.¡±


    Kerym who was singing like a harpy, suddenly became silent and after much deliberation and motivated through Hans¡¯s sickening gaze, he said, ¡°That psycho had done many things, please spare me. I¡¯m beggin¡¯ you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I just need you to say that ''MANY THINGS''.¡± Hans sneered, ¡°This bastard thinks, he is gonna live after this.¡± He grabbed him by his hair and added, ¡°Listen you pointy, the only thing hand you have in this game is; How painless you can make your death be. You are fucked.¡±

 Elven Lies I Chapter 180 : The Show Must go on (2)

    CHAPTER 180


    THE SHOW MUST GO ON (2)


    Hans had planned something. Abducting Kerym through Xandor was the first step. Framing him was another, but Xandor was not someone who could be baited that easily. So he needs Kerym to say something unshakeable, the secrets that got the boy named Dave killed and ended Vanessa in that state.


    ¡°Red demon trials.¡± He spoke hoping Kerym to pick up the hint.


    The cold words entered his ears, and Kerym stammered, ¡°Is¡­ this¡­ about the experiments? It¡¯s¡­It¡¯s not my doing, I don¡¯t have any part in that, it all Torceran¡ª


    Hans pierced the dagger up beneath his chin. Taking his ability to speak further. ¡°Yeah, you know too much.¡± He turned to Xandor and to his surprise, Xandor¡¯s face was blatantly saying how baffled he was. ¡°Hook line and sinker, I caught a big bad fish.¡±


    Now he has no reason stopping him from killing this monster. He imagined Vanessa¡¯s succumbed face, the feeling of fear she must¡¯ve felt just by in the same space as Kerym. His hand moved like a snake slithering over.As it reached Kerym''s knees, ¡°Slash!¡± With a quick and surgical movement, he severed the leg instantly.


    ¡°Agh..¡± Kerym cried, but Hans had neither compassion in his eyes nor any pity for the squirming elf. ¡°You know, it''s not your fault that you ended up like this. No. No. No..¡± Hans shook his head gesturing, ¡°It''s your family¡¯s fault that fuelled that mind of yours to look down on others.¡±


    As the blood was gushing out from his severed thigh, a vine slithered, and coiled around, stopping most of the flow. However, Hans found himself doing the same to his other leg, severing it by the knee.


    ¡°Commander Dijkstra.¡± Hans asked, his voice carrying an undeniable authority, ¡°What is the punishment in Parv for molesters?¡±


    ¡°Severing their family jewels,¡± Dijkstra answered promptly.


    ¡°I thought so,¡± Hans declared and as his voice fell to the ears of screaming Kerym, so did the dagger on his balls. ¡°Judgement has come for you, may you suffer an eternity,¡± Hans whispered, gagging Kerym. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet.¡± The quick stabs rained on Kerym¡¯s lied body, all avoiding vital spots. ¡°You¡¯ve some persistence, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± Hans turned his body, his hived chest kissing the ground. Then Kerym lost his hands through the elbow and as the blood gushed out from them so did his life. He was dead, pale like someone had drained him out.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting sick of this,¡± Hans stated, wiping the splatters from his face. ¡°But I have to do one last thing.¡± He held the dagger tip like a pen and started carving something on Kerym¡¯s face.


    After he was done, Dijkstra peeked and read the words, ¡°JONIK.¡±


    Surprised by the act, he asked, ¡°Why did you write that, carving that bastard¡¯s name?¡± Dijkstra asked but Hans wasn¡¯t going to answer that. He turned to Xandor, ¡°Now, I can focus on our deal.¡± He released his pent-up breath and continued, ¡°Your turn first, Commander Xandor.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of bone you had to pick with a shadow Family. But revenge begets revenge, kid¡ª¡±


    ¡°Tells me the man who is dead set on revenge himself.¡±


    ¡°Exactly my point, it is too late for me but you can stop.¡±


    ¡°If I wanted some life lessons, I wouldn¡¯t have come to you, right?¡± Hans pointed out, ¡°Now shall we move on to business.¡± Hans flashed the coordinate stone and the jewel Delimira brought out from the treasury. ¡°This is not a fairytale, you get what you account for. My turn will eventually come, as yours too.¡±


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    Hans looked straight at Xandor, his face still covered in mystery, ¡°Let''s exchange our items and be on our merry way.¡±


    Xandor nodded, affirming but Hans, yet again stopped, ¡°Just asking, what do you plan on doing with a sword you can¡¯t use?¡±


    ¡°What do you plan on doing with a book you can¡¯t read?¡± Xandor quipped.


    ¡°Fair point.¡± Hans lifted his hand, asking if he could receive the book first and apparently Xandor had no issue with that. He swung a leather waist bag, far smaller on the eyes but filled with the things inside, ¡°A space bag?¡± Hans said opening it, fetching the book and skimming it for surety. ¡°Am I supposed to return it?¡± He asked flashing the bag, his intent written on his face.


    ¡°No, take it as a gift¡­ for your discretion.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m getting a feeling that I¡¯m gonna so regret this choice¡­¡± Hans threw the coordinate stone as well as its partner jewel, and finalised the transaction. ¡°Just what is that you seek,¡± He asked Xandor, clarifying, ¡°I mean what is your ultimate goal here? I can¡¯t help but get curious. You don¡¯t have to answer if¡ª¡±


    ¡°A revolution. That''s what I seek.¡±


    ¡°From what?¡± Hans ridiculed.


    ¡°From Elven Lies,¡± Xandor said, expanding his mana, the deathly vibes veiling the whole meadows.


    ¡°That fucker is crazy!¡± Dijkstra held Hans by the waist and disappeared before Xandor could get more annoying. They were quite far from the southern meadows. ¡°What was that?¡± Hans asked Dijkstra prompting him to respond, ¡°That was him saying get the fuck out of my face¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, not that! Elven Lies?¡±


    ¡°That, I¡¯ve no clue about.¡± Dijkstra shook his head, adding, ¡°We should get out of here¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then who knows? Arat?¡± Hans asked as Dijkstra leapt from space again and again. This would have interested him previously, but the word ¡®Elven Lies¡¯ had him hooked. Looking at Hans shooting the stars from his eyes, even Sad Death, quivered, ¡°No not him but Osiris, the temple must have those answers¡­Wait¡­you haven¡¯t answered, why did you carve that Jonik¡¯s name¡±


    ¡°Oh! That,¡± Hans breathed in and explained, ¡°Our ancestors did some bloody work in the past. That was one way of declaring that revenge had served and life was paid for the life he took.¡± Hans grinned, adding, ¡°And we need a motive for why Xandor killed Kerym. They will doubt that Jonik may have joined Eclipse and got killed by Kerym. Then Xandor enacted the revenge. It''s a full package, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL, THE MEADOWS.


    ¡°Commander, the preparation has been completed.¡± A man appeared, an elf by race but by loyalty, he was the latest captain of Eclipse. The benefactor who sent Vanir to Concordia.


    ¡°Good job, Onas.¡± Xandor replied, asking, ¡°So how is your nephew? Did you bid him farewell?¡±


    ¡°Yes. This will probably be the last time I get to see him. I wish I could bring him with us¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, he has his own story to write.¡± Xandor declared, ¡°We are starting tomorrow¡ª¡±


    ¡°Pardon me asking, but why not now?¡± Onas asked curious, they were ready for the next phase so sudden delay left him confused.


    ¡°Hm..¡± Xandor responded, pointing at the bloody work of Hans ¡°You see, a little brat has thrown me a bait and I have no choice but to fall for it. Quite clever, aye.¡±


    ¡°You seem oddly happy, willingly falling into the trap.¡±


    ¡°It''s not a trap but a scheme and yes, It makes me happy because I have no choice but to fall. How many do you know think can manipulate me like this?¡±


    ¡°Probably, none commander.¡±


    ¡°Right. So I¡¯m gonna give him a return gift. That is why we are doing our thing tomorrow.¡± Xandor came to the dead Kerym and spread his dark mana on the corpse. With a voice that resonated like the echoes of the dead, he called, ¡°Return.¡±


    His fingers traced some sigils, a dark luminescence circle formed beneath the corpse, with six concentric circles, indicating that the spell was a sixth circle. As it reached their crescendo, a black otherworldy mist began to seep from the mage¡¯s body, swirling around. His hand moved again, but this time with a deliberate grace, coaxing the essence of death to lift the corpse, attaching his detached limbs.


    The body trembled as if caught between two worlds, and then, with a sudden, jerking motion, the mage¡¯s eyes snapped open, glowing in an unholy light. It was not himself, but a puppet of Xandor¡¯s dark mana. ¡°You have a lot to tell, Kerym Rotti. Start with what Experiments Torceran is up to?¡±


    This was a solid plan to frame the already missing Jonik and it was guaranteed that Xandor would not leave any trace of his magic used in this location so Hans wouldn''t be found out. But he had underestimated Xandor. A few Hours later, the guard knights barged into Concordia¡¯s castle. ¡°Hans Richardson,¡± they asked for his name and when Hans was brought down. They slapped some sort of document at his face, adding, ¡°You are under arrest for the murder of Kerym Rotti.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 181 : A Murder of Crow

    CHAPTER 181


    A MURDER OF CROW


    ¡°What proof do you have?¡±Hans asked the guards who came to arrest him and got a prompt reply as one eager knight answered, ¡°He was found near your window, and we have witnesses that you were in a heated argument with him yesterday.¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯m just a suspect." Hans paused, wringing his brain to calculate what went wrong, but it was not the time for him to be silent. "You dare to barge at my face with that measly of evidence. Do you think, I¡¯m that free?¡± Hans retorted with whatever came to his mind.


    ¡°I¡¯m just following orders.¡± The guard knight replied, saying, ¡°You have to come with us.¡±


    And seeing their determined faces and unbending will, Hans quipped, ¡°You won¡¯t take a no for an answer, do you?¡±


    ¡°We are not asking, we are telling you¡± A voice came from nowhere, and the castle halls fell into a heavy silence as the massive, bulky figure of a knight made his entrance. His armoured boots echoed with each step, resonating through the grand corridor. Standing tall and imposing, he was a formidable presence, his muscular frame strained against the well-crafted metal armour that encased him.


    ¡°You are coming with us brat, like it or not. How dare you murder in the capital.¡± He said removing his helmet as his brown, shoulder-length hair waved. His face was as rugged as Rudolf and Walter, and his aura emanated. So strong that it shook the whole castle. He then, threw the document at Walter¡¯s face, ¡°I have the permission of your deans, So I¡¯m taking the suspect.¡±


    ¡°What the fuck is going on." Hans cried inside, "Did Xandor¡ª¡±


    ¡°Are you coming or not, boy.¡± The imposing knight asked, his face towering over him.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Hans responded without any hint of intimidation


    ¡°What? You wanna threaten me?¡± The knight mused.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Hans answered, calmly, ¡°I need to know your name to threaten with everything you care of, friends, family, acquaintances, even your dogs and chicken. This is still a warning, but the moment I step out of those doors.¡± Hans said pointing outside, ¡°That will be the moment my warning would turn into a threat. Are you able to take responsibility?¡± His mid was blank because he knew this man was someone even his grandpa could have problems dealing with, but his tongue moved on its own. Even Hans didn''t know what he was saying.


    ¡°Pftt¡­¡± the knight laughed, ¡°What a day! A pipsqueak is threatening me, Kansas, the chairman of the Knight association.¡±


    ¡°Why the fuck the top dog of the Knight Association is aiming for me.¡± Hans was troubled. But the knight who claimed to be the chairman of the knight association let out his warlord-level aura and it became clear that he was not impersonating anyone.


    ¡°Still wanna threaten me, boy?¡± The Warlord asked, his tone, now threatening, ¡°Speak carefully. I can neglect your early antic as a junior playing cute earlier, but not after you know who I am.¡±


    ¡°Since when did a chairman like yourself start catching the ¡®ALLEGED¡¯ murderers,¡± Hans asked, confused.


    ¡°You are not some small potato and this is a high-profile kill. You¡¯ll open your eyes when you see how much of a shit you caused, ALLEGEDLY.¡±


    Kansas came near Hans, whispering softly in his ears, ¡° Xandor of Eclipse, rings any bells?¡± He then pushed Hans forward and further to the black steeled carriage.


    Hans was pushing every gear of his mind in full swing, he was in deep shit and he needed a solution fast. All the journey, he kept thinking, but none of his plans were efficient enough to pull him out of this. ¡°You are fucked boy.¡± Kansas Romero, quipped, sneering at Hans¡¯s situation, insulting, ¡°You see, I hate your kind. You believe that you can do anything and get away with it. A typical noble who was taught, you can do shit and do more shit after it.¡±


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    ¡°You yourself are from that very same upbringing, Chairman Kansas,¡± Hans interrupted, his exterior calm as an ice block. ¡°Or I am wrong?¡± He asked further.


    ¡°No, you are not.¡± Kansas shook his head in affirmation, saying, ¡°I used to be from a noble household, a typical Grimgar family with power, looking down on everyone. Then I killed every last one of those assholes,¡± Kansas smirked, ¡°So, your threat is no concern for a man like myself, who has nothing to lose, understand?¡±


    ¡°Everyone, even people like you who have nothing to lose, holds something precious. You, yourself won¡¯t know it until it was taken away from you.¡±


    ¡°You really are bold¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because I know, you can¡¯t kill me, even a scratch on me will be detrimental for you.¡± Hans lifted his hand a dagger turned from the sharpDeath, his malleable spell. conjured in his hand and swiftly aimed at his own neck, only to be stopped by Kansas. ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± He shouted.


    ¡°See,¡± Hans sneered, ¡°You don¡¯t look like someone who has nothing to lose. So don¡¯t provoke me, Chairman Kansas Romero, ranked fifth knight, unless you want to lose everything you built for.¡±


    "I can''t show that I''m intimidated." During the whole ride, Kansas remained silent as Hans came up with a plan., muttering, ¡°Xandor, I¡¯m gonna fuck you over when I¡¯m done with this shit. I promise.¡±


    They reached the guard post, a lavish building with huge cranking gates. They opened as soon as the black carriage came into sight. The whole building screams of some eery vibe like it would be a place when entered there was no chance of returning back. The off-white and pale colouring, and rustling trees without leaves, added the further aesthetics that even made Hans gulp his saliva in nervousness.


    ¡°So, how was he? Samwell asked Kansas. He was the one who ordered the chairman of the Knight Association to arrest Hans himself in fear of retaliation, and to do this perfectly he even invited all the troublesome characters before he accused Hans of this crime. He couldn¡¯t take any chances because he suspected Xandor to be on the same side as Hans, but his suspicions fortunately failed him. He asked again, shaking the froze-up Kansas. ¡°How was he?¡±


    ¡°Fearless and childish,¡± Kansas replied and left Samwell.


    As Some guards showed Hans his way to the interrogation, the old minister of Parv stopped their march, ¡°I¡¯ll be your council. Don¡¯t worry about it¡ª¡±


    ¡°You are not needed,¡± Hans felt relieved to see Arat on his side for once, yet he refused, his pride was stopping him from. asking help. "The fuck you are saying stupid. you can''t weasel out like this." He cursed inside. Then he added like he was doing Arat some favour not the other way around, ¡°But if you wanna do this much. I¡¯m not stopping you.¡±


    The confidence he was faking till now somehow returned, all because of one glance at Arat¡¯s unnerving smile. ¡°Let¡¯s see, how deep I¡¯m in.¡± And he walked entered the dark castle. Hans, stood at the centre of a dimly lit chamber, his hands bound by enchanted shackles. ¡°Is this necessary,¡± he asked Arat.


    ¡°Whatever makes them feel safe,¡± Arat pointed, taunting the guards overseeing them.


    At the far end of the chamber, bathed in the cold, flickering light of torches, the interrogator waited. Clad in the regal attire of the Elven Nation, this temporary official held the authority to extract the secrets Hans possessed and with him another waited, the king of Clandor wanting the same thing as his companion.


    While some observed them from the other side of the chamber, getting a real-time view of Hans¡¯s interrogation while some wanted this ordeal to vanish but some were eager to see Hans implicated. The elven interrogator, began as he sat across with an imposing aura, ¡°So you are Hans Parv, correct?¡± He asked, his voice indifferent.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Hans saw no problem answering it.


    ¡°Did you kill, Kerym Rotti?¡±


    ¡°Now, who is he again?¡± Hans asked in return.


    ¡°So, you don¡¯t know, Kerym Rotti?¡± The interrogator asked, still looking down at the documents and flipping its pages.


    ¡°Yes, I do not know,¡± Hans stressed.


    ¡°So, do you want to play a game of cat and mouse?¡±


    ¡°Hmm..¡± Hans leaned forward, staring right at the interrogator¡¯s face as he said, ¡°I never lost that particular game, sir. want to try it?¡±


    The interrogator didn''t give in the obvious provocation and asked with his still indifferent tone,¡°So, what was Kerym¡¯s body doing outside your window.¡±


    ¡°Strolling probably¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you think this is a joke?¡± The interrogator¡¯s temper changed, he beat the table, and asked in agitation, ¡°Take this seriously an innocent life was lost.¡±


    ¡°Pftt..¡± Hans laughed at his face uncontrollably, ¡°Okay okay, not strolling, probably sleeping then.¡±


    ¡°This bastard¡ª¡±


    ¡°Mind you manners.¡± Arat spoke in his authoritative voice, ¡°You are talking to someone above your league¡ª¡±


    "Finally got you. anger causes misjudgement." Seeing the questioning elf loosing his temper, Hans smiled inside and stopped Arat from finishing that sentence, ¡°Calm down, Mr. Arat. You don¡¯t have to rub his low birth on his face.¡± Hans shook his head, jokingly, adding, ¡°Don¡¯t do that, that would be racist. I¡¯m not that right?¡±


    The interrogator became more agitated while the people of power observing him from another chamber wondered the same thing, ¡°Has the boy learned how to infuriate someone.¡±


    Eleanor received some sort of communication through his beads on the ears and he nodded as someone who was following instructions. ¡°Don¡¯t get played by a child sir Ramez.¡± He tried pacifying him. But Ramez retorted as if he had no respect for his king, ¡°He did something to a crow, not the swan, so let me handle it. It''s my authority, your majesty.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 182 : The Framer gets Framed

    CHAPTER 182


    THE FRAMER GETS FRAMED


    Ramez began a new, ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me.¡± He pointed out several reports, ¡°Kerym¡¯s body was not just found outside your room, but it was hanging from your window. You brutally severed his limbs and even peeled his forehead¡ª¡±


    ¡°Peeled what?¡± Hans stood, jolted. ¡°So they never found Jonik¡¯s name. Damn Xandor¡± As he was struggling to make some sense, Eleanor received yet another message, and he asked Hans, ¡°Why did you peel off his forehead?¡±


    ¡°I never peeled off his forehead¡ª¡±


    Eleanor received another, ¡°Let me rephrase it. Why did Xandor peel his forehead?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you get it?¡± Hans rebuked, ¡°So I can be in this shit.¡±


    ¡°My king, please.¡± Ramez interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m in charge here, you are not, so please respect my authority here.¡± As Eleanor became silent, Ramez shifted his attention to Hans, ¡°So why did you order Xandor to kill an innocent elf? Was it because he spoke crudely to you? Or was it just your Parvian impulse¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey, ¡± Arat interrupted, yet Hans stopped him again, ¡°Easy Prime minister. He is not wrong you know. Even Gramps says, all Parvians are nut jobs.¡± Hans chuckled.


    ¡°Focus.¡± Ramez struck the table again, ¡°I¡¯m the one speaking, and you only answer me.¡± Pausing he continued, ¡°Now answer my question, Parvian.¡±


    ¡°Haa¡­ I overestimated this fool¡± Hans relaxed, as he took a detailed glance at Ramez and sat down. His demeanour changed visibly like he had all the wisdom of the world or as if someone else possessed him and he began speaking in cal and curt voice. ¡°So you found a body hanging from my window, not even in my room and you ordered the chairman of the Knight association to bring me in.¡±


    Hans became even more relaxed as he once again leaned his elbows on the table, and glancing a ring in his interrogator''s hands, he said, ¡°Tell me Mr. watchamacallit, what will happen, if your dear wife is found exactly that way, but instead of the window, right next to you in your bed.¡± Hans leaned further, not giving a chance to anyone to meddle in and his voice deepen, ¡°Her throat slit, blood all over the sheet, your hands painted with them. Is it safe for me to assume, that you killed her¡ª¡±


    ¡°How dare you threaten me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shut that fucking mouth.¡± Hans raised his voice, ¡° As you¡¯ve said, apparently the most dangerous man in these lands is at my beck and call. You should be scared of me, Mr, but you don¡¯t seem so. So I suggest you keep this in moderation unless you want my fantasies to turn into reality. Know your place will yeah.¡±


    Hans turned to the next person sitting beside the Interrogator, a face that he could recognise even in his sleep. ¡°I think, you are of proper standing to ask something of me, King Clandor or whoever is giving you instruction.¡± He pointed at the bead, adding, ¡°At least your questions were interesting.¡±


    ¡°So where were you this afternoon?¡± Asked Eleanor.


    ¡°With Deli,¡± Hans answered without hesitation.


    ¡°What were you doing?¡±


    ¡°Just being the busybody, loitering around,¡± Hans gestured, his hands depicting the directions, ¡°We were not talking for a while, so I had a lot to say to her.¡± He explained.


    ¡°Can anyone else vouch for you?¡±


    ¡°Nope. You see we are both famous here. People recognise us easily, so we were wearing hoods.¡± Hans came up with it at the spot, the thing he realised in his little trips back and forth was many people loitered around the city under the hood for whatever reasons of anonymity.


    ¡°Go into details,¡± Eleanor stressed.


    ¡°I just ate and whined that I lost the match, Why do you ask? I don¡¯t believe it''s related to the murdered crow¡±


    ¡°Because Delimira Winters is not some regular person who you can drag into this.¡± Eleanor said, ordering her summons, ¡°Bring her in too.¡±


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°She is your niece by blood, and you are bringing her here.¡± This was the first time Hans showed a bit of hesitation. He wasn''t a great liar but he thought the king won''t drag his own niece into the mess. After all she was Aredhel''s daughter. "Crap! its just not my day. damn it" he cursed inside.


    ¡°What, did you think, bringing up her name was wise? I¡¯m doing it exactly because she is my niece.¡± Eleanor mused, ¡°You see, I¡¯ve prepared a lot for you. And after Kerym went missing, we were observing you people. You were in your stay but she was not. You both came separately so you must not had the chance to get your story straight with her.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Hans asked Eleanor his demeanour of cool headed returned, ¡°If, hypothetically, I¡¯m lying? She would be implicated with me.¡±


    ¡°You dragged her in, not me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Now, I understand, why she doesn¡¯t want to go back to Clandor. What a loving Uncle she has.¡±


    ¡°When you are a ruler, your family comes second, Mr Hans.¡±


    ¡°A man, who can¡¯t even protect his own family is not worthy of being the protector of the nation, Mr. Elf King.¡± Hans said aloud, giving Eleanor a chance to save Delimira from this. "Just what I''ve done. If Deli picked my side and later if it turns false. She''d be my accomplice then. Darn it."


    ¡°Bleep¡± the communication orb lit, and the conversation halted. Eleanor turned the dial on it and the orb started showing images of another room, ¡°We have Delimira Winters there. Start asking.¡± He ordered the woman facing Delimra and she began,


    ¡°Where were you this afternoon?¡±


    ¡°With Hans¡±


    ¡°What were you doing?¡±


    Delimira sighed, and started, ¡°He was grumbling about how he lost chance. You don¡¯t know how petty he can be, and how frustrating it is to console him, he whined nonstop. He even apologised to me too. You can never see him doing that again.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± The woman asked, thinking she finally got something.


    ¡°We were not talking after a bad fight, totally his fault by the way. He got¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait! Wait! I don¡¯t want to know why that happened. please only answer what I ask...¡± Suddenly her communication orb signalled her to stop and in Hans¡¯s interrogation room, Eleanor asked, ¡°She seems prepared.¡±


    ¡°She is answering the truth,¡± Hans said indifferently.


    ¡°So, if you were outside, you should¡¯ve eaten something¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not eat, but I drank some Cocoa.¡±


    ¡°And her?¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t like sugar so she just sat.¡±


    ¡°Where, did you eat or..drank that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I never pay attention to names.¡±


    The orb in Delimira¡¯s room lit and the woman started asking the same questions. ¡°What did you eat?¡±


    ¡°Me nothing, but he drank at least six cups of cocoa. How can a boy be that much of a sweet tooth and he is a jackass, who can¡¯t even remember the shop¡¯s name.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not a jackass, I just have some trouble remembering the names, jeez. ¡± Hans lifted his head, about to burst into laughter, but managed to control it, and asked Eleanor, ¡°She don¡¯t know, I¡¯m watching this, right?¡±


    Eleanor remained silent, for once he was confident that Delimira and Hans were not together and they never made contact until Hans¡¯s arrest, so he was confused why their story was aligning. "Maybe they came up with way before." On the other hand, Hans knew they could instantly deny her testimony by saying they both got their story right way before, like some sort of failsafe. So, he asked showing visible excitement, hoping it to catch others attention. ¡°Hey Mr. Elf king, can you ask me something else, I wanna know what she says about me behind my back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for your entertainment, Mr Hans and you are here to be questioned about a murder, take this seriously. So answer me this - Why do you come separately?¡± Eleanor twisted the question.


    Hans paused for a moment, he could not just wing it like the other questions and after a brief silence, he answered, ¡°She wanted to shop and I hated the idea of wasting my whole day helping her. that''s why I came early and that''s why you never saw us together.¡±


    The same question was shot at Delimira and surprisingly she answered the same, calming Hans¡¯s beating heart. However, when your interrogator is dead set on charging you with a crime, there is barely getting away with it. Eleanor became serious, ¡°You must¡¯ve talked to her¡ª¡±


    ¡°How wise of you, You finally said, your niece was part of this shit¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, she could¡¯ve been manipulated." Eleanor sneered.


    ¡°Ha, this is getting frustrating. You neither had a direct evidence nor a witness. You are saying my alibi is false after admitting that there was no way I could¡¯ve talked to her. You even claimed we weren''t together.¡± Hans paused and looked sideways, the direction where many were observing him, and stood up. ¡°Let''s get rid of this thing first,¡± Hans said generating a little ManaStorm in his hand, shredding the mana binding. ¡°See, this was useless.¡± He said, tilting his head toward Elves.


    He raised his voice again, loud enough to reach both rooms, ¡°The only thing that connects me with that creepy guy is the heated words I said to him. Have you all no shame, I was heartbroken after meeting with my father that you, the very you killed.¡± He hissed at Eleanor, ¡°Do you think anyone can remain sane after meeting that very same person harassing his family?¡± Hans turned to Arat, ¡°Shall we leave, at this point they can only point fingers at me.¡±


    ¡°Xandor killed him because you asked him to¡ª" the interrogator who was silent till point whispered.


    ¡°What that psycho did was his business,¡± Hans declared, his eyes warning the interrogator, ¡°Don¡¯t bundle him together with me.¡±


    ¡°You are the child of the men he served,¡± Ramez argued, ¡°What is stopping him from serving you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I ordered a hit on that Kerym or whatever. And Xandor followed the order like a loyal dog.¡± Hans stated, adding, ¡°That¡¯s what you wanna hear so I¡¯ll just say I did, satisfied? what can you do about it?¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 183 : The Smartest Person I know

    CHAPTER 183


    THE SMARTEST PERSON I KNOW


    Hans saw what these people wanted to hear at all costs, so he just gave them to see their reactions, ¡°Yeah, I ordered a hit on that Kerym or whatever. And Xandor followed the order like a loyal dog. what can you do about it?¡± Hans paused looking their confused faces and added, ¡°That¡¯s what you wanna hear so I¡¯ll just say I did, satisfied?¡±


    ¡±You just confessed?¡± Eleanor commented, ¡°You lay a hand on a shadow member do you think I¡¯ll end that lightly?¡±


    ¡°Ha, this moron.¡± Hans rebuked startling everyone, he was blatantly calling the second-ranked knight a moron. If they were not impressed by him till now, they knew Hans carried some balls. But this was not over, before Eleanor could argue, Hans asked Arat, ¡°Mr Pm. You people killed a lot of council members in the war, seating these jokes on the throne, didn¡¯t you?


    ¡°Yes¡± Arat responded, this was one of the rare occasions that he was startled and it was showing on his never-changing face.


    ¡°Shall we take the other side for a change?¡± Hans offered, ¡°I heard the Clandor will be up in flames again. You should help the council this time.¡±


    ¡°What kind of bullshit is this? Our Country is as stable as it can get.¡± Eleanor denied the ruse.


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t think you were that incompetent to not know what is happening in your own country, my apologies.¡± Hans tilted his head, mocking the king and once again turned to Arat.He explained, his direction towards the powerhouses observing him, ¡°Soon, there will be a civil war in Clandor,¡± He menacingly turned his gaze at Eleanor, continuing, ¡°And making me say this. You just expedited the war, O wise king.¡±


    Hans pointed to the audience and continued talking to Eleanor. ¡°In that room, people will start to verify my words and weigh their options. Some might support you, some will oppose, but as the words spread both(council and royal) of your powers will start to increase. The balance of the stalemate your country will crumble.¡±


    Hans sneered, ¡°So if you don¡¯t want to be more incompetent. Increase your forces and leave me be unless you wanna lose that throne of yours.¡± Hans paused staring at Eleanor with some smouldering intensity, ¡°I''m not sitting at Parvian throne, don''t push me to do it. You don¡¯t have time to accuse innocent people.¡±


    Hans smirked, and whispered, as silent as the nan in the sleeping baby, ¡°I told you didn¡¯t I, I¡¯m not like my father. You see, unlike him, there is no need for me to level up and overpower my enemies. I¡¯ve many ways to kill someone far stronger than myself. You saw it yourself, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Hans moved back and with a business smile, he said, ¡°I¡¯m innocent, If you want to implicate me, bring me some solid evidence. If you keep this up, you¡¯ll only add motivation for me to take revenge for my father¡¯s death. Your civil war feels like the perfect opportunity, so don¡¯t provoke me.¡± He pushed his chair back and it fell, ¡°I¡¯m done here.¡± He declared, ¡°Open the doors before I blast it off.¡±


    ¡°We were pushing our luck Reina, and it came back to bite us.¡± Eleanor whispered to his bead


    ¡°We don¡¯t have many options.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but was I talking to a kid here? At least his father never brought threats in the negotiation, only reasons.¡±


    ¡°Mhm..¡±


    The conversation through his ear bead ended and Eleanor began to think what the next course of action would be. The news of war would¡¯ve eventually came out, but it should have not this early. What Hans said was correct, he did not have much time to waste in Grimgar. On the other hand, Arat was humming like a child exiting with Hans. ¡°Are you that happy?¡± Hans asked the old man.


    ¡°Of course I am. It''s always fun to see someone walking over elves.¡±


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    ¡°I expected some challenge but m¡­¡±


    ¡°It was because they could¡¯ve never been able to charge you. And they knew, but what Winter¡¯s daughter said while answering threw them back. I guess they were wagering her to fall into the trap and asking something from Aredhel or from us. However, if what you''ve said about war is correct. Then it fits perfectly. The wealth of Winter¡¯s company and our weaponry. They would¡¯ve overpowered the other side.¡±


    ¡°So I didn¡¯t weasel out because I outsmarted them¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, but you sure fan the flames of a war.¡± Arat paused, and scanning the environment he asked Hans, ¡°Dijkstra told me what happened¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I tried using Xandor and it backfired me. Now everyone there at least doubts me that I killed that elf.¡±


    ¡°Yet they can¡¯t act on it. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Wow, was it that easy to get away with a murder? I might get corrupte¡ª¡±


    ¡°No its not. It''s just there is no justification why Xandor would follow you when he does not think of you as the prince. if that was the case, they would never be able to find the body. This reasoning is what gives you a benefit of doubt. They never wanted you for the killing, they wanted you for negotiation?¡±


    Arat continued as Hans dumbfounded stared at him. ¡°You have a sharp mind. Prince. But it''s not sharper than the one who came up with that idea in just a nick of time. Be very aware of Reina. She is the mastermind behind Clandor and the reason why her family still holds power.¡±


    ¡°So why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Hans complained. ¡°I was nervous like they would throw me in jail or something.¡±


    ¡°What these youngsters say these days..¡± Arat thought out loud, ¡°Ah.. yes, I wanted to help you and get some brownie points.¡±


    ¡°Brownie points, look at his shameless fox,¡±  Hans ignored him, adding, ¡°I told you there was no need for you to show up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was not.¡± Arat affirmed, nodding, ¡°Come to think of it. You used your status as the prince¡ª


    ¡°No, I did not!¡± Hans firmly denied, ¡°I never said I was a prince and flaunted any status. I bluffed and they all believed it themselves, it was not my fault for their delusions.I¡¯m Samson¡¯s Parv son, but not the prince, by what right I should use Parvian power?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll soon. You are irresistible.¡± Arat smirked.


    ¡°That¡¯s kinda creepy old man, wipe your drool at least.¡±


    However, there was one thing that still confused Arat, ¡° How did you come up with the story with her? I¡¯m also sure that you never discussed it with her?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that!¡± Hans chuckled, and explained, ¡°She is the smartest person I know and frankly it¡¯s quite disturbing to know that she knows my thoughts that well.¡±


    ¡°Stay away from women, I always said that to your father. And I¡¯m saying that to you, especially a beauty with a brain, they are horrendous creatures you won¡¯t even realise when you get played.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine, don¡¯t nag me, Mr. PM. I just avoided becoming bait. Spare me some, will yeah.¡±


    ¡°Okay, just be careful.¡± Arat stated, but there was still one question in his arsenal, ¡°So how sure is your intel?¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°Civil War.¡±


    ¡°100%¡±


    ¡°Your source?¡±


    ¡°A concerned father. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to sound like a warmonger, but war is a profitable business especially if your enemies are infighting.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t get it, little prince. We were no match for clandor without our sunstone weapons. Yet we overwhelmed Clandor. Why do you think it happened?¡± Arat asked, prompting Hans to shake in his head so he explained, ¡°It was not because we were stronger. It was because unlike us, our enemies were not united.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Hans inquired.


    ¡°Clandor is a land of talent. Where many young minds get buried like your junior Vanir. I don¡¯t wanna admit but Elf is the race that is far superior and perfect. Yet that very trait is binding them.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk in riddles, my mind is out of juice after this.¡±


    ¡°Fine, little prince.¡± Arat simplified, ¡°When everyone is so perfect in everything, their pride clashes, they are all born leaders so who will follow them? One can never admit they are inferior to others, that is why that race can never be united. If that wasn''t the case, whole Genas would be under the Clandorian flag.¡±


    ¡°So the infighting will dwindle their strength but if you take the council side, then they will be the ones bringing their might to your doors. Don¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you are still a kid.¡± Arat mused, ¡°Who says we have to pick sides? We will be just an open store. Selling our state-of-the-art weapons to whoever losing¡±


    ¡°You are one wicked old fox.¡±


    ¡°I will not hold any candle to you when you come to my age. I¡¯m sure of that. You expedited that war with just your words young one.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ they should at least learn to not disturb me. I was really going to enjoy these two days.¡±


    Both were speaking and walking towards the exit and then, they heard sudden interjection. ¡°So are you clear to go or do they want to hold you longer¡±. Delimira asked leaning to the wall.


    ¡°As if,¡± Hans was never this happy to see Delimira and his happiness was visible on his face. She then greeted Arat, but Hans stole her away by the hands. ¡°Hey, where are we going?¡± She asked.


    ¡°To meet that six-seven cups of cocoa¡± Hans answered.


    ¡°So you were listening.¡± Deliminra paused for a moment and, grinning, she spoke, ¡°Then how about the begging part, are you gonna do that too?¡±


    ¡°As if Winters.¡± Hans said laughing while Arat from the behind shouted, "Remember they are horrendous creatures." But just like his father, Arat''s words fell on deaf ears.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 184 : I Choose Where I Belong

    CHAPTER 184


    I CHOOSE WHERE I BELONG


    A few moments before Delimira met Hans. She was stopped by Reina, the Elven queen who blatantly asked her a question, ¡°Why were you lying? Why are you taking other''s side?¡± However, Delimira stayed silent, there were several things running through her mind. She knew how crafty the formidable woman she was facing so she weighed those thoughts and came to an elaborate answer. ¡°Because I don¡¯t want him to be used by you.¡± She responded, ¡°You never cared for Kerym or Hans being the killer. No one has the power to implicate him, Arat will see that it never happens. So you probably aimed for compensation, right aunt?¡±


    She was the one who taught Delimira how to gauge people out of pity, and now the pupil was doing it on her master, but a master was a master for a reason. Delimira didn¡¯t get any confirmation through Reina''s unchanging expressions, so Delimira concluded what she thought was right. ¡°You must''ve wanted their mana weapons. I just don¡¯t know why. and frankly, I¡¯m not that interested either. I¡¯m just following your advice.¡±


    Reina raised her brows so Delimira explained, ¡°You said the moment I find a chance to escape Clandor. I should take it and Hans being sent to parv would throw my new life in a whirlpool. I like where I am right now.¡±


    ¡°You mean with them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t know how caring Lady Sierra is. Even my own mother doesn¡¯t hold a candle against her. I would never ruin this life.¡±


    ¡°You can never be one of them. You don¡¯t belong there¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t belong with you too aunt.¡± Delimira calmly reasoned, ¡°A halfbreed like me has to make a place for myself. And do you know why I like Sierra that much? Once when I was down, remembering the past, I wanted her to barge into Clandor and wreck it all. So I asked her, why is she not attacking them. You know what she told me?¡± Delimira asked gazing at her indifferent face.


    However, Reina had no words for response so she answered herself, ¡°She could¡¯ve done that on impulse, but her son wanted the war, her son threw thousands of lives, he made the choices, he should be responsible for it. That¡¯s what she said. She might sound cold but you know, when she was saying that her eyes never ceased the tears. She was forcing herself to believe her own words. That kind of person she is, she would neither use others nor blame them.¡±


    PRESENT TIME, CONCORDIA CASTLE


    Hans and Delimira returned to their castle where unexpectedly the junior team was waiting. On seeing the two enter, the timid one, Lux commented, ¡°See I told you, captain would never get caught.¡±


    Cherrina, the healer of the team supported Lux, ¡°Yeah, if he got caught, he wouldn¡¯t be Hans, right?¡±


    Almost everyone nodded, agreeing, however, Hans retorted, ¡°You punks, you all believe that I killed that guy?¡±


    All remained silent, so Garen, the sole dwarf broke the awkwardness, ¡°Captain, even if you don¡¯t, there is nothing supporting you didn¡¯t. Just look at yourself. I¡¯d even believe if one said you kill someone if they woke you up early.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Hans grunted, ¡°Then this psychopath is going to sleep, so whoever disturbs me, considers themselves dead.¡± Hans bolted out to his room while everyone surrounded Delimira to know the exact details. ¡°I need to change my image. Jeez, they don¡¯t even doubt me anymore.¡±


    THE GUARD POST


    ¡°You don¡¯t have any evidence only speculation. And I know for sure that Xandor would never follow someone¡¯s orders, there was no indication of wood magic used. So how in the hell¡¯s name that boy is responsible?¡± Kansas, the chairman of the Knight association and one of the observers of interrogation asked the elf couple, suggesting, ¡°You should¡¯ve dug into the victim¡¯s past and his connection to Xandor. So, Why are you pointing your finger at the brat.¡±


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    ¡°So did he charm you?¡± Eleanor asked.


    ¡°He called you a moron right at your face, King Eleanor. Name one who can do that and get away. Despite being childish, the boy uses his head quite well. He is fearless for one, but what I thought earlier was him being reckless. No, he is not, he knows what is backing him and he uses it to his advantage. He is clever for his age.¡± Kansas explained.


    ¡°It was a long shot, but we have a war to fight, and that child sure has expedited it,¡± Reina stated, glancing at Rudolf and Sierra who seemed to pay no mind to her.


    But Norwin, interrupted, ¡°You have to pay the price, trying to use him. Look, it cost me 26 elites.¡± He scoffed and asked, the elven couple, ¡°So, was the brat said, true?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡± the queen answered her voice calm and calculated.


    ¡°Then you let your golden goose fly away, queen Reina.¡± Norwin scoffed.


    Reina didn¡¯t give in to the taunt, but her gaze shifted to Aredhel, ¡°Those two know each other quite well.¡± she commented.


    ¡°That¡¯s a given.¡± Aredhel replied, her tone the same as Reina''s, as she continued, ¡°She knows how to be a good friend. The one thing you can never be or understand, Queen Reina.¡±


    Aredhel stood up, understanding well that her daughter was the piece her sister-in-law was going to use for the war. Turning to her brother she retorted, ¡°You, how much more pathetic you can be. If you can¡¯t be a good uncle, then at least be a good person¡­my apologies. I forget that our kind can¡¯t ever be that.¡± She stormed off and Rudolf and Sierra followed.


    It didn¡¯t take them long to reach back. Hans and Delimira just had ariived too. Rudolf entered, storming into the castle as he shouted out loud, ¡°Where is that brat?¡± All pointed at his rooms direction and their dean of knights charged at their captain¡¯s room. While Lux murmured, ¡°Should we prepare for our dean¡¯s funeral or our captain¡¯s?¡±


    After a while, Rudolf brought out Hans, beaten blue. He put Hans like a sack of potatoes before Sierra and asked, ¡°Dean Sierra, please heal your mage.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say something to him?¡± Hans whispered to Sierra as his whining continued, ¡° Aah! Aah! I can¡¯t even open one eye.¡±


    ¡°You should be glad it was not me, or you¡¯d not even have a mouth to speak, Squeaky.¡± She then asked everyone to leave the hall and started healing Hans as he whined looking at his grandpa, ¡°I¡¯m gonna report you to the education board.¡±


    ¡°With what evidence?¡± Rudolf retorted, ¡°I can play that game too, you know.¡±


    ¡°Ha.. petty geezer.¡± Hans taunted and welcomed another bump in his head which also healed quickly shrouded by the sixth circle spell ¡®Grace¡¯.


    ¡°Hans,¡± Sierra spoke, sounding serious, ¡°I¡¯m gonna ask you and you should be truthful¡ª¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to lie, please don¡¯t ask,¡± Hans interjected, his tone apologetic.


    ¡°Then why are you in this mess, at least tell me about it.¡±


    Hans opened his waist bag, smaller than his fist and brought out the book, the same size as his first one. The words depicted on it were read - Book of the Day - The Solar mage. ¡°That''s the only thing I can tell you, grandma. Don¡¯t ask me more.¡±


    ¡°Is this the second book?¡± Rudolf asked in surprise and Hans nodded in return, opening it, he asked, ¡°Can you read this?¡±


    The weird pattern and unknown language were intriguing to both elders, but not understandable. ¡°How much can you read?¡± Sierra asked him.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Hans answered, ¡°but there might be a hint in the Limitless.¡±


    ¡°So where did you put the first book and where the heck did you get the space bag? Did you ask for more money from Hodges¡­ wait a minute¡­ did you take a loan under my name¡ª¡±


    ¡°Xandor gave it to me with the book.¡± Hans interrupted before Rudolf could reach the conclusion and including Xandor''s name was quite the page-turner in Rudolf¡¯s mood. He added, ¡°That¡¯s all I can tell you right now.¡±


    ¡°You are acting like your father. Remember Hans you are not alone, you have us.¡± Sierra almost pleaded.


    ¡°I know, that¡¯s why I can do this grandma. I know you¡¯ll catch me if I fall and trust me, I won¡¯t go like my father.¡±


    She responded embracing Hans, ¡°You have to promise it Hans, don¡¯t do something dangerous.¡±


    ¡°I promise I¡¯ll be safe,¡± Hans remarked


    ¡°Ha¡­ for all things why did you inherit all the bad traits of your father?¡± Sierra complained hugging him tight. Looking past her husband she found someone, she called out, ¡°Vanessa talk some sense into him, will you?¡± And they left the two to talk.


    She began caressing his head, tousling his hair. ¡°Stop it, sis, I¡¯m not a kid anymore.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, how can you be, when you are on a warpath? I wanted you to not be naive, not a psycho on a killing spree, was the 26 people not enough to satisfy you.¡± She scolded.


    ¡°There are a lot of bad people out there sis,¡± Hans explained, serious, ¡°And frankly, I don¡¯t care what god-forsaken deeds they do. But no one gets to talk with me like that or to you. You are my sister.¡± He paused glancing at her face, still worried so he explained, ¡°I saw an opportunity and took it. It backfired, but nonetheless, I got out without a scratch.¡±


    "Why won¡¯t you stop taking risks? Just grow up nice and healthy¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sis, No matter how much I deny it, I¡¯m Hans Parv. There is no nice and healthy in my future. But I¡¯ll try if you want it that much.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 185 : The Night in The Day

    CHAPTER 185


    THE NIGHT IN THE DAY (1)


    Hans might have wiggled out of the situation, but there was a murder of a child from a high-ranking noble of Clandor in Grimgar. It was the Knight Association¡¯s responsibility to resolve it. All speculations might have pointed at Hans, but the corpses told them otherwise.


    The next day, Kansas had ordered the autopsy and even asked Parvians to aid in the process.¡°Why do you think, Xandor killed this poor guy?¡± He asked Arat, who finally found a way to steer this investigation as Hans intended, but with some twist of his own. ¡°It''s revenge but I don¡¯t know for whom.¡± He declared, attracting everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Care to explain?¡± Samwell inserted himself in the conversation, but someone else interrupted. The high elf who was interrogating Hans was still selling the story of Hans¡¯s ordering Xandor. But Arat had the answer prepared, and even from the mouth which elves had to believe. He pointed at Bernard, ¡°Ask him,¡± he said, ¡°He should be familiar with capital punishment.¡±


    The words instantly jolted Bernard and giving an objective look at the body with the recalled term, he affirmed, ¡°Yes, this is it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk in riddles.¡± The interrogated said, still affirming to his story. .


    ¡°Certainly¡± Bernard confirmed and continued, ¡°Severing all limbs and inscribing the name whose revenge is carried out on the forehead. This is capital punishment which was banned ages ago.¡±


    ¡°I said don¡¯t speak in riddles."


    ¡°Xandor killed him for avenging someone and wrote the name on his forehead but he might have changed his mind of exposing the name,¡± Bernard explained his reasoning.


    ¡°Now the question is, what this man knew.¡± Arat pointed at the corpse and everyone¡¯s eyes led to the king of Clandor whom the young elf served. Suddenly the coroner, spoke, ¡°It''s confirmed, he was made undead. The Necromancer must have extracted some information from him.¡± Arat once again lay his questioning gaze at Clandorians, but Eleanor promptly responded, ¡°He is too small in hierarchy to know something.¡±


    ¡°That is the very reason, one never suspected him, King.¡± Arat commented, adding a twist to the story that Hans never wanted, ¡°I might have some clue,¡± He said, continuing, ¡°What if Kerym Rotti was a spy from Council¡ª¡±


    ¡°What does Xandor have to do with Council ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Please, for god sake, have some decency even if your race doesn¡¯t allow it Elf king. Let this old man speak, can you do that?¡± Arat mocked, his face serious, continuing, ¡°Xandor is the very man that killed all eight Elders of Council by himself. He has to know if the council is involved.¡± Arat weaved his web of lies by mixing some truth in it.


    ¡°So what does your crafty mind tell you?¡± Norwin who was silent for so long spoke.


    ¡°First let me summarise what we found when Xandor attacked Clandor.¡± He leered at Clandorians, stating, ¡°He wasn¡¯t the only one infiltrating your country, you know. Dijkstra was there too¡ª¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Bernard interrupted, he defended Clandor when Xandor attacked them, but he never got a whiff of Dijkstra.


    Sighing Arat mocked him, ¡°Living with elves made you uncivilised too.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, about your eloquent tongue, just tell me why Dijkstra was in Clandor. Were you trying to assassinate the princess?¡± Bernard infuriated.


    ¡°Have you seen Dijkstra ever missing his mark?¡± Arat questioned, but heard only silence in response. Everyone in that room knew - The sad death never fails. So, Arat continued, ¡°The target was the Aide from the beginning.¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°So Xandor never killed the king¡¯s aide¡± Bernard questioned.


    ¡°No,¡± Arat denied, ¡°It was a request for young Winters. To find and kill the one sending assassins at her. We just followed orders.¡± Arat indirectly established Hans as the one commanding him, his status as the prince and his standing that he would go to any lengths to protect the boy. It was a warning to everyone to not mess with him.


    ¡°We are swaying away from the point here.¡± Arat continued his momentum, ¡°Where was I.. han..yes, When Dijkstra infiltrated Clandor, he stumbled upon Xandor and followed him incognito. But, wherever that man went, only death followed. He was searching for remnants of the old council and fortunately for us, he left one alive to be found by Dijkstra.¡±


    ¡°So what did Xandor want to know from him?¡± Norwin entered the discussion once again.


    ¡°He was chasing the myth of Chalice of Memories.¡± Arat declared.


    ¡°That is absurd. The artefact to grant any wish doesn¡¯t exist.¡± Eleanor jumped in, reasoning, ¡°Your own king searched the whole Clandor but found nothing.¡±


    But Arat has a certain gaze that makes others question their beliefs and Eleanor meets with it too. Arat questioned, hammering a new fact on the listeners, ¡°Who says he never found? The very thing that Ring of Chaos was made of was a part of Chalice of memories.¡±


    Arat had dropped a bomb on them. Many had tried replicating the ring of chaos, but none succeded.¡°So,¡± Norwin who himself was chasing that myth for his own reasons, quite different from Samson and Xandor spoke, ¡°You mean to say¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, that madman is forging another ring of chaos.¡±


    ¡°But the method known to us is incomplete." Norwin said refuting, "Your king never shared with anyone¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, even Xandor was unaware, but,¡± Arat became serious, ¡°What about the dwarf who helped him forge¡ª¡±


    ¡°He is dead¡­ fuck. Xandor made him an undead.¡± Norwin sat as he answered his own questions.


    ¡°Now you understand why I called the World Summit. An ownerless dog can only be tied down by a firm hand or put down. Xandor has become a cancer that needs to go away. And I certainly don¡¯t wish for him to carry that power.¡± Arat lifted his head towards Reina, the mind behind Clandor¡¯s every move. ¡°You should thank Dijkstra, intended or not, he saved your daughter¡¯s life that Xandor wanted to take along with the wind gem she carried. And Later, thank our prince who took that burden from her intentionally.¡±


    Arat continued as the silence remained from the elven side, ¡°So before you use him, think twice, Reina. You owe him your girl''s life.¡±


    Kansas commented, ¡°She is a queen¡ª¡±


    ¡°None of my fucking business.¡± Arat cut him off, and addressing everyone, he said, ¡°You all know, Highest purity mana gems are not unique. So it is dead set in stone, that he will have them sooner or later. The best we can do is stall him by keep collecting them all first.¡±


    ¡°But that is not a permanent solution,¡± Reina commented.


    ¡°Finally, some sense¡± Arat sighed, continuing, ¡°We now have two options, first, we need to find the ¡®Memory of chalice¡¯ first. So what do you know about that artefact, Alliance head, Norwin?¡± Arat pointed at Norwin.


    ¡°Why do you ask me?¡± Norwin asked.


    ¡°Because you are searching for it too. The only way you can kill that ancient is through that artefact or Princess Ira¡¯s (Sierra¡¯s Parvian name) one-time use spell. But at the rate, our prince is wreaking havoc, I hardly think you¡¯ll get the chance to use her power.¡±


    The silence remained, but Eleanor broke the stillness by addressing Norwin, ¡°If that was your plan, it was foolish. I don¡¯t know if it exists or not. But it is an object of night, using it will have dire consequences.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± oddly enough, Arat supported Eleanor, ¡°If that wasn¡¯t the case, King Samson would have had with him. So we come down to the second option, Eradicate him before he completes the ring. He already has several gems, each robbed from you.¡± Arat paused, looking at Walter, who was silent in contrast to his nature. And he pointed at him, ¡°He has the dark gem¡ª¡±


    ¡°What the fuck? Who told you?¡± Walter was baffled. But Arat didn¡¯t heed his disrespectful words and continued, ¡°We have aqua and light gem, and Prince Hans has the wind gem¡ª¡±


    "SWEESH!"A Sound of something whistling down from skies pierced the air. The room trembled, and the tapestries on the walls swayed ominously. Startled, everyone in the chamber turned toward the massive windows that overlooked the sprawling royal city. Outside, a trail of blazing fire streaked across the sky, descending with a terrifying speed.¡°BOOM!¡± A shocking blast, far away from them, but strong enough to send them several shock waves happened. It was so strong that Arat who had been standing sat back to his chair.


    They all came outside in a frenzy, only to see the moon slowly covering the sun. ¡°It''s an Eclipse.¡± Arat gaze turned towards the place of the Explosion, it was like something had struck the place like a meteor. Once serene but now chaotic, the eternal rest of the Grimgar Family suffered a massive blow.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 186 : The Night in The Day(2)

    CHAPTER 186


    THE NIGHT IN THE DAY (2)


    Before the capital was shaken and the higher authorities called at Knight Association Fort. The morning of the last day of the Glory Wars festival was calm. Hans overexcited, was jumping like a child to go to the fair. He slept like crazy after facing the mind-wreaking chaos and when the mess stayed away from him, he finally got the chance to enjoy the festivities on the last day.


    ¡°let''s go out..¡± Hans suggested to his team, all resting in the hall, ¡°Now¡­¡± He stressed, but the people were far more disinterested. ¡°What the heck is wrong with you all? It''s the last day.¡± Hans complained to his lazy team members.


    ¡°Captain, as much as I want to go, today is the last day we get to meet our parents till the holidays.¡± Cherrina, the amber-haired healer stated.


    Chris added, ¡°Dean Rudolf called for me, so it''s a pass for me too.¡±


    All had different excuses prepared, some had to meet their parents, some had a date, and some wanted to sleep. Hans couldn¡¯t even find Vanir because his uncle had called him out of the city and he already got a leave yesterday. ¡°What is wrong with them?¡± Hans asked Delimira who was the only one free.


    ¡°They were like you two days before. But they almost saw and did every possible thing.¡± She responded, ¡°What¡¯s the point of revisiting them with a psychotic kid like you? I wouldn¡¯t want that either.¡±


    ¡°So, there is something interesting? Wanna come with me?¡± Hans asked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I just said?¡± She said furrowing her brows.


    ¡°I have selective hearing Deli, and it''s filtering out NOs,¡± Hans said, shameless.


    ¡°Haa¡­¡± she sighed, adding, ¡°Well, someone has to keep an eye on you. So you won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°I promise.¡± Hans nodded excitedly.


    ¡°Ha.. this ominous feeling,¡± Deli muttered as she followed Hans outside while a shadow kept following them from the distance.


    Hans and Delimira strolled through the bustling streets of the Royal Capital. His face adorned with smiles as he soaked in the vibrant atmosphere of the last day of the festival. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of street food, and colourful banners and decorations hung from every lamppost and building, creating a kaleidoscope of hues overhead.


    He had decided to make the most of this last day, putting aside his worries for a while. They explored the numerous stalls that lined the streets, sampling exotic dishes from various cultures and sharing their favourites. Delimira¡¯s laughter echoed through the crowd as Hans tried a particularly spicy dish, and started to jump up and down on the spot, waving his arms frantically in the air as if trying to cool down his burning mouth.


    ¡°I told you not to eat it.¡± She remarked.


    ¡°You also said it was the best dish you ever tasted. How can you eat that abomination? Haa..haa..¡± Hans rebuked.


    "Because it''s fun annoying you." She giggled.


    As they continued their leisurely walk, they stumbled upon a street performance featuring a person showing aerial acrobats as he flew here and there. Mesmerized by the spectacle, they joined the gathered crowd, ¡°I can do that too.¡± Hans pointed out then the performer began to spin like a top in the air, abruptly changing his opinion, ¡°Fine not that.¡± Hans nodded, clapping and cheering for the talented performer.


    When the sun hung high, casting heat on the summer noon, they found a quiet spot in a nearby park, under the shadow of a lush tree. They sat on a bench, basking in the tranquil ambience, and watched as children ran carefree amid the crowd. And all of a sudden, Hans broke the silence, ¡°Thank you Deli.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°For saving my butt,¡± Hans responded, only gratitude in his eyes.


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    ¡°People die if they change all of a sudden. Stay the way you are, Hans.¡±


    ¡°Can a guy don¡¯t even say a thank you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but not you,¡± Delimira remarked.


    ¡°Fine, give me back my ¡®thank you¡¯, I¡¯m not giving you any.¡± Hans pouted, prompting a laughter out of Delimira.


    ¡°So we have a royal banquet to attend this evening. Would you be able to hold the crazy inside?¡±She asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, but I sure am not dancing,¡± Hans said, nodding.


    ¡°Yeah, you are a terrible dancer.¡±


    ¡°Who told you¡­¡± Hans rebuked, ¡°No, I¡¯m not it''s just¡­ I don¡¯t get the point of learning something so trivial that it is never used in any practicality, you know.¡± He excused and Delimira was going to argue back, but her instincts went haywire.


    In a moment that felt surreal, the world around them shook with a thunderous roar. It was as if the very earth beneath their feet had awakened in fury. People screamed and scattered in all directions, their joyful laughter turning into panicked cries.


    Hans and Delimira caught off guard, stumbled and clung to each other for support as the ground beneath them quivered. They looked up in astonishment, searching for the source of the disturbance. And then, their eyes widened in sheer amazement and disbelief.


    From the heavens above, a blazing meteor hurtled toward the capital. It was a breathtaking spectacle, a celestial wonder that seemed both beautiful and terrifying. The meteor-like body streaked through the sky like a falling star, leaving a fiery trail in its wake.


    The impact, although far from where they stood, sent shockwaves through the festival grounds. The ground shuddered beneath their feet once more, and a powerful gust of wind blew through the area, tousling their hair and clothes. Dust and debris were thrown into the air, creating an eerie haze that obscured their vision.


    However, that was not all. The sun, once radiant and full, was now being gradually engulfed by a dark celestial body¡ªthe moon. It was no ordinary; it was an ominous solar eclipse that defied explanation.


    The festival-goers, who just stabilised by the shock, began to notice the sudden change in daylight. Murmurs of unease spread through the crowd like wildfire, and a palpable sense of foreboding hung in the air. Hans and Delimira, too, gazed upward, their expressions filled with awe and anxiety. The sun''s corona, obscured by the moon''s passage, emitted an eerie, ethereal glow, casting an otherworldly pallor upon the city.


    As the eclipse progressed, something inexplicable and chilling occurred. Hundreds of undead, once dormant in the hidden corners of the royal capital, began to stir. Their ashen, lifeless forms slowly emerged from their hiding places¡ªdark alleyways, hidden catacombs, and forgotten crypts.


    These awakened undead, fuelled by the unnatural phenomenon in the sky, lurched and staggered into the streets of the city. Their hollow, vacant eyes bore an insatiable hunger for the living. Moans and groans filled the air as the festival-goers recoiled in horror and disbelief.


    Hans and Delimira, their expressions now shifting from awe to alarm, stood amidst the chaos. They watched as the once-vibrant festival transformed into a nightmarish scene of pandemonium. The living raced to escape the relentless advance of the undead, their joyous celebration now shattered by the malevolent forces of the undead unleashed by the eclipse.


    In the midst of the ominous solar eclipse, Hans and Delimira found themselves thrust into a battle, not of their choosing¡ªan unforeseen clash between the living and the undead, with the very fate of the royal capital hanging in the balance.


    ROYAL CEMETERY, THE PLACE OF CONTACT


    One after another, the powerhouses of Grimgar and each present nation landed on site. The cemetery, protected by several artefacts and spells was devastated. The meteor had left a trail of devastation in its path, displacing earth and stone, and revealing the remnants of long-buried graves.


    ¡°It''s not a star,¡± Samwell commented, pointing at the grave on the side, where the object had made its crater.


    The previous meteor, now something else, lay at the heart of the crater, a magnificent fusion of rock and metal. Its surface, scorched by the intense heat of atmospheric entry, shimmered with a metallic sheen, reflecting the light like a sword.


    Curious mages, drawn by the unearthly arrival, had gathered at the cemetery''s periphery. They watched in awe as wisps of smoke and steam rose from the impact site, one stepped further, but his action triggered something, and everyone witnessed a spell, originating from the Earth-stabbing sword. As the dark-coloured circles grew, people counted, ¡°It''s nine.¡± One mage shouted while another added, ¡°It''s a ninth circle spell¡ª¡±


    ¡°Return¡± a voice echoed under the sun''s corona in the commanding voice. The fallen kings, the ever-powerful legends of the Grimgar family began to stir. Slowly, they clawed their way out of the earth, their skeletal hands and bony fingers emerging from the soil like nightmarish spectres. Tattered burial shrouds clung to their emaciated forms, and their hollow eye sockets glowed with malevolent, otherworldly light.


    Soon the necrotic skin began to grow, covering up their skeletal structure, providing them mass and power. ¡°Alliance, attack before they transform completely,¡± Norwin commanded, he knew the degree of this situation quite well. The royal guards, who had been stationed nearby to ensure the sanctity of the cemetery, would be ill-prepared for this unholy onslaught if the Grimgar kings completed their transformation from undead to death knights.


    However, it was not the former kings that troubled him that much, but the once mighty King of Parv, who also lay there, waiting for the spell to resurrect him.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 187 : The Return of the King (1)

    CHAPTER 187


    THE RETURN OF THE KING (1)


    As Norwin¡¯s order fell, all available persons, irrespective of their differences stood united. As there were no infantry units, there was no way to contain them all, but instead of numbers, they had all big names. Kansas, the chairman of the Knight Association, Dijkstra the commander of Parv, Norwin the alliance head, Reina the elven queen and the second-ranked knight, King Eleanor. The Concordia personnels had retreated to their castle to check on their students while the rest of them had charged towards the area of impact.


    As Norwin took charge, his attacks froze the undead while Eleanor¡¯s wind aura destroyed them. Yet Norwin¡¯s own father in the ranks of undead, the fire knight of his time, halted his process.


    ¡°We need to contain them here¡± Arat finally suggested, ¡°These are all big names, even if one of them reaches down the capital. I don¡¯t think, your soldiers could stop it.¡± And he didn¡¯t have to say twice, while Norwin hated the old snake, he couldn¡¯t deny his foresight in battle. Norwin stopped in his place, gathering all his aura, he sacrificed half of it to call his domain.


    Domain Skill - IceAge.


    As he thrust his greatsword, Faith, into the ground, a remarkable transformation ensued. The cemetery grounds turned snowy and the whole mountain began enclosing by colossal ice walls. These walls, emanating an enchanting blue glow, extended far into the landscape. The once serene cemetery, then a chaotic battlefield, finally turned into a winter wonderland encased in a circular boundary of high walls that reached the skies.


    ¡°Take down the one who can fly, first,¡± Norwin asked the people as his sword, Fate, fuelling him in an unending power clashed with its previous owner, his own father. Transforming the place into a sea of ice and fire.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like following his orders, but he is right.¡± Dijkstra, the quickest knight in the land commented, as he kept appearing and disappearing on all the battlefield. Severing the limbs of whatever he could get his hands on. He knew well that the undead could regenerate on their own, but a less hand holding a sword, especially one of a sword master¡¯s, was one less thing to worry for others.


    ¡°It becomes a little easier,¡± Norwin commented, as Dijkstra flashed through, taking his undead Father¡¯s arm. ¡° I should be not happy about your hand, Father, but you are in the wrong time, So I apologise.¡± Norwin called upon his another skill.


    Skill - FrostBite


    The area where his swords moved and managed to tear the necrotic skin started freezing the wound, slowing the already slow movement of Death Knight. Yet he knew this was not going to stop the almost immortal undead.


    Arat as the weakest physically but on another level of experience offered his wisdom, ¡°The only way to kill them completely is to destroy them at the molecular level.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Norwin responded aloud, cleaving his undead father into two, yet it began to regenerate.


    Arat added, ¡°You are not a good match, we need fire or light. Sierra shouldn''t have left. Damn it. ¡± He then turned to the woman he hated most in the world, the queen of Clandor, the sole possessor of light element amongst them. "It won''t be as quick as divine mana but that is what we got. I fear for the worse."


    Seeing all their gazes on her, she quipped, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I¡¯m half the knight I used to be.¡± Turning to Arat she let out a sharp retort, ¡°Don¡¯t you know, who turned me into one.¡±


    Irritated by her glance, Arat responded, ¡°He should have gone for your head, woman¡ª¡±


    ¡°This is not the time,¡± Norwin shouted from afar, stopping them before they could start arguing like cats and dogs. He looked at his force, they only had a handful of people who could fight these mighty death knights. When the explosion happened, Samwell took a chunk full of knights and left for the capital as he was informed of the situation of the city under attack. Only Arat and Dijkstra from Parv. Eleanor, Reina and the interrogator who he doesn¡¯t know the name of, followed him to the cemetery with Kansas.


    Kansas as the user of Water aura was quite compatible with Norwin¡¯s icy aura, but as Arat had mentioned before, only Reina was the one who could permanently end them. Some handful of knights and mages who had the misfortune of being in the vicinity or curious to see what was happening were still present, but none was of a level to deal something to the numerous death knights, whom Dijkstra was currently slaughtering like a butchering machine.


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    ¡°What do you need?¡± Norwin offered his helping hand to Reina.


    ¡°I won¡¯t last long, you know it. My skills don¡¯t favour the long battle¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know, you are all passive¡­you lost your spirit,¡± Norwin remarked cautiously so as to not rub on her. It was enough that she was not exploiting the situation in her favour. So he didn¡¯t want to ruffle her feathers.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll restrict my movements." Reina proposed, "Bring the subdued ones to me, and make sure they are incapacitated,¡± She stressed, ¡°My guard will be all down.¡±


    All nodded, affirming on their honour to not try something funny, and the fighting ensued in several steps, Dijkstra taking out the limbs, Kansas¡¯s watery attacks flooding them, Norwin freezing them and Eleanor''s windy rampages breaking and bringing them to his wife, where through her sword skills, specialised in stopping regeneration as it cut through mana itself. She destroyed them completely.


    ¡°That¡¯s two down,¡± Arat commented as he counted the remaining ones, unsure of how long she would last. He continued, concerned, ¡°We have eighteen more to do, Hurry!¡± Arat¡¯s concern was not for some foreigner¡¯s safety, but for some other reasons. He was afraid to face the worst thing that could happen there, and Norwin shared the sentiments.


    Norwin was looking at Samson¡¯s burial place, struck by the sword directly. He thanked his fortune as the very sword that turned his ancestors into undead was stopping Samson¡¯s return. But the thing about intelligence is that it came very late, and even the sharpest mind missed the obvious things. Norwin and others failed to realise that Xandor¡¯s Return spell was the sixth circle, not the ninth which was currently encompassing the entire cemetery, and they were going to pay the price of not thinking ahead.


    ¡°Dark Revival¡± the voice of Xandor echoed once again and the huge ninth-circle spell shrank, which was still illuminating in the burial grounds, fuelling the body it stabbed. "BOOM!!"And a loud thump of a war drum, as loud as the previous explosion, echoed throughout the Capital city.


    ¡°Dark Revival¡± Bernard exasperated, and his former colleague, Dijkstra shared the Exasperation. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, he completed the spell,¡± Bernard muttered.


    ¡°What is happening, Sir Bernard?¡± Reina questioned her face as contorted as it could be. She once put everything into fighting against Samson and barely got a victory because of his side backstabbing him one after another, but not once she want to face him again.


    ¡°That is far more dangerous than the undead spell.¡± Bernard explained, ¡°We have to stop it. That spell uses a remnant of the soul to call back the dead. It will not be just a husk that Xandor could control but the distorted emotions of the original owner.¡±


    Arat stopped Bernard¡¯s progression, ¡°Is he coming back to life.¡± He asked as every Parvian he bought got ready to fight the whole others. But Bernad shook his grip in an instant. ¡°Listen, old man, he is not coming back to life. But Xandor is gaining the all-powerful Death king." Bernard mumbled in concern, "Death knights would be children in front of him.¡±


    Bernard began charging his aura and Norwin and others did the same and in unison, they attacked the Dark Revival spell. Bernard muttered as he saw the charged attack go, ¡°Once I asked Xandor what brings a dead back to life and he answered- Hate and regret.¡±


    The Parvian stood back as Arat¡¯s orders were never heard, but every other knight and the mage present contributed to that attack. Including current rank holders, Norwin, Elanor and Kansas, all launched their ultimate move, all combining into a nebula. And it went like a ravaging storm, ripping apart every undead of Grimgar cemetery and finally struck the spell of dark revival, blowing away half the mountain in the impact.


    Hans who was dragging Delimira to run back to Concordia''s stay, suddenly stopped, as he felt a thumping beat hitting him, and he turned his head towards the cemetery. The Explosion¡¯s shockwave greeted him later, putting a halt on his retreat completely.


    ¡°So you grew a heart, finally. Now you wanna help them?¡± Delimria taunted, misunderstanding Hans¡¯s sudden stop. But Hans¡¯s priority was something else at this point, he muttered, as he felt a part of his ripping apart from his chest.¡°What the fuck is happening over there?¡±


    Meanwhile, in the cemetery, a hollow yet terrifying voice echoed, in cacophony of the combined attack. ¡°Know your place, peasants.¡±


    ¡°SWINGGG!¡± A sharp ear-screeching sound followed by a powerful sword swing gained velocity from the unsettling debris and smoke, aiming at the united Genas. They managed to dodge the quick attack, but the sinister slash, undeterred charged forward, tearing the air and anything that it came to way and several hundred metres away, struck the mage tower inside the icy boundary, bisecting it like butter with a hot knife.


    ¡°Dhud..Dhud..Dhud!¡± A shadow rose from the smoke, floating in the air, the bluish-skinned man, whom everyone there knew, again spoke in a hollow voice, ¡°What is this? Where Am I?¡±


    Walter the late arrived, muttered,"So the worse has come." ¡°


    "Is the prince okay?" Arat asked, his priorities clear.


    ¡°All the students are fine.¡± Walter stated, adding, ¡°Only Hans and Delimira are missing from our castle. Aredhel went to search while Lady Sierra is holding the castle--¡±


    "You should''ve brought her." Norwin interjected.


    However, as the thumping beats increased, Walter turned to awakening Samson, He was a dark aura practitioner himself and could feel the sinister aura gradually increasing in the dead king. ¡°This is the only chance we have, or else¡­¡± He stated, engulfing his aura in the blade, as he sneakily summoned his ultimate skill Dark Schneider, an aura skill capable of splitting the space itself. With a quick succession, he appeared left of Samson only to meet his sinister gaze.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 188 : The Return of the King (2)

    CHAPTER 188


    THE RETURN OF THE KING (2)


    ¡°The insolence.¡± Samson flicked his finger, horizontally, and declared the judgement of a knight that dared to raise a sword in his presence.


    Imperial Sword Art: Big Dipper


    A single attack consisting of seven slashes in a flash, all aimed at the heart of the target. It was one of the secrets of Imperial Sword art that the Parvian royalty had passed to only to the crown successor. A terrifying attack with a mortality rate of 100%.


    "Fuck!" Walter cursed, cancelling his ultimate and focussed all on his defence but all of his defence was like paper blocking a flying knife. Big Dipper was a move that negated all defence. the only way to avoid it was offering seven lives. Walter, in a split moment called his domain.


    Domain Skill: Seven sins


    Fortunately, there was a still chance for Walter to survive. His domain skill unlike every knight affected him instead of surrounding. Separating himself into seven person, all of his seven persona featuring the trait of seven sins of fable. Yet one after another, each of his body fell victim to Big Dipper in an instant. The irony of the situation was only the Sloth survived. However, Big Dipper demanded a life but Sloth form of Walter''s managed to weasel out just by sacrificing his legs below the thighs.


    All happened in a moment. ¡°Slash!¡± Walter¡¯s leg got severed, as he crashed on the debris below.


    ¡°That¡¯s a fucking rank twenty,¡±


    ¡°How in the god¡¯s name we are supposed to stop him.¡±


    ¡°We have Hero King Norwin.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    The onlookers discussed, all focusing on Norwin and Eleanor. The official two most powerful people. ¡°Dijkstra?¡± Bernard called him out, ¡°Are you going to let Xandor disrespect your king? Come already¡ª¡±


    ¡°He is airborne, No¡­I can¡¯t do shit in air, you know¡­ and we never managed to defeat him. Even three of us combined¡­Can¡¯t we just talk to him¡­ he swatted Walter like an annoying fly.¡±


    This was the first time anyone there saw Dijkstra reasoning instead of jumping in battle, but all understood where he was coming from. Walter was lucky as well, as skilled, that he shifted his body before the concise and controlled aura burst cut his heart. He was in unimaginable pain but was relieved that his domain skill had managed to save his life.


    "You are in bad shape." Arat came near, spreading all the healing potion he carried. "It will only numb the pain, won''t make your limbs regrow. Will you be okay?"


    "Yeah, but if we don''t stop him here. then..."


    Suddenly a deafening roar, coming from the skies, joined the chaos.¡°What is this abomination.¡± Rudolf landed from the sky-high, belatedly realising who was the man flying in the sky. His words were stolen from his mouth as his hands shivered in disbelief. ¡°W..why is¡­he..like this?¡± All he wanted was to see Samson once again but not like this.


    As many more came to the spot, scaling the high icy walls, the one-handed dead King, began to weave his severed hand through the shiny green aura. He raised his newly made hand, alerting everyone, and the almost melted sword that opened the path of his revival, ejected from the ground to his hand, transforming itself to its once satanic appearance.


    ¡°Rebellion,¡± the Dead King turned to his ever-increasing audience, and finally his green-lit eyes fell on someone he recognised, ¡°Rudolf.¡± He said, his voice quivering.


    The voice shook Rudolf to his core. He raised his head to look at what his dead student, his son was trying to convey. ¡°Why?¡± The Death king spoke, ¡°Why were you not there to save me?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him,¡± Arat shouted but it was already late for Rudolf. He blamed himself for not being there to protect him, to watch his back, to listen to his problems and to console him. He was busy helping others and unintentionally left him who needed him most. The guilt that had consumed him once returned.


    ¡°Xandor,¡± Rudolf fumed, his anger soaring the sky high. He might have ranked ninth, but none questioned the destructive power he carried. He cried, ¡°Xandor, you bastard, this crossed the line.¡±


    Rudolf¡¯s sword, Thunderclap, which always hung somewhere in the cloud fell back into Rudolf¡¯s hands. But the Death king opened his mouth again, ¡°I should¡¯ve called you father, teacher. I should¡¯ve.¡±


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    ¡°This bastard¡­ I¡¯ll never forgive you Xandor.¡± Rudolf cried as his eyes moistened, he always wanted to hear those words yet the living one never spoke them. Recalling Samson¡¯s quirking and naughty smile of childhood, Rudolf¡¯s eyes cried as he Roared.


    Skill: Astrape


    The full power of a lightning bolt from the heavens fell on the dead King. It was Rudolf¡¯s ultimate that he could only use once since his ThunderClap kept collecting power as it floated among the cloud. It was more powerful than the whole people combined there. Yet Rudolf was not done there, ¡°Dijkstra¡ª¡±


    ¡°On, it,¡±, tapping Rudolf¡¯s shoulder, Dijkstra responded and they came right beneath Samson. Rudolf bellowed once again.


    Skill: Ascension


    Putting all of his Grade ninety aura, Rudolf launched like a projectile, a beam of lighting, hitting Samson from beneath while the Astrape did the same from above. The impact was something else as it charred Samson¡¯s body from blue to black.


    ¡°Swoosh!¡± Rudolf reappeared with Dijkstra, in his initial position. Dijkstra asked looking at the still ongoing attack, as he handed Walter with his severed legs for immediate heal, ¡°Will it end him?¡± He asked.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not then we will be at Xandor¡¯s mercy,¡± Rudolf answered, gasping, his skills were devastating, but they came with a price. The Ascension had dried him and he was showing symptoms of aura exhaustion. The condition where a knight couldn¡¯t regenerate aura on his own.


    ¡°Hey, you brat come here,¡± Dijkstra commanded Chris, who was busy looking at the powerful ongoing strike. He was with Rudolf when everything happened and was dragged here. There was a reason why Rudolf was considered a wreaking cannonball and the sheer sight of his skills was proof of that.


    However, Chris was not going to make the mistake of ignoring the Sad Death, he hurriedly came to his side. Dijkstra pulled a sharp steel stick, the same size as a spoon and struck Rudolf¡¯s shoulder. He then commanded Chris to transfer his aura to Rudolf. Unlike mana, aura needed an inorganic medium and it was the first aid they used on the battlefield, as baffling as it sounded to Chris, his act made some vigour return to Rudolf. Finally, the skill, vaporising Samson also ended, leaving everyone in question, was it the end of the Dead King or did the world soon face his worst enemy?


    A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE, THE CAPITAL CITY


    When Rudolf hadn¡¯t arrived there, and others were fighting. Hans began his march to the cemetery, as he felt his heart shaking violently. ¡°Hey! Stop. Are you crazy?¡± Delimira pulled him as she blew another undead to shreds. She pointed out, snapping Hans from his daze, ¡°That is the epicentre of chaos¡ª¡±


    ¡°Help me Deli,¡± Hans said, his eyes begging.


    She had never seen him like this and it was not his usual tone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She asked, looking in the direction of the concentrated mana¡¯s place.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I have to be there. I just know, I have to be there.¡± Hans said in frenzy, something foreboding his mind.


    She never felt Hans so vulnerable. ¡°Fine, let''s go,¡± she said inhaling a long breath, as iridescent scales began to appear on her hand, ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Her voice deepened, ¡°But that¡¯s one long road.¡± Her assurance must have calmed him down a bit so his wit started working again. He looked here and there, and stopped a young man hurrying to the emergency shelter. ¡°Where is the nearest mana gem shop?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The running man tried shaking the child¡¯s grip, yet failed. He said stressing, ¡°Run stupid, save your life, money comes later¡ª¡±


    ¡°Where the hell is the mana gem shop? Answer me¡± Hans forced.


    ¡°Stop harassing the poor bastard.¡± A slender man, full of the mana of a world mage, the eighth circle responded as he pointed to the east. ¡°Go, rob it, I don¡¯t give a damn, just stop putting others in danger. They have no nobles to protect.¡±


    Suddenly it dawned on Hans, that even in this pandemonium, he never saw any reinforcements coming. The patrol guards struggled for a while, but the overwhelming number had them retreating back. In the name of protection, all citizens were ordered to make their way to Emergency shelters on their own.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Hans asked.


    ¡°Me, don¡¯t you remember me¡­Ha..sorry. it was my assistant that argued with you. Not me. You sent one of my disciples packing before the Glory Wars¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ha.. that pervert,¡± Hans recalled and many from the Devildom came one after another. Ignoring his words, the world mage, ordered his students, ¡°Listen well, these fucking deep pockets will not spare any knight or mage for the commoners like you. So it''s your job to save as many as you can. Understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir.¡± All said in unison, as Hans gazed at the whole six students, not finding the one he sent out cold. ¡°They are around our age, but the four knights are around grade 50 and two mages, all have four circles. Prof. Walter did say, they all were monsters in the making.¡± He looked at their teacher, ¡°Just how is he teaching them.¡± Hans wondered prompting the world mage¡¯s attention, ¡°So what will you be doing, after robbing the store?¡±


    Hans pointed to the main battle, ¡°I need to go there.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s one tough journey young man¡ª¡±


    ¡°I have to go,¡± Hans stressed.


    ¡°We need to save people,¡± the eighth circle mage muttered pointing at the way to the huge icy walls, ¡°More would be in trouble as it is close to the main battle.¡± The world mage took a brief pause again, and continued, ¡°You are in luck, follow us." He then turned to his students, "Listen up, you dimwits, search every nook and cranny¡ª¡±


    ¡°This is inefficient.¡±.Hans commented suggestively, ¡°I have a better way. Follow me." A plan came to his mind, with him and Delimira, it would take a lot of effort to reach the main battle but he ran into many powerful people. If he did not use this opportunity it would sit right with him.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 189 : The Return of the King (3)

    CHAPTER 189


    THE RETURN OF THE KING (3)


    Hans stood in front of a lavish store, named Romero¡¯s Radiant. He couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡° And that man said, he has nothing to lose. All I see is a lot of shiny things to lose.¡±


    ¡°Who goes there?¡± A mage, of the seventh circle, stopped their advance in the store. He was busy pushing back the undeads till now, and when his time to take a little rest came. The guests with written intentions on their faces showed up.


    ¡°He is a seventh circle, kid,¡± Joshua Smith, the devildom teacher, pointed out to Hans as he scanned for any more security measures. ¡°Listen,¡± Joshua addressed the mage, ¡°we need your mana gems to secure citizens, I¡¯d appreciate¡ª¡±


    ¡°What the heck are you doing?¡± Hans interrupted.


    ¡°Asking for help. He¡¯d underst¡ª¡±


    ¡°Haa.. you are¡­do you think, he¡¯d help us if you ask. His job is to make sure this store does not incur any mishaps either from undead or from us.¡±


    ¡°It''s better to talk things first, kid. Violence is not the answer to your every problem.¡± Joshua commented, turning to the mage as he requested, ¡°Please provide us with some resources, there are several people stuck out there.¡±


    ¡°Hmpf¡­¡± the mage scoffed, ¡°Not my problem.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have fucking time for this, Deli,¡± Hans shouted, activating his most efficient spell simultaneously.


    ~ManaStorm~


    A quick step mana storm was nothing grand and certainly was not powerful enough to send a seventh circle mage packing. However, it had a stunning effect on people with high-level powers.


    Krosh art second stance: HeptaPose


    From one to two, two to three.. and finally, Delimra blurred into seven figures, all slashing the mage with superficial wounds and poisoning his mana by leaving some traces of her dead mana in him.


    Unable to access his mana, the Seventh Circle mage pulled a healing potion, but Hans¡¯s quick SeedBullet broke the vial before he could drink it. ¡°Say this to Kansas, collect this debt from King Samwell. I¡¯ll be using this to save his citizens.¡±


    ~SonusBind~


    The holey vines conjured before Hans¡¯s stretched hand, right at the Mage¡¯s face. ¡°This would hurt a little,¡± Hans commented and the vines started spinning, generating a shrieking sound, propagating towards the beaten mage. ¡°I agree, that violence is not the solution for every problem.¡± Hans commented, aiming at Joshua, adding, ¡°But a wise man once said, it can solve most of them.¡±


    As the mage¡¯s ears bled, he lost consciousness, prompting Joshua to say, ¡°Can¡¯t believe, two kids took down a seventh circle.¡±


    ¡° We should add this on our resume, Deli" Hans chuckled but his anxiousness still gripped him. He muttered the words taught to him, "A mage is not dangerous but a prepared mage is.¡± He pointed out several artefacts in the store, all broken by none other than him.


    ¡°When did you destroy them?¡± Joshua looked baffled for the first time.


    ¡°Fighting a mage in his own territory is dangerous. So the first thing you have to do is break their failsafes.¡± Hans commented, collecting as many as wood gems he could find. He added, as he picked the last one, ¡°Don¡¯t you teach that to your students?¡±


    ¡°Not now, at least¡ª¡±


    ¡°Concordia also didn¡¯t teach these things either,¡± Delimira chimed in.


    ¡°Then, I guess, it''s in my blood talking.¡± Hans stated as he dragged a bag full of mana gems out while several of them find their new home in Hans''s space bag. He looked at the sky-reaching-icy-walls, far from his position. ¡°Just you wait. I¡¯m coming.¡±


    ¡°So you robbed them, now what?¡± Joshua asked while Delimira and six others waited for the answer curiously.


    ¡°I have a trauma, being in command, but I¡¯ll try once more,¡± Hans said as he unloaded all of his gems in the street. ¡°Phew.¡± He heaved a long breath and reached deep within himself, connecting his conscious to the mana gems and drew upon their immense mana. The streets still echoed with screams and the sounds of battle, but he remained steadfast, focusing all his concentration on a colossal task, to summon his largest forest yet.


    ~SilvaOrtus~


    The gems glowed with an ethereal light that grew brighter with each passing moment. Trees sprouted from the cobblestone streets, their roots bursting through the ground like nature reclaiming its territory. Vines crawled up the sides of buildings, turning stone structures into overgrown fortresses of greenery. Flowers blossomed in the midst of chaos, filling the air with their sweet fragrance.


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    The undead, which had once roamed freely, now found themselves entangled in the thicket of this newly formed forest. The once unstoppable horde was now slowed by the natural barriers and became disoriented by the rapid transformation of their surroundings. ¡°I ain¡¯t done yet,¡± Hans screamed his face showing the pulsating veins. He was overusing his brain, mixing his consciousness with every grass and tree he had summoned.


    He now poured the mana stones, spreading them as wide as he could. ¡°You¡¯ve got an army Xandor.¡± He screamed, ¡°I have it too.¡±


    ~Undying Army~


    The mana stone began to weave the green around and soon turn humanoid. Each soldier was a towering figure crafted entirely from tree bark and interwoven branches, bound together by vibrant green vines. Their eye sockets emitted an eerie, ethereal green light, giving them a haunting appearance.


    It was not the first time he had shown this trick, but it was the first time, it was made from highly concentrated mana stones. As Hans summoned these wooden guardians, their numbers grew rapidly, forming a formidable assembly. They stood tall and unwavering, their wooden limbs ready for action.


    Though not suited for complex commands, these wooden sentinels possessed a single directive: to stall the advance of the undead horde. With a silent nod from Hans, they surged forward as a unified force, moving with a coordinated grace that defied their wooden composition.


    The forest guardians clashed with the undead, their sturdy forms resisting the onslaught of skeletal warriors and rotting corpses. Branches swung with surprising agility, dealing powerful blows that shattered bones and crushed undead flesh. Green vines wrapped around the limbs of the undead, immobilizing them and rendering them helpless. They were strong, far stronger than what Hans had unleashed in the Glory Wars arena.


    The citizens, initially frozen with fear, began to find their voices once more. Shouts of relief and gratitude filled the air as they witnessed their deliverance at the hands of these wooden guardians. Mothers hugged their children tightly, tears of hope streaming down their cheeks, while elderly citizens offered prayers of thanks.


    With every swing of their wooden limbs, the forest guardians pushed the undead horde back, creating a precious breathing room for the beleaguered citizens. Families seized the opportunity to retreat to safety, their gratitude toward the wooden soldiers immeasurable.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Hans said, gasping, he was on his last straws, his stamina drained till the bottom, yet he somehow stood his ground. ¡°Is this a picnic, go do your damn jobs.¡± He shouted to the Devildom people who were just awestruck by the sheer magnitude of Hans¡¯s power.


    Joshua snapped out, ¡°What are you doing brats, save as many as you can, hurry.¡± He demanded and his six prodigies leapt to rescue others.


    ¡°You okay Hans?¡± Delimira asked in concern yet remained vigilante. She couldn''t allow any surprises when Hans was totally spent.


    ¡°NO, I¡¯m not, Deli¡± Hans said, gasping. But before she could respond, Joshua interjected, ¡°Hold it for a while, kid, you are doing good. Push them in open so I can get rid of them all at once.¡± Joshua pointed at the ice walls, ¡°You¡¯ll have no one stopping you from reaching that place, please just a little longer.¡±


    As the wooden Soldiers heard Hans¡¯s will, they began to press inward, the undead horde found themselves increasingly confined, their movements restricted by the unyielding embrace of the living forest. The skeletal warriors thrashed and clawed at the encircling wooden barrier, but it held firm, tough to their futile struggles.


    The Devildom people were also helping, flinging the undead to the cage-like structures. The circle tightened further, squeezing the lifeless creatures within as more keep adding.


    After Joshua confirmed, that there was no living thing in the vicinity, he showed the attitude of an eight circle, his fiery mana engulfed him as his eyes turned bright red. Hans knew first-hand that he could only stop the horde and it was not for long, he lacked the elements to kill the undead so it was just a matter of time before they could overpower him.


    So when he found Joshua and his incredible fire mana, he hatched a plan to use him to clear his path. And now, the plan was hatching. ¡°Burn them all.¡± He shouted as his control over the wooden army broke.


    However, A loud deafening roar, not from Joshua, but came from inside those icy walls. The shadowed sky turned purple as a huge bolt of lightning descended beneath those walls.


    ¡°Astrape.¡± Hans murmured, he never had the pleasure of seeing the full power of Rudolf¡¯s ultimate skill, but he remembered his words, ¡®If you ever see me using it then understand, it will be a very shitty situation.¡¯ He looked stunned, ¡°Grandpa -- Hurry,¡± he shouted at Joshua. The words of Arat rang in his mind ¡ªfate has a very tricky way of appearing, whether you like it or not. It''s the hardest thing to change in the world. His nervousness fuelled as he also remembered, Rudolf¡¯s and Sierra¡¯s predestined death. ¡°They must be together. No..no.. I already got the bad feeling no, no.¡±


    ¡°It will be fine, Hans,¡± Delimra patted his shoulder.


    ¡°How can you be sure,¡± Hans looked up, hoping for a definite answer.


    ¡°Because I have faith in them. Sir Rudolf might not show it but he is really tough and Lady Sierra, she is the strongest person I know. She will not let anyone die.¡± She emphasised, ¡°Not herself either. She won¡¯t leave you behind so get a hold yourself.¡± Delimira was saying, believing Sierra to be present there but none of them knew. She was fighting her own battles. Since she was the perfect adversary of Xandor''s mana. the twelve captains together were holding her and everyone in Concordia back.


    Delimira pointed at Joshua, ¡°We¡¯ll be soon there, so you have to be in top form, right?¡±


    Hans saw the world mage completing his eight-circle spell. ¡°Yes, you are right?¡± Taking long breaths, he straightened up his act, and Joshua drowned every undead into a sea of fire. ¡°My name is Johsua Smith, we live in Deadlands. Come find me, if you need something there.¡± He introduced himself with a genuine smile.


    Hans saw the charred path open to the icy walls. he nodded, "Hans Parv thanks you."


    ¡°Fuck No!..." Joshua startled and justified, "Thank you... The people in power left these folks to die. You see in the last moments you see the true hypocritical nature of man.¡±


    ¡°Wise words, but we have to part here, let''s go Deli.¡± Hans ran, but stopped at a sudden distance. Turning he said, ¡°Sorry about your other students. I respect his fetishes, but I¡¯m straight.¡±He left baffling others and disappeared.There were long walls to scale, a mountain to climb. Hans was worried about Rudolf and Sierra. The one he was most afraid to lose.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 190 : The Return of the King (4)

    CHAPTER 190


    THE RETURN OF THE KING (4)


    Under the bleak, overcast sky, Hans and Delimira pressed forward, their steps quick and filled with determination. Hans seemed to forget his exhaustion the moment he saw the Astrape fall from the sky. His mana gem, the blessing of the wind was still not working. ¡°Damn, it. Just why?¡± He cursed as he passed through his own woody debris, left behind after his UndyingArmy did everything to stop the horde.


    The air was biting cold as they neared the wall but their sight fell upon the desolate landscape littered with the remnants of battle¡ªbroken weapons, shattered armour, and the lifeless bodies of the undead, strangled by the vegetation, still struggling to get away. The majority of the undead was handled by Joshua but there were many remained.


    However, it was not Hans¡¯s concern. In the distance, the towering walls of ice loomed, an imposing barrier that separated them from their destination. As they moved forward, a path gradually opened before them, revealing the aftermath of Joshua''s fiery assault. The fire mage had paved the way, leaving behind scorched earth and smouldering undead corpses. The flames had seared through the ranks of the undead, creating a path of destruction that led to the icy walls.


    Hans and Delimira could feel the residual heat radiating from the scorched ground, a stark contrast to the frigid air around them. They knew they had to move quickly, taking advantage of the path that had been forged for them.


    With each step, they could sense the growing intensity of their surroundings. The icy walls, which had once appeared distant and insurmountable, now seemed within reach. Hans clenched his fists, a resolve burning in his eyes, "I didn''t know why I wanted to go there before but it does not matter now. I just need to INGRESS grandpa and Grandma from there" His eyes glanced the Control Centre box, the augmentation floating right above his eyes. INGRESS which was time bounded before was now free to use. He didn''t understood why but didn''t care to find out.


    With nothing standing in their way, they finally reached the towering icy walls that had stood as an imposing barrier before them. Their breaths billowed out in frosty puffs as they stood at the base of the colossal frozen structure. The walls were as tall as mountains, their icy surface glistening ominously in the dim light.


    Hans glanced at his dormant flying artefact, which lay around his neck, still out of commission. It had served him well in his journey so far, but he had no clue why it was not working. However, Delimira answered his long-time concern, ¡°It won¡¯t work.¡± She stated, looking at the unreachable zenith of the walls. She added, turning to Hans, dumbfounded, ¡°Didn¡¯t you know, you can¡¯t fly in the capital.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hans was really startled. He nodded, accepting as he recalled, that he started having difficulty in flying as he reached the vicinity of capital when he flew back from Heat Riddance after sending his team with Ingress.


    ¡°So Hans,¡± She spoke, touching the freezing wall that started freezing her hand as soon as she touched it. She shook her hand while igniting it with her fire mana. ¡°This is a nasty piece of work¡ª¡±


    ¡°How else¡± Hans interrupted, declaring, ¡°We climb.¡±


    ¡°It will freeze us before we reach the top¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember, How we escape from Frozen Tooth.¡± Hans reminded her as the tough turtle vines started encasing them in a hollow sphere. Before these appendages could succumb to the biting frost, they reached out and gently flung the spherical cage upward. It was a motion filled with precision as if the vines themselves were aware of the urgency of their mission.


    With each passing moment, the vines continued to sprout from the frozen surface, providing them with the means to ascend further. These living tendrils propelled them upward, one after another, before the deadly chill of the ice could claim them. The ascent was a race against time, as the icy walls threatened to freeze and immobilize them, but the ever-resourceful vines ensured that they remained on their upward trajectory.


    As Hans and Delimira continued their ascent up the towering icy walls, they reached a breathtaking vantage point that allowed them to witness a view unlike any other. From their position, thousands of metres above the ground, they gazed upon the sprawling cemetery below. Before, it was a vast expanse of land, a solemn resting place for countless souls but now Hans couldn¡¯t even see a fraction of it.


    The aftermath of the magical battle between the living and the dead had left its mark on the landscape. Scorch marks and craters marred the once-pristine grounds, proof of the fierce battle that had taken place. As Hans fell, together with Delimira, inside his caged wall of vines, he saw the purple thunder finally vanishing. A chared block of charcoal floated in the air after taking Rudolf¡¯s two consecutive powerful attacks.


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    ¡°Gramps,¡± He shouted, from sky-high yet his cries didn¡¯t attract any attention. He kept glancing at the thing that all were looking at, the thing Rudolf had attacked.


    The ground trembled a little, a huge beanstalk sprouting upward. The phenomenon finally garnered some attention as the beanstalk caught the descending ball, safely delivering it to the ground.


    ¡°You stupid idiot. You get one chance to fuck up and it was not this. Why are you here?¡± Rudolf shouted aloud, but Hans¡¯s eyes were searching for another, "Where is grandma?"


    "She is not here." Rudolf responded so he took a breath of relief.


    ¡°You okay.¡± Hans asked, Rudolf, adding, ¡°What happened?¡± His eyes asked Arat, prompting him to point to the block of charcoal floating in the air.


    What¡¯s that? Hans asked


    ¡°Your father,¡± Arat replied at point blank.


    Hans wanted to argue, yet his insides were telling him it was the truth. He focused as the ashes and charred body began to drop some parts. ¡°Thud thud thud thuddd¡­.¡± Within a few moments, everything happened like someone had turned back time. The separated part of the charred body came back to it, fixing as the pale green colour surged the sky putting the aurora to shame.


    ¡°Is this the best you can offer? The hollow voice reverbed the skies. The Death king had spoken, still regaining his body. The half-reconstructed body, let go of his sword. However, instead of falling down, the sword remained in the air, it rose even higher.


    ¡°Here, let me help you.¡± The Death king said as his sword rebellion grew, two metres, three, four¡­ it unceasingly grew to the same height of the walls, hanging high above Samson¡¯s head and tearing the sky, its hilt unclear through eyes. ¡°Now try this insanity¡± The Death king challenged, his eyes regaining the green glint as his body constructed back to full.


    ¡°Thud! Thud! Thud¡­¡± his heart beat in loud thumps. It was Hans¡¯s first time meeting someone other than Chris, who could use the Imperial bloodline, and he definitely recognised the sword as he researched it through and through. ¡°So it was never for the Xandor. How stupid I could have been. I really fucked up.¡±


    Several strands of aura came down from that sword, slithering like snakes, aiming for Dijkstra and Bernard. However, it was not some attack but benefit, the two began to feel the surge of the aura in their bodies. Dijkstra, now at 97 and Bernard at 96.


    Hans saw like others ¡°So it¡¯s true that he can share his aura with designated people.¡± He muttered as the Death king taunted, ¡°Come again, you inferior beings.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Hans asked, ¡°Why is he giving them power?¡±


    ¡°To make a statement.¡± Dijkstra responded, preparing for a charged attack, and Bernard completed his words, ¡°That no matter how hard we try there is only one outcome.¡±


    Hans understood, the concept of giving hope to your enemies, just to crush them more cruelly. ¡°Hans.¡± Rudolf asked of him, snapping him out, ¡°Can you make him¡­less movable?" He never wanted Hans to be involve in this but since he was here. Rudolf needed to include him in fight. He explained, "That thing never moved an inch from his spot. It would be very difficult if he starts to move¡ª¡±


    ¡°Gramps,¡± Hans interrupted, exasperating, ¡°Are you out of your mind? Let''s pick granny and sis and get out of here. You all couldn¡¯t do shit. We can¡¯t stop him. I just know it¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you, there is time in everyone¡¯s life to stand up and take charge. So stop running." Rudolf charged his sword with aura and added, "I¡¯m not asking you to stand your ground right now. It''s not your stage yet. But your grandpa,¡± Rudolf pointed at Samson, ¡°I can¡¯t let him be used as Undead. This is the least I could do for him.¡±


    Hans sighed, and finally looked at Samson¡¯s hollow eyes.¡°Xandor, you fucked up bastard. I thought you respected him. How can you use him as your underling.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Hans clicked his tongue in frustration, he quickly glanced at what they had against Dead Samson. His eyes counted, Norwin, Eleanor, Kansas, Dijkstra, Rudolf and Eleanor. Finally, he looked at Walter, almost half torn, receiving heals from some mages.


    ¡°What a fucked up situation, I dragged myself in.¡± He mocked, turning to his grandpa, he asked, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±


    Rudolf almost nursed back, his Aura exhaustion over with the aid of Chris using imperial bloodline to fill Rudolf with same lightning aura. Standing up he answered Hans, ¡°You see, he never got serious till now. But we were walking on eggshells too. He is too quick and has a dangerous attack called Big Dipper. Walter bought us some time in a very bad way. But his arsenal has some tricky things. So we were avoiding close combat, and a knight who can¡¯t fight close quarter¡ª¡±


    ¡°Is in a shitty situation, I get it.¡± Hans completed his word.


    ¡°So, just slow him down, even for a moment. It would let me fight without looking back. Can you do it?¡±


    Hans once again looked at the levitating undead body of Samson. Which appeared as an undefeatable titan looking down on him. He was trembling, yet the same blood was flowing through him, ¡°I will. So don¡¯t let him suffer anymore.¡± Hans said, exhaling, ¡°Pheew.¡± His hand stretched, trying to take hold of mana in this dome of ice¡ª¡°Swish.¡±


    A sharp slash, with a flick, came bypassing everyone at Hans, his life began to wind in slow motion before him. Only to be halted by Chris¡¯s sword, and Delimira stopped the gigantic push that came from impact. Chris had already got himself at grade sixty and was pushing himself to the end. Delimira, her hands covered in iridescent scales, her eyes slit with small horns protruding through her foreheads.


    Hans couldn¡¯t even react yet his friends bore the brunt for him. The only thing he lacked was agility, his sole weakness. It was fortunate that using too much speed in the attack had robbed it of its lethality. Hans saw Samson¡¯s face, aghast, a wide grin stretching, from ear to ear, sending shivers down on his spine.


    "Fuck! I look this creepy when I smile."


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 191 : Father vs Son (1)

    CHAPTER 191


    FATHER VS SON (1)


    Hans turned back, he''d have like how cool Delimira was looking in the blue scales and how Chris was maintaining his aura grade 60, but he couldn''t. The sheer flick of his father, now Death king had left him with one obvious thought. "I can''t do shit to him." His breath quickened, and his heart raced as he tried to make sense of the horrifying sight before him. The fear that gripped him was overwhelming, and his body trembled involuntarily. He felt paralysed, trapped in a nightmare from which he couldn''t wake


    ¡°We can¡¯t beat him, gramps,¡± Hans realised his thoughts. His confidence was brought down just by a flick. He had criticised Walter in his thoughts before, but now understood his professor¡¯s predicament.


    The Death king stretched his hand made of aura, his right, and called forth, ¡°Solaris.¡± A small portal, opened near his hand, a hit of sword peeking through it. He gripped the hilt and pulled it out. The milky texture of the sword, glinting in the dark.


    ¡°Now what¡¯s that?¡± Hans asked.


    ¡°Solaris,¡± Arat answered.


    ¡°Yeah, I heard it too, old man. I asked what it Solaris?¡±


    ¡°It''s just a sharp sword¡ª¡±


    ¡°So no surprises of any hidden power, right?¡± Hans asked, only to be halted by the creepy smile of the Death King. His sinister grin and empty eyes fixed on Hans with a haunting intensity.¡°Man, I''m not going to smile again, ever. I look that creepy when I grin,¡± Hans muttered. ¡°NO, Get a hold of yourself, idiot¡­ It''s not the time to joke around. I have to INGRESS Gramps and these two idiots." He glanced at his two friends behind. "Focus.¡±


    He had a habit of joke around in tense situation but this time he wanted to remain calm. The thought brought back some senses in him. ¡°I know you are strong.¡± Hans said, glaring right at Samson¡¯s hollow eyes, ¡°But I¡¯m not some average crazy bastard you know.¡±


    ~VoidZone~


    The red hue cast, covered the whole dome of ice, restricting the flow of mana altogether. It would have been a disadvantage to his side, but if he had to restrict a single individual, then he could turn the VoidZone targeting him.


    The red hue shrunk, darkening, and turning a thin veil surrounding Samson. He rose to his feet, his posture changing from submission to confidence. He voiced, ¡°What the hell are you idiots waiting for, attack, or do you want me to do everything here.¡±


    The ever-increasing aura of Samson began to halt as Hans stopped the surrounding mana to move and in result, brought the loud thumps to silence. While the people fighting Samson till now find their ever-increasing hurdle lowering, they didn¡¯t like the way Hans had addressed them, but none retorted. Limiting Samson¡¯s unlimited aura was already a great help.


    ¡°Drag him down the ground,¡± Norwin ordered.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Hans clicked his tongue, and with a gesture, he brought down Samson to the ground.


    Rudolf almost recovered his strength, the lightning crackling around him as he began to use his Skill: Surge, not the imitated one that Chris used, but the pure original one, attaining a flashing speed. He struck Samson, but the Death king blocked it efficiently. ¡°Fascinating,¡± he murmured, not because of Rudolf, but at the boy who stopped his aura generation. He looked past Rudolf, his green-lit eyes tracking Hans.


    ¡°You better look in here, boy,¡± Rudolf shouted, activating another skill that Chris had showcased before. Crescent Moon Strike, a concentrated charged lightning arc, horizontally travelling ahead of him. It was not enough to give damage to an undead like Samson, who revived even after tasting Astrape. But the hidden feature of his skill was blocking the motor system of his victim. And undead, who didn¡¯t feel any pain was no exception to it either.


    ¡°Move Rudolf,¡± Norwin shouted as he cleaved Faith, the vertical slash, aiming at Samson¡¯s head.


    ¡°ParticleDistortion.¡± The Death king spoke, jolting himself back with sudden movement. He couldn¡¯t move his limbs freely because of the stunned effect, but this skill allowed him to control his body through wind aura.


    With a quick push, he used it again in a flash. ¡°ParticleDistortion.¡± This time he propelled himself above Norwin, his body spinning, his sword moving in a circle, filled with a sharp aura, tearing the air itself and fell on Norwin¡¯s neck with ultimate precision. ¡°Zzzing,¡± only to halt for a moment before it reached Norwin¡¯s neck. His green eyes tracked Hans, who was gasping.


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    ¡°Man, he is fast,¡± Hans said, supporting his stretched hand with another.


    The sudden pause gave a perfect chance for Norwin to not only get put out of there, but also impale Samson with Faith. ¡°This is our chance.¡± Norwin shouted aloud, ¡°Get his ass before that brat(Hans) ran out of juice.¡± Eleanor and Kansas jumped in, the only way for them to succeed was to incapacitate Samson and bring him to Reina where ironically she could kill him for the second time.


    The battle of one vs all ensued. In the tumultuous clash of elements and knightly powers, Samson, the Death King, still emerged as the overpowering force. His swift movement and mastery over his tempestuous aura were a preamble of how tough this battle was going to be for the other side.


    The bolts of lightning crackled around Rudolf and torrents of water surged around Kansas, yet they found themselves thwarted at every turn by Samson''s swift and evasive tactics. Norwin, the most powerful of them all, unleashed his icy wrath, freezing the battleground, but Samson''s agility allowed him to dance through the frosty onslaught unscathed, and it was still when Hans was restricting his movements, aiding his side to avoid death by a hair''s breadth.


    The second-ranked, Elf king was faring no better. As the wielder of the same aura, he managed to match Samson¡¯s quick speed but the manoeuvring techniques that Samson used were not possible for any alive, as he didn¡¯t even flinch breaking his own limbs to avoid receiving any attack and healed the next moment.


    As none managed to deal any damage to him after Norwin. He toyed with them again and again. Even Dijkstra the quickest one and Bernard the analyser, jumping on the battlefield had no significant difference. Samson was on top of his game, but he also failed to give any significant damage to his foes either, all thanks to Hans, giving them a moment to avoid his sword.


    The Death king¡¯s sword fell again on Rudolf¡¯s neck but as he felt the restriction of VoidZone grasping his hand, he shifted his medium. With an explosive force and precision, his one leg high into the air, bringing his knee toward their chest. Then extended it forward, driving the sole of the foot to Rudolf¡¯s chest with incredible force.


    ¡°Unimpressed,¡± he stated in his hollow voice. ¡°Now, it''s my turn.¡±


    He unleashed his windswept assaults upon others, and the very air around him crackled with energy. Everyone there could feel the force of nature itself bearing down upon them. ¡°What is this?¡± Hans questioned as he felt the pressure pushing him down.


    ¡°That is him being serious,¡± Arat responded, looking at the marvel which he always enjoyed, but never in his life he wanted to face it. He advised Hans, ¡°You need to be on your A game, here prince. Or else, everyone there dies.¡± Hans focused, all his concentration on Samson and saw him moving.


    Samson''s hand sweep, a mighty movement which conjured a tempestuous force, its raging winds lifting his adversaries off their feet and tossing them about like leaves in a storm. They struggled to maintain their balance, their defences shattered by the sheer force of the gale, only Eleanor survived as his sword kept clashing with Samson. But with the same fashion that he sent Rudolf down, he repeated it on Eleanor.


    ¡°Shit! He found my pattern, ¡± Hans murmured, prompting Arat to ask what was he mumbling about so he answered, ¡°I only have so little restriction on him and it taxes me every time I use it stop him only when it seems like killing move. So he is mixing non-lethal and lethal attacks to drain me out.¡±


    Arat mumbled, ¡°What kind of undead uses his head?¡± Arat questioned himself, looking at Samson¡¯s sword keeping everyone on their toes, ¡°He is tiring them out¡ª¡±


    ¡°So you noticed too?¡± Hans questioned, reasoning, ¡°He is undead so he already has infinite stamina but not them. Even if they hold grade 90 aura, they will eventually get tired. It''s just a matter of time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m baffled, what kind of undead use his head¡­ there is another attack coming, get ready my prince.¡± Arat warned.


    Hans focused again, tightening his grasp on Samson. However, the green eyes stared him, finally garnering his interest, ¡°You are getting annoying, fly¡± his voice warned, sending a feeling of terror in Hans''s core. With the perfect opportunity of Hans''s unfocussed state, he channelled the power of the zephyrs, creating razor-sharp gusts that sliced through the air with precision. These cutting winds lashed out at his foes, slicing through the icy armour that Norwin had constructed to shield them. Those unfortunate enough to be caught in their path specifically Kansas, were left battered and bruised.


    But Samson''s ultimate attack was yet to come. With a focused surge of his aura, he summoned a colossal cyclone, ¡°WindCalamity,¡± he called. A swirling vortex of wind and energy that engulfed his enemies. Within its relentless grasp, they were spun around uncontrollably, disoriented and helpless. But that was not all, filled with the razor-sharp aura, it was similar to Hans¡¯s own ManaStorm. Giving the injuries with microscopic precision.


    The force of the cyclone grew stronger with each passing moment, in the eye of the storm, stood Samson, with his eery green eyes. Finally, the cyclone¡¯s ever-expanding width reached Hans. It came crushing all resistance in its path.


    ¡°Phew¡­¡± He took a look behind, there were a lot of people he cared about, ¡°Grandpa, I know, it''s not my stage yet. But I can¡¯t just sit now.¡±  He stood, he was scared and most of all his inside was telling him to not to attack him But a force akin of his ManaStorm was coming to greet him , ¡°No!" He resolved "You are not my father but an enemy, aiming at the very thing I care about.¡±


    ¡°One, two¡­three..ugh¡± Hans grunted. Shouting,


    ~Three-step ManaStorm~


    The ravaging cyclone met its match as the torrential pure mana of nature clashed with it, penetrating the roaring winds, and propelling the tense mana strands at Samson. Giving him numerous tears on his necrotic skin.


    ¡°Interesting.¡± The Death king mused, ¡°I accept, you are not just an average crazy bastard. Now you have my undivided attention mage.¡±

 Elven Lies I Chapter 192 : Father vs Son(2)

    CHAPTER 192


    FATHER VS SON (2)


    ¡°Shit!¡± Hans cursed, the undead Samson''s acknowledgement was the last thing he wanted. ¡°Gramps, let''s get out of here, he is giving me creeps.¡± He pleaded. As, even when the death king fought others, his eyes remained on him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Squeaky¡± Rudolf emerged from the negated cyclone, with bruises all over his body. ¡°I won¡¯t let him get to you,¡± Rudolf assured.


    ¡°Oh! Is that it?¡± Undead Samson asked in his hollow voice, hinting he had accepted the challenge.


    Whereas, Hans refuted immediately, ¡°Stop ruffling his feathers, you geezer.¡± He didn¡¯t like that curious gaze of the undead Samson, and it looked like Rudolf¡¯s words had motivated that abomination to get to Hans. ¡°Damn it, grandpa.¡±


    Hans might have suppressed his aura generation, but stopping his movement was the thing on another level. Many times, Samson has broken through his control, but fortunately, the people fighting Samson were not just some chumps, they were skilled. Hans¡¯s existence in this battle was just another level of assurance in the fight.


    The previous skill of Samson had sent everyone awry. Some filled with light bruises but some with deep wounds. But he couldn¡¯t crush their will to see this end. Bored, the undead king found an interesting thing. He got ready for charge, aiming right at Hans. ¡°Skill: ParticleDisto¡ª¡±


    Norwin, the one unscathed from the previous attack swung his sword, Faith, shouting, ¡°Who the hell do you think, I am.¡± The momentum of his sword froze everything that came into its path, even the Undead King himself. He knew it wouldn¡¯t take Samson long to dig out of the ice. So he activated his bloodline, the summoning ability that had made the Grimgar Royal family stay in power since the dawn of time.


    ¡°Visera. Marika.¡± He called aloud, his voice reverbing in the skies, and Hans felt the pressure of another kind, he never met a classless beast, but now he saw two emerging out of portals. One with pale blue feathers was named Visera and one with ebony feathers, Marika. Both were classless beasts of towering height, their fluttering was like a snowstorm on the rise. The already low temperature fell even further as they descended beside Norwin.


    ¡°Crack!Crack!¡± The ice began to splinter as howling gust of wind starts attacking it. A faint green glow emerged from them and then, the ice shattered into fragments, as Undead Samson saw the world again. He wasn¡¯t completely out, yet the two gigantic birds, Visera and Marika dived at him. ¡°How dare these fowls.¡± Unfazed by their intimidating presence, Samson''s wind aura sword manifested in his hands, a shimmering blade crafted from pure, swirling air. The howling gales that surrounded him were drawn into the sword, amplifying its power.


    With deft and agile movements, Samson shot an aura blade at them. ¡°Clung.¡± An ethereal shield of wind, mimicking the structure of a turtle¡¯s back-projected the birds, deflecting the heavy aura slash. Courtesy of Eleanor and it finally provided the opportunity for Marika, the ebony-shaded avian beast to dig his claw and send Samson high towards Visera, where in a frenzy, the bird ripped apart Sasmon¡¯s body, pummeling down what remained of him as it dived down.


    ¡°Dijkstra Now,¡± Norwin shouted and the Sad death appeared at the tattered body of his former king. The only thing remaining was to bring it back to Reina, where she could put him to rest by Light element.


    ¡°Do you think, it''s this easy?¡± Undead Samson whispered as Dijkstra tried to touch him. ¡°Swoosh!¡± Several strands of winds tore down the afterimage of Dijkstra as he managed to escape in time. Appearing, beside Hans and Arat, the always quirky knight, breathed in relief, saying ¡°Woah! I lost my balls there.¡± He turned to Norwin, shouting, ¡°You dumb fuck. Do your job seriously.¡±


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    While Dijkstra bickered, Norwin didn¡¯t let Samson regenerate in peace as his birds kept tearing him apart every moment they got, ¡°What now?¡± Norwin asked the group but Samson¡¯s hollow voice echoed as he got frustrated with the birds.


    Imperial Sword Art - Orion


    Hans felt his restriction over Samson loosening so much for the first time. He bellowed warning others, but none had the time to listen to his cries. Orion, the move was not of aura skill, but the part of Imperial sword art, one of the secret constellation move. Many recognised it and Chris too, since he was on path to learn a secret move named Taurus.


    Taking gigantic strides, Samson leapt from one place to another like he was travelling between spaces. His swords changed from one hand to another as they swung in a blur, prompting Hans to mutter, ¡°Dear great-grandfather, which part of his swordsmanship looked mediocre to you so you rejected him.¡± Hans began counting the afterimage of Samson as it lunged high in the sky, ¡°Three, four..six¡­seven, he stopped¡ª¡±


    However what Hans saw left him speechless, a gigantic sword of pale green, the normal version that Dietrich had given him in his first practice session. But the scale here was on another level. Hans knew and so did others, how formidable that sword was, but it was not the time to marvel at it, as the sword fell on the birds¡¯s wings at an angle that severed both of them concurrently.


    ¡°And there goes our aerial support fuck!¡± Dijkstra cursed, asking in frustration, ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°Now¡¯s our chance, that move had taken a lot of his aura, even with his speed of regeneration, it would take time,¡± Norwin responded, repressing his rage for Intelligence as he was angered by the condition of his avian beasts. All of them were cautious of the secret moves but its not what one could do again and again.


    Rudolf also knew it was a second and final chance to get Samson, ¡°Phew,¡± He let out a deep breath as he tightened his grip on the hilt of ThunderClap, aiming to activate the sword¡¯s blessing that he hated to use. ¡°Dijkstra,¡± he said as he tossed a small pebble towards Samson, high in the sky and the Sad Death, together with Rudolf, quickly swapped both of them with the flying pebble towards Samson.


    ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how his power works,¡± Hans commented, realising that it wasn¡¯t the space element in play, but the swapping between Dijkstra and the ground (rocks). He regained the control he had lost. He had to be his best because his grandpa was fighting closely this time.


    ¡°Gravity Well,¡± he shouted as the purple glow in his sword became darker. With an uncontrollable force both Rudolf and his near target, Samson, crashed down like someone had pulled them down hard.


    ¡°Cling! Clang!¡± Swords clashed. Samson, even with the restriction of VoidZone and not much aura, did not fall short of competing with Rudolf¡¯s relentless strikes, but soon he started to show gaps and faults, and Rudolf as veteran as he was, didn¡¯t miss any, and severed his physical hand. Suppressing his sentiments for the person this death knight was before, he called others to join as they were waiting.


    All started pushing him towards the Elven queen in baby steps. He was moving as they all wanted, Hans had him restricted yet, Samson showed what he was in the past as he bellowed using another aura-generated hand.


    Imperial Sword Art - Taurus


    He disappeared, but Hans was prepared, yet his senses and eyes told him which he couldn¡¯t fathom. Samson¡¯s existence was all over the place. Like he was a mist of some sort. The sudden disappearance took everyone by surprise because even Rudolf had never faced this version of his student before.


    In the past all Samson used was the VoidZone and took care of everything, so no one knew his sword moves or the exclusive power the Imperial sword arts bestowed on their descendants.


    The attack began, as the slashes kept coming from nowhere, just like Hans¡¯s, their senses were also telling them the same. Some attacks were blocked but the thin sword manifested by Samson gave them several sharp wounds. And ended up giving a grave injury to Dijkstra on the side lung, a clean stab, barely dodging the heart of the fastest knight in the group. It was like the Death king was mocking all of them.


    ¡°Found ya!¡± Hans shouted his eyes on the verge of bleeding. ¡°Take this.¡± He added as he gripped Samson in one location, rooting his blurry image.


    ¡°You¡­¡± the blurry image finally put his focus on Hans, giving him the chill of his lifetime as it added, ¡°You are annoying, psst¡­¡± Samson moved, ignoring everyone as he moved with a transcended speed towards Hans.


    ¡°No¡­¡± Some shouted yet only Arat managed to offer himself, saving his last prince from his incoming king of the past. However, Hans pushed him to the side, shouting, ¡°Move it, old man. Don¡¯t hog my fame.¡±


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 193 : Father vs Son (3)

    CHAPTER 193


    FATHER VS SON (3)


    As Hans pulled Arat¡¯s to the side. He saw Samson closing in, the death king even used his best move to deal with the weakest of all them. It was like he was showing respect towards him.


    Imperial sword art - Big Dipper


    ¡°One strike seven kills.¡± Hans muttered as he unwillingly recognised the move that demanded seven lives. ¡°I¡¯ve told you. Im not some average crazy bastard.¡± He shouted back.


    ~Hydra~


    He was ready. The gems he kept in the space bag tied at his waist were the most powerful ones he had quickly sorted out in the capital. They were already sprayed around him, waiting for him to connect and transform them as he willed.


    On the far, Rudolf was moving full speed towards Hans and he felt another power emerging between Hans and Death King. Dijkstra tried too, but he was already out of commission with his lung injury. However, there help wasn¡¯t needed ¡°Crack! ¡ªYou got seven kills. I got nine lives.¡± Hans whispered as Samson¡¯s sword just reached his neck.


    Splintering the ground, nine behemoth serpent heads sprawled out. The Big Dipper was an autonomous move that targeted the heart of its targets. Hydra had nine cores, each functioning on a separate mana gem. They became sacrifice saving Hans¡¯s life, leaving two heads to survive.


    ¡°Its my turn now.¡± Hans shouted, fuelling himself with an unfound courage. ¡°Go!¡± He commanded the remaining heads to attack the exhausted Death king.


    The two headed serpent was using fire gems as the core, the minor bane of the undeads. Like a fire breather, both burned the Death knight. Yet Samson managed to doge them by the hair. However, it wasn¡¯t for naught. Hans managed to create some distance. His confident smile was the proof he pushed back the strongest foe he ever faced.


    ¡°Hell yeah!¡± He cried in delight. This act of holding his ground brought back his confidence which went in hiding due to the fear which Undead Samson commanded. But, Rudolf who just reached Hans had the fear of a lifetime in his face.


    ¡°Hans.¡± He stressed, ¡°Zap your ass out of here.¡±


    Bernard, who was not as active as other and was finding the weakness in the ninth circle spell, heard Rudolf and brought the almost passed down Delimira and Chris to Hans. But Hans¡¯s focus remained on Rudolf.


    While Rudolf had an idea that Hans could call forth the INGRESS. The sole reason why he was a bit relieved before, but Samson has designated him as someone equal. There was no going back from that point, no guarantee that Hans will survive moving forward. He scolded the disobedient Hans in authoritative tone. ¡°Now.¡±


    ¡°Not without you.¡± Hans didn¡¯t back down. He didn¡¯t know why he wanted to be here before. Maybe the blood in him was calling him, but it was not the priority now. All he wanted was to get Rudolf and the people he cared out of this chaos.


    ¡°Brat its not time to argue. Think of your friend¡¯s life. They are not meant to die here.¡±


    ¡°Neither do you.¡± Hans argued, ¡°Grimgar will handle this or will perish. This will not escalate outside the capital, so lets get out of here, together. Its not our problem¡ª.


    ¡°A problem needn''t hit close to home to be our concern. If we can minimise its harm, we must do so ¨C it''s the knight''s code I live by, kid.¡± Rudolf patted his head, ¡°SO, GO. I can¡¯t fight full when my mind is concerned for your safety¡ª¡±


    ¡°Thats some wise words! Then what about me, Gramps. Do you think I can forgive myself if something went wrong to you later?¡± Hans removed his hand, ¡°Wether we escape together, or fight together.¡±


    ~Elder form~


    Hans had his last ace remain, a way that granted him with superior control over surrounding mana with the cost of mobility. It wasn¡¯t a wise tradeoff in this situation but as Hans saw the powerful people around. He took a decision to gamble.


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    With every passing moment, several sprouts came out of his skin pores, the green covered him full with many vines, small and big coiling around. Transforming him into a humongous torso of a green forest giant. He growled, with every thing he got and proved that it was a worthy gamble.


    ¡°COME.BACK¡± He cried in his monstrous voice. And Death king felt an otherworldly pull, back towards where he was shot from before.


    ¡°This is enough.¡± Samson growled back, yet even his best effort proved useless. He was in an invisible grasp of Hans. The Elderwood form had boosted the prowess of VoidZone to hundred folds. It was akin to telekinesis now.


    ¡°NO.¡± Hans responded as he lowered his right hand in a fashion like he was swatting a bug and Samson far from him followed the same action unwillingly. He was on his four, in the spiderweb cracks which none other than he made with impact.


    ¡°Telekinesis. An Elderwood. I¡¯ve. Killed. It..¡± Samson muttered as some memories flashed in his undead brain. But it was only for a moment and his instinct to kill monsters invoked in him. ¡°KILL THE ELDERWOOD.¡±


    ¡°Shack!¡± The next moment, people saw, Samson¡¯s good arm flying, and Reina coming back with Dijkstra. It was a permanent damage that light element had done to the undead. Even creating an another arm from aura was not possible because of the non regeneration property of Reina¡¯s skill.


    She only struck once, but it was more meaning full than what others had done together. Now, death king remain with only one arm and it was already made of aura. So technically Samson was without any hands. All rejoiced while Dijkstra grumbled about the irony of helping Elf to hurt his king, ¡°Damn it. Just stay down please. I really hate helping them, please King.¡± He pleaded, but Death king was running on rage and regret as Bernard had mentioned before.


    ¡°It will not work Dijkstra.¡±Bernard said, and relayed what he found decoding the ninth circle spell till now. ¡°It''s not complete resurrection, not even Xandor could do it.¡± Bernard glanced, the weakening spell, ¡°Rebellion is a cursed sword, the prerequisite to any cursed sword is that they take a part of its wielder''s soul. Its not Samson we are fighting, but his corrupted soul sealed in that sword.¡±


    ¡°FINE. NOW. I. DONT. FEEL. BAD. ABOUT. IT¡± Hans growled in his breaking voice and raised the undead king high only to jolt him down with more force than before. The up down motion continued till Hans felt the undead had become rag doll. He pulled him back. Reina was standing before him, ready to welcome Samson with all of her powers. Once again aiming to send him to underworld.


    The end was coming near, everyone could feel that there was no aura remained in the undead body.


    .


    .


    .


    ¡°NO!¡± Chris shouted, he had once glimpse the secret moves of Imperial Sword art that he was yet to unlock. There was a very powerful move in it, a lot powerful than BigDipper. A move where all of the body¡¯s aura concentrated in the tip of a sword. Yet before he could warn, the lifeless body spoke.


    Imperial Sword art - Sirius


    This secret move had never made its debut before, so none had any idea about. Even the Parvians present were unaware of it. The all might of Samson focused on tip of his sword was coming to greet Reina and Hans. He was already out of Hans''s control and speeding up like a drill.


    ¡°TideWall.¡± Kansas released his tsunami, blocking the path of Samson¡¯s move and Norwin strengthened it with his Skill IceCocoon. With two warlords combining the skill. It was as tough as the ice walls surrounding them.


    As if it wasn¡¯t enough, Eleanor finally called upon his defensive spirit. ¡°Berta.¡± He shouted and a huge shell of a turtle, made of pale green light encased Hans and Reina. Unlike Samson, Eleanor specialised in defences and was proving why he was second ranked knight.


    Whereas, Reina inside the three layered defence, didn¡¯t stagger an inch. It was not her courage, but the desperation that held her firm. It was her only chance and she wasn¡¯t going to let it waste. She remained still, conjuring all of her into her last skill.


    On the other, Rudolf was not on the defensive. He attacked Samson head on, trying to obstruct his incoming drill with his own Ascension. This time not towards the sky, but right at Samson¡¯s path.


    ¡°BOOM!¡± Rudolf¡¯s Ascension met the quick projectile of Samson but the old knight was running on fumes, his skill was tore down like a paper. Clearly allowing a path for Samson to the second line of defence, the frozen Tsunami. But it was for naught as it wasn¡¯t something that could stop Samson¡¯s Sirius attack.


    Yet, to negate those two, Samson¡¯s Sirius lost some momentum and when it met the turtle spirit shell. It finally halted. Hans took a breath of relief, his VoidZone was a dud stopping Samson, even in ElderForm.


    However, as Hans, many misjudged the situation. The spirit shell began to crack and finally Samson¡¯s drill breached in. Reina quick on feet, spun, making herself parallel to Samson along the ground. She was beneath him and her sword dug a deep slash, from his face to the bottom. A clean permanent damage to the undead.


    Yet even with grave wound Samson didn¡¯t stopped. From the beginning Hans was the original target. ¡°Oh! Come on. Don¡¯t you see, first and second rank there.¡± Hans cried in frustration. And just before Samson reached Hans. The Death king spoke with a wicked grin, ¡°You just made yourself a bigger target.¡±


    ¡°I can be bigger than this,¡± Hans cried, as he erupted several layers of huge SharpDeath steel spikes from his Elderform, like a porcupine acting to protect itself. He missed not being able to use mana storm, but it was a tradeoff in becoming the Elderwood. He knew well, how much of pain he was going to endure if he faced Samson head on. Since every fibre of Elderform was connected to his conscience, he ejected himself out while Samson obliterated the ever-growing husk.


    But Samson¡¯s attack had limit, Hans didn¡¯t, courtesy of his own. Battle of attrition was Hans¡¯s unwilling speciality.

 Elven Lies I Chapter 194 : Im Prince of Parv

    CHAPTER 194


    I¡¯M PRINCE OF PARV


    Tearing all the foliage like paper, Samson eventually reached Hans. A clean vertical wound from head to toe, tore up necrotic skin and broken bones still hanging on. This was the closest Hans got to the Death king. In a hurry, Hans did what he alway did in panic.


    ~Mana storm~


    He couldn¡¯t call his three-step-attack but onestep was enough to push himself back. He crashed like a fallen star, but caught by Bernard. He was out of Samson¡¯s range and his dying Sirius move.


    ¡°I ain''t¡¯ done, you maniac¡± Hans stood once again. ¡°Eat this.¡± He cried.


    ~Mutilate~


    Hans had already stretched a tense mana path and it was time he greeted the death King with his deadliest spell. ¡°Shoo!¡± The crying seed was shot, encased inside a steel cap.


    ¡°Shook!¡± The death knight caught it before it struck his face. But everyone could see that beneath the necrotic skin, the death king was baffled. ¡°Seed of the Night. How does a human have this¡ª¡±


    ¡°Screech!¡± Several fine threads, sprung from the opening of steel casing and did what Hans intended. Within a moment, they ravaged his hand made of aura, the only one he had into smithereens. ¡°Agh! Aaaah!¡± The death king withered in pain that he shouldn¡¯t have.


    He was an undead, he couldn¡¯t have felt pain but he did. Just as he was baffled of pain like other. He remained curious as why he was feeling it, and his curiosity took quite a chunk of his lower body, he shook it off. ¡°Ha¡­ I feel.. alive.¡± After crying, the words left from his mouth gave more frustration to Hans, much more than he got in all of his life.


    ¡°Oh, come on. Stay down.¡± Hans wrecked his brain, there was nothing left for him to try. He was searching, for anything that could give him an edge. The Attack from Reina did damage him, but he needed something decisive.


    He was still in battle because of his single yet most absurd trait. The Limitless access to mana while others who fought him directly was on last straws. He couldn¡¯t imagined fighting Samson directly like them, as he knew, once in range, Samson would swat him like Walter.


    As he searched, his eyes fell on Dijkstra. ¡°Can you make a jump?¡± He asked and Dijkstra nodded, standing up. ¡°Catch it.¡± Hans threw something out of his space bag towards Dijkstra¡¯s hand. As far as he understood, Dijkstra could swap himself with anything that contained ground mana, like pebbles or soil. ¡°I hope Im right.¡± He prayed and put a stone as big as his fist on mana path right at Samson''s face.


    ¡°Shoo!¡± It launched with considerable speed yet it was far from denting Samson. Puzzled, Death king welcomed it but just at his face, Dijkstra swapped himself with the stone and came back with a flash. Only leaving a shiny sunstone at Samson¡¯s face.


    ¡°Damn, my money.¡± Hans cried as the second sunstone launched with the delay clashed with the one Dijkstra left.


    The collision of stones was, so quick that even Samson had no time to block. The two collide creating a massive blast sending Samson¡¯s left half gone, permanently.


    ¡°You. Who are you?¡± The death king finally became curious.


    ¡°He had that.¡± Arat murmured. Hans had used the principle of Carronade, their sunstone weapon. He turned flabbergasted audience. ¡°And you checked me for sunstones.¡± He mocked looking the marvel.


    While his mockery was ignored, the knights found themselves an easy target. Assisting Reina, they pounded on Samson¡¯s helpless corpse like hyena. But something changed. The eyes of Samson remained fixed on Hans. He ignored everyone, and began to chant, ¡®O Divine mother, our hearts are filled with darkness. Please make this darkness distant from us and promote illumination. Bring the absolute down.¡ª¡±


    ¡°No! No! NO!¡± Arat ran towards Hans, staggering, stumbling, with no care for his knees. He caught him and shouted, ¡°Command Centre: INGRESS¡± But nothing happened. He found Dijkstra¡¯s flabbergasted face as the Sad death was trying the same. ¡°Get him out of here.¡± Arat ordered him but Dijkstra was already spent after that jump.


    Arat became frantic like a senile of his age should, while Samson continued, with his dying vigour. ¡° O! Divine mother. Your son prays for your guidance, for your protection, for your wraith. Destroy my enemies.¡±


    Hans had no idea what was going on, but seeing Arat that scared, he understood something serious was happening. ¡°Whats going on¡ª¡±


    ¡°We are fucked, my prince. He just activated a Celestial weapon. A gift from land of gods that our Osiris had brought.¡±


    ¡°Then lets run¡ª¡±


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    ¡°It''s no use, the whole capital is in its range. I dare not boast, but it was the reason the world was scared of us. Now we are all going to see how much truth is there by witnessing upon ourselves.¡±


    Hans opened control centre, but all was hazy, fluctuating in zigzag. ¡°INGRESS.INGRESS¡­¡± He cried on but nothing happened.


    While Hans remained Panick-stricken, Arat ran his mind gears. He shouted for all to come back and pull out there best defensive measures. One after another, all followed his advice since the name ''Celestial weapon'' was enough to rally them. They all came back. Some brought the injured and unconscious one.


    All of them were together, enemies of past, now allies and progressing towards death. They all saw a star blinking in the sky which soon became clear as a cylindrical structure with its tail on fire. ¡°Here it is.¡± Arat mumbled. Others had seen weapons like these when Parv was active in DeadLands. These weapons could obliterate a horde of red demons like nothing, but the sheer size of that cylinder was something else.


    ¡°Elven King.¡± Norwin almost out of aura shouted. ¡°This is not time for you to hold back.¡±


    Eleanor was already working on something. He was the second ranked knight and was at that place with his excellent defence. ¡°Spirit king Tarragon, heed my call.¡± He shouted and a behemoth size turtle rose from the depths of the ground like a ghost. Its immense, emerald-green shell, adorned with ethereal runes that shimmer with old magic. Tarragon''s eyes gleam with wisdom and age, reflecting the eons it has witnessed.


    It encased all of them inside its transparent body. There was a cost to pay for Eleanor to call the spirit king, but it wasn¡¯t time to hesitate. Far from them, Samson¡¯s torn body was hanging in the air.


    For someone who knew what the Celestial weapon was, Bernard, said with no hope in his eyes. ¡°At least he will die with us¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fuck no, I don¡¯t wanna die.¡± Dijkstra interrupted, probably saying what everyone wanted.


    As the falling cylinder became more and more visible. Hans said showing his relentlessness, ¡°what is this, you people are one of the strongest. Hit that thing before it hit us¡ª¡±


    ¡°Its doesn¡¯t work Hans.¡± Rudolf who wished Hans to live more, he hugged him with so much warmth which he never showed before. He had accepted, it was their last moment. ¡°I never said this, but I¡¯m glad that I got to meet you brat. I¡¯ve always been proud of you.¡±


    Others had never seen the Alastor in tears, but they were witnessing it. Hans contracted those emotion and his eyes began to well up. ¡°Mr Arat, please do something, anything. Call another one of those and make it hit¡ª¡±


    ¡°It is the only weapon and only the king can invoke it.¡± Arat said dejected. He blamed himself for allowing Hans to remain in the battlefield. He regretted not activating Ingress before. The guilt was killing him. He never dreamed that the imperial bloodline would end again because he failed. Samson calling the divine weapon was an impossible thing since it was not their king''s will but an undead''s.


    Getting no help from the Parvian PM. Hans turned to culprit who was still staring at him, mumbling the invocation in repetition. Hans removed his wailing grandpa from his embrace and stood. He shouted towards the death king, ¡°Father, I don¡¯t want to die. Please stop it. Please¡­¡± he pleaded, his all arrogance gone, he was begging, but the death king continued his mumbling.


    ¡°Please. I¡¯m your son. Hans. Please stop.¡± Hans grovelled, he never felt this helpless all his life. ¡°Help me, please.¡±


    However, the Death continued, his hypnotic stare getting more intense as he possessed Hans''s mouth. ¡°O! Divine mother¡­¡± Hans began to copy his words, ¡°O Divine mother, our hearts are filled with darkness¡­ Please make this darkness distant from us and promote illumination and bring the absolute down.¡± He picked up speed, raising his voice as he was calling to heavens, ¡°O! Divine mother. Your son prays for your guidance, for your protection, for your wraith. Destroy my enemies.¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.038462%; background-color: rgba(224, 62, 45, 1); text-align: center"><strong style="text-align: center">Authentication needed: State your designation.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A new kind of augmentation, far different from Command Centre appeared before Hans. He stuttered, his words making no sense. But since he saw hope, he answered after thinking, ¡°Interim Administrator.¡±


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    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.038462%; background-color: rgba(224, 62, 45, 1); text-align: center">


    <strong style="text-align: center">Gene validation: confirmed


    Designation Validation: Failed


    <strong style="text-align: center">Only two more chances left.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Hans didn¡¯t cursed because he said the wrong, but he knew the answer and was hesitant to say. ¡°Damn it.¡± He cursed and added, aloud, ¡°I¡¯m prince of Parv.¡±


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    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.038462%; background-color: rgba(224, 62, 45, 1); text-align: center">


    Designation: Confirmed


    Notice: You are in radius of NEMO-10. Do you wish to abort?


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.038462%; background-color: rgba(224, 62, 45, 1); text-align: center">


    Abortion failed. Generating alternatives


    NEMO-10 is a vertebrate missile. You can BLOWOFF Nine vertebrates to reduce the damage. Do you wish to proceed.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°oh, for the love of god. just do it, YES¡± he cried aloud.


    As Hans said those words, the falling cylinder separated into tow parts, the longer one ejected while the conical one began its descend with twice the speed. However, with reduced mass, it was possible to survive. As others took a breath of relief, Hans turned to the mumbling corpse of his father who came to halt when the Celestial weapon separated. Yet his green lit eyes remained fix on Hans.


    ¡°It was nice seeing you son, good job ¡ªBoom!¡± The tattered mouth of the Death king spoke as the Celestial weapon fell.


    "No!" Hans screamed, his hands reaching out to his father while Rudolf caught him in his embrace.


    In a blinding flash, the sky transforms into a searing inferno. A deafening roar engulfed everything, and a shockwave raced across the landscape, sending the debris of the icy walls all over the city. People of capital, no matter from where all saw, a mushroom-shaped cloud billowed upward. An eerie and haunting scene of destruction as the aftermath of the catastrophic explosion.


    <hr>

 Elven Lies I Chapter 195 : A New Chapter

    CHAPTER 195


    A NEW CHAPTER


    The explosion hit them, shockwave after shockwaves. Their barriers broke one after another, leaving them wonder what might have happened if all of it fell here. Even the Spirit king Tarragon¡¯s shell broke. With their last line of defence gone, the inevitable was greeting them.


    However, a shadow flashed before them and a voice echoed amid the chaos.


    Deathlessness


    An eighth circle spell conjured beneath the group, and a tug of war between its healing and the Celestial weapon began. The people there experienced their flesh tearing and regenerating at the same time. It continued for a while giving them a pain of there lifetime.


    However, it didn¡¯t take long to see which was the winner, since all came out unscathed. ¡°Why is that blasphemous thing fell here.¡± The spell caster who need no revealing, revealed herself asked. She was gasping, Deathlessness was a spell that continuously drained her mana. If it wasn¡¯t for the spirit king¡¯s armour taking most of the brunt she was sure the explosion would have outlasted her. She again pointed at the celestial weapon remains, ¡°why is that thing here?¡±


    As none answered Sierra, they were in no condition to entertain their saviour. Only Hans was standing tall, as if he didn¡¯t got to experience the pain. The moment he accepted himself as Prince. Its command centre changed and regained all its functionality. But he was in daze, only mumbling, ¡°I killed him..no..he recognised me¡­even as undead¡­he was in control¡­I killed my father¡­¡±


    Hans fell on his knees, his eyes enlarged as he began to pull his hair like a lunatic. ¡°Why? He could¡¯ve lived so why did he pushed me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey! Hans, you okay. child! ¡± Sierra shook him and he finally saw her. He looked like his whole world was taken from him. Apologetically, he began to wail, ¡°Im sorry grandma¡­I didn¡¯t want to do that to him. He was conscious¡­I didn''t know.¡±


    ¡°Its okay, child. Its okay.¡± She caressed embracing him as she looked over the once serene resting place in ruins. A sombre panorama of shattered debris and scorched earth. Dust and smoke still hung thick in the air, casting an eerie gloom over the desolation.


    Rescue teams, comprised of knights and mages, jumped in one after another. Many bystanders were caught in the explosion as the icy walls destroyed and damaged the surroundings.The rescuers moved cautiously through the debris, high mana warnings serving as a stark reminder of the lingering danger. Survivors, faces etched with grief, navigated through the wreckage, seeking signs of normalcy.


    Hans who had lost the lustre from his eyes was moved to a nearby shelter with other children. He was not out cold like them, but was not faring any better. His mind was in chaos, questioning a lot inside, but not even one answer came through. Many people tried to talk to him, but he was on vacation with his gloom. He didn¡¯t talk to anyone.


    After a day or two, he didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. He was sitting on his bed, lost in the sight of moon and starry sky. ¡°What¡¯s eating you idiot.¡± Delimira who doesn¡¯t seem to leave him alone asked, not expecting the answer, but Hans spoke, ¡°I killed him, he could have lived, he was in control. Even as undead, he could¡¯ve lived¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hans, you don¡¯t have guilty conscience. Its what makes you, YOU. And you can¡¯t just kill what is already dead, you stupid.¡±


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    Hans remained silent, but Delimira knew him well and had a perfect question to distract him. She just needs Hans to speak once. ¡°It was you, who give you that sword to Xandor. Didn¡¯t you?¡± She questioned jolting him..


    ¡°What the?¡± Hans snapped.


    ¡°Yes, you made me an accessory because I brought that damn thing from Alliance treasury.¡± Delimira finished, with a fake frown.


    ¡°I have no idea what you are babbling, Winters. Shoo.¡± Hans gestured her to go away.


    Giggling, she responded, ¡°Welcome back stupid. And stop lying, you are not very good at it.¡±


    Hans looked here and there, no one was listening, ¡°Who spilled it, Dijkstra?¡±


    ¡°Nope. You just confirmed it.¡± She chuckled.


    ¡°Damn it Winters. Who was the one saying, she doesn¡¯t want to get involve¡ª¡±


    ¡°I also said, it will eventually come to bite you in the ass. Didn¡¯t I? ¡±


    ¡°Oh, quit yapping.¡± Hans became annoyed, prompting her to smile.


    Seeing him troubled, she relieved, the Hans she knew was back. ¡°Listen Squeaky¡ª¡±


    ¡°You really want me to rile up, don¡¯t you.¡± Hans showed her his clenched fist.


    ¡°FIne! FIne! Prince¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ah damn it. I forget that.¡± Hans started pulling his hairs. He didn¡¯t want to accept it because he knew, once he does. He had to bear the responsibility of every Parvian. His carefree life was over, now he had to watch his every step so it could not hurt the dignity of being an imperial. It now became his duty that he just couldn''t wing it. He was in his world of regret, but Delimra shook him off once again.


    ¡°Here, listen. It wasn¡¯t your fault¡ª¡±


    ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t. Do you think, its a blacksmith¡¯s fault for every life that his sword takes. No, its the wielder¡¯s. ¡± Hans refuted.


    ¡°See.¡± Delimira gestured, ¡°you are already out of your woods. So why the long face. Do you have any idea how many people you got worried with your depressed state.¡± She scolded.


    ¡°Yeah, but Samson..no..my father¡ª¡±


    ¡°It was Xandor, not you. How many times do I have to say it. You messed up, now you have to make amends.¡± Delimira stressed.


    ¡°You don¡¯t suppose I have to help these people¡ª¡±


    ¡°No," she shook his head with a weird expression, "Thats not your nature. It is to take the head off of Xandor for disrespecting your father.¡± She said, infuriated. Her anger was something Hans didn¡¯t understand. It was normal for him to feel angry, but he wasn¡¯t feeling any.


    ¡°Hey Deli, help me out here.¡± Hans gestured, ¡°My mind is haywire, I can¡¯t focus. You heard his last words, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he was happy seeing you and was proud of you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what did he meant?¡± Hans asked dumbfounded while Delimira¡¯s response was the same for the obvious reason.


    ¡°What is so hard to understand, he is your dad, of course he was happy to see you alive and well. Heck you even fought him well. He was proud¡ª¡±


    ¡°You think so?¡± Hans asked puzzled.


    ¡°Since when do you seek acknowledgement of others¡­or your daddy is different?¡± She sneered.


    ¡°Yeah he is.¡± Hans said indifferently but his demeanour changed next moment. ¡°Yeah he was different.¡± He showed a wide smile for the first time as his eyes began to moist. Delimira quickly hugged him as he continued mumbling.


    ¡°He was proud of you Hans.¡± She said patting his back. They remained like that for a while till Hans, asked, ¡°Why the sudden hug?¡±


    ¡°It felt you needed one. So etched this in your memory; me showing compassion is only a one time thing.¡±


    ¡°Whatever, Winters¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ahem! Ahem!¡± Arat coughed from behind and Hans slowly let her go, ¡°You got him talking, good.¡± Arat nodded to Delimira and then focusing his gaze, he knelt with his widely known bad knees. ¡°Forgive me my prince¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ah, dang it. I¡¯m in no mood for theatrics. Mr PM.¡± Hans refuted as Arat¡¯s act was giving him goosebumps of regrets.


    ¡°You must have questions.¡± Arat asked, hinting Delimira to give them some privacy.


    ¡°No she is staying.¡± Hans said gesturing her to sit.


    ¡°But prince¡ª¡±


    ¡°There is no point, she will eventually get this out of me. And my brain is not functioning right now. I need a second opinion.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, my prince.¡± Arat conceded.


    ¡°And please, can¡¯t you drop the formal tone.¡± Hans asked, frowning.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve thought that before declaring yourself¡ª¡±


    ¡°It was for saving our asses. Old man.¡± Hans frowned.


    ¡°Whatever your reasons were. Now you¡¯ve accepted it. There is no running away now.¡±


    Hans nodded sighing, as his pupils regain the golden lustre. There were many things in his mind, the seed of night which his father coined, the solar mage book he now possessed, the Elven Lies which Xandor was after, and a bad feeling that he missed something in the chaos. He took a long breath in, and said in a deep tone, ¡°So when are we leaving for Parv.¡±


    <hr>

 EPILOGUE

    EPILOGUE


    ¡°Finally, the last piece is in our hand. I will know the truth, after all¡± Xandor, sitting across his several wounded captains said. His twelve captains, all had attacked the Concordia and retuned with completing the mission, withholding the powerhouses in capital.


    He glanced at the lifeless corpse of Samson while his first captain, Bryan, congratulated him. ¡°We finally got to see him. Its sad that all of his conscience was erased by the energy of celestial weapon.¡±


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    ¡°That¡¯s what I intended. There was no way, I could¡¯ve controlled him completely. Having him in that state was a liability.¡± Xandor said regretting, ¡°But losing the celestial weapon and Norwin¡­ others surviving him, was out of my calculation.¡±


    He once again peeked at the battered body of Samson. It was showing all ten restrictions placed on him perfectly, meaning there were no struggle between his control and the owner¡¯s consciousness. He laughed, saying, ¡°I lost the control for just a second, and he invoked the weapon, knowing the brat could disengage it. Robbing us from the opportunity from using it. Oh! My king you never cease to amaze me. But now your ¡®Rebellion¡¯ and the ability of unlimited generation of aura would fuel my knights in destroying everyone who stood in our path in past. I will have my answers and you, you¡¯ll have your revenge.¡±


    <hr>


    TO BE CONTINUED...

 Elven Lies II Chapter 14 : A fishbone in throat

    CHAPTER 14


    A FISHBONE IN THROAT


    "Zwoom!" Right at the entrance of the Edenberg mansion, the familiar yet strangely extraordinary phenomenon unfolded. The light pillar, a trademark method of travel exclusive to Parvians, shimmered to life. The servants, already prepared to greet, awaited the arrival of their masters and the youngest of their house, now known as the Parvian prince.


    However, they weren''t the sole anticipators for the Edenberg couple; one so formidable that none in Edenberg dared to oppose him waited for Hans to arrive.


    They stepped in and noticed the awaiting guest. Hans grinned, ¡°Aren¡¯t you too far away from your natural habitat, Knight Association Chairman? Or is Uncle still running you on errands?¡± His teasing tone echoed, though the Warlord of the fifth rank managed to contain any visible reaction.


    ¡°Believe me, this is as charming to me as it is to you,¡± Kansas bit back, bringing out his communication orb, already connected to Hans¡¯s so-called Uncle, the king of Grimgar, Samwell.


    ¡°Well, hello there, Uncle. What can I do for you?¡± Hans greeted Samwell, stretching his lips into a mocking smile.


    However, just like Kansas, Samwell too showed no hint of agitation. Instead, he spoke in a solemn tone, ¡°You are on foreign soil, Prince Parv. So before some idiot goes messing around with you and your dear Parv has any excuse to point the fingers at me, I sent Kansas to guard you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Screw guarding, he¡¯s just here to keep tabs on me. Isn¡¯t he?¡± Hans interrupted.


    ¡°You are a smart boy, nephew. Believe whatever floats your boat, but Kansas has officially planted roots there.¡± Samwell pleaded with a weary sigh. ¡°Just don''t stir up a storm, or we might find ourselves in the midst of an unexpected international drama.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Hans nodded sagely, adding with a smirk, ¡°But do I have to endure his face? He''s looking at me like I raided his family vault and made a clean getaway¡­ oh wait.¡± Hans paused, gloating and aimed his words at fuming Kansas, who was finally showing some reactions. He teased again, ¡°Do you want the International Drama!¡±


    Annoyed yet still somehow keeping his cool, Kansas turned the communication orb toward him and asked, almost pleading, ¡°Do I really have to be here? I¡¯ve many people¡ª¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t trust that ticking bomb with anyone. Kansas, it¡¯s just for three months.¡±


    ¡°With the way he''s talking,¡± Kansas breathed deeply, ¡°I ain''t sure who will cause trouble first, me or him?¡±


    ¡°Deal with it. You are the adult; he is not. Shack!¡± Samwell closed the communication, leaving Kansas with a sour taste in his mouth. Before Hans could cause any further damage, Hodges, the trusted butler, rushed to welcome them and formally invited them inside as Kansas vanished somewhere.


    Hans gestured where Kansas stood before and asked Hodges, ¡°Since when is he here?¡±


    ¡°Three days.¡± Hodges promptly shook his head, sighing.


    ¡°Tsk!¡± Clicking his tongue, Hans kicked the air, ¡°So, I¡¯ve restraints here? Big deal. I¡¯ll manage.¡±


    He was cranky, and the kitchen knew a lot of ways to shoo away their young lord¡¯s bad temper. One after another, they offered several desserts, and as usual, Hans forgot that there was another existence lurking somewhere around their mansion.


    After some time, when everyone was settled down, Hodges came disturbing Hans¡¯s lazy session with the couch. ¡°What, Mr. Hodges?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s just¡­ I wanted to ask. If there is some place you wanted to go today?¡± Hodges asked hesitantly.


    ¡°Why the sudden interest?¡± Hans rolled his eyes.


    ¡°You see. I need to inform your diplomatic escort. You might be the prince of Parv, but here we are still the citizens of Grimgar. We can¡¯t just oppose a royal command. Sir Kansas will follow you¡­ everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Agh. The hell is wrong with these people. It¡¯s not like I will just go and blow something up¡ª¡±


    ¡°You might.¡± Hodges interrupted and reasoned, ¡°But that is not the point. Even if it seems troublesome. It is for your own good. There are many who might use you to light some of the sparks that have dimmed. The last thing you want is to be used by these cowards.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Hodges¡¯ words touched Hans¡¯s sore spot and eventually got him to agree. ¡°Fine, fine.¡± He clicked his tongue and pointed, ¡°I¡¯ll be going to the Dwarves¡­ so tell that diplomatic escort to get ready.¡±


    Hodges didn¡¯t ask further and relayed Hans¡¯s wishes to Kansas. The good thing was that neither Kansas nor Hans had to face each other. The knight association chairman was quietly shadowing him.


    There was only one settlement of dwarves in Grimgar, and that was in Edenberg. The sole producers of dwarven technology had agreed to settle there with the one condition that no one from Grimgar would disturb them, so when Hans entered the dwarven community, Kansas had to stop his snooping. However, he was surprised to see the shortlings were happy to see the Parvian prince.


    With Kansas finally out of his hair, Hans quickly paced towards the familiar bar. ¡°Creek!¡± He pushed the small door, which was a bit tall before, but now Hans was almost reaching its top casing. ¡°Hmm! I¡¯ve grown¡ª¡±


    ¡°What sorry excuse brought you here, kid? You carrying anything fascinating?¡± The bar owner greeted Hans in his usual condescending tone, interrupting his happy thought of becoming a bit taller.


    ¡°Business.¡± Hans declared, patting his fat space pouch.


    ¡°What? You robbed your house¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave that to your drunken thoughts.¡± Hans stopped him and said, ¡°I need to sell something discreetly.¡±


    ¡°How discreet?¡±


    ¡°Very.¡± Hans stretched his tone, and both dwarves and his words turned to whispers.


    ¡°You really didn¡¯t rob it, right? Even in the black market, if that comes to bite our assess¡­¡± The bar owner hushed.


    ¡°No,¡± Hans patted his fat pouch once more. ¡°But for assurance, it¡¯s better if you dismantle and sell them as resources.¡±


    The bar owner hushed as he searched for peeking eyes in the bar. ¡°Follow me.¡± He led Hans deeper inside the bar.


    As Hans followed, he smelled the strong, earthy scent of ale right away. He looked around in amazement at all the barrels stacked up against the walls. Each barrel was made of sturdy oak and had beautiful carvings showing how skilled the dwarves were. Some barrels were small and easy to hold, while others were big and looked powerful, like they were protecting something important inside. Seeing the huge collections, Hans stressed, ¡°Booze must really be important.¡±


    ¡°Enough with the nonsense.¡± The bar owner cleaned a huge table and prompted. ¡°Show me the goods.¡± His moustache twitched slightly, a subtle gesture that betrayed his growing impatience. Yet, despite his outward demeanour, there was a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes, as if he was enjoying the moment.


    ¡°Hmm.. whatever.¡± Hans unloaded everything he had fitted inside the space pouch, a plethora of potions, weapons, mana stones, and even the torn cloths of the dungeon raiders.


    ¡°Hmm..¡± The bar owner raised his eyes in doubt and said, ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck where it came from. I¡¯ll sell it so none can trace it, but it will come with a price tag, Parvian Prince.¡±


    ¡°How much of a cut do you want?¡± Hans asked, frowning.


    ¡°You think I¡¯m crazy to let go of this opportunity for a mere cut? I need your favour¡­more exactly, the favour of the last imperial.


    ¡°Oh, man. First Deli and now this midget. It was easy before when everything just got settled with money.¡± Hans thought deeply, ¡°I¡¯ll cross the bridge when I¡¯m there. But I need to sack the Eclipse for good. Only with my own treant army can I face his undeads.¡± He nodded, gesturing his agreement.


    In response, the Dwarf laughed like a maniac, but it didn¡¯t take him long to calm down. ¡°Come here, little prince,¡± he asked Hans to come closer and pointed, ¡°You really have big galls robbing the alchemist of Concordia; almost half of your potions are marked with tracking spells.¡±


    ¡°Really!¡± Hans breathed in relief; it was really a good decision to not sell these outside. He cursed inside, ¡°damn it, why didn¡¯t my great-grandfather mention it?¡±


    ¡°Oye, Parvian prince.¡± The bar owner dragged him back to reality and pointed, ¡°A word of advice, always check everything for tracking spells.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, just sell it for mana stones, gems if feasible¡ª¡±


    ¡°Do you plan to carry it in that film pouch?¡± The dwarf interrupted, pointing at Hans¡¯s waist pouch.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Hans nodded, asking, ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°First, it¡¯s small and second¡ª¡± The dwarf frantically turned Hans and closed his face to Hans¡¯s butt, ¡°One crafty son of a bitch. I just told you to check everything for tracking spells. This is transmitting your real-time location to its original owner.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe my own stupidity.¡± Hans cursed and pulled the pouch which Xandor had given him. His vines sprouted instantly, ready to tear apart the space, but the dwarf stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t ya wanna know where this son of a bitch is?¡± The midget pointed at the pouch, ¡°I can¡¯t, but there is someone who can reverse the spell for you.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Hans gestured, asking, ¡°So I can find this person¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not me, but someone who owes me a little.¡± The bar owner sighed saying, ¡°She is in Sunfall.¡±


    ¡°So¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you need to visit her personally. This spell is no joke; if not a dwarf, you can¡¯t even detect it. This is a dwarven trick. Only a very capable dwarf could have merged atracking spell this beautifully.¡±


    ¡°Figures, Xandor has dwarves working for him too. Just what I needed.¡± Hans frowned, thinking.¡°Now I know he is tracking me. But why?¡­no, it¡¯s easy.He called me a variable. But Xandor, I¡¯m a constant. I¡¯ll bash your head real good, just wait a while.¡±


    Hans shook off the thoughts and said to the bar owner, ¡°Fine by me. But now, just sell these. I have something else to handle now.¡±


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