《Asheva: A Summoner's Tale - [A Monster Tamer Progression LitRPG]》


 Glossary.

    Coined Terms:


    Asheva:


    An umbrella term for anyone who''d shed the confines of the mortals, a term for those who had their own path of becoming stronger. It''s the Atarin word for ''Eternals''.


    Kyron:


    The Atarin term for the mortals of the world, irrespective of their species.


    Astylind:


    The magic beasts of this world. Either in the pet form or in wild, any beasts that can control Anima is called an Astylind.


    Staron:


    They''re the intelligent beings of the world, they include an array of species--humans are just one of them.


    Severynth:


    A path of Asheva that focused on taming and contracting Astylinds [pets]. Its the Atarin word for ''Summoner''.


    Cerade:


    An old path of Asheva that''s not so popular anymore, reasons will be explored in the book. Its the Atarin word for ''Sage''.


    Atarin:


    The universal language that bends the elements.


    The Five Innate Skills for Severynth/Cerade:


    Dekoth: Soul vortex, Severynth skill, its used to bring the Astylinds out of and into the runes.


    Aokoth: Core creation, Cerade skill, its used to create a core in the soul space.


    Ryvia: Spirit Interference, a common skill that all Ashevas learned, it just took a different form and a different name in various paths. Basically, its the doppelganger of Telekinesis [spiritual sense for those who read chinese xianxia].


    Sindra: A Severynth skill, its used to copy the contracted Astylinds'' skills. The Severynth can use his contracted Astylinds'' skills, given he can supply enough Anima.


    Bralek: A Severynth skill, its the soul defense. Its initiated with the soul of an Astylind, and it grows with the Severynth.


    Varos: A Severynth skill, its the physical defense. More on this when its introduced in the book properly.


    Seasons:


    Barrentide [2-months of death] ¨C Frosthelm [3-months of silence] ¨C Greenbirth [2-months of life] ¨C Flamecrest [3-months of growth] ¨C Watercrown [2-months of interlude]  [Autumn ¨C Winter ¨C Spring ¨C Summer ¨C Monsoon]


    Anima:


    Basically the term for elemental particles. The crystalized form of it is called Anima Crystal.


    Novas:


    It''s the currency on the Airadian Hub. It''s the refined form of the raw Anima Crystal. Can be used in digital form on the hub, and can also be taken out as coins--Novas Coin.


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    Sol:


    The digital currency shared between many colonies. It equals the Crelith coins with the ratio of 1:1.


    Crelith:


    The old and hard currency of the Kyrons. It''s made from a ubiquitous transparent metal and circulated in the coin form. It''s value struggles with the new rise of the digital Sols but is still highly prevalent in Airadia.


    Rigen:


    The fuel for the warships.


    Characters:


    Ewan Ayres:


    The main character of the story.


    Havanna Elsworth [Nana]:


    Ewan''s neighbor and fiance.


    Authen Ayres:


    Father of Ewan Ayres, also goes by his alias, Ulrath.


    Thea Ayres:


    Ewan''s mother who lives in a different colony.


    Thain Cesar:


    Ewan''s lawyer who he calls Uncle Thain.


    Vin Rovida:


    A man introduced in chapter-25 with bits of his POV scattered in the chs after that. Teal''s brother.


    Teal Rovida:


    Vin''s sister, also introduced in chapter-25. Don''t know how many would notice this, but there was some similarities shown between her and Ewan''s situation in chapter-50 [the words used to describe her situation in the chapter''s narration bears a good resemblance to Ewan''s].


    Vidovik Geltam:


    The Crown of Obria, Ewan''s colony. First mentioned in ch-37.


    Valenza Adorno:


    The new Crown of Obria who bought the colony in the auction.


    Verina Nardone:


    Another childhood friend of Ewan and Nana, and Ewan''s neighbor. They hadn''t talked ever since Ewan''s father died.


    May:


    Nana''s best friend once upon a time. She played a role in the death of Nana''s parents.


    Kidd:


    The boy Ewan met on the slave ship, a blabbermouth.


    Cork:


    The captain of the slave ship that rescued Ewan when he came out of the space crack.


    Kiev Ensil:


    The oldest of the youngest generation of the Ensils.


    Ewan''s Pets [Astylinds]:


    Orange:


    Fire Monkey, the first Astylind Ewan contracts.


    Toast:


    Rolling Cat, the special Astylind whose soul merged with Ewan''s. He gave him the Luck Roulette ability.


    Frost:


    Imp [Ice-Variant], a subspecies to the Demons.


    Iris:


    Blood Lotus, the plant type Astylind, the healer among Ewan''s pets.


    Nana''s Pets [Astylinds]:


    Luna:


    Nana''s first pet. A Water Jay bird, she''s of the water element.


    Lime:


    Her second pet, a Wood Squirrel, of course of the wood element.


    Biscuit:


    Her third pet, an Earth Elemental.


    Planets & Planes & Realms etc:


    Airadia:


    Ewan''s home plane.


    Colonies & Groups & Kingdoms etc:


    Obria:


    Ewan''s home colony, where his house is.


    Ashevagord:


    An Atarin term, translates to ''The Eternals'' Guild''. It''ll be explored slowly in the book.


    Drarith:


    The unwalled port city on the eastern end of Lostrax Continent. Also known as the city of spices.


    Ashocan Kingdom:


    An ancient giant kingdom that existed long ago on the appointed eastern end of the Lostrax Continent, touching the Morinfair Ocean.


    Continents & Oceans & Areas etc:


    Lostrax Continent:


    The biggest continent of Airadia. It existed in the center of the Airadia plane and had the largest land mass.


    Morinfair Ocean:


    The eastern ocean that touched the eastern coast of the largest continent, Lostrax, of Airadia.

 Chapter-1.1 Eleventh Birthday

    [Ewan]


    They finally fixed the streetlights, but some still flickered¡ªthose greedy asses must¡¯ve skipped a few to cut costs. Ewan raced Havanna home, his small steps zipping past the shadows and the lights, swerving through the alleys that departed their school and led to their residential area, his schoolbag slapping against his back as the last flutter of the warmth in the wind smacked him. She was his enemy for the day, so he refused to call her by her nickname¡ªNana.


    When he glanced back at the final turn, she was panting by the eatery they passed, mouthing him to stop. But he didn¡¯t, and he dashed away with a smirk, leaving her in the dust; today¡¯s last piece of the roasted duck leg was his now.


    Yet his run halted, and his shoes scraped the asphalt when he reached his front door. The aroma of the smoky roast wafted from his home, not from Aunt Ella¡¯s kitchen¡ªHavanna¡¯s home that brushed his fences. He tiptoed to thumb the biometric scanner and pushed the gate an inch when the lock clicked open, sniffing and peeking. The squarish lounge beyond had trapped the smell of the spices and smoke in, the ducks had indeed died and were roasted in his house¡­ His Pa was cooking¡­


    He gulped and backed off, but Havanna slapped his back, fuming, her sweaty long chestnut hair sticking to her forehead.


    ¡°I told you to stop,¡± she said, her nostrils flared, and her eyes breathing fire.


    Ewan covered her mouth in a hurry and gestured a ¡®shh¡¯ in panic. ¡°Pa is cooking today,¡± he said. ¡°I need to run. Hide me.¡±


    ¡°My tooth hurts,¡± Havanna said in a muffled voice, then pulled his hand down. ¡°My tooth hurts, I think it¡¯s loose,¡± she whispered, stroking her right cheek. Ewan¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as he stared at her, grinning, the dread of his Pa¡¯s food leaving him for a minute.


    ¡°Let me pull it out,¡± he said, inching closer. And she backed off.


    ¡°No! Last time you yanked it, it really hurt, I bled for hours,¡± she said, covering her mouth and shaking her head.


    ¡°You barely bled for an hour, don¡¯t be a baby,¡± Ewan said, pushing her hand down. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll be gentle this time.¡±


    ¡°Where were you two till now?¡± The gate of his house creaked open, and his Pa towered over him, glaring at them.


    ¡°Shit.¡± Ewan blurted out and pushed Havanna forward, taking a step back behind her. Yet, there was no cooking spoon in his Pa¡¯s hand, no flour whitened his raven hair, no spices streaked his face, and he didn¡¯t don his battle costume¡ªhis apron with the funny rabbit face¡ªhe was just in his casuals with the ripped pocket. He might not be cooking today¡­and Ewan almost heaved a sigh of relief.


    ¡°We were practicing for the annual festival, uncle. School had us marching for hours,¡± Havanna said. ¡°Ewan had to lead his class, but he puked on the coach¡¯s shoes.¡± She tittered.


    ¡°They made us drink bland milk right before the march, Pa,¡± Ewan said in annoyance, staring daggers at Havanna from the corner of his eyes¡ªthat tooth, he would yank it out today for sure, as hard as he could. ¡°It was watery, and it stank. I don¡¯t know how she stomached it; she must¡¯ve vomited too when no one was watching her.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± She protested with a wrinkled nose.


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    ¡°Authen, let the kids in already, stop hogging the door,¡± Aunt Ella said, pushing his Pa to the side, and Ewan beamed. It was indeed Aunt Ella cooking the promised roasted duck, just she did so in their house. ¡°Food is almost ready, go change and wash up,¡± she said to the two kids with a gentle smile, then turned to his Pa. ¡°Keith should be here soon, let¡¯s prepare the plates.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± His Pa hummed a nod. ¡°I need to talk to you two about something, let¡¯s have a drink tonight,¡± his Pa said and walked into the grassy yard beyond the lounge with Aunt Ella where they cooked on the portable stove, while Havanna dragged Ewan into the house, away from the tantalizing aroma of the duck that made him drool.


    ¡­..


    ¡°I¡¯m a grown up now, I don¡¯t need this,¡± Ewan said, throwing the bib away, grumbling on his stilted tall chair where his toes barely grazed the wooden floor. His focus was on the three roasted ducks sitting in the middle of the dining table on the sharing platter, glazed and steaming, and he homed in on their legs¡ªtwo of the six were his today for he won the race.


    ¡°Grown up, my ass. How old are you? Wear it properly,¡± his Pa said, clicking his tongue, and shoving the bib back into Ewan¡¯s collar.


    ¡°I¡¯m nine already,¡± Ewan whined.


    ¡°You¡¯re eight,¡± his Pa replied.


    ¡°Just wait a few months,¡± Ewan mumbled as Aunt Ella placed the leg pieces on his plate with the side of garlic bread and thick brown gravy and some salad, then he looked at his Pa. ¡°Did you stretch your t-shirt, Pa? It¡¯s really loose,¡± he said. The charcoal-colored t-shirt his Pa wore today dangled from his shoulders, fluttering on his sunken chest when the crawling ceiling fan sent him a breeze, and the arms hung loose on his bony biceps. Had he lost weight recently? Ewan wondered.


    ¡°I need more nutrients,¡± his Pa said, nibbling on the duck breast. ¡°Let me eat your leg piece.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Ewan said, pulling his plate in. ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡± He eyed Havanna who winced with each bite of the meat across the table, glaring at him. The tooth had been pulled, and she had bled; he took his revenge for her tattling, albeit with reddened scratches on his arms. ¡°I won the race.¡±


    ¡°Forget it,¡± his Pa said, then flashed his usual mischievous smile with the curled lips. ¡°I love me some breasts anyway.¡± And he laughed.


    ¡°Me too.¡± Uncle Keith chuckled with him.


    ¡°Authen! Keith!¡± Aunt Ella admonished.


    ¡°What, I¡¯m talking about the duck,¡± his Pa murmured.


    ¡°Sleep here tonight, you two,¡± Uncle Keith said, clearing his throat, looking at Ewan and Havanna, barely taking a bite of the food. ¡°We won''t be home tonight, so look after each other.¡±


    ¡°I won''t sleep with him, dad,¡± Havanna whined. ¡°He hogs all the bed and kicks me.¡±


    ¡°You use me as your pillow and drool on me, I won''t sleep with you either.¡± Ewan fought back, ripping the moist pinkish meat off the duck leg with his teeth, the fat and the glaze making his mouth glisten.


    And Aunt Ella slapped their heads in sync, planting their faces in the plates. ¡°Eat properly, don¡¯t make a ruckus,¡± she said. ¡°And go to bed on time, I¡¯ll beat your bums in the morning if I see the lights on when we come back.¡± She smiled but her eyes didn¡¯t¡­


    ¡°Yes, aunty,¡± Ewan said, keeping his head down and focusing on the duck.


    ¡°My tooth hurts, mum¡­,¡± Havanna grumbled and sniffed.


    ¡°It¡¯s already out, how would it hurt,¡± Ewan muttered, then kept quiet as he peeked a glance at the quiet Aunt Ella.


    The dinner ended in peace with the clatters of cutlery ringing on the table. When the three adults tucked the two into bed and went away, when the serene night seeped into the late hours, Ewan and Havanna drifted off in a single blanket, snuggling together, their breaths mingling into a warm embrace.


    ¡­.


    His birthday came and passed, they all shared the cake, Nana fought him for the last slice, and the next year arrived. His Pa thinned by the month, and the ending of a year bared it visible. The three adults sighed a lot recently, and they always whispered among themselves, keeping quiet when he or Nana was around. Soon, when his tenth birthday knocked on the door, his scrawny Pa caught a severe cold, he hacked and hacked, and even coughed blood and vomited mangled pieces of flesh. There was nothing to worry about, his Pa consoled him, but he looked worse for wear with each passing day now.


    He was just too tired, raising him alone¡ªEwan comforted his anxiety. When he got a bit older, he could share his Pa¡¯s burden; he would rest while Ewan worked for their living. Everything would be alright. Yet, when he¡¯d barely reached eleven, when he¡¯d hardly cemented his resolve, his Pa sighed his last breath on his shoulder. Ewan lost him¡­


    <hr>

 Chapter-1.2 The Dead and The Living

    [Ewan]


    The dead were gone forever, and only the living suffered for them.


    He left his presence everywhere¡ªthe house of bricks was Ewan¡¯s home because of him, because of his Pa. There were days of tears as there were days of laughter, his Pa marked every second of his life. Ewan lived in bliss, sheltered and protected. His embrace, his warmth, his jokes, his snores, he took them all for granted. Be it ten, twenty, or thirty years down the road, his Pa would still be with him, he believed. He would still wake up in the morning and find his Pa throwing away the burnt omelets in secret, serving the restaurant food as his own. He would still watch tv and find his Pa cracking perverted jokes. He would still have nightmares and find his Pa when he called for him. He would still find his Pa; he would still find him¡­.


    But life hit the brakes and shoved reality in his face¡ªhe was gone.


    He would never see him again; he would never hear his voice. That old man left him all alone.


    And the vultures came knocking on the door.


    Ewan turned eleven this year. Some said he was already half an adult, others replied he was still a little kid¡ªwet behind the ears. They didn¡¯t even bother to hide it from him and argued who would inherit his father¡¯s wealth. But none of it mattered, he cared naught for what these mongrels thought or wanted. It had only been a day since his Pa died. They were still in the funeral hall, his father¡¯s urn still sat warm on the head table, and the bastards already sang a different tune.


    The big-bearded Uncle Jon who gave him shoulder rides, the sweet-perfumed Aunt Zelda who often brought him and Nana chocolates, the older cousin Juston¡ªthe earring cousin¡ªwho covered for him when his Pa fumed; they now wanted his blood. They weren¡¯t alone, the others waited their turn.


    They said it was for his Pa¡¯s legacy, that they would secure it for him until he came of age, and they needed his blood for it.


    Ewan didn¡¯t bother with the narrative they played, be it for his Pa¡¯s legacy or whatnot, he only wanted his father back. But they could never fulfill his wish¡­not that they cared for it either. So, he let them do whatever they wanted.


    And the inconspicuous corner of the funeral hall gathered a crowd. One after another, they drew his blood and left him pale, bruised, and hurting. His bloodshot eyes had puffed; tears rolled down his cheeks. He sniffed and wiped his snot with his sleeves, the cuts they made stung and purpled as seconds passed. Some offered him a glass of water when he choked but treated him as foul air when they got what they wanted.


    He wanted to sleep, but they didn¡¯t let him. Once he slept, it wouldn¡¯t hurt anymore, the suffocation was smothering him. His chest hurt, his head ached, his face was feverish, and he gasped for air. Yet, no one gave him the room to breathe.


    Finally, only three people remained around him.


    ¡°Kid, what¡¯s the problem? Just mark these,¡± The middle-aged man said, pacifying his irritated wife. Ewan would rather they took his blood, but instead they wanted him to sign some papers.


    He curled up and buried his head in his knees. The house they lived in, a small account, and another separate account for his school fees, his Pa repeatedly admonished him to not give away anything related to these three. They were the crutches for his future, he often said, a future Ewan didn¡¯t wish to live for, but the promise forced him to, no matter how much it hurt.


    ¡°We¡¯re talking to you.¡± His wife slapped him across the face. His ear rang and his temple ached as he fell to his side, thudding his head on the floor, and he curled tighter. He didn¡¯t budge no matter how much they yelled at him or hit him.


    ¡°HEY!!!¡± A woman yelled from afar. That was Aunt Ella¡¯s voice, Ewan peeked from between his arms and saw her hurrying towards them with Uncle Keith and Nana. Were they here for Pa¡¯s inheritance too? He didn¡¯t want any of it anymore, they should just take it away, he sniffed and hid his new tears behind his arms as they drenched his sleeves.


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    Aunt Ella dove for him, kneeling on the cemented floor as her knees scraped, while Uncle Keith pushed the fuming couple away from Ewan, Nana standing on the side with her bear-shaped schoolbag, sobbing away with her hiccups.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we¡¯re late,¡± Aunt Ella said, squeezing Ewan into a hug, stroking his head. ¡°Cry, let it all out.¡±


    Her words broke the dam, and Ewan bawled in her arms, clutching her clothes, his semi-dried blood staining her.


    ¡­¡­.


    [Keith]


    ¡°How is he?¡± Keith asked as Ella exited Ewan¡¯s room, closing the door as quietly as she could, avoiding the creak of the hinge. The dimness of the evening seeped into the house with only the dull bisque light from the wall bulb struggling against it. The lasting cries of the dogs on the street were the only source of sound today, even the returning birds stayed silent as if in mourning¡ªthe whole neighborhood had gone eerily mute.


    ¡°He cried himself to sleep,¡± she said, slumping beside Keith on the sofa in the hall, the ivory fur crumpling under her with a muffled squeak. ¡°He was pale white; those bastards took so much of his blood.¡±


    ¡°Shh, you¡¯ll wake him up,¡± he said.


    ¡°It¡¯s pissing me off, he¡¯s just a kid and they all ganged up on him. What was Thea doing? How could she let them treat her own son like this?¡±


    ¡°Authen¡¯s death might¡¯ve hit her too hard, she¡¯s probably not in any condition to think about anything else,¡± Keith said.


    ¡°Still, he¡¯s her son,¡± Ella said then buried her face in her palms and grunted. ¡°Authen trusted us with him, and we couldn¡¯t even stay beside him when his father died, when he needed us the most.¡±


    ¡°No one can foresee these things to the tee, even Authen predicted his time of death wrong.¡±


    Ella sighed. ¡°He should¡¯ve just given up his hub access, why did he have to be so stubborn.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not so easy, that¡¯s his life¡¯s work¡­ and it was probably a lesson for Ewan,¡± Keith said.


    ¡°What lesson, he just saw one of the ugliest natures of human today, it probably scarred him for life. Will he ever trust anyone like this?¡±


    ¡°Because of that, he¡¯ll live much longer. And I think Authen even gave us a wrong prediction of his death, so we couldn¡¯t shelter Ewan.¡±


    Ella shook her head. ¡°You guys are too cruel¡­. To his own son, how could he¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t hate him too much. He was just a desperate man who had to choose his son¡¯s survivability over protecting his innocence.¡±


    ¡°Why did it have to be this way¡­¡± Ella muttered and leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. ¡°Keith, are we really leaving?¡± she asked. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be alone right now; we need to stay with him.¡±


    ¡°We can delay for a few months at best, but we must leave. We can''t avoid the conclave,¡± Keith said, taking out an ashen-gray mask from his tear-shaped pendant, stroking its contours. ¡°We promised Authen to keep him safe, this is the best way to do so. Nana is already a target, if we stay with Ewan for long, he¡¯ll become one too.¡±


    ¡°We also promised to take care of him,¡± Ella said. ¡°He¡¯s just a child.¡±


    ¡°His staying alive is more important, Ella,¡± Keith said. ¡°When push comes to shove, we¡¯ll have to fight back. Ewan or Nana, I¡¯m only capable of protecting one of them. Must you force me to make that choice.¡±


    ¡°¡­I just feel helpless,¡± Ella said, leaning on Keith, resting her head on his shoulder.


    ¡°We are helpless.¡± Keith sighed. And the darkness of the night engulfed the house.


    ¡­¡­


    [Ewan]


    Ewan spent his days in a haze. Most of the time, he stayed curled up in his bed and slept. Aunt Ella and Uncle Keith took care of him, but he remained broken. Nana tried to cheer him up, bring some light to his eyes, but he couldn¡¯t gather his pieces. His shattered self and his dead eyes only sent them away in dejection, day after day.


    And after two months, or was it three, they stopped coming. The stray wind brought the news that they moved away in a hurry, and it worsened his condition.


    The once lively house was now a haunted mansion. The lights never came on anymore, the grass in the yards grew untended, the white blossom tree in the backyard bloomed and withered then bloomed again.


    If only he could stay in bed forever, never to wake up again. His thoughts often wandered in that direction. He had nothing to live for, no one to call family. No one cared whether he lived or died. Staying awake only hurt him.


    Yet, he couldn¡¯t die¡­.


    His Pa told him to live, he couldn¡¯t disappoint him. And so, he struggled to survive. He learned how to cook, feeding on enough just to live. He opened the shop attached to the house and earned his living by bathing and grooming the Astylinds. He went back to school, covered the syllabus he missed, and threw himself into the books. Day after day, he trudged through life. No aims, no dreams, he waited for the day he would die.


    Seven years¡­.


    Maturity came not with age but with responsibility, even the weight of his own survival was an apt trigger¡ªthe seasons changed, he changed, but he still had much to grow.


    <hr>

 Chapter-2 Borrow

    [Slate]


    Ozryn, Ayres¡¯ Castle.


    ¡°Just let them be, they won¡¯t learn,¡± Thea said, knitting an unending white muffler that piled up on the red carpet. The brown leather office chair squealed as she rocked back and forth. ¡°Every single one of them is a blood sucking leech, using the fa?ade of revenge¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± Slate said, bowing a forty-five degree; several strands of his black hair fell over his thick-rimmed glasses.


    ¡°No, forget that.¡± She clicked her tongue and stopped knitting. ¡°They really need to stop acting out like this, he already has nothing left anymore.¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± He bowed again.


    She threw the knitting needles on the office desk in front of her and rubbed her forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t care about him, I really don¡¯t¡­but I can''t just sit around and do nothing,¡± she muttered. Her leg bounced up and down, her pointy heels tapped on the floor, she fidgeted.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, did Ms. Lumen not come today?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, you don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± Her jitters dimmed, her legs slowed down, and she leaned all the way back with a deep breath. ¡°Where¡¯s my mother, has she arrived yet?¡± The chair uttered another despairing groan.


    Must change the chair today, Slate narrowed his eyes and made a mental note.


    Her fingers drummed on the armrest as she swirled the chair around and gazed at the entrancing view outside the reinforced glass walls. This building reached for the sky, the tallest in their colony, Ozryn, and their floor topped all. It still couldn¡¯t surpass the ¡®walls¡¯, but inside, they had no contenders. Yet, the glorious days with Authen were long gone. The market value of ¡®Ayres Castle¡¯ plunged since the day he died, they barely stood operable now, in the colony and the hub stratum, and they all blamed Ewan for it. They hoisted the hypocritical flag of revenge for Thea¡¯s father, but greed was all they had to offer¡­


    ¡°Sunbird has already docked, ma¡¯am. But she took Sir Leaf with her to meet some friends, they should be here by dusk.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± She hummed a nod, spun the chair back, and faced him, tucking the stray black hair behind her ear. ¡°Forget it, just let them do whatever they want, they¡¯re just venting on him anyway,¡± she said. ¡°Tell them to show some restraint though, they harm a hair on him again, and I¡¯ll raze their business to the ground.¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± Slate bowed again and remained there for a while.


    ¡°You can go now.¡± She picked up the needles again and knitted while rocking back and forth, the chair creaking beneath.


    He waited for her to flip again, but she didn¡¯t this time. He breathed a silent sigh of relief and went out with another bow, loosening his tie when he was out. That lazy bitch Lumen was testing of his patience, he needed to have a good talk with her; after all, her serenity potions were vital for Thea.


    ¡­..


    [Ewan]


    Obria, First Institute.


    Ewan slumped on his desk and gazed at the gloomy Barrentide sky from the third-floor window. Birds soared off in a ¡®V¡¯ formation, chilly gusts swayed the withered trees and blew the dead auburn leaves away¡ªthe cloudy weather resonated with his mood when the wind met his sigh. He was at a loss on what to do.


    Mr. Worth continued the lecture at the podium, unshaven today yet still perky as ever, but nothing reached his ears. His mind was on his Sols, or a lack thereof. Business was down this month. He only earned some pocket-change from the regular customers, that too came out of pity no doubt, and he was already out. He didn¡¯t have enough to even eat lunch or dinner tonight. He always skipped breakfast; his stomach had long stopped growling for the morning grub. But today, it just didn¡¯t shut up. His last meal was that half a sandwich from four days ago¡ªcold cucumbers and lettuce against the salted slab of yellowed cheese squeezed between two stale slices of bread¡ªand today¡¯s afternoon passed without food too. Luckily the desk wasn¡¯t the shared type, else the grumbling complaints would¡¯ve pricked him by now.


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    The capacious mansion that was his house, the pricey furniture that adorned the place, the chunky fence that defended his premise along with the biometric setup¡ªthey all screamed riches, yet the ¡®owner¡¯ verged on starvation. All because that old man locked his inheritance behind his eighteenth birthday and tied his hands, he couldn¡¯t touch anything inside without the deed, not even the decorative piece of fruit bowl on the table¡­


    The fact had him fuming on the gloomy evenings when the dwindling finances weighed on his mind, but he understood the intention behind it as he grew older. If he possessed it all as a weak kid, the thorns that came with such wealth might¡¯ve pricked him to death by now. He wouldn¡¯t be an obscure kid just doing his best to survive then, instead he would be the optimal target of anything and everything wicked.


    He sighed again and closed his eyes. He imagined the bench as his bed and sprawled, at least he could preserve some energy that way. His dire situation kept him awake last night. Now, his dry eyes stung, the dark circles deepened, and the disorientation hammered him.


    A piece of chalk came flying and smacked his head as he was about to doze off into the dream world.


    ¡°The value of constants can change in different worlds as several Ashevas have proven it. You¡¯ll have to adjust your spells with that in mind. All Starons have their advantage.¡± Mr. Worth eyed Ewan while continuing, ¡°We humans aren¡¯t any different. Our body isn¡¯t fit to control Anima by nature, we can''t become Ashevas naturally like many other Starons. There have been rare cases of newborns with natural affinity, even their bodies get attuned to the element since they contact the Anima in their fetal stage, but they¡¯re the exceptions not the rules. For most of us, that isn¡¯t a possibility. We¡¯re good at adapting though, and that¡¯s why we could stand at the top. Wisdom rules all, remember that.¡±


    He gave him a few seconds¡¯ glare then turned around and resumed the half-finished equation on the blackboard.


    Ewan rubbed his head, where the chalk hit, and patted the white powder off. He couldn¡¯t even sleep in peace. Even with his seat in the last row, in the corner by the window, the wordy toad could still spot him sleeping. The bastard got some good eyes, Ewan groaned. If he didn¡¯t fix his Sols problem soon, he wouldn¡¯t live for long anyway, discipline in class was the least of his problems.


    The alleyway that brushed the back of their school building and headed towards his residential area was a good place to ¡®borrow¡¯ Sols from someone¡­his hollowed stomach drove his brain to think of a solution as he peeked at the desolate entrance of the alley through the window. But could he borrow anything? He was skin and bones after all, the muscles and the fat had all burnt away to keep him alive on rainy days. Not to mention his coming of age was soon, a black mark on his record could prove devastating to his situation. He might lose access to his inheritance if someone tripped the official process of authentication and transfer, many were eager to see that happen, and their hands itched to make it come true¡­


    At least the water was free; he took out the frosted plastic bottle from his bag and filled his stomach with the chilled water, consoling its growl for now. Before long, however, it would rumble again.


    ¡­..


    The long clangs of the bell ended the last period, and Ms. Ridgell clicked her tongue at the barely finished formula of the Aenon solution on the blackboard. Her being the obsessive but still a kind ma¡¯am, she looked at the haggard students and closed her register, bidding them farewell for the day. The students yawned and stretched their bodies¡ªEwan did too, and his joints popped. The garbled chatters, the clicking bag clamps, and the scraping chairs took over the class as the swarm walked out in batches of two and three. Ewan went out when the crowd dwindled, slinging his bag over his right shoulder, shaky on his feet.


    The corridor stretched endlessly before him, and the bottom of the stairs was an eternity away, each step challenged his wobbly self. The juniors had the bottom floors while the seniors sat at the third and fourth, he grumbled at the unfairness of the world as he walked down, the railing taking his side against the stairs and supporting his descent. The young ones had the energy to walk several flights of stairs in the morning, he was already too old for this, and his stomach growled again.


    When he reached the ground floor and exited the building, to the plaza, the time of the decision dawned. The alleyway was on his left, beyond the football field. Junk cluttered the bleak path, the carpet of dead leaves made it dismal, even the light dimmed past its entrance; it was the perfect place to ¡®borrow¡¯ from someone. Anyone who walked in was either a prey, a predator, or someone who looked to get frisky with his girl. Someone would borrow and the others would lend, the transaction never ended in this alley.


    And before his rationale could even finalize his decision, his legs took him towards the infamous passage. If he couldn¡¯t borrow himself, he could help others borrow, the light bulb flashed over his head¡ªthe threat of Mr. Zane making rounds always worked. The sound of his cane grating against the paved floor terrified the alley dwellers, for he used it more than his words.


    The cake couldn¡¯t all be Ewan¡¯s, but he could still get a slice, that was enough for him to survive for now. If he still couldn¡¯t, if his luck was just that bad, then he had to knock on Nana¡¯s door shamelessly. Even if she didn¡¯t care for him anymore, she might feed him something, minding their years of relationship. He was her fianc¨¦ after all, even if only in name now. But¡­was she eating properly herself¡­


    <hr>

 Chapter-3 Astylinds’ Home: We Care

    Residential Area, Zone-A.


    The bluish neon of the signboard flickered and lit up when Ewan completed the biometric scan and flipped the switch on. ¡°Astylinds¡¯ Home: We Care¡±, the shop stood out like a nail in the otherwise mundane residential block, the ringing chime by the door cracking its quiet. Today too, the lounge of the shop remained desolate; the counter desk and the monitor had even gathered days¡¯ worth of dust. Paint chipped off the ivory walls, a creamish hue tinted the rug that once boasted a vibrant white, dots of black ruined the aged artistic ceiling, and another thick but rusted metal door stood by the counter¡¯s side¡ªit was the view that greeted Ewan¡¯s arrival each day, and its bleakness elicited his helpless sigh every time.


    What a breath of fresh air would it be if the customers¡¯ line curved from the corner of the alley for his shop too; he envied those shops whose business boomed from an ¡®unintentional promotion¡¯. Where were those mouthy angels who would proliferate the goodness of his shop¡­ Alas, his shop only provided cleaning and grooming services for the Astylinds. He took care of them for his customers and charged them by days and levels. It was all he could do for now, given his lack of capital, and such a niche business model assured a small customer pool.


    Only the Severynths who lived a casual lifestyle visited such shop¡¯s doorstep. They didn¡¯t prefer bloodshed and couldn¡¯t care less about advancing. They also didn¡¯t join the expeditions or became hunters. Those who did though, they took care of their own Astylinds¡ªhe had never even met one. Thus, the total share of the market remained humble, and Ewan had to struggle to dip his finger in the already crowded jar.


    The spacious courtyard beyond the metal door allayed his mood a bit, covered in ankle-length grass dancing in the waves of wind, synced yet so different. Some patches withered brown, some still struggling lush. Several rusted metal cages with shiny spots dug into the soil by the edges. A curved pathway paved in smooth rocks sliced the yard in half. And on the other side and across the yard rested his house. A mansion, some might call it, and its existence anchored his confidence in life, at least he had a good roof over his head.


    Tall thick metal fences covered this whole area¡ªincluding his shop, the large middle courtyard, his house, the side lawns, and the backyard. The only entrance to this place was his shop¡¯s door, and its robust and sturdy alloy made any break-in a nigh impossibility.


    Yet, with all the security, he had little any would want to steal, unless old electronics was the trend in the black market these days¡­


    The hall of his home with the same ivory walls but wooden flooring welcomed him with a cold embrace, the draught carrying the stink from the stagnant and overfilled sink of the kitchen to the right¡ªthe clogged mess and the dirty dishes were long overdue. But his current state still couldn¡¯t muster the strength to deal with it as he hastened towards the stove and put the kettle on with fresh drinking water, chugging a mouthful to alleviate his hunger pang while the water boiled.


    The single sol he ¡®borrowed¡¯ from the near naked couple in the desolate alleyway only afforded him three packets of noodles, it would last him three days. The rising trend of the prices had yet to plateau, and each time the news wrote something on the issue, his heart skipped a beat for he expected the worst. Today, the sol bought him three packets; tomorrow, it might not be enough for even one¡­


    He lumbered across to the other side of the hall and collapsed on the long fluffy white sofa. His eyes struggled with the heavy eyelids, and his vision blurred. The hazy reflection on the tv even made the plastic fruit bowl on the table look appetizing. The shiny apple, the plump grapes, the ripe banana¡­his stomach growled in greed, and he almost drooled, struggling to hold on to his sanity.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.If only the plants his Pa potted in the corners were edible¡­


    Someone in his class once gossiped that our stomach could digest the book pages, he glanced at the filled bookcase by the window whose edges barely cleared the back of the sofa but still held back from experimenting. He had three days of respite now; his business just might recover enough for him to survive.


    And he only had to subsist for a month or so anyway. If lady luck agreed with him, it could be even shorter. Be it the ancient sages, the Cerades, or the new summoners, the Severynths, both major paths of Asheva had the same beginning¡ªthe awakening of the soul. Though random, most Starons awakened their souls a few months before their eighteenth birthday¡ªEwan¡¯s was in a few months. He had no one to celebrate it with, but many would gather for the carnival, for the Frosthelm festival claimed the date on the calendar.


    He could awaken any day now; the thought slightly brightened his drab mood. Once he crossed that line and contracted an Astylind, he wouldn¡¯t be a mortal anymore, he would graduate from being a Kyron. The newfound strength from the feedback would widen his means to earn, not to mention his need for food would go down too. But above all, he could finally become a Severynth.


    The kettle whistled in the kitchen and broke him away from his lethargic excitement¡ªthe water had boiled, he had to put in the noodles now.


    ¡­.


    His room, the largest of the four on the ground floor, lay across the hall and towards the backyard; a stairway with polished wooden railing curved over them and reached for the first floor. The lack of regular visits staled everything beyond the stairs, and now only the balcony remained fresh¡ªwhen he timed it right, he could even ¡®observe¡¯ some beautiful girls who lived in this neighborhood from up there. The evening was such an opportune time, but he reigned in the bastardly want for now and headed for his room to eat, switching on his computer while gobbling his first mouthful of cheap but moreish noodles. Whatever they added to make it so good¡­


    The pre- and post-symptoms of the awakening stayed the same on the colony¡¯s intranet, yet he read them again and sniffed his body. There came no sickening sweet smell though, not even a hint of it that could make him gladly misread his situation¡ªas always, he just smelled of his charcoal-based shower gel. Everyone said the smell would linger for days, but he still worried about missing it¡­


    Little disappointed and finally feeling the weight of food in his stomach, he visited the forum that flooded his history and read those olden rumors again. The forum was dying but those rumors still gathered traffic¡ªthey talked of gaining eternity on the path of Asheva. Some claimed a slightly longer and healthier lifespan while others mentioned surpassing the age of the moons.


    No confirmation or denial existed on the network, even his teachers refused to comment on it and brushed it off. But even if it was false news, it dazzled Ewan. Because he chanced upon this information, he dreamed again¡ªa dream of eternity.


    If he had to die one day anyway, it didn¡¯t matter whether it was now or eighty years later. He slogged for his Pa¡¯s promise, but years would wear it thin; one day, his thread would snap. Such thoughts often crossed his mind back then. But this single piece of news filled him with hope and made him yearn for a future, it dragged him out of the ditch.


    Today or tomorrow, he would awaken for sure, his Pa already confirmed it. Even if the aptitude of his awakened soul were to be subpar, he would still be happy. Because unlike those who couldn¡¯t awaken at all, he could at least begin his journey as an Asheva, on the path of Severynth¡ªthe humble path that made their plane, Airadia, the overlord of its star system.


    Ewan slurped his lukewarm noodles again and went on to the semi-official site for Severynths¡ªit bore the mark of an ¡®O¡¯ wearing a gray beret, the insignia of Obria¡¯s defense force, but the officials hadn¡¯t confirmed their involvement. Nonetheless, it was the go-to place for anything Asheva related. And today, the countdown for the release of the newer database of <Identify> and a newer version of <Contract> would hit zero¡ªone was the crux of Ashevas while the other sparked the Severynth path.


    Before he could see the timer hit single digits though, his doorbell clanged.


    <hr>

 Chapter-4 Customer

    The bell rang when he wasn¡¯t expecting anyone¡ªit must be a customer. Ewan bolted out, tossing the almost empty bowl onto the dining table, and rushed for the shop, his worn-down slippers hanging by a thread.


    A girl stared at his neon signboard when he opened the door, at least a head shorter than him, even with her stabbing stilettos.


    ¡°Are you open?¡± she turned to him and asked. The black hair grazed her neck, her loose white top barely hung from her shoulders, exposing the cyan straps of her inner wear, and the blue hot pants dug up a bit too much.


    ¡°Of course, please come in,¡± Ewan said with a smile. ¡°What can I do for you today?¡±


    ¡°How do you charge?¡± she asked, looking around the empty shop with a frown, then came to the counter. She had about leaned on the table but stopped and backed off when she saw the collected dust.


    ¡°It¡¯s on a per level and per day basis,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about the dust, the cleaner is on a long break.¡± He took out a rug from behind the counter and scrubbed the table clean, wiping the monitor too.


    ¡°Do you take special orders?¡± she asked.


    ¡°May I have more details, ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°I have a Fire Monkey,¡± she said, lingering on the words. ¡°She may or may not be with child.¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, we¡¯re neither equipped nor have the license for such services,¡± Ewan said with a helpless smile. ¡°It¡¯s better for her and the baby if you take her to a proper care center.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s only Level-1, you don¡¯t need to worry too much,¡± she said. ¡°And I¡¯ll pay you double your rate.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am, we really can''t accept this order,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Three times your rate,¡± she said, and the lounge quietened.


    The cons outweighed the pros with the unusually raised price, but the desperation of survival and the dread of starvation blurred his sense of wariness against the risk. ¡°Four times, and you bear the penalty if we¡¯re found out,¡± he said.


    ¡°Six times. I¡¯ll pay the fine if it comes to that, but I also won''t sign a waiver,¡± she said, a hint of smirk tugging at her lips.


    Sirens blared in Ewan¡¯s head, and a sense of familiarity struck him. Each of her counters inched towards trapping him at the end, and the final one hammered the nail. Only one group of people wanted such results; traveling such a long distance from Ozryn, they¡¯d really worked hard over the years¡­


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Make it seven times and you have a deal,¡± Ewan said, throwing caution to the wind just this once. Even if they didn¡¯t trap him, he would have a hard time surviving these months. But if he prevailed and came out alive on the other end, he would at least be fifteen Sols richer after deducting the expenses. The overall cost would still be much cheaper than the care center, so she should accept it¡ªit was a win-win for both sides.


    And indeed, she shook his hand and paid him twenty-one Sols for three days of care and medical charges. His heart couldn¡¯t rest beating when he finalized her non-official receipt with her name, glancing at his new balance of Sols, and as he took out the wristband for her Astylind, she opened her Dekoth in the courtyard¡ªthe soul vortex.


    A stench of sulfur assaulted Ewan, and a torrid breath caressed his face when he approached her. His lips dried, his eyes itched, and his parched throat stung when he gulped.


    Soon, about a two feet tall monkey plodded out, and the grass beneath it browned, some strands even scorched black. She donned the coral-colored fur with a bulging stomach, her lanky limbs hung about, a long but droopy tail twitched behind her, and a blob of orange fire danced on her forehead.


    When Necia, the customer, gave the go-ahead, Ewan checked the docile Fire Monkey¡ªher pulse, her pupils, her breathing, the color of her nails, and even her skin and fur condition. He went through all her vitals and confirmed her condition, and only when he overruled the possibility of any tampering, not that it was likely, did he fasten the wristband on her bony arm and led her to one of the cages on the side.


    ¡°You¡¯re keeping her in a cage?¡± Necia asked with a scowl.


    ¡°I can''t let her loose, ma¡¯am, she won''t listen to my commands properly when you¡¯re not here,¡± Ewan said, locking the cage door. ¡°Please don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of her. If she feels like coming out, I¡¯ll let her out too.¡±


    ¡°Make sure you do,¡± Necia said. And after a small barrage of random questions of concern from her, Ewan saw her out of the main door and bid her farewell with a smile.


    Because the waiver didn¡¯t chain this deal, there were several possible repercussions that could follow an unfortunate outcome. If a mishap happened during the monkey¡¯s labor and she died, Necia could hold him responsible, and he was certain to lose that case. But if the monkey raged and damaged his property, or worse yet¡­ A lungful of breath cleared his head and he let the thought subside for now. It was better to let this matter end peacefully. The customer would get her Astylind back, safe and sound, and he would remain rich.


    Astylinds were strong and possessed a fast recovery rate. Even the weakest of them surpassed average humans in everything but wisdom. But childbirth still posed a risk to them, even more so than humans in many cases. The stronger they were, the harder it was for them to give birth to their next generation. Thus, he needed to prepare to achieve a favorable result.


    He¡¯d consistently ranked first in his biology class, and by a good margin; he knew the theories by heart. He could do it, he cheered himself up. Once he made sure the monkey rested well in the cage, he locked his shop and went out for supplies in his casuals, shoving his phone in his pocket.


    <hr>

 Chapter-5 Sedation

    ¡°Say no to the Severynths! Take down the walls!!¡± The protestors lined up on the roadside and yelled their slogans while raising their banners and distributing flyers; Ewan had already refused dozens of solicitors along the way.


    It¡¯s getting worse¡­


    The news reported several cases of violence against even the bystanders and the general citizens lately, things looked grim. They opposed the Severynths, and they opposed the perimeter wall¡ªthe giant ring that made their colony and kept them safe. And this was when they had just suffered frequent raids from the Astylinds a few months back.


    The constant blaring alarms, the high alert warnings, the flashing red lights, the agitated movement of the defense force ¡®War Dogs¡¯, and the faint noises of battles trickling in from the outskirts for days shook the peace of Obria to its core. If they hadn¡¯t had the walls or the Severynths against that kind of raid¡­


    Ewan shook his head and rode the tram to the market area; he had more important matters at hand. The higher-ups could worry about the peace of the colony, he had his own peace to worry about.


    ¡­.


    A few hours later, Ewan returned home four Sols shorter and his stomach rumbling, lugging a carry bag full of medical and food supplies and slinging a secondhand fire-hazard suit from his shoulder¡ªit had seen a lot of years, the holes and the tears proved its hardships. But he could only afford this, else he would lose what he just earned, and the venture would be meaningless.


    First things first, he put the medical supplies on the kitchen counter and rushed for the bathroom¡ªeating after four days of fasting gave him minor diarrhea.


    Once he relieved the rush and came out, he slumped on the sofa with the tools to fix the suit; it was his life-saving measure after all. Normal threads he had at home wouldn¡¯t work, he bought it for an Astylind¡¯s fire, the temperature would be beyond their limits. But he didn¡¯t have the official threads and couldn¡¯t find or afford a set either. So, after rummaging through his old stuff and grinding his mind, the stapler pins stood out. An hour of struggle marred his hands with cuts and nicks, but he finally stapled each hole and tear, triple checking for any leak; he wasn¡¯t good at it, but the suit would do for one use.


    That took care of the protection, now he had to work on completing the job. He leaned back on the sofa, grunted a tired exhale, and recalled the books he had on the topic and what more he needed. The elective classes he chose included a general lecture on anatomy; Astylinds and Starons both sat in the middle of the list. Though it didn¡¯t have any practical lessons, the slideshows were vivid enough for him to grasp the vital points, and Mr. Baryt was responsive enough to quench all his asks. Nevertheless, he still needed to refresh his memory. And so, he mustered the energy and scoured the brimming bookcase sitting by the window.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The chirping crickets broke him away from the books when the moons came out, and his stomach growled as the secondary reminder. He was hungry, and so must be the monkey. When he switched the lights on and checked on her with a bowl of porridge and saut¨¦ed vegetables, as the crickets hushed from his presence, the Fire Monkey lay listless in her cage. She neither responded to the change in lighting, nor did she react to his footsteps; the creaking of the rusted cage gate couldn¡¯t even elicit a twitch. His heart skipped a beat, and he rushed to check her, putting the tray on the side.


    Luckily, the books confirmed the signs she showed¡ªit was a process of self-sedation many Astylinds went through to conserve energy before labor. Ewan flumped on the grass beside the cage and rubbed his forehead, dreading the headache to come. The ones who self-sedated had a higher chance of rampaging during the delivery, the statistics wrote in bold words. Now he worried whether the fire suit he bought was enough to see him through the plight.


    Alas, he couldn¡¯t shirk. The only thing he could do now was to try his best and plan for the worst. Once he checked the monkey again, fed her the loose porridge without choking her, and made sure she rested well in the cage, he latched the door and went back to reading. Just this time, he picked up a hefty book of law with a brown hardcover¡ªit had everything related to Obria¡¯s legal system.


    While reading, he also contacted Uncle Thain about the issue, the new idol song playing instead of the ring as always, and consulted him, though he had to suffer the scolding for the first ten minutes.


    ¡°Are you playing with your life!¡± The cracked voice from the phone pushed the speaker to its limits. ¡°If you needed help, why didn¡¯t you come to me?¡± Uncle Thain yelled.


    ¡°I can deal with it myself,¡± Ewan said, his voice dim, keeping the phone away from his ears.


    ¡°Is this how you deal with it? Risking your life for mere pocket change? Are you taking me as a joke?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all under control, you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± Ewan tried to allay the heat.


    ¡°Would you call me if it was under control! Huh!!¡±


    ¡­.


    When the intensity of the conversation simmered down, Ewan finally worded his concern on the matter and asked for advice, though he stayed adamant on handling everything himself. Favors had long lost his trust, he neither wanted to owe nor wanted to be owed anymore. Even if it was Uncle Thain on the other end, he didn¡¯t have the capacity to cross that bridge. There was only one who could still make him walk over, but she had already shut him out¡­


    Uncle Thain listed several solutions that Ewan wrote down for hours, from the worst-case scenarios to the most favorable ones. They talked of each outcome, the best way of handling them, and the repercussions in case everything went wrong. And by the time they ended the call, the counter on the phone showed four hours and fifty minutes. The night still had many more hours to go though, and he had to use the time as best as he could, so Ewan went over the list once more and switched back to the anatomy books.


    The sky purpled then grayed, and the morning quietly bled through the night, only the tweets of the rising birds announced its presence. As Ewan stretched, groaned, and rubbed his weary eyes on the sofa, and as the sun cleared the fences of his yard, he got a call from his school¡ªit was bad news.

 Chapter-6 Still Alive

    First Institute, Fourth Floor, Admin Office.


    Ewan stood shell-shocked in place with a boy and a girl, both in school uniform like him. The boy had his hands in his pocket, his eyelids drooped, and he leaned back on one foot, playing with a piece of paper on the floor. While the girl hung her head down and clutched her skirt, her tears puddling at her feet, her shoulders trembling.


    ¡°Today will be the last day. If you guys don¡¯t clear your due fees by the evening, you won''t be getting any Astylind. Do you understand?¡± the young female staff said, sitting in her cubicle while her monitor displayed the three students¡¯ details.


    ¡°I understand, can I go now?¡± the boy asked, then strode away when he got the nod.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, it must be a mistake. My fee is transferred from a separate account, I have no control over it. And there¡¯s money in it, I¡¯ve checked recently,¡± Ewan said, his heart sinking.


    ¡°Clear it up from your side then. We haven¡¯t received the fee yet,¡± the female staff said.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, my dad said he¡¯ll pay it within a week,¡± the girl said, sniffing, as Ewan staggered out of the office, stumbling on the printer¡¯s wire, and called Uncle Thain with numb and cold fingers. The face in the tinted window of the corridor was bloodless, he looked aghast. Even the cheerful and upbeat idol song for the ring couldn¡¯t cheer him up, for he was about to lose his future, his dream.


    ¡°Hello, uncle. Can you check my account? The school fees one,¡± he said when the call connected.


    ¡°What happened? Did we miss something last night? Are you alright?¡± Uncle Thain said, and the sound of clicking keys echoed in the background with some muffled white noise.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± His voice shook. ¡°Please check it quickly.¡± Ewan stood by the large window in the corridor, feeling the caress of the cold wind on his face, but it could give him no respite.


    ¡°Just a second,¡± he said. ¡°¡­Your account¡¯s been blocked.¡± And the typing sound sped up with hammering strokes.


    Ewan closed his eyes and exhaled a powerless breath.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault, I should¡¯ve noticed this sooner,¡± Uncle Thain said.


    ¡°What¡¯s the issue? Can you fix it?¡± Ewan asked, rubbing his forehead.


    ¡°There seems to be some kind of complaint registered against it. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem; I can clear it up soon.¡±


    ¡°How long? Can you do it today?¡±


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    ¡°It will at least take a few days if not a week, I won''t be able to speed up the process from my end,¡± Uncle Thain said. ¡°What happened? Is the school giving you any trouble?¡±


    Ewan clutched his phone and looked down the window. Students gathered in the plaza; some sat and chatted on the grass, some rushed for their class, while some jogged the morning laps. Gusts of wind blew from time to time, it took the fallen leaves on a short journey, lifting the girls¡¯ skirts on its way. But none of it could distract him. His mind was in a jumbled mess, he looked bleak, and his eyes dimmed.


    If I jump from here, everything will end, I can rest then¡­


    The thoughts he fought off for years crept up to him once again. Only his dream of becoming an Asheva, a Severynth, had kept him going, but even that was now slipping away from his hands.


    ¡°Ewan? Hello? Ewan, are you there?¡± Uncle Thain yelled on the other side. ¡°Did you hear me? Do you want me to come forward and handle everything?¡±


    I don¡¯t want it to end. I¡¯m so close now.


    Ewan clenched his fists and took a deep breath; the cold air chilled his chest. He was still alive; he still breathed. And till his last breath, he wanted to live with all he had. If all the doors closed for him, he would rip another path open and move ahead¡ªin the pitch dark, a speck of hope lit up. If he played his cards right¡­


    ¡°No, uncle, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± The height that Uncle Thain was at, a single hum from him could solve all his problems, but Ewan still wanted to do it himself. ¡°I¡¯ll call you back after a while.¡± He cut the call without waiting for a reply and went back into the office. The girl stood there with her head down, struggling to explain her situation, hoping for sympathy, the puddle of her tears larger than before, while the rest of the staff minded their own business.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, my account has some problem, the fee won''t be transferred today. Is it possible if I delay it a bit? There used to be a late fine system, right? Can¡¯t I get the Astylind later after I pay that?¡± Ewan asked, cutting the girl¡¯s plea short.


    ¡°No, the headmaster has given strict orders this time. There will be no exceptions.¡±


    ¡°Please, ma¡¯am,¡± he said. ¡°This is my future we¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°No, sorry.¡± She shook her head.


    ¡°Okay then, I quit. Can you give me the withdrawal receipt?¡± The school lost all authority over him when they made this decision, and so, his voice regained its dominance, and his tensed shoulders loosened¡ªa weight was off him. Both his mind and body lightened.


    ¡°What?¡± The female staff gaped at him, and the girl and the staff members around also stared; his drastic decision finally got their attention.


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± A tall man in a brown checkered suit and frameless spectacles walked up to them with a steaming cup of cocoa¡ªan overly sweet cup of cocoa, no doubt. He was Ewan¡¯s teacher, Mr. Baryt, the famous sweet tooth. He taught them basic biology, Starons¡¯ and Astylinds¡¯ anatomy, and their different mutations.


    ¡°There¡¯s no problem, sir. Ma¡¯am, can you hurry up please? I have a shop to look after.¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± the female staff asked.


    ¡°Ewan, don¡¯t be stupid. With your grades, you can easily get a good job even if you don¡¯t get an Astylind. Don¡¯t make rash decisions on an impulse,¡± Mr. Baryt said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not, sir, thank you.¡± Ewan smiled at him then urged the female staff once more. The other staff members shook their heads; even Mr. Baryt stopped persuading him and went away with a sigh, sipping his sweet cocoa.


    A few minutes later, the female staff printed out the receipt and handed it over to him after he signed a withdrawal form¡ªhe had now quit the school, it was official. He gave the receipt one look, and after confirming everything was in order, he swaggered away, skipping over the wire he tripped on before.

 Chapter-7 Pa

    ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ll send you my withdrawal receipt. Can you close the fees account and transfer the money into my daily account?¡± On the way back home, Ewan called Uncle Thain again.


    ¡°Huh! You quit?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t see the need to attend anymore.¡±


    Uncle Thain broke into a guffaw on his reply, Ewan had to keep the phone away from his ears again¡ªlaughing or scolding, this man was loud. A few moments later, his deep breath caused heavy white noise on the call.


    ¡°Okay, but you can only get the deposit they¡¯ll refund for now. The rest you¡¯ll get on your birthday with your inheritance. And you¡¯ll also get a new audio from your father soon.¡±


    Ewan¡¯s steps came to a screeching halt; his shoes scraped the asphalt.


    He even predicted this¡­


    ¡°I always thought you resembled your mother, how you rubbed your forehead when stressed. But you are your father¡¯s son after all, reckless and stubborn.¡±


    Ewan didn¡¯t reply, the thought of getting a new audio file from his Pa clogged his head.


    ¡°I¡¯ll hang up now, I¡¯ll contact you once it¡¯s done,¡± Uncle Thain said. Ewan replied with a mindless ¡®hmm¡¯ this time and hung up.


    ¡­.


    Back in his home, he slumped on the computer chair with a bowl of fried rice, bouncing his leg up and down from excitement; he was going to get another audio file from his Pa soon. After biting a spoonful of rice, he couldn¡¯t control himself anymore, and played the first audio file he ever got to pass time.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s been a year. How have you been? Did you celebrate your birthday? Is it too soon?¡± It was a heavy voice with some buzz in the background.


    ¡°It¡¯s been seven years Pa¡­,¡± Ewan murmured.


    ¡°Are you eating well? Don¡¯t eat junk just because I¡¯m not there. You¡¯re a big boy now, you should be responsible for your own health.¡±


    A bright smile sneaked up on Ewan¡¯s face and he ate another mouthful of the fried rice he cooked at home when he heard those familiar words. They held little meaning when his Pa was alive, they even annoyed him at times¡­


    ¡°How¡¯s school? You¡¯re not ditching classes, are you? You can still learn many things there. It¡¯s not the right time to quit.¡±


    He knew...


    But the situation was different now. The reason he quit today was because he had nothing left to learn there, at least nothing he couldn¡¯t learn by himself. Only the promise of an Astylind made him wear that uniform each morning and bow his head to that authority. With that reason gone, he had no qualms about quitting.


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    His Pa hushed for a while, then sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I let you go through all that. If I could live, I would¡¯ve kept you safe and protected. But you¡¯re on your own now. You¡¯ll have to face everything by yourself. I know you have a hard life ahead of you. But¡­I don¡¯t have any choice. I don¡¯t have much time left¡­Forgive me, Ewan.¡±


    Years ago, Ewan hugged his knees on the same chair and bawled his heart out when he heard his Pa, but all that remained now was a peaceful smile with a hint of remembrance, and the grain of rice stuck on his cheek.


    His Pa sniffed and cleared his throat. ¡°Also, manage your Sols well, don¡¯t waste it on things you don¡¯t need,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t have much to tell you now. I thought of many things to talk about, but my mind¡¯s going blank right now. I just hope you can live well. Celebrate your birthday, do what you want to do. Follow your dreams, even if I¡¯m not with you, you¡¯ll forever have my support.¡±


    The audio cut, and the loop took it to the beginning again. Ewan calmed down with a deep breath and leaned back on his chair with his eyes closed, putting the bowl aside. The smile never left his face, his Pa¡¯s voice had always soothed him. All the anxiety, fear, and doubts about his future went away. He gained the confidence to move ahead, for his Pa supported him, he had always supported him.


    The notification bell rang, dimming the replaying audio, and Ewan snapped his eyes open¡ªthe new file came. He clicked the mail from Uncle Thain and saved the file before typing in the usual password, the addition of his Pa and his birth dates, and played it.


    ¡°You¡¯re almost eighteen now, you¡¯ve really grown up. You must¡¯ve reached six feet by now.¡±


    His Pa chuckled and Ewan flared his nose; he was still five-ten, but his growth spurt hadn¡¯t stopped yet. Once he received the deposit, he would drink more milk and eat more meat; he could also hang from the railing, it would for sure give him a centimeter or two.


    ¡°And if you haven¡¯t already, you should awaken your soul about three months prior to your birthday, you¡¯ll soon be an Asheva. As an Ayres, your aptitude will never be below average, we¡¯ve always made sure of that. Since the time of our progenitor, the Ayres family has been a Cerade family, every generation has had the capacity to become a Cerade. I was the same, and you won''t be any different.¡±


    He continued. ¡°Don¡¯t think of becoming a Cerade though, its path is crude and forever remained in the prototype state, unlike Severynth¡¯s. Your soul aptitude might not give you as big of an advantage as a Severynth as it could as a Cerade, but it will still put you ahead of the crowd. By my estimate, you¡¯ll have enough soul essence for at least three Astylinds when you awaken.¡±


    The small smile on Ewan¡¯s face had now turned into a foolish grin, from ear to ear. Hearing new words from his Pa and hearing about his ¡®awesome¡¯ talent, the fireworks went ablaze in his heart.


    ¡°You¡¯ve left the school at this time, so I¡¯m presuming they didn¡¯t let you receive the Astylind after all. Don¡¯t blame your mother for it, she will never mean you any harm, but she can''t control them. It was my fault she walked away; things were complicated back then. And now that I¡¯m gone, she¡¯ll put all that anger on you, and others will take advantage of that. Just give her some time, she¡¯ll come around. Also, you¡¯ll receive something in a few days, it¡¯s my gift to you. Happy birthday, Ewan.¡± He finished the sentence in a soft and gentle voice. The seeker touched the rightmost end and looped back, and Ewan sat in silence, relishing the words his father left him once more.


    Yet, a roar rumbled in the courtyard and broke him away from his trance¡ªthe Fire Monkey had gone into labor.


    <hr>

 Chapter-8 Plan

    Ewan rushed for the courtyard, stubbing his pinky toe on the dining table, and screamed as he rocketed out the door. The monkey was already in labor, lying in a pool of watery blood, her stomach wriggling around. She growled, the end of it escaping as a feeble groan, and her eyes regained clarity¡ªher state of self-sedation was over, she would rampage now.


    Once he confirmed her situation from a safe distance, as embers sparked around her, Ewan bolted back into the house and ran out with the supplies, zipping the fire suit and clasping the belt. Given his situation with the school and the Astylind, he cooked a plan for the monkey, and it was now time to enact.


    The natural delivery without any complications required no external touch for the most part, so Ewan watched her from the side, stepping back until his presence didn¡¯t stress the monkey. The storm of fire raged around her, scorching the grass, reddening the cage, and roasting Ewan¡ªhis sweat steamed and turned the insides of the suit into a sauna. The sweltering breaths cracked his lips, parched his throat, and singed his chest, but he still stood inside the tempest of fire.


    Her vulva had already stretched and swollen and had become flabby; the mucus oozed out and pooled under her. And within the next hour, as the monkey roared with another wave of rioting fire, her second layer of bag burst open. When Ewan came back from replenishing fluid and bent down to level with her, even with the distorted vision, a small head crowned from the vaginal gap to meet his gaze.


    With minutes of struggle, with her tortured screams echoing in the yard, and some tongues of fire licking the height of the fence, an ugly and wrinkled baby monkey plopped out with a gush of slimy mucus. It lay silent in the cage, as Ewan¡¯s heart was in his mouth, and then twitched and cried. He finally heaved a sigh of relief and slumped down on the scorched earth, the excessive heat scalding his butt. The weary female monkey too let go of the cage with a groan, her hands dropping by her side, and her eyes closed, the barely moving chest proving her life.


    Ewan looked at the yard around ¡ªthe fire still burned whatever remained in the area¡ªand prepared to move on to the next part of his plan. Luckily, his line of work had long numbed his neighbors for any kind of disturbance in his place¡­


    Before he could take out the knife though, the female monkey¡¯s stomach squirmed again. And as she moaned in pain and heaved, another baby crowned from the gap. Ewan cursed out loud and dashed for the cage, grabbing the supplies. He sought theories for all sorts of problems he could face, but her having twins wasn¡¯t one of them¡ªhe wasn¡¯t a professional after all. Nevertheless, it didn¡¯t change what he had to do, instead the appearance of the second baby might even bolster his plan.


    No fire came out of her, she didn¡¯t have the strength to even growl at him anymore, but she still strived to push the baby. And his job was to help her. Once he wrapped the first tiny monkey in a soft towel and put it aside safely, minding the fire flickering on his forehead, he moved to confirm the female monkey¡¯s condition. Her vulva had dried from the hours of raging fire, so he wetted it with soap water, checked the crowning again and the position of the baby monkey, and helped her in pushing whenever she tried, keeping his hands away when she rested. When she made good progress, he switched to the other side¡ªshe pushed, and he pulled.


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    Drops of sweat seeped into his eyes, but he couldn¡¯t scratch the itch; his breath burned his chest, but he couldn¡¯t rest for a heave of cold fresh air¡ªhis headache hammered him in waves, and his sense of time blurred. Soon, when he counted minutes, but the arc of the sun showed over an hour, the second baby monkey flopped out into his hand and howled to mark its birth.


    Its thin and lanky limbs, its emaciated chest, and the bony frame without a hint of meat on it contrasted its older sibling in every way possible. Not only that but even the blob of fire burning on its forehead flickered between blue and orange, dying into an ember then raging beyond its size. And once its breath stabilized and it cried, the fire stayed orange too, with not a hint of blue remaining.


    Mutation¡­


    Ewan couldn¡¯t confirm what kind it was right now, but it didn¡¯t matter¡ªa mutation almost always overshadowed the norm. And he set his eyes on this little one for his plan, the plan he would now eventuate, the plan that would hurt a lot¡­


    The rampage of the fire had calmed down as the female monkey flaked out, but its remnants still came to his waist, scorching the earth till not a hint of moisture remained in that area of the yard. But this amount of damage was far from enough, it would hardly give him any leverage against the customer. At best, she would pay for it; at worst, she would refuse to acknowledge¡­ He needed to do much worse, a level of damage she couldn¡¯t ignore even if she wanted to, a level of damage that their colony marked as a punishable crime.


    ¡­.


    With a bucket of iced water on his side, the tongues of fire reaching for him but failing short, he sliced the left sleeve of the fire suit and yanked it off, exposing his hand. His teeth grinded when he clenched his jaws, his chest tightened when he took a deep breath, and as he steeled his mind and intentions, he plunged his hand into the searing fire.


    He bellowed, his roar rumbling in the yard, as a life-ending pain assaulted him, yet he didn¡¯t pull back. Waves of agony invaded him as his hand sizzled and wafted a foul stench¡ªof burnt skin, singed hair, and charred meat. His face flushed and reddened, his back shivered, and he growled; the torment almost knocked him out cold. He grabbed the blade of the knife, bit his tongue, slapped his face, and when he finally couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, he took the hand back and dipped it into the iced water¡ªit fizzled for a second then smoked. Ewan kneeled and panted before the fire, drenched in sweat, his mind barely holding on. His hand was blood-red, covered in blisters, some parts charred black; even a twitch of his fingers overwhelmed him with agony.


    When Uncle Thain would find out, he would get another scolding¡­ Ewan chuckled, still heaving and sweating bullets, soaking his collars and shoulders, and drenching his hair. If Nana found out, she might worry too¡­or perhaps not¡­ He turned to look towards her house, towards her balcony, and his eyes met hers, she was crying¡­


    <hr>

 Chapter-9 First Astylind

    The fire had died, the smoke dissipated, the temperature came down, and only the cracked blackened earth proved the earlier rampage. The scars that the monkey left on his yard would take weeks if not months to heal. Nonetheless, it was far from the price he was willing to pay if it meant his plan would succeed.


    ¡°How long do I have to wait?¡± Necia asked, tapping her foot with her arms crossed, her frown deepening.


    ¡°Just a few minutes, he¡¯s on his way,¡± Ewan said, adjusting the gauze around his wounds, tightening the knot with his bite.


    ¡°Why do we need him anyway? Just give me the babies, and I¡¯ll be on my way,¡± she said, her nostrils flaring.


    ¡°Look at the damage, ma¡¯am,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Do you think just that many Sols are enough to pay for it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s on you, you accepted the job knowing the risks,¡± she said.


    ¡°That was before your monkey hurt him,¡± Uncle Thain walked in from the main gate and said, pushing his black-framed glasses up, his sleeve bag rubbing against the edge of his navy suit. ¡°Since bodily harm was done by an Astylind, it¡¯s now an issue of criminal proceeding.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s bullshit! He kept her in the cage, she couldn¡¯t have hurt him unless he asked for it himself,¡± Necia said.


    ¡°This is Ms. Necia, and this is Mr. Thain Cesar, my lawyer.¡± Regardless of her outburst, Ewan still introduced the two to each other.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, the job you paid him for didn¡¯t just include keeping her in the cage, did it?¡± Uncle Thain said. ¡°He not only helped your monkey through the tough labor, but also kept her alive in the process.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± She scowled. ¡°Ten Sols, I won''t pay more than that.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Sols can solve this problem, ma¡¯am?¡± Uncle Thain asked. ¡°His burn is from Fire-Anima. The treatment is already troublesome, but the pain is so much worse, you should know that. And regardless, he still helped your monkey survive, and even took good care of the newborns.¡±


    ¡°Twenty,¡± she said. ¡°I won''t complain about how he treated my Astylind, and you¡¯ll forget about this matter.¡±


    Uncle Thain chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to understand. Sols can''t compensate his damage, you need to relinquish your claim on the newborns and give them to him, and then we¡¯ll forget this ever occurred. There¡¯ll be no need to get the L.E.A involved.¡±


    ¡°No fucking way!¡± She shrieked. ¡°Call the black suits, brown suits, I don¡¯t give a shit. I¡¯ll see how you get away with stealing from me.¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, when it comes to Astylinds hurting the citizens of Obria, those black suits go haywire. They don¡¯t listen to reason in that situation, and regardless of how the injury occurred, no matter who was at fault, they would always charge the owner of the Astylind,¡± Uncle Thain said. ¡°Worst case scenario, you¡¯ll be locked up, and your monkey will be put down. Do you wish to try your luck at that? Given the tension in our colony right now, do you think you¡¯ll survive against the public outrage?¡±


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    ¡°If you get involved in a situation like that, do you think your shop will survive? Will anyone ever trust you with his Astylind?¡± Necia said.


    ¡°That¡¯s why the waiver exists, ma¡¯am, which you so earnestly refused to sign. It prevents you from asking for compensation, and it prevents him from registering any complaints, it¡¯s a win-win for both sides, but you didn¡¯t sign it¡­,¡± Uncle Thain said. ¡°And I could even argue before an enforcer that the reason you didn¡¯t sign the waiver is that you didn¡¯t want to leave a record. Maybe the source of your Astylind is problematic.¡±


    ¡°Horseshit! Do you think your lies will work? You don¡¯t have any proof to back your claims,¡± she said, squinting, clenching her fists.


    She¡¯s got a foul mouth¡­


    Ewan kept the words in.


    ¡°I¡¯m just speculating, there¡¯s no claim here,¡± Uncle Thain said, smiling. ¡°It can easily be solved once you confirm your source.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t intend to open the shop after this, so you don¡¯t need to mind its reputation,¡± Ewan added from the side. ¡°Please continue.¡±


    ¡°That puts my worries to rest then,¡± Uncle Thain said and took out his phone that had an ostentatious idol¡¯s sticker on its back, its edges peeling a little. ¡°Now I don¡¯t need to mind the backlash, let¡¯s put the issue in the public court. I¡¯ll contact the L.E.A, they¡¯ll take over and you won''t need to deal with us.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Necia yelled. ¡°Just wait, calling the enforcers would do neither of us any good. I might get a charge, but he won''t get away scot-free either, what he did here was illegal. Let¡¯s compromise, I¡¯ll give up one of the babies.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯ll take the scrawny one.¡±


    Necia frowned. ¡°No, you can have the healthier one,¡± she said.


    ¡°Alright, as you wish,¡± he said, easing his attitude to confuse her more.


    ¡°No, wait¡­¡± She interrupted him as he reached for the baby monkeys.


    ¡°Can you decide already?¡± Ewan grumbled. ¡°Which one do you want?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s getting late, so let me decide for you guys.¡± Uncle Thain interfered, and the baby monkeys hovered from their makeshift cradle and floated to him.


    ¡°Ryvia¡­¡± Necia murmured, gulping with her widened eyes wavering, and backed off a step.


    ¡°Ewan, they were hers to begin with, so be a gentleman and take a loss here,¡± Uncle Thain said and gently dropped the bony baby monkey in Ewan¡¯s intact palm. ¡°Ms. Necia, I hope this will end here. I¡¯m being nice as long as the damage remains under my tolerance limit. If you try to cross that limit, if you test my patience, I¡¯ll stop behaving. Do you understand me?¡± At the end of his words, the other baby monkey fell onto Necia¡¯s palms, and she bobbed her head and signed the papers before scuttling away.


    ¡°If you let me suppress her from the get-go, this would¡¯ve gone much faster,¡± Uncle Thain said when Necia¡¯s back faded away from the main gate, keeping the stack of papers in his bag.


    ¡°Then you would succeed, not me,¡± Ewan said, caressing the baby monkey, the younger brother of the twins, with a content and a tender smile. He hugged Ewan''s finger with his bony limbs, his pink skin holding a tint of red, his long tail brushing against his wrist, and a tiny blob of orange fire flickering on the forehead¡ªit warmed Ewan¡¯s touch but didn¡¯t burn him.


    ¡°Was this worth it?¡± Uncle Thain asked. ¡°You know Authen wouldn¡¯t leave you hanging, you should get some Astylinds soon. And if he did, I would¡¯ve gotten you any that you wanted from outside. Was hurting yourself to this extent for a mere Astylind worth it?¡±


    ¡°It was,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And not just for an Astylind, it was for the threat of criminal charges. With that hanging over their heads, they would at least back off for a while, I can spend my days in peace now.¡±


    Uncle Thain sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure whether I should scold you or¡­¡±

 Chapter-10 Gift

    Mornings went by and Ewan took care of the baby monkey while living his days. The injury of his left hand troubled him, but it also eased the pace of his life. The already cumbersome task that it hindered the most though was feeding the monkey. He was far too small, smaller than Ewan¡¯s palm, the normal sized milk bottles for babies couldn¡¯t work¡ªnot even the syringes survived his feed as the little menace chewed and ripped its beak.<sub>


    </sub>And so, Ewan had to buy a special tiny bottle for Astylinds online. It was a fast delivery, but it cost him one Sol, almost bleeding his heart. Even though his account balance now weighed several Sols heavier, he still couldn¡¯t afford to splurge, not even on the food he liked to eat, for he had no source of income anymore.


    Luckily, Uncle Thain called this morning and informed him about the status of the transaction, that the withdrawal refund from the school would reflect in his account by sundown.


    ¡­.


    The doorbell clanged when he¡¯d just fed the monkey and sprawled on the chair in his room, resting the hurt arm on his chest. Since the shop had shut down, and the board outside mentioned it in bold letters, it couldn¡¯t be any potential customer. So, it was either someone asking for address or someone messing around¡ªhe dragged himself up and trudged for the gate. His Pa did say he would receive a gift in a few days, so it could be that too¡­the thought breathed some life in his steps, and he almost trotted over.


    ¡°Mr. Ayres?¡± the delivery guy asked when Ewan opened the door.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ewan said, his eyes sparking.


    ¡°Please sign here, and your fingerprint.¡±


    Ewan took the panel and did as told. After confirming his identity, the delivery guy took a small package out of his bag, the outer cover scraped around the edges, and handed it to him. He closed the door mindlessly, locked it, and scuttled back to his room while eyeing the packet from all sides.


    The baby monkey napped on his bed, his tiny chest with some new fur rising and falling peacefully. Without disturbing him, Ewan tore the package and took out a metallic cube from inside. It also had a note stuck on it, ¡®Drop your blood,¡¯ it wrote. It was his Pa¡¯s writing; he recognized the dropping tail of ¡®D¡¯ his Pa liked to extend.


    Ewan sliced his finger on a gleaming edge of the cube and let his blood smear its surface. The red blob dispersed into fine lines on the metal surface, thinning by the second. And when the cube absorbed all the blood he gave, the box clicked open and its top slid aside, baring the black key that rested on the velvet bed inside. Its grooves ran different from the usual electronic keys, it resembled runes more than simple notches.


    He picked it up, mulling over where to use it. There wasn¡¯t any locked room in the house, no special place that it could open either. But as seconds went by, as he looked around the room and hall, the key warmed and chilled his touch¡ªit heated up when he brought it to the sliding door that led to the backyard and cooled down when he walked away.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.This back area was smaller than the middle courtyard but bigger than the average garden. It had a dirty pond to the left and an overgrown white blossom tree rooted by its side. Its crown towered above the fence; fallen white petals covered the grass below. There was also a shed to the right; attached to the corner of the house but its entrance was from the backyard.


    Ewan shifted towards the shed, and the key heated up. The battered shed that only held a faint resemblance of its past sparked a hint of nostalgia as he looked around. It was steps away from where he lived yet it had been years since he stepped foot in it.


    The shed door clicked as he neared; it opened on its own. Ewan gulped, not minding his flinch from the click. All these events spooked him a little, but this was his Pa¡¯s setup. So, he went in.


    The inside lay bare. Except for a dusty floor, browned leaves, glass shards from the cracked window, and withered branches, it had nothing, but the key almost scalded his skin in here. He took one step in, and the key shot out of his hand and into the right wall, fitting in a hole. Ewan stood where he was and gaped as a new door carved into the wall, its contours and edges matching the style of his mansion¡ªthis wall connected the house to this shed.


    He took a deep breath and opened it, and a dark stairway greeted him with a musty stench. The tubes on the ceiling flickered and lit up one by one, lighting the path down. He followed the only path available, and soon, a huge basement ballooned before him, dazzling him with its harsh milky lighting¡ªhe shaded his eyes and squinted. Its white metal walls bounced the light off and blazed the place; it was too bright.


    The total area it covered was huge, beyond the boundary of his house. It covered most of his neighbors too.


    The whole basement was empty except for the large table at the center and a control panel in one corner. Ewan surveyed the whole place when the radiance didn¡¯t sting his eyes, gaping, and heaving. His house sat on something this huge¡­his Pa really knew how to surprise him.


    After a few minutes, when he digested it all, he moved to the table¡ªthere were a few items on it.


    A black full finger claw-ring with a sharp and pointy tip, it could fit his index finger; an old audio player; two old booklets with rough black hardcovers; a human-head sized blue egg covered in runes; a fist-sized ivory egg also covered in runes; and a dried walnut like seed.


    Everything on the table tickled Ewan¡¯s curiosity, but he reined it in and played the audio player first¡ªit was an old design, with no function to connect to any network, wired or otherwise.


    ¡°Ewan, this¡¯ll be the last time you hear from me.¡± After a bit of static, the audio played.


    His chest twinged as he heard his Pa.


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown up, you need to find your own path now. I¡¯m already a past, I can''t be in your future. Remember, you¡¯ll only have yourself to rely on, and Nana too if you wish to honor the old promise. Forget it if you don¡¯t, it¡¯s better to end the cycle of bitterness with my generation. Base your future with her on trust and care, not benefits and interest, let that end with me¡­¡±


    Her sobbing image on the balcony flashed before him, and he sighed, sitting by the table with his back against its leg, his head resting on the wood¡ªthe audio played on the table.


    ¡°What I¡¯ll tell you, keep it in mind, but destroy all evidence of it. Destroy this tape and the player, never let anyone else know about it. Please Ewan, be careful with this one.¡±


    Ewan sat in silence; his eyes closed.


    <hr>

 Chapter-11 Inheritance

    ¡°The wealth I left behind, everything you lost, none of it matters, not even Sunbird. All that you see on this table; this is my true inheritance I left for you. This is our family¡¯s true inheritance,¡± he said. ¡°I have confidence in my setup. But in case I failed and you¡¯re not Ewan, I hope you take what¡¯s here and let my son go. You only need a drop of his blood to activate the artifact, you won''t need him for anything beyond that. This is my plea; I hope you comply. If you harm him in any way though, you may come to live a life worse than death, I¡¯ll make sure of that.¡±


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s me, Pa.¡±


    The audio remained quiet for a moment then resumed. ¡°But I hope my plans succeeded and you¡¯re Ewan. I¡¯ll continue assuming that.¡±


    ¡°The two booklets contain the spell circuits, <Contract> and <Identify>. Don¡¯t use the ones available for free out there, those are garbage. Even the ones you pay for can''t compare to our family¡¯s spell circuits. Our ancestors, generation after generation, researched and created them. Our <Contract> spell circuit boasts a hundred percent success rate, while our <Identify> has a database that all our ancestors enriched with their knowledge.¡±


    As far as Ewan¡¯s memory went, their family was no more. His maternal relatives were a dime a dozen, they¡¯d even crowded that roomy funeral hall. But he had no paternal relatives left. His father mentioned his grandpa and grandma sometimes, that they died when he was mere a teen. But that was about it. Beyond the bits of fond memories he recounted, Ewan knew nothing about them.


    ¡°I¡¯ve left you three Astylinds, the two eggs and the seed. With your aptitude, you should have enough soul essence to contract them all at once, I¡¯m confident. They¡¯re in a suspended state, so you¡¯ll need a lot of blood to awaken them.¡±


    The tape went silent again for a few seconds. ¡°They don¡¯t need your blood, anyone¡¯s will work.¡± He almost sounded flustered.


    ¡°The seed and the blue egg are descendants of my own Astylinds, they¡¯re my gift to you. While the white egg is handed down in our family, it¡¯s a special Astylind. On Airadia, and maybe even in the whole universe, only our family has it now, our forefathers made sure of that. You¡¯ll get a memory inheritance if you initiate the contract process with it, so I won''t go into details. But I¡¯ll warn you, this Astylind is a double-edged sword. Our ancestors prospered because of it, and they died because of it. Even if it wasn''t responsible for their deaths, it still played a role in them.¡±


    He heaved a deep sigh and continued, ¡°I hope you skip it, don¡¯t contract it. But I¡¯ll leave the final decision to you. Whatever you choose, I¡¯ll support you. If you do decide to contract it, use your spirit not the spell.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Aside from the Astylinds, I¡¯ve left you a special spell circuit inside the claw-ring. My father, your grandpa, envisioned the idea and created the framework. And I completed it and used it to build myself up. The details you¡¯ll find in its book. It¡¯s my finest creation, I know you¡¯ll be proud. Haha.¡±


    The tape continued. ¡°As for the claw-ring, it¡¯s also a legacy handed down in our family. It¡¯s a storage artifact. I¡¯ve sealed up most of its space so you can use it too. Once your soul is strong enough, you can push the seal back. You can also increase its size using other storage artifacts and materials.¡±


    ¡°That will be all. I leave everything up to you now. I hope it helps you with whatever you want to do. One last thing. Whatever happens in the future, always remember that you are and will forever be my son. It¡¯s a fact that no one can change. No matter what you do, what you become, that won''t change.¡±


    After a bit of silence, he resumed, ¡°I had the DNA test done to confirm that. HAHAHA!¡±


    Ewan laughed, his eyes getting misty. Even in the face of death, his father never lost his perverted sense of humor.


    ¡­.


    The well-timed jest ended the audio, and Ewan sat with his head down and his eyes closed. Once he half-digested everything, he stood up and pocketed the player. His Pa asked him to destroy the tape and the player, but he didn¡¯t want to do it. His Pa¡¯s voice was his crutch, and he wasn¡¯t ready to give it up. He knew the risks he was taking, but he didn¡¯t want to relent on this. Once he became a Severynth, he could keep this player and the rest of the audio in the claw-ring, only death could separate it from him at that point. And once he died, he wouldn¡¯t care about someone finding out the secret anyway.


    For the other items on the table, he left the claw-ring and the Astylinds as they were and grabbed the books before heading out¡ªhe couldn¡¯t use them before his soul awakened, they were safer here. Now, he needed to practice the new spell circuits.


    Once back in the shed, he closed the door and took out the key. Without it, the door seams vanished. The wall smoothened with not a gap in sight, except for the hole for the key.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Hours went by as evening approached.


    The chores of the house eluded him with the genuine excuse of his arm, so he just fed the baby monkey and practiced drawing the spell circuits on his notebook for the day. He¡¯d practiced the ones on the public site before, but these two were far more complex. And by sundown, the continuous practice hammered him with a brain-splitting headache. So, he stopped and went up to the balcony with the baby monkey in his arm.


    He sat there, relaxed, his legs stretched on the recliner. His left hand surged with waves of pain, but he learned to ignore it.


    Gentle wind caressed his face, his neck, his shoulders. The baby monkey hugged his finger and looked at him with his black beady eyes, his large nostrils steaming from time to time. The tiny blob of orange fire on his forehead flickered with the wind, but it flamed stronger than ever. With the nutrients in, his limbs now looked stronger. He still couldn¡¯t compare to his sibling, but he carried a healthier tone.


    I should name him¡­


    Ewan looked down at the baby monkey.


    ¡°Orange?¡± He glanced at his fire and named him such. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ll be Orange from now on.¡± Ewan beamed and finalized the monkey¡¯s name. The baby monkey, now named Orange, released two childish hoots, and buried his face in Ewan¡¯s palm, drooling all over his hand.


    <hr>

 Chapter-12 Awakening

    Next morning, the first thing Ewan did was stock up on food, lots of food. He received the refund late last night, around fifty Sols, and it bolstered his balance a fair bit. Its addition to the previous number was enough for quite some time now. And if he was frugal with it, it could last him till his birthday.


    The delivery of the groceries came quick, the bulging paper bags barely holding their contents. It had been a few weeks since he ate a proper meal, so he stored the items in the refrigerator and picked out a rack of lamb to cook. Since he could only use one hand, he went slow. The seasoned and spiced meat browned on all sides with time and patience, then a block of compound butter with some onions and garlic cloves elevated its flavor¡ªhe basted it, struggling with one hand, till it reached the apt temperature.


    Once it had rested enough, he took it to the dining table in the kitchen and enjoyed it. Orange sat on the table with his milk bottle, eyeing the piping hot rack of meat.


    ¡°You can''t eat this, drink your milk.¡± Ewan grabbed the bone and ripped a bite with his teeth. The meat was tender and moist, it almost melted in his mouth. He savored the flavor with his eyes closed, bite by bite he ate, relishing every bit of it.


    Once he finished it, he left the plate and the dishes in the already full sink and washed his hand and mouth. One day, he would clean it up, he promised himself, one day for sure...


    ¡­.


    The sun peaked for the day, and he continued practicing drawing the spell circuits. Because he practiced the public ones before, he made good progress with his family¡¯s. Orange sat on the table, cackling at him from time to time. Sometimes he rolled around in front of Ewan, sometimes he jumped on the notebook and played with his pen.


    He never had any pets, so this new situation weirded him out. Nevertheless, the smile he bore now was wider and brighter than before. He always liked to be alone, but that was because he didn¡¯t like meeting or socializing with other people. Orange was different, however. His mind was a clean sheet; Ewan didn¡¯t need to be on guard against him.


    His Pa told him once that Severynths mostly treated their Astylinds in two ways. One kind treated them as pure tools, they didn¡¯t hesitate in sacrificing their Astylinds if the situation called for it, though the impact of it on their path would be steep. While the other kind treated them as family¡ªEwan moved towards the second path.


    Once his hands ached and eyes blurred from practicing, he took Orange with him to the second-floor balcony. Sprawling on the recliner, he closed his eyes and took a breather. Aside from deciding whether to contract the special Astylind or not, he also had to think about the path he would take as a Severynth.


    Elemental runes would form in Severynths¡¯ soul space based on the element of their contracted Astylinds. If Ewan made a contract with Orange, a fire-element rune would form in his soul space.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.Unlike Astylinds and other Starons, Humans couldn¡¯t manipulate Anima by default. Even the best of the talents faced resistance in their bodies once they controlled the Anima. And resistance from one element was bad enough, if they used different elements, their Anima would also clash against each other; the friction produced would reduce the efficiency and the final effect of the spells¡ªthis was why many Severynths majored in only one element even when they contracted Astylinds of different elements.


    Mr. Worth once mentioned, off the record, that Ashevas used certain physique modification techniques to overcome the resistance. The techniques he talked about were for single elements, he knew nothing about the method to overcome the friction of multiple elements.


    After Ewan contracted every Astylind his father prepared for him, he would form multiple elemental runes in his soul space as well. And so, without any alternative, he also had to choose one element to major in from those elements.


    He looked down at Orange and met his glossy eyes.


    Fire?


    The fire element didn¡¯t fit well with his intentions. He always planned to become a supporting spellcaster to his Astylinds, and the offensive nature of the fire element didn¡¯t match his plan.


    Since his exposure to the Severynth path, he gave his combat style a lot of thought. In his class, many of his classmates aspired to be a vanguard, Ewan preferred the opposite.


    They had their Astylinds to take charge of the front line, becoming a vanguard themselves would instead hamper their ability to command the team. Severynths were after all the conductors¡ªthey directed the Astylinds with their thoughts and controlled the battlefield. Their presence sang the loudest when they remained in the back, at least the traditional method dictated so.


    As his mind took him on a tour, Orange snored on his chest. He grabbed Ewan¡¯s t-shirt with his tiny palms and drooled all over him, the wet patches from his saliva spreading away. The warm sun made Ewan drowsy too, so he closed his eyes and let go of all his worries. He preferred these relaxing days, when the growls of his stomach didn¡¯t remind him of his crisis, and the weight on his chest promised him certainty.


    And with a smile on his face, he napped on the recliner.


    ¡°I hope I awaken soon¡­,¡± he murmured.


    ¡­¡­


    Steaming slabs of meat surrounded him, salivating aroma of spices tingled his nose. There were different types of meat, from his favorite cut to his least liked, even the premium Astylind meat lined before him. He could never afford them with the money he had, but here they were, enticing him with their flavorsome smell. He couldn¡¯t resist anymore, and so, he grabbed the tastiest looking meat that he could reach and bit into it.


    And he retched, almost vomiting everything out. It was sickening sweet, far too much, it even numbed his tongue.


    The aroma of all the meat now turned into a sugary fragrance. One meat hooted at him, then another hooted twice. One by one, all the meat around him hooted like Orange.


    Orange?


    The thought jolted him awake, rattling the recliner¡¯s legs, as he grabbed the railing for balance. The blood-red sun had verged on the horizon, the afterglow still lingering after its departure. And the two moons, violet and silver, were already up and ready to spend the night with the Airadians.


    His drool dripped down the side of his mouth while Orange lay on his chest and called him out in his childish voice. His nose twitched, the sugary smell from his dream followed him out. It was sickening sweet around him, as if someone threw kilos of powdered sugar on him.


    Sweet?


    He jerked up, catching Orange with his right hand. This was it, his soul awakened.

 Chapter-13 Growth

    A few deep breaths calmed him down, though the same led the syrupy fragrance to tingle his nose and sweeten his throat. Though he was almost sure of it, he now needed to confirm whether his soul actually awakened or not. And if it did, he needed to finish the further initiation procedures as soon as he could. After all, the longer he waited, the lower his chances would be, though the decline counted in months and years...


    He closed his eyes and traced the <Identify> spell circuit in his mind¡ªthe one from the public site. He still wasn¡¯t proficient enough with his family¡¯s spells, he couldn¡¯t use them for now. And because he only needed it to open his soul space, the old spell sufficed.


    His hands had learned this spell circuit for many years, even the new versions they released only changed a small part, the database, and he digested them after a few hours of practice at max. Yet, practicing on paper and tracing it in his mind was different. Whenever he tried to do it before, the further he went, the more the earlier parts of the spell circuit blurred out; he couldn¡¯t create any effect with it. But now, every stroke, every line, every curve he traced, remained vivid. This proved, beyond a shred of doubt, that his soul awakened.


    But the fact didn¡¯t distract him, he didn¡¯t let it. And he marched ahead, bit by bit, his effort shaped the circuit. Going slow but steady, Ewan finally finished it. And with his final touch, a shockwave blasted from the circuit¡ªit hammered his head as it gouged a space in his mind. His nose bled but a smile tugged on his face, he succeeded.


    This space was his soul space. It was dark, there was nothing there. But this was his base, the beginning of his life as a Severynth, an Asheva.


    Because he used the spell on himself, his details popped up in front of him; only for his eyes to see.


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Malnourished | Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0: Soul Awakening [1<sup>st </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 0 [Potential: 4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The intangible screen amazed him, his hand phased through it when he touched it. But it was there, he could see it.


    It took him a while to calm his thumping heart down. A plethora of ideas shuffled through his mind, but he first had to do the important stuff. He ran down the stairs with Orange stuffed inside his sweatshirt pocket and went to the backyard. He had tied the key to his neck like a pendant with a black thread, and when he neared the shed, it heated up. He took it off and repeated the same process.


    Down in the basement, he wore the black claw-ring on his right index finger. It was a bit loose, but he could fix that later with some adjustments¡ªhammer and heat would work wonders.


    With its sharp tip, he pricked his left index finger that came out of the bandages and smeared his blood on the length of the claw-ring. The red stayed on the black surface for a second, then the metal sucked it in. A memory imprint popped into his mind as soon as the claw-ring booted¡ªhis Pa had left the imprint. It explained everything there was to know about the artifact. How to use it, how to break the seals, how to increase the size inside, everything. The claw-ring also adjusted its curve to fit Ewan¡¯s finger while he went through the imprint.


    A few moments later, he finished sorting through all the information. For now, he only needed to know how to use the artifact, the rest would come in use later.


    He used his ¡®spirit¡¯ and scanned inside. The space was about two meters cube in volume with churning gray fog enveloping it from all sides. It had three black-hardcover books, one white-hardcover book, one reddish-hardcover book, a bulging pouch, a sheathed dagger, and a silver metal dish. He left them all in the claw-ring for now.


    After glancing at the three Astylinds on the table, he left the basement. He needed to practice the two necessary spell circuits; he could go through the inventory after he mastered them.


    ¡­.


    A week went by, the sickening sweet smell around Ewan eased by the day. The sixth day after the awakening, he couldn¡¯t smell anything anymore.


    The last seven days, he did nothing but practice the spell circuits. He didn¡¯t even spare any time for his hygiene these days. And only today when he took a bath, he noticed his changed body in the foggy mirror. The sick skin-and-bones physique was a memory of the past, he was now much healthier in comparison. The muscles covered his bare ribs, his limbs were sturdier, his skin was rosy, and his eyes glistened.


    The Ewan in the mirror was almost a stranger to him. The shiny wet raven hair falling to his forehead, the muscles curving on his shoulders, the shape of his arm¡¯s muscles¡ªhe became a fan of himself. The only black mark in all this was his bandaged hand. If not for that, he would look perfect right now.


    And the narcissist in him reared his head in his full glory with a wide grin.


    While admiring himself, he noticed the height he had reached in the mirror, and his heart bloomed with expectation. He raced out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his navel and measured his height at the marks he made on the wall. He finally stood at sixth mark, at six feet; it was even a little over¡­


    Orange, who jumped around on the keyboard, stared at him and hooted after seeing his foolish smile. After seven days, he had also grown. He was now the size of Ewan¡¯s palm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go out today, let¡¯s go for a treat.¡±


    Orange frolicked around and cackled while Ewan changed his clothes.


    ¡­.


    The sky had darkened, and the streetlamps lit their way when they returned home after a sumptuous meal in a restaurant.


    ¡°Whaf can I fo? You can¡¯f eaf anyfhing yef.¡± Orange hooked his mouth by the side and bit his earlobe, growling with childish throat. In the restaurant, while he ate a filling meal, Orange could only drink milk by the side, glaring at him. Even the bouncy sisters that came to pamper him couldn¡¯t elicit a hoot. And thus, Ewan suffered from his attacks all the way back. Why did it feel like he was a helpless father of a child now¡­


    <hr>

 Chapter-14 Elementalist—The Path of Anima

    A few days later.


    Ewan heaved a huge sigh of relief when he finished the final stroke of the spell circuit on the notebook. Mistakes riddled the pages along the way, but he finally did it. He was now proficient enough to cast his family¡¯s spells. And so, without further ado, he traced the new <Identify> spell in his soul space. His aim was Orange, who played with the pen before him.


    He went slow with steady curves, and soon, he got the results.


    [Astylind Name: Fire Monkey (Mutant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-0]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Fire]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. They are blessed with decent fire-element affinity (Recipient) but lack the skills to make use of it.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Fire), Blood-Firos Leaves, Fire Coral, Volcanic Rock.]


    [Remark 1: Can be trained as a vanguard but require more attention with the elemental skills.]


    [Remark 2: They look cool, can make them your mascot.]


    [Remark 3: I agree with the second remark.]


    Those remarks¡­. He didn¡¯t know what to comment on that. On the bright side, at least his forefathers were fun people¡­


    Once he read through the important details, especially the upgrade requirements, he closed the screen with a smug smile on his face.


    Knowledge and information were important resources in any field. They could give him an edge over his enemies or friends. Thus, he was ecstatic to see the detailed description his family¡¯s spell provided¡ªthe public spell paled in comparison with its limited information. It only gave him Orange¡¯s species name, his level, his grade, his affinity, and his gender. There was no description, let alone any grade upgrade requirements and remarks. It didn¡¯t even mention anything about his mutation.


    After Orange, his thought led him to wonder about his own details with the new spell. Last time he saw his data was when he opened his soul space, and that was using the public spell. His family¡¯s spell provided much more data, so he wondered if he could see more details in his status screen. So, he traced the spell circuit in his soul space again and aimed at himself. In the end, he made no mistakes and succeeded.


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured | Nutrient Deficient


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [1<sup>st </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 0.8


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 1.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 0 [Potential: 4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Three black-hardcover books; white-hardcover book; red-hardcover book; Pouch; dagger; silver metal dishware.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: ??


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 61


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Ewan expected more data, but this was beyond anything he imagined. No one had ever mentioned numerical stats like that before, neither the fellow students nor the teachers in the school hinted at them. The spell even displayed the Sols he had in his account. And the ¡®Storage¡¯ part¡ªthe spell used his memory to display these details. If not, it wouldn¡¯t have given those items in the claw-ring such vague terms.


    But what was ¡®Novas¡¯¡­


    He still had too much to learn about the new world he had entered after all. As a newbie, he was eager but didn¡¯t fret. Because of his Pa, his beginning was already miles ahead of many others, he only needed to take one step at a time.


    ¡­.


    Now that he had practiced the spells, he checked the items in the claw-ring. He could cast the <Contract> spell now, so he could contract Orange, but he waited. He had opened his soul space anyway; he wasn¡¯t in any hurry.


    He took out the bulging pouch and placed it on the table¡ªit was the size of his head. When he stretched its mouth open, the pile of glazed stones gleamed in the diffused sunlight. White, red, brown, there were stones of three different colors in the pouch, and of random sizes.


    Anima Crystals?


    He took out one white stone and used the <Identify> spell again.


    [Item Name: Anima Crystal (Ice)]


    [Item Description: Concentrated Ice-Anima in crystal form.]


    [Remark: Money!!!]


    Ewan¡¯s lips twitched at the remark, but he tried to ignore it this time.


    They were indeed Anima Crystals. His Pa never showed one to him, but his teacher once brought a rice grain sized crystal to show to the class. It was orange, he recalled, it was of the fire element.


    Anima recovery and currency; these were their two main uses. Ewan understood the recovery part, but he never fathomed the currency one. They came in all different sizes, so how did Starons determine their exact value¡­ Perhaps by weight¡­he shook his head and moved on.


    He kept the pouch in the claw-ring again and took out the dagger. After unsheathing the wooden scabbard, the naked dagger bared itself. The straight black blade stretched to a width of three fingers, albeit of an emaciated man¡ªit mirrored his face and a groove ran on its spine.


    [Item Name: Obsidian Dagger]


    [Item Description: Dagger made of obsidian ore.]


    [Remark 1: Will retain the edge forever. Unless the blade breaks, it will never become dull.]


    [Remark 2: It will kill.]


    Ewan fiddled around with it, he checked the edge on some simple items near him, and it sliced everything like butter. And once he had his fill of fun, once the items around him were in pieces, he sheathed it and put it back in the space storage.


    Next, he brought out one of the black-hardcover books¡ªthe thick spine filled his grip, and the velvet cover soothed his touch. Spell circuits filled the first few pages; their descriptions, their details, and the related runes verified it as a Spellbook. And it relieved Ewan, as he wanted to buy some basic spells but had no idea where to begin.


    He was a complete newbie and had no connection to any of the actual Asheva¡¯s community. Even though his shop dealt with some Severynths, they only had one leg in that world, most only dipped a mere toe. When he asked some of his regulars about it, they also made guesses, none of which could survive a single round of scrutiny.


    Even his teachers knew nothing of it, or at least they weren¡¯t willing to tell them. Instead, they all encouraged the students to join the defense force, the War Dogs. That was the only known way for someone like him to contact the other Ashevas. Most students chose this route, but he wasn¡¯t willing to do that. There were too many restrictions; he didn¡¯t want those chains.


    He flipped the pages and skimmed the spell details. But after going through some pages, he sped up and only checked the element of the spells. Once he reached the end, he snapped it shut with his heart racing. The spells in the book were of nine elements¡ªIce, Wind, Wood, Blood, Dark, Lightning, Earth, Water, and Mystic.


    This imaged two scenarios: either the old man left him spells of different elements to increase his options to major in, or he wanted him to use all the spells. If the second scenario was true, then he must¡¯ve left something to tackle the problem of resistance and friction¡ªhis Pa would do so for sure. Ewan gently put the book back in the storage, keeping it away and safe from the dagger, and brought out the red-hardcover book.


    This wasn¡¯t it; the book contained a spell called <Bloodlust>. It sounded intriguing, but its details could come later¡ªthe previous thought had his head occupied.


    He put it back in the storage, again away from the blade, and brought out the white-hardcover book; it detailed a spell circuit named <Transmute>. This wasn¡¯t it either, so he put it aside and brought out another book¡ªit was one of the black-hardcover books.


    There was a single sentence on its cover written in ¡®Atarin¡¯¡ªthe universal language used to bend the elements.


    ¡®Eterien Sien Trian.¡¯


    ¡®Eight Steps to Permanence¡¯, it translated to common tongue.


    Its words provoked him, they hinted at what he dreamt of, but Ewan let it go for now, grunting a deep breath, and took out the last black-hardcover book. And finally, it had what he wanted to see, though not exactly in the way he imagined.


    ¡®Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima¡¯, the header wrote in bold letters. Its preface talked of a circuit, the envisioned idea, its limitation, and its result¡ªa subtype of Severynth. And it all began with the modification of the body to accommodate the Anima.


    <hr>

 Chapter-15 Pride

    Ewan took his time and read through all the details in the book, and it was fascinating to say the least. It pictured a different state of a Severynth, where the conductor became the vanguard and the Astylinds became the support. An ¡®Elementalist¡¯, as the book named it, was a subtype unique to the Ayres family. It took the path of Anima and pushed it to the extreme¡ªit was the peak form of an elemental type spellcaster.


    And it all began with the modifications, inside and out.


    There were two main layers for the modification part that he had to repeat for each major step. First was the ¡®Heart of Anima¡¯, and what followed was the ¡®Body of Anima¡¯.


    After completing the first layer, the ¡®Heart of Anima¡¯ would reduce the friction between the Anima of different elements. It would act as the foundation and would allow him to practice the second layer, ¡®Body of Anima¡¯. With the friction between the elements gone, the second layer would adjust his body to all the elements and reduce the resistance for each of them.


    The completion of each cycle for each step would open the path to the parallel level of the ¡®Elementalist¡¯.


    Once Ewan skimmed through all these details a few times¡ªthe modification part, the circuit setup, the choice of the mainstay element, the limitation of only one Astylind per element, etc., he closed the book and digested it all with his eyes shut. If he had to explain the book in simple words, it would be ¡®money burner¡¯. The resources needed to complete even one layer of modification was beyond the reach of a normal Obria citizen; the general market couldn¡¯t even list most of them on a good day.


    He took a deep breath with a heavy heart¡ªit was better to put this aside for now, he could think about practicing it once he could buy those items. Thus, he kept it back in the claw-ring and brought out the other thick black-hardcover book; the sentence written on top of it had piqued his interest.


    ¡®Eterien Sien Trian.¡¯


    Once he flipped the first page, the tiny lines of information contained inside overwhelmed him. This book was actually an amalgamation of his family¡¯s experiences; it was a journal bundled with Potioneering details, including several recipes scattered through the steps. Even his Pa¡¯s words were in it, Ewan recognized his curvy strokes and those lingering tails.


    The first few pages detailed all the vital and minor information he needed to know about the starting line¡ªthe Step-0.


    Nine awakenings, five innates.


    ¡®Dekoth/Aokoth | Ryvia | Sindra/Grein | Bralek | Varos¡¯


    He read through them all.


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    Once he finished the first part, all that escaped him was a sigh of comfort. He was all on his own in this world, yet he didn¡¯t feel alone anymore. Even in death, his family, his Pa, they were supporting their next generation. Bit by bit, a hint of pride for his name took root in his heart. His name was Ayres, that alone gave him a huge advantage.


    He continued reading and skimmed the second part. Many details were beyond him, so he had no choice but to skip them.


    Leaning on the table, he browsed what he could and gained some perception of the levels. Eight steps to permanence, the sentence stood true to its core. There were eight steps for Ashevas with the final step leading to perpetuity.


    The increased lifespan per level, Ewan yearned to confirm that. Most of his will to live and survive came from his dream of a longer life. And the information in the book cemented that.


    As a Severynth of the Soul-Awakening step, he was no different from the Kyrons¡ªthe mortals; his soul couldn¡¯t tolerate the life-extending rite. But once he broke through to the next step, once he treaded the steps of the rite, his soul and body would strengthen enough to bear the burden of the last extension. And with the completion of the Step-1 rite, depending on his choice for the final section, his lifespan could soar up to over two hundred years¡­


    ¡­.


    Once he finished the book, he stretched his arms and legs, his joints popped, and lounged back on the chair. His eyes closed and a smile on his face, he took his time and savored the delight that came from knowing his dream could succeed.


    He remained still for minutes; Orange sprawled on the table and Ewan also didn¡¯t feel like moving right now. But there were two books he hadn¡¯t read yet. So, he put the black book in his claw-ring and picked the red-hardcover book.


    The spell <Bloodlust> was as its name suggested. It was of the blood element and used Blood-Anima. It worked by accumulating the aura of blood, or as some called it¡ªaura of death. The more he killed, the more that aura would taint him. It was invisible and useless, it neither helped nor hindered; only those with special spells or skills could notice it. But this spell could make use of that idle resource.


    Its use was in amplifying the overall physical prowess of the target. The more aura of blood the caster had, the stronger the effect of the spell would be. The only side effect was the target would fall into a frenzy, lusting after blood and death¡ªthey had to kill.


    Ewan found his Pa¡¯s note on the page that detailed the side effect. ¡®Don¡¯t stop your Astylinds,¡¯ he wrote. ¡®They will obey you, but you¡¯ll hurt them.¡¯


    The words threw him into a chaos of emotions. He thought about many things related to his awakening before, but killing someone wasn¡¯t on his list. He¡¯d suffered these last few years, but overall, he lived a sheltered and peaceful life. The sky-high walls protected them all, the laws kept the peace alive, and most acted civil.


    Yet, the outside world followed the concept of survival of the fittest. Beyond the walls, there was no law, and once he stepped out, he would be on his own. No fairness, no sympathy¡ªinside, the laws protected the weak; outside, they died a gruesome death.


    The presence of such protection never dawned on him, but the spell showed him the reality. And if he wanted to advance on his journey, he had to go out; there was no other way.


    When faced with such a situation though, could he kill or would he hesitate¡­ He hoped he had the mental fortitude to do whatever necessary to survive. But regardless of what he thought or hoped, only time could give him his answer. And besides, the spell needed Blood-Anima, he had to contract an Astylind of the blood-element first to cast it. For now, he could only let the book collect dust.


    <hr>

 Chapter-16 Starting Line

    Ewan picked the final book with the white hardcover and flipped through it. His Pa mentioned a spell he created with his grandpa¡¯s idea and framework; his expectations bubbled with those words.


    But when he finished the introduction part of the book, his face soured.


    He rubbed his forehead and took deep breaths, and double checked to confirm he¡¯d read right. He went back and reread the introductions, and the same words, the same content, repeated. His heart raced, and his heaves parched his throat; it itched when he gulped, and his rushing blood rang his ears. His Pa and his grandpa had created an outrageous spell, and he had no idea how they did it. This was the work of two geniuses, but he couldn¡¯t praise them, for they left the hot potato to him.


    If he exercised caution with it though, it would be a huge help, he iterated in his head. Yes, he just needed to hide it well¡­


    <Transmute>, a non-elemental spell like <Identify> and <Contract>; it required no Anima, and Ewan could use it with his ¡®Spirit¡¯ alone. But its enormous value lay in its effect.


    The spell could create anything by guzzling other equivalent items. At worst, it could become a way to earn profits through selling an expensive item made from sacrificing cheaper items. And at best, it would give him unlimited access to rare finds¡­


    Thinking of what might happen if someone knew of it, his heart skipped beats, and he sweated.


    Erring on the side of caution, he shut the book tight. He first put the dozed off Orange to bed then hurried down to the basement. After he closed the door and confirmed the security of the place, checking the latch several times, he sat by the table. And with the book on his knees, he continued where he left off.


    The main point of the spell was equivalency, quality and quantity wise. A piece of stone couldn¡¯t create Crelith, no matter how many he used. There was a minimum requirement for the quality with respect to the desired item. If he fulfilled that, Ewan could use the quantity and get whatever item he wanted.


    The sacrificed items would also bear the burden of the spell, so its ¡®Spirit¡¯ requirement was low. The ¡®low¡¯ mentioned in the book was from the standard of his grandpa and his Pa though, the minimum ¡®Spirit¡¯ needed far surpassed his current state. But it was only a matter of time. Till then, he could practice tracing the spell circuit; it was quite complex after all, much more than any he¡¯d seen so far.


    There was one unknown item left in his claw-ring¡ªthe metal dish. But he left it alone for now. He received too much shock from the books already, it made him uneasy. Regardless of how precious the item was, he couldn¡¯t pay any attention to it. He only wanted to gain some strength right now, he was naked without any ability to protect himself.


    So, the next task was forming contracts with the Astylinds.


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    He only wanted to contract Orange before and leave the other three alone for now. His urgent need for money was over, but he didn¡¯t have enough to sustain that many lives. He wanted to wait till his birthday and contract them once he received his inheritance. But the situation changed his decision. He didn¡¯t want to wait; he couldn¡¯t afford to wait. At most, he could become thrifty and stingy with his daily expenses¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t eat out anymore.


    ¡­..


    Late evening, in the hall.


    Ewan sat cross-legged on the wooden floor and had Orange sit in front of him, and the Obsidian Dagger was out and ready in his bandaged hand. A few deep breaths eased the butterflies in his stomach, and he traced the <Contract> spell in his soul space¡ªhis strokes were snail-paced but steady as he aimed for perfection. His lines left no mistakes behind, they carried the essence of a textbook example, and once he reached the final part, he slit his right wrist with the dagger, wincing from the sharp pain. After one smooth strike, as the blade bit his skin and flesh, blood spluttered from his cut and streamed down to the floor, pooling into a blood-red puddle.


    The only downside of his family¡¯s <Contract> spell¡ªit needed a lot of blood. For that hundred percent success rate though, to prevent the Astylind¡¯s subconscious resistance, Ewan disregarded the negative.


    His face paled and his back trembled¡ªthe blood was enough now. He gritted his teeth and finished the last stroke of the spell, and as soon as it took effect, the broken skin of his wound glued together, leaving a stain of red. The blood he shed on the floor hovered up, and all the droplets formed a vague shape of the <Contract> spell circuit in the air. And after flashing with a blood-tint, it turned into mist threads and cocooned Orange.


    Rays of red sunlight poured in through the window as the hall became ghost quiet. Tiny dust particles floated in those pillars of light; the broken showerhead leaked in the bathroom; the intermittent fall of the droplets echoed in the hushed hall.


    Ewan had his eyes closed while the blood mist enveloped Orange¡ªboth sides made no moves.


    Seconds passed, and the blood cocoon thinned a little. At the same time, a thread of thought connected to his soul; it was faint but noticeable. There was no resistance, the cocoon thinned more, and the connection became stronger. Thread by thread, the blood cocoon dissolved.


    The contract burned a part of his soul essence. And since nothing supported his soul, a sense of breathlessness and emptiness engulfed him. He gasped for air, struggled to sit straight, but the next instant, his spine tingled, and a comforting strength bubbled inside him. It nurtured him, nourished him; it washed away all the negative impact on his soul.


    A feeble mind also connected to him, and it wasn¡¯t just a mere thread of thought anymore¡ªit was Orange in his entirety. The little monkey stared at him with his head tilted to the side. Ewan sensed his confusion but gave no explanation; he couldn¡¯t understand anyway. He only relished his success for he finally contracted his first Astylind. Their connection was at its weakest right now, but it would strengthen over time.


    His soul space went through some changes as well¡ªan orange-colored rune shaped like an upside down ¡®V¡¯ appeared in it. It carried a metallic sheen and emanated the feeling of Flamecrest at its peak, those torrid and sweaty afternoons. After it formed, some warm orange particles manifested around him. He couldn¡¯t see them but could only feel them up to a certain range. They drifted about in the hall; some entered his body, while most went to Orange. His new rune absorbed all that came to him and glowed with a gentle orange halo.


    This was his Fire-Element Rune, it provided him with a Recipient-level affinity. And the particles around him were Fire-Anima, they proved his ability to cast fire spells. Though he only stood at the starting line, he was a proper Severynth from this moment on, he was one of the Ashevas¡ªthe Eternals.


    <hr>

 Chapter-17 Dekoth

    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured | Nutrient Deficient | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [1<sup>st </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 0.8


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 1.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 0.1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 1 [Potential: 3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-0] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; silver metal dishware.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: ??


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 61


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Ewan checked his details as soon as he regained enough strength to cast <Identify>. There were several changes on the screen this time, his status even showed his three issues¡ªhis injured hand, his lack of healthy intake, and his recent loss of blood. The problem of nutrient deficiency would go away on its own now that he could afford proper food, but the other two required either external healing or time.


    The next change was the increased Anima, it showed ¡®0.1¡¯ right now but it wasn¡¯t the end; the increment hadn¡¯t stopped. The data was the amount of Anima stored in the runes, and each rune¡¯s upper limit was his maximum soul strength, which equaled the energy his soul produced¡ªhis ¡®Spirit¡¯. This meant he could store ¡®1.3¡¯ units of Fire-Anima in his rune right now.


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    His Astylind section also changed, it displayed a part of Orange¡¯s data. Since he burned the soul essence for the contract, the ¡®Potential¡¯ decreased as well. And the final change was the updated name of the items he owned in the claw-ring. Most of the data had indeed come from his memories; Orange¡¯s name in his status screen alone proved this.


    Once he checked everything, Ewan closed the screen and heaved a sigh of relief. His shoulders slouched and his back bent; he was a bit faint, but a huge burden was off his mind. Now that he contracted Orange, he didn¡¯t feel naked anymore. His strength hadn¡¯t changed much, but a sense of security embraced him, as if he had a blanket over his naked body now, and it eased his taut nerves.


    The relief didn¡¯t change his plans though, he still wanted to contract the other three. The only problem was the method to wake them up from their suspended state. His Pa said they required a lot of blood. Ewan didn¡¯t know how much was ¡®a lot of blood¡¯, but if his Pa said, ¡®a lot¡¯, it meant it was enough to kill him if he used his own¡ªhis Pa seldom exaggerated important matters. Even if he did it in parts with large intervals, losing that much blood wouldn¡¯t do him any good, especially when his status already showed nutrient deficient and hypovolemia. And he didn¡¯t want to wait too long to get better before contracting them.


    There was no other way; he had to buy it. But Staron¡¯s blood and Astylind¡¯s blood were off the list. Even though he had a lot of Anima Crystals, he had no idea how to use them as currency. Most of all, he didn¡¯t know where to use them as currency.


    He planned to find a way to get in touch with the Severynth groups and communities one day. But for now, he could only let it go. And so, the only option he could go for was the regular beasts¡¯ and animals¡¯ blood. It should be available in the butcher¡¯s shop, he reckoned. A minor issue was the amount, which he could solve by buying from different vendors. It could be ostentatious, but it had to do for now.


    Before venturing out, Ewan put the dagger back in the storage and tried out the innate skill he learned after his first awakening as a Severynth, ''Dekoth¡ªSoul Vortex¡¯. He aimed at Orange and used the innate skill with much familiarity¡ªit was the same as taking a deep breath. A black vortex formed at his palm and Orange dissolved into threads of orange mist.


    Ewan closed his eyes and sensed the fire rune in his soul space, its inside had a world of fire¡ªa complete void with nothing but roaring flames. Orange, with his childlike curiosity, cavorted around. He chased after one fire snake, then another passerby took his attention away.


    This was the space inside the rune that acted as the contracted Astylinds¡¯ home.


    Ewan had been itching to use his innate skill since the day his soul awakened. Since he walked the path of Severynths though, he could only use it after he contracted his first pet. If not, his only other option was ¡®Aokoth¡ªCore Creation¡¯; the skill Cerades used as their foundation.


    The lack of elemental runes and the feedback meant the Cerades had to create something to control Anima and train¡ªthey chose a ¡®core¡¯. The ¡®Aokoth¡¯ skill copied the other Starons and Astylinds and allowed them to do this. Yet, theirs were innate and Cerades had to make do with the acquired, and the resulting incompatibility caused their downfall. This was why Ewan couldn¡¯t consider a Cerade¡¯s path, even if his large amount of soul essence gave him steep advantages if he were to walk on it.


    He aimed and opened his soul vortex again, and Orange jumped out and looked around, confused. A deep sense of want for the ¡®fire snakes¡¯ passed on to Ewan with their soul connection, and with Orange hooting at him to egg him on, Ewan used Dekoth again and sent him back to the rune.


    The sun had already bid its farewell for the day, and the two crescent moons bathed the courtyard in a violet-silver hue. ¡°Tomorrow then.¡± He decided when he looked out the window.


    He had one last unknown thing in his claw-ring. He could check that tonight and get the blood tomorrow.

 Chapter-18 Observation

    Late night.


    With the hearty dinner stuffing him and as Orange burped, Ewan went up and lounged on the balcony. Under the stars, the gentle and faint violet-silver moonlight blanketed him on the recliner. A glass of steaming hot sweetened milk sat on the stool beside him; he blew it from time to time while his eyes remained stuck on the window of the house beyond the fences to the left.


    The lights were still on in there. A young girl helped her mother in the kitchen, her faded blonde ponytailed hair swaying with her steps. Oil-splatters dotted her sky-blue apron, and some even reached her argent glossy night pajamas¡ªshe worked the stove and her mother cut the veggies.


    Her father must¡¯ve come home late again, Ewan guessed.


    Verina, his childhood friend; she had grown a lot. He used to play with her back in the days, even their fathers were close enough to have drinks on occasion. She was the same age as him, and the lack of any other playmate in the neighborhood had her tail him and Nana, eventually the party of two becoming a band of three.


    Once his father died though, the two houses never interacted again. The relation of the past died in the past. Now, he only watched them from the balcony sometimes to reminisce, the trigger of nostalgia taking him back to the sunny days. She used to be one of his closest friends, now, she only reminded him of the happy times he spent here.


    ¡°She must have a boyfriend by now. Heh, the snotty little brat grew so much.¡±


    Soon his laughter froze when realized how much he sounded like the old men who often played cards on the second corner of their street, by the local eatery, munching on whatever they found¡ªtheir plates were never empty.


    My lost innocence¡­


    He sighed and lamented, shaking his head at his loss, then looked towards the house to his right. Nana sprawled there on her balcony, still wearing her wrinkled school uniform with a wet brownish patch on her white shirt¡ªshe must¡¯ve spilled some liquor. Her eyes drooped and she looked wasted even from afar, yet she still chugged down half a quarter neat, tossed it aside, and fumbled to take out another from the bag beside her. Several empty bottles already surrounded her, some covered in dust, but most were fresh.


    Havanna Elsworth, Nana for him and their families, and his fianc¨¦e from the old promise. The two families were close, close enough to engage the two when they were mere babies. But time did its wonders again¡ªit killed that relationship. Ewan broke when his Pa died and wouldn¡¯t have survived the harshest time if not for Aunt Ella, Uncle Keith, and Nana. He never said it and never showed it, but they became his crutch, which worsened his condition when they suddenly vanished.


    Just as he got back on his feet though, however wobbly he was, two years after his Pa¡¯s death, they moved back in. Yet they shunned him and gave him the cold shoulder when he reached out. Only Nana sometimes came to him but that waned too when Aunt Ella reprimanded her for it. The drastic change settled his bubbling sentiments, and he pulled away in dismay, keeping his dejection buried in his heart. They must have their reasons for it, he reckoned, while still battling with the thought that this was the truth, and the past was all a lie.


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    They didn¡¯t give him time to adjust, however, and the news of their horrifying death hammered him down.


    That day, he set foot in the dreaded funeral hall again, shivering, and watched from afar how the always bright and cheerful Nana crumbled into lifeless shards. Ewan didn¡¯t reach out to help though, he couldn¡¯t reach out to help. The reality had broken him, and he¡¯d yet to recover, how could he gather her pieces¡­


    Ewan heaved a deep sigh as the olden memories gushed back in, still fresh with pain without the soothing dust of time. They both suffered their own tragedies and they both were left alone. But the similar situation didn¡¯t bring them closer. Instead, the lack of initiative from both sides drifted them apart, and they lived their own lives. The only difference was that Nana remained broken in brittle shards while Ewan was already sharpening his jagged edge.


    If she saw him making progress, would she also strive to live better? Could his change make her smile again¡­ Ewan recalled her sobs when he burned himself, and it pained him to be the trigger of her tears. After all, even if they didn¡¯t acknowledge the engagement anymore, they still used to be a family¡ªthey only had each other now.


    Alas, the possibilities depended on her¡­.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Once he had enough of his habitual ¡®observation¡¯, which also included the new couple who moved into the house across the street recently, stacks of boxes piled in their yard, he took out the final unknown item from his claw-ring¡ªthe silver metal dishware.


    It looked like normal tableware. The only difference was the brushed metal design and the small circular groove in the middle. Before using <Identify> on it, Ewan probed it with his ¡®spirit¡¯. Because of how alien it was to him, his Pa must¡¯ve left another memory imprint on it. After all, only using <Identify> couldn¡¯t explain all its applications.


    And indeed, once his spirit touched it through his hand, the information from the memory imprint poured into his mind. He took his time, and once he sorted it all out and rechecked for confirmation, his eyes lit up with glee. The problem that haunted him for so long, he carried its solution with him for days. He always imagined the Ashevas meeting in a dark place at night, all cloaked up and their voices muffled. The secrecy his teachers maintained, and a lack of information dissemination assured him of his thoughts. Yet, none of his guesses and imaginations even came close to reality.


    Airadian Hub Stratum¡ªa moving hidden layer in Airadia¡¯s atmosphere that Ashevas used as a hub. This was their cornerstone.


    They discovered this layer; they didn¡¯t create it. As it was a part of the plane, it also contained Airadia¡¯s sentience. Because of that, it allowed free movement and entry only to the natives of Airadia. Combined with it was its natural stealth and constant movement feature; it was the perfect choice for a hub. So, after getting the permission from Airadia¡¯s sentience, they modified a part of it and transformed it into what it was today¡ªAiradian Hub Stratum.


    It was a free hub with no restrictions. No one controlled it, no one managed it. Starons could rent safe zones from Airadia, but they were responsible for their own safety in other areas.


    This was the core of the information in the memory imprint. Once he reached the end, he held the plate with trembling hands, staring at it with famished eyes. His heart hammered his chest, his face flushed. Yet, he was gentle with his touch, he couldn¡¯t afford to damage the plate. If it broke, it would kill him, for the plate was the Hub-Connector, it was his means to connect to the hub stratum.


    Ashevas seldom visited the layer themselves, they all used the hub-connector. It reduced the risk as they would receive no damage even if someone attacked the blob of spirit they used to connect¡ªEwan planned to do the same.

 Chapter-19 Hub Stratum

    It was getting late, a few hours later the morning sun would greet him from the horizon. Yet, he couldn¡¯t bear to wait anymore. So, he followed the method in the memory imprint and activated the connector with his spirit. The heavy consumption sapped his strength, but he held on. Its spirit requirement wasn¡¯t too high, he acted after confirming that. He had enough to connect to the hub and stay connected for a few minutes.


    Ewan leaned back on the recliner and closed his eyes. Soon, still frames of blurred pictures jumbled before him. His point of view in them was low, as if he lay on the floor. He looked around, and the blurred images shifted. Bit by bit, the frames sped up and finally animated, the pictures also sharpened and cleared up, and he checked his surroundings. The place he was in was his own shop, or at least it looked the same. Same bright empty space, same ivory walls, same windows, same rug that carried its original color; it only lacked the old monitor.


    [Welcome, Sir Ulrath.]


    A message box also popped up in front of him.


    Ulrath? His Pa¡¯s name was Authen. This could be his Pa¡¯s alias though, most likely to keep this place separate from his officially known wealth. His Pa¡¯s funeral remained fresh for him, and so was the bizarre scene of his relatives drawing his blood. The murmurs around him that day spoke of some ¡®hub¡¯, and now the dots completed the picture. This shop survived the scavengers and made its way to Ewan because it linked to this specific hub-connector and was under the name ¡®Ulrath¡¯.


    In the memory imprint, his Pa left all the details of this place¡ªthe safe zone he rented from Airadia¡¯s sentience, he constructed it in the shape of their shop.


    Ewan looked around the familiar place for a few moments then opened the market menu with a gesture, and a screen with a list appeared. A tiny slider on the side, several filters on top, and the number of Novas he owned at the bottom.


    Novas, it at last became apparent¡ªthe standard currency with Anima as its base. A gram of Anima Crystal equaled one Novas, and his Pa left him ninety-four Novas. It was in the virtual form in the hub stratum, but he could take it out in coin form using the hub-connector; the circular groove in the middle had this function.


    The list contained everything that native Starons sold in the hub stratum; it was the trade market. But exploration would come later. He had little time left after all; his spirit would run out soon. He closed the market menu and opened another; it was the screen for broadcasts. It displayed all sorts of announcements, from hunts to expeditions to alerts. ¡®Endorsed by Ashevagord¡¯, only the legit announcements shared this stamp though, others were questionable at best.


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    The sheer amount dazzled Ewan, but he closed it too after a quick look.


    The next screen was for the information¡ªall kinds were up for sale here. From the appearance of certain Astylinds in certain areas to the political situation of any colony. Even his colony¡¯s, Obria¡¯s, details were in the list. Once again, he gave it a glance and moved on to the final screen.


    This screen was for requests¡ªhe could make any request he wanted here, for a price. He could also complete requests other Starons made and receive payment. Be it a request to buy something or a request to kill someone, everything was available here.


    After checking everything, Ewan cut his connection to the hub and returned; he already verged on losing it.


    Back on his balcony, he opened his tired eyes and kept the hub-connector in his claw-ring. This single trip sapped him dry. Before increasing his soul strength, he had to strategize his actions in relation to the hub. He couldn¡¯t stroll around as he wished, window shopping as he sauntered. He had to decide what he wanted to do before connecting. But it could all wait till tomorrow; today, he was listless and lethargic, he only wanted to collapse right now. So, he turned on his side and fell asleep on the recliner.


    ¡­.


    Late morning, Ewan woke up to a sparrow pecking his hair; it fluttered away when he moved. He squinted and groaned and stretched his body. He slept well these days; his pale face also looked a bit better now.


    After freshening up, he let Orange out of the rune and cooked a nice brunch. Orange had his milk while he ate the food. The little monkey made a fuss and sneaked a bite from his plate but stopped when Ewan threatened him with his ¡®fire snakes¡¯. He still had to drink milk, anything else would cause indigestion; a flood of diarrhea on his chest and head was the last thing Ewan wished for¡­oh, the shit oozing down his face¡­


    Once the food filled him, he cleaned up the pending dirty dishes with Orange¡¯s help. After all, his hand still hung disabled, he couldn¡¯t do much with one hand.


    The kitchen looked clean and empty once he put the wet rug down. He exhaled a breath of contentment when the slabs sparkled against the diffused sunlight, when the bottom of the sink saw the daylight again. Other rooms and the hall also needed cleaning, but he postponed that for later, he wanted to focus on the Astylinds for now. Contracting Orange did give him a sense of security, but it wasn¡¯t enough. He had no apparent enemies right now; neither someone eyed his inheritance, nor anyone knew about it. But safety and precaution above all, he didn¡¯t want to risk it.


    Down in the basement, he sat near the table and connected to the hub with the connector again. He had a concrete plan this time, nothing else would distract him¡ªhe would buy the necessary blood and cut the connection.


    The same process took him through the motions again and he received the same message.


    [Welcome, Sir Ulrath.]


    <hr>

 Chapter-20 Ember

    Time was of the essence, he opened the trade market list and searched for Astylind blood using the filters. Yet, even through the layers of sieve, the list remained huge, and so, he filtered it once more based on levels. Level 0 to Level 9 Astylinds corresponded to Severynths at the Soul-Awakening step¡ªthe Step-0. Though he wasn¡¯t sure, Level 1 to 2 should be enough to awaken the suspended eggs and the seed. He checked their prices and heaved a sigh of relief¡ªa liter of Level 1 Astylind blood only sold for a Novas or two, some sold for even less than one Novas.


    He went through some and selected one of the cheapest shops from the list. But the next problem stumbled him. The list only provided the shops¡¯ details, he could use it to check which items were up for sale on the trade market. But to buy them, he had to travel over to the shop. This was a hurdle he had to cross, there was no other way around.


    He was in his spirit form; he could give it a try¡ªthe utterance pumped his morale.


    And so, he went out the door.


    The sun glared over the bustling market, blobs of black spirit crammed the street, variety of shops and buildings lined the sides. The fist-sized blobs walked the edge, the bigger ones dared to hover inside, while the humanoids took the central lane¡­


    The system that welcomed Ewan navigated him through the paved streets. Once he passed by other spirit blobs, the difference in size had him gaping. Even the fist-sized ones looked huge when he came close. Or¡­.his spirit blob was too small. Still, it didn¡¯t dampen his mood. He only started on his path a few days ago, the huge disparity was normal. He blocked all the useless negative thoughts and only focused on the streets and the navigation, walking beyond the edge, on the dirt trail like those small blobs.


    But alas, he underestimated the distance to the shop. Regardless of his pumped-up morale, his spirit flumped midway. The connection snapped and he jerked his eyes open in the basement. He gasped for air while his head ached, and his ears rang. The abrupt disconnection dazed him; there was no damage, but it took his comfort and ease away.


    Today¡¯s attempt already proved his spirit lacked if he wanted to do anything at the hub. He could stay connected, but he couldn¡¯t do anything.


    He could now wait for his ¡®Spirit¡¯ to increase, or he could revert to the previous idea and go for the regular animals¡¯ blood¡­ His thoughts churned and churned. Both contained an element of risk; the difference was the amount.


    He let out a helpless sigh and opted for patience; things never went according to plan¡­ Of the two, the hub was more secure. Not only would the required amount be low, but he also wouldn¡¯t stand out. Not contracting the Astylinds put him on edge, but he didn¡¯t want to be hasty because of it, especially when he could access the better option.


    ¡­.


    Days went by, and Ewan¡¯s usual routine changed little by little. Studying spell circuits and reading up on Astylinds took most of his time. Apart from practicing the <Transmute> circuit on paper, he also delved into the Spellbook his Pa left him. He couldn¡¯t use most of the books he left yet, but he could study and understand this. It was even a necessity for a spellcaster aspirant like him, because he was a Severynth, not a Cerade¡ªhe needed a personal Spellbook.


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    The book his Pa left him was quite special, the last few days showed him its details. Whether his Pa created it or someone else did, it must¡¯ve eaten some special materials, for the book had the ability to create infinite blank pages. Ewan couldn¡¯t confirm the ¡®infinite¡¯ part yet, but the initial discovery pointed towards it. Once he copied the ¡®Ember¡¯ spell circuit his school provided on the final blank page, the book created another blank page. It gave him quite a surprise, yet, compared to everything else his Pa left him, the book appeared¡­rather normal.


    But no matter what, it saved him the effort and money to buy another Spellbook. As long as it created new pages, he wouldn¡¯t need another book.


    In the bright basement. Ewan held the Spellbook in his left hand and aimed at the wall with his right.


    Ember!


    He traced its spell circuit in his soul space.


    A small wispy blob of orange fire floated away and popped at the wall. Yet, aside from making a tiny area sooty, it did no damage¡ªa single wet wipe could even rub the black off. The spell¡¯s minimum and maximum Anima point both were low. It had no offensive power, even at its maximum Anima point¡ªthe reason school gave it to the immature students. But it was a decent spell for practice for the beginners.


    Ewan closed the Spellbook and sat in the corner with several books surrounding him. He picked up his notebook and the pen and wrote down his experience while mumbling. His writing was messy and followed no pattern, only he could understand it¡ªhis teachers would certainly frown at it, and they did¡­


    He drew some rough diagrams, wrote some equations, labeled some parts, crossed others¡ªall these were to increase his spell tracing ability. He fixed the parts he made mistakes in and tried to improve where he was decent. As a Severynth, he had a disadvantage when it came to spellcasting. But he couldn¡¯t sit and grumble and whine about it.


    Once he formed a conclusion from his ¡®doodling¡¯, he went back and cast the spell again.


    Ember.


    He traced its spell circuit again and was faster this round; his adjustments shaved off at least a second from his casting time. But it still didn¡¯t satisfy him. To speed up the tracing process, he almost made some mistakes, it could be lethal in live combat. And this was only a simple spell circuit, unlike actual spells. He scratched his cheeks and fell into deep thought while the wispy fire popped again.


    For the next few hours, he continued his practice, and only stopped when the delivery guy called him.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been ringing the doorbell for half an hour now.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I was sleeping,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Where do I sign?¡± He couldn¡¯t hear the bell in the basement. But it hadn¡¯t been half an hour for sure; no one would wait that long before ringing him.


    The delivery guy handed him the panel, and once Ewan signed, he gave him a thick and heavy package. Ewan shut the door and carried it back to the basement. The package contained a book¡ª<Astylind Anatomy: Explorer¡¯s Edition Part-II>


    He read books on Astylind¡¯s anatomy before, but they were all for his school syllabus. They didn¡¯t detail most of the information and only gave out brief introductions. And what he could get on the colony¡¯s network wasn¡¯t trustworthy and didn¡¯t have many details either. The book he ordered online the day before yesterday was different¡ªit was the explorer¡¯s edition, the publisher made it for the hunters. It was expensive but worth it.


    It contained a plethora of information related to different Astylinds. The part-II he ordered had extensive information on Fire Monkeys, Ewan needed that right now. Orange was his contracted Astylind, he couldn¡¯t nurture and raise him without concrete knowledge.


    He sat crossed legged and laid the large book on his knees. The crunches of page flipping echoed in the basement for the next hour as it engrossed him in. But soon, he had to stop¡ªit was chow time, his stomach notified him with a growl.


    <hr>

 Chapter-21 Dumb Indeed

    Another week passed, and it had been about two weeks since Ewan contracted Orange. Even though he was only a Level-0 Astylind, he still nurtured Ewan¡¯s soul and strengthened it over time. His ¡®Spirit¡¯ grew to 1.5 from the feedback¡ªan increment of 0.1 per week.


    But today, things changed. When Ewan sensed it, he let Orange out and cast <Identify>.


    [Astylind Name: Fire Monkey (Mutant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-1]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Fire]


    [Skills: Fire-Recipient]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. They are blessed with decent fire-element affinity (Recipient) but lack the skill to make use of it.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Fire), Blood-Firos Leaves, Fire Coral, Volcanic Rock.]


    [Remark 1: Can be trained as a vanguard but require more attention with the elemental skills.]


    [Remark 2: They look cool, so can make them your mascot.]


    [Remark 3: I agree with the second remark.]


    He advanced to Level-1. There weren¡¯t any noticeable physical changes in Orange, he was still a small kid, the size of Ewan¡¯s palm. But he gave off a stronger aura now. And more so, he stood in the hall yet burned nothing, even the rug and the wooden floor remained intact. Except for a higher temperature around him, he didn¡¯t affect his surroundings¡ªa much better control than his mother and many other Astylinds that either scorched or froze his yard.


    One other change to his details was the addition of ¡®skills¡¯, this part popped up because of their contract, the information came through their connection. Fire-Recipient, the skill denoted the affinity level Orange had¡ªthe first and basic level of affinity that barely grazed the Anima.


    Ewan put Orange on his shoulder and brought him to the basement with expectation budding in his heart. Regardless of the affinity level, with the control he showed, he could have a better talent at elemental spells than his brethren. A pure physical fighter and an element user, the difference was big.


    In the corner where he practiced his spell, Ewan directed Orange and told him to create a blob of fire. But all he received in return was a blank stare from the beady eyes.


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    ¡°Do as I do.¡±


    He traced the spell circuit in his soul space and cast the spell using the minimum Anima needed. His speed was several fractions faster this time, and the tracing remained stable throughout the process.


    Ember.


    A smaller than before blob of orange fire floated in front of him. He didn¡¯t hurl it at the wall but let it float and showed it to Orange. Orange jumped and tried to grab the fire, cackling, and hooting; a sense of fascination and excitement passed to Ewan through their bond.


    ¡°Orange!¡± he scolded with a stern face.


    It deflated the little monkey, and he did what Ewan asked. He brought his two hands together at his chest and focused on it. One second passed, and it soon became a minute. A few minutes later, the two stared at the empty space between his hands. There was no spark, let alone a blob of fire.


    Ewan doubted his optimism, rubbing his forehead, but just focused on training Orange for now. Even if it took him a lot of time, he wouldn¡¯t lose heart.


    ¡°Try punchi¡­ Do as I do.¡±


    After canceling the <Ember> spell, Ewan jabbed a few times and showed it to Orange. He was no expert, far from it, and all his ¡®skills¡¯ came from watching others. But it was enough to explain what ¡®punching¡¯ meant to the little monkey.


    Orange followed his master and copied him; he threw out his tiny fist. And the heat distorted the air, sparks scattering about.


    ¡°Right, right. That¡¯s the way,¡± Ewan said with a gleeful smile.


    Punch after punch, Orange practiced. While Ewan supervised him, he also thought about the skill that could complement the little monkey. If he were to make him a melee fighter, he needed to choose between two types¡ªagility and brute force. With Orange¡¯s size, brute force was out of the window. Even though he could get bigger as he got older, that was not an option right now. So, agility was his only choice; he had to scour for some information on how to move forward with this¡­


    As his thoughts took him to the hub, an ear-ringing boom exploded in the basement. The walls quivered, the table vibrated, and he lost his balance.


    The source had him gaping with his eyes wide open, and he lost his sense for a second. His thoughts had just distracted him, and Orange punched the wall. And the area he punched reddened and scorched¡ªit radiated a hissing wave of heat.


    Ewan¡¯s eyes twitched as he cast <Identify> on Orange in a hurry, but his status showed no injuries. He cast it on himself and checked Orange¡¯s status through his own, it also showed no negative status. His heart still thumped, and the rush of blood blared in his ears, so he examined Orange. He checked his bones, his joints, his skin, his muscles, but he showed no discomfort or pain. And there were no fractures, nor were there any muscle tears¡ªthe little bastard just cackled at him and reached for his hair.


    Even with that extent of explosion, he had suffered no recoil¡­ It astonished Ewan. That kind of impact with his tiny body, the recoil damage would¡¯ve torn him apart in a normal scenario. And more than that, the source of power was questionable¡­ His small limbs didn¡¯t have enough strength to produce it.


    After the process of elimination, the only plausible answer emphasized the fire element. If he employed the explosive nature of the fire element, he could produce similar results. It would need little to no physical strength, the impact from the fire element would do the job.


    He looked at the little monkey. ¡°Are you dumb or a genius?¡± And he got a confused look from him in return. Ewan nodded, dumb indeed.


    Regardless of whether this was his inherent talent or his personal instinct though, it gave Ewan a clear picture of the development path he could train Orange in.


    <hr>

 Chapter-22 Transaction

    A few days later, Ewan finally removed the bandages¡ªhis hand breathed fresh air for the first time in days. The injury left him huge burn scars, but it didn¡¯t hurt anymore. Even though he could already use his hand since several days ago, he waited till his status showed no injuries to take off the bandages.


    His ¡®Spirit¡¯ also grew to 1.6 now. He could try the hub again with that, but he chose not to. Reaching the shop wasn¡¯t his aim, he also wanted to bargain, if possible, check the item with his <Identify>, and complete the transaction. An increase of 0.3 just wasn¡¯t enough to cover all those aspects.


    During this time, he practiced spellcasting with <Ember>, studied other spell circuits, studied Astylinds anatomy book, and trained Orange; this was his usual routine. The progress with Orange became obvious when Ewan narrowed down his actions¡ªpunch, punch, and only punch. He made the little monkey do nothing else. After going through several sessions, Orange at least got the form down. He didn¡¯t need to become a professional, he just had to have it as an instinct. Orange was still an Astylind after all, if Ewan shoved the techniques down his throat, it would mellow his feral side.


    Instead of bogging it down, he wanted to enhance Orange¡¯s special talent. So, he tackled its applications next. With the punches over, he focused on his legs. The complexity of it made the kicks a hurdle to teach Orange, so Ewan focused on the thrust based on his talent.


    And the first time he used it, he vanished from Ewan¡¯s sight and the ceiling hammered him; it kept him dizzy for a good hour. Once Ewan confirmed the little monkey indeed received no injuries from using the Fire-Anima this way, apart from the crashes, he loosened all restraints.


    He used all the leftover cardboard he had in the house and built a maze of sorts in the basement. It was a disaster at first, Orange busted through the cardboard walls. But he got the hang of it after a while and gained some form of control over his ability; he only scorched the walls now.


    Little by little, time passed by again.


    ¡­..


    Barrentide¡ªthe months of death gave way to Frosthelm¡ªthe months of silence. It rolled in much harsher than the last several years. It didn¡¯t even snow yesteryear, yet knee-deep snow covered his yards now. The continuous blizzard of three days threw the colony into an eerie silence, and it still raged strong. Trams halted their engines, schools closed their doors, offices shut their shutters, even the workaholic Uncle Thain took a few days off and was unreachable on his official contact¡ªhe only picked up his personal phone.


    Bundled in a thick velvet quilt, Ewan sat on his chair and slurped his piping hot chocolate milk in his room while reading the Astylind anatomy book. The basement ran frigid these days, even his improved physique didn¡¯t help much. So, when he wasn¡¯t training Orange or casting spells, he spent most of his time inside the house.


    Flip.


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    Orange stopped chewing the pen and flipped the page for him.


    The heat from his body gave Ewan some relief, the high temperature around the little monkey became his blessing nowadays¡ªhe acted as a natural fireplace.


    Several minutes later, he licked the last drop of the milk and kept the book in his claw-ring, preparing the hub connector. His ¡®Spirit¡¯ had grown to 2.0 when he woke up this morning, this much was enough for his venture on the hub. He leaned back on the chair and connected his spirit. The same process repeated, but he was faster this time, his point of view also rose.


    Once he selected the cheapest shop again, he bolted out of the door with a deep breath. Carpet of snow covered the market; the black blobs of spirit contrasted the white background. But he paid no heed to any of it and floated away as fast as he could.


    A few turns later, he reached his destination with much strength to spare; he had enough spirit left to bargain for a couple rounds without disconnecting and could even use <Identify> if he finished the transaction fast.


    Inside the shop, a blob of spirit larger than his drifted around, arranging items on his shelves.


    ¡°Hello, I need Astylind blood. Level-1.¡±


    ¡°Of course. How much do you need?¡± The blob of spirit hovered towards Ewan.


    ¡°Show me first,¡± Ewan said. And the man took out a small vial from one of the shelves and placed it on the counter between them.


    Identify.


    [Item Name: Astylind Blood (Mixed)]


    [Item Description: A mix of different Astylind¡¯s blood. High concentration of Level-1 Earth Rhino¡¯s blood. Low concentration of blood thinners.]


    ¡°How much?¡±


    ¡°One liter for one Novas.¡±


    ¡°Make it five liters, it¡¯s mixed stuff,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Haha, why don¡¯t you loot my shop brother.¡±


    ¡°Would if I could.¡±


    ¡°Two. I also must earn some profit.¡±


    ¡°At least four.¡±


    ¡°Three liters. I can''t go any higher,¡± the shop owner said.


    ¡°Do three and a half and we have a deal.¡±


    The quiet took over the shop for a moment but soon, the owner agreed with a hum and an okay. Ewan paid him one Novas and got three and a half liters of mixed Astylind blood. Luckily, his Pa rented a safe zone here, he could send the container to his place with a single gesture.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone I sold to you so cheap. But do recommend my shop to your family and friends. I¡¯ll give you another special discount for it.¡±


    Ewan hummed a mindless reply and cut his connection.


    Back in his room, he rubbed his aching forehead. His safe zone had the blood, but he waited to recover before connecting again; taking out items from there also used spirit after all.


    ¡­.


    In the evening, Ewan brought out the glass containers full of blood using the hub-connector and headed for the basement. The frigid gale smacked his face and chilled him to the core when he hauled the sliding door open; shivers ran down his spine. The snow overwhelmed his view, there was only white and more white as far as the smothered horizon went beyond the fences. Cold and lifeless, yet beautiful, certainly a sight to behold. But this beauty could kill without mercy.


    His legs sank knee-deep as he slogged to the shed against the snow blast, leaving his trail behind in the white¡ªit would only exist for a breath in the storm though. Once he was inside the basement, he closed the door and patted the snow off his head and jacket and sniffed¡ªhis nose had reddened a little.


    About the special Astylind, he¡¯d already made up his mind. He remained indecisive about it for days, but once he asked himself a simple question, his answer became clear.


    What would he regret more?


    He might or might not regret if he contracted this Astylind, but he would regret it if he didn¡¯t. Rather than mourn for the chance he missed here, he wanted to take the risk and deal with the consequences. There must be a reason that his family passed down this Astylind with each successive generation. Even if its edge bit his flesh one day, he wanted to accept it.


    <hr>

 Chapter-23 Toast

    He took out one of the glass containers and poured a bit of blood into another empty container he brought from his kitchen. The smell of iron ambushed the area, but the earthy aura the blood gave off soon overwhelmed it. It was like Orange¡¯s but more impulsive; if Ewan lacked in ¡®Spirit¡¯ right now, it might¡¯ve given him a headache.


    He carefully placed the small white egg into the container and waited for it to absorb all the life force. The process began as soon as the egg contacted the blood. And after a few minutes, the blood lost all its aura and rippled lifelessly and watery. Ewan added more blood into the container and the process resumed.


    He repeated a few times until the egg glowed a white tint and stopped absorbing any more life force, it was now ready. The blood it used came close to a liter; if it was regular animal¡¯s blood, it would¡¯ve been several times that.


    Ewan put the containers aside and focused on the egg. The method of contracting it was different from other Astylinds. The blood stained him as he held it, and a jolt shot up to his brain when he touched it with his spirit.


    A hostile consciousness invaded his soul and scanned him, baring him to his core. It tingled his head and paralyzed him; he could not resist; it even dampened his will to resist. Sweat drenched his forehead and his heart raced, he struggled to think of countermeasures in case this consciousness threatened his life.


    But the moment it scanned his entirety, all its hostility vanished into thin air. It gave off a warmth that comforted and embraced Ewan, and the similarity of it took him to the day when his Pa hugged him, the day he died¡­


    His scrawny hands had no strength left, but he held him tight. His trembling fingers ran through his hair as he whispered his last words in his ear.


    ¡°Live well Ewan. Live my worth too.¡± And he sighed his last breath on his shoulder. Ewan¡¯s eyes misted as the buried memories resurfaced, this was the warmth of a father he could never feel again.


    ¡®Your father didn¡¯t want you to contract my child. Do you still want to?¡¯ The consciousness passed a thought to Ewan.


    ¡®Our gift will bite you, he wanted to protect you from that. Do you still want to?¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯re his son, so you¡¯re my child too. This won''t change no matter your decision. Do you still want to?¡¯


    ¡°Yes.¡± Ewan sniffed and his resolution backed his nod.


    ¡®Very well. You will be one in soul from now on. Take care of your little brother, I hope you both live well.¡¯


    The consciousness shattered and a string of information trickled into his mind. It came slowly and gently immersed him. At the same time, his soul mingled with another feeble soul and merged.


    And a childlike meow was the last sound that echoed in the basement before he blacked out.


    ¡­..


    He snapped his eyes open and jerked up with his teeth chattering and spasming breaths. The bitter cold ground iced him even with his jacket on; his eyelashes had frosted, his head ached in waves¡ªhe cast <Ember> to warm his body.


    After the small blob of fire gave him some respite, Ewan dragged himself up and checked the egg, or what came out of it. A tiny kitten shivered in the broken shell of the egg, a mix of black and brown fur on his back, snow-white fur near his chest, tiny paws, long tail, and closed eyes. He purred at times and twitched his legs, his chest inflated and deflated in a rhythm as his breath blew the hanging shards of the shell away.


    Our souls merged¡­


    The process of this contract varied so much that it dazed Ewan. Contracts with other Astylinds only linked their souls and consciousness; a thread-like existence connected them. With this though, his and the kitten¡¯s soul merged and became one, and the kitten¡¯s body became an extension of his. This contract didn¡¯t create any rune in his soul space either, it instead gave him a black and white tattoo on the back of his right hand¡ªof a wheel divided in nine blocks and a cat¡¯s paw in the center.


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    But investigating the changes would come later, it was too cold down here. He cradled the kitten and kept him inside his jacket. He also picked the other egg and the seed and went back to the house.


    Once he was inside the thick quilt with the kitten, once its velvet warmed him, he went through the information he inherited before he¡¯d fainted. Even though it only trickled into his mind before, the total amount could fill several books. It took him minutes to only skim the important details. One of which was the special ability the kitten possessed. And because their souls merged, that now he possessed.


    Luck roulette¡­


    He finally understood why his Pa called it a double-edged sword. This special ability allowed him to move his luck towards the positive spectrum for a period, but once that ended, his luck would spring to the negative spectrum for the same period.


    Luck was a concept he never imagined would exist. He, like most others, used the word luck in his daily life, but he never actually believed in the concept. Yet, today, this ability proved him wrong. Its prospects were endless, yet it could also end his life. If used well, it could become one of his strongest weapons. Yet, if he became reckless with it, he wouldn¡¯t live to see another day¡­


    Ewan took a deep breath, rattled from one bombshell after another. Almost every item his Pa left him gave him the shock of his life. From the <Transmute> spell circuit to this Astylind; he could imagine that old pervert¡¯s mischievous giggles when he prepared all this for him.


    And there were still two Astylinds left.


    He shook his head and used <Identify> on himself to check if there were any major changes.


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [1<sup>st </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 2.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 2.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 2 [Potential: 2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat: Step-0 [1<sup>st </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 93


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 45


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Apart from the addition of the kitten and the decrement of the ¡®Potential¡¯, it remained the same. Because this was a special case where his soul merged with the kitten, the regular levels of Astylinds didn¡¯t apply. He was one with Ewan and would become stronger with him.


    Toast, I¡¯ll name you that.


    The little kitten, smaller than his palm, purred when he petted his soft furry stomach. The information he received also contained other bits that made him apprehensive. He had to brace himself for the changes that were to come, for some might not be so desirable.


    Identify.


    [Astylind Name: Rolling Cat]


    [Astylind Level: --]


    [Astylind Grade: --]


    [Anima Affinity: --]


    [Skills: Luck-Roulette]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. They are the species that gained the favor of Airadia. Other than their unique skill, they have no other strength. Once someone contracts them, their souls merge.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: --]


    [Remark 1: My gift to my family. It will be the fortune of us Ayres.]


    [Remark 2: Our blessing, our curse.]


    [Remark 3: No matter how much I tried, I couldn¡¯t break its curse. My daughter can''t continue our family, she¡¯s far too kind. I need another living descendant, not a corpse!!]


    [Remark 4: I don¡¯t regret.]


    [Remark 5: It is our family. Our next generation must accept it. My Cinnamon can''t be the last of her kind.]


    [Remark 6: My son rejected it. It will all end with my generation¡­]


    [Remark 7: I do not regret!!]


    [Remark 8: I soared with him. I fell with him. Hope my son doesn¡¯t make the same mistakes.]


    [Remark 9: ....]


    <hr>

 Chapter-24 New Instincts

    Contracting Toast didn¡¯t need any of his blood, so he could contract one of the other two Astylinds without any delay. And after much deliberation that considered their sizes, he chose the egg. He repeated the same process on the kitchen slab and poured the useless blood down the sink. The head-sized egg now radiated a blue halo.


    Contract.


    The clean slit on his wrist spurted blood as he traced the spell circuit in his soul space. His face paled from the drain, a chill rose from his core, shivers took over him, and his lips purpled. Hypovolemia¡ªhis status reverted to it.


    After he shed the needed blood, his wound closed, and the puddle of red floated up to form the spell circuit in the air. It flashed with a blood tint and changed into mist threads that cocooned the egg. Next part was the wait game.


    Orange stood on Ewan¡¯s shoulders and comforted him and Toast by raising the temperature. Ewan leaned on the kitchen countertop, short on breath, and waited for the cocoon to shrink. And soon enough, it thinned.


    The same process repeated, and the spell succeeded once again. The egg shook, its shell fractured, and a muffled howl escaped its cracks. Ewan didn¡¯t help though; breaking out of the egg was a ceremony of sorts for many Astylinds and Starons¡ªa rite of birth, some called it. He wouldn¡¯t interfere in that unless necessary.


    Hit after another, the creature inside banged against the eggshell and broke through. It tore it with its blue claws that looked like human hands and finally crawled out. It was the size of Ewan¡¯s head, with navy blue skin, clawed hands and feet, a long pointy tail, and two tiny bumps on the sides of its forehead. Even without using <Identify>, Ewan recognized this creature, and braced for another impact.


    Imp¡­


    They were one of the subspecies of the Demons. Like Humans, they were also Starons and not Astylinds. A fine line of intelligence and wisdom divided the Astylinds and the Starons. Though the Demons stood among the lowest rung of the ladder as a Staron, far from humans and much closer to the Astylinds, the upper rung still categorized them in the same class.


    ¡°The spell really doesn¡¯t discriminate¡­,¡± Ewan murmured.


    Even though it was possible in theory, his Pa proved it in reality¡ªhe contracted another Staron. And now Ewan too followed in his footsteps. He traced the spell circuit and cast <Identify> while the little Imp scarfed the eggshells.


    [Astylind Name: Imp (Ice-Variant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-0]


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Ice]


    [Skills: Ice-Favored]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Alvodor. Their talents and affinity vary based on their bloodline. But most are capable of decent spellcasting and melee combat.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Ice), Frozen Web, Ice Honey.]


    [Remark 1: Low wisdom, barely crossing the line. Possibility of taming and rearing is high.]


    [Remark 2: Basic contract doesn¡¯t work. Success rate might increase with a modified spell circuit.]


    [Remark 3: Hah, I¡¯m a master of a Demon now. But too much torture broke his mind. Tch!]


    [Remark 4: Modified spell circuit succeeded; the contract was a success. No oppression needed. Changing their format in the database, the contracted ones will be noted ¡®Astylind¡¯ from now on.]


    Ewan read the details and the remarks as the abundant Ice-Anima in the surroundings surged towards him and the Imp. There was a new rune in his soul space now, a metallic white ¡®V¡¯ shaped rune. It glowed with a gentle but frigid bluish-white halo. It proved his ability to cast ice spells.


    The little Imp cried at Ewan once he finished the eggshells.


    ¡°Still hungry?¡± He carried him on his other shoulder and prepared the utensils to cook food and heat up some milk.


    The Imp clutched his hair and stuck close to him as his legs wobbled. Orange screeched at him and climbed on Ewan¡¯s head, puffing his chest out once he reached the top. The Imp looked at him then glanced down at the floor; his knees buckled, and his legs trembled harder. He buried his face in Ewan¡¯s hair and stuck even closer while Ewan cooked.


    Unlike his other two Astylinds, the little Imp could digest solid food right from the start. If he was on Alvodor, he would¡¯ve hunted for food soon after his birth.


    The scalding pan thawed the semi-frozen meat and seared it. The sizzling fat made Ewan salivate and its smell invited him. Once the slab of meat came to the normal body temperature though, he experienced a craving he never did before. The meat was still raw and red, it would¡¯ve repulsed him before. Yet, he thirsted for it right now.


    He sighed and closed his eyes. One of the changes had already arrived, and it was one of the undesirable ones. Cats liked fresh kill, they liked meat that was still warm, fresh, and bloody. Now Ewan craved it too. But he didn¡¯t give in. It was only an instinctual want; he could still suppress it. And so, he continued cooking the meat and warmed up the milk on the side stove.


    When the meat went past a certain point, still raw but beyond the normal body temperature, his instincts also simmered down. He prepared a tiny milk bottle for Toast after checking its temperature on his inside wrist and sliced the meat in half for Orange and the little Imp. Orange could also eat solid food now, much to his delight. He didn¡¯t have to stare at Ewan¡¯s food while drinking his milk anymore.


    When Ewan put them both on the countertop, the Imp calmed down and attended to the food. As they both ravaged the meat, Orange pointed at the Imp and complained with all his vigor. A piece of meat hung from his mouth as he hooted with a muffled voice. Their bond conveyed his whines and gripes about why the Imp didn¡¯t have to drink milk. Ewan shook his head in defeat as he had no solution for it. Any explanation would only waste his energy, he could only let things be.


    The cliched fight between ice and fire¡ªthe reality of his house was proving why society deemed it a clich¨¦. The future didn¡¯t look too peaceful.


    <hr>

 Chapter-25 Blood

    The white-out stopped after a few days but the snow held the colony down. Since he could do nothing else, Ewan put all his focus into training his Astylinds and his own studies. And after a few drills in the basement, the Imp¡¯s skill, Ice-Favored, distinguished itself.


    If Orange showed his talent by instinct, then Frost, as Ewan named him, proved his genius by conscious actions. The Favored-level affinity boosted his knack with the ice element spells, the sheer ease with which Frost controlled the Ice-Anima surpassed the extent of Ewan¡¯s rune.


    Today too, they all remained in the basement. Ewan held Toast in his arms and fed him lukewarm milk while Orange rammed through the cardboard maze and Frost hurled a tiny icicle at the wall, grinding his casting stability. It exploded, and a few shattered shards pelted Orange who was preparing to start again. He halted, the ice shards melting in his fur, and turned towards Frost who stared back at him with an unrelenting gaze.


    ¡°Not again¡­,¡± Ewan grumbled as his two Astylinds jumped at each other with a feral howl. Frost grabbed Orange¡¯s fur; Orange pulled Frost¡¯s tail. They wrestled on the ground and rolled around. Frost scratched Orange¡¯s back, Orange bit Frost¡¯s neck; they both drew blood. Left and right, they rolled and tussled.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± He was stern but kept his voice low for Toast.


    The two broke free at once and stood upright in front of him, panting as their limbs shivered. Disheveled fur, twitching tail, they had their heads down but glared at each other from the corner of their eyes.


    Ewan sighed with his head down, they needed to fight together in the future¡­ He didn¡¯t separate them when training with that in mind. It also fueled their rivalry, and they trained harder when together. But they were magnets, one hint of spark and they went at each other with ferocity. He overlooked their scuffles up to a point but had to interfere when they drew blood.


    ¡°Sit.¡±


    He sat on the wooden chair he brought from the house and had them sit up on the table. After putting Toast on the temporary bed he made with clothes and a blanket, he cleaned their wounds and applied some antiseptic. Their vitality would do the rest.


    ¡°Hmm, go back.¡±


    He patted them and the two resumed their drills. Sparks still flew between them at times, but no fights broke out. Ewan regained peace, at least for some time.


    ¡­.


    [Vin]


    Residential Area, Zone-D.


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    ¡°Vin, did you wash my uniform?¡± Teal yelled from inside.


    ¡°Yeah, they were too dirty,¡± Vin replied as he gazed at the white snow outside the time-battered window. The heavy snow might not have affected the rich much, but it gave him a headache. His savings almost ran dry. He lied to his sister several times these last few days that they had enough, that she could eat as much as she wanted¡ªhe could starve for days, she couldn¡¯t.


    Luckily, the blizzard stopped, and the work would soon resume.


    ¡°You idiot, why did you wash them now?¡± she said. ¡°They all froze.¡± She showed him the checkered brown skirt in her hand, frozen into a solid block.


    ¡°My bad. Leave them, I¡¯ll deal with that later. What about your school? Still not open?¡±


    ¡°What, you don¡¯t like me staying at home?¡±


    Vin sighed. ¡°Why¡¯d I even ask?¡±


    Teal pouted but still replied, ¡°They¡¯ll distribute the Astylinds soon, so it should open in a few days.¡±


    Vin frowned. ¡°Teal.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know, we¡¯re selling that. I won''t contract it, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Teal, we¡¯re humans. We live our time and die; we can''t become monsters.¡±


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t start your cult thing again. I got it already.¡±


    Vin shook his head with a helpless smile. ¡°Give me that.¡± He gestured at the hairband.


    Teal was a head shorter than him; he stood behind her and gathered her long black hair. ¡°Did you wash your hair?¡± he asked. They were wet, cold, and smelled of their usual shampoo with a strong hint of lavender.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t wash it so often, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± He rubbed them with his t-shirt before tying them into a ponytail with the hairband.


    ¡°You¡¯re so dirty, Vin.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called being efficient.¡± He smacked her head.


    Teal blew the hair strands that came to her eyes ¡°Give me two Sols. I¡¯m going out with Rynn,¡± she said.


    ¡°Where¡¯re you going in this weather? Just stay home and study. Your finals will be soon, no?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m bored, we¡¯ll only play for a bit. I promise I¡¯ll be back before evening,¡± she turned and said with a beaming smile, the biggest weakness of her big brother.


    Faced with that, Vin could only agree. He earned for her, if she didn¡¯t spend it, who would. He only worried about not having enough food during the blizzard, so he cut down on other expenses. But the situation was improving now, things would get better for sure.


    Yet, when he waved goodbye to his sister and closed the rusted creaking main gate, he received a mind-numbing message from work on his aged and bruised phone. The increased prices of raw materials cut into their profit shares. To maintain efficiency, they were downsizing, and they let him go.


    ¡­..


    [Ewan]


    Early morning, in the kitchen.


    Ewan repeated the process with the seed and used the last container of blood he had. With his current nutritious diet and improved physique, he recovered from hypovolemia sooner than the last time. He was ready to contract his final Astylind now.


    Blood splattered as the dagger ran down his wrist and he traced the spell circuit.


    Contract.


    As usual, the connection strengthened when the blood cocoon thinned, thread by thread. Soon, the spell ended, and the contract succeeded. The seed on the kitchen slab trembled and sprouted a tiny pale pinkish bud. A frail consciousness touched Ewan¡¯s soul; he could crush it by mistake if he didn¡¯t pay attention, as was the case with the plant types in general. Incoherent thoughts, basic instincts; that was all he received from the bud.


    He frowned, because one word prevailed among those thoughts. ¡®Blood¡¯, the bud thirsted for it. Instead of the wood element, the seed was of the blood element. A blood-red spherical rune now gleamed in his soul space.


    <hr>

 Chapter-26 Change of Plans

    Identify.


    [Astylind Name: Blood Lotus]


    [Astylind Level: Level-0]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Blood]


    [Skills: Blood-Recipient]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: Extinct natives of Sepra. They had decent affinity with Blood-Anima (Recipient) but lacked the means to protect themselves. Delicate and feeble. They lost the battle of natural selection.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Blood), Blood Stone, Astylind Blood, Bone Marrow.]


    [Remark 1: Can be used as an ingredient for potions. Useless otherwise.]


    [Remark 2: Decent choice for a healing type Astylind. But lack strong evolution branches.]


    [Remark 3: I don¡¯t like them. They¡¯re nasty~]


    [Remark 4: Special evolution path found. Focus should be on its grade.]


    Ewan read all the remarks but paid special attention to the last one, which could be from his Pa. The relation between the evolution and the grades was a new thing for him, no one taught it in the class. He made a mental note to read up on it and focused on the bud for now.


    She thirsted for blood, and her craving tingled his soul. But before feeding her the leftover Astylind blood, he did a test. He sliced his right palm and offered her his blood.


    The pinkish bud quivered; her intense furor flooded Ewan¡¯s senses. Yet, she rejected him. No matter how much he enticed her with it, she didn¡¯t go for his blood. He smiled once he confirmed this.


    ¡°Good girl.¡± She swayed on his caress.


    Ewan prepared a small dishware and poured the Astylind blood in it for her. And this time, she didn¡¯t shy away. A tiny root struggled out of the seed and reached for the blood. As she sucked, the bud¡¯s color deepened, and she gained a red luster. Little by little, she gulped down the rest of it¡ªthe pinkish bud now turned wine red.


    Ewan stood to the side, licking his wound. The taste of iron tingled his instinct, but his reason smothered it.


    Now that all the contracts were over, he had to make plans. He needed resources to grow, much more than an average Step-0 Severynth; he had four Astylinds after all. Toast didn¡¯t need any resources for he was one with Ewan, but his other Astylinds did. His Pa left him a good number of Novas and Anima Crystals. But he couldn¡¯t rely on only them forever, he needed to source his earnings.


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    Hunting, it was the first thing that popped into his head. Yet, before marching out, he needed to make sure he and his Astylinds were up to par. On top of that, he also needed to prep. From information to necessities, he had to make some trips to the hub again.


    ¡­..


    Ewan¡¯s days monotonized. Apart from his daily needs, he only trained. He drilled his Astylinds and drew the spell circuits; he studied the related books and experimented with the ideas he had. He had three elemental runes now¡ªFire, Ice, and Blood. He ignored the fire for now, as his Spellbook missed this element, and focused on the other two.


    <Ice Daggers>, he picked this spell for his first focus. It had a low min and a high max Anima point¡ªits cost spectrum spanned larger than many other spells in the Spellbook. Ewan could cast it twice now and could also keep using it in higher stages.


    The only issue was that its circuit had no targeting mechanism. It didn¡¯t act like a normal spell because of this. Instead, it contained a structure that enhanced Ryvia, a skill that most Ashevas had, in one form or the other¡ªSeverynths and Cerades gained it after their third awakening. But before that, it was weaker than even <Ember>. It couldn¡¯t hit its target unless the caster was an expert at throwing knives.


    Ewan chose it with the future in mind. By the time of his third awakening, which he set as the minimum requirement for hunting, he would become adept at tracing its spell circuit.


    Ice Daggers!


    He read the Spellbook in his left hand and followed the spell circuit diagram. This was his fifth attempt, and he succeeded. The Ice-Anima left his ice rune and flew through the circuit he created. He only used enough to reach the spell¡¯s min Anima point, and it activated.


    However¡­ Ewan¡¯s muscles tightened, his face flushed and contorted, veins bulged on his neck and forehead. The frictional force combined with the resistance wreaked havoc inside his body. The spell succeeded, yet the result was a tiny blunt and disfigured ice dagger floating before his right palm.


    He cancelled the spell and collapsed on all fours, breathless and gasping. Frost and Orange halted their training and rushed to him.


    Bottle¡­


    His throat grated when he breathed, so he told them through their connection. Frost dashed to the table and grabbed him the bottle of water while Orange stood in front of him, silent and confused.


    After gulping down large mouthfuls of the cold water, Ewan lay flat on the floor, staring at the white ceiling, his limbs spread apart. The cold floor comforted his spasming muscles, and his heaving chest rested a few moments later.


    Mr. Worth sure downplayed the side effects of having different elemental runes a lot in his class, Ewan wanted to punch that old bastard in the nose. This was the first time he cast a spell after he gained the ice and the blood elemental rune. And the negative impact was a lot worse than just a weakened spell.


    ¡°Go back. Its fine now.¡±


    When his Astylinds returned to training, he sat in the corner with his books and his notebook. He had a theory on why it happened and how to overcome it but needed to confirm it.


    After scribbling for half an hour, he verified the reason and let it go once it satiated his curiosity. The different Anima were in balance inside his body, it was the cause for what happened. If he made any one element the dominant party, it could solve the problem. The body modification techniques that Mr. Worth mentioned must work on this basis. He had no intention of following the same path though, he had the ¡®Elementalist¡¯ path.


    ¡°I should start with that¡­,¡± he murmured. The spells were out of his reach for now, not until he completed a part of the first layer of his body modification at least. The ¡®Elementalist¡¯ subtype would reveal its glory only after the completion of the modifications and the circuit setup, but its passive effect of taming the Anima would show up from the beginning.


    The combined feedback from his Astylinds, excluding Toast, pushed his Spirit to 2.6 in the last week. He could try the hub again and look for the ingredients.


    Another brief read of its book detailed what he needed for its completion. The first layer, ¡®Heart of Anima¡¯, required potions. Because it had its own recipe, he couldn¡¯t buy it anywhere and had to create it himself. And for that, he needed tools.


    <hr>

 Chapter-27 Tower of Failures

    The glossy white metal walls brightened the basement as always. Echoes of Orange blasting through the cardboard maze and Frost freezing the wall then cracking the ice rolled in the empty hall. Toast slept inside Ewan¡¯s wheel tattoo while Iris, his new Astylind, remained in the blood rune.


    Ewan put the beaker with the black sludge on the table and fanned the stenchy fumes away with the hand fan. Once the air around him was clear, he slumped on the chair, his legs spread, and let out a defeated grumble. This was his ninth attempt, and his ninth failure. He spent three Novas on ten sets of ingredients, only one set remained now.


    After resting, he stretched his stiff body, his joints popped, and rinsed the beaker and the test tubes in the bucket by the side. He also sterilized them with alcohol and wiped them dry with a clean cloth before starting again.


    The base of the potion was an ice based Aennon solution. Ms. Ridgell praised it as revolutionary and extoled the man who invented it¡ªAennon Cokon. A vital ingredient that shaped modern Potioneering, she often stressed.


    If only there were practical classes¡­. Ewan shook his head.


    After heating the solution on the burner up to the mentioned temperature, he took the beaker off and left it aside to cool down. One Level-0 Astylind Core of ice element and pure blood from an ice-type Astylind, these two were the main components for this potion, while some other accompaniment herbs served as catalysts and stabilizers. He measured them all in different test tubes and processed them.


    His surgical knife glided on the tiny milky Astylind Core as he engraved a part of a spell circuit on it. The powdered core fell on the table which he wiped away with a rag before dropping the carved core into the cooling solution. After giving it a stir, he poured in the blood and let it rest, as the swirls of red blended into white.


    His leg bobbed up and down as he sat back and watched the solution change color. The moment the red overwhelmed the contents then allowed a bloom of white, he snatched the beaker, the liquid sloshed on its wall, and sent in his spirit. And the solution bubbled. The core melted, the red faded away, and it all turned snowy white. Its temperature nose-dived and the glass beaker frosted.


    Ewan waited for the solution and his spirit to stabilize before adding in the rest of the ingredients, one by one. Different ingredients caused different effects on the solution. One agitated it, the other caused the temperature to rise before plunging again. One formed a frozen crust on top, while the other cancelled all effects and neutralized the solution.


    It was a smooth ride up till this point. Yet, the next moment, the solution seethed and blackened. It emanated a vomit inducing fume and heated up the beaker.


    He failed again¡­


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    ¡°AHHH!!¡±


    Ewan clutched his hair and banged his head against the table, again and again, rattling the glass tools. No talent, he was worthless, he repeated in his head. Ten sets of ingredients, ten failures, he didn¡¯t even see a glint of success.


    Positive! Positive!!


    He rubbed his face and took a deep breath. They said a tower of failures always gave birth to the peak of success. He wanted to believe that; he needed to believe that. At least it wasn¡¯t all a waste, he gained precious experience. Where he made mistakes, which parts he could improve on, the ten trials told him all that.


    ¡­¡­.


    [Vin]


    Residential Area, Zone-D.


    Vin followed the cheap ¡®How To¡¯ book he bought at a stall and applied some basic makeup to hide his pale face and cracked lips. The Frosthelm sky darkened in the early hours; Teal would come home soon. He stuffed all the tools back into the bag with shaky hands and threw it under his bed. A bout of dizziness assaulted him when he got up, his vision blurred, and he collapsed on the bed. His breath was rough and rapid, cold sweat drenched his back, and his heart raced. The feeling of emptiness from the core was a new experience for him. And it wasn¡¯t a pleasant one.


    The main gate opened with its distinct creak¡ªTeal was home. Vin couldn¡¯t let her see him like this, so he dragged his body up, unfolded his shirt¡¯s sleeves to hide the needle marks, and went out of the room.


    ¡°You were home?¡± Teal asked, throwing her bag onto the tattered and patched sofa, and unzipping her skirt.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m leaving for work now. How was school? Anything new?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Wells caught Rynn today. She was fucking some guy on the roof. Her boyfriend was so pissed.¡± She chuckled.


    ¡°Teal,¡± Vin said in a low voice.


    ¡°Sorry, she was ¡®fornicating¡¯ with some guy,¡± she said.


    ¡°Teal!¡± He raised his voice, and that alone took everything. He wobbled and the world spun before his eyes.


    ¡°Okay, okay. I won''t say it again.¡± Luckily, she faced the other way and was taking off her uniform. Vin leaned on the door handle and stabilized himself.


    ¡°By the way, did you wear makeup today?¡± she turned and said after stripping down to her white undies with a cute puppy face on it.


    Vin¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Y-Yeah, my job changed. I-It¡¯s about meeting customers now, so I have to dress up.¡±


    ¡°You left your old one?¡±


    ¡°N-No, same job. But different work now.¡± The web of lies he spun deepened with each answer.


    ¡°Hmm, see you then. I¡¯ll go take a nap.¡± She headed to her room.


    ¡°Teal.¡± He eyed her.


    She heaved a sigh and picked up her uniform from the floor.


    ¡°Shoes too,¡± he said.


    She put the shoes in their place with another sigh and trudged to her room. Vin smiled and went out once she closed her door.


    Today too, he would earn Sols to sustain her current peaceful life. The job market ran desolate under the current circumstances, no one hired him even after several tries. So, he had to take extreme measures. Even so, the legitimate places rejected his form when they checked his needles marks. He could only sell his blood on the black market now. Good thing he had a colleague¡ªex colleague, really¡ªwho introduced him to a place.


    This solution wasn¡¯t feasible in the long term, especially with the skyrocketing costs, but it had to do for the time being. Once Teal got her Astylind from the school, it would ease their financial crisis. At that time, he could rely on its sale to continue their lives and keep looking for another job that could afford her costs¡ªquick work on a daily income basis couldn¡¯t support her after all. The law might¡¯ve banned the Astylinds¡¯ trades among the public but selling it to the War Dogs was still legal.


    <hr>

 Chapter-28 Modification

    [Ewan]


    Ewan grinned at the frosted and frigid test tube as a snow-white watery liquid sloshed in it. The taste of success after so many failures was utterly delightful, it blew away all his negative thoughts and boosted his confidence. He could create the rest of the potions needed for this technique with enough practice, he was sure now.


    Eagerness filled him; he couldn¡¯t wait to use the potion. His <Identify> spell already confirmed its effect, there were no problems with it. He loaded the potion into the injector gun he purchased from the hub and shot it into his left-hand vein.


    A metallic taste invaded his palate and throat as the icy liquid traveled up his arm, leaving behind a thin layer of frost on his skin in its wake. Ewan used his spirit to lead the liquid to his heart and trapped it there; his chest chilled, and wintry mist seeped out of his mouth and nose.


    Once it settled down, the potion took effect and webbed his heart, modifying it with every passing second. Ewan clutched his chest and groaned; each heartbeat assaulted him with a wave of pain. The chilled air felt colder, even in his thick ivory down-jacket, he shivered¡ªgoosebumps ran on his skin. Gradually, the pain subsided, and he hugged himself into silence, his head buried in his chest. His breaths were quiet and regular, but his back still trembled from the cold. The chills spreading away from his heart didn¡¯t help his state either, it made it worse instead. His fingers and toes numbed; he couldn¡¯t feel them anymore.


    He tried to shout and call Orange, yet all that came out was a shaking whisper and a steamed breath. He was his Astylind though, connected to him with his soul. His thoughts were all Ewan needed to convey his intentions.


    Orange!


    The little monkey jumped out of the cardboard maze and beelined to Ewan while screeching; Frost stopped practicing too and rushed to him. Orange jumped on his shoulder and vented his Fire-Anima. He didn¡¯t use its explosive nature but heated up the surroundings.


    The temperature rose and Ewan gained some respite, he stopped shivering and his goosebumps settled down. The warmth countered the frigid wave spreading inside his body and balanced his condition. He didn¡¯t take any other measure against it though. This was the process of modification, he had to go through this if he wanted to complete the technique. In hindsight, it would¡¯ve been better to use this potion later when Frosthelm season was gone. The fire potion instead would¡¯ve been a better choice for this weather. Nonetheless, the past was past. He could only learn from it, not change it.


    After a good while, the biting chill died down and he slouched back on the chair. Orange grabbed his hair and jumped up and down on his shoulders, squeaking with every landing. Frost stood still on the table, his steady gaze reflecting Ewan¡¯s drained figure.


    It¡¯s over now.


    There were still several potions he had to go through. But for now, he relished the success with a weak yet satisfied smile.


    ¡­..


    Stubborn dark clouds hid the moons, even the tree bending wind couldn¡¯t move them. Ewan perched atop the artistic false chimney, the peak of his mansion, his hair dancing wild with the gale. His eyes shone an emerald-green and gave off a predator¡¯s aura. Everything in his neighborhood was crystal clear to him, even in the dim and dark night.


    Nana slumped out cold in her balcony as always, a bottle of half-empty dark rum dangling in her hand. She still wore her uniform and had no blanket on; it was a wonder how she survived the wintry nights.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.His childhood friend, Verina, giggled on the phone in her bedroom; her parents bickered in theirs.


    The young couple cuddled in the same quilt on their porch, across from his house, and drank from the same mug of steaming beverage. Even the bleak wind couldn¡¯t dissipate the pink warmth around them.


    Ewan looked towards Nana again, his green irises quivered¡ªshe was different today. From the low-proof liquors to the high-proof rum, she upped her alcohol game. She might be at her limit¡­ If her life continued like this, he might hear about her never waking up soon, and the thought filled him with fraught. He gazed at her, his heart in turmoil. But after a few minutes of tumbling thoughts and considerations, he suppressed his urge to help her. She chose her way of life, and with their relationship in tatters, he couldn¡¯t deny her choice, even if he wanted to. His unsolicited help might even aggravate her situation, he didn¡¯t want to risk damage to her or their already frayed connection.


    He sighed and jumped off the chimney, landing in the balcony on all fours. His knees bent and his fingers absorbed the shock, a silent touch down. It felt good to follow the lingering instinct in his soul from time to time, orgasmic even, especially when he suppressed it for so long. But he couldn¡¯t let it dictate his life.


    He lounged on the recliner and sipped the warm milk left on the table.


    ¡°Blegh, so fucking bland.¡±


    He stirred in almost ten times the sugar he used to add. Yet, it still tasted vapid. Some changes were favorable to him, but others only left him bitter. At this point, he could only wish the negative effects would mellow out in the future and he would be able to taste sweet food again.


    He chugged the milk and put the mug back on the table. Even if it tasted flat, he still needed to drink it. Wiping his mouth, he took out a test tube half-filled with an orange liquid. It was the fire potion, needed for the ¡®Elementalist¡¯ modification. Ninth attempt marked his success this time, much better than his fifteen trials last time. Frosthelm wasn¡¯t over yet, far from it actually. The freezing weather could counter the side effects of this potion¡ªthe reason he chose it.


    He brought Frost out from inside the ice rune and punctured himself with the injector gun. The warmth of the liquid turned searing hot as it traveled along his vein. The metallic taste filled his mouth and throat again as he used his spirit and guided the potion to his heart. And his chest singed from the inside, it was several times worse than any heartburn he ever had.


    The modification part came next, the same torturous pain would soon ensue. Ewan only hoped the weather and Frost¡¯s support would be enough to ease it.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [1<sup>st </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.2


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 2.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 2.9 | Ice ¨C 2.9 | Blood ¨C 2.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [1<sup>st </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-0] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 84


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 36


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-29 2nd Awakening

    His sweat froze on his face, his wet hair iced. A hint of heat still sauntered inside his body, as if he ran a super marathon. He lay motionless on the recliner, his chest heaving. While Frost stood on the table, controlling the Ice-Anima to maintain a low temperature around him¡ªhis focus was Ewan¡¯s head.


    Two parts of the first layer ended after the fire potion modified his heart. Fire-Anima and Ice-Anima suppressed the Blood-Anima in his body but remained in harmony with each other now. Once he recovered, Ewan tried nudging both Anima, his shoulders tensed from the fresh memory of the agony¡ªhe gently tugged at the Anima before he fully employed them.


    His body still resisted their movement, but the incomplete spell circuit in his heart nulled the friction between them. He eased up and heaved a sigh of relief. This meant he could cast fire and ice spells from now on. Their effects would diminish because of the resistance but he wouldn¡¯t experience the agonizing pain anymore. It would be same as when he cast <Ember> before. A large burden was off his mind.


    Eleven elements, eleven potions; two done, nine left. The rest he could complete over time, but he needed to finish the blood potion before practicing his spellcasting again.


    And he had to prepare for his second awakening too. Frost leveled up over the last few weeks, he was now Level-1. Much to Orange¡¯s dismay and annoyance, he also grew taller and came only a bit short of Ewan¡¯s knees. His growth shot up the feedback Ewan received, but he was now at a standstill. His ¡®Spirit¡¯ reached 2.9 and stopped growing. A paper-thin layer blocked his soul from getting stronger. He needed to break that.


    Not tonight though, the tussle with the potion wore him out. Breakthrough could wait till tomorrow, tonight he would sleep like a log.


    ¡­..


    Spirit like ripples, Mr. Worth often said. It was the most efficient method to break through the initial soul blockades. Ewan sat in the basement, his hand at his navel, his eyes closed, his breaths routined. The frigid floor chilled his bum through the black pajamas, the silence rang in his ears, and his heart thumped in a rhythm.


    In his soul space, the transparent puddle of spirit reflected the three elemental runes floating above. Orange, White, Red, they glowed with different halos. Ewan concentrated on his spirit puddle and plucked the center, the puddle rippled but had no effect on the blockade. Ewan plucked his spirit again, and again. The ripples resonated with each other and became violent waves with each shock. The puddle billowed but couldn¡¯t grow, a metaphorical film broke its advance.


    He lost all sense of time, but it should¡¯ve been less than an hour since he started; his stomach had yet to growl. His temples ached but he didn¡¯t stop. He still had enough stamina to continue.


    Time passed and his stomach finally rumbled. His spirit puddle also erupted at the same time and clobbered his head. He jerked back, his nose bled, his ears buzzed. His body exuded a sickening sweet smell again. He¡¯d become insensitive to sweet taste because of his change. But he could still smell the overwhelming syrupy sweetness coming from his body.


    The puddle of spirit grew, and the feedback from his Astylinds flooded in again. He wiped the blood off his lips and nose and cast <Identify>.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    His ¡®Spirit¡¯ soared to 3.2, his stagnant ¡®Vitality¡¯ also went up to 1.3. And his status showed ¡®2<sup>nd</sup> Awakening¡¯ now.


    It was a matter of celebration but the crisp doorbell reverberating in the empty basement cut it short¡ªit was a handy and neat feature that Ewan discovered in the control panel.


    ¡°Nana?¡± He received an unexpected guest once he opened the door.


    ¡°You still call me that,¡± she said with a sheepish laugh, twiddling her thumbs. It was Havanna, his always drunk neighbor, his fianc¨¦e, and the person he was once the closest to. The dark circles under her eyes, the wilted hair, the chapped lips, the dry skin, and the lingering scent of liquor¡ªshe looked haggard in her casual pajamas and worn-down slippers. Even her voluptuous figure couldn¡¯t counter that.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown taller,¡± she said. ¡°I have to look up to you now.¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± Ewan said with a smile; he was half a head taller than her. ¡°Come in.¡± He led her through the courtyard and inside the house, her bulging pocket scraping against her thigh and clattering as she walked.


    ¡°You awakened?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Hmm, a while back, this was the second.¡± Ewan nodded, the sweet smell around him was hard to miss. ¡°Don¡¯t mind the dust,¡± he said, slapping the sofa and fanning the brown cloud away with his hand before sitting her down. After he poured her a glass of water, he took a seat on the opposite one.


    ¡°Did I disturb you?¡± She held the glass with both her hands. Her knees huddled together; she sat on the edge of the sofa.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t, don¡¯t worry,¡± Ewan said.


    She nodded and sipped from her glass, staring at the floor. The familiarity and the closeness they once shared was no more, the awkward air had long seeped in between them, stemming from the lack of interaction for years, especially during the time they both changed.


    ¡°I-I wanted some advice.¡± Her voice shook and dimmed down.


    ¡°About Astylinds?¡±


    Her shoulders tightened; she gave a meek nod.


    ¡°Go on,¡± he said.


    ¡°I-I wanted to buy one. H-How do I do that?¡±


    Ewan stared at her and exhaled a sigh.


    ¡°Nana, buying Astylinds like that is banned. You should know that.¡± She was focusing on law studies in the first institute and was good at it. Between the two, she was more of an expert in this area. ¡°Unless you convince someone to give it to you for free, there¡¯s no hope. You can''t find it even on the black market.¡± He received Orange like that, so the loophole could work for her too.


    She tightened her grip on the glass and bit her lips¡ªit bled. ¡°Is there really no other way?¡±


    His eyes wavered as he stared at her devastated figure¡ªthat desperation, that hopelessness, and her desolated spirit teetering at the end of its road yanked the skeletons of the emotions buried in his heart. He couldn¡¯t bear to see her this way¡­


    ¡°What happened to the one you received from the school?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I-I didn¡¯t receive it.¡± She shrank away.


    And the hall hushed as Ewan lowered his head in deflation, his eyes closed; her situation was too similar to his¡­


    ¡°Did you open your soul space?¡± he asked. It had been about a year since her eighteenth birthday. If she hadn¡¯t opened it, there was little hope for her now for the Severynth path.


    She bobbed her head.


    ¡°There might be a way then, but I can only be a mediator.¡±


    She beamed; her eyes opened wide. ¡°R-Really?¡±


    ¡°Can you afford it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I should have enough.¡± Her chapped lips broke because of her smile, it bled even more.


    ¡°You can''t buy it with Sols.¡± He got up and fetched her a lip balm from the kitchen, gesturing at her lips¡ªit looked too painful.


    ¡°I-I have the crystals.¡± She took out the bulging pouch from her pocket and handed it to him before applying the lip balm.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t carry it around like that,¡± he murmured and weighed it¡ªabout a third of what he had. Whether it was enough to buy an Astylind from the hub or not though, he wasn¡¯t sure. If it wasn¡¯t, he could add from his stack¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do. What kind do you want to buy?¡±


    ¡°Any will do. I don¡¯t have any preference.¡±


    Ewan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll contact you later then.¡± He returned the pouch and escorted her out.


    ¡°Nana,¡± he said when at the main door, and she turned around. ¡°This is not a charity. I¡¯ll cash in this favor one day.¡±


    ¡°I-I understand,¡± she said in a faint voice.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 3.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 3.2 | Ice ¨C 3.2 | Blood ¨C 3.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-0] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 84


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 36


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-30.1 Havanna [Part-I]

    [Havanna¡ªFive years ago]


    ¡°What¡¯re you making Havanna?¡± May, her best friend, turned around and asked, her chin resting on Havanna¡¯s desk. Recess time washed away the fatigue, even the laziest bunch who snored during the classes now romped around, their garbled chatters and cackles permeating the classroom.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Havanna scratched her head with her bandaged thumb and gave a mindless reply, blocking out the noises and focusing on weaving the neck gaiter.


    ¡°What are you making? Ooii¡­¡± May knocked on the desk.


    ¡°Hmm? What?¡±


    May tapped on the charcoal-colored cloth and the sewing set on the desk. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Gaiter,¡± Havanna replied, gesturing towards her neck.


    ¡°Why¡¯re you making it yourself?¡± she asked. ¡°Just buy one.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift.¡±


    ¡°Handmade? For who?¡± May asked. ¡°Sorry, for whom?¡± She emphasized the change, mimicking Ms. Palma, their teacher of the common tongue.


    Havanna changed the needle and sewed a section, then checked the gaiter as a whole¡ªthe newest part curved to the right. But this was just a practice piece, mistakes would only fuel her improvement, so she let the problem be and continued.


    ¡°Tell me.¡± May shook Havanna¡¯s hand back and forth, pouting. ¡°Please,¡± she said, stretching out the word.


    Havanna clicked her tongue and stopped weaving. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb me,¡± she said. ¡°These needles hurt a lot.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me then,¡± May murmured and lay her head on Havanna¡¯s desk, still pouting. ¡°Is it for him?¡± she jerked up and asked, her eyes glittering with a wide smile.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Havanna bobbed her head. ¡°His birthday¡¯s coming soon. I couldn¡¯t even wish him last two times; I¡¯m going to make up for it this time.¡±


    Her mind wandered to Ewan; his current state worried her. He looked better than he did two years ago, but his eyes were still dead, and he often forced his smile for others. The neighbors gossiped he was doing well, that he got over uncle¡¯s death and was living a good life now. They couldn¡¯t tell, but she could, she spent all her childhood with him after all.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t your parents tell you to not contact him?¡± May asked. ¡°Why did they do that anyway? Weren¡¯t your families super close?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, they don¡¯t tell me anything. I didn¡¯t even know we had to move,¡± Havanna said. ¡°But I¡¯m not going to listen this time.¡± She clenched her fist.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because he¡¯s unlucky or cursed.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± Havanna scowled at May.


    ¡°Okay, okay.¡± May pulled back. ¡°But think about it. His mother almost killed him once, his father died so early, his relatives stole all his inheritance, he¡¯s barely surviving. And then you guys bailed too, and when you came back, your parents didn¡¯t want you to contact him,¡± she said. ¡°It really sounds like he¡¯s cursed.¡±


    ¡°He is not!¡± Havanna glared, she wanted to punch May¡¯s nose. She wasn¡¯t the only one to say these words, the neighbors and his classmates did too, even the teachers followed along. They must think Ewan wasn¡¯t listening, but he heard it all, because she could too when she was with him. He kept everyone at a distance now, he always had his defense up. If this continued, he would always be alone¡­.


    She didn¡¯t know the reason why her parents became so frigid towards him, but they must still care¡ªafter all, they always whispered about Ewan and how he was doing when she wasn¡¯t paying attention, when they thought she wasn¡¯t paying attention. If she could convince them that he wasn¡¯t doing well and needed their help, they might let her meet him, or better yet, they might go back to how they were themselves.


    ¡°Base station to Havanna. Base station to Havanna, over.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯re you wandering off to? Thinking about him?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Havanna started sewing again. ¡°Stop interrupting me. I need to finish this,¡± she said.


    ¡°Fine, fine. By the way, I need to buy something after school. Come with me,¡± May said.


    ¡°I can''t. Mum told me to come home early.¡±


    ¡°C¡¯mon, please, I really need to buy this, it¡¯s the last volume of ¡®Nocturnals¡¯.¡± She pressed her hands together and begged. ¡°That bookstore gets super busy, I don¡¯t want to go alone.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still reading that creepy stuff?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not creepy! It¡¯s literature, you need to read it to understand,¡± May said.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Havanna sighed. ¡°But I have to get back by evening.¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡±


    <hr>

 Chapter-30.2 Havanna [Part-II]

    She¡¯s going to kill me today¡­


    Havanna scurried towards her house, even dashed at times, her schoolbag slamming on her back when she did, the bear-shaped keychain clanking away. The streetlights were already on, the new ones burned bright while the old ones flickered, insects buzzing around the bulbs. And even though she was glad to have them light up her path, she wished they didn¡¯t, for every patch of light she passed reminded her that she was late, too late.


    Her mum told her to come home early, she didn¡¯t ask. Now if only her dad could distract her mum and take the heat again¡­


    I won''t go down by myself!


    At worst, she would put all the blame on May, it was her fault anyway. She dragged her around for this long, first the bookstore then the clothes showroom. In the end, she didn¡¯t even buy anything except the book she wanted.


    The final turn, and she was on the homestretch. She could already see Ewan¡¯s house, his door shut as always at this hour of the day, and after that was hers.


    The lights were off, and the windows veiled the insides. Had they gone out? She thought. A bleak hope bloomed in her heart; she just might survive this if they did. The well-oiled main gate opened smoothly. Tiptoeing her way across the small courtyard-garden, avoiding the crisp dried leaves, she unlocked the door with her key and sneaked in.


    ¡°Mum, I¡¯m home,¡± she whispered, but the dogs barking in the alleys was the only reply she got. They¡¯d all gathered near her house this evening for some reason...


    ¡°Dad?¡± She raised her voice this time, but it was still a whisper. The hall was pitch dark, only the outlines of the dining table and the sofas pronounced their presence. The whistling wind coming in through the crevices of the window sighed a ghost¡¯s whispers¡ªthe fresh memory of the ¡®Nocturnals¡¯ painted the resemblance. The weird smell in the air twitched her nose, it was metal of some kind, iron perhaps¡­ Her own house greeted her like a stranger today, an eerie stranger.


    ¡°Are they really out?¡± she murmured while taking off her shoes and putting them in the shoe cabinet. With the slippers on, she groped for the light switches on the left wall and tapped them on.


    And they brightened the hall with a dazzling white light¡­


    Two headless bodies lay on the dining table, holding hands. A crescent guillotine blade with a long rope attached to it stabbed the wooden table, just beyond their necks. Two chopped heads with their eyes closed and serene smiles rested on the drenched crimson floor, not far from the table.


    Paint?


    She looked at the thick red liquid trickling down the table, flooding the floor, then stared at the heads¡ªher mind pulled a blank. The two heads looked like her mum and dad, but that wasn¡¯t possible. Her parents were still alive, the heads couldn¡¯t be theirs, it couldn¡¯t be¡­.


    The heavy stench of iron in the air smothered her, or she might not be breathing at all, she couldn¡¯t tell anymore. Her vision blurred; her knees buckled as the realization seeped in. It was all a nightmare, it must be a nightmare, she heaved a sigh of relief and collapsed on the floor. And the world went dark.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡­..


    ¡°It¡¯s a cruel way to kill someone.¡± A woman whispered near her.


    Who is it?


    Havanna wanted to speak but no voice came out. Her body didn¡¯t listen to her either, her eyelids were leaden, and her chest weighed on her.


    ¡°If only someone noticed it earlier, they could be saved.¡± A different voice whispered this time.


    ¡°It was a candle, right? Alas.¡±


    What¡¯re they talking about?


    A sigh followed. ¡°If only she came home earlier.¡±


    ¡°Shh. She might hear you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s knocked out cold.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯re you guys doing here? Stop gossiping and do your job.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± the two whisperers said.


    It was my fault¡­What was?


    Her world fell into silence again.


    ¡­..


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Havanna. I didn¡¯t want to do it, I was forced to,¡± May said, her pitch undulating. Her body snaked around, blood dripping down her face. She stood beside the dining table in the hall. A candle flickered near her, and a taut rope stretched above it, tied to a guillotine blade hanging above the dining table.


    ¡°I told you to come home early. If only you did¡­¡± Her mum turned her head towards Havanna and said, lying on the table, her eyes going round and round in the socket.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault. It was all fated,¡± her dad said, lying beside her mum, staring at the guillotine blade with a serene smile. Soon his facial skin melted and only his muscles, fat, and skull remained. ¡°It was all fate,¡± he said in grinding whispers.


    The candle charred the rope and burned it away. Havanna sobbed and reached out to snuff its fire, but her feet kept her still, and the ground glued her back. She watched on, her tears drenching her face then her neck, as the candle incinerated the rope and the guillotine blade plunged for her parents, cleaving their heads off, the thud announcing their death.


    A deafening roar shook her world and jolted her. Havanna woke up in her bed, gasping for air, drenched in sweat, clutching the bed sheets. The ceiling fan was wobbly and blurry, she rubbed her teary eyes.


    Five years¡­you still won''t let me go¡­.


    Tiny rays of light poured in through the curtain gaps, dust floating around. It must be daylight already, she had overslept, like always.


    Skip school today¡­


    Her undies were wet and sticky, her temples ached in waves, her broken lips hurt. She curled up and covered herself with the blanket again. It was already way past school time; it was better to sleep some more.


    Yet, a bellow barged in, quivering the windowpanes, and jerked her up.


    Ewan?


    The voice was too familiar, it was of the one whose mere sight supported her on rainy days, his existence kept her going through her torturous life.


    She threw the quilt aside and bolted to the balcony, almost tripping over the blanket, the wooden floor echoing the muffled thump of her naked feet.


    Fire blazed around on the other side of the fence. Tongues of flame licked and engulfed Ewan¡¯s bare left hand, and it sizzled. Havanna gasped and covered her mouth, tears rolling down her cheeks. Even from afar, his agony screamed aloud.


    Soon he plunged his hand inside the water bucket. And even the water fizzled from his burning hand, just how hot was it¡­ How much did it hurt¡­ Her cries turned into sobs, and the flood of tears blurred her vision.


    ¡­..


    Even when the moons replaced the sun and the owls hooted, her tears didn¡¯t relent. His uncaring behavior for pain, his brutality, and his tender smile for his Astylind, the contrast carved an impression on her.


    He was someone she could relate to, they both experienced the same life, not to mention he was the only one left whom she could call family now, even though they had drifted apart. But unlike her, he was already moving forward towards his future. Could she do it too? Could she too make something of her life? Could she get rid of her guilt and walk ahead? A seed of hope took root, budded, and bloomed.


    <hr>

 Chapter-31 Water Jay

    [Ewan]


    She evoked too many emotions in him and amplified his impulses, he didn¡¯t like it. They once remained glued to each other day and night, engaged, written to be a family one day, but not anymore. All his familial relationships had scarred him, they burnt him too much to restore any old sentiments. Still, he owed Aunt Ella and Uncle Keith this much, he owed Nana this much, and he owed his past self this much¡­


    But before taking any action, he had to confirm a few things. Emotions and attachments aside, he couldn¡¯t be careless even if it was Nana, especially when his ¡®relatives¡¯ still targeted him to this day.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Yet another cloudy night. Wind howled; dogs barked; some drunk men hollered an old classic song, ¡®Drink along¡¯, in the alley together, butchered the song really. Ewan darted on his rooftop¡ªone end to the other¡ªand leaped off the edge; leveraging his fences, he landed in Nana¡¯s courtyard. Another quiet descent. Her balcony was lower than his, but still too high for him to reach in one jump. There were a couple windowsills on the way though. He latched onto them and after several gravity defying hops and flips, her balcony lay beneath his feet.


    Thank you, Toast¡­


    He patted his hands together and dusted them off silently. The latch of the sliding door barely hung by its lock, and the room was dark¡ªthis was Nana¡¯s bedroom. She lay on her bed, her back facing Ewan. The light from her phone shone on her face as she stared at its screen.


    Ewan hid in a dark corner of the room and crouched down, careful not to step on the empty cans and the bottles strewn around. He waited for seconds, minutes, to confirm whether she had come to him of her own will. Half an hour of staying still numbed his limbs, but he didn¡¯t move. Another half an hour, when Nana finally put the phone away and closed her eyes, he moved. He inched closer, and in one swift step, covered her mouth.


    ¡°Shh.¡± He gestured with the claw-ringed finger on his lips, his irises glowing green.


    She clutched the bed sheet, her eyes widened, her shoulders trembled, her chest heaved.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you some questions. Don¡¯t scream and just answer me. Okay?¡±


    She nodded and made a muffled noise; the pressure bled her lips again.


    ¡°Did someone tell you to come to me?¡± He let go of her mouth and licked the warm blood on his palm¡ªit was bitter, like liquor.


    She shook her head, her breaths easing down.


    ¡°How did you get so many crystals?¡±


    ¡°D-Dad left them.¡± Her voice quivered.


    ¡°Why did you wait till now?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡­I couldn¡¯t...¡±


    ¡°Forget it.¡± He knew why. ¡°What will you do after you get the Astylind?¡± he asked.


    ¡°D-Defense force, medical unit.¡±


    Ewan frowned. ¡°You won''t be able to explain the source of your Astylind, forget about it.¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°Nana, I¡¯m not joking. If you¡¯re adamant on that, I won''t get you any Astylind.¡±


    She nodded again; a bit strained this time.


    ¡°Your phone,¡± he said. ¡°Unlock it.¡±


    He went through her messages, logs, even her account details. There were no signs of anyone contacting her or paying her in the last few weeks, the last record was from months ago. This was weird in its own way, but Ewan also lived a similar life, so he could relate.


    ¡°Crystals.¡± He beckoned, and she took the pouch out from the bedside table drawer and gave it to him.


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    ¡°Come see me tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll give you your Astylind. If this much is not enough, I¡¯ll pay the rest.¡±


    He jumped off her balcony when his words ended, when she tried to reply. His fences became his leverage again, and he landed in his own courtyard. Rubbing his face with trembling hands, he took a deep breath and walked into the house, his stomach churning, and nausea assaulting him¡ªhe felt sick to his core, and the thorns of regret mauled his heart. What had he done¡­


    She looked horrified right now, she dreaded him. Even when she calmed down, she was still shaking. And when he left, she must¡¯ve cried. This confirmation was necessary, for his safety¡¯s sake and to err on the side of caution. But at what price? She wasn¡¯t any stranger, she was Nana, and he hurt her¡­


    ¡­..


    Airadian Hub Stratum.


    Water Jay, the books described a small bird with blending white, blue, and black feathers proficient in controlling Water-Anima¡ªtheir average affinity stood at ¡®Recipient¡¯ level. After a back and forth with the shop owner, Ewan bought its suspended egg for ninety Novas. Another Novas went to the blood needed to resuscitate it, and ten more bought a hub-connector. The remaining five Novas he took out in the coin form of water element and put back in the pouch Nana gave him.


    Next morning, Ewan welcomed her into the hall and informed her of the Astylind he bought. The unspoken last night burdened the atmosphere, it thickened the awkwardness between them and pulled them further apart.


    ¡°If you¡¯re happy with this, contract it. Do it here,¡± he said, steeling his mind. Even though his actions made him sick, he wouldn¡¯t apologize, because it was necessary for his sake. Yes, it was necessary¡­


    She nodded and stared at the egg bathing in the blood. It radiated a white and blue tint that intensified as time passed. Soon it was ready for the contract.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Ewan said.


    She took a deep breath and placed the egg on the kitchen countertop with trembling hands. Her gaze never left the egg as she asked for a knife, anything sharp. Ewan lifted his brows, the public spell circuit for <Contract> didn¡¯t require any blood, it would¡¯ve stirred up the community if it did.


    The kitchen knife ran across her palm and drew blood, which she used to paint the spell circuit on the back of her hand, grimacing with the pain.


    Ewan squinted at the spell circuit¡ªit indeed wasn¡¯t the public version; she had her own inheritance. He looked at her, was that why uncle and aunt died? The blood strokes squirmed and clung to the egg after leaving her hand. They fashioned a similar cocoon that Ewan¡¯s spell made but more compact and thinner.


    Nana had her eyes closed, Ewan stared at the cocoon, their breaths synced and rang loud in the silent hall. The cocoon dissolved into the egg with each passing second, and Nana¡¯s smile grew wider. The contract finally succeeded when the last thread melted away, and she beamed.


    The eggshell cracked and an ugly bald bird chirped. The harsh echo buzzed in Ewan¡¯s ears. But Nana cradled it, and her eyes misted. She mirrored her old self right now; she smiled a lot back then¡­.


    ¡°Here.¡± Ewan shoved the hub-connector and the pouch in her hands and shooed her away after giving a brief explanation. He wouldn¡¯t know what to do if she cried.


    ¡°Wait!¡± She stopped him when he was about to shut the door. ¡°A-Are you free on your birthday?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m going out, Frosthelm festival probably. Why?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± she said, her voice dimming down. ¡°N-Nothing, I was just making a gift for you, b-but it won''t be ready on your birthday anyway, so¡­¡±


    ¡°Its fine, give it to me whenever it¡¯s ready, birthday or not.¡± Ewan strained a smile; her words weighed on his heart and sharpened his guilt. Even after what he did, she was still asking about his birthday and was making him a gift¡­. A part of him was grateful to her, that she was willing to let it go and that she didn¡¯t hate him for it, but this only worsened his inner conflict.


    ¡°Anything else,¡± he said.


    ¡°N-No,¡± she stammered.


    ¡°Bye then.¡± Ewan closed the door and heaved a breath of relief a second later, leaning on the wall.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 3.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 3.2 | Ice ¨C 3.2 | Blood ¨C 3.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-0] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 84


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 36


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-32 Blood Potion

    ¡°Luna, come back! Luna!!¡± she screamed.


    Ewan sighed and shook his head, the grass tickling his ears. It was a warm afternoon, and he lazed around in the backyard with his Astylinds, basking in the sun. The silence was calming, up until he heard that word again. Luna, how many times Nana had already yelled that in the last week¡­


    Unlike her given name, the bird was anything but serene.


    ¡°Luna!!!¡±


    He groaned and covered his ears, turning to the other side. Toast yawned; half his body lay on Orange. Frost sprawled on his stomach; his tail twitched at times; his breath blew the grass. And Iris nested in Ewan¡¯s hair and rolled around.


    The noise didn¡¯t bother them, but it irked him. He couldn¡¯t sleep with both the bird and her master making a ruckus.


    If he couldn¡¯t rest, it was better to do some work. He got up grumbling and went down to the basement. After the fire and the ice modification parts of the ¡®Elementalist¡¯ subtype, his next target was the blood modification.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Seventh attempt, his eyes stung from sweat, his arms numbed, his shoulders and neck stiffened, but he created the blood potion.


    ¡­..


    The blood dyed the floor red as the steaming water washed it down the drain. Ewan stood under the shower head, leaning on the wall, hot water prickling his skin. It rinsed the blood off, but more seeped out.


    The foggy sight of the clock from the gap in the door showed ten minutes, hypovolemic shock was becoming a concern now. Yet he didn¡¯t feel any negative effect so far, except for some weariness and lethargy. The book described this side effect of the blood potion, like the other two potions. ¡®It¡¯s Safe¡¯¡ªwritten in bold letters pacified Ewan and stopped him from taking any preventive measure.


    A few minutes later, the water rinsed the last layer of blood away and exposed his fair but molting skin. He lumbered over and lay down in the empty bathtub, short on breath, his shoulders and face steaming and flushed. When his heaving chest eased down, he scrubbed off the dead skin and took a relaxing bath after filling the tub with hot water; the tap fluttered at the end of it and spewed some cold bursts.


    The burn scars on his left hand also peeled off when he rubbed them under water, revealing the rosy skin beneath, spotless without any blemish¡ªthe molting was another side effect of the blood potion, and it solved a minor problem of aesthetics for him.


    This marked the completion of the necessary modifications. He would still carry on with the subtype, creating potions for it, but he could now continue his spell practice. The three Anima existed in a harmonized balance inside his body and his soul space. He wouldn¡¯t have to worry about any conflict between them.


    Ewan returned to the basement after putting on black trousers and a white sweatshirt and took out his Spellbook.


    Iris went back into the blood rune and slept, Toast climbed his trousers and curled on Ewan¡¯s shoulder, Orange trained using his explosive nature of the Fire-Anima to jump around on the walls and the ceiling. And Frost joined Ewan in practice.


    <Ice Daggers>, it was the first spell Ewan chose for his focus. He couldn¡¯t cast it before, but he still studied its spell circuit and analyzed its workings. This was a spell that shone when the Severynths gained a specific skill after their third awakening¡ªRyvia. It was worthless without it, but it didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t practice it.


    Ice Daggers!


    A white palm-sized straight dagger floated before Ewan. Since its spell circuit didn¡¯t have any targeting mechanism, he had to adjust its trajectory at the beginning. He aimed at Frost with one eye closed and hurled the dagger.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Frost pushed both his arms forward and created a head-sized ice shield¡ªit hovered in front of him. But the dagger missed the shield and smashed into the floor, shattering into shards.


    ¡°Again.¡± Ewan still had enough Ice-Anima. Frost too had enough for a few more rounds.


    Ice Daggers!


    He took his time and adjusted his aim to be higher while Frost created another shield and braced himself. The dagger whizzed past him and rammed into the wall, shattering into shards again.


    ¡­..


    ¡®Astylinds evolved by burning their potential.¡¯ Ewan highlighted the text in the thick book. Be it the main syllabus or off-course classes, neither covered the topic of grades of an Astylind in depth¡ªit was only a shallow graze whenever they did. He only knew about the difference in combat strength; the dependence of evolution on grades was a new concept for him. The book described it in terms of potential. The higher the grade, the higher the potential, the higher the success rate of evolution.


    The fourth remark for Iris, which might be from his Pa given the sentence structure, mentioned a special evolution path for her. ¡®Focus should be on its grade,¡¯ it read. But how far should he push it? Would getting her to ¡®Grade-B¡¯ be enough, or should he push her all the way to ¡®Grade-S¡¯¡­


    Grade-S was the best choice if he wanted to be on the safe side, but the resources needed were drastic. Yet, staying mediocre or missing that special evolution path wasn¡¯t what he wanted for his Astylinds. Especially Iris, because even though she was Level-1 now, she had no ability apart from using her roots to suck blood. Even with the same affinity level as Orange, she had zero combat value. She could cast no spells, and neither could she act as a support.


    Still, whether he pushed it all the way or stopped before, he had to take the first step.


    Core and blood from a blood-type Level-1 Astylind, Blood Stone, Bone Marrow¡ªthese were the ingredients that would upgrade Iris to Grade-C. He chose her first among his Astylinds.


    Once he read through and memorized the topic of Astylinds¡¯ evolution and their upgradation process a few times, he put the book aside and connected to the hub. Common sense dictated these ingredients were ordinary and should be available for sale in the general market¡ªher current grade and potential couldn¡¯t touch the higher level of commerce in the stratum.


    And indeed, they were. He went through the list and selected several shops selling them. Prices varied but all remained under a reasonable range. The navigation led him around the hub. All sizes of spirits crowded the streets, some humanoid, some blobs, some random, as usual. But Ewan¡¯s point of view, his altitude, was different now. Though he still looked up to most, he also looked down on some. His spirit could support his shopping sessions.


    He spent four Novas and bought a single set of ingredients. From Grade-D to C, he only needed to stir a crude solution of the ingredients using a base liquid, not potions. In Iris¡¯s case, it was the Astylind¡¯s blood. It was a simple procedure and had no chance of failure. The only variable was the actual process of upgradation. That depended on his Astylinds, he couldn¡¯t do anything about its success rate.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 3.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 3.5 | Ice ¨C 3.5 | Blood ¨C 3.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 76


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 32


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-33 Heal

    The pot of blood boiled on the stovetop as Ewan muddled it with a glass stirrer and added the ingredients one by one. The liquid darkened and thickened by the minute; the ingredients melted away. Once it dripped like a syrup, he switched off the stovetop and put the pot aside in an ice bath to cool down.


    Iris lodged on his head, using his hair as her bed and her blanket, her bud swaying in a rhythm. Her consciousness was far too frail and primitive to understand what Ewan was doing. He only sensed her fondness and her reluctance to leave his hair, which intensified when he told her to jump in the now cooled down pot. But she still followed through and slipped in.


    The viscous liquid bubbled, and he felt her getting drowsy. She swayed for a bit more and fell silent a minute later. There was nothing Ewan could do to help, everything depended on her from this point on.


    He leaned on the kitchen countertop, his arms crossed, his feet tapping the floor at short intervals. The second hand of the clock couldn¡¯t move any slower. He checked up on Iris again, but still no response. His tapping sped up; the wait was killing him.


    Finally, a twitch of her bud put him out of his misery. But soon he lowered his head and sighed. The attempt was a failure.


    ¡­¡­


    [Vin]


    Vin leaned on the cracked pillar of his porch, facing the untended overgrown garden bathing in the moonlight. Chips of peeling blue paint stained his white t-shirt, but he only focused on the phone call.


    ¡°Hello, Kole?¡±


    ¡°Yeah bro, what¡¯s up.¡±


    ¡°About what we talked before¡­,¡± Vin said.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Do you¡­trust them?¡±


    ¡°Trust is a heavy word, Vin. Business, call it business.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s all business with you,¡± Vin said while massaging his nose bridge.


    ¡°What happened? They didn¡¯t give you any work?¡± Kole asked.


    ¡°¡­They did.¡±


    ¡°Is it¡­shady?¡±


    Vin stared at the pebbles in the garden, his eyes wavering.


    ¡°That much shady?¡± Kole asked.


    ¡°Do you have any other recommendation?¡± Vin asked.


    ¡°Sorry bro. That was the only one I had right now. If you wait a few months, I can try and get you some legitimate work.¡±


    Vin sighed. ¡°We can''t manage that long,¡± he said. And the call quietened; the slight static rang aloud. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you for money, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°You also know how Treva is. She¡¯ll throw me out on the road if she finds out I lent someone money,¡± Kole said.


    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry about it. I just wanted to know if you knew anything about these guys,¡± Vin said.


    ¡°What do you wanna know?¡± Kole asked.


    ¡°Who are these guys? They seemed a bit off when we met¡­ Will they bail on the payment?¡± Teal still hadn¡¯t received her Astylind, things weren¡¯t looking good for them. They needed this money; they needed the Sols.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Hierarchy, Vin, hierarchy. ¡®Do as you¡¯re told¡¯ like that lame Lex used to say. Don¡¯t dig too deep into this. And they¡¯ll pay you, don¡¯t fret. They won''t be able to float in our market if they fuck with you, I¡¯ll make sure of that.¡±


    ¡°I just have a bad feeling about this, Kole.¡±


    ¡°One of your premonitions again? C¡¯mon bro, you never got it right,¡± Kole said, laughing.


    ¡°It¡¯s different this time,¡± Vin said.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you said last time. Listen, don¡¯t be nervous, you¡¯ll mess up like that. Relax and just think of the Sols you¡¯ll earn.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to. But just in case something does happen, can you look after Teal for me? You don¡¯t need to do much, just check up on her from time to time, see if she¡¯s eating well and stuff,¡± Vin said.


    ¡°Sure. Hey, if you die, I¡¯ll leave Treva and marry your sister.¡± Kole chuckled, and a deafening bang echoed on the phone, buzzing the static; Kole¡¯s deathly screams followed soon.


    ¡°who will you leave!!¡± A woman yelled in the back.


    ¡°Ah!! Treva! Not the knife!!¡± Kole shrieked. ¡°It can cut me, woman!!¡±


    Vin hung up and looked at the moons, mourning for his friend in silence. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine¡­I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he murmured and tiptoed back inside the house, hoping the creaking gate wouldn¡¯t announce his entry. His sister slept like a bird¡­


    ¡­..


    [Ewan]


    In the kitchen.


    The second upgrade attempt ended with Ewan¡¯s grin. Iris¡¯s bud had darkened, it moved towards a dull dark red. Her size remained the same, but her roots could extend longer now and were more effective in absorbing blood. Most of all, she gained a skill. Heal¡ªthe <Identify> spell appraised it as.


    [Astylind Name: Blood Lotus]


    [Astylind Level: Level-1]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-C]


    [Anima Affinity: Blood]


    [Skills: Blood-Recipient | Heal]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: Extinct natives of Sepra. They had decent affinity with Blood-Anima (Recipient) but lacked the means to protect themselves. Delicate and feeble. They lost the battle of natural selection.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Blood), Bloodwood, Astylind Blood, Blood Rust.]


    [Remark 1: Can be used as an ingredient for potions. Useless otherwise.]


    [Remark 2: Decent choice for a healing type Astylind. But lack strong evolution branches.]


    [Remark 3: I don¡¯t like them. They¡¯re nasty~]


    [Remark 4: Special evolution path found. Focus should be on its grade.]


    Ewan used a kitchen knife and sliced his palm.


    ¡°Heal it,¡± he said. Her bud shook and swayed. Blood red particles gathered around her and followed her root which she pointed at Ewan¡¯s cut. After a blood tint, his cut shrank and finally closed, only leaving the traces of blood which he licked clean. Though not overwhelming, the effect of her skill left him with a smile. With her, he had a healer now. That was one aspect he wanted to tick off on his list no matter what before going outside the walls.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 3.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 3.5 | Ice ¨C 3.5 | Blood ¨C 3.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 72


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 32


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-34 Birthday

    Morning rays of sunlight beamed in through the open windows, birds tweeted sweet songs, refreshing smell of dewed grass and soil rejuvenated his breath, even Nana¡¯s loud yells were melody to his ears. The world was bright and dazzling, today was a good day, a jolly day¡ªtoday Ewan turned eighteen.


    ¡°Happy birthday, Ewan,¡± he murmured, stretching on the bed, uttering a comfortable groan.


    He scheduled no practice today, no potion brewing, no training, no studying. It would be a day of enjoyment, for his eighteenth birthday only came once.


    The Frosthelm festival was a good venue to relish the day; he¡¯d planned for it since weeks ago. But the first order of business was getting a haircut. His hair was getting long, the thin end of the strands already reached the tip of his nose.


    After getting ready¡ªa navy blue sweatshirt and black cargo pants with sneakers¡ªhe locked his main door, strolled through the residential block, and rode the tram painted in blue and white stripes. The weather remained frigid, chilly wind numbed his face, but the snow had melted away. It hadn¡¯t fallen for quite some time now¡ªthe tracks were salty but clear.


    The bogie he got in was empty aside from a couple that sat glued to each other. They were at the front, so Ewan chose the back seat; he didn¡¯t want to be the third wheel. The triple-bogie tram moved at its usual pace, about as fast as he could sprint. It wasn¡¯t the optimal choice if he was in a hurry, but it was necessary for long distances.


    It crossed the quiet residential block, passing its several zones, and entered the bustling and boisterous market area. And soon, the stink of the fishes and the flies of the meat market forced Ewan to shut the windows. A fork split the path ahead. The left went straight to the skyscrapers¡ªthe center of the colony. While the right curved towards the cheap and old but huge residential area zone-D, beyond which lay the farming lands.


    ¡°Left?¡± he yelled.


    The boy flirting with his girl turned back towards Ewan and nodded a yes. Ewan selected ¡®left¡¯ in the panel beside his seat, and the boy did the same. The tram stopped at this fork for a couple minutes with its doors opened, wintry gusts crossing through. No one got in, it was early morning after all. Only about an hour later would the adults go to work and cram the tram.


    The doors closed, the insides warmed up, and the bogie in front broke off to go right. Ewan was in the middle bogie, and it hauled the last one for the left turn.


    The now two-bogie tram took Ewan through a protected forest, the residential block zone-C, the Leisure Valley, and finally to the Main Square with high-rise buildings¡ªthe couple got off at the residential block.


    ¡°Say no to the Severynths! Take down the wall!!¡± The protestors on the side yelled in hoarse voices while raising their banners.


    They¡¯re still at it¡­.


    ¡®Accept Humanity, Reject Monstrosity, Open the Cage¡¯, their banners read. Some distributed flyers, some yelled at the peak of their voices, some sat in the corner and stuffed their faces with cold breakfasts.


    ¡°Armageddon follows Severynths! We¡¯re all trapped in a birdcage!!¡± Another group yelled on the other side of the road.


    Ewan clicked his tongue and closed his window again. They were everywhere now, germinating like cockroaches, infesting the colony. The breathtaking and neck craning sight of towers on both sides dampened because of them; the glassed walls mirrored Ewan¡¯s soured face. Soon the tram came to a roundabout with three directions this time. If the bogie was full, Ewan could¡¯ve watched the amusing fight over the direction¡ªit was an irksome flaw in the colony¡¯s tram system yet amusing for those who had time to waste. But he was alone, and this was his destination, so he stepped out.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Please wait, dude.¡± A male protestor who was handing out flyers ran to Ewan. He dropped several of them on the way but didn¡¯t stop to pick any up.


    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t have time.¡± Ewan politely smiled him off and went his way.


    ¡°It won''t take long, please. Do you know how cruel the Severynths are? They don¡¯t even bat an eye when slaughtering us humans.¡± He kept up with Ewan with the bundle of flyers crumpled in his hands. ¡°They have no conscience and slay us like cattle. Deaths and disasters follow them. They¡¯re monsters in human skin. Please, do you not want to save your family from these heinous creatures?¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t have time, please disturb someone else,¡± he said with annoyance and walked away.


    Most of these people were the ones who couldn¡¯t become an Asheva; their souls didn¡¯t awaken, or they didn¡¯t have any other path. Ewan pitied these bitter guys, but he pitied those more who awakened their souls yet chose not to open their soul space. If they knew they could live longer if they reached higher steps, they might die from regrets. Ewan chuckled. Or they might be the type who thought long life was a punishment¡­


    The barber shop was up ahead, empty with a worker cleaning the floors and the tools.


    ¡°Just shorten it,¡± Ewan said, sitting on a chair. While the barber got ready, he admired how ¡®suave¡¯ he looked in the mirror. Long hair short hair, it didn¡¯t matter, he looked good in either. He would look good even with no hair, he reckoned, but there was no need to test that.


    The comfy chair adjusted its bend according to his sitting posture and made him even more comfortable as the barber worked on his hair. Ewan dozed off during the massage that came after and only woke up when the barber removed the cloth and tapped on his shoulders.


    The mirror reflected his new look. Wet short black hair, stylized to his usual form.


    Ewan paid the barber after checking all sides, the back side too with an additional mirror, and rode the tram again. He only had twenty-seven Sols left now but since he would receive his inheritance soon, he was willing to spend today.


    People crammed the tram this time. He found an empty seat in the back but still had to squeeze in. His destination was Leisure Valley, the entertainment venues area he passed on his way here¡ªit was time to enjoy the Frosthelm festival.


    He¡¯d also received several spam messages recently stating there was some sort of tournament there for Severynths. The details mentioned that it was a casual event held during the festival for fun. No veterans would attend it, and Ewan too didn¡¯t see any value in it, but he didn¡¯t mind looking at it while he was there. He had free time on his hand anyway.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 4.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 4.0 | Ice ¨C 4.0 | Blood ¨C 4.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 72


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 27


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-35 Frosthelm Festival

    Leisure Valley.


    Tall buildings with animated ads and Frosthelm decorations blotched the area. People in downy clothes congested the streets, their chatters became garbled noise, their dropped popsicles and ice creams littered the road.


    Music boomed and the leaves rustled with it, some people in costumes danced on the open and crude stage built to the right. Soon more joined from the audience, and the stage creaked under their mistimed steps.


    Towards the left¡ªthe park area¡ªhad the core of the festival, the once-a-year Frosthelm fair. Stalls lined up the sides, and sellers sold their specialties, from food to photo sessions with half-naked girls who struggled to hide their cold shivers, their teeth clattering under their strained smile.


    Fake snow blanketed the grass lawn, kids frolicked around. Intimate couples flirted while families enjoyed their food and drinks together. To the front was an arena of sorts, a coliseum. Its walls and structure looked aged and ancient with fractures racing across, but the sharp smell of fresh paint gave it away.


    Ewan stood by the side of the tram after stepping out, already regretting his decision to come here. This kind of atmosphere, oozing with people, was exactly what he didn¡¯t like. There wasn¡¯t even any space to move, yet people walked at their usual pace. It amazed him how they didn¡¯t collide.


    He took a deep breath as the tram went on its way after a bell.


    ¡°I¡¯m here already. Let¡¯s check it out, what can go wrong¡­,¡± he muttered.


    The coliseum was the tournament venue, the spam message had its picture. Ewan avoided the crowd by moving around them and reached the arena. An open bluestone plaza in front had people roaming about, some bought tickets from the booth set up on the side.


    ¡°For one,¡± Ewan said to the booth man.


    ¡°Watching or taking part?¡± The seller asked.


    ¡°Watching.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be two Sols.¡±


    Ewan proceeded inside after the printer wrestled to vomit his ticket out, shaking with every retch. The staff at the entrance marked his ticket and guided him to his seat, 63B, a not-so-comfortable plastic seat in the second row. They didn¡¯t even have any armrest, Ewan grumbled.


    ¡°Would you like something to drink?¡± the staff asked.


    ¡°No, thank you.¡±


    On the stage down below, two men, both dressed in garish costumes of their contracted Astylinds, battled. Though ¡®battled¡¯ was an overstatement. Their Astylinds, a red-furred fox and a brown-furred feline with horns, growled at each other from a distance. They circled the stage, glaring and howling, while their masters yelled out instructions from the edge.


    The scene left Ewan gaping. He didn¡¯t expect much from this tournament, but this was something...


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± he asked the staff who almost walked away.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°The drinks, are they free?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir. May I ask what you would like to have?¡±


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Lime soda if you have it, triple the sugar.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring it right away.¡±


    The fight wasn¡¯t worthy of the Sols he spent, so at least he could get some drinks and relax before going to that festival market. Those half naked sisters waited for him.


    ¡­..


    Ewan¡¯s section was half empty when he came in, or half-filled¡ªhe was in a good mood today¡ªbut more audience trickled in as the ¡®fights¡¯ went on. His lime soda hadn''t even arrived yet and the seats around him bent from the weight. They hollered, they cheered, some made bets while some stood on their seats and applauded their favorites.


    The matches were insipid, how could these excite anyone¡­ Perhaps they hadn¡¯t seen any Severynths before. Lime soda or no lime soda, he wasn¡¯t staying among the rowdy crowd another second.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡± He made his way out, threading through the narrow space left between the seats. People complained and grumbled, and he apologized when he stepped on their feet.


    ¡°Sir, your lime soda!¡± The staff he¡¯d given his order to yelled from the aisle. Ewan gestured him to meet at the entrance and continued his way out and climbed the stairs.


    A man of about his height stood on the topmost step near the exit, mumbling away, his hood shading his face. He fiddled with a wooden cylinder in his hand, about his forearm¡¯s length, its head thicker than the shaft. He flicked the button on the shaft while stretching his inner t-shirt¡¯s collar as if it strangled him. He gasped for breaths, his nails scratching his neck, drawing blood.


    Except for a fleeting frown though, Ewan didn¡¯t mind him.


    ¡°AHH!!! I don¡¯t want to do it!!¡± Ewan flinched at the sudden scream and stepped back on the stairs, away from the man. Some of the audience in the vicinity turned towards him, but no one else paid him any attention. And the overzealous roars of the audience drowned him soon.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to¡­I don¡¯t¡­I¡¯m sorry, Teal¡­forgive your useless brother.¡± The man broke down, sobbing and mumbling, his back slouched.


    Ewan inched away, each step careful and slow, not attracting any attention. The back of his neck tingled; it was his connection with Toast¡ªtheir merged souls. His enhanced bestial instincts screamed at him to get away from this man, he was dangerous. But any sudden action could trigger him, so he eased his strides.


    The sobbing man bawled away, his shoulders shaking, and tears and snot trickled down his face. He pressed the button on the cylinder he was holding and dropped it, collapsing on his knees. The cylinder clanked on the floor and rolled towards Ewan, growling on the concrete as it did and thudding on each step.


    Shit!!


    Ewan¡¯s senses sent a tremor down his spine, but before he could bolt away, the cylinder exploded.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 4.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 4.0 | Ice ¨C 4.0 | Blood ¨C 4.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 72


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 25


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-36 Blood Rein

    The loud and the fuzzy rang his ears¡ªan annoying and blaring mosquito noise that just wouldn¡¯t go away. He blinked and squinted several times, shook his head, and the rotating world finally became halted. Dust and splinters covered the sky, it prickled his eyes and irritated his throat. It pained when he coughed so he held it in and gulped.


    He lay on a bed of rubble, of wood and concrete. His chest, his stomach, and his forearms were a bloody mess. His palm came out red when he grazed the back of his head. And his face too had bleeding lacerations. He groaned and struggled to get up, but his limbs refused to listen, and he collapsed again, adding to the wounds.


    The waves of stinging pain kept him down this time. The ringing subsided after a while, and the screams of the panicking audience trickled in. Luckily, no one trampled him while he slept here.


    Iris.


    She slid out of the vortex he opened and dove into his dusty hair. Ewan first had her target his head injury that dizzied him, which she healed after using her skill a couple of times. His skull hadn''t broken, it was only a gash on the skin and a blunt trauma without any hostility, so it didn¡¯t take much to heal it. But it sapped Iris of her Anima.


    He took out a small red Anima Crystal of the blood element and had Iris recover her Anima with it. This was faster than natural recovery.


    Iris binge healed his chest and stomach wounds, the Anima Crystal sponsoring her splurge, while Ewan wrestled to his feet again. The more he moved, the more he bled. But he couldn¡¯t stay here anymore, vulnerable and unguarded. He propped his battered and pelted body on the large rubble and rotated his sore neck, grunting with hitched heaves. All the audience was gone, the explosion had razed the area down to the ground. No stairs, no seats, it only left splintered pieces of them, and there in the distance lay a shattered glass of lime soda. His increased vitality was the only reason he survived the blast despite being so close to it¡­


    Maybe we really are monsters¡­


    Ewan aimed for the exit, or whatever remained of the crumbling arc. There was one explosion, there could be another, he couldn¡¯t stay here. He slogged on the uneven ground, scraping his frayed shoes, and made his way out, his steps frail and shaky.


    A group in hooded jackets and grinning masks fired their rifles at the stampeding crowd, the muzzles flashing and dancing amidst the mayhem. People wailed, screeched, and crushed those who fell; they killed more than the aimless bullets. The entertainment venues, the tall buildings, became their safe zones though, as they rammed in through the bolted doors. Some failed at the last step and their blood and gore painted the entrance¡­


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please do not panic.¡± A man with the same grinning mask stood on an overturned stall and spoke in a loudspeaker. His voice bounced off the glass buildings and barreled far. ¡°We are not your enemy; we are your savior. If you are a human, you have nothing to worry about. We are here to exterminate the fast-growing parasites, the monsters among us. We will not hurt you.¡±


    Ewan backed away and hid behind the intact wall of the coliseum. The situation was worse than he imagined, especially for him because he was one of the ¡®monsters¡¯ the bastard talked about. The rifles tingled his sense of danger, the bullets they belched could hurt him. These group of nutjobs could kill him if he wasn¡¯t careful.


    ¡°Anyone who joins our noble cause will be rewarded. Any human who kills a parasite or captures one will be rewarded.¡± The man hollered away on the loudspeaker.


    Ewan ignored the chaos outside and trudged towards the other side of the coliseum, leaving a trail of blood behind¡ªthis exit was a no go, he could only try the other one. Iris had already healed some of his wounds, but he was still dripping blood from the major ones. The explosion had ripped his skin and muscles apart, it wasn¡¯t as easy to heal as a straight cut.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Mutilated limbs, ripped organs, bloody guts, and crushed heads lined his path. Each step fell on pools of blood and gore, but he overlooked them and raised his head, inhaling lungfuls. He had to, if not, he would break down here. The thick smell of iron mixed with ammonia didn¡¯t excite his bestial instincts this time, instead it rang the alarm in his mind.


    He brought out both Frost and Orange. The two screeched and snarled when they saw his state, but he calmed them down with a word and got them into position. Orange led the way while Frost, now taller than Ewan¡¯s knees, defended his back, his tail swaying left and right as he walked with caution. They crossed the arena in the center instead of going around, jumped over the small fences, and reached the exit. This area looked almost the same as the other exit, broken and crumbling, there had been another explosion here.


    The sound of firing became louder as Ewan inched closer to the cracked door. They even came to this side, he sighed and stopped. Even though Frost could defend him with ice shields, it would still be a risk if he went out as he was. And he couldn¡¯t stay in this coliseum either, it wasn¡¯t a good place to hide. Once they surrounded him in this open and flat area and blocked the exits, he would have to forfeit his life.


    If he could cast the spell he was practicing since last week, it might increase his chances at survival. He hid by the side of a pillar and flipped through his Spellbook, crunching the leaves.


    This was the second spell he chose to focus on; it was of the blood element and had a good span of potential¡ªa low minimum point, and a high maximum point, like <Ice Daggers>. But his success rate with it had been abysmal so far. The only saving grace was that the spell was continuous. Once the spell circuit glimmered in his soul space, it could stay active for a period, which depended on the caster.


    He failed on his first attempt, and he groaned. The second, third, and the fourth trial failed too. The pain distracted him, he couldn¡¯t concentrate on the spell circuit; the technical curves eluded him. He took deep breaths and sat with his back to the wall. Orange and Frost guarded him, Iris healed him, while he traced the circuit.


    After several tries, the success finally came, the circuit glinted with Blood-Anima, and with it came the short-lived exhilaration.


    Blood Rein!


    Blood floated out of his wounds to his extended palm and gathered into a blob. Ewan¡¯s bloodless face paled even more, his hands trembled, his vision blurred then cleared. His old acquaintance, hypovolemia, was back again. But he couldn¡¯t do anything about it this time. The spell needed either his or his Astylind¡¯s blood. It was an easy choice for the already bleeding him.


    The crimson wriggling blob of blood was now an adult¡¯s head size. Even with his increased vitality, it was a lot of blood. A necessary sacrifice for survival though, he had no qualms about it.


    And the blob floated in front of Ewan, connected to his soul.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 4.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 4.0 | Ice ¨C 4.0 | Blood ¨C 0.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 72


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 25


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-37 Rest

    The dizziness held him down, but Ewan rattled his head and resisted, and the walls supported him as he went out of the coliseum. His intention wasn¡¯t to fight, it was to survive. Thus, he broke into a run as soon as he exited, racing away from the crazies. The jerks from the dash sent waves of pain down his body, but he bore it, he had no other choice.


    Iris grabbed his hair and withstood the hissing wind while Orange and Frost matched his sprint.


    A couple from the masked group turned to fire towards him; the muzzle belched. Ewan molded his blob of blood into a concaved shield and blocked it all, covering Orange and Frost too as they bolted. The bullets rained on the blood shield, the endless patters drowned his heaves, but the salvo couldn¡¯t penetrate, they couldn¡¯t even dent it. Yet, the fireworks of bullets sang an ominous melody, it would be life-threatening if it continued.


    ¡°Found one here!¡± One of the masked men yelled.


    Ewan ignored the increasing aggro and barreled down the street to the nearest building, the game arcade. The number of people outside had decreased, breathing people, so Ewan became an easy target among the fallen.


    The blood shield protected Ewan and his Astylinds and let him reach the arcade building unscathed. Orange sprung ahead and pulverized the blockaded gate with his explosive punches while Frost erected a large but immobile ice wall behind them. It would take some time for those outside to break this wall down and get in.


    A large hall with ticket counters followed the entrance gate. White-tiled walls with dried streaks of mop, a red carpet with muddy footprints, and a large modernistic chandelier dangling from the ceiling. People huddled together in the corner, screaming, their faces bloodless. Some broke down in tears and snot, some screeched and crawled away when the gate broke.


    The moment Ewan entered; a heavy stench of urine bombarded his nose. Someone peed in here, and it was more than one bladder. Ewan held his breath and vaulted over the security gate. This was the ground floor of the gaming arcade, a floor for physical games.


    Lift¡¯s door was ajar with fingerprint smudges on its edges struggling for purchase, and the lights were off. Its control panel was dark too. So, he climbed the stairs, skipping steps, floor after floor, and soon reached the top floor¡ªthe tenth floor¡ªwith his heartbeat calmer than he was. This floor had restaurants and fast-food joints lining the sides, this was the food court. Overturned chairs, flipped tables, broken menu boards, food spilled everywhere on the ground, and grease fire blazed unattended. The masks hadn¡¯t reached here, yet the chaos had descended¡­ After he punched the emergency button for the fire extinguishers, as the white sprayed down on the dancing flames, he wandered away. The sound of his clacking boots echoed on the empty floor, and his quiet breaths hummed with it.


    Soon the smell of freshly baked bread grabbed him, a welcome change from the stench of gore. There was a bakery up ahead, its inside intact save for the shattered glass door, its frame dangling by the hinge. This was a good place to rest and heal. The glass shards crunched and screeched when he walked in.


    The people hiding on the lower floors might satiate the masked group¡¯s bloodthirst. And if they came here even after that, Ewan would have a choice of either fighting back or fleeing through the roof. His enhanced physique would help him in this.


    ¡°Keep watch,¡± he said to Orange and Frost, and chugged down the chilled water he took out from the fridge, the glass bottles clattering when he shut it. He also poured some on his face and head, drenching Iris too who shivered from the deluge of icy water.


    ¡­..


    The intermittent explosions rattled the cutlery and shook the furniture. Ewan shielded the savory buttered garlic bread from the concrete powder and dust falling down the ceiling and tore a mouthful. He¡¯d stored all the fresh bread from the curved glass display counter in his claw-ring and was now balancing the comfy chair on its rear, his legs stretched up on the table.


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


    Iris had already healed all his major wounds and was now snoozing inside the blood rune, leaving the minor wounds to heal on their own. Frost kept a diligent watch near the door, his tail held still, while Orange swung on the chandelier. Toast too was out of the wheel tattoo, wincing from their shared pain at times, and nibbled his own bread on Ewan¡¯s stomach, leaving crumbs on his tattered sweatshirt and inner t-shirt.


    Another explosion went off and cracks raced on the glass counter, the decorative painting fell from the wall, baring several holes that were trials for the final nail that held it. Ewan shook his head and clicked his tongue, how did these people get so many first-degree contrabands anyway, it was beyond him. The only theory that could explain the current situation was that someone supported these masked people, someone powerful enough to get them these weapons. This also explained why there had been no response from the law enforcers so far, the crazy black suits were unusually quiet, given the situation. The masked people were having a picnic today, free and unfettered, at the expense of other people¡¯s lives.


    Ewan chuckled; it wasn¡¯t like he had the right to judge them. The blood and gore might¡¯ve fazed him, but the deaths didn¡¯t. Now that he was calm, he found himself unfeeling of the massacre. His survival was his only concern.


    He savored another bite and connected to the hub using the connector. Obria was a mess and he needed to know why. The price for Obria¡¯s information was one Novas, much cheaper than any other information listed. And once he read the paid content, the reason justified it.


    ¡®Political unrest. The Crown might be dead. New update coming soon.¡¯


    His connection cut and he lurched forward on the chair, the front legs thudding down, startling Toast¡ªthe tiny bit of news shocked him.


    Vidovik was dead, since when? And who controlled the colony then¡­ He wanted some answers from the hub, yet it saw him off with more questions instead. It could be the defense force that ruled the colony now, as the second most powerful force after the Crown. There might¡¯ve been a coup in Obria that the public didn¡¯t know about, or they faced an external threat that had destroyed the colony¡¯s structure...


    There were some signs of instability in the colony in the recent years, give or take five years. Risen prices, increased violence, decreased security, higher death rate. But he always took it as bad management, everyone did. Who knew, things were this bad. Now the attack from the masked group didn¡¯t look so mysterious. It must be a political move; someone wanted the colony to fall into chaos.


    He leaned back and pondered. If the situation could reach this level, an open massacre with no response from the law enforcers, was staying in the colony worth it? But he only had his one home. Where would he go if not here? His Pa must¡¯ve left him that huge basement to turn it into an earning source. Ewan planned to modify a part of it into a garden once he came back from his hunt. He could grow herbs and plants needed for potions and sell them for a profit. Yet, the current situation shook his plans.


    Ewan sighed. He needed to think more about this decision. For now, getting out of this mess came first.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 4.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 4.0 | Ice ¨C 4.0 | Blood ¨C 4.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 71


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 25


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-38 Soul

    The screams and the salvo of bullets ripped the silence apart, they were near. Ewan stretched his limbs, popped his neck, and got ready to head out; his choice was to fight back. Toast went back into the tattoo and Orange and Frost took their position as vanguards. Though Iris healed most of his wounds, Ewan still lacked blood and didn¡¯t want to use <Blood Rein> yet. So, he picked up the dark-brown tower shield with a chunky layer of ice on the outer surface and moved it around to acquaint his hand with it. It would protect him from the bullets while he commanded his Astylinds, or at least he hoped it would. The ice layer that Frost created was for insurance; in case it couldn¡¯t.


    The trio moved away from the bakery and to the stairs. Ewan thudded the one Novas shield before the narrow stair opening, its curved edges keeping it up, and hid behind the wall by the side with Orange and Frost. One after another, the burst of discharge snuffed the screams on the floor below, and some steps came closer when quiet descended. They were moving up and it was more than one person.


    A bout of hysterical cackle followed a barrage of bullets. Ewan released a quiet breath and took out his ¡®Obsidian Dagger¡¯ as the bullet shower chipped and shredded the ice layer on the shield, pushing it back, the wood scraping the tiled floor with a groan. Ice shards scattered about, some pecked Ewan, most wet the stairs.


    The sound of rifles raced in sync. Ewan counted and presumed, also factoring in the sound of steps. There were three people, all firing at the same time. He waited for them to stop, and soon they did. They were now reloading.


    Go!


    Ewan grabbed the shield with his left hand, dagger in his right, and dove down the stairs. Orange and Frost followed suit.


    ¡°Fuck!!¡± One of the masked men screamed. The other two backed away from Ewan¡¯s path, but he hammered one down to the floor with the shield, using all his strength to crush him under.


    Throat!!


    Orange blasted towards one of the masked men, the step below him blackened and cracked. The man made no moves, he stood frozen, as his eyes reflected the little monkey and his feral grin. Orange used his explosive Fire-Anima and clobbered his throat.


    ¡°Hel¡­¡± His neck exploded into blood and gore with the boom ripping half his face apart before his word ended. It painted the walls red with gooey pieces of muscles, bones, and brain sliding down. His lifeless and headless body plopped down as the stench of burnt skin and blood wafted.


    While Orange completed his kill, Frost had already hurled and jammed an icicle in the second masked-man¡¯s throat who fumbled and dropped the rifle¡¯s magazine. He gurgled and reached for his neck with trembling hands, his body twitched, and he collapsed. His death was far less gory, but he died, nonetheless. Ewan too stabbed the man he was suppressing, reaching from the side of the shield. But he missed the throat and stabbed his shoulder instead.


    The man screamed and wrestled. He heaved the shield up, but Ewan held it down with all his might and then some. He yanked the dagger out and knifed again without aiming. This time it was the side of his chest; it plunged in his lungs.


    The masked man gasped for breath, his inhales ending in whistles.


    Die already!


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


    Ewan flung the shield aside and pushed the dagger in his throat with a grunt, all his weight behind the stab. Warm blood splattered on his contorted face, some got in his mouth. The taste of iron¡­ His eyes gleamed green for a second but faded away soon. This was not the time to let his instincts run amuck¡ªhe reined it in.


    The man died and Ewan rolled to the side, heaving for air. He didn¡¯t move much in this fight yet was already out of breath, and his heart pounded. His face was feverish, the ceiling blurred, and his throat parched; it stung when he gulped.


    Orange, with not a hint of blood on him, ran to Ewan and hopped on his chest, up and down, screeching.


    ¡°Yeah, you did good,¡± Ewan said with a smile and patted his head, his breath slowing down.


    Frost?


    He sensed extreme hunger from Frost. The little imp stood beside the corpses, staring at them, his intense emotions flooding Ewan¡¯s senses.


    You want to eat them?


    Souls, Frost gave a vague reply through their connection. After a moment of thought, Ewan agreed. Frost grabbed at the air above the corpses and stuffed the empty hand in his mouth. Only a few minutes later, after Frost relished and digested it all, Ewan sensed its effects. He grew stronger; he verged on the Level-2 barrier now.


    Was it a Demon thing? Orange didn¡¯t react to it, so it should be.


    Ewan frowned and mulled; he should change his plans. He wanted to stay on this floor until the mayhem settled down and only fight back when they came for him. Because fighting them didn¡¯t benefit him in any way. But Frost changed things. If he could grow by eating souls, the current situation would become an all-you-can-eat buffet for him. And this was a special case¡ªthe law wouldn¡¯t punish Ewan for killing them. It shouldn¡¯t¡­.


    ¡°They¡¯re the ones attacking. I¡¯m only defending myself¡­.¡± he muttered.


    The rifles could make it easier for him to fight back; he picked one up and checked. Alas, the biometric lock nulled his idea, he threw it away with a defeated sigh as its plastic stock cracked on the marbled steps. It also killed his budding plan of disguising as one of them in its infancy. The lack of a rifle could give him away, and if he carried one anyway, the red light on the trigger would be his doom.


    So, after the body check of the three dead ones didn¡¯t bear fruit, he moved on.


    The shield held tight in his left hand, he edged down the stairs to the floor below, his supple joints silencing his movements. His knuckles had turned white, and sweat drenched his hair, rolling down his temples. Orange and Frost were once again the vanguards, they mimicked Ewan and moved without any noise.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 4.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 4.0 | Ice ¨C 4.0 | Blood ¨C 4.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 25


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-39 Gore [Part I]

    Bullet holes riddled the electronic game units, arcs of current sparking out. Bloodied corpses lay cold on the floor, their bodies shredded apart. Some died from bullets, some from a blade. Their blood and organs painted the floor red; their guts had spilled over. Ewan crouched and threaded. The pool of gore reflected his aghast face and the gulp down his throat as the blood smeared the hem of his cargo pants with each step. There was a thick smell of metal in the air once again. He should¡¯ve been numb to it by now, but he wasn¡¯t, even his excited bestial instincts couldn¡¯t suppress the dread of death that plunged into him with each heave.


    So many died, what were the chances of him surviving¡­ Now that the adrenaline wore off, he faced the reality. The only difference was that they were Kyrons, and he wasn¡¯t.


    Right, he wasn¡¯t a Kyron anymore, he was stronger than them, he repeated. Drops of sweat rolled down his temples, he rubbed the itch with his shoulders and took deep breaths.


    Orange scouted the path ahead while Frost covered his back. Ewan wished the enemies would come and distract him already. But the floor was haunted quiet besides the frigid bodies who stared at him with their gaping eyes, and they invited him to join them.


    ¡­..


    Fuck!


    Ewan froze in his tracks, resisting a shiver.


    Halfway down the stairs to the next floor, a longsword pinned a child to the wall through his bloodied teddy bear, a child who¡¯d barely learned to run¡­ He and his plush toy dangled from the blade, lifeless. The blunt strikes on the pommel had cracked and flattened it; they must¡¯ve hammered the sword through the child¡¯s chest. His eyeballs almost popped out and tears from the ripped socket dried on his cheeks; his mouth lay open, and his tongue hung loose. Thick blood oozed down his shoes on the face of the woman lying below, her throat slit and swollen, and tears and snot smudging her makeup. It must be his mother; she carried a dirt-and-blood smeared cotton candy that used to be white¡­


    If these masked men were trying to scare people, they sure had some effective means. Ewan took deep breaths again and continued down the stairs, avoiding the gaze of the bloodied yet smiling teddy.


    The floor below was the inflatable playground for children with bouncy castles. And finally, some enemies to kill. The playgrounds sprawled airless, the bullets and the blades had torn them apart. Three masked men stood with their backs to the stairs. One hacked a corpse with an axe, while the other stood around him, rifles hanging from their shoulders.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go already,¡± one of the three said.


    ¡°Wait a bit,¡± another said as he chopped down the axe again, breathless and panting, each lungful of air grinding in his throat. Blood from the dead body sprayed on his already drenched red mask. The other two stepped back and shook their heads.


    Orange and Frost could kill two, but the third was the problem. They were too far and in the open for Ewan to move in close without alerting them. He had no choice, he had to use his spell.


    Blood Rein!


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    It took him several tries, but he succeeded before the three finished their butchery. The obsidian dagger slit his wrist and the spell circuit took the blood away. The crimson blob floated before him, connected to his soul. The dizziness assaulted him again, his vision blurred too, but he was familiar with it now, he could handle the side effects. Iris came out of the vortex and dove into his hair while he aimed at the masked men¡¯s back from the stairs end. She healed his cut and he focused. This spell too didn¡¯t have the targeting mechanism, but it gave him full control.


    The blob of blood wriggled. Ewan held his breath and shot three thin sharp vines from it. They slithered close to the floor; the blood vines ran against the blood pools on the ground, it was hard to notice them. The three vines zipped away and lanced the three men through their backs and out their chests. The two groaned and clutched the vines with trembling hands. The axe clanked on the floor, and the third reached for his chest.


    Ewan pulled the vines back out, and blood gushed out from their gaping and pulsating wounds. The men collapsed on their knees, gasping for air, hacking, puking blood. The vines slid around them, and as Ewan gestured, skewered their jaws and exited their skulls. They fell over, their chests stopped moving. Blood pooled under them, and they joined the plethora of corpses strewn across the floor.


    Ewan exhaled the long-held breath through his mouth. This was easy, far too easy. He stared at the red blob that regained its initial size when the vines came back and merged in. These Kyrons weren¡¯t his match when he could use his spells, even with their contrabands. As they said, he really was a monster for them.


    ¡­..


    Frost broke through the barrier once he ingested the three new souls; he was now Level-2. While he savored the growth, Orange glared at him from Ewan¡¯s head, pulling and chewing his hair, screeching at times. After Ewan calmed him down with flowery promises for the future, he searched the place inside out, though there were little places on this open floor that could hide anyone. And indeed, corpses and more gory and grisly corpses were all he found. He didn¡¯t avoid them but instead walked closer and met their lifeless eyes. A meaningless act yet he persisted to become numb to these deaths. The dead were powerless, his mind knew it, he wanted his body to know it too.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 4.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 4.0 | Ice ¨C 4.0 | Blood ¨C 0.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-2] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 25


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-40 Gore [Part II]

    The next couple of floors were all the same; mauled bodies strewn around; walls painted in blood. Yet no enemies came in sight. On the next floor, the fifth floor, Ewan finally found two masked men. Their masks rested on their heads, and they puffed their cigarettes, sitting on the clean floor by the pillar-turned-beehive with bullets, their victims keeping them company. Their rifles were by their sides, and they chatted and cackled.


    Ewan hid behind the wall near the stairs, peeking at these two and panning his eyes around to confirm whether they were the only ones here. The several pillars dividing this floor into areas hindered him though¡ªthey hid many sections.


    A young female staff of the gaming arcade, in their usual frilled sky-blue sleeveless shirt and mini black skirt uniform, hid under an unused pool table in the corner across Ewan. She¡¯d curled up, hugged her knees, and covered her mouth as she shivered. Concrete dust whitened her long black hair, and she smothered her cough from time to time. When Ewan saw her, she met his eyes too. She mouthed ¡®help¡¯ as her tears drenched her already sweaty and pale face, her mascara running down.


    Ewan gestured her a ¡®wait¡¯ sign and racked his brain. No matter how much he thought about it, only one plan was feasible in this scenario. It was the most efficient plan he could think of. So, he carried it out.


    Frost froze a red pebble from the blood around and hurled it towards the hiding woman. It clattered on the floor near her and echoed in the hall. She gasped, her face paled even more, and her eyes widened as she stared at Ewan. The noise alerted the two chatting masked men and drew them in.


    Only two?


    All the groups he met so far had three people¡­


    One masked man walked out from the other side of a pillar, zipping his fly. They were three now.


    ¡°Another one?¡± the man asked while moving the belt of his trousers around.


    ¡°This one¡¯s mine,¡± one of the smoking men said, grinning and biting the cigarette butt.


    ¡°Sure, if it¡¯s a dude.¡± The other two cackled.


    ¡°Fuck off,¡± he said and crouched by the table. ¡°Hey missy, come out. We won''t hurt you.¡± He blew the smoke to the side and reached for her. The young woman screamed and backed off, but the wall behind blocked her. She rattled her head and pleaded in a mosquito voice.


    Frost, take them out.


    The timing was good, she¡¯d grabbed their attention. Frost walked out from where they hid and bolted towards the men. By the time they reacted and turned around, they were already in his range. He waved his hand and ice spikes jerked out from the ground. The spikes sieved the three, mangling their bodies. They died with a grunt, their limbs and necks hung lifeless. Blood streamed down the ice spikes, turning them red. Soon the trickling blood drips froze and turned into long red crystals.


    The woman screeched and crawled away from the scene. Ewan went to help her up, but she shrieked again and backed away from him.


    ¡°No!!¡± she yelled and bawled.


    Ewan frowned and stood back. He didn¡¯t understand what scared her so much. Was it his Astylinds? Was it him killing the men? Or was it because he used her as bait? Even if he did so, he still saved her life. That was the most efficient plan he could think of at that moment; the bait was necessary. He could take the three out with his spells, but it had higher risks and would shorten the precious activation period of his <Blood Rein>. This way, she distracted them while Frost took them out in one strike.


    Stolen story; please report.


    He shook his head and walked away. ¡°Ungrateful bitch,¡± he muttered. He didn¡¯t want to help her anymore. She would become a burden anyway.


    That one act drained Frost of his Anima, so Ewan handed him a small white Anima-Crystal and searched the floor, leaving the woman alone. The blob of blood floated ahead of him; his mind ready to mold it if a threat emerged. Yet only the cold corpses greeted him again. Nothing new on this floor either. It was becoming rather monotonous, so he moved down to the next floor.


    ¡­..


    Six muzzles belched fireballs as the bombardment of bullets rained down on Ewan¡¯s shield. Sparks crackled all around him, the shield held itself against the attack. The bright display of fire from the six men shooting in a crescent moon formation made for a dazzling and beautiful scene, but Ewan couldn¡¯t appreciate it, being on the receiving end. He didn¡¯t even have the time to check out the floor before these six spotted him coming down the stairs and opened fire. Unlike the first three he met, these six alternated. One fired while the other reloaded, the salvo never stopped. How many fucking bullets did they lug anyway?


    Ewan didn¡¯t wait for their ammo to run out; it was too risky. He commanded Frost while preparing his blood blob to finish them off. He couldn¡¯t see his targets from behind the tower shield, so he had to take a roundabout route.


    Frost, also hiding behind the shield, touched the ground with pools of blood all around. After a moment, he pushed all his Anima into the spell and chilled the floor. And the blood red pools froze. The ice sprinted from Frost¡¯s hand and fanned out in a circle, cracking and popping. Ewan shivered from the drop in temperature, his heaves steamed.


    ¡°What the fuck!!¡±


    ¡°Shit!¡±


    The men yelled and cursed and stopped firing. They twisted and snapped their frozen shoes from the ground and backed off. But they all lost their footing on the slippery surface. Some fired while they thumped on their asses, creating a trail of bullet holes up to the ceiling.


    While they groaned and writhed on the floor, Ewan sent several pointy thin vines from his blood blob up to the ceiling and had them zip down at random. The vines plunged, and deathly grunts of men followed. Ewan peeked at the small bamboo forest of red vines ahead and checked if they were all dead. Two were still alive and wriggling, so he controlled a couple of vines and stabbed them again. Since he could see them, his target was spot on, and the floor fell silent. The remaining two also died.


    The continuous firing left Ewan¡¯s ears buzzing, his forearm ached, and his skin had reddened. He snapped his frozen boots off the ground and sat on the side leaning on the wall, massaging his temples and his arm.


    Frost enjoyed the buffet of souls; one by one he stuffed them in his mouth. After he digested them all, he once again approached the boundary of the next level, Level-3. Ewan smiled when he sensed it.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 4.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 4.0 | Ice ¨C 4.0 | Blood ¨C 4.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-2] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 25


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-41 Ruined Birthday

    The conflict ended with the dimming dusk. Ewan limped out of the game arcade as the reddish-orange sky purpled¡ªthe color of an old bruise. His leaden eyelids weighed down, and grime and dried blood smeared his face. No law enforcers were in sight, only death was, but his nose had long gone numb to the stench of their blood and gore.


    The exploded craters smoked and smelled of rotten eggs, and mutilated charred bodies hilled on the streets. A burnt tree cracked and fell over with a gust of wind, its embers and ashes swirled in the air. The redness of blood paled and faded on the fake snow, barely deigning to reflect the setting sun. The once famous Frosthelm festival was now a blood festival. Only the shredded decorations remained as a remembrance of the jolly laughs and the cackles of the children.


    A young man in a tattered shirt hanging by his shoulders trudged out of the crumbling building on the side, hacking his lungs out. Several of its floors were up in raging flames, it was on the verge of collapse; the deathly creaks of its pillars announced its end. A hare with patches of brown and dark red fur, or was it dried blood, hopped before him, both facing Ewan. He gripped a cleaver, his knuckles turning white, while the hare snarled at Ewan, its ruby eyes reflecting his weary image.


    ¡°I¡¯m not an enemy,¡± Ewan said in a low volume, taking slow breaths through his mouth, his eyes drooping. His aching muscles killed him, his throat was on fire, and his wounds, both bullet and blade bitten, stung. The strenuous and protracted fight had left him sapped, there were just too many of them on the ground floor.


    ¡°Proof,¡± the man said in a hoarse voice, smothering his cough, stepping away from the blazing building.


    Ewan sighed and brought Orange out from the rune. The little monkey clawed his way onto his head and snuggled in his hair, whimpering as he rubbed the bleeding bullet wound on his thigh.


    Don¡¯t touch it, you¡¯ll make it worse.


    Orange cried once and stopped.


    The man released a long breath and collapsed on the ground, the hare hopping back and licking his face.


    ¡°Have you checked the trams?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°No.¡± The man shook his head, hacking again, retching blobs of blood.


    Ewan picked up a piece of cracked wood and crutched his worn-out body to the tracks, minding the splinters. There was no tram there. But if he followed the tracks and got out of this area, he could find one. The end of conflict meant the attackers died. And since there was no intervention from the law enforcers, it must¡¯ve been the Severynths in the area who ended it. Ewan didn¡¯t want to get involved in the mess that would follow soon. So, he chose the direction of his home and trekked along the tracks, leaving the chaos behind.


    ¡°Let¡¯s attend the festival, what could possibly go wrong. Motherfuckers! Bitches ruined my birthday,¡± he muttered amidst the clank of his crutch on the paved pathway. ¡°Couldn¡¯t even eat the fucking cake!¡± Iris strived to heal his wounds, wrapping her roots around the tiny red Anima Crystal.


    This attack put him on yellow alert. There was a threshold in the stages of Ashevas before which they were still vulnerable against Kyrons and their weapons. He now wanted to cross that threshold as soon as possible and have some security inside the walls. Even if the situation of the colony destabilized further, he would have the option to leave the place safely.


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


    ¡­..


    The first night of his return brought Nana rushing to his doorsteps again, freaking out over the news of the massacre and his injuries. She had Luna heal him over and over again even when he said he didn¡¯t need it, the repeated usage sapped the poor bird, and she only left when he pushed her out. After so many years, even when life shattered her, she still retained those stubborn cells¡­


    And the fourth dawn delivered Ewan the property deeds and the inheritance Sols; he became rich overnight. But the Kyron currency concerned him no more.


    The bright and glossy basement walls mirrored the world inside. Still cold but not frosty, the temperature rose by the day. Greenbirth¡ªthe months of life would follow soon. Segregated from the outside world by the mystical door his father had created, he was safe here. From training to breaking through barriers to brewing potions, this place was his retreat.


    Frost trained in a corner with snowflakes swirling around him, his arms stretched out to the sides, his eyes closed, his tail bending and swaying. While Orange played tag with Toast, dashing all over the basement, yet sneaked a glare at the little imp from time to time, the orange fire on his forehead flickering.


    Ewan had a long list of work he planned to do in the coming days, most of which involved potion brewing. Before he could start with any though, the pestering monkey made him choose his Anima Potion. His intention to battle it out with Frost brimmed and spilled. To save his hair and cheeks, Ewan agreed and procured the needed ingredients¡ªAstylind Core of the relevant element and the blood of the same.


    The fire based Aennon solution dissolved the core, and the addition of blood made it boil. The beaker heated up and the orange liquid inside steamed with popping bubbles. This was his fifth trial, and success finally knocked on his door. Even though this potion had the same ingredients as the one he brewed for his ¡®Elementalist Physique¡¯, it still took him several attempts to increase his proficiency. The nuance in the use of his spirit and the difference of catalysts and stabilizers made it so.


    ¡°Hot! Hot!¡±


    His face crunched in pain. Ewan juggled the searing potion vial between his hands, blowing on it to cool it down, sweat dripping down his nose. Did he make a mistake using a Level-3 Core and blood? It could be too much¡­ He licked the salty sweat on his lips and wondered whether Orange could absorb so much Fire-Anima at once.


    To be on the safe side, though, it was better to have Orange consume the potion in two parts. The little monkey jumped and complained when Ewan disturbed his tag game but rushed over with Toast in tow after he told him about the Anima Potion.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.3


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 4.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 4.3 | Ice ¨C 4.3 | Blood ¨C 4.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [2<sup>nd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-1] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 59


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 5025


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-42 Ryvia

    Ewan, Frost, Toast, and Iris stood around Orange as he winced on the floor after drinking the first half of the potion. The Fire-Anima raged around him, the air distorted, and scorching wind blasted against the four. Embers flew about, sparks hopped around. Toast clawed his way up on Ewan¡¯s shoulders and snuggled and whimpered as his fur singed, while Iris bundled herself in his hair. Ewan consoled his little kitten and his little lotus and stared at Orange, gulping to wet his throat. Frost remained still and eyed the monkey, ready on Ewan¡¯s orders to help in case something went wrong.


    Soon Orange reached the boundary of Level-2 and a few moments later blasted through the layer. The flickering fire on his forehead erupted for a second with ribbons of blue flames reaching twice his height then calmed down and turned back orange. The fiery wind also settled down and the abundant Fire-Anima scattered. Before giving in to the glee of success, Ewan checked Orange from head to toe for any injuries. His pulse raced but remained under normal levels. There were no injuries mentioned in the <Identify> spell either. His connected senses also gave a green light.


    Ewan heaved a sigh of relief, crouching on the floor with his head down. Orange opened his eyes and screeched at Frost; the little imp glared back.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Ewan said and pushed the two apart. The other part of the potion remained.


    ¡­..


    Ewan toiled for the next week and brewed one potion after another. The experience of each brew nudged his proficiency and increased his success rate. But not before he spent almost all his Novas on the trials. He still had Anima Crystals though, a lot of them, so the spending didn¡¯t worry him much.


    Red for blood, white for ice, and brown for wood¡ªhe had three types of Anima Crystals. Brown was useless to him while he didn¡¯t need as many reds and whites. Converting all browns and most reds and whites through the hub-connector netted him 296 Novas, an amount that could last him a long while. Sustenance before sourcing the earnings was not a problem with such numbers.


    ¡­.


    ¡®The higher the soul essence the more violent the breakthrough. It¡¯s better to not have your Astylinds around.¡¯ Ewan fiddled with the page while rereading the sentences he¡¯d already read several times. His leveled up and upgraded Astylinds¡ªboth Frost and Orange joining the ranks of Iris in Grade-C¡ªtrained on their own as he skimmed the journal in the basement corner. The cold wall chilled his back at first then his body warmed the wall.


    Third awakening, he had the butterflies when he thought of it. It was the threshold he¡¯d been waiting for. The increased feedback from his Astylinds pushed him to the boundary, 4.9, now only a thin layer stopped him from moving forward. Only the ¡®violent breakthrough¡¯ part in the journal worried him. Nonetheless he had to cross the bridge, there was no other way around.


    After a long deep breath, he put the journal back in the claw-ring, his Astylinds went inside the runes, and he sat in the middle of the basement. Cross-legged and his eyes closed, his palms stacked at his navel, he focused on his soul space. ¡®Spirit like ripples¡¯, once again he plucked the pool of spirit, creating waves after waves. The pool surged and roared; the oscillations rampaged in his soul space.


    Stolen story; please report.


    The barrier crumbled under the constant barrage, it tore the layer down, and his spirit thrashed around before calming down. Yet, it was only the quiet before the storm. He¡¯d completed his third awakening, but he didn¡¯t dare relax. The violent part had yet to happen. With the intense sweet smell and the feeling of liberation came the initiation of the new innate skill, Ryvia¡ªthe spirit interference.


    Ewan bloated. His spirit ran amuck throughout his body. It expanded, tearing his skin and muscles from inside. His body tingled, and the itch just wouldn¡¯t go away, not that he had the leeway to scratch them. Ryvia would extend his spirit outside his body, so he had to tolerate the pain if he were to advance. He groaned and gritted his teeth. The agony had him moaning and chuckling at times. The tickling sweat drops rolling down his temples and cheeks snatched his attention and irritated him. But he bore through it all.


    A thread of spirit finally popped out his forehead. It busted the dam and his spirit exploded away.


    He growled and floated up in the air, his invisible spirit hurled the table away and it shattered at the wall. His pain toned down, and the sharp buzz muffled the world. Ewan looked down; he was hovering several feet above the floor. Some dispensable Potioneering tools he¡¯d left on the table drifted around him, crunching, chipping, cracking, and snapping as his spirit distorted them, gravity giving them free rein.


    This was Ryvia, the watershed that separated him from the Kyrons, and he crossed it.


    The initial outburst kept him floating for a minute then eased him down. His eyelids were heavy, his limbs felt weak, the breakthrough and the initiation of the skill emptied him. The unending stairs to the surface then the prolonged path to the bedroom¡ªthe everyday distance had never looked this impervious before. He had no one who would scold him for where he slept anyway, so he took out a thick quilt from his claw-ring and lay where he stood, drifting off to the world of dreams. Only the echoes of his soft breaths meandered in the basement.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 5.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 5.2 | Ice ¨C 5.2 | Blood ¨C 5.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 319


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4999


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-43 Spells

    Ice Daggers!


    The razor-sharp ice dagger floated before Ewan, its spell circuit empowering his Ryvia. He shot it at the wall but braked before they kissed. The dagger hovered on his command and snaked back to him, circling around. He repeated the process, once, twice, thrice, until it became his muscle memory. The dagger zipped around the basement at his will, getting faster and swifter as he became well versed in it.


    The constant use of Ryvia strained him, even with the spell¡¯s enforcement. His face flushed red; his neck tightened and quivered; his veins bulged on his forehead. He was at his limit, so the ice dagger followed the last route and shattered against the wall.


    Ewan collapsed on the floor, panting when his eventual heave broke the dam. Frost and Orange both raced to him from where they were training, or supposed to be, and handed him a chilled bottle of water, glaring at each other. He accepted both bottles and gulped them together, most spilled out and wetted his already sweat-drenched t-shirt. He¡¯d rather do this than deal with a sulking Frost or a hair-pulling Orange.


    The moment they were at the same level, their fight had begun again, Ewan was helpless. And Toast meowed from the side.


    Little fucker¡­


    He could feel the little kitten¡¯s amusement at his plight, so he poured water over him. Toast sprung back, screeching, then bit his t-shirt, wrestling to tear it. His growls were tiny purrs, childlike, and it made Ewan smile.


    ¡°Only Iris is a good girl.¡±


    The little lotus bud bunking on the books swayed, left and right and left, her glee passing through to Ewan. It annoyed the other three though, and they jumped on him together.


    ¡­..


    Hub-Stratum.


    Ewan wandered the crammed night streets of the hub as a spirit blob, a bigger-than-before spirit blob, window shopping, panning his eyes. He looked down on the smaller spirit blobs at times while giving way for the larger ones, especially the humanoids. His target was a shop selling spells, it was one of the cheapest and the nearest. He wanted to buy a spell that would complement his <Transmute> spell. It was better to prepare early.


    His grown spirit supported his stroll, and he reached the intended shop with ease. The navigation ended there.


    ¡°Hello, anyone in?¡± he asked. The shop was empty except for the counter bar, it didn¡¯t even have an automated worker. The black swirls on the white walls and the ceiling attracted him though. His own shop could use such designs.


    ¡°Just a second,¡± someone said. A tiny black blob rose from behind the counter a few seconds later. It was almost the size of Ewan¡¯s spirit blob when he first came to the hub.


    ¡°¡¯Lens¡¯ spell, how much is it?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­uh¡­ten¡­Novas?¡± the blob said¡­or asked.


    ¡°Too expensive,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Make it two.¡±


    ¡°I¡­I¡­Its too low¡­,¡± he said in a mosquito voice. ¡°At least five.¡±


    ¡°Three, and I¡¯ll buy something else from you.¡±


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    The spirit blob hovered behind the counter; the shop fell quiet. ¡°Fine,¡± he finally said. ¡°What do you want to buy?¡±


    ¡°Show me your fire spells,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Wait a few.¡± The blob hovered down again, searching, the items clattered about.


    ¡°How¡¯d you manage a shop like this? How long can you stay connected anyway?¡± Ewan asked, floating around the shop, admiring the artistic designs.


    ¡°I try to be here as much as I can.¡± The muffled voice came from behind the counter. ¡°I only disconnect and rest when I can''t hold on.¡±


    ¡°Why not buy a worker?¡±


    ¡°Can''t, they cost too much.¡±


    Ewan hummed in response. ¡°So, you have an inheritance?¡± he asked.


    The blob flinched, and the items stopped moving with a burst of final clatter. The shop fell silent once more.


    ¡°Sorry, not trying to pry or anything, just curious. You¡¯re still too weak to be selling these things.¡±


    ¡°My¡­mother. I¡­inherited from her,¡± the spirit blob said and resumed his search.


    ¡°You have a good mother then, cherish her,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Not really¡­,¡± the blob said under his breath. He brought out a few pages with different spells¡¯ summaries and spread them on the counter. ¡°Here you go.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Ewan, what¡¯s yours?¡± Ewan checked the pages one by one.


    ¡°¡­Avis,¡± the blob said.


    Ewan froze on the reply, for it was a girl¡¯s name, at least Obria treated it as such.


    ¡°My mother named me; she wanted a girl¡­.¡± His voice dimmed down again.


    Ewan refrained from commenting and focused on the spells. Fireball, Bullets, Fireflies, Ignite. And the last one was ¡®Boom¡¯¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s a good spell, don¡¯t mind the name,¡± Avis said.


    Ewan skimmed the summaries¡ªFireball and Bullets were simple projectile spells, quality versus quantity; Fireflies was a ranged and reactive area-of-effect spell with good tactical value; Ignite was a close-range utility spell, unfit for combat; and ¡®Boom¡¯ was a special spell whose damage depended on the material used.


    ¡°Is this all you have?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°You need something specific?¡± Avis asked.


    ¡°Not really, no. How much?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­six¡­each?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you five for Fireflies and ¡®Boom¡¯, and four for Fireball. Deal?¡± Ewan said.


    The blob flickered without a word.


    ¡°You probably don¡¯t have much time. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Avis said, his spirit blob faded a bit. ¡°Here.¡± He passed over the virtual contract that Airadia¡¯s sentience and the ¡®Ashevagord¡¯ authorized.


    ¡°One year? No way. I don¡¯t intend to sell your spells anyway but one year is a lot, brother. Make it three months,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°¡­Six, that¡¯s the lowest I can go.¡±


    Ewan agreed after mulling for a second. He stamped the modified contract with his identity in the hub, his Pa¡¯s actually, and received the copies of the spells after payment¡ªseventeen Novas for four spells.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come again if I need something. You go back and rest now,¡± Ewan said and left the shop.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 5.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 5.5 | Ice ¨C 5.5 | Blood ¨C 5.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 302


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4997


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-44 Boom

    His Ryvia stretched to its limit around him, it fed back his perception. Ewan could see, hear, smell, and feel everything that happened in the zone.


    Again.


    Orange jumped into his spirit¡¯s range as his other Astylinds watched from the side. Ewan sensed his landing position and compressed the air with his Ryvia, fashioning an invisible platform that hovered above the ground. Orange alighted on it then blasted away with his explosive Anima. But the platform couldn¡¯t handle the recoil, it crumbled apart with a flash of fire. Orange crashed on the floor as Ewan grunted, the harsh feedback from his spirit stung him.


    Luckily, the failure injured no one.


    Again.


    He created another base and condensed it with more spirit this time, his tensed hands trembled, the air distorted around the platform. Orange exploded away from it once again and succeeded this time. The platform still fell apart but not before supporting the little monkey¡¯s launch.


    The success came after several attempts, after many trials and errors. But it wasn¡¯t at a practical level yet. At best, Ewan could allow Orange one extra movement in the air. It wasn¡¯t at the level where he could let the little monkey fight airborne, which was the result he hoped to get from this practice.


    Again.


    ¡­¡­.


    Ewan sat in the middle of the basement, his eyes closed, his spirit interference driven to the max.


    Toast meowed and paddled his feet as he drifted through the air, circling Ewan. Orange floated after Toast with breaststrokes, his tail swaying left and right, as if he could ¡®swim¡¯ faster that way. While Iris bounced up and down behind Ewan, rotating with her roots sprawled out.


    Two birds with one stone¡ªthis was a good method to practice his Ryvia and keep his little monsters busy. Yet, an unseen and unexpected problem occurred once he lifted them all¡ªFrost.


    Unlike the other three, Frost hovered close to the ceiling, flailing about, panic written all over his face. His pointy tail had curled, his eyes teared up, and he screamed at the top of his lungs. Ewan had never seen Frost like this. Even at his worst, he only had childish fights with Orange. At his best, he wreaked havoc with his spells with a calm mien. But now¡­.


    ¡°A Demon afraid of heights¡­,¡± he said under his breath.


    His Pa would¡¯ve laughed his ass off if he knew about this, Ewan would never hear the end of that taunt. He needed to fix this, and he could only think of one method to do so. Overexposure led to numbness and desensitivity in relation to the specific aspect, Ewan already used this fact once when he faced the dead. Now, it was Frost¡¯s turn.


    ¡­¡­


    He started from a low altitude. A Kyron¡¯s jumping height¡ªit didn¡¯t faze Frost, but his anxiety still passed on to Ewan.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ewan said and focused on Ryvia. He couldn¡¯t afford any mistake right now.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    A couple of inches higher and Frost¡¯s limbs trembled, his tail strained. Orange clutched his stomach and rolled on the floor, guffawing and cackling. The brat¡¯s childish bellows echoed and annoyed Ewan.


    Toast¡­


    Toast, Ewan¡¯s reinforcement, sauntered close to the little monkey and slapped him twice before racing away. Orange jolted up and chased after him.


    Ewan heaved a sigh of relief from the dawn of quiet and attended to Frost.


    ¡°Just focus on me,¡± he said. ¡°Take it slow.¡±


    Inch by inch, he upped the height. Once Frost couldn¡¯t take it anymore, he brought him down and rewarded him with a pat and a smile and a sugary slice of cake with creamy frosting. A few minutes of rest later, he started again. Up, panic, down, praise and cake, and rest, Ewan repeated the process until Frost numbed to a height higher than before, albeit drained and aghast.


    Step-0 wasn¡¯t Ewan¡¯s limit, he wouldn¡¯t let it, no matter how tough it was to advance. And the future of a Severynth included the open skies. Fear of heights was fatal to that future, he needed to fix it.


    ¡­¡­


    Fresh morning breeze caressed his skin with the sun clearing the distant fuzzy walls. His raven hair waved with it while he sat on the false chimney, admiring the view and fiddling with pebbles, his legs dangling in the air. His throat and lungs chilled with each inhale and warmed with the exhales. The basement had become his cave for days now, he only came up to do his daily business, so the gentle kiss of the early sun relaxed him.


    The neighborhood was silent this morning, only the birds sang aloud. The ambience was of a holiday today, but he didn¡¯t recall his calendar marking this date. Being out of touch with society had its perks, but it also came with some negatives. Nonetheless, the negatives didn¡¯t concern him much since his Kyron life was behind him.


    Boom¡­


    He contained the embarrassment inside and hurled a pebble at the clear skies once the spell circuit glimmered in his soul space. The pebble shone an orange hue, it grew hotter and excited, and popped with a tiny fireball in the air. It scared the birds flying nearby and scattered their formation.


    Ewan sighed. The spell was more than decent, depending on the material used, but the naming sucked. He¡¯d already added the other spells he bought to his Spellbook; this was the only one left. And he hesitated on whether to change it. The spell wasn¡¯t his creation, so changing the name without consent was a form of disrespect; he didn¡¯t want to do it. But ¡®Boom¡¯ was really¡­.


    Forget it.


    The name was only a shell, its core was the important part, and the spell excelled at that. At best he would never yell the spell name out loud¡­ever.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.0 | Ice ¨C 6.0 | Blood ¨C 6.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 302


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4987


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-45 Commotion

    Dekoth.


    Frost sauntered out of the soul vortex and stood beside Ewan on the chimney. His legs and tail trembled but he didn¡¯t scream. His small figure stared at the blue skies, Ice-Anima surging around. He clenched his fist, and his lust for battle peaked.


    Ewan smiled at his progress, rubbed his head, and stroked his horn bumps. ¡°Good boy,¡± he said, and a vibration from his claw-ring distracted him. He frowned¡ªit was the hub-connector.


    He grabbed Frost with his Ryvia and floated down to the balcony, lying on the recliner. Frost stood by his side as a guard while he connected to the hub.


    ¡­.


    Hub-Stratum.


    Ruckus from the market reverberated in his shop. The gathered crowd crammed the streets, their garbled chatters and screams resonating. Ewan also went out. A red hue had smeared the white streetlights today, and the paved streetways looked bloody. Ewan looked up at the source of this all; it was the huge crimson words hanging in the air, blood-red light oozing from it.


    ¡®Countdown: 100 Years!¡¯ it read.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? What¡¯s happening?¡± Ewan asked the same-sized spirit blob beside him.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± the spirit blob yelled. ¡°No, look on the bright side, I¡¯ll have a better chance if I survive it,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°I thought we had more time,¡± another spirit blob said, triple the size of Ewan¡¯s.


    ¡°What is going on? What is that?¡± Some spirit blob asked, but no one answered.


    ¡°It was true¡­it was true¡­,¡± someone else muttered.


    Ewan looked around at the mixed horde of spirit blobs; some asked around like him, looking lost, while some trembled and mumbled. He would never get any answers from them, so he went inside the shop and opened the information screen.


    He had a notification; the seller had updated the information about ¡®Obria¡¯. But he ignored it for now and checked whether there was anything on the current situation¡ªthere was none. He frowned and checked the announcement screen. It had the same wine-red words displayed on top; ¡®Endorsed by Ashevagord¡¯ stamped on its side with their infamous ¡®8¡¯ insignia that represented the ¡®Endless Helix¡¯. The details came up once he touched it, it was for free too.


    ¡°Countdown has started: Airadia will become a Tier-3 Plane in a hundred years. Early preparation for the change advised.¡±


    ¡­..


    Ewan opened his eyes on the recliner and stared at the still visible but faint outline of the moons. Rumor said the number of moons represented the level of a plane. If the announcement was authentic and the rumor was valid, then there would be another moon a hundred years later. But what was the ¡®early preparation¡¯ about? And the way some spirit blobs talked; their words sounded ominous.


    This was a big event, enough to terrify so many powerful spirit blobs and have the ¡®Ashevagord¡¯ announce it in that manner. And ¡®Tier-3¡¯ indicated it had happened before, so it should be in his journal.


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


    Ewan took it out from the claw-ring and flipped to the parts he had only skimmed. Indeed, many of his ancestors had mentioned this, they all warned their next generation about the destruction it caused. The extreme cataclysmic seasons during the advancement could exterminate most of the plane¡¯s population, including Ashevas. The plane would flourish afterwards but not before the wave of carnage drowned it.


    Hundred years¡­


    An event that would happen a century later, it was an unfamiliar and unknown concept for Ewan. He chased after eternity but couldn¡¯t understand what it meant yet. Still, the severity of the situation was clear. Hundred years, he only had as much time to prepare for the disaster. But would reaching Step-1 be enough to survive? What about Step-2? The journal didn¡¯t answer him, he was on his own with this one. And it would be conjectures anyway, who could ever guarantee someone¡¯s life.


    Let¡¯s take it step by step¡­


    He would go as far as he could and prepare as much as he could. If he still died, then that would be it, that was all he was capable of. His death would be worth it; after all, he walked the path of his dreams.


    ¡­..


    A sumptuous brunch later, stewed vegetables with bread and bland milk, Ewan revisited the hub¡ªthe notification remained on his mind and nagged him. The commotion outside had half died, but the bloody words still hung in the air, painting the hub in a gloomy hue.


    Plethora of sellers crammed the information screen with their version of data about the recent announcements. Ewan could sell his too, but he wasn¡¯t willing to divulge information from his journal. He also used his Pa¡¯s identity here, that of Ulrath. Reckless display of that name without proper background knowledge might attract unwanted attention. If any of his Pa¡¯s old enemies came to him¡­ It was better to run the shop and earn through it, he would remain anonymous that way.


    And so, he ignored it all and opened the updated information about Obria. Twelve Novas, the new price reflected the size and the value of the new content. He took a deep breath; this report would finalize his decision on whether to stay or leave the colony. His Pa¡¯s memories and his childhood house kept him here, this was his home, but he would never put emotions before his life. If it was necessary, he would rather become a wandering Severynth outside the walls than remain inside and muddle in the chaos.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.0 | Ice ¨C 6.0 | Blood ¨C 6.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4987


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-46 Report

    ¡°<u>Report¡ª</u>


    <u>Confirmed Facts:</u> Fifteen years ago, the tension between the defense force and the royal family of the colony peaked. Assassinations, bribery, poaching; the laws and the political situation destabilized. With no remedy and supervision, it has worsened over the years.


    Five years ago, the War Dogs rebelled. They¡¯ve massacred the Geltam family and their supporters and have overthrown Vidovik Geltam¡¯s rule. Unknown to the public, the War Dogs now control the colony.


    The civil war behind the curtains has broken the supply routes and hindered the economy, it¡¯s worsening by the day. The Dogs lack the proper chain of command to maintain the colony and are losing control over it.


    Someone or some group has taken advantage of this to spread an anti-Severynth sentiment throughout the colony. Their purpose is unknown, but their actions show they only want chaos. They¡¯re gaining more support from the Kyrons by the day.


    <u>Speculation:</u> The commanders of the War Dogs were still trying to make it stronger several years ago, but they seem to have given up now. There has been no effort from their side to recruit new Severynths. The rise of the new group only supports this. From their methods and fanaticism, they seem to be a staunch religious group, and have ambitions to overthrow the military rule. The high commanders have done nothing to stop this. There have been some hints that they¡¯re planning on abandoning the colony altogether. It has been centuries since the last colony was sold. Maybe Obria too will go to the highest bidder soon.


    <u>List of Important Deaths</u>:¡­


    <u>Signed</u>: C. Run


    ¡±


    Ewan¡¯s spirit blob flickered and faded as he hovered in silence; the gloomy blood-red tint through the window reflected his mood. First, the hundred-year time limit, and now the bad news about his colony¡­


    Though he¡¯d predicted some of it, the confirmation hammered in the reality. Vidovik¡¯s death didn¡¯t matter, military¡¯s rule wouldn¡¯t matter, for none of them would affect the citizens much, but they were losing control of the colony. The cloud-grazing perimeter walls separated the chaos and the order, and now the politics blurred that line. The mortals couldn¡¯t touch him anymore but who could guarantee there were no Severynths involved in this.


    He sighed. It was final, he would leave the colony. He was fortunate his Pa left him the hub-connector¡­.


    ¡­¡­


    Eighteen years¡­


    Ewan slumped on the sofa in the hall and looked around. This was the place he grew up in, reluctance to leave was an understatement. The kitchen where his Pa cooked; the countertop where they ate, oftentimes with Nana¡¯s family; the hall where his Pa read him books and watched tv with him; the courtyard where they played together; the balcony where he would bore him with his stargazing¡­ His tears, his smiles, his lame jokes, memories pervaded every nook and cranny of this house, this place he called home. Even the seven years of loneliness couldn¡¯t dampen it.


    Yet, time waited for none. He had to move sooner or later; his home couldn¡¯t become his shackle. The current situation only forced it sooner than later.


    Preparations would take time, but he had to do something before that.


    ¡­¡­


    The rusted main gate creaked when he went in. Nana¡¯s yard clutched onto the semblance of its past, yet it¡¯d withered beyond death. The colorful flowers had long perished, only the decaying remains proved the existence of the well-maintained beautiful garden that once welcomed the comers.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    He pressed the doorbell, but nothing rang inside. So, he knocked on the door and soon muffled footfalls rushed down the stairs.


    The door opened with a twist of the handle and his heart skipped a beat. Cascading silky chestnut hair caressed her shoulders, her smooth fair skin almost reflected the sun, her glossy pink lips invited him. Not even a hint of alcohol remained on her, she instead smelled floral sweet¡ªit was the night-blooming jasmine, a flower he liked.


    Beauty was in the eyes of the beholder, they said. And to him, she looked enchanting today, almost reigniting his old memories¡ªhis cherished times.


    She changed so much in only a few weeks¡­


    ¡°Ewan? Come in.¡±


    He followed her to the hall and took a seat on the sofa, glimpsing the dining table where the tragedy occurred.


    ¡°Sit, I have something to tell you,¡± Ewan said and stopped her from fetching him a glass of water.


    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± she asked and sat opposite him.


    ¡°Do you know what¡¯s been going on in the colony?¡±


    ¡°Those protests? Did they attack someone again?¡±


    Ewan waited a breath. ¡°If you have enough Novas, you should buy the information on our colony,¡± he said.


    ¡°Is it something bad?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s about¡­uncle and aunt. It¡¯s better if you read it yourself,¡± he said.


    Their names were in the ¡®List of Important Deaths¡¯, it detailed the circumstances surrounding their demise too, though the accuracy of it remained unchecked. The colony¡¯s politics weaved their lives into chaos, and they suffered a disaster because of it. This was why they suddenly left, and this must be why they pushed him away when they came back¡ªtheir past emotions, their sentiments, their affection, it was all true. They really cared for him¡­


    Nana¡¯s eyes widened, and her breath hitched.


    ¡°Obria hasn¡¯t been stable for some time. And it¡¯s getting worse. I¡¯ve decided to leave, you should too.¡± He wanted to but ultimately couldn¡¯t ask her to come with him, the years of distance halted his words.


    She stared at the floor, her chest heaving, her eyes misty.


    ¡°Nana,¡± he called but she kept staring. ¡°Nana.¡± He called again. ¡°Nana!¡± He banged on the table and startled her. ¡°Do you have enough Novas?¡± he asked.


    She looked at him, dazed, a teardrop rolling down her cheek, ¡°Y-yeah¡­,¡± she said.


    ¡°Good.¡± Ewan nodded. ¡°Buy the information and decide on what to do. I hope you leave too, but it¡¯s up to you. I¡¯ll¡­go now.¡±


    She still sat on the sofa, staring at his shadow when he got up to leave. He stopped after a step then sighed.


    ¡°Nana.¡± He kneeled in front her and looked up in her watery eyes. ¡°They¡¯re gone, you¡¯ll have to move on someday. Think about what you want, don¡¯t let your past trap you here.¡± His words weren¡¯t for her as much as they were for himself. He had to move on too, to follow his dream.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.0 | Ice ¨C 6.0 | Blood ¨C 6.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4987


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-47 Stalling [Part-I]

    A man and a woman in formal black suits waited at his door when Ewan returned from Nana¡¯s house. The curly-haired man, should be in his thirties, donned a nut-brown overcoat on top with breadcrumbs on his collar. While the long-haired young woman with bangs had hers in her arm, her pleated skirt wrinkled, and dark circles ran under her reddened eyes.


    ¡°The shop¡¯s closed indefinitely,¡± Ewan said with a smile and thumbed the biometric scanner.


    ¡°Ewan Ayres?¡± the man asked. Ewan halted and turned around, closing the opened door behind him, and the latch clicked with a grind.


    ¡°May I know who¡¯s asking?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Cage, and this is Gretel. We¡¯re from L.E.A.¡± He flipped and showed Ewan his badge, though barely gave him any time to read the tiny letters and put it away. ¡°We have some questions for you. Do you mind coming with us?¡±


    Law enforcers¡­.


    ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Everything will be disclosed in time, you just need to come with us,¡± the young woman, Gretel, said, clutching the overcoat in her hand hard. She glared at Ewan without blinking, and her bloodshot eyes veined in red.


    ¡°Of course. Can I make a call first though?¡± Ewan asked.


    And he stepped away from the two when Cage gave the nod and called Uncle Thain. The usual female idol song rang, and it rang for a long time before he picked up.


    ¡°Ewan? Something happened?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, but two black suits are here. They want me to go with them,¡± Ewan said. The background noise grated behind the static of the call, it sounded of a beast¡¯s roar and someone¡¯s bellow. He might be outside¡­ No, the phone connected, so he should be inside the walls. ¡°Are you busy?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, go with them. It¡¯ll take me some time, but I¡¯ll be there. Just stall for time but try not to say too much either,¡± Uncle Thain said.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Ewan hung up. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he smiled and said to the two black suits.


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan sat on a frigid metal chair with uneven legs in a drab room with dust-shade walls and no windows, smell of fresh paint tickling his nose, the croaking side fan struggling to rotate with hiccups. The two black suits sat across the reflective table, going through some files, their overcoats hung on the coat hanger in the corner.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the basics, shall we? You¡¯re Ewan Ayres, son of Authen Ayres and Thea Ayres, turned eighteen this year, quit school, didn¡¯t receive your Astylind, received one as a gift instead. Or should I say compensation? Your mother¡¯s not in the picture, your father died when you were eleven, you inherited little to nothing from him and earn a living from your shop which you¡¯ve closed indefinitely for quite some time now. Am I right or do you want to change something?¡± Cage said.


    ¡°It¡¯s accurate, go on,¡± Ewan said, adjusting his posture on the wonky chair.


    Cage pulled out a piece of paper from his file and slid it in front of Ewan, ¡°Please sign this if you agree with what¡¯s written on it.¡±


    The terms were a confirmation of consent, that he was here of his own will. Ewan read it twice, there weren¡¯t any loopholes or contract traps. But still¡­. ¡°Do I have to sign this?¡± This was an unknown environment and he had little to no knowledge about such procedures.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°You can refuse but then this won''t be a civil conversation,¡± Gretel said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take my chances," he said and slid the paper back.


    Cage clicked his tongue and signed ¡®E. Ayres¡¯ on the paper himself. ¡°It¡¯s just a formality,¡± he said and stuffed it in a thick folder.


    Ewan laughed; they weren¡¯t even trying to hide it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get to business now. Are you aware of what happened at the Frosthelm festival this year?¡± Cage asked.


    Is it about that? After so many days?


    ¡°I am.¡± He nodded.


    ¡°Were you there that day?¡± The man had his head buried in the folders, licking his tongue and flipping papers.


    Ewan frowned and looked at both black suits. Cage carried a casual attitude while the woman brimmed with hostility. Were they trying to blame him for something?


    ¡°I refuse to answer,¡± Ewan said.


    The man looked up and stared him in the eyes. ¡°That you can, yes.¡±


    Gretel clenched her jaws, her nostrils flared, her eyes flamed.


    ¡°Then let me ask, were you at this shop that day?¡± He passed a paper to Ewan and tapped on a certain line. It was the address of the barber shop Ewan visited on his birthday.


    ¡°I refuse to answer.¡± Ewan glanced at the paper and passed it back.


    ¡°Okay, what about this tournament? Did you buy its ticket?¡± Cage gave Ewan a copy of the ticket he bought for that Severynth tournament.


    Ewan shrugged.


    He put the copy aside and slid another form to him. ¡°Would you be willing to take a blood test for us?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No.¡± Ewan slid the form back.


    The man leaned back with a deep breath and pushed the folders to the side. ¡°Have we got off on the wrong foot? We just want to ask some questions.¡±


    ¡°You tell me. Your lady here has already killed me million times in her head, probably tortured even. I doubt that asking questions is all you want to do.¡± Ewan chuckled.


    Cage looked at the fuming young woman and sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s just chat then. You wouldn¡¯t refuse that, would you?¡±


    ¡°Depends.¡± Ewan also leaned back and balanced the lopsided legs of the chair, his boots tapping on the floor at intervals. Its three and a half stumps existed to make him uncomfortable, and it did just that and excelled at it. His heart had rarely raced with such rhythm, and the butterflies were having a picnic in his stomach.


    ¡°You¡¯re aware of the recent conflicts. What are your views on it? Severynths and Kyrons, do you think we can live together in peace?¡± Cage bit the unlit cigarette butt and struck his lighter drum, again and again, shielding the wick with his other palm. Sparks flew but it didn¡¯t kindle.


    Ewan laughed. ¡°You talk as if we¡¯re equal. Here, let me show you the difference.¡± He traced the <Ember> spell circuit in a flash and torched half his cigarette with a flick of a finger.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Gretel sprung on her feet, flinging the chair back. It cracked when it hit the floor¡ªhers was wooden. Cage shivered, though the room was warm, and clenched his jaws with a gulp; the cigarette¡¯s ashes scattered on the table.


    Ewan raised both his arms and yielded, but the scale of dominance tipped on his side and killed the butterflies. ¡°It was just <Ember>.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.0 | Ice ¨C 6.0 | Blood ¨C 6.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4987


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-48 Stalling [Part-II]

    ¡°S¡­So, you think Kyrons should remain slaves to the Severynths?¡± Cage asked, flicking his still-lit cigarette away, his leg bouncing up and down. Gretel picked up the chair and sat down, her shoulders trembling; her heaves hitched at half her lungful.


    ¡°I never said that. But¡­¡± Ewan leaned forward, the chair slanting on a different leg with him. ¡°Are you slaves? Are you not free to do whatever you want? You two Kyrons are here questioning me, a Severynth. Do you think slaves can do that?¡±


    Cage scoffed. ¡°Maybe not slaves per se. But you wouldn¡¯t disagree Severynths have it much easier than Kyrons, and for no other reason than just being a Severynth, would you?¡±


    ¡°And you think that¡¯s not fair?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Gretel slapped the table and interrupted.


    ¡°Severynths have surpassed Kyrons, even at the basic life level. You think it¡¯s ¡®fair¡¯ to give us the same treatment as Kyrons then? Maybe it will work inside the walls, where you have peace and security. But what about outside?¡±


    Cage took a deep breath. ¡°Is that why you killed so many innocent people at the Frosthelm festival?¡± he asked.


    The question stunned Ewan, and he lost his words in his throat. Then he laughed. ¡°Were you leading me?¡± The chair inclined back.


    ¡°So? Why did you kill them?¡± Gretel asked.


    ¡°Would you believe me if I say I didn¡¯t? Haven¡¯t you guys already made up your mind?¡±


    ¡°Just answer me,¡± she said. Cage took out another cigarette and lit it after three drum strikes.


    ¡°I refuse to,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Did someone close to you die there? You seem very hostile.¡±


    She glared at Ewan, clawing her left forearm with her right until her nails drew blood.


    ¡°My condolences then,¡± Ewan said, glancing at her bleeding wound. ¡°But it really has nothing to do with me.¡±


    ¡°We have a witness who puts you there, Ewan. May I call you Ewan?¡± Cage took a puff, the cigarette burned brighter, and blew the smoke to the side. ¡°She described you and your Astylind in vivid details. Now, I won''t ask how its image is different from what we have in our record, that¡¯s other department¡¯s business, but this case is my business. And I just want to solve it as soon as I can and go back home to my lovely and bitchy wife and sleep in my own bed. So, I hope you can give us some answers. If you¡¯re innocent, I promise nothing will happen to you.¡±


    ¡®She¡¯?


    He only met one woman that day, the Kyron he saved. She saw Frost and the details matched, but she couldn¡¯t be the witness either. He¡¯d saved her after all, even considering the basic debt of saving her life, she wouldn¡¯t do that. She shouldn¡¯t¡­.


    ¡°Is that what makes you so confident? Her word against mine, how do you think it will end?¡±


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


    ¡°She¡¯s only a catalyst. Her statement will allow us to gather more evidence.¡± Cage slid the blood test form back to Ewan and tapped on it twice. ¡°Either you sign it now willingly, or you¡¯ll have to sign it later by force, up to you. I hope you can reconsider.¡±


    ¡°What do you think your dead father would say if he saw you like this? Do you think he would be happy to see his son killing so many innocents?¡± the young woman chimed in.


    Cage sighed. ¡°Gretel, you¡¯ve gone too far,¡± he said.


    ¡°But sir¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve also lost someone. You should know better than to use a man¡¯s pain like that. Don¡¯t do it again.¡± He glared at her.


    Motherfuckers¡­


    A subordinate bringing up a sensitive topic without the consent of her superior¡­.


    If cynicism hadn¡¯t stuffed his nature to the brim, he would¡¯ve believed their play.


    ¡°I apologize on her behalf. She¡¯s suffered a loss recently, please forgive her insolence,¡± he said and bowed his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s just doing her job, I won''t mind her for that,¡± Ewan said with a smile.


    The coat dangling on the hanger vibrated and the phone¡¯s ring echoed in the room.


    ¡°Please excuse me,¡± Cage said and went to the corner to receive the call.


    He whispered on the phone for a couple of minutes, as the woman played the glare game with Ewan, then put it back in the coat pocket. ¡°Sorry, that was my wife. She¡¯s urging me to come home soon,¡± he said with a laugh, taking the chair again. ¡°I actually told her about you. She didn¡¯t believe such a nice young man could commit such an act. She told me to show some leniency. That woman is too good natured.¡±


    The bullshit¡¯s really stinking¡­.


    Ewan controlled himself from wording his thoughts. The man¡¯s shampooed and fluffy hair, his well-groomed beard, his nicely trimmed nails, and the hint of a woman¡¯s perfume; none of it pointed towards a man who hadn''t gone home for days. Most of all, the call he received was from a man, not his wife, and they talked about a lawyer coming in. Ewan¡¯s Ryvia had covered that corner, and he heard every single word this man said. These guys had never encountered someone with Ryvia, or at least a Ryvia of his range¡­


    ¡°Must be nice to have such a caring wife,¡± Ewan said, his polite smile plastered on his face. He was stalling for time anyway, and these people were giving him more options, he had nothing to complain about. And the lawyer they mentioned on the phone must be Uncle Thain, so he didn¡¯t have to wait for long either.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.0 | Ice ¨C 6.0 | Blood ¨C 6.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4987


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-49 Agreement

    ¡°Let¡¯s make it easy for both of us, shall we? I¡¯m also helpless here, so I would really appreciate it if you helped us out. You just need to take a blood test. If you¡¯re innocent, we won''t keep you even a second more. I¡¯ll personally see you out of the door,¡± Cage said.


    Ewan shrugged and kept mum.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Uncle Thain entered the room, dragging a chair that scraped the floor, and sat beside Ewan, fixing his tie and suit. Ewan¡¯s nose tingled, he reeked of blood and patches of red stained his right cuff.


    As always, his sleeve bag hung by him, but there were faint red dots on it today, blood splatters from the smell of it. He took out a stack of papers from it and spread them on the table as the two black suits glared at him. ¡°Your witness stole from her workplace on a regular basis; this is the signed proof from her manager and colleagues.¡± He pointed towards a paper. ¡°She cheated her friends of their money many times; this is the signed proof.¡± He pointed towards another. ¡°She¡¯s been having an affair behind her longtime fianc¨¦; this is the proof with the photos and the dates.¡±


    He pushed all the papers towards the two black suits who looked aghast, they¡¯d paled with every word. ¡°Any evidence you procure based on your witness¡¯s statement will be invalid. I will rip her character to shreds, her words won''t have any weight. I found this much in an hour; how much more do you think I can find in days? How likely will it then seem for her to lie?¡± Uncle Thain said.


    Cage went through all the papers, his jaws clenched. Gretel stared from the side, trembling in her chair as its legs clattered.


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing further, we¡¯ll be leaving. You can keep the papers.¡± Uncle Thain beckoned Ewan. ¡°And if you keep pushing for it, your witness will vanish. Take that as an advice or a threat, up to you. Come after me for it if you want absolute mayhem.¡±


    Cage crumpled the papers, grinding his teeth, his whitened knuckles shivering.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Gretel asked. ¡°Are we really letting him go?¡±


    He took a deep breath with his eyes closed, then scowled at Ewan. ¡°You may go,¡± he said, his utterance strained.


    ¡°Sir, please, we can''t.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!!¡± Cage yelled, and she flinched back.


    ¡°You can continue your drama on your own, please excuse us,¡± Uncle Thain said and led Ewan out of the room.


    ¡­¡­


    The two stood in the open plaza outside the L.E.A office, basking under the bright afternoon sun, verdure nature surrounding them with the call of the birds. The colony extended in the distance and the obscure walls hid the horizon, the open world lying beyond.


    ¡°It¡¯s a wonderful place, I would love to live here really,¡± Uncle Thain said and lit a cigarette with his ignited finger. ¡°I can understand why your father liked it here. I¡¯ll miss this.¡± He took a deep puff and blew out towards the clear skies.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I had an agreement with him, hundred ¡®n eighteen years. Hundred for him, eighteen for you, and it¡¯s over now. I¡¯ve paid back what I owed him, and some more because it¡¯s you. You¡¯ve also grown, it¡¯s time for me to leave.¡±


    Ewan nodded, a hint of melancholy drifting at the back of his mind, but soon a word occupied his head.


    Over hundred years¡­.


    A living proof puffed his cig before him, his dream could indeed become reality one day. But if Uncle Thain was over a hundred years old, then his Pa too¡­


    Uncle Thain looked at him and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a peaceful life in here, but these walls will only restrict you if you wish for more. You won''t improve unless you venture out. The only son of Ulrath shouldn¡¯t waste his life in this well.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already decided to leave,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Was that his alias, Ulrath?¡±


    ¡°It was his second identity. Few knew Authen, but the name Ulrath was famous, or infamous I should say. Blood-Demon Ulrath, some called him, but only a handful could connect that name to his face.¡± Uncle Thain laughed. ¡°He never liked that prefix though, didn¡¯t fit his handsome image he said.¡±


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    ¡°Was he strong? What¡­made him like that then?¡± His Pa¡¯s scrawny body popped up in his mind. Severe hacks and hyperpnea followed his words during his final days. He¡¯d withered away, helpless, until one last sunset when his breaths ceased on Ewan¡¯s shoulders, and his heart beat its last thump.


    Uncle Thain took another puff. ¡°Not yet, that part of the agreement is still valid.¡±


    Ewan stared at the floor, his mood plummeting. The sheer denial alone proved his Pa didn¡¯t die of natural causes. Was it an enemy even his Pa couldn¡¯t beat? Did someone poison him?


    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. You don¡¯t need to search for answers, I¡¯ll tell you everything when the time comes.¡±


    Ewan nodded.


    ¡°Here,¡± Uncle Thain said and handed him a patinated medallion that still held traces of silver here and there. ¡°This is the proof of our pledge.¡±


    Ewan took it¡ªthe medallion glimmered with a cerulean tint on his touch¡ªand looked at him, his eyes asking all the questions.


    ¡°I and some others pledged to Authen; this has a trace of our aura. It¡¯ll glow in our presence, you can sense us with it,¡± he said. ¡°Be a little careful though, we can sense it too, and our allegiance might not be the same anymore.¡±


    Ewan rubbed it with his fingers, feeling the cold metal, staring at its curved patterns. ¡°Can I seal it then?¡± he asked.


    Uncle Thain chuckled. ¡°You can try when you become Step-1, right now it won¡¯t listen to you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think it¡¯s over!!¡± Gretel, the young black suit, rushed out of the building and screamed at Ewan. ¡°If the laws can''t punish you, then I¡¯ll do it myself. I won''t let you live a single peaceful day in this colony. Everyone will know your name and face and what you did. I will destroy your life!!!¡± She screeched at the top of her lungs, gritting her teeth, panting, her eyes veined red and misty.


    Ewan frowned at her while Uncle Thain smirked with a puff of smoke, blowing out rings within rings.


    ¡°Does she have that much clout? Is anyone backing her?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°No, her only family, her mother, died in that Frosthelm festival. No one will care if she dies,¡± Uncle Thain said and looked at Ewan with a smile. ¡°At best she would out your details to the news. She might already have.¡±


    Ewan¡¯s mood was already down, and the threats worsened it. He stared at the hysteric woman, his breaths slowed down, and his invisible Ryvia reached for her. It grabbed and held her diaphragm in place. The woman gasped and fell on her knees. She clutched her throat and battled to breathe. Yet, her diaphragm didn¡¯t budge, her lungs stilled, and all her efforts hitched into hiccups. Soon her nose bled and her lips and skin blued. She collapsed on the floor, wheezing, her nails digging in her neck, her legs flailing, hurling her heels away.


    Her condition caused an uproar in the surroundings. People gathered around her, some tried to help her up, but nothing worked, and they all clamored to call for a doctor. One said to the other, and the other passed it to another, no one acted in the end.


    Ewan looked on, pocketing the medallion.


    ¡°Why were they targeting me for that attack? Do you know anything about this?¡± he asked Uncle Thain as the woman inched closer to death.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t target you; you were just easier. They also gathered other Severynths, but only you had a witness,¡± Uncle Thain said and flicked the burnt-out cigarette away.


    ¡°I see¡­Thank you for your help,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You were always there for me.¡±


    Uncle Thain smiled. ¡°Vent with her death, and leave the rest to me, this won''t blow back on you. Be careful out there, good luck on the adventure. And find someone to share it with, don¡¯t be alone all the time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll meet you again someday,¡± Ewan said with a nod. ¡°I hope it¡¯ll be soon.¡± The two shook hands and went their own way as the dying woman slipped into an eternal slumber.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.0 | Ice ¨C 6.0 | Blood ¨C 6.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4987


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-50 Vow

    [Teal]


    Vin had promised never to leave her alone, yet he died on his own, not even his corpse remained. She had no family left now, and every second that ticked in this house reminded her of that. Her purpose in life was to make him proud, to provide an easy life for him, like he did for her. She thought she had time, that he would always be here, she took his presence for granted, but now he was gone. His voice still rang in her ears, what she wouldn¡¯t give to just hear him scolding and preaching again, she missed his care¡­she missed him. If only she realized his struggles, if only she helped him out, if only she eased his burden¡­but it was too late now. He was dead, and only the regrets remained and tortured her day and night.


    She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling with dazed eyes, old tears drying on her cheeks while new ones rolled down her temples. They¡¯d already drenched her pillow.


    ¡°Teal, you have to eat something. Do it for your brother if nothing else,¡± Kole knocked on her door and said. ¡°I¡¯ll leave it here, eat while its hot.¡± He left with a sigh.


    The steamy food¡¯s aroma wafted through the door¡¯s crevices and her stomach growled. It cared nothing for her emotions and her mind, it needed food. But Teal still didn¡¯t budge. Her hunger couldn¡¯t topple her regrets, her pain, her sorrow.


    ¡°Teal!! Open up!!¡± Soon Kole came back and banged on her door, the thuds from his punches rattled the latch. ¡°You must see this, Teal! It¡¯s about your brother,¡± he yelled.


    Teal jolted up and tried to rush to the door but got dizzy and collapsed. Her emaciated body struggled amidst Kole¡¯s banging, and she dragged herself to open the door.


    Kole held her by her shoulder and supported her to the hall. Her feet bumped into the plate on the floor and the splatters of the piping hot curry scalded her foot, but she didn¡¯t care. And neither did Kole.


    ¡°Our sources have confirmed¡ªEwan Ayres, an eighteen-year-old boy who ran a shop and lived alone, has been tagged as the biggest suspect in the blood festival case.¡± The news ran the same comments again and again with Ewan¡¯s picture from his school I.D plastered all over it.


    ¡°W-What is this?¡± Teal asked.


    ¡°They¡¯ve been showing this for a while. This bastard is the culprit it seems. He killed Vin. They¡¯re saying he¡¯s mental,¡± Kole said.


    Teal clenched her fists with whatever strength she had left. Her knuckles paled, and her shoulders shivered. The thought of revenge rekindled her flickering flame of life. She gained a purpose, she wanted to butcher this man. Why he did what he did didn¡¯t matter, he took her brother¡¯s life; that was all she knew.


    Kole scoffed, staring at the tv screen. ¡°He¡¯s a ¡®mighty¡¯ Asheva, there¡¯s no way he¡¯ll get any punishment.¡±


    Teal took a deep breath and looked towards her room. The Astylind egg she received from her school was still in there, her tragedy had made her forget about it. But if she wanted to kill an Asheva, she would have to become an Asheva, Kyrons were helpless against that group.


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


    I¡¯ll bring you justice, Vin. I¡¯ll avenge you and make this world a better place for Kyrons to live¡­I promise you.


    ¡­¡­


    [Ewan]


    Ewan walked down the stairs from the L.E.A. office that existed halfway up a hill and took the tram back home. On his way, the chatters and the whispers, the scared bloodless faces, and the people who scattered away like rats after seeing him, informed him of his current situation. He sighed and clicked his tongue, that woman indeed outed him to the news. The truth didn¡¯t matter at this point, the public had an outlet for their rage and accusations, correcting them was a fool¡¯s errand. And he didn¡¯t intend to either. His already non-existent social life as a Kyron was over, by external influence or by choice, he couldn¡¯t care less.


    The only annoyance was the people who gathered their courage and attacked him. Ewan¡¯s Ryvia surrounded him and held the attackers back as he took out his medallion and stared at it. Some followed the vanguard attackers and hurled random items at him that braked and hovered after coming into his Ryvia¡¯s range.


    He sighed, that woman might not have harmed him, but she did give him a headache. These people took his passive stance as his weakness. He glanced at the grunting young man with a knife who struggled within his Ryvia, his face contorted and flushed. Ewan controlled his Ryvia and twisted his limbs, a heart-wrenching scream followed the tram-silencing snaps and cracks. His limbs bent in unnatural ways, some fractures breaking the skin with the jagged bones, and the young man wailed his lungs out; tears snot and saliva covered his face. Soon he sobbed for mercy, and the others scattered away like rats once again, screeching. Mothers hugged their children, men protected their loved ones, they all eyed Ewan warily from a distance.


    Ewan let the man go and looked at the medallion again, rubbing the patinated traces. It had a spirit imprint on it, the same as his claw-ring. It proved its origin and marked its affinity with his Pa. And so, he flicked the medallion once and stored it in his claw-ring. Time would tell its applications; he left it to his Pa¡¯s machinations. A hint of curiosity budded in his heart, however, he wished to explore its ins and outs.


    While he lost himself in his thoughts, a man from the huddled crowd braved forward, his steps inching ahead, and dragged the young man with broken limbs away. At least his example would give him some peace for some time.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.0 | Ice ¨C 6.0 | Blood ¨C 6.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4987


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-51 Outskirts

    The rest of his journey remained eventless, but the situation would repeat once he exited the tram. Ewan sighed. Did the stacking coincidences force the current circumstances? Or did he make a mistake somewhere? Was going to that Frosthelm festival a wrong move? He rubbed his forehead. In retrospect, it was. And saving that woman there worsened it. But he didn¡¯t regret anything. Saving the woman slapped him a reality check, and going to the Frosthelm festival showed him the actual situation of the colony. If not, he wouldn¡¯t consider leaving this place. Nonetheless, the moniker of ¡®madman¡¯ irritated him. Why did they have to call him mental?


    ¡°I really don¡¯t like these people.¡± He sighed once more.


    ¡­..


    [Slate]


    The stubborn afterglow of the setting sun painted the view beyond the glass walls in an orange-red hue. The colony shimmered under the soft dusk. But the breathtaking view halted before the suffocating ambience inside and stayed away.


    ¡°It¡¯s sour, get me another one,¡± Thea said, throwing the juice glass across the room. It shattered against the wall and burst into shards, orange juice splattering everywhere, drenching the new carpet.


    ¡°Right away, ma¡¯am,¡± Slate said, wiping the drops of juice off his face with his handkerchief.


    ¡°Continue,¡± she said, leaning back on her new chair that behaved in silence unlike the last annoying one.


    ¡°Obria has been sealed, ma¡¯am,¡± Slate said, ordering another glass of juice with some natural sweeteners this time from the intercom. ¡°We can''t send anyone in, and no one has come out either. The last news we received about him was yesterday¡¯s report. They¡¯ve framed him as the culprit behind the blood festival and the news has outed him to the public.¡±


    ¡°Framed?¡± Thea scoffed. ¡°He¡¯s that bastard¡¯s son, he¡¯s very much capable of doing that.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Slate bowed his head.


    ¡°How is he? Was he hurt?¡± she said, swiveling her chair towards the enforced glass wall, gripping the armrests hard. Her nails dug into the leather.


    ¡°He dealt with the problem, nothing happened to him.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, it would¡¯ve been better if something did,¡± she said, her grips loosened.


    ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening with Obria? Can he get out?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Its management problems seem to have festered to their limits. The colony cannot sustain anymore, it¡¯s going to be auctioned off soon. I¡¯m afraid he can''t get out that easily.¡±


    ¡°Auctioned?¡± Thea sniggered. ¡°It was his favorite place. I hope the new owner burns it to the ground.¡±


    ¡°I hope so too, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°And hurt my child? Who do you think you are?¡± Thea said, swiveling back around and glaring at Slate.


    ¡°My apologies.¡± Slate bowed forty-five degrees. ¡°I was being insolent,¡± he said calmly but cursed Dr. Lumen in his mind. ¡°By the way, ma¡¯am, your nephews and nieces are here.¡± He changed the topic.


    Thea frowned. ¡°What do they want now?¡±


    ¡°Their business suffered losses; they want you to sponsor them again.¡±


    ¡°All of them?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Des¡­..the bald one is here for his grandson, he¡¯s turning eighteen soon and isn¡¯t happy with what the school¡¯s giving,¡± Slate said.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Bloodsucking self-entitled leeches every single one of them,¡± she said. ¡°Just give them what they want, I don¡¯t have time to meet them.¡± She took out her knitting tools attached to the snaking long white muffler from the drawer and knitted. ¡°See if you can contact anyone inside Obria, make sure he¡¯s safe. Go there yourself if needed. You can leave now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Slate said and bowed out.


    ¡­¡­


    [Ewan]


    The walls stretched higher and higher as the tram wheeled in. Ewan craned his neck out the window to look at the clouded top. Anxiety and excitement with bouts of nervousness cuffed him in waves. Though this was just in preparation for the eventual departure, the prospect of his new journey took him on a rollercoaster of emotions, his heart just couldn¡¯t settle down.


    ¡°Adventure shall await,¡± he murmured, getting a bit red in the ears. He looked around to check whether anyone heard him¡ªno one did luckily, or at least no one cared.


    The tram stopped at the final station with a jerking brake that screamed a deathly squeak. Beyond this only his legs could take him.


    The quality of life plunged near the wall in comparison to the central areas of the colony. Rundown inns, boisterous taverns, and raucous stall market became the norm. Hunters made up the numbers here, general citizens had no business in this place.


    Ewan stepped off the tram and breathed in a lungful of stale air, his lips twitched. Alcohol, sweat, piss, what else contributed to this foul stench? Disadvantages of merging his soul with Toast showed up in places like these, his sharpened sense of smell became a headache. He could block it off with Ryvia, but an unknown place called for some prudence and subtlety. Even if the hunters here were Kyrons, he couldn¡¯t underestimate them, let alone if they were Ashevas. So, he tolerated the torture of his nose and treaded through the rowdy market, minding his steps around the fresh dog shit. He was here to exchange his Sols and to obtain information on how to get out, hence, the tavern became his target.


    The muffled garbled noise blared up the closer he walked to the nearest tavern¡¯s dilapidated door, and so did the stink. Ewan bore the torment and strode in. The situation inside couldn¡¯t be any more like the clich¨¦s he¡¯d read about. Groups sitting together around tables, playing games, guzzling from the huge pitchers, making a racket.


    Ewan sat on an empty stool by the counter, away from the crowd. ¡°Do you trade?¡± he asked the middle-aged barkeep who was tinkering with a mix of alcohol.


    ¡°What do you need?¡± the barkeep asked, putting his tools aside.


    ¡°Crelith coins for Sols.¡±


    ¡°How much?¡±


    ¡°How much can you exchange?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re new here? You smell of milk, hah!¡± A bearded patron a couple of stools away laughed, half-sprawled on the counter, looking at Ewan with an empty pitcher in his hand. His eyes drooped, and his breath stank from afar. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be in school right now, kid?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s holiday today,¡± Ewan said, taking out his phone. ¡°So?¡± he asked the barkeep.


    ¡°Brothers, you heard that? It¡¯s holiday today, drinks on the house!!¡± the patron hollered and the whole bar cheered with him.


    ¡°Just tell me the number,¡± the barkeep said, clutching the patron¡¯s messy hair and bashing his head against the counter. One bash made him dizzy, the glasses rattled. The second one knocked him out cold, and the bar hushed down.


    Ewan glanced at the lump on the patron¡¯s forehead and passed his phone to the barkeep, his account displayed on the screen. ¡°All of it,¡± he said.


    The barkeep took one look and nodded. ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll have someone fetch it. Order something in the meanwhile if you want, first one¡¯ll be on the house.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.2 | Ice ¨C 6.2 | Blood ¨C 6.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Sol: 4987


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-52 Hypocrite

    ¡°So, we can''t go out? How long will it take?¡± Ewan asked, pocketing the pouch crammed with Crelith coins¡ªabout five thousand, he traded all his Sols for it. A single coin of this transparent metal might be light on the fingers, but five thousand of it pulled his thin jacket down, almost ripping his pocket. He couldn¡¯t wait to get alone and put it inside his claw-ring.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for days now and still nothing,¡± A semi-sober customer said, joining in on the conversation. ¡°My saving¡¯s already running thin.¡±


    ¡°Then stop drinking,¡± the barkeep said, sliding a pitcher of brown ale on the counter to Ewan. Less than a quarter spilled when the glass braked before him.


    ¡°That can''t do.¡± The customer grinned. He gulped the last bit of alcohol in his glass, shaking it to get the drops, and slammed it on the counter. ¡°Another one!¡±


    Did the situation worsen that much already? Ewan wondered, sipping the ale. It was spicy and burned his throat, but also had a syrupy smell to it that he couldn¡¯t taste.


    ¡°If you want to wait for more information, you can rent a room in my inn. It¡¯s the best around here and won¡¯t cost you much, only one Sol per day,¡± the barkeep said. ¡°I also take Crelith coins.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll rent one then,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And keep me informed of any developments here, I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± He slid a Crelith coin to the barkeep.


    The speculations in the report he read in the hub worried him. If it became reality, it would drag him into a torrent. He needed to pay the hub a visit to check the current situation, and he needed a quiet and safe room for it.


    ¡­¡­.


    Inside the room.


    Orange jumped out of the vortex and stood guard as Ewan connected to the hub, lying on the creaking bed with the sheet and pillow smelling sundried.


    His shop was the same as always, devoid of anything to sell, and so were the streets outside. The clamor from the Airadia¡¯s advancement countdown had already settled, businesses were back to normal.


    Ewan checked the information screen, there was nothing new on Obria. The announcement screen had something related though, and it was heating up by the minutes. An ongoing auction with the ¡®Ashevagord¡¯ stamp listed the colony as its finale. The confirmation of his suspicions deflated Ewan, worries and concerns tormented his mind. Were the bids for the colony alone? Or did it include its inhabitants too¡­


    He sighed. The sky-high walls that once gave him a sense of security now caged him inside. Unless the gates opened, he couldn¡¯t go anywhere. The damn wall was unclimbable.


    Back in the room, Ewan took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead. He came here only for two purposes, never to stay for long. One he¡¯d accomplished while the other looked bleak¡­


    If he was the new owner, the new Crown, he would never open the gates until he controlled the colony and established a stable rule. If he assumed the worst, chaos was inevitable. Nevertheless, his reason for staying on the outskirts ended with the new information, it was time to go back.


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


    ¡­¡­


    The return journey remained uneventful, save for the jeers and the curses people threw at him, which fell on deaf ears. The heat from the news still raged about, he was still the number one enemy of the public. But no one attacked him, no one came for his Crelith coins either, contrary to his worries. Either the hunters in the tavern were all Severynths and didn¡¯t care for this currency, or they were all prudent and vigilant enough to not attack someone they knew nothing about. Regardless, it saved him some time and effort.


    His one-day adventure ended as he opened the door to his home and stepped into his courtyard with freshly grown grass that healed the scorched earth. The next order of business was to increase his strength as much as he could before the chaos descended. And his target was <Bloodlust>, he¡¯d ignored it long enough.


    ¡­¡­


    Down in the basement.


    Ewan sat cross-legged in a corner with the <Bloodlust> book spread open in front of him, flipped to the second phase¡ªnurturing the blood aura. Blood-red threads snaked around him, swirling uncontrolled. Only a single thread followed his will and acted on his thoughts.


    He twirled this blood thread around his finger then made random shapes with it. His control was still amateurish, but he was getting better. When he¡¯d played enough, he absorbed it and sent it to his blood rune. This marked the success of the <Bloodlust>. He could now trigger the spell with that single blood thread. Though subpar in the beginning, it had limitless growth potential. The more he killed, the stronger it would grow.


    Yet, the fact conflicted him. Even though he already killed several, using death to practice a spell didn¡¯t sit too well.


    ¡°I¡¯m such a hypocrite¡­,¡± he murmured.


    ¡­..


    The auction ended after a day, Obria had a new owner now. Ewan hoped for the best but was ready for the worst, or so he thought.


    On the third daybreak after the auction, the horrors of reality far surpassed his worst imagination.


    He stood on the chimney, gaping at the erupting mushrooms of fire in the distance while the sirens blared in the air. Gusts of wind smacked his face, his clothes fluttered, his hair danced. The chimney shook with every shockwave, chipped concrete fell off. Horrified screams echoed in the block, children wailed, dogs howled, birds flapped away in panic, and the deafening alarm smothered them all. Everyone was out on the streets today; terror and fright ran amuck.


    And then, the walls came crashing down.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.6 | Ice ¨C 6.6 | Blood ¨C 6.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-53 Game

    Ewan stared at the dome barrier that now covered the colony, the back of his neck tingling, sending currents down his spine. Most gaped in awe at the sky-blue lights streaking over the saffron cage, but its purpose wasn¡¯t lost on him. This cage meant to trap them inside¡­


    But why? The walls did that job, not even Severynths could climb that. Unless it targeted those who could fly, but few of that level existed in this colony now, or perhaps there were none.


    A phone rang in the block, a second ring followed soon, then the third and the fourth hummed the symphony. The whole neighborhood buzzed aloud with ringing phones. Ewan¡¯s phone rang too, he received a message.


    ¡°Dear Ashevas of Obria,¡± it read. ¡°Please accept my deepest apologies for any inconvenience already caused and the more to come. I speak to you as the new Crown of your colony, Valenza Adorno, but my intentions are far from ruling it. As you may have noticed, the cage will prevent you from getting out, rest assured though, I bear no ill will towards you. My only purpose is the completion of the Regal Rite, and it unfortunately asks for blood.¡±


    Ewan frowned at the implication, for it hinted at a massacre. ¡°Kyron¡¯s blood can suffice, but I do not wish to force your hand and turn you into butchers. That¡¯s why the colony will now enter a survival game. Fight and survive until the Regal Rite is over, and you¡¯ll be rewarded. Fail and die on the way, and I will mourn your end. And so, without further ado, let it begin.¡±


    Fuck¡­


    Ewan looked on in dismay as hordes of Astylinds barged in through the cage, rampaging at the colony¡¯s border. Even the dust cloud from the fallen wall couldn¡¯t hide their tempest, and it answered his doubts about the dome. The cage stopped anyone from leaving, but it let the menace in. The new ruler had matched his gambit with the incoming tide, or he might¡¯ve triggered it himself. Nonetheless, the endless support from the nature solidified his maneuver¡­


    He shook his head; these thoughts were pointless at this point. His survival was more important. Luckily, he lived in the center of the colony, the outer areas would buy him time.


    Two choices rested before him now¡ªeither he could look for a way out or play the ¡®game¡¯ according to the new owner¡¯s wishes. The monumental cage overlooking the entirety of the colony smothered all hopes of finding any loophole. So, playing the game might be his only option¡­ At least, it wasn¡¯t impossible to survive on the given terms. The new Crown needed blood for his rite, and the colony lacked anything but that. He only had to wait out the bloodbath and freedom would greet him with open arms.


    Yet, the same would put him on the back foot¡­ He floated down to the balcony, his mind churning. Passive course of actions would leave him to the new Crown¡¯s mercy. If he intended to do as he messaged, all would be fine. But if he didn¡¯t¡­


    Even though the cage looked indelible, he had to try.


    ¡­¡­


    The outskirts of the colony kept the Astylinds busy for the day, the central part remained intact. The pale tint of the orange sunset purpled, and the sky welcomed a moonless night, the dense clouds mirroring the gloom beneath. The loss of daylight would weaken any diurnals, and the nocturnals would emerge¡ªit was finally time to leave, for the night gave him an advantage too.


    Ewan prepared everything¡ªall the essentials were in his claw-ring¡ªhe took one look at each room, said his goodbyes to the past, locked the house, and left with sorrow dousing every inch of his being, glancing at Nana¡¯s house as he walked away. He was a wanderer from now on, his home would be where he would be.


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


    His destination was the border and then the outside world if possible. The cage met the ground at the edge of the colony, even if it was futile, he had to check it out. If he failed, he would join the game. And he wasn¡¯t the only one with that idea.


    A group of Severynths¡ªsome among them his regulars¡ªhuddled by the corner of the block, discussing in hushed voices, armed with daggers and kitchen knives. Nana leaned on the wall beside them, alone and quiet, peeping at his house from time to time. Her Astylind perched on her shoulder, pecking her hair, tweeting and chirping.


    And Nana perked up when Ewan exited.


    The neighborhood suffered a brownout; the streetlights flickered, and the shadows blinked. Ewan¡¯s green glowing eyes met theirs in the dark and they looked away, even his regular customers avoided him. The news of the blood festival had a bigger impact than he imagined, it affected the casual Severynths too. But it was better this way, less obstruction, no one to bother him¡ªhe was always alone, and he would remain so. He pocketed his hands in his onyx-black cargo, glancing at Nana with wavering eyes and his emotions rippling, and skirted them, keeping his distance.


    ¡°Can I come with you?¡± Nana asked, stepping forward. Her bird chirped at him, flapping her wings. ¡°I won''t be a bother, I promise. I¡¯ll just follow quietly,¡± she said.


    Ewan looked at the Water Jay preening, and strolled away, his silence answering her¡ªNana scuttled after him with a smile. A minute after his resolution, he ceased to be alone¡­


    ¡°Where¡¯re we going?¡± she asked when they crossed a few haunted-quiet streets. Flowers had bloomed on the roadside, stubborn weeds jutted out the walls. Greenbirth brought life and activity after the desolate and silent Frosthelm. Yet, the absence of Starons and the distant howls put Ewan on edge, he couldn¡¯t appreciate the intrigue of seasons right now.


    ¡°Are you going to hunt?¡± she asked again, sticking close to him.


    ¡°What happened to ¡®follow quietly¡¯?¡±


    She shrunk her neck. ¡°The silence is creepy¡­¡±


    Ewan sighed. ¡°I¡¯m going to the outskirts.¡±


    ¡°Why? Do you want to check the barrier? Are you leaving?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± he asked. ¡°Why¡¯d you come with me anyway?¡±


    ¡°I can protect you,¡± she said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡±


    ¡°Luna can heal, she can be a good support.¡±


    ¡°¡­Fine, just keep up,¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.7 | Ice ¨C 6.7 | Blood ¨C 6.7]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-54 First Hunt

    Ewan squatted on the rooftop railing, squinting at the Bloated Buffalo roaming on the streets, headbutting the streetlights and scratching its bulky neck. It was still beyond his or his Astylinds¡¯ range, he was waiting for it to come over.


    ¡°You¡¯re already dragging me down¡­.,¡± he said, glancing at Nana who struggled to climb the pipe. She finally latched onto the roof edge with trembling arms, her face drenched in sweat, wet chestnut hair sticking to her forehead.


    ¡°You¡­.can¡­.help¡­.¡± She dragged herself up, her ample chest heaving in quick rhythms.


    ¡°I¡¯m keeping an eye on our prey,¡± Ewan said, staring at her bosom, gulping. Her ivory top really did her curves justice. ¡°Why¡¯d you wear that? Are you trying to expose us?¡± The color of her clothes was a beacon in the dark night, Astylinds could spot her from a distance. But most of all, what it accentuated distracted him.


    She sprawled on the floor, panting.


    ¡°Stay there and don¡¯t make any noise. I¡¯ll deal with this one on my own,¡± Ewan said, focusing on the buffalo again; it was almost in his range. Frost strolled out of the vortex beside him when he triggered Dekoth, glancing at Luna then turned to Ewan.


    ¡°Come over, it¡¯s not that high.¡± Ewan reached out and gave him a helping hand. Frost grabbed on and stood by him on the edge. His grip clutched when he looked down and his tail clamped up, but he didn¡¯t back out.


    ¡°Imp?¡± Nana asked, coming over. Luna chirped, tilting her head.


    ¡°Shh¡­¡± Ewan shushed her with a gesture. ¡°It¡¯s close,¡± he said, eyeing the buffalo.


    Astylinds were always pictures and texts in the books, so the closeup view was a new experience. The bloated lumps all over the charcoal buffalo¡¯s body made it look diseased, but the water they contained brimmed with lethality. Apart from that, these buffaloes also had their thick horns to attack and defend. A close-to-mid range battle with them contained risks.


    Fireflies!


    Its path was easy to predict. Ewan cast <Fireflies>, aiming at a certain distance from the Astylind. Half his Fire-Anima suffused the spell circuit and crossed its minimum threshold, yet it was nowhere near saturation. The spell had a high max point, five Novas for it was a bargain.


    The spell took effect in a while¡ªone of its negatives¡ªand armed a circle of area in the buffalo¡¯s path. Now the only thing left was to lure it there.


    Boom¡­


    Even calling the name in his mind was embarrassing, but this wasn¡¯t the time to squabble about it. He used a pebble with the spell and hurled it at the armed <Fireflies>. It popped above it with a small flash that lit up the dark streets for a moment. The buffalo mooed and shot a thin but rapid stream of water in that direction. The water stream rent the concrete and left a deep but wet gash, and one of its bloated water-sack shriveled at the same time.


    Ewan glanced at the fissure and waited for the buffalo to move. Yet, it only huffed and stared at where it attacked. It must be testing its opponent; he took out another pebble and threw it at the <Fireflies>.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The flash and the pop riled the buffalo this time. It huffed again and darted ahead, its head down, the horns ready to tear its enemy apart, and its hooves clomped on the asphalt.


    Get ready.


    Frost fashioned two icicles on Ewan¡¯s command, they floated before him. It was for contingency, in case the <Fireflies> wasn¡¯t enough to finish it off.


    The buffalo raced, and the moment its front hooves thudded on the armed area, pea-sized fireflies gushed out of the ground and glued to its head, shoulders, front legs, and stomach. The buffalo mooed and thrashed around, knocking down the streetlights, but the milky fireflies clung to it, glowing. And a second later, they all exploded with a roar.


    Nana yelped and backed off; Luna fluttered her wings but stayed put.


    The expanding cloud of dust soon took over the fleeting fireball. Chips of concrete, stones, blood, gore, and body parts rained in the area.


    Ewan squinted, the dirt cloud blurred it, but the buffalo was missing its front parts, he was sure.


    Still, he waited to confirm it and only jumped off when the buffalo thudded over. His Ryvia expanded and hovered him down when the ground reached his range. It also created a shield around him and kept the dust at bay when he moved close to the exploded area. Yet, the sight he expected to see didn¡¯t match the reality. The buffalo died; it better had with its head missing. But the ground sucked all his blood and its body withered away.


    This was how the new Crown gathered the blood for the rite, the whole colony was his playground¡­ Ewan took a deep breath; this was out of his control. At least, the cerulean Astylind Core survived. The buffalo was a Level-2 Astylind, its core would sell for around two Novas. It wasn¡¯t a great amount but was a start. And it signified the success of his first hunt.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Jump already!¡± Ewan hollered in a hushed voice.


    ¡°You will catch right?¡± Nana said, hanging by the roof edge.


    ¡°I will, just jump.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± she said and scrunched her eyes, yet her hands only gripped the edge harder.


    ¡°Fuck! Will you jump or not?¡± he said, wanting to punch this woman¡¯s head. The blast was loud, it must¡¯ve attracted others. They needed to leave this place as soon as possible. ¡°Frost.¡±


    The little imp, dead scared himself, grabbed Nana¡¯s collar, and amidst her widened eyes and blood-drained face, jumped off together. Both screeched at the top of their lungs as they fell.


    Ewan caught them in his Ryvia and let them down gently. Their knees buckled and they collapsed on the floor, panting.


    ¡°You¡¯re really dragging me down¡­.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 3.4 | Ice ¨C 6.7 | Blood ¨C 6.7]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-55 Twin-Tailed Scorpions

    Two Twin-Tailed Scorpions roamed the streets ahead, their olive carapaces shimmering under the flickering streetlights. Four baby scorpions scuttled and hissed around them, playing with a blood and mud smeared half-dead puppy.


    ¡°Should we avoid them?¡± Nana asked in a whisper, hiding behind a building with Ewan, peeking out of the corner. Dirt smudged her clothes; streaks of wiped soot marred her cheeks.


    Ewan glanced at Luna, dusting off his jet-black t-shirt, and adjusting his torn sleeves. ¡°Can she heal poisons?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t tried yet, can''t say for sure,¡± she said.


    He hadn''t tried it with Iris, so he wasn¡¯t sure whether she could either.


    ¡°Those little ones are still infants, they¡¯ll sell for a good number of Novas,¡± he murmured. ¡°Too bad they¡¯re not newborns.¡± He looked at Nana. ¡°It¡¯s your chance to prove yourself. Go, be the bait,¡± he said, patting her shoulder.


    ¡°What?¡± she whispered in alarm. ¡°I¡¯ll die in a second.¡±


    ¡°No, you won''t.¡±


    ¡°L-Let¡¯s do rock paper scissors. I¡¯ll go if I lose,¡± she said.


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°Rock paper scissors,¡± they said at once and both threw rock.


    ¡°Again,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Rock paper scissors.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Nana made a crying face, holding out a scissor against Ewan¡¯s rock.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± he said. ¡°Just to be on the safe side, bite this.¡± He took out a cloth from his claw-ring and stuffed it in her mouth.


    It muffled her grumbles and whines and she stared at Ewan with a teary gaze.


    ¡°It¡¯s clean, don¡¯t worry.¡± Ewan laughed and slit his wrist with his obsidian dagger, and her eyes went wide.


    Blood Rein!


    He used all the Blood-Anima he had for the spell; it was the strongest it could be at this point.


    Luna fluttered her wings and healed his cut with an aqua glow when the spell took out the needed blood from him.


    ¡°This¡¯ll keep you safe,¡± he said and soaked her already dirty clothes with his blood blob. ¡°Now go.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    Nana stood in the open streets, her chest heaving, her knees verged on buckling. She clutched the edge of her now blood-drenched ivory top and faced the hissing scorpions while her Astylind hovered in front of her, squawking.


    Ewan hid behind a corner with the scorpions¡¯ backs to him, his Ryvia covering Nana and the smeared blood on her clothes inside his spell¡¯s range.


    Dekoth.


    Orange and Frost came out of their vortexes and stood beside him, prepared to pounce on the scorpions on his command.


    Two scorpions, four pointy tails; they blurred when they stabbed Nana.


    Go!


    The blood on Nana¡¯s clothes darted off and shielded her and Luna behind a concave barrier as she crouched, holding her head, the cloth in her mouth smothering her scream. Orange launched away at the same time, and using an invisible platform Ewan created with Ryvia, blasted down at one of the scorpions. His punch exploded on the scorpion¡¯s head and cracked the asphalt beneath. Its upper carapace fractured while its bottom shattered, mushy brain matter splattering out with blood.


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


    The tails collided with the blood shield and sparked as one scorpion lost its life and collapsed to the side, its limbs twitching for a second.


    Frost acted in concert too and gestured for his spell. Sharp pointy ice-stalagmites sprung out of the ground with force and shanked the other scorpion, piercing its sturdy carapace from beneath. He waved his hands and hurled several icicles at the struggling scorpion, impaling its head and ending its life.


    Hold them down!


    Ewan broke into a run, his Spellbook flying with him, and restrained two of the baby scorpions with his Ryvia. They screeched and flailed but couldn¡¯t escape. The other two had fled outside his range during the battle, so he left them to Orange and Frost.


    ¡°I-Is it all done?¡± Nana asked from behind the blood shield, taking out the wet cloth from her mouth.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You have the suspension spell, right? Cast it on the other two.¡±


    Nana touched her tear shaped pendant and took out a thick white hardcover book, her Spellbook. Orange and Frost grabbed the thrashing baby scorpions by their tails and held them in front of her while she cast the suspension spell.


    Ewan too cast the same spell from his Spellbook on the two he held down. And soon four frozen scorpion statues lay still on the streets, the last second of their struggle electing their quiet postures, not dead not alive, suspended in a limbo state.


    ¡°How much will they sell for?¡± Nana asked, putting her book back in the wine-red pendant.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, I haven¡¯t researched their market.¡± He took out a cloth bag from his claw-ring and put two statues in it, leaving the other two for Nana. His claw-ring couldn¡¯t keep the suspended Astylinds, so this was the only way to carry them. At least, they were sturdy enough and wouldn¡¯t break easily. ¡°Let¡¯s find a place. We¡¯ll rest for the night,¡± Ewan said, panning his eyes around the dark streets.


    Because the trams stopped working, they hadn''t traveled long, this was still their own zone in the residential block. Deserted and quiet, the blinking shadows of the walls were their only companions here. The pitch-dark corner ahead was an abyss with its mouth gaping, ready to devour them if they stepped forth. Not even the moths came to the streetlamps tonight¡­.


    ¡°S-Should we ask someone for help?¡± She moved closer to Ewan, away from the dark corner.


    ¡°There¡¯s no one here, they¡¯ve all left. Let¡¯s break into some place and spend the night.¡± The consecutive fights financed his Novas balance, but they also drained him, he needed some rest now. ¡°Try this one.¡± He eyed the nearest house. Its walls were low, even Nana could climb over.


    His instincts tingled when he helped her up the wall, however. His hands halted and he turned around, light on his toes to bite back if necessary. The dull currents down his spine warned him about someone, something, but there was no one here¡ªnot in his sight, not in his Ryvia. His nose twitched; a hint of minty smell tickled him. It wasn¡¯t Nana, she smelled of night jasmine. Faint mist seethed in his mind, and his perplexed frown pulled on his brows. The drifting fog hindered his thoughts. And the more he mulled over it, the more muted his reason became.


    ¡°W-What happened?¡± Nana asked, her legs dangling on both sides of the wall. ¡°I-Is someone there?¡± She shrank away from the dark streets.


    ¡°No, it must be my imagination,¡± Ewan said, massaging the bridge of his nose and turning to her again.


    Was he too tired? He vaulted over the wall with ease and cradled her down on the other side. It was time to rest.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.7 | Ice ¨C 6.7 | Blood ¨C 0.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 290


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-56 Brewed-Awakening

    Ewan and Nana relaxed in the only bedroom of the house, flickering candles lighting up the place¡ªthey found it in the hall cabinet. The much-needed breather eased Ewan¡¯s tensed nerves as he sat by the door, leaning against the wall. Frost sat beside him, eyes closed, Ice-Anima surging around him, while Orange already snored on Ewan¡¯s shoulder. These two fought alongside him in every battle, they were his vanguards, so they needed rest even more than him. But Frost insisted on training instead, his diligence sometimes forced Ewan to reconsider how he spent his time.


    ¡°Will you sell them both?¡± Nana asked, sprawling on the bed after finishing her bath.


    ¡°Hmm. I don¡¯t have any soul essence left anyway,¡± he said. ¡°What about you? You can still contract more, right?¡±


    ¡°I can, but don¡¯t know¡­I don¡¯t really like scorpions,¡± she said, twirling strands of her wet hair around her finger.


    ¡°You should get another one, your bird won''t be enough.¡± He closed his eyes and adjusted his posture to move away from her, the floral sweet smell distracted him. ¡°The two scorpions should be enough to buy a good one.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll put them up for sale then,¡± she said and took out her hub-connector. Ewan too planned to sell his loot, but he wanted to record the cores¡¯ details first for <Transmute>. So, he took out a new diary from his claw-ring and penned down the observations after using <Lens> on the Astylind Cores.


    ¡­¡­


    His shop in the hub remained bare as always. Without any shelves to put the items on display, he could only place them behind the counter and add his shop to the trade market. ¡®Brewed-Awakening¡¯, he named his shop in fancy fonts with two vials of potions crossed before it; ¡®Potions on Order¡ªComing Soon¡¯ went below as the subtitle. Selling the hunted Astylind Cores was a decent business, but the potion market had a bigger profit margin. Since he already delved into Potioneering, it was better to make it his forte. And when his success rate went up, he could sit back and rake it in.


    For now, he listed the two Twin-Tailed Scorpions and the Astylind Cores for sale based on their market price and went to look for an automated worker. His Novas balance could only afford the cheapest one¡ªsimple transactions, no price flexibility. It would lose him some business, but beggars couldn¡¯t be choosers.


    He navigated to and from the marked seller. And after spending around a hundred Novas, an ocean-blue orb floated behind his counter, programmed to follow through on transactions if Ewan wasn¡¯t in the hub.


    The shop was almost set up and ready to start business. He only needed to get out of the hot mess named Obria and find a stable environment to make potions. Until then, the hunted Astylinds would sustain him.


    ¡­¡­.


    Half-burned candles lit the room, struggling against the whistling wind that crept through the crevices of the windows.


    ¡°You¡¯re done? Did you sell them?¡± Nana asked with a pallid face when Ewan disconnected from the hub.


    ¡°Not yet. Did you?¡±


    She shook her head.


    Ewan expanded his Ryvia, covering the room, and trained his control. Frost was training, he couldn¡¯t sit still either. ¡°Do you have a shop?¡± he asked, compressing air in random places, and making invisible platforms. He also diverted his attention to the candles and sheltered them from the wind. The line of black ants in the corner didn¡¯t escape his Ryvia either. The division did strain him, but it was good practice.


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    ¡°I do, it¡¯s on the market list too.¡±


    ¡°Name?¡±


    ¡°Hopes & Wishes.¡±


    ¡°Mine¡¯s ¡®Brewed Awakening¡¯.¡±


    She giggled. ¡°Why the pun name? Will it attract more?¡±


    ¡°I hope it does, that¡¯s why I chose it. Anyway, we can contact in the hub if we need to,¡± he said, maintaining Ryvia at its max.


    ¡°Should I change mine too then¡­.,¡± she murmured. ¡°Phones are still not working? Have you checked?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, they won¡¯t work outside the walls anyway.¡±


    The Ice-Anima billowed around Frost, the sudden torrent rippled Ewan¡¯s Ryvia and attracted his attention. Nana too looked at the little imp. The Astylinds¡¯ souls Frost absorbed tonight brought him to his peak, and the continuous grinding finally shredded the layer. He advanced to Level-4, and the feedback to Ewan¡¯s soul swelled up. He was ever so close to his next awakening. Two more days¡­


    ¡°Did he break through? What level is he now?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°Four,¡± Ewan smiled and said, patting Frost¡¯s head and rubbing his baby horns.


    She nodded with a blank expression. ¡°Is it fast¡­I don¡¯t know if I should be surprised¡­¡±


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t either, I never compared. But it doesn¡¯t matter, we¡¯re not in a race here.¡±


    ¡°My Luna¡¯s only at the second level¡­.,¡± she said.


    ¡°Did you give her any potion?¡±


    ¡°One Anima Potion, I¡¯m saving to buy more now.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t make it yourself?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m planning on becoming an Artificer, like dad.¡±


    ¡°Give me a discount when I ask you to make me something.¡±


    ¡°You want to be a Potioneer?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I like it, especially when I succeed.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you just like succeeding then?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, maybe.¡± Ewan chuckled and she laughed too.


    Frost stopped training and opened his eyes, tugging on Ewan¡¯s t-shirt and crying at him.


    ¡°Go rest now,¡± he said and sent Frost inside the ice rune. Orange already made Ewan¡¯s shoulder his bed, mumbling in sleep, so he let him be and left him to his dreams.


    ¡°What will you do after getting out of here?¡± Nana asked, turning to her side, facing Ewan. Strands of her damp chestnut hair slid from her shoulder to neck, the clumped ends brushing away the droplets of water on her skin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, travel to places, hunt, join expeditions perhaps, haven¡¯t decided on anything yet. What about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡­want to kill someone first¡­,¡± she said.


    ¡°Revenge?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Is that bad?¡±


    ¡°No, if it helps you with closure, it doesn¡¯t matter how others look at it.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.7 | Ice ¨C 6.7 | Blood ¨C 6.7]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 192


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-57 Revenge

    ¡°Do you remember May?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Should I?¡±


    ¡°She came over to play with us a few times, she was my close friend in school,¡± she said.


    And he frowned. ¡°Is she a Severynth? Or is someone backing her?¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t awaken¡­but I couldn¡¯t do it before¡­.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to give it a try now?¡± Ewan¡¯s brows eased and he looked at her.


    Nana lowered her eyes and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m a Severynth now, and you¡¯re with me too,¡± she said.


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°Indeed. Our parents must¡¯ve known you can''t do anything without me, so they engaged us before it was too late,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m suffering such a loss.¡±


    Her nostrils flared and she hurled the pillow at him. He caught it laughing and put it behind his back, cushioning his leaning weight on the wall. ¡°Still though, let¡¯s not act rashly. If you¡¯re not sure of her background, let¡¯s not act at all,¡± he said.


    ¡°She¡¯s our headmaster¡¯s daughter,¡± Nana said, grabbing another pillow and lying back again.


    ¡°That old squid face? Isn''t he old enough to be her grandad?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s from his youngest wife,¡± she said.


    ¡°I see. That bastard owes me one too actually¡­no, forget it,¡± he said, thinking back to the Astylind he could¡¯ve had. ¡°He¡¯s been a Severynth for a long time, don¡¯t think about going against him. He even has ties to the ¡®Dogs¡¯ I heard, though that¡¯s of no use now. Let¡¯s drop the matter here for now unless you want us to die.¡±


    ¡°He never really trained his Astylinds¡­.,¡± she said in a meek voice.


    ¡°Nana.¡± He stared at her. ¡°Killing her won''t bring back uncle and aunt, don¡¯t let your emotions cloud your prudence. We¡¯ll kill her later if that¡¯s what you want, when we¡¯re strong enough to go against that squid face. I¡¯ll make it as painful as I can, I promise.¡±


    ¡°They died because of me¡­she made it happen. I-If¡­I came home earlier¡­.¡± Her eyes misted and she choked up.


    ¡°You read the report didn¡¯t you, they were involved in serious matters. Do you think the killer would¡¯ve let you save them if you came back early?¡± Ewan said softly. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault they died, Nana. Listen to me, don¡¯t chase this any further, we¡¯ll just lose our lives in vain.¡±


    She buried her face in the pillow and sobbed away, her shoulders trembling. Her muffled cries echoed in the silent room; it woke up Orange.


    ¡°Go back to sleep,¡± Ewan breathed the words and gently nudged his nose. The sad sight of Nana¡¯s devastated and guilt-ridden back panged his heart. His empathy and emotions for her had long overpowered his reason. But was it bad¡­ She wasn¡¯t any stranger, she was Nana. Since that day seven years ago, only a few people dear to him remained alive. And now with Aunt Ella and Uncle Keith also gone, she was the only family he had¡­


    Seconds gave way to minutes. Nana cried herself to sleep, and Ewan distracted himself with training. The candles persisted through the night, melting away, and only let up and died when the birds¡¯ tweets welcomed the morning sky.


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    Yet, the rise of the sun missed the hubbub of the usual dawn. The streets stood empty, the dogs lost their bark, the air of desolation raced thick on the residential block.


    Ewan squatted atop the roof, observing the corners and the straights of the alleys, when Nana stumbled out of the door, rubbing her puffed eyes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯m ready,¡± she said, looking up at him.


    ¡°Go to the hub, sell the scorpions, and buy another Astylind.¡±


    ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, your bird¡¯s not enough. And I won''t be able to protect you every time,¡± he said. ¡°Choose wisely, remember to buy the blood too.¡±


    She nodded and went back inside.


    ¡­¡­


    [Astylind Name: Wood Squirrel]


    [Astylind Level: Level-0]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Wood]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. Darlings of forests, they have average affinity (Recipient) with wood element but are highly efficient in managing Wood-Anima for their spells.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Wood), Aged Seed, Tree Sap, Sunburnt Leaves.]


    [Remark 1: Fitting for a control type Astylind. Needs extensive nurturing to show any results though.]


    [Remark 2: Can keep you entertained when you¡¯re bored, useless otherwise.]


    [Remark 3: Even if upgraded to a royalty of their species, they¡¯ll still just be a cute pet to have by your side.]


    [Remark 4: Have untapped potential, the extent depends on their master.]


    Ewan gaped at the furless pink skinned newborn squirrel sleeping in Nana¡¯s palm, wondering what she was thinking when she contracted him. Was this finger-sized creature going to protect her? He couldn¡¯t even open his damn eyes!


    ¡°Very wise choice,¡± he said, his words laced with sarcasm. The best and the only options for contracts were the infants, the newborns, and the unhatched, in increasing order. So, no matter what she chose, it still wouldn¡¯t be combat ready from the beginning. But a squirrel? Even if they were good at wood element spells, the meagre amount of Anima newborns had limited their effectiveness. Ewan hoped she would get an Astylind with a strong physique and of earth element, it could at least keep her safe in extreme situations after growing for a few days. Alas, the factor she considered wasn¡¯t in sync with his at all.


    ¡°I-I couldn¡¯t resist¡­.,¡± she said. ¡°I can train him, he¡¯ll become strong.¡±


    ¡°When will that be? After we¡¯re dead?¡± he snapped.


    She lowered her head and fidgeted, twiddling the edge of her top.


    He took a deep breath and shook his head. ¡°Fuck it, I¡¯ll make you an Anima Potion, mix a drop with his milk every time you feed him,¡± he said and walked back into the house. ¡°You¡¯ll be paying for its ingredients.¡± His voice echoed out. ¡°And my services!¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.8 | Ice ¨C 6.8 | Blood ¨C 6.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 192


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-58 Poison Test

    Ewan shook the test tube half-filled with his blood and poured in the extracted oil from a blood thinning herb. When they blended, he took out the yellow blob of poison he obtained from the scorpions and injected it into the blood.


    Iris.


    After the poison took effect, Ewan called for Iris to use her ¡®Heal¡¯ on the test tube while observing the process with his <Lens> spell. The poison wormed around at first, eroding the blood wherever it spread, it even killed the blood thinner¡¯s effects and created black lumps that could cause necrosis inside a body. But when the spell¡¯s blood glow covered the test tube, the poison came to a screeching halt. The spell trapped the poison and crammed it into a pea-sized drop. Soon it killed all the harmful particles in the poisonous blob and neutralized it. The now inactive yellow blob floated to the top, lifeless.


    He separated it from the blood and did random tests before finally concluding the success of Iris¡¯s spell against poisons.


    ¡°Nana,¡± he said. She sat by the side, feeding her new Astylind milk blended with a drop of Anima Potion he made. ¡°Ask Luna to cast her healing spell.¡±


    Ewan repeated the same experiment with the bird. In the end, her spell too killed the poison and healed the blood. The effectiveness was about the same, both Iris and Luna were equally good against poisons. But Luna won the round, she was still Grade-D and was at a lower level than Iris.


    Doesn¡¯t matter, you¡¯re the best.


    Iris waved her roots and swayed at his caress, her innocent joy passing onto him. The initial weakness didn¡¯t matter, the present was more important. And her real prowess would show up at higher grades, he had confidence in his Pa¡¯s findings.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Where¡¯re we going?¡± Nana asked, trailing behind Ewan. The clouds shaded the blinding sun, but it still peeped out from time to time and made its presence known, warming the remnants of the chilly wind.


    ¡°Tram tracks, we¡¯ll follow that to the outskirts. We¡¯ll head to the market for today and rest there,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Can''t we head there directly?¡±


    ¡°Do you know the way?¡±


    She fell silent for a second then shook her head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t either, and getting lost in this situation wouldn¡¯t be good. That¡¯s why the tracks. Now keep up or I¡¯ll leave you behind,¡± he said.


    The two threaded the block¡¯s streets, wary of their surroundings, peeking around corners. Nana strained her neck, running her eyes about the premise, while Ewan stretched his Ryvia to its limits, scanning everything inside the range. The area was devoid of its residents but screams and howls still echoed here and there. Each cry represented a scuffle, so whenever it happened, Ewan changed directions. Getting involved in someone else¡¯s fight wasn¡¯t on his priority list, not even at the last position.


    There was a t-section up ahead, roads going left and right, the lofty building in front casting its huge shadow on the ground. Before Ewan could get close and check the area though, a buzz resonated and halted his steps. He grabbed Nana¡¯s collar and pulled her back too.


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


    ¡°Do you hear that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked back, fixing her round collar, and rubbing her neck.


    ¡°Listen closely,¡± he said, gesturing to keep quiet.


    ¡°It sounds like¡­insect wings?¡± she asked.


    Ewan nodded. ¡°And more than one,¡± he said. ¡°You take right, I¡¯ll check left. Don¡¯t make any noise and don¡¯t freak out if you see anything disturbing.¡±


    She mouthed a soundless okay and tiptoed towards the right wall. Ewan also went to check the left after Nana approached the corner.


    When he peeked out, his heart skipped a beat and his neck tightened, he gulped. His bestial instinct gave him an orange alert, a shiver ran down his spine. A swarm of fist-sized bees hummed above a dead bear, the head-sized queen bee hovering at the top. There were in dozens if not hundreds, the bear never stood any chance. Some bees were hard at work, carving the bear¡¯s body and turning it into their hive, while some gathered the dead bees and stacked them in a pile by the side.


    Soon the spell circuit that the Crown had set up in the colony to gather blood activated and sucked the dead bear and the dead bees dry, leaving only the withered carcasses and several Astylind Cores behind. The bear¡¯s was a deep soil-colored core of the earth element, while the bees¡¯ were light beige of the wood.


    Novas¡­


    His greed for profit buried his sense of danger. That was a pile of Novas, and more Novas droning in the air. Even though they all were Level-0, their combined price could earn both Ewan and Nana a decent amount. Yet, at the same time, their combined prowess could also snuff their breaths. He had to tread carefully, especially with the queen bee. He couldn¡¯t allow her to control the swarm.


    ¡°Nana.¡± He extended his Ryvia and sent his voice to her ears. ¡°Come here quietly,¡± he whispered. ¡°Do you see that?¡± he asked, letting her peek at the bees. ¡°We can make a good amount if we hunt them.¡±


    ¡°O-Okay,¡± she said, controlling her trembling hands, holding a deep breath in. ¡°Rock paper scissor again.¡± Her face looked determined to win, flushed even.


    ¡°What? No, no baits this time,¡± Ewan said. She heaved her held breath and her shoulders slouched. ¡°You have alcohol with you, right? Take it out.¡±


    ¡°W-What? I-I don¡¯t!¡± She tensed up again and shook her head, her eyes widening.


    ¡°Just take them out,¡± he said, taking another glance at the bees around the corner.


    ¡°I-I really don¡¯t¡­.,¡± she said, shrinking her neck, her volume went down.


    Ewan clicked his tongue at her; his nose flared. She lowered her head and finally handed him a bottle from her pendant.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.8 | Ice ¨C 6.8 | Blood ¨C 6.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 192


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-59 Bees

    ¡°I need more,¡± he said, beckoning at her.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t¡­,¡± she said in a mosquito voice but still handed him several more. ¡°I only kept them as memento, I don¡¯t drink anymore.¡± She heaved a deep breath and stared at Ewan with her shimmering eyes of the hazel shade.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain, it¡¯s your life, you can live as you wish,¡± he said, cracking the seals of the bottles and stuffing them with rags. He was making the poor man¡¯s firebomb.


    Nana lowered her head again, tears welling up in her eyes.


    ¡°Okay, its ready. We¡¯ll talk later, just stick close to me for now and support with spells if I need it.¡±


    Ice Dagger!


    He stuffed all his Ice-Anima in the spell circuit and cast the most powerful version of the spell he could use at his current level. Four sharp daggers condensed in front of him, floating on his command, amplifying his Ryvia, and ready to slaughter at his intent.


    Blood Rein!


    He did the same with this spell and used all his Blood-Anima, it became the strongest defense he could cast right now. The blood blob hovered among the daggers, contrasting the red against the white, as Luna healed his slit wrist. Frost and Orange were also out and ready to support him, their levels were more than enough to fight this battle.


    Throwing the cocktails by hand could expose his position, so Ewan hurled the first one with his Ryvia after kindling the rag with <Ember>. The bottle traced an arc, barreling through the air, the flaming rag fluttering, and erupted with an expanding fire in the middle of the swarm. The bees frenzied, several burnt crisp and died. The queen flew higher in panic; her vibrating wings buzzed the air around. The tongues of flame couldn¡¯t reach her at this height.


    Ewan burned the second and slung it, and then another. The spreading fire killed one after another, it thinned the oozing swarm. The rising hot air singed their flimsy wings and hindered their flight, many dropped to their deaths, pruning the swarm further.


    It¡¯s time.


    Ewan turned towards Nana and smiled. ¡°Now, go be the bait,¡± he said, patting her shoulder.


    ¡°What?¡± she whispered in alarm again and clutched his t-shirt. ¡°I-I¡¯ll die this time for sure.¡± She made a crying face.


    ¡°No, you won''t.¡± He freed his t-shirt from her grip. ¡°Just stand there, I¡¯ll do the rest,¡± he said, pointing at the middle of the road.


    Her knees buckled, her shoulders trembled, but she followed his words and walked over, her boots scraping the asphalt.


    The blazing fire wasn¡¯t good for his ice daggers, so he needed the surviving bees to move away from it before he attacked.


    The bees reacted to Nana, the air around the queen bee throbbed. Their buzzing intensified and the swarm arrowed towards Nana.


    Come closer¡­closer¡­.


    Ewan observed the queen bee, hiding behind the wall, waiting for the chance to appear. Nana took deep breaths, huffing and puffing, and quivered as the swarm closed in. She was in their range now, so Ewan compressed the air in front of her and created an invisible shield. He couldn¡¯t use the blood shield, it could scare the queen away, he needed her close and in his range. And for normal Level-0 bees, his Ryvia defense was enough. The only concern was how long he could hold on for. Worst case scenario, he would go all out and fight the swarm. He couldn¡¯t let them harm Nana¡­.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Luckily, his plan worked, and the agitated queen bee rushed towards Nana with her soldiers. The weaker bees stabbed their stinger but couldn¡¯t break the invisible defense. Nana looked around, surrounded by the droning insects, her eyes widening, then stared at Ewan.


    Her stare might¡¯ve given away his position, but the chance was already here, he didn¡¯t need to wait anymore. His four daggers cleaved the air as they zoomed towards the queen. The surprise attack succeeded, and the daggers sliced her apart, ending her life in one strike. Her pieces thudded down on the street, dead with not even a twitch left in her.


    Ewan bolted towards Nana and unfurled the blood dome, covering both inside. His daggers danced outside on his command, taking one life with one move. Orange and Frost too attacked at will and killed with each strike. The remaining bees were only Level-0, unlike the queen, and no one controlled them, so the rest was only tedious work with little danger.


    ¡°D-Do you really not care?¡± Nana clutched his t-shirt and sobbed with her head resting on his back.


    ¡°What?¡± The sudden change surprised him. ¡°It¡¯s fine now, don¡¯t cry, I already dealt with them,¡± he said.


    ¡°Y-You don¡¯t care if I drink again?¡± she asked, her tears and snot drenching his t-shirt.


    ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s your life, you can live as you wish, I won''t interfere. I don¡¯t think I have the right to anymore.¡±


    She sobbed harder and tightened her grip, her nails dug into his skin.


    Ewan finally sighed; she had long chipped his defenses and her tears broke it down. ¡°Then listen to me, never touch that shit again. Stop wasting your life away in bottles, I¡¯ll rip your hair off if you ever do,¡± he scolded and turned to look at her. She sniffed and hiccupped but held a faint smile on her face. ¡°Jeez, the sudden mood swings,¡± he said under his breath.


    The flitting daggers and his Astylinds ended the battle outside. Dead bees blanketed the street, their corpses withering by the second. The tiny cores coming out of their remains rolled around.


    ¡°Let¡¯s gather the loot and move away quickly.¡±


    It was a loud battle, it could attract unwanted attention, especially the blazing fire that had yet to die.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.8 | Ice ¨C 0.3 | Blood ¨C 0.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Astylind Cores.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 192


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-60 Burden

    The tram tracks led the way, Ewan and Nana followed it, heading to the market. Rubble and debris replaced the intact houses and buildings; the sides painted the picture of absolute destruction. The only missing piece was the corpses¡ªwhich by the courtesy of the new Crown wasn¡¯t an issue anymore¡ªand the scene of carnage would¡¯ve been complete.


    ¡°How much further?¡± Nana asked, looking around, sticking close to Ewan.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too far,¡± Ewan said, his vigilance at its peak. The pin-drop silence tested the limits of his nerves, even his Ryvia didn¡¯t give him much comfort. The sun had traced it routine and edged on the horizon; the day had set, and the night would begin. An ambush was the last thing he wanted in these conditions.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you said last time,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say the same when you ask again.¡± Her sudden mood changes aside, bickering with her eased his mind, he was glad of her company right now.


    ¡°Why is it so silent here?¡± she muttered, grabbing the edge of his t-shirt.


    ¡°''Cause everyone¡¯s dead,¡± Ewan said.


    She gripped harder. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to tell me that.¡±


    Still, it was unusually quiet in this area, his brows wrinkled. Even if the residents died, some Astylinds should¡¯ve been active. The howls, the roars, and the bays, they sounded faint, so far away. His instinct was throbbing again.


    He braked; Nana bumped into his back. His nostrils twitched as he sniffed, the floral smell was stifling the hint of urine in the air, he only differentiated them now as a strong stink wafted by him. This was different from the stench on the outskirts. Much stronger, more pungent, and distinctive; this was deliberate.


    Ewan turned and looked at Nana who was rubbing her nose. ¡°Did you wear perfume?¡± he asked. She smelled like the night-blooming jasmine again.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t, it makes my throat itchy,¡± she said.


    ¡°What¡¯s this floral scent then?¡±


    ¡°My hair? I washed it before leaving, it¡¯s your favorite smell,¡± she said with a beaming smile.


    ¡°Stay here, don¡¯t move,¡± he said, stepping away from her. The moment he left her range, a heavy reek of urine assaulted his nose.


    Fuck¡­


    This intentional spread of piss, it could only mean one thing¡ªsomeone had marked this territory. And because he missed it, they now stood in the middle of it.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be the death of us someday,¡± he said, grabbing Nana¡¯s hand and racing to the nearest high-rise building. It was one of the few in the area that stood intact with little damage to its structure.


    ¡°W-What happened?¡± she asked, matching Ewan¡¯s pace by force.


    ¡°We can''t go in this way, let¡¯s climb,¡± he said. Wreckages blocked the only entrance; it would take too long to clear it. And the stairs¡¯ condition wasn¡¯t clear either.


    So, he climbed. He jumped, latched, flipped, pulled, and his agility saw him on the roof in seconds. Nana stood on the ground, gawking at him.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Come up, do what I did,¡± he said, looking down from the edge of the roof railing.


    ¡°I-I can''t,¡± she said.


    ¡°You can, just follow my instructions. First, grab onto that.¡± He pointed at the lowest ledge. But before she had moved an inch, a wolf bayed; the sound came from the vicinity.


    Shit!


    Ewan looked to the side, a pack of black and orange furred wolves sprinted towards them, threading through and over the rubble. A wolf one size larger than the others led them with its lasting howl.


    ¡°Hurry! Climb!!¡± he yelled.


    ¡°What?¡± She looked where he was looking. Her face whitened; her knees trembled, she backed off, stumbling. ¡°I-I¡­¡± Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked up at Ewan.


    The wolves¡¯ fangs would soon crush her throat and snuff her breath out. They would tear her apart. In seconds, she would be no more.


    She was weak, she cried a lot, she held him back and was a burden to him. She wasn¡¯t even good bait, and made irrational decisions based on emotions. Would he be devastated if she died? A question assaulted him. Would he care if she didn¡¯t exist anymore? No one to save, no one to protect, no one to look after, he would become free. No one would pester him, no one would bicker with him, no one would annoy him anymore¡­.


    ¡°AH!! FUCK!!!¡±


    But she was Nana¡­


    His spirit strained to its limits and beyond, dust and stones blasted away from him, and the pressure pulverized the concrete. His Ryvia exploded and flashed to the ground, to where Nana was. His face reddened, veins popped up on his forehead, he grinded his teeth and growled a desperate roar.


    The area around Nana became a void, it forced all the air out. She gasped and struggled to breathe, clutching her throat, stretching her high-neck collar. The wolves collided against the invisible barrier and halted, they snarled. This single moment of respite was enough for Ewan. He concentrated his spirit on Nana and yanked her up. She soared in the air with a rolling scream, flailing about, and before the hungry wolves¡¯ eyes, gently landed onto the roof safe and sound.


    ¡°E-Ewan,¡± she said, sniffing, her legs wobbling, and her knees buckled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­talk to me right now,¡± Ewan said, clutching the railing as his support, blood trickling down his nose and eyes. His ears rang and her voice stung him. He was nauseous, his stomach churned, and the retch beat on his throat with each heave. The throbbing wave of pain hammered his head and the world spun before his eyes, there were three Nana in front of him, soon she split into four.


    I¡¯m¡­never¡­doing that again¡­blegh¡­


    ¡°D-Does it hurt?¡± she asked with a worried face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk¡­just let me lie down for a while,¡± he whispered, leaning on her as she came close. Her lap became his pillow, and he closed his eyes while she wiped the blood off his face and cleaned him up as tears trickled down her cheeks.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.8 | Ice ¨C 6.8 | Blood ¨C 6.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 192


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-61 Tickets

    ¡°We are in quite a bind,¡± Ewan muttered, peeking down the roof ledge. The glowing crowd of fiery-white eyes stared at them from under the veil of night, surrounding the building they were on. Trapped on an island ringed by hungry sharks who eyed them, this was quite a fresh experience, a hint of excitement sneaked behind his apprehension.


    ¡°How do we leave?¡± Nana whispered, standing beside him, her hands painted in dried blood, dried tears marking her cheeks.


    Ewan panned his eyes around, there were some other buildings in the area, and at the same height. But the distance in between was too great to cover in a simple jump, more so if he had to carry one person with him. His Ryvia wasn¡¯t strong enough to support him through either. And the memory of the strain and the backlash was too fresh to force it. Luckily, it just resulted in sprained spirit last time and some popped veins, nothing too serious. A persisting throbbing headache was his only punishment for it, and a healthy and breathing Nana was his reward.


    ¡°If we get trapped on that¡­.¡± Ewan checked from the rest of the ledges. The buildings in the vicinity had intact entrances. If the wolves were smart enough, they could trap the two on them and climb the stairs. ¡°Let¡¯s not jump over recklessly.¡±


    Their current situation was a stalemate, they couldn¡¯t run but the wolves couldn¡¯t reach them either. And the longer it sustained, the more the status quo would lean in Ewan¡¯s favor. His ¡®Spirit¡¯ would soon peak and break through to the fourth awakening, it was only a matter of a day. Not an overwhelming advantage but it would give them an edge for sure. It would be better to stay on this building for now.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry, cook me something,¡± Ewan said, turning to Nana.


    ¡°Now? They¡¯ll smell it,¡± she whispered.


    Ewan snickered, baring his fangs with malice. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m betting on that,¡± he said. They trapped him up here, a little payback torture was owed.


    ¡­¡­


    Under the starry sky, Ewan ogled the sizzling pieces of marinated chicken thigh in the pan, its aroma making his mouth water. His stomach grumbled, and he gulped.


    ¡°How much longer?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Almost done,¡± Nana said, taking out the dishware from her tear-shaped pendant and pouring in the salad she made on the side. She poked the searing thighs for a moment then put them to the side to rest and switched off the stove.


    ¡°You¡¯re better than me,¡± Ewan said, looking at her cook with ease. Her hands looked practiced.


    ¡°Mum taught me.¡± She smiled.


    ¡°I still remember her food. Pa tried to copy and failed so many times.¡± Ewan chuckled. ¡°He always made me taste them; they were horrible.¡±


    The alpha wolf bayed, and the rest of his pack cried with him. The silence of the starry night shattered.


    ¡°What was that? Are they attacking?¡± Nana asked, looking around warily, clutching the knife with a piece of onion stuck on it.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, his lips curling into a sneer. ¡°It¡¯s a threat. The smell of food agitated them.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± she asked, still grasping the knife handle.


    ¡°Instinct,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Can''t explain.¡±


    She bobbed her head and loosened her grip.


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    ¡°Let¡¯s eat, I can''t wait anymore,¡± he said.


    ¡­¡­


    The saffron barrier was barely visible against the canvas of the night sky, the twinkling stars blurring it even more. Ewan sat cross legged, his stomach satiated, craning up at the cage. Nana curled up in the quilt beside him, her breaths slow and steady, and her eyes scuttled under the lids¡ªmust be a thrilling dream. Even the wolves had calmed down and only a few glowing orbs still stared at them. The songs of the nocturnal insects echoed and kept the stillness of the night, the peace returned.


    What basis did this barrier work on? How much energy did it cost? How could it support its structure and still defend against the attacks? Ewan¡¯s mind churned. Studying the cage was a necessity if he wanted to get out of this mess. But it was too stable and tranquil. He had to make it react to see the changes, the more violent the better.


    So, he hurled a pebble at it and readied his <Lens> spell.


    The pebble struck it and bounced off, the part where it hit flashed a deep saffron then dulled again. Ewan squinted. Hexagonal nodes had appeared in the area, connected to each other. Finally, he had a lead to work with. He took out his diary and pen and started experimenting.


    Pebbles rained on the cage through the night, some scratching it, some smacking it hard, their feeble ripples powerless against the grand barrier. But the small reactions they produced filled Ewan¡¯s diary with speculations, theories, and conclusions¡ªsome with dead ends, while some fruitful.


    The core of the cage was the nodes, it was a decentralized barrier. His hypothesis branched off from this inference. He couldn¡¯t calculate the energy needed to maintain such a barrier but saw some success in approximating the energy required to destroy it. Its connected structure allowed it to share the damage with the neighboring nodes if the attacking energy exceeded a single node¡¯s capacity. Half a meter nodes covered this massive colony, so they must number in millions. If Ewan wanted to destroy this cage, he had to attack with enough energy to destroy the whole thing at once¡­


    He inhaled and exhaled a deep breath; the result worsened his headache. He had to find a way to reduce the energy needed, a change in approach was vital. The nodes must take defensive measures against outside attacks, it would spike the power required to demolish it even further. What if it wasn¡¯t an attack then? What if he changed the method?


    His mind went to his spell <Boom>. This spell used the material as a catalyst and altered their structure to create an explosion. If he could modify it to work with higher energy levels, he could succeed in shrinking the force needed.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep?¡± Nana asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes, and fixing her bed hair. Ewan looked at her then at the sky; it had grayed, the sun¡¯s arc loomed at the horizon.


    ¡°I was studying the cage,¡± he said, shutting his diary, rubbing his forehead, and massaging the temples.


    ¡°Did you find anything? Can we break out?¡±


    ¡°No, we can''t even dent it.¡±


    Her face fell and her shoulders slouched. ¡°Will we be okay¡­.¡±


    Ewan smiled. ¡°We can''t dent it, but I found a way to destroy it.¡± He asserted the word ¡®we¡¯. ¡°I¡¯m going to sell that method and its preventive measure to the Crown and buy our tickets out.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.8 | Ice ¨C 6.8 | Blood ¨C 6.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 192


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-62 Wolves

    ¡°¡­Will he agree? Won''t he just kill us?¡± Nana asked.


    Ewan shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s just hope he¡¯s rational enough.¡±


    ¡°What if he reneges after getting the methods?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have any means to prevent that.¡± There was a vast gulf between them and the new Crown, massive enough that the success of any transaction relied on the other party¡¯s goodwill. They were powerless to affect the status quo.


    ¡°Should we get a contract? He wouldn¡¯t go against the Airadia¡¯s sentience, would he?¡± Nana said.


    ¡°Who knows, he might just kill us for proposing that,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And the contract¡¯s not binding enough. He can still kill us if he wants to, he¡¯ll just have to pay a bit.¡±


    ¡°So, we¡¯re at his mercy¡­.,¡± she said.


    ¡°We were already at his mercy the moment he trapped us inside the cage. Now just hope the method I develop intrigues him enough to let us go.¡±


    She sighed, her face downcast.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so depressed, it¡¯s not all grim. At least he showed he cared for Ashevas by messaging us, even if it was only for appearance. If we handle this well, we might succeed. And I¡¯ll be telling him how to fix the blind spot of his cage, it should interest him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy the contract anyway, it¡¯s better to have it than not,¡± she said.


    Ewan nodded. ¡°Go, freshen up,¡± he said. ¡°Use the floor below, don¡¯t go any lower. I¡¯ll send Frost with you; he¡¯ll keep an eye out.¡±


    If the alpha had even an ounce of intelligence, it would leave a part of the pack to surround the building while going out to hunt. So, unless Ewan and Nana could kill them all, leaving wasn¡¯t a possibility right now. And if they had to stay, it was better to be comfortable. Moping around cursing the damn wolves would only waste time.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go first then,¡± Nana said and walked away with Frost tailing her.


    ¡­¡­


    Rest consumed a few hours; Nana worked on something by the side in secret while Ewan dove back into his calculation afterwards. Modification of <Boom> was necessary for the first part. But he had to focus more on developing the second stage, the method to fix the weakness he found. If he just presented the way to destroy the cage to the Crown, it would come off as a threat and not a transaction. The scenario would not end well for them. If he could fix that weakness instead and use it as his betting chip, it might interest the Crown enough to let them go. He wagered on that chance.


    The nodes shared the damage with their neighbors, so they should share the Fire-Anima poured in by the <Boom> spell too. Ewan presumed the positive rather than the negative and worked his way from there. Destruction of the cage would follow the same pattern with the spell as it would with the brute force, all the nodes would still have to shatter at once. The advantage with the spell lay in its drastically reduced Anima needed to do so¡ªthis was the method to destroy the cage.


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    What if he added a layer of Anima around the nodes? It would clash against the Fire-Anima and make it difficult to travel from one node to another. The energy needed would spike again in that case¡ªthis was the method to prevent that destruction.


    It might work¡­.


    Anima of all elements existed in peace in their natural form. But when employed, they clashed and resisted each other¡­ This occurrence would stumble his solution and increase the cost of maintaining the cage.


    Cost to performance ratio, he had to find a good balance. If he could add a trigger to the barrier that would act against spells like <Boom> and create a layer of Anima around nodes only when attacked, it could drag the cost down.


    Was it earth? Ewan stared at the cage, tapping his pen on the diary, wondering what its element was. It wasn¡¯t fire, it wasn¡¯t blood, it wasn¡¯t ice either. He couldn¡¯t see any Anima around the barrier, so it was neither of the three. The saffron color hinted towards the earth element, and it was also the one with the strongest defense. So, the Anima layer around the nodes had to be of the earth element too, to prevent any internal clashes. He nodded, and buried his face back into the diary, scribbling away.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Ewan, they¡¯re leaving,¡± Nana said, peeking down the ledge.


    Ewan frowned and put away his diary. ¡°All of them?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be¡­ Is he baiting us?¡± he murmured, joining her on the edge.


    The alpha glanced back at them and sauntered away, the pack following his lead.


    ¡°Are they preparing to ambush us?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Maybe¡­maybe he¡¯s planning something else,¡± Ewan muttered, looking around the buildings in the vicinity. The gap was too big for him, but the wolves could cover it in a single jump. Was the alpha using the night as a cover to attack from the other buildings¡¯ roof? Was he smart enough to plan it? Or was this a simple ambush?


    Don¡¯t underestimate, don¡¯t underestimate¡­.


    He could prevent the first by destroying the entrances. Even if his spells wouldn¡¯t reach from up here, he could climb down and demolish them when they came in range. But it would only throw the situation back into a stalemate, he would be in a passive situation again. It was better to counter the alpha¡¯s plan and kill as many as he could during their raid.


    And if it was the latter, staying here would render it null anyway.


    Identify.


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.9 | Ice ¨C 6.9 | Blood ¨C 6.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 192


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    His spirit had peaked, he was ready to break through to the fourth awakening. He had to take the chance; it would be helpful if a fight broke out.


    <hr>

 Chapter-63 Bloodlust

    Orange, Frost, and Nana stood around at a distance, watching over Ewan, while he sat cross-legged in the center, trying to break through the thin barrier. Thin yet indelible, it appeared to be. The flimsy wall looked gigantic right now, nigh impregnable.


    His face was feverish, flushed, and he gritted his teeth as his spirit boiled, the surging waves crashing against the blockade to break through. Yet, the imminent threat of the wolves fractured his concentration. His long-held breath congested his chest, his lungs bloated, his throat sored from the involuntary growls, and the peril of the cage and the new Crown yanked him out of his immersion. Veins popped on his strained neck, and he trembled harder by the second.


    Finally, he couldn¡¯t sustain it anymore and let go, heaving hard, the color on his face receding to the fair skin. His spirit calmed down as his posture eased. He failed in his breakthrough attempt; he rubbed his forehead and combed his wet hair back, taking deep breaths.


    ¡°Did you succeed?¡± Nana asked, sniffing. ¡°There¡¯s no sweet smell.¡±


    ¡°I failed, can''t concentrate here. Let¡¯s deal with the fucking wolves first, I¡¯ll try again after that,¡± he said, the frustration poking his patience. ¡°Do you want to try? You¡¯re at the peak too, right?¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll succeed,¡± she said. ¡°Even you failed¡­.¡±


    ¡°What? Rubbing salt now?¡± he asked rhetorically. ¡°You don¡¯t use your brain much, you won''t have any problems, just give it a try.¡±


    ¡°What? I¡¯ve always been smart,¡± she said. ¡°You always lost to me in crossword puzzles.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m one year younger, what¡¯re you doing comparing yourself to a child,¡± he said.


    Her nostrils flared. ¡°I¡¯ll fail too!¡± She stomped to the center and sat cross-legged where Ewan sat before.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    At the end of the minutes, a syrupy sweet smell invaded Ewan¡¯s premises¡ªNana succeeded in her breakthrough.


    Is she really dumb¡­


    His lips twitched as he gaped, leaning on the ledge with his arms crossed. ¡°What? Too embarrassed to open your eyes?¡± He smirked.


    ¡°D-Don¡¯t talk to me, I haven¡¯t broken through yet,¡± she said, her ears reddening.


    ¡°You think my nose is for show?¡± he asked, laughing, but frowned a second later and looked down from the roof edge. ¡°Get ready, they¡¯re here.¡± His emerald-green glowing eyes pierced the cloak of darkness and watched the wolves sneaking towards the nearest building.


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan and Nana hid behind the roof railing that faced the building the wolves were coming from, their Astylinds with them, ready to assault.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how many lives it¡¯ll take before you figure it out,¡± Ewan murmured. His Ryvia expanded, its edge touching the other building. The wolves inched up the stairs in a line, the faint scratches of their claws against the marbled steps grazing Ewan¡¯s ears.


    They took position on the other roof, and he got ready too, cutting off all other distractions and focusing on this one task. Subtlety was essential for his plan, and it required his full attention. One wolf galloped, speeding into a sprint with each step, and vaulted off the roof edge. Others raced behind it. The force it had was more than enough to reach Ewan¡¯s and Nana¡¯s rooftop.


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    However¡­


    Ewan condensed his Ryvia and compressed the air in the wolves¡¯ path, making it denser. The first wolf decelerated in the air and arced down before it could reach the other roof. It flailed its limbs, crying, and finally plunged to its death with its long howl fading away, clonking with a splatter of flesh and gore.


    The other wolves also jumped one after another. And like the first one, the dense air hindered them, and they all dove to their deaths, their maimed remains, bloody and gory, carpeted the ground below. The alpha stood at the end of the line, glaring at Ewan¡¯s roof, but didn¡¯t make any moves.


    ¡°You are an Astylind after all, can''t compare to a Staron,¡± Ewan mumbled, then he winced as his scalp stung. ¡°Stop pulling my hair, I¡¯m not insulting you guys,¡± he whispered, trying to save his hair from Orange. ¡°How¡¯d you understand that anyway?¡±


    ¡°You¡­deserve it,¡± Nana muttered.


    ¡­¡­


    Half his pack fell to their deaths before the alpha bayed and stopped them.


    ¡°Too late, my Orange is much smarter than you,¡± Ewan sniggered, while pacifying and stroking the little monkey in his arms. ¡°You are too.¡± He patted Frost and caressed his horns.


    Nana gaped at them from the side. ¡°You really work hard¡­,¡± she said.


    Ewan ignored her humorous sarcasm and stood up, facing the alpha. ¡°Was that all?¡± he hollered, taunting the wolves in preparation for the next spell. And the more reckless and wilder they were, the better it was for him. ¡°Deal with this next,¡± he said. Though his words couldn¡¯t cross the boundary of their languages, his intent would.


    Bloodlust!


    He aimed at the nearest wolf and triggered the spell. The alpha was their leader, but he didn¡¯t hold absolute control over them, like Severynths and their contracted Astylinds. The tiny thread of dominance it had snapped when the spell took effect. The targeted wolf¡¯s eyes reddened, its muscles tightened, and it snarled at its brethren, saliva dripping down its mouth.


    The fight ended soon as the alpha put the frenzied wolf down, ripping its throat. But not before it took one other life. The large wolf glared at Ewan, growling.


    ¡°I have more Blood-Anima. Don¡¯t worry, your chance will come too,¡± Ewan said, staring back at the alpha, holding a blood red crystal in his hand.


    Bloodlust!


    He targeted another wolf and cast the spell. But the alpha reacted fast this time and smashed the wolf¡¯s head open before it could make its move.


    Ewan scoffed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, you¡¯re still doing my bidding,¡± he said. ¡°Kill your own pack, I¡¯ll end you when you stand alone.¡±


    Bloodlust!


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: 17.4 [Fire ¨C 6.9 | Ice ¨C 6.9 | Blood ¨C 3.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 192


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-64 Yurn

    The pack lay lifeless in their own pool of blood, their bodies mangled. The alpha stood atop their death, unsteady and panting, blood dripping down its furs, but still growled at Ewan, its eyes bloodshot.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end that undying pride of yours,¡± he muttered, raising both his hands to the sides, casting his <Ice Daggers>.


    The four daggers amplified his Ryvia, his range stretched and reached the alpha. Its prolonged usage and the non-stop casting spells already gave him a pulsating headache, the amplification only worsened it, but he endured. He could rest after taking care of this nuisance.


    Orange.


    The little monkey bellowed a war cry and launched at the alpha from one of the invisible platforms, zipping past the gap between the buildings.


    The alpha roared, orange-glazed orbs of fire condensed around him, orbiting him in a pattern of ¡®eight¡¯. Orange feinted a punch, then vaulted up from another platform, and pounded down on him. The fire orb defended against the attack as the alpha howled and backed away. The punch exploded the orb; the concrete floor cracked with a burst of fire.


    Ewan lifted his brows. The alpha preserved his Anima for this fight, his pack couldn¡¯t even bring out his best.


    Go, stand by.


    Frost floated to the other building with his Ryvia, his eyes squeezed shut when he flew over the gap, and stood to the side, ready to support with his ice.


    Orange blasted left and right and up and down, exploding from platform to platform that Ewan created one after another, clobbering the orbs with his erupting Fire-Anima. His afterimages trailed him, and his salvo boomed in the area. The alpha always reacted a step too late, but his regenerating orbs protected him. He howled, Orange roared back in his childlike voice and belted him, another orb came in between.


    Ewan checked his Blood-Anima, it had recovered enough for one more cast.


    Should be fine¡­


    Bloodlust!


    He aimed at Orange, his heart pounding with anxiety, he gulped and exhaled a parched breath. This was the first time he cast this spell on his own Astylind. His confidence in his Pa propelled this decision, but his Astylinds were his family, even a slight chance of any negative impact scared him.


    The little monkey¡¯s eyes reddened, he tried a deep mature growl that his throat couldn¡¯t cash, Fire-Anima billowing around him. Ewan readied the Ryvia platforms as Orange flashed, leaving a lasting afterimage behind. One orb shattered, the second fractured, and the third exploded, their regeneration couldn¡¯t keep up with Orange anymore.


    Punches rained on the alpha, their reverberating echoes flattening in a single boom. He evaded left and right, but Orange followed, and Ewan supported him. The final orb dimmed down; the alpha¡¯s Anima must be running low.


    Now!


    Orange zoomed in front of the wolf and pummeled him, punches after punches. The last orb burst, and the final punch hammered down, burying the wolf¡¯s head in the concrete with a ground shaking thud, blood seeping out from the hole.


    There was no life left in the alpha anymore, Ewan confirmed it when Frost signaled at its soul.


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    ¡°Go, eat. Bring back the cores too,¡± he said.


    He called Orange back to rest and brought Toast out. The kitten meowed and jumped on his chest, snuggling and getting comfortable in his arms.


    ¡°Stop lazing around, go help Frost.¡±


    Ewan flicked his jaw and floated him to the other building. The little kitten flailed and whined, but his Ryvia didn¡¯t stop. Orange met Toast in the air and smacked him with his weary face, cackling. The kitten screeched and resisted harder, trying to scratch Orange, but his Ryvia still didn¡¯t stop. It finally delivered Toast to the other side, and gently dropped him.


    ¡°How many do you have?¡± Nana asked, staring at the grumpy kitten reluctantly following the imp.


    ¡°Four,¡± Ewan said. ¡°What¡¯s your limit?¡±


    ¡°Three.¡±


    ¡°Contract another as soon as you can then. Did you sell both the scorpions? You should have enough to buy one more, right?¡± He caught Orange and petted him as the little monkey curled up in his arms.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Nana nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll start looking.¡±


    Ewan glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. ¡°Choose properly this time.¡±


    ¡°I-I will,¡± she said.


    ¡­¡­.


    ¡°Where¡¯re we going?¡± Nana asked, following Ewan out of the building.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stay in the area. Their marking is still fresh, other Astylinds will consider it the pack¡¯s territory. I need some rest, we¡¯ll move again when I break through,¡± Ewan said, minding his steps over the rubble, his Ryvia reined in to rest his spirit.


    ¡°Ewan.¡± She grabbed his sleeve. ¡°I-I made this for you, your birthday gift,¡± she said, handing him a charcoal-black neck gaiter with faint alabaster runes striping around it¡ªvelour to touch with a soft elastic stretch.


    ¡°Is this what you were making?¡± he asked, gliding his finger on the velvet cloth. ¡°How much did you spend?¡± The fabric alone would cost a fortune.


    ¡°I-I was making it with normal clothes at first, but then I found the materials that dad left for me in the hub, so I switched to an artifact. It didn¡¯t cost much,¡± she said.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s cheap then.¡± Ewan smirked.


    ¡°Give it back if you don¡¯t want it.¡± She reached for the gaiter.


    ¡°Nope,¡± Ewan said, putting it on. ¡°It¡¯s mine now.¡±


    He adjusted it to his comfort, pulled it up to cover half his face then pulled it down. The fit was perfect, and he loved the aesthetics. The cloth didn¡¯t hinder his nose either, custom made artifacts were indeed the best, especially when the creator was his fianc¨¦e and knew him inside out.


    ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± he tapped on the runes and asked.


    ¡°It¡¯ll protect against <Identify> and dim your presence,¡± she said. ¡°Mark it with your spirit, it¡¯ll start working. It can also keep up with you.¡±


    ¡°Did you give it a name yet?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Call it ¡®Yurn¡¯ then.¡± He pronounced it ¡®yearn¡¯ with the ¡®Atarin¡¯ phonetic, smiling and caressing his neck gaiter.


    ¡°Shadow? It fits.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 6.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.9 | Ice ¨C 6.9 | Blood ¨C 6.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [3<sup>rd </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 192


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-65 4th Awakening

    The battery lamp fluctuated, its dim white light chasing away the darkness from the office. Nana sat on the cold metal table, holding her knees, her hub-connector in front of her. Frost trained beside Ewan on the carpeted floor, sitting far enough not to disturb his breakthrough attempt.


    Orange guarded them all with Toast lolling around him, licking his tiny paws, and Iris resting on the kitten¡¯s head.


    Ewan opened his eyes as his billowing pool of spirit settled down. His second try succeeded; the expanding cloud of sugary smell was its proof. Though consecutive attempts in a single night wore him down, the exhilaration of taking another step eclipsed it. An overall boost to his spec was more reassuring than anything else. His spirit, his spells, his Ryvia, it even enhanced his stagnant vitality by a notch.


    Inhaled and exhaled, he took a deep breath and calmed down.


    He couldn¡¯t rest yet. A Severynth¡¯s strength lay in his Astylinds, Ewan couldn¡¯t let his own trail behind him. Else, his combat prowess would take a hit for sure, but the crippled feedback would ruin him even more. If his Astylinds didn¡¯t progress, he too would halt forever, only to rot away in obscurity.


    Grade¡­level¡­.


    Either could propel them, both would increase the feedback, and neither was a one-time thing.


    Raising their grades had better returns, but its success rate was lower in comparison, not to mention the difficulty of brewing their potions. To take the risk of wasting time, effort, and Novas, or go for the surefire Anima Potion, he considered hard¡­


    In the end, the better returns tipped his mind in its favor.


    Identify!


    [Astylind Name: Imp (Ice-Variant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-4]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-C]


    [Anima Affinity: Ice]


    [Skills: Ice-Favored]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Alvodor. Their talents and affinity vary based on their bloodline. But most are capable of decent spellcasting and melee combat.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Ice), Demon¡¯s Horn (Ice-Variant), Glacial Dust (Class-A), Frost Flower, Crystal Salt.]


    [Remark 1: Low wisdom. Barely crossing the line. Possibility of taming and rearing is high.]


    [Remark 2: Basic contract doesn¡¯t work. Success rate might increase with a modified spell circuit.]


    [Remark 3: Hah, I¡¯m a master of a Demon now. But too much torture broke his mind. Tch!]


    [Remark 4: Modified spell circuit succeeded; the contract was a success. No oppression needed. Changing their format in the database, the contracted ones will be noted ¡®Astylind¡¯ from now on.]


    ¡­


    [Astylind Name: Fire Monkey (Mutant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-3]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-C]


    [Anima Affinity: Fire]


    [Skills: Fire-Recipient]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. They are blessed with decent fire-element affinity (Recipient) but lack the skill to make use of it.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Fire), Lava Berry (Fresh), Fire Sand (Class-A), Sunmetal, Scorching Grass.]


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    [Remark 1: Can be trained as a vanguard but require more attention with the elemental skills.]


    [Remark 2: They look cool, so can make them your mascot.]


    [Remark 3: I agree with the second remark, lol.]


    ¡­


    [Astylind Name: Blood Lotus]


    [Astylind Level: Level-3]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-C]


    [Anima Affinity: Blood]


    [Skills: Blood-Recipient | Heal]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: Extinct natives of Sepra. They had decent affinity with Blood-Anima (Recipient) but lacked the means to protect themselves. Delicate and feeble. They lost the battle of natural selection.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Blood), Bloodwood, Astylind Blood, Blood Rust.]


    [Remark 1: Can be used as an ingredient for potions. Useless otherwise.]


    [Remark 2: Decent choice for a healing type Astylind. But lack strong evolution branches.]


    [Remark 3: I don¡¯t like them. They¡¯re nasty~]


    [Remark 4: Special evolution path found. Focus should be on its grade.]


    Ewan connected to the hub and did a brief scan of the market list after checking his increased balance; the items he put for sale finally brought him some income.


    The good news was that the ingredients were available, he didn¡¯t have to scour them himself. Bad news¡ªthe price for a single set of ingredients averaged at twenty Novas for all his Astylinds. Even though his Potioneering skills had improved as of late, this price meant he would still spend a decent chunk of his Novas balance in promoting only one of his Astylinds. And if the possibilities didn¡¯t favor him, he could waste all of it without any harvest.


    Back in the room, he rubbed his forehead, dreading the headache he would get in the future when preparing for their further exaltation rites, especially the ¡®Regal Rite¡¯. The path he chose wasn¡¯t an easy one¡­Then again, nothing worth pursuing was ever easy.


    In the present though, he had to pick one of his three Astylinds. Frost and Orange fell under the offensive category, they were his vanguards, while Iris fell under the auxiliary type. If he promoted Iris, he would have a better healer. It would translate to a better survival chance. But her current strength was enough for the situation, and there was Luna as backup too. Also, dependence on them would only push him into a passive position, he preferred to deal with the enemies without getting hurt. Thus, he leaned more towards his vanguards.


    But who...


    He looked at both Frost and Orange. Frost was the better choice of the two, given the current conditions. He was one level higher, could eat souls to boost his training instead of Anima Potions, and could fight at both mid and long range. Orange never lost to him at the same level and grade even with his lower affinity, but the situation didn¡¯t back him up. His reliance on Ewan¡¯s potions for boosted training also hindered him as he was too impatient to endure the daily routine like Frost.


    Though, this might be Toast¡¯s influence, Ewan glared at the lazy little kitten. Toast jumped and meowed back, screeching at Ewan in his childish voice, his long tail taut, Iris tumbling over.


    When Ewan clicked his tongue and ignored the kitten, he bolted forward and bit his finger, growling. He only settled and curled up in his lap, purring, when Ewan petted his head and stroked his neck. The mix of black-brown silky fur was fluffy to the touch and brought a smile on Ewan¡¯s face.


    Soon, Toast snored in his arms and Ewan refocused on the issue at hand. Much deliberation gave him his answer, he chose Frost first. Orange might wage war on his hair and cheeks again if he found out, but this was an internal decision, no one had to know¡­.no one¡­.


    Rumors had it that many Starons and Astylinds went up in grades by consuming the needed ingredients as they were. ¡®Supposed truth¡¯ as the definition of rumor went, Ewan wasn¡¯t willing to test their validity. The only obvious path for him was the one he knew the best¡ªpotions. It was the authentic method of the two for a reason.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.2 | Ice ¨C 7.2 | Blood ¨C 7.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 412


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-66 Noble Rite

    Ewan flung the beaker half-filled with burnt sludge on the table and leaned back on the chair, taking deep grunting breaths to calm his nerves and ease his fatigue. Failure after failure drained all five sets of ingredients down the gutter, he kicked the table leg in annoyance, the tools rattled. That was a lot of Novas, its wastage panged him. He¡¯d failed a lot when making potions by now, uncountable times, yet each new defeat hit him like it was his first. He wondered when he would become numb to this crushing feeling, or would that day ever come at all.


    Nevertheless, it couldn¡¯t kill his drive for success, he wouldn¡¯t let it. No matter how many times he fell, he would get back up again. And so, he reconnected to the hub and went looking for the ingredients once more. Before dawn broke, he would have a successful potion ready for Frost, his stubbornness forced him forward.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    Though he ended up the worst for wear, his obstinacy saw him through his defeats. Before the first ray of morning warmed the window, before Nana groaned and stretched, and before his Astylinds opened their eyes, he brewed the potion. After ten tries, the eleventh attempt gave him a sweet delish success.


    The accomplishment filled him with euphoria, his confidence and pride rose another notch. As Nana said, he just might like succeeding, the feeling was addictive. Through these successes, he proved his own worth to himself.


    Yet, all of it could go down the drain if Frost failed to promote. This was out of Ewan¡¯s control, so he could do nothing but bet on his Astylind and hope for the best. To prepare for the worst though, he adjusted his mindset to brew more potions regardless of how much it cost him. If he didn¡¯t have enough, he could hunt and earn, then brew it. No matter how long it took, no matter how many times he failed.


    But his determination aside, he wished Frost would prevail in one try. It would make the journey ahead a lot easier for them.


    ¡­..


    Nana stood beside him, fidgeting, watching anxiously, as Ewan injected the ice-white potion into Frost¡¯s vein. All their Astylinds stood around, guarding against any foreign intervention, ordered to maintain absolute silence and cause no disturbance.


    Frost growled and clenched his claws, his strained tail swaying, his skin stretching. Everything was calm on the outside, but he struggled with pain on the inside, his agony passed on to Ewan. His body ballooned, it ripped his skin in places, and he oozed blood. Soon he sat in the pool of red.


    Hold on¡­hold on¡­


    Books never mentioned any danger in the upgradation process, but Frost¡¯s state made him uncertain. What if they were wrong? What if failure to upgrade hurt his Astylinds? The first time was a simple procedure with basic stirred solutions, but he was dealing with potions now. The shimmering pool of blood that grew another circle already killed his desire for a fruitful ending, he only hoped Frost would come out unharmed.


    The little imp groaned then howled in his baby voice, Ice-Anima bellowed with him. A faint snowy rune appeared on both his trembling arms, etched from his forearms to his upper arms. With its final stroke, the surging Ice-Anima collapsed, and his pain stopped. Frost fell back and fainted, his claws still clenched, his tail twitching.


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


    Ewan rushed with Iris and healed him; Nana assisted with Luna too. Failure or success could come later, dealing with his blood loss was more urgent.


    ¡­¡­


    [Astylind Name: Imp (Ice-Variant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-4]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-B]


    [Anima Affinity: Ice]


    [Skills: Ice-Favored | Snowdoll (Dormant)]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Alvodor. Their talents and affinity vary based on their bloodline. But most are capable of decent spellcasting and melee combat.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirement: Noble Rite (Hynith Fauma)¡ªIce Burial, lay inside ¡®Ceran Hynith¡¯ for one cycle of seasons.]


    [Remark 1: Low wisdom. Barely crossing the line. Possibility of taming and rearing is high.]


    [Remark 2: Basic contract doesn¡¯t work. Success rate might increase with a modified spell circuit.]


    [Remark 3: Hah, I¡¯m a master of a Demon now. But too much torture broke his mind. Tch!]


    [Remark 4: Modified spell circuit succeeded; the contract was a success. No oppression needed. Changing their format in the database, the contracted ones will be noted ¡®Astylind¡¯ from now on.]


    The new skill, though still dormant, gave Ewan a pleasant surprise, but the next upgrade soon clutched his mind.


    Millennium Ice?


    Noble Rite for Grade-A¡ªif he intended to continue on this path, all his Astylinds would eventually hit that roadblock. He¡¯d long prepared himself for it. Yet, the Atarin term ¡®Ceran Hynith¡¯ tripped him. It translated to ¡®Millennium Ice¡¯ in common tongue, but he never heard of it. So, while Frost snored by the side and Nana prepared breakfast, he brought out his books and researched this rite. The ¡®Explorer¡¯s Edition¡¯ books he bought might contain this information, but he trusted his family¡¯s journal more.


    His predecessors experimented with Demons, they tried to tame them. Though only his Pa succeeded and made a Demon his Astylind, others too had noted down valuable information in the journal. And indeed, he found several entries, especially the one that defined the term.


    [Ceran Hynith: Millennium Ice, where time stood still for over a thousand years. Be mindful of temperature fluctuations. Beyond a certain range, its quality drops.]


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.2 | Ice ¨C 7.2 | Blood ¨C 7.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 193


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-67 Elemental

    ¡°Ewan,¡± Nana said as they chomped their breakfast, spiced rice with pan seared duck and caramelized onions on top. ¡°I found an Astylind I want to buy.¡±


    ¡°Is it expensive?¡± Ewan asked, eating a spoonful of rice that became one of his favorite dishes from now on.


    ¡°Elemental,¡± she said.


    Ewan¡¯s spoon halted, a few rice grains tumbled over with a piece of duck, and he looked at her. ¡°Where¡¯d you find it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s listed for an auction.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense.¡± He scooped the duck again and scarfed. ¡°What¡¯s the estimate?¡±


    ¡°Around a thousand,¡± she said.


    ¡°Which element?¡±


    ¡°Earth.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, it might go over that. Do you really want it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, it is too costly. I think I can trade my dad¡¯s materials to match its price, but I¡¯m not sure yet. Should I buy it?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t need those materials urgently and if they¡¯re available in the market, then trading would be better. Elementals don¡¯t appear too often, even in auctions,¡± he said, wondering how rich she was to consider this option at her level. His Pa too left him a lot, but they were all priceless possessions. He couldn¡¯t sell even a single item from his inventory, lest the exposure took his life in vain.


    The Obsidian Dagger wasn¡¯t priceless actually, he could sell it for a good amount. But his situation was stable, it didn¡¯t entail trading usable items yet.


    ¡°I¡¯ll attend the auction then. Do you want to check it out? The list is good.¡±


    ¡°I can''t afford the bids right now. I¡¯ll just check the progress to get an idea of their prices,¡± Ewan said.


    Nana bobbed her head and finished off the last bite before cleaning up the table. Ewan handed over his plate and went to gather ingredients for Anima Potions, he had enough to brew it for his Astylinds.


    ¡­¡­.


    Orange went first. Fourth attempt and Ewan had an Anima Potion ready for him. He handled the higher leveled Anima Potion quite well last time, so Ewan chose the same for him now, a Level-5 Potion. With his training speed boosted, the little monkey broke through to Level-4, trailing Frost. The waves of Fire-Anima settled down as his condition stabilized. They were of the same level, but the grade marked their difference, Orange couldn¡¯t contest Frost yet, much to his frustration.


    Their childish fight had long numbed Ewan to elicit a snappy response, but Toast was having a blast watching the show, munching on some toasted bread with all its irony, getting crumbs all over his fur. Iris, on the other side, passed a hint of anticipation and excitement about the Anima Potion to Ewan, a development in her consciousness he was glad for.


    The ingredients were ready, he was rested, so he wasted no time and brewed another potion. Each failure taught him lessons, he improved with every trial.


    Third attempt, and Iris had her Anima Potion. She was more delicate and daintier than Orange, forceful boosts wouldn¡¯t sit well with her. Thus, Ewan went with the quantity approach instead, he brewed her a couple of Level-3 potions.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Airadian Hub-Stratum.


    Each succeeding bid killed its predecessor as the items soared in value. From the comfort of his shop, and by the convenience of a network layout, Ewan observed and analyzed the market, at least he intended to.


    Artifacts, Potions, Ingredients, Astylinds, Slaves, the auction covered everything with anonymity beings its strong suit. The disappointment, though, was that the rarity of the listed items separated it from the general market. It couldn¡¯t represent the market trend; it couldn¡¯t teach him anything about the fluctuations in the trade market. Still, the ever-changing bidding war opened his eyes, it gave him an assessment of what to expect in case he ever found himself fighting in it.


    His screen refreshed, and another item was off the list. The auction was finally on the home stretch with only three more to go. The first of the three was the Astylind Nana wanted, the Earth Elemental. An Elemental could be a great addition to any Severynth¡¯s team, regardless of the style. And the rapidly changing identity number on the screen proved this, it was a popular choice.


    The bids skyrocketed, soon reaching the estimate Nana mentioned. Even Ewan had to resist the urge to participate¡ªhe rented a shop in the hub, so he had the free ticket to participate any time. Nevertheless, his wallet couldn¡¯t support his indulgence anyway. So, he only watched.


    The numbers changed, and after a while, only two remained in the race. The price point had already gone beyond the estimate, now approaching an irrational level, even for a defensive Elemental. Ewan hoped Nana would win, but the towering bids made it impossible to hold on to that hope.


    Finally, the values stabilized, and one of the identity numbers won the Astylind with an absurd price of fifty-five hundred Novas. The winner must be filthy rich¡­


    Poor Nana, Ewan shook his head. These auctions were too volatile. Costs could explode any time depending on the participants, or they might never take off at all. Just too mercurial¡­.


    ¡­¡­


    Back in the office, Nana stared at Ewan, her chest heaving, her face flushed.


    ¡°Let it go, we can''t control¡­.¡± Before Ewan could finish, she jumped off the table and squeezed him into a hug. He stumbled back, supporting Nana by her waist. Her ample bosom pressed against his chest, her silky hair brushed his face, and the comforting floral smell of night-jasmine once again engulfed him.


    ¡°Nana,¡± Ewan said, tapping on her shoulder. ¡°I can''t breathe.¡± She held too tight.


    ¡°I won,¡± she yelled and laughed, the loud voice ringing his ears. Yet, the context of her sentence replaced his wild imaginations and left him with only one thought.


    She is filthy rich¡­


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.2 | Ice ¨C 7.2 | Blood ¨C 7.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-68 Escalate

    [Astylind Name: Earth Elemental]


    [Astylind Level: Level-0]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Earth]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of all planets, planes, and realms that produce Earth-Anima. They exist where Earth-Anima exists. Adored by Earth-Anima, they¡¯re highly efficient in spellcasting.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirement: Astylind Core (Earth), Anima Crystal (Earth), Crelith.]


    [Remark 1: A good addition to any team, they can fill the position of either a defending vanguard or a spellcaster.]


    [Remark 2: Too boring. They¡¯re already good, with or without a Severynth. You can''t get any credit for their excellence.]


    [Remark 3: Fascinating biology, a living being with no signs of life. I would¡¯ve liked to study them more. Alas¡­.my time¡¯s run out.]


    Pa¡­.


    Ewan closed the <Identify> screen and faced Nana.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite well-off,¡± he said, watching her nervously handle a piece of stone that sold for over five-thousand Novas.


    ¡°Mum and dad left me everything in the hub. This pendant had my blood, it sensed me when I connected and transferred the shop to me,¡± she said, caressing her wine-red pendant when she put the ¡®stone¡¯ down on the table.


    ¡°They knew¡­¡± Ewan murmured.


    Nana looked down for a moment then took a deep breath and raised her head with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m super rich now, that¡¯s why I said I can protect you, so be a good boy and let me protect you, don¡¯t grumble so much.¡±


    ¡°Piss off.¡± Ewan scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ll be content if you didn¡¯t get me killed at every step.¡± His instincts tingled but the next tick of the second smothered it, and the mist in his mind seethed.


    ¡°What did I do, you¡¯ve been asking for death left and right, and you always use me as bait.¡± She fought back. ¡°What if I died? Who¡¯ll take the responsibility? Who¡¯ll protect you then?¡±


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t die. And you were never at risk anyway, I was always careful, and I was the one who always fought,¡± he said. ¡°You just cried and cried, how old are you anyway.¡±


    ¡°W-When did I cry? T-That was one time only, and why do you care, you don¡¯t even give a damn whether I drink or not!¡±


    ¡°You lay around all night on your balcony, dead drunk. You don¡¯t even bother to take care of yourself, what do you want me to do!¡±


    Their volumes intensified; the conversation now turned into a yelling contest. His inhibitions and his reticence had stumbled, and perhaps Nana''s too, they were losing control¡­yet the mist snuffed this thought as it budded. And his impulses stepped up.


    ¡°So, you were watching me all this time but never came to help!!¡± she bayed.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t watching, I was observing! And unsolicited help can worsen the situation. What if I made it worse, what if something happened to you because I helped, what then?¡± The mist billowed.


    ¡°You just think, think, and overthink. How much do you question yourself? Why can''t you just act? What if I needed your help?¡±


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°How would I know that if you never said anything? I can''t read minds!!¡± he yelled. The room had blurred, the dim white light from the lamp softened into a flickering blip in the background. Only Nana remained in his vision, and her words rolled in his soul. ¡°And I helped when you came to me in the end, didn¡¯t I!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and you said I owe you for that. Who says that to his fianc¨¦e? Can''t you just be honest for once?¡± She almost screamed. ¡°And then you barged into my room at night. From the balcony!! Do you know how scared I was? I thought they finally came for me! What were you doing? Couldn¡¯t you just knock like a normal person? Do you think you¡¯re some spy that everyone¡¯s after?¡±


    ¡°M-My relatives try to put me down like that; I need to be careful.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m like your relatives?¡± She cried out. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll do what they ask and hurt you? Huh!!¡± She screeched.


    ¡°People change, you cut me out for years, how could I know you were still the same!!¡±


    ¡°I cut you out? You cut me out, you were even going to leave like this if I didn¡¯t happen to be outside your house!!¡±


    ¡°I already told you I was leaving! And you never said you wanted to leave with me, what do you expect me to do? Wait around forever without you mentioning it?¡±


    ¡°You could¡¯ve asked me yourself!! But you didn¡¯t, you were always like this. You never came to me even when mum and dad died, you just watched from afar.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I was scared. I needed you¡­¡± And she sniffed and sobbed.


    Ewan watched her bawl, sharp guilt clawing his heart. He had his reasons for it, his age and his pain validated them. But he was a man, he wasn¡¯t allowed those reasons and that pain, especially when someone he cared for was suffering¡ªhe had to relent. And now those factors turned into regrets, and it hurt. Why didn¡¯t he comfort her that day, why wasn¡¯t he there for her when she needed him the most¡­


    He moved in and hugged her, but she pushed him away, crying harder. He moved in again and she pushed him again. And again, he embraced her harder this time, his fingers running through her hair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said softly.


    ¡°I hate you,¡± she said and wailed on his shoulder, clutching his t-shirt, her tears and snot drenching him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he murmured. The mist in his mind surged. This was his weakest moment, and it latched onto his emotions and bloomed¡­.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The gentle refreshing night breeze respited him from his chaotic emotions. Under the moonlight, perched on the peak of the building, not fighting his instinct also soothed him. Yet, his mind still felt fuzzy, as a layer of mist engulfed him.


    The escalation in their conversation leading to that outburst took him off guard, he couldn¡¯t maintain his usual rationality. Impulses were never his friends, and today cemented the fact further. After Nana stopped crying, he came out to take a breather, to flatten his swelled sentiments and regain his calm, but it was harder than he thought¡ªher words kept echoing in his ears. He did well in the ways of mind, but the ways of emotions tended to trip him¡­


    He rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath, the pungent stench of the wolf-urine hitting his nose. The past was past, there was nothing he could do anymore, he just had to move on. As long as they were alive, everything would be okay, his optimistic side chimed in. Regrets, guilt, they would all come and go¡ªhe would be the one to outlive them all. The only thing he had to make sure of was that Nana outlived them with him. At least she didn¡¯t hate him, her words might¡¯ve said it, but her actions opposed it out loud¡­


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.3 | Ice ¨C 7.3 | Blood ¨C 7.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-69 Fire Wolf

    The eerie silence persisted around the area. This would remain while the piss of the wolves remained. So, before the wind withered the stench away, before the new Astylind marked this area and trapped them in, they needed to move.


    Once his restless emotions settled, Ewan walked down the stairs to the floor where they stayed, the echoes of his steps blaring against the quiet.


    ¡°Where were you? I¡¯m dying here,¡± Nana said, clutching her top, shaking her knees, and breathing fast in a rhythm. ¡°I really have to pee!¡±


    ¡°Just go then.¡± Ewan chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s right across the hall,¡± he said.


    ¡°I-I can''t, it¡¯s too dark. Come with me,¡± she said, tugging his t-shirt.


    ¡°How old are you? You still haven¡¯t changed this habit¡­¡±


    ¡°I-It¡¯s really dark. Stop grumbling, just come with me.¡± She pushed him to walk ahead.


    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± he said and led her through the pitch-dark corridors to the bathroom section.


    The darkness blinded her, but even this amount of negligible light was enough for him to see as his irises glowed green. Papers and clipboards lay scattered on the mirror-like tiled floor, and the crunchy glass shards impeded the clean tap of their boots. The stench of desolation ran thick, even on this closed off floor. Dried stains of spilled coffee, flipped chairs, unhinged doors, still running water dispenser, shattered photo frames, broken plant pots¡ªthe signs of life from before the wall fell remained in bits and pieces.


    But not for long. Obria died the moment it lost its protection; its citizens weren¡¯t strong enough to survive against the nature¡¯s onslaught. And soon these traces will also rot away¡­


    ¡°Are we there yet?¡± Nana asked, tiptoeing behind him, holding the hem of his t-shirt.


    Her words broke him out of his dejection. ¡°Almost,¡± he said.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Are we there yet?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Almost.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°Almost¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°I can''t hold it anymore, it¡¯ll leak out, are we there yet!¡±


    ¡°It should be here¡­,¡± Ewan murmured and looked around. Different sections sliced the corridor into forks here, but none of the signboards mentioned any bathroom.


    ¡°How do you even know that?¡± She squeezed her legs together, trembling. ¡°I can''t¡­anymore¡­it¡¯ll leak.¡±


    ¡°Sound of waterdrops,¡± Ewan said mindlessly, closing his eyes and blocking all the useless noises¡ªmainly her whining. The sound of a drop resonated again towards his right. ¡°There,¡± he said and dragged her by her hand.


    ¡°I can''t hear anything.¡±


    ¡°I can,¡± he said. ¡°Hurry up and go or do it here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go, I¡¯ll go!¡± She scuttled inside with baby steps when they reached the bathroom, neither of them bothered to check whether it was male¡¯s or female¡¯s, and she slammed the door¡ªit just recoiled back open however as the latch failed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave!¡± she yelled from the inside.


    ¡°I won''t, do what you have to do,¡± he said, leaning on the wall outside, hands crossed.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Are you there?¡± she asked.


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


    ¡°I am, just pee already!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying, my belt¡¯s not coming off.¡±


    Ewan sighed and rubbed his forehead. ¡°Just pee in your pants then,¡± he murmured.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Are you there?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± he said, helplessly.


    Soon the echo of a thick and forceful stream of water hitting a puddle rang out, and with it she sang. ¡°La la la ala la~¡±


    ¡°I can still hear it, stop singing,¡± he said, chortling. ¡°Your singing has never worked.¡±


    Her voice halted abruptly but the sound of stream to the puddle continued with a spurt.


    ¡­..


    ¡°Ewan!!¡± she screamed.


    He jerked from his stance with a broken yawn and bolted into the bathroom, expanding his Ryvia. Nana stood there facing the dark corner, clothed up but her belt dangled. ¡°T-That¡­,¡± she said, gulping, when Ewan came in.


    He yanked Nana back by her top and stood in front of her, squinting at the concerned corner. It was darker than its surroundings, so the two tiny orbs of wavering white light contrasted better. And their owner was a pup with black and orange fur¡ªa Fire Wolf pup. It howled in its childlike voice and limped forward, almost stumbling¡ªits right foreleg left a trail of blood.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a Fire Wolf pup, its fine.¡± He comforted Nana. It should be from the pack they just killed, most likely a survivor.


    ¡°It looks injured,¡± Nana said, peeking out from behind Ewan.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, let¡¯s go,¡± Ewan said and turned around, grabbing Nana with him.


    ¡°Wait,¡± she said and pulled away, bending down to the wolf pup, and carrying it in her arms¡ªits blood smeared her top. ¡°She¡¯s too pitiful.¡±


    ¡°She?¡± Ewan frowned.


    It was too dark for her to check the pup¡¯s gender, not without Ryvia¡­did she use her <Identify> already¡­something was off about this wolf pup. Her smell¡­. His nose twitched¡ªthe pup gave off a sharp minty smell. Ewan recalled it from somewhere¡­.


    He couldn¡¯t put a finger on it, the seething mist in his mind enlarged into a strange fog and clouded his clarity. Something was off about this all¡­.


    Identify.


    [Astylind Name: Fire Wolf]


    [Astylind Level: Level-0]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Fire]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. All-round creatures who major in physical melee and minor in Fire-Anima based skills. They prefer living in packs but can survive alone if needed.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirement: Astylind Core (Fire), Astylind Blood (Fire), Fira Stone.]


    [Remark 1: Decent choice, a decent addition. Since potential doesn¡¯t bind Astylinds and Starons, severity of choices decreases.]


    [Remark 2: Can be used as a mount, otherwise useless.]


    [Remark 3: Lacking evolution paths. Lackluster strength. Only advantage they have is their ferocity which dampens when contracted to a master.]


    Yet, the results said otherwise, everything was normal. Was he overthinking? Was his instinct going awry again? Was this another change provoked by his soul merging with Toast?


    ¡°Can we bring her with us?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s not add one more burden on me.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s injured,¡± Nana said. ¡°She¡¯ll die if we leave her here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not our concern. And we just killed her family, tagging her along will be in bad taste.¡±


    ¡°But Severynths kill Astylinds all the time and then contract their children.¡± She turned back to Ewan, her eyes foggy and dazed, but soon recovered. ¡°Please,¡± she said, stretching out her word, tugging his cargo with a pitiful pout.


    Ewan heaved a sigh; he couldn¡¯t retort. The baby wolf looked at him too, its beady eyes reflected his image. It was too small, too weak to be a danger¡ªits eyes exuded innocence.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ewan said. ¡°But you¡¯re looking after her.¡±


    Nana beamed. ¡°I will.¡±


    And they both came out of the bathroom. Ewan led her again and Nana followed behind him, pinching the hem of his t-shirt, while carrying the Fire Wolf pup in her arms.


    ¡°Was it raining outside? Your shoulder is wet,¡± she said.


    ¡°It¡¯s your snot!¡± Ewan snapped back. ¡°You¡¯re washing it!¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.3 | Ice ¨C 7.3 | Blood ¨C 7.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-70 Yurnawa [Part-I]

    [Astylind Name: Shadow Serf]


    [Astylind Level: Level-2]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Dark]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Yurnawa. Bottom feeders of the shadow plane. They live in flocks, hunt in flocks. Unskilled in both melee and spellcasting but they excel at climbing.]


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan stretched his hands out, hovering an inch above the ground with the tip of his boots grazing the ravaged asphalt.


    Ice Daggers!


    He cast the spell with all his Ice-Anima, it was the current strongest form of the spell, and six razor-sharp ice daggers soon floated around him. His ¡®Yurn¡¯ gaiter covered half his face, its effect dampening his presence and enhancing his stealth.


    ¡°Nuisance,¡± he murmured, squinting at the pestering serfs climbing the pile of debris all around, his green-glowing eyes radiating a predator¡¯s breath.


    They were humanoid yet far from Starons. Parched ashen skin, long twig limbs, bony claws, rotten teeth, bulging eyes, semi-bald with a few strands of straw-hair jutting out top¡ªthey were the definition of repugnance, their shrill cries even more so.


    His daggers shuttled around, white blurry streaks trailing their flash. Ewan managed his enhanced Ryvia, one dagger rent the air and stabbed a serf through the temple, jamming into the concrete. He focused on it and yanked back with a gesture. Dark blood spurted with the dagger¡¯s departure, and the serf¡¯s dead body plummeted to the ground.


    A serf on the opposite side screeched and vaulted at Ewan. Two daggers zipped at it; they sliced the serf apart in the air. Its corpse plopped and slid before Ewan in pieces, his Ryvia defense preventing the blood splatters.


    The violent deaths halted the rest of the serfs, they cried at Ewan but backed away.


    ¡°I need your cores,¡± he said, staring at them. ¡°Please die and hand them over.¡±


    The daggers zipped all over the area, leaving dead serfs in their wake. Dark blood painted the concrete, corpses covered the ground. Gore, brain matter, intestines, organs, chopped limbs¡ªhis spell unfurled mayhem all over the place. It only stayed for a bit though, the all-encompassing spell circuit ¡®cleaned¡¯ it all soon.


    ¡°Is it done?¡± Nana asked, shivering behind the ice wall Frost created to protect her.


    ¡°Almost,¡± Ewan said, pulling the gaiter down, and his breath steamed. The continuous usage of ice spells had dropped the temperature, the surrounding was back to Frosthelm again.


    Fireball!


    Ewan aimed and hurled. A couple of fist-sized fireballs zoomed and exploded on contact, they took care of the fleeing serfs and helped with the cold.


    ¡°It¡¯s done now.¡± Ewan released his Ryvia as the flash of the explosion died. His heels dropped to the ground; the daggers also melted away. ¡°I did the hunting; you do the gathering. Get to work,¡± he said, letting Nana take over the stage.


    She might be rich and didn¡¯t need the cores, but he did. He couldn¡¯t let even a tiny amount of profit go.


    ¡­¡­


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    [Astylind Name: Blind Spider]


    [Astylind Level: Level-4]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Dark]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: Natives of Yurnawa. Predators of the shadow plane. They gave up on vision in the race of evolution and chose vibrations and other extra sensory methods to perceive the world.]


    ¡­¡­


    The spiders blocked their path, crawling on the ground, climbing the rubble. Each came to about Ewan¡¯s waist, but one was larger than the rest. The night obscured their ebony bodies, they melded into the darkness, and only their hisses echoed.


    ¡°Yurnawa again¡­,¡± Ewan mumbled and clicked his tongue, pulling the gaiter up, covering half his face. Its effect once again stifled his presence.


    Frost, take the lead.


    Frost marched ahead, positioning himself between the spiders and Ewan. His tail swayed; the Ice-Anima bellowed. He waved his hand and froze the incoming web in their tracks, they glittered under the violet-silver moonlight. The larger spider screeched, and the other spiders advanced.


    ¡°Orange, protect Nana,¡± he said.


    Ice Daggers!


    And the six ice daggers condensed again, rotating around Ewan.


    Frost aimed and shot several icicles. Some stabbed in their heads with dull thuds, killing them on spot, some missed. The remaining spiders shrieked, their chelicerae wide opened, venomous saliva dripping in long slimy strings as the concrete hissed beneath. The stink wafted and hit Ewan who stood far away; he reacted and blocked the air out. Frost was close, so he suffered the most. He groaned and stumbled back, covering his nose, his bloodshot eyes tearing up. It took him seconds, but he also recovered when Ewan shielded him.


    The larger spider cried and curled her body, aiming her spinneret at the sky. Her stomach wriggled, she squirted a heavy amount of silk, spreading it in the air up high. The nigh invisible strands of web feathered down, sticking to Ewan and everyone around him. Each individual filament was thin and weak, but the accumulation would soon reach a dangerous level.


    Fireball!


    Ewan nudged the fireballs with his Ryvia and spiraled it around to burn all the web floating down on them. He gestured forward, and three daggers launched at the incoming spiders¡ªthe other two went to defend Frost, and the last one remained with him.


    Trap them.


    Frost roared a war cry and pushed both his hands forward. The Ice-Anima surged, and the ground froze around him, pinning the spiders down. They screeched, struggled, but couldn¡¯t break the ice shackles. The daggers bore through their heads then cleaved them apart with no resistance, dragging the area into its initial silence.


    Her pack was down, the larger spider scuttled for Frost with a cry, her pointy legs chipping the icy ground.


    She came in range and shrieked, but her corrosive breath couldn¡¯t pass Ewan¡¯s Ryvia. She sprung, her fangs out and taut, she aimed for Frost. Ewan pointed, his daggers defending Frost zipped and blocked the fangs. The daggers chipped and cracked but her attack stopped.


    ¡°Freeze her,¡± he said.


    The Ice-Anima frenzied around Frost, storming. He reached for the spider and touched her eyeless head. The tick of the second halted as her body iced up with a snap. All six daggers positioned around her and shanked her, snuffing any life she might have left.


    Ewan heaved a deep breath with eyes drooping, staring at the moons¡­ Another battle over.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 1.2 | Ice ¨C 0.0 | Blood ¨C 7.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-71 Yurnawa [Part-II]

    Two nights later.


    The sea of a meter long centipedes crawled around Ewan and Nana, trapping them on top of a debris pile. The rhythmic clacks of their endless legs rolled in every direction, their whirs leading it. Ewan could neither pinpoint their location nor could he estimate their numbers.


    ¡°Yurnawa again¡­.something¡¯s off,¡± he murmured. Nana clutched his t-shirt, almost hugging him. Her arms and legs trembled, and her breath was erratic as she looked around at the creeping menaces.


    ¡°S-Should we run?¡± she asked in a whisper.


    ¡°We¡¯re fenced,¡± Ewan said, bringing out Frost and Orange with his ¡®Dekoth¡¯, the aura of frigid ice and scorching fire clashing against each other. ¡°Bring out Luna and Biscuit, keep Lime in. And throw that wolf to the side, we can''t protect it.¡±


    She had the wolf in her arms and cuddled her harder. ¡°I¡¯ll protect her,¡± she said under her breath.


    Ewan clicked his tongue. ¡°Fine, just bring out your Astylinds,¡± he said.


    She opened her Dekoth, and a bird flapped her wings out with a breath of water, chilling and calm, landing on her shoulder. A ¡®stone¡¯ hovered out of another Dekoth, bringing with it the weight of the earth.


    ¡°Handle defense. I¡¯ll attack,¡± he said.


    His Ryvia was ready, and so were his vanguards.


    Ice Dagger!


    He cast as his Astylinds launched. Frost froze the two nearest centipedes with a wave of his hand while Orange hammered and crushed the third one.


    Go all out.


    Bloodlust!


    His daggers fanned out, and he cast <Bloodlust> on both Frost and Orange. Blood veins marred their eyes, deep growls grinded in their throats; Anima gushed around them. Insanity with obedience, the strange combination had always intrigued Ewan, but this wasn¡¯t the right time for research.


    Frost jumped and soared in the air; Ewan held him high with his Ryvia.


    ¡°Make it rain,¡± he muttered.


    Frost spread his arms and conjured dozens of small icicles, and a moment later, he waved. The icicles hailed down on the centipedes, pelting them, skewering them, the resounding volley drowning their deathly screams.


    Orange picked the other side; Ewan supported him at the same time. Platform after platform, Orange blasted from one to the other, crushing one centipede after another, his fur drenched in blood. The booms resonated; his orange figure flashed under the curtain of the moonlight.


    Yet, more centipedes kept crawling in, some from afar, some from under the rubble. His two Astylinds could only cover two sides, the other two were open.


    Toast¡­.


    The little kitten came out of his wheel tattoo and looked back at Ewan, his beady eyes asking for mercy.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Ewan tried to placate him. Melee wasn¡¯t his forte and it wasn¡¯t his preference, even after the changes that his merged soul brought, but a special occasion called for a special reply. His spell arsenal was neither big enough nor resourceful enough to last him a taxing fight yet, he had to go melee until it could.


    And so, he sent the daggers to one side, while he and Toast took another, albeit he had to drag the kitten with him. He might not have any combat qualifications, but he was still at the fourth awakening like Ewan. It was enough to deal with these low-level centipedes, even with their large numbers.


    The battle tested the limits of his concentration and focus as he dove into the skirmish with his Obsidian Dagger, controlling the other three sides at the same time too.


    He stabbed the first, dodged the second, flipped on his hand, shanked another. His agility saw him through the heat of the fight, amidst the centipedes. Toast had shaken off his laziness already and supported him from behind. Any centipede Ewan missed, Toast either clobbered and mashed their heads, severed them with his sharp claws, or ripped them apart with his fangs.


    Because of the nature of the enemy, Ewan¡¯s battle stance remained low, as he sliced, tore, and knifed the centipedes. The thick smell of iron was getting to his head, every inch of his body was screaming with excitement. He kicked one, another bit his calf. The stab on its head splattered blood all over Ewan¡¯s face. He licked it, it tasted sour.


    Poison¡­.


    He spat it out and shook his leg to get the dead centipede off. Toast hissed and bit one that came at Ewan from behind, he rattled his head violently and mauled it apart.


    ¡°Don¡¯t drink the blood.¡± Ewan reminded Toast as they shared the likeness for it, rushing to another centipede, still attending to his daggers, still creating platforms for Orange, and still supporting Frost with his Ryvia.


    ¡­¡­.


    Ewan, Frost, Orange, and Toast, all sprawled on the rubble pile, a sea of centipede corpses surrounded them¡ªwithering corpses. Wounded, tired, panting, bleeding, and poisoned, none of them moved even a finger, only their chests heaved. Luna and Iris made rounds on them, casting their healing spell, while Nana ransacked her Spellbook.


    ¡°Stop looking. Even if you find any, you won¡¯t be able to cast it right away,¡± Ewan said, gulping, wetting his dry itchy throat.


    ¡°I can try,¡± she said.


    Ewan shook his head and let her be. If it gave her some peace of mind, there was no harm in it. Even if she failed, she could try again.


    ¡°Who¡¯s good to go now?¡± he asked. Toast, Frost, and Orange, the three flinched at his words and fell still and silent, not daring to twitch.


    ¡°Toast?¡±


    The kitten trembled, it jumped after a second and screeched at Ewan.


    ¡°Good, you look healthy enough, go gather the cores.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.5 | Ice ¨C 7.5 | Blood ¨C 7.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-72 Haze

    Three days of footfalls after the centipedes¡¯ mayhem and they finally reached the forest. Calm and quiet with the songs of birds and the ballads of insects still humming in the background, it was a world cut off from the rest of the colony. No one lived here, so the Astylinds faced no resistance. No battles, no damage, the place looked as serene as it had on any other day from the window of the tram.


    ¡°We¡¯ll rest here for now,¡± Ewan said, searching for a place to camp, pushing the vines away with his Ryvia.


    ¡°Won''t they chase us here?¡± Nana asked, looking around warily.


    ¡°They will,¡± Ewan said, stopping at a small clearing surrounded by the young trees that battled for sunlight. The old ones died during regular maintenance; the young were the only ones the forest retained. ¡°Let¡¯s rest till they do.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already the fifth day. How long will they come after us?¡± she asked.


    Ewan frowned. The fog in his mind had gotten thicker over the days, it had expanded and blocked his thoughts. Neither his logic, his rationality, nor his critical mind replied to him when it came to this matter. Why were the native Astylinds of Yurnawa targeting them so doggedly? He had the answer, but the cloudy fog hid it, he knew it did. He was getting lost, it made him hazy.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­.,¡± he said, turning towards Nana. ¡°You still have her out?¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t like it inside the rune,¡± Nana said, petting the wolf in her arms.


    ¡°An Astylind who doesn¡¯t like it inside the rune, you¡¯ve really spoiled her,¡± Ewan said, shaking his head, preparing to set up a temporary camp.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, she helps us when the time comes, that¡¯s what matters,¡± she said, scrunching the wolf¡¯s face and pouting at her. ¡°And who will I spoil if not her? Xylla¡¯s been with me the longest, she was the only one with me when mum and dad died.¡±


    Ewan halted for a moment at her words when brushing the dead leaves away, then continued his work.


    ¡°Sure, whatever,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t get how she didn¡¯t grow up though, she¡¯s still the same as I saw her years ago¡­.¡± His voice dimmed as he went on, the last sentence shook the cloudy fog. Yet, it prevailed again and stopped him out. ¡°Forget it. Cook something we can eat quickly. We won''t stop here for long,¡± he said.


    ¡­¡­


    The delish aroma of Nana¡¯s cooking attracted many animals, non-Astylinds, but they could only watch from a distance. Orange and Toast as the perimeter watch kept them away, though the two drooled more than they guarded.


    ¡°Is it ready?¡± Ewan asked, sitting cross-legged with his family¡¯s journal spread open on his lap.


    ¡°Almost, have some patience,¡± Nana said, stirring the stew that was her own creation, a recipe she developed on this trip.


    ¡°My stomach¡¯s already growling¡­.,¡± he mumbled, attending to the book again.


    The fog impeded his critical thinking, and he wanted to know what it was, needed to know. It had almost muted his bestial instinct too, and that gave Ewan an orange alert. Was it an external source? But who or what? They hadn''t met anyone new on their journey or hadn''t found anything special. Were they under attack? Or was it all his illusion? He¡¯d long started doubting his own skepticism. But if nothing was wrong, then why were the Yurnawa Astylinds coming after them one after another? The lack of an answer and his dampened instincts kept his apprehension alive.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    His journal lacked an index, so he went part by part, skimming. Most contents jumped over his head, but some stuck. And finally, he reached the part that explained the phenomenon he was experiencing.


    ¡°Suggestion¡­.¡± He squinted and read.


    Xylla howled at him and bit his cargo, struggling to drag him¡ªit distracted him from the book.


    ¡°She¡¯s hungry too, let¡¯s eat now, it¡¯s done,¡± Nana said, preparing a bowl for each.


    ¡°Two minutes,¡± Ewan said and went back to reading. Yet, all the words were blurry now. He frowned and rubbed his eyes, but the contents were still fuzzy.


    The book¡¯s too old¡­


    But what did he read just now? His memory pulled a blank. He massaged his temples, yet nothing came to him.


    ¡°It¡¯ll get cold,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°Fine.¡± He kept the book in his claw-ring and joined them for supper, throwing the matter to the back of his mind.


    ¡­¡­


    Sun set early in the forest, and the moonlight strived to bypass the tree crowns.


    ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡±


    They packed, they cleaned, and they marched ahead in the semi-dark forest, the flickers of the moonlight through the foliage guiding their path.


    Ewan kept one step ahead, Nana followed him with Xylla in her arms.


    ¡°What will attack this time¡­.,¡± she uttered under her breath.


    ¡°Just hope it¡¯s not the giant, others I can handle somehow.¡±


    ¡°Giant?¡± She tilted her head. ¡°That head-something one?¡± she asked, lifting her brows.


    ¡°Headless Giant,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We can only try to run and survive if that guy comes. I can''t beat it, even with Frost and Orange.¡±


    ¡°I only remember bits from what Mr. Baryt taught us,¡± she said. ¡°Is it dangerous?¡±


    ¡°Depends on its level,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If it¡¯s even one level higher than us, we¡¯ll have to run. It¡¯s too destructive.¡±


    ¡°What if it pops out just when we¡¯re talking about it?¡± she asked with a giggle. The rest and supper must¡¯ve eased her nerves. It was better this way, so Ewan let her be. Her stress wouldn¡¯t be of use anyway. If some harmless babbles relaxed her and let her move in battles, he would be glad to participate.


    The ground ahead fizzled and bubbled, Ewan killed his steps amidst his thoughts and yanked Nana back, squinting at the sizzling patch turning black.


    ¡°You and your fucking mouth¡­.,¡± he muttered. At the end of the next second, a charcoal-skinned giant that almost blended with the night latched onto the edge of the ground, and the forest shuddered with its erupting roar.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.8 | Ice ¨C 7.8 | Blood ¨C 7.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-5] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-73 Headless Giant

    [Astylind Name: Headless Giant]


    [Astylind Level: Level-7]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-B]


    [Anima Affinity: Dark]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Yurnawa. They live in the shadows, Dark-Anima heeds their call (Favored-level). Their large bodies give them a steep advantage in brute melee combat, but they can also employ spells for support.]


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan grabbed Nana and bolted past the black patch on the ground, thrusting their sprint with Ryvia. The giant was Level-7 and a Grade-B, even Frost at Level-5 couldn¡¯t contest him. The only plausible action for survival was fleeing, and Ewan chose it.


    The Headless Giant climbed out and roared, flailing his hands, his mouth between his shoulders spewing slimy strings of saliva in the air. The trees cracked and snapped from his outrage; flocks of birds fluttered away in panic after the rude awakening. Ewan looked back, even from afar, the giant still looked huge, too huge to fight back. He must be about three- or four-times Ewan, not someone he could kill with their numbers given the level and grade difference.


    The giant stopped bellowing and dashed after them, each hammering thud of his footfall shrinking a good chunk of distance Ewan had gained. His weight quaked the ground, trees lost their leaves and some their lives as he bulldozed past them.


    Ewan cursed and sped up, revving his Ryvia to the max, racing past any obstacles, dragging Nana and the wolf in her arms as the gust of the forest streamed against his face.


    The giant scooped the soil, dirt and pebbles slipping away from his fingers, and hurled at Ewan. The makeshift bullets obliterated all in their paths, flashing to the running couple in a moment. Ewan¡¯s Ryvia blocked the majority, they rained down on the defense, but the attack surpassed his limits. A pebble zipped past Ewan¡¯s left temple, leaving a bleeding cut; another punctured his left shoulder, through and through; and a jagged twig gashed Nana¡¯s waist as she hugged Xylla hard, protecting her from any harm.


    ¡°Don¡¯t scream!¡± Ewan said, stumbling from the impact, wincing from the stinging pain, the fog in his mind convulsing. He lugged Nana with him again and sprinted, covered in dirt soil and dead leaves, while casting <Ember> to cauterize his shoulder wound. Blood loss would be a big problem in their current predicament. If he fainted, none of them would survive. The wincing agony and the foul stench from burning his own skin and flesh could come later, they weren¡¯t his priority.


    The attack diminished his hopes of survival and killed any lingering intention of fighting back. A simple toss of stones and soil could do that much damage, he didn¡¯t want to test the giant for any other moves. If things continued, he would lose his life, and Nana wouldn¡¯t survive either. He needed something, anything, to divert the menace.


    Xylla¡­


    He looked back at the wolf and met her beady eyes; they held the naivety and the innocence of a child. Nana would be devastated if Xylla died, she¡¯d been her support for too long¡ªthe fog churned and validated his decision.


    Anyone else¡­


    Ice Daggers!


    He cast the spell only to enhance his Ryvia. He stretched it afar, removing the defense. The next attack could end them both in one shot, he had to find something or someone to distract the giant by then.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The Headless Giant pursued them relentlessly, flattening everything in his path. He howled, his feet glowed an obsidian tint, and he launched up.


    Fuck!!


    Ewan halted and dove to the right, hugging Nana, rolling a distance. The giant crashed where he was, exploding the ground, blasting the soil and the trees away. The trembles spread far, instilling a deathly silence in the forest. Yet, faint shallow pants splintered the quiet with their rapid and rough rhythms. Ewan held his own grunts and heaves for a moment, omitted Nana¡¯s too, and made sure. Someone was hiding nearby, and more than one. This was the chance he was looking for.


    The giant flung a tree at them, Ewan parried with a pointy Ryvia, barely succeeded, and bolted towards the breathing sound source with Nana.


    ¡°Shit! He¡¯s coming here,¡± someone ahead whispered in alarm. A vile smirk sneaked up on Ewan¡¯s face, his countenance tired but hope and savagery burned ever-so bright in his green-glowing eyes.


    ¡°Help,¡± he said, quiet enough to not trigger the giant, and separated the bush hiding them with a wave of his hand from afar. One girl, and two boys; they looked almost the same age as Ewan.


    ¡°What the fuck did you do!!¡± the girl shrieked. The two boys pulled her back and broke into a run, almost dragging her with them.


    The girl had screamed, Nana hadn¡¯t, they could survive this¡­ The giant bawled at the new guests, his howl rocking the forest again, his splattering saliva wetting the ground around him. The soundwave shook Ewan¡¯s heart, it skipped a beat. They might be the giant¡¯s initial target, but he shouldn¡¯t ignore the new prey now, he hoped. The only requirement now was to race faster than them, and his Ryvia gave him an edge in this.


    Seconds after finding the three, Ewan and Nana darted past them, leaving them behind for the giant¡¯s judgment.


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!!!¡± the girl shrieked and shot a fist-sized fireball at Ewan.


    Ewan smothered it on the way, the embers tracing his Ryvia before dying for good; the attack was far too weak. Then the giant crouched, his feet glowed obsidian again.


    Shit!!


    Ewan stopped and turned, he needed to see the giant¡¯s jump to know the landing point.


    ¡°Please help us!!!¡± one of the boys hollered, tears and snot covering his face. The other boy pointed at Nana and cast a spell. A seed hovered before his palm, and soon broke into a vine, slithering on the ground.


    The giant had Ewan¡¯s full attention, and by the time he noticed the sneak attack, the vine had swiped Nana¡¯s leg. She tumbled with a squeak, Xylla fell off her arms, rolling on the ground. Ewan grabbed Nana¡¯s collar and propelled back with Ryvia, soaring an inch above the ground, for the giant had already jumped. The strain on his spirit could be a problem of tomorrow, tonight they had to survive.


    ¡°No!! Xylla!!!¡± Nana screamed.


    Ewan had to prioritize, and he picked Nana¡¯s life over her emotions.


    Yet, the occurrence deviated¡­


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.8 | Ice ¨C 1.0 | Blood ¨C 7.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-5] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-74 The Fog

    A crack raced across the sky; a colossal alabaster-furred claw tore the space and barged in. It reached for the giant in the air and scratched him. Time stood still, the wind held its pace, the moons dimmed. And the giant dissolved into mist strands and vanished, only the carnage he left behind proving his existence.


    Ewan gaped at the claw, his mind in a mess. He sniffed; his nose twitched.


    Minty¡­


    His hindered thoughts rebelled, the fog clouding his clarity boiled. The same minty smell, he repeated in his mind and looked towards the wolf lying on the ground, weak and feeble, screaming for sympathy.


    Fucking whore!!


    He gritted his teeth and growled. His spirit pool bellowed; his runes trembled. And the fog fissured. He roared in his mind and his thoughts collided through the damaged fog.


    The escalated outburst that night, the unrestrained emotions and impulses, they all had an answer now. The wolf was a parasite, a leech, she was never in their lives yet creeped into their memories. She induced sympathy and pity with those eyes; Ewan wanted to stab them blind and stir her brain out. The whore took away his logic, his rationality, his thinking. He couldn¡¯t even notice the obvious discrepancies¡ªthe cracks spread through the fog, it fractured.


    He had the answer all along, the Astylinds from Yurnawa attacked because of this damn pest, they abhorred their nemesis. Yet, he took it upon himself to fight back on her behalf, unbeknown of what he was doing¡ªthe fog snapped.


    An unknown non-contracted Astylind; he would never allow such a risk to travel with him. Yet, she manipulated him from the moment he laid his eyes on her, no, from even before that. That night he first whiffed the minty smell¡­. His rage erupted, and the fog withered.


    His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at the wolf, her image squirming and twisting. Soon another illusion shattered, and the black and orange furred wolf became an alabaster-furred fox, her long tail swaying, her pearly amber eyes looking at the claw in the air.


    Identify.


    [Astylind Name: Nine-Tailed Fox (One-Tailed)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-4]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Mystic]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: ----]


    [Remark 1: Mythical Astylinds. If only they could be tamed and controlled¡­.]


    [Remark 2: Too much risk. Contract spell doesn¡¯t work on them.]


    The World Eater¡­.


    Ewan squinted, and the fog finally quit his mind with nothing left behind. He was free from her clutches.


    He took a deep breath and suppressed the boiling anger. She could do it once, she could do it again, she was the infamous ¡®World Eater¡¯ after all. Even at the same level, he was too vulnerable in front of her. He must study the ¡®Mystic¡¯, he decided. He needed a way to defend against her illusion and mind tricks, it was the only way to survive.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Don¡¯t antagonize us, fox.¡± A man¡¯s husky voice blared in the sky, and Ewan¡¯s hub connector hurled a string of introduction for him, but he didn¡¯t have the mind to check it for now. ¡°This is Airadia, you¡¯re not welcome here,¡± the man said with a reverberating echo. An orange streak ripped the air and blasted through the claw, raining blood on the forest below.


    The claw trembled and scuttled back into the crack with an echoing howl. The fox must be livid, Ewan smirked, wiping the hot blood off his face, and storing it in a test tube. He also gathered more from around him¡ªthe amount of Mystic-Anima in that blood made it a top-class research material.


    Though not enough, the damage to the claw did appease some of his fury. He looked at the fox in Nana¡¯s arms. She hugged it, cleaned the blood, and checked her for injuries with an ashen face. She stuck with the fox longer than him, always kept her around, her fog must be thicker. It would be nigh impossible if he tried to break it with just words.


    Death could solve the problem. The source was the baby fox, if she died, Nana could recover. But¡­the ¡®World Eater¡¯ wasn¡¯t someone he could fight against; the mere thought was an absurdity. If he killed the baby fox, who might be the claw owner¡¯s offspring, they would become irreconcilable foes, blood enemies. Was it worth it?


    This was Airadia, the ruler of its star system and an overlord. Even the infamous Nine-Tailed couldn¡¯t come in here as it wished. The Guardians of Airadia made it clear, the fox wasn¡¯t welcome here. He could take advantage of that and rid himself of this plague. But what of the expeditions then? He couldn¡¯t not go on any his whole life; it would kill his dream in its infancy. Yet, leaving the baby fox alive was also a death threat, to him and to Nana. The two sides of a scale, he had to decide which weighted more.


    The possibilities flipped through his mind while the surroundings woke up after the succeeding shocks. In the end, his present returned heavier. Expeditions were his future, but he had to survive the present to get to that. The baby fox must die for it¡­.


    But should he just kill her now and be done with it?


    His mind simmered and a plan cooked. There was a risk in keeping her alive, but the cage was still there, it still trapped them inside. The threat the Crown posed to Ewan wasn¡¯t any less than the fox, both could kill him in a heartbeat. If he could use the baby fox against him, he could gain an upper hand in the trade. The possibility of the Crown doing an honest exchange with them would skyrocket. He had to take this risk.


    The plan brewed and boiled¡ªhis clarity and his critical thinking was back; they comforted him. Not only the trade, but he could also use the baby fox¡¯s death to fuel his own promotion. Seventh awakening, he needed an Astylind for its innate skill, the ¡®Bridge¡¯ part of its initiation could be another safety net too. And what would be a better choice for it than the World Eater¡¯s child.


    Also, if he could manipulate the baby fox¡¯s death to incite the World Eater¡¯s impulse, he could force it into a deadly battle. If it came in hostile, the Guardians would have no choice but to counterattack with fatal force.


    Hope you love your child¡­


    Ewan looked at the mended space crack.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.8 | Ice ¨C 2.0 | Blood ¨C 7.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-5] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-75 Coincidence

    Before everyone digested the shock of the preceding events, Ewan pulled his neck gaiter up, dimmed his presence, and browsed his family¡¯s journal for ¡®Mystic¡¯¡ªhe couldn¡¯t let the fox come with him without knowing how to prevent her illusions.


    The fuzzy words weren¡¯t a blur anymore, the book had crisp and clear letters, written neatly. The fog was a sign of a ¡®suggestion¡¯ type spell, he read. Time was of the essence, so he didn¡¯t dig deep. The basics and the prevention, he focused on the two parts. Shock, pain, and intense emotions, they could shatter the fog, unless the caster was far more powerful than the target. The caster¡¯s death could also solve the problem. And an expert in Mystic-Anima could clear the fog too.


    The last two weren¡¯t possible in his situation¡ªone per choice, the other by inability. But the first three were feasible.


    ¡°You¡¯re hurt!¡± Nana asked, rushing over, looking at the wounds on his forehead and his shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ewan said. This was good news, she still cared for him, the fog hadn''t consumed her all yet. ¡°Lift your top.¡± And she pulled it up from the side, flinching when the clothes touched the wound. Ewan crouched and examined it¡ªthe gash was deep; the attack had split the muscle, and it still gushed blood.


    Iris.


    She came out of the vortex and jumped on his shoulders when he called. Ewan pressed the wound to stop the bleeding and let Iris heal it, eroding the lingering hostile Anima from the giant.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of nerve waiting here after what you did,¡± the girl among the trio said, her nostrils flared and her eyes spewing fire, leaves stuck in her shoulder-length dusty hair.


    ¡°I apologize for that; it was a life and death moment. I had limited options, so I did whatever I could to survive,¡± Ewan said, focused on Nana¡¯s wound, his arms drenched in her blood as it dripped to the ground from his elbows. And the blood pool shimmered under the moonlight.


    ¡°Sendy, let it go, we don¡¯t need a fight,¡± one of the boys said, the one who cast the wood element spell before.


    ¡°I¡¯m with Sendy on this one,¡± the other boy said in a nasal voice, wiping the snot off his face, leaving a streak of it on his cheek. ¡°He almost got us killed!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all Ashevas here, just trying to live through this mess. Let¡¯s not fight among ourselves,¡± Ewan said. As he spoke, threads of mist swirled in his mind again. He frowned; the fox must¡¯ve noticed something was amiss. But he could prevent it now, her threat level had dropped.


    Pain was the easiest to induce, so he clawed his shoulder wound. The twinge shook him, he recoiled and hissed a sharp cold breath, gritting his teeth. The self-damage agonized him, but it also cleared the brewing mist, no sign left again.


    ¡°Ewan!¡± Nana yelped.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he whispered, smiling under the gaiter when looking up at her. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡±


    ¡°You think it¡¯s that easy? You say sorry and we¡¯ll let it go?¡± Sendy said.


    ¡°What¡¯d you want then?¡± Ewan stood up; Nana¡¯s wound was better now. The hostile Anima had receded, Iris could do the rest easily. ¡°If you want compensation, I won''t give any. If you want a fight, though I don¡¯t want to, I¡¯ll gladly oblige.¡±


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t want a fight. You don¡¯t have to compensate us either,¡± the boy holding the other two back said.


    ¡°Broden!!¡± the girl and the other boy yelled. ¡°He used us as bait!¡± the boy said.


    ¡°This isn''t the time.¡± Broden glared at the two. ¡°Would you like to join us? We have a group, we¡¯re looking for a way out,¡± he said, turning to Ewan and Nana.


    ¡°No thanks,¡± Ewan said. His overstrained spirit picked up some movements a moment later; three people, his ¡®group¡¯ must be here.


    ¡°Sendy! Canyn! Are you hurt?¡± One of the three newcomers, another boy but a bit older, asked. ¡°Broden, what happened?¡±


    Their group convened at a distance and whispered while Ewan considered leaving. He had no intention of joining them, so staying here any further made no sense. More important matters awaited him, like how to prevent the Yurnawa Astylinds from sensing the pest. They hated the World Eater too much; it was annoying and life threatening. His Ryvia might do the trick, but he had to test it out.


    Nana grabbed his t-shirt and inched closer to him, trembling all over.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Ewan turned to look at her.


    ¡°It¡¯s her, May,¡± she said, staring at one of the two girls among the three newcomers.


    Ewan frowned and glanced at the group. ¡°You sure?¡± he asked, and Nana nodded.


    A group of six, out in the forest, in a no man¡¯s land, and they met May?


    What a fucking coincidence¡­


    Was it the Nine-Tailed? Could she also control possibilities? Ewan stared at the fox in her hands. There wasn¡¯t any record of this, not even a slight mention or speculation either. And he hadn''t used his ¡®Luck Roulette¡¯ too¡ªthis wasn¡¯t because of the bad luck backlash. Yet, out of the innumerable people they could meet, they met her. Pure coincidence? He looked at where the space crack was before, he couldn¡¯t rule out its involvement¡­.


    ¡°What¡¯d you wanna do?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s leave,¡± she said, gripping harder.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Ewan brought Iris inside the rune, preparing to leave.


    ¡°Wait,¡± the older boy said, walking towards Ewan, his nostrils flaring. ¡°It isn''t very friendly to leave without saying anything. It definitely isn''t friendly to use people as bait.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to be,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Desperate times, desperate measures. I already apologized for that, don¡¯t push the matter anymore, it¡¯s for your own good.¡±


    ¡°The least you could do is show us your face while you talk,¡± May said.


    Ewan sighed. He had no intention of continuing this fa?ade. None of them could come close to his level, he could kill them within moments if he wished to. There was no point in indulging them anymore.


    ¡°Havanna?¡± the last girl who joined later with May asked. She looked familiar¡­.


    Verina¡­


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.8 | Ice ¨C 3.6 | Blood ¨C 7.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-5] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-76 May

    ¡°Havanna?¡± May asked, lifting her brows. ¡°Is that really you? We looked for you, where¡¯ve you been?¡±


    ¡°Is that the friend you were talking about?¡± the older boy asked, looking at May then chanced a glance at Nana sticking close to Ewan.


    ¡°Yeah, can we bring her with us?¡± she asked.


    The accursed mist seeped into Ewan¡¯s mind again, it asked to cripple his thoughts. The previous pain hadn''t even disappeared yet, and he had to claw his punctured shoulder once more; his fingers dug in and bled the wound. The twinge jolted him, and he flinched, grunting a groan. The thin fog snapped and receded, vanishing from his mind.


    The baby fox must be getting restless for her to act so soon after her last attempt. If this continued, it might not stop him but could hinder him at crucial moments, he might lose his life. He needed to distract the fox and make her focus on something else, or someone else. Her fog affected him long before she appeared, yet she stuck with Nana all the way here, so she must be her target. If he let her be, Nana would become the fox¡¯s second tail. But any less than that he could manage and pull her back before it was too late. So, the best way to keep the fox busy and away from his mind was to let her fixate on Nana.


    He didn¡¯t intend to break her fog yet, that would ruin his plans, but he could crack it¡­. And the means of doing that was in front of him.


    ¡°Havanna, it¡¯s me, Verina. Come with us, we¡¯ll keep you safe,¡± Verina said, scowling at Ewan when he ripped his wound open, extending her hand to Nana. Her long blonde hair had turned brunette, and she¡¯d cropped it up to her neck. She even had a nose ring now¡ªher social circle must¡¯ve changed drastically in the few days he didn¡¯t visit his balcony.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, you don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Nana said, her trembles slowing down, her grip still tight.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Verina asked, looking at Ewan.


    He slid his neck gaiter down, adjusted it around his neck, and met her eyes.


    ¡°Ewan!¡± she yelled in surprise. The others backed away from him with hitched gasps.


    ¡°Ms. May, nice meeting you here,¡± he said, looking at the woman gaping at him. ¡°But shouldn¡¯t you be with your father? Did he leave you alone to die? How cruel of him.¡±


    Before he could target her though, he needed confirmation about her father. If the old squid was alive and well, he would change his plan. But she was here, with a weak group, instead of staying under her strong father¡¯s umbrella¡­


    ¡°Ewan!!¡± Verina yelled again. ¡°She¡¯s suffered enough, don¡¯t worsen her pain. Her father gave his life protecting her.¡±


    Nana shuddered.


    ¡°I see. I apologize for my rude comments then,¡± Ewan said, a hint of smile sneaking up on his face. ¡°And please accept my deepest condolences.¡±


    He looked towards the older boy who stepped in front of May after he revealed his face. ¡°May I know your name?¡± he asked. Her father was no more, and she had no other strong relatives around, so this boy was the only one protecting her now. He could become a threat if he let him be, but Ewan wanted to confirm his status before acting.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Cord,¡± the boy said.


    ¡°Verina is my neighbor and my childhood friend, I appreciate you taking care of her,¡± he said. ¡°I would like to ask you some questions if you don¡¯t mind. I just want to know where you stand, it¡¯ll give me some assurance about her safety.¡±


    Cord waited for a breath then nodded. The other three huddled behind him with May, while Verina stood closer to Ewan, glancing back and forth between her group and him with wavering eyes.


    ¡°What is your opinion about the clashes between the Kyrons and the Severynths?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Why¡¯s that an issue right now?¡± Cord asked, frowning.


    ¡°It gives me an idea about you, you don¡¯t have to answer if you don¡¯t want to,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°I have no opinion about it. At best, I¡¯m neutral.¡±


    ¡°May I know why?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a Severynth but my parents are Kyrons, and so were my grandparents. We can''t support one or the other,¡± Cord said.


    ¡°Thank you, that¡¯s all I wanted to know.¡± Ewan bowed his head. ¡°I won¡¯t apologize, but I¡¯ll make it as painless as I can.¡± His fatigued Ryvia bolted out and snapped the boy¡¯s neck, ending his life in a flash as the skin-tingling crack hushed the woods. And Cord thudded on the ground like a string-cut puppet.


    The two girls shrieked; May backed off with a heave of gasp; Canyn froze and paled; while Broden rushed for Cord, cursing out loud.


    Coincidence or not, I¡¯ll use her.


    The obstacles had dissolved, the path to her was open. Ewan focused on May and imprisoned her in place.


    ¡°Watch with your eyes wide open,¡± he said to Nana. ¡°You had my word; I¡¯ll make it as painful as I can.¡± And the trigger of his Ryvia fractured her forearm.


    May cried out, holding her left arm that hung loose with a third bend. An owl hooted in the distance and replied to her cry.


    ¡°I hope you guys don¡¯t interfere, it¡¯s a personal matter,¡± Ewan said, and cracked her right forearm. Nana shivered again and her breaths raced, her nails dug in Ewan¡¯s skin. The baby fox twitched and stood up in her arms, staring up at Nana. The shock must¡¯ve affected her fog, the fox couldn¡¯t sit still.


    Verina and the others scuttled away from May and Ewan, ashen faced, watching the scene of torment play out. And while Ewan remained detached on the outside and continued the torture, his emotions churned inside.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.8 | Ice ¨C 4.7 | Blood ¨C 7.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-5] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-77 Tears of Blood

    He hated May because she hurt Nana, even loathed her because she played a role in Aunt Ella¡¯s and Uncle Keith¡¯s death, but his emotions weren¡¯t overwhelming enough to smother his natural response. He didn¡¯t abhor her to the point of wanting to torture her. Every time he cracked her bones, it twisted him inside and he felt the retch in his throat. No matter what, he couldn¡¯t justify his actions, it hurt his beliefs that had developed in a lawful colony. He¡¯d come to terms with killing, it was a necessity if he wanted to walk on his chosen path, and neither his hand nor his Ryvia hesitated when he snapped the boy¡¯s neck. But May¡¯s tormented cries shook his resolve.


    He took a deep breath and steeled his mind again, forcing the irresolute thoughts away.


    Justification could eat shit¡­ His inner conflicts still raged, but he turned a blind eye. He didn¡¯t want to validate his actions anymore; he didn¡¯t want to appease his conscience. If they hindered him, so be it, he would just trudge through. Whether he hated May or not, if her pain was necessary for his success, he would scourge her to no end.


    The snapping cracks and the crunching twists drowned her dimming wails. Nana watched her pain without batting her bloodshot eyes, teardrops rolling down her cheeks.


    An owl fluttered beside them and gawked at May, perched on a branch in the shadows, tilting its head.


    Yurnawa¡­not now.


    He divided his Ryvia and covered the fox, only letting her breathe at the alternate seconds. The fox screeched and glared at Ewan while he stared at the owl. It was only his presumption, so he wasn¡¯t sure if it would work. But the owl only took one glance at the fox and flapped away again.


    Ewan heaved a sigh of relief and continued May¡¯s torture.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Her screams died and she lay on the grassy ground, drooling, her eyes dazed. It was enough, the final hatred belonged to Nana. May¡¯s life was hers; her agony gave her that right.


    ¡°Hold this tight,¡± Ewan said, making Nana grip his Obsidian Dagger. ¡°Do what you want, exhaust yourself.¡±


    She walked over, crushing the grass beneath, and looked down on May.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, please don¡¯t interfere.¡± Ewan eyed the others and warned them. His Ryvia was now free and reined in, he was resting his overstrained spirit, bearing the dull headache.


    Nana burst out with a cry and plunged the dagger down into May. Blood sprayed as the blade impaled all the way in, the hilt grazing the gash. May twitched and Nana growled, grinding her teeth. She knifed again, widening the already deep gouge, blood dousing her all over. And she shanked, and shanked, and shanked, again and again, grunting with each thrust. May lost her gasp, her chest never rose for another breath, but Nana didn¡¯t stop. She mutilated her body with each lunge. Her sternum had cracked and caved in; her silent heart lay bare. Her shredded intestines fell out as a mush of organs rested beneath her ripped stomach. Yet, Nana still didn¡¯t stop.


    Verina and Sendy vomited their guts out, Canyn collapsed on his butt, while Broden shivered. But none of them intruded.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Ewan grabbed Nana¡¯s arm. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± he whispered, crouching. The dagger fell off her hands and she turned towards him, sobbing with a blood-drenched face. ¡°You¡¯ve taken your revenge now¡± he said, combing her wet disheveled hair, wiping the blood going in her eyes.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    She broke down and bawled harder. ¡°They¡¯re still dead,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ll learn to live with it,¡± he said. She hugged him and wailed in his arms. Ewan extended his Ryvia again, keeping the barking fox from coming in and disturbing her. She was at her most vulnerable right now; he couldn¡¯t let the fox deepen her control.


    She cried and he held her in his arms, caressing her head. ¡°You guys can leave if you want,¡± he said. They witnessed everything, but they weren¡¯t a threat. The law couldn¡¯t bind him down anymore, and the corpses had no one who could harm him, he made sure of that. Even if he killed them to err on the side of caution, there was still Verina¡­.


    His words snapped their trance, and they scampered, stumbling and crawling. Ewan stared at Verina¡¯s back fading amidst the trees. He didn¡¯t expect her to look back, and she didn¡¯t. She was also a Severynth, but they no longer walked the same path. Glorified memories were a thing of the past. If they ever met again, it would be as strangers, mere acquaintances of a wordless hello at best.


    ¡­¡­


    Her sobs quietened into silent cries, and her hitched hiccups became sniffs. Soon she left his hug and wiped her bloodied tears off.


    ¡°I dirtied it again,¡± she said, touching the wet patch on his t-shirt.


    Ewan smiled and brushed his dagger against the grass to clean the blood before keeping it in his claw-ring. ¡°You¡¯re washing it anyway,¡± he said. ¡°Can you walk? We need to go now.¡±


    She nodded and stood with his help. ¡°Which way?¡± she asked, looking around.


    Ewan pointed with his head and led the way, against the direction they came from; and she tailed, matching his amble. The baby fox barked ahead, wagging her tail. But when they reached her, Nana walked past, sniffing, and rubbing her puffy eyes with her blood-stained hands.


    ¡°You forgot about Xylla,¡± Ewan said with a hint of a smirk. His tactic worked better than he thought. Her revenge must¡¯ve damaged the fog enough to make her neglect Xylla, even if for a few seconds.


    ¡°Xylla?¡± She halted, then hurried back and picked up the fox who snarled at Ewan. Her hostility awoke his slumbering instincts, it sent tingling currents down his spine, indicating the significance of her threat. Without the fog hampering his senses, he tasted it raw. But the peril wasn¡¯t imminent, so he repressed it. If the fox wanted to succeed with her second tail, she had to focus on Nana now. And if the probabilities smiled on him, they would reach the outskirts by the time she finished.


    So, they strolled off in the night, leaving only two withered corpses behind as gifts for the scavengers.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.5


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 7.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.8 | Ice ¨C 6.5 | Blood ¨C 7.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [4<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-5] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 111


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-78 Sindra

    About a week later, in an abandoned villa on the outskirts of the forest.


    ¡°Nana.¡± Ewan shook her. ¡°Wake up,¡± he said.


    She groaned and rolled to the other side, wrapping the blanket around.


    ¡°Nana, its morning.¡± He shook her again.


    ¡°Five more¡­.,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°We have things to do, wake up already,¡± he said and rattled her. Her groans and moans oscillated with her, and she growled. ¡°Nana!¡±


    She turned towards him, her eyes still closed, and chomped his hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s bleeding! Let go! Let go!!¡± Ewan yelled and slapped her forehead, pushing her away. Her bite left a deep teeth mark on his hand, and it stung.


    The escalated outburst that night loosened her shackles, and the revenge freed her of her chains, it must¡¯ve taken a huge burden off her shoulders. Her steps were now lighter, and she smiled more with occasional giggles. His childhood Nana, her past self, trickled back in. But with it came all the habits she had back then. She still bit like a dog¡­


    Ewan blew on the marks, easing the burning sensation. The pain triggered nostalgia. But he couldn¡¯t indulge and waste time, he¡¯d planned his breakthrough this morning. His spirit brimmed and peaked and it was time for the fifth awakening, time for ¡®Sindra¡¯.


    He sat on the porch gulping lungfuls of petrichor, the rained earth¡¯s breath. The untimely rain hurried the arrival of Greenbirth, the forest woke up overnight. The leaves were ever so vibrant, the air glided with fresh breeze, and the birds cheered the dawn. The insects sang in harmony, the animals roared their calls. Yet they all dimmed and hushed when Ewan cut himself off from his surroundings and started his attempt, leaving his and Nana¡¯s safety in his Astylinds¡¯ hands.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Sindra¡ªIce Favored.


    Ice-Anima danced around him, swirling into a torrent, exciting his ice rune. Ewan reined them in and they moved like his fingers. They saturated his body and soul, comforting him with an icy hug filled with warmth. He was the child of ice and snow right now, and they heeded all his commands. This was the level of affinity Frost enjoyed each day, a common occurrence for him yet an envious prospect for Ewan.


    Soon the burden wore out his soul, and he had to stop. The receding Ice-Anima left him and his ice rune hungered for more. He craved that level of control again, but he was a Human, his forte lay somewhere else. ¡®Wisdom rules all¡¯¡ªhe couldn¡¯t revel, and let his own skill dictate him.


    Rested and a calming walk in the serene woods later, Ewan tried again. As a spellcaster, ¡®Grein¡¯ suited him more, permanently engraved spell circuits were a better fit for him. It could remove his dependence on the Spellbook and increase his efficiency in battles. But he was a Severynth, not a Cerade. This was the bed he made, he had to lie in it.


    Sindra¡ªHeal.


    The skill sucked his Blood-Anima and healed the bleeding wound he created with a sharp stick. It took longer to heal than Iris, but the result satisfied him. Once he was proficient enough, he could use it mid-battle, Iris wouldn¡¯t need to come out in dangerous situations anymore.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°Food¡¯s ready,¡± Nana hollered from inside the villa as Ewan finished his tests. So, he grabbed all his Astylinds and went in. After breakfast, he had to visit the hub once. If his refreshed balance after selling the cores allowed him, Orange would be the next to grade up.


    ¡­..


    Ewan succeeded in eight tries and Orange did in one, saving him some Novas. The process went the same as Frost. Orange also suffered through the upgrade, worrying Ewan, but came out the victor in the end, gaining a dormant skill and meeting his rival¡¯s strides. The flickering fire on his forehead burned brighter, and his fur adopted a glossy glaze as the Fire-Anima calmed down around him.


    Identify.


    [Astylind Name: Fire Monkey (Mutant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-5]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-B]


    [Anima Affinity: Fire]


    [Skills: Fire-Recipient | Wrath-Inferno (Dormant)]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. They are blessed with decent fire-element affinity (Recipient) but lack the skill to make use of it.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Noble Rite (Zik Aroig)¡ªA toast to fire, feast on slumbering lava for one month.]


    [Remark 1: Can be trained as a vanguard but require more attention with the elemental skills.]


    [Remark 2: They look cool, so can make them your mascot.]


    [Remark 3: I agree with the second remark, lol.]


    Unless he ventured out of the colony and expanded his reach, Grade-B looked to be the limit for his Astylinds. He couldn¡¯t perform either of the Noble Rites here. And the successive pattern dictated that Iris¡¯s rite would also follow the same concept. Getting out was already on top of his priority list, this only added to the motivations behind it.


    ¡°How¡¯s your progress? When can you break through?¡± Ewan asked, lounging on the sofa after bringing a drained Orange inside the rune.


    ¡°Another week maybe,¡± Nana said, playing with Lime, the Wood Squirrel, on another sofa.


    ¡°Do you want to try for Grade-B?¡±


    ¡°Should I?¡± She looked at Ewan.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be helpful.¡± Ewan nodded. ¡°Your ¡®Spirit¡¯ will increase faster.¡±


    ¡°When can you make the potion then?¡±


    ¡°Gather the ingredients, I¡¯ll try tonight before we leave,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll take my service charge.¡±


    Nana pouted. ¡°Discount,¡± she said.


    Ewan sunk in the sofa deeper. ¡°Twenty percent, family discount,¡± he said.


    Nana put Lime on her lap and showed him nine fingers, barely keeping the tenth down halfway. ¡°Ninety-five,¡± she said.


    ¡°Just rob me!¡± Ewan barked.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [5<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.6


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 9.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 9.2 | Ice ¨C 9.2 | Blood ¨C 9.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [5<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-5] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-5] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-5] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 43


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-79 Bridge

    The rubble, the debris, and the moribund buildings narrowed the streets, their shades deepening the gloom of the night. Haunting silence reigned supreme, but the occasional howls disrupted its continuance.


    They walked, their boots crunching the pebbles and the pieces of shattered concrete underfoot, and reached the end of the street. Up ahead it opened to a semi-clean plaza, showering in the violet-silver moonlight. Broken fountain sprayed water beyond its initial limits, its allure long lost. Three baby-Astylinds splashed the ankle-deep puddle, rolling and tossing, while an adult snoozed by the side, its snores rippling the pool. Craggy and cracked skin, four stumpy legs, and a pointy horn on the nose reaching for the sky¡ª"Earth Rhino,¡± Ewan whispered and pushed Nana back, hiding by the wall.


    ¡°Are we fighting?¡± Nana asked, Xylla nestled in her arms.


    Ewan glanced at the three newborn Astylinds, they were a good number of Novas, and he needed some balance. Frost and Orange were already at Grade-B, but Iris remained at ¡®C¡¯. Her weak consciousness might prove to be detrimental to her success, so he needed to prepare for her failure. But the fight could attract unwanted audience and delay them, they were so close to their destination now¡­.


    Level-6, D, male¡­.


    ¡°Let¡¯s fight, we both can use some Novas. You should stop selling uncle¡¯s materials too,¡± Ewan said.


    Nana peeked out. ¡°There¡¯s three, winner gets two, loser one,¡± she said. ¡°Rock paper scissors.¡±


    Ewan smirked. ¡°You never win, why don¡¯t you just give up.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll win this time,¡± she said and took a deep breath, putting Xylla on the ground before rotating her shoulders and stretching her neck.


    ¡°I already know what you¡¯ll throw before you throw it,¡± he said with a smug smile. Whenever he roused her up, she always played rock. It was either her defense mechanism or she was trying to fight back.


    ¡°Shuddup,¡± she said, getting ready. ¡°Rock paper scissors!¡±


    She threw rock, Ewan threw paper.


    ¡°See.¡± He laughed.


    ¡°Again,¡± she said, fuming.


    Ewan shrugged and indulged her. She lost with rock, so she would move down the sequence, a forced submissive attack.


    And she threw paper, he threw scissors.


    He laughed and flicked her forehead. ¡°I can read you like an open book,¡± he said, while she stared at her palm.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you can''t read my mind¡­,¡± she said under her breath.


    Ewan coughed and cleared his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t mind that, cast <Drizzle> and send Luna to scout. Toast will back her up.¡±


    Earth Rhinos lived in pairs after they mated¡ªthe male was here; the female should be nearby. Getting flanked was the last thing he wished for.


    Frost, Orange, go!


    ¡­¡­


    Hunts, fights, and reroutes delayed them. Days of distance stretched into weeks while Obria slipped away from under Human¡¯s control. Kyrons didn¡¯t belong here, they were powerless, so they lost the fight without even fighting it. Their numbers dwindled each day, they didn¡¯t need the ¡®cruel¡¯ Severynths to butcher them like cattle anymore.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    The law of nature that had creeped in from the crumbled walls also didn¡¯t spare the Ashevas, they died a dime a dozen. The weak lost their lives, the strong became stronger. And so, days went by without their path crossing anyone else¡¯s. No screams, no cries for help. Now, if only Nana kept her mouth shut, his world would become serene and peaceful again¡­but alas, he could only wish.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Ewan said, watching the dropping arc of the saffron barrier from atop a concrete slab, minding the torn rebars.


    Rampaging Astylinds had long flattened the outskirts. Not even a hint of its past showed in its ravaged present. The proud wall, the bustling taverns, the nose-burning stench, nothing survived. When the fences came down, civilization lost in front of sheer carnage that barged in.


    ¡°How do we contact him now?¡± Nana asked, gaping at the ¡®flatlands¡¯ in front.


    The greenery outside the barrier contrasted the grays inside too much, even with the sepia tint that the saffron of the barrier added. ¡°Let¡¯s rest here for now, we¡¯ll think about that later,¡± he said. Since the moment he stepped foot in this area, his instincts went haywire. Someone peeked at him, someone whose reach he couldn¡¯t imagine, someone he could never contest. His instincts warned him, again and again, he had to struggle against it to stay here.


    It was the new Crown declaring his presence, he was sure. Though he didn¡¯t expect this, it did solve the problem of contacting him for the trade. But it wasn¡¯t time yet. Ewan had already concluded his research on the saffron shield but had one last thing to do before meeting him.


    ¡°Get some sleep, I¡¯ll keep watch,¡± Ewan said, brushing the dust and dirt away from under the giant concrete boulder. The shade it provided was good enough for a makeshift camp.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy though,¡± Nana said, helping him clean, hacking when the cloud of white dust assaulted her.


    ¡°Lie down anyway, we need to be at our best for this,¡± he said. ¡°Give Xylla to me, you just get some shut eye.¡±


    The fox screeched at Ewan and grabbed onto Nana¡¯s sleeves.


    Quite perceptive, aren¡¯t you.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep her safe,¡± he said.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t like you,¡± Nana said, trying to free her top from the fox¡¯s sharp claws.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, she¡¯ll come to like me soon.¡± Ewan scruffed the fox and shooed Nana away after brushing the powdered dust off her hair.


    Bridge, extract, condense, cleanse, and merge¡ªthey were the five parts of the spell for Bralek, the fourth innate skill.


    Bridge!


    He aimed at the raging fox and cast the spell. His soul sent out a thread to her soul, it connected while Ewan suppressed her with Ryvia. She struggled and snarled, but he held her down and jammed the thread in.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    ¡°We¡¯re on the same boat now, I die you die. So, stop fighting,¡± he snickered when the spell succeeded.


    The fox settled down and glared at him, hanging by her scruff. If only her stare could kill¡­.


    ¡°Nana, forget about sleeping, its time.¡±


    Let¡¯s end this.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.7


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 12.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 12.8 | Ice ¨C 12.8 | Blood ¨C 12.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 491


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-80 Trade [Part-I]

    ¡°Sir,¡± Ewan yelled towards the sky. ¡°My name is Ewan Ayres and she¡¯s Havanna Elsworth. We would like to trouble you for a trade, may we?¡±


    ¡°Can he hear us?¡± Nana whispered, inching closer to Ewan, panning her eyes around.


    ¡°Nana,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything, let me speak to him. No matter what I do from now on, be patient. And don¡¯t mention the contract.¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°Two brave little Ashevas, what a sight.¡± It was a gruff voice and a mellow accent, and it came from behind.


    Ewan turned and hid Nana behind him, stepping back.


    Scars raced on his ocean-blue skin, pearly teeth that might as well be fangs, long jet hair tied in a low ponytail, flaming mauve tattoos covering half his face and his neck. He squatted on the concrete block that Ewan stood on before, wearing an alabaster overcoat with taut collars and a pair of charcoal-black baggy pants.


    Branded¡­


    Those tattoos, they were too obvious, no one could misread them, especially someone in the know. The Crown was a ¡®Branded¡¯, the exiled lineage, he could use this¡­


    ¡°Hello, Sir Valenza. We would like to trade with you.¡± Ewan put one hand on his chest¡ªat his heart¡ªand bowed, gulping, his forehead chilled with sweat.


    ¡°Let me guess, you want to get out.¡± He grinned, revealing his pearly ¡®fangs¡¯. ¡°So? What will you trade for it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°This, sir.¡± Ewan took out the diary that he wrote all his theories and conclusions in and presented it to the Crown. It floated on its own as he let go and fell into the Valenza¡¯s hand. He¡¯d rolled the die, the only thing to do now was to believe in his own ability, that his research was good enough to buy their freedom.


    It took the Crown minutes as he flipped the pages, his smile long gone.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he finally commented, closing the diary with a dull thump. ¡°Color me impressed, not many care to theorize with such depth and details.¡± And he grinned again. ¡°But you already gave it to me, do you think I¡¯ll honor the deal?¡±


    ¡°You may not, sir, but I hope you do,¡± Ewan said and glimpsed his neck, a furtive yet noticeable glance at the area where the Valenza¡¯s ¡®Branded¡¯ tattoo was.


    The Crown squinted at Ewan, and he choked. His chest didn¡¯t budge for his breath, his body didn¡¯t respond for even a twitch. His vision darkened, he suffocated, and his gasps hitched.


    Before he went blue though, the pressure receded, clarity washed over him, and the Crown smiled again. ¡°Do tell me, why did you risk coming here? You might¡¯ve survived inside the colony, I would¡¯ve let you go then,¡± he said.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I-I d-didn¡¯t want to wait around and hope for the best,¡± Ewan said, hyperventilating. Nana heaved behind him too, clutching the back of his t-shirt. ¡°A-And who knows if we can really stay alive till the end.¡±


    ¡°Yes, who knows¡­.¡± A smile tugged at his lips.


    ¡°S-So?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°Are we free to go, sir?¡±


    ¡°You are, but not her,¡± Valenza said, grinning with malice, looking at Nana cowering behind Ewan.


    ¡°No deal then, sir, I apologize,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If you would allow us again, we¡¯ll take our chances inside the colony.¡±


    ¡°What, you¡¯ll risk your life for her?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay!¡± Nana yelled, stepping away from Ewan, her fists clenched hard. Her knuckles paled and her shoulders trembled; she stared at Valenza.


    Ewan grabbed her arm and pulled her back in, glowering at her. ¡°I¡¯m not risking anything,¡± he said, turning to the Crown again. ¡°I intend to live, and I intend to keep her alive.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± she whispered, tugging on Ewan¡¯s t-shirt, her eyes getting misty.


    ¡°Can you tell me why?¡± Valenza asked.


    ¡°No reason really, sir,¡± Ewan said. ¡°It¡¯ll just be a boring life without her.¡±


    The Crown lifted his brows then guffawed, the pebbles quaking with his outburst. ¡°Right, right, a little bit of burden is necessary to spice things up. It¡¯ll be too boring otherwise,¡± he said. ¡°But¡­¡±


    He floated down from the concrete block, his overcoat melted the rebar when they touched, and he stepped forward once his pointy boots met the ground. His locked hands held the diary behind his back; he stood a head taller than Ewan.


    ¡°Only you can go, she stays.¡±


    Ewan took a deep breath. ¡°Then I must apologize again in advance,¡± he said.


    Valenza chuckled. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°If I may, sir, I would like to introduce you to this little headache,¡± he said, scruffing Xylla away from Nana and bringing the flailing fox forward.


    Soon the Crown frowned and backed off, his nostrils flaring¡ªhe scowled at Ewan.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.7


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 12.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 12.8 | Ice ¨C 12.8 | Blood ¨C 12.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 491


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-81 Trade [Part-II]

    ¡°How did you manage to get your hands on that?¡± His scowl turned into a smirk, but his lips shook, and the Crown glanced at the sky.


    ¡°Bad luck, sir,¡± Ewan said. He held his palm below the ¡®thread¡¯ connecting his soul to the fox and roused up some Ice-Anima. The white particles swirled around the thread and glued to it, making it glimmer. The fox shivered; her breath misted as she panted with her tongue out.


    ¡°Ewan, she¡¯s hurting,¡± Nana said and pleaded. But he held her back.


    ¡°Bridge¡­,¡± Valenza said under his breath, his smirk fading. ¡°Are you touched in the head?¡±


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m also helpless,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I just want us to live, no matter the cost.¡±


    The Crown laughed. ¡°Love really blinds people,¡± he said.


    ¡°I can''t go out without her, sir,¡± Ewan said.


    After a moment of silence and a stare match, the Crown heaved a sigh. ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°You both can leave.¡± He shooed them away.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Ewan smiled and bowed with his hand at his heart again, his shoulders loosening. Freedom was now at his arm¡¯s length, and a bout of dizziness assaulted him as his rigid nerves eased.


    ¡°Ewan.¡± Nana supported him.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± The back and forth with the Crown sapped him dry.


    ¡°Teal,¡± Valenza said, watching Ewan and Nana.


    A young girl, about the same age as Ewan, came out from behind the concrete block upon his call. She was shuddering as she glared at Ewan, grinding her teeth, tears rolling down her bloodshot eyes¡ªit had already soaked her orange v-collar.


    ¡°Take this,¡± he said, handing her the diary. ¡°Study it. I want it organized by the next morning.¡±


    ¡°Master, please kill him.¡± She begged and looked towards Ewan.


    ¡°What?¡± Ewan furrowed his brows and said in alarm. Was his luck this bad? The trade was a success, he was free, Nana was free. They were about to get out of this mess, and now this happened. Where did this miss calamity come from? What did he ever do to her?


    ¡°There must be some misunderstanding,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I don¡¯t even know you, Miss.¡±


    Was it because of the blood festival again? Did she suffer some tragedy because of it too? He cursed that woman who spread his information. It was trivial at first but was chomping his ass right now. Till when would this haunt him? None of the contingencies he made could deal with this situation, he never saw this coming. The threat of the fox was still there though. Was she important enough to ignore that risk? He looked at the Crown.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°Girl,¡± Valenza said. ¡°Do not speak unless you¡¯re spoken to.¡± He smiled at her, but there was no warmth in his ravening eyes.


    ¡°But Master¡­¡±


    ¡°I am not your master.¡± He interrupted her. ¡°And defy me again and I¡¯ll forget your mother¡¯s favor.¡±


    She lowered her head, her trembles worsening. ¡°Y-Yes sir,¡± she said and took the diary.


    Ewan breathed a sigh of relief¡ªluckily, she wasn¡¯t. No matter her grudge, the ending was in his favor. But still, he burned her figure in his mind. She hated him enough to kill him, she was a threat¡ªhe needed to end her if a chance ever came.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take our leave, sir. I apologize again for my insolence, thank you for your mercy, and may your rite be a success,¡± Ewan said and bowed out, bringing Nana towards the saffron barrier. As they moved closer, a large gap rolled in the shield, bringing in breaths of fresh grass. Ewan sped up and dashed out, dragging Nana by hand.


    Cool and calming breeze brushed his face and neck, and his raven hair danced. The smell of wood, lush green, and raw earth replaced the dirt and the powdered dust. Old-growth trees instead of the concrete jungle, sky-reaching crowns instead of the chopped stumps, dense ancient forest instead of the sparse young saplings¡ªthis was the world beyond the walls, where nature ruled. The survival of the fittest superseded any laws of the Starons here. The weak were cast away, and only the apt survived.


    Ewan breathed in a lungful of crisp air. Though his exit wasn¡¯t what he envisioned when he dreamt of this, he was at least free. He finally set foot in the open world. Nana too took a deep breath, beaming, and combed her rumpled chestnut hair back with her fingers.


    An endless horizon was within Ewan¡¯s reach, his adventure would now begin; exhilaration clutched his mind and body. His imagination went wild. He could go anywhere; he could do anything. They would travel to places together and rise above all.


    Yet, it all shattered when a voice reached his ears.


    ¡°Ewan, you came out?¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.7


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 12.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 12.8 | Ice ¨C 12.8 | Blood ¨C 12.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 491


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-82 Luck Roulette

    ¡°Slate?¡± Ewan halted his steps and hid Nana behind him again. This was yet another menace, something he could do without for one day, it was tiring. ¡°What¡¯re you doing here?¡± he asked. Since the day she picked him up, he¡¯d been his mother¡¯s shadow, so she must¡¯ve sent him here, though the purpose eluded him.


    ¡°You still remember me,¡± Slate said, smiling, as he ambled towards Ewan and Nana. ¡°Your mother sent me to check up on you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ewan said, pushing Nana back and stepping away from Slate. He just dealt with the terrifying Crown and now had to deal with him. He was a threat, more so than his ¡®relatives¡¯. Even his Pa warned him about this man.


    ¡®His overreaching ambitions and his yearning to be Thea¡¯s son will one day extend their claws at you¡¯, his Pa said. ¡®Your mother can''t control him; she only brews the illusion that she can. He can do anything for her sake, even if it garnered her hatred.¡¯


    ¡°Your mother was worried about you,¡± Slate said, stopping at a distance.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, you can give her the good news,¡± Ewan said. This man was at Step-1, he was an Asheva at the Spirit-Nebula stage. His aura couldn¡¯t compare to the Crown, nowhere near actually, but it didn¡¯t matter¡ªeither could crush him like a mosquito. So, the further he stayed from him, the better.


    ¡°You stress her out too much, Ewan, her health has worsened because of you. She keeps thinking about you, it makes her¡­mercurial.¡± He strained the word.


    ¡°What, you want to kill me to put her mind at ease then?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°That is a nice suggestion,¡± Slate said with a smile. ¡°May I?¡±


    Ewan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Or you can simply tell her that I died. I don¡¯t intend to meet her ever; she won''t find out.¡±


    ¡°That won''t do.¡± Slate pursed his lips and pushed his glasses up. ¡°It¡¯s better to kill you and rest her anxiety for good.¡±


    ¡°Won''t she be sad though? That her son died,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And that too at the hands of her other son.¡±


    ¡°She will be, but it¡¯ll be for her benefit. And she won''t find out it was me.¡±


    Ewan took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m at my wits end then,¡± he said. Dealing with the Crown was far easier, it was pure business¡ªhe offered a good deal and the trade ended in success. But this was personal, this man wanted to kill him¡ªthere was no trade to be had here, only threats would work.


    Ewan scruffed the fox again. ¡°Can you check her details?¡±


    Slate tilted his head. ¡°What am I supposed to see?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a Nine-Tailed Fox, the World Eater, can''t you see her?¡± Ewan grimaced.


    Slate chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s a Fire Wolf, Ewan, not a mythical fox. Are you suggesting I let you go in exchange for her?¡±


    Ewan clenched his jaws with a deep frown.


    Bitch, undo your spell or we¡¯ll both die here. Nana will die too; you want her to live right?


    The active thought passed to her through the ¡®Bridge¡¯, and the baby fox glared at Ewan. Her counterattack came at the worst possible time. If Slate was stronger, this would¡¯ve ended here. But he wasn¡¯t, and her illusion worked on him¡­


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°Do you want to die here!¡± Ewan roared at her, and she snarled at him.


    ¡°Give it a rest, this is beneath your intellect.¡± Slate said. ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint me so.¡±


    ¡°She really is a Nine-Tailed Fox, you¡¯re under her suggestion. I¡¯m connected to her with ¡®Bridge¡¯, if you kill me, she dies too. And her kin sitting outside Airadia will mince you,¡± Ewan said it all in one breath.


    Slate laughed. ¡°You really expect me to believe that, don¡¯t you?¡± he said. ¡°Are you that desperate? I always thought you didn¡¯t care much about whether you lived or died, I even respected your nonchalance towards life.¡±


    Ewan rubbed his forehead, his hands trembling¡ªthis would not work.


    ¡°But I understand,¡± Slate said. ¡°Anyone would be, once faced with the reality of death. I just thought you were stronger than this, than me, but I guess we¡¯re the same.¡±


    The only viable way to disturb her spell in the current situation was pain, but there was no way Slate would hurt himself just because Ewan said so. He was truly at his wits end now¡­.


    ¡°We¡¯re not the same,¡± Ewan murmured then sighed. ¡°I really didn¡¯t want to use it.¡± And he initiated the final trump card he kept for the Crown. If the fox hadn''t worked, he would¡¯ve spun the Luck Roulette, it was his final option which he didn¡¯t want to choose. It could save him today, but the backlash might kill him tomorrow, it was a deal with the devil.


    The wheel tattoo on his hand throbbed and awakened, it roused his soul, and reeled. Everything depended on ¡®luck¡¯ now.


    ¡°Nana.¡± He turned around. The roulette needed time; he could pit Slate during that. And if ¡®luck¡¯ didn¡¯t work, he would drag the man down with him. ¡°Do you still believe Xylla¡¯s been with you the longest, and not me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°W-What? Why would you ask that?¡± Nana asked.


    The fog was thick, he needed more to break through.


    ¡°Why weren¡¯t you home when Aunt Ella and Uncle Keith died, Nana? You could¡¯ve saved them,¡± Ewan said. It harrowed him to claw open her scabbed wound like this, but this was the only option now.


    Nana blanked, her pupils dilated, she stared at Ewan with a hollow gaze.


    ¡°Have you finally lost it, Ewan?¡± Slate frowned. ¡°Even I wouldn¡¯t say that to someone I loved; you¡¯ve become quite pathetic since the last time I saw you.¡±


    Not enough?


    ¡°You were always a burden on Aunt Ella and Uncle Keith, and now you¡¯re a burden on me,¡± Ewan said. ¡°How can you still smile with that guilt? Did you forget everything? Will you also get me killed like them?¡±


    Each word he said stabbed him deep, he loathed himself for it. She might not remember any of this, the fog might wash it all out, but he would, and he would relive every second of it his whole life¡­


    She still stared at him, dazed, but her eyes wavered, and she shook.


    The blow on her would weaken the fox, he wanted her fragile for the next part. He also needed her help in suppressing the fox¡ªusing his Ryvia would distract him while he extracted her soul, so he had to break the fog this way. If it didn¡¯t work though, he could only give up on this plan and kill the fox.


    Last try¡­.


    And he pulled her in with her collar and slapped her.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.7


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 12.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 12.8 | Ice ¨C 12.8 | Blood ¨C 12.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 491


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-83 Luck [Vol-1 End]

    Nana stumbled back, her neck strained to her right; her eyes widened, and her lips bled. Her cheek soon reddened with a palm print, and she teared up.


    ¡°Do you still remember Xylla?¡± Ewan asked, still feeling the stinging burn in his palm, and the hurtful twinge in his heart.


    ¡°W-What happened?¡± She looked at him, a teardrop caressing down the slap, and asked as her pupils contracted.


    Ewan gently wiped the blood off her lips with a sigh and licked it on instinct¡ªit had lost the bitterness. His method worked, the fog shattered, or at least thinned enough for her to regain herself. ¡°Hold her down, don¡¯t let her move,¡± he said, handing her the thrashing but weakened fox. ¡°Hold her down tight.¡±


    Nana obeyed, her eyes still a bit blank and wet, and restrained the fox in the air with her Ryvia.


    ¡°The absolute gap in power can''t diminish with tricks.¡± Slate squinted at them from a distance.


    Give me more time¡­


    ¡°So, let¡¯s end this farce now. Be on your way, I have things to do,¡± he said and aimed at Ewan. ¡°Apologize to her for the slap and your hurtful words if you find her in afterlife, be a decent man there at least.¡±


    Fuck!!


    Extract!


    Ewan clawed the fox¡¯s head and cast the spell. The ¡®thread¡¯ stretched taut as he pulled on her soul with the spell. The baby fox howled, it struggled and tussled, but Nana¡¯s Ryvia held her down.


    ¡°Almost there!!¡± Ewan grinded his teeth as a deathly pressure crushed him down. His chest constricted, and he suffocated again.


    ¡°Goodbye, Ewan,¡± Slate said and moved his hand down. ¡°And you too, Ms. Elsworth. I wish you meet your parents again.¡±


    ¡°E-Ewan, I-I ca-can¡¯t brea¡­..¡± Nana almost crumbled under the pressure but still held the fox in place.


    And with a roar that took all his breath away, Ewan yanked the soul out.


    ¡°H-Have fun with it,¡± he said in a coarse voice, sweat burning his eyes, and flung the soulless body of the fox towards Slate.


    The wheel of the Luck Roulette dinged in his mind¡ªthe seeker kissed the number two, the highest his soul could sustain currently.


    Slate minced the corpse midair and aimed for Ewan again. But before the blood splattered the grass, before her mushed body plopped to the ground, before her argent core glimmered, the sky had seethed.


    An enormous claw ripped open the fabrics of the sky and let in a raging howl. It shook the ground, tore the clouds apart, and the space cracked around the area. The birds stayed put, the Astylinds shushed. No one moved, not even a twitch¡ªno one made any sounds, not even a gulp. The Nine-Tailed Fox slammed its head onto the unfitting crack, its narrowed amber iris staring at Slate from the other side.


    The wind halted again, the sunlight faded, and the world muted. The pressure from the fox drowned everyone, but most of it was on Slate. His knees buckled and he gasped for air, gaping at the gigantic eye in the sky, the horror draining the blood away from his face.


    Condense!


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Before the fox could find anything out, Ewan traced the circuit. The spell compressed the misty soul threads he¡¯d pulled out and dragged them towards a central point. Soon it formed a glossy inky pearl with silver specks. Ewan kept it in his claw-ring and prepared for the roulette¡¯s effect. He¡¯d already dealt the cards; the situation was now out of his hands.


    ¡°You were warned, now pay the price.¡± The Guardian¡¯s husky voice resonated in the sky, breaking the silent state. The world resumed its life as Slate fell on all his fours, panting, streams of sweat trickling down his nose.


    ¡°Stay close,¡± Ewan whispered and grabbed Nana¡¯s hand. She stood behind him, grabbing his t-shirt, shivering as she stared at the menace in the sky.


    ¡°W-Will we die?¡± she asked, her warm breath tickling his neck.


    The fox roared, the crack gaped, and it barged in.


    ¡°We won''t,¡± he said.


    We won''t¡­. He hoped.


    An orange streak bombarded the fox, and it fought back, its seven alabaster-furred tails swaying about.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Nana said, looking down, her eyes watering up again.


    The fox and the orange streak crashed in the air, their booms echoed, and the earth trembled under their barrage. The vibrations rolled the fox¡¯s core over to Ewan¡¯s feet.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Ewan tightened his grip on her hand and ignored the core, it was a hot potato right now. ¡°The fox wasn¡¯t your fault, and neither is this,¡± he said.


    It¡¯s my mess¡­.


    The fox aimed at Slate, over and over, but the Guardian pushed it back. Its wounds increased, and warm blood brimming with Mystic-Anima showered on the earth.


    ¡°I just wanted to live with you.¡± She rested her head on his back and sobbed, biting the scabbed wound on her lip.


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ll live together,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ll live, no matter what.¡± He looked up and squinted.


    The fox only aimed at Slate; it mustn¡¯t have recognized Ewan as the killer. Extracting her soul didn¡¯t kill the little fox, she died when Slate crushed her to pulp¡­ Or was this the effect of the ¡®Luck Roulette¡¯? If so, if the ¡®number two¡¯ could affect an entity such as the World Eater, he couldn¡¯t imagine its backlash¡­ Ewan broke out in cold sweat, he¡¯d dug his own grave, out of the frying pan and into the fire¡­


    But worrying over it was pointless. What was to come would come, he couldn¡¯t control it anymore.


    ¡°Son of Ulrath!!¡± The man¡¯s husky voice resounded in the sky again. And the ground beneath Ewan rent apart.


    Shit!


    Both him and Nana plunged into the unending abyss with flashing lights of the torn sky zooming away from them, the lingering howls fading out.


    ¡°You¡¯ll pay me for this!!!¡± the Guardian roared.


    ¡°Ewan!!¡± Nana yelled; her hand slipped away from his. It was the last thing Ewan heard before the darkness engulfed all his senses.


    It wasn¡¯t the fox; it was the space cracks¡­.


    And he blacked out.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.7


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 12.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 12.8 | Ice ¨C 12.8 | Blood ¨C 12.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 491


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-84 Ocean

    Cold and suffocating¡ªthe darkness smothered him when Ewan came to, a bit dazed. The crushing pressure and the roaring silence jolted him awake. Water gushed into him, bloating his stomach. His ribs creaked, his eyes burned, and his throat ached as he flailed his limbs to no avail. This wasn¡¯t the space crack anymore, he was drowning. His Pa taught him many things, he learned a lot from his teachers, but swimming wasn¡¯t one of them.


    Ewan clenched his fists and stopped moving, drifting down, the pressure crushing him with each inch. He wasn¡¯t a Kyron, he didn¡¯t need the Kyron¡¯s way of survival¡ªhe pushed down with Ryvia and propelled up, the stress alleviating as he rose up.


    Faster.


    He thrusted hard and rocketed towards the surface, leaving a trail of stream behind. There was no light at the end, it was all murky with the water turbulent up ahead. Ewan broke out from the top and emerged into a raging storm, the deluge of rain and squall slapping him. He gasped, lungfuls of air stuffing his chest, and choked. The towering waves thrashed him, shoving him back in. He pushed back and came out again, panting.


    He looked around, rocking with the waves. Beyond the darkness, there was no end. Water was everywhere, it met the interminable horizon with no land in sight.


    Where was he? Ewan gaped; his heaves hitched. This river had no banks, how wide was it? Its depth almost crushed him; this wasn¡¯t what he read. Rivers weren¡¯t like this. Was it¡­an ocean? He licked his lips and tasted the water, it was salty¡ªtoo salty¡ªand left a fishy taste at the back of his throat. Ewan retched and vomited the water he¡¯d ingested. After emptying his stomach contents and gaining his breath back, the realization hammered him.


    Nana!


    They¡¯d separated the moment they fell into the space crack. Did she come here too? Did she drown? His heart thumped. No, no, she was strong, he made her strong, she wouldn¡¯t die like that. He lunged back into the water and propelled down with Ryvia, faster than he came up. His emotions howled that she was alive, his logic disputed she wasn¡¯t, she couldn¡¯t be. Even he barely survived.


    The pressure squashed him again, and the weight spiked as he shot down. He enveloped himself in Ryvia, pushed away, and countered the pressure before moving down again.


    He searched and searched but couldn¡¯t find any trace. She wasn¡¯t here, she was never here, the signs said, or a lack thereof. His search pattern was random, but he didn¡¯t miss anything, not even a tremble in the water. If she was alive, he would save her; if she was dead... No, she wasn¡¯t dead, she wasn¡¯t... His determination eventually took him to the sandy bottom, the depths of the unending ocean. The absolute lack of light here troubled even his evolved eyes; it glowed an emerald shade as Ewan strained them.


    If she came out here with him, she couldn¡¯t have drifted that far. The currents crawled down here; they couldn¡¯t have taken her away. He looked for her inside a reasonable radius, then extended to an unreasonable range when he couldn¡¯t find her. Bit by bit, his logic adjusted. The lack of any trace was obvious, she never came out with him. She should¡¯ve arrived somewhere else. He must contact her in the hub, else his restless heart would never settle down.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    He propelled back up again but stopped when his Ryvia shifted the sand at the bottom. It exposed a circle of rocks surrounding an egg. Ewan checked the wheel of his ¡®Luck Roulette¡¯, the skill was still in effect. So, this was a forced lucky encounter. He had no time for this though, and he couldn¡¯t carry it away either¡ªit would become a burden during the backlash. At most, he would come back to it after confirming Nana¡¯s status and finding solid ground again.


    The skill dinged in his mind, and a sense of dread enveloped him. The first part of the ¡®Luck Roulette¡¯¡ªthe good part¡ªwas over, and now he had to survive the backlash. He stabilized where he was and pushed his Ryvia out. Luck was random, he couldn¡¯t read it. The threat it would bring could come from anywhere.


    The favorable part had only affected the position of the space cracks and presented him with this egg. The backlash from that shouldn¡¯t be too bad, he hoped.


    Come, I¡¯m ready.


    A school of fish rushed out from under the loose sand and assaulted him, barging inside his Ryvia sphere. Their teeth, or bladed fangs rather, shredded his skin on the first round.


    Fuck!


    It was only skin wounds, but he bled all over and his ripped clothes hung loose.


    Blood Rein!


    He cast and used the blood he shed. The school of fanged fishes u-turned at a distance and came at him again, his blood and flesh dangling from their mouths. He aimed at them, and the blob of blood extended out into needled branches, and soon a barbed shrub stood in front of him. The fishes didn¡¯t stop and barreled into the thorny branches. The blood needles stood firm and tore apart the incoming school, turning the area wine-red. The taste of iron overtook the saltiness of the ocean for a moment but soon reverted to the fishy taste again.


    That can''t be all¡­


    When he finished the thought, a tentacle reached from a distance smacked Ewan down into the sand.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.7


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 12.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 12.9 | Ice ¨C 12.9 | Blood ¨C 0.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 491


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-85 Backlash

    He hacked up blood with all the air inside him and took a second before finding his bearings. The tentacle with suction cups came at him again. He rolled over and clawed away, but the shockwave of the attack rammed him and hurled him back. Two attacks were enough to know, he wasn¡¯t this Astylind¡¯s opponent. If not at the limits of Step-0, it was at least close to it.


    So, he pushed his spirit to its limits and soared up. But the tentacle reached for him and whacked him down into the sand once more. Ewan jerked from the shock and vomited everything he had in him; a sharp rock below punctured his waist. His neck hurt, he suffered from whiplash, and something cracked in his body. Yet, all this could wait, his injuries weren¡¯t a priority, his life was. He thrusted and charged up. The tentacle came at him as the water quivered from its roar. Ewan braked and halted where he was, and the tentacle missed, ripping the water apart in front of him.


    He took the moment of respite and shot up, hauling his weight as hard as he could. The Astylind howled and stretched out its tentacles, but Ewan was already out of its reach.


    Is it done?


    His mind churned as he raced for the surface, his vigilance at its peak. It was dark all around, and even with his eyes and Ryvia, it confined his sight. Anything could come at him from anywhere, the dread seeped into him. Alone, injured, and against the infinite and the mighty ocean. The realization of his powerlessness shook his resolve, his confidence.


    Can''t give up, can''t give up¡­


    He repeated to himself and marched on. This wasn¡¯t the end of his path, he still breathed, his heart still beat. He was still alive, so he would crawl if he had to, but he wouldn¡¯t give up.


    Ice Daggers!


    The cast of the spell supported his crumbling morale, his collapsing spirit. The ice daggers plunged the temperature around him, frigid water blanketed him, comforted him, it also became another form of defense. The increased density from lower temperature burdened the thrust of his Ryvia, but he could sustain this much.


    As his head broke out the water surface, and as he heaved, lungfuls and lungfuls, a pair of talons dug into both his shoulders and flapped him away towards the stormy clouds with a sharp peal.


    Fuck!!


    Before the man-sized bird could fly him high enough though, he attacked it with his daggers. The bird screeched and struggled, swatting the daggers away, its altitude dipping. Ewan attacked again and again, forgetting the stinging pain in his shoulders and his whole body. A few attacks later, the bird dropped him and flew away with another peal.


    He crashed into the water with a splashing thud, groaning and gasping¡ªsomething broke again.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    Nimbus clouds parted for the moons, their familiar moonlight gleaming over the ocean reminding Ewan of home. He sprawled on the water; the tides rocked him up and down. His vision faded in and out as he struggled to hold on, bleeding away into the salty ocean.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Frost¡­


    He opened the Dekoth and let Frost out, holding him above the water. His unstable situation could cause complications if he brought his Astylinds out, but he had no other choice now.


    Frost cried when he saw Ewan, then howled, looking around for the enemy. The temperature plummeted and bits of ice crystals appeared around Ewan.


    There¡¯s no enemy¡­freeze a block¡­.


    Frost cried at Ewan again, staring at him with watery eyes.


    I¡¯ll be fine.


    Frost aimed at the side¡ªthe white Anima soared¡ªand froze a part of the ocean water into an ice block while glimpsing Ewan¡¯s wounds, worried. Ewan let go and Frost dropped onto the floating ice block, dragging Ewan onboard. The glacial block chilled his skin, cramped his muscles, numbed his nerves, but it was better than rotting in the water.


    Ewan glanced at his wheel tattoo and frowned; the skill continued. What would come next? He wondered.


    The pain started with an itch and developed into a gut-wrenching ache. His joints twinged, his ears rang, his head throbbed, and he wanted to retch. The symptoms came out of nowhere; they matched the textbooks word by word. The backlash didn¡¯t only mean external enemies.


    Decompression¡­.


    And the roulette dinged in his mind, the backlash left him sick and died out.


    ¡­..


    A frantic Iris healed him for the next few hours before his pain eased, his condition improved, and he connected to the hub. He couldn¡¯t delay the matter, he needed to know Nana¡¯s status, he needed to contact her.


    In the hub.


    The sight of his all too familiar shop gave him some mental respite, he was still on Airadia, the space crack didn¡¯t throw him to some unknown world. But nostalgia and relief could come later, first he checked his transaction records. His automated worker couldn¡¯t take messages, so Nana could¡¯ve left some kind of obvious trace if she wanted to contact him. And indeed, someone had bought a Level-1 Astylind Core at nineteen times the market price.


    It was her. Ewan laughed; all his tension and anxiety deflated in a moment. Her contemplation over the price was obvious from the transaction record. Nineteen times, she must¡¯ve wanted to leave no doubt behind.


    ¡°Every day at sunrise.¡± He navigated to her shop and left the message with her automated worker. The Novas she spent on it could only allow this many words, anymore and it would overwrite. The fragility of the current situation prompted him to think about upgrading them, both his and Nana¡¯s. Once his situation improved and stabilized, he would discuss it with her.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.7


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 12.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 12.9 | Ice ¨C 12.9 | Blood ¨C 12.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [6<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 523


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-86 Bralek

    Time was a Severynth¡¯s friend, its path made it so. The longer he lived, the stronger he would be, the constant feedback would keep nudging him ahead. But it required certain conditions¡ªkeeping his Astylinds strong was one and breaking through the barriers was another. Negative of the first would cease the feedback, and the same of the second would render it useless, which was Ewan¡¯s current problem.


    His first try ended in failure, his second too followed the same pattern. The frigid ice block, the relentless threats of the ocean, unknown destination, fear of surviving the tomorrow¡ªall these distractions kept him away from success.


    Nana was good at managing them, she could even break through when the wolves¡¯ threat was imminent. Did she trust him that much? He wondered what went on in her mind¡­


    Each trial took time, and when he recovered from his third, the sun¡¯s arc broke out from the horizon. A giant fireball emerging from the endless water, lighting up the sky, its reflection gleaming on the rocking ocean; he could never witness this inside the walls. He gawked in awe, standing tall against the morning breeze; fresh but the salt coated his tongue. Floating in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight tolled his mind. But this breathtaking sight blew it all away, this was his adventure, how he imagined it would be.


    His inner child brought a grin to his face as he opened his arms and felt the sun and the wind against his skin, his Astylinds idling around him. The sound of the waves, the whistling wind, the warmth of the dawn¡ªhis serenity peaked. He could succeed in his breakthrough now, confidence coursed through him.


    ¡­¡­


    His spirit pool broke the barrier with ease this time, he finally experienced his seventh awakening with the syrupy cloud drifting out. And with it came his fourth innate skill¡ªBralek. It was soul defense in essence, yet the freedom of choice for the source made it one of the two most customizable innate skills; other being Varos¡ªthe physical defense.


    Ewan¡¯s choice for Bralek was the Nine-Tailed Fox, the World Eater. The risks he took with her weren¡¯t for her defense though, it was for the ability she could gift him with. Even If nothing else, just getting the ability to use ¡®suggestion¡¯ was worth everything he went through.


    The glossy jet pearl glimmered, the argent specks swirling around. Bridge, extract, and condense; he¡¯d completed three parts of the spell, it was now time for ¡®cleanse¡¯. Ewan sat cross legged, his eyes closed, and the pearl hovered before him. His spirit invaded it and targeted the fox¡¯s memories, her consciousness, her will. The pearl throbbed; a deathly scream echoed in Ewan¡¯s soul space. His runes trembled and his spirit pool bellowed. It wasn¡¯t easy wiping a World Eater¡¯s existence, but he persisted.


    She was dead, he was alive; she was an Astylind, he was a Staron¡ªpossibilities smiled upon him.


    Sindra¡ªIce Favored.


    He attacked the pearl with Ice-Anima, cornered her, and chipped away at her resistance.


    Finally, after his spirit almost drained against the defiance, the pearl stilled. Her basic consciousness couldn¡¯t create traps, but Ewan still completed another round of cleansing before confirming his success. The soul pearl was now his to do whatever he wanted. So, he cast the last part of the spell¡ªmerge¡ªand absorbed the pearl inside his soul space. Like a candy in his mouth, it melted in his soul and merged with his spirit pool. Soon an argent barrier enveloped his soul space, flickering and a bit unstable; his nigh depleted spirit couldn¡¯t carry its weight.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Ewan inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. He reached out and silver particles rushed at him, cheering, and playing around. He could sense them now, they were Mystic-Anima.


    Mystic Favored¡­.


    This was the same as when he used Frost¡¯s ¡®Ice-Favored¡¯ with his Sindra¡ªthe second level of affinity. Yet, the ice was temporary, the mystic was permanent. He could control the Mystic-Anima as he wished; they moved on his will, acted on his thoughts.


    He shook his head and sighed, culling his excitement. Without the mystic rune or a Cerade¡¯s ¡®core¡¯, his spells would have minimal effect. His human body limited him too, it would hinder the passage of Mystic-Anima before the completion of ¡®Elementalist¡¯ modification.


    Still, this surpassed his expectations, much better than the ¡®suggestion¡¯ he was hoping for. Though the cost to performance ratio would be horrendous, he could at least cast mystic spells with external Mystic-Anima.


    ¡­¡­


    It was the first promised sunrise, so once his spirit recovered, he connected to the hub and navigated to Nana¡¯s shop.


    ¡®Hopes & Wishes¡¯ the tilted board above the shop read in fancy fonts. Ewan¡¯s spirit blob floated before the gate for a few seconds before he entered. The ring of the bell and a well decorated shop greeted him; a chandelier hung from the artistic ceiling, an algae-green orb floated to the side, and a sky-blue rug hugged the floor.


    ¡°Nana?¡± Ewan asked, letting the gate close behind him on its own, and the bell rang again.


    ¡°Ewan?¡± A spirit blob sprung up behind the u-shaped counter. ¡°It¡¯s really you!¡± Nana said and bolted towards Ewan.


    ¡°Calm down a bit,¡± he said. She halted and hovered in front of him, agitated, much smaller than his spirit blob. ¡°Are you hurt? Where did you end up?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m good, I fell on an island. The ocean¡¯s ginormous, I never thought it would be this big,¡± she said, hopping up and down. ¡°It is an ocean, right? It¡¯s not a river, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an ocean, rivers don¡¯t taste like that,¡± he said. ¡°Have you explored the island yet? Is there any danger?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just stayed on the beach. I built a small hut there,¡± she said, her blob fidgeting around, restless. ¡°How does it taste? Is it really salty?¡±


    ¡°It is, way too salty, try it yourself but don¡¯t drink too much,¡± he said. ¡°And be careful when you explore. Just stay on the beach if you¡¯re not confident, and also don¡¯t go too deep in the ocean.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± she said. ¡°What about you? Where¡¯re you? Did you get hurt?¡± Her words sped up with each question.


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°I fell in the middle of the ocean. I¡¯m floating there right now,¡± he said.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.8


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 13.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 13.2 | Ice ¨C 13.2 | Blood ¨C 13.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 523


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-87 Enthrall

    ¡°Is it safe there?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°As safe as it could be,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I didn¡¯t get hurt, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Like you¡¯ll tell me even if you did,¡± she said.


    ¡°Hello, do you sell spells?¡± A customer walked in and asked, his spirit blob about the same size as Ewan¡¯s.


    ¡°Not now, we¡¯re closed,¡± Nana said and sent him away.


    ¡°You were listed¡­¡± And he grumbled his way out.


    ¡°You¡¯ll lose your business if you keep doing that,¡± Ewan said, floating to the automated worker and checking it out. ¡°Do you have enough Novas? Let¡¯s buy better workers if you do.¡±


    ¡°I do.¡± She hovered closer to him. ¡°We can leave messages then!¡± she said, bouncing on the counter.


    ¡°Not by selling uncle¡¯s materials. Do you have enough of your own?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I-I should have,¡± she said, still hopping. ¡°By the way, I have something for you.¡± She dove behind the counter and brought him a bean-sized argent core, the Nine-Tailed Fox¡¯s core that fell into the space crack with him.


    ¡°It was with you?¡± Ewan asked, examining it.


    ¡°I found it beside me when I woke up, thought you could use it,¡± she said, bouncing into rapid bobs.


    ¡°Why¡¯re you so fidgety?¡± he asked. ¡°Did you eat something weird?¡±


    ¡°I-I might¡¯ve. The berries on the beach smelled good.¡±


    Ewan frowned. She had food packed in her pendant; she didn¡¯t need those berries. And more so, she must¡¯ve checked them with her <Identify> before eating them.


    ¡°Nana,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Did you lose your pendant?¡± It shouldn¡¯t be the case since she could connect to the hub with her connector, but he still asked.


    ¡°No, why?¡±


    ¡°Then is your soul hurt?¡± The berries agitated her spirit, she must¡¯ve taken them to connect to the hub.


    ¡°N-No,¡± she said and backed off.


    Ewan snapped. ¡°Why¡¯d you connect if your soul was hurt!¡± he yelled, and Nana flinched.


    ¡°Y-you said sunrise¡­.¡± Her voice dimmed.


    Ewan took deep a breath and tried to calm down, and the bubbling heat cooled down to a simmer.


    ¡°D-Did you get my message? That nineteen times was hinting at my age,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯ll go buy the worker, make sure this orb can receive it. And go rest after that, don¡¯t connect again until you¡¯re healed.¡± He barged off; the door slammed behind him, and the title board dangled loose.


    ¡­¡­.


    The ice block floated on the open waters for a week, Ewan¡¯s adjusted life continued through the sunrises and the sunsets, through the storms and through the quiet. The instability was a bane for brewing potions, so his Astylinds remained stuck at their levels. Frost too couldn¡¯t train much for he was responsible for the durability of the ice block; whenever it melted, he refroze it.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The threat loomed on all sides, yet Ewan¡¯s days remained peaceful; as peaceful as they could get in the middle of the ocean, with nature testing his mettle every now and then. He studied the mystic spells in his Spellbook, nurtured <Bloodlust>, observed and detailed down the cores for <Transmute>, practiced Ryvia and Sindra, and started a diary named ¡®Ewan¡¯s Adventures Log¡¯¡ªthe first part of which was his story up till here.


    Enthrall!


    He traced the familiar spell circuit that he practiced for the last week, but the spell ended without any effect. It not only lacked a target but also the Mystic-Anima as its fuel. Ewan traced it again, chomping a mouthful of dried meat jerky, letting the Mystic Anima seep in, drop by drop. Slow and steady, he controlled the floodgate. Still, even that tiny amount clashed against his other Anima and rampaged inside him. His ¡®Mystic-Favored¡¯ and his other runes helped him manage them and suppress the fight, but the havoc left him groaning in agony. The jerky helped as a distraction, so he bit once again and chewed through the pain. Until he brewed the mystic potion and modified his heart again for the ¡®Elementalist¡¯, he had to tolerate this.


    Enthrall!


    He retraced it, and the circuit crumbled after he let go. It was a ¡®suggestion¡¯ type spell, basic and standard, unfit for combat. Both its min and max Anima points were humbler compared to the other spells he focused on, but it could do the job otherwise.


    If only¡­.


    If only he had the mystic rune, his new affinity wouldn¡¯t go to waste. His mind wandered as he played with Mystic-Anima around him; the first glare of dawn brightened his dome, and the silver specks glimmered in the sunlight.


    The rune would instead make it stronger; he would surpass even Frost in terms of affinity and might reach the third level¡ª[Endued]. More control, more power, less cost, increased efficiency overall¡ªthis was what the higher affinity levels promised.


    He was at the seventh awakening, inching towards the next breakthrough. Soon he would stand at the peak of this step and would attempt to advance to the next¡ªSpirit Nebula. And the bubbling soul essence would let him contract another Astylind. If he could find or buy a mystic type, it would solve his problem and his gift would shine.


    Frost, Orange, and Toast, all three cried and pulled him out of his thoughts, they found something. Ewan exited the dome he stayed in, gulping the last bite of the meat, and looked at the sun¡¯s arc rising from the horizon. A dark spot blemished the flawless sight today. From nail-tip size to a pea, the blot ballooned.


    Ewan squinted and let his eyes adjust to the dazzle. It was too far away to identify but its blurry outline reminded him of something¡ªa manmade carriage that ran on water.


    Ship.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.8


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 14.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 14.2 | Ice ¨C 14.2 | Blood ¨C 14.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 128


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-88 Ship

    Airadia was a plane, the center of its star system, it had been for ages. Then why did the horizon on the ocean behave as if it was a curved world? Ewan drifted in his thoughts as his calculations about the ship¡¯s speed errored. A mystical blur now obscured the enamoring vista. But it was not the time to mull over the mystery, he had to prepare for the ship. Be it hostile or friendly, he couldn¡¯t miss it if he wanted to stand on soil again.


    His presumed distance to the horizon didn¡¯t work, so Ewan took an average ship¡¯s size as written in his textbooks and calculated again. The inflation rate of that speck in the sunrise gave him a vague answer¡ªit would arrive in an hour. It was enough for his preparations. He gathered his Astylinds back in the runes, changed back into his tattered clothes, dove into the water, and pushed the ice block down into the ocean with his spirit interference. It thawed and melted inside the water as Ewan shot up a couple of fireballs in the air. It could not only give the ship his position but also identify him as an Asheva.


    He did everything he could do, it now depended on the ship, he could only wait.


    The dot in the sun ballooned as minutes rolled. Half an hour later, the image cleared up and the ship appeared in all its glory as Ewan hurled another fireball to the sky. Aged ebony wooden frame with a naked maiden figurehead, towering masts, ropes running around, unfurled sails; the ship raced on the ocean, leaving a trail of frothy water in its wake¡ªthey were coming towards Ewan.


    ¡­¡­.


    ¡°Howdy, mister stranded Asheva, care for ah lift?¡± a middle-aged man with patchy stubble asked in common tongue but with an accent, leaning out of the ship¡¯s railing.


    ¡°Yes please,¡± Ewan said, the disturbed waves rocking him back. ¡°I¡¯ll be¡­grateful.¡± He coughed out the water. The ship was bigger than the average size mentioned in the books. Its shadow threw him in the darkness when it sailed closer, the wooden frame creaking and singing with the ocean.


    ¡°Would rather get your coins,¡± the middle-aged man said. ¡°Novas, not Crelith.¡±


    ¡°How much?¡± Ewan asked. It was a rip-off, but if some Novas coins could solve his plight, he would be glad to part with them.


    ¡°Forty if ya pay coins, the same in grams if ya do crystals,¡± he said.


    ¡°Too much, make it ten, I¡¯ll pay with coins.¡±


    ¡°Not in a position to bargain, are ya? Pay me thirty and I¡¯ll let ya up, food and room included.¡±


    ¡°Fine, but I¡¯ll only pay half now.¡±


    ¡°Sure mate.¡± The middle-aged man grinned and signaled the other workers with a whistle. They scampered around, the deck groaning under their steps. Soon a rope ladder dropped down the port side, its rungs moldy and rotten. Ewan latched on and climbed, supporting most of his weight on Ryvia, and jumped onto the deck from the last step.


    ¡°Are you the captain?¡± he asked, rubbing his hands clean and shaking his hair dry.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, name¡¯s Cork. Welcome to ma humble ¡®Maiden¡¯s Wish¡¯,¡± the middle-aged man said with a smile, reaching out.


    Ewan shook his hand. ¡°Thank you for your help. I¡¯m Ewan,¡± he said, creating a puddle where he stood, the drenched clothes weighing him down. The captain was also an Asheva but not stronger than him. The Anima fluctuations and the spirit disturbance around him put him at the fifth awakening or its equivalent¡ª his <Identify> confirmed it.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Pockmarked-face, tangled greasy hair hanging over his ears, yellowed teeth accompanying the stinky breath, over-washed coat that was losing its navy-blue color, and a pair of airy trousers drooping beyond his bare and dirty feet. Cork had lived long enough to be at Step-1, yet he wasn¡¯t. Either he remained stuck at the final point¡ªwhere most stumbled¡ªor his Astylinds had died if he was a Severynth, Ewan surmised. The difference in strength was big enough that his mischievous side boiled, he wanted to try his new spell <Enthrall> on him and duck the payment.


    If he succeeded, all would be good. But if he didn¡¯t, the consequences could be heavy. Best case scenario, he would pay more and pacify the situation. Worst case scenario, he would have to kill everyone, getting stuck on the ship instead of the ice block, and he couldn¡¯t navigate. Unwanted and needless risks in unknown situations was a recipe for disaster, but it could give him some important data on his spell and could save him Novas. It would also leave him with something good to write in his ¡®adventure diary¡¯¡­.


    Eventually, his rationality overpowered his impish side and kept him in check. Unfamiliar territory, uncharted relations, someone more powerful than him could be behind this ship¡ªa subtle book cover often hid an explosive story. After all, they sailed the treacherous waters and the ship remained intact, just a captain at the fifth awakening couldn¡¯t explain that. Ewan smothered the idea of the spell and paid the man fifteen Novas coins.


    ¡°Here¡¯s half, I¡¯ll pay the rest when we go ashore,¡± he said.


    ¡°How¡¯d ya end up here anyway?¡± The captain opened the pouch and checked the coins, one by one.


    ¡°Fell from the sky,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Ha, ain¡¯t even tryin''.¡±


    ¡°Truth will cost you a discount.¡±


    ¡°Na mate, coins are better. They outlive the truth,¡± Cork said, biting the coins then scrubbing them against his overcoat. ¡°All¡¯s good. Come, lemme show ya the digs.¡±


    The shipmates stared at Ewan as he followed Cork through the door and down the deck. A musty chemical stench mixed with piss, shit, sweat, and rotting flesh assaulted him. Dim glass lanterns burned on the walls; the wooden floor squeaked with each step. And cages crammed with chained Starons lined both sides of the narrow corridor, their dead yet feral eyes unmasking the ¡®goods¡¯.


    This was a slave ship.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.8


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 14.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 14.2 | Ice ¨C 14.2 | Blood ¨C 14.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 113


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Poll for second volume cover [The Search for The Mystic].

    So, like I had mentioned in the chapter posted today, this is for the selection of the second volume''s book cover. I narrowed all that I got down to 5 images, but couldn''t decide myself which one to go with. I''ll post them all here, going to use the spoiler tag for each just to make it a bit cleaner, and there will be a poll down below. You can vote on the number you like. There are multiple choices so you don''t have to pick just one. Also, I''m using discord to upload the files, so they''ll have limited lifespan.


    P.S: Like I mentioned before, I''ll talk to the artist to see if he can work with these images. If not, if you guys pick one from the bunch, I''ll try to edit it myself, just typography and stuff, can''t do much.


    Edit: These are all ai images taken from microsoft ai, free to use, no copyright issue.


    1.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    2.


    3.


    4.


    5.

 Chapter-89 Kidd

    ¡°Just up ahead,¡± Cork said, taking down a lantern off the wall and leading Ewan to the floor below; the stretched corridor at the stairs end had a couple of closed doors on both sides.


    ¡°Slaves, right? Why¡¯d you keep them up there?¡± Ewan asked, minding his head on the low arch. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t they be on the bottom deck?¡±


    ¡°We got a nasty bunch this round,¡± Cork said, taking out a ring with bunch of keys from his overcoat. ¡°They might poke a hole in ma baby if I let¡¯em and drown us. Don¡¯t worry, the stench won''t reach ya.¡± He grinned and opened the door to a room on the right side; the gate creaked open, and the stuffy waft blended with the must. It was a compact compartment with a bed and a table, and the round glass window let some light in. Spiders patrolled their cobwebs in the corners, and a thick layer of dust and salt sheeted the floor and the furniture¡ªtheir presence commented on the lack of care, the room hadn¡¯t seen any guest in a good while.


    ¡°How¡¯s it?¡± Cork asked, letting Ewan enter.


    ¡°Good enough,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Thanks again.¡± He shook hands with the captain.


    ¡°Top deck¡¯s open, feel free to walk around. Just don¡¯t go below, ma boys are a bit touchy about their space,¡± he said. ¡°Someone¡¯ll send ya food soon, our cook¡¯s mighty good, you¡¯ll like it for sure. Rest up, room¡¯s all yours till we see land.¡±


    ¡­¡­.


    Ewan rid the room of the dirt and the spiders, changed clothes, replaced the dusty and salty bedsheet with his own, and took a nap on the bed while Orange and Toast guarded him. His sheet smelled sun dried, it was the scent of home, and it comforted him. He curled up and drifted off with a smile.


    The sole glass window brightened the room as the sun rose to its peak, dust specks floating in the pillars of light. The knock on the door dragged Ewan back. ¡°Yeah?¡± he asked, yawning and stretching with a comfortable groan, wrinkling the sheets.


    ¡°Captain told me to bring you food,¡± a childlike voice answered.


    ¡°Put it on the table,¡± Ewan said, opening the door. Orange and Toast already went inside the rune and the tattoo. ¡°Thank the captain for me.¡±


    Ewan sat on the bed. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked. It was a boy, too young to be on this ship¡ªhis voice had barely broken, and his face was hairless.


    ¡°Kidd, sir,¡± the boy said, chancing a glance at the food and gulping as he removed the cloche. The tips of his messy beige hair brushed his ears, his ashen irises mirrored the bread, faint charcoal streaks ran over his cheeks and nose. And he clothed a fair tank top that had turned coal-black and cuffed and belted khaki trousers that was too long and too roomy for him.


    ¡°Your parents couldn¡¯t find a better name?¡± Ewan chuckled.


    ¡°I was born on the ship, and everyone just called me ¡®kid¡¯, so Cork named me Kidd, with an extra ¡®d¡¯.¡± He took another peek at the food and his nose twitched.


    ¡°So, what do you do here?¡±


    ¡°Chores. I¡¯m trying to join the crew officially, but Cork won''t let me,¡± Kidd said, hanging his head down and flicking the non-existent pebble with his toe.


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


    ¡°You must know the routes then?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I know a lot of things.¡± Kidd puffed his bony chest, his ribs jutting out the sides. ¡°I can reach places no one else can, I¡¯m the smartest on the ship.¡±


    Ewan lifted his brows and his lips curled into a playful smile. It could be dangerous if he ditched payment with <Enthrall>, but this kid was safe. At best, someone would perceive him as the curious kind.


    ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡± he asked.


    ¡°N-No,¡± Kidd said, gulping with his eyes on the food again.


    ¡°Come, eat with me. It¡¯s too much, I can''t eat it all.¡±


    ¡°I-I shouldn¡¯t disturb you, sir,¡± he said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Come, sit,¡± Ewan said.


    Kidd sat on the bed beside him while Ewan dragged the table to them, the grating wooden legs rumbling in the room. Freshly baked bread with meat stew and grilled fish and veggies on the side, the dish looked appetizing enough.


    ¡°Dig in.¡±


    Kidd hesitated for a few seconds but soon assaulted the food. He ripped the bread, drowned it into the stew, and stuffed his mouth, shoving some grilled fish after.


    ¡°Slowly, you¡¯ll choke,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Do they not feed you?¡±


    ¡°If¡¯s espeshially mafe for you,¡± Kidd said, or at least tried to with his cheeks puffed to their limits, spitting bits of food everywhere. ¡°If¡¯s too fasty.¡±


    Ewan smiled and poured him a glass of water. Even if they spiked the food, it wasn¡¯t the quick acting type.


    Kidd swallowed and tore another piece of bread.


    ¡°So, where¡¯re we going?¡± Ewan asked when his mouth was empty, before he could scarf again.


    ¡°Drarith, it¡¯s our hometown. We¡¯ll reach in a couple of weeks.¡±


    ¡°Nice name,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Tell me about this place, how do they treat outsiders?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll fit right in,¡± Kidd said, cramming his mouth. ¡°Lots of foreign Ashevas come to Drarith, it¡¯s the only port city around.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    The information just oozed out of Kidd nonstop, it was far too easy. Ewan¡¯s smile vanished and he reined back all thoughts about exploring the boy for more info. He was a blabbermouth; the captain must¡¯ve known that. Ewan didn¡¯t even need to use <Enthrall> and the boy recited the history of the city. Either Cork sent him as a courtesy, or he was feeding him wrong information¡­


    Ewan frowned; he was confident in his presumption¡ªthe boy wasn¡¯t the deceiving type. If he was, he was a master at it, which was the unlikely case. Perhaps he was being too careful¡­ No, it was best to remain cautious. If the captain inferred his actions, then using <Enthrall> to tinker with the kid¡¯s head could be risky. Any distortion in his memories could alert Cork. But Ewan could use it to validate his suspicions. And so, he acted.


    Enthrall!


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.8


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 14.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 14.2 | Ice ¨C 14.2 | Blood ¨C 14.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 113


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-90 Water Potion

    Kidd leaned back on the bed, his stomach stretched round, and exhaled a long breath, his eyes dazed.


    ¡°Full?¡± Ewan asked, ignoring the grinding burn that Anima friction caused inside his body.


    ¡°Y-Yes, thank you,¡± Kidd said, sitting straight again. The boy emptied the plates; he diligently wiped even the crumbles and the drops. Yet, he stayed awake and alive¡ªthe food was clean.


    ¡°So,¡± Ewan said, looking into Kidd¡¯s eyes, clutching his mind. ¡°Did the captain tell you anything before sending you here?¡±


    ¡°H-He told me you were our guest, and to do as you say.¡±


    Ewan dove deeper, clearing any inhibition that could be in the boy¡¯s head, and dragged him to his deepest subconscious. ¡°How¡¯d you know everything you told me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Rumors, gossips. D-Drunks talk a lot,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°They do, don¡¯t they.¡± Ewan smiled. Either the captain didn¡¯t think too much about it or he sent the boy as a courtesy, the confirmation eased him. ¡°How about this? You tell me these rumors, stories, what you hear, what you see, anything you know about Drarith, and you can have a share of my food,¡± he said, releasing the grip on Kidd¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Can I?¡± The boy jumped up, beaming. But soon he deflated. ¡°Cork will beat my ass, that¡¯s your food.¡±


    ¡°He won''t,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Tell him I let you eat.¡±


    The boy grinned. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll tell you everything I know,¡± he said.


    ¡°Now, take the dishes and clean the table.¡± Ewan shooed him away, breaking the spell¡¯s effect.


    The captain showed courtesy, so he too reciprocated and didn¡¯t ask anything sensitive about the ship or his slave trading business. After all, the captain emphasized that he was a ¡®guest¡¯ here¡ªhe intended to remain as such for the duration of the journey. Information was important but so were relations. Ewan disliked most kinds of social relationships, informal affairs, but business and formal connections were crucial, especially in a new and unknown place. He just might need the captain¡¯s services one day.


    ¡­¡­.


    Cork might or might not be the strongest on the ship, there was no feasible way to confirm it. Revealing his secrets under the circumstances, even if inside the room, was a death call. So, anything related to <Transmute> was a negative.


    Though it also had an element of risk, he steered towards brewing potions for the body modification, he¡¯d put it off for long enough. It had two layers, he had to finish both before he broke through to Step-1. There was a lot left to do, so he busied himself.


    Because he had ¡®Mystic Favored¡¯, he opted for the mystic potion first. But a quick search in the hub¡¯s trade list shocked him. Not a single shop listed anything related to the mystic-type ingredients. Ewan combed the crevices, probed other spirit blobs, explored the hub, yet couldn¡¯t find any. If the ingredients had this problem, what about the Astylinds themselves? He pursued the thought and looked for an unhatched, newborn, or even an infant mystic-type Astylind. All he received in return though was rejection and disappointment, and it gave him a headache. He planned to contract a mystic-type after reaching Step-1 to get the rune, but all his ideas crumbled before reality.


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


    Mystic potion was still doable, he had the fox¡¯s core and the blood. He could use <Transmute> and create the potion as many times as he wanted. But the rune¡­.


    There must be a way, he clenched his jaws and took a deep breath. If he couldn¡¯t buy an Astylind from the hub, then he would look for one himself. If he couldn¡¯t find one even then, he would search for a way to create the rune without an Astylind. No matter what, he wanted that mystic rune.


    But none of it was possible from the confines of the room, so he killed his bubbling theories and moved on to other potions¡ªhe chose ¡®water¡¯ first.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    It had been some time since he last created a potion for this technique, yet his skills hadn''t rusted. Even when the ship rocked as much as it did, he adjusted. Eighth attempt, and he had a test tube half-filled with cerulean liquid. It sounded of ocean waves when it sloshed, frothing up¡ªthis was the water potion.


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan lay on the drenched bed, panting, the wooden ceiling wobbling before him. Cold sweat trickled down his skin, crashing waves blared in his ears, and the retch knocked on his throat. The bed could be a mess if he did it there, so he dragged himself to the edge and puked. Icy water gushed out of his mouth, puddling on the floor, reflecting his bloodless face as he gasped for air. Sweat streamed down his nose and dripped on the pool as he hung his torso by the edge of the bed.


    Each potion had different side effects when modifying his heart, this was the water potion¡¯s. He¡¯d suffered from numbing frigidity, from scorching heat, from bleeding buckets, but this was by far the worst. The gags braked his breaths, it smothered him. The numbness, the pain, the dizziness, all was fine, but the suffocation made him helpless.


    When the potion¡¯s effect ended, when it modified his heart, Ewan closed his eyes and rested on the bed, not minding the soaked sheets. His Astylinds guarded him around the room. His condition had them worried, their concerns bombarded his soul, but they calmed down when he stabilized.


    The roaring tides hushed; the hissing winds dimmed down; a wave of fatigue assaulted him, and he rode it to the dream world. The mess he created in the room was a chore for tomorrow, tonight he didn¡¯t even want to lift a finger.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.8


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 14.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 14.3 | Ice ¨C 14.3 | Blood ¨C 14.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 109


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Character Art [Orange]

    I mulled over it and finally decided to post the images I have for now. Accuracy of the images aren''t a 100%, so please take what you see with a grain of salt. I tried my best with the prompts, but each attempt results in a random image. I went over hundreds of images I think, probably even more, and finally gathered what I thought resembled how Orange is in the book. Some are based on the chapters that are already released, some are based on his future development. I''ll add them all in the spoiler and will mark them, so in case you don''t want to spoil yourself, please do not open it. If you''re fine with some visual spoilers, feel free to enjoy the images.


    P.S: The links are from an actual image hosting site, so they should not break ever, at least the site promises so.


    1.


    2.


    3.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    4.


    5. Its spoilers from this point on, please check if you''re fine with a little visual spoilers. And again, accuracy won''t be hundred percent, but the images got the essence down.


    6.


    7.


    8.


    Now, some images that didn''t fit Orange in the book much, but I found them nice, so I''ll post them here. Basically, honorable mentions.


    9.


    10.


    11.


    12.

 Chapter-91 Nanny

    A morning walk on the top deck against the breeze broke Ewan¡¯s torpor, it woke him up. He stood at the bow, facing the boundless ocean, the choir of the squawking seagulls adorning the backdrop. The ship sailed away from the dawn, westwards, renting the waters apart, yet the lack of a reference point stilled it against the endlessness.


    ¡°Had a nice sleep?¡± The captain climbed the stairs behind him and joined him on the bow.


    ¡°I did,¡± Ewan said, smiling.


    ¡°I heard ya fed our Kidd?¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have?¡± Ewan asked.


    The captain broke into hearty laughter. ¡°Ya can, ya can,¡± he said. ¡°Did he keep ya entertained?¡±


    ¡°Very much so,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I have you to thank for that I reckon.¡±


    ¡°Just bein¡¯ helpful.¡± Cork chuckled and took out a damp cigar.


    ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Ewan cast <Ember> and lit the cigar¡¯s end, drying it before the desired smoke oozed out. ¡°These seagulls are here, so there must be land nearby, right?¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm.¡± The captain took a deep puff, the red burned brighter, and exhaled. ¡°Not our stop though,¡± he said.


    ¡°Why can''t we see anything then?¡± Only water surrounded them, not even a hint of land appeared in sight.


    Cork smiled. ¡°The ocean remembers,¡± he said.


    Ewan frowned and looked at him.


    ¡°It¡¯s a folklore, a legend among the sailors and those who live near the ocean.¡±


    ¡°What does it mean?¡± Ewan asked.


    The captain pointed ahead with his chin. ¡°All ya see, it¡¯s just an illusion.¡±


    ¡°You mean the horizon?¡± Ewan stared at that line dividing the sky and the ocean. ¡°How?¡± he asked under his breath.


    ¡°Who knows.¡± Cork took another puff. ¡°Must be some Anima shit, doesn¡¯t matter much, we have our ways of navigating,¡± he said.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious?¡±


    ¡°Seen it my whole shitty life mate, already numb to it,¡± he said. ¡°Not from around the ocean, are ya?¡±


    Ewan smiled. ¡°Discount if I answer that?¡±


    The captain chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll leave ya to your sightseen'',¡± he said and walked away.


    Ewan shook his head and observed the ocean again, his hands in his cargo pockets. If it was all an illusion, it must be related to Mystic-Anima then. But what did the ocean remember? It showed them the horizon, as if the world still traced a curve¡­


    He reveled in the mystery, it excited him. What he was seeing could be a sight from the past, when Airadia was still a planet. Landscapes changed, people changed, islands emerged and drowned as Airadia advanced and became a plane, but the ocean still remembered¡­.


    This must go in his diary, Ewan grinned. No textbook could tell him about this, no lesson could convey the experience. His adventure so far had stood up to his expectations.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°So, the idiot pissed his pants and ran back to his old dad,¡± Kidd said, gobbling the stir-fried crabs and veggies.


    ¡°Dad? Wasn¡¯t he the grandson?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Dad, grandad, it¡¯s all confusing.¡± Kidd swallowed before stuffing again. ¡°The old man was sleeping with his only great-grandson¡¯s wife behind his back, who knows if the idiot¡¯s his son or great-great-grandson,¡± he said.


    Ewan lifted his brows at the unnecessary yet amusing gossip.


    ¡°He¡¯s been pissing at our business for a while, trying to shut us down. If not for the old man, we would¡¯ve fed him to the fishes long ago.¡±


    ¡°So, who is this old man?¡±


    Kidd chugged down half a pint of ale and wiped his mouth. ¡°He¡¯s the lord of our city, he owns it. But he¡¯s too old now, can''t manage shit.¡± His face flushed and he hiccupped. ¡°Cork respects him, he says the old man was unbeatable in his prime, but I don¡¯t see it,¡± he said.


    Ewan looked at his drooping eyes, this was it for today, anymore and the boy would pass out in his room¡ªnot a hassle he wanted to deal with.


    ¡°It¡¯s enough,¡± he said, taking the pint of ale away from Kidd. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more tomorrow. Now take the dishes away.¡±


    ¡°But I still haven¡¯t told you about his daughter,¡± Kidd said. He blabbered as Ewan pushed him out of the room. ¡°She¡¯s so beautiful, I¡¯m going to marry her when I become a Severynth. Wait!¡± Ewan closed the door in his face.


    The day was still young, he could brew another potion for his body modification today. There was no benefit of choosing one over the other, so he picked at random¡ªdark.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    His routine repeated every day as he cozied up on the ship. From Anima Potions for his Astylinds to practicing his innate skills; from nurturing ¡®Bloodlust¡¯ to studying spell circuits; from chatting up the captain and touring the top deck to listening to Kidd blather away.


    Continuous brews pushed his skill higher, he improved with each potion, and soon chipped down the attempt count to less than five for the modification potions. The ingredients expenses went down, productivity went up; his efficiency soared.


    Dark potion¡ªwind potion¡ªearth potion¡ªwood potion¡ªlight potion¡ªlightning potion.


    He knocked down one element after another and strode past the first layer in about a week, with only the mystic element left.


    His Astylinds didn¡¯t laze around either. The tiny room hindered their combat practice, so they strived to improve their levels, Ewan¡¯s potions supporting them. Frost led the pack, Iris followed close, Orange too was diligent enough. Even Toast lay silent on Ewan¡¯s lap and let his siblings train in peace.


    They were all maturing; the notion grew in Ewan¡¯s mind, but he snuffed it. The back-to-back dangerous situations forced their current behavior. Once he found a stable place and spent enough time in peace, they would go back to being the rowdy bunch they were.


    Severynths were but nannies in disguise, his mind couldn¡¯t help but wander.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.8


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 14.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 14.9 | Ice ¨C 14.9 | Blood ¨C 14.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [7<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 94


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-92 Krorkey

    Though he wasn¡¯t safe per se, the level of risks had plunged. Deadly concerns didn¡¯t distract him, immediate threats didn¡¯t surround him anymore. The slight spooky hum from beneath the water wasn¡¯t here to keep him on edge, the fins of death didn¡¯t circle his iceberg, and he¡¯d left those massive tentacles behind that bode their time for a chance to strangle him.


    His Astylinds secured the place, they stood on yellow alert around him¡ªon the table, on the bed, near the door. The conditions were as favorable as it could get for him on the ship. So, he attempted his breakthrough for the eighth awakening.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    He exhaled the long-held breath, his lungs emptied, and his tension left with the warm damp air. He breathed in, and the cold but salty wind packed his chest.


    The feeble wall had finally crumbled; he demolished it and strode over to the next level. He now stood at the eighth awakening, one step away from the peak. His spirit calmed down, he fell back and lay on the bed, his breaths and his heartbeats echoing in his ears.


    ¡°Krorks spotted! Starboard ninety degrees, ten minutes out!¡± Someone hollered on the top deck, it broke the serene silence.


    That was a warning call; Ewan sent all his Astylinds in the runes and headed out. The slaves who¡¯d yet to shatter eyed him, their feral glance tingling his senses, yet only the hubbub from above echoed in the corridor and their breaths reigned quiet.


    Mayhem gripped the usual systematic deck, but it had a rhythm to it. The shipmates dashed around, brushing shoulders but never colliding. Some hauled the ropes to furl the sails, some prepared swords and sabers, and some readied their Astylinds. Most had a bird type of the wind element; a handful had the water type.


    The captain was on the poop deck by the wheel, scanning the starboard side with his patinated scope.


    ¡°Trigger the shield,¡± the captain said to the shipmate beside him as Ewan approached them.


    ¡°Cap, we¡¯re running short of crystals and coins. It won''t hold for long,¡± the shipmate said in a husky voice. He probably just woke up from a long nap.


    ¡°We should have some in reserve,¡± the captain said.


    ¡°That¡¯s the last of ¡®em.¡±


    ¡°Use some of it, buy some time,¡± Cork said and sent the shipmate away.


    ¡°Need help?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Usual shit, just didn¡¯t expect them to hit us so close to the shore,¡± Cork said. ¡°If ya can help, I¡¯ll give ya your discount.¡±


    Ewan panned his eyes across the starboard¡ªthe ocean was calm, as calm as it could be with the tides; he couldn¡¯t see anything from there. But the sentry had called, there must be some danger heading for the ship. And if it didn¡¯t have the captain breaking in cold sweat, then it was something he could wipe the floor with.


    ¡°I want half the loot,¡± he said. ¡°Plus, thirty percent discount.¡±


    The captain laughed. ¡°Is your help worth that much?¡±


    ¡°Your sailors might get injured, but I won''t let any die,¡± he said. ¡°If you up the discount to fifty, I won''t even let them get injured.¡±


    Cork stared at Ewan, tapping the scope on the wheel; the metal clattered against the wood, and the lens quivered in its notch. ¡°And if ya can''t?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let go of my share and will pay you full,¡± Ewan said, chuckling. ¡°You¡¯re not taking much risk with me. Even if I do fail, I won¡¯t get in the way, it¡¯ll all be the usual for you.¡±


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    A milky transparent barrier encased the ship, random pale streaks racing on its surface. It isolated the ship from outside, not even the wind came in. The ship came to a gradual halt, swaying with the waves as the mast creaked.


    ¡°Fine,¡± the captain said, looking at the shield. ¡°Get ready, ya have fifteen minutes.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan observed the barrier while the shipmates readied for battle. This was a sustained barrier of ice element, unlike what caged Obria. The structure was solid but brittle, one crack could bring the whole thing down. He followed its connection to the main mast and used his Ryvia to scan the spell circuit inside. It was crude, prone to damage, and had no defense against inside attack. He could kill the shield with a thought if he wanted to.


    The quality and the construction gave him an idea of the ship¡¯s background. Even if the barrier couldn¡¯t compare to the one that shoved Obria to its demise, it still wasn¡¯t something an Asheva at the fifth awakening could buy. Unless Cork was opulent in secret, this scenario couldn¡¯t come true. But if he was, he wouldn¡¯t dive into slave trading. Someone more powerful than Ewan backed this ship, he now had confirmation. And he heaved a sigh of relief and thanked his prudence that eventually defeated his impish side. If those bleak years hadn''t turned him into a cynic and a skeptic, he would¡¯ve created an avoidable enemy here.


    ¡°We¡¯re ready, cap. Save the crystals,¡± one of the shipmates that led the group on the main deck yelled.


    The ¡®Krorks¡¯ were wrestling with the shield so far but were unsuccessful. Ewan leaned over the railing and scanned one of them as the barrier flickered.


    Krorkey¡ªnative Starons of Airadia. Half an average Human¡¯s height; pale-ivory skin; frog-like face; fins for ears; a large, bladed fin on their back; and a flat tail that acted as a rudder. They matched their description in the explorer¡¯s edition books he had up to even the small details.


    Dumb, dim-witted, and dull, yet they had a short fuse, they saw red in a heartbeat. Their lack of a spoken language and their fondness for violence hindered the formation of a working society. They lived in small packs underwater and opted to loot and hunt instead of striving for self-sustenance. Their habits made them the perfect pirates, it amused Ewan.


    The Krorkeys climbed the ship, their claws bored holes in the wood.


    ¡°Get ready!¡± the leader of the shipmates yelled; and the Water Pelican perched on his shoulder squawked with his wings unfurled.


    The Krorkeys shrieked in response.


    Ewan moved back to the main mast, to the center of the deck. The strongest of the Krorkey was at about Level-3 or 4, he didn¡¯t need his big guns.


    They mounted the railings and jumped on the deck, howling, as the sailors attacked. But before they clashed, Ewan threw his hands sideways and chained all the Krorkeys in place with his billowing Ryvia; some hovering in the air, some ready to claw. Ghost-silence washed over the deck; the shipmates gaped at him after the initial confusion.


    ¡°Go ahead, you can kill them now,¡± Ewan said and shattered the moment.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 15.2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 15.2 | Ice ¨C 15.2 | Blood ¨C 15.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 94


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4984


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-93 Drarith

    No one hindered the loot division after the easy triumph. The shipmates even offered to carve Ewan¡¯s share and deliver for free¡ªhe gave a nod. Instead of his share of the fins, the fangs, and the gills, he asked for more cores.


    Krorkey had the natural ability to train with Anima, they had cores like Astylinds and many other Starons. But they were a Staron, not an Astylind. Was there any difference between their cores and the Astylinds¡¯? Ewan had yet to hold a Staron Core, it intrigued him. Cerades mimicked this ability and created a core to train. They faltered, the incompatibility collapsed their path, but their thought process only added to his curiosity. Though it wasn¡¯t a priority, he could study it in his off time.


    ¡°Ya got some skills,¡± Cork said, climbing to the poop deck where Ewan was.


    ¡°Is that envy I hear?¡± Ewan asked with a hint of a smile.


    The captain chuckled. ¡°I ain¡¯t submitted to despair yet,¡± he said. ¡°I ain¡¯t givin'' up.¡±


    ¡°Well, good luck with that,¡± Ewan said and walked away. ¡°Find me if you need me, I can help for a price.¡± He waved a goodbye and went back to the room.


    ¡­¡­


    A week later.


    The shoreline widened from a blip with the break of dawn, the ship¡¯s shadow stretching its hands towards it, accompanying the cheers and the hoorays. Sailors prepared for the dock, and the captain stood tall at the helm, a smile lingering on his weary face.


    ¡°Home sweet home,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°How long will you stay?¡± Ewan asked, gazing at the shore that covered the horizon.


    ¡°A few months at least, maybe a year or more,¡± Cork said. ¡°What bout¡¯ ya? Staying in Drarith?¡±


    Ewan nodded. He planned on staying for the time being, till he had enough information about the geography of this place at least.


    ¡°Come to the docks if ya need me for anything.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Ewan said and walked towards the main mast, where the exiting plank would connect the starboard to the pier.


    The hubbub of the port soon faded in amidst the squeaking seagulls and the roaring waves. Different sizes of ships lined the dock. Some battered¡ªsome new. Some old and crumbling under the pressure of time¡ªsome young, ready to confront the ocean with fresh vigor. The crowd was a chaotic mess yet there was a sense of order in place. The horde at the fish market, the crates loading on the ships for export, the slaves lining up for auction¡­ The shore inched in, and Ewan basked in the scenery that exceeded his imaginations.


    The city sizzled on his tongue; this was the city of spices¡ªDrarith. Unwalled and the only port city around, it lorded over the area. If nothing went wrong, he was going to stay here for a while, this would be his home.


    While Cork sorted his slaves and readied for the auction, Ewan bid his farewell and took off. A permanent residence was ideal for the longer stay, but he settled for a good inn for now. They lined the streets near the docks, perfect lodgings for sailors who partied after their voyage. They all lacked the quiet Ewan wanted, so he headed further in. The spice market succeeded the pier, and the tingle in his nose worsened.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Bags of raw and ground spice were up for wholesale, slaves and workers lugged the packed crates. Yells, hollers, and shouts blended in with the customers bargaining back and forth at the top of their lungs, it all became indistinct and garbled chatter. He threaded his way through the crammed market, squeezing, pushing, all while protecting his sensitive nose with Ryvia.


    Finally, after several minutes of battling the crowd, he navigated out and reached another street, heaving a sigh of relief. It was early morning; the place ran desolate except for the cleaners who swept and sluiced the paved streets. Kidd said the inns in this area were expensive but much better than those near the shore. The well-maintained buildings with properly scrubbed fa?ade on both sides of the street verified his words, they were indeed much better. But this was still too close to the spice market, so Ewan took the empty tram and headed further in, as its rusted wheels squealed with each round.


    ¡­¡­


    Five Crelith coins per day, and Ewan rented a good room. A bedroom with a separate hall and a balcony that opened to the ocean. The single set of sofas and a table in the hall left enough space for his Astylinds to train and practice, and the bedroom was quiet enough for him to study in peace¡ªit was coins spent well. Still, he couldn¡¯t stay here for long, or his expenses would skyrocket. He had a lot to do, a lot to study, a lot to research, and a lot to brew, but earning Crelith coins weren¡¯t among them. So, he had to manage with what he had.


    After he freshened up, settled in, and had a spiced egg sandwich for breakfast, he headed out to roam the streets. Words were just words after all, they couldn¡¯t do justice to the scenery of the city. Most of all, he had to validate all that Kidd blabbered about before making any move, not to mention he also had to register his identity here. Luckily, the city accepted foreign Ashevas with open arms, so his registration went without a hitch¡ªhe only had to give his name, age, and level.


    It was the official registration, up next was the ¡®unofficial¡¯ one, a visitation to the one who ruled. As an outsider, greeting the lord of the city was the norm, and he didn¡¯t intend to go against it. So, he packed twenty Novas coins and a hundred Crelith coins in two separate pouches and took the tram to the Ensil Villa. This much should be good enough as a gift for the first meeting, he reckoned. Especially, the Novas coins, which was a sign of his goodwill. Unless the Governor had a screw loose, he should accept his offerings.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 15.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 15.9 | Ice ¨C 15.9 | Blood ¨C 15.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 74


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4874


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-94 Ensil

    Ewan sat in the guestroom, admiring the asymmetric patterns on the wall. They resembled the style of the Ashocan Kingdom¡ªan ancient giant that existed long ago on the appointed eastern end of the Lostrax Continent, kissing the Morinfair Ocean. If the Governor inherited its legacy and this city sat above its ruins, then he was still on the same continent. The space crack at least didn¡¯t fling him off to any extreme corner of Airadia.


    There was also a lack of any advanced technology here that Obria had, the room was so and the crawling route that took all his morning declared such as well. Except for the run-down tram, the city even lacked basic conveniences. It could be deliberate, he reckoned. This was an unwalled city, which meant living with death just outside the door. The air was thick with the hint of blood when he strolled the streets, even the Kyron citizens had the aura of death lingering around them.


    If developing towards a combat-oriented city was the aim, the lack of ¡®peaceful¡¯ conveniences made sense. The absence of protection from the perimeter walls would keep the citizens on edge, and the existence of outside threat would keep them united. Ewan couldn¡¯t help but admire the Governor¡¯s methods of reigning over others and maintaining order. The idea aside, it was the willingness to employ those ruthless methods that garnered his respect.


    While the thoughts took him on a ride, a young man of about Nana¡¯s age pushed the cotton-curtains aside and walked in. His unusual ocean-bay colored hair hung over his neck; his earring jerked with his steps.


    ¡°Hello, Ewan?¡± He greeted with a smile, flashing his pearly canines.


    His name and details had made their way to the Ensil Villa before he did, he wondered which secret tram the information took that was faster than those corroded wheels. Ewan stood up, pushing the thought aside, and shook his hand. The man barely matched his height, a bit shorter even if not for his boots with thick soles.


    ¡°Ewan Ayres, nice to meet you Mr. Ensil,¡± he said. This must be the young man that Kidd told him about, who tried to shut their slave business down. Though, he didn¡¯t seem to be the kind to piss his pants¡ªmust¡¯ve been an exaggeration or a metaphor. Or a page of such trait hid behind his sophisticated book cover.


    ¡°Please, call me Kiev,¡± the young man said. ¡°Gramps couldn¡¯t free his hand, so he sent me to greet you instead.¡± He nestled on the sofa opposite Ewan and gestured for him to do the same.


    ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t disturb you by coming unannounced,¡± Ewan said and took out the pouches from his inner-jacket pocket, pushing them towards the Kiev on the table. ¡°My offering of goodwill and a gift for the first meeting, hope you accept them.¡±


    ¡°Not at all, not at all.¡± Kiev grinned and pocketed the pouches. ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I had some breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Come with me for lunch then, I was about to head out. I¡¯ll bring you to the best restaurant in the city.¡±


    ¡­..


    They sat by the open window on the third floor. The restaurant towered beside the spice market, the laced breeze drifting in tormented Ewan¡¯s nose, and he barely kept the sneeze in. Though his nose reddened as a cherry. But he was a guest, helpless against the power that controlled the city. He couldn¡¯t be impolite and unfurl his Ryvia to keep the menace out, let alone voice his opinion and have the window closed. Especially when the scenery outside interested this ¡®grandson¡¯ of the Governor so.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    The waiter took their order and Ewan turned to look at what had trapped Kiev¡¯s attention for so long¡ªit was indeed the ongoing slave auction at the docks.


    ¡°Are you interested in buying?¡± Ewan asked, sipping the chilled water to wash away the tingles in his throat. He didn¡¯t like being nosy, it was a waste of time and effort. But the current situation nudged him to do so, after all it concerned his wellbeing in the city. He needed to integrate, and this man was his way in.


    ¡°No, just looking,¡± Kiev said with a smile.


    ¡°Forgive me if I¡¯m wrong, but I heard you don¡¯t like that business.¡±


    ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± Kiev smirked and looked at Ewan.


    ¡°Sailors have nothing much to do on the ocean, the gossips go around,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I hear the drunks talk a lot too.¡±


    ¡°What is your opinion on it?¡± Kiev asked.


    Ewan shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t have any. I don¡¯t know or care enough to either oppose it or support it,¡± he said.


    Kiev laughed. ¡°Yes, most are like that,¡± he said. ¡°And I¡¯m not any different.¡± He looked out the window again. One man in the crowd huddled around the auction stage roared his bids one after another, defeating all buyers with opulent prices. Size, gender, race, condition, he bought them all regardless, and his throat croaked at the end. Kiev looked at him and his lips curled.


    That was his man bidding for him, Ewan guessed.


    ¡°Will you release them?¡± he asked, looking at the number of slaves dwindling on the stage.


    ¡°Do you wish to have one?¡± Kiev asked.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Ewan said. The waiter brought all the food on a large tray and served them both. Ewan couldn¡¯t name any of the dishes, but the aroma made him salivate. The reddish-brown gravy, the succulent chicken, and the generous dollop of butter on top¡ªthe cooked and bloomed spices didn¡¯t hurt his senses like the raw ones, they aroused them instead.


    ¡°May I ask why though?¡±


    Kiev smiled. ¡°How long will you stay in the city?¡± he asked.


    Ewan took the hint and dropped the topic before he touched a nerve he shouldn¡¯t. ¡°I¡¯m planning on staying for some time. Can I trouble you for some recommendation?¡±


    ¡°How about that?¡± Kiev pointed and asked. Beyond the docks, the land curved out to meet the ocean, almost a small panhandle, rolling chains of mountains shading the area. ¡°We have some villas up in the mountains, many foreign Ashevas like you live there. But rental isn¡¯t possible, you¡¯ll have to buy one if you wish to stay,¡± he said.


    ¡°How much would it set me back?¡± Ewan asked.


    Kiev¡¯s smile widened into a sly one. ¡°If you pay with Novas coins, it¡¯ll be cheaper.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 15.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 15.9 | Ice ¨C 15.9 | Blood ¨C 15.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 74


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4874


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-95 Transmute

    A pathway paved with coarse stones snaked up the mountain, cutting through the steep but dense forest. Each step took him higher and higher than the ocean. His destination¡ªone of the many villas that dotted the mountain.


    Birds called, animals bayed, and the forest sang. With the smell of petrichor, the morning dew on the leaves, and the sound of a creek burbling in the background, the traces of serenity thickened the air.


    When the Starons down at the docks became indistinct peas, though off-colored, Ewan reached his destination. Dense fog blocked his way. It hindered the sight, it muffled the sounds, and it smothered the smell of anything beyond the churning white. It even occluded his Ryvia from sensing anything.


    He took out a charcoal-black pentagonal token from his claw-ring and ran his spirit through it. The fog roiled before him and spread apart to make way, nigh saluting him from the sides. Once the protective shield was open, he crushed the temporary token and threw the powdered pieces into the forest, the spell circuit in it sparked and crumbled with a pop.


    He had to buy the villa; rental wasn¡¯t possible as Kiev Ensil said. It was a move to tie him and the other Ashevas down with the city¡¯s fate and involve them in the issues, to strengthen their ranks. A rental house was dispensable for most, but many would hesitate to give up their permanent residence that they ¡®owned¡¯. Though being on the receiving end of the subtle manipulation left a sour taste in his mouth, Ewan was also helpless; he had to settle in the city and the price of renting a room in an inn would pile up after some time.


    Thus, he forked out the cost and purchased the deed, which meant everything related to the villa was his. And so, for caution¡¯s sake, he couldn¡¯t use the security measures employed before.


    The villa was a one-story manor with a large, partial-fenced courtyard circling it. Dust-ridden recliners faced the ocean, dried-brown leaves, overgrown grass, and rotten twigs covered the lawn.


    The inside of the house wasn¡¯t any better either, worse even, as the grimy door handle previewed. The musty air stuffed his breath, his boots cut apart the layer of dust on the floor and exposed the ivory tiles. The white cloths covering the furniture had long yellowed, and some even held a few doubtful dark patches. He sighed; this place needed a lot of hours before it could become livable.


    But before doing anything, Ewan went down to the basement, into the last room at the end of the dark and damp corridor that contained the control spell circuit and took care of the protective shield. For the token replacement, he used his claw-ring and had the spell circuit recognize it as the key. The energy was also running low, so he replaced the old Novas coins and put in new ones into the notches¡ªit needed three, regardless of the element, and would sustain for a long time.


    Once he activated the protective fog again, he heaved a breath of relief and slouched. After so long, he finally had his own place to stretch his legs.


    ¡­¡­


    It took Ewan two days to get the house in order and organize everything¡ªtwo days and a lot of Novas. After deducting the payment for the villa, which was suspiciously underpriced, and the coins needed to run the protective spell circuit, he ran low on Novas. Luckily, his situation was stable now, he could focus on making some profits off the Potioneering skill he¡¯d honed so far. Most of all, his ¡®Spirit¡¯ had long fulfilled the criteria for <Transmute>. When his observations and analyses crammed diaries after diaries, the spell would shine in all its glory.


    Dawn broke and Ewan prepared for an arduous day ahead with a mug of milk tea¡ªstill tasted bland as ever. The division of rooms in the basement made it easier for him to work, even down to the smallest details aimed towards helping an Asheva.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.Though the different finishing, the contrasting shades of age that the passage of time left on the walls, remarked that the basement came long after the birth of the villa. It had its own story that the bricks and the concrete of different hues were eager to tell.


    His Astylinds went in separate training rooms, modified to favor their elements. While Ewan went into the bright Potioneering room on the left. Before working on his own skill and spells, he had to start earning from his shop. He¡¯d named it ¡®Brewed-Awakening¡¯ with the aim of making it a potion shop. And till date, he had yet to sell any.


    For starters, he went with the Anima Potion. It was a simple potion that always remained in high demand. He had many water-element cores and the corresponding blood on hand, so he chose that and readied his tools.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    An hour later, four water-element Anima Potions suitable for Level-7 and Level-8 Astylinds sat on his table. His success rate hit the peak at four potions with four attempts¡ªzero failure. The pride and the arrogance that came with surpassing his past-self seeped into his bones, but he didn¡¯t let them interfere and worked with a clear mind, an open mind. The lack of reference and comparison to other Potioneers also reined him in, it budded a seed of doubt, marring his pride. Perhaps his dazzling success rate was a common occurrence in their eyes¡­.


    Ewan didn¡¯t intend to put the potions in the shop for now, so he stored them in his claw-ring. Because of high demand, the potion market was the easiest to get into, yet was also the hardest to maintain a stable standing in. Once he couldn¡¯t keep up with his opponents, they would drown him with numbers. He was a no-name newbie right now, no one paid any attention to him or his shop. He wanted to take advantage of this and chomp a chunk of the market share before anyone realized what happened.


    For that, he needed huge batches of potions to dump into the market at a low price. The profit margin for Anima Potions differed based on the level, Ewan planned on sinking his teeth into the high-level market first¡ªremaining inside Step-0. After all, his <Transmute> spell gave him a sharp advantage in this field.


    And so, Ewan took out three Level-2 cores of water element and arranged them in a triangle on a separate stone table by the side¡ªthey were the sacrifice. After he took a deep breath and placated the butterflies in his stomach, he drew the spell circuit for <Transmute> in the center with a brush, detailing the result that he wanted in its strokes and curves. The streaks of the thick vibrant blood inked his creation, and its red contrasted the white-marbled table.


    The last edge completed the circuit, and after double checking it with its book and his own notes, Ewan traced the same spell circuit in his soul space and cast the spell.


    Transmute!


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.1 | Ice ¨C 16.1 | Blood ¨C 16.1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 19


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4722


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Character Art [Toast]

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


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    22. Its Honorable Mentions time from here on. Some that almost made the list but fell off for a lack of high fidelity or redundancy.


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    26.

 Chapter-96 One Year

    His spirit dimmed. The blood ink in the center resonated with his cast and shone with a bleak tinge. It squirmed at every other heartbeat then dispersed into wine-red threads, sinking into the three cores. They trembled and soon powdered into dust, leaving flecks of cerulean light that hovered and swarmed towards the center. It took minutes for the light specks to merge and stabilize, and when they did, an orange-colored Level-8 Astylind Core of the fire element sat in front of Ewan, gleaming and reflecting his gaping astonishment. He checked and confirmed with his <Lens> spell, it was an actual core of the fire element, no different than the ones he hunted or bought.


    And he broke into a quivering grin. The prospects of the spell flooded him with excitement. It could create shortcuts, saving him much time and effort. The only requirement was his research. The more knowledge he had, the more the spell would glimmer. If he employed it well, the profits would soon rain upon him. He was proud of his Pa and his grandpa for creating such a spell, yet the same also pressured him. Continuing those monsters¡¯ legacy wouldn¡¯t be an easy task¡­.


    The door of his room slammed open and his Astylinds barged in one after another, creating a ruckus with their synced cries, shattering his wandering thoughts. They didn¡¯t want to practice alone in those rooms. Even the diligent Frost was of the same mind, and his complaints echoed with the others. Ewan shook his head and let them stay with him.


    A lot had happened but only months had gone by since he became a Severynth and contracted them. His Astylinds were only a few months old, mere babies. Expecting them to be mature and focus on training in solitary was a miss on his part. It wasn¡¯t a big deal anyway. He was a Potioneer, he could enhance their levels without those modified rooms.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make too much noise,¡± he said and went back to brewing potions¡ªthis time with the core he transmuted. Though it wasn¡¯t necessary, a brewed potion¡¯s effect could further confirm its authenticity.


    ¡­¡­


    Around a week later.


    Ewan lounged on the recliner out in the yard, facing the ocean through the gap he opened in the fog-cover, his family¡¯s journal sprawled on his chest.


    The red dusk shimmered on the waters, the breeze rocked the waves, the chirping birds returned home against the setting sun, but his churning mind couldn¡¯t appreciate any of it right now, he didn¡¯t have the capacity to.


    He teetered at the boundary of the ninth awakening and had many things to consider before moving forward. The most important of which was his mystic-favored affinity. He scoured the hub for days, looking for any information regarding a mystic-type Astylind, but nothing came up¡ªfake or otherwise. The lack of any reports or hints of such sightings bound his hands and feet, he was helpless. Though he wanted an Astylind of mystic element, he wasn¡¯t impulsive enough to hunt for one without any data; he didn¡¯t want to waste his time looking for a needle in a haystack. At least for that, he could burn the haystack and take the needle out, but he wasn¡¯t capable of burning the world to find an Astylind¡­


    So, to take advantage of his unexpected affinity and not let it rot in some corner, he only had one option left¡ªcreate the rune by himself without any Astylind. Others might stumble here, but his confidence came from his <Transmute> spell. Except for creating any living beings, the spell showed no limitations so far. The theory of it even supported transmuting a breathing creature with a heartbeat, so a rune shouldn¡¯t be an issue, Ewan surmised. The only hiccup was the lack of information regarding the rune. The spell worked based on his knowledge. Unless he studied the mystic rune in detail, transmuting it was only a pipe dream.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    It could be that his level was too low to contact such data. If he was right, then he had to wait till after he broke through to Step-1, it might even stretch to Step-2. Or he could climb the ladder in the city and get the Governor¡¯s help. At his level, getting the information on runes should be feasible.


    Ewan made up his mind, he would chase this plan. He might fail. All his time, effort, and resources might go to waste. But all investments had an element of risk. If he shirked every time, he would soon find himself at the door of mediocrity.


    He noted down his plans in the diary and left them for the future. Now, he had to pay attention to more immediate matters¡ªhis choice for Varos. It was a defensive innate skill but differed based on the material used. His family¡¯s journal advised using earth-element materials, but Ewan was a bit reluctant. He chose mystic element for Bralek¡ªthe soul defense, choosing the same for Varos might give him another surprise, or so he hoped.


    He tapped the pen on his diary, the nib dotting the page. The same issue with the mystic-type Astylind hindered him here too. He had no means to buy any mystic-type material¡­.


    One year, he finally wrote down and circled it¡ªhe gave his obstinance an ultimatum of one year. He had a lot of work to do before attempting to break through to Step-1. From completing his modification-cycle for ¡®Elementalist¡¯ to breaking into the potion market, from upgrading his Astylinds to learning more spells. His estimate for everything came to about one year. If he still couldn¡¯t find anything in that time, he would follow his predecessors¡¯ advice and choose the earth element.


    The faint cheers and the hollers trickled in as the world darkened and took him away from the diary. He looked down at the city¡ªtowards the vast central plaza¡ªthrough the crowns of the towering trees. A huge bonfire blazed in the center, its flames reaching for the sky, dancing in rhythm with the jolly crowd around. The purple sky had reddened for the city.


    Ewan chuckled. The constant fear of death lying outside their doors had loosened the shackles of the citizens of Drarith. They lived their days as if it was their last. Unrestrained sex, flowing booze, sumptuous feasts; they caroused almost every night, for they¡¯d survived another day. It was a contrast from the lawful colony he was familiar with, and it amused him. But the mere amusement couldn¡¯t make him join them. He put his diary back in the claw-ring and went inside the house, he had a lot of work pending.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.7 | Ice ¨C 16.7 | Blood ¨C 16.7]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 14


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4703


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-97 Memories

    [Havanna]


    Havanna woke up stretching and groaning, pushing the sand beneath the bedsheet aside as she tossed and turned. The morning sun¡¯s arc loomed over the horizon, inching up by the minute. She hated waking up this early, but the blinding dawn and the threat of the unknown made it impossible for her to continue lazing away. It had been almost three weeks since she ended up on this island. Her soul healed for the most part by now. Soon she could connect to the hub again and meet Ewan.


    She giggled¡ªthe corners of her mouth widening into a foolish smile¡ªwhen his fuming image appeared in her mind, with his nostrils flared and veins popped. The few years of detachment had chiseled a gulf between them, especially when her parents died. Both cared for each other but neither crossed that chasm, they just watched from afar from their own world, struggling with their own misery.


    Gone were the days when they scratched each other over the last piece of cake, and the days when they sliced it in half and ended up sharing it anyway. When they finally talked after years, the words were familiar, but the tone had pulled away.


    Yet it all changed now, their relationship was sliding back to how it was when they were kids. When they ripped each other¡¯s hair off in the morning then giggled together under the same blanket at night; when Ewan wetted the bed and blamed it on her; when she bit him and blamed it on the dog; when he ran to her house whenever Uncle Authen cooked something; when she used him as a shield against her angry mum; and when he ducked, and she got spanked in the end anyway¡ªhe always tittered on the side¡­.


    Her dreams weren¡¯t as grand as Ewan¡¯s, she only wished to live a simple life with him¡ªa humble life, a reflection and continuation of their childhood. She didn¡¯t want him to stop for her though and didn¡¯t hope to be a thorn in his path either. And so, to walk with him, to match his steps, she had to aim high and avoid the pitfall of mere average.


    Now that her soul injury didn¡¯t trouble her, she had to start working towards her dream. It towered as a whole picture, its peak hiding beyond the unreachable clouds, but in pieces, it became daily monotonous chores. The baby steps would take her to her destination.


    She stood up, brushing the sand off her arms and her butt, and looked towards the depth of the island. She found those berries at the edge. Something that could affect the soul was at the edge, what would there be deep inside the forest? She aspired to be an Artificer, and Ewan was a Potioneer¡ªthey both needed raw ingredients. So, she planned to explore the island today, find some precious materials and herbs if possible.


    ¡­¡­


    [Ewan]


    Potioneering Room.


    The argent liquid floated in the test tube, shying away from the wall, repelling most external influences. The potion was a dream, existing and non-existing at the same time. It expressed the extent of virtual and reality, and how the two mixed. A shake of the test tube disarrayed the droplets and soon they formed random images, vague but obvious scenes from reality.


    Memories, Ewan thought. He¡¯d already read about this nature of mystic element after encountering the illusion of the horizon. ¡®The ocean remembers¡¯, they said. It was a fascinating ability, both mesmerizing and powerful. The extent of its potential took his imagination on a wild ride. Their realization depended on the mystic rune though. So, he could only focus on the doable right now and shove all those ideas back.


    He loaded the potion into the injector and pushed it in his veins. After the shot and the slight sting, it spread in him, pushing his intellectual acuity to beyond its limits. The sharp thoughts ran amuck, colliding and concluding with incoherent results, becoming a muddled mess. His senses soared and sharpened; he winced in pain at even a caress of the wind. A layer of the world peeled away in front of his eyes. He saw the skeletal structure of the basement, where he sat, where the spell circuits were. He saw the chaotic arrangement of all Anima, the order hidden within, their conflicts and their harmony. How they would go for each other¡¯s throats in his body yet lived peacefully in nature together.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The enlightening view strained his nerves, and soon he bled from his eyes and had to shut it close.


    His favored-level affinity in the mystic element strengthened his control over the potion, it gathered at his heart with a thought. The modification process took him through illusions, or rather, memories.


    The rise of the kingdom, its naming ceremony, its golden age, its prosperity, its kings and its wars, its successes and its defeats, and its downfall with the ¡®Endless Helix¡¯. The ¡®mystic¡¯ remembered not only the ocean. The time-devoured history, the forgotten names, the long-lost culture, it kept it all.


    Some of the details matched the booked records, so this must be the fallen kingdom¡ªAshocan. And the ocean that kissed its coast, the endless water that spanned beyond the false horizon was the Morinfair Ocean.


    The illusions, the memories, the resurging past, they gave birth to an idea that took over his mind. He couldn¡¯t resist it; he didn¡¯t want to resist it. The whetted acuity supported him; his enhanced senses paved the pathway. He built a framework around the idea, a skeletal spell circuit¡ªstill raw and unstable but feasible. Stroke by stroke, inch by inch, he adjusted and readjusted, and filled in the gaps. By the time the potion modified his heart, he had his final product glimmering in his soul space.


    Remembrance¡ªhe named and recorded it in his Spellbook.


    ¡­.


    The mystic element only absorbed the drastic disturbances and the changes. A stale and stagnant environment couldn¡¯t pluck its string, it couldn¡¯t let the Mystic-Anima remember its traces.


    Remembrance!


    Ewan cast the spell on the villa to confirm his suspicion¡ªit was far too cheap. The Anima ran velvet smooth in his body by virtue of the modifications. Even half a cycle produced noticeable effects on his Anima manipulation. Especially Mystic-Anima where the lack of rune made the improvement more tangible.


    The spell circuit hummed once the Anima stuffed it and rippled out a few surging waves. They struck the wild Mystic-Anima and rampaged through, leaving only a stirred chaos behind. In that muddled reflection, Ewan saw what he wanted to see¡ªthe history of this villa. The Anima showed him the memories, the spectral past, and it proved his suspicion.


    A massacre at the hands of a young curious boy who wanted to understand what death meant. Ewan shook his head. Others might care for this, he didn¡¯t. As long as the extreme event didn¡¯t produce any ¡®Wraith¡¯, he didn¡¯t care. Even if it did create a ¡®Wraith¡¯, as long as it didn¡¯t disturb him, they could coexist.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 14


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4689


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-98 Trade Meet

    [Verina]


    Obria ceased to exist, its survivors lost their homes, its inhabitants vanished into the unknown wild. The streets, the markets, the ruined society, nothing was familiar anymore.


    Verina trudged through the aftermath of the survival game that took everything away from her. She lost her colony, she lost her home, she lost her hand, and most of all, she lost those stupid parents. She sniffed, keeping the tears in, as her eyelids weighed down and her eyes stung, as the painful thought crept back in. She never should¡¯ve left them in the house. If she took them with her, they would still be alive¡­


    No one knew what could¡¯ve been though. No one in her group survived, even she barely made it through the massacre. Her Kyron parents had even less of a chance.


    She lived, they all died. But her life wasn¡¯t worth the price, she paid too much to live.


    Her heavy steps dragged the loose soil, her dripping blood from the stump of her severed arm soaked it in a red trail. If she fainted because of losing too much blood, it would be a painless death. Now, she only hoped to find a place to lay down and breathe her final breaths. If those revered scriptures were true, if God didn¡¯t mind her cursory prayers, she would meet her parents in the next world. Her life was short, but she still left too many regrets. Alas, her time was coming to a stop. It would all end now.


    ¡°Girl, do you really not want to live anymore?¡± An aged accent with a tired voice echoed around her and interrupted her thoughts.


    She flinched and looked around. She might¡¯ve given up on living, but the flickering flames of her will still resisted the unknown threat on its own.


    ¡°Do you still wish to live?¡± the man¡¯s voice asked again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± she said.


    The man sighed. ¡°This world is vast, girl; the nature is infinite. Do you not wish to explore it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± she said again, clutching her stump to slow down the bleeding, her eyes losing the torpor¡ªher vision sharpened. Blood seeped through her fingers down to her elbow as the gut-wrenching pain coursed through her. Nevertheless, she persisted. In case she had to fight again, the blood loss would stumble her. She would die on her own terms today, no matter what. Her obstinacy blazed high.


    ¡°Infinity means limitless possibilities, girl, do you not long for something? Have you nothing that you desire? Nothing you failed? No one you want back?¡±


    Verina wavered on his words, the implication of the infinite possibilities. Could she reverse time? Could she see her parents alive again?


    ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked. Nothing came free in this world¡ªshe lost her innocence and her immaturity to learn that.


    ¡°Fulfill my wish and I will give you a path to walk on,¡± the man said. ¡°A chance to survive, and a path better than yours.¡±


    Thoughts and ideas collided in her mind, she mulled over her situation and her condition. What else could scare her when she¡¯d already accepted death, the recklessness and the rebel in her blood boiled and surfaced.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said. ¡°Show me the path.¡±


    A faint laughter resounded in her surroundings as a drop of blood gathered before her.


    ¡°Accept this blood and all of mine shall be yours.¡±


    She touched it and the blood seeped through her skin, staining her soul space a deep shade of wine-red. Her fire rune cracked and shattered, its shards flinging away to the limits of her soul, and the death of her Astylind rang the echoes of its wailing scream. The stump of her arm grew a root, the bone jutted out with the nerves and the veins flailing about¡ªan embryo of her hand-to-be. She shuddered and collapsed on her knees.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°My path is not of the Severynths¡¯. Brace yourself to oppose the world, for this world is not kind to the Pathfinders,¡± the man said. ¡°When you reach the strength you think is plausible, question a man for me. Ask him, why did he kill me? His name is Thain Cesar.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    [Ewan]


    Kiev led the way and Ewan followed one step behind, admiring the simple nightlife of Drarith as the rugged saddlebag of potions scraped against his thigh with the footfall.


    ¡°Have you settled in?¡± Kiev asked.


    ¡°Mostly, yeah,¡± Ewan said.


    Dim-lit lanterns lined the side of the streets, casting monstrous shadows with their fluttering flames¡ªthey danced with the flickers. Shops had shut for the day; the streets were empty. All of Drarith was at the bonfire whose sky-reaching flames reddened the grim darkness and washed away the looming depression. It was their respite, and they reveled in it.


    ¡°You don¡¯t like that kind of stuff?¡± Kiev asked, looking towards the central plaza a few streets away.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather brew some potions in that time,¡± Ewan said, hinting towards his Potioneering skill. It was the cornerstone he would use to mingle with the Ashevas of this city.


    ¡°Oh, a Potioneer? I would love to trade some potions in the meet then,¡± he said.


    ¡°I just get by. My skills might disappoint you,¡± Ewan said with a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re too modest.¡± Kiev laughed. ¡°Even brewing a successful potion at your age is enough to be proud of,¡± he said. ¡°We have a high demand of potions; you might find a good market for your skills here.¡±


    ¡°I look forward to it then.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Kiev entered an inn, ¡®Traveler¡¯s Bed¡¯, as the sign said, and signaled the receptionist with a nod. She bowed, covering the valley of her chest, and led the two through the back door to a room with a round table. Gentle lemon colored light from the high-hung lamps ricocheted off the brick-design walls with soft ivory paint and gave the room a relaxing aura. The faint piano sound from outside lingered in the air while the hint of sandalwood accentuated the comfort.


    ¡°We¡¯re the first ones?¡± Ewan asked and took a seat on one of the sofas, enjoying the new form of music. It resembled the classical from his colony but differed in several notes that intrigued him. He was unversed in the art of music but had the heart to appreciate its allure.


    ¡°Others should be here soon,¡± Kiev said and sat beside him. ¡°Serve some snacks and tell Joel to continue. He¡¯s playing quite well today.¡± He motioned the receptionist. She bowed again and went out.


    ¡°How many will attend?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°This is just a small meet for the new Ashevas to get familiar with each other, so there won''t be many. All of them are Severynths actually,¡± he said. ¡°My brother¡­well, my half-brother will also be attending for the first time. He¡¯s a bit reticent, please take care of him.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Ewan smiled.


    Soon the receptionist led some people in with a tray of snacks and drinks in her hand.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 6


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4596


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-99 White Sand

    ¡°Sheree.¡± The only girl in the group introduced herself. The tips of her sun-kissed hair grazed her shoulders, sharp contours of her bony body shaded the dimples and the indents, and her collarbones dug craters in her skin.


    ¡°Trask.¡± The guy with short-cropped hair nodded and took his seat. His baggy clothes rested on him with a large fold at the waistline, and a hairless pinkish burn scar on his right forearm contrasted his fair skin.


    ¡°Mize.¡± The last man also named himself and took a seat across Kiev. Short stature, spiked hair, wheatish complexion, and too many accessories dangled on him.


    ¡°Ewan.¡± Ewan introduced himself and greeted all three.


    Kiev rested his gaze on the door for a few breaths then heaved a sigh. ¡°Please excuse me for a minute,¡± he said and walked out of the room.


    The rest chitchatted and munched on the snacks after the brief introduction, and moments later, he walked in with another young man, an apologetic smile plastered on his face. He looked practiced with the curl of his lips; the plight must be a regular occurrence.


    ¡°This is my brother, Avis,¡± Kiev said and introduced the young man who hung his head down, staring at his feet. He was half a head shorter than Kiev, and with his different facial make and raven hair that matched Ewan¡¯s, the resemblance between the brothers fell short.


    Avis?


    It was an uncommon name for a man, so it stuck with Ewan. Avis, it was the same name as the man he bought the spells from on the hub¡ªthe one who sold him the spell <Boom>. He might or not be the same person though¡­ just the meekness matched all too well. But regardless, even if he was the one Ewan met in the hub, it didn¡¯t change anything and wouldn¡¯t have any effect on their trade meet. That was what he was here for, not to reconnect.


    ¡°Shall we start the meet then?¡± Sheree asked, looking at the other three then at Kiev and Avis.


    ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± Kiev nodded and had Avis sit beside him.


    The wave of spirit and the Anima fluctuations around all these people put them at about the peak of Step-0, the Soul-Awakening stage. This was a trade meet between equals, so the chances of any mishaps were low, especially with the Governor¡¯s grandsons sitting with them.


    ¡°Do you want to start off, Ewan?¡± Kiev looked at Ewan and asked.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Ewan said.


    He opened the flap of the leather saddlebag hanging from his shoulder and took out some potions. Before confirming the rarity or the commonness of storage artifacts, he refrained from exposing his claw-ring. Without his initiation, it looked like a common accessory. It felt a bit off on Ewan, but it matched Mize¡¯s style well, as his several glimpses of approval confirmed.


    ¡°Anima Potions of Level-8 and 9. These are of fire and ice element,¡± he said. These people might have Astylinds of other elements, but since Ewan could only sense these two Anima around them because of his own limitation, he went with the safer bet. ¡°I would like to exchange these with some class-A materials, earth or mystic element preferably.¡±


    ¡°You should be preparing for Varos right?¡± Trask said with a laugh. ¡°You must know the situation with the mystic element in the hub. It¡¯s better to go for something feasible.¡±


    ¡°Just trying my luck,¡± Ewan said and shrugged. His hopes weren¡¯t high, but Trask¡¯s comment dashed even the last of it.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°I have this block of Fragile Silver. It¡¯s not class-A but should be enough to trade for one of your potions,¡± Sheree said and took out a fist-sized ore from a small money leather pouch with threaded top.


    ¡°Sorry, it doesn¡¯t match my requirements.¡± Ewan shook his head. The disappointment aside, the fluctuations around that pouch confirmed his doubts¡ªthat was a storage artifact. Since no one showed any shock or surprise towards it, the rarity of such items must not be high. At least everyone in this group must possess one.


    Sheree nodded and took the ore back in the pouch.


    ¡°I have this unknown material here; it should be of the earth element. I¡¯m not sure about its exact details but the purity is class-A. Do you want to trade?¡± Trask asked. He took out a bag of powder-like white sand from his leather pouch and thudded it on the table, rattling the dishes under its weight¡ªthe amount was enough to cast Varos for two people at least.


    Ewan frowned. His <Identify> gave him no results. He looked towards Kiev, and he shook his head. Others too looked lost on the item¡¯s identity.


    ¡°I can confirm it is of the earth element, but it¡¯s not in my database,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°I can confirm that too,¡± Mize said.


    ¡°What do you want for it?¡± Ewan asked. If the price was right, he could gamble with this unknown sand.


    ¡°Two Level-9 potions, fire element,¡± Trask said.


    Ewan looked at the bag, weighing the value of potions against its unknown possibilities. Even though he had <Transmute> and could splurge with the high-level potions, he couldn¡¯t make it obvious to the others.


    ¡°How about one Level-9 and one Level-8 potion?¡±


    Trask tapped his fingers on his arms and stared through the table, his lips puckered. ¡°Fine, okay, I¡¯ll trade,¡± he said.


    Ewan slid the potion vials across and took the bag from him, keeping it in the saddlebag.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go next,¡± Sheree said and took out a wooden box with an argent core nested in its velour insides, contrasting the purple of the velvety cloth. She glanced at Kiev. ¡°It¡¯s quite old and has lost almost all its soul essence, but I believe it¡¯ll be valuable to anyone in need.¡±


    Ewan¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he gandered at the mystic-element core. The size, the quality, the Anima fluctuations, they all pointed towards one fact¡ªthis was a core from a Step-1 creature, either Astylind or a Staron.


    Mize laughed and shook his head. ¡°Are you showing off or are you overestimating us?¡±


    Sheree sighed. ¡°Neither,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m in urgent need for high-level antidotes that can work against Step-1 Astylinds¡¯ poison. Else I wouldn¡¯t have taken it out.¡± She glimpsed Kiev again.


    ¡°Stop peeking at me,¡± Kiev said. ¡°I can''t help you with this. Gramps made it very clear; he doesn¡¯t want anyone disturbing him right now. It¡¯s better if you give the hub a try.¡±


    Sheree deflated on his words.


    ¡°I have some antidotes. It won''t kill the poison of that level, but it may slowdown the spread and suppress it. Do you want to trade?¡± Ewan asked.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 6


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4596


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-100 Crayntine

    ¡°How confident are you?¡± Sheree asked, staring at Ewan.


    ¡°That depends. If you tell me the source of the poison, I can give you an estimate,¡± Ewan said, meeting her gaze. The antidotes¡¯ recipes he had were unnamed and generic, their potency couldn¡¯t afford a title to separate them from the common crowd. Nevertheless, they were effective and worked when and where they should¡ªhow they should.


    Sheree furrowed her brows, and Ewan shrugged. ¡°You can just give the antidotes a try and see if it works too,¡± he said.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll be taking a huge loss,¡± Sheree said after a small hesitant pause.


    ¡°You can trade some other parts of that mystic Astylind too,¡± Ewan said. Any information related to the mystic would take him a step further towards his aim for the mystic rune, so he fished for it.


    But she shook her head. ¡°I only found this old core by chance, there is no other mystic-element material.¡±


    Ewan pursed his lips and weighed his options. He could try and ¡®borrow¡¯ from her after the meet and confirm it himself. By hook or by crook, he might just get a good loot¡­ But the action had limited pros and heavy repercussions. The Step-1 mystic-element core was valuable to him, but its appeal came up lighter against his other needs regarding the city. Most of all, Kiev invited her, so the trigger of the conflict would be tantamount to challenging him, especially if it was unprovoked. Not now, he had to drop the idea.


    ¡°How about this, you let me study the core for five minutes and I¡¯ll give you one antidote,¡± he said.


    ¡°Three antidotes,¡± Sheree said.


    ¡°Then triple the time.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± she said with a smug smile.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Fifteen minutes of observation under his <Lens> spell netted him two pages worth of information in his diary. The loss of those antidotes didn¡¯t faze him to begin with, so this was a huge profit for him, and it must be for Sheree too as five minutes or fifteen minutes were the same to her. She only gained in this trade, evident from the smile that just didn¡¯t let up.


    The details of this core differed quite a bit from the one Ewan had, of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Most of it was because of the difference in the level of life. Regardless of the species or combat efficiency, mythical or weed-common, a genius or a runt of the litter, a Step-0 life could never compare to a Step-1 life. History proved this fact time and time again, and Ewan wanted to study that difference in the field of mystic-element.


    ¡°C-Can I also study it?¡± Avis asked, his eyes glittering as he stared at the mystic-element core. ¡°I¡¯ll pay with this antidote.¡± He took out a vial from his ring, putting it on the table.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Sheree glanced at Kiev and pushed the wooden box towards Avis with a heartfelt smile, taking the antidote from him. That she did this as a favor for Kiev oozed out from her sparkling peeks at him.


    ¡°Looks like we have two curious minds in the room,¡± Mize said, looking at Ewan and Avis.


    ¡°Well, if you say it like that, I¡¯m also interested in studying the core. Sheree, can I?¡± Trask asked.


    She laughed. ¡°I have enough low-leveled antidotes now, pay with something else.¡±


    Ewan sparked it, and one after another, everyone in the room took turns to observe the core, paying Sheree with either materials or Novas coins. The core changed hands, and they scribbled in their diaries for minutes.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°Do you want to exchange notes?¡± Ewan asked, looking at Avis when he¡¯d done jotting down, with two ending lines digging into the pages.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Avis said with a failed and ugly effort at cracking a smile. Soon everyone in the room exchanged their observations on the core.


    ¡°This was supposed to be a trade meet¡­.,¡± Kiev said.


    Ewan ignored his helpless chuckle and focused on the plethora of information he got. Most of the notes from others matched his, but some parts were quite innovative and kindled several ideas in him. Especially from Avis¡ªhis notes were the most detailed and included some unusual observations, though with a rather¡­innovative style of handwriting.


    ¡°Shall we move on? I¡¯m next,¡± Mize said and took out a wooden box full of glass pebbles. ¡°Two hundred grams of Crayntine. I want to exchange for healing potions, high-level if possible.¡±


    Identify.


    [Item Name: Crayntine]


    [Item Description: Neutral material that has the trait of trapping Anima.]


    [Remark: Essential for making any Anima storage artifact.]


    Thoughts and ideas collided in Ewan¡¯s head after he checked the item¡¯s details. The lack of a mystic rune forced him to drag the natural Mystic-Anima from all around him to cast a spell. If he had an artifact, though, that could store Mystic-Anima for him like a rune, it could alleviate his troubles. Such artifact couldn¡¯t replace a rune in the long run, but it would do as a substitute for the time being.


    I should talk to Nana about this¡­.


    ¡°I have some potions for Step-0. If you¡¯re willing, I can make up with quantity,¡± Ewan said and hammered the iron before anyone else could make an offer. The material was important to him, he couldn¡¯t let it go.


    ¡°How many?¡± Mize asked.


    Ewan showed him five fingers, inching on the verge of what he could pay without attracting doubtful eyes.


    Mize glanced at the others, but they all either shook their heads or leaned back onto the sofa.


    ¡°I would¡¯ve offered you Novas coins instead, but it doesn¡¯t seem you¡¯ll take that over his healing potions,¡± Trask said. ¡°I really envy you Potioneers.¡± He clicked his tongue.


    Ewan forced an awkward laugh. If possible, he didn¡¯t want to hog all the trades, but his necessity topped his need for diplomacy.


    ¡°It¡¯s better to have him in our group then, is it not?¡± Kiev said and patted Ewan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll invite all the Ashevas in our group next time, you can monopolize the trade all you want.¡±


    Was this a sweet bait? Kiev was reeling him towards his side.


    Ewan smiled and nodded while wondering about the issue. He had all the basics about the power struggle in the area from Kidd¡ªhowever authentic the information was. The Ensils ruled the city, and they weren¡¯t without opposition, they hadn¡¯t been from their beginning. Yet, they still held strong for a lot of wintry Frosthelms and searing Flamecrests; as the dry season parched the ocean and bared its bed, and the rainstorms flooded the port.


    But their pillar, the Governor, had now aged. His limit of life was nigh, and the lack of a suitable successor aggravated the long ongoing war. Though Ewan didn¡¯t want to get involved in the chaos, he had to step in if he wanted to fulfil his objectives. He had to latch on to this ladder and climb to meet his needs.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 6


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4596


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Character Art [Iris]

    Because we hit 100chs mark, thought we should celebrate it with something, so here''s Iris''s character arts. Same as before, fidelity isn''t 100% but the images capture the essence. There are some spoilers as well, as usual, some visual teasers. I''ll mark them so if you don''t wish to see any, you can avoid them, though save for some images, others won''t make the spoiler that obvious.


    Here we go, enjoy.


    1.


    2.


    3.


    4.


    5.


    6.


    7.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    8.


    9. Spoilers start.


    10.


    11.


    12.


    13.


    14.


    15.


    16.


    17.


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    26.

 Chapter-101 Last Note

    ¡°Avis, it¡¯s your turn next,¡± Kiev said, looking at his brother, the gentle melody of the piano humming in their backdrop.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ve built this p-prototype for long-range communication,¡± Avis said and took out two bulky wooden blocks from his ring, their soft cloth-covered bottom thumped on the table¡ªit tilted under their weights. ¡°Anyone can use this as long as they have Anima Crystals, y-you don¡¯t need to be Severy...Ashevas. It works based on dark and light element Anima. They have some special characteristics like all other Anima in nature. They interact with each other in a specific way, following some unknown rules and patterns. I studied them and found a way to modulate and demodulate messages and send them across large distances. I¡¯ve also studied the specific pattern, and the possibilities seem to be quite large. I¡¯m also planning on¡­.¡±


    ¡°Avis.¡± Kiev interrupted his brother¡¯s ramblings. ¡°Give us a demo, show us how it works, it¡¯ll be easier for us to understand that way,¡± he said.


    ¡°O-Of course,¡± Avis said and tinkered with the bulky boxes.


    His ¡®drivel¡¯ interested Ewan; that was information he didn¡¯t have about elements. Even though the dark and light elements were stranger to him now, their peculiar interaction in the nature could help him understand the behavior of other elements. But since Kiev stopped him, he couldn¡¯t say anything either and only looked at the reticent-man-turned-chatterbox flipping switches and connecting wires. He¡¯d nigh panicked and fumbled with trembling hands when all the eyes in the room rested on him.


    Finally, Avis separated the boxes after he finished and started the demo. He whispered some sentences into the left box, and after a few minutes of awkward wait, as he twiddled his thumb while sweating profusely, and when the nonplussed gazes met each other, a mechanical voice read out those same sentences from the right box.


    A smile sneaked up on Ewan¡¯s lips and threatened to turn into a snicker, but he suppressed it and pursed his lips. The process had amused him. It resembled a failed product of Obria a lot, that children used to played around with¡ªradio transceivers, as it had received its name in its infancy. The abundance of Anima hindered its applications. Thus, it forever remained a gimmick. Its successor¡ªphones¡ªon the other hand soared in the market, it changed the way communication worked in his colony.


    The medium of travel it used limited it to the colony¡¯s perimeter only, but the basic technology was miles ahead of these boxes. It skirted around the issue of dense Anima blocking the waves and succeeded in connecting two or more devices.


    If Avis planned on further developing this prototype, he had a long way to go. From securing the messages to increasing accuracy, from designating the destination of the messages among many boxes to reducing the risk of interruption. Especially, making it more convenient and cheaper than using other means of communication that were already available on the hub.


    All in all, this trade was bound to fail. The only thing that could make these people trade for the boxes was Avis¡¯s status¡ªit even tantalized Ewan to do so.


    ¡°I-I want to trade a healing potion recipe for them,¡± Avis said.


    Kiev closed his eyes and heaved a sigh.


    Ewan leaned back on the sofa, giving up on the trade. If it was just the potion, he could trade to strengthen his relationship with Kiev, the Ensils. But Avis asked for a recipe. Even though he had several recipes in his journal, he couldn¡¯t just hand them out for charity. For many, even one of these recipes could become a heritage.


    Same as him, no one else showed any initiative in trading for the boxes.


    ¡°I have this recipe here; do you want to trade with me?¡± Kiev asked.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°O-Okay.¡± Avis nodded and passed the boxes to Kiev, taking the recipe paper from him. His home¡¯s recipe stayed in home, and Avis too dodged the embarrassment. Though he didn¡¯t know of it, his happy grin iterated so.


    ¡­..


    ¡°I want to trade for a spell. A support-type of earth element,¡± Trask said, taking out a wooden box with an orange Astylind-Core pillowed on the velvet cloth¡ªit was his turn next. The core gave off a gentle but unyielding warmth and hued off a tint of sunshine with dense Fire-Anima dancing around it.


    ¡°A core for a spell, it¡¯s not an equal trade at all, even with a Step-1 core,¡± Mize said.


    ¡°It hasn¡¯t lost any of its soul essence, it should be enough to trade for a spell with low max Anima point,¡± Trask said.


    Mize shrugged and leaned back with his hands crossed and resting on his chest.


    Ewan too had no intention of participating. Today or tomorrow, if and when he broke through to Step-1, he would be able to buy or hunt Step-1 cores. There was no reason for him to share his precious spell knowledge for a consumable.


    ¡°It¡¯s better to trade a spell for a spell, Trask,¡± Kiev said. ¡°I have one that fits your need, but I¡¯ll only trade for another spell.¡±


    The room hushed, and the faint piano sound took the front stage. Ewan chilled the flattened ale with Ice-Anima and took a sip, munching on the snacks on the side¡ªthe salted cashews were a delight.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re staying in the city?¡± Sheree asked, looking at Ewan.


    ¡°Hmm, up the mountain,¡± Ewan said, putting the pint down, licking his lips. The sweetness it should¡¯ve had eluded him still¡­


    ¡°Remember to join our group when the tide hits,¡± Mize said. ¡°We¡¯re also new so we can stay together and help each other.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been here for about two weeks, but I¡¯ve only seen some small scuffles on the outskirts so far. When do we need to act?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Those are just either individual or small groups of Astylinds, the guards can handle them. We¡¯ll move when a big tide comes or when the war breaks out again,¡± Sheree said. ¡°Which happens a lot here I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    ¡°Drarith is the only flourishing port city in the area. You control the city, you control the largest trade point, and can also heavily influence the trade routes. It¡¯s an enticing half-naked girl, there¡¯s no wonder everyone drools for it,¡± Mize said.


    Ewan chuckled at the analogy while Sheree glared at Mize, provoking a grin and a wink from him.


    Trask moved his lips on the side and talked with Kiev through Ryvia. Soon they exchanged a couple of papers, and their trade was over.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end the meet here,¡± Kiev said, putting the papers in his ring, his storage artifact. ¡°I¡¯ll contact you all when I set up the meet again. I¡¯ll invite the whole group then, so prepare whatever you want to trade by then.¡±


    ¡°Just a sec,¡± Ewan said and stopped everyone as they were all getting up. ¡°I have a request to make. Please keep an eye out for any mystic-element material. I know they¡¯re beyond rare, but just in case.¡±


    Everyone agreed with a nod and the meet ended with the piano¡¯s last note.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 6


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4596


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-102 Tigog Acrix

    Two days after the meet, inside his experiment room.


    The sheer rarity of the mystic-element materials, as he had witnessed in the hub and the trade meet, forced Ewan to reconsider his options for Varos, his physical defense. He was still going to wait for one year before making his final decision, but he had to choose an alternative in the meantime. The white sand he traded from Trask was a potential pick.


    So far, the material showed no special features or changes under some basic tests he did. Its structure matched the common silica sand, and it behaved like it as well. Tigog Acrix¡ªearthen glass or glass of earth, Ewan named it because of its apparent relation to both.


    Before moving on to more extensive experiments, Ewan bought several batches of normal silica sand to act as control and the benchmark and note the differences.


    The first test was of low temperature. He had Frost participate in the experiment and also used Sindra¡ªIce Favored. Both employed the basic feature of Ice-Anima and dropped the temperature around the targets organized on the table.


    The normal silica sand showed no change apart from the chilled and frosted granules, but Tigog Acrix finally moved. The grains shook, and they danced with the Ice-Anima. The more Ewan lowered the temperature, the more the grains vibrated. After a certain degree, which he named the critical temperature for the earthen glass, the trembling grains floated high and stormed in the glass container, scratching and scraping its insides.


    Ewan penned down everything in his diary, marking the temperature, while wondering about its weird behavior. The material was of the earth element¡ªhe couldn¡¯t confirm it without the earth rune or an affinity towards the earth element, but others had, and he had little reason to doubt them. So why did it react like such with the Ice-Anima? Was it not reacting with the Ice-Anima and was just showing its natural behavior at low temperatures? Ewan wrote down his doubts. He needed to perform more tests to answer his questions.


    But for now, he moved on with the experiments and proceeded to the next¡ªhigh temperature. Orange accompanied him through these tests, and though his affinity for the fire element couldn¡¯t allow Ewan to control its Anima like Frost, he was able to make do with some adjustments. A few casts of fire spells at the apt positions soared the heat to the level he desired. The apparatus from the hub assisted his endeavors too. The jets of flame hissed. The walls baked and the room turned into an oven. Yet, the sand remained cool to the touch.


    Ewan wiped his sweat and rubbed his forehead with a troubled sigh, laced with a deep hint of elation. The sand¡¯s resistance to higher temperatures would have him write praises about it in his diary, but the same also gave him a headache, for the next tests of structural integrity needed it to melt. He had to up the heat by several notches if he were to succeed, so much so that even the walls would glow hot red.


    Today, all his hair might singe and curl.


    ¡­.


    Ewan tested the material with all the conventional methods, performed all the traditional experiments, then continued with whatever he could think of. In the end, the amount of data he had on this white sand occupied half his diary. Most were random useless details, but some were important for its usage in Varos. After trimming and organizing his findings, Ewan had a good understanding of Tigog Acrix.


    ¡°Violent behavior at and below its critical temperature¡ªresistant to higher temperatures and an extremely high melting point¡ªhighly resistant to corrosion¡ªbasic structure after a simple blend vulnerable against blunt and sharp forces¡ªvulnerable against resonance¡ªimmune to all types of contamination spread¡ªhighly toxic to undead creatures [bane of spectral-type creatures]¡ªstrong memory of its molecular structure [returns to its initial state with little energy consumption]¡ªhighly resistant against pressure changes [can retain its structure under heavy load].¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The material¡¯s weakness against blunt and sharp forces worried him, as did its fragility against resonance. This was a fatal flaw, for it would be the last line of defense for Ewan. Regardless of its exceptional performance in other fields, if it couldn¡¯t even protect against basic attacks, it would become a disastrous choice for Varos. If he could fix those problems though, the same would become his best option.


    Its vulnerability lay in its loose molecular structure after solidifying from a molten state¡ªit acted like common glass in a homogenous blend. If he could alter them and form a stronger bond, a flexible bond, he could solve the problem.


    Ewan sat by the bench, leaning on the armrest of the comfy chair, and mulled on the issue. He could follow the path of tempered glass, fiberglass, etc. and achieve some results, but the resulting mediocrity from such wasn¡¯t appealing to him. He needed a structure that could not only solve the problem but also turn its weakness into strength.


    He took a deep breath and circled the topic in the diary. For the upcoming weeks, this would be his prime task. He would study all types of structures and find the one that would make the material fit his idea of Varos.


    ¡­..


    The patterns took up his days, and soon he had scribbled away for a week. After all the studying and reading, one arrangement stood out among others¡ªthe decentralized hexagonal nodes structure of the saffron cage that pushed Obria into its despairing nightmare.


    It was the most efficient structure he had encountered so far, and he already studied it enough to employ it as he wished. The weakness he discovered, the preventive measure he developed, the cost to performance ratio he researched¡ªeverything made this design his answer.


    The path ahead was clear, so without further ado, Ewan proceeded with the final tests.


    Trials after trials, the structure stood tall against all sorts of beatings and thrashings¡ªhe vented his all on it then Orange and Toast took over. He continued for days and when he finally saw the limit of the design, he ended the experiment with a tired but satisfied smile on his face. The material¡¯s defense was still not its forte, but it wasn¡¯t its weakness anymore either. It matched some of the other strong materials on the market in terms of physical resistance.


    Ewan couldn¡¯t rest yet though. Even though Varos would grow with him, he couldn¡¯t miss an inherent flaw or unknown and uncontrollable elements. The Tigog Acrix¡¯s violent behavior at below its critical temperature was a matter of concern. His control over the particles plunged when it stormed around at that temperature. If it happened after the white sand became his Varos, it would be the death of him.


    And so, his next order of business became either changing this nature of the material or solidifying his control over it even in that chaotic state.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 2


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4354


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-103 Business

    Over the next month, when changing the violent nature of Tigog Acrix proved unfeasible, Ewan switched to increasing his control, albeit with only Ryvia for now. When and if this material ever became his Varos, his medium of control would change. Nevertheless, the practice right now would still help him in the long run.


    So, he added the training to his routine, giving it a chunk of his day, and spent the rest of his time on his Astylinds and brewing potions. Soon they all shattered the barrier and broke through to Level-9. The villa rumbled with their hubbub as they all cheered and hollered, even Frost melded into their celebration and howled a few.


    Ewan also tried contacting Nana and left messages but there was no reply, she hadn¡¯t connected to the hub for a while now. Her continuous absence kindled a thread of anxiety in him but since he could do nothing, he avoided worrying about it, at least he tried to.


    Nana was strong, she could handle herself in a tough situation, he eased his mind with those words, however fragile they were against the reality. As long as she breathed to see another day though, no amount of harm would matter. Even if she lost all her Astylinds, he would find a way to let her advance.


    He toughened his mind by planning for the worst-case scenario and avoided any negative thoughts, for he couldn¡¯t afford any distractions right now. His collection of potions had reached a number good enough to break into the market, he reckoned. Any more and it would turn into hoarding without any profits, and the older potions would expire.


    And so, armed with his marketing strategy that he chose after going through a small hill of books, he announced a ¡®Buy One Get One Free¡¯ for Anima Potions of Level-7 to 9 in the trade list and swung open the door of his shop, dusting and sweeping the fa?ade, adjusting his title board. He was ready, his automated worker was ready, his huge batch of potions was ready. This was sink or swim for him. Either he would soar with the profits, or he would plunge to the rock bottom and lose it all. Since he burned all his Novas for this, sold whatever he could for the ingredients, he would have to resort to hunting if he failed.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Time passed and soon, as if to put Ewan out of his misery, a head-sized spirit blob hovered towards his door, hesitating at the doorstep, glancing at the name of the shop.


    ¡°Welcome to Brewed Awakening.¡± Ewan received the blob himself and invited him in. ¡°Our shop is currently having a limited time sale; you buy one, you get one absolutely free with no extra charge. What level and element would you like to have, sir?¡±


    ¡°Do you have a lot of leftover stock?¡± The customer asked. ¡°It won''t be some expired stuff, right?¡±


    ¡°Definitely not, sir,¡± Ewan said. ¡°This offer is for our re-opening celebration. It¡¯ll only be valid for a small period.¡±


    The spirit blob floated in his shop, gandering at the shelves. ¡°Give me one for water-element, Level-8,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course, that would be eighty Novas,¡± Ewan said and let the worker complete the transaction before handing the spirit blob two glass vials filled with cerulean liquid sloshing within their faceted walls.


    ¡°The price is same as other shops. How do you earn a profit with this?¡± the spirit blob asked.


    ¡°Profit isn¡¯t our goal for the period of the offer, sir. But please rest assured, we run our shop honestly. We definitely won''t cheat you with subpar quality,¡± Ewan said, his spirit blob radiating a glare of righteousness. He would¡¯ve pumped his chest and raised his chin high if he could. ¡°You try those two potions, and if you¡¯re dissatisfied, you may never cross our doorstep again.¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± the spirit blob said.


    ¡°Here, this is your proof of purchase,¡± Ewan said and gave the blob a small certificate with his shop¡¯s mark and his Pa¡¯s insignia on it. He also coated it with a faint layer of Mystic-Anima in a unique pattern that could become his own fallback proof within a short period of time.


    The spirit blob hovered away, and with that, Ewan¡¯s first business was over with success.


    ¡­..


    Business boomed in the next few days for Brewed-Awakening. The worker completed one transaction after another while the batch of prepared potions shrank. The once silent shop flamed up with indistinct clamors and hubbub. Many spirit blobs floated in his shop, waiting for their chance, while some lined up outside, waiting to get in¡ªgrumbling as they did. The only thing that limited the sale at this point was the overwhelmed automated worker.


    The good quality of the potions, Ewan¡¯s cordial welcomes, and the enticing offer, all led the buyers to spread his shop¡¯s name in the hub. Soon the name ¡®Brewed-Awakening¡¯ and its offer of ¡®Buy One Get One Free¡¯ took the potion market by surprise and gobbled a chunk from others¡¯ plates. The share for the high-level potions for Step-0 saw a steep change with more than half going over to Brewed-Awakening. The traffic on the hub shifted a little.


    This was a volatile change sparked by the offer, however. If he showed weakness here and backed off, he would soon lose all of it and his business would go down. And so, he made his first move¡ªremove the bottleneck that hindered the flow of customers.


    He used the Novas that came in and bought ten different automated workers. Some attended to the customers at the counter, some welcomed them in. Some took care of the inventory at the back, while some entertained the ones hanging inside the shop. They needed to be comfortable within those walls and stay for a long time to brew a chance of transaction. Even if someone came to window shop, he could buy a potion or two if he remained in the shop for long and watched the shiny vials exchanging hands.


    Business soared once again as the limitation went away. Soon Ewan had to transfer another huge batch of potions to continue the sale. While the workers took the stage, he backed off and worked on a strategy to keep as many shares of the market as possible. With the way his business rose, he could receive trouble any day now. So, his first plan was to water down the extent of damage as much as possible. One cheap and tested way to shoot any business down was to target its authenticity. Before anyone else could do it, Ewan did it himself, but in a much more controlled manner.


    A couple of days later, a small group of spirit blobs hovered outside the shop, hollering, and yelling curses at Ewan for selling expired products.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 3640


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4323


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Character Art [Frost]

    Time for Frost''s character arts. Like always, fidelity isn''t 100%, a bit more so with Frost as it was hard to churn out accurate details for several of his parts. But nevertheless, images came out nice and very much close to what I had imagined. Once again, I''ve marked the image from where the spoiler starts, though its more of a visual teaser again for Frost''s development direction. So, here we go, please enjoy and pick your favorite:


    1.


    2.


    3.


    4.


    5.


    6.


    7.


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


    8. Somewhat spoiler.


    9.


    10.


    11.


    12.


    13.


    14.


    15.


    16.


    17.


    18. Full on spoiler, take them as visual teasers for Frost''s evolution and stuff.


    19.


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    24.


    25.

 Chapter-104 Despair

    They yelled, they hollered, they shouted. They even tried to stop the other customers from entering and tried to convince them of Ewan¡¯s fraud.


    And thereon, Ewan took the stage as planned. Five minutes later, he shooed the embarrassed group away while everyone watched the amusing play. They¡¯d acted well, considering he rushed the hiring¡ªwell worth the coins, even though he had to pay extra to buy their silence.


    ¡°What a sham. They didn¡¯t even think of buying the potion first to get the certificate,¡± one of the customers said.


    ¡°The business boomed, it was only a matter of time before this happened,¡± another customer said.


    ¡°What if there¡¯s really a problem with the potions though?¡± one customer asked.


    ¡°Think for yourself, mate. How gullible you are to be led by those thugs?¡±


    ¡°If you ever ran a business, you would be familiar with this. It¡¯s a sign that other business owners hate Brewed Awakening, and it¡¯s a good thing for us. More competition means we get stuff cheaper.¡±


    ¡°Heh, those idiots can only fool the first timers. I¡¯ve already bought these potions before. I don¡¯t need others to tell me of its quality.¡±


    Ewan couldn¡¯t stifle his inner grin when the conversation fell on his ears. His plan was a stark success. He had to establish and show this pattern of harassment to the customers before they could do some real damage. Because he paid those ¡®thugs¡¯ and did it himself, he controlled the damage and pulled them to his side.


    This was a stopgap measure though. Ewan¡¯s capital and reach couldn¡¯t fend off his competitor¡¯s attacks forever. Sooner or later, they would damage his business, it was inevitable. It was all a matter of playing with the sharks for as long as he could. In the end, they would either accept him in their pack or fight to the bitter end and rip each other apart, their corpses left bleeding in the waters for the small fishes to nibble on.


    ¡­..


    [Havanna]


    Havanna barged through the bushes, sprinting past the dense trees and vines, the sharp branches shredding her skin. Her lungs and throat burned as she gasped for air, her chest tightened, and the sense of suffocation drowned her. The world wobbled before her; the tree trunks snaked and squirmed. Her lead-like legs weighed her down, but she still lugged them and ran. Her heart couldn¡¯t sustain her anymore, but she still had it beat for her and ran. Her vision blurred, but she still ran¡­


    The means didn¡¯t matter as long as she and her Astylinds survived¡ªshe learned that from Ewan and it was what fueled her forward, away from the menace chasing after her.


    She expected some sort of danger when she explored the island. But what she met was not within the realms of her prediction, it even topped the bizarre of the skeletons tied in the trees. These pale blindfolded ¡®humans¡¯ or whatever they had become after living inside the caves for so long attacked her on first contact. They didn¡¯t even speak the common tongue, neither did they know Atarin, her hopes for peaceful communication went down the drain.


    And so, with scant information as her only gain from the dreadful trip, she bolted before their hostility drowned her.


    The pursuer chanted with clicking tongues and snorting noises, and the resulting spell hammered Havanna¡¯s soul. The same spell had already injured all her Astylinds and now it came for her. The wobble of the world worsened; the forest spun before her eyes. Her ears buzzed, her nose bled, and she stumbled forward as her strength left her. She rolled on the mossed earth before coming to a rest on her back, facing the blurry canopy of the giant forest, and the roped skeletons on the trees met her gaze with deathly cold stares.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Why was she running? Where was she running to? The questioning thoughts emerged as her chest heaved. The beach was her dead end. Could she survive in the ocean? At best she was delaying her inevitable death. It was better to give up, it was easier to surrender. She didn¡¯t deserve to live anyway¡­


    ¡°@%#%#$@.¡± Even though the woman had blindfold on, she still looked down at Havanna and spoke her tongue. Her figure twisted, her voice undulated, and the more Havanna heard her, the more her condition waned.


    She flumped on Havanna¡¯s stomach, pulled her up by her neck as her nails dug into her skin, and slapped her. Once, twice, thrice, the hard hits pummeled her and planted her face back into the ground, then the woman pulled her up again, clawing her neck. The thwacks echoed in the forest and silenced the chirping birds. They all fluttered away without a tweet as the woman thrashed Havanna.


    But in contrast, each heavy slap that came in refreshed Havanna¡¯s fight against the despairing thoughts. She regained her clarity with the sharp bouts of pain and soon overcame the hypnotic effect of the soul spell the woman had hit her with. Her eyes gleamed, her pupils constricted, the bitch bashing her up had her full focus. She waited, one slap came after another, her head flung left and right with each smack, and she still waited. Soon the weight behind the attacks dropped and the slap only pushed her face away¡ªthis was her chance.


    As the woman straightened up and heaved for air, though with a euphoric grin, wiping her sweat and gulping, Havanna took out a knife from her pendant and shanked her side. The woman grunted and grabbed the blade. But Havanna snatched it back, slitting her palm, and shivved again. And again, and again.


    ¡°@#$@#$!!!¡± The woman screeched, blood spurting from her side, and held Havanna¡¯s arm down. Her breath broke and she grimaced, touching her wounds with trembling hand.


    She¡¯d locked Havanna¡¯s arm¡ªthe knife became useless¡ªso she rolled over and pushed the woman down. But before she could attack with her free arm, the woman grabbed it too and locked her in place with her legs, baring her yellowed canines at her¡ªshe nullified all her means of attack. Havanna lost against the woman in strength, but she still tussled to get free. Alas, she failed.


    Finally, as the woman chanted again, as despair engulfed Havanna again, she swooped in, bit her throat, and crushed her windpipe with all the power she could muster. The chomp took all of her. The crunch that sent a shiver down her spine wrote the woman¡¯s death sentence. She choked amid the chant, trying to breathe, but her lungs never got the air. She struggled, ripping her neck¡¯s skin with her nails, but to no avail. Soon her lips and cheeks purpled, her nose bled, her eyes reddened and bulged. With a hitched hiccup, her heart stopped beating.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 3640


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4323


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-105 Back and Forth

    [Ewan]


    Business plateaued for the next few days then skyrocketed on the last day of the offer, as the spirit blobs crammed his shop, and plunged just the day after that. The end of an offer often saw that spike on the chart.


    ¡®Buy One Get One Free¡¯ was never the long-term plan; it was only for the boost his business needed at the start. Since the number of transactions stopped rising and the customer base flattened out, if he continued with the same model, his profit margin would never increase. And so, he stopped the first part, and moved on to the next. To retain his regular customers and some more, and to beat the competition once again, he decreased the price of the potions he deployed by five percent.


    The low price of ingredients, his high success rate, and his <Transmute> spell guaranteed his profits even with much higher discounts, let alone five percent. But a higher discount rate might push some skeptical customers away, like the last offer had some questioning the freshness of the potion, so he went slow.


    The customer base fluctuated for a few days, then stabilized at a much lower number than the days with the previous sale. Still, the share of the market for the concerned level of potions Brewed-Awakening occupied alone lingered in double digits.


    His inevitable rise must¡¯ve finally alarmed his rivals as real trouble came knocking on his door soon with much larger numbers than what he hired. They complained, they cursed, they accused; they challenged his authenticity as a Potioneer. One change was that they all had the certificate this time, and they acted better, their hollers oozed with hurt emotions and suffering. The trauma of buying ¡®bad potions¡¯ laced their words that did their best to tug at people¡¯s sympathy. Some sniffed and cried, tears would¡¯ve fallen if their blobs were capable of it.


    They were a practiced hand at this, they looked professional, it must¡¯ve cost a lot to hire them¡­ Ewan had already taken preventive measures for this, so he didn¡¯t react and let the play pan out on its own, albeit with a gaping stare at their theatrics.


    ¡°They finally learned from their mistakes. They bought the potions first this time,¡± one of the customers inside the shop said, laughing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t they get tired? Just drop the price instead and you can fight back,¡± another customer said.


    ¡°It¡¯s not so easy. Unless you have a high success rate, you won''t gain any profit with discounted pricing.¡±


    The ¡®complaining¡¯ customers went away after causing a ruckus for a few hours, but unlike what Ewan expected, they did affect his business¡ªfar more than his initial estimate. The reviews from his customers said it was the noise; the blaring complaints and the accusations irritated them while they lined up. Those who window shopped and teetered on the edge of buying or not also walked off because of the distraction. The fickleness of the customers always reigned supreme, after all they had other options.


    Nevertheless, Ewan ran a shop; the customers were the most important aspect of it. So, regardless of whether they came to cause trouble or were genuine, he had no way of refusing their entry. He was powerless against the simplest form of harassment.


    All he could do in return was retaliate. He chose the variation of his potions for it. Apart from Anima Potions, he added the basic no-named healing potions and antidotes to his shop¡ªall with the same discounts. The recipes he had for the two were simple no-named formula, there was nothing special about them. But they still sold well, their number of transactions competing head-to-head with the Anima Potions¡ªthey enriched the total customer base once again and pushed his market share up.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The status quo stagnated for the next few days and the clamor quietened. Yet the silence and the inaction sang their story aloud. Ewan¡¯s prediction for this stage was an alliance against him. Since he bit off a chunk from the potion business owners, it was inevitable they would fight back. The best way to do it was to come together and drown him in numbers and discounts. As per norms, if they hit the lowest discount possible without losing profit, it could kill his business. As per norms, that was¡­


    After the calm of the few days, the potion market went up in flames again when most shops gave out ten percent discounts on all potions at once. Ewan¡¯s shares dwindled too, as did the other small shops¡¯¡ªsome even shut down the next day.


    Before Ewan could make his move though, the small shop owners who became the collateral damage in this back and forth huddled together and came to Brewed-Awakening, grumbling, and accusing him even before they stepped through the fa?ade. They whined to Ewan about his behavior, they warned him of the consequences, and they urged him to stop fighting against the bigwigs.


    ¡®Small shops have their own way of surviving between the crevices,¡¯ they said. ¡®Keep your head down and earn what you can. Great ambitions might just kill a man. Learn to compromise if you want to remain on the hub.¡¯.


    Ewan sent them off politely without arguing back, regardless of the underlying threats that painted the subtext of their ¡®advice¡¯. They had their own troubles; he didn¡¯t want to agitate and antagonize them over a small matter, let alone wrestle with them in the mud to prove his point. After all, no matter what they said or advised, it didn¡¯t affect him. His decision was his own, their opinions mattered not. He dared to dream big, so there was no way he would settle short.


    The minor episode didn¡¯t affect his plans as he made his move soon after the shop owners left. Before the previous flame went down, he rekindled it with his fifteen percent discount. The traffic churned in the market again. The battle of cutting prices pulled on the crowd, and they shifted to where the heat blazed the hottest.


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan lacked recipes. There were several in his family¡¯s journal, but all were of higher stages, scattered through different steps, none he could brew for now. So, his shop lacked variety, even with the healing potions and the antidotes, and this was his biggest weakness.


    The other Potioneers resolved this by brewing and selling potions on order¡ªthe customer prepared the ingredients and the recipe, the Potioneer only brewed the potion.


    It was efficient, and it worked. Since there was no need to reinvent the wheel, Ewan followed the same and separated a section of the counter for custom orders, assigning a specialized worker on it. This part depended on reputation; no number of discounts could move the customers to trust an unknown Potioneer with their precious ingredients and recipe. So, the chances of any order coming in any soon was nigh zero, but he still had to try. There was no loss in failure and only gains in success.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 19,156


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,106


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-106 Shop Extension

    His expectations were already low, but the reality shot down even the last of it. When the shop¡¯s ledger showed zero potions-on-order even after days, Ewan had no choice but to ignore that section and refocus on selling premade potions, lest it annoy him and affect his confidence. Though it had already chinked it.


    Everything was for profit¡ªfor Novas¡ªand he was earning fine with the off-the shelf potions that he sold. There was no need for potions-on-order, he repeated in his mind to settle his inner critic. It was better to solve the urgent problems his shop faced instead, like the problem of storage.


    The space behind the counter wasn¡¯t large enough to support the increased business anymore, the stacking crates of vials almost cleared the top. Ewan was busy brewing potion after potion, so he left the inventory work to the specialized automated worker. But it wasn¡¯t efficient enough to manage the huge numbers, and thus, amplified the problem.


    Ewan deliberated for a long time, and in the end, only one solution remained before him¡ªextend the shop. And so, he paid Airadia¡¯s sentience¡ªthe hub¡¯s kernel¡ªadditional rent in the form of non-native Astylind Cores and rented a large area behind his shop. Anything that brought in resources from another world to Airadia would suffice as rent, but the cores were the easiest and cheapest to procure, so he followed the herd.


    The kernel triggered the spell circuit beneath his shop, as the walls rumbled, and flattened and emptied the unowned area towards the back. The perimeter he rented extended to the limits of the new area, the land came under Ulrath¡¯s name, and the kernel solidified the boundary. A section of the back wall inside the shop crumbled to become a door, and in a few hours, the spell circuit erected a storage room as per the framework Ewan submitted. He transferred all his stored potions into this room and also marked it for his connecting point¡ªto avoid appearing in the middle of the shop during business hours then hopping over the counter to handle business.


    The moment he solved the problem, and his brain lost the target of its focus, the zero potions-on-order popped up in his mind again to irritate him. If only he had more recipes for the lower stages¡­


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°You¡¯re hurt again,¡± Ewan said when he rushed over to ¡®Hopes & Wishes¡¯¡ªNana¡¯s shop. Her message eased his anxiety, but her flickering and fluctuating spirit blob tensed his nerves again. The space crack might¡¯ve caused her first injury, but she got injured yet again. The island she was on was anything but safe, the presumption and his helplessness provoked his apprehension. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I-I fought,¡± she said in a meek voice. ¡°But I solved it myself.¡± She perked up again. ¡°I killed her without getting hurt too much.¡±


    ¡°How bad is it?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a tribe on the island. They live in caves, I think. They have blindfolds on, and they use soul spells,¡± she said. ¡°Those spells are really weird, even the chants sounded bizarre; they gave me a headache. There are also skeletons tied on the trees, it was so scary to walk under them. I always felt they were looking at me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m asking about your injury. How bad?¡± he asked, clicking his tongue.


    Her spirit blob fluttered as she slowly hovered in place.


    ¡°How bad?¡± Ewan forced his words. His spirit blob would¡¯ve flared his nose and popped a vein if he had any.


    ¡°I-I got slapped and she also hurt my soul. My Astylinds too¡­.,¡± she said.


    The words triggered Ewan as he huffed an exhale¡ªthe assault of the negative emotions irritated him. He didn¡¯t like this restlessness and the rage that bubbled up. He wanted to torture that woman, slice her up, gouge her eyeballs and feed it to her. That bitch had slapped Nana, she hurt her, she tried to kill her. If only he could get his hands on her, he would flay her alive and cook her flesh to ease the torrent in his head, the violent thoughts took over him. In a mere minute, he¡¯d butchered her in a thousand ways in his mind, and his provoked brain strived to find more. But alas, Nana had already killed her, and he could not vent.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°That¡¯s-that¡¯s enough,¡± Ewan said. The more she talked about it, the worse his frustration got. ¡°What level are you at?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Sixth,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°You had both Sindra and Ryvia, and yet she could beat you up?¡± He uttered a dry chuckle once his words ended, his eyes breathing fire. ¡°Why did you let her get close?¡±


    ¡°I-I haven¡¯t practiced them enough,¡± she said, sheepishly.


    She was hurt, he shouldn¡¯t yell at her, he shouldn¡¯t yell; the repeated words and a deep breath tried to calm him down.


    ¡°T-The outskirts of the forest seem to be their limit. They stopped chasing me once I made it to the beach, they¡¯re afraid of coming out,¡± she said.


    Ewan sighed and deflated, exhausting all his frustration, not minding her blatant attempt to change the topic. If only she had exited the space crack at the same place as him; he could keep her safe, he would never let her get hurt like that. But he could only heave a defeated sigh when rammed against the reality. He still battled for his plan in Drarith while she struggled to survive on an unknown island. No matter how he extended his arms, he couldn¡¯t reach her. However, they still had the hub, and he was now capable enough to support her successes or failures.


    ¡°Give me the list of ingredients,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll brew the grade-exalt potions for your Astylinds again. Practice on the beach and train them there. Don¡¯t go inside the forest anymore, and also stay away from the ocean. There must be a reason why they aren¡¯t coming out to the beach, be careful.¡±


    ¡°O-Okay,¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the Anima Potions too, have them train well. Do you understand?¡± Ewan asked.


    She nodded.


    ¡°What about food and water? You have enough?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re closing in on the seventh awakening. Have you thought about Bralek?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°Do you have any Astylind in mind? Do you want me to look for it?¡±


    ¡°I found a good one on the island, Wood Turtle. There¡¯s a group of them living just by the beach,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s better than the one I had in mind before.¡±


    Weak Anima applications, low affinity and control, but high regeneration and defense¡ªthe Astylind suited Nana. If she gained its regenerative or defensive ability, it could bolster her chances of survival, especially on an island like that. A high soul defense could become a natural nemesis of those islanders. If she gained both, she might just become a headache to deal with in a battle of attrition.


    ¡°Go for it if you like it, but not now. Heal, train, and let your Astylinds reach higher levels. It won''t be too late to hunt for one then,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Hurry up with the list.¡±


    Nana fumbled about and soon handed him the written list of ingredients.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drop the potions off here tomorrow, same time. I¡¯ll brew two sets, if they fail again, make sure to tell me,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about saving Novas, I have lots now.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to hurry, I can wait,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, you go back and rest, leave everything else to me,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Have Luna heal you as soon as possible. Your face must be swollen like a monkey by now. Orange would laugh his ass off if he saw you like that.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,785


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,064


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-107 Helper

    The nights and the mornings were his only respite from his hectic schedule. The soft grass brushed his bare feet, the fresh breeze relaxed his nerves. The rising sun¡¯s reflection on the animated waters waved him a jolly good morning, and the birds sang their first song of the day. He worried about nothing at this moment. No potions, no business, no Novas, no Varos, and not his plans for Drarith. He even shoved his concerns about Nana to the back of his mind¡­ At least he tried to¡ªhis anxiety for her was far too stubborn.


    Yet today, the ruckus at the outskirts of the city disturbed his alone time. Several skirmishes with wild Astylinds had broken out since the day he moved to this villa. But the guards solved them all by themselves, albeit with some damage and casualties. The commotion never went past a certain limit and bothered him though. That streak broke today.


    Is it our turn finally?


    The reason for this hubbub could either be a tide of Astylinds or a Staron attack¡ªthe ongoing war with no end in sight. If possible, he didn¡¯t want to meddle in this mess. The city¡¯s wellbeing or its ownership would have nothing to do with him if the circumstances differed. Neither its demise nor its prosperity would¡¯ve affected him in a different scenario. But the condition for a residence included participation in protecting the city. And thus, if he wanted this stable environment to continue his schedule and not try his luck out in the wild, he had to get involved. Not to mention, Drarith was still the crux in his plan for the mystic.


    Still, he didn¡¯t intend on risking his or Astylinds¡¯ life on the frontlines, at least not yet.


    A supporter was a vital part of any army, far more important than the vanguards sometimes. Especially a healer who could save lives and turn the tide of the battle. Such was the case with the recruitment terms for the War Dogs back in Obria, and it would hold true for any other settlement. If Ewan registered as a support staff, not only would he be able to take it easy in the back, but also earn some resources by doing the same.


    While his thoughts wandered, the conscription notice arrived at his doorsteps¡ªit gave him one hour for preparation.


    ¡­¡­


    At the temporary camp set up outside the city.


    The camouflage tents flapped with the gust that blew in from the war zone, bringing in the faint whispers of the battle that had already heated up the ground. The serene grassy stretch in between the camp and where the men bled was a moat that reflected the apprehension and wavering eyes of the newcomers. As they lined up, they all looked back to where they would either die or kill to live for another day. How many would come back and count their loot with a grin, and how many would become the loot for the other side¡­


    Once the queue whittled down to Ewan, he noted his name in the register, signed his initials, and the man in-charge marked his attendance.


    ¡°Your details, please,¡± the man in-charge said, still perky with his voice, and his written words carrying the spirited curves and tails. But the line behind Ewan extended till the end of the camp, and more joined in and crowded at the perimeter, their garbled chatter blending with the distant war cries. The numbers would soon deflate the man in-charge into lethargy with constant sighs ending his sentences. If Ewan was at the end of the queue, he might not succeed in his request. Luckily, he got here early, when the man still had the energy and the intent to listen to him.


    ¡°Eighth awakening, support, hoping for medicine,¡± Ewan said, copying the Ashevas that came before him.


    The man in-charge looked up at him. ¡°How confident are you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Most injuries below Step-1 shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I have a healer-type Astylind, and I¡¯m also a Potioneer.¡±


    ¡°What about poison?¡± the man asked, tapping his pen on the paper.


    ¡°Doable but depends on the potency, I can handle most common ones.¡±


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°I¡¯ll assign you to the medicine then. Your level is high enough to lead, but I¡¯ll only appoint one helper for now. Tell me if you want to change anything.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Where do I go?¡± Ewan asked.


    The man in-charge pointed to a faraway tent in the back with his pen. ¡°Go get familiar first. We might need you soon,¡± he said.


    ¡°Can you do me a favor? Can you notify Kiev about this?¡±


    ¡°Sir Kiev? Alright, I¡¯ll send someone.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ewan said and went on his way towards the tent.


    ¡­..


    The thick camouflage canvas draped over the sturdy poles created a decent space for a makeshift hospital. Several beds lined up inside, while a wooden desk and a chair sat in a corner with their quiet, a scant layer of dust accompanying them.


    ¡°You can wait here,¡± the man arranging the personnel said. ¡°Someone will send you your helper and will notify you when you¡¯re needed. If you need something, just ask anyone wearing this.¡± He showed the green armband he wore on his right bicep.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get that?¡± Ewan asked. The green color suggested the medicine team, and he joined them.


    ¡°This is for the permanent members. Temporary volunteers get this instead,¡± the man said and gave Ewan a white armband. ¡°You can get this if you join us permanently. Want to?¡±


    ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m good,¡± Ewan said with a smile, letting the spider that rappelled down before him use his finger as its perch, then gently putting it on the table. Even though he had a motive to join, he hadn¡¯t volunteered for the war, most of the foreign Ashevas hadn¡¯t. The conscription notice wouldn¡¯t give them the choice. But he didn¡¯t care to correct the man.


    The man walked away, shaking his head, while Ewan rested on the rocking chair, listening to it groan as he swung. The setup wasn¡¯t as bad as he¡¯d imagined.


    The uncertainty about joining the war had worried him at first. What if they didn¡¯t listen to his request to join the medicine team and still sent him to the frontline? He fought several battles since he became a Severynth, but they were all individual battles, not wars. He had zero experience in fighting a small skirmish, let alone a war. So, if possible, he wanted to take it slow and learn before entering the main battlefield. The medicine team was perfect for it, and luckily, he got in. He could taste the chaos and the atmosphere of a war here without risking his or his Astylinds¡¯ life. This was a necessity for him since he planned on joining expeditions to other planets and planes.


    The extent of the two were worlds apart but the essence was the same.


    Minutes went by but no one came to disturb Ewan. He drifted away in his thoughts for a while, as the spider kept him company in silence, then came back and took out a thick hardcover book on Starons and Astylinds anatomy. Since he had time, it was better to brush up on some old knowledge¡ªwho knew what injuries he would encounter today. The book was an explorer¡¯s edition, much more detailed than a general off-the-shelf book. It absorbed Ewan into its illustrations, its analysis, its theories, its research, its conclusions. Even though he¡¯d already finished this book before, he still got lost and didn¡¯t notice the hour go by.


    ¡°Kidd reporting for duty, sir.¡± The voice shattered his concentration, the spider scuttled away, and brought him back to the tent.


    When Ewan saw the person saluting him, the one who would be his helper, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. At least his time in the tent wouldn¡¯t be boring anymore.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,785


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,064


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-108 First Patient

    ¡°Take it easy,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Sit.¡±


    Kidd dragged a chair from the side of the bed, its legs streaking a trail on the hardened earth, and sat across him, adjusting his ass on the frigid metal seat¡ªit must¡¯ve chilled his bum.


    ¡°They even dragged you off the ship to fight in the war?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°They must be desperate.¡±


    ¡°I joined willingly, Boss,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Some others from our ship joined with me, they had nothing else to do. Cork might join too once he¡¯s done sorting the recent batch.¡±


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°You got a death wish?¡±


    ¡°I won''t go to the frontlines. I just volunteered to help out. This is my home, after all,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Then I saw your name in the register, so I asked to join you as your helper.¡±


    ¡°Unless they had a screw loose, they won''t send you to the frontlines either,¡± Ewan said and flipped to the next page of his anatomy book. ¡°You don¡¯t even qualify as cannon fodder.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here,¡± Kidd said, laughing sheepishly and scratching his head. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to prepare though, Boss?¡±


    ¡°Prepare for what?¡± Ewan asked, his eyes glued to the book.


    ¡°For patients? We¡¯re in the medicine unit, right?¡± He looked around the tent in confusion.


    ¡°They won''t be sending anyone here anytime soon.¡±


    ¡°Why? I thought they lacked people in this unit. The man in-charge looked really happy and was grinning when I said I wanted to join as a helper.¡±


    ¡°He would¡¯ve continued to be happy if you joined a permanent member as a helper. But you joined me instead, you spoiled his joy.¡± Ewan laughed. ¡°They don¡¯t know me, they haven¡¯t tested me yet,¡± he said. ¡°All they have are my words. If they didn¡¯t doubt me, I would doubt them. So, no one¡¯s coming our way for the time being.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t that the perfect way to dodge the conscription then?¡± Kidd¡¯s eyes glittered and his back straightened. A light bulb almost lit up above his head.


    ¡°If only,¡± he said. ¡°If we do get a patient, and if he dies under my watch and I¡¯m deemed responsible for it, I¡¯ll most probably have to suffer the consequences.¡±


    Kidd deflated back into the chair and clicked his tongue. ¡°Isn''t it a thankless job then?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll pay us, but we have to have some patients first,¡± Ewan said, looking at the empty beds.


    ¡°Really?¡± Kidd sat upright, his eyes sparkling again.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you read the notice before joining?¡±


    ¡°Boss, you start preparing. I¡¯ll go grab you a patient,¡± Kidd said and bolted out the tent, his chair falling to the ground.


    ¡­..


    The clamor outside crescendoed in the next hour, the hubbub grew. Yet, Ewan¡¯s tent pulled a contrast from the rest and remained quiet and peaceful. Neither Kidd came back, nor any patient knocked on his door. So, once Ewan skimmed to the final page of the book that had taken him days to read last time, he went outside, stretched, and strolled around.


    The canvas blocked the sound inside, but outside, the faint sound of clashes far off in the distance beyond the stretch of grass¡ªby the forest¡ªinched to his ears. That was today¡¯s battlefield. It aroused his curiosity, but he couldn¡¯t act on it. Even if he didn¡¯t receive any patient, he couldn¡¯t just leave his post, let alone walk into an active battlefield like that.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    As his ten minutes of stroll ended, when he¡¯d about returned, two men rushed from outside the camp area, beelining for his tent.


    ¡°Are you Mr. Ewan?¡± one of the men asked, flustered and sweating. His camouflage shirt had blood all over and a shallow cut ran across his left forehead, covered in dust.


    ¡°I am,¡± he said, passing his Ryvia and checking him¡ªhis post in the medicine unit pardoned his intrusive behavior. The cut was new but the blood on the shirt wasn¡¯t his. He had no injuries to his body.


    ¡°Sir, please save my Alea,¡± the man said, grabbing Ewan¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Kiev sent us, he told us to come to you,¡± the other man with him said, trying to calm down the flustered man, patting his back.


    Ewan nodded. This was a favor for him yet was also a way to include him in Kiev¡¯s group, it could even be a test. It coincided with his own intentions though, so he went with it.


    ¡°Come in,¡± he said. ¡°Can you call over my helper? He¡¯s over there.¡± He stopped the other man and pointed towards the outskirts of the camp where Kidd wandered about, pestering everyone.


    ¡°Leave it to me,¡± the man said and raced away.


    ¡°Take out your Astylind,¡± Ewan said, preparing a bed for him.


    The flustered man opened his Dekoth and brought out his ¡®Alea¡¯¡ªa three meter tall and bulky Water Bear. The bed cried under her and arced down, reaching its limit.


    ¡°Open the support on that side,¡± Ewan said and flipped open the support rod from the middle of the bed and locked it. The flustered man did the same after a couple of fumbled tries and a punch to the pivot. The middle support held the weight of the bear and prevented the bed from breaking.


    ¡°Please step aside.¡± Ewan checked the bear¡¯s injuries as the man walked back, wiping his sweat.


    Ewan checked the pulse, the pupils, the extent of the injuries, their condition, and whether there was any internal bruising. There were several small cuts on the bear¡¯s body, but the main injury was the bleeding gouge at her stomach¡ªit had sharp bladed rocks still attached to it. Must¡¯ve been an earth element spell, he reckoned.


    Her breath hitched halfway, the movement of her diaphragm shifted the wound, making her wince and tremble with every inhale.


    ¡°Try to calm her down,¡± Ewan said and went for the sharp rocks when the man placated her. But his words had little effect, and the bear flinched and attacked Ewan with a growl when he touched her wound. He backed off, blocking the attack with his Ryvia. It was just a reflex with no power behind it, so it didn¡¯t do any damage.


    If he was going to treat this bear, he needed either local or general anesthesia. Yet, when he looked around, there was nothing like that in his tent. Except for basic tools, there was nothing else.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m back,¡± Kidd said, rushing inside.


    ¡°Go ask the head of the unit for some numbing medicine or sedative. If we don¡¯t have it, then go get me some ocean water,¡± Ewan said.


    Kidd bobbed his head and rushed back out. ¡°Wait!¡± Ewan yelled and stopped him. ¡°Forget the ocean water, it¡¯s too far. Just get me water and lots of salt from the inventory if you don¡¯t get the medicine.¡±


    Kidd nodded again. ¡°Got it,¡± he said and dashed out, dragging the other man with him.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,785


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,064


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-109 Another Spell

    When Kidd came back lugging a couple of buckets of water, spilling it along his trail, veins bulging from his strained arms, and a sack of salt dangling from his shoulder, Ewan sighed and adjusted his treatment plan to do without any anesthesia or a sedative.


    ¡°Please give space,¡± he said. ¡°Mix the salt in the water, hurry up.¡± Ewan stood at a distance and pressed on the wounds with his Ryvia, trying to minimize the bear¡¯s bleeding.


    The Astylind¡¯s master helped Kidd and the other man and flipped the sack of salt into the water buckets. Once they mixed it well, Ewan asked the man to carry it over the bear and pour it, bit by bit.


    ¡°Will it help?¡± Kidd asked in a hushed voice.


    ¡°Stay near her, and keep going until I tell you to stop,¡± Ewan said and came closer to the bear when her master trickled the salt water over her, drenching the bed and creating a pool on the ground.


    The Water Bear uttered a comfortable and sleepy moan, her legs drooped by its side, and her breaths also softened. Her chest assumed a gentle rhythm of rise and fall, and the rush of her blood eased. The ocean had been the home for her species for ages, their genes carried that sense of belonging and the solace that came with it. Even if the salt water couldn¡¯t replicate the ocean water to a T, any association to the comfort of her roots would help pacify her. Not to mention, her master was here with her. Regardless of her status in the man¡¯s heart, a tool or kin, the purity of an Astylind would always consider the master her family.


    Ewan took advantage of the moment and pulled all the sharp shards from her wound at once, double checking to confirm he didn¡¯t miss any. Blood gushed out, and the bear flinched, but the salt water kept her contained in the hazy world of her peaceful dreams. Other than a painful groan, the bear didn¡¯t make any move.


    ¡°Oh, it works,¡± Kidd whispered aloud with a round mouth and widened eyes. The other man also looked over with lifted brows.


    Sindra¡ªHeal!


    Ewan blocked the blood with his hands, his Ryvia covering the wounds he couldn¡¯t reach, and he cast <Heal>, copying Iris with his Sindra.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    It took several casts before the last thread of the stubborn Earth-Anima let go and dissipate. The wound finally stopped oozing blood and showed signs of healing. It must¡¯ve been a peak Step-0 Asheva or an Astylind who cast that spell for it to resist his efforts so much. But in the end, the attached Anima was a rootless weed, and his spell was alive¡ªthe conclusion was inevitable.


    Ewan let go and breathed a heavy sigh of relief before informing the Astylind¡¯s master of the good news.


    ¡°Just let her rest, she should be fine soon. Don¡¯t let her fight in the next few days or she might collapse from overexertion,¡± Ewan said, washing his bloody hands in the washbasin Kidd prepared for him.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± The man bowed parallel to the ground, his eyes tearing up. ¡°I¡¯ll forever remember this favor,¡± he said.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I didn¡¯t do much,¡± Ewan said, smiling. The man made a mountain out of a molehill, he felt. He didn¡¯t do anything special, just some small treatment and some casts of <Heal>. Any Asheva with this spell could do the same. But if the man wanted to owe him a favor for it, he wasn¡¯t going to stop him either.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°You can take her now,¡± Ewan said and sent the man and his Astylind away.


    ¡°Awesome, Boss! We got our first customer,¡± Kidd said, jumping up and down.


    Ewan shooed him off and walked back to his chair, lounging and resting with a groan. The casts of Sindra tolled his soul and almost emptied his blood rune, his head throbbed a bit.


    Sindra was a strong innate skill and a trademark of Severynths, but its efficiency fell below normal casting. For the same output, he inputted twice the Anima. It also burdened his spirit with two tasks, Sindra and the cast, in contrast to a simple spell. If not for its two stark advantages¡ªskipping the circuit tracing and copying his Astylinds¡¯ spells¡ªEwan would¡¯ve shelved it.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t bring any other patient. Let me rest for a while,¡± Ewan said and took out his Spellbook. The lack of anesthesia or a sedative forced him to try other means, unconventional means. But he couldn¡¯t find a second method to calm the Astylind down every time like with the Water Bear. Thus, he thought about scouring his Spellbook for an answer¡ªhe was looking for a sleep-type spell.


    ¡°Aye, aye, sir!¡± Kidd saluted and darted out the tent again, his figure fading in the distance.


    ¡°Did he understand what I said,¡± Ewan muttered then focused on the book again.


    As he flipped the pages, he came across <Aid>, a healing-type spell. He shook his head and moved on¡ªit had the lowest min Anima point of all healing spells in his Spellbook, yet he couldn¡¯t even cast the weakest version of it with his current Blood-Anima. It was a bona fide Step-1 spell.


    The Spellbook had no index, like his journal, and the spells weren¡¯t sorted out. So, he went page by page, checking each spell, before he stumbled over one that could help him.


    <Siesta>, a mystic-element spell that induced sleep. His eyes gleamed when he read its details. On top of invoking sleep that could replace anesthesia up to some extent and act as a sedative, it also reduced pain sensitivity of the target. The details made him wonder whether the creator of this spell had anesthesia in mind when he built it.


    Regardless, he had the spell he needed now. Ewan shook the useless thoughts out and concentrated on its circuit after thanking his predecessors¡ªonce again, his family¡¯s legacy showed up to support him when he needed it the most.


    The tent canvas did a good job of keeping the blaring noise outside; it was quiet enough inside for him to study the spell in peace. Before his next patient, he needed to practice the spell circuit to the point where he could cast it without too many failures. If he fumbled about tracing the circuit in front of a worried or an injured Asheva, his name would go down the drain. He was here not for the Novas but to enter the inner circle of the city rulers. For his mystic rune, this was a necessary step.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,785


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,064


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-110 Siesta

    By the time Ewan raised his success rate of <Siesta> spell to an acceptable level, the sun had arced over the sky. No one came to the tent during this time, no patient, no notice, no orders. Though he did sense Kidd wandering nearby from time to time, popping in and out of his Ryvia range. The ruckus and the chatters outside told him the general state of the battlefield. Since it hadn''t quietened, the frontlines must still be hot, the spilled warm blood drenching the earth.


    Would the fight continue through the night? Would it carry over to the next day? Which side dominated? Ewan only had questions with no one to answer them. He could infer the number of injuries from the intensity of the noise outside, from how many tents were quiet and how many clamored, but that was it. They isolated his tent and left him alone. The atmosphere of war he wished to feel through the medicine unit became a pipe dream.


    All in good time, all in good time¡­


    At least the wait gave him time to study and tempered his patience.


    ¡°Boss, are you rested now?¡± Kidd pushed his head inside the tent and asked.


    ¡°Did you get anyone?¡±


    ¡°Just a sec, I¡¯ll bring him in a jiffy.¡± He dashed away and came back a minute later with a man, flustered and sweating just like the last Severynth.


    ¡°Can you help me please?¡± the man asked, panting and aghast.


    ¡°Boss, all the other tents with permanent members are full, no one is free for him.¡± Kidd couldn¡¯t hide his grin behind the man.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ewan said, ignoring Kidd, and prepared the bed for the man¡¯s Astylind.


    He used Dekoth and brought out a Wind Wolf, riddled with wounds and covered in blood. Ewan frowned¡ªthis was a bit problematic. The tools in the tent weren¡¯t enough to deal with this kind of sieved wounds. The cause must¡¯ve been an area of effect ice element spell, it left a lot of obstinate Ice-Anima lingering in the wounds. The blood loss could kill the wolf if he spent too long dealing with the attached Anima. He couldn¡¯t sew the wounds shut in time either; they were just too many of them.


    ¡°Kidd, start the burner and heat up the iron rod,¡± Ewan said and checked the wolf for any other injuries or complications. The pulse rate was high, but the pressure on his fingertips was low; it barely pounded his touch. The wolf had lost a lot of blood and could suffer from a hemorrhagic shock if he didn¡¯t stop it soon.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to put it under sleep and cauterize his wounds. Do you want me to continue?¡± Ewan asked as the rod reddened over the hissing blue flame.


    ¡°Please, just save him.¡± The man begged, the light in his eyes quivering.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Now, please step aside.¡±


    Siesta!


    This was his first cast of the spell on an actual target. His heart raced under the pressure and his tensed nerves twitched. But he tried to maintain a nonchalant face and finished his tracing, absorbing the Mystic-Anima from all around him then suffusing the circuit to cast the spell.


    The waves from the spell toned down all movements in the targeted area, even the cheery Anima muted down. The whimpers of the Wind Wolf softened until it became mosquito quiet then flattened out into a sleepy moan.


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


    ¡°Will he be alright? Will it be painful?¡± the man asked when Ewan picked up the red-hot iron. The heat twisted the air around it and it sent faint buzz in the air that only Ewan heard¡ªhe had Toast to thank for it.


    ¡°It will be, but your Astylind won''t feel it. Or do you want it to bleed to death instead?¡±


    ¡°No¡­please continue.¡± The man stepped aside; his gaze stuck to the slumbering wolf.


    The spell that damaged the wolf had created a sieve-type wound on him, numerous but small. One after another, Ewan seared the holes and stopped the bleeding. Each touch of the iron sizzled the flesh, and the pungent stench of burnt skin and hair permeated the whole tent. Ewan had to block his sensitive nose with Ryvia.


    It took him a few minutes to complete the process, and when he finally wiped his sweat, the wolf had become a charred and hairless mess. A mess, indeed, but still alive and breathing.


    The next part was the common treatment all Ashevas used for healing¡ªcast the healing spell until the hostile Anima gave up its futile struggle.


    Sindra¡ªHeal!


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Before Ewan could send the man away, before he could go back to the chair and rest his strained soul, the commotion outside flared up, and a line of people barged into his tent carrying the injured on the stretchers. One, two, three¡­. He saw no end to the train and soon his tent brimmed with the wounded.


    ¡°This one¡¯s full!¡± the one managing the situation yelled. ¡°Go to the next one.¡± He turned towards Ewan. ¡°I¡¯ll send you some helpers, try and save their lives. They¡¯ve all lost their Astylinds,¡± he said and went out.


    Ewan scanned the patients, occupying all the beds, some groaning while some hanging from a thread, their chests barely lifting, still unwilling to slip into an eternal slumber. Some suffered from poison, some lost their limbs, some had their guts almost spilling out¡ªthe beds and the floor became a bloody mess.


    ¡°Kidd,¡± he said, taking out different colored armbands from the inventory cupboard. ¡°Check each of them and tie these bands accordingly. Yellow for light injuries, red for immediate treatment needed, and black for dead. Use the violet if you¡¯re not sure or if its poison.¡±


    ¡°Boss¡­I¡­¡± Kidd stood there, dazed, holding the armbands.


    ¡°Do as I say, don¡¯t worry about making mistakes,¡± Ewan said, ruffling his hair. ¡°It¡¯s all on me. Get to work now.¡±


    The atmosphere he wanted to feel, it was finally here. He saw a lot of gore, bloodshed, death, sheer carnage back in the Frosthelm festival and the survival game. But that was no war, this was. Even off the battlefield, the pressure could almost drown him if he let it. And the first lesson it taught him was the fragility of life.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,785


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,064


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-111 Hectic

    Ewan and the others toiled for hours before the rush of the desperate patients ended, as the tent hushed after suffering from the slew of deathly groans.


    He sprawled on the chair, Kidd snored on the ground, while Iris hung by his shoulder, wasted. Even with the blood-element Novas coins, she strained herself healing all the patients. Her struggles and her pain made Ewan want to give up many times. The injured strangers were not his priority. He might help them on a bright sunny day, when he¡¯d had a jolly good morning, but their lives weighed nothing against his Astylinds¡¯ discomfort, let alone their wellbeing. Yet, he had a motive for his actions here, and the struggle for it was inevitable.


    Many died today, but their hard work also saved many lives. Most of all, Ewan¡¯s name gained recognition. They all had lost their Astylinds, so he wasn¡¯t optimistic about their lives from now on. But that didn¡¯t matter as they had served their purpose for him.


    The hectic day came to an end when the bruised and the battered Ashevas came back from the battlefield. Their smiles and their grins were the sign of victory, while their wounds and scabbed scars were their medal of honor.


    ¡°Ewan, I heard about your feats today, good job,¡± Kiev said, approaching Ewan.


    ¡°I¡¯m dead tired though,¡± Ewan said.


    Trask laughed on the side. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± he said.


    ¡°You sly bastard, you joined the medicine unit,¡± Mize said, grinning at Ewan. ¡°We were waiting for you to join us.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, he¡¯s still a part of our group,¡± Kiev said, smiling.


    ¡°I¡¯ll join you guys next time, just wanted to get used to all this,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your job won''t change even on the frontline. You¡¯ll be our exclusive healer,¡± Kiev said.


    Ewan smiled. ¡°Where¡¯s Sheree?¡± he asked, glancing at the big group getting comfortable on the ground behind Kiev. They sprawled on the grass, grinning and laughing, while some started to nod off¡ªthis must be the whole group he mentioned.


    Trask sighed and shook his head.


    Ewan lifted his brows. ¡°Dead?¡±


    ¡°Oi, don¡¯t kill off the only beauty in our group,¡± Mize said. ¡°She got injured and retreated in the afternoon. She must¡¯ve dealt with it herself, so she didn¡¯t come here.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s get some rest,¡± Kiev said, gesturing to the group behind him. ¡°Sleep well tonight, tomorrow we¡¯ll have a trade meet with the whole group and a feast. I¡¯ll call for you then.¡±


    So, the battle ended¡­they must¡¯ve gained a lot to call for a trade meet so soon.


    The group went their way, and Ewan packed up the books he took out and left for his villa after signing the register, leaving Kidd snoring on an empty bed whose bloodied sheet had dried.


    ¡­¡­


    He lounged in his yard as usual, gazing at the stars, his Astylinds playing around. The severity of even a small-scale war threw off his confidence in his plans. His stubbornness for the mystic-type material could take his life the next time he visited the battlefield. He would be on the frontlines then, not in the back, dealing with the aftermath. And this was a step he had to take, joining the front lines was a must for him.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    The lack of Varos could plunge his chances of survival there, even as a healer. So, since death wasn¡¯t an option for him, he had to change his plans.


    One final try¡­.


    Tomorrow was the trade meet with the whole group. If he didn¡¯t find what he was looking for, he would give up on the mystic-element and go with Tigog Acrix. This material aced most of his tests so far. If he had to choose an earth-element material, this was a good option.


    As he broke the barrier his obstinance had raised, the tasks he overlooked since he came here resurfaced¡ªhis Astylinds¡¯ grade. Instead of a meaningless quest for an unknown possibility, it was far more efficient to focus on his Astylinds. After all, he was a Severynth¡ªa Summoner.


    Frost and Orange were still fine. They hadn''t hit the ceiling of their species yet. They wouldn¡¯t evolve when breaking through to Level-10, so Ewan could take his time pushing them up to Grade-S. Not to mention their requirements would need him to expand his radius beyond this city, deep towards the inland or out into the endless waters, which wasn¡¯t feasible for him right now.


    But Iris wrote a different story. Her species limited her to the Step-0 stage. If she were to walk forward, she had to evolve. As per his Pa¡¯s words, she would open special evolution paths if she broke through with a higher grade. ¡®How high¡¯ was the question he wanted to ask yet had no one to answer. Thus, he chose the highest to be on the safe side¡ªGrade-S.


    She was still only at Grade-C, though¡­


    Ewan sighed. He had a long way to go. At least he had enough Novas to support her failures now.


    ¡­¡­


    The next dawn broke from the horizon, and he got to work on his changed plan. His booming business needed a constant supply of potions, Nana needed potions for her Astylinds, Iris needed her potion too. The material tests for Tigog Acrix, his spell practice, his studies¡­


    When he wrote it all down, the list overwhelmed him. The day didn¡¯t have enough hours for him.


    Regardless, he had to take one step at a time. He set aside a few hours for brewing potions for his business while spending the rest of the day ticking off other tasks. The potions for Iris and Nana didn¡¯t take much time, his high success rate pushed him across the end line in just a couple of hours. The rest of the afternoon went to Tigog Acrix and some spell research. By the time dusk fell, all the tasks had sapped him dry. Yet, his day had not ended.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 27,142


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,061


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-112 Upgrade

    ¡°Did they succeed?¡± Ewan asked, hovering inside ¡®Hopes & Wishes¡¯.


    ¡°Luna and Biscuit did, Lime failed,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll brew another for him,¡± he said. ¡°How are your injuries?¡±


    ¡°Almost healed. The swelling went down too,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s just purplish now.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t go inside again, did you?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m staying on the beach, practicing some of the blueprints dad left.¡±


    ¡°That reminds me, I had something to discuss with you,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I got some Crayntine in a trade meet, I want to make an artifact out of it. I need something to trap the mystic anima. It¡¯ll be for casting spells, so it has to be easy to trap and easy to use.¡±


    ¡°Mystic anima?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you about it? My affinity with it increased when I used the fox¡¯s soul for my Bralek,¡± he said. ¡°I can cast mystic spells without a rune now.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t¡­.¡±


    Ewan laughed. ¡°Sorry, I forgot,¡± he said. ¡°But you¡¯re injured every time I come here. How can I remember to talk about random stuff like that?¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s my fault?¡±


    ¡°Well, you do contribute to half of my problems and anxiety,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I could spend my evenings peacefully on my lawn, but then you go and get hurt.¡±


    ¡°When did you develop that old man habit? No drunk girl around you to ¡®observe¡¯ anymore?¡± Sarcasm dripped out of her words.


    ¡°One drunk girl in my life is more than enough of a headache, I can''t handle another one,¡± he said. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not drinking again, are you? I¡¯ll rip your hair out if you lost and got beaten ¡®cause you were drunk.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not! I haven¡¯t touched it in months, you blew up almost all my stock,¡± she said. ¡°Where will I find more on an isolated island anyway.¡±


    ¡°Keep it that way,¡± Ewan said. Liquor was available in the hub, but she didn¡¯t need to know that. ¡°I¡¯m not there to clean up your mess right now, you¡¯re on your own, so train a little, will you?¡±


    ¡°When did I mess up¡­¡± she murmured under her breath.


    ¡°You can''t even pee in the dark alone, how can I rest at ease like that.¡±


    ¡°I-I can!¡± She flared up. ¡°Stop saying it out loud.¡±


    ¡°Who else is listening here¡­ Anyway, you distracted me again, the artifact, focus on the artifact,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Do you have a blueprint in mind?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look around in dad¡¯s collection,¡± Nana said. ¡°There should be one that fits what you want. By the way, do you think that man can chase after us? I¡¯ve lost a lot of sleep over it.¡±


    ¡°Slate? He might be dead in all that chaos. And even if he¡¯s not, it¡¯s unlikely he¡¯ll find us. The space crack sent us to random places, even we separated. Don¡¯t worry about him.¡±


    ¡°What about the Guardian? He was yelling at us, right? Do you think he¡¯ll blame us for that?¡±


    ¡°He called me Ulrath¡¯s son, he probably knew Pa. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll try to kill us.¡±


    ¡°Ulrath was uncle¡¯s alias?¡± Nana asked.


    Ewan hummed a nod. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll deal with him when we meet again. At worst, I¡¯ll pay for the damages,¡± he said. ¡°You just focus on staying intact on the island. I¡¯ll give you the materials for the artifact and the potion for Lime next time.¡±


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡­..


    The success rate of each attempt at upgrading an Astylind stood independent. The previous failures didn¡¯t affect the succeeding trials. At best, if the Astylind was perceptive enough to retain the experience, it could sway the chances in its favor. But Iris didn¡¯t fit the bill. She had already failed twice back in Obria. She suffered the same as Orange and Frost during the process with nothing to show for it. So, when she absorbed her upgrade potion, Ewan¡¯s heart was in his mouth.


    Her bud trembled; her roots shivered. Her consciousness wailed in Ewan¡¯s soul as her bud blackened and withered. He was their master, he couldn¡¯t let his own anxiety pass on to them, especially at an important moment like this. So, he pacified her the best he could while keeping his own nerves together. He couldn¡¯t share her pain; he couldn¡¯t ease her agony. His helplessness birthed a sense of guilt in him. But soon his pragmatism and his rationality washed it all away and hardened his heart. The pain, the hurt, the torment, it was all for a better future¡ªall for that destination. His Astylinds were his family, but he couldn¡¯t spoil them. If the anguish was what it took to advance, they had to accept that.


    He could show them mercy today, and the battlefield would be that much more ruthless to them tomorrow.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Her screams lessened over the next half an hour and her pain subsided. Ewan¡¯s soul went quiet as he waited for the final phase¡ªit would determine her success or failure. He hoped for success but had Astylind blood ready with him. If she failed, she would need this to recover her withered bud.


    She lay on the table, unmoving and wilted, and her roots twitched at times. Seconds passed and became minutes, and Ewan¡¯s heart in the mouth settled down. The signs leaned towards another failure. He took a deep breath and cracked his neck; he was ready for another potion brewing session. He wouldn¡¯t spoil his Astylinds and would let them suffer if needed, but he would never give up on them either. No matter how many trials it took her, he would support it all. If his Novas couldn¡¯t keep up, he would earn more. If the ingredients weren¡¯t available, he would hunt for them.


    Iris moved and struggled to rise. Her change put his bubbling grand resolve to a premature rest. Before he could support her, her bud thrived and flourished. The red in her came back, darker than before, and her petals flushed and lustered. She grew more roots and a cheery consciousness passed on to Ewan, provoking a hearty smile on his face. She succeeded, she finally succeeded and upgraded to Grade-B.


    Identify!


    [Astylind Name: Blood Lotus]


    [Astylind Level: Level-9]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-B]


    [Anima Affinity: Blood]


    [Skills: Blood-Recipient | Mend (Dormant)]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: Extinct natives of Sepra. They had decent affinity with Blood-Anima (Recipient) but lacked the means to protect themselves. Delicate and feeble. They lost the battle of natural selection.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Noble Rite (Dreit Arnaad)¡ªLife Sacrifice, offer a red-blooded life and drink its blood.]


    [Remark 1: Can be used as an ingredient for potions. Useless otherwise.]


    [Remark 2: Decent choice for a healing type Astylind. But lack strong evolution branches.]


    [Remark 3: I don¡¯t like them. They¡¯re nasty~]


    [Remark 4: Special evolution path found. Focus should be on its grade.]


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 27,129


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,061


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-113 Sacrifice

    Ewan rubbed his forehead in dismay, Iris¡¯s details still hovering before him in the panel. The upgrade of an Astylind should make them stronger, a better help to their Severynths. The theories agreed with it, the books acknowledged it, and his life experience so far also gave it a nod. Yet, Iris¡¯s upgrade dug two pitfalls and shoved him in, face down.


    <Mend> was a better version of <Heal>, its recorded effects and its details left no doubts about it, but Ewan would rather have an active latter than a dormant former. The new change meant Iris had no combat value anymore¡ªshe couldn¡¯t fight, she couldn¡¯t heal, she couldn¡¯t support him as long as her skill remained dormant. In one strike, he lost his identity as a healer.


    Even if he remained positive about the first problem, as it was only temporary, the second problem dragged him back into the pessimistic ditch. Life sacrifice¡ªan uncharted territory for him, and the fact gave him a headache. It was the chasm that blocked Iris¡¯s path from accessing her healing spell again.


    The ¡®survival game¡¯ back in Obria gave Ewan some hints about the topic¡ªits execution, its acceptance, its usage, and its limitations. A ¡®Branded¡¯ had performed that sacrifice for his Astylind¡¯s Regal Rite, and yet, he suffered no consequences. At least, no one came forward to stop him before Ewan left. He was a ¡®Branded¡¯, an exiled existence that all of Airadia shunned. His strength might¡¯ve overcome the negatives of his marked lineage, but it would still only balance out his lower starting point. It would give him little to no privileges that his level could bring otherwise. Since he could sacrifice a whole active colony without any blowbacks, it only meant one thing¡ªsacrifices were not taboo in Airadia as they were inside those walls.


    The conclusion cracked the shade that Obria¡¯s peaceful laws had planted over his eyes. When it did, even more supportive proof flooded in. Iris was a legacy of his Pa, like Frost and Toast. He knew her details, so he must¡¯ve known about her first Noble Rite. Especially as he treaded much further in her evolution path and found her brilliance. Yet, he left Ewan no reminder, no warnings, not even a note about such a topic. This further cemented his verdict¡ªsacrifices were not taboo.


    But to what extent? Ewan wondered. Natives powered the world. They were the blood, they were the flesh, they were the backbone to the world¡¯s sentience. So, what amount of damage to them would warrant retaliation? Was there any difference between a kill and a sacrifice? Even with all his confidence in himself, his family, and his Pa, Ewan still didn¡¯t want to poke those hornets¡¯ nests. An uncharted territory called for careful steps. It might not be a taboo, but precautionary measures were necessary when dealing with such uncertain topics.


    And so, the fellow natives were out of bounds.


    ¡­.


    Night came and with it came the call for the trade meet.


    The introductions went fast, they exchanged names, and the trades began. The spells traded for spells, books traded for books, information went for information, and <Identify> database exchanged hands for the same. Such transactions dominated the table for several turns.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    None caught Ewan¡¯s eyes so far; no spell or book could make him bring out his inheritance. Though he wasn¡¯t privy to the details of the deals since they chatted with Ryvia, the parts they did reveal couldn¡¯t compare to his family¡¯s legacy. Thus, his presence faded away in the background.


    Trask, Mize, and Sheree were the same and didn¡¯t participate much in the exchanges, so he chatted with them in a hushed voice while the trade continued.


    ¡°Did you guys find anything? About what I asked last time,¡± Ewan said, leaning over.


    ¡°Mystic-element material?¡± Mize asked. ¡°You should really give up on that, brother.¡±


    ¡°I tried some contacts I have; they couldn¡¯t get me anything,¡± Sheree said.


    ¡°Same,¡± Trask said. ¡°How about the white sand I traded with you last time?¡±


    ¡°I tested it, it¡¯s rather good. But it has a major weakness, not suitable for Varos,¡± Ewan said. His research and conclusion on different structures to cancel out the material¡¯s weakness was not for sale anymore. If he used Tigog Acrix for Varos, that design would be the foundation of his defense¡ªa secret he would never reveal to anyone who could be a potential enemy. And the sand¡¯s extra features that he found made it his top pick for now.


    ¡°Brittle against any physical force, right?¡± Trask said. ¡°It¡¯s like glass in that regard, that¡¯s why I gave up on it too.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any other good material then?¡± Ewan asked.


    Mize shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m also looking for one, haven¡¯t found any yet.¡±


    ¡°Barbed Marble¡¯s a good option,¡± Trask said.


    ¡°I used Sunmetal, fit my situation the best. You guys can try it out,¡± Sheree said. ¡°Though I would recommend you choose what suits you the best. A better material might not be a good fit for you.¡±


    They chatted and the trade continued. When it was Ewan¡¯s turn, he took out his potions and asked for a mystic-type material again. He also offered to up his pay and change it to something non-consumable if necessary¡ªit was his final try. Alas, the table met his negative expectation, he only got absolute silence in return. With a defeated sigh that represented the end of his obstinacy, he traded his potions for some Step-1 Cores to show his goodwill and finished his exchange.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 1.9


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 16.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 16.9 | Ice ¨C 16.9 | Blood ¨C 16.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [8<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 27,129


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,061


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-114 Varos

    The tests and the experiments on potential materials for Varos took up his days and filled his diary. He¡¯d given up on mystic-element material, so his next choice was the earth-element, as his family¡¯s journal advised. Tigog Acrix, the glass of earth, was his top pick, but he didn¡¯t give up on checking other materials. He roamed the hub, bought even the most useless options that showed even a hint of potential to be his Varos. As long as they were of the earth element, he spent his Novas on it. Since it could support his indulgence now, he indulged.


    In the end, one material broke through the ranks and joined the glass of earth as one of his probable picks¡ªCrelith, the mortals¡¯ currency. It lacked the special features that the earthen glass had but made up for it in pure defensive strength. Even with Ewan¡¯s improvised structure, the glass of earth couldn¡¯t match Crelith¡¯s defense. When his research ended, the result presented him with two choices¡ªeither spike towards pure defense or branch out towards miscellaneous features.


    Simplicity versus complexity¡ªafter a round of colliding thoughts, Ewan chose the latter. Spells could make up for both, but it was easier to add extra defense on Tigog Acrix than to add those special characteristics to Crelith.


    And so, the time to make the breakthrough finally came.


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan rested in the practice room and placed the bag of white sand in front of him. Indecisiveness was the tendency with the choices that would affect his future. Even a hint of doubt or hesitation could unravel the resolve. What if the material had another fatal weakness he hadn¡¯t discovered? What if he found a better choice tomorrow?


    But this was a step he must take. So, to kill the root of uncertainty in his heart, he gave way to recklessness.


    Whatever may happen!


    He cast the spell for Varos and targeted the sand. The bag rustled, and soon the grains hovered before him. They were already miniscule, and the spell crushed them even smaller. The white sand whirled around him in patches, its grains grinding and shrinking. Every time they shrank, Ewan left his mark on them through the spell circuit. The smaller they got, the closer they became to him.


    The powdered sand became finer and finer under the spell, but before they ¡®vanished¡¯, he carved the circuit for the structure he researched on each grain and connected them all. The hexagonal nodes design was now the default for his autonomous defense. The Tigog Acrix would consider this structure as its active initial state. Its strong shape-memory would revert any damage and bring it back to that state with much less energy than other materials.


    The process ended when the sand grains disappeared¡ªit was the idle initial state. Unless Ewan willed it himself, it would float around him, invisible to the naked eyes and ready to move to the active state in case of any attack.


    This was his fifth and final innate¡ªVaros, the physical defense. The completion of it checked the condition needed for the ninth awakening. The flood of spirit Ewan kept at bay for so long finally crushed the film and blasted the pool.


    He jerked back, the chill spread from his head and sent a shiver down his spine. The bubbling spirit comforted every cell, every tissue, every organ in his body. An involuntary moan escaped him as his tight posture loosened and his shoulders slouched. The breakthrough washed away his fatigue, his stress, his anxiety, and he relaxed.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    When it all ended, his chosen Varos embraced him as he dozed off.


    ¡­¡­


    The ninth awakening marked the end of Step-0; the Soul-Awakening stage. The peak stood beneath his feet, and now the only entity blocking his way forward was the gate to Step-1; the Spirit-Nebula stage. If he wanted to step through it, he had to shatter it. But the grandeur of the breakthrough weighed him down, his confidence creaked under it. Many had reached where he was. Yet, a bulk stumbled, and only a handful marched ahead of the crowd. The pyramid structure of Ashevas spoke volumes about the struggles of rising high.


    But before he moved forward and even thought about Step-1, he had to finish the pending work for Step-0¡ªthe second layer of ¡®Elementalist¡¯ subtype. And so, it climbed its way up on his priority list and saw itself beside the Noble Rite¡¯s requirement for Iris. It was a lengthy process though¡ªa matter of months. The written details said he could lose his sense of time once he started the second layer.


    Thus, Ewan ticked off the more urgent task in the list first¡ªthe life sacrifice for Iris. This was a path without light, and he walked on it with a blindfold on. The rite only mentioned a red-blooded life, it didn¡¯t specify whether it had to be a Staron or an Astylind.


    Starons cooked up the division line that set them apart from their not-so-wise brethren; the Astylinds. The lack of any inherent and drastic difference in the anatomies of the two disagreed with that division though.


    The facts he knew, however little they were, qualified both Starons and Astylinds as possible sacrifices. Ewan weighed them both, their pros and cons, and the Starons side measured heavier.


    A grown Astylind was easier to hunt or buy but was harder to control and transport¡ªan inefficient choice for a life sacrifice. Non-native Starons were a rare commodity in the slave market but if he could find one, the rest of the way would be a smooth ride.


    His potion shop raked it in, yet his presence was fresh on the hub, even with his Pa¡¯s alias. His connections didn¡¯t reach deep enough, his success only created enemies, no friends. So, he had to try his chances off the hub. And only one person came to mind when he thought of slaves.


    Cork¡­


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 17.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 17.3 | Ice ¨C 17.3 | Blood ¨C 17.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 27,365


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,061


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-115 Element Bath

    Since his casual presence at the slave market could present a problem for his plans, Ewan met Kidd the next day and made him a liaison between him and Cork. The boy was prudent enough to dodge the spying eyes and ears and was sensible enough to complete the business deal¡ªhe fit the role.


    ¡®A non-native Staron¡¯, the order stiffened Kidd and his eyes widened, but he still bobbed his head and took it back to Cork. Ewan waived any limitations on the price, so unless an unforeseen obstacle hindered him or Cork lacked the product, a positive answer should knock on his door. Even if he had to pay an inflated price, he planned to agree. Necessity birthed desperation, and desperation bred helplessness after all.


    Indeed, Kidd returned a while later with Cork¡¯s compliance. He also accommodated Ewan¡¯s need for secrecy and set Kidd as the trustworthy messenger for any future businesses.


    As for the current trade, both Ewan and Cork had their terms ready.


    Five hundred Novas coins and a week¡¯s time¡ªCork added the terms.


    No lower-level limit but must be red-blooded¡ªEwan added his terms.


    Kidd raced back and forth for confirmation, and once they accepted the conditions, Ewan and Cork signed the contract with Airadia as the witness. Ewan paid Cork two hundred Novas coins as advance payment and Cork wrote him a receipt with his bloodied thumbprint.


    The first part of the deal ended, Kidd went back, and Ewan shifted his focus to the ¡®Elementalist¡¯ modification.


    ¡­..


    Temperature rose by the day as Greenbirth gave way to Flamecrest¡ªthe months of growth. The sun burned brighter, it lingered longer. The warm wind, the swaying vibrant trees, the active ecosystem, they all recited the euphoria of nature. The life Greenbirth breathed into the world thrived with the onset of Flamecrest.


    Yet, the beauty of it couldn¡¯t smother the slight concerns it brought him. As with the potion phase of modification, the second layer also had side effects¡ªmild but they still existed. If he completed the fire-element bath during high temperatures, it could amplify those side effects. Though far from fatal, the soaring temperatures could hurt him and hinder his other tasks.


    His main elements for now were fire, ice, blood, and mystic. So, he couldn¡¯t postpone the fire bath for the whole Flamecrest either. Mystic aside, if he did ice or blood right now, he would either have to wait for the end of the season for fire, or do it at peak temperatures¡­


    Since he had to jump, it was better to curb the fall damage. The current temperatures were still well below what could hurt him. If he took precautions, he could push that limit even further. Now was the best time to settle the fire bath, any more delay could create problems. Thus, Ewan went from thinking to acting in a jiffy and built a makeshift bathtub out in the yard, etching the relevant spell circuit for the second layer at the bottom. The open space gave him more room to maneuver and also protected the house¡ªin case something went wrong.


    The equipment was ready, the next part was shopping for blood, lots of blood. The potion phase was already expensive for any non-rich Severynth, but this was the real resource gobbler.


    The completion of a single element bath needed hundreds of liters of Astylind blood. The higher the level, the less repetitions it would take. Even if Ewan used the highest level possible in Step-0 though, it would still take him about half a month to check off one element, plus half a month of rest. When he calculated the total Novas for fifteen blood baths, his head throbbed. This was just one element too, he had to repeat the same for eleven elements.


    Stolen story; please report.


    He wasn¡¯t the old Ewan anymore, living in Obria with only the Novas his Pa left him. His business boomed and he earned over a thousand Novas per day in pure profit now. Though the completion of second layer of ¡®Elementalist¡¯ modification would bite a huge chunk off his balance, he could afford it. Nonetheless, the damage pained his heart. Those profits didn¡¯t come easy, he worked his ass off each day to procure them.


    If the result didn¡¯t match the resources burned for it¡­. The surging cost also pushed his expectations of the ¡®Elementalist¡¯ subtype. The returns must match or exceed the investments. If not, he wouldn¡¯t be able to justify his losses.


    His optimism battled his skepticism as he bought about a hundred liters of Astylind blood from the hub and poured it in the bathtub.


    The spell circuit in the tub needed no trigger. It resonated with the complete spell circuit inside Ewan¡¯s heart as he stepped in and ran on its own. The blood bubbled, the Fire-Anima in the surrounding gushed in. They formed a swirl with the wind.


    Ewan lay in the tub, naked, submerged in the boiling blood. He only brought his mouth out to breathe at times and went back in the next moment. The process was slow and gradual, the modification happened over time¡ªunlike the first layer. His body adjusted to the overload of Fire-Anima at first. Then came the acceptance. Bit by bit, the Fire-Anima saturated his body. When the tingles and the burning sensation went away, Ewan opened his eyes¡ªthe first bath was over.


    The damage he expected never came, Frost must¡¯ve maintained the temperature well, the fact brought a smile to his face. Yet, the world outside stunned him as he emerged from the blood. He entered the tub when the sun hadn''t even reached its peak. And here he was, at the end of the bath, looking at his favorite night sky filled with stars.


    Losing his sense of time during the second layer of modification was an exaggeration, he thought¡ªa figure of speech. He never imagined those words in the book, they were literal.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 17.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 17.5 | Ice ¨C 17.5 | Blood ¨C 17.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,021


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,058


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-116 Database

    Wine-red threads slithered around Ewan as he practiced the spell in the training room. Some fell under his control while a few still roamed untamed. The lives he took so far empowered his <Bloodlust> enough to match his other mainstay spells. The blood threads grew in number with each kill of the same step tainting him with one, and soon enough, they¡¯d inched closer to triple digits. Ninety-nine threads were the peak of Step-0 and Kyrons, hundred was the threshold for Step-1.


    His own level thwarted the advancement of the spell, however, and his ceiling constrained it. Not to mention, even if he could hypothetically propel the spell to Step-1 right now, he couldn¡¯t sponsor its Anima usage. If he forced it, the backlash would crush his soul.


    Nevertheless, his curiosity flowered an intriguing yet alarming thought. What if he used the <Bloodlust> of Step-1 level on Step-0 Astylinds? This was not a question his Astylinds wanted answered, but he still wished to explore it.


    <Bloodlust> was a support spell, it amplified the target¡¯s overall strength for a period. The written limitations were unclear though. Theoretically, the spell had endless potential. As long as he killed, the spell would grow. But the book didn¡¯t touch upon the extent of amplification a target could take, beyond which the strength would become poison.


    He needed to analyze it.


    The ferocious nature it triggered in his Astylinds had already provoked Ewan¡¯s prudence, so they could never be its test subjects. But he could outsource. One day, if and when he became a Step-1 Severynth and leveled the spell up, he could work on it.


    As if it waited for his thoughts to settle, the conscription notice knocked on his door an hour later. Five days had gone by, two days more and he might¡¯ve regained his status as a healer. Yet the independent possibilities collided against each other and messed with his plans. At least, he could kill for more blood threads and let his <Bloodlust> reach the peak of Step-0 sooner rather than later¡ªhis optimism lightened his mood.


    ¡­¡­


    There was no design to the war, there was no structure. They were all Ashevas on the field, mostly Severynths, the olden Kyrons¡¯ strategies didn¡¯t fit them. When individual strength topped everything else, military strategies mattered less anyway. Thus, they stood, opposing the other side on the prairie, waiting for the horn of war.


    ¡°Nervous?¡± Trask asked.


    ¡°A little, yeah,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve accepted Kiev¡¯s offer then and join the back support,¡± Sheree said. ¡°Healer or not, you¡¯re still a Potioneer.¡±


    ¡°Today or tomorrow, I had to experience this,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Can''t run away forever.¡±


    ¡°Stick with me, I¡¯ll protect you,¡± Mize said, grinning.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Ewan laughed.


    ¡°You broke through?¡± Mize¡¯s nose twitched as he sniffed. It had already been a week since Ewan had his ninth awakening. The sweet smell around him had lessened, but it was still noticeable.


    ¡°What did you use?¡± Mize asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m also interested,¡± Trask said, lifting his brows.


    ¡°Crelith,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t research it?¡±


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    ¡°Is it good enough? Mize asked. ¡°Wait, what element is it?¡±


    ¡°Is it Earth? I never checked it,¡± Trask said.


    ¡°It¡¯s earth,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°How¡¯s the defense? And the defects?¡± Mize asked. ¡°Does it have high energy requirement for complete restoration?¡±


    ¡°Important details of my research,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Can''t tell you that for free.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy it. What do you want for it?¡± Mize asked.


    Ewan mulled. He hadn''t intended to advertise or sell his research notes on Crelith, the situation just developed in that direction. But since he used Tigog Acrix, the earthen glass, for his physical defense, his research on Crelith mattered little to him. If the pay was good, it could sway him, not to mention the abundance of Crelith on Airadia wouldn¡¯t let its price rise even if everyone knew of its high defense¡ªelse it wouldn¡¯t be Kyron¡¯s currency.


    ¡°How about an ¡®Identify¡¯ database?¡± he asked. ¡°Information for information.¡±


    Mize pulled back and went silent with his brows furrowed. ¡°Fine,¡± he said after two breaths, taking a thick book out and handing it over.


    Ewan flipped the pages and checked the spell circuit. The base spell for <Identify> was similar for all variations, it was the database that differed. So, he inspected the circuit for strokes in the database section that weren¡¯t in his own <Identify>. This database was a lot smaller than his own, but it still had some extensions that his didn¡¯t. This was his first time probing the difference in spells like this though. He couldn¡¯t tell how much those extensions meant in terms of information. And thus, he considered his research against it.


    ¡°Do you have any better one?¡± he asked and pushed back. ¡°This has almost nothing new for me.¡±


    Mize scratched his dried lips. ¡°I do have one, but your research might not be enough for it,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll add some potions on top,¡± Ewan said. ¡°It might just save your life here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, fuck it, I¡¯ll trade.¡±


    Ewan checked the new book Mize gave him, and the new strokes on this were far more¡ªthis was a better trade for him. He agreed with a nod and handed Mize a copy of his notes on Crelith and a few healing potions while putting the new book he got into his claw-ring. He already confirmed the commonness of storage artifacts, so he was free to use his now.


    ¡°Is that your storage artifact?¡± Sheree asked.


    ¡°Quite a niche style,¡± Trask said, laughing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask.¡± Ewan shook his head with a sigh. ¡°I had no say in the design.¡±


    ¡°Why? It looks good to me,¡± Mize said. ¡°I would buy it off you if you don¡¯t want it.¡±


    Ewan looked over all his accessories hanging on him, from the pendant to the piercing to the dangling chains. Indeed, this style would fit his flashy gait more. But alas, this was his family¡¯s legacy. Regardless of the quirky design, he would never give it up, no matter the price.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.0 | Ice ¨C 18.0 | Blood ¨C 18.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 33,045


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-117 War [Part-I]

    The wolf-type Astylinds and their Severynths in the first line raced ahead when the horn of war blared across the plain. The rest too followed them with Ewan and his group shifting down to the second line. They stomped the grasses beneath, marching towards the enemy, and the enemy line did the same.


    Some chose while some were chosen. Eye contact established the matches as the two sides met in the middle.


    Ewan didn¡¯t hide his inexperience; he didn¡¯t feign a calm attitude. His hesitant steps and wavering eyes made him one of the weakest in the area¡ªan easy target. Yet even though he was genuine, none took the bait and his plan to take his enemy by surprise fizzled out.


    Tch, sly foxes each one of them¡­.


    In the end, his ¡®authentic¡¯ charade matched him with an enemy in the same position. He looked young, almost the same age as Ewan. His rough breaths, his indecisive steps, his rubbing fingers, and his wet bister hair made him as credible as Ewan if not more.


    Orange exited Dekoth with a breath of fire and a sweltering wave that singed the grasses around. The little young monkey contrasted the other adult Astylinds in size but held his own and pushed back with the surge of Fire-Anima around him. He bared his fangs at the enemy, lowering his posture as Ewan readied his Ryvia. The enemy opened his Dekoth too and a falcon shot out with a cry, spreading static currents all around.


    Lightning Falcon, Level-9, Grade-B¡ªa quick scan gave Ewan the info he needed. It matched Orange¡¯s data but the falcon pulled an advantage over his little monkey¡ªit could fly.


    Let¡¯s use that then¡­.


    He dissolved the Ryvia platforms he created all around Orange and let him attack head on. Orange blasted off towards the falcon, leaving a trail of fire. The falcon screeched, flapping its wings, and launched several bursts of lightning at the incoming monkey. Orange adjusted midair with his explosive Fire-Anima, slowed down, and punched at the lightning snakes. The two exploded and the shockwave hurled both the Astylinds away.


    Ewan controlled the little monkey¡¯s violent descent and let him down safely, while the falcon negated the recoil and circled back, hovering over its master.


    The first clash ended in a tie, but its wings still gave falcon the edge. The enemy Severynth had a hint of smirk at the corner of his mouth as his jittering stopped and his hesitation washed away. Either it was all a play like Ewan, or the first win boosted his confidence. Ewan clicked his tongue, maintaining his own fa?ade, and also added a worried face on top as he watched Orange with concern.


    ¡°Again!¡±


    Orange took off again with a flare of fire searing the ground.


    ¡°All the same,¡± the enemy Severynth said, laughing. He brought out two throwing knives and hurled them at Orange and Ewan, one at each. Ewan frowned; he dared not take the attack at its face value. So, his Ryvia expanded and pushed the two knives away. But the moment he touched them, they exploded into lightning clouds.


    The argent barrier around his soul defended, the single tail of the fox curled to embrace his soul, but the deluging currents still invaded and numbed his spirit. They also shocked Orange and rendered him immobile. Ewan grunted; his head throbbed with a stinging pain. If not for his Bralek protecting his soul, the damage would¡¯ve been worse.


    Fine, change of plan¡­.


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    Sindra¡ªIce-Favored. The Ice-Anima danced around, swirling and surging.


    Ice Daggers!


    He cast the spell with all the Ice-Anima he had¡ªit dried out his ice rune. The Ice-Favored from Frost added on top, and the spell produced twelve daggers. They all hovered before him as a deep breath shook off the numbness. He also prepared the Ryvia platforms again and launched a groggy Orange at the falcon.


    Yet, this time, the battle pattern was different.


    Ewan hurled all the ice daggers at the ashen faced Severynth, while Orange changed direction midair against the falcon with a Ryvia platform¡ªit also bought him time to recover.


    The enemy Severynth backed off a few steps, flustered, and cast a spell, creating a wall of lightning around him, while the falcon covered itself with a lightning coat and flashed at Orange. The little monkey pushed against a platform again and rocketed in another direction¡ªhe was getting better now. And he launched again, and again, and again. Ewan created a globe of platforms around the falcon and Orange zoomed around its enemy with them. Its wings gave the falcon a sharp advantage, but that was only in air against grounded enemies. The platform leveled the playing field and clipped its wings. Now Orange stood at the same stage and with better mobility.


    And he punched. The falcon dodged but the eruption of the Fire-Anima shoved it away, blackening its lightning-coated feathers. Before it could recalibrate its stance, in came another punch. And another, and another. The booms echoed in the air, smothering the painful screeches of the falcon.


    On the ground¡ªthe twelve daggers stabbed the lightning wall and stopped, trembling with the currents trapping them. The enemy Severynth behind it sweated while looking back and forth between his Astylind and the daggers.


    Fireflies!


    Ewan had his Spellbook out as he traced the circuit and cast the deciding spell. Everything else was a distraction, this was his main attack¡ªthe only disadvantage, though, was the time it needed to set. And the diversions worked well, the Severynth didn¡¯t react while the spell armed the ground beneath him.


    ¡°Hey, let¡¯s end it here!¡± Ewan yelled. ¡°We don¡¯t have to kill each other.¡±


    The enemy Severynth gulped and nodded, wiping his sweat. He called back his falcon as Orange stood by and Ewan dispersed his daggers.


    ¡°I¡¯ll remember this favor,¡± the enemy Severynth said and walked back.


    ¡°You won''t have to,¡± Ewan murmured when the Severynth¡¯s movement triggered the spell. The glowing fireflies gushed out the ground and glued to his Varos.


    ¡°What the fuck!!¡± he yelled, trying to push off the flashing lights. And a second later, the roaring blast splattered his body into bits.


    Ewan recovered a leather pouch from the gory mess and walked away. The rush of battle cleansed away the pressure of war¡ªhe relished his victory.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.0 | Ice ¨C 0.0 | Blood ¨C 18.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 31,045


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-118 War [Part-II]

    A quick scan of the leather pouch showed Ewan a tiny space¡ªbarely enough for some books and necessities. A black <Identify> book, a thin Spellbook, a few Novas coins of the earth element, and a couple of healing potions lay in there; stuffed and crammed. Yet, the artifact Ewan wanted, the knife that exploded into lightning cloud, wasn¡¯t among them. There were no materials of lightning-element in the pouch actually. Even the Spellbook contained only the earth-element spells.


    It bugged him. The disparity between the man he fought, and the contents of his leather pouch tingled his curiosity. But the battlefield wasn¡¯t the place to satisfy that, so he left the mystery alone and moved on to his next enemy.


    ¡­¡­


    The wind blades sliced the grass as Orange exploded away and dodged the attack. Ewan hurled two fireballs and retaliated but the basic spell couldn¡¯t do much against the enemy¡¯s earth wall defense.


    The wind spells of his Wind Wolf killed Orange¡¯s mobility, and the earth defense of his Earth Mammoth stopped Ewan¡¯s offenses. A few trade-offs already confirmed he couldn¡¯t win against this guy without going all out¡ªeven then, he wasn¡¯t confident about killing him. And so, he hesitated.


    They were both at the ninth awakening, their Astylinds too had similar stats. Ewan pulled an advantage on Ryvia and his spell arsenal, but the handicap with Frost¡¯s absence balanced it out. No matter the disadvantages though, he couldn¡¯t bring Frost out here. Not until he had a solution for his status. The blatant presence of a Demon as his Astylind could complicate things with his stay in Drarith otherwise.


    Thus, he was at an impasse. Should he use all that he had? Should he pull out? He wondered.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll let you go?¡± the man said with a chuckle, aiming a spell at Orange.


    Tiny wind needles formed around the little monkey and turned into a small tornado. The sharp wind screeched as they slashed whatever stood in their path. They rent the grass apart, tore the soil, and went for Orange.


    Fuck!


    Orange blasted away but the spell trapped him from all sides. He screamed as the needles pierced him one after another, splattering his blood over the lush grass.


    Fireflies!


    The enemy made the decision for him, so he killed his own hesitation too. Instead of becoming defensive and accepting the passive situation, Ewan attacked the enemy Severynth. But the man reacted to the spell and backed away from the armed area, giving it a glance.


    Fireball!


    Ewan didn¡¯t stop though. He hurled one fireball after another. They were weak but worked well in distracting the enemy. The man dodged one attack after another and ran around, his Astylinds pulled back and upped their defenses too. The unceasing barrage killed the tornado spell the man had cast and freed Orange.


    Ewan brought him back with Ryvia and poured a healing potion on him before sending him back into the fire rune with Dekoth¡ªhe now stood alone on the field. Smell and sight of death and carnage surrounded him, the memories of Frosthelm festival flashed in his mind. He took a deep breath and brought his Spellbook out. Since he couldn¡¯t use his Astylinds, he would fight with his spells. This was the way of an Elementalist. Even though he had yet to complete the subtype, he could still don its approach.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The Wind Wolf howled as it stepped forward and cast several wind blades. They whizzed across the field and slashed at Ewan. He pushed back with Ryvia as much as he could and left the rest to his Varos. The wind blades came, and a glass-like defense formed around him¡ªwith hexagonal nodes joining together to create a complete sphere. The attack hacked in front, and his Varos transferred the wave of impact through the nodes to the back. The wind blades dissolved as the glass defense behind Ewan shattered¡ªit recovered to normal the next second.


    Sindra¡ªIce-Favored!


    Ice Daggers!


    They hovered around him, amplifying his Ryvia at the same time. He aimed at the enemy and hurled all but one dagger out.


    The man cast earth walls around him in response¡ªhis Astylinds also turtled up when he did.


    Ewan didn¡¯t expose his control over the daggers, yet the man still blocked all sides¡ªhis caution showed his experience and his nature. But it played to Ewan¡¯s advantage here. He left one side open, and so, Ewan went for the kill. The daggers went up then plunged towards the man, from above the earth walls.


    They bombarded his sand-like Varos, but after the pitter-patter, his defense held strong while Ewan¡¯s daggers cracked. Before the enemy could block the top or move away though, Ewan shuttled his now-damaged daggers around and hindered him for his next move.


    Fireball!


    The daggers still existed; they still strengthened his Ryvia. And Ewan used that Ryvia to bend the fireballs¡¯ path. They strained his spirit as they traced an arc to bypass the earth walls and barraged the enemy Severynth.


    ¡°Shit!¡± the man yelled and backed away, but his own earth wall blocked him. He tried casting another spell against the fireballs, but the daggers impeded him again, and he failed. The fireballs erupted when they hit his Varos. Ewan had used almost all his Fire-Anima with this attack, so the power degree and the number of fireballs was high¡ªhigh temperature with a bigger pressure release.


    Yet, they would soon fizzle out in the air if they couldn¡¯t penetrate the defense. And they didn¡¯t¡ªafter all, even the ice daggers couldn¡¯t. So, Ewan aimed at the enemy and forced his Ryvia around him. As the fireballs erupted, he closed the Ryvia sphere and trapped the spell¡¯s aftermath inside.


    If the spell wasn¡¯t efficient in killing, then he would make it so.


    The detonated flames filled the encased area, the force from the shockwaves swirled it inside. And soon, the fiery sphere turned into a sweltering oven, roasting all and everything in there¡ªEwan won this round.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 1.0 | Ice ¨C 2.4 | Blood ¨C 18.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 31,039


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-119 War [Part-III]

    The third fight evolved into an unfortunate clash for Ewan. His enemy got lucky with her first strike; she took out his defense with her ice element.


    He dashed around, dodging the icicles zooming at him, while the snowstorm raged in the area. The icicles stabbed the ground and froze the grass. They shattered into shards soon. He jumped, he dove, he flipped, he turned¡ªhe pushed his dexterity to its limits to avoid the ice spells.


    The active area-of-effect spell combined with a single hit of this projectile spell could leave him at death¡¯s doorstep on this battlefield, for the low-temperature problem of the earthen glass¡ªhis Varos¡ªreared its ugly head against them. He upped the time he practiced his control over it after he chose this material, but it still wasn¡¯t at a level where he could do so when the battle had most of his attention. He fought alone, and his enemies were Severynths with Astylinds after all.


    ¡°Ah!!¡± The female enemy Severynth screeched. ¡°Just stop running, you bastard!!¡± She grinded her teeth and cast another spell at him, holding a white Novas coin for boosted Anima recovery.


    Ewan¡¯s chest ached and his throat burned as he heaved for air, optimizing his movement to decrease energy wastage. The cuts and the lacerations on his body shed blood by the second, and more so when he jerked around, especially his gouged stomach. The blood loss made him dizzy, he needed to stop them. But the overdose of healing potions had sent his body into a forced resistant state. No matter how many he chugged now, the wounds didn¡¯t heal.


    Her Ice Beaver cut his path of retreat, and her Ice Wolf supported her offenses. The death crisis chipped at his confidence in his decision to not use Frost here, and he didn¡¯t have much left in him to support it after fighting several battles alone to begin with.


    Not yet!


    He wasn¡¯t done yet, he hadn''t lost sight of why he was fighting this war, why he was risking his life in a battle that didn¡¯t concern him. It was because the peril he was in, it would pay off later¡ªit would give him access to the inner circle of Drarith. Ewan just hoped they were watching; that he didn¡¯t waste his blood for nothing.


    Blood Rein!


    It wasn¡¯t working. So, he gave up on his reactive defense¡ªVaros¡ªand switched to an active one. The blood from his wounds gathered into a blob before him, and he controlled it against the icicles.


    The pointy ice projectiles drummed on the blood dome that protected him. None of it reached inside. Finally, he exhaled a sigh of relief and took a breather. It wasn¡¯t over, far from it, but the blood defense gave him a moment of respite. His heart thumped and thumped; it delivered the much-needed blood to his spasming muscles. He took off his drenched t-shirt and tied it around his stomach, blocking his largest wound. The stinging pain sent a wave of current in him¡ªhe flinched, and he grunted¡ªbut he endured it and tightened the knot. There was no time to cauterize the wound, so this had to do.


    The lack of Astylinds already signed his defeat, his injuries just added the icing on top. He had no delusions about beating or killing this female Severynth¡ªnot as he was or without any external intervention. His spell arsenal and his Varos carried him through many battles. Good defense allowed him to chain his spells efficiently, and he killed or defeated his enemies with them. But he finally hit the bump with this woman. Her element that he also owned became his nemesis.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°You got lucky, bitch,¡± he murmured.


    Now, he had to think of how to retreat with his life intact. And he chose the Ice Beaver for it. It blocked his path to the backline whenever Ewan tried to run away. The lack of a working Varos and the relentless spells prevented him from attacking the beaver before, but his <Blood Rein> changed the situation.


    Ewan took out a few Step-1 cores from his claw-ring and kept them in his left hand.


    This¡¯ll be a huge loss¡­.


    Boom!


    He cast the spell and flung two armed cores at the beaver while the blood dome stood tall against the icicles again¡ªthe constant pitter-patter was numbing his ears. The fire-element cores were orange, and they gave off a deeper orange glow with the spell.


    ¡°How long are you going to keep this up, you numbfuck!¡± the female Severynth yelled.


    ¡°You really got a foul mouth, you fucking whore!¡± Ewan yelled back.


    The Ice Beaver cried and created an ice wall against the glowing cores. And they erupted with a shockwave and a mushroom. The ice wall burst into shards and the beaver skidded back with burnt fur. The resulting fire melted the snow from the snowstorm, and the surge in Fire-Anima changed the field again.


    Ewan raised his brows at the damage¡ªit was much higher than he expected. The explosion proved his estimation of a Step-1 creature wrong.


    And so, he grinned and licked the blood dripping down his forehead cut.


    Boom!


    ¡°Take that, you pigfucking cunt!¡± He opened a gap in the blood dome while the previous attack kept the female Severynth stunned and hurled two armed cores at her. Then, he bolted away.


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, you motherfucker!¡± She screamed as the cores exploded.


    ¡°Fuck you too!¡± Ewan yelled and raced through the path that his attack on the beaver had opened.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.0 | Ice ¨C 9.0 | Blood ¨C 7.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 31,032


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-120 Invitation

    Inside one of the tents of the medicine unit.


    ¡°You woke up?¡± Kiev said, taking a seat beside the bed. The tent sat empty, and the wind from the crevices of its flaps chilled the insides as the city bled into the night.


    ¡°Is it over?¡± Ewan asked, rubbing his eyes, and stretching. The movement irritated his wounds and he winced, taking in a sharp breath.


    ¡°We just came back,¡± Kiev said. ¡°How¡¯re you doing?¡±


    ¡°As good as an injured patient, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for the delayed treatment, we lack good healers like you here,¡± Kiev said. ¡°I sent someone to fetch some healing potions, he should be here soon.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother, they won''t have any effect on me for some time,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Saturation.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re Step-1 potions, they¡¯ll be effective.¡±


    Ewan laughed. ¡°My efforts weren¡¯t wasted then,¡± he said.


    ¡°No, they weren¡¯t.¡± Kiev smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your contributions have been noted. No one can contest you for that.¡±


    Ewan nodded. ¡°Kiev, I¡¯ve never hidden my intentions, and I presume you also want the same. So, let¡¯s talk straight,¡± he said.


    Kiev looked towards the shadows of the people outside fading away then looked at Ewan again.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking a ship out to the ocean a few days later. Would you like to join me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t feed me to the fishes.¡± Ewan chuckled. The invitation to the ocean was an invitation to the table¡ªthis was what he shed his blood for, this was why he strived in the war. Only his actions weren¡¯t enough, however; he was sure of it. The reason for his expedited ticket lay on the other side.


    ¡°That will not happen,¡± Kiev laughed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll join you,¡± Ewan said. ¡°So? Did we win today?¡±


    A short pause quietened the tent and accentuated the whistling wind.


    ¡°Is it really winning?¡± Kiev took a deep breath and leaned back. ¡°We chip away at each other¡¯s numbers. We lose no ground; we gain no ground. At best, the survivors earn the loot,¡± he said, sprawling on the chair, spreading his legs.


    ¡°You sound tired.¡±


    ¡°I am tired,¡± Kiev said. ¡°We¡¯ve lost too many and too much. Yet, we can do nothing but continue fighting this way.¡±


    ¡°I could suggest developing towards a colony if it¡¯s getting tough, but I¡¯m guessing the war isn''t as simple as defending the city and the right to rule it,¡± Ewan said, staring at the concaved ceiling of the camouflage tent.


    A walled colony had its disadvantages. The long-term peace it provided rotted the inhabitants¡¯ survival instincts, made them weak, and rendered them unfit to survive in the outside world. It nibbled away at the awareness of the threat of nature, and that festered several problems within the society that couldn¡¯t exist otherwise¡ªthe conflict between the Kyrons and the Ashevas in Obria was a prime example of this.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Yet, a walled colony was also the safest choice for a society. It promoted population expansion and improved life expectancy of Kyrons¡ªthe roots of Ashevas.


    ¡°Not here, brother. Walls have ears.¡± Kiev chuckled. ¡°The tents do too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to our voyage then.¡±


    ¡°I won''t take you if you¡¯re not healed by then.¡±


    ¡°And here I thought it would be a peaceful journey.¡±


    ¡°Far from it. Some trade routes are acting up, we need to settle them down,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°Peaceful negotiations won''t cut it, I assume?¡±


    ¡°They might.¡± Kiev shrugged. ¡°But it¡¯s better to be prepared. You don¡¯t know when something will go wrong out there.¡±


    Ewan nodded. ¡°By the way, do you really use stars to navigate?¡± he asked. The textbooks said so, but he needed confirmation from someone who had the ocean as his backyard his whole life.


    The egg he found on the ocean bed where he came out of the space crack, and the island where Nana ended up, both cases required traversing the ocean. And if he were to maintain the secrecy of either, he would have to know his way around the waters.


    ¡°Are you interested?¡±


    ¡°Little bit.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you some related books. It won''t be too hard to learn them.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Rest up then. I¡¯ll go deal with the aftermath. Remember to take the potion,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°I¡¯m also leaving, I¡¯ll rest better in my own bed. Just send the potions to my villa,¡± Ewan said, dragging his leaden body off the bed, groaning.


    Kiev laughed. ¡°You¡¯re really not standing on ceremonies anymore.¡±


    ¡°I shed a lot of blood for you. We¡¯re way past that mark.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    The Step-1 healing potions suppressed his saturation and healed him and Orange in a day; their wounds scabbed and some left scars behind. By the time Cork fulfilled his end of the deal and sent a non-native Staron slave to his villa, Ewan recovered back to full health.


    It was a Boxafly¡ªa humanoid Staron with compound eyes that bulged out of his sockets and a pair of insect wings that trembled on his back. His wet beige hair falling over his extended straw-like ears, the fresh clothes that actually fit his size, and the floral scent of shampoo and cologne, they all hinted towards his sold status. He was a product, and they delivered him to the customer in the best condition possible. Even the old wounds and the bruises on his pale scaly skin showed signs of healing¡ªthey left their customers no place to complain about.


    ¡°Sign here, boss,¡± Kidd said, handing the delivery receipt to Ewan.


    His <Identify> confirmed it, and he also read about this species before. Red blood, not native to Airadia, and a Staron; since this Boxafly ticked all the details he asked for in the contract, he signed the receipt, accepted the slave, and paid Kidd the due amount. This would be the sacrifice for Iris.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.1 | Ice ¨C 18.1 | Blood ¨C 18.1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 31,854


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-121 Graveyard

    When Kidd went back, Ewan set up an area in his yard for the Noble Rite and proceeded with the sacrifice without wasting time.


    The Boxafly kneeled before Iris as Ewan unlocked his slave-collar and threw it aside. He didn¡¯t study it, but a glance showed an explosive-type spell circuit etched on it. It was an unstable element¡ªa variable he didn¡¯t want in the rite.


    ¡°@#$@##@#!¡± The collar was out and the Boxafly begged Ewan in a foreign language¡ªa high pitched sound that changed in tone, unlike the words spoken in common tongue on Airadia.


    Ewan sighed and rubbed his forehead. Those idiot traders hadn''t broken this slave yet. What use was the fresh clothes, floral cologne, and healed wounds, if they hadn''t even done the basics.


    His imploring eyes and his shivering figure pricked Ewan¡¯s fading conscience. Sympathizing with his kill just because he was wordless, because he begged; he accepted the hypocrisy in it. If only it was a hideous creature, a repugnant life, someone who didn¡¯t plead, someone who spoke his tongue¡­.


    The thought made him wonder. How endearing a creature had to be before it could induce compassion and kindness in emotional Starons? What were the traits that triggered empathy the most, and what triggered it the least?


    ¡°Get ready,¡± he said to Iris, pushing these irrelevant thoughts aside, and moved behind the Boxafly. His hazy morals and conscience didn¡¯t affect his actions. Whatever conflict that rummaged inside him for a response, he denied it.


    He took out his Obsidian Dagger and slit the Boxafly¡¯s throat amidst his constant pleas. The flower of warm blood bloomed and rained over Iris, drenching her. She swayed, her cheerful thoughts and her thirst for blood intensified. Her roots extended, and she stabbed them into the wound Ewan had just created. The spasming Boxafly soon stilled down, his body wrinkling.


    Iris gobbled all his blood¡ªa quantity far more than what she could bear, a quantity that was several times the size of her body. Finally, when she licked clean even the last drop of it, she became drowsy and drooped down.


    Don¡¯t fight it¡­.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Her transformation was gradual, but naked eyes could follow it. Her roots thickened, her petals softened, her whole being gave off a blood luster. There were no drastic changes, yet she wasn¡¯t the same anymore. Her species was a Blood Lotus, and now she moved towards the royalty of it.


    Identify!


    [Astylind Name: Blood Lotus]


    [Astylind Level: Level-9]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-A]


    [Anima Affinity: Blood]


    [Skills: Blood-Recipient | Mend (Dormant)]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: Extinct natives of Sepra. They had decent affinity with Blood-Anima (Recipient) but lacked the means to protect themselves. Delicate and feeble. They lost the battle of natural selection.]


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Regal Rite (Dreit Arnaad)¡ªLife Sacrifice, offer ten red-blooded lives and drink their blood.]


    [Remark 1: Can be used as an ingredient for potions. Useless otherwise.]


    [Remark 2: Decent choice for a healing type Astylind. But lack strong evolution branches.]


    [Remark 3: I don¡¯t like them. They¡¯re nasty~]


    [Remark 4: Special evolution path found. Focus should be on its grade.]


    He could only shake his head at the outcome. Not only did he not regain his status as a healer, but the next rite showed a problematic pattern¡ªthe pattern of increasing sacrifices.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°T-Ten more?¡± Kidd stood before him in his yard, gaping.


    ¡°Is there any problem?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know. I have to ask Cork.¡±


    ¡°That is what I¡¯m telling you, go ask Cork,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Give me a reply soon.¡±


    Kidd bobbed his head and bolted back. The protective shield closed behind him, and Ewan resumed cleaning the yard¡ªthe mess the Noble Rite created was his to clean. The dried body went inside a shallow grave he dug in the corner, and he covered the spilled blood in the yard with loose soil; his Ryvia excelled in such tasks. A few casts of <Fireball> could¡¯ve turned all to ash, but it risked his house and the yard where he rested and relaxed.


    Nonetheless, the process of dealing with the dead body in such a crude way introduced him to the weathered, dry, brittle, grimy, and tattered skeletons buried in his courtyard. It was from the massacre he saw through <Remembrance>; the family that died in this villa. It could¡¯ve triggered other people, no one would live in this villa after seeing this. And yet¡­


    He sighed and looked at the cloudless sky. Since when did he become fine with such things? The skeletons made him look back to his journey of the short time he¡¯d been a Severynth. The things he saw, the things he experienced, the things he did, they all piled up and made him what he was today. He also wondered whether he should buy a different villa to seem more normal to others. He had enough Novas now¡­.


    No, he could never have enough Novas, there were just too many places to spend it on. The ten slaves he ordered alone would cost him five thousand, going by the previous cost. And he still had to buy liters and liters of Astylind blood for his element baths. Splurging on a new and ¡®clean¡¯ villa couldn¡¯t climb his priority list.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m back,¡± Kidd whispered in a volume that was anything but a whisper.


    ¡°What¡¯d he say?¡± Ewan asked, letting him in the protective shield.


    ¡°He agreed but it¡¯ll take longer this time.¡±


    ¡°Week long? Month long?¡±


    ¡°A month at least, most likely longer, but shouldn¡¯t take more than two.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Prepare the contract.¡±


    The price was the same as the last time, as he expected. For ten slaves, he paid an advance of two thousand Novas upfront and signed the contract with Cork.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.1 | Ice ¨C 18.1 | Blood ¨C 18.1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 29,854


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-122 Set Sail

    Down in the basement, in his practice room.


    The loot from his kills piled before him. Spellbooks, ¡®Identify¡¯ databases, Novas coins, Anima Crystals, Astylind Cores, random materials and ingredients, hub connectors that didn¡¯t connect to any shops or warehouses, and some common weapons. That was all Ewan found after he finally organized the gain. He put the regular resources aside and focused on the databases. His own database from the inheritance was extensive and rarely failed him. But it had been years since anyone updated it. Even if his Pa did before he died, that was still more than seven years ago.


    Information was an ever-growing and an ever-changing entity. Even the best databases would stale if it stilled against time.


    And so, Ewan waded through the collection he got and noted down any strokes that could supplement his own <Identify> in a new diary. Optimization was essential for such foundational spells, so he didn¡¯t just cram this additional information to his own database.


    For the first stage, he drew several circuits by instinct¡ªeach with a different way of adding all the new information to his own database. The second stage was testing them out for efficiency and errors, one by one. It was a time-consuming task though, and when he checked for daybreak, the hour of voyage was nigh. So, he crammed his claw-ring with everything essential that he couldn¡¯t leave behind, kept everything non-essential in the villa because of a lack of space, and left for the dock¡ªthat was where he would meet Kiev. The issue of databases was for when he would return.


    ¡­¡­


    He strolled the streets, his hands in his onyx-cargo pockets, breathing in the fresh morning air, his open ivory-sweatshirt over his faded-black t-shirt flapping with the wind. The sweepers watered and broomed the streets, yawning and rubbing their eyes; the kids hired for advertising ran around with coarse pamphlets of restaurants and shops, tossing them in everyone¡¯s yard; the night watchers returned from their duties, most slouching and some dozing off on their feet.


    ¡°This month¡¯s print! This month¡¯s print!¡± A man in a pale cassock yelled on the side of the street and handed a booklet to whoever passed him, or at least he tried to. ¡°May the lord bring a smile to your face,¡± he said to whoever took his booklet.


    This man was a priest. What kind of religion was taking root in this city? Ewan wondered. The lack of walls kept the Kyrons¡¯ death rate high all year long. It was the kind of spark that turned Drarith into a fertile ground for religions. The promise of solace and salvation sprinkled with an assurance of protection, the idea wasn¡¯t hard to sell to those who verged on utter despair.


    Constant wars and skirmishes embroiled the city, and it brought desperation with it¡ªif the Governor didn¡¯t rein it in time, the religion could overthrow his authority. But it wasn¡¯t Ewan¡¯s city to rule, so it wasn¡¯t his headache. He passed the priest and made his way through the spice market. There were no alleys that bypassed it to the docks, the torture of his nose was inevitable.


    ¡°Morning.¡± Kiev greeted Ewan when he reached the ship they were to board.


    ¡°Morning,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Ready to leave?¡±


    ¡°Almost, just loading up the boxes now.¡±


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°So, not just a trade route check?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re sailing anyway, exporting with us will save time and effort.¡±


    Ewan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go set up in my room then,¡± he said. ¡°I do get a room, right?¡±


    Kiev laughed. ¡°Yeah, you do,¡± he said. ¡°Captain, show him his room please.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    The roaring waves crashed against the ship¡¯s bow as it sailed towards the rising sun. The endless open waters greeted them, and Drarith became smaller and smaller in their tail. They left with several ships, but soon, they cruised alone with only the seagulls accompanying them¡ªthey too bade their farewells after a while.


    Ewan wandered around, getting a feel of the place. The ship¡¯s design was similar, but the deck was cleaner, the woods were sturdier, the rooms were bigger, and the sailors were more seasoned¡ªit beat Cork¡¯s slave ship in all criteria. He also checked for a protective spell circuit, and indeed, there was one in the main mast. It even had a shield around it that prevented his Ryvia from messing with it.


    ¡°Done assessing the ship?¡± Kiev asked, walking onto the top deck.


    ¡°Almost,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Decided on a couple of escape routes too.¡±


    ¡°In case the ship goes down or in case we attack you?¡±


    ¡°Both,¡± he said. ¡°I need to run in either case.¡±


    Kiev chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s hope it doesn¡¯t come to that.¡±


    ¡°So, will you tell me now why you invited me over?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk in my room.¡±


    ¡°After you then.¡± Ewan gestured and followed Kiev down into his cabin.


    It was a simple room with a bed, a table, a couple of chairs, and a round window¡ªit didn¡¯t provide enough light, so the lantern burned on the wall even during daylight.


    ¡°Do you want some backstory? Some explanation? Or do you want me to get to the point?¡± Kiev asked, taking a seat on one of the chairs.


    ¡°To the point please,¡± Ewan said, sitting opposite him. He took a risk coming on the ship. They surrounded him and he was alone. But it was a step he had to take to move forward, he couldn¡¯t shirk it.


    ¡°Okay then,¡± Kiev said. ¡°We need your help; my Gramps needs your help.¡±


    Ewan raised his brows. His ¡®Gramps¡¯ was at least a Step-2 Severynth, he heard¡ªat the Genesis stage. And he needed his help? What was so special about him? What set him apart from the other Severynths in their eyes? His thoughts collided. He had many secrets, but only one that he didn¡¯t care to hide. He used it in the medicine unit to put those injured to sleep¡­.


    ¡°Gramps needs your mystic spells.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.4 | Ice ¨C 18.4 | Blood ¨C 18.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 32,412


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-123 Seat at the Table

    ¡°I should rephrase it,¡± Kiev said. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to take or buy your spells. I¡¯m asking you to use them on my Gramps.¡±


    ¡°That was a sleeping spell I used; your grandfather needs that? How did you notice it was a mystic spell anyway?¡±


    ¡°Not that per se,¡± he said. ¡°But more like your ability to cast mystic spell. And it was Gramps who noticed your spell, he keeps an eye on the war whenever he¡¯s free.¡±


    ¡°What do you need exactly?¡± Ewan asked, wondering who the disguised Governor was back then. Or did he use his Ryvia to check on him? Just how far did his spirit interference extend that he could do so? And did he recognize his <Siesta> as a mystic spell, or did he have any other way to sense the Mystic-Anima? Was it his interest in the mystic-type materials that betrayed him and gave the Governor his confirmation? His thoughts drifted in all directions.


    On the side, he also made a mental note to get an additional protective spell circuit for his villa that would work especially against Ryvia¡ªthe hub would have that. He was safe for now; they came for his mystic-element affinity, not <Transmute>. But it was better to take precautions rather than deal with the deadly aftermath.


    Kiev took a deep breath. ¡°Gramps is getting old, and that boosts our enemies¡¯ confidence. So, he wanted you to use illusion-type spells and solve that problem.¡±


    ¡°You do know I¡¯m only a Step-0 Severynth, right?¡± Ewan said. ¡°Even if I could cast those spells, I doubt it will stand against the enemies that can oppose your grandfather. They¡¯ll see right through it.¡±


    ¡°Not now maybe, but it will be effective once you break through to Step-1.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s also not guaranteed,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°We¡¯re willing to take the chance.¡±


    ¡°What if I say no?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to threaten you,¡± Kiev said, spreading his hands. ¡°Gramps wants to establish a friendly two-way relationship with you. He taught us this lesson since we were kids¡ªyou can never start a good relationship on a negative note.¡±


    ¡°So, we would forget this ever happened?¡±


    ¡°If you wish to. We¡¯ll just assume this talk never took place. You can still live in Drarith as you were.¡±


    But he could never get a seat at the table¡ªEwan heard the unsaid words. He evaluated the risk and the reward with the proposal. The reward was a deeper connection to the Governor and the resources that came with it. And the risk was the same.


    He was still a no one and could bow out of the war unnoticed, but that would also destroy his plans for the mystic rune. Instead, if he joined the Governor, it would print a huge target on his back yet would also fund his plan. In the end, it came down to choosing sides¡ªa diplomatic out wasn¡¯t an option if he wanted his mystic rune.


    ¡°Give me the details,¡± Ewan said.


    Kiev smiled. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Use an illusion-type spell and make Gramps look healthy again, even younger perhaps.¡±


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Making him look younger might be possible, but I won''t be able to make him seem stronger. How will you explain his increased life span?¡±


    ¡°There are ways to extend the lifespan beside breaking through a major step,¡± Kiev said. ¡°Starons at our level don¡¯t come in contact with those things often though.¡±


    ¡°Just like that, it¡¯s that easy, huh?¡±


    Kiev shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just telling you what I was told, the simplified version.¡±


    ¡°Fine. If you can deal with the narrative, I¡¯ll help with the getup,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk what I¡¯ll get in return.¡±


    ¡°Gramps gave me full authority on this. We¡¯ll sponsor you, any resources you need that¡¯s within our limits, and will also pay you what you ask for in return for your help. Also, if you agree, you¡¯ll be one of us,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°What¡¯ll be my status if I do?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Same as mine.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I need books on runes, especially the mystic rune. That¡¯ll be my payment.¡±


    ¡°Those are quite rare, especially any book on mystic. I¡¯ll have to ask Gramps for them,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°Sorry, but that¡¯s a must, I can''t change the terms there,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, grandpa most likely has those books. I¡¯ll get them to you when we get back. So, do we have an agreement?¡±


    ¡°I get the books, and we do.¡±


    ¡°And will you join us?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll join you.¡±


    Kiev grinned and slung his hand over Ewan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re brothers from now on then.¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure.¡±


    The mystery behind the war and any other details could come later; if he was eligible to know them. For now, he rejoiced at fulfilling a part of his plan¡ªhe was at the table, and he could get the books he needed. Dealing with a Step-2 Severynth was risky, but it would pay off too.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get this trade route settled quickly and go back. I¡¯m not really assured leaving things to Avis and Valarie,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°Valarie? Your sister?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s the youngest in our generation.¡±


    Was she the ¡®daughter¡¯ that Kidd talked about?


    ¡°This trade route, how much danger are we expecting?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°The report mentioned a new group of pirates that appeared in the area recently. Since the message made it back, they shouldn¡¯t be that strong.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t?¡±


    Kiev laughed. ¡°The sailors and the captain of the ship will be more than enough to clear them, we¡¯re just backup.¡±


    Ewan stared at him. ¡°You do not inspire confidence, brother.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.4 | Ice ¨C 18.4 | Blood ¨C 18.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 32,412


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-124 Pirates

    Winged Astylinds cried in the sky and rained down attacks on the ship, some swooping in for melee, while the Severynths cast theirs from the deck. The pirate ship paralleled to theirs and countered with their own spells, battering the protective shield.


    Fireballs, icicles, wind blades, earth bullets, the pirates used various elements¡¯ spells; some unfit for fighting on the ocean, and some even negating their allies¡¯ spells. The sailors on Ewan¡¯s side used wind, water, and ice spells only and rotated the casts, leaving little to no wait time between the attacks. The slew of spells soon magnified their differences and thrashed the pirates¡¯ ship after shattering their protective shield.


    ¡°They don¡¯t seem that weak,¡± Ewan said, watching the battle beside Kiev on the deck, the smothered wave of explosions brushing his face. The cold wave came after the feverish touch while the sharp caress pricked his skin. ¡°Just a little¡­inexperienced maybe.¡± The highest level he identified among the pirates was the seventh awakening. So, in theory, their own sailors had to fight a tough battle to destroy them. The reality painted a different picture, though. The pirates screamed around on their deck after their protective shield had crumbled. No one rallied them, no one quelled the hysteria; their defense crumbled in a moment¡ªit became every man for himself.


    ¡°That was a crew put together in a hurry, they probably weren¡¯t even pirates,¡± Kiev said, yawning with tears in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s either one of our enemies, or someone out here has an inflated ambition.¡±


    The sailors and their Astylinds bombarded the ocean, targeting the pirates who jumped over. Some pirates stayed onboard and tried to steer their ship away from the attack range, but the spell shredded the sails the moment they unfurled them.


    ¡°Well, they can clean up. Let¡¯s head back, I need some rest.¡± Kiev signaled the captain and headed down to his room.


    ¡°What rest? We didn¡¯t do anything,¡± Ewan said and followed him.


    ¡°I need a nap; the afternoon sun makes me drowsy.¡±


    And the pirate ship sank behind them, the floating corpses trailing its descent.


    ¡­¡­


    Inside his room.


    His claw-ring had a space of about two meters cube in volume. Ewan kept his books, his diaries, some ingredients and materials, his brewed potions, some tools, his dagger, his hub connector, and some Novas coins in there. They didn¡¯t take up much space, so he could get by with proper organization till now. Hence the reason he procrastinated on expanding the inner space too. But then he joined the war and looted his kills¡ªmuch more than what he got with hunting Astylinds. Even though most of his spoils weren¡¯t precious, he didn¡¯t want to throw them away either. And his claw-ring brimmed with that, two meters cube stopped being plenty.


    His Pa sealed most of the claw-ring because Ewan¡¯s soul wasn¡¯t strong enough to handle it in his early stages. But he was at the peak of Step-0 now, he should be strong enough. Thus, he thought back to the method his Pa left in the imprint and finally considered expanding. He trickled his spirit inside the claw-ring and coated the perimeter fog with no side left, and he pushed. Little by little, the fog budged outwards, and the space expanded. Yet, it also tolled his spirit. His head soon throbbed, intensifying the more he pushed. In the end, the pain knocked on his threshold. Each push hammered his head, anymore and he could faint. So, he stopped and collapsed on his bed, sweating and panting. The ceiling wobbled before him, and the walls and the furniture blurred.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    How much had he pushed? What was the space inside his claw-ring now? He threw the questions out the window and just closed his eyes for a nap¡ªthe headache even hampered his thinking, he needed to solve this as soon as possible. And since he didn¡¯t have any potions for healing the soul, sleep was his best friend.


    In hindsight, he should¡¯ve done this back at home; in a ¡®safer¡¯ place. Even though he reached an agreement with Kiev, he still couldn¡¯t let his guard down. Constant vigilance was tiring, but it gave him the highest chance of survival.


    He drifted into deep sleep while admonishing himself¡­.


    ¡­¡­.


    ¡°Now you¡¯re injured,¡± Nana said. Ewan hovered before her in her shop, his spirit blob fluttering.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious,¡± he said. ¡°What about Lime? Did he succeed this time?¡±


    ¡°Will you tell me if it was?¡± Nana asked, ignoring all the words he said after his first.


    ¡°It¡¯s really nothing much, I just strained my spirit a little,¡± he said.


    ¡°A little strain does that?¡± she asked. And his spirit blob betrayed him the next moment and waned.


    ¡°It just looks worse than it is,¡± he said. ¡°I was expanding the space in my claw-ring, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s do this,¡± she said, high pitched. ¡°You don¡¯t tell me anything, I also won''t tell you anything. Let¡¯s just stop contacting!¡±


    The truth failed to do its job, and the shop fell quiet. A twisted case of crying wolf dashed any hope of her believing him like this.


    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± he said. ¡°I got injured in a fight.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± she asked after a pause.


    ¡°Just a few cuts and a stab wound,¡± Ewan said. If the complete truth wouldn¡¯t work, a mixed one might. An out of context truth was still a truth, wasn¡¯t it¡­


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.5 | Ice ¨C 18.5 | Blood ¨C 18.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 34,012


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-125 Business—Final Card

    ¡°Why did you fight?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°There¡¯re constant battles where I¡¯m living. I own a place there, so I have to fight to protect it,¡± he said.


    ¡°You can''t leave?¡±


    ¡°I have some plans for the place, I can''t leave yet,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ll keep fighting?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try not to get hurt, but it¡¯s likely to happen again,¡± he said. ¡°You got hurt too, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t turn the topic to me,¡± she said.


    Ewan laughed at his failed attempt and shrugged it off. ¡°Alright, no matter how much I get injured, I promise I won''t die,¡± he said. ¡°I won''t break it.¡±


    Her blob flickered at his words, and a moment of silence ensued. ¡°Lime succeeded, and I have your blueprint ready,¡± she finally cracked the quiet and said.


    Ewan breathed a sigh of relief when she changed the subject. Emotional conversations had a way of tripping him up, a calculated conversation concerning give or take was more up his alley, where he strived to gain an edge. With Nana, though, he could never remain pragmatic, and he could never weigh his words. Given their shared years and their relationship, he didn¡¯t want to either. That he was different with her, he¡¯d long embraced the fact.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you all the materials, build me the artifact,¡± he said. ¡°And anything new about the island? You¡¯re still on the beach, right? Did anyone attack you again?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing new, the beach is still the same, peaceful and quiet. I saw them hanging around at the edge of the forest before, but they don¡¯t come out,¡± she said.


    ¡°Still, be careful,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And don¡¯t provoke them. Don¡¯t try to negotiate too before you can hold your own.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re nagging again,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°Fine, I won''t nag,¡± he said. ¡°By the way, does this shop ever see any business. It¡¯s empty every time I come here, and your stock isn¡¯t shrinking either. Are you even earning anything?¡±


    ¡°I-I earn¡­from time to time,¡± she said, inching away from him, her voice shrinking.


    ¡°That¡¯s a no then,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s just combine our shops. Sell my potions here and I¡¯ll sell your artifacts at brewed, keep a constant influx of customers until you start producing more artifacts.¡±


    ¡°We can do that¡­,¡± she murmured. ¡°We can do that! I¡¯ll be your business partner!¡± She bobbed and jumped closer.


    ¡°Y-Yeah, business partner.¡± As a family, in fears and wants, they shared and would share weal and woe. So, merging the two shops was a natural step moving forward. But if she was having fun with the idea of roleplaying as business partners, then so be it.


    ¡°One more thing. I¡¯ll give you books on star navigation, study them and learn how to memorize the star map.¡± She hummed in agreement, but her mind wasn¡¯t here anymore. The business partner roleplay must¡¯ve triggered her wild thoughts. ¡°Did you get what I said?¡± Ewan asked.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Hmm? What? Star map, right? Yeah, I¡¯ll note it down for you,¡± she said and went back to her imagination.


    Ewan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m leaving then, you go back too,¡± he said and headed back to his shop. His battle with the other potion business owners reached the final stage¡ªit was time he ended it.


    ¡­¡­


    The seesawing discounts had taken an extreme form and already encroached deep into everyone¡¯s profit margin. The customers were having a field day, but it was a headache for the business owners, including Ewan. Even though his sales turned over a profit of five to six hundred percent in the beginning, the large discounts gobbled more than half of it at this point. Though he wouldn¡¯t suffer any losses even with higher discounts, the retaliation could be heavy¡ªcornered people were the most dangerous after all. He started the battle, and he was ready for it. But if it went beyond his estimation and outside his prediction, he could lose his business¡ªthe blowback would crush all his prospects in the hub.


    The soaring scope of the race annihilated the small business owners, eliminated those who couldn¡¯t keep up. Now, only the giant sharks remained in the game. Their bottomless pockets supported the discount war even when the price cuts must¡¯ve zeroed out their profits and shoved them into losses. All would amount to nothing if any one of these sharks decided to take him out with a glory of a shooting star¡ªa kamikaze would be devastating for him. He had to end it before they snapped.


    So, Ewan attacked first and played his final card. He hired several rogue Starons like he did last time, signed a contract with them, and sent them off on a shopping spree¡ªthey targeted the sharks. His Novas balance plunged in minutes as crates and crates of potions from these shops stuffed his storage. It was the early hours of a fresh day, and his binge purchase drained their inventories bit by bit. Regardless of whether they caught on to his plan or not, they couldn¡¯t stop it anymore. He hired the customers, but they were still customers. They ran a business, and it prevented them from picking and choosing. Thus, Ewan splurged.


    They had the numbers to quash him, but the outrageous discounts allowed even his Novas balance to buy everything they had. And when their stocks emptied out, when they shut down their shops for the day, Ewan swung open his door and announced his presence¡ªwithout the discounts.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.5 | Ice ¨C 18.5 | Blood ¨C 18.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 3,958


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-126 Business—Success

    The genuine customers who had nowhere to go stampeded towards his shop. The potion market for Step-0 potions had shut down, his was the only place that sold potions today. And Ewan took full advantage of it. The lack of discounts that became the usual for days drove away many customers, but most still bought his potions. These were consumables and his price was the norm after all. In the absence of any competition, it was already the best value for their Novas.


    Those who understood the market¡ªthey lamented the end of the discount war. Those who didn¡¯t¡ªthey waited for the other shops to counterattack with a better offer. Ewan ignored all this chatter and focused on the next bit of his plan.


    First scenario¡ªthe sharks would keep offering discounts and maintain the status quo. The possibility for this was the lowest as it just gave Ewan the chance to repeat his strategy. They would suffer losses while he would monopolize the market.


    Second scenario¡ªthey would copy him and buy out his stocks before setting up their shops. Since he was the first to end his discounts, it wouldn¡¯t affect him at all if they did this. Business was business. Whether they bought his potions or anyone else did, as long as he earned Novas, it didn¡¯t matter to him. And if they stopped once he lost his customer base, he could restart the discount war and this whole thing would go back to square one. Thus, the possibility of this happening was also low.


    Third scenario¡ªthey would kill their discounts too and the chaotic market would settle down at the normal price. This was a white flag for Ewan. It meant they stopped fighting him and that he successfully broke into the potion market. He would retain a part of the customer base and the market share and would run his business in harmony with the other owners¡ªhe would become another shark, albeit an infant shark. And unless someone had a personal grudge with him, this had the highest probability.


    There was a fourth scenario too that branched off the first scenario though. Once they predicted his plan of buying their stocks if they offered discounts, they could sell expired products and earn profit from the waste. But the possibility he assigned to this was nigh zero. These sharks didn¡¯t reach the heights by being dumb. They wouldn¡¯t risk their reputation on an off chance he would continue doing what he did. Those expired potions would ruin them if it reached even one genuine customer.


    Yet, he overestimated their critical thinking and underestimated their desire for Novas. The next morning, as his ship sailed on the open ocean, a few shops sold potions at a heavy discount again. The act refreshed Ewan¡¯s view on these sharks and showed him the error in his evaluation¡ªnot everyone who made it big in this market was sharp as a tack. They would rather earn some quick Novas and destroy their reputation than call for a compromise.


    At least they were the minority, the majority chose the third scenario and struck a balance with Ewan¡ªthey accepted him in their pack. He already proved himself to be a worthy adversary, so there was no need to destroy each other when there was enough cake for everyone. And to respond in kind, he showed them a friendly gesture.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Once the confirmation of the expired potions was in, he hired even more rogue Starons and blew up the issue. By the evening, the genuine customers who bought their potions also returned with their complaints. The mayhem piled up, and in a few hours, these shops closed their doors and removed their names from the trade market list¡ªthey were down and would remain so at least for some time.


    The market share they owned was now for the taking. Ewan yielded these to the other sharks as his peace offering and pulled out from fishing for the free customers. It wrote off whatever damage he did during all this and wiped clean any hard feelings left. And as he wished, the end of the day hammered his position in the potion market.


    ¡­¡­


    Back on the ship.


    Ewan lazed around on his bed, giving his weary soul some much needed rest. The conclusion in the hub eased his mind and relaxed his nerves. He didn¡¯t have to prepare for those sharks¡¯ moves anymore, he didn¡¯t have to plan his retaliation¡ªit all ended and in his favor. The smooth success of his plan brought a sense of exhilaration with it. He smiled and buried his face in the salty bed sheet, groaning in comfort as he stretched.


    Nana was right, he indeed relished the sweet taste of success. Some number of unforeseen changes were interesting and kept his life spicy, but he loved it when each of his moves connected together to paint a beautiful picture of victory. It was worth all his pain, his struggles, and his loss.


    ¡°Congrats, Ewan.¡± He fist-bumped himself and applauded his win since no one else knew about it and drifted off to sleep on a happy note. The ship was still a day away from the destination¡ªwhere they were exporting the boxes. Though the sailors and the captain were enough for the transaction, he also had to be there. If not for security, then for show. After all, he already rode the Ensil wagon.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.6 | Ice ¨C 18.6 | Blood ¨C 18.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 36,847


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-127 Ketaby

    They anchored at their destination island, furling the sails, and docking the ship. The captain organized the sailors and prepared to unload, while Ewan and Kiev debarked to the stony beach, their steps crunching the pebbles, and met the Step-1 Asheva who owned the island¡ªa round-bellied mustached man with a grin on his face that stretched to his ears, leaving only a slit for his eyes. He welcomed Kiev with a bear hug, then crushed Ewan too when Kiev introduced him.


    ¡°Welcome to my humble abode,¡± he said, breaking the hug and clapping his shoulders.


    ¡°Thank you, Sir Malcolm,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°I¡¯ve prepared a feast, would you two please join me?¡±


    ¡°We were hoping to just get some rest, uncle,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°How can that be? I can''t let a guest go to bed empty stomach,¡± Malcolm said. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared some Water Ketabies for you, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll love them.¡±


    ¡°Ketaby?¡± Kiev¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°I can''t reject your good intentions then,¡± he said.


    ¡°Are they that good?¡± Ewan asked, following behind Malcolm with Kiev as they walked the paved trail through the forest. ¡®Ketaby¡ªa non-flying bird type Astylind that was a luxury food for many¡¯, the books had read. There weren¡¯t many details about them, but the explorer¡¯s edition did mention a special gruesome method of cooking them that gave them the title of the ¡®luxury food¡¯.


    ¡°Their meat melts, and it¡¯s not an exaggeration,¡± Malcolm said.


    ¡°Can I watch it when you cook them?¡± Ewan asked. Their special preparation method mentioned in the book had piqued his interest.


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit¡­. It¡¯s not a pleasant thing to watch. I can''t let a guest see something like that, it might kill your appetite,¡± Malcolm said.


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m also interested, Uncle Malcolm,¡± Kiev said. ¡°Grandpa never let me see it.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s a reason for it, Kiev,¡± he said.


    ¡°I promise I won''t tell him,¡± Kiev said. ¡°Please.¡±


    Malcolm sighed. ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°But don¡¯t blame me if you can''t eat it anymore.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    Before the feast began, Ewan and Kiev both followed a member of the establishment that Malcolm ran on the island and came to the area where they prepared the Ketaby¡ªa clearing in the forest behind the main building.


    Two plump cerulean-feathered birds huddled together in a cage, and a bronzed half-naked man prepared the roasting pit. The wave of hot air assaulted Ewan when he moved closer, making his face feverish.


    ¡°Will you start now?¡± Kiev asked as Ewan observed the two birds.


    ¡°The pit¡¯s almost ready, we¡¯ll begin soon,¡± the bronzed man said.


    ¡°How does it work?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Ketabies?¡± the man asked. ¡°Those two are mother and son. We¡¯ll choose the heavier of the two.¡±


    When the pit burned red-hot, when it twisted the air above it and wafted the smell of barbeque, he weighed the two Ketabies and brought out the mother by her talons¡ªshe weighed less than her son.


    ¡°You chose the lighter one?¡± Kiev asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s the one you¡¯ll be eating,¡± the man said, pointing the thumb at the son Ketaby in the cage. ¡°This one is for preparing the other one.¡±


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°It¡¯s confusing if you say it like that,¡± the member who brought them here said.


    ¡°How else should I say it¡­¡± the bronzed man grumbled under his breath and honed his sharp but time-beaten tools before the cage. Then in full view of the son Ketaby and the two new spectators, he made the first slash on the mother¡ªshallow but it broke the skin.


    He started from small cuts¡ªthe Ketaby screamed¡ªand moved on to deep lacerations. The Ketaby in the cage rampaged around, crying, fluttering his wings, his feathers scattered. And the more he did, the more the bronzed man tormented the mother Ketaby. Their screams resonated and echoed in the clearing, ringing in Ewan¡¯s ears as he gaped at the show.


    The way Malcolm advised against them watching this hinted towards something grisly. Ewan¡¯s guess was the physical torture of the food before cooking it or slowly cooking the food alive. But this kind of mental abuse never crossed his mind. The empathy, the pity, and the cruelty aside, the method fascinated him, still with a pinch of discomfort. And he wondered what kind of mind discovered this.


    ¡°I¡¯m not clear on the details but doing this before cooking them makes their meat more tender and opens up their fat pockets,¡± the member said. ¡°It makes them juicier.¡± He gulped.


    His words ended and Kiev vomited to the side. The intrigue of this cooking method had already gripped Ewan, even amidst the unease, so he paid no attention to his retching companion and stared at the Ketaby in the cage. Was it the negative emotions? Was the Ketaby even capable of those emotions? The chain of questions rolled in his mind. Did the trauma trigger something in the Ketaby that made it taste better to the Starons? Could he reproduce the effect in other meat source if he knew how it happened? Emotions initiating physiological changes¡ªit was an amusing field of knowledge; Ewan made a mental note to research it later.


    The bronzed man moved on from torturing to cooking the mother Ketaby alive¡ªhe roasted her over the pit, feathers and all. The pungent stench of burnt hair and skin worsened Kiev¡¯s condition, he paled. Ewan too protected his sensitive nose and backed off.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve at least taken off the feathers,¡± the member said, covering his nose and glaring at the man.


    ¡°It works better this way,¡± the bronzed man said. ¡°The little bit of theatrics adds to the taste.¡±


    Everything ended when the Ketaby in the cage lost all his spirit and lay on the ground, unmoving, his eyes glued to the burnt Ketaby over the roasting pit. The bronzed man went all the way and added a bit of physical torment on top before slitting the son Ketaby¡¯s throat and draining its blood in a large bowl. The interesting parts ended, so Ewan supported Kiev by his shoulder and went back to their accommodated rooms.


    At night, they joined Malcolm in the feast. Kiev didn¡¯t touch the meat and only ate the veggies, still pale with an embarrassed smile plastered on his face. Malcolm had some refreshing fruit juice made for him especially which eased his complexion. Ewan, on the side, savored the Ketaby¡¯s meat after overcoming his hesitation. Each bite of the meat melted, the fat pockets burst into sweet juices, and the hum of the spices enhanced it all. Though it came with its own burden on conscience, tonight¡¯s dinner was the best he¡¯d ever had in his life.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.8 | Ice ¨C 18.8 | Blood ¨C 18.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 38,521


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-128 Warship

    Morning came and the sound of dawn nudged Ewan and gently woke him up. After refreshing, he walked out to the lush lawn attached to his designated room and lounged on the marbled bench in the open pavilion. Yesternight¡¯s feast and the peculiar method of cooking Ketaby was off his mind, his deal with the Ensils now occupied him. It was a win-win situation, both sides would get what they wanted. Thus, he intended to hold his end.


    Phantasm.


    He traced the circuit of the new spell he learned from his Spellbook and targeted the marbled bench in front of him. This was the most difficult spell he¡¯d learned so far. He failed and failed and failed before succeeding once. The demanding curves, the intersecting points, the thickness, the angles¡ªnone of his other spells could compare to its complexity.


    The surging Mystic-Anima that flooded his body drowned the bubbling exhilaration from completing the spell circuit¡ªthe amount was too much. Soon, it edged at the limit of Step-0 spells and stopped. One inch further sat the realm of Step-1 spells, and if he jammed his way in at his current level, the backlash would crush his soul.


    The bench blurred when the spell took effect, its smooth texture coarsened, and it turned into an aged stone bench. Ewan broke the held breath and panted as the spell completed, his heart racing. It strained him¡ªspirit, body, and mind. Yet, the effect he produced was just a simple change in texture, instead of a complete illusion.


    , it was a spell that deceived, and he needed to own it before he could fulfil his part of the deal with the Ensils. Not only that, but he also needed it to solve a problem of his own. He could use this spell on Frost to hide his identity and use him freely in battles as his Astylind¡ªat least until he became strong enough to shoulder the burden of his Demon status. And those weren¡¯t the limits either. His imagination ran wild when he worked the spell. Illusion¡ªit was a field of its own, the possibilities were endless.


    The gray sky brightened as his thoughts wandered, the time to set sail drew close. So, he ended his practice and headed to the rocky beach.


    ¡­¡­


    The unfurled sails caught the wind, the masts creaked from the force, the waves crashed against the bow, and the ship inched away from the island carrying the payment boxes. Ewan and Kiev said their farewells to Malcolm from the deck, then put away their polite smiles when they were far off.


    ¡°Those aren¡¯t Novas coins, I presume,¡± Ewan said. If they were, that was an astounding number.


    ¡°Local resources,¡± Kiev said. ¡°They fund the war.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite the funding.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll all be used up soon,¡± Kiev said. ¡°Most will end up as rewards against contributions in the war.¡±


    ¡°I still haven¡¯t received mine yet,¡± Ewan said.


    Kiev chuckled. ¡°No one¡¯s snatching it away. Take what you want from the list when we get back,¡± he said. ¡°By the way, had you seen a Ketaby prepared before?¡±


    ¡°No, why?¡±


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Then have you seen something gory like that before?¡± Kiev asked.


    The memory of the Frosthelm festival¡ªhis bloody birthday¡ªflashed in his mind. Those gruesome deaths, the tormented deceased, the gory corpses, they were quite like what happened yesterday with the Ketaby. He wasn¡¯t numb to them yet, no matter how much he forced himself to be. But the experience did mellow the impact.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Why¡¯re you asking?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t seem much¡­affected.¡±


    ¡°Well, I was more interested in how it worked, so didn¡¯t have much time to vomit my guts out,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°It was those burning feathers, I can''t stand that stench,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°If I remember right, you vomited before that.¡±


    ¡°You remember wrong then.¡±


    Ewan shrugged and Kiev strutted back to his room. Before he could make it to the stairs though, a vibrating noise trickled in. It started from a hum, then evolved into an ear-ringing buzz. It shook the ship¡ªthe sails fluttered, and the woods rattled. Ewan stared in shock as a small dot on the horizon gradually swelled into a shadow that covered the sky. Kiev dashed back and stood beside him, also gaping at the gigantic silhouette passing above them, his eyes glittering, and his fist clenched.


    The world darkened beneath it, the waves thrashed around, the wind picked up. The ship rolled left and right, almost to the point of capsizing, broken droplets from the ocean raining on the deck. Some sailors fell overboard, some swung from the ropes, screaming. The captain held onto the wheel and struggled to steer the ship, preventing it from overturning. Ewan and Kiev too toiled to stay on board, both using Ryvia to grab onto the mast.


    The mayhem remained for a few minutes, then the ocean slowly calmed down¡ªthe enormous shadow shrank and faded away into the distance. Before breathing a sigh of relief, both Ewan and Kiev took command and gathered the sailors to save the ones who fell off. Luckily, they were all veterans, so no one drowned, and the injuries remained to a minimum.


    ¡°Captain, check the crates. Report any damage,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the captain said and raced down to the storage compartment with some sailors in tow with lanterns.


    ¡°Was that¡­the expedition Warship¡­,¡± Ewan murmured.


    ¡°It was,¡± Kiev said, staring at the path it carved in the clouds.


    ¡°You look like you want to join,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t. I¡¯m more interested in Ashevagord though, the masked conclave¡­.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.8 | Ice ¨C 18.8 | Blood ¨C 18.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 38,521


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-129 Different Perspectives

    ¡°Am I privy to that information?¡± Ewan asked. ¡®Masked Conclave¡¯, this was the first he heard of it.


    ¡°It¡¯s not really a secret, just that not too many people know about it, especially at our level,¡± Kiev said. ¡°My grandpa was a part of it, so I want to join too.¡±


    ¡°What if it was a secret?¡±


    ¡°I would still tell you. I meant it when I said your status will be same as mine.¡±


    ¡°Things that seem too good to be true, often are,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything to earn any of that yet.¡±


    Kiev stared at Ewan. ¡°Has someone ever told you that you think too much?¡±


    Her face flashed before him when Kiev said that, and his mind wandered away to her. What might she be doing right now? Was her island anywhere near this area?


    ¡°Oh? Someone really has?¡± Kiev asked with a playful expression. ¡°Someone important?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Is it a ¡®she¡¯? Girlfriend? Wife?¡± Kiev asked.


    ¡°Fianc¨¦e,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Ah.¡± Kiev sighed. ¡°You¡¯re engaged¡­. My poor little sister, she just got her heart broken.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Well, I talked about you a few times before and she was there when grandpa also mentioned you. She was the one who kept the ledger for contributions in the last war too, she noticed you there,¡± Kiev said. ¡°And you¡¯re the dark and callous type, just what she prefers, so she¡¯s now crushing on you.¡±


    ¡°What? Dark and callous? What made you reach that conclusion?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°You seemed to like the whole Ketaby thing.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re holding a grudge for that? I was interested in how it worked. How does that make me dark or callous?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s dark,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°You have your definitions mixed up, that¡¯s curiosity in its purest form,¡± Ewan said. ¡°At best, I have a strong stomach, unlike you.¡±


    ¡°It was the stench,¡± Kiev said, emphasizing his words.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ewan said. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be the torture at all. And that delicious and tender meat. You should¡¯ve at least taken a bite though, it was good.¡±


    ¡°That right there, you were able to eat just fine even after what we saw, that¡¯s how callous you are,¡± Kiev said. ¡°You just don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°Just because I could stomach the gore and enjoy the meal, I¡¯m callous? I wasn¡¯t the only one eating,¡± Ewan said. ¡°This is not something I discovered, it¡¯s not a product of my ¡®dark¡¯ mind. It¡¯s existed since before me and it¡¯s accepted everywhere, so why should I be the exception to bear the moral burden.¡±


    ¡°Some things you just don¡¯t do, this was unneeded cruelty. We can procure good food in other ways; there is no need to employ such means for it.¡±


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for a moralist. You¡¯ve been fighting in that war for so long, you must¡¯ve done far worse to win.¡±


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. And war is different, it¡¯s for survival. But morals are necessary otherwise, especially for a society to maintain stability,¡± Kiev said. ¡°You don¡¯t think so?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, perhaps for the society. I still struggle with it though,¡± Ewan said. ¡°My life has been short, but time and time again, morals have only hindered me. I don¡¯t know about you, but it¡¯s a mental restraint to me, to keep the sheep in the herd.¡±


    Ensils stood on the other side of their agreement, so speaking his mind could be a risk for him. Yet, it also came with its reward¡ªhim opening up would put the other side at ease. It would be easier for him to integrate if they didn¡¯t resist him. Thus, he laid bare his inner conflict while keeping a tight rein on his thoughts. He couldn¡¯t come off as overly antagonistic.


    Kiev sighed. ¡°If we discard that, we won''t be any different from the Astylinds, mere slaves to the laws of nature,¡± he said.


    ¡°I think, therefore I am. I can question morality, consider other choices, be apathetic or empathetic, act rationally or emotionally, I would say those qualities make us different from the Astylinds instead of just one trait,¡± he said. ¡°And I lean towards written laws and rules, they do the job.¡±


    ¡°They aren¡¯t all-powerful though; they can''t cover everything and everyone, especially in the wild. We need morals to maintain some form of structure.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re supporting my point, it is to keep the sheep in the herd,¡± Ewan said.


    Kiev shook his head. ¡°I give up, you¡¯re truly callous. My sister sure has eyes for your type.¡±


    Ewan shrugged. ¡°So be it. I do keep my mind open though. Maybe someday, when I grow up and have more experience, I¡¯ll question the morals again and see whether I was right or wrong. For now, let¡¯s agree to disagree.¡±


    ¡°Hope you see light soon,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll join that new church in the city. They¡¯ll teach me what morals are for sure, even if they must brainwash me for it.¡±


    ¡°Another one cropped up? They never learn their lesson the easy way.¡±


    ¡°Do you want my help with it?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Can you? It¡¯ll make it easier for me if you can deal with it,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°Push them out, force them to fight for us, kill them, what¡¯d you want me to do?¡±


    ¡°No need to go that far, just make sure their numbers don¡¯t increase,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°As you wish. A simple threat should do the job.¡±


    ¡°You can use the guards if things get out of hand, they¡¯ll all listen to you. No need to get your hands dirty.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take full advantage of my new status,¡± Ewan said, laughing.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 18.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 18.8 | Ice ¨C 18.8 | Blood ¨C 18.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 38,521


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-130 Abnormality

    Early dawn.


    Their ship docked at Drarith a few days later. The sailors unloaded, the captain oversaw, and Ewan accompanied Kiev out of the port. Yet, the hubbub he expected there failed him. This was the time of the day when the restaurant owners bid for the fresh catch, when the dealers dumped large shipments of spices in the market, when the ladies of the houses shopped for groceries, when men went to work and came back from. From the docks through the spice market to the streets¡ªthe city stood unusually stale today.


    ¡°Is this normal?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Not really¡­¡± Kiev looked around, frowning.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like something big happened,¡± Ewan said, checking out the people walking the streets beside them. The numbers were down but the city wasn¡¯t a ghost town; something did happen, but it shouldn¡¯t be drastic. Ewan sniffed, the smell of rusted iron in the air from the bloodshed was still the same as when he first came here. So, he ruled out a large tide of Astylinds and a bigger war.


    ¡°Forget it,¡± Kiev said. ¡°No use wondering about it, I¡¯ll have to read the reports anyway.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll head home then,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Call for me if you need anything.¡±


    And they parted with a nod.


    ¡­..


    The days on the ocean hindered his element bath. But now he was home, he could resume where he left it off. So, after settling in, cleaning up, and letting his Astylinds out to train, he prepared another tubful of Astylind blood and dipped in. The baths took a good chunk of his daylight, and he still lost his sense of time even after bathing many times. And the more he spent on it, the more his expectations soared.


    He came up, breathed a lungful of air, then sank down again.


    By the time he finished the bath, drained the useless blood, scrubbed the tub clean, a guard came knocking on his door¡ªKiev called for him. A stocky body with a baby face, and his childish light-hazel hair falling over his ears only enhanced that contrast. When he showed his proof and the signed note, Ewan followed him out, closing the protective shield behind him.


    And they met in the Ensil Villa.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ewan asked, entering the main office while the guard¡ªLance¡ªstood outside. ¡°Anything serious?¡± A faint earthy and woody smell mixed with a hint of vanilla lingered in the air. Biblichor¡ªthe smell of books; it created a comforting atmosphere with the gentle light from the lamps.


    Kiev sat on one of the sofas instead at his desk¡ªhis naked feet rubbing against the coral-red furred carpet¡ªand handled a few neatly pinned papers with a frown on his face. ¡°Nothing we can''t handle,¡± he said. ¡°I just needed a second opinion. And also wanted to let you meet the guards, they¡¯ll follow your orders too from now on.¡±


    ¡°Second opinion on?¡± Ewan flumped on another sofa across him.


    ¡°What we saw this morning, it was because of that church you talked of on the ship,¡± Kiev said. ¡°They¡¯ve become a headache in the few days I was away.¡±


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    ¡°That fast?¡± Ewan raised his eyebrows. ¡°Do you want to take them out then?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the last resort, I don¡¯t want to use that right now.¡±


    ¡°Things might go out of hand if you let them, it¡¯s better to root them out while we still can,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If a few days can make them a headache, imagine what a month would do, or a year.¡±


    ¡°We still can''t confront them like that. They added quite a few believers to their ranks, and all are our people. It¡¯ll only lead to civil strife.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t attack them then, but there are other plays,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°I was thinking of making some of the tax laws stricter for such establishments. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Could work.¡± Ewan nodded. ¡°Won''t the bias be too obvious though, unless you apply that to all large businesses. But then you¡¯ll have another problem at your hand, you might even lose those traders¡¯ support.¡±


    ¡°Being obvious is no problem, let them find out. As long as things don¡¯t devolve into a full-blown riot, we¡¯re fine,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°Well, I personally think you¡¯re putting too much importance on these believers. Most of them are Kyrons and the rest should be Ashevas with no hope, I¡¯m assuming?¡± Ewan said. ¡°Kyrons are important as our foundation, but correctly estimating their value is also crucial. Treat them as kings and they might just think they¡¯re wearing the crown.¡±


    Kiev chuckled and leaned back, putting the papers down on the table and massaging his forehead. ¡°You sound a bit irritated. Bad experience with Kyrons?¡±


    ¡°A bit¡­It happened where I lived before,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Your hometown? You never talked about it.¡±


    ¡°You never asked,¡± he said. ¡°Wait. Did you make sure I wasn¡¯t a spy before you let me in?¡± The thought just occurred to him; their talks triggered it.


    ¡°Vetting our people is obvious, no one will trust us otherwise and we can''t trust anyone either. In your case, grandpa did it personally,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°Ah, so all my secrets are out.¡± Ewan said with an exaggerated expression. Under that guise though, his heart actually skipped a beat and his nerves tightened. That was a Step-2 Severynth. What might he have found? His <Transmute>? Frost¡¯s identity? Toast¡¯s special skill¡ªLuck Roulette? His inheritance? Or the blood he got from that Nine-Tailed Fox?


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.1 | Ice ¨C 19.1 | Blood ¨C 19.1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 40,354


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-131 Church of Smiles

    Kiev laughed. ¡°Gramps traced back the slave ship¡¯s route that you took and went where you first arrived,¡± he said. ¡°There were still lingering traces of space cracks there.¡±


    ¡°You could¡¯ve simply asked,¡± Ewan said, suppressing his anxiety, and easing back. If the Governor only traced his steps, then he didn¡¯t find anything. And common sense dictated that too. Drarith was a city but also acted as an organization with the Governor at the helm. If he invaded his people¡¯s privacy with vetting as his excuse, no one would work with him anymore. After all, Ewan wasn¡¯t the only one in this world with a secret.


    But¡­did he find that egg?


    ¡°Confirming personally is still better,¡± Kiev said. ¡°So, would you like to elaborate on the whole space crack plot? Or am I intruding?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not something I care to hide,¡± Ewan said with a sigh. ¡°My home colony was called Obria, you can find out about it easily if you want. Something big happened there a few months ago and I got caught up in the mess.¡± But just in case, he used a partial truth instead of fabricating a fragile lie¡ªhe didn¡¯t need to either, the topic wasn¡¯t a secret.


    ¡°Obria.¡± Kiev frowned, tilting his head. ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard that somewhere,¡± he said.


    ¡°It¡¯s the colony that was auctioned,¡± Ewan replied.


    ¡°Oh! I remember now.¡± His eyes went wide, and he gaped. ¡°Grandpa told me about it as it was happening,¡± he said. ¡°You survived that¡­.¡±


    ¡°Somehow, not without cuts and bruises, of course.¡± Ewan nodded.


    ¡°Now I understand your irritation. I heard some news about that place, some nasty news,¡± he said. ¡°Were the religions there quite invasive too?¡±


    ¡°Can''t say, I never paid attention really. But there was some speculation in a report I read that they caused all that chaos. I had limited information though, so cannot confirm.¡±


    ¡°What of my proposal then? Do you think it¡¯ll work?¡± Kiev asked, tapping the table.


    ¡°Faith is business too,¡± Ewan said and shrugged. ¡°Instead of using taxes, why don¡¯t you compete? Why let them monopolize the market?¡±


    ¡°You mean start our own?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. People need a crutch, especially in an unwalled city like Drarith. If you give them the same, whose crutch do you think they¡¯ll take? Yours? Or the outsiders?¡±


    ¡°It could work,¡± Kiev murmured.


    ¡°You have a few options for the god too.¡± Ewan picked up the report from the table and skimmed the important bits. ¡°Lord of Smiles?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what they call their god,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°If that¡¯s taken, how about god of war?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Sounds a bit violent and competitive. And one church here used it before.¡±


    ¡°Something more peaceful then. How about the god of harvest, or coins? Or even better, the god of ocean,¡± Ewan said.


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    ¡°Hmm, we might be able to use that,¡± Kiev said. ¡°It¡¯s a big decision though, I¡¯ll have to ask Gramps for it. He doesn¡¯t get involved much with the city anymore, but this one I can''t decide by myself.¡±


    ¡°In case he disapproves, you can always go with the taxes plan or simple force.¡±


    Kiev nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s do that then,¡± he said. ¡°By the way, I asked him for the books you wanted. He gave me what he had, to pass on to you, and said he would look for more in case they come up in his circle. I¡¯ll have the guards deliver them to you tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Thanks in advance then.¡± Ewan smiled. His efforts finally yielded results¡ªa part of his plan finally succeeded. The books would get him one step closer to the mystic rune, he could almost see its shadow now.


    ¡°Also, Gramps has some gifts for you. He said he¡¯ll give them to you when you meet him,¡± he said.


    ¡°When will it be?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°After you break through to Step-1,¡± Kiev said with a rueful laugh. ¡°I apologize for him. He¡¯s doesn¡¯t see the need to see you before you two can talk business¡­he can come off a bit brash sometimes like that.¡±


    ¡°A man who has reached the heights he did deserves the awe and respect, let alone some patience,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I don¡¯t have any problem waiting, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Kiev smiled. ¡°I guess I never saw it that way, he¡¯s just Gramps for me and my siblings, though we¡¯re several generations apart.¡±


    ¡°As they say, familiarity breeds contempt,¡± Ewan said.


    Kiev looked at him and curled his lips. ¡°You sound like a smartass.¡±


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re just jealous of my brain.¡±


    A knock on the door interrupted their talks, and a girl¡ªmid teen, camel-colored hair falling over her shoulders, with flour streaks smeared on her face¡ªbarged in with a tray full of steaming cookies in her hand.


    ¡°Valarie, at least wait for the reply when you knock,¡± Kiev said with a sigh.


    ¡°I-I baked some cookies. Would you like to try some?¡± she asked Ewan.


    ¡°Of course, they look delicious,¡± Ewan said, smiling, and ate one from the tray. They were a bit chewy and the melted choco chips should¡¯ve given it a decadent flavor. Yet, he tasted nothing but baked flour with a hint of bitterness.


    ¡°Is it sweet enough?¡± she asked. ¡°More sugar? Or more choco chips?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I can''t help with that,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I can''t taste sweet.¡±


    She looked at him gaping, her eyebrows mellowing down. She had that look in her eyes that he recognized from years ago¡ªa bit of pity and a bit of sympathy, the look given to a lost puppy in rain.


    ¡°Good lord.¡± Kiev facepalmed himself and heaved a sigh. ¡°Dark, callous, and damaged; just what my sister needed,¡± he said.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.1 | Ice ¨C 19.1 | Blood ¨C 19.1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 40,354


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 4,049


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-132 Advance Payment

    ¡®Asymmetricity is the norm of the universe,¡¯ the book read. ¡®Even in balance and symmetric nature, its essence sings aloud. From the ratio of perceived beauty to the spread of celestial bodies, from their orbits down to the elemental runes, its presence is ever-present.¡¯ Ewan flipped the page, frowning at the content as he lounged in his yard. The first book he picked from the bunch that Kiev had the guards deliver to him talked about a topic that couldn¡¯t be more irrelevant to what he was looking for. It mentioned runes here and there but focused more on how its unbalanced categorization supported the asymmetric theory.


    ¡®Light, Wood, Dark, and Blood made up the Life and Death category together¡ªWind, Lightning, Earth, and Water made up the Nature category¡ªFire and Ice made up the Temperature category¡ªwhile the Mystic stood alone.¡¯


    Ewan skimmed the book, and when he found nothing important on the runes, he slammed it shut with a scowl. Was it deliberate? Unequal partners in trade would result in unfair and problematic transactions, especially when no one oversaw it; neither an authority nor a contract. So, the Ensils might¡¯ve fucked him over with these books. Or perhaps they really did not have what he asked for. His cynicism pushed him towards the former argument, they screwed him over because they could, because he couldn¡¯t contest them.


    It was still a good book, its theory could even be useful to him down the road, but it wasn¡¯t what he wanted now, far from it. And the fact wasn¡¯t lost on the Ensils, they weren¡¯t so na?ve and simpletons as to misunderstand what he was asking for. Still, this was only the first book, he could be wrong about it all, so he restrained his judgment and picked another one.


    ¡®Runes are the gateways to Anima as well as the pillars that support the Severynths. It is the answer that allows humans to stand tall against other Starons. Even when humans lack the needed affinity, runes connect us to the Anima¡ªthey become our means to substitute affinity.¡¯


    Another book that barely brushed the topic of runes¡­.and another, and another. Ewan picked one book after the last, but the result remained the same, and it steeled his conclusion. None of them talked about the origin, the structure, the design, and the build of the runes. They were useless to him in his current context.


    All of this reeked of ¡®advance payment¡¯, and the rest he would get when he got the job done. Ewan could only bet on that. If not, if this was the extent of the knowledge he would get, then he would pull out of the game and the city. The threat of a Step-2 Severynth loomed over, not to mention even the Step-1 Severynths under the Governor could crush him beneath their feet. But still, he wasn¡¯t willing to slave away for pocket change without resisting.


    For now, though, he had to continue his research on runes in the dark. And the only thread of relevance he could start with was the spell <Contract>, it was what initiated the runes after all. Other than that, he also considered buying slaves to complement his experiments. Theories and hypotheses could only take him so far. Animating them on live subjects and analyzing their state would give him solid results. After all, he was going to create a rune in his soul space¡ªthe most important and sensitive place for Severynths. It required a delicate touch, from the conception of the final plan to actuating it.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡­¡­


    The temperature rose, the wind warmed up, the sun soon baked the ground at its peak. Daylight stretched out; the moons stayed less. The dress code shortened; the beaches widened. And a peaceful yet scorching month went by as the cicadas sang, deep in the Flamecrest season.


    Ewan finished his fire-element bath while continuing his research and now was in his resting period, at the end actually, which gave him some extra time to allocate into studying new spells¡ªthe Elementalist subtype focused on all the elements available after all.


    So, he devised a course to match his other elements with mystic. Its support could create variations in his arsenal, even a simple spell could become deadly if he matched it well with an aspect of mystic.


    Luckily for him, Drarith remained quiet over the month. No war, no skirmishes, only a few casualties in the hunting parties. Even the disturbance he expected with the church didn¡¯t happen. Kiev sent word of his grandfather¡¯s rejection of the plan, so they moved on to the heavy tax approach¡ªit was a slow burn, though, and hadn¡¯t produced any substantial effect yet. But other than that, his villa saw no other guests¡­or at least he hoped it would be so.


    Valarie, the youngest of Ensil¡¯s current generation, knocked on his door each daybreak with a different baked snack on her foil-wrapped tray. Since the day she found out Ewan couldn¡¯t taste sweet, she switched her cooking style and prepared only salty dishes¡ªher salted walnut bread was her proud creation. Her friendly gesture aside, her action pushed Ewan into a dilemma. He couldn¡¯t reject her for it would sour his relationship with the Ensils, and he couldn¡¯t let her continue for she sometimes disturbed him at the most crucial of moments.


    She was an open book, her emotions led her actions, her impulses dictated her speech. Ewan could see inside her mind through her glittering eyes. So, he thought to quell her budding idea by bringing Nana up. Yet, he failed and instead triggered her competitive itch. Just when he considered talking to Kiev about it, the situation worsened¡ªone morning, Kidd showed up at his villa with Cork¡¯s message about the slaves at the same time.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,754


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,912


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-133 Last Wish

    ¡°Will it be a problem?¡± Ewan asked, sitting against Kiev in the restaurant they first ate together with not a hint of displeasure remaining on him about the ¡®advance payment¡¯ the Ensils made. Though he kept his deal with Cork hidden, it was out of convenience and not apprehension. Thus, his question was a gesture of goodwill.


    Kiev chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not an obstinate fool. I told you, my opinions on the matter are the same as yours,¡± he said. ¡°I hope you can continue keeping it a secret though, I still have to maintain that image for others.¡±


    Ewan hummed a nod. ¡°I¡¯m good with that,¡± he said, sipping his chilled salty lemonade. ¡°But why do you oppose it, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s funny if I say it out loud,¡± Kiev said, laughing ruefully. ¡°It was actually my grandma¡¯s last wish. She wished to remove the slaves from Drarith.¡±


    Not the slave business but the slaves themselves¡­


    ¡°I see, I can respect that, but I still have to buy those slaves. I hope you understand,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Kiev shook his head. ¡°She raised us all when our parents died. I was only five back then, my memory¡¯s a blur, Avis was four, and Valarie was still crawling. We weren¡¯t entitled to her care, yet she saw us through our childhood, when the situation was bad for our family, when grandpa couldn¡¯t bother to¡­. She might not have loved us like her own children, but we owe her our lives, so fulfilling her last words is the least I can do, even though I don¡¯t know why she hated them so,¡± he said.


    ¡°My apologies if I touched a sensitive subject,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Its fine, it¡¯s all in the past.¡±


    ¡°If you keep buying and freeing the slaves like that though, aren¡¯t you helping their business? And the slaves settle in Drarith, right?¡±


    ¡°Maybe, it doesn¡¯t really matter, I don¡¯t think too much about it. I just do it to quell my conscience.¡± Kiev looked down at the table, picking up his glass. ¡°And for some quiet.¡± He muttered under his breath and gulped a mouthful.


    Ewan nodded and sipped too. ¡°What about your sister? Will you let her continue like this? She¡¯s kind of being a disturbance¡­¡±


    Kiev laughed. ¡°I¡¯m really helpless on that matter. I and my brother shouldered the burden in our own way, but she grew up spoiled. I¡¯m just relieved she doesn¡¯t go around creating enemies for us,¡± he said. ¡°You can refuse her; it wouldn¡¯t affect our relation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it then,¡± Ewan said, smiling. Such words of assurance often held little weight. If he really refused the ¡®princess¡¯ outright and turned her against him, it would chip their cooperation¡ªemotions and impulses had a way of accomplishing that. He had to find another way.


    Kidd.


    The brat¡¯s image came to his mind. He did say he liked the girl and wanted to marry her. If Ewan could match those two, the princess might leave him alone. It made him consider the <Enthrall> spell, but that could create problems. The Ensils knew he could cast mystic spells, they must be wary of it, especially when their grandpa was a high-level Severynth. So, any moves on the princess were a no, he could only incite Kidd.


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    So troublesome¡­


    And they dined and drank their drinks before bidding farewell. Kiev headed to his villa while Ewan made his way to the port, to Cork¡¯s place.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Not hiding it anymore, ay?¡± Cork asked when Ewan met him in his warehouse, his voice echoing in the nigh empty hall.


    ¡°Don¡¯t need to, it seems,¡± Ewan said, looking around. This was where they kept their slaves and the wares. The recent stock was sold out, so they were now cleaning the place. A hint of lime and mint permeated the air inside with frothed puddles all over the place and water dripping down the walls¡ªthe sailors scrubbed clean even the tiniest mark left by the slaves in captivity. It made the breath fresh yet still contained a faint chemical aftertaste.


    Cork laughed. ¡°That brat can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but he doesn¡¯t go overboard. Ya don¡¯t have to mind him too much,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Ewan hummed. ¡°So, do you have them yet?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Mmhmm, I¡¯ll send them over with Kidd in an hour,¡± Cork said.


    ¡°About that, can I have Kidd for a few weeks? Need some work done in the yard, I¡¯ll pay him for it.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a free man, well not a man yet, but his services ain¡¯t to me,¡± Cork said. ¡°I¡¯ll call him over, ya can discuss that with him.¡± He whistled to a sailor dozing off under the shade of the warehouse eaves and sent him off to fetch Kidd.


    The shadows shrunk a few against the rising sun by the time Kidd came to them.


    ¡°Boss.¡± He greeted Ewan.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave ya two to it then.¡± Cork kicked a sailor who snored and drooled under the shades on the cold stone pavement and walked away, leaving the drowsy man bewildered.


    ¡°I want my yard fixed; I¡¯ll pay you for it,¡± Ewan said, looking at Kidd. ¡°You can live with me till you get it done.¡±


    ¡°Boss, do you want me to deal with something else?¡± Kidd asked with a sly smile on his face.


    ¡°Just my yard,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Are you sure? I¡¯m in if you want my help you know.¡±


    Ewan squinted then chuckled. ¡°Are the drunks talking again?¡± he asked.


    ¡°They never stop.¡± Kidd grinned. ¡°Is it the Governor¡¯s granddaughter?¡± he asked.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,754


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,912


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-134 Regal Rite

    Should he use <Enthrall>? Ewan thought. Kidd was sharper than he expected. Ewan¡¯s estimation of him was of a blabbermouth who heard gossip here and there, not of someone who could deduce the situation based on hearsay. Did he notice the spell Ewan used on him back on the ship too then? Or was he overestimating him because he caught him off guard this time? Regardless, the safer option here was to negotiate without the spell. After this, he could try and confirm his suspicions.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I want you to keep her away. Will you take Crelith coins for it?¡±


    ¡°Boss, you¡¯re being cheap¡­.¡±


    ¡°What, Novas coins then?¡±


    Kidd shook his head. ¡°Make me your retainer and I¡¯ll do it for you, it¡¯ll come under my duties then,¡± he said.


    Ewan frowned then laughed. ¡°Retainer? Do you think I¡¯m some noble?¡±


    ¡°Retainer, servant, lackey, whatever you want to call it. I want to follow you,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Why the sudden interest in me?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to join the ship¡¯s crew? Changed your mind?¡±


    ¡°Cork¡¯s family but he can''t help me reach the heights. I wanted to get close to the Severynth that¡¯s supporting him but then I found you,¡± Kidd said, staring at Ewan, his eyes glittering.


    ¡°Quite ambitious and calculative,¡± Ewan said, arching his eyebrows. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯ll accept your proposal after you say that?¡±


    ¡°You have the same smell as me,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re the benefitting party in this deal, you wouldn¡¯t refuse just because of a flaw in my character.¡±


    ¡°Is it a flaw?¡± Ewan sniggered. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll accept you as my ¡®retainer¡¯,¡± he said. Though he liked living alone, this was a compromise he had to make.


    Kidd beamed at his words, his eyes widening. ¡°Thank you, Boss! I promise I¡¯ll forever be loyal to you and never let you down.¡± He bowed ninety degrees, his abrupt yell jerking the napping sailor awake.


    Loyalty¡­


    It was a foreign concept for Ewan. He knew its meaning yet didn¡¯t understand its essence. How did it work? What made someone loyal beyond his self-interest? Kidd must be sincere in his words right now since the exhilaration from success was clouding his rationale. But what about later when he cooled down? What if one day his ambitions opposed his loyalty to Ewan? The barrage of questions muddled his brain, and he could only sigh at his inability to comprehend it.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Bring the slaves later to my villa, and hand this over to Cork.¡± He tossed a pouch full of Novas coins to Kidd and walked away.


    ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± Kidd shouted.


    ¡°Stop yelling already!¡± The now awake sailor lashed out.


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan came back to his villa, and an hour later, Kidd arrived with the slaves. Ten Boxaflies lined up behind him in the yard, dazed, unfocused, and some drooling as if a fool. The slave merchants must¡¯ve broken them too far, they were of no use to anyone anymore¡ªexcept for experiments and sacrifices. Did Cork realize what Ewan was doing? Not that it mattered much but...


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Why are they like that?¡± Ewan asked, frowning.


    ¡°Cork said this is the best he could get this time. As an apology, he¡¯ll give you discount the next time,¡± Kidd said, looking around the villa.


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t tell that to me himself?¡± Ewan said. This kind of shady behavior in a business transaction wasn¡¯t pleasant at all, it left a bad taste in his mouth¡ªbecause he was on the receiving end of it. ¡°Forget it, get them lined up over there.¡± He pointed to a corner in the yard. The compensation could come later. For now, he had to complete the sacrifice and get Iris to Grade-S.


    ¡°Boss¡­your place seems a bit weird. It¡¯s eerie¡­,¡± Kidd said, leading the slaves by their ropes.


    ¡°Why, did you see a ghost?¡±


    Kidd shivered. ¡°Is your place haunted?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Ewan laughed it off, but his mind raced. Kidd was sensitive to something, either the concentration of Anima or the history of this place. Ewan used his mystic-element affinity and moved the Anima. They slowly gathered from afar, swirled and danced, and soon stormed around him.


    He glanced at Kidd but there was no reaction, not even a hidden flinch or a twitch. Unless this teen was a master of disguise and could deceive him, it wasn¡¯t the Mystic-Anima he was sensitive to¡ªthe confirmation put Ewan at ease.


    The history of the massacre in the villa should¡¯ve changed the concentration of Anima around it. Blood and Dark-Anima would be in abundance, the others would only exist in patches. So, most likely, Kidd was sensitive to these two. After all, there was no precedent for someone who was sensitive to history. Nevertheless, his speculations could gallop all they wanted but he had no way to confirm any of it.


    Iris¡¯s affinity stood at Recipient-level, and the blood rune provided Ewan with the same. It allowed him access to blood-element spells but couldn¡¯t let him manipulate the Anima like his mystic-favored. He could cast a spell and check Kidd¡¯s reaction, but it would be hard to determine what attracted him¡ªthe movement of the Anima or the spell itself.


    ¡°B-Boss¡­.do I have to live in there too?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that later. First, prepare them,¡± he said. ¡°Have them kneel down in a line.¡±


    He planned to make Kidd watch this time. More than testing his will, Ewan wanted to use these bloody theatrics to make him give up on the ¡®retainer¡¯ business.


    And he brought Iris out and prepared his Obsidian Dagger, standing behind the kneeling Boxaflies. Kidd watched from the side as Ewan grabbed one slave¡¯s head, tilted it back, and slit his throat. Blood gushed out and sprayed in the air, blooming a flower, while Kidd gasped and took a step back, his eyes widening.


    Give up by the tenth¡­.


    Ewan glanced at Kidd then went to the second sacrifice and slit his throat too. The blood drenched Iris who trembled under the warm shower¡ªher rite had started.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-A]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,754


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,912


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-135 Coronation

    Iris quivered throughout the rite, her wails echoing in Ewan¡¯s soul, as she gobbled their blood. He grew worried as the Boxaflies died under his dagger one after another. By the fifth death, Iris hushed down and drooped, her petals darkening with a faint red halo around her. She still had her roots stabbed into the wounds and sucked in the blood but did not respond.


    Ewan suppressed his anxiety and moved on to the next sacrifice. Though Noble and Regal rites had stringent requirements, they balanced it out with high success rates. Even if Iris failed, she shouldn¡¯t be in any danger; at worst, she would need some rest after. But he could not stop a rite in between. It was an uncharted territory for him, and he didn¡¯t want to test it out on his precious Astylind. So, he continued and sliced the seventh one, his blade tracing a steady slit.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Waves after waves traveled through the ankle-length grass in the yard as the wind gradually picked up with the tenth death. Iris had long gone silent and motionless, yet the nature around her was anything but. Ewan squinted against the sudden squall and looked up, his hair dancing, and his loose white shirt fluttering with not a drop of blood. The dark nimbus cloud had shaded the sky out of nowhere, its edges billowing.


    The receding ocean returned with a crash, disregarding the season. The beasts in the mountain howled and bayed, their cries resonation within the woods. The wind raged, the Blood-Anima rampaged, and a thick pressure engulfed the area. It was a velvety blanket for Ewan that gently draped over his shoulder, yet Kidd had to kneel under it. His face reddened, his veins popped, drops of sweat dripped down his temples.


    ¡°B-Boss¡­,¡± he said, or tried to, his breath hitched. But Ewan paid him no mind, his eyes were on the changes around him.


    The birth of a King¡ªthe rise of royalty¡ªit could never be silent. And when he changed his perspective, the clouds became her crown, the wind was her cloak, the Blood-Anima depicted the ceremonial scepter, and the ocean and the beasts saluted her on her coronation.


    The rite and its reverberations continued for a while. Ewan watched over Iris as she went from a noble to a royalty of her race. At the same time, a hint of savagery brewed in her and passed on to him. It was a wish, an obsession, a drive that her instinct compelled¡ªthe core of her being screamed to kill all the other royals of her race.


    There could only be one crowned King. The conflict in their authorities signified no possibilities of a compromise. So, unless Ewan suppressed Iris¡¯s instinct by force, he had to fight once and if they met another royal Blood-Lotus. The same would be the case for all his other Astylinds¡­.


    Identify.


    [Astylind Name: Blood Lotus]


    [Astylind Level: Level-9]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-S]


    [Anima Affinity: Blood]


    [Skills: Blood-Recipient | Mend]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: Extinct natives of Sepra. They had decent affinity with Blood-Anima (Recipient) but lacked the means to protect themselves. Delicate and feeble. They lost the battle of natural selection.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: --]


    [Remark 1: Can be used as an ingredient for potions. Useless otherwise.]


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    [Remark 2: Decent choice for a healing type Astylind. But lack strong evolution branches.]


    [Remark 3: I don¡¯t like them. They¡¯re nasty~]


    [Remark 4: Special evolution path found. Focus should be on its grade.]


    Amidst the turbulent nature, a teeth-clattering blare of a bell from the watchtower ran in the city. Three short clangs. Was it because of the disturbance Iris caused? Ewan thought. One long clang and the bell¡¯s echo faded away.


    Three shorts and one long¡ªthat was the emergency signal, Drarith was under attack.


    ¡­..


    He needed stability for his plans. And it hinged on the safety of the city and the Ensils, he didn¡¯t want them to fall, not yet. As long as the threat didn¡¯t surpass what he could handle, he could risk joining the defense. So, he let the corpses be, brought Iris into the rune, and raced down the mountain with Kidd.


    ¡°B-Boss¡­s-slow down¡­.¡± Kidd panted behind Ewan, struggling to match his steps, slipping and stumbling on a rock then chased after him again.


    Ewan stopped when he entered the city and looked around. The fight hadn¡¯t reached this far but the panic had spread. The old, the women, and the children scurried away to their homes and barricaded the door while the able men took up arms. Spears, swords, axes, hammers¡ªnot the weapons of untrained citizens but of a veteran militia. The constant skirmishes, raids, and the lack of the perimeter wall hampered the technological development but had long turned the citizens into a fighting force. Yet¡­could they stand against advanced weapons? Drarith didn¡¯t have them, but its enemies must¡ªthe walled colonies followed that trend of progress.


    ¡°Take this,¡± Ewan said, turning to Kidd and handing him his bloodied Obsidian Dagger. ¡°Go find Valarie and keep her safe. Announce yourself properly, don¡¯t get mistaken for an enemy.¡±


    ¡°I-I will!!¡± He gulped lungfuls of air and took the dagger with trembling hands, with a gash on his palm from the fall.


    ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint me,¡± Ewan said and rushed away with the militia.


    The chaos had spread in the outskirts and the battlefield inched closer to the inner city. The farmlands went up in flames, the oblivious farmers lay in their own blood, their dead eyes still unaware of their death. The city-guards fought back but fell one after another under the sudden onslaught. The wave of enemies lay waste to their stations that made up the final line of defense and pushed in, crushing the militia that resisted.


    When Ewan reached the fight, they¡¯d already touched the plaza. The new wave of Ashevas that came with him finally halted the enemies¡¯ steps with a rumbling roar, yet the situation was still precarious.


    ¡°Hold! Push back!!¡± Kiev hollered, managing the Ashevas around him. ¡°Push them out and create the line again!! Defend your home!!! Defend your family!!!¡±


    The damage done, the lives lost, the resources ransacked, and the blame for it all¡ªeverything would come later. For now, they had to fight and raise a defensive line again. So, Ewan took position with the Severynths he knew and took out his Spellbook and a head-sized crystal ball. Moonkeeper¡ªthe artifact Nana made for him¡ªit hovered before him, brimming with Mystic-Anima.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,754


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,912


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-136 Control

    Orange protected him and Ewan took the support role, away from the vanguards.


    Phantasm!


    He used the ¡®Moonkeeper¡¯ and cast the spell, failed, then cast again, sapping almost all of the stored Mystic-Anima in it. The spell circuit glimmered, the Anima brought it to life with a throb, and its effect rippled around Ewan. As Frost came out of Dekoth, his figure twisted and flickered, and he became an ivory-furred monkey of the same size as Orange, keeping his howl smothered. Ewan was familiar with the species, so he chose an Ice Monkey¡¯s image for Frost. This was his way of exerting all his prowess while also confirming the limits of


    .


    His extended Ryvia picked no unusual actions, no surprise, and not a hint of curiosity towards Frost. He was just an Ice Monkey on the field, a common Astylind that many Severynths had, and everyone around him accepted that. And so, he acted his role and began his support.


    Ice Wall!


    Ewan cast it again and again and created defensive walls for the Ashevas on the frontline as a barrage of fireballs slammed against them. The walls stood tall against the salvo for a few rounds, the reverberating explosions shaking the earth, then shattered into wet shards, giving the Ashevas enough time to evade or defend. Ewan blocked the heatwave with his Ryvia and his Varos and readied another spell.


    Frost joined Orange and stood guard¡ªhe was responsible for any ground attacks while Orange watched the skies.


    Rekindle!


    Ewan targeted the weary and sapped militia, one by one, and cast his blood-element spell. The slouched shoulders straightened, the trembling legs toughened, their broken breaths came back, and they regained the color on their faces. The spell invigorated their spine. And with a war cry, they joined the fight again.


    Guns and rifles rained fire, yet a powerful Ryvia stood in its way, it¡¯s might beyond what Ewan could achieve¡ªit was from a Step-1 Asheva. Ewan glanced around but found no source. Even so, the stray bullets and the indiscriminate attacks reaped many lives, the primitive militia helpless against them, even with the makeshift cover.


    The Kyrons fought their own fight, the Ashevas had their own.


    Fireballs, icicles, thunderbolts, earth bullets, all sorts of spells hailed upon them. The mayhem was deafening, the ground quaked. Each scream, each wail, represented another life lost. The smell of iron became the sign of death, and the chaos muddled the rationality.


    The deaths painted the plaza bloody, its image overlapped with all the carnage he¡¯d seen before. Even when he experienced it a few times, the brutality of war was still overwhelming him, and the hypocrisy of his thoughts made it worse¡ªhe¡¯d just taken ten helpless lives for the sacrifice¡­.


    ¡°Ewan!!¡± Kiev yelled and broke his reflection. His Earth Fox had a gash running down his back as it lay withered, its flaxen-colored fur stained with its own blood.


    Iris!


    She strutted out of Dekoth, the faint blood halo lingering around her as drops of blood played on her petals, and she raised her root to use Mend. The Blood-Anima danced on the fox and with a flickering magic circle beneath it; its gash closed at a visible rate. Its eyes regained life and a weak growl escaped him, blowing the dust away.


    ¡°Take it back and let it rest, it should be fine,¡± Ewan said to Kiev through Ryvia.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Kiev heaved a sigh of relief and nodded, moving back to Ewan¡¯s line, commanding the Ashevas¡¯ formation from there.


    ¡°Kiev!!!¡± A man yelled from outside the plaza, his voice breaking towards the later part of his long shout. Ewan and Kiev both looked over¡ªit was Avis. ¡°The docks!!¡± He yelled again.


    Ewan raised his brows. Were they attacking from the ocean too? This incursion gave him a bad smell, the smell of something cooking beneath it.


    ¡°Shit!¡± Kiev uttered. ¡°Ewan, I¡¯ll go to the docks. Can you handle here?¡± he asked.


    Ewan frowned and glanced at the militia and the Ashevas on their side. Some were familiar to him, but most were strangers. How could he command them like that? They wouldn¡¯t even listen.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave Lance here, he¡¯ll help you,¡± Kiev said and bolted towards the pier with Avis.


    I didn¡¯t even reply yet¡­


    ¡°Sir!¡± Lance, the burly guard who came to Ewan¡¯s villa often to pass messages, marched over, and saluted him with a fist at his heart, a chunk of his babyface stained red. Dripping blood left traces on his chromed breastplate and pieces of muscles and organs slid down his sword. He wasn¡¯t an Asheva, so melee was his only option.


    ¡°You handle their formation, I¡¯ll handle the support,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Can you do it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. But they¡­.¡± He glanced at the foreign Ashevas.


    They had a strong sense of individuality and wouldn¡¯t fight in a formation easily¡ªEwan was the same so he could relate. Not to mention they never trained for it either¡­.


    ¡°You handle your own people and the militia, leave the others to me,¡± Ewan said. He couldn¡¯t command them, they wouldn¡¯t listen even if he tried, so he could only control them through his actions.


    Stigma: Negative!


    He used the ¡®Moonkeeper¡¯ and cast a mystic-element spell, targeting all the foreign Ashevas and their Astylinds. It was a marking spell, so the cost of Anima was low, enough to cast dozens of times without emptying the now restocked ¡®Moonkeeper¡¯. When the spell marked the last one with a negative stigma, Ewan moved on to the next part.


    Blood Stasis!


    It was an area-of-effect spell yet didn¡¯t affect the field, it picked its target in the range instead. So, with the Blood-Anima permeating the traced spell circuit, Ewan targeted an area around the Ashevas and cast it. Blood-red threads swam around, and the ground adopted a crimson tint. Soon the unmarked in the area slowed down, their eyes muddled, and they ignored the attacks. The stronger Ashevas and Astylinds resisted the spell¡¯s effect and defended against the attacks while the weakest ones died from heart failure.


    Some of the foreign Ashevas looked back at the source of the spell¡ªEwan¡ªwhen the battles became easy while the others used the chance to kill as many they could.


    ¡°Fight to your heart¡¯s content,¡± Ewan murmured. ¡°I¡¯ll support you as much as I can.¡±


    In return, let me control you.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 14.6 | Blood ¨C 9.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,746


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,912


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-137 Overdraft

    Sindra¡ªIce Favored!


    Ice Daggers!


    The traced spell circuit fashioned ten ice daggers from the Ice-Anima. They floated around him, extending his Ryvia to cover the battlefield. Ewan moved his hands, and the daggers took their positions in the sky, fanning about the area. Their matted surface blurred all reflections, but the icy edges still glinted against the sun.


    He eased his eyelids down and felt the plaza through his billowing Ryvia. Each movement, each action, each reaction was before him. The information surged in through his spirit with crisp clarity. He saw everything, heard everything, sensed everything. When the pieces of the puzzle settled into a clear picture, he acted.


    Ice Wall!


    The frosted block of ice nulled the lethal attacks and gave respite to his allies¡ªthe Severynths took the chance to pull their losing Astylinds back.


    Rekindle!


    He gave them the boost they needed and supported their backs when they were on their last legs. Aiding the Ashevas was much more expensive than the Kyron militia, but Ewan gritted his teeth and sponsored it.


    Firedust!


    He cast and the spell circuit transformed the Fire-Anima into fine but fiery dust, diffusing in the targeted area. The affected Ashevas and Astylinds halted, coughed, and some vomited. Their skins singed, eyes teared up, nose tinted red, and they gasped for air. The spell disrupted any assistance that was coming for the losing Astylinds and let his allies finish off their targets without resistance. Flowers of blood bloomed on the canvas of the fiery storm.


    He bolstered his allies, tripped his enemies, buffed his side, debilitated the other. He wasn¡¯t perfect at it, but he controlled the flow¡ªthe army was the orchestra, and he was the conductor. They fought on their own with little cohesion, but he held the rein.


    Yet, even with his backing, the other side didn¡¯t show any signs of falling apart. They stood strong against all assaults and maintained the status quo. If they were losing, they would push harder; if they were winning, they would ease up.


    Are they waiting for something?


    Their actions indicated so. Ewan couldn¡¯t infer what it was, but he didn¡¯t have the leisure to mull on it either. All he could do at this point was to break the stalemate and push the enemies out of the city. Else, he would have to abandon this place.


    Bloodlust!


    He traced the spell circuit¡ªthe blood threads in his blood-rune simmered.


    ¡°The next spell will affect your Astylinds, please do not resist.¡± He spread his voice to his allies with Ryvia. He could force the spell on wild Astylinds¡ªmost couldn¡¯t resist¡ªbut those with masters were a different story. Even if some weaker than him Severynths couldn¡¯t prevent the effect, it would for sure garner their wrath. Hence, he approached the issue with words.


    Some ignored him, some rejected with a grunt and a harrumph, while some accepted with a hesitant nod. Ewan focused on the third and let the spell loose. The targeted Astylinds bayed and roared, their eyes bloodshot. Their fangs dripped saliva as they snarled, and their growls rumbled in their throats. They blasted off towards the enemies¡ªspells, claws, fangs, talons, they used anything and everything to kill their foes.


    And the plaza seethed with ice, fire, and blood.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡­¡­


    The stalemate held strong even when Drarith welcomed the moons, the serene nightfall contrasting the raid torn city. This could be to his advantage, Ewan thought, the wounds and the lacerations he ignored now stinging and aching with a dull pain. Some gashes had swollen purple, while some bled without end.


    Toast had turned him nocturnal; his eyes bolstered his advantage in the dark. Either in support or direct offense, he could suppress his enemies.


    When he thought to take a step forward, however, the enemy pulled back. They all backed off, and the bombardment halted. With a holler that came from afar, they receded like an ocean wave. No one chased, no one stopped them, as they all heaved an audible sigh of relief. They came on their own terms; they went back on the same¡ªthis was Drarith¡¯s crushing defeat.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    ¡­.


    Once the heat of the battle cooled down, Ewan left the aftermath to Lance and trudged away, leaving drips of blood in his trail that couldn¡¯t contrast the plaza today. Kiev also came back from the ports, and they met outside the plaza.


    ¡°How was it?¡± Kiev asked, covered in dried blood.


    Ewan shook his head, the dull pain worsened. ¡°We lost,¡± he said.


    ¡°They could¡¯ve taken the city¡­,¡± Kiev murmured.


    ¡°What now?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move to the tents outside, we¡¯ll rebuild the defensive line there. We can¡¯t have another battle inside the city.¡± He looked around at the damage to the structures.


    Ewan nodded and followed him to the outer rim of the city, his head throbbing from the overdraft of Anima and Ryvia¡ªdepleting and recovering again and again tolled him. The wounds ached even more, his leaden limbs weighed him down, and the fatigue settled in. He just hummed in response to whatever Kiev said, his mind a bit fuzzy and his eyes droopy.


    ¡°I have a request for you,¡± Kiev said.


    Ewan focused again¡ªthey were already inside the camouflage tent that acted as the temporary quarters, the flickering lantern lighting it up. He flumped on the wooden chair with a grunt and sprawled, closing his eyes.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°The whole raid smells fishy,¡± Kiev said, sitting on the bed, massaging his right forearm, and moving his wrist. ¡°They¡¯re planning something.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Ewan hummed again, tilting his head back. The wounds on the body were uncomfortable but the headache troubled him the most. The waves of pain hammered his head and hindered his thoughts, he couldn¡¯t care less about the bizarre attack with this throbbing agony.


    ¡°None of it would¡¯ve happened if grandpa came forward,¡± Kiev said. ¡°Just his presence alone would stifle all schemes.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ewan said, the bare minimum reply being all that he could afford.


    ¡°But if he came forward now, they would all know he doesn¡¯t have much longer to live. That he¡¯s getting weaker,¡± Kiev said. ¡°Then we wouldn¡¯t get schemes and plans, they would just sweep through the city. We would all die.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°That¡¯s why, we need to speed up what we planned before,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s why, I hope you can break through to Step-1.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Overdraft | Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.1 | Ice ¨C 2.6 | Blood ¨C 2.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,738


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,912


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-138 Discord

    Ewan opened his eyes and looked at him. ¡°I intend to,¡± he said.


    ¡°No, I mean, break through now,¡± Kiev said with an awkward laugh.


    Ewan frowned and sat straight. Even the pulsing headache couldn¡¯t make him ignore this.


    ¡°I know I¡¯m asking for too much, but we really can¡¯t afford to continue like this,¡± Kiev said.


    ¡°You can''t afford to, so you want me to pay for it?¡± Ewan retorted. ¡°You know you¡¯re asking for too much, then why do you?¡±


    ¡°You won''t lose anything; we¡¯ll provide you with all you need,¡± he said. ¡°Even the spell circuit for the rite.¡±


    ¡°No, thank you. I can get it myself,¡± Ewan said. He had plans for Step-1 and wasn¡¯t going to change it for anyone else. If he broke through without finishing the element baths, without opening the path for a Step-0 Elementalist, he would be at his weakest. He would shoulder the name of a Spirit-Nebula Severynth without the power to support it.


    Not to mention if he could break through at all. After all, he hadn¡¯t even assessed his success rate yet. If he failed, if something went wrong, if he couldn¡¯t tread the last step of the rite, he would have to pay the price with his life. Most of all, it wouldn¡¯t be on his terms¡ªothers would dictate his actions. The aversion from that alone pulled him away.


    ¡°Ewan, please, you saw what happened,¡± Kiev said with a pleading expression. ¡°Many people have died already and many more will again.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m responsible for that?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°No one is saying that. But we can solve everything and save so many if you just change your plans,¡± Kiev said with a strained smile, with a slight twitch on his lips.


    ¡°Solve everything? At my expense?¡± Ewan frowned harder; the constant disregard of his free will irritated him.


    ¡°Can''t you try and see it from my perspective?¡± Kiev asked, clenching his fists. ¡°Can you not be selfish for once?¡± He raised his voice.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end it here before things get out of hand,¡± Ewan said, dragging himself up. ¡°You cool down, I¡¯ll go back to my villa.¡±


    Kiev also stood then bowed. ¡°Please Ewan, just this once,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ve lost too many.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Ewan said and walked out. ¡°You had to do this¡­I just wanted to rest,¡± he said under his breath with a sigh.


    ¡°Boss¡­¡± Kidd and Valarie stood outside the tent, her eyes breathing fire at Ewan as she gritted her teeth, her nostrils flaring.


    ¡°I misjudged you,¡± she said and barged inside the tent, shoving his shoulder.


    Ewan chuckled. Accidents were the nemesis of plans, for good or for bad. A conflict that he didn¡¯t foresee solved a problem that irked him.


    ¡°Give it back now,¡± Ewan said, beckoning to Kidd.


    ¡°B-Boss, I kept her safe just like you asked,¡± Kidd said, handing over the Obsidian Dagger drenched in blood and flesh.


    Ewan wiped it against Kidd¡¯s t-shirt and kept it in the claw-ring. ¡°Hmm, you did good,¡± he said, strolling away. Kidd limped after him, glancing at his face from time to time with dodgy eyes, sweat dripping down his chin.


    ¡°Worried?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°N-Not at all, Boss. We already have a deal.¡± Kidd simpered.


    ¡°Right, you¡¯re my retainer now,¡± Ewan said, his lips curling. ¡°That means I can dismiss you.¡±


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°B-Boss, I¡¯ll work harder!¡± Kidd hollered then gulped, staring at Ewan.


    ¡°Your leg,¡± Ewan said, glancing at it.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just sprained it,¡± Kidd said, trying to move it but trembled instead. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine with some spit.¡±


    ¡°Sit,¡± Ewan shook his head and said, gesturing him over to a flattish boulder. ¡°It¡¯ll hurt, grit your teeth.¡±


    He grabbed Kidd¡¯s bent right shin when he sat¡ªand before he could prepare himself¡ªsnapped the cracked bone straight. Kidd gasped a sharp breath then bellowed, clawing Ewan¡¯s shoulders, and ringing his ears.


    Iris.


    She slid out of Dekoth, her roots swaying about, and used Mend on Kidd, healing him in seconds.


    ¡°You¡¯re fine now,¡± Ewan said, patting Kidd¡¯s injured leg, and walked away while Iris rested inside the rune again.


    ¡°Boss, do you have some work for me?¡± Kidd asked, scurrying after him, panting, his face still pale from the shock.


    Ewan looked around at the mayhem and destruction. People wailed over the corpses, wounded who barely held on to life gasped their last breath, Kyrons grouped together to save and rescue anyone they could. Many prayed, many despaired, and they raged over the tragedy. Yet they were powerless to resist their fate and lacked the strength for vengeance.


    ¡°Find out why they attacked like this then retreated, ask around for any information. Maybe the guards know something,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Too much?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡± Kidd thumped his chest. ¡°I already have something on this actually,¡± he whispered, glancing around warily.


    Ewan extended his Ryvia and covered them, trapping their voices in¡ªhe¡¯d recovered enough to do this without it hammering his head.


    ¡°Go on,¡± he said.


    ¡°I saw a couple of shady people heading deep into the mountain forest,¡± Kidd said. ¡°They went to a crack there.¡±


    ¡°A couple?¡±


    ¡°T-Three.¡±


    ¡°Were they not from Drarith?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°At least one of them was an Asheva, I could sense it,¡± Kidd said.


    That again? Ewan frowned. At least this gave him confirmation¡ªKidd could sense some element, and it wasn¡¯t mystic.


    ¡°Asheva¡­,¡± Ewan murmured and mulled. If they were from Drarith, their actions didn¡¯t make sense. Hiding from the war was useless unless they intended to never return to the city. Most likely, they were outsiders, either related to the raid or taking advantage of it.


    ¡°Did they go in?¡±


    ¡°No, the walls attacked them before they could, and one even died, one got injured.¡±


    ¡°The walls attacked? How did it look?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°It just threw wind blades at them, like swoosh swoosh,¡± Kidd said, acting it out with his hands.


    Traps¡­


    Their existence pointed towards one thing¡ªthere was something hidden in that crack, something worth hiding behind traps, something important enough that three Ashevas risked their lives for it. Involvement in such matters could pose a risk to Ewan and his stable position in Drarith. But if the crack solved his problems or gave him more intelligence on the ongoing war¡­


    Either could be a boost to him. The risk was apparent but so was the reward.


    ¡°Was it only you?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°Her?¡± He pointed at the tent with his head.


    Kidd shook his head. ¡°Just me. I found it before meeting her,¡± he said. ¡°Do you want me to look into it? I¡¯ll be careful.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll tell you what to do later, forget it for now,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And not a word to anyone about this.¡±


    Kidd bobbed his head and the two continued on their stroll again.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Overdraft | Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 7.1 | Ice ¨C 3.6 | Blood ¨C 3.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,731


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,912


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-139 Facets

    Carnage lined the sides and blood soaked his path. Yet again, the innumerable deaths were making him numb. From the Frosthelm festival to the survival game to this war, the insignificance of life reigned supreme. It was far too easy to snuff them.


    His hypocritical sympathy ran low now, even bothering to care for the sake of normalcy was exhausting him. Their deaths couldn¡¯t ripple his emotions anymore, not even a sigh came out to mourn them. Kiev wanted him to suffer to save them? These frail Kyrons¡­ What was the point? With him or without, they would all die sooner or later. Their existence was just that trivial.


    ¡°Boss.¡± Kidd tugged his sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s Avis, the younger brother,¡± he whispered.


    Avis squatted before a collapsed building that used to be a restaurant, staring at the wilted dog with a gashed stomach that was breathing his last breath. A man lay beside him in his own pool of blood, the laceration on his chest twitching as his dying gasps broke into hisses. No Kyrons came to help them, as no one could help them¡ªthey had gone too far.


    A moment later, Avis sighed and took out a dagger, holding it against the dog¡¯s throat with shivering hands, the wavering glint of its edge mirroring his conflict within. The dying man turned his head to the dog, a teardrop running by his temple, leaving a darker and wet streak on the gray dusty skin.


    Ewan watched and watched but Avis didn¡¯t do it, he couldn¡¯t do it. The dog and the man withered even more; their chests barely rose. If he let them be, they would soon slip into an eternal slumber. Perhaps, that would be better for them. Instead of fighting an uphill battle in a war-torn city only to die in the end, either by someone¡¯s steel or nature¡¯s blade, it would be better to rest in peace already.


    Nevertheless, he moved. ¡°May I?¡± Ewan patted Avis¡¯s shoulder and asked.


    Avis looked up then looked at the dog and nodded, taking a step back.


    ¡°Is he important to you?¡± Ewan asked, bringing Iris out.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­I just fed him sometimes,¡± Avis said. ¡°He¡¯s the owner.¡± He pointed at the moribund man.


    ¡°He¡¯s just a normal dog, without Anima. Even if I save him now, he might not live for long, he might not even survive tomorrow,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Do you still want me to save him?¡±


    ¡°P-Please,¡± Avis said, clutching his trembling hand with the other.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Ewan complied and Iris used her <Mend> on the dying duo. The facts of her species at her grade compared the skill to a Step-1 healing spell, a generous but convincing interpretation. Even though her level limited Iris to a weakened version of it, its effect on Kyrons and weak Step-0 Starons was nothing short of miraculous. And so, with the burst of a wine-red magic circle and the Blood-Anima, the dog and the man regained their breaths. Their gashes healed, their withered skin plumped, and the rush of new blood reddened their visage.


    ¡°T-Thank you,¡± Avis said and bowed to Ewan. The man groaned and rubbed his scabbed chest before kowtowing to him, his head slamming into the earth. ¡°Thank you, sir, I¡¯ll forever be in your debt.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t much. Just eat your fill and feed him something too, he should be hungry,¡± Ewan said, looking at the dog, and walked away with Kidd again.


    ¡°Boss, you¡¯re really kind,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, mindlessly. It didn¡¯t cost him much to save them, mere time and effort of seconds. And it bought him goodwill with Avis. It was a profitable transaction.


    ¡°Really boss,¡± Kidd said. ¡°No one else would¡¯ve helped that dead man, let alone that dog.¡±


    ¡°A kind person¡­,¡± Ewan murmured. ¡°I hurt someone I care deeply for, even if she doesn¡¯t remember. I even tortured someone before, someone I didn¡¯t even know. Am I still kind? Do these cancel each other out? Or does it make me a bad person regardless?¡±


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Kidd stumbled for words, gaping at Ewan.


    ¡°Good, bad, empathetic, heartless, doesn¡¯t matter. A single facet can¡¯t define a man.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    Ewan helped those he could, where the cost wasn¡¯t high, and strolled past those he couldn¡¯t, where the cost crossed his limits. As his steps led him and Kidd back to his villa, he experienced the reward from his appeased conscience¡ªit was sheer euphoria.


    The erasure of the nagging critical inner-voice, the elimination of the constant battle against the cemented morals, and the abated societal blame and surging societal praise, it was all nigh addictive. He always remained inside the dome of his own views and never considered stepping out. But today, from Kiev¡¯s request to helping Avis to saving the others, he finally saw the other side. He was beginning to understand the other perspective¡ªlike Kiev¡¯s.


    Yet, his perspective controlled Kiev while Ewan stayed alert¡ªhe was detached enough to make a choice. Altruism might soothe his conscience and ease his inner conflict, but it was also a betrayal to himself and his dreams. He wouldn¡¯t put anyone else above him¡­


    Lost in thought, he opened the protective fog with his claw-ring and stepped in with Kidd. The same yard with the overgrown grass, the same villa with the aged vines hugging it, and the same fresh mountain air, but something was different today. A sense of gloom enveloped the place, even the whistling wind sounded eerie, and the dark of the night made it worse. There was a haunting chill in the air, and it tugged at his goosebumps.


    ¡°B-B-Boss¡­I-I feel weird.¡± Kidd stammered, quaking on his legs.


    Ewan frowned and panned his eyes around. The sacrificed corpses he left were still there, bloodless, and dead. Iris used most of their blood to reach Grade-S, while the remainder drenched the grass and soaked the soil. Ewan walked closer. His villa was normal till yesterday, the only variable was the sacrificial rite¡ªthe change must be related to it. When he came close enough, his steps halted, and he froze. A child¡¯s palm shaped purple bruises covered their bodies, the mark around their necks deeper than any other.


    Strangulation¡­


    ¡°Hehe.¡± The wind whispered in his ears; it sounded like a child¡¯s cackle.


    ¡°B-B-B-Boss.¡± Kidd stuttered hard; his eyes widened. He took a step back, pointing at Ewan, his hand trembling. ¡°Y-Y-Your s-shoulder.¡± He finally ended his stammer and uttered.


    Ewan took a deep breath then chuckled and laughed, the ghostly ambience garnishing his smile with a wicked undertone. ¡°It really came to be,¡± he said under his breath. ¡°Can you see it?¡± he asked Kidd. He could sense some element and now he could see the Wraith¡ªhis affinity orientation hinted at the dark element.


    Kidd nodded. ¡°H-He¡¯s on your shoulder,¡± he said, then yelped. ¡°H-He just looked at me! Our eyes met!¡± He backed off, gulping, his face bloodless and his breath choppy.


    ¡°How does he look?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°A-A c-child¡­,¡± Kidd said.


    It should be the one who massacred everyone in this villa then, Ewan thought. After the history of so many deaths, the sacrificial rite broke the camel¡¯s back and birthed a Wraith. His villa now had an uninvited guest making himself at home.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 10.2 | Ice ¨C 6.3 | Blood ¨C 6.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,731


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,912


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-140 Wraith

    Ewan moved his fingers, his intention triggering the action, and swirled his idle Varos¡ªthe Tigog Acrix¡ªaround him. The miniscule sand grains sizzled when they touched the Wraith, it was his bane and it bared its toxicity against him, and the Wraith screeched and scooted away from Ewan¡¯s shoulder. The shockwave from his scream hammered Ewan but his Varos defended him with a small shiver. Kidd, however, stumbled back and slumped, gasping and coughing.


    The Wraith could sit on his shoulders because he had no hostility. But this was Ewan¡¯s villa now, it was his home. Differentiating between the guest and the owner was a necessity, he had to exert his dominance.


    ¡°Need help?¡± Ewan asked, looking at Kidd.


    ¡°N-No, I¡¯m fine.¡± He groaned and grunted as he got up.


    ¡°Where is he now? Can you see him?¡±


    Kidd looked around, inching closer to Ewan, then his eyes halted at the corner of the yard. ¡°He looks¡­scared,¡± he said with a gulp. ¡°He¡¯s quivering.¡±


    Ewan raised his brows. Scared? With just one attack? The history behind the Wraith¡¯s birth made him expect a ferocious creature, not someone who would back off with one lashing. Was this Wraith not the boy he saw with his <Remembrance> spell? Nevertheless, if he was submissive already, it would save him time. He didn¡¯t need to tame him or kill him now, they could coexist. If he played his cards right, the Wraith might even become his watchdog, someone to keep his house in order and safe while he was gone.


    ¡°Get to know him,¡± Ewan said to Kidd. ¡°I¡¯ll be inside, don¡¯t disturb me unless something important happens. And get rid of those bodies. Dig a grave and bury them. Don¡¯t start a fire.¡±


    ¡°No! Boss!!¡± Kidd wailed, his forehead scrunched, his lips drooped down, and he pouted.


    ¡°Observe him properly. I need a sketch of his face by tomorrow.¡± Ewan ignored any further pleas and cries from Kidd and went inside the house¡ªto his bedroom. Confirmation of the Wraith¡¯s identity was just a side interest, he focused more on how to thread through the possible problems that would crop up with him rejecting Kiev.


    His deal with the Ensils should still stand true, this little bit of conflict shouldn¡¯t affect the outcome. After all, that deal was with the Governor. Even though Kiev was his family and an important element in the give and take, he was not the decision maker. That said, he could create problems for him.


    Ewan sighed and collapsed on his bed; the firm mattress just malleable enough to be comfortable yet supporting him nicely. He didn¡¯t regret refusing Kiev and would do it again if needed. There was too much risk in breaking through to Step-1 as he was now, especially in this unwalled city embroiled in war. Death could peek from any corner here, he had to remain on edge, else he would crack and shatter.


    Even for the sake of his mystic rune, he wouldn¡¯t consider what Kiev asked for. But in hindsight, he could have been more tactful in his refusal. His lack of experience in dealing with such situations, the fatigue, and the frustration from such a request made him snap. He didn¡¯t even try to make an excuse, a diplomatic out would¡¯ve resulted in a better ending, a more amiable conclusion.


    The only hope for salvaging this mess now was that Kiev was pragmatic enough to not make this issue any bigger and forget everything. That would be the best outcome of all. Worst-case scenario though¡­


    Let¡¯s decide when it happens.


    For now, he had to rest. Tomorrow, the raid might come again.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡­..


    The bell blared before the sun could clear the ocean, its echoes spreading across the gray sky, startling the birds away. Ewan stretched and groaned on his bed, taking a deep breath, the bedsheet crumpling under him. Yesterday¡¯s fatigue still lingered on him; it made him sluggish. This wasn¡¯t the time nor the place where he could take it easy though. So, he dragged himself up and got ready to head out with a hint of anxiety at the back of his mind. Kiev¡¯s reaction would make or break the day for him. Ewan¡¯s actions from now on also depended on it.


    Out in the yard, the chilly wind brushed against him. The cold caress gave him some respite and the last bit of lethargy faded away with the dawn¡¯s serenity.


    ¡°Why¡¯re you sleeping here?¡± Ewan nudged Kidd¡¯s bony butt with his foot.


    He jerked up, looking around with rapid breaths, blades of grass stuck in his unkempt hair and dark circles ran beneath his eyes.


    ¡°Ah, Boss. Is it morning already?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Do you have what I asked for?¡± Ewan queried, panning his eyes around the yard. The corpses weren¡¯t there anymore and the soil in one area was loose, so at least he finished one job. ¡°What about the Wraith?¡±


    ¡°Eh? Ah, he was here last night, don¡¯t know where he went,¡± Kidd said, losing his sleepy daze.


    ¡°Forget it, just get ready, we¡¯re leaving.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re fighting again?¡±


    ¡°Most likely,¡± Ewan said, sending Kidd inside the house to get ready then heading out with him.


    By the time they jogged down the mountain and reached the city, the sun had arced out, peeking over the crowns of the forest. The chirping birds should¡¯ve accompanied its rise, and the animals should¡¯ve bayed in greetings, but the declaration of war hushed them all.


    ¡°Sir.¡± A guard in chromed breastplate like Lance saluted and addressed Ewan at the entrance. ¡°Sir Kiev sent me for you,¡± he said.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°He said you don¡¯t need to head to the defensive line, sir. Instead, you should stay here and keep an eye out for anyone who might sneak in,¡± the guard said.


    Ewan chuckled. He was that angry that he didn¡¯t want to see him anymore. Or was this a way of revenge, by stopping him from earning anything from the war? Yesterday¡¯s battle had his shares too. All those enemy Ashevas who died because of his support, a percentage of their loot would go to him. He hadn¡¯t received that yet either. The way things were developing, he might not see it ever.


    ¡°Okay, tell him I comply. I wish you success,¡± Ewan said with a polite smile, smothering the irritation inside.


    He might not earn anything and might even lose what he already earned, but on the positive side, he was free to do whatever he wanted. That cave Kidd talked about¡ªhe could deal with it.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,731


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,912


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Character Art [Ewan]

    So, I had promised character arts for the human characters as well. And here I am, trying to deliver on it. With the randomness of AI, and my inexperience of handling it to create images, this was a hard task. Still, I sifted through all I got and finally decided on a few. But before you scroll down for the images, please let me state a few points.


    As it was with the character arts I''ve posted before, there will be an element of randomness here as well. You''ll find one image''s look differs from the other. So, take this as a ''pick your favorite'' type. Whatever image you like, that''s how you should perceive Ewan.


    And on that note, these images can also interfere with the image of Ewan you had of him in your head. So, let me, as the author of these characters, state that whatever you had in your mind would always be vastly superior to what I can churn with an AI. So, please don''t let this break your image of him. If you like any image here, and would like to imagine him as such moving forward. Very well. But if not, then please don''t let this hinder your reading.


    With that said, let''s move on with the images. [Disclaimer: Since they''re all AI images, you''ll find some weird faults, please don''t mind them.] [Also, the listing of images are random, so it doesn''t go from his childhood to his adulthood.]


    1.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


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 Chapter-141 Cave

    Ewan and Kidd trudged deep into the mountain forest, chopping down vines and branches that blocked their way, minding their steps on the uneven path. They took not the dirt road to Ewan¡¯s villa or anyone else¡¯s but moved far away from it. Bit by bit, they left the shadow of the city behind with murmurs of war still reaching for them.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the way to the Ensil Villa.¡± Ewan kept his Ryvia usage to a minimum and moved the leafed vine that tickled his face. The loose soil crumbled underfoot while the grassy bits held his steps. ¡°Why¡¯d you come here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t know where their villa was,¡± Kidd said in a sheepish tone, his ears reddening.


    ¡°How long have you lived in this city? Isn¡¯t this place your home?¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯ve never been to their villa.¡±


    ¡°Then ask for directions at least¡­,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Everyone was flustered and scared,¡± Kidd murmured.


    ¡°Ask me, you dimwit.¡± Ewan smacked Kidd¡¯s head.


    ¡°You were in a hurry,¡± he muttered, rubbing his head, and fixing his hair.


    ¡°How¡¯d you reach it then?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t, I met Valarie when I was looking for it,¡± he said. ¡°She sneaked out, said she wanted to join the fight.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, how much further is the cave?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Should be close now,¡± Kidd said.


    Soon, a path of trampled bushes, hacked off branches, and chopped vines appeared before them¡ªthis was a path taken before, unlike the one they were treading right now.


    ¡°Is this it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they walked through here,¡± Kidd said.


    They followed the trail, the already walked path making their journey easier, and it led them to a ghost-quiet clearing, where not even the wind left its whispers. Only the hill that blocked the clearing from the other side announced its weighty presence here, with a crack running along its height that almost rent it in half.


    Burnt traces of plants, vegetation, and vines lingered around it and a rotten stench wafted out. Ewan panned his gaze around but found no traces of life, other than the recent steps that went to the crack¡ªthree pairs went in and two came back¡ªand the dried splatter of blood that covered the grass in the area.


    ¡°Its¡¯s here,¡± Kidd breathed.


    The clearing had nothing special at the first glance, so Ewan headed for the hill, to take a closer look at the trap that killed an Asheva and injured another.


    Yet, each step he took towards the crack prickled his instinct¡ªit screamed for him to stay away. Goosebumps covered his skin, shivers ran down his spine, and his face chilled. A sense of dread coursed through his body, his heavy footfall burdening his stride. He clenched his fist and gulped, standing where he was and staring at the crack. This wasn¡¯t a mere threat, the severe sensations he felt implied danger to his life.


    He took a deep breath and stepped back, dragging the oblivious Kidd with him by his collar, moving out of the clearing and into the dense forest again.


    ¡°What now?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s too risky,¡± Ewan murmured and gulped, wetting his parched throat. He didn¡¯t want to leave this matter alone but also couldn¡¯t touch it without a way to avoid death. His instinct warned him of the danger, but it couldn¡¯t tell him the details. He needed to figure it out himself, and the only way he could think of was to send someone in and get more information.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.Not to mention whatever powered these traps couldn¡¯t sustain them eternally, he could target that weakness and conquer the cave. The easiest method against that weakness was to overwhelm with numbers¡­


    It couldn¡¯t be Ashevas though, he didn¡¯t want contenders in this race for the riches. Moreover, the possibility of any Asheva risking his life to get Ewan more information was zero, let alone give his life to chip away at the traps¡¯ energy. Even the weakest would resist, and he would have a pointless fight at his hand and an enemy he could¡¯ve avoided.


    So, the options left to him were animals, Astylinds, slaves, or Kyrons. The first two had the problem of control and dialogue, it was fatal.


    Slaves could do the job, but they would cost him an arm and a leg with the numbers he would need, and would also involve a third party, the slave trader, into the mix¡ªbuying too many at once could even attract unwanted attention from the Governor.


    Then the Kyrons¡­


    Ewan glanced at Kidd but refused the idea. Though he was reluctant to take him in at first, Kidd had proven himself to be useful so far. It was he who led Ewan to this cave after all. Letting him die here would be a huge loss.


    ¡°Go back to the city,¡± Ewan said, taking out a pouch and filling it with fifty Crelith coins. ¡°Find someone who needs this, someone who won''t be missed. By anyone.¡± He emphasized the end of his sentence. ¡°Give him the coins and tell him there¡¯ll be more if he completes one task. If he agrees, bring him here. Be discreet, not even a whisper about this place.¡±


    ¡°Boss, do you want someone to explore the cave?¡± Kidd asked, taking the pouch. ¡°I can do it.¡± He puffed his chest.


    So, he doesn¡¯t feel the danger.


    ¡°You¡¯ll die if you go in. Do you still want to?¡±


    Kidd shrank back. ¡°B-Boss, it can''t be that bad, right?¡± He peeked at the crack.


    ¡°Just do what I say,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Come back as soon as you can, and don¡¯t get lost.¡±


    ¡°Yes, boss!¡± He saluted and bolted away, shoving the pouch in his pocket.


    Ewan brushed away the dirt and sat on a thick root that jutted out in an arc, taking out his Spellbook. While Kidd was away looking for willing guinea pigs, he looked for a spell that could help him in this matter.


    Overwhelming the traps with Kyrons¡¯ lives was easy, getting information in the process was the difficult part. If he could find a spell that allowed him to communicate with the guinea pig¡­


    The idea emerged and it provoked a thought in him. He laughed, it was just yesternight that he rejected and rebuked Kiev, that the thought of sacrificing something of his for others irritated him. And here he was now, willing to use others for his sake¡ªhe didn¡¯t even hesitate to pick the most efficient method to succeed. The contrast in his actions cracked him up.


    Yet¡­


    He was doing this because he could do this. He was his own top priority, so he took from others and served himself. But the concept didn¡¯t apply to him only. Others could do the same to him.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,731


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,862


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-142 Dead Man Walking

    Ewan scoured his Spellbook and even skimmed the hub while Frost and Orange guarded his premises¡ªone standing alert by the root, and the other frolicking on the branches. Yet, he found nothing he could use in his situation. All the spells and artifacts suitable for the task required either Anima or spirit. Both the parties had to be an Asheva, Kyrons couldn¡¯t use them. Just on this point alone, the failed product of Obria, the radio transceivers, and Avis¡¯s invention, his communication boxes, far surpassed the competition. But Ewan could get neither.


    So, he let go of the notion and sought an alternative that could serve his purpose. After going through his Spellbook once again, he chanced upon a non-elemental tracer spell.


    Its spell circuit almost followed the same path as his <Stigma>, its applications also mimicked the same. Instead of marking targets with a negative or a positive mark for the follow up spells as <Stigma> did though, this tracer spell left a long-lasting mark on the target that pinged the spellcaster with information¡ªposition, life status, and some other miscellaneous details.


    Ewan took out his notebook and drew its circuit, scribbling his remark where he saw fit. Since it resembled <Stigma>, he didn¡¯t have any problem with it. The study of the spell drew him in as always and before Kidd¡¯s holler reached his ears and broke his trance, he traced the spell circuit once and channeled the spell.


    Kidd came racing to him, panting, blood dripping down his chin.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ewan frowned.


    ¡°He¡­He¡­¡± Kidd gasped for air; his chest heaved hard, and his breaths ended in grunts.


    ¡°Breathe first, you¡¯re fine now.¡± It took him a couple of minutes before his puffs and blows calmed down. He gulped, supporting himself on his knees.


    ¡°Did you kill someone?¡± Ewan asked, looking at his bloodied yet unwounded face.


    ¡°I found someone like you asked, Boss, but he said he didn¡¯t want to do it halfway through. I asked for the coins back, but he refused. So, I pushed him down and smashed his face with a rock.¡±


    Ewan clicked his tongue and sighed; this was an oversight on his part. ¡°Give me the pouch,¡± he said, taking half of the coins away from it then throwing it back to Kidd. ¡°Use this much now, find someone desperate,¡± he said. ¡°Clean up before you go back.¡± Ewan threw him a bottle of water. ¡°And take this, it¡¯s better than a rock, just in case. It¡¯s sharp, so handle with care, don¡¯t lose your fingers.¡± He also gave him the Obsidian Dagger again for protection.


    ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± Kidd saluted again and dashed away with the bottle and the dagger.


    ¡­..


    This time, he didn¡¯t fail. By the time sun trailed its everyday path and reached the peak, Kidd returned with an emaciated man, almost on the verge of death. His stink reached Ewan before he did; rags barely covered his body, and his overgrown entangled beard and greasy hair locked and tangled into a natural braid.


    ¡°Boss,¡± Kidd said, walking over with a grin. ¡°He agreed.¡±


    Ewan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the place.¡± He pointed at the cave with his eyes. ¡°You just have to go in, as far as it goes. You reach the end and walk out, I¡¯ll double the coins you got,¡± he said.


    ¡°W-What if I don¡¯t walk out?¡± the man asked, licking his chapped and grimy lips.


    ¡°You get to keep what you have,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°W-Will I die?¡±


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Maybe, maybe not. Now go.¡±


    The man instead took a step back, staring at the cave, his eyes wavering.


    Ewan squinted.


    Enthrall!


    He cast the spell, the mystic element surging around him, and tinkered with the man¡¯s thoughts. He broke down his suspicions and amplified his greed. ¡°You can get fifty coins, think about what you can do with it. What you can eat, where you can go, who you can sleep with,¡± he said. ¡°Do you still not want to do it?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll go, please keep your promise,¡± the man said, clutching the pouch of Crelith coins at his chest, and limped towards the cave. The trap that took an Asheva¡¯s life at the entrance flickered with an olive-green light but died down without any action¡ªthe overwhelming with numbers strategy was already showing progress.


    Spoor!


    Ewan cast and marked the man as he stepped into the darkness and let the cave devour his entirety. The next moment, he received the pings. The man¡¯s position, his frail but rapid heartbeats, his temperature¡ªhe detailed the cave and the situation inside for Ewan within the range of the spell.


    ¡­..


    ¡°How long do we have to wait, Boss?¡± Kidd asked, playing with the Obsidian Dagger, teasing its edge, while peeking at the crack every few seconds.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be long,¡± Ewan said. The man was a Kyron, a mortal, utterly powerless against the traps designed to kill the Ashevas¡ªthe first sign of danger or a trap would slaughter him. But just in case, and to avoid complications, he wanted to wait till the man breathed his last before hiring another tester.


    A snap of a twig and a crunch of dead leaves far off in the distance attracted Ewan, he looked over and extended his Ryvia. Yet, he found nothing¡ªthe sound came from beyond his range. It could be animals, it could be Astylinds, it could even be someone who got lost. But it was most likely the Ashevas who went into this cave yesterday.


    ¡°Boss?¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± Ewan shushed him with a finger on his lips then pointed towards the other side of the clearing. ¡°Go hide,¡± he whispered.


    Kidd bobbed his head and broke into a run, diving into a thick bush. Ewan pulled his neck gaiter up, covered half his face, and blended into the shadows of the tree crowns before putting away his Astylinds. Even at the peak of a Flamecrest afternoon, the dense aged forest had enough shade to support him.


    Soon his stretched thin Ryvia picked up some movements; someone brushed along its tendrils. There was only one man, and he wore a familiar face.


    The first battle Ewan fought in Drarith, it was against a same-aged man who contracted a Lightning Falcon and wielded strange exploding knives that attacked his soul. Ewan won the fight in the end, the man burst into pieces under his <Fireflies>.


    Yet, here he was, a dead man walking, alive and kicking, and heading for the cave. The mystery behind his survival piqued Ewan¡¯s interest.


    He had his secret; the man must have his own. The revelation or even a hint of either called for a life and death conflict. And Ewan wasn¡¯t above hunting him for it.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,731


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-143 Rainwald Finnegan

    Fireflies!


    Ewan armed a few patches of area in the man¡¯s path and held his breath, his heartbeat dimming with softer thumps. After the initial disruption of Anima, the armed areas settled down, waiting for their prey. The spell had killed the man once, the same could kill him again, he bet. Even if it couldn¡¯t, it could at least steal the initiative for him in the battle to follow.


    The man trekked through the forest, looking around and over his shoulders, also erasing his traces as he walked. He ruffled the chopped vines, he scattered the broken twigs afar, and he swept the footprints. His precautions didn¡¯t match the tracks Ewan found when coming here. So, it was either the man¡¯s companions who were careless, or the injured burden on the way back forced him to prioritize.


    Live and learn, the man¡¯s careful actions prompted Ewan to opt for the same in the future. His hike to the cave left a trail of breadcrumbs, such a clumsy miss could hamper all his plans. He would lose the cave and worsen his situation in Drarith if Kiev or his men found this place.


    Amidst his reflections, the man reached the first armed patch¡ªwithin Ewan¡¯s offensive range¡ªand his steps halted. He stared at the ground before him, stilled where he stood, and his eyes wavered with a slight frown. A few breaths of quietude later, Ewan sighed¡ªthe armed spells were a failure, the man noticed them.


    Blood Stasis!


    He aimed and cast, covering the area around the man with his spell. The ruse was up, there was no point in hiding anymore. The man jerked back, glancing at Ewan. With slithering and crackling lightning on his body, he flashed away from the red-tinted ground before a single thread could graze him.


    Ewan lifted his brows in sheer surprise, even this spell failed. Was this the same man he killed back then, or did he just wear the same face? It hadn¡¯t been long, and he grew strong enough to notice the faint disturbance from his spells.


    ¡°It really is you,¡± the man said. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to meet you again. You owe me a lot of sleepless nights.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate your obsession, but I must apologize, I like women,¡± Ewan said and walked out of the shadows.


    Firedust!


    He cast, and the fiery tangerine dust permeated the targeted area, searing the greens, the foliage and the vines smoldered in their wake.


    ¡°I¡¯m Rainwald Finnegan, Rain for short,¡± he said, zipping away again, leaving a trail of lavender lightning snakes. ¡°May I know your name?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather you tell me how you survived?¡± Ewan asked.


    Fireball!


    He hurled a few and Rain darted around, dodging the blasts. The innocent bystanders¡ªthe trees¡ªexploded from the strayed impact, burned and crackled.


    ¡°Your pieces should be decaying on the battlefield right now,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the fun in that?¡± Rain said and aimed at Ewan. Lavender lightning arced around his hand and with a flickering magic circle, a thundering bolt zoomed away. ¡°Pry my secrets from my dead body, if you can kill me.¡±


    Ice Wall!


    Ewan concentrated a part of his Ryvia before him, his Varos ready, and defended against the spell. The bolt thundered at him, shattering the ice wall, rending his Ryvia, and hammered his Varos before dispersing around into cracking arcs. His modified design of Tigog Acrix, the earthen glass, stood tall and protected him with only a scorched section that recovered the next moment.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Ice Daggers!


    He cast and the spell boosted his Ryvia, a dozen daggers hovering around him.


    ¡°I told you my name, will you really not tell me yours?¡± Rain said, aiming for Ewan again with a barrage of lightning whips¡ªthey crackled, and sundered the air. He flashed around, threading through the trees, and cast again, never remaining in one place.


    Blood Rein!


    Ewan slit his wrist with an ice dagger, used his blood for the spell, and pressed the wound to assist his natural recovery. ¡°Let it remain a mystery,¡± he said, converging all his enhanced Ryvia against the attacks, and anchored down with his Varos and the concaved blood wall protecting him.


    The whips belted him, one after another, crackling and sizzling. They smashed the initial defenses, the blood wall splattered, but couldn¡¯t get past his dense Ryvia¡ªit smothered the attacks on their way. The air in the surroundings heated up though, the resulting mirage twisted his vision. Ewan swirled the wind around him and dissipated the heat, clearing his sight.


    ¡°Petty,¡± Rain said and hurled another lightning bolt.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so hasty,¡± Ewan said, sending the daggers away towards Rain, zipping through the trees. ¡°Let¡¯s take our time.¡±


    Fireflies!


    His established defenses protected him, the blood blob gathered again and was ready for his command, while he cast <Fireflies> and armed several patches in Rain¡¯s path.


    ¡°Ugh! This again!¡± Rain exclaimed and slowed down; his steps became much more careful as he sniffed before his footfall. The combination of <Fireflies> and <Ice Daggers> cornered him. ¡°Why do you have so many spells, dammit! Are you one of those new Pathfinders?¡± he asked and brought out his Lightning Falcon.


    It used to be Grade-B, but now it stood at ¡®A¡¯. And with a war cry, it shot out of Dekoth, beyond the tree crowns and into the sky, its sharp peal declaring its dominance in the air.


    Pathfinder?


    ¡°Maybe, maybe not, does it matter? It won''t change your end anyway,¡± Ewan said and brought out his ¡®Moonkeeper¡¯, it floated above his palm.


    Phantasm!


    He cast, and luckily, succeeded on the first try. The spell circuit glimmered in his soul space and livened up, almost emptying the crystal ball when it took effect. Two Dekoths opened before Ewan, one frigid while the other blistered, and Frost and Orange strutted out.


    Frost, in his Ice Monkey form, guarded Ewan with his taut tail and stern eyes, ready with his spells. And Orange glared at the Lightning Falcon cruising in the sky, Fire-Anima surging around his tiny, clenched fists.


    Rain sniggered. ¡°You don¡¯t know what a ¡®Pathfinder¡¯ is, do you?¡±


    Ewan frowned; his nostrils flared. That high-pitched cackle pricked his nerves, the mere sound of it annoyed him. The condescending tone worsened it further.


    Fireball!


    He took note of his fluctuating impulses and emotions and catapulted the fireball with a deep grunt. The target didn¡¯t matter, the damage didn¡¯t matter, the accuracy mattered even less. It erupted far from Rain, not even the heat brushed him. But with that blast, Ewan exhausted his compulsion and regained his calm. The eruption burnt away his chagrin.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know what it is, can you enlighten me?¡± he asked. ¡°Or should I ask that to your dead body too?¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 5.8 | Ice ¨C 16.2 | Blood ¨C 7.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,731


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-144 Pathfinder

    ¡°Exchange,¡± Rain said, wielding the throwing knives he used back in the war, flipping them between his fingers. ¡°Your name for the information.¡±


    Orange blasted off into the sky from Ewan¡¯s Ryvia platform, facing off against the falcon with a salvo of explosive punches. The sky rumbled with them, the crowns of the trees submitted, and the clouds scattered away. While Frost assisted Ewan against Rain with his spells. Ice blades, icicles, ice spikes, his slew of ice spells further trapped Rain, the aftermath chilling the earth and freezing the greens. Some spells grazed him, and some belted him and shattered his lightning Varos again and again. Even with his speed, he couldn¡¯t dodge it all¡ªthe lacerations, the wounds, and his bloodied clothes proved his predicament. Yet, the light within his eyes blazed brighter than ever. The man was enjoying the edge, he reveled in the rush of the battle. Perhaps death had lost its meaning for him.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ewan said, absorbing Anima from the Novas coin between his teeth, its ceramic surface velvety to his tongue, and cast <Fireflies> as he predicted Rain¡¯s path. Though he jumped around like a monkey in the woods, he still followed a loose pattern, especially when the dense forest restricted him so. ¡°Slate Falvey, nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°I¡­see,¡± Rain said, panting, and hurling the lightning daubed throwing knives at Frost before bolting away from the path of icicles. He leveraged a thick branch of a tree and summersaulted across an armed <Fireflies>, groaning yet chuckling as he strained himself¡ªblood spurted from the gash on his stomach. ¡°Pathfinders are the guides¡­.who help the lost adventurers back on their initial path.¡±


    Sindra¡ªIce Favored!


    Ice Wall!


    Ewan eased his own defenses and blocked the knives for Frost with a part of his mind in the sky, creating platforms for Orange to maneuver. The knives stabbed the ice wall, chipped its surface, then exploded into lightning clouds, shattering the wall into shards.


    Frost sprung back and retreated but the cloud spread faster than the last time, it billowed and surged. The lack of information caused Ewan¡¯s miscalculation. He removed all his defenses and grabbed Frost with Ryvia, yanking him back before the expanding lavender lightning cloud touched him. But at the same time, he stood almost defenseless¡ªonly his Varos protected him like an honest guardian. And a crackling lightning whip flogged him at just the right moment. It tore his Varos, shredded his shirt, and gashed his chest across, deep into his sternum and ribcage. The stench of burnt skin and blood hit his nose before the gut-wrenching pain took over. He grunted a deep growl.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a three-year-old? You lied and killed me last time; do you think I won''t gather any information on you?¡± Rain said, his chest heaving and his hand trembling, his face and hair drenched in sweat and blood. ¡°Who is Slate Falvey anyway, did you just pick any name at random? Am I nothing in your eyes?¡±


    Ewan took a deep and sharp breath amidst the man¡¯s whining, but the agony from the movement chopped it into a hiccup. ¡°Fine,¡± he said with a hoarse throat, trying to breathe gradually as the sharp pain stung him, the remnant lightning arcs singeing his skin. ¡°Ewan Ayres, nice to meet you.¡±


    Why bother asking if you already know me¡­


    Rain smiled, his eyelids drooping, and his steps halted. ¡°Pathfinders, those who create their own paths of Asheva instead of walking the established and tested roads,¡± he said.


    His Lightning Falcon squawked and nosedived, its wings folded as it did, and zoomed back into the Dekoth, leaving Orange alone and frustrated in the sky, and he roared.


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


    ¡°Some other types have popped up recently. They¡¯re still Severynths, but because they opted for a different combat style, they also call themselves ¡®Pathfinders¡¯,¡± Rain said. ¡°If you continue to meddle in Drarith¡¯s business, you¡¯ll meet them soon enough. Now, I should take my leave.¡±


    He bowed with his hand at his heart. ¡°We shall meet again,¡± he said and collapsed back with a smile, thudding on the ground behind him, where the armed <Fireflies> was.


    Ewan watched him fall, and his raised hand ready to cast another spell also dropped. His gushing adrenaline settled down, his trembles rested, and the Anima he employed returned home to their runes. It was futile to try and keep Rain here in his condition, especially when he didn¡¯t know how to¡ªhe could only let go. And so, as his tensed shoulders eased and the pain from the gash intensified, the swarm of milky fireflies engulfed Rain. A second later, with a surge of Anima around him, he exploded into gore and bloodied pieces.


    At the same time, the last ping from the man inside the cave announced his status¡ªno heartbeat, temperature dropping, and zero movements.


    ¡­..


    Ewan trudged over to the small crater with Frost and Orange in tow and glanced at the pieces Rain left behind. His body parts were a gory mess with bits splattered all over the ground¡ªthey gave Ewan no clue. But the intact patches of clothes, though still smoldered, reported the actual situation. These leftovers were of the darkened-rose color and not the algae-green Rain wore, not to mention they looked to be ladies¡¯ garments.


    His secret was already out, so he didn¡¯t even bother hiding it this time. He summoned a woman here and had her take the full brunt of <Fireflies> in his stead. No, the woman was here but Rain wasn¡¯t. So, he swapped places with her most likely. There were no fluctuations of Anima or spirit from her body parts either¡ªshe was a Kyron.


    Ewan inspected the aftermath while Iris worked on his gash. The stubborn Lightning-Anima glued to the wound resisted her spell, but her consistent effort chipped at its remnant strength. Kidd also dashed to him, standing by his side without uttering even a whisper, though sweating profusely.


    His battle with Rain was far from over. Ewan craved the cave, coveted whatever was inside. Hence the conflict was inevitable. He could fake the information and show him that Ensils already knew about this cave, and he was here guarding it for them. But it was flimsy at best, he dared not underestimate Rain and fool him with this trick.


    He had to find a counter to this swapping method¡­.


    For that, the dead woman could be crucial. Thus, after he finished examining the crater, he collected the woman¡¯s body parts and the blood-soaked soil. Fortunate misfortunes, luckily Kiev sidelined him and removed him from the vanguards. He now had all the time of the day to him to figure out how to kill Rain.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 6.9 | Ice ¨C 9.2 | Blood ¨C 8.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,731


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Patreon Changes.

    I''ve made some major changes in the patreon tiers. Its now a single tier setup, 10usd for 40 chapters ahead. Thought to make a separate update on it instead of adding it in the author''s note, since the change is big. Also, as I had mentioned before, Book-2 is now completely available on patreon. With the new changes, all the chapters are available for 10usd now.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Anyway, that''s all for the update. The next chapter will be out around the same time I post nowadays, in about 6 hours or so from the time of posting this. Thank you all for reading the book so far. I really appreciate your support.


    Tl;dr:


    Current Tier setup: Patreon</a>. 10usd -- 40 chapters Early Access + 1 free chapter.

 Chapter-145 Nature’s Recoil

    They trekked back the same path, only the nonchalant tweets of the birds accompanying their silence, and headed towards the city. Ewan copied Rain this time and cleaned the obvious traces, just leaving a small mark on the trees to not lose direction in the future.


    How did Rain swap places just before the attack? His thoughts wandered with every few steps, then the humming pain yanked him back to aching reality. He looked down at his wound¡ªthe blood had already drenched his white torn shirt. It would create questions for him if he went to the city like this. So, he ripped it off and changed into a charcoal-colored shirt, grimacing when it grazed his gash. The soaked patch on his chest still looked off, but its black hid the blood color. It wasn¡¯t as eye-catching anymore. He also poured some iced water over his head as he walked¡ªit cooled him and covered the blood-drenched patch.


    ¡°Where did you leave the body?¡± Ewan asked, gulping down the icy water and munching on the shards. From his throat to his stomach, it chilled his core.


    ¡°It¡¯s not far from here,¡± Kidd said. ¡°That side.¡± He pointed to the right.


    Ewan tossed him the bottle and went over. A gentle-ish slope halted their path, giant roots holding the soil together, and a dead body lay at the bottom with drab crisp leaves around.


    ¡°Is that how you hid him?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°No one will find it, Boss, the animals will finish him up soon,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Did anyone see you with him?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Kidd shrank. ¡°Someone might have,¡± he said under his breath.


    ¡°Go dig.¡± Ewan gave him the dagger again. ¡°Bury him and cover it with leaves.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Kidd said with slouched shoulders and slid down the slope, ploughing the earth with the Obsidian Dagger.


    He dug and dug while Ewan sat above, leaning on a tree as Iris tended to his wounds. The stubborn Anima came from a same-leveled attack, it couldn¡¯t hold on for long against her consistent efforts. Soon her ¡®Mend¡¯ strangled the last thread of the Lightning-Anima, and his wound itched, the tingle reaching down to his bones.


    ¡­..


    The sun had clocked out and gone down when they exited the forest and entered the city, its obstinate afterglow lingering beyond the nimbus clouds. Dry weather and the heatwave persisted for long, the surge in Fire-Anima during Flamecrest supported them, but nature was recoiling back now¡ªit would pour tonight, the rumbling clouds declared it.


    The temperature plunged, and the wind picked up, the deafening squall bringing with it the salty humidity from the ocean. Ewan¡¯s hair danced and his shirt fluttered, the trees behind him struggled against the sudden storm. Yet even this level of torrent couldn¡¯t erase the lasting stench of iron in the air. It was stronger than yesterday and attested to the soaring casualties of war. Death just came that easy here.


    Ewan intended to wander around the city again, help anyone he could, however he could within his limits. But a few steps later, he met Kiev and his worn-out group.


    ¡°Where were you?¡± Kiev asked in a gruff voice, handing back the report to the armored guard behind him. Blood didn¡¯t drench him today, yet he looked drained, worse than last night. Dried tears, bloodshot eyes, and dirty messed up hair told his story of the day. He must¡¯ve had a drastic afternoon.


    ¡°I thought I saw someone sneaking around, went to check it,¡± Ewan said with a nod to others in greetings. ¡°Was just my imagination though, found no one.¡±


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


    ¡°I told you to stay here and keep an eye out.¡± Kiev glowered. ¡°Will you keep disobeying orders like this?¡±


    ¡°I was following that order,¡± Ewan said with a polite smile; his trademark for when the amiability died, and the distance pulled away. ¡°It would be bad if I missed someone suspicious, so I didn¡¯t take the chance.¡±


    Kiev clenched his jaws. ¡°We lost a lot today too, many died,¡± he said. ¡°Will you really not change your mind? Are you going to ignore all this?¡±


    ¡°My condolences.¡± Ewan lowered his head in respect, his smile receded. ¡°That¡¯s the best I can do,¡± he said.


    ¡°They grew up with me¡­they were my brothers¡­,¡± Kiev said, his voice trembling. ¡°And I had to watch them fall, one after another¡­. They aren¡¯t just cold names on a list to me, they¡¯re precious lives, lives that could¡¯ve been saved.¡±


    ¡°I really am sorry for their deaths, but I cannot yield to your request.¡±


    ¡°Is it that hard for you to consider others? Will it kill you to put your comfort aside for once?¡±


    A sparse relation of a few weeks, and the man talked as if he knew him. From their voyage on the ship to this stormy dusk, the man threw judgments at him left and right¡­ But still, Ewan gave a polite and apologetic smile, and hid his annoyance behind the curl. ¡°I really wish I could help them, but I¡¯m simply unable to. If I tried the rite of promotion in my current condition, I¡¯ll fail for sure, I know my situation,¡± he said. ¡°I apologize again.¡±


    This little wrangle with Kiev smothered his desire to help anyone anymore, the blame game was testing his patience. ¡°You look busy, I shouldn¡¯t disturb you any longer,¡± he said before Kiev could continue, and walked away with Kidd, heading to his villa.


    ¡­..


    ¡°Boss, he looks pissed,¡± Kidd said, trailing behind Ewan on the inclined path, peeking back at Kiev¡¯s group from time to time. ¡°Might¡¯ve chopped you to pieces in his mind already.¡±


    ¡°I would be too if I were him,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯ve already denied him twice.¡± Though he was more tactful in his approach this time, the damage was already done.


    ¡°He might attack us like this, maybe send us to the frontlines,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see. Worst case scenario, I¡¯ll leave Drarith,¡± Ewan said. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t take the risk of hunting me then, given the situation of war right now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to take me with you when you leave, Boss.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this place your home?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°Do you want to leave and wander with me? I don¡¯t even know where I¡¯ll go.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Kidd said. ¡°I¡¯ve already decided to follow you, even if you send me to my death.¡±


    Ewan laughed. ¡°Sure,¡± he said. ¡°Before that, draw me the sketch of that Wraith I asked you last night.¡±


    ¡°B-Boss, I¡¯m not trying to dodge it or anything, but I¡¯m really not good at sketching,¡± he whined, his eyes turning beady.


    ¡°Practice then.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 14.8 | Ice ¨C 17.1 | Blood ¨C 16.2]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 70,731


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-146 Playful Menace

    The city of spices looked shaky for Ewan, as his conflict with Kiev spiraled, as the war worsened, as the casualties soared, and the words Rain left behind about ¡®Pathfinders¡¯ sprinkled the apt spices on his concerns. Even if he got close to the decision makers, he still wasn¡¯t an insider¡ªnone of the important news, about the raid or otherwise, made it to him. Not that he expected to become ¡®one of them¡¯, but he¡¯d failed to even touch the fa?ade. Especially now that he burned off his bridge to Kiev.


    He already smelled something cooking behind this sudden attack, but he lacked information to infer anything concrete. It could be a distraction for accessing the crack, but the details surrounding the raid didn¡¯t agree with it.


    ¡°I have another task for you,¡± Ewan said, walking amidst the stormy forest, climbing towards his villa as the gust almost ate his words. The trees bent to their limits against the nature¡¯s might, and the deafening blast of wind roared in the woods. ¡°It needs discretion, make sure you keep it to yourself.¡±


    ¡°I won''t disappoint you, Boss. Just give me the order,¡± Kidd said, turning the volume up to outdo the storm. He trailed behind Ewan, shielding his eyes against the howling gale, his body pressing forward to force the steps ahead.


    ¡°Secure a ship, buy it or steal it, doesn¡¯t matter. Just get a ship that can sail,¡± Ewan said, extending his Ryvia to ease Kidd¡¯s pressure.


    ¡°Are we really leaving?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a precaution,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We might not need to in the end, but it¡¯s better to be prepared.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Boss,¡± Kidd said.


    Ewan nodded and strode ahead, Kidd scampering behind him to keep up. The trail curved up ahead and ended at his villa. He opened the protective shield when they reached the fog¡ªit churned at its own pace even when the gust thrashed it¡ªand the dense gloomy air inside welcomed them. The fresh breath from the storm outside turned into a heavy and biting gulp that stuffed his lungs.


    ¡°B-Boss, h-he¡¯s greeting you,¡± Kidd said, his knees mimicking the stammer of his words.


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°Sketch him, I need it by the morning. Start with the ship tomorrow,¡± he said and walked inside the house, leaving Kidd alone with his ¡®friend¡¯.


    His element baths needed stability, but it didn¡¯t have to be in Drarith. If it came to that, a ship could do¡ªwith some adjustments and some compromise. Until then, he intended to continue here.


    The resting period of the fire-element bath was over, next up was the ice-element. Before that, however, he needed to finish some tasks.


    First up was the protective shield on his villa. He still used the one that came with the purchase, and with all that happened, his confidence in it was shaking. He even made a mental note once to change it, it was now time to act on it. So, he combed through the hub and found a protective spell circuit that could guard against powerful spirit interference. It was a necessity, especially for what he was going to do next. It cost him an arm and a leg, but he procured it with his accumulated profits from potions of the last few days.


    Once he switched the spell circuit in the basement, as the denser protective fog replaced the original around his villa and roiled with a coral-colored lightning thread streaking through it, he moved on to his next task.


    The hub gave him access to the ingredient for the usual element baths¡ªblood of Astylinds¡ªbut it failed to serve him for one element. It was also the element Ewan majored in¡ªMystic. Be it for the completion of ¡®Elementalist¡¯ or for not trailing behind in his mainstay element, he needed the mystic-element blood.


    He already had the blood, just not in the way he could use it. So, he whipped out his <Transmute> spell to carve a path around the impossibility. He was going to study the composition of normal Astylind blood against the blood from the Nine-Tailed Fox, how they differed with levels and grades, and create batches of mystic-element blood of a level he could use for his element bath. This was a long arduous process, and most likely would finish by the time he ticked off all the other elements.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Besides that, he also needed to continue his work on studying the runes and other miscellaneous tasks. Not to mention, the additional work Rain left him with¡ªif he didn¡¯t figure out how that man survived his fatal attacks, he could never kill him. All of a sudden, the twenty-four hours in a day seemed so shorter¡­.


    ¡­..


    [Kidd]


    He watched Ewan go inside the house, his lips puckered, then slouched his shoulders and dropped his head with a sigh. Boss told him to sketch the Wraith, so he had to do it. But where should he even begin? First, he knew not a sausage about drawing, let alone sketching portraits. And second, the dumb Wraith didn¡¯t sit still for a second for him to give it a try, the numbhead always scuttled around.


    Yet, he must do it.


    So, he went inside the house, grabbed a notebook and a pen from Boss¡¯s collection, and raced out. Only to see the idiot Wraith rolling around on the grass, his childish laughter echoing in the yard.


    He¡¯s not scary, not scary at all, Kidd repeated in his mind and took deep breaths. His ghastly cackles reverbed in the air, the ambience inside the fog dingier than the gray storm outside. The sharp high note of the Wraith¡¯s last chuckle sent shivers down his spine, his knees almost buckled, and he gulped; the gloomy air gave him goosebumps. But he had to face it, it was Boss¡¯s order.


    ¡°H-Hello, I¡¯m Kidd.¡± He walked up to the Wraith and said, his heart on the verge of bursting.


    The Wraith looked at him with his beady eyes and blinked. His eyeballs rotated beyond their limits when his eyelids went up, and his sockets hollowed¡ªhe vanished into thin air.


    Kidd stumbled back, and a sharp giggle rang near his ears. His shoulder weighed down, a soft chilled breath caressing his neck. He clenched his fist, and hyperventilated, trying hard to control his trembles, sweat droplets trickling down his cheeks. Even the itch on the trail of the sweat bested him and ran amok.


    ¡°Oh god of smiles, the god among the gods, the highest god of them all. Please help me,¡± he muttered the name of the only god he knew. It was popular in the city recently; many people praised him. They said the god of smiles was the bane of all negativities, his name should be effective on this menace then. But the child Wraith just played around him, yanking his hair, tugging his shirt, sometimes poking him, and breaking into a laughing fit that thundered in the yard. Regardless of how many times he uttered the name of god, the menace didn¡¯t even flinch.


    ¡°Useless piece of shit. I¡¯ll pee on your doorstep the next time I¡¯m in that area,¡± Kidd cursed under the breath then focused on the Wraith again. ¡°D-Do y-you want to play with me?¡± he asked. Defending was useless, so he took another approach.


    The Wraith halted before him, looking up at his face, and bobbed his head with a wide and bright grin.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 65,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-147 Walyn

    The Wraith played and Kidd was forced to play along. Childlike reactions at times, and freakish movements that sent his heart racing the next, the Wraith lived up to his kind. It whittled Kidd¡¯s resilience down. From tag to red light, green light, and finally, hide and seek, time slipped by. The relentless ¡®amusement¡¯ for the Wraith was poison for Kidd, it wore him out. In the end, he broke down and had to beg for mercy. The refusal carried a risk, but he wagered on Ewan¡¯s protection and said it.


    Yet, the reaction and the aftermath he dreaded never came. Instead, the Wraith stared at him with his hollowed eyes, then dropped his head and moped over in the yard¡¯s corner, hugging his knees in a squat. The eerie air around him darkened, the depressing vibe off him could kill all the optimism in the world.


    ¡°I-I played with you; now can you listen to my request?¡± Kidd asked, walking over. The sketch was a must, and the Wraith proved himself to be docile enough¡ªBoss¡¯s order looked doable now.


    The Wraith peeped at him, showing his pearly teeth, and poked him before darting away.


    ¡°No, we¡¯re not playing again,¡± Kidd said. ¡°I need you to sit still for some time.¡±


    His words deflated the child Wraith again, and he went back to moping in the corner.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll play with you later, first let me draw a sketch. If Boss gets angry, he won''t let you play.¡±


    He stared at Kidd and nodded a breath later, hunkering down. And Kidd began the first sketch of his life with a smug smile on his face. He drew and discarded and drew again for the next dozens of minutes, the crumpled ball of papers soon piling around him. His talentless hands endeavored, the flicking wrists and the gentle sway of the fingers worked the magic, yet all they resulted in was childish doodles with exaggerated contours of the sketch. He acted the part of a painter but couldn¡¯t reflect the result on the paper. Still, the Wraith supported him and didn¡¯t move an inch, letting Kidd practice all he wanted. He was awfully obedient for an infamous menace that had everyone¡¯s knees buckling and teeth chattering.


    Yet¡­


    The fog around the villa thinned the next moment, and soon it disappeared. Before Kidd could register the change, a new fog, much denser than the last, enveloped the villa again¡ªa coral lightning thread streaked around.


    The Wraith screeched, its shockwave blasted Kidd away, his doodled pages from the notebook ripped apart and scattered in the air. His ears buzzed, the cloudy sky wobbled before him, and his right shoulder ached with a dull pain. He groaned and struggled to breathe. The grass cushioned his fall, but it still hurt him. When his senses straightened, when he could see and hear properly, he dragged his body up and looked around for the Wraith¡ªhe found him curled down, hugging his head, and shivering in the corner of the yard where the soil was loose and freshly dug.


    ¡°Da¡­da¡­Ma¡­ma¡­,¡± the Wraith muttered.


    And the rain poured with a flash of lightning illuminating the storm, its rumbling thunder shaking the city a second later.


    ¡­..


    [Ewan]


    The break of dawn cracked the stormy night sky with a shimmering rainbow over the endless ocean, indifferent to the conflict seething at its feet. Nature¡¯s recoil bore its destructive face all night, yet it also rejuvenated where and whoever it touched, providing a break to the harsh months of growth¡ªFlamecrest. Even an untimely rain from the Watercrown season stood true to its name¡ªthe months of interlude. It doused the overwhelming crowd of Fire-Anima that reigned supreme for the season, and the Water-Anima gushed in with its support and leveled the weather.


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    Ewan carried a hectic schedule, but he still took his time to enjoy the fresh morning breath in his yard, especially with the comforting smell of petrichor the storm had left behind. Naked feet to the wet and soft grass took him away from the stress and anxiety, and the chilled ambience brought a smile to his weary face. Orange had a blast with the abundance of Fire-Anima, and he might sulk with the sudden rain, but Ewan still preferred when nature struck a pleasing balance.


    ¡°You¡¯re like an old man, Boss, Lorry used to do that too,¡± Kidd said, coming up behind him with bird¡¯s nest of a hair and baggy eyes. ¡°He did that every morning when he retired and settled down.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, I might be an old man at heart,¡± Ewan said, still smiling and enjoying his time with his arms spread. ¡°I do conform to their bearing; I haven¡¯t been young since a long time ago.¡±


    Kidd bobbed his head, scratching his head. ¡°What¡¯s conform?¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Did you finish the sketch?¡± Ewan asked, ignoring his mumble.


    ¡°Ah.¡± Kidd raced back to the house, splattering the puddles in the yard, and came back with a wrinkled page. ¡°Will this work, Boss?¡±


    It was a scribbled mess with a circled face, scraped black lines for eyes, and random threaded strokes for hair¡ªthey almost resembled seaweed growing on the bed of Morinfair. Ewan sighed, sketching a live portrait was too much to ask of Kidd.


    ¡°Forget it.¡± He handed the page back. ¡°Just ask his name and tell me how tall he is.¡± He wouldn¡¯t be able to describe the facial features to any effect anyway.


    Passionate memories constituted a Wraith, preserved and nurtured by the surge in the dark element. Even with or without the remnant soul particles after death, the Wraith would carry the personality of its past. So, if Kidd could communicate with him properly, getting his name was feasible. Although the history Ewan saw with his <Remembrance> last time didn¡¯t give him a name, he could alter the usage of the spell and try again to confirm. If it didn¡¯t work, he could also look through the official records for this villa, though that could be problematic, given the current state of the city.


    ¡°That I already asked. He said he was Walyn Yales, his parents and sister called him Willy,¡± Kidd said. ¡°He¡¯s this tall.¡± He pointed to his shoulder and compared, then lowered it by an inch.


    ¡°Sister?¡± The ¡®curious child¡¯ massacred his family in the spectral past, but there was no sister among them. He had two brothers instead¡ªthe elder brother, he smothered in sleep, while he slit the younger one¡¯s throat with the kitchen knife. ¡°Are you sure he said that?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Yes, he said they¡¯re buried in this yard,¡± Kidd said, pointing at the patch of loose soil. It was where Ewan found the old skeletons when burying the sacrifice for Iris. ¡°He buried them himself and died after.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 65,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-148 Outburst

    ¡°Died after?¡± Ewan frowned. The new information didn¡¯t match the history he saw, neither did the Wraith¡¯s disposition overlap with the young boy in the spectral past¡ªthe height was a mismatch too. He killed his whole family one night in cold blood, slaughtered them to satiate his curiosity, then buried them himself¡­ Did his quiet conscience finally knock on his door? Or just his regret welled up and he missed his family. How did he die after that? Suicide?


    The questions that didn¡¯t matter in the past because of their irrelevance now threw a wrench in his plans. Because the authenticity of the contrasting claims could determine if his spell <Remembrance> had a problem¡ªand by association, whether the Mystic-Anima had a problem.


    If that really was the case¡­ Ewan broke out in cold sweat at the thought and gulped. He had tamed the mystic element with his ¡®favored level¡¯ affinity, he was sure of it. Until now. If they weren¡¯t under his control, then they¡¯d toyed with him since day one. But the Anima didn¡¯t have sentience, regardless of the element. So, how could the Mystic-Anima show him a false history? Not to mention the source of the deceptive information.


    His mind raced, his thoughts and ideas collided, and he listed out the possibilities.


    First scenario, all of this was a false alarm, and the Wraith had lied. This was the most desirable situation yet was the most unlikely. The child Wraith showed a na?ve, pure, a bit meek, and childlike characteristics so far. Even though his drastic past and a brutal end birthed him, as his memories shaped his current form, he hadn¡¯t matured enough as a Wraith to go against his innate nature. So, deceit was improbable.


    Second scenario¡ªthe Wraith was telling the truth and his spell <Remembrance> had a problem. And the issue came from external interference. Someone schemed against him, most likely the Governor or his clique. Though he could not imagine the means or the motive, the situation seemed probable.


    Third scenario¡ªthere were no ploys, and the problem was the mystic element itself. Even though it didn¡¯t have the sentience to make a choice, it still duped him. This element was the most unknown and bizarre of the eleven, so such an absurd notion was plausible. His spell peered into the past through their memories after all, a feat that could be too heavy for his level, his affinity or the expenditure of Anima might not have qualified to access them. The only question was¡ªwhere did the Mystic-Anima pick the fabricated history from?


    The scenarios were mere conjectures. The only way to confirm them was through experiments and evidence. The second and the third possibilities stumbled Ewan, but he could verify the first one easily. The proof was at his doorstep.


    ¡°Go, bring the tools,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Dig his family¡¯s grave.¡±


    ¡°What? Why?¡± Kidd asked in alarm.


    ¡°Just do as I say.¡± Ewan glared at him.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Kidd shrank back. ¡°He¡¯s not going to like it, Boss, he might go on a rampage,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Leave him to me,¡± Ewan said and extended his Ryvia to cover the whole villa. He couldn¡¯t see the Wraith but could pick up his influence in the surroundings. Wherever he touched, whatever he moved. The unnatural shifts in the blades of grass, the unusual rustle of the leaves, and the cold whistle of the wind grazing him by. If he just looked for it, the Wraith¡¯s presence would sing aloud.


    That was enough to control him in case he went berserk, if Kidd couldn¡¯t warn him in time. Moreover, if he did rage for digging his family¡¯s grave, it would only back up his claims and give him evidence to cancel out the first scenario.


    ¡­¡­


    The first wound on the grave already provoked a shockwave, as the peace of the yard collapsed, a mind-buzzing screech followed its tail¡ªWalyn seethed vehemently. Kidd stumbled back, gawking behind Ewan, the shovel in his hand trembling, the loose mud dropping at his feet.


    ¡°Continue,¡± Ewan said and focused his Ryvia behind him, pinning the area. The air weighed down, the puddles seeped into the ground, and the grass flattened. Walyn pushed against his Ryvia, fighting the pressure, his feet imprinting the earth, and the friction heated the wind¡ªsparks shuttled around.


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


    Kidd gulped then continued shoveling the wet earth, peeking behind Ewan from time to time. ¡°B-Boss, he¡¯s struggling¡­,¡± he stammered. He barely finished his words, and Walyn shrieked with a grating undulating pitch, as if nails had scratched a board. The glass windows shattered. The grass, the soil, the water burst away. The protective fog quaked, and the wave blasted Ewan back. He thudded on the ground, and the hit took his breath away for a moment, as he gasped and wheezed in a sharp inhale. Luckily, his Varos only cracked and held its own against the attack, else he would¡¯ve fractured a few bones at least.


    He severely underestimated the Wraith, or more like he underestimated Walyn¡¯s willingness to fight back for the graves. Nevertheless, his reaction had almost struck through the first scenario.


    ¡°Keep digging,¡± he said with a gruff voice, jumping back on his feet, growling as his breaths sped up. His Ryvia roiled with his intent of destruction, he pushed his spirit to its limits, and the wind stilled before him. And with a roar, he erupted his Ryvia and covered the whole villa, crushing any and all disturbance. The broken shards of glass floated up and disintegrated, the porcelain dishes in the kitchen imploded and powdered, the protective fog quaked yet again, and the yard hushed down into a ghostly silence.


    His perception covered everything in the area, even the tiniest interference didn¡¯t escape him. With the change in resistance that his spirit felt, he found the Wraith. Instead of suppressing him down this time and locking him in place, he converged a part of his Ryvia and hammered him. Walyn screeched, the ground squashed around him, and a second later, he fought back.


    Ewan¡¯s Varos cracked and healed then cracked again under the constant bombardment of shockwaves while he smacked the Wraith around. From the corner of the yard to the villa¡¯s rooftop, their clashes left only ruination in its wake. The once lush lawn browned in patches, the bombardment skinned it to its bare earth. Shredded plant bits lingered in the air, barely feathering down before another blast hurled them back into the sky. The walls of his house cracked; the fractures raced with each strike. Wet soil splattered around; muddy water exploded then rained down.


    Ewan mixed in some particles of his Varos with his Ryvia and whipped Walyn, it sizzled on contact and singed the Wraith. Walyn vanished and reappeared before him, shrieking at him at point blank range.


    The Varos fragmented. The thudding blow cracked his ribs and caved his chest in, while his counterattack crushed the Wraith to the ground. The damage halted both the parties and the attacks stopped for a moment as they pulled away. Ewan panted, each grunting breath hurting his sternum and burning his dry throat, as he glared at the area where Walyn was.


    ¡°How is he?¡± Ewan asked in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°H-He¡¯s flickering, Boss¡­ and more transparent,¡± Kidd said, gulping. ¡°He¡¯s crawling towards me.¡± He looked down at the ground where he stood with the shovel, where he¡¯d wounded the earth. ¡°Towards the grave¡­¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 65,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-149 Weird Phenomenon

    Ewan took a deep breath, his cracked ribs stung, and calmed his boiling spirit down. In the heat of the battle, he took things a bit too far¡ªWalyn¡¯s constant resistance triggered him. His intention was to suppress him while he checked the bones in the graves, not to dissipate the newborn Wraith. He was but a mere child, regardless of his status as the infamous ghost¡ªthe persona of dread.


    ¡°B-Boss, should I help him?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Go, go.¡± Ewan waved, rubbing his forehead. He had no means to heal the Wraith, and neither did Kidd. Non-dark element spells wouldn¡¯t work on an undead like that, and Kidd was only a mortal with scant mundane means. But he was the only one around Ewan who could see and interact with the Wraith, perhaps he could prevent his soul from scattering. If not, he only hoped the damage wouldn¡¯t kill the little guy. With the natural recovery speed of Wraiths and the concentration of Dark-Anima around the villa, he should be ok¡­hopefully.


    Kidd dropped the shovel and rushed towards Walyn, where the air hummed and distorted around him. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he whispered and kneeled. ¡°You¡¯ll be okay,¡± he said. But the moment he reached out, he yelped and pulled back, falling on his ass, his stretched hand trembling in air. This time, even Ewan could see the Wraith as he materialized and melted into Kidd¡¯s body.


    Possession?


    Kidd screamed as the last thread of the Wraith disappeared into his chest. He curled on the ground, hyperventilating and groaning, clutching his chest, his face crumpled.


    No, this was a bit different from the ¡®possession¡¯ Ewan had read about. A Wraith could possess someone, but the possessed had to be weaker in the equation, else the potent ¡®Vitality¡¯ would evaporate the Wraith. Because of that stringent requirement that did not carry an exception, the process of possession wouldn¡¯t devolve into a struggle. It would end in a heartbeat with the Wraith smothering the original soul and taking control of the body.


    Though he hadn¡¯t measured it, Kidd and Walyn¡¯s situation appeared to match that criterion, yet Kidd was struggling.


    Ewan spread his Ryvia around Kidd and kept checking his vitals while observing the interesting phenomenon. Unless it threatened Kidd¡¯s life, he didn¡¯t intend to stop the process. After all, this was knowledge that no book had given him so far, he couldn¡¯t let it go. Not to mention he had no means to stop it¡ªhe didn¡¯t even know what it was. Thus, he hunkered down on the ground with his Ryvia and Varos operating at max and took out his diary to note down the event.


    Kidd cried and sobbed for seconds, minutes, his voice dimming as time slipped by. Soon, wounds and lacerations appeared on his body. His skin ripped open, his muscles split, blood drenched his clothes. Each change elicited a gut-wrenching scream from him, only to drown the cracks and the snaps of his breaking bones.


    His body was changing, Ewan wrote in his diary, but he scratched it the next moment. Kidd was accepting all of Walyn¡¯s wounds, he wrote. They were either sharing the damage or Walyn was transferring it all to Kidd. One was an equal relation while the other designated a dominant and a recessive party.


    And the process continued.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Finally, the screams died down, Kidd stopped struggling, and no new wounds appeared on him. He groaned and turned over on his back, his chest heaving up and down.


    Ewan squinted, tapping his pen on the diary, wondering whether Walyn controlled the body or Kidd won in the end.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°B-B-Boss¡­,¡± Kidd said in a grinding voice, the words rumbling in his throat. Two different tones, two different pitches, as if from two different vocal cords. They overlapped and buzzed with a grating sound. What he said pointed towards Kidd¡¯s victory, yet the change in voice suggested another possibility¡ªsymbiosis.


    The observation would continue later, Ewan shut the diary and put it away, another pressing matter awaited him right now. Kidd¡¯s injuries wouldn¡¯t push him over the edge, but they would render him disabled for weeks if he relied on mundane treatment instead of spells. The latter was a piece of cake for Ewan. With Iris, he could heal Kidd within an hour if not minutes¡ªafter all, they were normal wounds, not laced with hostile Anima. The only time-consuming part of it was to straighten his snapped bones.


    Yet, the simple matter stumbled him, the lack of information about Kidd¡¯s condition tied his hands. Iris¡¯s ¡®Mend¡¯ would do wonders for Kidd, it would even be an overkill for his wounds, but the same might hurt Walyn. The positive on Kidd or the negative on Walyn, which side would the spell sway for them, Ewan couldn¡¯t infer. Or they might just cancel each other, and the spell would fizzle out.


    Nonetheless, nothing would happen unless he tried it¡ªonly trial and error would give him his answers.


    Thus, he walked over, squatting beside Kidd, and looked at his incapacitated body. But when he reached out to check his wounds, Kidd slapped his hand away, the right half of his face becoming spectral and changing into Walyn¡¯s. The Walyn¡¯s half glared at Ewan, his eyes tearing up, the innocent face bearing the bruises of Ewan¡¯s uncalled persecution. While the Kidd¡¯s half looked confused and panicked.


    Ewan smiled at Walyn, confirming his conjecture. Walyn indeed was the boy that Mystic-Anima showed him through <Remembrance>, yet they couldn¡¯t be any more different. One slaughtered his family in cold blood to understand the meaning of death; the other was a na?ve and green child who risked death again to protect his family¡¯s grave. Though they both were pure in their own way.


    ¡°Do you feel this?¡± Ewan asked Kidd, pulling Walyn¡¯s cheek, ignoring his deathly stare.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t,¡± Kidd said in a grating voice. ¡°B-Boss, will I become like Merton?¡± He sniffed and cried. ¡°I don¡¯t want to become lame.¡± Regardless of his cunning or his experience of life and death, he was still a child at his core, soft and tender, easily hurt and weak against despair. In essence, Walyn and Kidd were kindred souls.


    ¡°You won¡¯t, I¡¯m here,¡± Ewan said, his words carrying the weight of his confidence. Even if the spell didn¡¯t work, which he hadn¡¯t confirmed yet, he still had enough knowledge and resources that he could heal Kidd within a short frame of time without leaving any after-effects. But the problem of their co-existence¡­


    The sheer scarcity of knowledge about such phenomenon meant that they had to walk this pitch-black path by themselves and grope their way forward.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 65,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-150 Leash

    Kidd¡¯s injuries accepted Iris¡¯s healing spell, while Walyn screamed, his wounds sizzling and shriveling. Ewan toiled around them, checking their condition with each cast, noting down his findings, and at last had some preliminary results after a few rounds. As expected, the blood-element healing spell that employed the essence of life and vitality didn¡¯t work on Walyn, instead it worsened his situation. But it still behaved as usual on Kidd and healed his left side. Luckily, all the major fractures were on his side, and while his ears rang from their grating screeches, Ewan snapped the bones back.


    Kidd recovered within minutes, but Walyn was still a problem¡ªhis status of a Wraith even rejected the orthodox potions. Even a single drop had singed him. A healing spell of the dark element was out of Ewan¡¯s reach, so the mundane methods were his only option now. He cleaned the wounds, tolerating his flinch; sterilized the cuts, suffering from his screams; and stitched the lacerations amidst his grunting groans. Finally, he iced the bruises, applied the medicine, and bandaged him up, despite Walyn¡¯s sulking struggle against him. He wasn¡¯t a practiced hand at such procedures, but they were simple enough that he could follow the textbook without messing up.


    With the treatment out of the way, the question of their convergence and their co-existence raised its head.


    The good news was that Kidd¡¯s senses of his right side gradually returned during his recovery. Walyn too nodded, albeit grumbly, when Ewan questioned him about the left side. The bad news was that they both controlled their halves and could exert no influence on the other side.


    Neither knew anything about the phenomenon, about what triggered it, how they shared the body, and most of all, how to separate. They knew even less than Ewan who¡¯d observed the process. Thus, the problem of each controlling one side of the body spilled over to the problem of their continuance. As they were, they couldn¡¯t even perform basic daily-life tasks¡­


    And so, Ewan first taught them how to walk.


    ¡°Follow my lead, cooperate with each other,¡± he said, squatting at a distance and leading Kidd and Walyn to walk towards him, while Iris hung by his shoulder and healed his cracked rib. ¡°Left leg, right hand.¡± He directed. But the first attempt tripped them over and they fell face first.


    ¡°Again, get up,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t fight for control, move in flow.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Practice here, don¡¯t go out, I¡¯ll be back later,¡± Ewan said when he went out of the protective fog. Though the potential problem with the mystic element could be a ticking time bomb, the cave required his presence too. Kidd was out of commission. He couldn¡¯t get him any testers today, no one to chip away at the traps with his life. But he still had to guard against Rain or anyone else who knew about the cave. Unless the situation evolved into something he couldn¡¯t control, he didn¡¯t intend to give up on it.


    The protective fog closed behind him, and he trod down the slippery mountain trail, his boots barely maintaining the traction with the help of the paved stones. The ravaged trees, the broken branches, the ruined nests, the collapsed burrows, and the destroyed lairs narrated the story of the storm. As much as it brought relief to the sweltering days, it also wreaked havoc in its wake. Not only to the forest but to the city too, even the glimpse of the port through the trees only showed a flooded structure¡ªthe ebbing Morinfair Ocean had reclaimed its land and then some.


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


    At the foot of the mountain, the armed men gathered around, picked themselves up, and headed to the perimeter, to fight for their home again. When Ewan exited the mountain, he only saw their straight backs marching ahead, their chipped weapons and armors bearing the dried blood of their enemies, their resolute strides thumping the earth without hesitation. The women and the children saw them off from behind the barricades, each with choked back tears in their eyes.


    Today too, many would die. The men would shed blood and perish so that their families could live.


    Some would lose their fathers today; some would lose their husbands. Some would bury their brothers, while some would never see their sons. Regardless of the invaders or the invaded, the lottery of death knocked on everyone¡¯s door on the battlefield and played its deadly game with them. Such was the essence of war.


    ¡°Sir.¡± The same guard greeted and saluted him again, looking worse for wear.


    ¡°Same as yesterday? Or do I go to the frontline today?¡± Ewan asked, breaking his gaze away from the men walking to their death.


    ¡°Same as yesterday, sir,¡± the guard said.


    Ewan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be around then, you don¡¯t need to mind me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Sir.¡± The guard stopped him. ¡°Sir Kiev ordered me to accompany you, in case you need something.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ewan said, his nostrils twitching. His irritation jumped then settled down again. Kiev could label it as he wished, but sending a guard to follow him, it was a leash. If the foreign Ashevas found out about this, their apprehensions about staying in Drarith and fighting in this unrelated war would soar. This was not their home; they were not fighting for their families. Either Kiev didn¡¯t think of the possible blow up his action could cause, or Ewan¡¯s refusal pissed him enough to not care for it. And the man was not brainless¡­


    ¡°Please sir, he insisted,¡± the guard said. ¡°I¡¯ll lose my position if I can''t accompany you today.¡± He pleaded.


    Ewan flashed a smile. ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°Keep up then.¡± If he refused again, he could spook the Ensils about the cave. The guard was a Kyron anyway. Even if Kiev armed him to defend against Ewan and his means, he had enough confidence to lead or mislead the guard as he wished. After all, a leash worked both ways¡ªthe controlled could also become the controller.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 65,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-151 Sir

    The tail followed him, and Ewan led him deep into the mountain forest, away from the walked trail, the hubbub of war fading away behind them. With the guard in tow, the cave was off-limits. But he still could pass by and check the surroundings, especially after he brought the leash under his control. So, he wandered around, minding his steps on the wet moss, hopping across creeks, stumbling across other residences.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Ewan asked, trekking ahead on an elevated path. The friction from the grass and the jutting stones supported their march, else the mud would¡¯ve sent them slipping down to the flat end.


    ¡°Norton, sir,¡± the guard said, grabbing a branch and pulling himself up on the slope. His agility severely mismatched the armor he donned, yet the man shouldered the feat with ease.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re originally from Drarith?¡± he asked. The span of his hiking through the forest with the guard gave him ample time to check and confirm the hand that Kiev played.


    A locket hung from Norton¡¯s neck, clinking against his breastplate as he walked, and the stone at the end of it was a Bonemetal ore¡ªa dusty-white material that could react with Ryvia and the stimulated Anima and record the instance. If Ewan used his Ryvia on Norton or cast any spell on him, the locket would mark the change. It couldn¡¯t show the details of the spells or what the Ryvia did but could prove that Ewan acted on Norton.


    ¡°I am¡­ Most of us are,¡± the guard said. ¡°Sir.¡± He added.


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to add Sir after every sentence.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re taught to do it, sir,¡± Norton said. ¡°Once we stop doing that, our sense of difference between us might blur. It is there to remind us of our position, sir.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem particularly happy about it,¡± Ewan said, giving Norton a hand after reaching the top, and hauled him up. Even with his dexterity, some high grounds were too much for his restricted joints and bends.


    ¡°Of course not, sir,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re all orphans of war, we couldn¡¯t have lived for long. Yet Sir Ensil gave us food to eat, clothes to wear, a roof to sleep under, we¡¯re all indebted, sir.¡±


    ¡°Did you have a choice in it?¡± Ewan asked, walking ahead again, towards a cliff that faced the Morinfair Ocean.


    Norton followed him, and a minute or two of silence accompanied their muffled steps and the snaps of the twigs. ¡°No, sir, I didn¡¯t,¡± he said.


    Ewan smiled, the more he dug into Norton¡¯s emotions, the more his defenses crumbled down. He was almost there, but he couldn¡¯t rush. ¡°I only know one from your ranks. Lance was his name I think.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. He¡¯s a stubborn one amongst us, quite staunch, he¡¯s devoted to the Ensils,¡± Norton said. ¡°That¡¯s why he reached his position.¡±


    ¡°Do you mean you¡¯re not as loyal as him?¡±


    ¡°O-Of course not, sir. I did not mean that.¡±


    ¡°Relax, this is only between us,¡± Ewan said, laughing. ¡°So, how old are you? You shouldn¡¯t be eighteen yet, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m seventeen, sir, going to become eighteen next month,¡± Norton said.


    ¡°Oh, did you awaken then?¡±


    ¡°I¡­did, sir. But I¡¯m not allowed to become a Severynth.¡±


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed? They even restrict what you can become? Quite harsh,¡± Ewan said, treading out of the forest and into the clearing before the cliff. The ocean sprawled before him in all its nonchalant glory, turbulent yet calm as always, its depth hiding another world.


    The gale blew against him, fluttering his hair and his shirt, herding the salt with it, leaving a fishy briny taste in his mouth. While the waves crashed against the cliff wall, its deafening rhythm creating a melody with the wind, albeit the faint noises from the battlefield disrupted it.


    ¡°It¡¯s how it should be, sir. They raised us, they get to decide that for us,¡± Norton said.


    ¡°How about I teach you the spell circuit here? Do you want it?¡± Ewan asked, looking at Norton with a faint smile, a curl of the lips that carried the enticement from the abyss. From sympathy to instigation to temptation, the combination would agitate Norton¡¯s emotions.


    ¡°S-Sir, I-I¡¯m not allowed to accept it.¡±


    ¡°Not allowed? So, you want to accept,¡± Ewan said, playing with the twisted words, dragging Norton down.


    ¡°N-No, sir, I meant I cannot accept it,¡± Norton stammered again.


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m joking, don¡¯t take everything so seriously,¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course, sir,¡± Norton said, and lowered his head, his chest heaving.


    ¡°Is no one among you allowed to become a Severynth then?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°Not even Lance? Wasn¡¯t he completely loyal to the Ensils?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because we¡¯re needed to maintain order on the ground, sir,¡± he said. ¡°We can''t do that if we all become Severynths. And Lance is our role model, sir, we all look up to him. He never said even a word of complaint back when the Ensils stopped him from becoming a Severynth. I won''t either, sir.¡± Norton puffed his chest, raising his head, and took a deep breath.


    Ewan gazed at the endless waters, the ocean stretching till the limits of his sight and touching the blue sky at the climax of its spread. It was a false horizon, yet so breathtaking.


    ¡°The ocean remembers.¡± His memories surfaced with the thought.


    ¡°If I was robbed of my chance of becoming a Severynth¡­.,¡± he murmured, and remembered back to his days in Obria. His school did the same thing as the Ensils, only more subtly. He was desperate back then, so much so that he threw his hand into the blazing flames and risked losing it just for that small chance. He yearned for it; he craved it. His hunger from the depth of his core birthed recklessness; after all, if he wasn¡¯t a Severynth, he was nothing.


    He closed his eyes and felt the cold breath filling his lungs to calm his heart. He was stirring Norton¡¯s emotions; it couldn¡¯t be the other way around. ¡°Let¡¯s stop this heavy topic now,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s just admire the view.¡±


    As Norton nodded and walked forward, when he appreciated the ocean and lost himself in the vista, Ewan nudged the drenched soil in front of him with his Ryvia and collapsed that part of the cliff. The edge crumbled and plunged, and Norton fell with it.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 65,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-152 Balance

    The man¡¯s deathly screams rolled along the cliff as the collapsed earth smacked the ocean, and Morinfair replied with a mighty splash.


    ¡°I got you, don¡¯t worry,¡± Ewan said, grabbing Norton with his Ryvia and pulling him. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± He dragged him up by his hand and his hair and his collar, whatever he could grip, the armor scraping against the rocks, and collapsed back.


    Norton was on all his fours, hyperventilating, wiping his sweat with trembling hands and gasping for air. While Ewan sat on his butt, also catching his breath but with a faint smirk on his face.


    Because he used Ryvia to save Norton, the Bonemetal ore recorded the instance and glowed with an ashen gloss¡ªit realized its purpose and was inert now. With an indebted Norton to fill in the details of the rescue, Ewan''s next move would go under the radar.


    Enthrall!


    Norton was at his weakest right now; his mind had no defense. The spell dove in within moments and led Ewan to his deepest subconscious. He tweaked some minor details about their conversation in Norton¡¯s head, facts that could hint at Ewan¡¯s deliberate provocation and evoke suspicion about this accident; amplified his role in saving Norton, loudened his gratitude; and left a seed that would conceal all details regarding the cave. Under its influence, Norton wouldn¡¯t even see the cave, or anything related to it, if he stood in front of it.


    It took a few minutes to strengthen the seed and finalize the changes, and as Ewan stopped the spell, Norton also recovered with the last gulp of breath.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Norton said and bowed almost parallel to the ground before Ewan. ¡°I owe you my life.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret it, it wasn¡¯t much effort,¡± Ewan said, patting the mud off his clothes and his hands as he got up.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll never forget this,¡± Norton said, staring at Ewan.


    ¡°Well, at least you stopped saying ¡®Sir¡¯,¡± he said, a playful smile tugging at his lips.


    Norton¡¯s eyes widened for a moment. ¡°I apologize, sir. I didn¡¯t mean to do it,¡± he said, bowing again.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I was just joking,¡± Ewan said, chuckling, and walked past him, patting his shoulder.


    The controlled became the controller, the leash was in Ewan¡¯s hands now. So, the next destination was the cave. Ewan only hoped the time he wasted with Norton didn¡¯t cost him his ¡®appointment¡¯ with Rain.


    ¡­...


    Instead of beelining for the cave, Ewan used it as the focal point and spread his steps around it, brushing the clearing from time to time. There was no sign of Rain there, and neither anyone else visited the crack, or at least left no obvious trace that he could find¡ªthe haunted silence oozing from the cave supported the former fact.


    If there was someone who could conceal even the hint of his trail and was powerful enough to suppress the traps without a noise though, Ewan could only give up with a sigh and lament the missed opportunity. But it was only a possibility; and given the details surrounding the cave and the raid on Drarith that reeked of distraction with each passing dawn, a possibility that was unlikely to happen.


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


    Morning turned into afternoon, and the afternoon slipped towards the evening, yet the area around the cave remained still¡ªRain didn¡¯t come today. Either he changed his plans, or he was still licking his wounds; Ewan guessed the latter. Even though he failed to kill the man, his spells battered him good. Those wounds carried his Anima, brimming with hostility, they wouldn¡¯t heal in a matter of hours¡ªit might even take over a day or two if Rain didn¡¯t have a high-leveled healing spell or potion.


    And so, while checking the potency of the seed he left in Norton¡¯s mind, confirming he couldn¡¯t register anything related to the cave, Ewan ended the ¡®patrol¡¯ and made his way back to the foot of the mountain.


    ¡­¡­


    The men returned in the aftermath of the bloodshed. Some lugged the dead with them while some dragged their own mutilated bodies. They left a trail of blood that recited the tale of the abyss they climbed out of. Their meeting with their families triggered the flames, and it ignited the hushed emotions. Cries of grief, anguish, and despair echoed in the city. The children bawled at the corpses of their dead fathers, the widows collapsed with dead eyes, the old broke down in front of their lifeless sons, and the mothers lost their voice. Even the families of the survivors couldn¡¯t rejoice, for tomorrow, it could be their turn.


    Ewan exited the mountain and witnessed the outburst, Norton standing behind him with tears streaming down his cheeks. Death carried its impact, no matter the place or time, especially when he could resonate with it. His Pa died seven years ago, and he could still remember his last breath as if it was yesterday. That moment when reality ripped his childish heart apart. Yet, he had moved on and was chasing his dream now. These people would have to do the same. Today, they might break down in sorrow, but tomorrow, they would have to move on and find ways for their survival. Life was cruel that way, it would leave you behind if you stopped.


    Ewan took a deep breath, the blood in the air tingling his nose, and wasted a minute to relax. Kiev wasn¡¯t here to greet him warmly like yesterday. So, he sent the emotional Norton away and wandered around, assisting and healing those he could.


    He had already confirmed this¡ªhigh efficiency called for actions that hurt his conscience while helping others soothed it. They were two sides of a scale, and if he could keep them balanced, he could get away with ¡®immoral¡¯ actions without his inner conflict hindering him.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 65,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-153 Lightbulb

    Ewan wandered from the edge of the city to the flooded port and back to the plaza. He healed one, rescued another, yet many succumbed to their wounds. The death and the carnage were the norm, the grim atmosphere gripped the city. When the sun settled down, however, the survivors found their own way to deal with the pain and the despair as they always did.


    Bonfires blazed in the alleys, in the streets, in the plaza. Slabs of meat sizzled against the tongues of flame. Tankards of ale made the rounds. Men and women mingled; they danced, they laughed, they flirted, and they sang. They were bold and hearty. No one minded the boundaries tonight. The flickering fire lit up the city, and the shadows danced with them.


    Tales of the brave and the stories of the martyrs spread from one to another. The heart of the portrayal became spicier and spicier with each version. A man fought five enemies on his own, and the same man killed a hundred alone in the words of the tenth person. Their exaggeration couldn¡¯t stand against common sense, but no one cared. They lost themselves in the moment and burned brighter and brighter, as if tonight was their last night¡ªit might well be.


    ¡°I heard you saved Norton.¡± When Ewan watched a party from afar, Kiev walked up to him, matching his shoulders.


    ¡°I just did the obvious,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Nothing special.¡±


    A burst of drunken holler from the party drowned the moment of silence between them. ¡°Thank you,¡± Kiev said as he stared at the bonfire with him, his words almost lost among the cheers.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Ewan said with a smile.


    ¡°I had a couple of days to cool off,¡± Kiev said. ¡°I have calmed down now.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t changed my mind,¡± he said. ¡°But I respect your decision. I won''t force you anymore.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it,¡± Ewan said. Better a friend than an enemy, but better a tool than a friend. Though Ewan¡¯s position never changed, the cascading events cemented his perspective. Like his sister, emotions led this man, he was far too prone to impulses, especially when it concerned his ideals. The echo chamber around him never contested his point of view, so anyone who did, became his enemy.


    Ewan couldn¡¯t be any more contrasting. He challenged the man¡¯s outlook on each turn. Thus, he was only good for his connection with the Governor, Ewan didn¡¯t plan on doing any business deals with Kiev anymore.


    He looked at the stars and the moons and their serenity. His thought triggered an introspection. Perhaps he too lived in an echo chamber. His ideas and his mindset were his own, based on his life events. No one influenced them, but no one disputed them either.


    There was no right or wrong, only actions and their consequences and the strength to withstand them. He made his choices and lived with them. Whether it was the outlook that would see him with a long life though, only time could tell.


    ¡°Things aren¡¯t looking good,¡± Kiev said. ¡°We almost lost Uncle Tron today. He¡¯s Step 1. He could¡¯ve been the first casualty of that level. We haven¡¯t had any deaths at that level since the last disaster.¡± He took a deep breath and murmured, ¡°When my family died.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fortunate he survived then.¡± Ewan peeked a glance at him and pulled away from his mumble. He refused to touch the man¡¯s sensitive wound. He could neither console him nor wished to gouge his scars. It was a capricious variable he didn¡¯t wish to deal with.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°More like they let him live,¡± he said. ¡°They drive us to the edge, but they don¡¯t push us off. The whole raid stinks of deception.¡±


    Ewan¡¯s mind went to the cave and the distraction needed for Rain to win it. But the current development dropped his confidence in that thought. The raid was already attracting the authorities¡¯ eyes, there was no need to take the risk and push a Step-1 to the edge for it. If their target was indeed the cave, they could¡¯ve sent someone else if Rain was out of action. So, the most likely scenario was that the cave was Rain¡¯s personal agenda, and the raid stank of an unrelated conspiracy¡ªalbeit it gave him the opportunity to sneak in.


    ¡°Did Sir Governor say anything about it?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him since the raid began, he doesn¡¯t let us in. I have no idea what he¡¯s thinking,¡± Kiev said, grunting an exhale. ¡°Everything could be solved if he came forward, but he¡¯s doing nothing.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the enemy have someone who can match him? He¡¯s probably fighting his own battle. Without reaching his level, it would be hard for us to fathom their means.¡±


    ¡°Quashing this whole thing would be a matter of waving his hand if we could just solve his age problem,¡± Kiev said.


    Ewan smothered a scoff in his throat and went back to watching the bonfire fest, disregarding his insinuation. The stories and the tales had taken an implausible turn by now. The mortal man who slayed a hundred on his own was now a hero who defeated a squad of Ashevas alone. They sang the praises of his bravery, of his selflessness, and of his sacrifice.


    May the lord of smiles guide his valiant soul to the promised land and bestow upon him an eternal and happy life, they all hollered together.


    The rumors and the gossip buried the truth, barely carrying its whisper with each change. The man might be faint-of-heart, but they talked of his courage. He might¡¯ve survived the onslaught, yet the songs of his righteous death rang aloud. He might not even exist, yet he was the hero of the night. Untamed imagination and the desire for validation took the rumors far away from the reality.


    Rumors¡­


    A lightbulb went off in Ewan¡¯s head as his thoughts cleared up, and he lost the ease in his posture.


    One night, the villa that always brimmed with life with a happy family stilled into a tragic silence. The bloodbath, the buried corpses, and the bizarre scene of a dead child beside the grave didn¡¯t convey the truth, but instead sparked the stories when the talk of the incident fanned out in the city. From one mouth to another, the rumors spread, seasoned with vivid and wild imagination, and finally took form of its current twisted version. And the Mystic-Anima picked it up¡­


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 65,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-154 Four Not Five

    The fog cleared up and answered his doubts¡ªeither his spell was faulty, or his affinity wasn¡¯t high enough to trigger the mystic element¡¯s actual memories of the past. In his current state, he could only watch the top layer of rumors that was dusted over the truth and hid it behind years of made-up stories.


    The speculation made sense, it flawlessly fit the puzzle, but Ewan still needed hard proof to confirm it. He could get it only with the bones buried in his yard. The bones of Walyn¡¯s family¡­


    He died as a child and became a Wraith as a child, lacking the trait of compromise against terrible odds like adults. So, pushing him down with force would just give Ewan subpar results, and he would repeat this morning¡¯s incident. Instead, a friendly convincing voice could sway him in his favor. If he added a few incentives on top, it should ease up the tension even more.


    And so, Ewan bid farewell to Kiev, declined his invitation to join the bonfire, and rushed back to his villa.


    The serenity of the pitch-black night in the mountain forest provided the stage for his thoughts to grow and fester. Once he verified the bones, Ewan could rule out two of the three scenarios he inferred before¡ªWalyn hadn¡¯t lied and there was no external influence. But this presented him with a new problem.


    If his spell was faulty and couldn¡¯t dig deep into the layers of rumors, then the solution was within his reach. It would only take more effort and time to fix the spell circuit. However, if the issue happened because his affinity level wasn¡¯t high enough, then the problem would trip him up.


    ¡®Favored¡¯ level wasn¡¯t enough, perhaps ¡®Endued¡¯ could tame the mystic element, or the ¡®Consonance¡¯. Beyond that was ¡®Hallowed¡¯ and ¡®Fusion¡¯, the former being the limit of material beings and the latter became the kings of Elementals. What level did he need to subdue the Mystic-Anima? There was no one who could answer him, he could only find it himself.


    Luckily, his other mystic spells worked without any hiccup so far, only the past memories posed a problem. Thus, the element was still usable in combat and out of it, albeit with some caution.


    The protective fog shield opened at his command when he activated the key, and he walked in to the sight of Kidd practicing weird and awkward movements.


    ¡°Boss,¡± he hollered, still in his grating voice. ¡°See, we can walk now.¡± He inched forward with the right leg, and the left hand came in a beat slower. The combination balanced his body to take the next step. At least, he didn¡¯t tumble over and planted his face in the mud. The ¡®I¡¯ in his sentence had also become ¡®we¡¯ after one day¡ªhe was beginning to accept his situation.


    ¡°Keep it up,¡± Ewan said, closing the protective fog behind him. ¡°Let me talk to Walyn.¡± The Wraith¡¯s half closed his eye and pursed his lips¡ªin the end, it became a wink and half a pout for their whole.


    ¡°Oi, boss wants to talk to you,¡± Kidd whispered, poking his right side.


    Ewan walked forward. ¡°I still want to check the grave, it¡¯s important to me,¡± he said. ¡°In return, I¡¯ll give your family a proper funeral.¡±


    Walyn couldn¡¯t stop him in his current condition. But both the knowledge of their weird phenomenon and Kidd were useful to him, so he relented and opted out of using force; unless absolutely necessary.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Drarith has the tradition of sea burial, right? I¡¯ll do that for you and create their gravestones too,¡± Ewan said.


    The Wraith finally opened his eyes and looked at him. ¡°Wh-What is¡­sea burial?¡± he asked in the same voice as Kidd.


    ¡°It¡¯s the rite of sending the dead into the arms of Morinfair.¡± Ewan quoted the book he read on the topic. ¡°I can''t do all the rituals and the ceremonies, but I can send them off properly. They¡¯ll rest in peace there.¡±


    ¡°Da¡­da t-told me bury them c-close home,¡± Walyn said. ¡°H-he said we always t-together that way.¡±


    ¡°Your father? He probably meant the part of the ocean that¡¯s closest to this villa. Or if you don¡¯t want that, I¡¯ll create a proper grave for them in the yard,¡± he said. ¡°We don¡¯t need to send them off to Morinfair.¡±


    ¡°W-Will they happy t-there?¡± Walyn asked. ¡°W-Will they n-not fight anymore?¡±


    ¡°Hopefully,¡± he said. Existence after death was a concept Ewan wanted to believe in, he wanted it to be true. Yet, he knew it to be false. His knowledge of souls, their birth and their end, deemed it untrue. Walyn, however, didn¡¯t need to remove that illusion. For only despair awaited him on the other side.


    ¡°¡­O-Okay,¡± Walyn said after two breaths of silence.


    ¡°Okay what? Do you want me to send them off to Morinfair?¡± Ewan asked.


    Walyn bobbed his head, clutching his t-shirt, his eyes tearing up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be careful, don¡¯t worry,¡± Ewan said, and proceeded to dig their graves. Now that Kidd was out of commission, he had to do the manual labor himself.


    ¡­..


    Their graves were shallow to begin with, and soon, Ewan uncovered their skeletons. Coarse, grimy, brittle, and buried together in a mess. Decades of decomposition had removed any and all organic mass, leaving behind a fragile mineral frame that gave off an earthy smell.


    Their skulls became his starting point, and he separated them carefully on a large sheet into four stacks¡ªputting the parts where they belonged to the best of his knowledge to create four people. He heaved a dry chuckle and shook his head when he looked at the result.


    Just the number of the buried alone proved Walyn¡¯s story against the mystic element¡¯s deception. The mystic element showed him a family of five people, yet reality gave him four skeletons.


    Nonetheless, he still examined the bones down to the smallest chink. Confirming the cause of their deaths could further verify Walyn¡¯s claims and also give Ewan the benchmark for the past that mystic element would eventually show him once he tamed it.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 65,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-155 Sea Burial

    Signs of healing separated the ante-mortem trauma from the peri-mortem, while the lighter shade and jagged edges set apart the post-mortem from the peri-mortem. Ewan referenced a concerned book on the side for confirmation and focused on the peri-mortem trauma, the cause of death. He found it on three skeletons.


    The older female skeleton had multiple stab wounds in her sternum and ribs that showed no signs of healing and had smooth edges with concentric radiating fractures¡ªthis was her cause of death. The shape of the gashes, the force behind each attack, their random placement, and their numbers hinted towards a passionate killer who stabbed her at a perpendicular angle, when she was lying down perhaps. He stabbed her again and again, until she took her last breath.


    The only male skeleton apart from Walyn had a web of cracks on the right side of his skull, around the temple, originating from a focal point. The fractures were of the same color gradient as the rest of the skull without any indication of recovery¡ªthis was his cause of death. The size and the shape of the blunt trauma suggested a single damage from the side that took this man¡¯s life.


    The second female skeleton who was Walyn¡¯s sister also had a similar webbing crack on the back of her skull. The same color gradient as the rest of the skull and depressed but still attached bones proved this to be the peri-mortem wound¡ªthis was her cause of death. Either someone pummeled her with a blunt weapon from behind or she fell back to her death.


    The last remaining one was Walyn¡¯s bones who most likely died from dehydration and hunger. And the lack of any peri-mortem damage proved it.


    ¡­..


    The sea burial ended in peace with Walyn bawling at the sight of his family¡¯s skeletons sinking deep into the ocean. The receding waves took them away, bringing them into the embrace of Morinfair. They would rest in peace there, the tradition of Drarith had always believed.


    Ewan accompanied Walyn on the secluded stony beach, staring at the moons¡¯ flickering reflections on the ocean in silence. Death deserved his respect, and he complied. When Walyn¡¯s bawls stifled down to sniffs and cries, when he accepted his family¡¯s departure, Ewan brought them back to the villa, selecting a suitable stone along the way for the gravestone. Walyn didn¡¯t ask for much, so Ewan only etched his family¡¯s names with the Obsidian Dagger and erected the rough but symmetric gravestone on the original grave in the yard.


    ¡°Go sleep,¡± he said, arranging a room for them that was fairly free of dust. Though Walyn had his closure, the matter was far from done for Ewan. He proved the problem¡¯s existence, now was the time to find the solution. And so, another task squeezed into his already long list of tasks and settled down around the middle of his priority index. The twenty-four hours a day now seemed even shorter¡­


    ¡­..


    Dawn had already sparked the day when Ewan emerged from the ice-element bath, and the cries of war trickled in by the time he cleaned up. Another day of fights and deaths, and another day of chaos.


    Ewan met Norton again after he left Kidd and Walyn to practice and went down the mountain, and today too, he wandered in the forest with the man in tow. Kiev¡¯s anger might¡¯ve cooled off, but he didn¡¯t intend to let off the leash. Nevertheless, the seed Ewan planted in Norton¡¯s mind remained active and pulsing. It would remain so unless a master of mystic acted on it, so he beelined for the cave without any detour.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.Rain didn¡¯t show up today either. Since he couldn¡¯t use a guinea pig to explore the cave in his current situation, Ewan only traced his steps around it for the day, studied whatever he could on his feet, added and tweaked some memories for Norton that could expose him, and walked back to the city when dusk descended.


    The twilight and the succeeding night didn¡¯t bring any surprises either. The bonfires still raged; the meats still sizzled. The drunkards sang along, while the men and women humped. The moons rose along their arcs as always, and the dead drifted off into the ocean.


    When Ewan returned to the villa after his usual day, Kidd and Walyn were jumping around, walking in nigh sync, making fewer mistakes. Their scraping voice had also settled down and was maturing into an adult-like deep voice that carried a hint of Kidd¡¯s original childish pitch. A few more days of practice should let them walk and talk normally. Now, the only problem that remained was the visible division of their face and body. If they couldn¡¯t solve it, they couldn¡¯t appear before others without freaking them out.


    Ashevas weren¡¯t an issue as they accepted the weirdness of the world, but the Kyrons with their mundane imagination could be troublesome. Especially when Ewan had to deal with them on a daily basis nowadays.


    And so, he searched the hub and bought them a cheap mask that worked almost the same as his neck gaiter, albeit with no growth margin¡ªan onyx mask with no facial features and only two rhombus holes for the eyes. It aided the usage of dark element and reduced their presence.


    The gift of mask had them hooting and springing around, their eyes glittering as they played the ¡®shadow man¡¯ with it. Kidd had his affinity to support the Anima consumption and Walyn was a child of the dark to begin with. The mask worked for them without the training wheels.


    Ewan left them to their games and prepared another element bath. The frigid blood brimming with Ice-Anima embraced him as he lay in the tub, severing his senses from the world outside. The cave, the war, and Kiev¡¯s ploys occupied his day, so he could only give his nights to the baths.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 66,267


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,887


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-156 Meeting

    The next daybreaks and the twilights repeated with no major change. The war still killed and drank its share of blood. Ewan still roamed the mountain and skirted the cave. And the shrinking survivors still partied, though the air of despair thickened among their cheers.


    The third day brought Rain back. He came with a confident gait and a smirk on his face. After Ewan activated Norton¡¯s seed and lay him down unconscious against a tree, tampering with his memories of Rain, they fought.


    Ewan adopted his usual defense with Varos and Ryvia and bombarded Rain with his spells, leaving the Lightning Falcon to Orange, and Frost beside him for support. They exchanged attacks. The explosions rumbled in the forest. The fire spells singed the vibrant leaves and grass. The shockwaves shredded the vines. The icy wind of the next spell chilled the trunks and frosted their crevices.


    Rain¡¯s knives made their entrance, and Ewan dealt with them efficiently this time. They exploded halfway with his spell and his Ryvia. This was one of the assignments he settled in the last few days. He calculated the current damage area of the knives and any improvement it could accommodate. He rendered them useless in their tracks.


    His progress shut down one of Rain¡¯s methods, but he wasn¡¯t alone. When Ewan¡¯s <Fireflies> caught Rain, when he was about to explode again, he threw his hands to the side with a yell and cast a spell. A violet wave with lightning arcs blasted off from him, scattering most of the milky fireflies stuck on his body.


    They erupted at a distance, pulverizing and macerating the vegetation around, igniting their remains. The shockwaves hammered the man, however, and a few fireflies still scorched his skin and burnt his clothes. The injury was considerable. His spell only limited the damage, it didn¡¯t thwart it.


    ¡°I win,¡± Ewan said. Rain dismantled his <Fireflies>, but the spell still hurt him. His wounds were enough to fetter him for the rest of the battle until his death came to him. While he shut down his knives, not even its lingering lightning arcs touched him.


    ¡°Only this time, I¡¯ll win when we meet again,¡± Rain said. ¡°Don¡¯t use that burden as an excuse then.¡± He glanced at Norton then stabbed his own throat with a dagger. The moment the tip of the blade broke his skin, his body warped and changed into a middle-aged man who had his throat punctured. He gurgled, clutching his neck. Blood gushed out from between his fingers. His gasps broke into whistles. Finally, he collapsed onto his knees and then to his death. His eyes oozed with confusion, and his expression conveyed the same. The man died without knowing where he was and why he was here, and more so, how he died.


    Once Ewan dealt with the outcome, cleaned up the traces of battle, and checked the clues Rain might¡¯ve left behind with the dead man, he woke Norton up and patrolled around the cave while studying what he could. His seed left Norton oblivious to the battle that just occurred, and he resumed his duty as Ewan¡¯s ¡®leash¡¯.


    This had become his norm, and the rest of the day passed away without any events.


    ¡­¡­


    The following week saw some ups and downs, but the days and the nights recurred for Ewan. The momentary relief from the storm had long passed away and the weather resumed baking the earth and parching the wind. The heat from the war didn¡¯t help the situation either, and it only made things worse with the rotting and decaying bodies that no one tended to. They festered under the scorching sun. Their stench wafted throughout the city, reaching for the alleys that even touched the livable fringes of Drarith. It brought the flies and the risk of plague with it.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Most of them were the enemies¡¯ corpses, and no one from Drarith gave them their funeral. They killed their families and destroyed their homes after all.


    And so, Kiev called for a meeting, gathering all Ashevas in a tent, native and foreign alike, including Ewan. It was an unusual day, as the raid had halted in the middle of the afternoon. The enemies took a rest, and so did Drarith. Only the faint cries from afar and the songs of cicadas rang inside the tent with the occasional fluttering of the tent flaps accompanying the burst of hot breeze.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear some suggestions,¡± Kiev said, standing at the head of the table where everyone sat around. ¡°If we leave it like this, things might get out of hand.¡±


    ¡°But what can we do?¡± A young foreign Asheva said, around Ewan¡¯s age and at seventh or eighth awakening. ¡°You don¡¯t expect us to deal with the rotting dead bodies, do you?¡±


    ¡°How about we burn them all at once?¡± A female Asheva said, her legs crossed over, as she played with a few strands of her hazel hair.


    ¡°Who¡¯ll gather them? Will you do it? ¡®Cause I¡¯m not going to touch them,¡± the previous young Asheva said. ¡°By hand or by my Ryvia.¡±


    ¡°The corpses aren¡¯t the main issue, let¡¯s talk about the raids,¡± another Asheva with a sharp canine said. ¡°Even a kid can see the problem, they¡¯re cooking something up.¡±


    ¡°How is it not the main issue?¡± A curly blonde-haired native Asheva retorted, leaning forward, and glaring at the man who just spoke. ¡°It¡¯ll spread a plague if we let it be. We won''t need the enemies to kill us then.¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t affect the Ashevas, at best you¡¯ll see a surge in dark and blood element,¡± Ewan said, leaning back with ease. ¡°It might be even better for some who¡¯re majoring in those.¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t the only one living in this city!¡± The blonde man pounded the table and glowered at Ewan. The ice shards clinked in the glasses, and water spilled over.


    Ewan shrugged. ¡°Then you go and gather the corpses, I¡¯ll send a fireball your way to help you burn them,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Mize said. ¡°If you¡¯re so concerned about it, why don¡¯t you do it yourself, why¡¯re you here arguing with us.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 64,813


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,874


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-157 Kyrons’ Platoon

    ¡°Now, now, let¡¯s be civil.¡± Another Asheva with a scarred neck spoke. ¡°We already have enough enemies to fight, we don¡¯t need to fight each other.¡±


    ¡°I gathered you guys for a solution,¡± Kiev said, leaning on the table with both his hands as its legs dented the carpet under his weight. ¡°If you aren¡¯t comfortable gathering and dealing with the corpses, please offer some alternative.¡±


    ¡°Have the Kyrons do it,¡± an Asheva said, his hands crossed at his chest and his eyes closed.


    ¡°They¡¯re not doing it, that¡¯s why we¡¯re here, you dimwit,¡± another Asheva countered.


    ¡°Force them to do it then,¡± the previous Asheva said.


    ¡°And who¡¯s going to do that?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you use your guards? They listen to your orders, right?¡± Trask asked Kiev.


    ¡°If they deal with the corpses, then who¡¯s going to patrol the premises and command the Kyrons¡¯ squads?¡± another Asheva quipped. ¡°I won''t lead them.¡±


    They all squabbled and bickered, but no solution came out of it. Ewan leaned back on his chair, and closed his eyes, enjoying the rare peaceful afternoon. Their clamor buried the sound of Flamecrest, but he could still make out the cicada¡¯s call and the wind¡¯s melody and savor them in waves.


    ¡°Please be quiet!¡± Kiev said in a loud voice, and the tent hushed down after a breath. ¡°We won''t get anywhere if we keep arguing like this. Let¡¯s think of a solution together.¡±


    ¡°What about food?¡± someone asked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a shortage? Shouldn¡¯t we deal with that first?¡±


    ¡°Rice and wheat are in shortage, they burned some granaries last time,¡± a native Asheva said. ¡°But spices should still be in stock.¡±


    ¡°What will you do with just spices? Drink them with water?¡±


    ¡°We still have a good supply of meat and fish; spices go well with that.¡±


    ¡°The bonfires at night are really guzzling the meat though, someone should curb that,¡± a foreign Asheva said.


    ¡°Let them be, that¡¯s the only thing they look forward to these days,¡± another foreign Asheva said. ¡°And we can get our needs from the hub, it won''t affect us even if we run out here.¡±


    ¡°What about the raids?¡± someone asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to do anything about it? They¡¯re planning something, we all know it.¡±


    ¡°The Step-1 lords are dealing with that issue, we don¡¯t need to dwell on it,¡± Kiev said. ¡°Our job is to remove the risk of plague right now.¡±


    ¡°Buy some slaves and have them do it,¡± the young foreign Asheva from before said. ¡°The slave traders¡¯ business is down because of the raids, the heat and the food shortage aren¡¯t helping them either, we might get them at a steep discount.¡±


    Kiev scowled at the man while Ewan snickered. The idea was simple enough that most could think of it, yet no one said it till now. As the debate heated up though, they touched the topic, and the dam broke.


    ¡°Kiev, we get your issue with it, but this seems to be the only feasible solution,¡± someone said.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°I agree,¡± someone else added. ¡°It¡¯s not much of a sacrifice on your part, you just have to put up with something you dislike. If you want, we can even contribute Creliths or Novas for the payment.¡±


    ¡°Same, I¡¯m willing to contribute,¡± another Asheva said.


    ¡°Count me in,¡± Ewan said, raising his hand.


    With that, the whole tent finally agreed on a solution, even the native Ashevas kept quiet and acquiesced; albeit it had Kiev gritting his teeth. Just when all the Ashevas decided on a couple of notable slave traders though, and just when they chose a representative to handle the purchase, the lukewarm situation that persisted for a week boiled over and exploded, and the change finally happened.


    They¡¯d all voiced out their suspicions of the raids, they all smelled the deception, but no one predicted the sudden episode.


    Platoons and platoons of golden-armored soldiers flooded the streets. They unsheathed their swords in sync, their eyes gleamed inside their helmets, and their matched steps quaked the earth. They crushed the pebbles beneath their sabatons, powdered dust fell from the concrete buildings wherever they marched, and the people of Drarith gave way, some cheering them on the side.


    They snaked through the streets, passed the plaza, joined other platoons, and pounced on the enemies resting beyond the frontline with a heart-shaking war cry. By the time the Ashevas rushed out of the tent to check the situation, the raiders had fled in distress, leaving behind heaps and piles of maimed bodies.


    Ewan gaped at the new army that appeared out of nowhere, and he wasn¡¯t alone. Even Kiev looked dumbfounded and could only gawk at the change. The waves of Anima and the spirit fluctuations designated these golden-armored soldiers as Ashevas. But Ewan recognized many of them, even through the ¡®T¡¯ cutouts in their helmets. They were Kyrons a week ago. He even healed and helped several of them and brought them back from the brink of death. Yet here they stood before him, emanating waves of power that could touch his peak.


    They used no spell, they deployed no Astylinds; a swing of their swords cleaved a squad of Kyrons, and they fought other Ashevas on equal grounds. They battled without any regard for defense, and their savage attacks crushed the enemy ranks.


    ¡°Who are they?¡± someone from the Ashevas¡¯ group asked.


    ¡°What are they?¡± someone else asked.


    One word came to Ewan¡¯s mind and Rain¡¯s sentence echoed with it. ¡®If you continue to meddle in Drarith¡¯s business, you¡¯ll meet them soon enough.¡¯


    Pathfinders.


    ¡°May the Lord of Smiles shine his light upon us all!!!¡± Their weapons dripped with viscous blood and their armors carried their enemies¡¯ flesh as the soldiers raised their swords and roared


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 64,813


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,874


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-158 Wasted Effort

    Drarith hailed them as its heroes, praising their valiance, and propped them up with the credit for victory. The city owed them its life, but they represented much more. Mortals could possess power that rivaled the Ashevas, the fact ignited hope in the fickle hearts.


    They bowed because they were weak. They kneeled because they were powerless. Ashevas didn¡¯t earn their respect. Instead, fear was the whip that kept them obedient and under control. Yet the advent of the golden-armored soldiers stirred the status quo. And the voices of dissent against the Ashevas¡¯ rule would soon follow.


    ¡°That logo seems familiar,¡± an Asheva said, staring at the two slanted laughing-masks emblem etched on the soldiers¡¯ breastplates as they marched back.


    ¡°It should be the new church,¡± the Asheva with the sharp canine said. ¡°Church of Smiles I think.¡±


    ¡°They could be hostile, we should prepare just in case,¡± Mize said.


    ¡°They seem to be on our side, for now at least.¡±


    ¡°They won too easily,¡± someone said.


    ¡°More like the enemy gave up too soon,¡± Trask said. ¡°Those bodies, they¡¯re mostly Kyrons, the enemy hardly lost any Ashevas.¡±


    ¡°So, this was what they were cooking,¡± a foreign Asheva said under his breath and his shoulders drooped. Ewan too heaved a sigh of relief and his tensed mind eased up; a weight came off his shoulders.


    The Kyrons gaining power and the church rising in prevalence would challenge the Ensils¡¯ reign of Drarith, it had nothing to do with rogue Ashevas like him. They lacked the roots, which meant they couldn¡¯t get a constant supply of resources, but it also meant that nothing tied them down. They were free to come and go as they pleased. At best, the entity who could lift the Kyrons to his level had Ewan¡¯s curiosity.


    Actions had consequences, and power paid the price. Even the Ashevas with their inborn talent in soul or physique paid in some form to earn their strength, let alone these mortals whose path couldn¡¯t go beyond the mundane.


    ¡°Bloody ingrates,¡± a native Asheva said, glancing at the foreign Ashevas.


    ¡°Self-entitled retard,¡± the young foreign Asheva retorted with a scoff.


    ¡°Look on the bright side,¡± Sheree said. ¡°This means the war¡¯s over.¡±


    ¡°At least for now,¡± someone replied.


    ¡°More than enough, I was getting tired of the bells ringing every morning,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even fight much,¡± a foreign Asheva said. ¡°Where were you anyway?¡±


    ¡°Fighting my own battles on order,¡± Ewan smiled at him and said.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you just resting in the back? Having connections sure is nice.¡±


    ¡°It really is,¡± Ewan chuckled.


    ¡°Enough,¡± Kiev said, looking daggers at the armored soldiers walking to him, and his vicinity hushed down.


    The one in the lead broke off from his platoon, his armors clanking with each stride he took towards the Ashevas, and he first bowed to Ewan and then to Kiev. His straight spine, the slight smirk, his narrowed eyes, and his hand on his sword¡¯s hilt lacked even the hint of deference in his second bow though.


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    ¡°Sir Kiev,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re here to join your ranks, we¡¯ll fight with you if they come back.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Kiev asked.


    ¡°Nobert,¡± the man said. ¡°I used to own a small restaurant on the ninth street, it got destroyed though.¡±


    ¡°Can you explain all this?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to explain,¡± Nobert said with a smile. ¡°My lord gave me the strength to defeat my enemies and I became his Paladin, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Paladin?¡± Kiev asked. ¡°Is that what you all are?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, we are the defenders of our lord,¡± Nobert said.


    ¡°Our lord needs no defense,¡± someone from his platoon hollered.


    ¡°Silence!¡± Nobert glared back, his nostrils flaring. ¡°You will show some respect or prepare to get punished.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Kiev scanned the platoons behind Nobert. The rowdy bunch barely maintained their formation; some were cackling, some were showing off the blood on their weapons to each other, while some were mocking the Ashevas before them. ¡°I roughly got the picture,¡± Kiev said. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to get out of hand like this, I was too tolerant before.¡± He looked back at Ewan. ¡°You were right, I should¡¯ve listened,¡± he said.


    Waves of spirit fluctuated around him, and Ewan backed off a step when he sensed it. This was Ensils versus the church of smiles with the ownership of Drarith as their prize, he didn¡¯t need to get involved in it. And so did the others, especially the foreign Ashevas.


    ¡°I hope this teaches the rest of you,¡± Kiev said. ¡°When facing someone you can''t fathom, hide that conceit well and quiver in fear, and you just might survive.¡± He reached out for Nobert, and with a burst of Ryvia that stirred the wind, he crushed his head. Nobert¡¯s helmet crumpled inwards, and his head imploded, splattering the blood and the mushy brain matter everywhere.


    His body thudded on the ground amidst the pin-drop silence and raised a dust cloud, yet none of the ¡®Paladins¡¯ dared to cough or sneeze. Their postures tightened into a pole and their eyes wavered once again as their knees trembled; the dread that their borrowed power had washed away returned afresh.


    An emaciated dog rushed out from the city, barking all the way, and came to the dead body. His whimpers and cries echoed on the quiet frontline as he nudged the man, but the dead wouldn¡¯t move. He wailed and wailed, his tail and his breaths slowing down, and finally lay down beside the man, staring at him with his beady and wet eyes, and his chest gradually stopped moving¡ªhis death came to him by his choice.


    Ewan clicked his tongue and took a deep breath to calm the annoyance in his heart. This was the man and the dog duo he saved for Avis. Yet, here they were, dying a meaningless death and wasting his effort. They both received a second life, but the man¡¯s choices ruined both of them. If only he chose to live an honest life of a Kyron¡­


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 64,813


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 3,874


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-159 The Last Draw

    The morning bells didn¡¯t ring anymore.


    Impulsive actions provided exhilaration in the moment, however, the price to pay for it was steep. Even though it was through deceit and deception, Nobert and the Paladins were the heroes of Drarith. The Ensils and the Ashevas might see the ploy behind the raids, the conspiracy cooking beneath, but the Kyrons of the city didn¡¯t have that leeway, and they didn¡¯t care. They fought despair each day, struggled to stay alive, so they revered any helping hand that reached out to them. Not to mention the church of smiles not only extended a helping hand but also gave them hope to touch the peak they could never grasp otherwise¡ªthe power to rival the Ashevas.


    And so, unless the Ensils planned to wipe the populace, winning over the people¡¯s heart would become a crucial checkpoint¡ªand Kiev¡¯s kill impeded his family¡¯s chances before the fight even began.


    The war halted, the raids ended for good, yet the silent criticism accompanying the bouts of drunken revolts washed over the city. Sanity usually reigned in their grievances, but with alcohol chipping down their inhibitions, they spoke up and fought back. Though the external matters had gained peace, the internal conflicts raged for Drarith. And it kept the Ensils busy.


    Ewan, on the other hand, maintained his undisturbed routine; the protective fog shielding him from the chaotic evenings and the eventful nights. Except for when paying his share for the slaves and patrolling the cave, he kept his doors closed¡ªonly Kidd, Walyn, and his Astylinds accompanied his passing days.


    His research on the mystic rune and the mystic blood continued. His studies of the spells progressed. The sales of his potions seesawed. The practice of his Varos at a lower than its critical temperature bore fruit. And his fight with Rain evolved.


    Each battle showed drastic changes in their strategies, and they both strived to outwit the other. When Ewan shut down Rain¡¯s lightning spells, Rain ruined his <Fireflies>; when Rain upgraded his knives beyond Ewan¡¯s expectation, Ewan crushed him with his threading spells; when Ewan tried to blast him with his <Boom>, Rain exploded with a movement spell; and when Rain cornered him with his speed, Ewan erupted with his new Ryvia based spell¡ª<Repulse>.


    Yet, even after weeks of back and forth, they yielded no conclusion, and at the end of every battle, some random person died. The distortion around Rain hinted towards a teleportation-type spell. It was far out of reach of a Step-0 Severynth, but Rain still realized it. Ewan worked on its counters, but with his current access to knowledge and his Anima pool, he could only come up with a crude method. And so, he strained his spirit and body and domed Rain with crammed Mystic-Anima, hindering his usage of any other Anima for the teleportation spell. However, all that resulted in was a Rain substituting his death with a smug smile, leaving Ewan with a twitching nostril and bleeding eyes¡ªthe dome of Mystic-Anima didn¡¯t even obstruct him, let alone stopping his spell.


    A week after that, they fought their last battle, and they tied again.


    ¡°I won''t come here anymore, the cave is yours,¡± Rain said, blood dripping down his arms. ¡°I¡¯m going to create my own group and join some expeditions when I become Step-1, I hope to see you out there too. Farewell, my rival, let¡¯s continue our fight when we meet.¡± He left the words behind, and with another person¡¯s death, Ewan never saw him again.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    His departure brewed a hint of melancholy in Ewan¡¯s heart, and he felt down for days. Weeks of battles against the man pushed him to his edge; it tested his wit, his spirit, his body, and his knowledge to their limits. And in the course of the conflict, he got used to Rain¡¯s presence and started having fun.


    Nevertheless, his life continued, and he pushed the thought to the back of his mind¡ªafter all, like the man said, they shall meet again.


    ¡­..


    ¡°Master, I¡¯ve succeeded,¡± Kidd said, kneeling behind Ewan in the yard, his right fist punching the nicely trimmed grass. ¡°I completed your command to the word.¡±


    Ewan facepalmed himself and sighed, lying on the recliner facing the ocean. ¡°Just tell me, how much did he ask for?¡±


    ¡°Two thousand, my liege,¡± Kidd said, adjusting the mask that was about to slip.


    ¡°Two thousand?¡± Ewan questioned in alarm. ¡°For a rundown ship like that?¡±


    ¡°Punish me, my lord.¡± Kidd punched the grass again and lowered his head. ¡°The wicked man smelled my desperation, he found out I was in a hurry,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve let my lord down.¡±


    ¡°Forget it,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We don¡¯t need it that soon to pay two thousand for it. Look for another ship.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master!¡±


    ¡°Will you stop doing that already, its tiring and annoying.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss. Ah, no, I mean my lord!¡±


    Ewan sighed again, feeling the strength escaping his shoulders. ¡°Just go do your thing,¡± he said and shooed him away.


    Drarith¡¯s internal state of affairs had worsened by the day, and the intrigues colliding in the background appeared on the front stage¡ªthe church of smiles confronted the Ensils out in the open. The Ensils fought with their long reign, their established name, their own and their recruited Ashevas, while the church of smiles used the Kyrons, their misery, and the moral high ground to retaliate. The Ensils commanded the elite, while the church ruled over the numbers, and it affected the city as a whole.


    Businesses shut down, merchants lost their fortune, establishments emptied out, venues changed hands, and a hint of rebellion fermented in the air.


    The deteriorating situation urged Ewan to leave the city, but he still had some leeway to look for a better deal for the ship¡ªhe couldn¡¯t splurge his hard-earned Novas for a ship that couldn¡¯t go ten miles without pulling a leak.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 95,234


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 2,326


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-160 Star Map

    Airadian Hub Stratum, ¡®Brewed Awakening¡¯ shop.


    ¡°Did you finish reading the notes?¡± Ewan asked, sorting out the potions in the storage room and tallying the sales. Soft creamy light from the mounted lamps slid off the ivory walls and complimented the homely arrangement of the crates to enkindle a cozy undertone. Compared to the shop¡¯s main hall, Ewan preferred this room better, and Nana too joined him in his sentiment.


    ¡°I did, but I think I should practice a bit before,¡± Nana said, helping him categorize the potions. ¡°What if I make a mistake?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the basics, you¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Just mind the structure, you need to etch it on the sand grains.¡±


    ¡°What if I fail? What if it¡¯s destroyed? Don¡¯t you only have one more portion?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret it so much, it¡¯s just Varos. Don¡¯t overcomplicate it, and follow the points I wrote,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Even if you do destroy it, I¡¯ll create another share for you with my spell.¡±


    Nana jerked and peeked at the gate that led to the shop¡¯s fa?ade. ¡°Don¡¯t say it out loud,¡± she whispered. ¡°What if someone hears us?¡±


    He looked back at Nana. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything concrete. And you¡¯re more suspicious than me, stop freaking out over it.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt to be more cautious,¡± Nana said, shrinking down. ¡°Especially with something like this.¡±


    ¡°Keep that up and you¡¯ll become paranoid like me.¡± Ewan exhaled. ¡°It¡¯s exhausting, and now I have to learn to differentiate between paranoia and being cautious. One is enough, don¡¯t follow in my footsteps,¡± he said. ¡°You continue your usual innocence, let me worry about the rest.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to do that¡­,¡± she murmured.


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°Then become stronger and share my burden.¡±


    ¡°Who else knows about it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Most likely my dear mother,¡± he said. ¡°Pa developed the spell, so he must¡¯ve told his wife, I was just continuing our family¡¯s tradition by telling you.¡±


    Quiet dawned on the storage room, and only the rustles of the boxes and the beeps of the automated workers echoed; Nana turned around and fidgeted with the sale records.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go red on me. If you keep reacting like that, I can''t even bring up the topic anymore,¡± Ewan said. The embarrassment hit him too, but he braved it for the sake of their relationship¡ªunsaid words could lead to doom, and a talking couple was a happy couple.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t decided that I¡¯ll marry you yet,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°Ah, is that so? Forget it then, I¡¯ll just marry that Ensil girl, she started baking me her salted cookies again recently,¡± Ewan said, turning his back to Nana.


    A crack went off behind him and a potion bottle imploded, the cerulean potion inside splattering on the tiled floor. Nana glared at him when he looked back, crushing two potion bottles to smithereens with her Ryvia.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°C-Calm down, it was a joke,¡± he said. ¡°D-Don¡¯t be impulsive, that costs over a hundred Novas.¡±


    ¡°Did you like the cookies?¡± she asked, sarcasm oozing out of her tone, and another potion became a victim.


    ¡°No, no, no, what cookies? There¡¯s no cookie,¡± Ewan said. ¡°She hates me now; she doesn¡¯t bake me anything.¡±


    ¡°Are you disappointed then? You sound disappointed.¡± Another potion bottle floated before her, ready to become the next sacrifice.


    ¡°No, no, never, I don¡¯t care about her, I even forgot her name,¡± he said, almost slurring his words. ¡°N-Nana, not that one, that¡¯s expensive, our future depends on these!¡±


    His persuasion fell on deaf ears and the potion bottle shattered, the potion pooling on the floor.


    ¡°Nana! You bitch! That took me hours to brew!¡± He yelled, and Nana scuttled away, her spirit blob dissipating.


    In the end, with the fading figure of her blob, Ewan¡¯s anger devolved into a helpless sigh¡ªthey were just too far away to even fight. Basking under a sunny afternoon or weathering a stormy night, he endured his status quo and remained resolute. His determined steps took him forward. Yet, when he let his guard down, he missed her¡­


    A few breaths later, Nana spawned back in the storage room, carrying a rolled parchment with her.


    ¡°I-I forgot to give you this,¡± she said, handing it over to Ewan. ¡°It¡¯s the star map you wanted me to draw, but I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s accurate.¡±


    ¡°As long as it points a general direction, I¡¯ll find you,¡± Ewan said under his breath. ¡°I¡¯m almost done with Drarith, I¡¯ll depart soon.¡±


    ¡°How far will you have to travel¡­we don¡¯t even know how far the island is from your city,¡± she said, her voice dimming.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll take the Warship if I have to, but I¡¯ll find the island.¡±


    ¡°Will you join the expedition?¡± she asked.


    ¡°If everything goes well, then yeah, eventually in the future,¡± Ewan said. ¡°But if I can''t find you with my ship, I¡¯ll have to look for the island from the Warship, so I¡¯ll join now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll join too,¡± Nana said. ¡°It¡¯ll be better, I¡¯ll just have to wait for the Warship to pick me up.¡±


    ¡°They won''t go there unless the island has a refueling station, and it probably doesn¡¯t,¡± he said. ¡°You just stay put and mind your safety; I¡¯ll find a way.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to¡­.,¡± she murmured.


    ¡°Then become stronger and share my burden.¡± Ewan repeated. ¡°That aside, these potion bottles, I¡¯ll have my revenge for them,¡± he said. ¡°One strand of hair for one bottle, prepare yourself, I¡¯ll rip them off when I get there.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 170,125


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,415


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-161 Elementalist Step-0

    Drarith flourished with the searing months of growth. With the drenched months of interlude, it heaved a breath of respite. The city grew dreary with the barren months of death and the frigid months of silence. And with the invigorating months of life, Drarith came back alive.


    Flamecrest, Watercrown, Barrentide, Frosthelm, and Greenbirth; the seasons cycled as the year went by¡ªthe weather pursued its rhythm, heedless of the lives continuing beneath. Finally, with the dawn breaking the gray sky, Ewan bade farewell to the last resting day of his mystic-element bath. Today marked the completion of this subtype for Step-0, he at last gained the title of an Elementalist.


    Butterflies fluttered in his stomach and excitement bubbled over, he could hardly contain himself anymore. The deep expenditure of resources, time, and energy for the subtype had propelled his expectations up high. So, with Toast and Kidd as his audience, and Frost, Orange, and Iris sitting in their runes, he began his tests for the Elementalist state.


    The spell circuit in his modified heart and body glimmered and linked the runes, with the ice rune as the mainstay, and the engine booted on. A stimulating force surged within him, filling every corner of his body and soul, and with a snap, it exploded out. His strengthened Ryvia lifted him off the ground. It crushed the patch of grass beneath. The threads of spirit and the storming Ice-Anima lingered around him, and he hovered above the lawn, scanning his condition.


    The Elementalist subtype was an extension of the Severynth system, it wasn¡¯t its own path. Thus, the advantages it induced were all about amplification. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t without limitations either. Ewan checked them all one by one and noted them down in his diary under the ¡®Elementalist¡ªDetails¡¯ heading.


    ¡°<u>Advantages:</u>


    First advantage: Increased Anima pool. For each elemental rune connected to the state, my Anima pool combines with my corresponding Astylind¡¯s Anima pool. The increase follows no pattern, and the final result is dependent on my Astylind¡¯s Anima capacity.


    Second advantage: Increased Anima recovery rate. A follow-up of the first advantage¡ªbecause of the combined Anima pool, our Anima recovery rate also stacks up. It is and will be twice the baseline for each element.


    Third advantage: Increased spell prowess¡ªexact increment unknown. Only tested a list of non-destructive spells though, further testing needed for the offensive and defensive spells.


    Fourth advantage: Increased casting speed¡ªconfirmed after several rounds. The reason could be the smooth and facilitated movement of Anima in the body, but more tests needed for confirmation. Regardless of the cause, the extent of the result is noteworthy.


    Fifth advantage: Strengthened Ryvia. The boost to my spirit interference was enough to lift me off the ground and maintain the status of pseudo-flight¡ªit¡¯s fun, but I would still like to fly freely one day.


    Sixth advantage: Amplified affinity for the mainstay element. My current choice was the ice element, and the Elementalist state shot my ice affinity from the basic Recipient level to the Favored level¡ªcan be a substantial advantage at higher affinity levels if the increment is exponential, but it¡¯s highly unlikely.¡±


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


    ¡­.


    ¡°<u>Limitations:</u>


    First limitation: Can only have one Astylind per element. This limits my future choice for the Astylinds and will continue to narrow my selection pool the higher I go. Unless I let go of the Elementalist title, I can''t break the limitation.


    Second limitation: The stage of the participating Astylind must be the same as my Elementalist level. If any of my Astylinds break through to the next level and reach the Step-1 stage, that corresponding rune won''t connect to the Step-0 Elementalist spell circuit¡ªit will collapse under the burden if forced. Applicable only under special conditions, however¡ªin case I break through to Step-1, and my Astylinds advance, yet my Elementalist level remains at Step-0.


    Third limitation: The ceiling of the spell level depends on the Elementalist level. As a Step-0 Elementalist, even if I am to become a Step-1 Severynth, I can only cast Step-0 spells in the state¡ªthe modifications of Step-0 Elementalist can''t tolerate the quality change that the spells go through with each rising step.


    Fourth limitation: Time constraint. The Anima from the mainstay element fuels the Elementalist state¡ªhence the label ¡®mainstay¡¯. For my ice affinity under the amplification effect, the recorded time limit was about thirteen minutes¡ªsubject to change, depending on the recovery rate relative to the affinity level.¡±


    When he shut the diary, and when his adrenaline went down, Ewan stopped to think about the subtype. The advantages did make the Elementalist a stronger version of Severynth, but what actually backed it was the number of runes he had and the list of spells he could cast. If these two factors failed him, his Elementalist state wouldn¡¯t be much different from a normal Severynth, the magnitude of strength escalation wouldn¡¯t justify the resources burnt in that scenario.


    As he was now, with three runes and a few spells mastered in each of those three elements, being an Elementalist was barely his ace in the hole. To make the subtype dazzle in all its glory, he needed more runes, he needed more spells. From defensive to auxiliary, from area-of-effect to single target, from crowd control to movement, he had to build a sturdy arsenal of spells to capitalize on the Elementalist state.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 Severynth [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 173,412


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,365


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-162 Final Sacrifice

    After the completion of the Elementalist subtype, Ewan focused on the cave. But it was far more stubborn than he expected. It subverted his already bloated estimate of a few months and had occupied his afternoons for almost a year. The lingering energy in the traps dragged one mortal down after another. If Ewan hadn¡¯t timed his actions to match the riots and the clashes happening in the city, where the death count was rising with each skirmish, the list of disappearing beggars would¡¯ve already attracted scrutiny. Still, the fact that he succeeded in doing so with no hiccups for a year put him on guard. He wasn¡¯t the strongest around, and he might not be the wisest around. How could anyone, especially the Ensils, not even notice his actions?


    Nevertheless, these suspicions alone weren¡¯t enough to give up on the cave. He spent too long and too much on it, he needed to see its end. And finally, it was in sight¡ªone more sacrifice and the cave¡¯s defenses would crumble.


    ¡°Boss,¡± Kidd said, leading a man to Ewan, playing with a leafed branch, his mask chained at his waist. ¡°Everything went smooth, no one cares about what we do here.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Ewan nodded, getting up from the arcing root and looked at the man. The baggy overwashed t-shirt hanging from his emaciated shoulders, the carelessly folded hems of the faded-navy trousers, the shoes with broken soles, the scars crisscrossed on his arms and neck, and his dead drooping eyes conveyed his story. The man washed well, the smell of turmeric shampoo and the soaped sun-kissed skin with tan lines presented a neat front, yet he exhaled the breath of gloom and despair, as if he would jump off a cliff if let loose.


    He had a past, but who didn¡¯t¡­


    ¡°Twenty-five Creliths, walk inside the cave and go as far as you can,¡± Ewan said to the man.


    ¡°Will I die, sir?¡± the man asked, glancing at the cave.


    ¡°You won''t, if you¡¯re lucky,¡± Ewan said, keeping his journal inside his claw-ring and taking out a pouch full of Creliths. ¡°You¡¯ll find several pouches like this on the way, you can keep them if you live in the end.¡±


    ¡°If I don¡¯t go in, will you kill me?¡±


    Ewan looked at the man for a breath, and Kidd too stopped irritating the squirrel and looked over. ¡°I¡¯m not giving you a choice,¡± Ewan said, and readied his <Enthrall> spell. The main usage of this spell over the year was on the testers¡ªenhancing their greed and muffling their vigilance.


    ¡°If I survive at the end, and you get what you want, will you kill me because I know too much?¡± the man asked. ¡°Can you please not kill me, sir? I don¡¯t want to die.¡± His words didn¡¯t match his state, his lost eyes didn¡¯t belong to a man begging to live.


    ¡°Can''t do that, this is important to me,¡± Ewan said, and reached his hand out with the spell circuit brimming with Mystic-Anima.


    ¡°I can be of use to you, I work with woods and metals, I¡¯ve built ships,¡± the man said. ¡°I¡¯ve also spent several years on the ocean; I know how to read the stars.¡±


    Ewan halted the Mystic-Anima and cancelled the spell circuit, staring at the man. When he was thirsty and longed for water, the man delivered him a well. The favorable coincidence once again sparked Ewan¡¯s skepticism and his defenses went up. In the end, all his speculations regarding the situation only led to a defeated sigh. There weren¡¯t any suspicious elements around the man, it was more likely that his skills just happened to coincide with Ewan¡¯s needs. After all, Drarith was a port city, and many men were of this trade.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Paranoia wasn¡¯t easy to cure after all¡­.


    ¡°If you survive, I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Ewan said. Even though he learned the ways of star navigation, he still wasn¡¯t better than an experienced sailor. One mistake out in the ocean, and the diverged path would lead to his death. And even if he survived, it would still waste a lot of his time to correct his direction. If he could even do so.


    ¡°If I live, can I get something else than the Creliths, sir?¡± the man asked.


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Can I get the spell circuit to open my soul space?¡±


    Ewan lifted his brows. ¡°How old are you?¡±


    ¡°Twenty-six this year,¡± he replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s not possible,¡± Ewan said. ¡°At least I don¡¯t have a way to help you with that.¡±


    The man looked down at the ground, his back slackening, then looked back up at Ewan. ¡°Then can you let me accompany you? I can help you with anything you want,¡± he said.


    ¡°Even if you come with me, you might not ever find a way to open your soul space,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°I understand, but I still wish to,¡± the man said. ¡°Will you allow me, sir?¡±


    ¡°Fine, as I said, if you survive, I¡¯ll consider it.¡±


    The man bowed. ¡°Please don¡¯t worry. No matter what, I¡¯ll open the path for you,¡± he said, and moved towards the cave. The lack of hesitation and the eagerness in his steps wasn¡¯t of a man unwillingly walking to his death but was of a man who welcomed his end with open arms, even yearned for it. This man said he wanted to live, but he didn¡¯t care for his life. His contrasting attitude could become an unstable variable if Ewan were to bring him along, the matter needed extra caution.


    He cast <Spoor> and left the mark on the man as his back faded into the inky-black fissure.


    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± Kidd said, as the squirrel bit his finger, snatched the acorn, and bolted away. ¡°He¡¯s pretty quiet and cut off, I¡¯ve only ever seen him around his workplace in the tradesmen area. He doesn¡¯t interact much with others too. Don¡¯t worry, Boss, no one will know if he goes missing.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 Severynth [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 173,412


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-163 Change in Approach

    ¡°Are you going to let him come with us though?¡± Kidd asked, sucking the bleeding cut on his finger.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If he really can help us navigate, I don¡¯t mind bringing another baggage along.¡± He sat back down on the root, where the moss didn¡¯t grow, where the wood had smoothened over the year to become his seat, and took out his journal. The promised one year lapsed. He¡¯d done all he could as a Step-0 Severynth. It was now time to prepare for the next stage¡ªthe Spirit-Nebula stage.


    ¡°Boss! I¡¯m not a baggage anymore. I¡¯ve already learned how to control my state too,¡± he said. ¡°I can fight with you now.¡±


    ¡°Say that when you can keep up with Frost and Orange for over ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re too strong, Boss, it¡¯s not an equal comparison,¡± Kidd said. ¡°But I¡¯ve been working on this new move, I can defeat them with it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not one of your childish over-the-top named skills again, is it?¡± Ewan said, flipping the pages over to the part that detailed the rite for advancement and the complementary potion¡ªPrairie Fire, his predecessors named the rite and the potion so to match the untamed blaze it ignited.


    ¡°No, Boss, it¡¯s the real deal this time,¡± he said. ¡°Remember how Willy moved around like shadows? We¡¯ve been practicing that move. Look.¡± Threads of inky mist appeared around him when he postured with a deep breath, and he exploded forth, his speed surpassing a Kyron¡¯s. The recoiling wind ripped the grass in his trail, and the branches bent to their ends. A jutting root spoiled his landing, however, and he tripped and rolled over before lying flat on the ground, blades of grass stuck in his hair. He also ate some.


    Explosive linear movement was Orange¡¯s domain. Kidd copied him, but the fuel that powered the two differed after all. The fire element suited Orange¡¯s violent fighting style, but Kidd couldn¡¯t master it, for the dark element didn¡¯t excel at eruptions. From bizarre effects to stealth, from deaths to scourge, the dark element ruled these fields. And since melee interested Kidd more, stealth was his optimal style.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s quite impressive, you can easily kill the enemy when he¡¯s dying of laughter,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Here, it¡¯s the new version.¡± He took out a thin notebook and tossed it to Kidd.


    ¡°You changed the last one already?¡± Kidd asked, flipping the notebook on the ground, his eyes shuttling on the pages.


    ¡°It was causing some conflicts, this version should solve them,¡± he said.


    After several tests and experiments, Ewan finally figured out the factors that pushed Kidd and Walyn into their current situation. The sheer ease with which Kidd manipulated the Dark-Anima hinted at a high affinity, and the test confirmed it at Favored-level. Even in that, Kidd showed an elevated level of physical empathy with the undead types.


    This should have originally given him a strong start on the Severynth path with a talent in the dark element that others could only envy. Yet, coincidences piled up, and with Walyn¡¯s stimulation at the verge of his demise, Kidd awakened prematurely, and they merged into a new path¡ªa path that resembled the Cerades, the olden sages.


    Severynths¡¯ concepts and ideas didn¡¯t work for Kidd anymore, so Ewan had to research and develop a new method for him to train from the scratch¡ªit took several inspirations from the Cerades¡¯ path before he had his meditation prototype.


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


    ¡°What about this movement skill?¡± Kidd asked. ¡°How do I improve it?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t suit you two, change it,¡± Ewan said, going back to his journal. ¡°Don¡¯t seek linearity, try to use the anima for stealth and nimble motion.¡±


    ¡°How do I do that?¡± Kidd asked, scratching his scalp.


    ¡°Learn,¡± he said. ¡°Start practicing with daggers, once you¡¯re used to them, I¡¯ll give you my Obsidian.¡±


    ¡°Really Boss?¡± Kidd beamed, his eyes widening. ¡°I¡¯ll buy them today!¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going down, go check on Cork too,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Ask him how much longer he¡¯ll take for the next batch of slaves.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Kidd bobbed a nod. ¡°By the way, Boss, we need to change the burying place. It¡¯s almost full.¡±


    ¡°Change it then. I¡¯m almost done too; most likely I¡¯ll get the results with the next batch.¡± He heaved a dejected sigh.


    His research on the mystic rune had come a long way. Theories shed the light, and the experiments on the slaves paved the way. Wrong hypotheses led to potholes and finally iced his momentum at the end of the road, but they still helped him find the right direction.


    The instability of the transmuted runes he created in the slaves¡¯ soul space forced him to take a step back¡ªregardless of the fuel the <Transmute> spell used to create them, they all collapsed in a few minutes. Failures after failures changed his approach, and thus, his current strategy was to create a potion through <Transmute> that would mimic the effects of the <Contract> spell and create a mystic rune based on his natural affinity. If it succeeded, Ewan would become his own Astylind.


    This would solve not only the problem of the unstable rune, but also the mismatch with the Elementalist subtype. After all, if he created a rune without an Astylind, it wouldn¡¯t link with the subtype, let alone become his mainstay element. The only roadblock was that the quality of the fuel needed to animate his ideas skyrocketed. The final results were still pending, he needed one more batch of slaves for it, but if his conjectures stood true, then nothing he owned or could own with his current balance was enough to create that potion.


    Now, the only factor that could change the outcome was the cave. And with the stationary pings from his <Spoor> spell that signified the man¡¯s stable vitals at the estimated end of the cave, Ewan finally achieved it¡ªthe dozens of Kyrons¡¯ sacrifices finally broke the traps.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 Severynth [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 173,412


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-164 The Medallion

    Ewan¡¯s Ryvia dimmed down only a few steps into the cave and flatlined after he crossed a couple of rotten and festering corpses. The rank and the putrid stench with an underlying tone of sickening sweetness blasted his sensitive smell without his Ryvia blockage. Kidd vomited at the third encounter while Ewan had to concentrate to tolerate the passive assault. He took his time to get used to the repulsive condition and only walked forward when his nose was numb.


    Signs of destruction lay around the dead spell circuits, and the damage to the floor and the walls intensified the further he went. Exploded potholes, chipped stones, cracked ceiling, chopped walls, they all conveyed the final moments of each mortal who died for it.


    The success of his tactic eased Ewan¡¯s tensed nerves, but another matter still nagged him¡ªthe Kyrons¡¯ had juiced out the traps, yet the cave suppressed his Ryvia. It was a matter of concern and sparked hesitation, but he still chose to walk in. As long as the cave¡¯s ability to counter him didn¡¯t cross his tolerance limit, he wouldn¡¯t back down.


    ¡°Boss, I can''t see anything,¡± Kidd said, sticking close to Ewan. The echoing clacks of their boots shot back at them and melded into the ghost-quiet background, as if it was always a part of it.


    Ewan halted, and stopped Kidd behind him, and the hushed cave only left a sharp ring in his ears. Even he lost his vision now, let alone Kidd. The path ahead was pitch dark. He couldn¡¯t see any end, neither could he see his steps, and his heart thumped. The hostile factors were stacking up, and the malice thickened in the air.


    The wind carried the distant murmurs, and they cursed him for their misery. He denied their right to live, he took away their right to struggle. Even if they survived at the bottom of the barrel, they still wished to see the sun, they still wished taste the salt, and they still wished to live another day¡­


    The perished damned him for their deaths, and they only wished him agony in their whispers.


    When the wave passed, they left him in dead silence. Their synced breaths had never felt this loud. Something caressed the back of his neck, and a gentle yet frigid touch crept up his arms. His scalp numbed; they weren¡¯t alone in here¡­


    Ewan wondered whether the cave had tricked him into coming in by using the man¡¯s vitals. And if it did, its implications were grim¡ªit meant that the cave was alive and sentient enough to use his spell against him¡­


    Unlikely, he determined after a barrage of wishful thoughts. If such was the case, then defiance wasn¡¯t an option, he wouldn¡¯t be able to resist.


    To err on the side of caution though, the idea of backing away sparked in his mind. And when it took root, his instincts blared the sirens, the warning bell went off in his head, and his spine shivered. He gulped, his parched throat stung, and licked his dry lips. He regretted coming in, he regretted spending so much time and resources on it. He fed the monster, and now, the monster would feast on him.


    His reasoning spiraled down, the threat muddled his mind, and his body grew colder and colder. Soon his senses deadened and his connection to the world snapped. Once again, he¡¯d encountered death in all its glory, and once again, he was powerless against it.


    The fear of death gripped him and stretched out its hand towards the last wisp of the flickering fire. However, he fought back and resisted his end. He wanted to live, he had to live, he must live, his stubbornness charged the fire into a raging blaze¡­.and the illusion shattered. The darkness waned away, the cave lighted up, his senses returned, and the threat vanished. There were no curses, there were no monsters. The dead were long gone, and their whispers echoed no more. Near the end of the ill-lit tunnel, only Ewan, Kidd, and the man stood.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Mystic,¡± Ewan murmured, running his fingers through the dense Mystic-Anima around him. Yet again, he fought this element, and yet again, he barely won. They cheered around him, but their glee reeked of mockery. Even at the Favored level, he fell deep into that illusion. How high the caster¡¯s affinity and control level had to be to push him that far¡­


    When his thoughts settled down, when he checked and confirmed both Kidd¡¯s and the man¡¯s safety, the skepticism flooded Ewan. He met the cave by coincidence, he chose to break it by his own will, then why did it relate to the one element that currently mattered to him the most.


    Accidents only happened once or thrice; the fourth time would announce the existence of a conscious design.


    ¡°Pa, is it you?¡± Ewan said under his breath and took out the glowing medallion that Mr. Thain gave him.


    He happened to meet May when he needed her to break Nana¡¯s fog; he happened to encounter the ship that was heading back to Drarith; he happened to meet Kidd on that ship; and Kidd just happened to find the cave that concerned the mystic element.


    Four cracks ran on the medallion, each threading with one of the coincidences. It stayed in a corner inside his claw-ring for so long, he never suspected it, he never had a reason to¡ªuntil now. For better or for worse, it was affecting the world around him. The sugarcoated version paved the road for him and made things easier, but the crude interpretation tightened a leash around his neck and led him on a prefixed turns and corners.


    Ewan sighed, rubbing the medallion, nostalgia drowning his emotions. He was now even more sure that this was from his Pa, and he meant for him to follow this path. Because this level of interfering with his choices had that control freak¡¯s fingerprints all over it. Only he had the emotional motive to burn the resources and create an item that could manipulate the possibilities and imitate Toast¡¯s ¡®Luck Roulette¡¯ to control his insignificant self¡­


    Parents had good intentions, but they seldom translated to a pleasing reality, the different perspectives rarely agreed. And if forced, it always resulted in a clash between the generations. Ewan didn¡¯t break this tradition either¡ªeven with his Pa dead, he still wanted to knock that old man¡¯s teeth out.


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 Severynth [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 173,412


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-165 Bizarre

    Murals and carvings lined the cave walls and led to the end hall, portraying the evolution of amateur doodles into professional etchings, the scope of improvement leaving its mark with each stroke. Though it was hard to gather the image that the carver wanted to convey from these time-battered motley depictions, the comprehensible bits and pieces did point towards the part of the history it wanted to show¡ªthe end of the Ashocan Kingdom.


    And this sparse information failed Ewan¡¯s studied knowledge. The ¡®Endless Helix¡¯ wasn¡¯t the downfall of the Ashocan Kingdom in these pictures; the kingdom survived that onslaught. If he were to believe these carvings, the mystic element had yet again shown him a false history. Not only that but the books agreed with that ¡®false¡¯ history too.


    Nevertheless, this wasn¡¯t his concern. The problem with the mystic element already tripped him once, he didn¡¯t need to confirm another example to prove it again.


    ¡°B-Boss, what happened?¡± Kidd groaned and woke up, rubbing his head. ¡°Where¡¯re those girls?¡±


    ¡°You fainted, your head will ache for a while,¡± Ewan said, walking to the man. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°S-Stefan, sir, Stefan Rad,¡± he said, barely propping his body up and sitting straight.


    ¡°How did you come here? What did you hear?¡±


    That illusion would¡¯ve smothered an average Kyron, only a strong soul could resist it. Kidd passed the chasm because of his newfound path and his innate talent, but this man survived it too¡ªhis soul qualified to be a Severynth, even a Cerade perhaps. Alas, he¡¯d long left the important years when he could change his life with these two paths.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know, sir. Everything went dark, and I just kept walking,¡± Stefan said. ¡°I heard whispers, he was asking me to die.¡±


    ¡°Did you recognize the voice?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I-It was my newborn son,¡± Stefan said, his hand shaking as he stared at the ground.


    Ewan held his words back, how could he recognize his newborn son¡¯s voice¡­. This was a guilt-ridden man; his bruised conscience strengthened the illusion, and his own guilt strangled him.


    ¡°You survived,¡± Ewan said. ¡°So, do you want to come with me?¡±


    Though it was risky to bring along a wounded man like him, the fact that his drive to live quelled his suicidal state was enough to appease Ewan¡ªat least it would prevent him from jumping head-first into a death pit.


    Drarith might have many more men who could navigate the waters like Stefan, or even better than him, but none would come to him with the same condition. If he instead went to recruit them, it would become a transaction, where he would occupy the lower position of an asker.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Stefan looked up at him with wide eyes. ¡°Please let me.¡±


    ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t lie about your navigation skills.¡±


    ¡°No, sir, definitely not,¡± Stefan said. ¡°I have eight years of experience on the waters, I spent most of my childhood on the ocean.¡±


    ¡°Okay, stay here with Kidd, get to know each other,¡± Ewan said, and walked towards the end of the cave.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡­.


    Mystic-Anima brimmed the hall, leaking out into the tunnel, its argent halo lighting up the red-iron walls. They cheered, they played, and the ocean of Anima stormed inside the narrow confines. A simple bedroom sectioned out towards the right end, the stone bed chipped and cracked, the creaky table on the brink of collapse. While the left held traces of a makeshift kitchen with the shattered bits and pieces of Potioneering equipment, the crooked wood-based stove and the uneven stool conveying the touch of an amateur hand. And the back of the hall opened up to a small room, scorched walls and pitted floor being the only hints of its purpose.


    Nevertheless, the vestige of life here resisted well against the erosion of time, as if the distant past crossed the aged history to paint its story for the future visitors. Or it had external help¡­


    Ewan looked up at the vibrating pitch-black hole in the ceiling, and his heart fell. All that work, all the time spent, all the lives he took, it was all for naught. The Mystic-Anima weren¡¯t so jolly anymore, and the hall looked grim. The ecstasy of success drained off his face and only frustration remained.


    A fishing line dropped from that hole, the hook carrying a pearly Anima Crystal, and swayed among the crowded Mystic-Anima, the line shaking from time to time. Dozens of Mystic-Anima converged and condensed, they twisted into the form of a fish, and rushed towards the hook. The fishing line trembled again, and the hook lured in the newformed fish. And when it bit the crystal, when the line tautened, when the hook was about to pull it up, the fish scattered into hundreds of Mystic-Anima, and the crystal was no more¡ªfrom dozens to hundreds of particles, the crystal was the price.


    His suspicions came true, this cave was already under the Ensils, and someone at the top paid special attention to it. All the pieces of this pie had their owners, it wouldn¡¯t be his turn to take a share. But the medallion his Pa left him endured a crack to bring him here¡­. Either it failed his Pa¡¯s purpose or there was something here for him that the others missed.


    ¡°Kiddo, you really took your time.¡± A heavy voice shot out from the hole in the ceiling. ¡°I almost thought you would never come in.¡±


    ¡°Sir Governor.¡± Ewan bowed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I intruded in your area, it wasn¡¯t my intention to trespass.¡±


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 Severynth [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 173,412


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-166 Outplayed

    The Governor laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t be so uptight,¡± he said. ¡°Finders keepers. The cave is not mine, don¡¯t worry about trespassing.¡±


    ¡°Even so, I still apologize,¡± Ewan said, maintaining his bent spine, his head lowered. If only the words carried their original intention¡­ He wouldn¡¯t live to see another day if he actually believed the Governor and stretched his claws for the cave in front of him. Other things aside, the opportunity that cracked his medallion aside, his only purpose right now was to deescalate the unseen and unsaid tension and get out alive with all his limbs still attached. At least, his instincts hadn¡¯t warned him so far, so it should be feasible.


    ¡°But you really came here in vain,¡± the Governor said. ¡°You can''t gain anything here at your current level. Tell me, did you practice your mystic spells?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Please don¡¯t worry, sir, I won''t delay your matter anymore.¡±


    ¡°Are you ready for Step-1?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir, I can soon make the first attempt.¡±


    ¡°Make sure you prepare well,¡± the Governor said. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to get some healing potions along with the stabilizers, the rite can be harsh even if you succeed.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°And you were looking to buy a ship I heard. Don¡¯t waste time with those people, they¡¯ll sell you for all your worth. Just ask Kiev, he¡¯ll give you one. But the area around Drarith hasn¡¯t been stable recently, so I suggest you delay your trip.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Ewan said, his heart skipping several beats, his stomach churning. Everything he did, all his moves were under this man¡¯s eyes, and it smothered him. He severely underestimated the difference between them, and he severely underestimated his worth in the Governor¡¯s eyes¡­.


    ¡°You should go back now, focus on breaking through to Step-1, don¡¯t think about anything else,¡± the Governor said. ¡°Ask Kiev for anything you need for that, he won''t refuse.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Ewan said, and backed away, his hurried steps taking him away from the hall. ¡°Keep quiet and just follow me,¡± he said to Kidd and Stefan and led them out.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The forest¡¯s breath filled his lungs, the sunlight scattered through the leafed crowns, the blades of grass softened his walk, and he heaved a sigh of relief when his Ryvia stretched freely, tension seeping out of his shoulders.


    ¡°What happened Boss?¡± Kidd asked, glancing back at the crack.


    ¡°Not now,¡± Ewan said, and headed back to his villa with the two in tow. This incident triggered his paranoia again, but the market he scoured and the price he paid for the protective fog covering his villa supported his confidence in it. Even if it couldn¡¯t defend against the Governor, it could at least stop him from sneaking his Ryvia in¡ªit could act as a warning sign. The world inside that fog was his safe haven right now. If only he could teleport back¡­ The path back to his villa never felt this long.


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    ¡­..


    The isolation of the fog soothed his nerves, and his disarrayed thoughts rested when the familiar yard and the fragrance of the night-blooming jasmine he¡¯d planted welcomed him. Even if he wasn¡¯t safe within the protective shield, the illusion of security and insulation was enough to allay his immediate concerns. And thus, the main issue reared its head as he collapsed on the recliner, leaving Kidd and Stefan to settle down on their own.


    The Governor had the cave, Ewan could have no share in it, and he should give it up. But it wasn¡¯t just any lucky occurrence, the medallion put it in his path. There was a good chance that this opportunity could lead him to the creation of the mystic rune.


    Even though the manipulation left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth, the initial spark of annoyance had died down soon, and only the comfort of his Pa¡¯s embrace remained. The sense of independence, the weathered ego, and the self-centered perception he¡¯d built over the years nagged him to abandon the medallion and come out of his Pa¡¯s shadow, but they were hollow and without any weight when it concerned his family, and Ewan denied them their voice.


    After all, his family¡¯s legacy and his Pa¡¯s inheritance paved his road so far, and they would continue to do so in the foreseeable future. His hypocrisy wasn¡¯t potent enough to conveniently accept one side and oppose the other and scream injustice. His path was never his alone to walk.


    Not to mention, the existence of the medallion smelled of his Pa¡¯s anxiety and his drive to find a way to soften the negatives of ¡®Luck Roulette¡¯. His only son surviving and striving all alone in the world, how could he remain callous and let it be¡­


    That old man¡¯s desperate arrangements led him to the cave, and so, Ewan couldn¡¯t give up. He wouldn¡¯t give it up, even if it meant pitting his wits against the omniscient Governor. Nevertheless, he had some advantage over him with his affinity in the mystic element.


    Before eyeing the cave again, however, he had to break through and become a Step-1 Severynth. The power progression might not amount to anything before the Governor, but it would give him some leeway in his plans.


    The evolution of life would amplify his state, from his soul to his body. The ability of flight alone could save him in desperate times. And if his estimate hit the mark, the improvement in his instincts would sense the surveillance of a stronger Ryvia¡­


    <hr>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 Severynth [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 173,687


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-167 Traveler’s Bed—Trade Meet

    The innocence of ignorance saved Ewan so far. All his moves for the cave fell under the blanket of ¡®not knowing¡¯, and the reasonable Governor let him be. But that shield faded away today, and now his decision to steal from that omniscient man would make his days risky going forward. So, Ewan called Kidd over.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep it brief,¡± Ewan said, sitting on the edge of the recliner, and looked up at him. ¡°From today on, if what I do gets exposed, the Governor and everyone under him will become my enemy.¡±


    ¡°Are we finally fighting them?¡± Kidd asked with sparkles in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Boss, I¡¯m ready, I won''t weigh you down.¡± He pumped his chest, Walyn¡¯s shadow flickering on his face.


    ¡°No one¡¯s fighting anyone, lemme finish,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If I follow his words, if I¡¯m obedient, and if I forget about the cave, nothing will happen. But I don¡¯t intend to do that, there¡¯s something in that cave that I want, and I will take it.¡±


    ¡°Are we sneaking in Boss?¡± Kid asked. ¡°Let me go in, I¡¯m becoming better at stealth.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not. You can''t escape even my Ryvia, let alone his,¡± Ewan said, then clicked his tongue. ¡°Don¡¯t distract me. What I wanted to say was that I¡¯m giving you a choice.¡± He stared at Kidd. ¡°You might die if you keep following me. Do you still want to come with me?¡±


    ¡°Do you¡­not want me around anymore Boss?¡± Kidd asked, clutching his t-shirt¡¯s hem.


    ¡°What I want doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯m asking what you want to do.¡±


    ¡°I-I promise I won''t annoy you anymore,¡± Kidd said, his face scrunching up, and his lips arcing down. ¡°W-Willy agrees with me too. W-We won''t do the role playing anymore either, we won''t be a burden Boss. C-Can you not make us leave?¡± Walyn¡¯s spectral face surfaced again, and he too almost cried at Ewan.


    Ewan sighed; he couldn¡¯t bear to continue with a pragmatic front when the two looked like abandoned puppies.


    ¡°Fine, I won''t make you leave,¡± he said. The unconditional acceptance and the reliance were a little different from the loyalty the books described. Instead, even if to a much lesser extent, it resembled his relationship with Nana, his Pa, and Uncle Keith and Aunt Ella. Though the time was short, the days they spent together weighed their ties and was erasing the fickleness. So much so that a year of contact melded Kidd into Ewan¡¯s shadow, even his dressing style mirrored Ewan.


    This was what it was like having a little brother. No, two little brothers, Ewan chuckled.


    ¡°What about Stefan? Did you settle him down?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah, he fell asleep,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Are we bringing him along Boss? Wouldn¡¯t it be risky?¡±


    ¡°Have him move his things over and stick with him these days, make sure he really wants to come with us,¡± Ewan said. The cave issue took a left turn, the secret wasn¡¯t a secret anymore, so he didn¡¯t need to silence the man if he refused to come with them. Regardless though, he still needed a navigator. ¡°Ship or no ship, I need him on the ocean,¡± he said.


    ¡°Leave it to me Boss, I¡¯ll find out everything about him,¡± Kidd said, smacking his puffed chest.


    ¡°Don¡¯t force him, go easy. I want him to be willing and not fall out with us in the middle of the ocean,¡± Ewan said.


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    ¡°Got it,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Also, keep an eye out for the trade meets or any meeting.¡±


    ¡°Okay Boss!¡± Kidd said and dashed away but did a U-turn a few steps later and rushed back. ¡°Which one should I do first?¡±


    ¡°Do both at the same time,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Yes Boss!¡±


    ¡­..


    Traveler¡¯s Bed¡ªtrade meet.


    The inn lacked its usual traffic and the ¡®Reserved¡¯ sign outside drove away any potential customer¡ªthe Ashevas had booked it for the day.


    The faint piano notes of Drarith¡¯s famous symphony led the ambience in the room and the hint of sweet citrus in the air set the mood as one Asheva after another took their seats on the snug velvet sofas, some munching on the ginger cookies. Kiev arranged the trade meet in the same room again, and the attendance almost touched a hundred percent, for the invitation this time accompanied an announcement.


    ¡°We all are familiar faces here today, so I¡¯ll skip the introductions,¡± Kiev said, standing at the figurative head of the round table with Avis fidgeting on his seat beside him. ¡°Before moving on to the trades, I have an announcement to make, I¡¯m sure many of you are here just for that.¡±


    ¡°Today will be the last day you¡¯ll deal with me,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m starting my preparation for Step-1, and henceforth, Avis will deal with any situation that needs an Ensil.¡±


    ¡°Kiev, things are not stable right now,¡± the curly blonde-haired native Asheva said. ¡°Are you sure Avis can handle the church? Maybe you should consider someone else.¡±


    Avis shrunk in his sofa at his words and buried his head in his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, have some confidence in my brother, he¡¯s also an Ensil and has learned everything I have,¡± Kiev said. ¡°And the Step-1 lords will support him, including me when I succeed, you just need to follow his decisions.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be up to the task.¡±


    ¡°I agree too,¡± Mize said, filing his nails with his dagger.


    ¡°Same,¡± the young foreign Asheva said, now peaking at the limits of Step-0. And the other foreign Ashevas soon followed suit and concurred, only the natives voiced their concerns.


    ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Kiev flashed a smile and chuckled. ¡°Whether you mind or not.¡± He looked at Ewan. ¡°Whether you agree or not.¡± He faced Mize. ¡°And whether you have any concerns, do you think I care about any of it,¡± he said, running his eyes over everyone else. ¡°I¡¯m here to announce it, not take your opinions. Avis is an Ensil, so keep in mind the difference between our status.¡±


    The spark of hostility quietened the room, and the piano notes took the lead again.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 Severynth [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 173,687


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-168 Ocean Song

    ¡°No one meant any disrespect, I¡¯m sure. There¡¯s no need for the unpleasantries,¡± a native Asheva said. ¡°We¡¯re all friends here.¡±


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯re all friends,¡± Kiev said, his smile widening but laced with serrated sarcasm that shredded the fa?ade. ¡°We look out for each other and come forward to help when the other needs it.¡± He scanned the room. ¡°We don¡¯t sit back and just watch a friend¡¯s family struggle against an enemy. We are friends alright.¡±


    The tension thickened in the room, and they all edged on the velvet sofa as if sitting on nails.


    ¡°Now!¡± Kiev clapped, jolting the heavy atmosphere. ¡°With that out of the way, let¡¯s begin the trade.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go first,¡± Ewan said after silence reigned for a minute, knocking on the table, and standing up. ¡°I want the Ocean-Song potion recipe, I¡¯ll trade all my contribution points for it, it should be enough.¡± He looked at Kiev. His naked malice slid off Ewan¡¯s disregard. It didn¡¯t even break the skin¡ªhe couldn¡¯t care less about Kiev¡¯s condescending and scornful remarks. His decision to target the cave etched his conflict with Ensils in stone. Sooner or later, they would clash. And by then, the collision would bury the small friction between him and Kiev.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally ready for Step-1?¡± Kiev asked, his brows raised. ¡°Grandpa did tell me about it, but I almost didn¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I can make an attempt now,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°With how long you took for preparations, you must have a hundred percent chance of breaking through.¡±


    ¡°How could that be?¡± Ewan smiled, brushing aside the taunt. ¡°I¡¯m scraping at the bottom of the barrel without any support, I was barely able to gather enough after so long to make one attempt.¡±


    ¡°I wish you success then,¡± Kiev said. ¡°We can finally move forward with our deal now; I almost forgot it existed.¡±


    ¡°I wish you success too,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Though I doubt you need it.¡±


    ¡°Your contribution points should barely be enough,¡± Kiev said. ¡°But it would be wiped out clean if you buy the recipe. Are your sure you don¡¯t just want the potion itself?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a Potioneer too, I want to try my hand at it,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯ll take the recipe.¡± The exchange of potion, based on his relationship with the Ensils, brought the risk of tampering¡ªhe couldn¡¯t afford it. Instead, a recipe was much more resistant to modification, and thus, could earn his trust. Especially if he brewed it himself, he would know its applications.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have the scroll delivered to you after the meet.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to exchange for anything else you need?¡± Kiev asked.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m good for now, I want to focus on the breakthrough.¡± Ewan smiled and sat down, burying his body into the silky backrest.


    ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s move on to the next one.¡±


    ¡­..


    The trade meet seeped into the sleeping hours of the night and ended when only the dogs scuttled on the streets, one of their howls triggering another. When Ewan returned to his villa, Kidd greeted him on the lawn, waking up from his meditation, Walyn¡¯s shadow fading away from his face.


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


    ¡°How¡¯s it working?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°Any problem so far?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s much smoother than the last one Boss,¡± Kidd said. ¡°I can easily take in the Dark-Anima now.¡±


    ¡°What about Stefan? Did you guys move all his things here?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we put them all in his room,¡± Kidd said. ¡°He wanted to stay awake and meet you when you come back but was too tired and fell asleep out here. So, I moved him to the room.¡±


    ¡°Meet me?¡±


    ¡°He wanted to give you this himself.¡± Kidd handed Ewan a thick coffee-colored hardcover book, its corners tattered, and the spine broken in places¡ªtime had done its wonder on it. ¡°He said it¡¯s his family¡¯s legacy, his father told him to protect it well. He doesn¡¯t know what it is though.¡±


    The yellowed parchment pages inside wrote an unfamiliar language, even the strokes of the inscribed spell circuit ran a foreign trace. And the mystery triggered Ewan¡¯s curiosity. Nevertheless, he put the book in his claw-ring and shoved the thought of exploring it to the back of his mind¡ªreaching Step-1 was his top priority right now, a new language could join his arsenal later.


    ¡°Thank him for me,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the potions room, call me when someone comes.¡±


    He went down the basement, settled Frost, Orange, and Iris for their combat training, and sat down in the room with Toast snuggled in his arms to read about the Prairie-Fire potion and the rite. The journal described the spell circuit for the rite, and the remarks and the notes from his family expounded on the confusing sections¡ªwith them lighting up the road, it was a child¡¯s play to carve the circuit on the floor and the walls.


    But the cost of the ingredients needed to fuel it and to brew the complimentary potion was going to hurt him, he would lose a huge chunk of his savings for this. Not to mention the stabilizing potions would also bleed him.


    The only thing he wished for was a successful rite on the first trial. Because a second attempt would empty him if not shove him into debt¡ªand that too if he could survive and recover from the first failure.


    Drarith simmered over the flickering flames of conflict from all sides. Before it boiled over, Ewan planned to deal with the cave and leave the city, away from all the unrelated issues.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 Severynth [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 173,687


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-169 Step-1

    Failure after failure consumed his days when Ewan attempted the Prairie Fire potion, and the chasm between the Step-0 potions and the Step-1 potions held his steps. The tries burnt through his Novas stock, yet the maddening fog hid the peak, and his frustration and fatigue came to a head. Even among the Step-1 potions, the difficulty of brewing potions like Prairie Fire and Ocean Song that could help in advancement lingered among the top. If he became a practiced hand at them, the simpler potions would be in the bag¡ªthe thought kept him going.


    Stefan eased in with the two and rigidity left his gait while Ewan endured his sour lemons. The days of contact and the occasional chatters revealed his expertise in alcohol¡ªapart from his navigation and tradesman skills, he excelled in making wine. Though his status as a Kyron limited his abilities, the first taste of his homemade wine indicated his potential. Not only for personal usage, but also for business. Anima based wine and liquor making branched off of Potioneering and expanded into its own vocation¡ªa milder alternative to the potions¡ªso if Stefan could make wines that mimicked or even rivaled their siblings, Ewan could expand his ¡®Brewed Awakening¡¯ business by bringing him in.


    Nevertheless, the wines he made weren¡¯t up to par yet, and the idea was just a possible venture for the future.


    Two weeks in, as the three adjusted and lived together, as Frost, Orange, Iris, and Toast grew accustomed to Stefan, Kidd brought back news of Kiev¡¯s successful breakthrough¡ªthe man was now a Step-1 Severynth. And the blow worsened Ewan¡¯s already bitter mood. If they met now, Ewan would call him Lord Kiev¡­


    The pillars that supported both had their inherent differences. Ewan had a passive inheritance, while Kiev received active support from the Governor, and the contrasting results exhibited that fact. Life wasn¡¯t a race, they all just chased after what they deemed worthy at their own pace, but still, eating dust behind Kiev slapped his ego. Instead of putting him down though, the burn drove his hunger and the tingle triggered his obstinacy. He plunged back into the basement, shut off the doors, and forbade Kidd and Stefan from disturbing him¡ªhe went all out.


    A quarter of Drarith celebrated Kiev¡¯s breakthrough, the bonfires blazed again, while the rest were up in arms, for their ¡®oppressors¡¯ just got stronger. And the kettle of simmering water boiled over in the city as Ewan broke down the wall keeping him away from Step-1.


    ¡­..


    He took a deep breath and cut off the world. The Prairie Fire rite carved a path in front of him, its ten treads sectioned into three parts, the glimmering strokes and the edges casting his monstrous shadow behind him. The first three steps were the adjustment and attunement section, the next four steps would burn him alive, and the final three were the modifiable extension that would show him a glimpse of his dream.


    The Novas coins activated the circuit with his prompt, the slotted materials hummed and melted into the grooves, the room lit up, and the rite began.


    The first step of the first section asked for the potion, and Ewan took the cork off the vial and downed the slimy coral-colored liquid¡ªit was the Prairie Fire potion.


    It burnt his tongue when he drank it, it singed his throat when it slid down, and it erupted in his stomach. Ewan took the next step and his temperature soared and plunged, his skin reddened and steamed then paled and frosted, the potion cooperated with the rite and was balancing his state. The third step finally found the fulcrum and his vitals stabilized at a higher temperature.


    The next section demanded the torturous four steps¡ªit owned the accomplishment of culling down the aspiring Severynths. When Ewan crushed the two stabilizing potions he bought from the hub and took the fourth step, the first of the section, the etched circuit flared up, and the untamed ¡®Prairie Fire¡¯ engulfed him. His bare skin blistered, the tongues of fire scorched his hair, and the wave of stinging pain ran through his body.


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


    The next step intensified the firestorm, the hot twisting air blurred his vision, and the deafening hiss of the blaze popped his ears and only a ringing buzz remained. The stabilizers activated at this stage and chained the rite down, stopping it from running amok while still maintaining its ferocity¡ªthis step consumed minutes before Ewan could force himself to trudge forward.


    By the third step, the inferno clutched his senses and threw him in a red-orange world¡ªhe saw fire, he heard fire, and he tasted fire. The charring skin, the sizzling muscles and fat, the boiling eyeballs, the scorching insides, and the searing agony told him that he still lived, that his thoughts were still alive. But the wildfire soon took away his reasoning too, and the loss of purpose was crushing his drive to take the next step. At his core, only his obsession for his dream and that one promise remained. He promised her that he wouldn¡¯t die, he wouldn¡¯t leave her all alone in this world...


    At this point, his success only depended on his will, and no number of potions could bring him across the finish line.


    Finally, his obstinate determination forced him forward and he took the final quivering step. And the blaze ate him up.


    The blackened husk of his skin crumbled, his dry bones crackled and snapped, and the loss of nerves took the torment away. His world was silent and dark, nothing remained anymore, yet her image never faded, and his dream stayed alive with her. He walked the harrowing path to fulfill his desire for an everlasting life, but it changed today. She merged with his dream and barged into his core. An everlasting life without her ceased to be a possibility for him, he denied it.


    When the rite reached its peak, when his last breath lingered by a thread of resolution, the flames darted towards his soul space and boiled his spirit. It vaporized the pool, and as his soul space groaned under the bombardment, as the runes trembled, a glittering misty nebula rose at the center. All the ¡®water¡¯ in the spirit pool evaporated and constructed the nebula, strengthening its loose yet unwavering structure.


    And with the last drop of the pool joining the misty cloud, Ewan broke through to Step-1.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Moribund


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-0 Severynth [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 2.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 19.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.9 | Ice ¨C 19.9 | Blood ¨C 19.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9<sup>th </sup>Awakening]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,114


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-170 Fly

    An invigorating burst of energy crammed Ewan¡¯s body and overwhelmed him when the nebula formed. His body was crumbling, his death stood before him, yet his senses returned, and he trudged forward to reach the final section¡ªthe life extending part of the rite.


    A healing vigor seeped in the moment his foot touched the floor, and a grating groan of pain and pleasure escaped his torn throat. His organs recovered, his nerves reconnected, his bones healed, his skin revitalized, and when he gained the leeway, he gulped down the Ocean Song potion from his claw-ring. The rush of the rite reconstructed his body, the soothing melody of the ocean soaked the missed corners and gaps with a touch of finesse, and soon he made a full recovery, only short of his hair.


    Yet, the wave hadn¡¯t ended.


    He took the second step of the section, and the quality of his life soared. An inordinate strength saturated him, his Ryvia exploded, and he left the realm of the Kyrons behind. His ¡®Spirit¡¯ and ¡®Vitality¡¯ ushered in a period of rapid growth, and even his twitch brimmed with sheer raw power.


    And finally, the third step brought him what he wished for. When the evolution slowed down, a cold yet comforting breath popped up out of thin air and embraced him, and his lifespan skyrocketed. From an average 80 years to 130, then to 150, and it kept rising until it reached 200, then decelerated to 245¡ªthe last trickle brought it to 246 and the rite shut down.


    By body, by soul, and by life, Ewan now stood at Step-1, the Spirit-Nebula stage.


    ¡­..


    Identify.


    Ewan rubbed the stubble on his head and cast after putting on his clothes and checking on his Astylinds, his heart racing, and his grin out of control. He succeeded, he finally succeeded¡­


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,114


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The new step changed him inside out, the rite crushed him and rebuilt him into a higher being, and his details showed that in numbers. Apart from the growth in ¡®Spirit¡¯ and ¡®Vitality¡¯ that were the crux of his evolution, the increase in ¡®Potential¡¯ was also a big gain¡ªit expanded the room for a fifth Astylind.


    The rate of feedback would plunge from this point on, even when all his Astylinds joined him in Step-1. Thus, the addition of an Astylind was the comfort of a drop of water in the desert. Nevertheless, it was the worry of the future, and as a Step-1 Severynth, he had the means to deal with them. For now, the immediate concerns mattered more¡ªhe even had to quell the itch for his new toy to patch the problem.


    The breakthrough opened up a new world for him. However, with that surge came the issue of recalibration. Even a curl of his toes could crack the floor right now, he needed to readjust his senses according to his new state.


    He took his minutes for that, searching for the spectrum of strength he could use in daily life without destroying everything. When the basement barely held the shadow of its original state, and when Ewan finally tiptoed without demolishing his surroundings, his calm rationale couldn¡¯t contain his childlike excitement for the toy anymore. And he flew.


    The unchecked launch banged him against the roof, and his Ryvia punched a hole through. The concrete powder, the broken bars, and the rubble fell down into the useless basement after a tremor while Ewan tried to balance in the air. This was not gliding anymore, this was an actual flight, and he needed a higher extent of spatial senses to find his footing.


    He floated out of the hole and into an unused bedroom, tilting right to cancel the left lean and overcompensating towards left for the right veer. Of the two types of mainstream flight, Ryvia excelled in maneuverability and short distance burst. A strong and agile Ryvia was vital for air to air and air to surface combat. Ewan always owned an edge in this aspect, and he didn¡¯t lose after the breakthrough either. Soon he tamed the wild power, reined in the outpour of his spirit, and glided out of the villa while steering past the doors and the walls.


    The vault of the protective fog greeted him when he flew out, and the closed dome triggered his desire to take off into the sky. He wanted to feel the wind against him when he soared, the moist air wetting his skin when he drove through the loaded clouds, and the world shrinking beneath him when he rose higher and higher. Yet, the condition of the yard soured his mood and spoiled his craving, the whole lawn was in a mess.


    Four abled men cornered Kidd, their hands trembling as they clutched the sticks and stones, their collars cracked and dangling on their shoulders, blood from their lacerations drenching their ragged clothes. Kidd jumped forward, sliced a forearm with his dagger, then sprung back to the wall, barely holding his own against them. The attacked man groaned and pressed his new wound, and the rest three gulped and tightened their grips.


    On the other side of the lawn, the fifth man had pummeled Stefan to the ground, kicking his ribs, booting his stomach, and pounding his face. Stefan curled up and tightened his guard, yet was black and blue already, and bled from anywhere he could.


    Their numbers, their collars, their get-ups, and their presence in his yard reiterated one fact¡ªthese were the slaves he bought. And the slaves had rebelled.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>

 Chapter-171 Face to Face

    Kiev¡¯s breakthrough sparked the flames, and all hell broke loose.


    The slaves led the chaos, their snapped collars hanging on in vain, and the church Paladins backed them up. Rivers of blood streamed out of every household that owned a slave, with the traders bearing the brunt, their chopped heads piked up high on display. The men who opposed the Ensils walked with the slaves, killing their neighbors with a different opinion, hoisting the moral flag of freedom. Houses crumbled, the venues collapsed, the streets were up in flames, and the city screamed. Yet again, mayhem dawned on Drarith.


    By the time Ewan handled the five slaves in his yard and left Kidd to take care of Stefan, the havoc had reached his doorsteps. When he hovered out of the protective fog, the men with the swords rushed at him with a war cry. They were the Kyrons who¡¯d caught up with the Step-0 Severynths by a nose, barely posing any threat to them, let alone a Step-1 Severynth.


    Ewan stilled them with his vast Ryvia and looked around the forest, and the advancement of his instinct showed him a new world. Traces of amalgamated ashen-gray Ryvia floated about, some weak and sparse, some catching up with his own, a few surpassing it, while the last one weighed down, thick and viscous. The threat it posed sent shivers down his spine, and his intuition blared the alarm bells. It needed no introduction, for its pressure announced its owner¡ªit was the Governor.


    ¡°Kiddo, come over, let¡¯s talk.¡± The Governor¡¯s voice reached him. ¡°The others will deal with the mess.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Ewan complied and flew towards the Ensil¡¯s villa after snapping the Paladins¡¯ necks.


    ¡­..


    He was an old man, age spots masking his face, flappy skin drooping by the bones, cloudy eyes that stared into space, and he smelled of death. Ewan bowed when the maids showed him to the open hall and sat on the wooden floor across the table when the Governor gestured him, glancing at the fishing rod by his side whose line sank into the floor¡ªthis was the source of the bizarre sight in the cave.


    ¡°Sorry for the inconvenience,¡± the Governor said, pouring a glass of steaming water for Ewan and sliding the glass over with shaky hands. ¡°I like sitting on the floor, it gives me a feeling of stability.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no problem, sir,¡± Ewan said and took the glass, adjusting his posture on the spongy cushion. The two open sides of the hall staired down to the garden, rays of late morning sunlight cascading in with the serene notes of a creek humming in the background and the soft flavor of wisteria drifting in the wind¡ªthe contrasting quiet and the peace inside created a separate world from the frenzied city.


    ¡°You did good, you succeeded on your first try,¡± the Governor said. ¡°Congratulations on taking your first step.¡±


    ¡°Luck played its role, I barely succeeded,¡± Ewan said, lowering his eyes.


    The old man smiled, his wrinkled skin stretching. ¡°Humility should come from here.¡± He poked his heart. ¡°Hiding arrogance in the bone and only wearing a skin of humility might stumble you one day, you should look at your surroundings more, hear what others have to say.¡±


    Ewan¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and the pride that treading those ten torturous steps built for him cracked. The man was a bundle of wisdom stacked over the years, and regardless of their conflicting positions, he dared not brush his words aside¡ªhe respected the awe the Governor deserved.


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    ¡°I¡¯ll keep it in mind, sir.¡±


    ¡°How was the recovery? Do you need some rest?¡± the Governor asked.


    ¡°I took the Ocean Song potion too; it healed the rest of the damage. I¡¯m just a bit fatigued.¡±


    ¡°Good. You have some talent in Potioneering, keep honing it. A skill like that can support you for your whole life.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°How about the spells? Have you learned any for Step-1?¡±


    ¡°I have a couple of spells I can cast for now. I have the illusion spell ready too.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll get to that later, it¡¯s more important for you to have some security. You¡¯re not a Kyron anymore, your enemies won''t be Kyrons either,¡± the Governor said. ¡°Kiev must¡¯ve mentioned it before. Here, I prepared these for you, consider them congratulatory and first meeting gifts.¡±


    He gestured, and with the distorted air, an onyx-shaded overcoat, neatly folded, and a beige wooden staff with a bulged head appeared on the table.


    ¡°I won''t go into their details, you can explore them yourself later, but they should be enough to ride you through your weak period,¡± he said. ¡°They can be useful to you down the road too.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything to deserve them, sir,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I can''t accept such heavy gifts for nothing, they¡¯ll weigh on me.¡± And more so, their source worried him. Even if he was a Step-1 Severynth now, the gulf between their levels deemed him ineligible to fight against the old man¡ªneither upfront nor in shady means. If these items carried the Governor¡¯s schemes, he couldn¡¯t resist.


    ¡°Did you not like them? I saw you preferred spells in your fights, and you lacked mobility, that¡¯s why I had them custom made for you,¡± the Governor said. ¡°It¡¯s an old tradition of Ashocan for the elders to gift the young ones on special occasions. Did I overstep my boundaries? Forgive me, at my age, emotions tend to get the better of me.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that¡­¡± Ewan stared into the Governor¡¯s murky eyes, then left a silent sigh in the quietude of his heart¡ªwith one counter, he had lost the initiative. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was thoughtless. Thank you, sir, for the gifts. I really like them.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,114


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-172 History

    A dying shockwave from the city rustled the wisteria flowers, the creek rippled, the tremor rattled the table and the glasses, and the rumbling soundwave followed soon. Across the garden, through the dense trees of the mountain, the shadow of a mushroom cloud rose above, with a ring of dust spiraling around. The intensity was beyond any Kyron or a Step-0 Asheva, this was the result of a Step-1¡¯s rage.


    The Governor wiped the spilled water and folded the cloth before putting it on the side. ¡°His impulses are his biggest enemy, I hoped he would get better as he got older, but it¡¯s turning out to be my wishful thinking.¡±


    ¡°Should I go over and help?¡± Ewan asked, glancing at the dispersing dust cloud far away. The attack must¡¯ve wiped a chunk off the city, skyrocketing the death count. Even at Step-1, Kiev behaved like a child, breaking his toy when things didn¡¯t go his way.


    Though Ewan couldn¡¯t contribute anything in this scenario that other Step-1 Severynths couldn¡¯t, spoken words and the intent was still necessary to maintain the fa?ade of concord.


    The Governor shook his head and tapped his ring that barely hung on his loose skin. ¡°Go take care of the mess, keep the body count to a minimum.¡± A cardinal-red shadow shuttled out of the ring, flitted past the garden, threaded the forest, and soared above the city, leaving a burnt and ripped trail in its wake. It unfurled its bony wings, shading the sun, and it roared, strings of drool coating its fangs, and its thorny tail rowing the wind¡ªit was a Fire Wyvern.


    Ewan gaped at the scaly creature far off in the sky, breathing down a rain of fire, and peeked at the nonchalant Governor. The Governor was never a Severynth, he walked a different path of Asheva¡ªa Cerade, most likely¡ªand had just tamed his Astylinds, imitating the Severynth¡¯s ways. Alas, the core of a Severynth didn¡¯t lie in taming the Astylinds but using the feedback from them to advance their path. Unless the Governor restarted from scratch, he couldn¡¯t copy it. And his age wouldn¡¯t give him that chance.


    ¡°Do you know the history of Drarith? Or of Ashocan?¡± the Governor asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve read the books, but I presume they¡¯re wrong,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°The ambiguity caused that error. The onslaught of the Astylinds ruined the kingdom¡¯s already rusted structure, but its essence survived. And after the restoration, it thrived with a different name, Ashocan became Ashkaan,¡± he said, staring off into the distance, his eyes wavering.


    ¡°Four families ruled Ashocan before, and they also ruled Ashkaan at its peak. The crowned royalty always came from one of us. Morinfair was at our doorsteps, its resources were ours to use as we pleased, we controlled the trades, and we all prospered together. When the kingdom fell, it was the Radon family¡¯s turn, but they gave birth to a monster, we were powerless against him¡­.and he rose to the throne. I was a young man back then, not any older than you, and now I¡¯m already an old man waiting for my last breath, how the time has passed¡­¡± He closed his eyes and only the wyvern¡¯s distant howls rang for seconds, with the screams and cries of death trickling in.


    ¡°We feared the monster, so we betrayed the Radons and reclaimed the power. And the tool we used for that was the church and the slave rebellion.¡± When he finally broke the silence, his eyes didn¡¯t falter anymore, and he looked out towards the city with a deadpan gaze. ¡°Do you think today is our retribution?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more likely that the other two families are using the same trick again to take Drarith, sir,¡± Ewan said.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°The Finnegan family is dead too, now only we and the Valbergs remain,¡± the Governor said.


    The name ¡®Finnegan¡¯ jolted Ewan¡¯s memories, his thoughts clashed, and the dots connected. His intuition gave him a glimpse of the conclusion, and it hinted at the cave. All the chaos, all the deaths, and the endless war, it was all for something in that cave. The Governor fished for it, Rainwald Finnegan sneaked in through the cracks, and the Valberg family waged war. The pawns at the bottom rung wondered what the bloodshed achieved in the end, while the puppet masters played their games.


    ¡°We were the initiators of that treachery, and we are also the survivors. We know the consequences of using religion to incite a rebellion, its pure carnage. This slave uprising is not the Valbergs¡¯ doing, they wouldn¡¯t risk it. That old scrooge used the church at the start, but it always was someone else¡¯s weapon, and the Valbergs are also suffering the backlash now.¡±


    ¡°Sir, if I may ask, what is it that you¡¯re all looking for?¡± Ewan asked.


    The gate banged open, the door-slab smacked the wall and shook, and Kiev rushed in, his eyes red and tearing up.


    ¡°Grandpa! Make her shut up, I can''t take it anymore, please¡­¡± He fell before the Governor, clutching his head, and sobbed with his head buried in his chest.


    ¡°Did you take the potion?¡± the Governor asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s not working,¡± Kiev said, his voice dimming down.


    The Governor sighed and took out a knife. ¡°Here,¡± he said. ¡°Make it quick, we have a guest over.¡±


    Kiev grabbed the knife, fumbled with the grip, and stabbed the Governor in his heart. He took the blade out and shanked again, and again, and again¡­


    Streaks of blood splattered on the table, some drops fell into the glass, and the wine-red gradually dissolved into the water. When he stopped, when the blood-soaked knife thudded on the wooden floor, all that remained of the ruckus was Kiev¡¯s animalistic growls, Ewan¡¯s speechless confusion, the Governor¡¯s callous expression, and a bloodied glass of water.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,114


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-173 A Parent’s Curse

    ¡°Go back and rest now, don¡¯t think about anything else,¡± the Governor said, wiping the knife¡¯s blade on his sleeves and keeping it in his storage artifact, his blood drenching his ivory tunic. ¡°And check up on Avis and Val, make sure they don¡¯t go out.¡±


    ¡°Congrats Ewan,¡± Kiev said in a hoarse voice, his face haggard and his hair ruffled, and plodded away with his back slouched.


    ¡°Y-Yeah, you too,¡± Ewan said, barely bringing out the words.


    The Governor touched his wounds, his hand glimmered cerulean, and the gashes closed up. The damage was without Anima or any hostile spirit, the Governor could heal them without breaking a sweat.


    ¡°Do you need some help, sir?¡± Ewan asked. Nevertheless, a gesture was necessary.


    ¡°I could use a hand if you don¡¯t mind, my old bones can''t tolerate much stress anymore,¡± the Governor said with a smile.


    ¡°Of course not, I¡¯ll be happy to help.¡± Ewan cast Iris¡¯s ¡®Mend¡¯ with Sindra and aimed at his major wounds. The Blood-Anima surpassed the limit and rampaged inside his body, the friction and the resistance burning him up. Luckily, the Step-0 Elementalist modification dampened the impact, and his evolution and the growth in his quality of life tolerated the recoil. It was the same old problem, and only after he started the Step-1 Elementalist process would it go away¡ªtill then, he had to suffer.


    The Governor¡¯s spell led the way, and Ewan¡¯s ¡®Mend¡¯ followed the trail, healing the leftover cuts. Soon all the lacerations closed up, and only the lingering metallic stench and the tears in his bloodied tunic remained of the madness.


    ¡°I let you see something bizarre; it must¡¯ve startled you. I apologize,¡± the Governor said.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, sir, everyone has his own troubles to deal with.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s sad when a child has to bear the curse for his parents, and its sadder when a parent consciously curses his child.¡± The Governor threw the blood-water to the garden and refilled it with fresh water, yet the traces of red still remained, and the rising steam carried the taste of blood. ¡°My child suffers the punishment for my mistakes, yet I can''t do anything but pity him. I can''t ease his pain¡­¡±


    Ewan lowered his head and let his emerging speculations die in their buds. This was their family issue; it was better if he kept his nose clean.


    ¡°Have you heard of Ashevagord?¡± the Governor asked.


    ¡°I have.¡±


    ¡°Do you know of the ¡®masked conclave¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Kiev mentioned it before, he said he wanted to join,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Then do you want to join with him?¡±


    The question stumbled Ewan and left him without words, because the only words he wanted to reply with were the words of refusal, and the possible consequences of refusing this old man made him wary.


    The Governor smiled. ¡°I just asked on a whim, you don¡¯t have to mind it too much.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, sir, I don¡¯t do well with rules and regulations.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, you don¡¯t have to apologize. I only hoped you two could take care of each other in the conclave, I didn¡¯t mean to pressure you.¡±


    The cardinal-red wyvern flew back in and landed in the garden, the flap of its wings blasting away the violet flowers, its bloodied talons digging into the grass. Sparks accompanied its low growls and the Fire-Anima stormed around it as it chewed the maimed body in its mouth and gulped it down, licking the leftover blood on its lips.


    ¡°The city should be quiet now,¡± the Governor said, sending the wyvern back into his ring. ¡°I¡¯ve taken too much of your time, go back and rest, you must be tired from the rite.¡± He took out a stack of books and piled them on the table. ¡°These are the books on runes and mystic-element that you wanted, though I don¡¯t know if they would help you. They don¡¯t go too much in depth.¡±


    ¡°If I may, sir, can I change some of them for books on <Contract> spell?¡± Ewan asked. His initial approach to creating the mystic-rune changed over the course of his research and experiments, his target now was to mimic the <Contract> spell. If he succeeded, his affinity would bring the mystic rune his way¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t need to know about its ins and outs to create it. And though he was already nearing the finish line, the hub providing all the data he needed for it, more knowledge and information could never hurt.


    ¡°Of course,¡± the Governor said and added more books on top of the pile without taking any away, and this time, they were all about the <Contract> spell. ¡°Apart from our initial deal, I¡¯ll also need your help with something else. I¡¯ll tell you the details when we meet again.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    Kidd wasn¡¯t home when Ewan went back, only Stefan stood in the lawn with his battered body, waiting for him with the tied-up slaves.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Kidd?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Cork¡­,¡± Stefan said in a dim voice.


    The implication of that name was enough for him, and he launched away, rending the wind towards the port.


    The rebellion had settled down, and the city burned in its wake. It remained standing through the raids and the wars, its people bearing the wounds and the bruises to live another day. Yet today, Drarith collapsed, the chaos flattened the city.


    Ewan soon found Kidd sitting among the rubble, staring at the pike erected before him, and its blade skewered a man¡¯s chopped head. The man Kidd called his family, the man who raised him, and the man who gave him his name, he was no more. Cork had died.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,114


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-174 Cork

    ¡°Was I wrong, Boss?¡± Kidd asked, his shoulders drooping. ¡°If I stayed with him, he might¡¯ve survived¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°¡­I do¡­I feel guilty for it¡­I feel empty¡­¡± He stared at Cork¡¯s head, his eyes listless. ¡°I can never see him again¡­he¡¯ll never talk to me again¡­he¡¯s gone Boss.¡±


    ¡°It will never stop hurting,¡± Ewan said under his breath. Perhaps, far off in the future, Kidd would forget what Cork looked like. Yet the pain would remain, like it did for him, and like it did for Nana.


    ¡°He told me stories of strong and powerful men, how they lived as they pleased, how they were free. I admired them, and I yearned to become like that one day,¡± Kidd said. ¡°But he yearned for it more¡­he wanted to change his life. Was he wrong to dream?¡±


    Cork captured the slaves because it was what he knew, it was his livelihood, and it was what fed his sailors¡¯ families. While the slaves killed him because he took away their freedom, he destroyed their lives, he was their enemy. Who was wrong, who was right¡­ Ewan heaved a deep sigh on the thought. If Cork chose a different profession, if he led his men down another path, he could¡¯ve lived. But¡­


    Ewan looked around at the destruction and the mayhem, the dead did not include just the slave traders and the owners¡­ Where the outlaws ruled, innocence mattered little¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s send him away,¡± he said, and rolled out his vast Ryvia, looking for Cork¡¯s body. And in the pile of coked and mutilated corpses, he barely found his remains. His mangled pieces carried not a hint of resemblance, and Ewan only found him through his lingering wave of spirit fluctuation.


    Kidd lumbered after him as Ewan put together Cork¡¯s body, wrapped him in a clean sheet, and sent him off to Morinfair. His life was chaotic, but at least the ocean would offer him some quiet and peace in his death, as the Ashocan people hoped with the tradition.


    ¡°Have you eaten anything?¡± Ewan asked, when the sun cast their long shadows. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, I¡¯ll make you something. Stefan should be hungry too,¡± he said and led Kidd back to the villa.


    ¡­.


    Kidd nibbled the pan seared meat and went to bed only after a few bites, while Stefan cleaned up and followed after him with his bedding. He had yet to shed a tear, and his buildup had no outlet. Unending nightmares would torment him tonight, and when all the distractions went away, when the world hushed down, the dam of pain would burst. So, Stefan volunteered to look after him. The night was going to be long¡­


    When the two settled down, and the five slaves despaired in the basement after their failure, Ewan came to his training room and checked the Governor¡¯s gifts¡ªhe couldn¡¯t delay it any longer and leave it unattended with him.


    The onyx-shaded overcoat¡ªBlackfeather¡ªwas an auxiliary artifact that assisted with balance and speed during flight, regardless of whether he used Ryvia or the <Flight> spell to fly. As the Governor said, this made up for his lack of mobility during the battles. His strong defenses stacked up with the Blackfeather¡¯s assistance would increase his survivability. However, he didn¡¯t intend to use it as it was. The possibility of the Governor¡¯s hidden design worried him, but more so, its properties didn¡¯t fit his taste. Instead of an average increase in both balance and speed, he preferred a spiked enhancement, and his inclination was speed¡ªhe could make up for the balance bit with practice, he had enough confidence in himself.


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


    For the staff, Rainwarden, Ewan had to fumble around for a while before he discovered its ins and outs. It had two functions. The first was an amplification effect that ran on Novas coins¡ªit would amplify the element for him based on the attribute of the Novas coin he added in. And the second effect was a rechargeable etched spell that also changed its effects based on the element of the Novas coin¡ªthe spell was <Elemental Rain>. Ewan didn¡¯t plan to keep the staff as it was either. And his idea for its modification leaned towards the addition of Moonkeeper.


    The alteration of the artifacts would not only make them more suited to his liking but also expose and erase any schemes the Governor left in them. And the only person Ewan trusted for it was Nana. When the situation in Drarith panned out, when the Governor had no business with him anymore, he would give these artifacts to her for the changes. Until then, it was his danger to bear, he wouldn¡¯t risk exposing her to the Governor.


    The slaves rose up in the list of his agenda when Ewan put the artifacts back in a separate storage pouch. The five slaves tied up in another room were a special batch he¡¯d ordered from Cork¡ªthey were the same as him and Kidd, they had a natural affinity with some element. They cost him a premium, and even though he could afford more, he had to succeed with the five, for Cork¡¯s death and the slave rebellion deemed them the last batch he could get in Drarith for a good while.


    And thus, he put on his gloves and began with the first one¡ªhe¡¯d already finalized the process and only needed to confirm the results. His <Transmute> spell sacrificed his prepared items one after another, and created a blob of murky liquid for him, wriggling and trembling. Ewan noted down his observations and marked the first creation as ¡®highly unstable¡¯. Before he even took the next step, the quality of the potion guaranteed his failure. Nonetheless, he still bled the slave lying on the stone-cold table, added the blood to the liquid, and injected it back in him.


    He screamed and convulsed, his back arching up, his bones cracking, his eyes bleeding, and he stilled under a minute of the shot. Ewan sighed at the expected failure and looked up, maybe their wails could soothe Kidd¡¯s pain.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,114


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-175 Evolution Choice

    Frost stirred an ice storm and Orange stormed a blaze with their breakthroughs to Step-1, and the already battered basement collapsed into ruins. After a year of growth and the major advancement, Frost reached Ewan¡¯s waist and his two bumps on the forehead inched out, yet Orange halted at palm-size, just enough to sprawl on Ewan¡¯s head.


    The list of potential culprits responsible for his peculiarity only included a few, and after a round of brainstorming, the top of the ranks came out with the highest likelihood¡ªthe mutation that gave Orange his blue fire. Luckily, his combat style relied more on his ingenious usage of Fire-Anima, else his physical limitation would¡¯ve shoved him at the bottom rung of the ladder.


    [Astylind Name: Fire Monkey (Mutant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-10]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-B]


    [Anima Affinity: Fire]


    [Skills: Fire-Recipient | Wrath-Inferno (Dormant)]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. They are blessed with decent fire-element affinity (Recipient) but lack the skill to make use of it.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Noble Rite (Zik Aroig)¡ªA toast to fire, feast on slumbering lava for one month.]


    [Remark 1: Can be trained as a vanguard but require more attention with the elemental skills.]


    [Remark 2: They look cool, so can make them your mascot.]


    [Remark 3: I agree with the second remark, lol.]


    ¡­


    [Astylind Name: Imp (Ice-Variant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-10]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-B]


    [Anima Affinity: Ice]


    [Skills: Ice-Favored | Snowdoll (Dormant)]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Alvodor. Their talents and affinity vary based on their bloodline. But most are capable of decent spellcasting and melee combat.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirement: Noble Rite (Hynith Fauma)¡ªIce Burial, lay inside ¡®Ceran Hynith¡¯ for one cycle of seasons.]


    [Remark 1: Low wisdom. Barely crossing the line. Possibility of taming and rearing is high.]


    [Remark 2: Basic contract doesn¡¯t work. Success rate might increase with a modified spell circuit.]


    [Remark 3: Hah, I¡¯m a master of a Demon now. But too much torture broke his mind. Tch!]


    [Remark 4: Modified spell circuit succeeded; the contract was a success. No oppression needed. Changing their format in the database, the contracted ones will be noted ¡®Astylind¡¯ from now on.]


    ¡­.


    The enhanced explosiveness of Orange and the strengthened ice spells of Frost crushed every Astylind Ewan found in the nearby forest to test them. Even if he was at his weakest right now, lacking the means to contest others of the same level, the breakthrough of his Astylinds put his mind at ease. Either inside the runes to make him an Elementalist, or out in the world for a pure Severynth style, his Astylinds were his pillar. And it included Iris too, just her case differed from Orange and Frost¡ªshe already hit the ceiling of her potential and had to evolve if she were to walk further with him.


    Her grades had accumulated enough firewood to burn her through the bridge of evolution, her success rate soared with Grade-S. When the potential turned kinetic, when her momentum took off, her path split into four, and the benefits of piling resources in her early stage showed up. Because she became a royalty, a vast world opened up for her.


    ¡®Deep-Rooted Lotus¡¯, a branch of the higher species that struck a balance between healing and combat¡ªtheir prominent long roots were notorious for field control.


    ¡®Twin-Buds Lotus¡¯, a higher species that shed its ability to heal and adapted a combatant stance against the harsh condition it survived in¡ªit excelled in blood-element spells and boasted a higher affinity than its counterparts.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡®Bloodthorn-Lotus¡¯, an advanced species that inherited the convention of ¡®blood¡¯ in its name and chose the path of healing and recovery for its evolution¡ªnature crowned them with the highest survival rate, they were the last to lose against extinction.


    ¡®Lotus Tree¡¯, the giant species that rejected the world and hid behind their hefty barks¡ªthey ditched combat and recovery and focused all their affinity with Blood-Anima towards defense.


    The paths lay before Iris, none better than the other, as she waited for Ewan. They all had their own positives and negatives, and only preference could sway his choice. Iris was his healer, and he would keep her on that road, so the second and the fourth option went out the window. Between the first and the third, Ewan leaned towards the first, the field-control ability without giving up the healing spells attracted him. Yet, he chose the third, for his Pa ticked it as the thread leading to that special evolution.


    His decision finalized her breakthrough, the road of Bloodthorn-Lotus led her to the other side, her flower wilted, and she shrunk back into a seed. Vibrant and pulsating, vigorous vitality oozed off her. When she germinated this time, she would regrow as a Bloodthorn-Lotus from Level-0. The evolution wouldn¡¯t deny all her training though, and her gathered energy would be enough to push her back to Step-1 within a short period of time.


    [Astylind Name: Bloodthorn-Lotus]


    [Astylind Level: Level-0]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Blood]


    [Skills: Blood-Recipient | Mend]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Description: Extinct natives of Sepra. They banked towards healing and recovery and their choice kept them alive. They were the last ones standing. But in the end, they still lost the battle of natural selection.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Blood-Element), Dried Bane, Bloodstone, Nosferatu Vine, Bone Dust, Bloodhound¡¯s Fur, Bloodweed, Wraith¡¯s Ashes, Astylind Blood (Blood-Element)]


    [Remark 1: The first section of the thread leading to Blood Nexus.]


    ¡­.


    The cave still stood quiet beyond the lifeless clearing, within his reach yet out of his hand. His purpose today was still what the cave hid, but the motivation wasn¡¯t his anymore. The Governor led him in, the clonks of his cane accompanying his feeble steps, his bent back barely keeping him up.


    ¡°Have you recovered well?¡± the Governor asked.


    ¡°Yes, sir, resting helped.¡±


    ¡°What about your Astylinds?¡±


    ¡°They broke through successfully,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Good, you can have some sense of security now,¡± he said. ¡°Have you practiced your mystic spells?¡±


    ¡°I did, sir, I¡¯m ready whenever you say.¡±


    ¡°We can get to our deal later. I brought you here today for something else,¡± the Governor said. ¡°His name was Perceval Radon, the last king of Ashocan, the monster I talked about. He spent his last days here.¡±


    Jam-packed Mystic-Anima hovered before Ewan, his steps cutting through their sea, his affinity inviting the neighbors into his body, and the number almost suffocated him. Distraction let the mystic element play in his body as it wished; Ewan had to focus to keep them out.


    ¡°He ruled over not only the kingdom and his people, but their hearts and their minds and their souls¡­,¡± he said. ¡°He was the child of the mystic element, no one could defy him.¡±


    Glorified memories often exaggerated the reality, but the illusion Ewan faced during his first visit to the cave supported the Governor¡¯s words. The Favored-level affinity couldn¡¯t do that, as Ewan himself was powerless against that passive illusion¡ªthe man named Perceval must be at the Endued level. Since his birth, the mystic element obeyed him, and he reigned over anyone and anything that was capable of thoughts. The apparent monstrosity at a tender age could isolate the child, and he would grow up to be an actual monster in other¡¯s eyes. The Governor¡¯s description painted an image of a tyrant for Ewan.


    They reached the end amidst their talks, where the Mystic-Anima flooded the hall, its waves crashing into the walls, where the portal existed in the ceiling and the fishing line remained still, and where Perceval Radon left the traces of his ending days.


    ¡°The saturation should be enough,¡± the Governor said. ¡°Can you cast any spell that will stir the Anima?¡±


    Ewan nodded and moved ahead with a deep breath. The Step-1 level of his


    spell could do the job, but he had something else in mind. The cave¡¯s truth only spread among a few; the number wasn¡¯t enough to create rumors. So, the layer of actual past must be dustless, he could succeed¡­.


    Remembrance!


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-0] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 26,564


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-176 Perceval

    [Ewan¡ªPerceval]


    A broken man limped through the dark tunnel, turning around to cast a spell every four or five steps, and tripped into the hall, his wheezes blowing the dirt away as he lay on the earth¡ªwet with his own blood. His head wound bled into his eyes, and he cried crimson tears.


    ¡°What went wrong¡­,¡± he mumbled. ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this¡­.¡±


    The spectral past cracked, and time raced ahead. The man recovered from his major injuries, the wounds didn¡¯t threaten his life anymore, but he still sat in the hall with his dead eyes. Ewan accompanied him in the drab-gray world of <Remembrance> only as a spectator, yet the man¡¯s emotions gripped him, and the line between their perspectives blurred.


    Weeks of solitude and haunted silence turned hatred into regret, and when the impulses settled down, only grief and despair stayed. The ruthless passage of time soon washed that away too, and one morning with a clear sky, the rise of the sun and its warm rays on his skin asked him to live.


    He restructured the cave, sectioned out his bedroom, the kitchen, and the practice area. His amateur hands learned the trades of woodwork, Potioneering, and etching murals with practice. His dull life woke him up with a bright smile and sent him to bed with a grin. Though he still bore the scars, he became happy again. When the minimum satisfied him, the embers of his ambition cooled down. He beamed brighter and brighter, enjoying every second that he lived, as if a shooting star at the end of its journey.


    Yet, an encounter with a lost foraging-girl flipped his settled life upside down again. When his death didn¡¯t concern him anymore, he was able to let go. So, even though she identified him as the defeated and the ¡®dead¡¯ ruler of Ashocan, the much beloved Tyrant, he showed her the way and sent her down the mountain. Only his despondent sigh walked with him on his way back; the spell he cast would break with the girl¡¯s interjection; his meaningless life would finally come to an end¡­


    He held his breath for ¡®them¡¯, for his death, but only the girl, Taria, showed up on the second day¡ªshe was lost again. And on the third, and the fourth day¡­


    From despair to serenity to accepting his death to gaping at the girl stumbling on his cave every day, the ups and downs left him sapped and helpless.


    ¡°Are you really that bad with directions or are you playing with me?¡± Perceval asked one day.


    ¡°I¡¯m really lost,¡± Taria replied in a mosquito voice.


    ¡°Are you able to forage much like this¡­do you even have enough to eat¡­¡±


    ¡°My father and brother hunt, I¡¯m only responsible for some fruits and herbs,¡± she said, lugging the nigh empty basket on her back, brushing her hair away from her eyes with the back of her hand.


    ¡°Come with me, I¡¯ll find you something,¡± he said, and led her deep into the mountains. ¡°Is your family feeding you properly? You¡¯re skin and bones, you even dared to enter the mountain like that.¡±


    ¡°We have enough to survive, I don¡¯t want anything else.¡±


    ¡°Be a bit greedier. If you don¡¯t dream big, your life will be meaningless.¡± He clicked his tongue.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy with my life. My mama says if I become greedy, the greedy wolves will pay me a visit, and if I¡¯m content with what I have, they stay away.¡±


    Perceval scoffed. ¡°Your mama¡¯s dumb, she doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯s talking about.¡±


    Taria pouted and threw a stone at his head, sniffing and fixing the awry basket back in its place. The stone halted and trembled before Perceval, and soon his innate defense crushed it into dust.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    ¡°D-Don¡¯t talk about my mama like that.¡±


    ¡°Fine, whatever, she¡¯s a genius. Go pick that up,¡± he said, pointing towards an edible mushroom at the root of a damp tree.


    ¡­..


    A down-and-out tyrant met a gullible but homely girl at his lowest, and the reality matched the expectations, the spectral past unfolded like the fairy tales. Several encounters tugged at their emotions, their bickering and the squabbles built up the intimacy, and they fell in love without the spoken words. She cared for him beyond his status, beyond who he was or what he¡¯d done, and he gave her his all.


    ¡°Do you really not fear me?¡± Perceval asked as they lay naked on his bed, entangled, and buried in each other, the quilt and their clothes strewn far away. ¡°My infamy has long preceded me.¡±


    ¡°Mama says there¡¯re two wolves in us, one bad and one good. And the wolf we feed is the wolf that wins,¡± Taria said, caressing his chest. ¡°Let¡¯s feed the good wolf from now on.¡±


    ¡°Again with the wolf, is your mama a werewolf? Why does she like wolves so much?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not!¡± she said and bit his shoulder.


    ¡°Fine, fine, she¡¯s not, but she does love the wolf,¡± he said. ¡°Stop biting already, you¡¯ll chip your teeth.¡±


    Their days passed with laughter, and the nights blended their warmth. They would create a family, they would create their home, they would live happily ever after. Yet they could never be¡­


    A stormy night ruffled the Morinfair, and its enraged waves took Taria away. And the last thread that kept Perceval up on his feet snapped, his drive to live crumbled. What use was his talent if he couldn¡¯t save her, what use was his strength if he couldn¡¯t keep her with him, what good would his ambitions do if he couldn¡¯t share the success with her, he was all alone again¡­.


    When he saw no hope, his willpower collapsed, and his mind and body followed. Without her, he refused to live. Each passing of a day aged him a year, and his life whittled away. Towards the end, he only wrote one book, and as he put the last trembling stroke in, and when the book flew away to his intended destination, his time came.


    ¡°If there is an afterlife, I hope we meet again,¡± he mumbled and awaited the absolute silence inside the cave. His breaths withered by the seconds and his feeble heartbeats quietened, and the famed monster Perceval died in obscurity.


    The gray world shattered upon his death, and Ewan was back in the vibrant cave with the Governor staring at him. Before he could register the separation of the perspectives, before he could digest Perceval¡¯s death, the unknown book left in the corner of his claw-ring quivered, and the medallion glowed a dazzling blue by its side.


    ¡®Follow the wolf, you¡¯ll find what you need. I wish you luck, my friend¡¯s blood.'' Letter by letter, a searing glow etched the slanted sentence on its first blank page.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-0] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 26,564


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-177 Phantasm

    Ewan barely held in the disbelief, letting the shock fade away on its own with a poker face. He couldn¡¯t show it, the monopoly on the truth was his edge against the old man, he couldn¡¯t give it away.


    ¡°What did you see?¡± the Governor asked. The stirred Mystic-Anima settled down after the spell ended, and its waves crashed into the walls again.


    ¡°He lived here after his fall. He brewed potions, practiced spells, and just spent his days peacefully,¡± Ewan said. ¡°That¡¯s all, he died after a few years.¡±


    Taria might¡¯ve passed away, but her family still lived. The stacking coincidences led her most likely last living relative to him, and the man passed him the book Perceval wrote at his end. If Ewan exposed Taria¡¯s relationship with Perceval, or even hinted at her mere existence, the Governor could trace that thread to Stefan, and then to the book¡­


    ¡°Did he have anything weird with him? Or did he go somewhere?¡±


    ¡°He wandered around in the mountains once in a while, hunted some game, I didn¡¯t see anything weird.¡±


    ¡°Was there some fruit with him, a strange fruit? Or did you see a weird tree with two fruits?¡±


    ¡°No, did you want me to find it, sir?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Forget it, it was just a whim, I had no hopes.¡± The Governor sighed, and his grip on his cane¡¯s wyvern-head handle tightened.


    ¡°If I may ask sir, this place isn¡¯t that secluded. How did he hide for so long?¡±


    ¡°We...forgot him, he made us forget. We lived with the inconsistencies in our lives, even the gaps in our memories didn¡¯t make us skeptic, he was a monster¡­,¡± the Governor said, closing his eyes. ¡°When he died, we finally remembered. The war broke out soon after, and it has yet to end.¡±


    ¡°Is it for that fruit you mentioned?¡±


    ¡°It is. No one knows if it even exists, yet we kill for the possibility,¡± the Governor said. ¡°I thought was ahead in the race, I had this cave, but it was a fool¡¯s errand all along.¡±


    ¡°What is the fruit, sir? How does it look? I can give it another try if you like, I¡¯ll try to look for it,¡± Ewan said. All the clues pointed at it, the medallion brought him here for the fruit¡ªit was something that even the Governor and his counterparts fought for after all.


    ¡°We¡¯ve all made mistakes, we all have our regrets, it was our chance at redemption, and also a chance that could give us an overwhelming advantage,¡± the Governor said. ¡°What spell did you cast?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I named it <Remembrance>, it¡¯s a spell I made.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still below the limit. Can you cast the Step-1 version?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to rethink its circuit from the scratch, but it should be possible with some time,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Do you need anything for it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll help if I can come here often, the abundance of Mystic-Anima here will make things a bit easier.¡±


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°You¡¯re free to come here whenever you want,¡± he said. ¡°If you want anything else, just tell Kiev, he¡¯ll get it for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have it ready within a week or two, sir,¡± Ewan said.


    The Governor nodded. ¡°Now we can get to our deal. Give it a try here, we can find out its limits.¡±


    Ewan aimed at the Governor and cast


    , and the Mystic-Anima gushed into his body from its sea and flooded the spell circuit. The burning and the grinding pain peaked, the amount of Anima crossed the limit, and the spell rose to Step-1.


    The space twisted around him, and the Governor¡¯s wrinkles stretched taut, the blemishes faded away, his bent back stood upright, the gray hair blackened, and his foggy eyes regained their light. He was a young man again, and he would live for long¡ªhis animated vitality announced its presence. Yet, it was all an illusion, a mere cloak of lies beyond which the old man still stood before his grave.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite effective,¡± the Governor said, looking down at his body. ¡°Even I can''t see through it without trying, it should be able to deceive them for some time with my assistance. How long can you maintain it for?¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m near you, it¡¯ll remain active for a few hours at least. And I can cast again and refresh the effect when it¡¯s about to end,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If I¡¯m far away, it should still hold for an hour or two.¡±


    Instead of affecting the eyes and the mind of the watcher, the


    spell worked on the target, the subjects were different. As long as the spell stayed in effect, the illusion would affect anyone who saw it, even if the caster wasn¡¯t around.


    ¡°Plenty enough, I won''t need it for that long anyway,¡± the Governor said. ¡°There will be peace talks soon, the Valbergs are ready to sign the treaty, the church has gained too much momentum for both our comforts. I want you to be there, maintain the spell at its best.¡±


    ¡°Will the war finally end, sir?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°No, this is not the first time we¡¯ve signed a contract, it merely gives us a momentary pause to deal with the outside threats. When everything¡¯s settled, we both will find our way to break the terms and the war will start again. It can only end when we either find that fruit or kill each other¡­¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-0] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Stefan¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 26,564


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,340


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-178 Kaaleria

    Ewan looked for the ¡®wolf¡¯ and the other half of his mind worked on upgrading the spell in the cave the next morning with the Governor¡¯s viscous Ryvia lingering around, yet neither succeeded. Stefan had no answer for him regarding the book, he was oblivious to its origins and hardly knew the language used in it¡ªhe called the tongue ¡®Kaaleria¡¯ and could only read some broken words. But he did confirm the name ¡®Taria¡¯ and that the book stayed in his family since they changed their surname to ¡®Rad¡¯.


    ¡®Radon¡¯ became ¡®Rad¡¯, and even though their blood didn¡¯t relate, Stefan¡¯s family carried Perceval¡¯s legacy with each passing generation. So, the mystic didn¡¯t deceive Ewan this time, there were no layers of rumors to hide the truth, and the chain of events followed in reality as they did in the past he saw. The message Perceval left him must be real, the wolf must exist¡­.


    He stirred the Anima, cast different spells, provoked the disharmony between elements, crushed incomplete spell circuits, suffered the backlashes, and finally after days of investigation, the path to the goal he hunted for lay before him. The modification process of the mystic potion birthed <Remembrance>, thus the clue to upgrading it also belonged to that potion¡ªthe Step-1 version. And the same spell let Perceval etch the words in the book for him, thus the upgraded version should lead him to the wolf too.


    They were what he wanted, he could brew the modification potion anytime, yet his scruples halted his steps. The Governor¡¯s ashen-gray Ryvia still stayed around; he would serve his success to the old man in a silver platter if he made a move right now.


    Others could only feel the same-level Ryvia when they were inside the range, but Ewan¡¯s evolved instincts showed him its intangible influence even when he didn¡¯t touch it¡ªit also broke the same-level barrier for him. And though the Governor¡¯s Ryvia only hovered in the distance and never crossed him, its presence still had him on edge.


    The situation stilled and the lack of a better solution snatched the initiative away from Ewan. He wouldn¡¯t act until the weighty Ryvia went away, and that depended on the Governor. Hence, it became a game of patience and possibilities. Either the Governor would lose his cool first or Ewan would hold on for a chance.


    ¡­.


    The passive state tied his hands, so Ewan shifted his attention to the other tasks in his to-do list. The Ryvia based flights dominated the combat maneuverability and the short distance bursts, while the long-distance travels mainly saw the usage of the <Flight> spell. He already had the basics down for the former, now he practiced the latter.


    Each cast of the spell gobbled up a fixed amount of Anima to start the engine¡ªone unit over the peak of Step-0¡ªand continued to nibble the rest as long as the flight continued. Moreover, different elements produced different results with it, some boosted the thrust raw while the others buffed it under certain conditions.


    The mystic element failed the spell with only a baseline speed, while the blood element of the life-and-death category boosted it when his surroundings was devoid of life. The fire and the ice elements of the temperature category were his best choice as they were the optimal elements for a non-conditional flight¡ªthey gave the caster an explosive speed without relying on the environment.


    Because of the Elementalist-subtype, Ewan would gain a different rune with each addition of an Astylind. His growing array of elements would eventually spread his options with the <Flight> spell to various scenarios and would give him access to the buffs under diverse conditions. Yet, the disadvantage of such also came with it, the other side of the coin always followed.


    The presence of only one rune of each element shortened the duration of his continuous flight, and therefore, lessened the time Ewan could enjoy a situational buff compared to the others. Versatility over specialty, this was his bed, and he lay on it.


    Adaptation to the movements in the air came with time. Soon he could change directions, threading through the forest without smashing the trees and the rocks, and learned to kill the momentum with a burst of reverse thrust. When he could hover while maintaining an idle state of the spell circuit for a quick trigger, he moved on to the next task¡ªlearning the ¡®Kaaleria¡¯ tongue.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Several hunts of the hub procured the age-torn books of the language for him, and he started with the basics. The tongue twisting letters, and the throat grating intonations afflicted him for days and nights before he got the hang of a few common sentences. Stefan¡¯s help supplemented his scant knowledge on the tongue, and they barely translated the gist of the book inside the safety of the protective fog¡ªhe and the Governor had yet to drop the pretense of harmony, his villa was still safe.


    The book carried the trigger and details for the path passed down in the Radon family as well as the key to the ownership of their Warship¡ªStormfalcon. Written history omitted any and all evidence of its existence, the Ashocan Kingdom was never the owner of a Class-M size Warship in the books. But the words of the last king of Ashocan claimed it, the Warship was there where the wolf would lead him to.


    There was still no mention of the fruit though, Ewan had no idea what it even was. Nevertheless, he wasn¡¯t without clue. The medallion glowed with Perceval, he was his Pa¡¯s friend and both sides confirmed that, so there must be some reference to anything of importance in his territory. That stacked with the vague words the Governor left, and Ewan created a small list of bizarre items and fruits after a thorough process of elimination from his journal. Yet, before he could go through them and pinpoint the cause of the war and what would give him the rune he yearned for, the day of the peace talks arrived.


    Ewan had the invitation from the man leading the talks himself, not to mention he was the pivot for the illusion of the Governor¡¯s newfound youth to work, so he dropped everything and departed for the arranged venue¡ªthe newly rebuilt guest house.


    However, his steps came to a screeching halt when he went out of the villa and looked around. The forest carried its usual morning melody, the wind still breezed against his face, the mountain rested like always, yet the thick gray that lingered in his vision everyday was gone¡ªthe Governor had reined in his Ryvia; the peace talks, and the imminent threat of the church grabbed his attention. This was the chance Ewan waited for.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-179 Spell Upgrade

    Ewan called both Kidd and Stefan in the yard, licking his dried lips, butterflies fluttering in his stomach, and the thumps of his heart making it worse. Once he did this, there was no going back, he would face the wrath of the Governor, he would face the man as someone who ¡®stole¡¯ from him. The danger was apparent, but he didn¡¯t intend to back down.


    ¡°You remember how to use this right?¡± Ewan handed Kidd a fist-sized crystal ball.


    ¡°I just need to put it to my ear, Boss, even I won''t forget that much,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Smartass,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Pack up what you can, what you really want to bring with you, don¡¯t overdo it. When you get my message, rush to the cave as fast as you can.¡±


    ¡°Are we finally leaving Boss?¡± Kidd asked, beaming with a smile, his widened eyes glittering.


    ¡°We are if everything goes well, and I don¡¯t get exposed. We¡¯ll fly if I don¡¯t find the Warship there, we can buy a ship somewhere else. Stefan, are you sure you want to come with us? You might not be able to come back here anytime soon.¡± Even if he needed a navigator on the ocean, an unwilling man would only lead them to their death.


    ¡°I am. I finished all the books you gave me. If we get the Warship, I can help with the repairs now,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Okay then, pack your bags and wait for my message,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Boss, what about the meeting?¡± Kidd asked. ¡°Won''t they notice your absence? They might send someone to look for you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to gamble on that, there¡¯s no other way, we won''t get another chance like this.¡±


    ¡°What if I go there and make an excuse for you? I¡¯ll tell them you¡¯ll be late. I¡¯ll create a good reason, it¡¯ll buy you some time,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°No, you might spook the old man. And even if you don¡¯t, you might get stuck there. Forget it, let¡¯s just roll with what we have,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Remember, don¡¯t dawdle around, and if you meet someone on the way, just ignore him and come to the cave.¡±


    ¡°Aye-aye Sir!¡± Kidd said with a sailor¡¯s salute.


    Ewan clicked his tongue and turned around, facing the fog, and took a deep breath with his Spellbook in his hand.


    Veil!


    He cast the mystic spell, copying the circuit from the book, and when success came after a series of failures, a silver halo blanketed him. He had a tracer spell too, there was no way that the Governor didn¡¯t. If Ewan purged it, it would alert him. But if he used the specialty of the mystic element and falsified the details, he could slip under the radar¡ªthe pings would show that he was still in the villa.


    The spell scanned him and his storage artifacts, including the gifts from the Governor, yet it found no target to act upon, there was no trace of any foreign spell on him or his items, and the halo fizzled out. One round wasn¡¯t enough to assure him, so Ewan cast it again and repeated it, bearing the pain it brought. When the result of each scan came out with a negative, Ewan let go. However, his anxiety worsened. It would¡¯ve been better if the spell found something¡­. Because now, he was in the dark.


    Nevertheless, whatever might happen, he would do this. And so, steeling his mind and the trembling heart, he raced out of the fog and beelined for the cave. It was now or never.


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


    Yet¡­


    What if Kidd betrayed him right now? The skeptic in him asked and his heart skipped a beat. He gritted his teeth and sped up his flight, sticking close to the ground. The dawn of the decisive moment also brought his conflict with paranoia to the surface. Indeed, the time was ripe, Kidd would make a killing if he were to out him to the Governor today.


    The emerging thought was harrowing, and it gripped his nerves, but Ewan shoved it down and continued forward. Though the consequences could be deadly, he wished to trust Kidd. If he came out alive on the other side, if Kidd mirrored his wishes, it would shed some light on the distinction between caution and paranoia for him. He would get to know what an unrelated family¡¯s bond meant; he would get to trust someone besides Nana¡­


    If not, he would go up in flames with his naivety and turn to ashes.


    ¡­..


    Today too, only the mystic accompanied the lonely cave, and even their liveliness was only for the favored eyes. For others, the cave might reek of death, but for Ewan, the ocean of the Mystic-Anima was full of vigor, and it brought this gloomy place to life.


    When he injected the mystic potion for Step-1 in his vein, the lively ocean churned into a whirlpool around him. The same amped up intellectual acuity broke out again, the racing thoughts colliding and concluding into garbled ideas filled his head. The modification still held the same essence yet was on a whole other level. His sensitivity skyrocketed, even a little sway of the Mystic-Anima jolted him, and the load of information his receptors fed him back overwhelmed his perception. But he couldn¡¯t indulge right now, he couldn¡¯t let the flow take him. He had to tunnel all the enhancements towards upgrading the spell circuit.


    The support from the potion corrected any mistakes he made, his heightened senses found the right direction even in the dark, and the help from the abundance of Mystic-Anima reinforced his venture and kept him from crumbling. By the time the potion changed his heart and etched the Step-1 circuit for the subtype, when he took the first step towards the next level of Elementalist, the new model for the <Remembrance> hovered in his soul space, awaiting the saturation of Mystic-Anima.


    With the spell in hand, Ewan was ready to meet the wolf.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-180 The Wolf

    Remembrance!


    The cast of the Step-1 spell opened up the same spectral past as before, just more vivid and detailed. The blurred corners sharpened, the distorted parts straightened, and the gray carried a bit more color¡ªit was the advancement from the old film boxes to the modern tv of Obria.


    The promotion of the spell might change what it showed last time, Perceval might give him another part of the truth, but Ewan pulled out and cancelled the spell, and the world of the memories shattered. What he needed wasn¡¯t in the remembrance of the past, but in the reality of the present. The abrupt termination of the spell stirred the whirlpool of the Mystic-Anima, and they seethed. Bit by bit, they came together and fashioned a blob¡ªit squirmed into the broken shape of a canine. Soon the hazy image cleared up and a large but ethereal wolf stood before Ewan, its snowy fur swaying with the halo in all its glory.


    The Mystic-Anima made up the wolf, so it carried no sentience, yet its eyes lived¡ªPerceval had long affected the Anima in this cave. It cried at Ewan and rubbed against his face, licking his cheek.


    ¡°Good boy,¡± Ewan said, and petted its furred neck. ¡°Will you lead me to what I want?¡±


    The wolf whined and tugged his shirt with its mouth and guided him towards the tunnel. Its faint glow lit up the passage, and with every step, the wolf shrunk a size. The Anima that left it floated back to the hall and rejoined into a growing ocean. Halfway through, when the light at the end of the tunnel was still a dot in the distance, the wolf growled at Ewan and scattered into a crowd of Mystic-Anima, most going back to the hall while some sticking to a section of the wall.


    It had no shape, had no design. The random placement puzzled Ewan; the arrangement gave him no clue on what to do next. There could be no physical mechanism or a hidden door, otherwise even with their Ryvia suppressed to an extent, the Governor would¡¯ve found it long ago. Ewan could check it just in case Perceval hid the secret right under the Governor¡¯s nose, but time was running out, so he wasted no minutes on it and moved on with his conjecture.


    The Governor overshadowed him in all aspects, he couldn¡¯t begin to compare, yet one facet still gave him the edge¡ªthe mystic. If he were to find what the Governor couldn¡¯t for years, this element was his only hope. And so, he pulled back a step and cast <Remembrance> again, this time it came without the pain.


    The Anima trembled for a second, but the spell failed to trigger any response.


    Ewan stared at the wall without attempting a second cast, a seed of an idea growing in his mind. If it was just about stirring the Anima, any mystic spell could do, and it already failed. However, if he were to take a different approach, the approach of an illusion¡­.


    Phantasm!


    He traced the circuit and created an illusion of a passage onto the wall. The lights and the shadows shifted around the area when the spell took effect, the Mystic-Anima sticking to the wall condensed into a wolf again, and Ewan¡¯s hand passed through the illusory entrance¡ªthe fake had turned real. The astonishment came in a wave, Ewan gaped at the result even though it existed within his prediction. It was just one of the possibilities he thought of, and it wasn¡¯t hard with his imagination knowing no bounds, yet Perceval achieved it in reality. The mechanism behind the feat triggered Ewan¡¯s itch, but the threat of exposure hung above him with a noose, he couldn¡¯t delay¡­


    The smaller-than-before wolf tugged him again and led him down into the slanted dark tunnel. They went through turns and curves, but the path didn¡¯t divide. After minutes of descending in silence, where only the clatters of his boots against the stone path echoed, the wolf stopped before a dead end and dispersed into a cluster of tiny Anima¡ªsome glued to the wall and the rest went back up the tunnel.


    Stolen story; please report.


    ¡®What was her name?¡¯ The Anima sticking to the wall formed a question.


    ¡°Taria,¡± Ewan said, yet the reply garnered no reaction.


    Phantasm!


    He cast again and wrote the Kaaleria word for ¡®Taria¡¯ on the wall. The mystic finally reacted to it, and the question changed.


    ¡®Show me.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m not good with portraits¡­¡± he murmured and closed his eyes, recalling how Taria looked like.


    Phantasm!


    The spell became his brush, and his thoughts painted her portrait on the wall. The last stroke went in, and when her lifelike image showed up smiling, the Mystic-Anima responded with a tremor and the wall vanished into thin air.


    A chamber came beyond the door, soft amber radiance enveloping the right side, while the left buried a quarter of the metal-mammoth¡ªit was the Warship. The distant sound of waves crashed into the walls, the dripping droplet of water echoed inside the dome, and Ewan¡¯s rapid breaths loudened amidst the haunted silence.


    The Warship ¡®Stormfalcon¡¯ was the standard edition of one of the Class-M size series with little to no modification¡ªtwo thrusters on each side and the main thruster at its back, a long running deck on top for troops deployment and defensive warfare, and the insides partitioned into three floors and ten sections.


    The ownership of a Warship, especially a Class-M sized carrier, was a dream for many. Yet, Ewan couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the amber glow. A tree was its source, leafless and branchless with only a crystal trunk, and its two irregular amber-like fruits hanging from the top shined the brightest.


    D¨¦j¨¤ vu fruit, the shape and the details from his journal overlapped with the tree and the fruits in front, and a name came to his mind. A few among the small group who knew about it also called it the fruit of regrets. The cause of the war that decimated Drarith and the prize he racked his brains for now lay before him. It was within his arm¡¯s reach. However, he couldn¡¯t own it, for a portal opened on the side and a cane with a wyvern-head handle emerged.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-181 Crushing Defeat

    Ewan¡¯s heart sank when the Governor stepped out of the portal, gazing at the fruits. His exploding thoughts brewed a list of reasons for his failures in seconds, yet only two stuck with him, and the rest faded away. He was either betrayed or was outplayed, once again...


    ¡°You didn¡¯t disappoint after all.¡± The Governor¡¯s voice echoed, and his words lacerated Ewan¡¯s pride, or what remained of it. Strength escaped him, his shoulders dropped, and he lowered his head with his eyes closed. If death came to him, he would struggle with all his might, he would strive till the last flicker of his breath, but in regard to the trophy, he lost¡­ Now, his only concern was to walk away with his head intact.


    ¡°Congratulations, sir, you finally got what you wanted.¡± He put on a genuine smile and faced the threat, without flinching, without backing off.


    The Governor chuckled and caressed Ewan¡¯s head with trembling hands, his touch soft and gentle. ¡°Kiddo, you trust your instincts too much and you don¡¯t hide it well, learn from this, or you might stumble hard in the future,¡± he said. ¡°The enemy you face then will not let you get up.¡±


    The implications of his words thumped Ewan¡¯s heart and birthed a slew of presumptions in his head. Even though the Governor caught him red-handed, he would let him go.


    Kidd hadn¡¯t betrayed him; the old man merely outwitted him again.


    And the reason for his failure lay in the relationship between his instincts and the Ryvia.


    ¡°Sir, may I know¡­how?¡± Ewan gathered the nerves and asked.


    The Governor showed him his wrinkled finger and pointed at the ground. But there was nothing there, and Ewan frowned. He wasn¡¯t careless, he always kept an eye on his surroundings, he hadn¡¯t missed anything that the Governor could use against him¡­or so he thought.


    Lens!


    The spell changed his sight, and a gray rug of micro threads carpeted the whole place, wriggling in his enlarged view. He took his seconds for it and stacked the spell a few times, and when he recognized the threads, the light bulb lit up and the fog melted away. They were the Governor¡¯s Ryvia, buried in the ground, their minute heads barely inching out and surviving against the suppression of this place. The threads were too tiny for naked eyes, but they were still Ryvia and carried its sensitivity, and he stepped on them when he came here¡­


    He could¡¯ve succeeded if he flew¡­ No, the air pressure and the speed would change when he passed through¡­ He could¡¯ve succeeded if he flew carefully¡­. But he would displace air just by existing¡­.


    Another barrage of thoughts went off in his head.


    ¡°The peace meeting¡­ Was it a bait for me sir?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°When you put on a play, you have to believe it¡¯s real yourself. You deceive others not by lies but by truth,¡± the Governor said and looked back at the fruits. ¡°They¡¯re all waiting for me, the church might even attack to stop us, but I never intended to sign the treaty. With the fruit in my hand, everything that happens here is meaningless.¡±


    ¡°You really overestimate me, sir.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better to overestimate and succeed than to underestimate and fail,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s stop the chit-chat before I become the mastermind villain who failed because he talked too much. I¡¯ll take the fruit, you can have the Warship if you want, it doesn¡¯t interest me.¡±


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


    ¡°That¡¯s more than what I expected to walk away with,¡± Ewan said and bowed to the Governor. ¡°Thank you, sir. I¡¯ll take my leave from the city now if you let me.¡±


    ¡°I never intended to hurt you kiddo, you¡¯re free to leave anytime you wish or stay if you want,¡± the Governor said and moved towards the tree. ¡°If you stay, I¡¯ll try to find you a way into the masked conclave with Kiev. You will forget this, but I will remember, and I will fulfill it when the year comes back to this point. And If you leave, I¡¯ll bid you goodbye.¡±


    ¡°When year comes back?¡± The expression confused Ewan. But before he had the chance to dwell on it and understand what it meant, Kidd jumped out of the tunnel that led here and bolted at the Governor, clutching the Obsidian Dagger.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll distract him, go get it!¡± he yelled.


    ¡°You retard!¡± Ewan erupted his suppressed Ryvia to the extent possible and halted Kidd in his steps, preventing him from even opening his mouth. ¡°Stefan, drop it!¡± he said to the man trembling at the tunnel¡¯s entrance, gripping a kitchen knife with both his hands.


    ¡°Sir, I apologize for this. They¡¯re dumb, they don¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing. Please forgive them.¡± Ewan bowed again, but his back bent much deeper this time. ¡°You apologize too, you fucktard.¡± He grabbed Kidd¡¯s hair and shook him before forcing him to bow down. ¡°Stefan!¡± He hollered.


    ¡°I-I apologize, sir.¡± Stefan too bent his back and dropped the knife.


    ¡°You have good subordinates,¡± the Governor said and plucked off one fruit from the tree. ¡°And they have a good leader.¡±


    The tree withered when the fruit left it, its shine faded away, and even the remaining fruit wrinkled into a dried husk. The chamber darkened with the tree¡¯s death, and only the glowing fruit in the Governor¡¯s hand shed some light on them.


    ¡°Sir, what about the second fruit?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°The tree only lets you take one fruit, it¡¯s not possible to take the second,¡± the Governor said. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. Things will get chaotic very soon, leave quickly if you want to get away safely, though none of it matters this time¡­¡± The portal opened again, the other side showing a glimpse of the Ensil Villa, and the Governor stepped through it.


    The only source of light went away with him, and when the portal closed, Ewan couldn¡¯t contain it anymore and gulped with his fist clenched and his heart racing.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-182 Stormfalcon

    He scored a jackpot. Unless the Governor deceived him again, which had a meagre possibility due to the lack of a motive, the contrast in the information they both possessed sealed the win for Ewan. But before the Governor ingested the fruit, he couldn¡¯t take his prize, he couldn¡¯t even show his bubbling emotions for it would give away his intention and his advantage. So, he quelled his excitement and focused away from the tree¡ªthe husk of the fruit still hung on it, and it would come to him in due time.


    ¡°Whose idea was it?¡± he asked, turning to the two troublemakers. If their actions had pissed the old man off, they all would be kissing their lives goodbye right now.


    ¡°His.¡± They both cried at the same time and pointed at each other.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie, you said you couldn¡¯t sit still and wanted to help Ewan,¡± Stefan said. ¡°Y-You even gave me a kitchen knife.¡±


    ¡°You brought out the knife yourself! It was your idea to come here and see if Boss needed help,¡± Kidd said with tears at the corner of his eyes, and his hair ruffled in a mess. ¡°Boss you only hit me, but you didn¡¯t do anything to him.¡±


    Ewan smiled. ¡°Come here you two, it¡¯s all in the past now, let¡¯s rejoice that we lived.¡±


    Kidd ran to him, beaming, and Ewan fixed his hair for him.


    ¡°E-Ewan, I¡¯m fine here,¡± Stefan said, backing away.


    ¡°Come,¡± Ewan said, the smile still tugging on his lips, but his nostrils flared.


    When Stefan walked over with hesitant steps, Ewan uttered a dry chuckle and grabbed them both in headlocks.


    ¡°You two fuckers, we almost died because of you two idiots,¡± he said with a ferocious expression on his face and held them down. ¡°Did you come to help me, or did you come here to die together? Huh?¡±


    ¡°B-Boss I can''t¡­.breathe¡­¡± Kidd struggled with the hold, clawing away at Ewan¡¯s arm.


    ¡°E-Ewan, I won''t¡­.do it again¡­. It was his fault¡­¡±


    ¡°B-Boss, don¡¯t listen¡­to him¡­ It was his¡­¡±


    ¡°You two really need a good beating.¡± Ewan let them go and cracked his fingers and his neck. ¡°Let¡¯s wrestle.¡±


    ¡­.


    After minutes of wails and squeals, the chamber fell silent again. Stefan and Kidd kneeled on the ground, roughened up and beaten, while Ewan toured the Warship and checked its condition.


    ¡°Boss, what are we waiting for?¡± Kidd asked. His voice was quiet, but its echo reached Ewan on the top deck of the Stormfalcon at a height of about fifteen meters.


    ¡°Just a little bit more, it should be soon,¡± Ewan said under his breath.


    ¡°Ewan, we should start digging the Warship out if we¡¯re taking it, it¡¯ll take time,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Not right now,¡± Ewan said, checking the thrusters for any significant damage. ¡°Stefan, come check these, see whether they¡¯ll work or not. I¡¯ll go check the bridge.¡±


    ¡°Boss, what about me?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Go check the buried parts, see whether the outer layer is intact or not, look for any major holes at the bottom.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


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    The stairs took Ewan down from the deck to the upper floor, the metal steps and the metal passage clanging against his boots, and the door slid open to the standby room. A cloud of dust welcomed him to the dirt-ridden benches and the collapsed shelves. The room that once acted as the waiting place for the troops now barely held any resemblance to its past. Following the length of the Warship, the corridor led him to the meeting room in the middle, then the bridge came at the end.


    Time was of the essence, so Ewan didn¡¯t delve too deep into the details. When he punched the red power button, the system took its time and flickered but came alive in the end.


    ¡°Please confirm your authority,¡± a soothing voice matching a nightingale¡¯s pitch said in Kaaleria tongue, and the screens lit up one after another with all sorts of details.


    ¡°Ewan Ayres,¡± he said, and cast the spell from Perceval¡¯s book.


    ¡°Spell check, pass,¡± the voice said. ¡°Please confirm the password.¡±


    ¡°Conqueror.¡±


    ¡°Password check, pass. Please register your blood.¡±


    Ewan completed the process in minutes, received the authority, and became the sole owner of the Stormfalcon. Though it was meaningless at this point, he had to check and confirm its operation before the redo happened, it would save him minutes the next time.


    ¡°The Rigen point, show,¡± Ewan said in a broken Kaaleria tongue.


    ¡°Authority check, pass. Main tank, empty. Sub-tank, empty. Backup storage, running low,¡± the system said.


    He expected it, but the affirmation still gave him a headache. How would they take this metal-mammoth with them if it couldn¡¯t fly or move¡­


    ¡°Do you carry a name?¡± he asked, rubbing his forehead.


    ¡°Nightingale, Mr. Ayres.¡±


    ¡°Quite fit.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Call my first name from this on.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative, Sir Ewan,¡± Nightingale said.


    Yet, when her last syllable fell, the world froze. The wind stopped blowing, the sun didn¡¯t burn, and the rivers halted their race. Not only Airadia, but even the whole star system stilled into a deathly silence. And with a blaring tick of the clock, time ran backwards. The ocean flew black, the clouds backtracked their paths, the sun retreated on its arc, and the world reversed its lived life.


    Nightingale shut down as Ewan retraced his steps and passed the moment when he punched the power button. The doors opened and closed again, and he walked backwards in the corridor, to the standby room and then to the top deck.


    The rewind took them all back an hour into their lives, leaving only a fuzzy memory of what happened. When the effect ended and Ewan came to, there was no sign of the Governor around him. Kidd and Stefan hid at the entrance of the tunnel, ready to ¡®distract¡¯ the Governor. And he found himself standing before the tree that had also reverted back to the point before the Governor plucked one fruit away¡ªit still had only one left, but it shined brighter than ever.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-183 Déjà Vu

    Just reliving a few seconds of what Ewan had already experienced smacked him with a strong flavor of d¨¦j¨¤ vu¡ªhence the name. He knew the effect of the fruit, yet it caught him off guard, let alone the unprepared and the unaware¡ªsuch a small fruit forced even a star system to repeat its last hour. The remarks and the comments in his journal mentioned the drastic changes and the repercussions of the fruit, but they weren¡¯t clear on the extent of it. So, Ewan could only reference his family¡¯s knowledge and make a generalized presumption of the aftermath the fruit would leave in its wake.


    The Governor thought he would travel back to the past with the fruit, where he could redo his life, where he could wash away his regrets. And not only him, but many who called it the ¡®fruit of regrets¡¯ carried the same desire. Yet, the fruit would only revert his existence back to the beginning of his second life¡ªwhen his soul awakened¡ªand the rest of the world would only retrace one hour. How shocked he must be right now, to become an eighteen-year-old again, but losing all his powers and remaining in the present time, with his enemies still at their peak and alerted from the phenomenon¡­


    The gap in knowledge created the current skewed situation. The Governor outwitted and crushed Ewan, but his family¡¯s legacy pulled him back to be a winner again, and his prize was the second fruit from an hour ago, before it withered. Even the mighty planets and the planes bent before it and repeated their time, sacrificing it to create the potion Ewan wanted must be feasible.


    The trend of events hinted at the overshadowing chaos that would soon engulf the area, it was better to scoot away as soon as possible. Thus, Ewan got to work, and by the time the disoriented duo woke up and staggered in, the etched spell circuit with the tree as its center glowed for the sacrifice.


    Transmute!


    The chamber tremored when the spell crushed the tree and the fruit into a crowd of amber light specks, powdered soil falling from the ceiling, the Warship squeaking, and they came together to form a pearly blob of liquid. Time was running out, one hour was all Ewan had before the d¨¦j¨¤ vu ended and the repercussions of the fruit bloomed, so he ignored the duo¡¯s confused questions and injected his blood into the potion and gulped it down. The slaves had already helped him calculate the risk factor and perfect the details, he was sure of the potion¡¯s effect. The only missing link so far was the quality of the sacrifice, and the d¨¦j¨¤ vu tree filled that gap.


    His soul space rumbled as the potion rushed in, gathering into a blob again, and hammering his head with waves of dull pain. Layers of blood halo cocooned Ewan and dropped him into a trance while the potion exploded inside his soul space and an irregular mass of argent filaments flickered between illusion and reality.


    His sense of time faded away, and the dreamless sleep eased the pain. The world retraced the same minutes, but Ewan followed a different thread¡ªhis chat with the Governor only remained in their memories. He woke up when the cocoon waned, and as the darkness of the chamber overlayed the blackness of his closed eyes, the mystic rune solidified into a stable state in his soul space¡ªit carried his virtual image as its contracted Astylind. And with the applause and the cheers of the Mystic-Anima around him, his affinity with the element surged into the Endued level, the highest any material being could have at birth.


    Among his three runes now stood another, a jumbled stack of silver filaments guzzling down the Mystic-Anima rushing in from Ewan¡¯s surroundings. Though the ups and downs took him to the skies and plunged him into the pit, he finally achieved what he set out to do, he finally had the mystic rune. Its stability equaled his other runes, its function also matched theirs, and the virtual Astylind it contracted would serve as the node for the Elementalist.


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    The itch to explore the spells with the new rune was persuasive, yet Ewan refused and focused on the Warship again¡ªthey had to get away now.


    ¡°Boss, what happened?¡± Kidd said. ¡°I feel weird.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Go check the bottom parts, see if there¡¯re any big holes. Stefan, you go check the thrusters from the top deck, see if they¡¯ll still work. I¡¯ll go to the bridge.¡±


    ¡°I feel like¡­you said that before¡­,¡± Kidd murmured.


    ¡°It will because I did. I said I¡¯ll explain later, just go check the Warship now,¡± he said and flew to the top deck, down the stairs, and to the bridge.


    The authentication process repeated the same, and after minutes of strong d¨¦j¨¤ vu bombarding his senses and triggering nausea, he became the sole owner of the Stormfalcon again.


    ¡°The full status report give. What the ship condition?¡± Ewan asked, barely making up coherent sentences. Luckily, he understood Kaaleria better than he spoke.


    ¡°Negative, cannot gather the feedback, all modules down, backup storage is only enough for the core system,¡± Nightingale said.


    ¡°How tall last?¡±


    ¡°Continuous energy usage will last 3 hours, 48 minutes, 20 seconds, counting down.¡±


    ¡°Do contain a map, nearby liquids? Exclude Drarith, look Rigen station near side?¡± Ewan asked. Once upon a time, the city of spices also saw an influx of Warships parked for refueling and repairs, yet not even their shadows remained on the city now, he had to find another.


    ¡°Information outdated; reliability index has fallen below 1 percent.¡± Nightingale showed him the map and marked the nearby island with a fueling station, but the red warning sign stayed on the screen. Nevertheless, Ewan ticked it and made it his next destination¡ªthey had to start somewhere.


    ¡°Kidd! Stefan!¡± He yelled from the bridge, and his voice reverberated inside the chamber. ¡°Start digging.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-184 Repercussions [Vol-2 End]

    Ice Daggers!


    Dozens and dozens of ice daggers crystallized around Ewan when he pushed the spell to Step-1, buzzing and humming, shuttling with blurred afterimages, and the plunging temperature fogged their breaths. Some stabbed into the ground and nestled under the Warship, while the others dug a tunnel towards the sound of the waves.


    Ewan growled and strained to lift the Warship with the daggers. Even with his evolution and the enhanced Ryvia with the spell, the weight of the metal-mammoth almost crushed his ¡®Spirit¡¯ and cracked the daggers. But he still soldiered on and lifted it an inch above the ground. The earth trembled, the Warship groaned, the loose dirt and the soil fell off, and his nose bled.


    When the Stormfalcon left the ground, the friction plunged, and even with Kidd¡¯s and Stefan¡¯s meagre strength, they could barely push it.


    ¡°One, two, three, push!¡± Ewan yelled. The two followed his rhythm and matched their strength, and the Stormfalcon crawled ahead.


    The daggers sliced the hard rocks, butchered the tree roots, powdered the soil, and carved out a tunnel big enough for the Warship without letting it collapse on their heads. They rested, then marched on, and they rested again. Ewan too let the Warship down a few times on the way and let his ¡®Spirit¡¯ recover before advancing, downing a few recovery potions in between.


    Time slipped away, and the path down to the ocean took them minutes¡ªthey couldn¡¯t carve a deep slant after all, so they staggered the tunnel into stairs. At the end, when only a thin crumbling wall lay between them and fresh air, they plopped to the ground with their chests heaving and a river of sweat drenching their hair and clothes.


    ¡°Boss¡­this will¡­sink, it¡¯s too heavy,¡± Kidd said, panting.


    ¡°It won''t. Warships are built to float on the water in case of an emergency,¡± Ewan said, leaning on the wall, wiping the sweat off his forehead.


    ¡°It¡¯s all metal, how will it float?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Read the books I left you; you¡¯ll know.¡±


    ¡°What if there¡¯s an emergency when its above land?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Then you drag it like now,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Stefan, build a temporary mast and a sail on the top deck when we drop it. You¡¯ll be able to control the direction with it right?¡±


    ¡°I can try, but the joint might not be strong enough to carry the Warship¡¯s weight,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°If it fails, we¡¯ll just row it.¡±


    ¡°Boss¡­its too big for that¡­,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll make do somehow, let¡¯s get moving,¡± Ewan said and lifted the Warship again. His Ryvia checked beyond the wall, the ocean wasn¡¯t too far below. Even if they let go from here, it should fall onto the water without any damage.


    His daggers macerated the wall in seconds, sunlight poured in, salty wind rushed at them, and the waves roared. With a deafening splash and exploding water, the Stormfalcon crashed into the ocean. And as Ewan expected and hoped, it creaked with the turbulent tides but showed no signs of sinking¡ªhe finally had his own ship on the ocean.


    ¡­..


    The end of the hour approached and the three braced themselves on the top deck of the Stormfalcon, floating away from Drarith. Mayhem had already seized the city again, and the chaos today surrounded the Ensil Villa¡ªthe church and the Valbergs joined hands against the Governor. The erupting spells and the exploding bombardments even shook the waters near the Warship, and the ocean recoiled back with a cry.


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    ¡°One minute left,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Stefan, you go inside, just in case.¡±


    ¡°Will it be that bad?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    Kidd clutched the hilt of the Obsidian Dagger at his waist and gulped, while Stefan backed off to the stairs, peeking out from the gap.


    The countdown began with ten seconds remaining, and Ewan prepared for the worst, only hoping that Nana would remain safe. If the consequences spanned across Airadia, she could get hurt....


    The anxiety ate away at him.


    An ascending tremor marked the end of the hour, and Airadia quaked. Lightning cracked in the sky, its thunder rumbled away, and the dark clouds shaded the world. A sense of wrath blanketed them, all living beings trembled under its fury, and the world seethed¡ªAiradia¡¯s rage fell upon them, their mother was angry.


    Morinfair tumbled under the trio, thrashing the Warship around, the wails of the oceanic creatures boiling the waters, and the waves rammed the top deck. The Stormfalcon groaned under the constant pounding but held on without flipping over.


    ¡°This can''t be it¡­,¡± Ewan murmured, holding Kidd and Stefan with his Ryvia, and keeping them on their feet. The extent of the consequences worried him, for it didn¡¯t match the degree of the warnings. Airadia might rampage and fume, but she was their home, and they were her children after all, her fury could only go so far¡­


    A thick lightning bolt flashed in the cloud and came descended on Drarith, cleaving the mountain in half. The deafening crack silenced the world, and the earth collapsed under Airadia¡¯s whip, the falling boulders giving birth to towering waves. And with that, the world¡¯s rage came to an end.


    Kidd and Stefan heaved a sigh of relief, but Ewan kept alert. ¡°This couldn¡¯t be it¡­,¡± he murmured again.


    When the skies cleared up and the serenity of nature returned, Ewan¡¯s instincts blared all the sirens, and a malicious intent smothered them. The sheer hostility it bore shook anyone it touched.


    An orange glare sparked at Ewan, and his Varos shattered to bear the brunt, temperature skyrocketing around him. Kidd too suffered from the same and collapsed on his ass, the cloak of the Dark-Anima barely protecting him.


    The city that had just ceased to exist suffered yet again as its exposed Kyrons burst out in flames at random, the glare igniting even the weak Ashevas and the Astylinds.


    Ewan followed the thread of malice and squinted at the sun in the sky, its blazing radiance darkening everything else for him. The overlapping experience of an hour of their lives kindled the sun¡¯s sentience¡­.


    The d¨¦j¨¤ vu fruit woke up the sun.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-185 Sun’s Malice

    The consequences of the fruit changed the world and altered the fates. Some survived their deaths after repeating the hour, while some missed the luck of the first time and died on the redo, and the warning in Ewan¡¯s journal now paled in comparison.


    The sun¡¯s impish malice flipped everyone¡¯s life upside down. The weakest rung of the Starons, the Kyrons, suffered the most, but it¡­ he even gave the Ashevas a headache for most of their days.


    The sun messed around and Airadia raged, and as a result, the hub shut down for an indefinite period. The loss of business it caused was only secondary. Ewan lost contact with Nana most of all, barely leaving a message before the connection cut, and his heart was in his mouth every second of the day.


    The Stormfalcon swayed with the waves, the wind hissed along, and the seagulls cried and fluttered around, lost and disoriented. Ewan closed his ¡®adventures¡¯ log¡¯ diary with a sigh, not a new word written in it, and looked up at the starry but moonless sky from the top deck. The time on the clock called for the peak of the afternoon right now, yet the sun refused to rise. From a few hours a day and lengthy nights to nightless days, he messed about with the orbits and the planetary rhythms.


    Nevertheless, the nights were still better. When the sun refused to go down, the rate of random spontaneous combustion soared among the weak Kyrons¡ªthe reports of such incidents had already flooded the hub market before it closed.


    ¡°Boss, he woke up,¡± Kidd said, coming up to the top deck.


    ¡°Did he say anything?¡± Ewan asked and led him down the stairs and towards the tail of the middle floor. The hung lanterns clattered on the walls and lit the corridor in patches, the shadows fluttering against the flickering fire. The primitive tool contrasted the advanced Warship and the sophisticated metallurgy, but the flatlined Rigen level forced their hands¡ªeven the core system shut down, let alone the peripheral lights. Without the energy, the Stormfalcon only amounted to a lifeless junk.


    ¡°No, he¡¯s just staring at the ceiling,¡± Kidd said. ¡°He¡¯s not responding at all.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Stefan?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s cleaning and fixing the bottom floor now,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Is the middle floor done?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Yeah, he finished it this morning¡­uh night¡­a few hours ago.¡±


    ¡°Tell him to take a rest, he¡¯ll break his back like this,¡± Ewan said and entered the medical bay.


    The monitoring systems were down, the shattered supply cabinets ran empty, even the medical tools had rusted and rotted into dust; the infirmary ward was at best a hall with a few intact but groaning beds at this point. Stefan hadn¡¯t cleaned the living quarters when they found him though, so this was the only option.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Ewan asked, taking a seat beside the bed.


    A few breaths went by in silence, but the man only stared at the ceiling.


    ¡°Can you not speak, or do you not want to speak? I gave you my precious potion, so you should be all healed. Do you remember me, Lance?¡± he asked again, yet received nothing in return. ¡°Have you lost all sense of gratitude? We saved you, but we won''t indulge your depression. If you don¡¯t speak in the next second, I¡¯ll throw you overboard. You can try your chances out in the ocean.¡±


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    ¡°It won''t make any difference, sir, I don¡¯t want to live anyway¡­,¡± Lance said in a hoarse voice. ¡°You wasted your potion on me, sir.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not up to you,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Do you remember what happened?¡±


    ¡°Lightning fell from the sky, and I lost everything,¡± he said. ¡°They abandoned us, sir.¡±


    ¡°The Ensils? Yeah, I can imagine why. So, the Governor lived¡­,¡± Ewan said under his breath. ¡°We found you drifting on a piece of wood. You were lucky the sun didn¡¯t come out; else we would find your ashes.¡±


    ¡°Am I lucky¡­¡± Lance murmured.


    ¡°Enough with your self-pity. I saved you, so you owe me your life,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I need help with something, do it for me and you¡¯re free to do whatever you want. Kill yourself, jump off into the ocean, find your own way, up to you.¡±


    Lance nodded. ¡°My life is yours anyway, sir, I won''t resist.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a bad deal for you either. Didn¡¯t the Ensils stop you from becoming a Severynth? You can get another chance now,¡± he said. ¡°You can''t become a Severynth without opening your soul space, but since your soul was strong enough to awaken, you can opt for a counterpart. I have an inheritance with me that I want you to accept.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Boss, are you giving it away?¡± Kidd asked. ¡°It was our loot¡­¡±


    ¡°Stefan failed anyway, and neither of us can use it. I don¡¯t want to leave it on our ship, it¡¯s an unknown element,¡± Ewan said. The seed of thought Perceval left on the Warship was a matter of concern for him, a foreign element that he couldn¡¯t control. He could crush it, but the recoil might make the Stormfalcon suffer. Thus, it was better to just fulfill the wish and wash his hands of it. It was nothing but a plea to continue the Radons¡¯ legacy anyway, the path of the ¡®Reaper¡¯. It had a high demand for physical abilities, so Stefan fell short of triggering a response¡ªLance stood a better chance.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-186 Reaper

    The training hall occupied the bow section of the bottom floor, an open ward large enough and sturdy enough to endure the bombardment of simple spells. Layers and layers of sticky grime and loose dust coated the floor, cascading rust laminated the walls, and the cracked cabinets, rotted wood, and corroded targets added the touch of grim seasonings. Yet, amidst the desolate and the wrecked ambience, an opaque and intact glass case embedded in the wall contrasted the context around it.


    ¡°Stand in front of it,¡± Ewan said, bringing Lance across the hall, Kidd following behind them, their boots carving their steps in the layered filth. ¡°I¡¯ll cast the spell for you, you just need to shed some blood.¡±


    ¡°I understand, sir,¡± Lance said.


    The spell circuit for the assessment of the candidate¡¯s affinity with the Reaper path was in Perceval¡¯s book, the Radons¡¯ legacy. The more Ewan studied the Kaaleria language, the more he explored the book. And the more he understood its contents, the easier it became for him to use it.


    Assess!


    He slit Lance¡¯s wrist with his Ryvia and cast the spell in tandem, drawing the blob of blood and splashing the glass cabinet with it. The glass glowed with a muffled violet and soaked up even the last streak of blood, the halo around it beating in a rhythm. The assessment lasted for minutes, and finally when the glow faded away, Ewan received the ping of confirmation as the caster of the spell¡ªLance satisfied the Reaper¡¯s requirements, the degree of harmony was high.


    ¡°Put your hand on the glass and accept it,¡± Ewan said, healing his cut with the <Aid> spell.


    Lance sank into a stupor with his eyelids fluttering when he touched the glass, and the cabinet chipped at the corner, the crack expanding by the minute.


    ¡°Did he succeed, Boss?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Ewan hummed.


    ¡°It was our loot¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t obsess over it, it¡¯s safer this way.¡±


    ¡°What about Sae¡¯sa, Boss? Can''t she use it? If any of us matched it, we can keep it in the family,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Nana¡¯s already a Severynth, and you have your own path too, focus on that,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯ll also try to look for one that matches Stefan.¡±


    ¡°You have two names Boss, Severynth and Elementalist, and now the Reaper¡­only mine doesn¡¯t have any cool name. Willy also wants one.¡±


    ¡°Is that your main concern¡­,¡± Ewan asked, gaping at Kidd. ¡°Just name it anything you like,¡± he said.


    ¡°We actually thought up a couple of names recently. I like ¡®Master of Shadows¡¯, and Willy likes ¡®King of Undead¡¯,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Which one do you think sounds cool?¡±


    ¡°Both are good, yell that when you fight the enemies, just don¡¯t talk to me when we¡¯re in public,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡­.


    Almost an hour later.


    The glass cabinet shattered and faded into dust and the seed of thought bloomed and withered when Lance woke up, a violet-bladed long scythe chained to an amethyst shield hovering before him¡ªthey were his armament. A Reaper¡¯s weapons were not only his means to defend his path, but they were his path. Reapers sharpened their weapons, and the weapons nourished them back. The origin of the path held a shadow of the Severynth system.


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    ¡°You received all the information, right?¡± Ewan asked, confirming the seed¡¯s end.


    ¡°I did, sir, but I¡¯m not familiar with this weapon combination,¡± Lance replied.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to die? Why¡¯re you concerned about that?¡± Ewan chuckled and asked.


    Lance looked down at the floor, his dim eyes wavering, and the scythe and shield shivered, the chain jingling.


    ¡°We have some days till we get to our destination. Think about what you want to do in that time,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And if you want to help, row the ship for us.¡± As Stefan predicted, the mast and the sail strategy failed to give the Warship any direction or speed. The lack of materials accentuated the issue, the makeshift joint couldn¡¯t carry the size. Luckily, the waves led them towards their destination, so they sat back and enjoyed a free ride. But still, they had to be prepared to row the mammoth in case the Morinfair¡¯s mood changed.


    Lance nodded. ¡°I will do that, sir,¡± he said.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Kidd yelled from outside, dashing towards the training hall, the clangs of his hurried steps echoing inside the corridor. ¡°We¡¯re getting attacked!¡±


    ¡°Stay here, don¡¯t move around,¡± Ewan said to Lance, and launched away, dragging Kidd with him towards the tail of the bottom floor, the mechanics hall. They¡¯d already forced open a slit in the exit hatch of the hall, which the mechanics and the Artificers of the Warship generally used¡ªthe gap was big enough for Ewan and Kidd.


    ¡°What happened?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We were fishing, and we caught a couple of baby horses for dinner, but their parents got angry and are attacking us,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°You caught what now? Horses? Didn¡¯t you check with <Identify> before catching them?¡± Ewan asked and landed on the top deck, dropping Kidd behind him. Their brain-dead action left him flabbergasted.


    ¡°They looked weak, I thought they were just some normal horses¡­and they looked tasty,¡± Kidd said. ¡°They got caught way too easily.¡±


    ¡°Normal horses? All the way out here, running on water?¡± Ewan looked up at the two giant horses with wings circling the Stormfalcon in the sky, their grating neighs vibrating the ocean waves. ¡°Do they look normal to you?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re a bit too big for normal horses.¡± Kidd laughed and scratched his head. ¡°And they got wings.¡±


    ¡°Ask Stefan to cook a good meal. If I¡¯m fighting for them, I at least want a good meal out of it,¡± Ewan said.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-187 Pegasus

    Identify!


    [Astylind Name: Water Pegasus]


    [Astylind Level: Level-12]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-C]


    [Anima Affinity: Water]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Rare natives of Airadia. Most of their population gathers on the ocean. Only Recipient-level affinity with the water element, but highly skilled in its usage. Their specialty is to use the surface of any waterbody as a resting spot. They dislike ground, and especially abhor fiery surroundings.]


    Ewan shot up towards them, leaving the premises of the Stormfalcon to avoid any stray damage to the ship. The Pegasi cried at him and gathered together, flapping their wings to hover. And with the bursts of an icy breath and a scorching blaze, Frost and Orange came out of their Dekoths, launching at the winged horses.


    The two Pegasi neighed and hurled water arrows at them, blobs of water forming around with the flaps of their wings.


    Frost retaliated with a salvo of icicles and cancelled the attack, while Orange exploded a few punches to decimate the incoming arrows. Nonetheless, it halted their advance. And before they could attack again, the blobs by the horses twisted into a crowd of small birds and zoomed at Frost and Orange. Their shrieks echoed in a symphony, and they launched a kamikaze attack, each bird exploding into small water needles shooting out upon their death.


    When they surrounded Frost, he brought his clawed hands together, a frigid sphere flickering between, and erupted with an all-around icy shockwave that froze and shattered the little water birds. Orange, on the other hand, rampaged with a barrage, his bombardment of blasting attacks crushing his enemies, and wounds built up on him at the same time.


    Yet, their outburst brought little change to the battlefield as the Pegasi formed more and more blobs by the time the previous crowd died. Frost and Orange matched the two winged-horses, but their Anima storage couldn¡¯t compare, for the Pegasi surpassed them in levels¡ªtheir higher grades barely balanced the field.


    And so, Ewan also joined in.


    Bloodlust!


    His first cast went to Orange, and the spell now with over a hundred threads boosted the target with the standard of Step-1. The little monkey howled on its induction, his fur swaying with the outrage of his Anima, and he zipped away. The boom he left behind cracked the air, and the volley of red flash exploded the incoming batch of water birds.


    Frost also moved ahead, and with several snowy magic circles appearing before him, he shot out a cluster of freezing rays, penetrating beyond the birds¡¯ swarm and reaching the two Pegasi. They screeched when the rays approached them, and thick curtains of water enveloped the two¡ªFrost¡¯s spell waned and died when the curtains froze and shattered.


    Ice Daggers!


    The spell crystallized dozens and dozens of daggers around Ewan and whitened his starry sky, and with the extension of his Ryvia, they shuttled at the Pegasi. He reined in their force though, and idled the swarm around the battlefield, standing by to interfere and dart in at any time. When in Elementalist state, he led the battle, but as a Severynth, his Astylinds took the stage.


    The male Pegasus reared and galloped at Frost while the female pulled up the ocean water into ropes with a screeching neigh and surrounded the airspace around Orange, whipping and entangling him. Frost sprung back¡ªEwan¡¯s Ryvia assisting him and his daggers hindering the Pegasus¡ªand maintained a distance for his spells, while Orange fought against the water-threads, blasting the ropes into droplets.


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    Frost kited the male Pegasus and the female Pegasus kited Orange, thus sustained the delicate balance.


    Phantasm!


    Ewan cast and created a mirage of volcanoes rising from the ocean. The spell gobbled his Anima, and the result reflected it. The charred layers of solidified yet gooey rocks, the streams of orange glowing and bubbling lava, the torrents of steam rising from the ocean, and the boiling water¡ªthe staggering details painted a skin of reality on the illusion.


    Firedust!


    Only the missing scorch left a gap, so Ewan filled it with another spell. The fiery particles and sparks raged into a storm around the battlefield, singeing the targets. The Pegasi backed off, wailing, and fluttering their wings. The fire opposed their natural habitat, and the volcanoes represented its peak.


    Fireflies!


    And the trapping spell armed across the combat zone put the finishing touch in, albeit they were still of the Step-0 stage. When the combination of his spells bore fruit, when the Pegasi panicked against Frost and Orange under the adverse conditions, and when they stepped on some of the trap-spells, Ewan hovered back and let his Astylinds shine.


    Frost broke out with a salvo of projectile spells against the retreating and injured male Pegasus, while throwing in couple of field freezing spell to control him. And Orange dove in headfirst, crashing against the water defense the female Pegasus put up, and unleashed his barrage, the shattered water droplets spraying around.


    Aid!


    Stigma: Positive!


    Rekindle!


    Stigma: Negative!


    Blood Stasis!


    When needed, Ewan still assisted his Astylinds from the back, biting the Novas coins to recover Anima, and prevented the balance from tipping into the enemy¡¯s favor. And soon, as the shadow of an island surfaced from the horizon against the night sky, the two Pegasi lost their lives with lingering neighs and plunged.


    ¡°Kidd, Stefan, prepare them well, we¡¯ll have horses for lunch¡­dinner,¡± he said, floating in the sky and dropping the dead Pegasi onto the Stormfalcon.


    ¡°Boss, what about the baby horses we fished before?¡± Kidd yelled from the top deck while Frost gulped down the two souls.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have the whole family,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Stefan, prepare the anchor, let¡¯s dock at that island. We can stock up on drinking water and the materials we need.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 19.3 | Ice ¨C 5.3 | Blood ¨C 0.7 | Mystic: 2.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-188 Organize

    The sun decided to rise by the time the Stormfalcon neared the shores of the island, the bewildered and the disoriented birds leaving their nests with the untimely break of the dawn. Only one side of the island met the ocean with a beach and a smooth slant in the waters though, sharp reefs covered the rest. Luckily, it was the side that the waves led the Warship to, so Ewan dropped the anchors when they reached close enough, stretching his Ryvia to do a quick scan of the small island.


    ¡°No sign of anyone living here,¡± he said. ¡°But still be careful, don¡¯t stray too afar. And Stefan, you stay inside the ship, call me when you have to move. I¡¯ll be on the beach.¡± He found a cozy place on the chilly sand and spread his sheets, laying down with the warm sunlight embracing him from behind. Nowadays, the gentle comfort of the sun always hid a trace of peril, and it dampened his downtime. Nevertheless, he was a Severynth and his autonomous Varos dimmed the threat of spontaneous combustion, he could still enjoy the sun for what it was, up to some extent.


    Kidd trekked inside the forest in search of fresh drinking water, while Lance sawed the trees on the edge with the sword he carried. If they had enough material, Stefan could retry the sail and the mast and gain some control over the Warship¡¯s direction.


    Ewan, on the other hand, took out his diary for the notes and organized his spell list. The spells he needed to learn and the spells that could be obsolete, he had to work on his arsenal to increase his efficiency.


    The first up was the healing spell category. Iris fulfilled most of his needs for the healing, so this was a sparse list for him¡ªhe only knew <Aid> as a Step-1 spell. It sufficed for now, but its target limitations would burden him in his Elementalist state when Iris would be out of action; he needed an area-of-effect spell to complement it. And his Spellbook gave him his answer after a short browse¡ªa spell that excelled in a blood loss situation but also worked for general wounds, <Blood Cure>.


    ¡­


    Ewan marked it for learning and moved on to the next category¡ªthe support category, both the buffs and the debuffs. His list of spells for this included <Bloodlust>,


    , <Rekindle>, <Firedust>, and <Blood Stasis>. And the five still held strong, they were his mainstay spells now and would even carry him in the foreseeable future.


    As for any new spell, he crossed the idea, what he had was enough for the time being.


    ¡­


    The next category was the auxiliary spell list, and it had <Siesta>, <Enthrall>, <Remembrance>, <Stigma>, <Spoor>, <Veil>, <Lens>, and <Transmute>. They all shined off-combat, especially <Transmute>, and held their places, but only <Stigma> was the mainstay for his battles, it was vital for his area-of-effect spells. And a new spell in this category wasn¡¯t a necessity as of yet.


    ¡­


    For the defensive spell category, because of the layered protection from his Varos and Ryvia, he barely learned any. <Ice Wall> only sufficed for Step-0, it had no place in Step-1. Unless Ewan upgraded its spell circuit, he had to drop the spell. And his already desolate list in this category shrunk even more.


    <Blood Rein> could act as a shield, but it belonged to the special spells category, pure defense was not its forte. Not to mention the blood it needed would trip him in the heat of a battle.


    Thus, Ewan scoured the Spellbook again and picked one that suited his needs¡ª<Elemental Cloak>. It was a spell like the <Elemental Rain> etched in the Rainwarden staff; it formed a defensive cloak for the targets based on their elemental affinity. Aside from its sturdy defense and the lack of elemental conflict with the target, its strong suit lay in its versatile usage of any Anima available as its fuel.


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    ¡­


    Next up was the offensive category, and it included <Ice Daggers>, <Fireball>, <Fireflies>, and <Boom>. They all treaded up to Step-1 and remained functional at his current stage, but he still needed more options, especially in the ice and the blood elements. And his first choice became <Coldwave>, a spell that shot a frigid wave away from the caster and froze anything and everything in its path. For the blood element, his pick was the <Bloodmoths>, a spell that unleashed a swarm of moths made of corrosive blood upon the enemies, doing sustained damage.


    ¡­


    Ewan had several spells that could double as crowd-control spells, but except for <Repulse>, the category lay devoid of the specialized names. He could make do if didn¡¯t have any other option, but he had his Spellbook with him, and the treasure chest still had much to give. So, he flipped the pages again and looked for suitable spells.


    And two of his two respective elements caught his eye. His Anima level barely touched the threshold of their minimum-Anima points, he couldn¡¯t cast them as he wished for now, but their towering maximum-Anima points meant they would be with him for a long time before becoming obsolete in their current form.


    <Frostweb>, an ice-element spell that created a sticky cobweb structure around the targets made of icy filaments. It glued to and froze anything it touched.


    <Bloodstars>, a blood-element spell that created several weighty and corrosive orbs of blood hovering around the target, impeding their actions.


    ¡­


    Finally, it was the special spells category with a blend of weird spells that didn¡¯t fit in with their other comrades in their lists¡ª<Blood Rein> and <Ember>. One took his blood to work, and the other could only light torches and kindle the fire-starter. Both still had their places in Ewan¡¯s spell arsenal, but their limitations on usage shoved them down to the bottom of the list.


    Lance had already sawed through several trees by now, and Kidd too brought back barrels and barrels of water. And with that, he shut his diary and stretched, his joints popping and snapping. It was time to cook his game and have a feast.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-189 Campfire

    The sun raced through its daily arc and the sunset came in mere hours. Stefan joined them on the island under the night sky, and the four sat around the campfire after skinning and preparing the horses, skewered slabs of meat stabbed on the ground near the fire. Its browning sizzles accompanied the crackling firewood and the flame tongues and set a tone of warmth and comfort, the blaze flickering their shadows behind.


    ¡°Did you feel any change, Lance?¡± Ewan asked, poking the meat to check its doneness, and keeping the ashes away from his.


    ¡°Not much, sir, I just feel more energetic,¡± Lance said. ¡°Can I have more details on it, sir?¡±


    ¡°The path is named Reaper, it¡¯s the Radon family¡¯s legacy. They¡¯re one of the four families who ruled Ashocan before, predecessors of Drarith,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Other than that, you should know more about it than me.¡±


    ¡°I always thought only Severynths could have this power,¡± Lance murmured.


    ¡°Enlighten yourself then,¡± Kidd said. ¡°I also have my own, it¡¯s called ¡®Master of Undead¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Did you finally decide on one?¡± Ewan laughed.


    ¡°Willy and I compromised, this is our final name,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Nightwalker sounds better,¡± Stefan said, attending to the hissing slabs of meat.


    Kidd¡¯s eyes widened and glittered with stars; his breath quickened. ¡°Nightwalker¡­Nightwalker¡­,¡± he muttered.


    Ewan glanced at Stefan, but he showed no trace of melancholy or disappointment. He once asked for the spell circuit to become a Severynth, yet his age doomed him for failure, he¡¯d long left the important years behind. So, a path that rivaled the Severynths and allowed him to walk on it must be what he yearned for.


    However, though he said he wanted to live, he lacked the desire for life¡­


    ¡°Stefan, your soul is strong enough to be a Severynth, a Cerade even, we¡¯ll find a suitable path for you too,¡± Ewan said.


    Stefan smiled. ¡°Did I make you worry? It¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t mind it, I enjoy traveling with you guys. Even if I remain a Kyron, I¡¯ll just spend my life laughing and end it happily.¡±


    ¡°You changed a lot, you were so glum before, always babbling about how you have to live,¡± Kidd said. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m a Nightwalker from now on, its final, Willy agreed too.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Willy?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°Another annoying brat, you¡¯ll meet him soon enough,¡± Stefan chuckled and said.


    ¡°Hah, you threw the first punch, don¡¯t blame me.¡± Kidd scoffed. ¡°Boss, this fucker went to the church back in Drarith to become one of those metal-clad hunks but came back crying cuz got rejected.¡±


    Stefan hurtled for Kidd, stumbling as he plunged forward, covering his mouth tightly. ¡°N-Not true, I-I went there before I met you guys,¡± he stuttered.


    Kidd peeled his hand away, barely getting his mouth free. ¡°I already said it all, let go,¡± he said. And as Stefan loosened his grip¡­


    ¡°Boss, you were his second choice!¡± Kidd yawped again, and Stefan tackled him down.


    ¡°Lance, have you given it any thought?¡± Ewan asked, ignoring the two idiots. ¡°What will you do from now on?¡±


    ¡°I apologize, sir, I haven¡¯t decided yet,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Well, we weren¡¯t going to leave you on this island anyway. Tag along for now, decide what you want to do when we get to an inhabited place,¡± Ewan said. ¡°The Reaper¡¯s passive defense like our Varos should protect you from the sun, you don¡¯t have to worry about turning into a human torch.¡±


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


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you work for the Ensils? You can continue and become a mercenary,¡± Kidd said, getting back up after he wrestled away from Stefan.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t work for them for Creliths, I wanted a name¡­,¡± Lance said under his breath.


    ¡°Meat¡¯s cooked, let¡¯s eat now,¡± Ewan said, biting into his share after blowing on it, and they all took theirs.


    ¡°Argh! It¡¯s tough as fuck!¡± Kidd cried out, ripping a bite off the meat.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost inedible,¡± Ewan said, chewing his bite nonstop.


    ¡°Try the baby horse, it should be tender,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste anything, we killed them, we must eat them,¡± Ewan said, and the four struggled with their leathery dinner. The meat went into their stomachs, the Astylinds Cores went into the potions, and the other parts would be for Nana for her artifacts, they wasted nothing.


    ¡°Ewan, I rechecked the star map. The general direction of the egg falls on the same line, we don¡¯t have to detour,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Okay, after we get the fuel, that will be our only stop,¡± Ewan said, the anxiety lingering at the back of his mind surfacing again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Boss, she must be fine.¡±


    ¡­..


    The colorful sail sewed from their clothes and bed sheets caught the wind, and the Stormfalcon advanced as the mast groaned. For the sake of the joint¡¯s lifespan, Stefan sacrificed the speed and focused on controlling the direction, and the makeshift implementation held strong, albeit cracking when the wind picked up.


    Their next destination was the island that Nightingale marked before shutting down, Vestal. Ewan had already recorded its star map, and now Stefan was responsible for leading them to it. The invalidity of the outdated information watered the seed of hesitation in his mind, but they had to start somewhere, not to mention Vestal lay in the same general direction that Nana¡¯s star map pointed towards. So, he kept his qualms to himself, and busied with his tasks¡ªlearning the new spells, brewing the potions, modifying his heart for the Elementalist, and making the Warship habitable.


    After Stefan swept and mopped out the age-old dust and grime from the Warship, the four men worked on fixing the living quarters, the Potioneers¡¯ chambers, and the lounge-cum-canteen on the middle floor first.


    From the tail¡ªthe medical bay¡ªtowards the bow of the Warship, a long corridor parted the rooms in the living quarters, passed through the Potioneers¡¯ chambers, and its end headed into a hall, the lounge with a kitchen attached. They had ample wood from the last island, but they still focused on the essentials¡ªbeds for the rooms, chairs and table for the Potioneers¡¯ chambers and the lounge, and firewood for the kitchen.


    And after days of toiling about, when the Warship became homelike, Vestal came up on the horizon, but it arrived with a raging storm.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 28,245


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,298


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-190 Vestal

    The Stormfalcon crawled to the island¡¯s mossed but cemented dock with the settled waves, and its shattered mast and the ripped sail stayed behind with the passing storm. The squall and the turbulent waters thrashed it around but barely a dent remained of their rampage; the Warship¡¯s build was for the war after all. Even without its protective barrier and any maintenance for ages, it still held its own against the threats.


    Stefan dropped the anchor, Kidd and Lance stayed on orange alert, and Ewan disembarked to meet the Step-1 Asheva who welcomed them on the port¡ªa stocky middle-aged man holding a wooden staff of his height, and streaks of ashen-gray running through his well-combed hair and beard.


    ¡°Thank you for allowing us to dock,¡± Ewan said and shook his hand with a firm grip, and the man returned the gesture. ¡°I¡¯m Ewan Ayres.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you, I¡¯m Gustin Vern. My family owns Vestal, and I¡¯m the current mayor of the island,¡± the man said with a smile, his overgrown beard and mustache covering his lips. ¡°We haven¡¯t had any visitors for some time now, you¡¯re certainly a sight for sore eyes.¡±


    Ewan laughed. ¡°Your island was an oasis for us too. We were off on some tasks, but we ran into problems, our Rigen has emptied out now,¡± he said.


    ¡°You really have a classic there, Nightingale series, they don¡¯t make it like that anymore,¡± Gustin said, glancing at the Stormfalcon. ¡°We would be happy to provide you with supplies and fuel, but you might have to wait for some time for the latter. Our Rigen station is out of stock, and with the hub down and the situation with the sun, the resupply transport might be delayed.¡±


    ¡°May I know how long it will take?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°We received the status report yesterday only, it shouldn¡¯t take them more than a month to get here,¡± Gustin said. ¡°You¡¯re more than welcome to stay here till then, our town has the best inns to serve you all. And if you want, I can expedite your purchase of any materials you need. You can also hire laborers to repair the ship, but you might have to get a translator. Most of the people in Vestal speak a mix of common tongue and Kaaleria.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate the offer. I¡¯ll talk to my men and get back to you,¡± Ewan said. A month of delay for the Rigen was well within his limits. Because with the lack of information and its sources shut down, Vestal was his only option. Even if he wanted to hurry and reach Nana as soon as he could, mindless haste would only present him with the worst possible outcome.


    And so, the four men talked and discussed, and Vestal became their address for the next month. But just to be on the safe side, they remained on the Stormfalcon instead of finding an inn.


    ¡­..


    When the sun came out, the Kyrons hid in their homes, and Vestal quietened as if it were the zero hours. The uptime and downtime of average men flipped around, and the abrupt nights became their active part of the day.


    Ewan obliged the change and visited the businesses on their terms with the guide that Gustin left to them, dismissing the inconvenience of random hours.


    The town held the rustic look of the early development, where the blend of ancient and contemporary struck a balance. The streetlamps lit the lanes, but the alleys remained dingy, and the pairs of crimson eyes stared out of the dark. The paved road met the mud and the street stalls busied about on both. And the towering forge of the blacksmith belched fire out of its chimney with a clang of the hammer.


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    Ewan, Stefan, and Lance followed the guide around the Vestal¡¯s market, buying what they needed, the Stormfalcon¡¯s supplies being their priority, while Kidd guarded the ship. And Ewan¡¯s already wrinkled coins pouch shriveled even more¡ªthe disruption of the hub froze most of his assets, he couldn¡¯t use what he owned, and what he physically carried showed signs of emptying out.


    Gustin also offered to introduce some well named workers for the ship¡¯s repairs and maintenance, but Ewan politely refused. With the Nightingale down, the security on its core was non-existent, he couldn¡¯t let a stranger near it in its current state¡ªeven Lance had to stay away from the bridge. Thus, the burden of repairs fell on the three, mainly Stefan, whose hands dealt with metals and wood on a daily basis.


    The supplies trickled in within hours, the carriages lined up before the Stormfalcon, and they got to work. When Ewan and Kidd assisted Stefan in repairing the insides, Lance hunkered down on the top deck, and when they rested, Kidd went into the town to do what he did best¡ªto listen for the drunken whispers.


    The dawn broke the long wintry night, and the four gathered in the lounge for food as the town slipped into silence, flickering lanterns lighting up the hall.


    ¡°Insides are almost done, we just need to replace the lights and the glasses now,¡± Stefan said, slurping his stew. ¡°We should move on to the outer shell soon, and the thrusters also need some maintenance.¡±


    ¡°How big of a hole in my wallet are we talking?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°We can make do with what we have, there wouldn¡¯t be any additional cost if we do everything ourselves,¡± Stefan said.


    Ewan sighed. ¡°I have just enough for the fuel now, we can''t use that,¡± he said, and tapped his spoon. ¡°Let¡¯s cut down on expensive food, we¡¯ll only eat what cost Creliths from now on or what we hunt ourselves.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 26,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-191 Distorted Spell

    ¡°We should think about earning too, we can''t live forever on savings,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Being hunters is a good option until the hub opens again,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Or we can be mercenaries.¡±


    ¡°Boss, its better if we do that after leaving here,¡± Kidd said. ¡°This Vern family is very suspicious. Everyone in the town loves them, even the dead drunkards sing their praises.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°Never. People living at the bottom rung hate the authority regardless of the reason. Only complaints are normal, anything else is a sign of something cooking beneath,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Back in Drarith, everyone hated you guys, I even heard many curses specifically in your name.¡±


    ¡°Bad or good, this is what we have, and we need the Rigen,¡± Ewan said. ¡°As long as they don¡¯t affect us, we don¡¯t need to mind them. Just keep an eye open and be careful about who you deal with.¡±


    ¡°Boss, they were talking about building a dome over the town to block the sunlight, and the Verns agreed,¡± Kidd said. ¡°It reeks.¡±


    ¡°Sounds to me like they¡¯re trying to keep the masses happy, regardless of the cost,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Let it go, don¡¯t get involved in irrelevant matters,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Lance, have you decided yet? Will you stay here?¡±


    ¡°I worked for the Ensils since I was a child, sir. I defended them and I killed for them. I¡¯ve¡­never known anything else,¡± Lance said. ¡°I know my place, but I still want to ask you, sir¡­ Can you hire me?¡±


    ¡°You want to work for me?¡± Ewan laughed. ¡°You already heard it, didn¡¯t you. I¡¯m running low on coins; we can barely afford good dinner now.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need any payment, sir. I just need a place to belong to,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°And that can be anywhere in the world, why with us? Anyway, I¡¯m rather skeptic of people, and I¡¯m even more skeptic of free stuff, especially when it affects me,¡± Ewan said. ¡°So, my answer is no, you¡¯ll have to find your own way. And don¡¯t overstay your welcome.¡±


    ¡°I understand, sir,¡± Lance said and stared down at his bowl, stirring the stew but hardly taking a bite. The air tensed inside the lounge, and the rest of the brunch passed without words with only the spoon and the bowl clinking together.


    ¡­.


    Ewan slouched on the captain¡¯s chair in the bridge with a caged Water Rabbit hovering before him and worked the blood threads roaming around him. He once wondered about the spell¡¯s effect on lower-level Starons and Astylinds, but when he broke through to Step-1 and had the ability to test it, hectic schedule and external interferences occupied him. Sailing on Stormfalcon gave him free time, yet he lacked the trouble-free test subjects.


    The forced delay in Vestal, however, solved both his problems, and now he could sate his curiosity as much as he wanted. Water Rabbits infested the waters around the island after all, they were a dime a dozen¡ªhe could stumble upon them just by roaming off the traveled path.


    Bloodlust!


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    He emptied out his blood rune and pushed all the Blood-Anima he had into the spell circuit, triggering the blood threads he¡¯d nurtured so far. The Water Rabbit wailed when the spell targeted it, and soon, its cries turned into growls. Its eyes reddened, its ocean-colored fur stood taut, saliva dripped down its mouth, and it slammed into the cage. The impact broke its skull, blood drenched its fur and trickled down, yet its rampage continued.


    The cage¡¯s deformation gave Ewan an estimate of the rabbit¡¯s surge in strength, he calculated it against the metal¡¯s solidity. And the final result was an increase to a level beyond Step-0 but not quite at Step-1¡ªthe rabbit lingered in between. The data was insufficient to conclude the experiment though, he needed more tests to back it up.


    The spell¡¯s effect ended when he shut his diary and put it away. The rabbit slumped down, trembling, and its heaves weakened by the second. And with a flicker of its chest, it lost its breath. Ewan examined the corpse, inside out, just to be sure. But the result came out different from what he expected, the cause of its death wasn¡¯t the self-inflicted injury, it was old age¡­


    The finding furrowed his brows. He had checked the rabbit thoroughly before casting the spell. It wasn¡¯t a newborn but was far from its natural death. Yet, its end resembled the shutting down of its system¡­


    The scare upped his heartbeat, and he dropped everything to inspect Frost¡¯s and Orange¡¯s health condition. Frost remained still for the obedient kid he was, but the meticulous check-up for over an hour bored Orange, and the little monkey slipped away with Toast when Ewan focused on the results. Luckily, the assessment outcome struck a contrast with what he feared, both his Astylinds were perfectly fine.


    Comparing their results against the rabbit¡¯s demise hinted at the cause¡ªthe twisted usage of the spell. Ewan used it as it was never meant to, <Bloodlust> gave the rabbit the power it could not have, and it paid the price for it. The information was vital for the understanding of the spell, but the book didn¡¯t even touch on the possibility of it, and yet another wave of annoyance drowned him. Either his Pa never cared to test it, or he already knew the answer and took it as the obvious.


    ¡°Am I the dumb one then¡­¡± Ewan murmured.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 26,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-192 Stubborn Desperation

    ¡®His weapons led a Reaper¡¯s way¡¯, Ewan read in Perceval¡¯s book as he strolled through the corridors. Its details birthed an idea that he wanted to try, and if he succeeded, it could strengthen his Elementalist subtype.


    The assistance of artifacts often tipped the balance in a heated battle, or it saved Starons a headache in tricky situations¡ªthey shared the same level of respect as other major streams, like Potioneering. But unlike potions, they remained an external help. Even with the widest growth margin, a Staron would eventually outgrow an artifact. They all had a ceiling beyond which they couldn¡¯t accommodate their Starons anymore.


    The Reaper¡¯s path, however, faced the issue head-on and made the artifacts its core¡ªthe Reaper strengthened his weapons, and it fed him back. And Ewan wanted its essence. If he could deconstruct the system and flip it, he could create a spell that would gift him an artifact for life, an artifact that would forever grow with him¡­


    The thought enticed him, and he couldn¡¯t put it down. He had to test it within the timeframe he had in Vestal.


    ¡­.


    Ewan worked on the Warship with Kidd and Stefan, trained with his Astylinds in the training hall, brewed potions to polish his skills, studied the new spells in his arsenal, learned Kaaleria, and tested the new theory in the hours his other tasks left him. His reliance on sleep had already diminished, and with the sun as he was, the concept of days and nights blurred. A chug of the vigor potion removed what little fatigue he built up, and his machine pumped nonstop.


    ¡°Boss.¡± Kidd interrupted him in the training hall when he put down his diary, finishing his notes on the spells he practiced. ¡°Do you want to take a rest?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ewan asked back.


    ¡°Nothing¡­well¡­something did happen.¡± Kidd tittered and scratched his head.


    Ewan sighed. ¡°What trouble did you guys brew now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not us this time, its Lance,¡± Kidd said. ¡°He seems to have made his decision.¡±


    ¡°Is he going to stay in Vestal?¡± Ewan asked, walking out with Kidd and up to the top deck. ¡°Lostrax is not far from here, it¡¯s a good place for him to settle.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­you should see for yourself,¡± Kidd said, and led him to the edge, where the port was within his view.


    The night brought the town to life, the market lit up with clamors, and the port pulled a crowd of workers, going about their jobs. Most of them worked in the shipyard to the side, while some swept the ground. And beside the cemented docks where the Stormfalcon anchored, on the damp area of soil and grass, Lance sat in his casual gear facing the town, a makeshift signboard stabbed in the earth beside him.


    ¡®Please hire me, sir!¡¯ It read on the Stormfalcon¡¯s side with a big exclamation mark.


    ¡°¡®Off limits¡¯ is written on the other side. He even scared away the kids who were sneaking in to see our ship,¡± Kidd said. ¡°His ass is really stubborn, Boss.¡±


    Ewan laughed, and soon his chuckles turned into guffaws. The amusement never ended with these three, one was worse than the other, they painted his days in different colors. And even with the emotional coercion of his words and the intangible pressure his public display would bring him, Ewan couldn¡¯t find any distaste for his actions. All he saw was a desperate man hanging by a thread and struggling to keep his will intact.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.Logic didn¡¯t agree with him, Lance didn¡¯t have to stay with them. He could find his life anywhere else, anywhere that accepted him with open arms. And yet, Ewan¡¯s rejection would perhaps crush the man.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Stefan joined them on the top deck and asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s making a scene,¡± Kidd said and pointed at Lance who was struggling with the mosquitoes, even though his passive defense could prevent their bites.


    Ewan took a deep breath after the hearty laughter and rubbed his teary eyes with a chuckle or two escaping him. ¡°Tell him to go hunt, we¡¯ll have rabbits for dinner,¡± he said and walked away.


    ¡­.


    They sat around the wooden dining table in the lounge again, tearing the rabbit¡¯s smoky meat off the bones and licking the fatty juices mingled with the spices and a squeeze of lemon¡ªthe hint of char added another dimension. A sharp but sweet ale went on the side to cut the richness, and they feasted to their hearts¡¯ content inside the quietude and the safety of the Warship.


    ¡°Do you know most Vestal people can''t read common tongue? They don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve written on your board,¡± Ewan said, ripping off another leg along with the thigh, and chomped away. ¡°You¡¯ll just attract them more with your antics.¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know Kaaleria, sir. And I didn¡¯t have anything else to do, so I thought I should at least guard the ship,¡± Lance said, his head down and buried in his food as he gnawed on the bones.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll agree if you do this?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°Emotional coercion and public pressure can trigger the wrong response. You didn¡¯t think about that?¡±


    ¡°I¡­couldn¡¯t think of anything else,¡± Lance said. ¡°I am sorry, sir, if I caused you any trouble. I will remove the signboard right away.¡±


    ¡°You already did the damage you could do,¡± Ewan said. ¡°How will you repay for that?¡±


    ¡°Anything you ask for, sir, I will do it,¡± Lance said and looked up at him.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you aiming for that? Your cunning runs really deep,¡± Kidd said, commenting with his mouth full and spitting all over Stefan who sat in front.


    ¡°I really wasn¡¯t¡­I¡¯m not smart enough to think that far,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Schemes aren¡¯t bad, it¡¯s a necessary tool for survival. Unless you can crush anything and everything with sheer force, you need to know your way around plots and ploys,¡± Ewan said, wiping his hand and mouth with the towel. ¡°Anyway, I do need your help with something. For the foreseeable days, become my guinea pig.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 26,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-193 Lance

    [Lance]


    He was a servant and an adversary his whole life, subservience and ferocity blended together in him. ¡®Don¡¯t think, only follow¡¯, the adults taught him since he was a child and ingrained the idea deep in his soul. They were his family in his adolescence but became his masters in his adulthood, and his free spirit changed with it. The fierce rivalry for status, just for standing above even if it was the bottom rung, turned ¡®comrades¡¯ into potential enemies. So, he never had peers, and he never shared a dining table with anyone, until he came to this Warship.


    Schemes weren¡¯t his forte, far from it actually, and his intentions remained pure when he picked up that signboard and wrote the words, his desperation fueling his actions. Nonetheless, he was happy the situation took this turn, even though it made him an experimental subject on the frigid metal bed.


    ¡°I just need some samples today, it won''t be long,¡± Ewan said and approached him with his razor-sharp tools that gleamed under the lantern.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready, sir,¡± Lance said, squeezing his eyes shut and clenching his fist.


    ¡°Loosen up, will you, it won''t hurt,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Needles, sir¡­,¡± Lance said and gulped.


    ¡°Can you be any more cliched? Just think of happy stuff,¡± Ewan said.


    Happy stuff¡­happy stuff¡­ All that came to his mind was the day of the campfire on that island and working with the three to build beds and chairs for the Stormfalcon, he didn¡¯t force his smiles these days.


    A touch of frosty metal caressed his skin when his thoughts took him away, and with a sharp and flinching cut, his blood came out.


    ¡°Sir, I felt that¡­,¡± he said.


    ¡°Almost done. You were drenched in blood last time I saw you in Drarith, this much is nothing for you,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°But the needles, sir¡­¡±


    ¡°Have you practiced the Reaper¡¯s method?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I did, sir, but only a little,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Any difference?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir, I felt a sticky layer of light covering my skin.¡±


    ¡°That should be the passive defense I talked about,¡± Ewan said, his hand movements ringing his metal tools one after another. ¡°What element did you attract?¡±


    ¡°Element, sir? I¡¯m not sure¡­,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°When you were practicing, what color did your weapons attract?¡±


    ¡°Red, sir.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the blood element, keep it in mind,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°If you say sir with one more sentence, I¡¯ll jam the needle in your eye.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, si-¡­¡±


    ¡­.


    [Ewan]


    Ewan slouched on the captain¡¯s high-backed armchair again and summarized his findings from Lance¡¯s test results, scratching out the dead ends and branching into new ideas. He had yet to delve deep into the experiment, many tests remained before he could get a solid conclusion, but so far, the premise was unpromising. His intention for the positive outcome was to use it on his Spellbook and turn it into an artifact connected to his life. Yet the results dimmed the light on the path forward, the sand of hope slipped away from his fist, and his frustration built up.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m back,¡± Kidd entered the bridge and said, sprawling sideways on one of the operator chairs.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Ewan asked, putting his diary away and rubbing the bridge of his nose.


    ¡°They¡¯re really out of Rigen, that longbeard was telling the truth,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°What about the backup?¡±


    ¡°One agreed to be the mediator, but he asked for a steep price.¡±


    ¡°How steep?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Market price is twenty-five Novas right now, he asked for seventy-five, including the black-market commission.¡±


    ¡°Triple¡­¡± Ewan sighed, and his headache worsened. ¡°Tell him we¡¯ll negotiate the price first. Ask him to arrange a meeting with the seller.¡±


    The trickle of Rigen in its veins would at least bring Nightingale back to life and give Ewan better control over the Warship. With no protective shield and the dead thrusters, the metal-mammoth was a burden, and they were sitting ducks. If worst came to worst, they couldn¡¯t run away unless they abandoned the Warship. So, even if the issue of the delay was out of his hands, he still intended to skirt around it as much as he could¡ªbeing passive never agreed with him.


    ¡°Boss, what about the Verns?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re not a concern, don¡¯t mind them,¡± Ewan said. If the Verns signed off on the shady deals in the black market, there was no point in giving them a heads up, they would already know.


    If they opposed each other, Ewan¡¯s deal could become a bait in their internal clash if he dragged them in.


    And neutrality was never an option as it would only announce incompetency on their part for not taking a bite of the fatty fish. Either way, he would keep the Verns out of his business. After all, he wasn¡¯t trying to earn their favor, his affairs were none of their concern.


    ¡°I also saw an old acquaintance in the town,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Church of smiles, they were still at it. The sun¡¯s doing is a punishment for not smiling it seems.¡±


    Ewan clicked his tongue. ¡°Not again.¡± He groaned. ¡°Tell Stefan and Lance to stay away too, don¡¯t get involved in this mess,¡± he said. ¡°The moment we get our Rigen, we¡¯re out of here.¡±


    ¡°How much are we buying Boss?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°What we can afford. If they don¡¯t decrease the price, we can''t buy even half the tank. But I doubt they¡¯ll have that much in stock. Hopefully, we can get a few kiloliters at least.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 26,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-194 Negotiation

    The moons¡¯ advent after days and nights of staying in the shadow of the sun stirred the Morinfair, and the ocean rose up in a torrent to meet its mate. The towering waves swayed the anchored Stormfalcon, the exceptional high tides flooded the port. The onslaught of nature¡¯s wrath, from the sun¡¯s torment to the ocean¡¯s rage had the Kyrons shivering in their homes. Yet, tonight became the perfect night for Ewan¡¯s clandestine meeting.


    He sat on the edge of the Stormfalcon and dropped the crystal ball into the turbulent waters, sinking it with his Ryvia towards the decided point. The extent of the secrecy gave him some hope for the authenticity of the deal. Even if the negotiations failed on his part and he paid the premium, he could at least get the unadulterated class-A Rigen. But nevertheless, the modified version of his <Identify> spell was ready to go¡ªhe couldn¡¯t let unidentified substance enter his Warship¡¯s core when its own scanning and security systems were dead.


    ¡°Feels like years since I last saw the moons, I was beginning to miss them,¡± Kidd said, gazing at the starry sky while keeping guard on one edge, his legs dangling down. Walyn phased in beside him, his spectral form denser than before and visible to others, and he lay down to watch the moons. Though barely and for a few moments, their progress allowed them to separate.


    ¡°The recent events make me feel like the world is coming to an end,¡± Stefan said, leaning on the wall by the staircase. ¡°And to think the cause of it all was something related to us.¡±


    ¡°You guys still haven¡¯t told me everything,¡± Lance said, sitting in the middle of the top deck with his scythe chained with the shield hovering before him. ¡°What happened back then?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still a guinea pig, graduate from that first,¡± Kidd said, laughing.


    ¡°G-Guinea pig.¡± Walyn repeated and cracked up, his ghostly cackles complementing the coincidental howls of the wolves.


    ¡°They also missed the moons,¡± Stefan said with a smile.


    ¡°Quiet now, it¡¯s starting. Be on guard and alert me if you see anything amiss,¡± Ewan said and shushed them down.


    Ice Daggers!


    The air around the Warship misted up, and the wet surfaces crusted with a thin layer of frost when dozens of ice daggers fashioned around him. The spell was for his Ryvia¡¯s sake, but also for just in case the meeting forged the worst outcome possible.


    And with a deep breath that stirred the fog, he touched his crystal ball to another at the dark depth of the ocean.


    ¡°Good evening. I presume you don¡¯t want any introductions, so let¡¯s proceed with the matter.¡± A grating voice came from the opposite crystal ball and passed to his as it glowed with a soft pearly halo, yet the surroundings retained its pin-drop silence.


    ¡°Price negotiation for your Rigen,¡± Ewan said, his crystal ball flickering with his words, and passed it to the other side.


    ¡°There will be none,¡± the voice said. ¡°The price is final; you can buy it if you want.¡±


    ¡°Not at that price, I won''t. Drop it and I¡¯ll bring you good business, I can consume your stock,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Unless you¡¯re exporting it away, I don¡¯t see any source lining up to buy your product.¡±


    The crystal ball didn¡¯t light up and a minute ticked by. The school of fish circled around them, the predators of the ocean awaited their prey with deathly patience, and a curious baby octopus poked at the balls, changing its hues as it drifted about. ¡°How much do you want?¡± the voice finally asked, and the flicker scared the little octopus away.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°How much can you sell?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°We have a stock of twenty kiloliters.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take it all, at thirty-five Novas per kiloliter, elements of my choice,¡± Ewan said, a slight smile tugging at his lips. As long as they weren¡¯t adamant about the seventy-five, he could yank them down to a decent number. His coin pouch would still shrink much more than the market price, but at least it wouldn¡¯t be a premium of triple.


    ¡°Too little, we can do seventy at best,¡± the voice said.


    ¡°Forty, I won''t go any higher,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Sixty-five, we won''t go any lower, buy it or not.¡±


    ¡°Forty-five, my last price. If you don¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll just wait a month for the transport.¡±


    ¡°Sixty, that¡¯s the final price, we¡¯re not profiting anything with that,¡± the voice said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take the middle ground, neither here nor there. Shake hands on fifty, that¡¯s double the market price, I really won''t go any higher,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°No, can''t do fifty, let¡¯s finalize at fifty-five.¡±


    ¡°Well, good luck with your business then. I won''t buy it, but I¡¯m sure others will,¡± Ewan said, and his crystal ball broke away, floating up to the Stormfalcon. The opposite crystal ball raced after his after a momentary pause, smashing anything that came in its way, and they crashed together into a coral. When the stirred cloud of mud settled down, only a sapped voice came with the pearly flicker.


    ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll do fifty. You will buy all twenty kiloliters, and payment will be at the time of delivery.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Ewan said. ¡°When can you deliver?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, at the same time if its night. If not, we¡¯ll contact you again whenever the sun goes down.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting, and I hope you don¡¯t play any tricks with the product. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to create an enemy out of a simple business deal.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, its class-A, you¡¯ll be free to confirm it yourself.¡±


    The crystal ball separated with the last sentence and the negotiation meeting came to an end, leaving a fruitful conclusion for Ewan.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 26,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-195 Rigen

    The homely ambience of the lounge made it where the four gathered often. The angled arrangement of the dining area with the sofas and the recliners, the crackling wood accompanying the warmth of the fireplace, the snowy-stoned walls with curved corners, the speckled ivory kitchen counter, and the frosted glass doors and cabinets¡ªeven though the Stormfalcon was for war, the designers didn¡¯t relent in creating a contrast with the cold metal shell.


    And today too, the cozy and the mellow tone of the hall laced with the dim flickers of the lanterns dragged them here.


    ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t we waiting a month?¡± Kidd asked as they all slouched on the repaired sofas.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet,¡± Ewan said, leaning back and rubbing his forehead with his eyes closed. ¡°Stefan, can you estimate the distance from the star map?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be hard to pinpoint, but I can take an educated guess,¡± Stefan said. ¡°It should come to about two hundred to three hundred megameters.¡±


    ¡°The conservative estimate for the Nightingale series¡¯ fuel distance is about hundred and eighty megameters per kiloliter,¡± Ewan said. ¡°So, even if your guess misses by a few, as long as it¡¯s within the range of hundred or two hundred over, we can make do with just a few kiloliters of Rigen.¡±


    ¡°If we keep the Warship on the water and sail with the lowest thrust instead, we should be able to extend the fuel distance,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°But that will take longer,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°My main concern is the accuracy of Nana¡¯s star map. It wouldn¡¯t be an issue under normal circumstances, but the hub is down now, and I can''t talk to her,¡± Ewan said and rubbed his face with a deep breath, struggling to quell the dreadful anxiety that was rearing its head. It became stronger by the day and tormented him every second he stayed awake.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go at full speed then. Vestal can''t be the only Rigen station in the area, we can refuel on the way,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°But if we don¡¯t find any or if they¡¯re also out of Rigen, it will just delay us more,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Is there any guarantee that Vestal will get the Rigen supply after a month?¡± Lance also chipped in.


    ¡°Locals have no say in the management of the Rigen station, it¡¯s all handled by the Ashevagord. But with the situation as it is, we can''t be sure of anything,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And a naked treasure is at their doorsteps, helpless and defenseless, there¡¯s no way the Stormfalcon won''t tempt the Verns."


    ¡°So, if we leave earlier, we might get stranded somewhere. And if we wait for the transport, we might not even get the fuel and the Verns will attack us,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Which is better?¡±


    ¡°Neither,¡± Lance murmured.


    ¡°If the Rigen from the black market has no problem, then let¡¯s leave early. We don¡¯t have to announce it, we¡¯ll just slip away the moment we get the fuel and Nightingale wakes up,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We¡¯ll sail on the ocean with the lowest thrust until we get to another Rigen station. And if there¡¯s none or they¡¯re also out of stock, we¡¯ll decide then whether to fly at max speed or continue to sail.¡±


    ¡°Why do I feel like we¡¯ll get attacked the moment we try to leave?¡± Stefan muttered.


    ¡°Shut your black tongue!¡± Kidd shouted.


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    ¡­..


    The stars faded-in when the four-hours day ended, but the irregular rhythm lost the moons again, and the cloak of blackness blanketed the night. The frequent fluctuations of Frosthelm and Flamecrest killed the crickets, the cicadas hushed their songs, and the cycle of life distorted in the wild.


    Luckily for Ewan though, the promised time met the favor of the sun, and the delivery news arrived at the Stormfalcon when clock marked the twenty-fourth hour since their talks.


    ¡°We are ready.¡± The voice message echoed from the crystal ball as Ewan floated near the filler hole. The other three stayed on the top deck, keeping an eye on the town. ¡°Break this crystal ball when you¡¯ve connected the pipeline, we¡¯ll start pumping. When it¡¯s done, disconnect and throw the coin pouch inside the pipe. A thousand Novas, I hope you counted the coins well.¡±


    An onyx-black pipe slithered out of depth of the ocean and curved to meet Ewan at the filler, water sliding off its wavy surface without leaving any wet patch behind. The giant snake shaded his sky, its sealed mouth large enough to devour all four of them at once, and it oozed with a hint of sweet and alluring aroma.


    Ewan dragged it down with his Ryvia, and the tamed snake obeyed. Before connecting it to the filler hole though, he cast the modified version of <Identify>, a screen type structure, and pasted it on the pipe¡¯s mouth with a seed of his Ryvia. Anything that traveled the pipe would now pass through the screen, and his spell would feed him back all its information. His database contained Rigen¡¯s information, so a ping with wrong information or with no information meant an issue with product, and he could trigger his Ryvia seed to instantly block the flow.


    ¡°I¡¯m connecting now, stay alert,¡± Ewan said to the other three and fitted the pipe to the filler, rotating it to click the locks. There was no leak, there was no gap. After several checks, he crushed the crystal ball, and its jagged shards fell into the ocean. And with a tremor in the pipe, a stream of amber Rigen trickled in which soon turned into a gushing flood.


    [Item Name: Rigen (Class-A)]


    [Item Description: Strings of Fire-Anima chained together in a way that converts it into liquid state. Highly volatile, long-term contact with air is advised against.]


    [Remark 1: Game changer!]


    [Remark 2: The baby of Ashevagord, better not mess with it.]


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 26,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-196 Boot Up

    The storming influx of Rigen into the Stormfalcon¡¯s sub-fuel tank tested the limits of Ewan¡¯s reflexes. His cognition overclocked as the river of pings surged in with an overload of information. He went through every instance and fell into a rhythm of matching the incoming data against a verified bit. And until the rush settled down, and the flood of Rigen deflated into a dying trickle, he only received positive feedback¡ªthe fuel had no problem, and the purity was class-A.


    When the fill-up ended, Ewan unlocked the pipe and threw in the pouch plumped with Novas coins before letting it go. The deal ended well, the Stormfalcon fed a mouthful, and it was time to continue the journey.


    ¡°Stefan, stay in the standby room,¡± Ewan said, closing the filler hole and floating up to the top deck. ¡°Kidd, Lance, you two stay here and keep an eye out. I¡¯ll go start the thrusters.¡±


    ¡­


    Nightingale booted up with the push of the red button, and the injection of Rigen in its veins brought the Warship back to life. The peripherals woke up and fed the core back, the corridors and the halls lit up with bright snowy light, the thrusters growled and hissed with a slight groan hidden beneath, and her sweet voice echoed inside the bridge.


    ¡°Good morning, Sir Ewan,¡± Nightingale said.


    ¡°Morning.¡± Ewan smiled. ¡°Do a thorough scan of the ship, prioritize the vital sections, and confirm the authenticity of Rigen,¡± he said in fluent Kaaleria, a fruit of his rigorous study of the language.


    ¡°Affirmative, sir. Gathering data, please wait,¡± she said, and the screen flashed with random bits of information.


    ¡°Thrusters module, damage at 5%, flight feasible at maximum thrust. Defense module, damage at 27%, initiation possible. Ryvia module, damage at 98%, system shut down to prevent collapse. Peripherals module, no damage, running at maximum capacity. Rigen authentication, class-A confirmed, no issue found with the fuel. Stormfalcon is ready for flight, sir.¡±


    ¡°Pull up the anchors, start the thrusters at its lowest, and keep on the waters.¡± Ewan leaned on the captain¡¯s chair and ordered.


    The Warship tremored, and with blaring clangs of the metal and splashing waves of the ocean, the anchors zipped back up. The tiny thrusters lining the surface of the Stormfalcon came alive and altered its direction with small bursts. And the large thrusters on its sides and at the back roared with orange flames.


    ¡°Ewan!!!¡± Stefan yelled from the standby room, his cracked echo colliding within the metal corridor.


    ¡°I knew you had a black tongue, you fucker!!¡± Kidd hollered on the top deck.


    ¡°Sir!¡± Lance shouted. ¡°We have guests!¡±


    ¡°Defensive shield on standby, lock the bottom hatch, and maintain speed,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Affirmative, Sir Ewan.¡± Her fading voice lingered behind him as he bolted through the corridor and out to the top deck, his gust blowing Stefan back, and hovered above the Stormfalcon.


    Four wooden ships emerged from both sides of the island, their unfurled sails catching the wind towards the Warship, hoisting the flag of the Vern family, a curved swordfish insignia. Armed men crowded their decks, hooting and cheering with their blades unsheathed, lusting for blood. Some fluctuated the ¡®Spirit¡¯ wave of Step-0 Starons, some were Kyrons, while the rest bore the embodiment of the church of smiles¡ªthe blonde armor and the sword with the crest of two slanted laughing-masks. They were the Paladins.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°You¡¯ve broken our law,¡± Gustin said in a deep voice, floating high above the town as he glared at them. ¡°Any deal with the black market is a crime punishable by our reign. Give up resistance and you will receive leniency.¡±


    ¡°The defense module is damaged, Gustin. Be mindful of your attacks if you want an intact Warship,¡± Ewan said and let his Astylinds out. Frost took position in the middle of the top deck for support, Lilly settled on his shoulder, and Orange hovered beside Ewan.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to test my new skill, now I can,¡± Kidd said and held the Obsidian Dagger in front of him. He stared at it for a breath then ripped his right hand away with a grunt, and a pale ghostly dagger appeared in it, a mirror image of the Obsidian Dagger.


    ¡°You changed your tune really quickly,¡± Lance said and readied the violet-bladed scythe, the chain jingling against the shield.


    ¡°I will handle long range; you guys take care of the melee. Let them connect the ladders if they want to, but don¡¯t let them on board,¡± Ewan said, taking out the Rainwarden staff. ¡°Attack to kill, show no mercy. One dead enemy is one less enemy.¡±


    ¡°Aye-aye, captain!¡± Kidd hollered.


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Lance yelled.


    And the battle began with his Astylinds¡¯ roar.


    Elemental Cloak!


    Ewan aimed his staff and emptied all his runes with four casts of the spell on Orange, Frost, Kidd, and Lance before the ships inched in, biting the coins to recover his Anima.


    Orange gained a vibrant carroty cloak on him, flickering with embers; Frost had a snowy cloak, frigid mist thickening around him; a charcoal cloak enveloped Kidd, dimming his vicinity; and a coral cloak defended Lance, droplets of blood floating about.


    Gustin swung his staff, and with distortions around him, hurled a crowd of earth bolts at Ewan. The spread of the spell could mean trouble, so Ewan flew ahead, away from the Warship, and timed his response.


    Repulse!


    He cast when the earth bolts reached him, and the shockwave of Ryvia crushed the incoming projectiles.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 2.3 | Ice ¨C 2.3 | Blood ¨C 2.3 | Mystic: 2.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-197 Respite

    The four ships closed in, their hollers and the hoots blaring, and hooked the ladders to four sides of the Stormfalcon by the time Gustin showered them with another rain of earth bolts. Ewan shuttled around and cast <Repulse> to fend off the attack, and the Warship remained intact apart from the scratches, while his Astylinds and his two men chose their ladders.


    ¡°You already have your Rigen. Why don¡¯t you fly away?¡± Gustin asked, slamming the tail of his staff in the air, and with a strained gesture, ripped up a spiked boulder from the ground below. The onlookers scuttled away, screaming.


    ¡°Because you are not a threat to us,¡± Ewan said, pulling back and biting more coins. His Anima in all four runes recovered to some extent; they were enough for him to participate in the battle with elemental spells now.


    ¡°You seem like you¡¯re already out of breath though,¡± Gustin said and launched the gigantic boulder towards Ewan as it cracked the air behind.


    ¡°Touch¨¦,¡± Ewan said, and focused his Ryvia on the incoming boulder, latching onto it when it came in his range, sweat drenching his forehead and hair. ¡°I might lose against you in Anima accumulation.¡±


    He hunkered down, bolted himself in his position with a strand of his Ryvia, and yanked the spiked boulder with a growl. ¡°But my Ryvia is stronger than yours!¡±


    His tug strengthened the giant projectile¡¯s momentum, but with him as the focal point, the boulder curved towards one of the four ships. Barely a few screams echoed before it crushed the protective shield and pulverized the ship, and the ocean waves exploded.


    ¡°Boss! That was mine!¡± Kidd yelled, springing back from the cracking ladder as the shattered ship sunk with the mangled corpses. Lance laughed and slashed his scythe rather clumsily, yet chopped a few heads off, managing a ship on his own. The cloaks from the <Elemental Cloak> became their enemies¡¯ pain, it leveled the playing fields and kept all the attacks away as they rampaged.


    ¡°Shut up! Choose another!¡± Ewan shouted, panting as his throat burned.


    Kidd grumbled and mumbled some complaints and switched to the crowd on another ship that Frost kept at bay, much to the little imp¡¯s annoyance. The ever-so sensible Frost backed off to the support position though, in view of the current situation, but not before baring his fangs.


    ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to shaved ice, the red sweet one,¡± Kidd laughed and said, dashing down the ladder with a burst of icicles from Frost that cleared his way. He followed the spell and hurled his ghostly dagger, skewering an enemy¡¯s forehead, and jumped behind the enemy lines. He dodged, he dove, he somersaulted around, and his nimble dagger sliced the throats with each cut, shanked their exposed guts, and stabbed their hearts. Walyn emerged from time to time with a spectral yet tangible set of daggers and defended his back, finishing some enemies that survived Kidd.


    When they mowed through the batch of Kyrons, the Paladins and the Step-0 Starons took the stage, and finally, Kidd¡¯s momentum came to a screeching halt. Lance, on the other ship, also faced the same issue, and the onslaught of the enemies¡¯ attacks forced him back to the ladder even with the elemental defense.


    The difference in the evolutionary level propelled Orange, however, and he smashed whoever stood in his way into a fleshy mess, a river of blood drenching his path.


    Stigma: Negative!


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


    Blood Stasis!


    Ewan fed his staff some blood element Novas coins and aimed it towards the ships, casting the Step-0 version of the spells while dodging the earth ropes trying to entangle him.


    Blood-red threads swam around on the decks, and the wood adopted a crimson tint. The unmarked in the area declined, became muddled, and only watched as the attacks took their lives. Kidd and Lance pushed back again and dropped their weakened enemies with each slash.


    The Stormfalcon pulled away from Vestal as the battle regained a new heat, leaving a trail of corpses and wreckage, and the island shrank behind. The three ships kept up with the Warship, the blood-dripping ladders remained. Yet Gustin stayed behind, still hovering above the town but breathing fire. The stretching distance dimmed his spells before they reached Ewan, and soon, the gap overwhelmed his range. And the attacks halted.


    When Gustin couldn¡¯t touch the Warship, the three ships also blared the sirens of retreat. The men came together to push Kidd and Lance back, and regardless of how the two slayed them, the wall of meat shoved them off board. The two plunged into the water, leaving behind a lingering scream for Ewan. The third ship, though, didn¡¯t have the leeway anymore, for Orange sat on a hill of the dead. His massacre left not a single enemy on the ship to retreat.


    ¡°This seems too weak of a response,¡± Ewan murmured as he pulled the gasping Lance and Kidd out of the rough ocean and plopped them onto the top deck. The two ships left them and turned back to Vestal while the last one drifted away from the Stormfalcon when Orange came back, without a life to steer its direction.


    ¡°Are we done, Boss?¡± Kidd asked, heaving for air, and drenched in diluted but dried blood. Some were his, while the rest belonged to his kill.


    ¡°Probably not,¡± Ewan said, looking around. Dense mist kissed the ocean water and smothered the visibility. His Ryvia could see more than his eyes in this situation, and it limited his response. If only the Ryvia module of the Warship was intact¡­


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 8.3 | Ice ¨C 10.1 | Blood ¨C 7.6 | Mystic: 10.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-198 Second Wave

    ¡°I¡¯m ready for another, sir,¡± Lance said, leaning on his shield to stand up and gripping his scythe, but his trembling legs gave him away. Fatigue built up and weighed all of them down.


    Rekindle!


    Ewan cast the spell on them just in case his hunch came true and gulped a vigor potion himself. The Rainwarden also needed a recharge of coins, and his runes ran empty. Thus, he sat down to recover and guzzled the Anima. Iris too got to work and healed their wounds, major and minor, wrapping a blood-element coin with her roots. And Frost kept guard.


    The roars of the thrusters and the howling waves against Stormfalcon were all that remained; they rested in the loud silence. The thick fog hindered their way, they traveled blind, and before Ewan¡¯s Ryvia could touch the enemy¡¯s tail, silhouettes of five ships emerged ahead. The distance closed, Ewan and the others prepared again, and the image cleared up.


    The ships bore the mirrored insignia of the Verns¡¯ swordfish, this curved the other way, and a Step-1 Staron hovered in the air, smiling at them.


    ¡°Welcome to my side, it¡¯s my turn now,¡± the man said.


    A large blade of wind welcomed the Stormfalcon with his words, and the battle reignited. Ewan hurled a few fireballs at the incoming windblade, and the two spells killed each other, while the ships surrounded them, readying the ladders.


    Elemental Rain: Ice!


    He aimed and cast the spell of the staff, loaded with ice-element coins, and rained a torrent of icicles on the ships to halt their movements. The temperature plunged; the mist thickened. And the shimmering cloud above poured a barrage of frosted icicles on the target, shattering the protective shield, maiming the men, and ripping the sails.


    ¡°Nightingale, open the defense shield and increase the thrust by a level,¡± Ewan commanded from the top deck, recharging the staff with coins again. ¡°We¡¯re going through.¡± Even though he could contain the man floating in the air, five ships were too much for his men for now¡ªOrange and Frost alone could level the field, but the battle against the numbers would risk damage to the Warship. They had to run.


    ¡°Affirmative, sir,¡± her voice came from below.


    An amber-tinted protective shield shrouded the Warship, flickering and pulsating with Fire-Anima dancing around. The vision distorted with the shield¡¯s weak and strong pulses. But it soon stabilized and held strong, and the blurred view sharpened. The thrusters also howled louder, and with a jerk, Stormfalcon cleaved the wind towards the enemy ships.


    A tornado brewed in their path, hauling water from the ocean, and a squad of windblades surrounded the twister when the man finished his cast. Ewan clicked his tongue and gripped his staff with a deep breath.


    Coldwave!


    The circuit finalized with his last stroke and glimmered a snowy halo as he cast. The spell blasted a frigid shockwave in the direction he aimed at, and everything in its path froze and cracked. The ocean turned into ice, shattering against Stormfalcon; the twister seized up with ice shards, creaking, and imploded within a second; and a ship¡¯s stern that caught the spell¡¯s touch splintered into snow.


    ¡°Turn right ten degrees,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Get ready for the collision.¡±


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Affirmative, sir,¡± Nightingale said. And the others on the Warship held on to whatever they could.


    Before the ship without a stern could regain its bearing or sink, the Stormfalcon rammed its hull. The wood exploded, the mast fractured, and the ship split into two, barely hanging by a few connecting ropes and the sails. And amidst the deathly screams, it dragged the shattered ship for a few breaths then left it behind for the fish.


    ¡°Chase!¡± The Step-1 Staron yelled from behind as he cast a salvo of exploding wind balls.


    ¡°Maintain the speed,¡± Ewan said, and used <Repulse> and <Fireball> to destroy all projectiles.


    The ships¡¯ sails caught wind and pursued them as the men hooted and yelled, but Stormfalcon left them in its settling frothy trail. Soon, not even the raging man¡¯s threats reached them anymore. And some quiet and peace dawned on the Warship.


    ¡°Did it finally end?¡± Stefan peeked out from the gap in the door and asked. ¡°They won''t come back, right?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak!¡± Kidd screamed from where he sprawled. ¡°You have a black tongue, don¡¯t speak!¡±


    ¡­.


    Their nerves kept taut for hours before the mist cleared up and the open Morinfair of the night lay before them. Swaying waters filled the end of their sight, not even a shadow of a ship smeared that image. So, the others relaxed, and Ewan too let go and collapsed on the top deck, a wave of drowsiness hitting him.


    ¡°Nightingale, reduce the thrust level to the lowest and maintain the defense shield,¡± he said, rubbing his tired eyes.


    ¡°Affirmative, sir.¡±


    ¡°Ewan, where are we heading to?¡± Stefan came out and asked, bringing them glasses of iced water.


    ¡°If there¡¯s another Rigen station on our way, we can make a stop and refill,¡± Ewan said and downed the chilled water. ¡°Let¡¯s check the map in the bridge.¡±


    ¡°Boss, what if they attack us again?¡± Kidd asked and drank his share.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to fight again, sir!¡± Lance hollered, spread on the ground.


    ¡°Say that when you can lift your arms,¡± Kidd quipped.


    ¡°I¡¯m just not used to this weapon style, it took more out of me than I thought,¡± Lance said. ¡°I¡¯ll increase my practice time; I¡¯ll master it in days.¡±


    ¡°Stormfalcon is not defenseless anymore,¡± Ewan said. ¡°As long as we don¡¯t mention its damages or Rigen level, they won''t know. And they won''t risk attacking an active Warship¡­I think¡­maybe¡­I hope¡­¡±


    ¡°Boss¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my first time owning a Warship too! How would I know?¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-199 Alasec

    ¡°Sir, can I also enter now?¡± Lance asked, halting at the door of the bridge, his fist clenched, while the others strolled their way in.


    Ewan chuckled and plopped on the captain¡¯s chair, leaning on the high-back. ¡°Come, sit,¡± he said. The side screens flickered with an array of data. Bits of feedback pinging in from the whole ship became a numerical output, and they refreshed every second. Yet, the lack of a working Ryvia module only created static noise on the main display. The Stormfalcon sailed blind.


    ¡°You¡¯re our guinea pig, you¡¯ve barely qualified to enter now,¡± Kidd said, reclining on an operator¡¯s chair, swiveling around.


    Ewan slapped his head with his Ryvia. ¡°He¡¯s my guinea pig, not ours,¡± he said.


    ¡°I also want one,¡± Kidd grumbled, fixing his messed-up hair.


    ¡°Nightingale, bring up the map of Morinfair,¡± Ewan said, keeping his Ryvia stretched beyond the ship to at least know if and when an obstacle popped up.


    The static on the main screen shrunk to a corner and a large but dead map accepted the space.


    ¡°Stefan, take over,¡± Ewan said, rocking his chair.


    ¡°This inch of land running along this side is the eastern coast of Lostrax,¡± Stefan said, reaching out and pointing towards the leftmost side of the main screen, where a thin strip of land met the cerulean ocean. ¡°Drarith is somewhere around here.¡± He circled an area on the lower part. ¡°Ewan, can we have her focus on this part?¡±


    ¡°Nightingale, zoom in on the left side,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And record these three¡¯s details, you can take their orders.¡± The highest authority was his, but it would become a hassle if he was the only one who could manage Nightingale, on a daily basis or in an emergency. The four lived together after all, the Warship was their home. Even Lance was making his place among them, and Ewan warmed up to his presence, though he still hadn¡¯t decided whether to ¡®hire¡¯ him long term.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Nightingale replied.


    ¡°Can I give her orders too, Boss?¡± Kidd straightened up, and his eyes widened and glittered.


    ¡°Make that two,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Affirmative, sir.¡±


    ¡°Boss! No!¡±


    ¡°Sir, am I also included?¡± Lance asked, sitting at the edge of his chair.


    ¡°Do you want me to make it one then?¡± Ewan clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    ¡°Does it mean you will hire me, sir?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°No.¡± Ewan cut him off, and Lance deflated. ¡°Stefan, continue,¡± he said.


    Stefan cleared his throat and focused on the zoomed-in map again. ¡°We moved eastward from Drarith, and according to the stars, we should be around here,¡± he said and circled a small distance away from the Lostrax Continent.


    ¡°That small dot is Vestal?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°It is,¡± Stefan said. ¡°From here, we¡¯re moving east again, so the next island we¡¯ll encounter on the way is¡­.¡± He frowned and stopped on a speckle as he was moving his hand along the map.


    ¡°What, that island has a problem?¡± Kidd asked.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be any island here,¡± Stefan said. ¡°I¡¯ve passed this area several times when I was working on a ship before. We never saw any island here.¡±


    ¡°Is that ¡®the ocean remembers¡¯ thing?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°The map is outdated but it¡¯s not old enough to record something from the planet¡¯s time. An island wouldn¡¯t vanish into thin air for no reason.¡±


    ¡°We had our ways to find the islands that hide from plain sight,¡± Stefan said. ¡°Ocean reacts differently when near an island, you can see the native birds flying too, and seagulls are the biggest indicators. But there was nothing in this area.¡±


    ¡°Nightingale, bring up that island¡¯s details,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Alasec, an island inhabited by a tribe native to Morinfair. Currently at war with the Swordfish Pirates, information outdated, reliability index has fallen below 1 percent.¡± Nightingale read the report that also came up on the screen.


    ¡°Swordfish Pirates?¡± It reminded Ewan of the Verns and the ships that attacked them. Their flags bore a curved swordfish insignia. And the details Nightingale displayed also had the same, but it had two swordfishes instead, curved at each other. The left mirrored the right, they made an oval. It was a combination of the flags of the first four ships and the last five ships...


    ¡°I knew it! They were super good at hooking the ladders, like they¡¯ve done it their whole lives,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this information from hundreds of years ago? Can it be a coincidence?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°Regardless, it doesn¡¯t concern us. Whether they were once pirates, still are pirates, or just happened to pick the same insignia, we¡¯ve left them behind,¡± Ewan said. ¡°What can concern us is the island. Nightingale, show us¡­.I¡¯ll call you Nyte from now on. Give us everything you have on the island and the tribe.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative, sir. Name registered,¡± she said, and an array of information popped up on the screen one after another. Soon, they crammed the display.


    From the island¡¯s area to its vegetations to its estimated age, it detailed everything, but most of it was about the Eyeless Tribe, well famed as the crow-herders. Their path was of the soul, they honed it by sacrificing their vision, and they called themselves the Whispered.


    Ewan sat up abruptly, his chair uttering an abrupt yelp, when the last sentence struck a chord with a memory he had of Nana. She often talked of the beach where she was, of the ¡®humans¡¯ she inadvertently encountered, and of their bizarre. They lived blindfolded, spoke a foreign language, and only used spells that acted on her soul. Though he heard nothing about the crows, the other details of the Eyeless Tribe matched to a tee. She was on Alasec¡­


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.3 | Ice ¨C 25.3 | Blood ¨C 25.3 | Mystic: 25.3]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-200 Sigh

    The star map Nana drew him didn¡¯t match Alasec¡¯s position, the range of error far surpassed his and Stefan¡¯s estimation. Even if she was bad at understanding the navigational aspect of the stars, she wouldn¡¯t have blundered to that degree. Just by parroting the book he gave her, word for word, and mirroring its contents to draw the map would give her a decent enough accuracy.


    ¡°Can she not see the stars properly?¡± Ewan murmured. The mystic element could cause such phenomenon, it could show her an illusory sky of the night. Not to mention a complete set of false stars, if it just layered a hint of mirage between her and her sky, she would see the stars in a different position and her calculations would distort.


    ¡°Is that where she is, Boss?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°But the star map¡­,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll still check it, just in case,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If its disappearance is related to the mystic element, I can deal with it. Nyte, increase the thrust by a level. Kidd, go stay up on the rooftop and keep an eye out. Stefan, I¡¯ll leave the navigation to you. Lance, go practice your weapon, get used to it as soon as you can. If that¡¯s where Nana is, we might need to fight again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Lance said with a strong nod.


    ¡°I¡¯ll instruct Nyte from the top deck then,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Can I practice too, Boss?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s where the main Ryvia module is, so try not to break anything,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Aye-aye, captain!¡±


    ¡­.


    The life on Stormfalcon continued with the monotonous days on the water, the repetition of the endless ocean long drowning its initial novelty. The sudden storms, the towering waves, and the twisters kept them busy with a change of taste, however, and Ewan often looked forward to charging into the eye of the tornadoes, much to the horrors of his mates. He did keep Stormfalcon away from the absolute monstrosities of the nature though and didn¡¯t challenge their prestige, he knew his limits. And the little bit of spice the adventure provided washed away his disappointment and the consecutive setbacks he suffered in his experiments.


    Lance accompanied and helped him in whatever tests he did, but none of what he tried succeeded. From slicing him up to taking his blood and flesh samples to the test of soul space and the external influence, Ewan traveled the whole list of possibilities. But only failure greeted him at every turn, and his obsession reared its face once again. So much so, that he shifted time from his other tasks to bringing this one idea to life. And yet¡­


    The anxiety of Nana¡¯s safety, whether she was on Alasec or not, and how she fared without him stacked on top of his defeats, and his frustration inflated. It took his all to stop himself from rushing the Warship at maximum thrust and losing the Rigen before he found her. Nevertheless, the snail pace of the days ate away at him, how he wished the seconds moved faster¡­.


    ¡®Reaper travels parallel to the Severynth, but it is incompatible with it. The thought was a stark failure,¡¯ he finally deflated till his end when he dragged the pen across his diary, slouching at the table in his room, losing strength in his core and heaving a defeated sigh. He lost, his pen dropped on the diary and the room dimmed.


    Weapons fed the Reaper, and Astylinds fed the Severynth, they ran on a similar path. Yet, they could never intersect. A Reaper couldn¡¯t contract an Astylind while a Severynth couldn¡¯t have a weapon connected to his soul. If Ewan forced it, he would have to give up his path as a Severynth and jump over to the other side. And the impossibility of such coerced him to let go of the notion, and his obsession died on his way to Alasec, not before dragging down his heart with it though. He might stumble at first in whatever he aimed to do, but he eventually succeeded every time¡ªhe took pride in this, and the result battered it.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    The sky was cloudy, the ocean looked grim, and the weather spread the gloom. Even the raging hurricanes couldn¡¯t brighten his day. And the corridors often heard his sighs, he contaminated the Warship with his despondence.


    Kidd hushed, Stefan chewed his food without a word, Lance stopped sparking any topic, and they met each other¡¯s gaze and talked with their eyes; even his Astylinds didn¡¯t cheer anymore.


    ¡°Boss, it can happen.¡± Finally, Kidd took the lead in shattering the buzzing noise of silence.


    ¡°I know,¡± Ewan said and bit the grilled fish. The meat tasted bland today, saltless and watery. His deadpan words quelled the budding conversation, and the somber air of the lounge persisted. And the tensed dinner, or brunch, ended with another sigh of his.


    ¡­.


    ¡°This is the area,¡± Stefan said, flipping the pages of his diary filled with convoluted diagrams and figures on the top deck.


    Ewan stood at the bow of the Warship, focusing on the movement of the Mystic-Anima, the roar of the wind mixed in with the droplets of the shattered waves splashing his Varos. His dejection still reigned over his emotional state, but his rationale cut it off and shoved it down, for higher priorities awaited his sensible response right now. According to Stefan¡¯s star map, Alasec was nearby. And if it was the mystic element hiding the island away, Ewan was the only one among them who could find it. Not to mention, Nana could be on the island, so he had to find it. Nothing could come in his way, let alone his own emotions.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Are you sure? There¡¯re no seagulls here.¡±


    ¡°I calculated several times, they always point to this area,¡± Stefan murmured and scribbled in his diary again, scratching his head with his pen.


    ¡°It might¡¯ve sunk,¡± Lance said. ¡°I should dive down and look underwater just in case.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an island, not a ship.¡± Kidd retorted.


    ¡°Keep quiet,¡± Ewan said and killed their conversation when he sensed a pattern in the Anima around. The mystic gathered and swirled up ahead in the distance, flickering with random images of land, forest, rites, despairing screams¡­and crows.


    Phantasm!


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.4 | Ice ¨C 25.4 | Blood ¨C 25.4 | Mystic: 25.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-201 Feather

    The swirl fractured with Ewan¡¯s cast, and a dome of thick mist appeared and waned, revealing a sandy beach where the ocean reached out then receded with a frothy trail. No crows flew about, no seagulls disclosed the island, and not even the overgrown forest and the chains of mountain uttered any voice of life. The lush island oozed of death.


    A cast of


    turned the illusion into reality, the means of its revelation mimicked the mechanism Perceval left for the fruit and the Warship. Either the island had Perceval¡¯s touch or Perceval learnt it from this island, both were too similar to just be a coincidence¡­.


    ¡°You guys stay here and keep an eye out,¡± Ewan said and fitted the remote-bracelet on his wrist with a click, his heart racing on the thought of meeting Nana again. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡±


    Stormfalcon¡¯s bow sank an inch when he shot away, the cracking boom he left shoving the three men back, and the Warship shrank behind him. The wind howled in his ears, and the deafening roar accompanied him till he touched the clouds. The island lay below him as he hovered in the sky, getting an overhead view of the beach and the forest and the mountains. Yet, there was no sign of Nana anywhere. Let alone the girl herself, not even her footsteps marked the sand, and the already gloomy clouds darkened even more for him.


    The beach was void of activity, and the forest and the mountains only held the ruins. The roots and the vines perforated the aged structures that once made up a settlement spanning across the island. The mossed rubble carried a hint of its past, when it wasn¡¯t a mere ground for flora infestation, when it still held the pride of its creators. The old-growth trees masked its history, but the stubborn signs of war and destruction hung on. From the unnatural craters with knee-tall grass patches to the scorches that survived to the humanlike skeletal remains that remained untouched, even a mountain that had its side missing, they all sang the song of their end.


    However, a bizarre scene painted another side of the island¡¯s time gone by. Apart from the shattered bits of pottery and utensils that represented the daily life of Alasec, the proliferating branches of the trees held complete skeletons tied in a fetal position. The trees on the cliffs dangled them down, the tress on the level snuggled them in. Ewan hovered around at a lower altitude when the higher view netted no result, and the skeletons in the trees greeted him at every inch, their gazes burning on his skin.


    Death gripped the island; the haunted quiet accompanied it. Not even the leaves dared to rustle where the skeletons swayed, and the blaring rumble of his flight stood out more so. They belonged to the trees, and the trees were their part; when the sense of acceptance rose in him, the tinge of abnormality finally settled down. And he stretched his Ryvia for Nana, flying around the whole island, the forest and the mountains alike. The final result changed nothing though, she really was not on this island. His disappointed heart heaved another sigh.


    Nevertheless, the tribe that lived here matched what she encountered. Thus, Ewan floated down into the ruins and looked around, his heartbeats accelerating. He took careful steps and gently brushed the traces of the past on anything that survived, revealing the mottled totem of a crow under the blanket of dirt and soil. One side of him looked for any clues that could be useful in the future, and the other lost himself in the grandeur of time, even with the eerie staring down at him.


    When he made his way up into the mountains and to a plaza-like area that had parts of skeletons piling up on one side, with some hinting at a posture of worship at death, an inky feather caught his eyes, for it hovered at his eye-level. He took precautions with his Ryvia, and when several scans came back negative, he stepped ahead and held the feather. His already taut nerves tensed on the touch, his eyes flitted about, he was ready to explode with his spells in case anything occurred, yet the island held its silence.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    The rest of his scour remained uneventful, and after making several rounds, Ewan shuttled back to Stormfalcon with the feather as his only prize.


    ¡°Did you find her, Boss?¡± Kidd asked when Ewan landed on the deck.


    ¡°She isn¡¯t here,¡± Ewan said and let the feather hover over his palm. It swayed about and slowed down with each rotation, finally stabilizing in a faint slanted position.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll continue with the previous route, and we¡¯ll find her,¡± Stefan said, patting and rubbing Ewan¡¯s back.


    Ewan nodded. ¡°Do you think this is pointing somewhere?¡± he asked, spinning the feather again. Yet, at the end of its motion, it halted at the exact same position. The tail end of it pointed eastward while the fluffy head looked west.


    ¡°Do you want to follow it?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°But which side?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°No, we¡¯ll continue on towards the next island,¡± Ewan said, putting the feather away as Alasec vanished behind him. ¡°We can solve its mystery after we get Nana. Let¡¯s go look at the map again.¡±


    Before they could open the door to the stairs, however, the Warship shook and groaned. The water vibrated, its surface broke into droplets, the ripples killed each other, and the ocean howled. Ewan hovered an inch above and removed the influence but the three lost their balance, Stefan tumbling away on the deck.


    The turbulence lasted a few breaths and the quiet took over again when it settled.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Kidd yelled, his rapid breaths breaking with a shiver, and his knees trembling as he leaned on the wall.


    ¡°Earthquake¡­,¡± Ewan murmured, looking at the ocean in the distance, gulping. The books wrote paras upon paras about the natural phenomenon, and they never forgot to mention its companion. The companion that devastated the coasts and showed the world the wrath of nature in its raw form. And soon, they would meet it too, the monstrous waves would come for them¡­


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.4 | Ice ¨C 25.4 | Blood ¨C 25.4 | Mystic: 25.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-202 Damage

    The monstrosity towered over them and rushed towards the ship with a deafening roar, covering the night sky. Stormfalcon was a speckle against the mountainous wave, and the contest with the colossus killed their spirits.


    ¡°What is that!¡± Lance shouted, staring at the incoming wave.


    ¡°Ewan! We can''t survive that!¡± Stefan yelled.


    ¡°Nyte! Thrusters at max, launch!¡± Ewan hollered. ¡°Take off! Fly at max speed!¡±


    The lukewarm thrusters came alive with thundering flames, the blaring noises drowning Nyte¡¯s reply, and the Warship blasted off with a long jerk, leaving the Morinfair¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Go inside!¡± Ewan yelled. ¡°Tie yourselves to something!¡±


    The three raced in and hunkered down in the standby room while Ewan stayed on the deck to be the Warship¡¯s eyes. ¡°Nyte, turn around! Fly in the opposite direction, go up, up!¡±


    Stormfalcon soared, leaving a trail of dripping water and a cloud of steam. The rapid acceleration rent the air, and the defense shield curved against the wind. Soon their speed broke the sonic barrier and the shockwave boomed behind them, the starry sky getting closer and closer.


    Yet, they still couldn¡¯t clear the wave.


    ¡°Brace for impact!!¡± Ewan roared and weaved a net of Ryvia around the Warship to keep everything in place. And the wave hammered them down, the fleck of a ship disappearing into the behemoth. Stormfalcon was for war, after all, so the shield held its own against the passive wrath of the nature. But they tumbled around in the water, losing their direction, going where the wave took them. The thrusters fluttered with short bursts, and Nyte lit up the bridge with red alerts.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The rampage of the ocean settled after hours, and the quiet and peace took over again. And when the wave rested, the Stormfalcon swooshed out and smashed down onto the water, its flickering defense shield deluged. Ewan panted on the top deck on all his fours, sweat dripping down his nose, the sound of blood racing through his veins buzzed in his ears.


    The extent of the danger far surpassed any storm he¡¯d faced so far. Even when they ventured into the eye of tornadoes and enjoyed the hurricanes, they held their own. But this one wave thrashed them around, and without even any intention to do so. They just stood in its path¡­


    When Ewan recovered his breath, his thoughts went haywire for the cause, and they all strengthened the suspicion he had. He looked towards the island, Alasec. Yet, there was nothing there, and only the swirls of Mystic-Anima and the endless horizon met his eyes. The island became a reality because of the mystic, and the ocean and the earth accommodated it. And when his


    spell ended, it vanished again, and the ocean and the earth shifted back. The seismic change triggered the disaster, and it pummeled the culprits without even knowing it.


    ¡°Boss! Stefan¡¯s hurt!¡± Kidd yelled from the standby room.


    Lance and Kidd squatted beside Stefan in a pool of blood while he lay on the floor on his back, his breath breaking into hiccups with faint groans.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°I think he broke his spine, sir,¡± Lance said when Ewan rushed over.


    ¡°He can''t move his hands or legs, Boss,¡± Kidd said.


    Stefan uttered a painful chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯ll heal on its own,¡± he said.


    Ewan¡¯s Ryvia scanned him inside out, and beneath the puncture wound on his lower back, a part of his spine lay broken, shattered actually. The bone shards had torn his chord and the fracture split Stefan¡¯s skeleton into two.


    ¡°It¡¯s really fine, you don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Stefan said with a trembling smile and a pale face.


    With a Kyron¡¯s means of treatment, he would die for sure. But luckily, Ewan wasn¡¯t a Kyron, far from it. And so, with a cast of <Aid>, he reconnected the spine, healed the chord, repaired the bones, and closed the wound. After all, it was a clean injury and had no hostile spirit or Anima. So, Stefan recovered in minutes, and he finally shed tears when he could move.


    ¡°Now you¡¯re crying,¡± Kidd said, slumping against the wall behind him, his hands drenched in blood.


    Stefan hid his eyes with his arm. ¡°This was my punishment,¡± he murmured and cried.


    ¡°It was an accident, an adverse consequence of our decision,¡± Ewan said, looking down at Stefan as he stood over him. ¡°If you wish to punish yourself, you¡¯re welcome to do so. The deck is always open to you, go jump into the water. Clean the blood before you do though.¡± He left the words and walked away to the bridge, dreading the damage report Nyte would give him.


    In its optimum condition, Stormfalcon would¡¯ve braved the disaster without any damage. But it already had cracks in it, and all that the monstrous wave had to do was to push it, and it would crumble.


    ¡°Thrusters module, damage at 7%, flight feasible at maximum thrust. Defense module, damage at 30%, initiation possible. Ryvia module, system collapsed, no feedback detected. Peripherals module, no damage, running at maximum capacity. Main tank, no damage. Sub-tank, no damage.¡± Nyte read the report.


    Ewan breathed a heavy sigh of relief at the extent of the damage. It was better than he expected, at least the Warship could still function as a Warship. The only headache though was the Ryvia module. It was the original of the Nightingale series, and its theoretical limit touched a Step-2 Asheva¡¯s peak. But now, it was beyond repair, he had to replace the whole module. And it would cost him an arm and a leg to get the same specifications, that too if he could find it without the hub.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.4 | Ice ¨C 25.4 | Blood ¨C 5.4 | Mystic: 25.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-203 Okona Key

    The growth of his ¡®Spirit¡¯ had plunged since Ewan became a Step-1 Severynth, as it was the norm for his level. Even months of feedback from his Astylinds only pulled him up an inch, and it would persist for the rest of the step, more so at higher stages. Frost and Orange stood at Grade-B while Iris was on Grade-D, so he still had a lot of room until he reached the final extent of the feedback, not to mention he¡¯d yet to contract a new Astylind. But potential was a cloud of smoke, and the current reality weighed down on him. After all, if he went with the current pace, he would reach his peak when his life would end.


    The predecessors left their solution for the succeeding generations, and it lay in external assistance. And Ewan chose potions for it while the crushing defeat from his last experiment ate away at his confidence.


    Lance swung his scythe in the training hall, hurled his shield, pulled the chain back, and looked for his own style of combat, doused in sweat. Kidd worked on his combination with Willy, honed his agility with the daggers, trained his stealth with the Dark-Anima, developed ¡®cool¡¯ techniques, and haunted the ceilings of the corridor. Stefan gazed at the stars from the deck, adjusted the map and their direction along the way, repaired any damage to the ship he could, and often hummed a blue melody as he swept.


    As the three got busy and as the Stormfalcon made its way to the next island, Okona Key, Ewan chose a recipe series from his journal to realize his purpose, a set of recipes under the same umbrella named Hunter¡¯s Worth¡ªHunter¡¯s Worth: Tonic, Hunter¡¯s Worth: Anima, Hunter¡¯s Worth: Feedback, Hunter¡¯s Worth: Zeal, and Hunter¡¯s Worth: Enliven.


    Recipes meriting a name easily distinguished themselves from the pack of their unnamed brothers. Unless it was a self-proclaimed potion lacking the peer reviews, their conferred names lived up to their outperformance. However, even with their high efficiency, their excellence came at the cost of more resources and higher valued ingredients. So much so that a single brew of a named potion could wrinkle a well-fed pocket. And even though he only wanted to brew one type from the series right now¡ªHunter¡¯s Worth: Feedback¡ªhis now bigger space of his claw-ring failed to deliver.


    The auxiliaries and the catalysts hovered in his claw-ring, tucked away safely in their wooden boxes. He could procure the needed Anima-Crystals too, and even their elements weren¡¯t an issue because of his <Transmute>, but the lack of the core constituents poured water on his plans. And the shutdown of the hub furthered the issue. Nevertheless, he made a mental note for their purchase on the next island¡ªif its market could avail them or if he encountered a good trade meet¡ªand practiced the potion in theory, locked away in the Potioneering room, crumpled papers surrounding him.


    The feedback version of the potion worked on the paths that belonged to a specific system¡ªit enhanced the incoming feedback for those who used it to progress. And the Severynths reigned the category, the potion came to be for their needs. The only concern was its operation process, for the Astylinds had to ingest it to amplify their feedback. Ewan trusted the journal and believed in the remarks of his family, but this concerned his Astylinds who couldn¡¯t detail the problems for him if the potion had any. And so, his skepticism bucked up. If only he had a guinea pig to test the potion on first¡­


    ¡°Now, where could I possibly find one¡­,¡± he muttered aloud and strolled towards the training hall with an impish tug on his lips. The mirth he expected from the process of verification tore a slit in his gloomy clouds and a ray of warm sunlight cascaded on him.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Please state your highest rank, names, and your purpose of visit.¡± The communication channel flared up in the bridge with white noise when a man¡¯s garbled voice came in. The island of Okona Key had cleared the horizon and its lush now lay before the Stormfalcon, the milky walls of the only colony contrasting the green around, and the peak of its snow-capped mountain sticking out above the bounds. It was an age ago since Ewan last saw a walled colony. All the islands he visited so far, even the coastal city of spices, bared it for the nature to take its course. Nonetheless, this was a familiar change of taste.


    ¡°Step-1. Ewan Ayres, Kidd, Stefan Rad, and Lance onboard Stormfalcon. Visiting for business.¡± Ewan opened the channel and replied, the other three also staring at the screen with him.


    ¡°Will they attack us too?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Unlikely,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Please maintain the lowest thrust possible and follow the canal,¡± the man said in common tongue. ¡°Please do not deboard unless given the permission to. Please kill your thrusters when you reach the wall. You may maintain your defense shield but please refrain from any violent fluctuations that may trigger our response. Please do not extend your Ryvia beyond the walls. Please be mindful of your actions as any and all forms of aggression will be taken as a threat to our oligarchy and will be retaliated against.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a long list of requirements,¡± Lance said under his breath.


    ¡°We comply,¡± Ewan said into the channel and led the Stormfalcon towards the shrinking canal, the lines of foliage welcoming them on the sides. The thrusters died with a few flutters when they reached the wall, and they parked near the bank, the tweets of birds taking over again amidst the rising silence.


    ¡°Do you have any questions for us?¡± the man asked.


    ¡°How¡¯s your Rigen stock?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re running low.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all then,¡± Ewan said.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.4 | Ice ¨C 25.4 | Blood ¨C 25.4 | Mystic: 25.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-204 Surname

    ¡°We wait now,¡± Stefan said, plopping down in his chair.


    ¡°How much can we get? He said they¡¯re running low,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Whatever we get is better than nothing,¡± Stefan said. ¡°We can also look for the Ryvia module replacement here, see if we find a decent one.¡±


    ¡°Did you finish studying it?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°Can you install the replacement now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I should be able to,¡± Stefan said. ¡°I just need some practice with it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you then, I don¡¯t want outsiders touching the core system. It¡¯s better if we can do it ourselves,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Boss, should I check the black market for more Rigen?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°No, not this time, we¡¯ll get what we can and leave,¡± Ewan said. ¡°The longer we stay here, the higher the chances of conflict. Let¡¯s avoid the unnecessary ones until we get Nana.¡±


    ¡°Our next stop is the egg, and then we¡¯ll beeline for the area of her star map,¡± Stefan said. ¡°We¡¯ll get there soon.¡±


    ¡°We might need to look around for her island once we¡¯re there,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Will make my life easier if we could get the Ryvia module here, and if you reached your peak.¡± Kidd was within his arms¡¯ reach, so he grabbed his hair and yanked him around amidst his oscillating screams. It had been well over a year since these brats melded together and practiced the meditation method Ewan devised for them. A simple cast of <Identify> showed their progress, and they barely trickled forth with each passing day¡ªthe speed didn¡¯t match Ewan¡¯s estimate, based on their affinity with the element. And the culprit was their obsession with developing new and cool techniques, it ate into the time for their meditation.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there, Boss,¡± Kidd said with tears in his eyes, fixing his nest of a hair. ¡°We¡¯ll definitely reach the peak by the time we get the egg.¡±


    ¡°I have a set of leftover materials from my rite, and I also have the potions,¡± Ewan said. When he succeeded with the Step-1 potions back then, the remaining ingredients netted him a batch of each, but he only used one for his rite. ¡°Reach your peak, then I¡¯ll prepare the rite for you.¡±


    Regardless of the path they walked on, the rites of evolution could accommodate them all. The rites triggered their advancement, and the direction depended on the walker. So, Kidd could also complete the Prairie Fire rite that Ewan used to reach his now.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely succeed, Boss, don¡¯t worry,¡± Kidd said, inching away from Ewan¡¯s reach.


    ¡°Sir, I had something to ask of you,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Hmm, what?¡± Ewan asked, flicking Kidd¡¯s forehead with his Ryvia when his hands couldn¡¯t get to him.


    ¡°If possible, can I also have a surname, sir?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°Huh?¡± The question out of the left field only wrung a short response from Ewan. ¡°Why?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I always dreamt of having my own surname since I was a kid. I planned to take the Ensil¡¯s name when they deemed me qualified, but I don¡¯t want it anymore,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Then just pick whatever you want and call yourself that,¡± Ewan said. ¡°What¡¯s the issue?¡±


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Can you give me one, sir?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°Not fair, you all will have one then, I also want one.¡± Kidd whinged, rubbing the pinkish spot on his forehead.


    ¡°Lance, you don¡¯t work for the Ensils anymore, they don¡¯t control you,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You need to change your mindset of a subordinate. If you want something, get it.¡±


    ¡°You deny my whole life when you say that, sir,¡± Lance said with a rueful laughter. ¡°I¡¯ve always lived as a subordinate; that is all that I know.¡±


    Ewan gave him a deep stare, reflecting on what he said and whether he¡¯d just shoved his own version of ideals down his throat because it was ¡®better¡¯ for him. ¡°Silvester, Lance Silvester. How does it sound?¡± he asked. ¡°Or if you want, you can take up the Radon¡¯s name, since you have their legacy, Lance Radon. You decide.¡±


    ¡°Lance Silvester¡­,¡± Lance muttered, then beamed. His back straightened, and a halo of confidence embraced him. ¡°I like it, sir, thank you,¡± he said, and the second option faded away without a shred of consideration.


    ¡°Me, what about me, Boss?¡± Kidd butted in.


    ¡°Willy will be happy if you take up his surname,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Kidd Yales, it rings nicely.¡±


    ¡°Kidd Yales¡­¡± Kidd said under his breath and a grin pulled on his lips. Willy phased in beside him, smiling ear to ear and baring his pearly teeth, contrasting his hollowed eyes.


    ¡°Kidd Yales, I¡¯m the elder brother,¡± Willy said with ghostly chuckles, and Lance backed away from him with a gulp.


    ¡°You¡¯re still not used to him?¡± Stefan laughed.


    ¡°He¡¯s a ghost¡­,¡± Lance whispered.


    ¡°I¡¯m a Wraith, not ghost,¡± Willy said, staring at Lance.


    The communication channel flared up again and its white noise killed the conversation and drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°You have the permission to enter and dock,¡± the man said. ¡°Your temporary I.D has been issued, please be mindful of its expiration date. You may initiate the process of permanent citizenship once it expires, else you can have it renewed for a price. Please pay heed to our laws when you¡¯re inside the walls. That will be all, our oligarchy welcomes you to Okona key, we hope you have a pleasant stay.¡±


    The bottom part of the wall split before the canal, the metals clanged, and the current of water flooded in through the widening gap. The influx of river saturated the insides and the rush settled down when the doors opened all the way. And the clamorous colony lay beyond the entrance.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.4 | Ice ¨C 25.4 | Blood ¨C 25.4 | Mystic: 25.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-205 Average and Genius

    ¡°Welcome to Okona Key.¡± Ewan shook hands with the Step-1 greeter, Blane, on the docks, lines of unmanned Astylinds patrolling the area, and took the papers that were their I.Ds. ¡°You can request a guide if you want,¡± the spectacled man said. ¡°Or you can contact me if you want help with something. Our colony offers full services for the Warships, from cleaning to repairing, you may want to try it, you won''t be disappointed.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your offer, I might take you up on that cleaning bit,¡± Ewan said with a smile, putting away the papers. ¡°I¡¯d like to roam on my own, can I trouble you to point me to the nearest market. Will it have the Warship parts and the potion supplies?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re running low on replacements, but you can try your luck, you might find what you want,¡± Blane said and handed Ewan a map, marking the parts with clusters; they held the best of the shops of Okona Key, according to him.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ewan said, folding the map away. ¡°What about the Rigen? I heard you¡¯re low on stock.¡±


    ¡°The supply transport is running late because of the current situation, we¡¯re scraping the bottom of the barrel now,¡± the man said, thumbing his specs up. ¡°You can still get some though, and don¡¯t worry, the price hasn¡¯t risen, we kept it at the original market price.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s very generous of you,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Then if you don¡¯t mind, I would like to buy what you have left.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll start the process. You can pay once you¡¯ve received the Rigen.¡±


    ¡­.


    Ewan became light of two hundred and fifty Novas while the Stormfalcon weighed ten kiloliters heavier once the filler snake pulled out of the hole. Though the total, from Vestal¡¯s illegal purchase to the legal transaction of Okona Key, barely submerged the floor of the tank, it emanated a sense of security. Unless they pushed the Warship and became reckless with the distance and fuel management, this much Rigen would easily see them through to Nana and would even sponsor mistakes in the navigation.


    ¡°How is the situation with the sun here?¡± Ewan asked as Kidd came down to accompany him while Lance and Stefan stayed on the ship. ¡°Do the shops open at night only?¡±


    ¡°We had that problem, but not anymore, or more like we¡¯ll completely eliminate the issue soon,¡± Blane said with a smug smile, adjusting his specs again. ¡°We have a proud member of the R&D team, the genius of Okona Key, Shaun Riggs. He single-handedly developed the method to keep the flares responsible for the spontaneous combustion away from our colony.¡±


    Ewan lifted his brows and the group of workers in the distance caught his eyes. Towering but crude pillars scarred the beautiful colony¡¯s earth and sky, each stabbed at a uniform distance from each other, layers of glimmering spell circuits skinning their surface, and the laborers worked on burying another.


    Even the cloud-touching mountain in the middle of colony couldn¡¯t keep its snowy charm, as the black pillars spotted its expanse and ruined its natural allure. Yet, this was what kept Okona Key safe, Blane quipped. This pillar attracted the dangerous flares from the sun within a certain radius and prevented the spontaneous combustion in the area. Weak Starons could come out in the day now, and normal life had resumed in the areas where the pillars announced their presence.


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    ¡°He really is a genius,¡± Ewan said under his breath, staring at the nearest pillar, his thoughts in turmoil. Even when he knew about it, he couldn¡¯t guess the family of spell circuit that this man used for the feat. And the introspection gave him the brutal truth¡ªhe wasn¡¯t capable of producing the solution in such a short period of time.


    Geniuses existed in every corner of the world, there was always someone better out there. The problems Ewan couldn¡¯t solve, someone in the distant regions of Airadia could answer in a heartbeat. Ewan went against and broke before the problem of the personal artifact, and the damage stole his smile. Yet someone might already have solved it ages ago¡­


    The dawning sense of mediocrity humbled him, and the achievement of a genius before him opened his eyes. He also had his strengths, but at his core, he was an average man, struggling to hold the pride of a genius. The Governor¡¯s words rang aloud in his ears, and the humility Ewan wore on his skin finally sank into his heart.


    ¡°Boss, let¡¯s go,¡± Kidd said and nudged him awoke from his haze.


    Ewan nodded. ¡°Thank you for your help, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± He shook hands with Blane again and walked away with Kidd. The dazzling pride and the ego of his past was no more, instead he donned a gentle and an unadorned halo now, and his calm gait reflected that.


    ¡°Did something happen?¡± Kidd asked, matching his steps.


    ¡°No.¡± Ewan smiled. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine,¡± he said. The acceptance shed his burden and lightened his shoulders, but his ambitions and dreams still lived. To reach his destination, he didn¡¯t need the title of a genius, and he didn¡¯t need to succeed in every venture, he just had to walk forth and never stop. And his tenacious mediocrity would take him to gaze upon new skies.


    ¡°Did you solve that problem?¡± Kidd¡¯s eyes sparkled and he looked at Ewan.


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°Nope, it¡¯s impossible for me, I give up.¡±


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    <tbody>


    <tr>


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    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.4 | Ice ¨C 25.4 | Blood ¨C 25.4 | Mystic: 25.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,895


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-206 Golden Goose

    The shopping for the ingredients went well, though it wrinkled his pouch, Ewan gathered a few sets for the feedback version of the Hunter¡¯s Worth potion. The shutdown of the hub had enriched the inventory of the shops on the ground, and it even reflected in the normalizing price across the board. The diversion of the focus towards the ground shops stabilized the market economy and the inflated costs came down. Yet, the assortment of the products still couldn¡¯t reach the hub¡¯s level, especially the items that concerned a niche group of patrons. And it included Ewan¡¯s need for the Warship¡¯s parts.


    The search for the replacements led them around the clamorous market as they threaded through the crowd, getting a headshake or an apologetic smile wherever they went to enquire. Finally, when the streets thinned and the hawkers wetted their hoarse throats, a towering shop with glass walls by the fish market gave them a nod; albeit the stench wafting around was harrowing. Their catalogue was barely satisfactory, even the Ryvia module they offered only reached a theoretical peak of Step-1, but they held their own in the haggling war. In the end, Ewan paid a premium, lost most of the Novas he had on hand, and gained the replacement parts.


    At least Stormfalcon could see now, they wouldn¡¯t sail blind anymore, he appeased his shriveled pocket.


    ¡°Where to next, Boss?¡± Kidd said with a nasal voice, pinching his nose.


    ¡°Almost done,¡± Ewan said, walking towards the central market area that had the ¡®genius¡¯ pillar blaring its existence with slight distortions in the light around it, dimming the surroundings. ¡°We just need to restock on food and water, and we can leave.¡±


    ¡°What do you think it¡¯ll be this time Boss? Astylinds? Pirates? Earthquake? Waves?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°What did Stefan say?¡± Ewan asked with a chuckle.


    ¡°He bet on a whirlpool,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bet on same then,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°We can''t win against his black tongue.¡± Kidd sighed and made a nasal hum.


    ¡°You grew up coast side, aren¡¯t you already numb to this smell?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve become very sensitive since I merged with Willy and started the meditation,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°If you worked on your Ryvia and your defense shield, you wouldn¡¯t have to suffer then, would you,¡± Ewan said, letting his Varos keep the atrocity of a stench away from him.


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t help much for my style,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Still do it, Ryvia will help in short distance bursts. You¡¯ll need it especially when you break through to Step-1,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You can mix it with your melee style too if you wish.¡±


    ¡°Will I be able to fly too, Boss?¡± Kidd asked. ¡°I want to fly like you.¡±


    ¡°You can, either practice the flight spell or use Ryvia,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I would recommend the flight spell. Your dark element would do wonders for it under the right conditions.¡±


    ¡°Will it make me stealthier?¡±


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°It¡¯ll make you faster at night.¡±


    ¡­..


    Stormfalcon turned about in the docks, its thrusters roaring with life, and made its way against the incoming current when the doors opened wide. Blane waved them ta-ta from the port, Ewan returned a nod from the deck, and they sped away along the canal.


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    ¡°Last chance to make your bets,¡± Kidd hollered inside the bridge, the wide screens lighting up with the view of the world outside. The Ryvia module worked for its price and gave the Stormfalcon its own set of eyes.


    ¡°I bet on storm,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Mine¡¯s still on whirlpool,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Boss also bet on whirlpool,¡± Kidd said. ¡°He believes in your black tongue, don¡¯t let him down.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s yours?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°I want to say whirlpool too¡­but I¡¯ll go with tornado,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Settle down fuckers, we¡¯re about to leave the canal.¡± The gate slid open, and Ewan came in, plopping on the captain¡¯s chair.


    ¡°No one¡¯s betting on the colony attacking us?¡± Stefan asked.


    ¡°We were sitting ducks in the port, if they wanted to attack, that was their chance,¡± Ewan said. ¡°But if they were that myopic, they couldn¡¯t have built their own oligarchy. When you have roots like that, long term reputation weighs heavier than any immediate interest.¡±


    ¡°We still got attacked in Vestal though,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°They had an excuse for that,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We broke their law.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving the canal, sir,¡± Lance said, and the forests on the sides narrowing the view on the screen opened wide to the endless waters.


    ¡°Sit in your chairs and hold tight,¡± Ewan said, glancing at Stefan. ¡°Just in case.¡±


    The incoming current and the outgoing waves collided at the intersection, and where the island ended, ocean spun the waters. And Morinfair gave birth to a behemoth of a whirlpool, roaring with hunger as it guzzled everything around it.


    ¡°You bitch! You really have a black tongue!¡± Kidd yelled, clutching the chair¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Sir¡­¡± Lance gulped, gaping at the screen.


    ¡°Nyte, take off, we¡¯re flying past it,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Affirmative, sir,¡± Nyte said. And before the behemoth could suck them in, the Stormfalcon¡¯s <Flight> spell circuit livened up with the influx of the Rigen, and the Warship took to the skies with its thundering thrusters. The clouds ballooned before them and the island shrank beneath, but even at such a height, the giant whirlpool still touched the edges of the screen. Astylinds shrieked and cried in its swirl, yet their struggles ended in vain, and the dark maws devoured them all. And soon, lines of ships honked out of the Okona Key¡¯s port, the sailors busied about on the deck, and surrounded the whirlpool at a safe distance.


    ¡°Are they attacking us?¡± Kidd asked.


    Ewan squinted his eyes. ¡°No, that¡¯s their golden goose that just keeps on giving.¡±


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.4 | Ice ¨C 25.4 | Blood ¨C 25.4 | Mystic: 25.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 19,154


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 801


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-207 Ocean Bed

    The amalgamated moons¡¯ light cascaded down to the world, the excited waves broke against the Warship, and the glittering stars nearly aligned with the map Ewan had created from his memory. After a voyage of ups and downs, they finally reached their first target. This was the area where Ewan had found the egg, or at least he hoped it was.


    ¡°How are we going to look for it?¡± Kidd asked, peeking over the edge of the top deck.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to dive in and search the ocean bed,¡± Ewan said, clicking the remote-bracelet on his wrist.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll take that area,¡± Lance said and pointed towards the front of the Warship.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the back, Boss,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the center then. Wear the bracelet and always keep the channel open. Lance, you can ping us if you need to. And remember not to go out of the range, it should warn you when you reach the edge.¡± Ewan said. ¡°You wear it too, Stefan, you can manage the situation from here if something happens.¡±


    The four matched the channel and connected to Nyte as they took positions on the verges, and the bracelets lit up, the screens showing their positions relative to Stormfalcon¡¯s.


    ¡°Be careful down there and come up slowly when you do. Don¡¯t rush,¡± Ewan said, and plunged into the water, breaking a short splash into the waves. His Varos and his Ryvia bubbled him in as two simultaneous splashes broke around the Warship, and Ewan jetted down after testing the channel on the bracelet.


    The moons lit up the waters around him for a distance, but pitch-black soon took over and embraced him when he left the shallow surface behind. Schools of fish came to him as he sank, and various lifeforms that made Morinfair their homes found him curious. Most were normal fauna without a shred of Anima lingering on them, but some were Astylinds, albeit of the lowest rung. The predators also took interest in him, their eyes glowed at him in the dark, but a wave of his aura had them scuttling away. His level was still too high for this depth, and hopefully, it would remain so till the bed.


    Unfortunately, the reality crushed his hope when he dove deep enough for his Ryvia to almost touch the bed. An abnormal stillness marked the depth, and the lack of animation in the area complemented the fact¡ªan Astylinds of at least Step-1 ruled this part of the bed.


    Ewan covered half his face with his neck gaiter, Yurn, and suppressed his fluctuation as best as he could, reining in any interference his spirit made to his surroundings. The bottom of the ocean gave the aquatic Astylinds a home advantage, he didn¡¯t want to test his mettle under the harsh conditions, especially when his purpose wasn¡¯t to hunt. And so, his search for the egg began.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Luckily, his dimmed presence didn¡¯t alert the ruler of the area, and he scoured in peace. Yet, even after hours of roaming around on the bed, digging the sand, checking the corals, and diving into the dark trenches, he only found wreckage and carcasses. After a second fruitless run, he had to mark this area with a cross. Either this wasn¡¯t the place where the egg was, or he¡¯d lost this chance.


    ¡°Boss, how¡¯s it on your side?¡± Kidd contacted through the bracelet.


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    ¡°Nothing, how about you guys?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t find anything either, sir,¡± Lance said, panting as his breaths broke in half.


    ¡°Boss, this retard took several trips without resting and came up too quickly, he can''t even move now,¡± Kidd said.


    Ewan clicked his tongue. ¡°Stay on the ship, I¡¯ll come up,¡± he said and launched, leaving a trail of bubbling stream. But when he left the bed behind and his Ryvia could barely brush the sand, the inky feather in his claw-ring heated up and trembled. Ewan took note of it with a frown and shot away towards the surface.


    ¡­..


    His Ryvia compressed around Lance, creating a pressurized and viscous chamber that mimicked the depths of the ocean, and soon his rashes settled down, his joints stopped groaning, and his breath recovered.


    ¡°Where do we search next, Boss?¡± Kidd asked, munching on biscuits, dropping the crumbs all over his t-shirt.


    ¡°We don¡¯t,¡± Ewan said, slowly easing the pressure around Lance when all his symptoms went away. From the bed at the depth, he came up a few meters. ¡°It¡¯s not important enough to delay us. And I may have the map wrong, so who knows how long we¡¯ll have to look for.¡±


    ¡°Are we leaving then?¡± Stefan asked, closing his notebook scribbled with his calculations on the map.


    ¡°I was looking forward to the treasure hunt¡­¡± Kidd mumbled, stuffing his face with the last of the biscuits.


    ¡°Yeah, soon,¡± Ewan said and took out the warm inky feather, letting it hover over his palm. When its rotation halted, its fluffy head aimed for the skies in the west while the pointy tail stared at the ocean, and its velvety barbs heated up. The long distance they traveled since Ewan got the feather slanted it further, so whatever it pointed to was nearby¡ªits rising temperature also supported the fact.


    ¡°Are we following that, Boss?¡± Kidd beamed up and sat straight, brushing the crumbs off his face.


    ¡°If it¡¯s a simple pickup, we will,¡± Ewan said, and waited for Lance to recover before diving in for another venture. The angle of the feather¡¯s slant against the depth of the ocean gave a rough estimate of its destination, and it was a distance away from what Ewan traveled with the last dive.


    ¡°Can I come too?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Ewan hummed a nod. ¡°You can be my meat shield.¡±


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 19,154


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 801


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-208 Egg

    The feather took Ewan away from the Stormfalcon, deep towards the bed again. He avoided the marked territories of the Astylinds of his or higher level the best he could, dimming his presence with the Yurn, and propelled forward with Kidd in tow, both wrapped in their own defense bubbles. When they edged on the maximum range of the remote-bracelet, Stefan had Nyte follow them at the lowest thrust. And after a couple of pings between the two, the feather pointed straight down, boiling the water around it with its heat.


    Life and activity marked the area, fauna thrived here, and the Astylinds mingled about. No one had dominated this region yet, and even the weak Astylinds roamed the waters, so the threat to the two remained at its lowest. Yet there was no ¡®treasure¡¯ before them. Beyond the pitch black, only a bed of sand scarred with trenches and corals greeted them.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing here, Boss,¡± Kidd passed his voice to Ewan, shooing away the playful fishes. They blew bubbles at him when he poked them and scampered away, the slowest of the school struggling to catch up.


    ¡°This place somehow feels familiar¡­,¡± Ewan muttered, looking around the place. The history of the Eyeless Tribe and the existence of the feather combined with his own hunch gave him an idea about what their destination was. Probabilities and coincidences played their games, and Ewan, confined within their grasps, went around a full circle. He failed to get the egg, the opportunity that ¡®luck¡¯ gave him, yet a lucky encounter with the feather led him to it anyway.


    ¡°Is it pointing at the egg we were looking for?¡± Kidd confirmed with his question.


    ¡°Most likely,¡± Ewan said, and narrowed his search to the region where the feather stood erect and burned the hottest. And after digging inches of sand, muddling the waters around, the strange but familiar egg said a silent hello from the center of the circular rock formation. The ups and downs Ewan expected never came, no sudden events became an accident, and he cradled the onyx egg after the feather dissolved the defensive shield around it¡ªa head-sized crystal ball accompanied it, so Ewan pocketed that too.


    The place had nothing else of interest to him, he confirmed it after digging a hole that nigh matched the trenches around, even the defensive rock formation lost its luster after it fulfilled its duty. And thus, with his prize in his hand and a smile on his face, he returned to the Stormfalcon with Kidd, pressurizing him with his Ryvia and easing him up to the surface¡¯s conditions.


    ¡­.


    The feather bulldozed towards the egg when they both hovered with the crystal ball on the top deck, but Ewan kept it at bay. Before he checked everything and confirmed their authenticity, he couldn¡¯t let any uncontrolled incident occur.


    The rather clean egg showed no fluctuations of life, it¡¯d gone beyond the suspended state. If time caused it and it wasn¡¯t deliberate, it couldn¡¯t be Ewan¡¯s fifth Astylind for he couldn¡¯t bring it back to life. The hotter-than-ever feather¡¯s actions, though, led his thoughts towards planned calculations. As for the crystal ball, it most likely contained information. And so, Ewan drilled his Ryvia in and touched its core.


    Strings of Kaaleria letters climbed up his Ryvia from the crystal ball, seeping inside his soul space when he let it, and gathered in his mind to form coherent words. The text introduced the life of the Eyeless Tribe, or the Taredith Tribe as they called themselves¡ªtheir traditions, their rites, their harmony with their crows, and their struggles. The emotional and the subjective bias in it painted the tribe as a peace-loving archaic civilization. They were the innocent victims of the external world, mainly the immoral pirates who took the serenity out of their daily lives. It screamed injustice, cried about the unfairness of the world, and furthered a positive but also a victim¡¯s image of the tribe, which all boiled down to a seed of thought in the end, attached to the inheritance.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    The ask was for the thorough annihilation of piracy on the waters, not just the Swordfish Pirates. And the reward was a condescending acceptance to the tribe with the complete legacy of the Whispered path, and a contract with the ¡®crow¡¯.


    Ewan combed through the information, deleted the useless bits, stitched the important segments, and finally crushed the seed of thought before it could take root¡ªit was an application of the mystic element, and he reigned over it with his current affinity.


    For the crow, if the feather could revive the egg and if its details satisfied him, he would contract it as his fifth Astylind. But for the Whispered path¡­


    It was a path of the soul and had a drastic requirement for the initiation which demanded utter commitment. Under different circumstances, Ewan would throw it in a corner of his claw-ring only to ever use it as a reference. However, he had someone with him now who was desperate to tread past the limit of his life and step over to their side.


    Ewan looked at Stefan. ¡°This has the inheritance of the Whispered path, you¡¯re probably qualified for it,¡± he said. ¡°Do you want it?¡±


    Stefan parted his lips and his eyes widened. ¡°C-Can I?¡± he stuttered.


    ¡°Its initiation process is not easy though,¡± Ewan said. ¡°The eyeless part of the tribe¡¯s name was literal; you need to dig your eyes out if you want to become a Whispered.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 19,154


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 801


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-209 Fifth

    For someone who didn¡¯t belong to the tribe and didn¡¯t go through the conditioning of ideas since his childhood, refusal was the norm for such an initiation requirement. Even with Stefan¡¯s desperation, giving up his eyes willingly couldn¡¯t be a light decision. And Ewan expected him to recede.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Stefan said.


    Yet he didn¡¯t¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty, you have time to think about it,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I need a navigator right now; I can''t let you become blind before I find Nana.¡±


    Stefan nodded with a deep breath, and his perked shoulders drooped a little. ¡°I won''t let you down even after we find her. I¡¯ll find a way to navigate without my eyes.¡±


    Ewan gave him a deep stare. ¡°If you just want to punish yourself, there are other ways,¡± he said. Stefan¡¯s reasons for self-hatred were his own to deal with, Ewan couldn¡¯t help him unless he asked for it. But their ties had developed so in the foregone months, thus he couldn¡¯t leave him to his own devices either, especially when it meant becoming blind for the rest of his life. And since Whispered was a path that led them to higher life levels, it would be an unending age of nothingness.


    ¡°I don¡¯t deserve your care, Ewan,¡± Stefan said. ¡°Even being blind can''t atone for what I¡¯ve done.¡±


    ¡°One day, when you¡¯ll be able to forgive yourself, you¡¯ll regret this,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°That day will never come,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Are you really doing this?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°You should think about it carefully,¡± Lance said. ¡°Losing your eyes will completely change your life.¡±


    Stefan smiled at them. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m losing it for nothing. I can become a Whispered and live longer,¡± he said. ¡°And the alternative for it is being a Kyron for the remainder of my life and dying a meaningless death.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re that adamant, then so be it,¡± Ewan said, putting the crystal ball away. ¡°Once we find Nana, you can initiate the process, and I¡¯ll help you take your eyes out. You have time till then though, think about it more and tell me if you change your mind, we¡¯ll look for another way that fits you.¡±


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve never dug anyone¡¯s eyes out,¡± Kidd said. ¡°How do you do it? Do you just pull it out?¡±


    ¡°You can help me do it, learn from it, maybe you¡¯ll need the skill in the future,¡± Ewan said. Enucleation was a process whose theory he knew by heart. He could¡¯ve already put the words into practice back in Obria, albeit rather clumsily, let alone now with his vast amount of exposure to the anatomies of Starons and Astylinds alike.


    ¡°Should we move now?¡± Stefan asked.


    ¡°Yeah, our business here is done, we¡¯ll beeline for Nana¡¯s area now,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You manage Nyte, I¡¯ll deal with the egg.¡±


    The Stormfalcon broke the waves towards the endless waters again on Stefan¡¯s directions while Ewan focused on the feather and its scorching zeal for the egg, loosening its restriction bit by bit. The feather melted when Ewan let it touch the egg and coated it in an oily layer, the egg soaking it up with small tremors. When its surface dried and the oily sheen dulled, the egg fluctuated with vigorous signs of life¡ªit had come alive in its best condition.


    Identify!


    [Astylind Name: Necros-Crow (Egg)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-0]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Dark]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Possibly extinct natives of Airadia. Thought to be the harbinger of misfortune and ruination, revered and dreaded as the one closest to death. Exceptional affinity with the dark-element from the birth (Endued) but they also bear its consequences (Unproven).]


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Dark), Astylind Blood (Dark), Darkforest Grime, Nightberry, Necros Remains.]


    [Remark 1: Beware, pay heed to their cries, for you will lose your Astylind if you don¡¯t.]


    [Remark 2: Suicidal tendencies, sensitive to foreign stimulus. A tougher stance combined with a softer touch appears to work well in managing them.]


    The ¡®suicidal tendencies¡¯ threw Ewan off; his worries missed the mark by megameters. He expected issues with the egg, given the condition he found it in. Even though the feather brought it back to life, the suspended state of limbo for ages could twist its normalcy. Yet, his spell identified no problem with the egg and instead the remarks warned him of the species¡¯ inherent plight. Mental issues and a rapport with death were not something he predicted¡­


    The description painted it as a possible consequence of the high affinity with the dark-element, but the ¡®unproven¡¯ couldn¡¯t contain his confidence in the statement. It took Ewan back to Drarith and reminded him of Avis. He experimented with the dark-element, and he manifested issues of the same spectrum. But Kidd too had high affinity with the element and even resonated with the undead, and he showed no such signs. One contradicted the other and tugged Ewan towards disbelieving the claim.


    Nevertheless, this was not his concern for the moment. Whether the crow suffered from the problem because of his affinity or because of his genes, he was still going to be Ewan¡¯s fifth Astylind. And with the advent of his spell, his blood spilled, bloomed, and cocooned the egg. When the threads thinned and when his wound healed, the shell cracked. Soon the fracture spread to the whole egg and with several weak blows against the shell, an ugly, pink-skinned featherless chick stumbled out and collapsed, cawing at Ewan with his eyes shut.


    With the contract, there was no need for the imprint. The crow saw him as his father, and the intimacy in his consciousness conveyed the emotion.


    Ewan smiled and carried the baby crow in a hug, his reddish and immature beak biting his chin and nose, as an eye-shaped onyx rune glimmered in his soul space, and his world opened up to the dark-element.


    ¡°Ghost,¡± Ewan said and named the baby crow.


    [Astylind Name: Necros-Crow]


    [Astylind Level: Level-0]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-D]


    [Anima Affinity: Dark]


    [Skills: Dark-Endued]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. Thought to be the harbinger of misfortune and ruination, revered and dreaded as the one closest to death. Exceptional affinity with the dark-element from the birth (Endued) but they also bear its consequences (Unproven).]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Astylind Core (Dark), Astylind Blood (Dark), Darkforest Grime, Nightberry, Necros Remains.]


    [Remark 1: Beware, pay heed to their cries, for you will lose your Astylind if you don¡¯t.]


    [Remark 2: Suicidal tendencies, sensitive to foreign stimulus. A tougher stance combined with a softer touch appears to work well in managing them.]


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.4 | Ice ¨C 25.4 | Blood ¨C 25.4 | Mystic: 25.4 | Dark: 25.4]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-0] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 25,145


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-210 Ghost

    The absence of the hub made it harder for Ewan to raise Ghost in his infancy, but luckily, the little crow wasn¡¯t choosy about his food. As Stormfalcon cut its path on the waters, Ewan and his motley crew hunted the aquatic Astylinds for their lunch and dinner, mincing a tiny part of it to feed Ghost while he nestled inside Ewan¡¯s collar on his shoulder, sharing the warmth. When his eyes opened and his curious gaze fell on the world around him, Frost, Orange, Toast, and Iris brought him in into their group. He was the youngest of them, so he became the pampered. Frost gave him rides on his head, Toast and Orange made him their younger brother, while Iris let him play with her roots and created a cozy nest for his naps.


    A fortnight went away, inky feathers covered his skin, and he finally looked the part. And with his mentors being who they were, Ghost too picked up their mischief, and it backfired on Toast as his tail became the favorite thing for the little crow to bite. He didn¡¯t play by their rules either and after messing with the little kitty¡¯s tail, he scuttled back to Ewan for shelter, much to Toast¡¯s chagrin.


    Finally, with his growth passing its initial stage, the time for his first flight arrived with the rare dawn. Ewan stood on the top deck with his Astylinds, watching Ghost make his way to the edge as his talons trembled. He looked back at Ewan and cawed to show his reluctance, but Ewan gave him a rigid stare and stood with his hands in his pockets.


    ¡°Jump,¡± he said, while Toast meowed gleefully in his misery, his tail swaying about elated.


    Ghost flapped his wings and cawed at the edge, and with half a minute of hesitation, he jumped down with a slight nudge from Ewan¡¯s Ryvia. But the attempt failed miserably as he plunged down into the water with long panicked caws, fluttering his wings.


    Ewan grabbed him with his Ryvia before he hit the waves and brought him back to the deck. ¡°Again,¡± he said.


    And the trial repeated.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Ghost was unlike normal crows, though. He was an Astylind, a talented one at that, and flight was his nature. So, after the repeated attempts numbed his fear and when his talons held him up with confidence, his wings finally took him to the air, and he howled a triumphant caw as he soared.


    Kidd, Lance, and Stefan cheered him on from the deck, Toast, Orange, and Iris celebrated his success, and Ewan smiled as a sense of accomplishment washed over him. Only Frost stared at Ghost in silence, and the envy in him didn¡¯t hide from Ewan.


    ¡°Do you want to fly like that too?¡± he asked, stroking the little imp¡¯s head that had reached above his waist.


    Frost lowered his eyes, and his silence answered in his stead. His dread of heights made him yearn for the wings. Even though he could take to the sky after breaking through to Step-1, it was an application of Ryvia or Ryvia-like counterpart, as it was for all the non-winged Astylinds. He could hover in the air and move about, but he couldn¡¯t ¡®fly¡¯.


    Ewan couldn¡¯t understand the difference. Both his Ryvia flight and his <Flight> spell gave him freedom in the air. He didn¡¯t need the wings, for he could fly as he wished without them. But since Frost longed for it, he didn¡¯t have the heart to crush him with the cruel reality. Several lines of Demons would grow wings at a certain stage, but the evolution path of imps of the ice-variant remained in the exception category. Regardless of the path he chose for Frost, he would never grow wings.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to find a way,¡± Ewan said in hollow reassurance and Frost nodded, but his eyes remained down as his grown maturity understood his situation.


    As they talked, Ghost continued his flight, cawing with the tireless flaps of his wings. He circled the Stormfalcon skillfully, keeping up with it on the ocean while riding the air. Yet, in his current lap, when he reached the front, he froze and collected his wings, plunging down into the ocean with his accumulated momentum. Ewan nigh freaked out and caught him back with his Ryvia, only to find a dispirited and depressed crow burying his head into his chest. There was no rhyme or reason for the sudden change, Ewan couldn¡¯t even figure out the spark. And so, it became the first of many unreasonable attempts by Ghost to become a real ghost.


    ¡­.


    An uninhabited island became the Stormfalcon¡¯s last stop before they edged onto the area where Nana was. Though later than what he claimed, Kidd still reached his peak despite the delays. And after he stabilized his state, the four chose this deserted island with a single bald mountain on the way as the place for his advancement rite¡ªthe Prairie Fire. His path was different, but he could still use the same rite. So, Ewan laid the materials down in a clearing beyond the sandy beach, tossed the potions over to Kidd, and walked away with Lance and Stefan after a reciprocated nod. The rite was Kidd¡¯s battle, the steps were his to walk, they couldn¡¯t help or interfere.


    By the time the three exited the sparse forest and buried their foot in the blistering sand, the raging ¡®prairie fire¡¯ declared its presence in the sky, its sweltering tongues of flame incinerating the trees and the grass, even the moist earth singed and cracked, and the rocks reddened¡ªKidd had taken the fourth step.


    ¡°Can he survive this?¡± Stefan asked, staring back at the clearing with wavering eyes.


    ¡°I hope so,¡± Lance muttered.


    ¡°He will, that numbskull won''t die easily,¡± Ewan said, gazing at the endless ocean as the foamy waves washed over the beach. This island was their final stop, and at last, he could meet Nana again. The anxiety burning in his chest flared more often now, and his worries grew by the day. Only when he would have her within his arm¡¯s reach would his angst quieten, and his peace would return.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-2] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-211 Grid Search

    The area where the stars aligned with the map that Nana drew wasn¡¯t any different from the rest of their journey, water and only water occupied the end of their sight. They¡¯d beelined for this area, but beyond this, they were clueless. Nyte¡¯s database marked five major islands and multiple isles in the region that Stefan circled on the map, accounting for the margin of error in his calculation. And since they had no information to point them in the right direction, they could only divide the region into grids with the major islands as their central nodes and start searching one by one¡ªonce they cleared a couple of search areas, Stefan could narrow the scope.


    Luckily, Kidd broke through before coming here and was now a Step-1 Nightwalker, rivaling Ewan. Thus, the two maintained a fixed radius from the Stormfalcon and covered one neighboring grid each, sending updates back to Stefan frequently for him to adjust the search area.


    The first two grids took them a week to cover, and they came out empty handed, albeit with sparked hostility from the natives. Ewan encountered the humanoid-reptilians on the major island of his search area¡ªSisadger, a thorny tailed humanoid Staron covered in sea-green scales with extraordinary physical strength and vitality.


    When he landed on their beach unannounced, they branded him as their enemy and came at him with their makeshift weapons. Even the common language between them¡ªKaaleria¡ªcouldn¡¯t contain their anger. Because he backed off without showing aggression though, and with some words of amity sprinkled on top, the conflict didn¡¯t escalate to Step-1, and they only yelled and screamed and hurled their weapons at him in vain as he flew around for the last confirmation before leaving.


    Kidd too encountered something similar and triggered the native living on the second major island¡ªSeroyote, a winged-humanoid Staron with a small and declining population. Their shrinking numbers made them highly aware and sensitive about their territorial boundaries, and the species once hailed for their peaceful nature had now become feral for survival. And because of the lack of a language they shared, Kidd became the target of their surging aggression and flew for kilometers beyond the island before the Seroyotes chasing after him backed off.


    ¡­


    Stormfalcon, top deck.


    ¡°They¡¯re all lunatics in this area,¡± Kidd said, panting with his hands on his knees as the Stormfalcon swayed with the waves, its anchors holding it in place.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I keep telling you to learn Kaaleria,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°They were like mad dogs, Boss, they won''t care about the same language,¡± Kidd said, calming his breath and wiping the sweat off his forehead.


    ¡°Say that when you learn it,¡± Ewan said, then turned to Stefan. ¡°Stefan, two grids are done, did you adjust the range?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, of the three left, she¡¯s most likely in the southeast grid,¡± Stefan said from under Ewan¡¯s protective shield, keeping away from the dangerous flares of the capricious sun.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start searching there then,¡± Ewan said, then turned to Kidd. ¡°You wait for nightfall then take the northeast grid. Don¡¯t land on the islands this time, just make a round at a peaceful distance. Nana should be on the beach, so you¡¯ll be able to find her without landing.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Boss,¡± Kidd said. ¡°I¡¯ll bring the Kaaleria dictionary with me too this time.¡±


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Just run away if they come at you, don¡¯t blabber nonsense and make things worse. And lose them before coming back, don¡¯t lead them to our ship,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Lance, you¡¯re good here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Lance said, donning his recently polished but dented chromed breastplate, and gripping his scythe and his shield.


    ¡°Okay then, keep the channel open and communicate even the tiniest details,¡± Ewan said and hovered off towards the southeast grid, shooting off with the <Flight> spell after a distance.


    ¡­.


    Days and nights of sweeping through the isles finally led Ewan to the main island of the grid, Bexthon Haven. And his instincts tingled and sounded off an orange alert by the time the strip of the island cleared the horizon against the starry night. The dim circle of water around it lay dead and flat without a twitch of a wave, the scattered bits of light bent around the area and twisted the reality, and even the wind sank into the water when it approached this part of the ocean, the depth smothering the bubbles.


    An invisible barrier divided the normal from the abnormal. The waves outside crashed into the invisible wall with the wind egging them on, lost a chunk of their size to the abnormality, then backed off. And the water inside the circle darkened even more.


    But regardless of the strange phenomenon, Ewan only stared at the crude hut on the beach with his heart racing. The weirdness around the island warped its image by the time it reached him, but he still recognized it from her words. She created the walls with reinforced sand, a flapping bedsheet hung for the door, and the dead barks formed her roof¡ªleaky, but at least it was a livable home. The campfire that she always kept alive was on it last flickers, and before the firewood died into embers, a familiar figured pushed aside the bedsheet flap, stepped out of the hut, and rekindled the blaze. The distorted image couldn¡¯t give Ewan a confirmation, but he knew it was her. She¡¯d thinned a lot, but it was her.


    ¡°Come to me,¡± Ewan said on the remote-bracelet with trembling hands and an uncontrolled grin on his face. ¡°I found her.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-212 Bexthon Haven

    Stormfalcon, Bridge.


    ¡°Is it really her?¡± Kidd asked, staring at the distorted image of the island and the hut on the screen.


    ¡°It¡¯s her,¡± Ewan said, a hint of comforted smile hanging on his lips, his bubbling anxiety quietening down. He could see her now, she was safe.


    ¡°How do we go in?¡± Stefan asked. ¡°The water around the island looks weird.¡±


    ¡°Nyte, do you have anything on it in your database?¡± Ewan asked, taking out the books that might give him more details.


    ¡°Confirmed match with the phenomenon of compressed water, sir,¡± Nyte said. ¡°Flight will be restricted in the area; sailing and swimming are not recommended.¡±


    And the books led Ewan to the related topic of ¡®Animaborn¡¯, an archaic path of Starons that had long gone extinct. The island could have or be a naturally formed rune that sucked in and compressed the water around it, and the accumulation over time resulted in the current situation. This was the vital core for the branches of that archaic path, ¡®Seaborn¡¯ in this case, and was also the cause of their extinction.


    ¡°We can''t fly in; we can''t sail on the water. How do we get to the island?¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Restricted doesn¡¯t mean impossible,¡± Ewan said, keeping the books away. ¡°With enough thrust, we should be able to cross the stretch. But it¡¯ll strain the damaged thrusters.¡±


    ¡°Stormfalcon should be able to take it, but it¡¯s a risk,¡± Stefan added. ¡°If its stranded inside and the thrusters die, we¡¯ll be helpless.¡±


    ¡°If I fly high enough and rush in, I should be able to hit the beach¡­,¡± Ewan said and calculated the arc he would have to make against the stretch of the compressed water to stick the landing.


    ¡°It should be possible¡­but¡­will you be fine dropping down from that height?¡± Stefan asked.


    ¡°I have my Varos, it¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ewan said. ¡°At worst I¡¯ll break some bones, I can handle as much.¡±


    ¡°And how will you come back, Boss?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°We can use a rope,¡± Lance said. ¡°If Stormfalcon hovers at a height, we can haul them back out without touching the water.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go then, I¡¯ll take the risk,¡± Kidd said. ¡°If anything happens to me, remember to bury me in the ocean.¡±


    Before he could puff his chest with the pride of self-sacrifice, Ewan grabbed his hair and yanked him around as always. ¡°Let¡¯s go with the rope method. Stefan, double check the height and speed for me. Nyte, take off and hover with some distance from the compressed water,¡± he said amidst Kidd¡¯s oscillating screams and the awakening thrusters. ¡°It¡¯s fine if we can communicate with the bracelet, but if we can''t, we¡¯ll talk with signs. Always keep an eye on the island. Lance, make sure this numbskull doesn¡¯t cause any problems.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on him, sir,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°A hovering warship might attract unwanted attention; you guys need to be on your toes while I¡¯m away. Don¡¯t create unnecessary conflicts, don¡¯t get involved in unrelated matters,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If we can''t communicate at all, and if I have to stay in there for long, drop the warship back and anchor at a distance. I¡¯ll find some other way off the island. At worst, I¡¯ll just walk the seabed and come out.¡±


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡­.


    They did several tests with different materials at different heights and speeds, and most tumbled inside the invisible barrier and sank in the compressed water without a splash after a smooth arc. Even the dry and hollow logs behaved the same, albeit they cracked and shattered against the force. Some faster objects did make it to the beach, though with a more turbulent path¡ªthe uneven tug from the water when entering the barrier combined with a stronger hurl twirled them harder until they thumped on the sand.


    To make it to the beach, Ewan had to go through this turbulence, there was no other way. And so, he steeled himself with deep breaths, donned the Blackfeather overcoat, fixed the collar and the cuffs, and readied for the launch after the final tests.


    ¡°Will it be alright, Boss?¡± Kidd asked, accompanying Ewan in the air as he pulled away from the barrier and the Stormfalcon to gain the flying distance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, don¡¯t worry,¡± Ewan said, eyeing the stretch then pulling back some more, his overcoat fluttering with the wind. ¡°You¡¯ll be the only Step-1 on the ship while I¡¯m away, you need to protect them and keep the ship safe. I¡¯ll beat the shit out of you if you lose our Warship.¡±


    Kidd nodded and hummed without a word, looking down.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so glum. I¡¯ll go in and bring her back as soon as possible,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Once we come back, we¡¯ll have to start working on getting resources, our savings¡¯ running thin.¡±


    ¡°Are we becoming mercs?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°If the islands around the area have any work and offer a handsome pay, then that. If not, then we¡¯ll just loot them,¡± Ewan said, finalizing the distance and tracing the <Flight> spell in his soul space. ¡°I¡¯m taking off now, keep things stable out here, don¡¯t cause problems you can''t solve.¡± He chose the Fire-Anima for the fuel and triggered the spell.


    ¡°Godspeed, Boss,¡± Kidd said and backed away from his path. And with a burst of orange flames, Ewan launched at the island, leaving a contrasting trail of fire against the night sky that dissipated when he became a blur on the horizon. He gained speed by the second as he pushed the spell, the drag resisted him, the circuit trembled from the overload of Anima, and by the time his fire rune bottomed out, he zipped passed the Stormfalcon, swooshed inside the barrier, and tumbled from the sudden pull.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-213 Reunited

    Ewan lost control the moment he entered the affected area of the compressed water and wheeled towards the island. Even when he switched the Anima for the <Flight> spell and restarted it, he still couldn¡¯t fly as he wished and could barely resist the tugging force. The world spun; the island came in view, then the endless water and the smudge of the Warship replaced it, and the island came back again. The distorted sense of information coming in couldn¡¯t form a coherent thought, his sense of balance collapsed. And the dense Water-Anima smothered him as he crashed onto the beach, exploding a crater, and launching a shower of sand that pitter-pattered back on his intact Varos.


    Ewan gasped and coughed from the impact, his breaths wheezing in and out. The stars rotated in the sky and snaked in his eyes as he lay flat on the beach, his Varos keeping the world away from him while he recovered. And soon, the exhilaration of making it to the island rushed in. He succeeded; after so long, he finally reached her.


    When his state stabilized, he got up and looked towards the other side of the beach, he looked at the crude hut and the ever so familiar figure staring back at him. The crash must¡¯ve startled her, so her widened and teary eyes and a gaping mouth greeted Ewan.


    He smiled and walked forth, and she dashed at him. His strides dug into the sand, her sprint hurled the sand back, and she slammed into him, her arms tightly hugging his neck as she bawled on his shoulder. Ewan supported her impact and held her by her thinned waist, caressing her hair with a gentle touch, and the nostalgic scent of night-jasmine embraced him.


    ¡°Finally found you,¡± Ewan whispered in a soft voice and with a contented smile, and Nana continued crying, drenching his collar like she used to. She was within his reach now; nothing could hurt her anymore¡ªhis knotted angst finally unfurled, and a sense of relief washed over him. His presence loosened her tensed nerves too, her mind rested after so long, so after sobbing for minutes, she collapsed and fainted in his arms, her hands still clutching the hug.


    Ice Wall!


    Ewan created a makeshift room with opaque ice walls, coated them with his Ryvia for insulation, and gently lay down on the sand with her, her drool and snot wetting his already drenched overcoat. The sudden release of tension, the solace of confirming her safety, the soothing hums of the insect, and finally reaching her tugged on his eyelids too, and he became drowsy. But he fought it off and just grinned while poking her dumb-looking sleeping face.


    ¡­.


    Not long after Ewan¡¯s crash landing on the island and his reunion with Nana, as he enjoyed the relaxing bliss, the forest hushed down and some guests knocked on his door. Blindfolded men in black garb lined the edge of the forest, some holding a lantern with flickering fire of various gradient, and they stared at his makeshift room of ice, none making any noise, not even a whisper among themselves.


    ¡°Guest from afar, can you talk my tongue?¡± An old man among them stepped forth and asked in Kaaleria, without stepping onto the sand, his wrinkled skin wriggling with his words, and his bent back barely supporting his gait and his lantern¡ªhe fluctuated with waves of Step-1, stronger than Ewan and any he¡¯d met on his journey.


    Ewan blocked his sound for Nana the moment he started speaking and isolated her, then enlisted the sand with his Ryvia to form his reply in midair.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡®I can.¡¯ The sand formed the words of Kaaleria. ¡®I apologize for intruding in your home like this.¡¯


    Even though they¡¯d attacked Nana before, and he wanted to rip them apart for it, dialogue would work better than aggression in his current situation when the water trapped them here and he had to keep Nana safe, especially when the old man triggered the warning from his instincts.


    The line of quiet men squirmed a little, and some alarmed and excited whispers came forth. Not only the old man, but the others could ¡®see¡¯ his words of sand too, most likely with their version of Ryvia. Nonetheless, the silence took over again when the old man spoke. ¡°It¡¯s been an age since we¡¯ve had a guest¡­a guest who could talk our tongue,¡± he said in a dialect, his voice trailing off. ¡°A long time¡­I¡¯m called Algernon, I¡¯m the current patriarch of my Taredith tribe. May I have your name?¡±


    ¡®I¡¯m Ewan Ayres.¡¯ The older sand dispersed, and the new words formed. ¡®I¡¯m here to pick her up. Once I find a way out, we¡¯ll be off your island.¡¯


    ¡°We seem to have had some conflicts with her before, I apologize to you on behalf of my people,¡± Algernon said, bending his already hunched back and lowering his head. ¡°I hope we can let bygones be bygones.¡±


    Ewan waited a breath and formed the words again. ¡®I agree.¡¯


    Neither mentioned the woman Nana killed, and her death became the insignificant loss that no one cared about against the possibility of conflict between the two Step-1 powers. After all, Ewan only had one Nana to protect, but the old man had to keep dozens of his people safe, not to mention his home. If push came to shove, Ewan could topple the old man just by targeting the weak from his tribe.


    ¡°Still, as compensation, let me give you a vital piece of information,¡± Algernon said. ¡°You can''t take her away, the water won''t let you.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-214 Seaborn

    Quiet reigned on the sands for breaths, the blindfolded men and Ewan, both sides held their words as Algernon¡¯s voice faded into the wind. His politeness was only his front, and his sentence baited Ewan into the trade. Yet, for Nana, he gave in and triggered the deal after his thoughts cleared up.


    ¡®What can I offer you for that information?¡¯ The words of sand formed.


    ¡°Knowledge of the outside world,¡± Algernon said with a smile, his cunning hidden beneath.


    The gap in information could make or break a win, Ewan had already tasted it with the Governor when his family¡¯s legacy took him to victory. And here, Algernon held the upper hand and shoved Ewan into passivity. Nevertheless, Ewan too wasn¡¯t without his bullets.


    ¡®That¡¯s very vague.¡¯ The words said. ¡®How about information on the Swordfish Pirates and the Alasec island?¡¯


    Algernon trembled with a wave of hostility when the sand grains formed the words, and the line of men rumbled again, the agitation was worse than before. Ewan¡¯s offer threw a spark into the tinder, and the blindfolded men went up in flames with their ruffled voices of alarm jumbling together.


    ¡°How do we verify it?¡± Algernon asked once his men quietened at his prompt.


    ¡®You can''t.¡¯ The words wrote. ¡®That¡¯s the same for me, I can''t confirm your information either.¡¯


    ¡°Okay.¡± Algernon agreed within seconds of mulling and sent a tattered book towards the icy room while waiting for Ewan to hold his end of the deal.


    Ewan kept all the information written in his logs and diaries, but it was in common tongue. So, he recorded it in Kaaleria again, omitted sensitive information that could affect him and his group, and passed the crystal ball to the old man.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk again later.¡± Algernon nodded and pocketed the ball, and Ewan pulled his Ryvia back with the book when the trade ended, the words of sand collapsing onto the beach. And the blindfolded men receded back into the forest, their backs soon melding and fading amongst the trees.


    The insects hummed again.


    ¡­.


    The book wrote the wonders and the horrors of the water around the island, and it mostly matched what Ewan read about the ¡®Animaborn¡¯, or its branch called ¡®Seaborn¡¯. The island birthed a natural rune of water when the Taredith tribe had just made it their home. So, when the rune gathered and compressed the water, the phenomenon separated the eyeless men and women from the outside world forever.


    The threadbare pages recounted the generations worth of helplessness and the anguish they¡¯d suffered, their tears and blood stained every sentence. Nature helped them survive, and the same crucified them to an eternal solitude. They yearned for the sky, they yearned for the world, but they were allowed none.


    Ewan eyed the words and flipped through, getting to the meat of the book that contained the vital piece of information he needed. The tribe didn¡¯t know about the ¡®Seaborn¡¯ path or about the natural rune, but from tests and experiments, with numerous lives lost over the ages, they¡¯d confirmed a few fatal details¡ªthe impossibility of flight, the pull of the water, and the corrosion from its Anima.


    He skimmed the first two¡ªthe details matched his owns books¡ªand focused on the third. But Nana woke up with a moan before he could finish one sentence.


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


    ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± she said, rubbing her puffed eyes.


    ¡°I was right on time, couldn¡¯t have made a better entry,¡± Ewan said, putting the book aside and using a thread of his Ryvia to go through the words.


    ¡°You wheeled in the air and crashed into the sand,¡± she said, brushing his stubble. ¡°You grew a beard.¡±


    ¡°Would be weird if I didn¡¯t by now,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You jumped on me without even confirming if it was me, what if it was someone else?¡±


    ¡°Only you have this hideous mug in the whole world, I can recognize it anywhere,¡± she said, grazing her cheek against his, scraping his stubble.


    Ewan scoffed. ¡°I was also expecting to pick up a beauty, all I got was an ugly bitch,¡± he said, almost finishing the book. ¡°Your hair is a bird¡¯s nest.¡±


    ¡°Live on the sand alone for so long and see what happens to you,¡± she said, pinching and tracing his long hair that nigh reached his lips. ¡°When was the last time you cut them?¡±


    ¡°I was busy looking for you, your dumb map led me nowhere,¡± he said, stowing the book away in his claw-ring, heaving a heavy and silent sigh in his heart.


    The corrosion of the Anima from a natural rune was the spark that ignited the ¡®Animaborn¡¯ path. The Anima would invade and mutate any apt person in the vicinity¡ªanyone with a suitable affinity with the element¡ªand the complete transference of the rune would be the birth of an Asheva, an ¡®Animaborn¡¯. For this island, the sands were the reach of the Anima, and since the confirmation, the Taredith tribe had not stepped one foot beyond the forest.


    Their path of the ¡®Whispered¡¯ depended on the harmonious rhythm and the balanced ¡®sound¡¯ of all Anima in nature, and the extreme approach of the ¡®Animaborn¡¯ conflicted with their core concept¡ªany Whispered who contacted the abundance of invasive Water-Anima had gone mad and killed himself.


    Nana had lived on the beach too though, and she had the Recipient-level of affinity with the water element because of her rune¡­.


    ¡°Let me check your soul space,¡± Ewan said and touched her forehead with his, and gently sent a trace of Ryvia in. And indeed, her runes were in a mess, as was her pool of spirit. The sapphire rune of water that should¡¯ve been a triangle had contorted, branches extending out with a metallic sheen, and it was tugging on her other two runes of earth and wood elements while resonating with an external wave. She was in the process of turning into a Seaborn, and the water won''t let her go until it completed the transference.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-215 Tamed Resonance

    ¡°When did this happen?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°After we lost contact,¡± she said meekly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me,¡± he said, frowning at her.


    ¡°You would¡¯ve just worried for nothing if I told you¡­.¡± Her voice dimmed further.


    Ewan gritted his teeth and the sense of forced passivity against the threading coincidences hollowed him.


    A series of incidents and possibilities had pushed her to this situation. It happened because she stayed on the beach, but if she didn¡¯t, the eyeless tribe would¡¯ve killed her. It happened because she fell into the space crack and came to this island, but if she didn¡¯t, Slate would¡¯ve killed her. It happened because she accompanied Ewan, but if she didn¡¯t, the demise of Obria would¡¯ve killed her¡­.


    Luckily, she was a Severynth, and the path of Seaborn didn¡¯t conflict with her.


    ¡°What about your Astylinds?¡± he asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re in the runes, it¡¯s become harder to use Dekoth lately,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°Do you understand what¡¯s happened to you?¡±


    ¡°From dad¡¯s journal,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°I can''t be a Severynth anymore.¡±


    ¡°Stand up, let¡¯s do some tests,¡± Ewan said and pulled her up, putting away the ice walls. He led her to different parts of the beach and checked her rune with each step. It resonated the most near the water, the mutation sped up and burdened her soul, but her body eased, and she relaxed. And it resonated the least near the forest, but she grimaced in pain, and her soul space trembled.


    If she stayed near the water, the rate of invasion would rip her soul apart, and if she took one more step beyond the sands, the resonance with the natural rune would snap and the consequence might crush her soul¡­


    ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Ewan said, triggering the communication channel in his remote-bracelet.


    ¡°I¡­can, Boss¡­voice¡­garbled.¡± Kidd¡¯s distorted reply came a minute later with several parts missing.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± Ewan said then focused on the bracelet again. ¡°It¡¯ll take me some time here, come down and drop the anchor. Don¡¯t go too far to hunt if you run out of food and water.¡±


    ¡°Got¡­Boss¡­Are¡­both fine?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re both fine. Just take care of each other, and don¡¯t reply anymore,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Contact me if you cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± The blurred reply came anyway.


    ¡°I got us a warship,¡± Ewan said to Nana, spreading his Ryvia towards the water to check the resonance. ¡°It¡¯s our home now.¡± The further his Ryvia spread, the harder it became for him to move ahead, and the untouchable resonance became tangible against his spirit. But since Ewan had no affinity with the water and lacked the rune, the resonance wasn¡¯t interested in mutating him. Nevertheless, he still tested its tenacity and confirmed its prowess¡ªif it acted on him, he could only resist the invasion for a month or so.


    The bad news from the tests was that he had no way to reverse it, and the only way to take Nana away was to let her become a Seaborn. The good news, though, was that he could influence it and control the force of mutation, he could keep Nana safe as she completed the process.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Warship?¡± Nana tilted her and asked.


    ¡°Yeah, the one you¡¯re thinking of,¡± Ewan said, jotting everything down in his diary.


    ¡°How did you get it?¡± she asked, widening her eyes.


    ¡°It was there, I got it,¡± Ewan said, gesturing with his hands. ¡°Is that more important right now? Solve this problem first.¡±


    ¡°Does it matter? Severynth, Seaborn, they¡¯re all the same to me,¡± she said, kicking the sand.


    ¡°Many things will change as a Seaborn,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You¡¯ll have to learn the ropes again. It¡¯ll probably affect your ability to create artifacts too, among other things. And the worst will be your Astylind, I¡¯m not sure how it¡¯ll affect them.¡±


    The more Ewan said, the more Nana sweated, and she finally collapsed at the end and cried.


    ¡°Will they die?¡± she asked with teary eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I¡¯ll try to prevent that.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose them too¡­¡± She leaned on his chest and buried her face.


    Ewan sighed and caressed her head. ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± he said under his breath.


    And thus began their days, or nights actually, on the beach, living in the crude hut together. Ewan stuck with Nana every second of the hour and kept her soul space covered with his Ryvia, only letting the resonance in through the gaps he made. This slowed down the invasion and lowered the burden on her soul, and the process proceeded smoothly. He checked her Astylinds too once he could seep his Ryvia inside her runes and noted their mutation¡ªthe resonance was changing them as it was affecting Nana¡¯s rune. Because of his interference though, their strain also decreased, and he confirmed their safety, for the time being at least.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting chilly lately,¡± Nana said with a shiver, hugging her knees on the sand before the crackling campfire, a gust of wintry wind that escaped the water lifting her long hair in a gentle wave and a snap at the end.


    ¡°This night has already lasted over a week, something might be happening with the sun again,¡± Ewan said, hugging her from behind while adjusting the fallen blanket, her hair softly slapping him in the face.


    ¡°Did you really cause this?¡± she asked, leaning back on his chest, and looking up at him with a sparkle of childish curiosity in her eyes.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t, the Governor did, get that through your thick skull already,¡± Ewan said, adding more firewood to the declining flames.


    ¡°Lord Ewan.¡± Algernon called from the edge of the forest, lifting his lantern to his face. ¡°May I have a word?¡±


    ¡°Sir Algernon.¡± Ewan draped the blanket over Nana, clapped the sand off, and walked over. ¡°I wished to have a talk with you too,¡± he said.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-3] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-216 Favor

    ¡°How do you intend to proceed?¡± Algernon asked, the light from the lantern flickering on his creased face and melding his shadow into the pitch-black woods.


    ¡°She¡¯ll accept the rune and the water around us will disappear,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯ll take her away with me after that.¡±


    ¡°So, it really is possible¡­,¡± Algernon said with an agitated voice, his hand trembling.


    ¡°It is,¡± Ewan said with a slight squint. Even though the tribe didn¡¯t know about the Seaborn path, their tests and experiments had confirmed the reason behind their plight¡ªthe invasion of Water-Anima conflicted with the Whispered. This also meant that someone who wasn¡¯t a Whispered would react differently with the invasion¡­ This old man might¡¯ve perceived the specialty of the natural rune. He might¡¯ve left Nana alive on the beach to confirm his doubts.


    ¡°Will we be able to leave too?¡±


    ¡°If you wish to,¡± Ewan said and nodded.


    Algernon took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the lantern and held his trembles, lowering his head again. ¡°I thank you on behalf of all my people, living and dead. We¡¯ll never forget this debt.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I had to talk to you about,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Once she accepts the rune and the water disappears, the island will connect to the outside world again. I¡¯m sure it means a great deal to you and your tribe. And since it is a favor, I¡¯d like to ask something of you in return.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s something within my capability, I will never refuse,¡± Algernon said. ¡°Please, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I would like to have your ¡®Whispered¡¯ inheritance,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Our inheritance?¡± Algernon asked, his wrinkles hiding his frown. ¡°I don¡¯t see how that would be of any use to you. You two already have your own paths of Asheva.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s for research purposes,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I won''t spread it if that¡¯s your concern.¡± His ask was a deliberate inflation, and he saved his actual target for after the old man¡¯s refusal.


    ¡°I must apologize; I can''t fulfill your request. It¡¯s our legacy, our predecessors died to create this path for us, I can''t be the one to undermine their efforts,¡± Algernon said. ¡°Please ask for something else, Lord Ewan.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Ewan sighed with disappointment. ¡°Then forget about it, let¡¯s write off this favor,¡± he said with a polite and a distant smile.


    ¡°We can''t do that, I must pay you back,¡± Algernon said. ¡°You¡¯ve saved my tribe from an eternal imprisonment; we must repay this favor.¡±


    ¡°If you must¡­then how about those lanterns,¡± Ewan said, eyeing his actual goal. ¡°Can I have its manufacturing method, details on how it works, or anything related?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a companion artifact for us Whispered, you won''t find any other use for it,¡± Algernon said. ¡°But okay, I¡¯ll have a new one sent to you soon, along with its details.¡±


    ¡°You have my thanks.¡±


    ¡­.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± Nana asked when Ewan sat back down behind her, adjusting the blanket.


    ¡°Nothing much, just asking about the status quo,¡± Ewan said, hovering the Spellbook before them and reading it over Nana¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s happy that you can take the water away, so he repaid the favor.¡±


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°What did you ask for?¡± she asked, watching the pages flip in the air.


    ¡°Their lantern, Stefan needs that but the inheritance we got didn¡¯t have any data on it,¡± Ewan said, eyeing the spells in the book, blocking their voices within the vicinity. The plight and the vulnerability of the current situation tilted him towards a spell he¡¯d seen in the book. The invasion of the natural rune had already done the damage, it had already altered Nana¡¯s path, and it couldn¡¯t threaten them anymore. So, the most dangerous element on the island now was Algernon, or anyone of the tribe who equaled him or surpassed his prowess. And the spell he was looking for could counter an aspect of the Taredith tribe. It would give Ewan an edge in case the amiable dialogues became thorny.


    ¡°Are we a group of four now? No, five, counting me,¡± she said.


    ¡°If you stay on this island forever, we can become four again,¡± he uttered mindlessly, sorting through the spells.


    ¡°What¡¯re you looking for?¡± she asked, scraping her hand against Ewan¡¯s stubble on the chin.


    ¡°Deadlife¡­I think was the name¡­,¡± Ewan said under the breath.


    ¡°Dark element? Did you contract a new Astylind?¡±


    ¡°A crow, named him Ghost. I¡¯ll introduce you once we get out of here,¡± he said. ¡°He¡¯s related to this tribe, exposing him might complicate matters even more, though I don¡¯t see any crows here. Also, if I let him out here, he might jump into the water and kill himself.¡±


    ¡°Another weirdo like you,¡± she said.


    ¡°If anything, he¡¯s more like you, prone to gloom and drab,¡± he said. ¡°If I gave him some liquor, he¡¯d become an alcoholic too.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t drink anymore, haven¡¯t touched it since you took my bottles,¡± she whined and mumbled.


    ¡°That reminds me,¡± Ewan said and narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°You owe me several bottles of my pricey potions. One strand of hair for one bottle, and I¡¯ll take interest.¡±


    The flames fluttered with her screams as Ewan played out his revenge on her chestnut hair, and the dreary beach came alive with their animated foolery. Today followed the yesterday, and tomorrow too would mirror this night, their presence smudged each grain of sand and their consonance buzzed aloud.


    Nights greeted their mornings, nights had bade them good night, and their sense of time blurred beneath the perpetual stars as days sped by. The occasional dim moons barely held the thread of normalcy, but that too ran thin with the long absence of the sun, and the balanced seasons contorted in a prejudiced mess. The island reflected that reality, and when the first speckle of snow feathered down on Ewan¡¯s palm and stayed, and when the untimely Frosthelm announced its dominance, the world ushered in a long spell of silence.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-217 New Path

    ¡°B¡­Boss¡­we¡­got a problem.¡± Kidd¡¯s garbled voice triggered the channel when the snowfall escalated with biting winds evading the compressed water and stirring the whitening beach.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ewan asked, inching close to the ocean to minimize the range.


    ¡°Some ships¡­been popping up here and¡­lately,¡± he said with chopped words. ¡°They¡¯re¡­pirates¡­eyeing our warship.¡±


    ¡°Have they attacked you?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Let them be then,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Don¡¯t attack or contact them unless they come to you. We¡¯ll deal with them once we¡¯re done here.¡±


    ¡°How long¡­take, Boss?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be done today, I¡¯ll talk to you then,¡± Ewan said, cutting off the channel, and turned around to look at Nana. ¡°Ready?¡± he asked.


    She gave a strained nod and gulped, clutching her fists. Her water rune had almost completed its change, it had nigh synced with the natural rune, and only the last step remained.


    ¡°Nothing will happen to you,¡± Ewan said as his breath steamed with every word. It was a promise to her and himself, and he intended to keep it at any cost. ¡°And nothing should happen to your Astylinds either.¡±


    ¡°Should¡­,¡± she muttered and lowered her head, her eyes reflecting the still and dingy waters.


    ¡°They¡¯ve been fine so far, and they¡¯re showing signs of mutation,¡± Ewan said, stroking her head in a hug. ¡°There¡¯s a high chance they¡¯ll survive, don¡¯t let the anxiety disturb you. Focus and complete the process, don¡¯t think about anything else. Let¡¯s start.¡±


    She nodded, a steeled tenacity replacing her wavering gaze, her nostrils flaring with her deep breaths.


    Ice Wall!


    Ewan spread the cast and erected a stretching hall on the beach, blocking all sides¡ªthe lesson from the Governor had him cover the ground too. And when the walls fused together in a single construction, he pulled his authority out of them, erased his presence left during their creation, and let them blend into the nature. Wisps of wintry mist glided away from the frosted walls, and the low temperature plummeted further inside the ice hall.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking it away, brace yourself,¡± Ewan said and took back his Ryvia that covered Nana¡¯s soul space to further reduce his influence, leaving just an inert thread behind for observation, lingering in the corner. If things went south, he could use it to launch his strength into her soul and save her life.


    The invasive wave of the natural rune burst in when he stepped away from her, pushing her runes past the finishing line. She grimaced with squeezed eyes and clawed his forearms, stopping him from going back, her body shivering as she sweated even in the negative cold, and her runes finalized their change.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Nana fared well through the process, albeit with bouts of pain eliciting her groans and her nails digging in Ewan¡¯s arms. Supple streams of water circled her, the bubbles cheered around, her hair danced with them, and her presence began to shift as success knocked on the door. Yet when she stepped over to the Seaborn¡¯s side, her Astylinds rejected the mutation. Nana¡¯s decision was their willingness too, none of her Astylinds refused her change, but they denied it on an instinctual level.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The invasion had never needed their approval though, the transformation was Nana¡¯s helplessness, and the same was her Astylinds¡¯ infirmity. Thus, their rejection only resulted in their deathly screams as the wave of the natural rune bored deep into them, drilled through their core, and forced their change.


    Ewan triggered his thread of Ryvia into three and rushed to their side, seeping into the merging runes and stretching the threads to blanket them. The coat was thin but stood its ground against the invasion and delayed the process, giving the three Astylinds enough time to adjust and suppress their instinct. Nevertheless, he was still one step too late. Even though he saved their lives, the mutation had already scarred them. The damage had left its mark, only its extent remained unclear.


    ¡­.


    She held back her tears, but her eyes misted, and she trembled with her choppy breaths stirring the fog around.


    ¡°Does it hurt here?¡± Ewan poked under her jaws with a playful smile, trying to cheer her up. But she slapped his hand away and glared at him with watery eyes, her nose reddening.


    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t cry. They all survived, didn¡¯t they,¡± Ewan said, prodding her nose this time. And after two tries of swatting him away as he evaded, she grabbed his hand and chomped on it, and her tears finally fell.


    ¡°Go easy, go easy.¡± Ewan held her forehead to prevent a deep bite, but soon the pressure increased. ¡°Ahh!! Don¡¯t chew!¡± He screamed from his stomach.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Once she let go with a proud face and wiped her mouth with a satisfied grunt, her shoulders had eased, and her eyes cleared up; albeit her relief came at the price of Ewan¡¯s hand. The dog-like deep teeth marks might leave permanent scars¡­


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡± she asked.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Ewan snapped back, blowing on the tingling bite wound.


    ¡°You were annoying me¡­,¡± she murmured. ¡°I think I bite when I¡¯m annoyed,¡± she said with a serious expression and a flash of revelation in her eyes.


    ¡°Took you twenty years to figure that out, I knew it the day we first met.¡± Ewan retorted, covering the bitten area with his palm. His evolved physique made quick work of it, the wound vanished without even leaving a trace behind, but she didn¡¯t need to know that. He could play with her for some time¡­


    ¡°How do you remember that?¡± Nana asked, her eyes widening. ¡°I was one and you were only a few days old back then, I don¡¯t remember anything.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything either, but you must¡¯ve bitten me, a dog will always be a dog.¡±


    And he succeeded in taking her mind off her Astylinds. He couldn¡¯t reduce her guilt, but he could at least dampen it with banter, however vain it was.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Lantern.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-218 The Soulless

    ¡°What changed?¡± Ewan asked when their ribbing settled down, as they shared some sips of frosted water with unpleasant ice chips to moisten their throats, and the crunch accompanied the gulp. ¡°Did you check the rune?¡±


    Nana wiped her mouth with the loose sleeve of her faded-indigo top. ¡°It¡¯s¡­different,¡± she said with some pause. ¡°My Anima has changed; it has a trait now.¡± She closed her eyes and her frown tightened and loosened. ¡°Heavy, dense¡­¡±


    ¡°That should be from the natural rune you absorbed,¡± Ewan said, capping and putting away the bottle. ¡°Every natural rune, even of the same element, has a different trait. Heavy and dense¡­you probably can''t cast healing spells now, but your offensive spells should get a boost.¡±


    Her eyes widened with a sad curve in her brows. She tried out a <Waterbolt> with the scant Anima her rune had gathered, and indeed, her cast framed a hard-packed steel-blue bolt of water before her, sinking and bending the fabrics of Ewan¡¯s Ryvia. ¡°Is this all I can do now? I can''t heal¡­,¡± she muttered, staring at the bolt.


    ¡°You can get another rune once you reach Step-1, we¡¯ll look for a different trait then,¡± he said and glanced over his shoulders. The hosts of the island must¡¯ve guessed Nana¡¯s success, for the forest hushed down again. The natural rune that chained them to the woods was gone now, the caged birds must be eager for the open sky, however bleak it had become. But his business here still remained, he couldn¡¯t let them fly yet.


    ¡°Sir Algernon.¡± Ewan called out. ¡°I ask you to be patient for a little longer.¡±


    The forest only quietened further in his reply, and the eerie silence blared the snowy wind. The cracking frost climbed the ice walls, the frozen sand rained on them with the squall, and the compressed water around the island let up¡ªthe Anima began to dissipate.


    Nana clenched her fists and steeled her eyes, standing beside Ewan. She prepared for a fight, but he couldn¡¯t let her, not yet. Even though she had the foundation of a Severynth, she was still an infant as a Seaborn, her capital couldn¡¯t support a simple combat let alone against a whole tribe.


    ¡°I need you to do something,¡± Ewan said in a nigh whisper, rubbing and loosening her pale white knuckles. ¡°The accumulation of Anima around the natural rune creates treasures, go dive down and look for them. You should be a fish in that water now, take as much and whatever you can. I¡¯ll handle here.¡±


    She looked at him with wavering eyes, her hesitation lasted a long moment. ¡°Okay,¡± she said finally.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Ewan smiled for her relief. ¡°There won''t be any fights here, you won''t miss out on anything.¡± He extended the ice hall to the ocean, and when Nana sank in after a worried stare in his direction, he took the walls down and hovered before the woods.


    ¡°This is our home, Lord Ewan.¡± Algernon¡¯s voice echoed out from the forest with a lingering hum. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t mean to rob us.¡±


    Ewan clicked his tongue, the roaring flutters of his overcoat drowning the sound of his annoyance. He bet on the gap in knowledge and targeted the accumulation of the natural rune, hoping to quietly make away with the loot. But he still fell short.


    ¡°Sir Algernon, your tribe has become free after so long, it must need stability right now. You know this better than I do,¡± Ewan said, taking out his staff loaded with dark element coins. ¡°It will be unwise to create an enemy out of me at this time.¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    The trees trembled, the leaves rustled, and the forest buzzed with a comforting drone. It smoothened the spiking tension and mellowed Ewan¡¯s nerves, almost dragging him into a light drowse. But the waves triggered and collided against his Bralek, the two tails of the fox curled and embraced his soul, and the attack fizzled out.


    ¡°Is that your answer then¡­¡± Ewan squinted and ballooned his Ryvia to cover a chunk of the island, and he cast the spell.


    Deadlife!


    ¡°Awaken, my soulless,¡± he breathed the words, clutching the Rainwarden, the Dark-Anima seething around him. ¡°The living awaits you.¡±


    A tremor ran through the woods, the vines and the ropes snapped, and the skeletons tied on the trees screeched with life. They rose within his Ryvia, the pitch-black hole for their eyes flickering with a haunted blue. And they thudded down and marched ahead with a systematic chaos, their bones rattling against the susurrating grass, the ghostly whispers lingering with their presence.


    ¡°No¡­No! What have you done!!¡± Algernon roared in the forest, and a shockwave blasted out and pummeled Ewan, hurtling him back in the air. His Varos cracked and shattered, then restored and cracked again, as his ribs groaned and smothered his breath. He inhaled a whistle when he steadied himself, gulping through the burning throat. His estimation of Algernon¡¯s strength wasn¡¯t off by much, he could handle this.


    ¡°Sir Algernon, you should reconsider,¡± he said, mapping the area of the island through his undead, moving them towards the tribe. ¡°Today should be festive for you, do you want to stain it with needless blood?¡±


    ¡°Our ancestors¡­You have broken their sleep!¡± Algernon raged again, his voice cracked, and the flame in his lantern rampaged, declaring its flickering existence through the overgrown jungle.


    ¡°When I cancel my spell, they¡¯ll go back to their slumber, Sir Algernon,¡± Ewan said, the soft hum of his voice laced with hints of suggestion, the sparse Mystic-Anima drifting towards the forest. ¡°But if you keep this up, you will lose the living. Are the treasures worth your people¡¯s lives? If so, whose death will you choose first? Whose sacrifice is the cheapest for you, Sir, and who will you protect till the end?¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 2.1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Lantern.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-219 Price

    The Anima dissipated from the compressed water, the ocean thinned around the island, the waves of Morinfair waged war on the area again, and the boundary blurred. Soon, with a roar of victory, Morinfair would claim the lost land and embrace the island. And Ewan only wished it happened sooner.


    The soulless inched closer to the edge of the tribe, stumbling and staggering through the vined foliage, tirelessly slogging forth. Before long they would sink their brittle teeth into warm and bloody flesh, and their bony claws would tear the living apart¡­


    It was Ewan¡¯s command, yet he wished to avoid it if he could, for the attack on the tribe was his bluff. Any bloodshed and death would cement his conflict with Algernon, and unless Ewan killed him now, his threat would hang over his head for the days to come.


    He couldn¡¯t be the only one worried about the rogue predator in the shadows, however, as his small numbers posed a bigger risk to the tribe. And as he hoped indeed, with the added nudge from the suggestion, Algernon caved. ¡°Stop¡­please stop,¡± he said. ¡°I concede.¡±


    ¡°Wise decision, Sir,¡± Ewan said and halted the skeletons¡¯ advance, recovering his Dark-Anima with the coins. ¡°I ask you again to be patient for a little longer, we¡¯ll be out of your hair very soon.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The skeletons¡¯ threat to the tribe balanced Algernon¡¯s threat to Ewan and Nana, and the strained quiet stood on the stable scale, rigged with powder keg. The forest regained its normality, the snowstorm picked up, and its wind howled to celebrate the freedom when the blurred boundary flickered and died for good.


    Tides of Morinfair burst into the barricaded area, flooded the beach, and gushed into the forest, scarfing all in its way. When chaos engulfed the woods and the tribe, when the waves shattered and devoured the skeletons, Nana popped out of the water amidst the raging waves.


    ¡°Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Algernon, let¡¯s meet again someday.¡± Ewan grabbed Nana and shot away with her, his words echoing in his trail.


    Seconds of flight at his highest thrust brought them to the Stormfalcon as Ewan opened a gap in its defense shield and landed on the top deck, dropping Nana on his side.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Kidd dashed over with a clownish smile, wagging his metaphorical tail.


    ¡°Sir, Ma¡¯am.¡± Lance greeted and came over with Stefan.


    ¡°Any hiccups?¡± Stefan asked.


    ¡°Yeah, a big one,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Nyte, anchors up, fire the thrusters, keep on the water.¡± And the Stormfalcon blasted off after the blaring rattles of the chain, sailing away from the island, leaving the chaotic ocean behind in its frothy trail.


    ¡°Are we getting chased, Sir?¡± Lance asked.


    Ewan gazed at the span of the island shrinking over the horizon, eyeing the old but stable figure hovering in the air. Morinfair had wreaked havoc on the tribe, and Algernon contested it for the ownership of the island, and the battle waged on.


    ¡°It should be fine, Morinfair will keep him busy,¡± Ewan said.


    When he turned around, a roar exploded from that aged figure, erupting the waters beneath him, its shockwave even rippling the waves that Stormfalcon broke.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°You really angered him,¡± Nana said, staring at the mayhem they left behind.


    ¡°I barely did anything, most of it was the ocean,¡± Ewan said. ¡°He should be happy he¡¯s free now, his tribe can get out of the island.¡±


    ¡°Ask for a reward when we meet next time then,¡± Nana said with a chuckle.


    ¡°I won''t need to ask the next time we meet,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Where are we going, Ewan?¡± Stefan asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ll decide that later, let¡¯s leave this area first,¡± Ewan said, then turned to Nana. ¡°Go freshen up and change, get some sleep if you want.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your room?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Leave it to me, Boss,¡± Kidd said, still holding his foolish grin. ¡°Sae¡¯sa, I¡¯m Kidd, Boss¡¯s first follower. Oh, I also have a surname now, so I¡¯m Kidd Yales. I also have a younger brother, Walyn Yales, he¡¯s a bit shy.¡±


    ¡°Do the introductions later,¡± Ewan said and kicked his ass, sending him away with the giggling Nana.


    ¡­..


    Stormfalcon, Bridge.


    ¡°That¡¯s the gist of it,¡± Ewan said once he briefed the three about what transpired on the island, emphasizing his read of the Whispered, from their interactions to their combat style. ¡°Stefan, you¡¯ve had ample time to think about it. Will you go through with it, or will you wait? I can''t guarantee anything, but we¡¯ll try to find another path of Asheva for you if you don¡¯t want this.¡±


    ¡°The longer I wait, the worse my chances are. And what if the next one asks for even more?¡± Stefan said, tightening his grip on the armrest, inhaling a lungful. ¡°Ewan, I need this, please take my eyes.¡±


    ¡°Okay then,¡± Ewan said and hovered the crystal ball containing the Whispered inheritance towards Stefan. ¡°Smear your blood on it. If you¡¯re qualified, it should transfer all the inheritance to you.¡±


    Stefan gave a strained nod, ripped the hangnail of his finger with his teeth, and rubbed the trickling blood on the glassy ball, reddening the refraction.


    ¡°Will he succeed?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°He should be able to, he has a strong soul,¡± Ewan said, creating a soundproof dome around Stefan to prevent interference. ¡°Despite all that I said, it¡¯s a good fit for him. He¡¯ll just have to lose his eyes for its price.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Lantern.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-220 Enucleation

    ¡°He¡¯s been practicing with blindfold since you went to the island, Boss,¡± Kidd said, sitting out of Ewan¡¯s reach. ¡°Almost made it to fifty steps without stubbing his toes yesterday, he even stopped spilling all his food now. Though, he still can''t cook like that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll cook,¡± Nana said, straightening her back, holding the edge of her seat as her legs dangled playfully, her boots scuffing the metal floor. ¡°I can''t be the only one idling around here, I¡¯ll be the chef.¡±


    ¡°Sort through what you got on the island first,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I need you to modify some artifacts for me after that. We¡¯ll clear out the mechanics hall for you, use it as you wish, just don¡¯t fall out of the back hatch while we¡¯re on the move.¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t need to fight anyone, I¡¯m the most useless,¡± Lance muttered aloud. ¡°Even in fights, I¡¯m the weakest¡­¡±


    ¡°You just had to poke the issue,¡± Ewan said, glaring at Nana who shrunk her neck.


    ¡°Me! Me!¡± Kidd raised his hand, bobbing his knee. ¡°I gather information for us and deal with shady stuff, I also do the networking to expand our connections.¡±


    ¡°I will handle the logistics,¡± Nana said with a glittering shine in her eyes. In the mental age, she wasn¡¯t far from Kidd, almost two peas in a pod.


    ¡°And Stefan handles the navigation and warship repairs,¡± Lance said, looking lost. ¡°What do I do?¡±


    ¡°You fought a lot of battles back in Drarith, you can handle our strategies and tactics,¡± Kidd said, egging the childish exchange on.


    ¡°Enough with the inane talk already,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Kidd, go prepare the medical bay, I¡¯ll start the procedure as soon as Stefan¡¯s done here. Nana, sort through what you got, I¡¯ll give you the details of the artifacts later. Lance, you go to the top deck and keep an eye on the horizon just in case someone chases our tail.¡±


    ¡°Information, Logistics, Strategy, Navigation.¡± Kidd pointed at himself and each of them respectively, then looked at Ewan, and Nana and Lance followed his gaze. ¡°Boss, you¡­¡±


    ¡°Scram, you fucktards! Get to work!¡±


    And the three scuttled away.


    ¡­.


    Stefan opened his eyes and the crystal ball shattered, nicking his hand. His hurried breaths, the slight trembles in his shoulders, and the clenched fist despite the bloody cuts oozed with excitement. His success wasn¡¯t a surprise to Ewan, the strength of his soul had already proven itself. But he sighed, for the path Stefan chose was about to make him blind, and Ewan would play a role in it. What extent of the blame would he share if Stefan regretted it in the future¡­


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± he asked, regardless of his misgivings.


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t want to wait any longer,¡± Stefan said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Ewan, I won''t regret it. And even if I did, I would never blame you.¡±


    ¡°If only these things worked like that¡­¡±


    The two made their way through the brightly lit corridors, the echoes of their clanging steps accompanying their words.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°I got the lantern from Algernon,¡± Ewan said. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be a vital part of a Whispered, but it wasn¡¯t in the inheritance.¡±


    ¡°It seemed complete though, there were no obvious gaps,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Still, remain skeptical and double check everything with your own experience,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to follow it word for word.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Stefan nodded.


    Down the stairs to the middle floor and through the corridor towards the tail, soon they approached the medical bay.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s ready, Boss,¡± Kidd said, lining up the tools on the table, wiping clean the miniscule smudges his touch left with the clean rag.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start then,¡± Ewan said and suited up, double checking the edge on the scissors, and recounting all the tools he would need. ¡°One last time, are you ready?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Stefan said with a deep breath and lay down on the bed. The lack of cushion removed all the comfort, and nigh frosty metal made him shiver.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to put you to sleep now,¡± Ewan said.


    Siesta!


    He cast and Stefan dozed off, his eyelids fluttering. When the spell deepened, his drowse became a slumber, and he fell into an induced coma.


    The theory of the procedure ran in Ewan¡¯s head, and his ample experience with his experiments held his hands stable as he retracted Stefan¡¯s eyelids with the speculum and snipped the connective tissue around the globe. The squint hook isolated the muscle and detached the capsule from it¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    He clamped the optic nerves and snipped them, finally pulling the second secured globe out of the socket, and only two hollow masses of squirming flesh and strips of orbital fat remained where Stefan¡¯s eyes were once.


    ¡°What now, Boss?¡± Kidd asked from the side, taking away the bloodied tools and the globes, and shifting Stefan to the resting bed.


    ¡°Keep the eyeballs safe, he¡¯ll need them when he wakes up,¡± Ewan said, heaving a heavy breath with his head up. Operating on strangers and working on someone he knew and shared meals with took different tolls on him. If this was Nana, he might not even have a stable hand. He still had a lot to learn, he still had much to experience¡­.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Lantern.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-221 Eyeless

    When Stefan awakened, when the spell wore off and realization set in, he clenched the bedsheet and his chest heaved. Sweat drenched his forehead and his breath broke in half, he had his one foot in the panic state, and the rest also slipped away.


    Ewan stayed afar, watching his plight with absolute detachment, and Kidd also followed his example. If Stefan couldn¡¯t even survive the idea of being blind, then being a Whispered was far from his reach, and Ewan had no intention of lending him a hand and creating a subpar version of the man.


    He had fortitude though, his pain and his guilt had steeled his determination, to the point of being suicidal even. And so, he stabilized his state, his tension dissipated, and he recited the chant of the rite and prepared his first step towards the Whispered path. With the blood from his eye sockets, he traced his skull over his facial skin, flinching each time he went back to dip his finger in the red. Soon the air hummed around him, matching the timbre of his chants. The more layers he painted, the more he chanted, the louder the buzz got, and the four types of Anima Ewan could sense surged in his premise.


    Finally, an elusive shockwave snapped the thread, and Stefan broke free from the Kyron¡ªhe¡¯d become a Whispered.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Is there any discomfort?¡± Ewan asked, taking a seat beside the bed. Kidd dragged a stool too, scraping the floor, and sat his ass down.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re really good at this,¡± Stefan said, tilting his head towards Ewan with his eyelids shut and caved in.


    ¡°It¡¯s mostly because you became a Whispered soon after,¡± Ewan said, taking out the lantern he got from Algernon, along with all the information on it. ¡°Here¡¯s the lantern I talked about. You need to use your eyes as its wick and light it up.¡± He handed the lantern over and helped Stefan reach it when he was groping around.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what it does though, you need to figure that out by yourself,¡± he said, sticking the crystal ball to Stefan¡¯s forehead. ¡°Touch it with your spirit, and don¡¯t resist.¡±


    ¡°What about the blindfold?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Make it yourself, do I have to do everything for you fuckers.¡± Ewan snapped and clicked his tongue.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just use the one I was practicing with,¡± Stefan said when the crystal ball spent the information stored inside and dimmed.


    ¡°Rest a while, light the lantern, and get used to being a Whispered,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the navigation for now. You need to learn how to navigate in your condition though, you said that yourself.¡±


    ¡°Just a day or two, I won''t be long,¡± Stefan said with a smile, a peaceful and a mundane smile. The change in status has smoothened his edge, he looked at ease now, light as a feather.


    ¡°At least there¡¯s no Kyron on-board anymore,¡± Ewan said with a sigh of relief. ¡°I don¡¯t have to worry about anyone catching fire from the sunlight now. Oh, the mess to clean after that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like you would clean it yourself,¡± Kidd mumbled. ¡°You¡¯d kick my ass and make me do it.¡±


    Ewan grabbed his hair yet again and rattled him around, flicking his forehead hard in between his vibrating cries. ¡°That reminds me,¡± he said. ¡°Sun hasn¡¯t come out in a long time now, there might be something brewing. We need to be prepared.¡±


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Stefan asked as Kidd soothed his reddened forehead and fixed his bird¡¯s nest of a hair with practiced strokes.


    ¡°What else can we do besides get stronger,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Step-1 at the very least, all of you must reach that before the storm comes. We¡¯ll work towards that from now on.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m already Step-1,¡± Kidd said. ¡°What do I do?¡±


    ¡°You and I will gather resources,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Let¡¯s first hit that pirate ship you were talking about. If they¡¯re a regular in this area, someone must have some problem with them. We can take the bounty and loot the pirates, double gain.¡±


    ¡°Stormfalcon also needs repairing, I¡¯ll need some parts for it,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°What about the Rigen, Boss?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Yeah, we need to find a good source.¡± Ewan frowned and mulled. ¡°Let¡¯s search around this region, maybe some island has a fueling station.¡±


    ¡°We can always go back and get some from Okona Key,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°That¡¯ll be our last option,¡± Ewan said. ¡°For now, let¡¯s stick to this region and gather some capital.¡±


    ¡­..


    Stormfalcon, Mechanics Hall.


    Nana had already settled in by the time Ewan came down to the hall, as her strewn materials and tools marked her territory. Stefan as the warship mechanic, and Nana as an Artificer would share the hall for their purposes, the intended design of the section deemed it so. But with Stefan¡¯s eyes gone, and Nana being Nana, Ewan could only see a stumbling future for the man, full of stubbed toes.


    ¡°Can you organize a little? I told you to sort what you got, not scatter them around,¡± he said, threading his way through the ores and the irons.


    ¡°I already did, the other stuff I had were in the way, so I kept them aside for now,¡± Nana said, looking up at him while adjusting the line of drenched materials on the sheet before her. ¡°This is what I got from the water.¡± She pointed at them with a grin.


    ¡°Anything good?¡± he asked, squatting at an empty place beside her, running his eyes across her collection.


    ¡°It¡¯s mostly anima crystals,¡± she said, brushing the mountainous pile of cerulean chips. ¡°Among some other common materials. Just this rock, its reacting to me.¡± She reached for the irregular glassy rock, and it tremored on her touch.


    ¡°It¡¯s Runeslag,¡± Ewan said, after a cast of <Identify>. ¡°It¡¯s a byproduct of the natural rune, it should resonate with you now. Make something of it for yourself, should be a good fit.¡±


    Nana nodded, then looked at him. ¡°Nothing came up in my <Identify>,¡± she said. ¡°Why haven¡¯t we exchanged our databases yet?¡±


    ¡°We both forgot,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re no better than me then, you also forget things.¡±


    ¡°I am, I remember all our important dates, you even forgot my birthday.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t forget, it was on that date¡­that¡­uh¡­a few months ago¡­¡± She gave him a blank stare with her nostrils flaring, and he could only flash back a crooked guilt-ridden smile. ¡°Happy birthday,¡± he uttered.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.5


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.5 | Ice ¨C 25.5 | Blood ¨C 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Lantern.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Crelith: 1,014


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-222 Muffler

    [Slate]


    Laughter was never intimate with them, but even the smiles had kept their distance these days. The already bland flavor of the management had become bleaker, dreariness oozed off of every greeting and each farewell. The absence of leadership pushed the people away, and the lack of growth tore their trust in ¡®Ayres Castle¡¯, the once glorious days of the group under Authen had waned. And the situation worsened with Ewan¡¯s death, for Thea gave up on life.


    Slate entered her room after an unresponsive knock, the groaning creak of the door announcing his visit, and bowed in greeting. ¡°Good morning, ma¡¯am,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m almost done,¡± Thea said, sitting on her rocking chair by the window, burying her head into knitting the damn muffler, the unending cloth entangled into the chair¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Were you not able to sleep again?¡± Slate asked, opening the curtains and the windows to let the fake sunlight in. With her condition as it was, she didn¡¯t need to shoulder the repercussions of the distorted world too. So, he worked with the ones who still held loyalty in their hearts and simulated the days and nights for her. Alas, it had little effect.


    ¡°I¡¯m almost done,¡± Thea said with a nod, her bloodshot eyes glued to the needles and the knots. ¡°I¡¯ll rest after this. I can finally sleep in peace¡­¡±


    ¡°When you¡¯re finished, can I have the muffler?¡± Slate asked with a forced smile, keeping his torn emotions stifled in his head. ¡°It¡¯s getting chilly lately, I could use something warm.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s for him.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll make sure it gets to him then,¡± Slate said.


    ¡°Stop pandering me,¡± Thea said, shooting him a glance. ¡°I might be hazy but I¡¯m not delusional. I¡¯ve come to terms with his death.¡±


    Slate lowered his head with his fists clenched, his pale knuckles trembling, and his mind went haywire with regret. He hated his impulse; he detested his judgment. Even if Ewan¡¯s existence ripped her sanity apart, she at least had light in her eyes back then. Yet, he killed him, and he killed the only reason Thea looked forward to the next day. Even if it was to only torment him, Ewan¡¯s presence in the world kept her going. And he took that away from her.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s gone.¡± Thea sighed. ¡°First, it was that man, now him too¡­everyone keeps leaving before me,¡± she murmured.


    ¡°You still have me, ma¡¯am,¡± Slate said with a desperate smile. ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you wherever you go.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I still have you,¡± she said, continuing to knit the muffler. ¡°At least I¡¯ll be able to leave before you¡­¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡­..


    Browned leaves welcomed his steps on the nigh unwalked path, cracking and crunching on the gravel trail, and the rustle of the tamed jungle tagged along. Away from the hubbub of the concrete forest, under the hue of the gentle candlelight, the quietude of the woods embraced his house up ahead. The place that he built himself but lacked the intimacy with; it was his abode, yet he couldn¡¯t call it home, for the frigid walls lacked the warmth of that one person. The one he had always wished to call mother, the one who took the scrawny hands of a numb child and filled his husk with life¡­


    ¡°Are you even trying to look for it?¡± Slate asked as he made his way into the yard and then the hall, shutting the door behind him. She was still here, lighting up the candles with a half-burnt stick.


    ¡°I am,¡± Verina said. ¡°But your place is still the best, I can''t find anything better.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t look for something better, just look for anything and go away.¡± Slate clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    ¡°You¡¯re really ungrateful,¡± she said, blowing the burnt stick and flicking it into the dustbin. ¡°I saved your life and all I get in return is a few days of shelter?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been over two years now,¡± Slate said, crushing the remaining ember inside the dustbin, preventing arson. ¡°I¡¯ve repaid what I could, and I¡¯ll repay the rest in some other way. For now, I need my peace.¡±


    ¡°Still a few weeks to go for the two-year anniversary,¡± she said, sitting sideways on the dining chair, twirling the strands of her long blonde hair around her finger. The change in her hairstyle and the absence of the nose ring had shifted the air around her, they made her nigh unrecognizable from when he first met her. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you care about her so much, she clearly only cares about her actual son.¡±


    ¡°None of your business,¡± Slate said, sprawling on the three-man sofa with an exhale of comfort, the velvety coziness easing his weariness. The faint vanilla aroma of the candles drifted around him, soothing his spiky nerves, and even with his perseverance, his eyelids flickered and almost gave in to drowsiness.


    ¡°I wonder what would happen if she knew that you killed her precious son,¡± Verina said with a playful smile.


    Slate exploded away from the sofa, clawed her throat, and pushed her back into the dining table, growling¡ªthe candle flames fluttered and died in his wake. His fingers almost dug into her skin, drawing beads of blood, and his eyes spewed fire.


    ¡°I¡­lived with you¡­for so long, it wasn¡¯t hard¡­to figure that out,¡± Verina said with choked breath, caressing his face with trembling hands, wiping the drop of tear falling from his reddened eyes. ¡°No matter¡­what, I¡¯ll always¡­be on your side.¡±


    Time washed away the memories, the bonds faded away against the years, yet the same strengthened the sentiments and created new ties. And as the clamorous days with her flashed before Slate¡¯s eyes, the days where her bright smiles filled his gray life, his grip loosened, and an irritating conflict brewed within him. She¡¯d already built her place in him, he couldn¡¯t kill her, yet it meant destroying all that he cherished in this place.


    A blasting shockwave of spirit from the north interrupted his undulating emotions. It had a familiar aura, ever so close to him yet far away. And when the wave passed, the intensity of the spirit dimmed, and soon it flickered with scant signs of life.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Verina asked, getting up from the table, rubbing the blood off her neck. ¡°Was that Thea?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Slate said, standing shell-shocked with tears welling up in his eyes, staring north. ¡°She finished the muffler.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>

 Chapter-223 Faux Sun

    [Ewan]


    Stormfalcon, Top Deck.


    Ewan watched the faraway ship turn around and fade beyond the horizon, squinting against the frosty wind. The perpetual night without the moons took on a greenish hue in his gaze, and the ship burned as a firefly on the dark backdrop. This was the fifth glimpse of the month, two more than the last. The lack of retaliation and the passive stance of Stormfalcon had intensified the pirates¡¯ aggression, and they already showed signs of sparking a conflict.


    ¡°Should we start, Boss?¡± Kidd asked, squatting at the edge of the top deck, staring at the faint silhouette of the ship. ¡°I¡¯m itching to try them.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s pointless to fight them right now,¡± Ewan said, his loose ashen-gray shirt¡¯s lapel fluttering with the gust.


    ¡°Pirates don¡¯t have the concept of saving, we won''t gain much even if we kill them all,¡± Lance said, polishing his scythe and the shield with maintenance oil, leaning on the wall by the stairs.


    ¡°Why are you oiling them, you know they won¡¯t rust,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°I feel naked without my armor, I need something to keep my mind off it,¡± Lance said, rubbing the blade hard, burying his head in the act.


    ¡°I¡¯m almost done, it should be ready by tomorrow,¡± Nana said, standing beside Ewan, defending the integrity of her well-kept long hair against the gale. ¡°I¡¯ll do your overcoat and staff next.¡± She looked at Ewan. ¡°I¡¯ll change its etched spell to your <Elemental Cloak>, should be a better fit with you.¡±


    ¡°My mask and dagger too, Sae¡¯sa.¡± Kidd chipped in.


    ¡°Mine¡¯s not urgent, finish theirs first,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Stefan, how far are we?¡±


    ¡°A week away, if we don¡¯t hit a storm and you don¡¯t go nuts about it,¡± Stefan said, almost melding into the night with a roomy inky gown and his blindfold on, only the flickering flame in the lantern he held gave away his presence.


    ¡°I won''t,¡± Ewan said, clearing his throat. ¡°I¡¯ve had my fill for now.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just hope the island¡¯s not a thing of the past,¡± Lance said, wiping the excess oil with a tattered rag.


    ¡°Hmm, we really need to consider updating Nyte¡¯s database somehow,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Sae¡¯sa, why don¡¯t you cut your hair short? That looks like a hassle to deal with,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Someone doesn¡¯t like short hair.¡± She peeked a glance at Ewan, tucking the stray stands of hair behind her ear.


    ¡°Don¡¯t put shit like that in her head, she¡¯s good as is,¡± Ewan said and kicked Kidd¡¯s ass, almost dropping him into the ocean.


    ¡°Will you tell me what Sae¡¯sa means already?¡± She poked Ewan¡¯s ribs.


    ¡°Sae¡¯sa is Sae¡¯sa, what else would it mean,¡± Kidd said, climbing back up and rubbing his ass.


    ¡°Keep reading the books I gave you, you¡¯ll eventually find out,¡± Ewan said. And when his words ended, a gray tinge overwrote the blackness of the night sky, the stars faded after their long stay, and soon a thin strip of sunlight cleared the horizon.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Finally!¡± Everyone on the deck exhaled a heavy sigh of relief. The frigid temperature had plunged with each passing day without the sun, even the ocean had slags of ice crashing against the warship now. So, the arrival of dawn rested their worries. The endless night would soon end, the stars and the moons would have their rest, and the all too nostalgic blue sky would take over. Yet the rising ball of fire differed from Ewan¡¯s memory, and he frowned at it. The intensity of the rays and the size, both were far from comparable to the sun, and this fireball missed the flare that alighted the Kyrons alive.


    ¡°Is this our sun?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like it,¡± Ewan said, watching the layer of frost melt away from the Stormfalcon. ¡°It¡¯s probably a makeshift measure, Ashevagord made its move.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    The citadel in the crater¡ªFallsard Enclave had spread its name as such. Famed for its defense, boasting convenient coordinates, it rose from a humble and vulnerable settlement to become one of the hubs of Morinfair. Or so it was centuries ago, in Nyte¡¯s words. Ewan held his doubts in its survival over the years, the citadel¡¯s specifics were much too bizarre after all. Nonetheless, he looked forward to the destination, for its peculiarity could easily fill a couple of rousing pages in his diary.


    The fake sun had settled into the routined arc of dawn, high peak, and twilight, working in tandem with the moons, and the blizzards shrank to mere caressing snowfalls. When the day broke today, as the stars dimmed, the bowl-shaped island popped onto Nyte¡¯s radar, and the communication channel opened on the bridge.


    ¡°You have entered the maritime zone of Fallsard Enclave, please state your highest rank, names, affiliation, and purpose for the record,¡± a man said over the stable static channel.


    ¡°Step-1. Ewan Ayres, Havanna Elsworth, Kidd Yales, Stefan Rad, and Lance Silvester onboard Stormfalcon, visiting for business,¡± Ewan said, sitting in the captain¡¯s chair. ¡°No affiliation.¡± And the channel paused for the reply.


    Extensive verdure speckled with man-made designs blanketed the island, and though the screen only showed a side of the rim, the citadel lying in the concavity beyond, its development as a whole surpassed Nyte¡¯s records. In the years gone by, the crater had not only maintained its status but also grew as a hub. The decision to sail afar paid off, this place must have everything they needed.


    ¡°Nyte, zoom in on the right side,¡± Kidd said, squinting at the screen. ¡°Boss, that¡¯s a warship, I think.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.6 | Ice ¨C 25.6 | Blood ¨C 25.6 | Mystic: 25.6 | Dark: 25.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 14,220 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-224 Port-D 63

    A blurry smudge in the clouded sky swelled by the second, and soon the roars of its thrusters broke the waves near the island. By size, the glossy and the glistening chrome beast rivaled Stormfalcon, a Class-M Warship, and by design, it surpassed this centuries old product.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the only one,¡± Lance said. ¡°There¡¯s more on the water, they should be class-s though.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a hub in name only,¡± Stefan said, lining his ears with the screen. ¡°We should be able to get everything we need here.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to see the screen with your ears¡­,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°I thought it would work¡­,¡± Stefan said, his voice dimming as he shrank in his seat.


    ¡°Wait for your Ryvia, or whatever its name is for the Whispered,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Incoming call from Ms. Havanna,¡± Nyte said as the soft chime of the call rang on the screen.


    ¡°Tell her to come to the bridge,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Why¡¯s she even calling, just ask Nyte,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°You have the permission to dock.¡± The communication channel opened again, and the man¡¯s voice came over the static noise. ¡°Please keep your thrusters to the minimum and follow the marker to port D-4, station no.63. You may maintain your defensive shield, but please refrain from any violent fluctuations. Please refrain from deboarding before reaching the station. And please be mindful of your actions as any form of aggression will be deemed a threat. Welcome to the citadel, your occupation of the station will be free of charge for the first month, we hope you have a pleasant stay in the enclave.¡±


    The water before the warship fizzled, and a deep algae-colored wisp of light floated up, leaving a faint trail for the Stormfalcon to follow as it headed for the destination. As they inched closer, the curve of the island straightened, the massive foliage hid the horizon, and the streams from the ocean converged into the enclosed ports, all marked ¡®D¡¯ in this area¡ªStormfalcon followed the light wisp into the fourth passage.


    ¡°That warship isn¡¯t coming into these ports,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Privilege of having a known affiliation most likely,¡± Kidd said.


    The hissing thrusters from the incoming warships echoed together in the tunnel, almost drowning the garbled hubbub of the workers busying on the side, as Stormfalcon made its way to its designated station, the Class-S sailing in its path making way. Towering cranes hauled the enormous parts around, its chains clanging upon impact, the sizzling repairs, sparking wires, and the creaking joints muddling with the echoes.


    ¡°At least we aren¡¯t alone with the class-m,¡± Ewan said, looking at other warships parked along the way. ¡°Nyte, kill the thrusters after aligning with the station, idle with minimum power consumption, and maintain the defense shield. And send Nana to the deck, tell her we¡¯ll be there. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The strip of muffled glow on the board down at the station reached the rightmost midnight shade of blue, the Rigen stock was only short of a brimful. As long as the price hadn¡¯t fluctuated too far, Ewan could afford to sate Stormfalcon¡¯s needs here.


    ¡°Did we arrive already?¡± Nana came out to the deck and asked, rubbing her yawning eyes. ¡°I was in the mechanics hall, then woke up in our room.¡± She plopped her head on Ewan¡¯s shoulder and rested her body on him, her breaths easing into a drowsy rhythm as she almost slept on her feet.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°I had to lug you up there,¡± Ewan said, easing his shoulder and posture to make it comfortable for her. ¡°You¡¯re heavy, so I just dragged you by your foot.¡±


    She groaned, and took a bite of his shoulders, but gave up without making a dent. ¡°I don¡¯t have any strength right now, I¡¯ll bite you later,¡± she said.


    ¡°Go back to bed then, you can tour the place later,¡± Ewan said, combing her disheveled hair, his fingers gliding through the knotless tresses.


    The Stormfalcon parked along the station, firing its side thrusters to parallelize with the quay, and the light wisp faded away when its task ended.


    ¡°Hello, please come get your i.ds,¡± a stubbled man in a black-yellow baggy uniform holding a clipboard hollered from the tiled dock, scratching his cheek.


    ¡°Kidd.¡± Ewan gestured with his head, and Kidd jumped down after a nod. ¡°Lance, you can go down too if you want, just don¡¯t wander off far. I¡¯ll come down after I put her to bed. Stefan, you stay too.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m awake,¡± Nana mumbled, raising her head. ¡°I¡¯ll come with.¡± And she widened her bloodshot eyes, straightening up on her feet, though still wobbly.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Ewan sighed and hovered down with her in his arms, Lance taking a ride down on his Ryvia.


    A five- to seven-year-old child, a boy most likely, trudged towards their station barefoot before they landed though, tattered rags passing off for his clothes, bruised and bleeding legs barely bracing his bony frame, and his mindless mutterings disconnected him from his surroundings. His bizarre arrival silenced the dock, the cranes halted, repairs took a pause, even the sparking torches fizzled out, and all eyes stared at the oddity. And when the gaping man with the clipboard snapped back to his senses, a deafening alarm blasted in the passage.


    ¡°63! 63!!¡± the man bellowed and backed off from the boy, taking out his boxy communicator from his storage pouch with trembling hands. ¡°63!!¡± he yelled again when the communicator¡¯s light blinked on.


    Seconds hadn¡¯t passed from his panic yet, and a group of men raced down the port, zipping past the stations, and tackled the boy to the ground, bagging his head and clamping his mouth. The child went down without a struggle, and when the men had him secured, a strange sigh of relief washed over station no.63.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.6 | Ice ¨C 25.6 | Blood ¨C 25.6 | Mystic: 25.6 | Dark: 25.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 14,220 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-225 Embers of Ambitions

    ¡°What was that?¡± Kidd asked, as Ewan put the two down on the dock, frowning at the distant figure of the shackled child tottering away between the tensed men.


    ¡°Sir, you should stay as far away as possible if you happen to meet any child like that,¡± the stubbled man said, picking up the clipboard again, patting off the dirt. ¡°Unless you want to experience a painful death.¡±


    ¡°That small and weak kid can kill us?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°He can''t, but the pathogens he carries can easily put us all down,¡± the man said. ¡°And our citadel¡¯s not the only one, some people spotted these children on other islands too. Ashevagord has already issued a warning, the news should spread soon enough.¡±


    ¡°Pathogen?¡± Ewan walked over and asked. ¡°Do we know what kind?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, Sir, but it must be deadly. The rumor has it that it can even kill high level Ashevas,¡± the man said.


    ¡°Have you seen anyone die?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°No, but others have, and I heard its gruesome. You bleed from your eyes, ears, nose, then you puke out all your organs.¡± The man gesticulated. ¡°I heard someone also retched out live worms, still squirming in the bloody vomit.¡± The man shivered and rubbed his forearms, gulping.


    ¡°Boss?¡± Kidd passed on his voice to Ewan with Ryvia. ¡°Should we keep away?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s most likely exaggerated gossip, but let¡¯s be careful. Don¡¯t take any risk, keep your distance at all costs if you spot a kid like that,¡± Ewan whispered back, dispersing his voice to Nana, Lance, and to Stefan on the deck too. ¡°And keep an eye out on any related information, even the hearsay.¡±


    Another alarm blared off in the distance as they talked, and its smothered crests rang near their station too. Eighty-four! A man¡¯s cracking yell came from the communicator, and the red from the flashing siren bloodied the frothy waters.


    ¡°To all personnel of D-3 and D-4, to all personnel of D-3 and D-4.¡± An announcement reverberated across the port soon after the alarm. ¡°For security reasons, the passage to the citadel has been closed temporarily. Please maintain order, please do not leave your posts, and stand by until further notice.¡±


    ¡°What does this mean? We can''t go in?¡± Kidd frowned and asked the stubbled man.


    ¡°I apologize, Sir,¡± the man said. ¡°As you heard, the passage is closed, we can''t go in either.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, we¡¯ll wait,¡± Ewan said, pulling Kidd back. ¡°Rigen should still be accessible, right?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± the man said, fiddling with the board that marked the Rigen level. ¡°How much do you want, Sir?¡±


    ¡°A tankful,¡± Ewan said. The windfall on Bexthon Haven that piled them a mound of Anima Crystals, and his habitual creation of the same with his <Transmute>, sacrificing whatever ubiquitous materials he could get his hand on during the mundane sailing, allowed him enough room to spread his legs for the necessary expenditure. And Rigen topped that list, even with its inflated price.


    ¡­..


    ¡®Once upon a time, a mountain opened his eyes at the bottom of the ocean.¡¯ The faded writings and pictorial depictions on the stele at every turn of the winding stairs fabled an olden tale. ¡®Absolute blackness and utter silence were his childhood, and the fleeting lives of the fish were his only friends.¡¯Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    The citadel prohibited flying under normal circumstances, so the four strolled down the port¡¯s exit once the passages opened, leisurely enjoying the story that deepened with each flight of stairs. ¡®With the ages gone by, the mountain yearned for the light at the surface of the ocean, the light he always gazed at. He longed for it, and thus, he reached for it, growing towards his goal with years.¡¯


    The thriving bottom of the crater inched towards Ewan and the others as they headed down, strong salty gusts welcoming them at each step. ¡®When the mountain reached the surface and peeked out, what stood before him was the vast sky. The crashing waves caressing his stony skin, the grazing winds whispering their gossips, and the clouds drifting by were signs of freedom, and the years he spent in the black drove him towards the new desire. And so, he rose again.¡¯


    ¡°This should be the story of Fallsard, right?¡± Lance asked, walking down.


    ¡°Yeah, probably,¡± Kidd said, glancing back at the top of the stairs, where they came from.


    ¡®The crawling rise of the mountain blurred his ambitions and dreams¡ªthe indelible chasm that seemed unfazed no matter how much he grew nigh buried his grail. He experienced the stages of life and the inevitability of death of the travelers along the way, and he gained the wisdom of stability. Yet, his undying obsession with the freedom still fueled his growth towards the open sky. And he kept soaring high.¡¯


    When they reached the end of the stairs and stood on the well-paved and freshly swept street, the forested rim of the crater towered behind them, its shadow dimming the grayish dawn. And the last stele, still soaked from the wet scrub, depicted the finale of the mountain.


    ¡®He fulfilled his dreams when he touched Airadia¡¯s summit. He saw the vastness beyond, the freedom he yearned for was before him. But what greeted him was still the eternal darkness and the absolute quiet he had escaped in his childhood, and his wings went up in flames. The despairing mountain could not stand the weight of his own ambitions anymore, for what he longed for was what he had left behind, and so, he crumbled upon himself and came crashing down. And thus was born the citadel in the crater, Fallsard Enclave.¡¯


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.6 | Ice ¨C 25.6 | Blood ¨C 25.6 | Mystic: 25.6 | Dark: 25.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-226 Enclave

    ¡°So, we¡¯re in the grave of that mountain¡­,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Who knows how much of that is true,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°More importantly, are we below the ocean level?¡± Nana craned to look at the soaring greeneries and the slanted woods rooted on the rising perimeter behind her.


    ¡°Seems like so,¡± Ewan muttered, glancing around the place.


    The apex of the citadel¡¯s construction lay below the peak of the palm trees that lined the sides ahead, their leaves rustling from the morning breeze, and a hint of coconut tickled his nose. They¡¯d just come down the port, so this must be the entrance plaza.


    ¡°Is this really safe? What if a high wave hits us, it won''t take much to drown this place,¡± Kidd said, lingering a step behind the others while eyeing the perimeter of the crater.


    ¡°It has stood tall for so many years, they must have precautions in place for such emergencies,¡± Lance said. ¡°What we can think, they can think of too. And none of the locals look worried.¡±


    ¡°Where do we go first?¡± Nana asked, holding hands with Ewan, her squishy soft fingers rubbing against the rough skin of his palm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head to the guild,¡± Ewan said, leading them through the streets that woke up with each corner they crossed, the trams too embarking on their daily itineraries after a night¡¯s rest. ¡°The sooner we earn, the sooner I can brew more potions. I¡¯m almost done with the tests.¡±


    ¡°Sir, are we continuing that?¡± Lance asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t had any problems so far; my weapons look good too.¡±


    ¡°What I gave you was highly diluted, I need lots of data to confirm its effect,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Short term and long term.¡±


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll split here,¡± Kidd said once they reached a busy enough lane, the whistling shift in the tram¡¯s speed resonating with the bells it rang for every stop. The directions they had from the stubbled man at the port put the guild just beyond the roundabout up ahead, adjoined to the pub¡¯s wall, and the wafts of the astringent yet sweet ales already reached for them.


    ¡°Remember to map the area too, don¡¯t mess around,¡± Ewan said. ¡°And keep your distance if you spot any kid like yesterday, try to look into it without attracting any eyes.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Boss,¡± Kidd said and pulled away from them, soon fading into the crowd without even leaving a shadow.


    ¡­.


    Lance lined along the humble queue before the front desk, barely inching forward by the courtesy of the languid staff-in-charge, as a gaping yawn followed her parroted sentences, while Ewan and Nana took to the lounge on the side, plopping down on the velvety furred sofa. He watched the guild, observed the teams present, their distance, their rapports, and their not-so-subtle dissension, as the mirrored tiles and the designed walls riveted Nana.


    ¡°Will you be needing something to snack on while you wait, sir?¡± The uniformly dressed and well shaved waiter, though with a few wrinkles on his vest, came over and asked. ¡°Anything for the ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°Black tea for her, hot,¡± Ewan said, and paid him a couple of Crelith coins. ¡°Water for me.¡±


    ¡°Make it iced tea, with milk and extra sugar, and add ice cream on top, vanilla.¡± Nana broke away from the allure of the lounge and jumped in.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°No ice cream, and make it hot,¡± Ewan said, locking both of her arms and holding her back. ¡°Weather¡¯s still chilly, drink something hot.¡±


    ¡°Very well, sir.¡± The waiter took the order and bowed out with the coins.


    ¡°You¡¯re really like an old man, sometimes I can''t tell which one of us is the older one,¡± Nana grumbled.


    ¡°Given your mental age, it¡¯s definitely me,¡± Ewan said with a smirk, and got a hard poke in the ribs in response, flinching away with a cackle.


    ¡°Sorry for disturbing you, may I have a moment of your time?¡± a bald man with shaven eyebrows and clean face came over and asked, sitting on the sofa aslant Ewan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t disturb if you¡¯re sorry,¡± Nana mumbled, clicking her tongue.


    ¡°I was hoping to invite you two to join our team, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± the man said with a stiff smile, and a twitching eye.


    ¡°I apologize for her, she can be willful,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Is that your team?¡± He glanced at the group sitting at a distance to his left. ¡°That one¡¯s been glaring at us for a while now, is this how you invite someone?¡±


    ¡°That is indeed my team,¡± the man said, staring back at his group, his jaws clenched as his eyes breathed fire. ¡°He¡¯s a young blood, it tends to boil too much. Please don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll have a good talk with him. And I hope you consider my invitation seriously.¡±


    ¡°Can I know the reason?¡± Ewan asked. ¡°We aren¡¯t the only unregistered ones here, why did you pick us?¡±


    ¡°For your other identity,¡± the man said, gazing at him. ¡°My team is strong, but we need a good Potioneer to complement our strength. You¡¯ll be most welcomed if you join us.¡±


    ¡°That is intriguing indeed,¡± Ewan said with a smile, caressing Nana¡¯s tensed hand. ¡°May I ask how you came upon that information?¡±


    ¡°Join us and you¡¯ll know everything,¡± the man said, leaning forward.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to disappoint you then,¡± Ewan said, getting up with Nana when Lance came over with a question mark above his head, looking at the bald man then looking at Ewan. The waiter had readied their order too by now, so they had it packed for the road. ¡°Now if you¡¯ll excuse us, we have to take our leave.¡± And he walked away with Nana and the still confused Lance, glancing at the boy no older than himself who¡¯d glared at them before.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.6 | Ice ¨C 25.6 | Blood ¨C 25.6 | Mystic: 25.6 | Dark: 25.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-227 Converse [Part I]

    Stormfalcon, Meeting Room.


    The five sat on the high-back chairs around the stygian table with Ewan at the head, its burnish mirroring them and the other empty chairs as the crystal-white light cascaded down the ceiling, the brushed-metal walls muffling its glare. The room contrasted the homely lounge in every corner and the curves, and its stature complemented the meaning behind the Stormfalcon¡¯s creation more. Each touch of its design screamed efficiency, from the lack of needless luxury to the interweaved connection with Nyte beyond the screens.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we gathering in bridge today?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Idle resource, let¡¯s use this place too. And it¡¯s better than the bridge in some ways,¡± Ewan said, tapping on the table while swiveling and rocking his chair, its groans matching his rhythm. ¡°So, where¡¯re we at?¡±


    ¡°Registration¡¯s done, our call-code is E-1240, we can accept and submit the tasks and the payments at the guild now,¡± Lance said, sliding the wooden token he received over to Ewan¡ªa bronze lacquered hexagonal piece of wood with scripts and numbers printed on it. ¡°The task for the pirates was in the list, we can go for them. There¡¯re several requests for it actually, so the reward has accumulated too. It won''t be a loss for us now, sir.¡±


    ¡°Several requests, high reward, yet no one has completed it¡­,¡± Ewan said in a soliloquy, rolling the token on the table.


    ¡°Boss, its related to what I found,¡± Kidd said, clearing his throat and sitting straight, the back of his chair creaking forward as he leaned on the table. ¡°Fallsard has just gone through a power struggle. The last Seigneur lost the fight, and the new one is consolidating his position right now. And those pirates were on the last Seigneur¡¯s payroll, almost everyone confirmed it. They did all the dirty jobs for him, and he protected and paid them in return. Now he¡¯s down, the requests to take the pirates out have flooded in. We have to hurry if we want the reward.¡±


    ¡°Could it be a trap?¡± Nana added in.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be,¡± Stefan said. ¡°They¡¯ve lost their biggest support in Fallsard, they shouldn¡¯t be able to use the guild to lay a trap, unless the new Seigneur also supports them¡­¡±


    ¡°Either way, they¡¯re already targeting us,¡± Lance said. ¡°We need to take them out regardless.¡±


    ¡°Will they still target us though?¡± Kidd said. ¡°They did it because of Stormfalcon, right? But just in this port alone, there¡¯re so many warships parked, most are weaker than us.¡±


    ¡°If they targeted us for Stormfalcon, doesn¡¯t it make more sense to lie in ambush around Fallsard and aim for the weaker ones, instead of tailing a class-m warship,¡± Nana said. ¡°We¡­don¡¯t look like an easy prey, do we?¡±


    ¡°Bexthon Haven¡­¡± Ewan muttered aloud, and the room hushed for a moment. ¡°The mysterious island that allowed no entry or exit before, broke and became normal after our visit¡­ I would target us too if I were in their position.¡±


    ¡°They think we got some sort of treasure from the island then,¡± Stefan said. ¡°That old man was roaring from anger back then, it did look like we stole something from him.¡±


    ¡°Technically, they¡¯re not wrong. My natural rune can be considered a treasure, though very finicky,¡± Nana said, resting back. ¡°And if they continue to follow us even after here, we can confirm that guess.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°If we¡¯re right about it, it can give us an edge for this task,¡± Lance said. ¡°No need to worry about them slipping away, we can lure them in and take them all out at once.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Ewan hummed a mindless reply, his thoughts entangling in his head to cook a plan against the pirates.


    The Stormfalcon could be a good bait to ambush them, but they had to confirm the difference in strength first. Else if they chomped on a hard metal slab, even if by surprise, it would be their teeth that would crack. If they were more powerful than the pirates, however, there was no need for the ambush at all¡ªhe tapped on the table, and the melodic clack of his claw-ring against the wood rang in the room.


    The Eyeless Tribe abhorred the Swordfish Pirates, if he could dupe and pit that old bastard Algernon against these pirates, he could fish in the muddied waters. But that blind bastard was cunning as a rat, not to mention stronger than Ewan by a heavy margin. And the last time they bade their farewells, it wasn¡¯t exactly on happy terms¡­


    A conclave to rally some allies against the pirates could work too, and with better guarantee for safety, but it would diminish the returns. It would undermine the main reason they were targeting the pirates¡­


    ¡°What about the kids, did you find anything on them?¡± Ewan asked, looking at Kidd.


    ¡°Not much, Boss, but there is something shady going on with them,¡± Kidd said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t confirm the pathogen part, but I did find something that might be the rumor¡¯s origin. They all said that anyone who either got splattered by those kids¡¯ blood or came in close contact with them for a long period of time within the enclave disappeared overnight. None of them ever appeared in public again.¡±


    ¡°Disappeared? Were they silenced because they witnessed something?¡± Stefan asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, I couldn¡¯t get anything beyond this,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°What about those who met these kids outside the enclave?¡± Nana asked, but Kidd shook his head at her in reply.


    ¡°The same as before then, stay away from any rogue kid you see, and keep an eye out for relevant information,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Moving on.¡± And he waited a breath. ¡°We met a man today in the guild. He invited me and Nana into his team, and the reason for it was my ¡®other identity¡¯, he said. He knew I was a Potioneer¡­¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.6 | Ice ¨C 25.6 | Blood ¨C 25.6 | Mystic: 25.6 | Dark: 25.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-228 Converse [Part II]

    ¡°Is he your acquaintance, Boss?¡± Kidd asked. ¡°Could he be from Drarith? You only sold your potions openly back then.¡±


    ¡°Probably not, I didn¡¯t recognize him,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Though I don¡¯t really remember every face I met in that city either, so who knows.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be a mighty coincidence if he¡¯s indeed from Drarith and we meet here again,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°If that really was the case, he would¡¯ve sparked the conversation from mentioning Drarith, use that to increase the familiarity before inviting you,¡± Stefan said. ¡°With what went down back there, it would be more unusual to not talk about it when you¡¯re meeting again.¡±


    ¡°If Drarith¡¯s out, then either he guessed it, Boss, or he bought your information,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Do Potioneers have some kind of mark? Like the shipmates I used to hang around with had rope marks on their hands. I also had it before, but its faded now.¡± He showed the faint scars on the webbing of his digits, rubbing them with his thumb.


    Stefan sniffed at Ewan, his nostrils twitching under his blindfold with his jerky inhalations. ¡°There is a medicinal hint on you, but it could just be my preconceived notion,¡± he said.


    ¡°So, either the smell or my information¡­¡± Ewan mumbled. ¡°Information¡¯s unlikely, unless it traveled from Drarith to this area quicker than us. It is possible if someone took the shortest route and without any stoppage, but I don¡¯t see the motivation behind it. We are but mere ants in the grand scheme of things, not worth it to go to such lengths to spread our information.¡±


    ¡°We know too little to make an informed decision on this, Boss,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Stefan said and leaned back, and his baggy gown sprawled on him.


    ¡°Will he be a threat to us though?¡± Nana asked, a faint frown puckering her brows. ¡°That man in his team was glaring at us.¡±


    ¡°More precisely, he was glaring at me,¡± Ewan said, looking at Nana with a playful smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°I need to get used to this if I am to bring you around with me.¡±


    ¡°Was he provoking us for that banal of a reason, sir?¡± Lance asked, gaping with unmasked perplexity. ¡°He could get his whole team killed.¡±


    ¡°He seemed pretty young but was already a Step-1. A little bit of inflated arrogance tends to tag along with that kind of achievement, and it can haze up reason,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If their team is sane enough, they won''t act on his hostility alone. But regardless, if we meet in the wild, we eliminate them all if we can.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the same age though¡­,¡± Nana said under her breath.


    ¡°I¡¯m much younger.¡± Kidd tagged along at the same volume.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move on.¡± Ewan glared at the two and shifted the topic. ¡°We need to confirm the pirates¡¯ strength before making a move on them. Lance.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯d prepared a thick file, sir,¡± Lance said and took out a slab of a dossier from his storage pouch, its pages bound on the spine while a thin cherry-colored film passed for its cover.


    ¡°Nyte, scan it and display,¡± Ewan said as he leafed through the notes, keeping it on the table for Nyte to scan. When he passed the halfway mark, as the pages on the left pulled on the spine harder than the right, Nyte finished copying the data and displayed a holographic image of the dossier for everyone else.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    It recorded the pirates¡¯ activity areas, their raids, their routes, the territories they avoided, the ships they sank, and the battles they fought, yet it only had one word for the whereabouts of their lair¡ªGraventos. Nonetheless, it had plenty of what Ewan needed to formulate his plan going forward. The strength of the targets they frequently chose hinted at the pirates¡¯ limits, the might of the islands they raided added to that hint, and the weight of the territories they avoided pronounced clear margins for their levels.


    ¡°What was the last Seigneur¡¯s level?¡± Ewan asked, his head buried in the file, and the scraping crunch of the pages turning rang at interludes. ¡°What was his character like?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t get his exact level, but he was still in Step-1, Boss,¡± Kidd said, tinkering with the holographs with a childish glee, scrolling the pages back and forth, putting his head through, muddling the image. ¡°For his character, he was pretty arrogant, they said. Inflexible and rigid in his approach, he didn¡¯t like to compromise or bend his knees for anyone.¡±


    If the words held their weight, then someone with such attributes wouldn¡¯t like to deal with anyone he had to fold his waist for, Ewan mulled. After all, the existence of crisp distinction between power levels demanded a strict hierarchy. Regardless of how imperious he was, he couldn¡¯t defy someone higher than him if he wanted to live. Thus, the pirates he employed and dealt with could neither be higher than him nor equal to him in strength. And it further sharpened the hazy extent of the pirates for Ewan.


    ¡°Oi.¡± Kidd poked Stefan in the ribs. ¡°How does this work?¡± he whispered, pointing at the holographs. ¡°Oi, are you listening?¡± He poked again when Stefan ignored him.


    ¡°I can''t see them you fucker!¡± Stefan bit back and jabbed his palm in Kidd¡¯s chest. ¡°I don¡¯t know the fuck you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Who told you to have your eyes gouged out and go blind then,¡± Kidd grumbled, rubbing the poked region with a scowl. ¡°Nyte, don¡¯t display them for him, don¡¯t waste the energy.¡±


    ¡°First surge should be their limit, sir,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Seems like so,¡± Ewan said, still lost in the file, rechecking the bits to fortify his inference. ¡°We need to confirm it on site though, and we need to check their numbers too.¡±


    ¡°How though?¡± Nana asked.


    Ewan glanced at Kidd and Stefan. ¡°We poke them and wait for their reaction.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.6 | Ice ¨C 25.6 | Blood ¨C 25.6 | Mystic: 25.6 | Dark: 25.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-229 Poke

    The disciplined rise and fall of the faux sun mended the awry seasons, days and nights regained their normalcy, but with a low average temperature, and this year¡¯s Flamecrest recorded the coldest months of growth in the near history. The deprivation of the warm breeze, the heat wave, the clear sky, the fluffy clouds, the cicadas¡¯ songs, and the sun¡¯s glare off the waters ruined the season¡¯s charm. But nevertheless, the ice slags had melted back into the ocean, and only the fragile billows crashing against the Stormfalcon met its advance. And a month after their exit from the port, the pirates bit the crumbs they left behind and caught onto their frothy trail, hoisting a flapping flag that resembled a sprawled turtle with a jagged maw that could snap a man in half.


    ¡°Boss, we¡¯re good to go.¡± Kidd¡¯s voice rang from the bracelet and bounced in the nigh empty but still cluttered mechanics-hall as Ewan adjusted his sleeve, the gaiter on his neck, and his shirt beneath the modified overcoat¡ªBlackfeather, the speed version. Nana twiddled her woolly dress too, black as the bottom of the ocean, and tied her long hair into a ponytail, pulling and stretching her stifling round collar for the umpteenth time.


    ¡°Stop fidgeting already,¡± Ewan clicked his tongue and said, grabbing her wrist. If she continued like that, her nails would dig into her skin and draw blood; her neck already had some scratches. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. Even if things go wrong, I won''t let anything happen to us.¡± The ripples of her rapid pulse allayed against his fingers on her wrist, and her short choppy breaths quietened into serene inhales and exhales, though her nod remained strained.


    ¡°Nyte, start turning and open the hatch,¡± he commanded. ¡°Stefan, hold the fort here, and keep those two under control. No matter what they see, don¡¯t start anything until you hear from me.¡± Ewan said to Stefan who stood on the side when Nana hushed, and Nyte blasted the side thrusters, turning the Stormfalcon to its side to avoid the pirates¡¯ nose, as the gears in the hall roared and the hatch unbolted to a slit.


    ¡°I will, don¡¯t worry,¡± Stefan said when the hazy twinkles of the stars spilled into the hall from the crevice.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ewan grabbed Nana by her waist and pulled her in, his deep breath by her shoulder ruffling her hair. And he zipped out of the gap with her, blending into the moonless sky, and plunged into the ocean with a trivial splash that soon waned from the monstrous thrust of the warship. He broke the surface and sank and sank deep enough where the scant light of the surface barely remained in his vision, and the two only saw each other in the Ryvia bubble amidst the pitch black.


    ¡°It¡¯s gone red,¡± Ewan said, pulling her collar and checking the scratches on her neck.


    ¡°It¡¯ll heal,¡± Nana said, her heartbeat racing again, and her calves squirming. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we head out already?¡± Butterflies must be fluttering in her stomach.


    Ewan looked at her with a playful twitch on his lips, and with a chuckle, he went in and licked her grazes. And she flinched with a cute yelp, gaping at him with widened eyes, then her tongue clicked. ¡°Stop playing around,¡± she said, and pinched both his cheeks.


    ¡°You clicked your tongue,¡± Ewan said, half his words misfiring with his cheeks pulled apart, and he pinched hers too.


    ¡°You started it.¡± She blew the words.


    ¡°Let go,¡± he said.


    ¡°You let go first,¡± she said.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°I¡¯m the boss, you let go,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°I¡¯m older, you let go,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°I¡¯m smarter,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m beautiful,¡± she said.


    Ewan scoffed. ¡°Who told you that!¡±


    ¡°You did!¡±


    ¡°I was half asleep!¡± Their banter stirred the haunted quiet around them, and the ocean bubbled.


    ¡°Boss¡­we might lose the ship¡­¡± Kidd¡¯s voice interrupted them from the open channel, and a moment of reticence followed.


    ¡°We¡¯ll finish this later,¡± Ewan said with a glare and broke the impasse, gradually dissolving the Ryvia sphere and letting Nana meld into the water around her. And when she did, she just about disappeared from his senses, even his Ryvia could barely find her fuzzy presence. An Animaborn inside the natural form of his element could defy the chasm between the steps in some aspects, many books wrote on the topic, and Nana proved it in practice.


    Threads of water gathered around with a wave of her hand and cloaked them, synching with Morinfair and dimming their presence even further. When Nana gave him the nod of green light, Ewan pulled his gaiter up, Yurn, covering half his face, and shot towards the pirates¡¯ ship with her. The distance was but a few seconds worth of effort at his speed, drilling through the abundance of water, and he braked and broke his momentum when they floated under the ship¡¯s keel that glimmered with its protective shield, just shy of the blend of irregular colored Ryvia drifting about.


    A quick scan with his eyes, differentiating the colors and density, gauged their levels¡ªthey were all Step-0. Though the ship was just a mobile extension of their lair, their inference from the information they had placed at least one Step-1 pirate onboard. And Ewan moved to confirm it.


    ¡°Making a move now, stay alert,¡± he whispered into the bracelet and hurled an unstable potion at the ship¡¯s keel, dragging Nana towards the bed to avoid what was to come.


    Away from his suppression, the potion missed the stabilizing element and its equation collapsed. It only gave a few trembles before the vial crunched and sucked all the heat from its surrounding waters. And the result came to be a hunk of ice that slammed into the ship, stirring the nested hive of pirates.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.7 | Ice ¨C 25.7 | Blood ¨C 25.7 | Mystic: 25.7 | Dark: 25.7]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-230 Formation

    Amidst the boisterous hotchpotch of clacking steps, muffled voices made their way through the water and drifted near Ewan and Nana; some were indistinct clamors of panic while a few held the authoritarian rumble that restored order. And when quiet returned to the deck, an array of Ryvia cascaded down the ship and wandered around in the ocean with various ranges. Ewan hushed his presence and Nana held her breath, and they waited for the ripples of his action to reach the peak. Soon it did, and one after another, the variety of Ryvia went back up with only a few persisting with their stubborn search.


    This was the extent of what Ewan could do to confirm their inference without sparking a conflict, and since he had his answer now, he held Nana again, sank to the bed to minimize exposure, and whizzed back to Stormfalcon. The errand concluded in success and the result solidified their porous presumptions¡ªthe peak of the pirates on the ship was the zeroth surge in Step-1. Nevertheless, Ewan wanted repeated successes with the same results before he moved on to the conflict phase.


    And so, the following days on Stormfalcon monotonized within the bounds of a regular routine.


    ¡­.


    Stormfalcon, Meeting Room.


    ¡°This much should be enough to move forward,¡± Ewan said, closing the holographic panels of data he¡¯d gathered over the last few months, the recent additions denser than the past inclusions. ¡°We can start planning out an attack now.¡±


    ¡°Since Kidd got exposed in the last scuffle, we can''t really use him for stealth with confidence, sir,¡± Lance said. ¡°They¡¯ll be on guard against his sneak attack.¡±


    ¡°We should¡¯ve gone all out and killed them then and there,¡± Kidd said, crossing his arms at his chest while his nose wrinkled. ¡°No one listens to me,¡± he grumbled, leaning back.


    ¡°It would¡¯ve become one against two if we did that,¡± Stefan said, his paled face getting rosy again since this morning, he¡¯d almost recovered from the damage. ¡°They could¡¯ve also pulled out and let us and the pirates fight and weaken each other before making their move.¡±


    ¡°Next time I see that whore, I¡¯ll gouge her eyes out,¡± Kidd said, gnashing his teeth, Stefan¡¯s words bouncing off his ears. ¡°Then I¡¯m going to shove them up her ass.¡± He gesticulated his mutterings.


    ¡°Focus, fucker.¡± Ewan hurled his open pen at him, and the tip drew a line on his cheek as it hit him.


    ¡°It stings, Boss,¡± Kidd scratched his cheek, spreading the blank ink, and slid the pen back over to Ewan.


    ¡°Sir, they might butt in again, we should prepare,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°The baldy actually looked like he was trying to give us a hand at first, then that ugly duck-lipped motherfucker messed it all up,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Unsolicited help; probably was trying to make Ewan owe him a favor,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°One started it and the team followed; I was expecting them to be more pragmatic than that. Or maybe he thought it better to eliminate us when he couldn¡¯t help us. If he hadn¡¯t attacked us though, I would¡¯ve attacked them. So, good decision I suppose,¡± Ewan said, tapping the pen on the table. ¡°But anyway, I¡¯ve checked our warship from corner to corner. I¡¯ve also checked each one of us and our inventories, there¡¯s no tracking spell marked on us. Last time was most likely a coincidence, but let¡¯s stay on guard, nonetheless. And just in case, I cast <Veil> too. Now for the pirates.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°They still don¡¯t know about me; I can sneak under their ship and create problems. If I can sink it, we can easily control the battle,¡± Nana said, tinkering with the fist-sized midnight-blue cube artifact that she created from the Runeslag¡ªshe named it Runecube, the compressed water version.


    ¡°No, too risky,¡± Ewan said and vetoed the idea. ¡°Their shield won''t even budge against your attacks, the best you¡¯ll do is create a nuisance. And our target isn¡¯t their ship anymore anyway.¡±


    ¡°So, stealth is out,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s fight head on then,¡± Kidd said, rubbing his knuckle as Walyn¡¯s ghostly cackle echoed in the room. ¡°We¡¯re good in that too.¡±


    ¡°Sir, our formation was pretty bad last time, we should work on that if we are to fight them again,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Can''t be helped,¡± Ewan said and had Nyte display a virtual map of the local waters over the table, with heights and depths, with islands and isles, and with ridges and plains. ¡°We have you and the brats for melee, this numbskull and Stefan for mid to long range, and I control the field. But when we fight over the ocean, unless we latch onto the enemy ships or we disembark on an island, you can''t go melee, and these two can barely cover that range. So, it becomes a fight of who can fly and who can hit farther. We can''t work on our formation unless you three catch up with us, unless we all stand at the same step. Now, with what we have, let¡¯s formulate a plan for a frontal attack. I¡¯ve added the feedback I received from my tracking spell to the map, find me their lair.¡±


    The other side hadn¡¯t marked Stormfalcon or any of the five, but that didn¡¯t stop Ewan from doing the same. Since he confirmed the peak of the pirates onboard, with the last battle bearing out the proof, he cast the tracking spell under the guise of an attack and marked the ship. And it hadn¡¯t disappeared yet¡ªthere was no abrupt change in position; no fluctuation in feedback strength; no weird shift in speed; and the mark¡¯s height relative to the ocean was still the same. They¡¯d neither found it, neither moved the mark to a decoy, nor hidden it. The mark was still valid.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.8


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.8 | Ice ¨C 25.8 | Blood ¨C 25.8 | Mystic: 25.8 | Dark: 25.8]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-7] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-231 Lair

    Stormfalcon, Top Deck.


    The lair should¡¯ve been just an island. The thin strip of land that cleared the horizon on a gentle afternoon was supposed to be an inanimate terrain, a ground that gave birth to life but was lifeless itself. Yet, the tug from Ewan¡¯s medallion, its faint hue of blue, his tingling instincts, the land swaying with the waves, the towering pillar with a bow-shaped head, and the warning message from the vibrating hub-connectors hummed a different song.


    ¡°You¡¯re in the presence of the Blood Guardian, Graventos,¡± a man¡¯s voice with a metallic pitch rang off of everyone¡¯s connectors, the matched tones resonating on the top deck. ¡°Mind your actions and pay due respects. He prefers quiet and hates hubbub, so be careful when you sail around him. Try not to break his nap, for he gets cranky. Godspeed.¡±


    ¡°Nyte, kill the thrusters,¡± Ewan said, staring at the island as he walked to the edge of the deck, his heart racing from consternation, while Stormfalcon gradually came to a still. ¡°Hello sir, my name is Ewan Ayres, son of Ulrath, Authen Ayres.¡± He held his hand at his chest and bowed with absolute reverence, awaiting a ripple. And he waited and waited. Yet only the chirrups of the passing seagulls responded to his greeting and not a word came from the Guardian¡­


    ¡°You guys stay here, I¡¯ll go down,¡± Ewan said to the anxious and the fidgety four standing behind him.


    ¡°Ewan.¡± Nana reached out and clutched his shirt with trembling arms, shaking her head at him as her eyes teared up.


    ¡°We can''t leave without saying hello, it won''t do us any good. Just stay here, I won''t go too far,¡± Ewan said and stroked Nana¡¯s hand to comfort her. ¡°Nothing will happen.¡±


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll come too,¡± Kidd said and followed him, and the other two also stepped forth, barely suppressing their physical unease.


    ¡°No, two will be a crowd, let alone four. I¡¯m merely going to greet him, just hold here, keep hushed, and wait for me to come back,¡± Ewan said. And he flew down with a deep breath, leaving the four behind, and walked on the ocean with Ryvia, rocking with the billows as his stomach almost churned with the butterflies fluttering. His splashing steps on the water took him away from the warship and the island inched in, and when he¡¯d gone far enough where his instincts ran numb, he bowed again. ¡°Hello sir, my name is Ewan Ayres, son of Ulrath, Authen Ayres.¡± He gulped and grasped the medallion as it glowed brighter and brighter, confirming its reaction to someone close by. It couldn¡¯t be the pirates that his Pa befriended, it couldn¡¯t be them that the medallion reacted to, just the difference in generation denied the possibility. Thus, the thread of common sense could only lead to one such presence¡ªthe Blood Guardian, Graventos.


    And yet, amidst the wind that whistled in his ears, the breaking waves that guffawed, and the uncaring tweeting birds, where even his rushing blood rang aloud, silence was all he got. Whether he was right or not ceased to matter, whether the medallion had made a mistake or not became futile. The other side refused to acknowledge Ewan, let alone any connection they might¡¯ve had, there was nothing he could do from his side. So, he straightened his waist, and after a long stare at the island, he hovered back to the warship.


    ¡­..


    Stormfalcon, Bridge.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°So, Graventos in the files meant that,¡± Stefan said, sprawling sideways on the chair, gaping at the ceiling, wiping the sweat from his forehead that showed no signs of stopping.


    ¡°That freaked me out, I almost peed myself,¡± Kidd said. ¡°The Blood Guardian¡­ how the fuck did those pirates make that place their lair¡­¡±


    ¡°Taking them out with a direct attack is now impossible,¡± Lance said. ¡°What do we do? Should we give up?¡±


    ¡°It was just to earn anyway, there¡¯s no need to take such a big risk for this task,¡± Nana said. ¡°I¡¯m sure others won''t be hunting these pirates¡¯ lair either.¡±


    ¡°It is problematic, but not impossible,¡± Ewan said, rubbing his forehead as he slumped on the captain¡¯s chair. ¡°The Guardians exist for Airadia, they react only to outside threats. For any conflict within the world, they have to take a neutral stand, or so goes the rules. So, unless we piss him off or threaten the stability of the world somehow, we should be fine hunting the pirates in his area.¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t seem that friendly to me, Boss. He neither responded to you nor even showed himself,¡± Kidd said. ¡°Your medallion glowed, so he should be a friend of your father, right? He didn¡¯t even acknowledge that.¡±


    ¡°Not everyone cares for old relationships, especially when there¡¯s a huge difference between us,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about that, focus on the pirates. We can''t attack the island anymore; we need a different approach.¡±


    ¡°We can circle the island and create ambushes for the pirates, take them out bit by bit,¡± Stefan said. ¡°But what distance will be safe? We don¡¯t even know where he was.¡±


    ¡°That pillar with the bow-shaped head looked the most suspicious,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We should be fine as long as we avoid the immediate vicinity of the island. But just to err on the side of caution, let¡¯s double our current distance before we start any conflict.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 25.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 25.9 | Ice ¨C 25.9 | Blood ¨C 25.9 | Mystic: 25.9 | Dark: 25.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-232 Graventos [Part I]

    They anchored at a large radius away from the island, with Ewan, Kidd, Frost, and Orange taking turns to patrol the circumference, while the rest maintained their peak on the warship. When a plethora of uneventful days went by without a ripple in the ocean, the apparent oddity melded into their routine, and their normal life resumed.


    Ewan focused on the modification potions for the Elementalist, practicing and testing other potions on the side; Nana trained her control with the new type of Anima, while also tinkering with her artifacts; Kidd worked on his moves with Walyn and improved his stealth in the corridors; Stefan strived to normalize his new life without light, and trained his soul with the whispers of Anima; and Lance almost always stayed in the training hall, mastering the weapons, also meditating to manage his breath.


    The course of months pitted them against some decoys, when the pirates sacrificed a ship to slip away, but Ewan¡¯s control over the situation with directing the patrol and conducting his men felled their plans, and they ran back to the shelter of the island. However, the immediate retreats and their lack of initiative to start a conflict in the near waters gave Ewan an estimate of the range up to which Graventos would mind the chaos, and so, Stormfalcon backed off even more and the perimeter of their blockade soared. Nonetheless, they endeavored to either smother the pirates on the island or slay them out on the ocean.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Is it my turn already?¡± Kidd griped and groaned, sprawling on the top deck, staring at the starry sky.


    ¡°Get your ass up.¡± Ewan flew into the protective cover and kicked his butt. ¡°Don¡¯t slack off out there,¡± he said.


    ¡°It¡¯s boring, Boss. And that muscle-head made me accompany him in training, I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°You just need to sit there and keep an eye out,¡± Ewan said, looking down at him and nudging his ribs with his boots. ¡°Hurry up or I¡¯ll bald you.¡±


    Kidd sighed, and with a slouched back, hovered away from Stormfalcon. He was replacing Ewan, and Frost and Orange would also rotate on his prompt, so he floated along the circumference like a dead dog, leaving his grumblings in his trail.


    Ewan frowned at his drifting back, reflecting on the current situation. The blockade had blended into their routine, and that showed a problem in itself. They were here to make some coins, and whether what they earned was a profit or a loss would depend on the effort spent on it. And they¡¯d already spent a lot. It wasn¡¯t worth it, the pirates weren¡¯t worth the struggle, the thought seeped into his mind and made him reconsider their choice.


    ¡°Long ago on a simple island, there lived a family of two, a husband and a wife.¡± Yet, he¡¯d merely completed the thought and hardly mulled on it when a man¡¯s husky voice rumbled onto the warship, and he froze. He neither knew the owner of the voice nor recognized the source, but it was Graventos, he had no doubt. ¡°With the consummation of their loving marriage, the wife soon became heavy with child. After ten months of grueling yet rewarding struggle, she finally gave birth. Did she bear the husband a son or a daughter?¡±


    The perplexity skyrocketed in Ewan, along with the dread of the unknown. Was it a question for him? Did he have to answer it? And what would happen if he answered incorrectly¡­


    ¡°She bore him a son.¡± Ewan betted on the supposed rules of neutrality for the Guardians and took a chance.


    ¡°Incorrect.¡± The voice thundered. And Ewan grunted in pain as his knees rusted, the reddish-brown patch spreading on the skin. He could barely stand, his joint creaked and ached with his weight, but he held his own and straightened his back, his breath choppy.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°The daughter was healthy and plump, she howled her cry upon birth, and they named her Violet. She spoke her first word at eight months, she called out Dadda. The beloved princess became the anchor of the married couple, and they loved her beyond themselves,¡± the man said. ¡°When she turned five, her father took her to the market. She giggled in the hubbub, she loved the crowd, and she fell in love with a gray-furred puppy. Her father bought the puppy for her, and they named him Ears, for he had long flappy ears. He became a part of the family soon and was the daughter¡¯s best friend. She fed him, walked him, bathed him, slept with him. But when Violet turned eight, Ears died. The princess bawled at his death and couldn¡¯t let go of his corpse; she was heartbroken and devastated. So, did her father console her, taught her the lesson of life and death, and buried the dog? Or did he skin him, striped the innards, and turned him into a toy?¡±


    Ewan struggled with the agony as his knees trembled, yet he answered with a steeled mind. ¡°He turned the dog into a toy.¡± The abnormality of the situation led him to the deviant answer.


    ¡°Correct,¡± the man said. And there came no backlash, Ewan survived this round.


    ¡°The toy soothed Violet¡¯s heart, even without a breath in him, Ears made her happy. But a year of passage saw her interest in the toy wane, and soon it ate dust in the corner, forgotten forever. Now at ten, her fascination led her to birds, and she fell in love with a parrot that was eloquent, each word spoken crisp and distinct. And they named him Hawk for his unusually large wingspan. She talked to him every day; he became her confidant. She told him things she never even told her mother. And Hawk never betrayed her trust, he never uttered her secret. He greeted her mornings, he sang her to sleep, yet at thirteen, she began to detest his voice, it irked and annoyed her whenever he spoke. So, did her father teach her to be loyal, did he punish her for being mercurial? Or did he kill the parrot, tweaked his voice, and gifted the toy-Hawk to his daughter?¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.0 | Ice ¨C 26.0 | Blood ¨C 26.0 | Mystic: 26.0 | Dark: 26.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-233 Graventos [Part II]

    Nana rushed out of the door with Stefan and Lance, and they surrounded Ewan, looking around for the enemy as their heaves rang in the fraught silence.


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Nana asked, defending Ewan¡¯s back, her shoulders trembling.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Lance looked at him with a doubtful stare.


    ¡°Where is he?¡± Stefan asked, his lantern blazing up and irradiating the deck.


    ¡°He taught her to be loyal, but he didn¡¯t punish her,¡± Ewan answered.


    ¡°Incorrect,¡± the man¡¯s voice rolled again, and the three around him shivered. Ewan groaned and grunted as the rust took to his elbows and crawled for his shoulders, corroding his bones, flesh, skin, and blood.


    ¡°Ewan!¡± Nana yelled and attempted her healing spell on him, and she cast and cast. However, her new path and the Anima trait she now owned failed her, and her tears ran down her cheeks as she sobbed.


    ¡°Sir, where¡¯s the enemy?¡± Lance gulped and tightened his grip on the scythe and the shield, protecting Ewan.


    ¡°The toy of the parrot was perfect in the girl¡¯s eyes. The voice was easy on her ears, it was sweet and pleasant. And most of all, she could change it as she wished, it was the best gift for her. But her fickle nature remained, and Hawk too ate dust in a matter of months. She occasionally took him out to play with him, but always with bored and distant eyes. He didn¡¯t excite her anymore, for at sixteen, her infatuation had fallen on the neighbor¡¯s boy two-years older than her, Zephyr. But to her dismay, the boy only had eyes for someone else. She shrieked, she threw a tantrum, she destroyed Hawk and Ears, just to have her father fulfill her wish to be with him. But the boy still cared naught for her. She did her best to please him, she tried her hardest to destroy his time with the other girl, but she failed again and again. So, did her father approach the boy¡¯s father to arrange their marriage? Or did he kill the boy in the silence of the night, turned him into a toy, and gifted him to his daughter?¡±


    ¡°He killed the boy, turned him into a toy, and gifted him to his daughter,¡± Ewan said, and the three hushed around him. They kept him in the center and stopped asking about the enemy, and only Nana¡¯s cries echoed beside his voice.


    ¡°Incorrect,¡± the man said, his thundering voice rippling the air.


    Ewan growled, his back bent, and the rust reached his neck and spread to his ribs. Every breath hurt him; every whistling gasp broke with a hiccup. His chest quivered as the torment engulfed him.


    The whims of a man tortured him, the meaningless questionnaire played with his life. But he had no say in any of it, he had to accept it even if he didn¡¯t want to, because he was the weaker side. What he had done to others, others could do to him, he¡¯d long learned and accepted this lesson. Yesterday, he was the predator; today, he became the prey; and who knew if there would be a tomorrow for him. If he died, then so be it, he was only that much of a man. But what would happen to Nana after he was gone, who would protect his three brothers, and his death would kill his Astylinds too¡­


    ¡°The marriage was arranged, and though Zephyr resisted, it was to no avail. And soon with the preparations done, the day of the wedding arrived. Violet was ecstatic, her mother cried with joy, and while all the rushed and hectic work for the wedding exhausted her father, he had a constant grin plastered on his face. He met the guests, hugged his relatives, and shed a few tears in an empty room. His daughter was the apple of his eye, but today, she would marry another man, complete his life, and give her all to him. She wouldn¡¯t belong to him anymore,¡± the man said. ¡°Nevertheless, the pain of separation didn¡¯t dampen his elation for her daughter¡¯s next step in life. She¡¯d found a good man, he would keep her happy, he had to. But as the time of the ceremony arrived, as the sacred fire witnessed their marriage, the father died a silent death in his chair. So, did the daughter cancel the wedding, mourned her father, and sent him away to Morinfair? Or did she marry the man she loved, turned her father into a toy, and brought him with her to her new home?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°She turned her father into a toy and brought him with her,¡± Ewan said, wagering on the abnormal again. The rust rested before his heart¡ªone more wrong answer, and he would lose his life. Nana gripped his shirt from behind, her face paled and bloodless, as tears drenched her collar, and she sank her teeth into her lips, drawing blood. He didn¡¯t want to see her saddened, he didn¡¯t want to break his promise to her, but alas¡­


    ¡°Correct,¡± the man said, and Nana trembled behind him, her knees almost buckling.


    The rust in Ewan receded a little, he survived another round. And as Kidd bolted back onto the deck with panicked Frost and crying Orange in tow, as an enfeebled Toast howled from the tattoo, as the horrified Iris scampered to heal him without success, and as Ghost wailed in the rune, Ewan prepared for the next question.


    ¡°She put the toy of her father in her room and proceeded with her life. Zephyr remained cold to her even after their marriage, he ignored her most of the time. But with months gone by, as she strived for his love, he warmed up to her presence and accepted her as his wife. It had been a year since their wedding, and they finally consummated their marriage on their anniversary. Her life from then on was full of smiles and laughter. The man she loved, loved her back. He gave her everything he could, and she became the loving home he could come back to. And along with passed years, she forgot about the toy of her father. So, was her father alive or dead?¡±


    ¡°He was alive,¡± Ewan answered.


    ¡°Correct,¡± the man said.


    ¡°He watched his daughter¡¯s happy life unfold from a dusty corner of the room; he watched as she devoted her all to her man; he watched as the man loved her more than his life; he watched as she gradually got bored of the marriage; he watched as her interest in her husband waned; he watched as her fascination took her to the greener grass on the other side; he watched as she stabbed her husband in his face and ran away with all his wealth. And as he watched it all, did the father feel happy for his daughter? Or was he sad that he raised such a daughter?¡±


    ¡°He felt nothing,¡± Ewan said. It was the conclusion he¡¯d reached once he put himself in the father¡¯s shoes, and he stuck to his instincts.


    ¡°¡­Correct.¡± The man¡¯s voice reverberated again after a pause. ¡°Last question. What was the father¡¯s name?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Graventos.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.0 | Ice ¨C 26.0 | Blood ¨C 26.0 | Mystic: 26.0 | Dark: 26.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-234 Zephyr

    ¡°Correct,¡± Graventos said, and the stifling pressure receded with the rust. Ewan retched and puked a blob of blood that held the reddish-brown essence, the crux that had rusted him. Infirmity assaulted him as his knees thudded on the deck, his back slumped, and as the four around him and his Astylinds rushed to help, his drooping eyes stared at the hovering blob. He¡¯d just suffered its effect, he knew what it could do, and he felt how it did that. Wisps of blood slithered away and evanesced as the blob shrank, and Ewan squinted at each of their departures, lifting his worn-out hand to draw his conclusion. And with his first stroke that ate away at the blob, an immature skeleton of a spell circuit came to life.


    He drew, his shaky core barely holding him up, his chest constricting and his shoulders quivering when he swayed. Though the rust left, its damage retained, but it was without a source now. So, Iris finally won in her endeavors and healed him. When her spell washed away the last trauma, Nana plopped down behind Ewan with a heavy sigh of relief, still clutching his shirt.


    Kidd, Lance, Stefan, and his Astylinds maintained a red alert on the deck, but the awaited attack never came, and an eerie silence engulfed the part of the ocean.


    ¡°Graventos, its time, let¡¯s go,¡± a man in an unzipped white jacket said, hovering by the clouds, the nightly winds playing with his inky hair that brushed his shoulders. An onyx-black neck-warmer rested on his collars, hardly covering the scar that ran to his cheek. And when his lime-green eyes glanced at Ewan and the others, an abrupt gust of wind thrashed Stormfalcon, shoving the warship back. Luckily, it only shook the protective cover, and no damage came off it.


    ¡°You¡¯re in the presence of the Wind Guardian, Zephyr,¡± the man¡¯s voice with the metallic pitch rang from everyone¡¯s connectors again. ¡°Mind your actions and pay due respects. He can be grumpy at times and is also temperamental. Try not to irk him, or better yet just stay away. Godspeed.¡±


    The unnecessary remarks flared Zephyr¡¯s nose and tugged a twitch on his lips, the annoyed wrinkles all but showed on his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m not grumpy,¡± he mumbled, but the wind took it away and it echoed in the nearby waters.


    Ewan finished the last stroke of the spell circuit in the air; it glimmered a dirty red, scattering when he noted it down in his Spellbook¡ªthe spell¡¯s name was <Redrust>. And when he tuned in to the appearance of another Guardian, he cursed in his mind. Had he activated the Lucky Roulette by accident and was suffering from its backlash now...


    ¡°Graventos! Wake up, you donkey¡¯s ass!¡± Zephyr hollered towards the island. ¡°We need to go now; the chains are ready.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m awake already, stop yelling,¡± Graventos said, his voice buzzing over the island. The gears cranked, the forest quaked, and the ocean swirled around as the bow on the towering pillar turned. A web of cracks ran from it and spread afar when a giant toy stood up from under the land, the pillar with the bow-head jutting out from its back, and the island shattered.


    ¡°Shrink! I won''t haul your giant ass around,¡± Zephyr said, and Graventos shrank with a nod, moss and muddy sand crumbling away from his crevices. When he came to a man¡¯s size, he floated up for the clouds, while a stream of water rose from the ocean and cleaned his body.


    ¡°Change your habits already,¡± Zephyr said. ¡°I won''t help you the next time you get an earful.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°I met Salathiel¡¯s grandson, I was just greeting him,¡± Graventos said. ¡°He might gain something from it too, I helped him out."


    ¡°I was talking about the island. For fuck¡¯s sake, sleep in a normal size,¡± Zephyr grumbled.


    ¡°I did, I just lay down on this beach and fell asleep,¡± Graventos said. ¡°But I absorbed water while I was sleeping and kept getting bigger.¡±


    Zephyr clicked his tongue then looked at Stormfalcon. ¡°Is he Salathiel¡¯s grandson? Authen¡¯s son?¡± he asked. ¡°Siegward was griping about you, that furry bitch you pulled in did a lot of damage. You¡¯d better start earning lots, you need to pay for the damages. And Novas won''t cut it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s go, don¡¯t bully the kids,¡± Graventos dragged him away, and the two figures faded into the clouds.


    ¡°The fox did the damage, why should I pay for it,¡± Ewan mumbled when he couldn¡¯t see the Guardians.


    ¡°I heard that!¡± Zephyr yelled from afar. ¡°Pay for the damages!!¡± His voice lingered with the wind.


    Ewan froze halfway up and mummed, not even letting a groan of pain escape him as his weary joints creaked. And a pin-drop silence reigned on the warship for minutes.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Boss, can we speak now?¡± Kidd whispered.


    ¡°I think so,¡± Ewan said, upping his voice a notch then looking around.


    ¡°This time I properly peed my pants, Boss,¡± Kidd said. ¡°I need to change.¡±


    ¡°You scared the shit out of me,¡± Nana punched Ewan¡¯s shoulders, then hugged him tightly and bawled, her tears drenching his collar and neck.


    ¡°I told you I won''t die,¡± Ewan hummed softly in her ears, caressing her head, running his fingers through her hair. ¡°I won''t break my promise.¡±


    ¡°You almost did,¡± Nana mumbled.


    ¡°Sir, we should move, it¡¯s a good opportunity,¡± Lance said. ¡°The island has been cracked apart; the pirates are easy prey right now.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ewan stared at the mess of an island as a soft breeze ruffled Nana¡¯s hair in his face. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.0 | Ice ¨C 26.0 | Blood ¨C 26.0 | Mystic: 26.0 | Dark: 26.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-235 Leaked

    The battle opened on the broken beach and the wrecked forest beyond, and both sides matched their levels, though the numbers contrasted. The pirates had two Step-1¡ªZeroth Surge¡ªwho met Ewan and Kidd near the breaking waves and the shaky patches of land, while Lance, Stefan, and Nana confronted the rest of the crew in the forest.


    Elemental Cloak!


    The fight sparked without a word, and Ewan added defense to his side with the new etched spell, especially easing the disparity from the numbers for the three in the forest. And he took up the conductor¡¯s position again, hovering over the ocean with the modified Rainwarden staff and his Blackfeather fluttering, as Kidd and his Astylinds became his vanguard.


    Orange banged his head against the giant Water Bear, Frost held his own against the Fire Owl with a slew of ice spells, Kidd tied with the bearded musclehead of the brawler-type path in a rematch, while the albino man supported his men from the back like Ewan.


    Bloodlust!


    Ewan opened with one of his mainstay spells, and both Orange and Frost roared, rampaging on their targets. The albino man also cast his spell on his Astylinds that countered the berserk force of <Bloodlust> with a soft and supple nature of water¡ªhis Astylinds offset the wild offense, and the battle balanced.


    Stigma: Negative!


    Blood Stasis!


    Ewan cast and targeted the Step-1 enemies, but the albino man cancelled his ailment-type spell with a boost spell that raised their condition. A hint of doubt rose in Ewan with the second perfect counter. The albino man was awfully prepared for his spells, as if he knew what spells Ewan could cast¡­


    Firedust!


    Ewan cast, the fiery dust stormed on the beach, yet the albino man neutralized it with a rain spell.


    Fireflies!


    Ewan lay the traps in the area, and even with their barely visible hue that soon faded away, the albino man had his side avoid them altogether. Not a single trap went off, and they expired as the loaded Anima ran out.


    ¡°Do I know you?¡± Ewan finally broke the silence when the man foiled all his spells.


    ¡°You don¡¯t, but I do,¡± the man smirked. ¡°Ewan Ayres, the elite of the elites, privileged beyond his peers. You took what was ours, so let me humble you today.¡±


    The spells Ewan had cast so far were the spells he used before, in Drarith and for the pirates afterwards. The faultless reprisal to each of his attacks blended with what happened back in Fallsard¡ªthey cemented the possibility of information leakage. Someone went to the trouble of gathering his details and leaked them¡­


    But he still had many spells that he never used to date. So, just to be on the safe side and confirm his conjecture, he cast one from that list, biting the ceramic-smooth Novas coin while his modified staff absorbed the needed Anima for its boost from the surroundings.


    Stigma: Negative!


    Frostweb!


    He aimed and cast, and clusters of icy filaments floated down on the field, sticking, snarling, and glaciating anything it touched. The Fire Owl fluttered its wings in panic, its feathers frosting and cracking, and the Water Bear also howled as the biting web tangled its face, the wintry chill reaching for its eyes. The brawler pirate exploded away from the affected area though and escaped the control spell with only some strands of web persisting on his arms; albeit he wasn¡¯t the central target.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.And the albino man finally frowned. His response came soon enough, however, and with a fiery burst of an area-of-effect spell that hurt his side, the icy web melted away¡ªOrange, Frost, and Kidd had already backed off on Ewan¡¯s command, so they avoided the fire.


    ¡°Outdated information can only get you so far,¡± Ewan said, and prepared another cast, though running low on Anima in most of his elements.


    Stigma: Negative!


    Bloodmoths!


    And a swarm of moths made of corrosive blood fashioned before him and flocked towards the enemies, the combined flutter rippling the water and stirring the sand. The albino and the musclehead struggled against the onslaught, their Varos and their skin rotting on a moth¡¯s touch, and his Astylinds too suffered under the buzzing swarm.


    When they were down, Kidd, Frost, and Orange launched on them, unleashing a barrage that further shoved the enemies to their deaths.


    Ewan flicked a vial¡¯s cork off and gulped a potion for Anima recovery¡ªHunter¡¯s Worth: Anima¡ªwith the bitter vanilla flavor, and his nigh dry rune guzzled the incoming Anima, soon glimmering with its appetite sated. And when his targets were on their last leg, Ewan aimed at the albino and cast the new spell he¡¯d learned.


    Redrust!


    The air hummed around him when the spell circuit absorbed the Blood-Anima in his soul space, and a rotten breath birthed around the target. The albino grunted and flew back but the rot stayed with him, withering his already weakened Varos then burrowing in his body. His skin reddened then browned, and soon they corroded into a gooey mess, sliding down his body. He shrieked as his skin melted, his bones wilted, his blood curdled, and with a dying howl, he collapsed into a sludge, the pool of human goo bubbling with stenchy air.


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift indeed,¡± Ewan commented on the potency of the spell. Though the onslaught had weakened the target already, the new spell proved its worth by felling a Step-1 in one cast. It was a gift indeed.


    When the albino man departed, when Frost and Orange ripped his Astylinds apart, Ewan¡¯s side outnumbered the musclehead. With Ewan¡¯s support, his suggestive hints laced with Mystic-Anima hindering the man, and with his Astylinds adding in their bits, Walyn stabbed his throat with his spectral dagger and Kidd skewered his heart from the back. And the battle on the Step-1 side came to an end.


    ¡°Ewan!¡± Stefan¡¯s yell came from the bracelet. ¡°Lance needs help!¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Injured


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 8.4 | Ice ¨C 6.4 | Blood ¨C 0.2 | Mystic: 25.8 | Dark: 26.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-236 Loot

    When Ewan and Kidd bolted into the forest, Lance stood in a field of carnage, panting with cracked breath, his grip on the scythe trembling, and his shield lay by his feet. Blood and guts drenched the man as a pool of red rippled under him, and his soaked hair had pieces of eyeballs and bones entangled about. Not a single enemy had remained whole, the war machine had culled them to their last life, ripping them apart as pieces of maimed corpses carpeted the forest¡¯s earth.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, sir,¡± Lance said in a grinding voice, then spat some pieces of guts mixed with blood to the side. ¡°I just understood what my path entails.¡± He looked down at his scythe. ¡°It wants to drink the blood of my enemies, only then will it let me go further¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you in control?¡± Ewan asked, walking up to him, his boots splashing the swamp of blood.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Lance replied.


    ¡°Do you feel anything off?¡± Ewan asked again.


    ¡°No, sir,¡± Lance said. ¡°But I¡¯m worried if I¡¯ll still be myself if I drown myself in carnage.¡±


    ¡°As long as your soul experiences no physical distortion because of this, then no matter how you change, you¡¯ll still be you. Whether you like yourself or not at that point, that¡¯s up to you,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Just for precaution though, keep an eye on your soul space.¡±


    ¡°I have a spell that can monitor your soul, it¡¯s called Spiritmould,¡± Stefan said, standing on the side with Nana with some splatters of red on them. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you later, you can keep your soul in check with it.¡±


    Lance nodded, wiping the blood dripping his eyes.


    ¡°Go, clean up first,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We need to scour the island and loot whatever we find. And you, fartface, go change your pants.¡±


    ¡°I told you I wanted to change it before the battle, you didn¡¯t listen,¡± Kidd grumbled, and flew back to Stormfalcon with Lance.


    ¡­.


    The cracked island tendered only scraps and a cluttered mess of a lair on their hunt, not even the personal belongings fetched anything of value. The pirates lived and died by the blade, they looted and earned for today, tomorrow was never their concern, and it showed in the search. Still, Ewan held some hope for the loot, anything that could make it all worthwhile. Just the reward wasn¡¯t enough anymore, the risky encounter with the Guardians deemed it so. Thus, he went for another round, scouring the island and the butchered corpses.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Boss, this is the only thing I found in his room,¡± Kidd said, and handed him an overused diary with useless ramblings, deep seated resentment towards his hometown, and a yellowed photograph stuck between the pages. It showed a family of three¡ªthe albino man as the husband, sitting with his wife who held their little boy on her lap. The back of it wrote some numbers, coordinates most likely, and some illegible words that lost to the thrashes of time, dried tears, and human touch.


    ¡°Do you want to check it out?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Hmm, we can take a detour,¡± Ewan said, and the two waited for others on the beach. The scattered birds thronged back to the island with the break of dawn, and the morning breeze and the gentle rays of sun ebbed the smell of death lingering on the island. Though fractured to its core, nature would eventually heal this home of many, washing away the traces of the bloodshed and the savagery.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Still nothing.¡± Nana came back, shaking her head, and soon Lance exited the forest with Stefan.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± Ewan said, carrying the three with his Ryvia, while Kidd flew on his own. ¡°Let¡¯s check the coordinates before heading back to Fallsard.¡±


    ¡­.


    The coordinates led them to an isle, green and verdure, but scant. The waves blasted against the rocky shore, its splatters reaching for the high cliff, and logs and shattered bits of ships choked its only cove.


    Stormfalcon halted at a distance, and Kidd scouted the area, wary against ambushes and traps, however unlikely it was. When he surfaced and gave the green light, Ewan took Stefan and Nana and flew over, leaving Lance behind to stand guard, also giving him some alone time to think things through. He¡¯d already practiced the <Spiritmould> spell on the way, but he still had to get over his hesitation if he were to move ahead on this path. If he couldn¡¯t trust his weapons, he would have no future as a Reaper.


    When over the isle¡¯s sky, a single scan of Ewan¡¯s Ryvia netted him positive results, and Kidd¡¯s scan endorsed it¡ªa dugout in the middle of the woods was what they were looking for. Yet, the ¡®loot¡¯ Ewan came here for wasn¡¯t exactly in the form he wanted. And when its wooden door creaked open, as the stench of piss and shit mixed with the hint of mold rushed out, the scene through the surging dust confirmed it.


    A cluster of emaciated children crammed the clobbered room, mindlessly mumbling away, squirming in the claustrophobic confines. Grime and dirt smeared their skins, cobwebs tangled their hair, spiders crawled on them, yet they neither budged nor hushed. A centipede snaked into a kid¡¯s nostrils, peeking its head out from his mouth, but it only hampered the pronunciation of his mutterings. They even ignored the rotting bloated corpse in the corner, colonies of maggots wriggling out of its mouth, nose, and eyes; they just maffled away.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.0 | Ice ¨C 26.0 | Blood ¨C 26.0 | Mystic: 26.0 | Dark: 26.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-237 Guilt

    ¡°You two, stay over there,¡± Ewan said, and kept Nana and Stefan away from the room, not even letting them near the stench. Even though there were misgivings about the news of pathogen spreading from these kids, he didn¡¯t want to risk it, especially with Nana and Stefan who were still Step-0. Moreover, he didn¡¯t want the reek of their vomit to mix in with the intolerable stink¡ªhe was already struggling with his sharp sense of smell.


    ¡°Boss, should we check them out?¡± Kidd asked in a nasal whisper, pinching his nose even when his Ryvia blocked the smell.


    ¡°What are they mumbling about? Can you understand anything?¡± Ewan asked when Nana and Stefan walked a distance from the dugout.


    ¡°I think I heard some names, but I can''t be sure of it,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Let me listen for a while, we¡¯ll decide then. Contain the area with your Ryvia, don¡¯t let anything spread out,¡± Ewan said, and moved closer to the cluster, without eliciting any ripple from the children, detaining his exhale.


    Soon, the blurred mumbles sharpened, and he heard them iterating names with some incoherent details. The more he listened, the clearer the words became. Minutes of blending their mutterings even gave him an organized specifics of a name.


    Benny Anselin, Step-1 First Surge Severynth, Hynes Colony, Lostrax Continent. And more muddled details followed but Ewan missed them all, for this much was enough to freeze him in his place. His mind churned with the possibilities; his thoughts rampaged to conclude the reason for what he heard. Yet only one verdict stayed intact before him, and it was an absurd one¡ªthese kids had information on people.


    Before acting on the findings, however, Ewan backed off to a safe distance with his heart thumping against his chest and inspected his body and soul, rechecking again and again to be sure. Kidd and Iris joined in too and scanned him from head to toe, healing him to provoke a response but they got none. In the end, they validated his negative result. Even if he accepted the news he got at Fallsard at face value, which seemed more and more unlikely by the second, the pathogen wasn¡¯t airborne.


    Instead, the hysteria and the fear of a deadly disease could be a hastily enacted gag measure by Ashevagord. For if this sort of information became public, if a log of everyone¡¯s personal information just floated about on the ocean, absolute mayhem would engulf Airadia.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Do you think they have information on me?¡± Kidd peeked at the dugout in the distance and asked with glittering eyes as Lance came over after parking Stormfalcon in the nearby waters.


    ¡°Do you want them to have your information?¡± Stefan retorted.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be famous,¡± Kidd muttered, his gaze lost in a blurry dream with a clownish grin pulling on his lips.


    ¡°Nana, stay here with this retard. Lance, keep an eye out,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Stefan, come with me.¡± He¡¯d already taken and tested the children¡¯s blood, moving the wind with his Ryvia to avoid contact. But all he found was some common problems that linked to the living state of these kids, they carried no deadly pathogen that could affect an Asheva. And so, he moved on to grab the treasure of information.


    ¡°Have you practiced your soul search spell?¡± Ewan asked, but when his words fell, Stefan¡¯s steps slowed down and he halted behind him.


    ¡°Ewan, they¡¯re children¡­,¡± Stefan said. ¡°I can''t¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve already suffered a fate worse than death,¡± Ewan said, turning to look at Stefan. ¡°Nothing you do will save them; you cannot help them.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to save them, I just don¡¯t want to hurt them even more¡­,¡± Stefan said, lowering his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Ewan walked over and grabbed his collar, pulling him closer. ¡°Stefan, smother your guilt if you can''t get over it. You can indulge it when we are on the warship, we¡¯ll protect you and cover for you,¡± he said, scowling. ¡°But when we¡¯re out here, you need to shove it in a corner and forget about it. These kids are half dead, but if they weren¡¯t, and they attacked me, Nana, Lance, or Kidd, if they tried to and could kill us, would you move?¡±


    ¡°It would be self-defense then,¡± Stefan breathed out the words.


    ¡°No, that would be a passivity,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You take down the threat before it can threaten you. And you use whatever you can to gain an advantage.¡±


    ¡°Can you kill a newborn, Ewan?¡± Stefan asked.


    ¡°If I must, if its existence threatens Nana, any of you, or even me,¡± Ewan said with a pause. ¡°My conscience might torture me for that decision, but I will have a peaceful smile on the sleepless nights because all of us will be alive.¡±


    ¡°What if it¡¯s your son?¡± Stefan asked, and Ewan finally stumbled for words and his grip quivered.


    ¡°What if he threatens no one? What if his only sin was to be born without arms and legs? What if his only mistake was to be born to a useless father?¡± Stefan choked on his words, tears drenched his blindfold and rolled down his cheeks, and he broke down. ¡°I killed him, I drowned my own newborn son in the ocean, Ewan. I killed him because I decided he could have no future in that war-torn city.¡± He collapsed on his knees, his hands trembling, and he cried. ¡°He had a useless father who couldn¡¯t even protect him, who couldn¡¯t cover his weakness. I watched the water flood him, I watched his cries go silent, I killed him, Ewan, I killed him¡­¡±


    Stefan¡¯s voice dimmed and his sobs loudened, and Ewan stood over him, sorting through his emotions. The war ridden Drarith couldn¡¯t accommodate weakness, let alone disability¡ªit had no place for idealism. Callous logic and rationality would say that his son would¡¯ve had a life worse than death in that city. Stefan gave him an easy death; he chose to end his son¡¯s suffering before it began.


    But what if the dreaded future had played out differently, what if the kid lived a life filled with smiles even in that ocean of misery. Stefan¡¯s decision as a father robbed his son of his chance at life, and no matter how anyone excused it or consoled him, that core of the guilt would eat away at him.


    It would see him live in agony, and it would see him die with regrets.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.0 | Ice ¨C 26.0 | Blood ¨C 26.0 | Mystic: 26.0 | Dark: 26.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-238 Clink

    Nana, Lance, and Kidd came over when Ewan called them, while Stefan drowned in tears. He had the three sit around and prepared a campfire in the center, taking out some fresh kills and roasting them on the dancing flames. And he took out the bottles left forgotten in the corner of his claw-ring space.


    ¡°I¡¯m watching you,¡± Ewan said, glaring at Nana, and poured the amber liquor for everyone. They clinked the glasses together by the flames, the fat sizzling on the meat, and Stefan chugged it down as he sniffed.


    ¡°Easy, at least savor it properly,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°It tastes expensive,¡± Nana said under her breath, shivering after a sip with a relieved and comforted exhale. She had gone dry for ages and finally sated her thirst.


    ¡°You should know better than me,¡± Ewan said. ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡±


    She wrinkled her nose at him.


    ¡°Boss, what about the children?¡± Kidd asked, his face crinkling with a mouthful slurp. ¡°It burns!¡± He yowled, scratching his throat.


    Ewan chuckled, Lance guffawed, and his antics even pulled a cackle from Stefan. ¡°They¡¯re not going anywhere,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Let¡¯s take it easy and enjoy our time. Our past makes us what we are today, but we don¡¯t have to be shackled by it. If we can''t bear the burden alone, then let us all shoulder it together and move forward.¡± He lifted his glass, the mellowed rays of sun scattering through the fine amber whiskey. ¡°One for all,¡± he said.


    ¡°All for one!¡± They hollered.


    ¡­.


    ¡°What?¡± Kidd slurred his words. ¡°So, your wife left you because of that? Pfft, what a bisch¡­bisch¡­bitch,¡± He swayed with his glass, his face red as an apple, and his eyes almost swirling around.


    ¡°Did you not decide it together?¡± Lance asked, holding his sobered state even after his fifth glass, rivaling Ewan.


    ¡°We did, but she couldn¡¯t live with me anymore. I always reminded her of it. I can''t blame her,¡± Stefan said with droopy eyes. ¡°Last I checked, she was living with her parents. I hope she was able to forget it all and is happy now.¡±


    ¡­.


    ¡°I found a family on Stormfalcon, I was given my own surname here¡­Lance Silvester.¡± Lance tittered when he called his name out¡ªfinally the eighth glass hammered him. ¡°And I found a place I could call home,¡± he said, and hiccuped. ¡°I¡¯m satisfied with my life, and I¡¯ll give my life to protect my home and family.¡±


    Ewan laughed and ripped the spicy and juicy meat from the skewer, throwing the stick at Lance¡ªthe greasy spike pricked his forehead, leaving a stain. ¡°Piss off, who wants your life. You¡¯re still my guinea pig. Change your path if you don¡¯t trust it, we¡¯ll find something else, and I¡¯ll only get more data out of it. Stop getting all shmaltzy ass.¡±


    ¡­.


    Kidd bawled. ¡°Willy! I miss you!¡± he yelled, tears streaming down his cheeks. ¡°Cork!! I miss you!!¡±


    ¡°Willy¡¯s still alive, you fuck!¡± Stefan hurled a pebble at him and smacked his nose, then turned his head towards Lance and Ewan. ¡°Can we call him ¡®alive¡¯?¡±


    ¡°I am alive!¡± Walyn popped out of Kidd and protested.


    ¡°Ghost!¡± Lance shrieked.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Do you miss uncle and aunt too?¡± Ewan asked Nana as she rested her head on his shoulder, feeding her the ripped meat after blowing on it¡ªshe licked the seasoning left on his fingers.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Not when I¡¯m with you,¡± she said.


    And the rest retched at their overt display. ¡°Kill me now!¡± Kidd screamed.


    ¡°I¡¯m so glad I don¡¯t have eyes¡­,¡± Stefan uttered.


    ¡°Make me blind too!¡± Lance hollered.


    ¡­.


    Stefan sighed on his eleventh glass. ¡°I feel guilty getting all happy with you guys,¡± he said, then blew bubbles into the liquor.


    ¡°Shut the fuck up, you blind bat! Stuff your face with meat!¡± Kidd jumped on him while Lance held him down, and they shoved several skewers worth of meat in his mouth, almost choking him.


    ¡°Boss, take out another bottle, drown him!¡±


    Ewan grabbed Kidd¡¯s hair, pulled him back, and shoved a bottle in his mouth, laughing maniacally. ¡°Chug, you bitch! Chug!¡±


    ¡°Not me¡­Bos--¡± Kidd gurgled, the rum spilling everywhere.


    ¡°Men¡­,¡± Nana commented from the side, munching on the meat. ¡°That was expensive too¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The thundering squall sobered them all up, the wintry rain chilled their nerves, and they woke up with synched groans to the soothing smell of petrichor, the drenched campfire gone cold for long.


    ¡°There was definitely something in that bottle,¡± Ewan said, rubbing his throbbing head, grunting, the trees wobbling before him, while Nana tried to go back to sleep on his chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m never drinking again, Boss,¡± Kidd said in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°Me neither.¡± Stefan echoed the sentiment.


    ¡°You guys are weak,¡± Lance said, a stream of drool dripping down his chin.


    A crack of thunder rumbled in the ashen-gray clouds, and they groaned again, the ring lingering in Ewan¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Someone, make it stop¡­ugh,¡± Lance said, curling on the floor. ¡°I want to vomit.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the weak¡­.¡± Kidd barely finished his words when the retch came, and he puked his guts out on the campfire. His trigger broke the dam, and Stefan and Lance followed soon, adding to the stench. Ewan held it in, resisted the urge, looked away, but the reek still got him, and he vomited on Nana¡¯s head¡­


    ¡­.


    ¡°Yesterday and today never happened,¡± Ewan said with a grave face. ¡°You guys understand? Nothing happened, we¡¯ll never talk about it ever again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss,¡± Kidd saluted. ¡°You never puked on Sae¡¯sa.¡± A stifled titter came from Lance, and Ewan looked daggers at him.


    ¡°Never happened,¡± Ewan repeated, running his fuming eyes over the three, daring them to utter another word or a chuckle. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with the children quickly and move on, we need to get back to Fallsard soon,¡± he said, then looked Stefan. ¡°Stefan, give me the spell circuit, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Though the soul-based spells weren¡¯t his forte like the Whispered path, his stronger spirit could balance the gap, hopefully.


    ¡°No.¡± Stefan took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.0 | Ice ¨C 26.0 | Blood ¨C 26.0 | Mystic: 26.0 | Dark: 26.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-239 Information Porter

    Stefan followed through on his newfound resolve and cast the soul-search spell on every living child¡ªthe information porters¡ªin the dugout, resting in between to restore his state. One after another, they became stringless puppets and collapsed, slipping into a vegetative state with only their hearts barely pumping blood. Without proper care though, that too wouldn¡¯t last long, and their fate would follow the bloated corpse in the corner.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t the albino just search them for info?¡± Kidd muttered. ¡°Why¡¯d he keep them?¡±


    ¡°This place looks like his personal stash house,¡± Ewan said when Stefan just about finished shifting all the information into Nyte¡¯s database. ¡°He was either collecting them for sale or for his son in the picture. If it¡¯s the latter, there might be something more. Let¡¯s take the bodies out and search the room one last time.¡± His scans had netted him not a thing, even when he seeped into the crevices. So, if there was something else here, it must be a small storage artifact that melded into its surroundings, hidden deep enough that he overlooked it.


    Stefan exhaled a weary sigh of relief when the transfer ended. ¡°There were four unique lists, others just repeated those four,¡± he said as Lance and Kidd dragged the children¡¯s bodies out, probing and poking every nook and cranny of the room for a response. ¡°You, Kidd, and Lance are on them, it¡¯s pretty detailed even. It mentioned you as a Potioneer too, even has your family background.¡±


    ¡°Did it mention me as a mass murderer?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°It did, something about the blood festival,¡± Stefan said.


    Ewan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s from Obria, Drarith, and Vestal then. They got mine at Obria and Drarith, and they had Kidd¡¯s and Lance¡¯s at Vestal,¡± he said.


    ¡°Who do you think is behind all this?¡± Stefan asked.


    ¡°I do have a guess, but it¡¯s farfetched,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We met them in Drarith where they could¡¯ve obtained my info, and we met them in Vestal where they got these two¡¯s. But I don¡¯t remember them being in Obria¡­¡± He recalled their insignia, the crest of two slanted laughing-masks¡ªit was the church of smiles. ¡°A report I read had mentioned something related, so if they were, then their reach is far more harrowing than we imagined.¡±


    ¡°Why though¡­¡± Stefan muttered.


    ¡°Chaos can be an apt tool for misdirection,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Either it¡¯s related to some rite of advancement, or they just want to see the world burn, or could be both. Anyway, the information will soon spread, and mayhem will come, we need to be prepared for it.¡±


    ¡°The total number in the four lists combined feels a lot short,¡± Stefan said. ¡°There should more unique lists.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take any we can get our hands on, let¡¯s gather as many as we can,¡± Ewan said. ¡°When we return, I¡¯ll transfer all the info into our <Identify> database, will make it easier for us to access.¡±


    Finally, when the storm let up and a rainbow unfurled against the pale clouds, Kidd chanced upon a black spider hidden behind the dense cobwebs, lifelike but without any reaction from his poke¡ªit was a spider-shaped brooch.


    ¡°Found it, Boss,¡± Kidd shouted, and brought it outside with Lance. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have much though,¡± he said, and took out two tattered books and a handful of Anima Crystals from it.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The first book was a Cerade¡¯s inheritance, a meditation technique that covered all elements¡ªit could be a good reference for Kidd to modify his own. While the other had recipes and brewing methods for Anima based wines and liquors¡ªit was a guidebook for Winemakers.


    Ewan threw the Cerade¡¯s inheritance to Kidd, and shoved the Winemaking guidebook in Stefan¡¯s hand, putting the meagre Anima Crystals back in the spider-brooch.


    ¡°Who wants this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Me!¡± Kidd shot his hand up, looking at Stefan and Lance. But the two shrugged and let him have it.


    ¡°All done then,¡± Ewan said, tossing the brooch to him. ¡°Let¡¯s set sail.¡±


    ¡­.


    Stormfalcon, Top Deck.


    The thrusters roared and the warship sailed the waves away from the isle, voyaging under the drab weather.


    ¡°Sir, what are we going to do about the payment that Guardian was talking about?¡± Lance asked as they headed inside, down the stairs, their boots clacking in a rhythm on the metal floor.


    ¡°He said Novas won''t cut it,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the fox damage the area, Boss?¡± Kidd asked. ¡°It¡¯s unfair.¡±


    ¡°It is what it is,¡± Ewan said with a sigh. ¡°They say we have to pay, so we have to pay. And he probably meant paying with non-native resources. This payment will most likely go to Airadia. So, we can''t pay with Novas or native Astylind Cores since their origin is on this plane, just like how we rent on the hub.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t we have to go to wars and expeditions to earn that?¡± Stefan asked.


    ¡°Can we do that if the hub is closed?¡± Kidd added.


    ¡°It can be done, but it won''t be a well-organized gathering. The dissemination of recruitment news alone will be an issue,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Instead, the quests in the Enclave might give us some non-native rewards. Now, scatter all of you.¡± He stopped in his tracks and shooed them away. ¡°I need to go placate your Sae¡¯sa, hope she doesn¡¯t rip my hair off.¡±


    ¡°Rest in peace.¡± Kidd joined his hands and prayed.


    Stefan patted his arm. ¡°Good luck, I hope you survive.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve decided to continue as a Reaper,¡± Lance said, standing at attention. ¡°I thought I should tell you now, since later you might not be alive.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off!¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.0 | Ice ¨C 26.0 | Blood ¨C 26.0 | Mystic: 26.0 | Dark: 26.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-8] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-240 Reaper’s Descent

    The pirates¡¯ head secured a handsome sum of thirty thousand Novas from Fallsard Enclave, but since the hub stratum showed no signs of opening its gates, they handed Ewan a thirty kilograms weighty bag, its stitching stretched taut and frayed to house its contents¡ªthe amalgamation of irregular Anima Crystal chips. Kidd and Ewan both voiced their grumbles about the guild¡¯s lack of customer service, for they could¡¯ve offered it in a simple storage artifact, while the other three scrolled through the tasks list for a reward of non-native Astylind Cores.


    ¡°Hello sir, may I ask if you¡¯re Sir Ewan Ayres?¡± a well-groomed waiter of the guild came up to Ewan and asked, a hint of citrus drifting in his trail.


    ¡°I am,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m called Aaron, sir. I¡¯ve been tasked by our Seigneur to invite you to a banquet,¡± the waiter bowed and said, handing Ewan a black-matt invitation card with words of golden thread. ¡°It¡¯s a humble feast, our Seigneur hopes you can attend it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a third party, right? Should you be calling it humble¡­,¡± Ewan said, going through the invite, and Aaron lowered his head. The card¡¯s touch ran smooth on his fingers, softer than it looked, and it left a lingering aroma of vanilla in the air. The writing on it dated the feast two years later and invited Ewan by his full name¡ªhe could also bring others from his team if he wished to.


    ¡°Quite an early invitation,¡± Kidd said, leaning in to peek a glance at it.


    ¡°Our Seigneur knows you have a busy schedule, so he wished to give you enough time,¡± Aaron said. ¡°If you¡¯re in the area and free two years later, he hopes you can attend the banquet. I¡¯ll take my leave now, sir, I have to hand out more invitations.¡± He bowed again and walked away.


    ¡°What do you think, Boss?¡± Kidd asked, sniffing the invitation card. ¡°Smells nice,¡± he said under his breath.


    ¡°Like he said, if we¡¯re free two years later, we¡¯ll attend the banquet,¡± Ewan said, running his eyes around the guild to map the clouds of Ryvia unfurled in the hall. But none matched the color and the density of someone with the Seigneur¡¯s level, he wasn¡¯t eavesdropping on them at least.


    ¡°What if there¡¯s something fishy, Boss?¡± Kidd asked, cloaking his voice with Ryvia.


    ¡°Unless the hub opens, Fallsard is our only option in this area. We must bite the bait even if we know about it,¡± Ewan said and beckoned the other three to come over, covering his corner of the hall with Ryvia, blurring the refraction with Mystic-Anima and masking the voice. ¡°Did you find anything good?¡± he asked.


    ¡°There are a few, sir,¡± Lance said, tapping the files he got from the staff.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Nana asked, glimpsing the back of Aaron who handed out the cards in the other hall of the guild.


    ¡°It¡¯s an invite,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it.¡± He pulled the card back once she reached for it, then looked at Stefan. ¡°Stefan, can you hear anything from it?¡± He waved the card closer to his ears.


    ¡°A humming sound? Could just be my illusion,¡± Stefan said, his ears twitching.


    ¡°That¡¯s just Boss shaking the card, you numbnut,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Either way, this is going to the bottom of the ocean,¡± Ewan said, stuffing the card into an unused storage pouch. ¡°If he invited us by name, he won¡¯t need to see the card. And if he does, we can use that excuse to walk away.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Can''t we look for another hub and avoid this altogether?¡± Nana asked. ¡°Let¡¯s avoid it.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have an updated map or the data to find another hub like this,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we can mitigate the risks.¡± He looked at Lance. ¡°You¡¯ll take the lead on these tasks. Next time we¡¯re here, you¡¯ll be Step-1.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Lance said with a firm nod.


    ¡°Boss, I should head out,¡± Kidd said. ¡°I¡¯ll ask around for that, and also get more info on the banquet.¡±


    ¡°Meet us on the warship,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Let¡¯s quickly buy what we can and sail out.¡±


    ¡­.


    Lance spearheaded the tasks of bloodshed, his scythe mowing the enemies marked in the files, while Ewan handled dialogues. Some were for the wild Astylinds gone feral that attacked anyone on sight ¡ªthey exchanged no words, and at the end, the ocean just ran red. Others were for managing the overpopulation of races that burdened the resources in the area with their numbers¡ªEwan led those who listened to other areas to spread them around, while Lance came out for those who didn¡¯t. And some were for interference in local conflicts to re-establish peace and quiet¡ªthe heat of the battle numbed their desire for talks, so Lance unleashed his scythe in the battlefield again.


    The smell of blood soaked him for months as his scythe feasted on the flesh and bones of his enemies and the unrelated alike. The more he killed, the more blood he drew, the stronger his weapons became, and they nourished him in turn. The air about him shifted amidst the carnage, and he became the metaphor of the Reaper¡¯s descent.


    He was at peace with what his path entailed, he accepted the price he paid for the power, his words often reflected that during the meeting and when they ate together. Stefan¡¯s spell showed no physical alteration in his soul either, which eased everyone¡¯s concerns about his progress. The Reaper¡¯s path mimicked the Severynth¡¯s feedback system, but the parallelity of the bifurcation ended there. Instead, it took its own direction of killing to forge forth. And Lance consummated the rite¡ªthe ¡®Blood¡¯s Advent¡ªas was the tradition of the Reapers.


    Bathed in the blood of his enemies and his own, their scattered souls lingering on the humming scythe, the shield protecting his path, he roared on the battlefield where his enemies lay in pieces, and finally shed the confines and became a Step-1.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.1 | Ice ¨C 26.1 | Blood ¨C 26.1 | Mystic: 26.1 | Dark: 26.1]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-D]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-241 Seroyotes

    The test of the potions bore positive results, short term and long term¡ªHunter¡¯s Worth: Feedback was good to go for his Astylinds. Thus, when Lance broke through to Step-1 and when the stack of files for the tasks shrank, Ewan ramped up the brewing of the potions. Most were for feedback, and some were for combat, arming everyone on the team with a few vials of ¡®Tonic¡¯, ¡®Anima¡¯, ¡®Zeal¡¯, and ¡®Enliven¡¯ from the series according to their needs.


    The purchased stock of the ingredients dwindled with each success and failure, while the temporary boost in feedback skyrocketed his Spirit¡ªthe threefold enhancement tingled his head and birthed an itch he couldn¡¯t scratch. His Astylinds too shared the progress with an abundance of Step-1 Anima Potion, the regular hunts and loot from the battles funding the brew, and Frost¡¯s and Orange¡¯s stagnant levels finally popped up by one¡ªFrost took the lead with digesting his enemies¡¯ souls. Iris trailed behind them in levels, and though not far, Ewan focused more on her grade along with Ghost. They eased from ¡®D¡¯ to ¡®C¡¯, but as the accumulated luck or a lack thereof deemed it, both their transitions from ¡®C¡¯ to ¡®B¡¯ failed.


    The second try came after a month of rest for both.


    Iris succeeded this time and gained a dormant spell <Nosferatu>, Ewan¡¯s database showing her Noble Rite.


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Noble Rite (Thromb Ciard)¡ªA creek of blood; force the Anima beneath you and create a creek of blood.]


    But Ghost failed again. His misery ran deep in his bloodline. And the damage to the psyche was deep enough for the little crow to attempt suicide thrice¡ªhe tried drowning, he tried jumping onto Ewan¡¯s burner, and he choked on his own feathers. This was his first breakdown since Nana joined the pack, she¡¯d only heard about it from others till now. Thus, when she saw his wretched self, he gained her undying sympathy. Her maternal instinct kicked in, and as she pampered him and played with him all day long, the spoiled bastard forgot about his master and his grade-exalt¡­


    ¡­.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m telling you, they¡¯re all nutjobs,¡± Kidd said, looking at the quiet and freshly rained island from the sky with Ewan and Lance, the verdant forest and the protective shield glistening and shimmering from the recent shower. ¡°They attacked me on sight last time; we really can''t have a peaceful dialogue with them.¡± He hovered, fiddling with the dagger hidden in his sleeve.


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t even speak their tongue at the time, what dialogue do you want to have. Let¡¯s just give it a try, let me do the talking,¡± Ewan said, inching out his Ryvia towards the puddled beach for a cordial hello. ¡°This is the only clue we got after so long, and it has both in the same place. It¡¯ll save us a lot of time and effort if it¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s true, Boss,¡± Kidd said, weighting his word. ¡°I still don¡¯t believe the source.¡±


    ¡°I have my doubts too,¡± Ewan said. ¡°But it¡¯s worth a try at least. If something goes wrong, us three are enough to handle it.¡± When he ended his words, the forest rustled as the protective shield opened a gap, and a middle-aged man with patchy beard and scruffy yet pristine dove-like wings floated out to meet them, armed men lining the beach behind him, their wings quivering from time to time. The hostility seethed the air around, and their flaming eyes glared at Ewan and the two. They were Seroyotes¡ªonce known for their peaceful and amicable nature but had long succumbed to ferality due to the struggles of survival.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°To what do we owe the pleasure of having the Peacekeeper personally pay us a visit?¡± the man asked in an archaic dialect of Kaaleria when he came to level with the three. ¡°Are we on your list too?¡±


    ¡°We come in peace,¡± Ewan said, showing his hands and matching his tongue. ¡°I would like to ask something of you, if it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°You bring the Reaper with you,¡± the man said, glimpsing at Lance. ¡°I can''t help but doubt your intentions.¡±


    ¡°We really don¡¯t bear any malice. I¡¯m Ewan Ayres,¡± Ewan said and bowed in greeting. ¡°This is Kidd Yales, and this is Lance Silvester.¡± The two inclined their bodies too. ¡°May I have your name?¡±


    ¡°Abelard,¡± the man said and bowed back with his hand at his heart, mirroring Ewan. ¡°Abelard Siever.¡±


    ¡°Sir Abelard, may I ask if your island has the two contrasting mountains of ice and fire?¡± Ewan asked, glancing at the protective shield that hid the bulk of the island. ¡°If so, would you please allow me their use for a period of time?¡±


    Abelard stared at him, and Ewan¡¯s query hung in the air, the breaking waves and the chirping seagulls frolicking in their silence.


    ¡°You¡¯re a Potioneer, aren¡¯t you?¡± Abelard asked.


    ¡°I am.¡± Ewan smiled, for the possibility of success just soared with Abelard¡¯s question.


    ¡°Help us out with something, and you can use the mountains for as long as you want,¡± Abelard said.


    ¡°Before that, can I confirm if the fire mountain has slumbering and active lava and the ice mountain has Ceran Hynith, the millennium ice?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°They do,¡± Abelard said. ¡°You¡¯ll have to take my word for it. I¡¯ll only let you in once you sign the contract.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Ewan said. ¡°What do I have to do in return?¡±


    ¡°Brew us some aphrodisiacs,¡± Abelard said. ¡°As potent as possible. I want every man and woman on our island in heat.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.6 | Ice ¨C 26.6 | Blood ¨C 26.6 | Mystic: 26.6 | Dark: 26.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-242 The Flight of Mynah

    ¡°We¡¯ve tried everything off-the-shelf,¡± Abelard said, leading the three into the forest after signing a lenient contract, his men trailing behind. ¡°Nothing has worked so far. We were discussing about hiring a Potioneer for a custom brew when you knocked on our door.¡±


    The damp trail, the rustling leaves, the lush trees, the tweeting birds, and even the yo-yoing temperature that alternated with each bend in the path couldn¡¯t distract Ewan, for when the other Seroyotes peeked at them from the woods, the problem he noticed snatched all his attention. It had become common knowledge for those who read on the species, and Abelard¡¯s ask also hinted at it¡ªthe inhabitants of the island had an aging population. Not a single cackle of a child or a curious whisper of a boy had met their advance, the youngest who stared at them looked older than Stefan.


    ¡°Do you know the cause?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Our best guess is that it¡¯s a curse,¡± Abelard said, sending the other men away. ¡°We¡¯ve had our fair share of ups and downs, we¡¯ve made friends and enemies even when we tried not to, so it¡¯s not a surprise. But this has been our biggest hurdle yet, if we can''t solve it, we¡¯ll go extinct.¡±


    ¡°What is the problem exactly?¡± Kidd asked. ¡°You can''t do it, or you can''t have a child?¡±


    ¡°Men have lost their drive, and women have become barren,¡± Abelard said. ¡°Even when we forced them, it didn¡¯t work. They all know what they must do, but they still can''t do it.¡±


    ¡°Have you tried it with other races?¡± Lance asked. ¡°Maybe humans.¡±


    ¡°No, we can''t do that. We tried once, we mated with other races, but the offsprings lost our identity, they birthed not a single Seroyote,¡± Abelard said and turned around, looking at Ewan as the silhouette of a ¡®Y¡¯ shaped mountain flickered through the foliage behind him. It rose from the ground, then its peaks went their own way and reached for the clouds. Instead of two contrasting mountains, it was a mountain with two contradicting peaks¡ªthe icy left glaciated its half while the sweltering right poured glowing hot lava on the island.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need blood and flesh samples from your people,¡± Ewan said, looking at the towering mountain with sparkling eyes, its bizarre nudged his curiosity and had him entranced. Why, how, and what; the questions rioted in his mind. ¡°It¡¯ll be even better if I can do some tests on them directly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get you the blood and flesh, but I can''t guarantee a live subject,¡± Abelard said with deep wrinkles on his forehead.


    ¡°Do what you can, and I¡¯ll do what I can,¡± Ewan said, and they shook hands.


    ¡°The strip of woods between the two peaks has a cozy temperature,¡± Abelard said, pointing at the section of the mountain where the peaks parted ways. The two extremes clashed and rested in the strip, the balance creating a welcoming ambience. ¡°You can live there. And use the mountain as you wish, just don¡¯t destroy it.¡±


    ¡­..


    Orange peeled the dark skin on the edge of the right peak and feasted on the slumbering lava, his mouth and nose smoking after each chomp, while Frost dug a deep coffin in the ice and buried himself, dozing off when his rite began. Both their upgrades wanted time and neither needed Ewan¡¯s assistance, so when they settled into a humdrum routine and their instincts took over, he backed off and made the new hut in the center his humble home, setting up his Potioneering table.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    The ocean formed his backdrop, the verdure forest fenced the hut, leaving a clearing to be his lawn, and he lounged beside the pond and waited for Abelard, playing with the fishes. Since he was in a foreign territory, even with the amiable reception based on the contract, he refrained from stretching his legs and halted his daily pattern.


    And when the faux sun touched the waters, Abelard¡¯s men bowed at his gate, their wings furled behind them, and entered on his nod with the samples he wanted. Yet, the blood they carried in the cooking pot had clogged in the bottom, while the mangled flesh they had in plates wafted a rotting stench with dark around the edges. The primitivity pulled a sigh from Ewan, and the men fidgeted¡­


    ¡°Sir, is there something wrong?¡± the man carrying the flesh asked.


    ¡°This won''t work. The blood¡¯s clogged, and the flesh is gone too far, when did you take the samples anyway?¡± Ewan said. ¡°Never mind. Is it okay if I take samples from you guys, you have the same problem I presume?¡±


    They looked at each other and talked in hushed voices, though they were too close to Ewan for any secrecy.


    ¡°You can discuss this among yourselves or with Sir Abelard if you want. If you don¡¯t want me to take your blood and flesh directly, you can try on your own again, just get me fresh samples. I can provide you with ice containers and¡­blood thinners too...¡±


    As his word trailed towards the end from the oddity, a flock of mynah birds broke off from their swarm in the sky that rivaled the biggest cloud and swooped down towards their group, some splitting for different parts of the island, slipping into the protective shield. His Varos didn¡¯t react, his instinct stayed muted as well, the birds bore no hostility towards him.


    The biggest in the flight went for Ewan while the rest dispersed for the panicking men with wings. They¡¯d almost taken up their arms when the birds halted before them and unrolled into a pristine scroll, curvy fonts stuffing it to the brim, the words leaning at an angle.


    And a few sentences on top announced its identity¡ªit was a contract, and the Airadia¡¯s sentience oversaw it.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.6 | Ice ¨C 26.6 | Blood ¨C 26.6 | Mystic: 26.6 | Dark: 26.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-243 Samples

    Its premise was a projection of an economic crisis in this area of Morinfair, and it marked Fallsard as the origin of the market crash that could spread afar. Since the sun had occupied almost all of Ashevagord, Fairleigh¡ªthe Water Guardian¡ªissued a call for willing Ashevas in the region to counter the new master of Fallsard¡ªthe man who also belonged to the masked conclave, ¡®Mothflame¡¯ Merwyn. It was only the beginning of the conflict though, the contract only called for a non-violent resistance of any drastic fluctuation, but if things worsened, it would devolve into a full-blown siege to crush the citadel. And if he signed the contract now, Ewan had to participate in it once the situation exploded.


    Thus, he burned the contract and let the ashes drift off to the ocean with the deathly scream of the mynah¡ªhe declined the call. Even with the rewards, this wasn¡¯t the war he wanted to fight in; neither he nor his circumstances agreed with it. Fallsard was the only hub they could access in the area, and if he chose the Guardian¡¯s camp, the Enclave would close its doors for them. Before the market actually crashed and the battle began, he could use the citadel for all it had to offer¡ªneutrality was the optimal path for this conflict.


    ¡°Did you guys get the birds?¡± he spoke in the bracelet after opening the channel with a grating static.


    ¡°Yeah boss, we just got them. Did you get it too?¡± Kidd replied from Stormfalcon.


    ¡°Burn them, we¡¯re not taking part,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Ah, they¡¯re screaming,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°They were already dead when they became the contract, Nana, the screams are just theatrics, don¡¯t mind them,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Have Stormfalcon make rounds in the area, keep an eye out all of you, see if you can get more kids. This will only add to the chaos now, we need to get as much information as we can.¡±


    ¡°Lance picked one up in a drifting barrel when they were coming back, it¡¯s a new list,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Good, sort through it and add it to the database,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Get as many as we can before Ashevagord issues a ban on it.¡±


    ¡°Ewan, how will we prove that we didn¡¯t sign the contract. Will the Enclave let us enter?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope the new Seigneur has ways to find that out,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Either way, we¡¯ll stay neutral for now.¡±


    ¡°Are we still attending the banquet, Boss?¡± Kidd asked, and the men around Ewan scuttled away, the contracts still hovering behind them.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see, we still have some time for it,¡± Ewan said, glancing at them. The Seroyotes¡¯ acceptance or denial of the contract would have no effect on his position on the mountain, so his curiosity about Abelard¡¯s decision on the matter only went so far.


    ¡­..


    They came back to shed some blood and flesh for Ewan when the ballad of insects rang aloud at night, brimming with life from the rain. They still bowed at his door and lined up before him as he drew their blood and sliced some flesh, storing them in the apt containers.


    ¡°I might need more later,¡± Ewan said, clasping the lock on the box.


    ¡°Just send for us, sir, we¡¯ll all be here,¡± the man that led them said.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be you guys, but it¡¯ll be good for consistency if the samples are from the same people,¡± Ewan said with a smile. ¡°Get the cut healed properly with a spell though, scar tissues might throw the result off. I¡¯ll have to slice a different area then.¡±


    When they bowed out and closed his gate, Ewan barricaded the hut and the fences with the protective shield he bought back in Drarith, the coral lightning thread streaking around, and explored the samples. The composition of blood, the make of their flesh, the structure of their tissues, down to their cells¡ªhe researched all that he could. Apart from their wings and skeletal structure, the anatomy of Seroyotes¡¯ didn¡¯t differ much from the Humans. So, Ewan looked for any contrast that would conflict with their nature. Alas, nothing came up in his first sweep.


    Just in case though, he also used a part of the samples, and with <Transmute>, injected a parasitic version of the blood into the fishes in the pond. If Abelard couldn¡¯t deliver live subjects, Ewan would create his own. The varying effect from the different species would throw his calculations off a lot, however¡ªhe would have to heed a large margin of error when dealing with the fishes. If only he had access to slaves here too¡­


    ¡­..


    They came to deliver the second batch of samples, then the third and the fourth, and before the month ended, they came for the fifth batch too, their dreary eyes baring their weariness.


    ¡°Are you guys tired?¡± Ewan asked, slapping the skin of the last Seroyote to expose the vein, the needle marks from the previous collections bearing a purplish hue.


    ¡°No, sir,¡± their leader said. ¡°We can do this as many times as you need. Sir Abelard has given the order, and we follow.¡±


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this will be the last,¡± he said. His parasite project with the fishes came through, their changes stripped the thread that led him to the culprit. ¡°This sample is just to verify what I found. Tell Sir Abelard to come meet me when you go back, I have news for him about the issue.¡±


    ¡°Did you find the solution, sir?¡± the leader asked in an elated voice, clenching his fists as he hyperventilated.


    ¡°I found the issue, but the solution is beyond me,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s what I need to discuss with him.¡± Ewan added the blood thinner in the vial then packed it in the icy container. ¡°He was right about the curse bit at least,¡± he said under his breath.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.6 | Ice ¨C 26.6 | Blood ¨C 26.6 | Mystic: 26.6 | Dark: 26.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-244 Curse

    ¡°Did you find it?¡± Abelard crashed at his door mere minutes after Ewan sent for him, exploding a small crater, scaring all the fishes away, the torn blades of grass fluttering about.


    ¡°I did find the issue, and it is as you guessed,¡± Ewan said, pacifying the water in the pond with his hand. ¡°The curse is chained to your genetics; you won''t be able to solve it completely unless you unravel the spell. Potions won''t help you in that.¡±


    Abelard grunted a sigh and slumped before Ewan on the chair. ¡°I probably know the culprit,¡± he said. ¡°Is there really nothing you can do about this? Please, I beg you, I¡¯ll do whatever you ask of me, just save us from extinction.¡±


    ¡°There is a way to skirt the issue,¡± Ewan said, caressing the head of the fish that came to him after the ripples settled, his hand chilled to match their temperature. ¡°But you might not like it.¡± He looked at Abelard. ¡°It¡¯ll require a lot of sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll do anything,¡± Abelard said, inching forward on his chair and sitting on the edge.


    ¡°It¡¯s not you who¡¯ll have to sacrifice, it¡¯s your people,¡± Ewan said, choosing his words based on the life that the fishes lived in this month. ¡°I created a potion, a potent aphrodisiac like you asked, but with the shackles of the curse, it¡¯ll probably kill once its effect settles down. You¡¯ll have the next generation like you wished, but you¡¯ll lose the last one. Do you still want it?¡±


    Abelard gaped at him, his eyes tearing up. ¡°I-I¡­I.¡± And he lost the words beyond that.


    ¡°Think about it, discuss with your people. I¡¯ll await your reply,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I apologize that I could only do this much.¡±


    ¡°N-No, you¡¯ve already done a lot for us,¡± Abelard said, his voice grinding. ¡°I¡¯ll come back with an answer soon. Thank you, Sir Ewan.¡± He bowed.


    ¡­..


    A month of feast saw Orange through the doors of nobility, he finished his Noble Rite when the outskirts of the peak bared the creeks of lava beneath. He¡¯d stuffed himself for days, he scarfed the molten lava as his insides seared, and with his booming howl that cracked Ewan¡¯s concentration in the middle of the night, the rite propelled him up. But before he could show the evidence of growth, his urges took over again and he cried at Ewan from the peak.


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Regal Rite (Aroig Furia)¡ªThe wrath of fire; bathe in the active lava for a complete cycle of seasons and breathe its ferocity.]


    The database showed the Regal Rite for Orange, the means to realize its success lay before them, and its existence triggered the little monkey¡¯s instincts¡ªhe tugged at Ewan¡¯s soul harder than the effect of <Bloodlust>. And with Ewan¡¯s nod and his go-ahead, Orange blasted away for the maws of the volcano, ripping a trail in the resting lava, diving into the bubbling sea of blaze. His muffled screams reverberated from the peak when he sank in the viscous fire, and his naked screech of agony rolled in Ewan¡¯s soul. Soon the inception of the rite took over, however, and his bellows quietened into groans.


    Ewan stared at the peak for minutes, then his silence crossed hours, his worries nibbling at him, eroding his patience. But the rite was such, he could do nothing but wait, hoping for the best. His Orange was strong, he wouldn¡¯t stumble here¡­


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Have you decided?¡± Ewan asked Abelard, sipping on some iced water to rest his anxiety, as the man took deep breaths in his seat, his wings quivering behind him.Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said with his fists clenched, his nails dug in his skin. ¡°Please make the potions, we¡¯ll prepare our men and women.¡±


    ¡°The potion will be for both men and women, one vial for each just before the act,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Depending on the vitality, the men might survive a few months or maybe few years, but women will most likely die after giving birth. There might also be cases of forceful premature delivery depending on the how the curse reacts, you should be prepared. I would suggest picking a batch of strong men and the youngest women you have, unless you¡¯re fine with sacrificing some.¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯ll do as you say,¡± Abelard said. ¡°My people know what¡¯s at stake here, they won''t back down. We already have some volunteers; we¡¯ll screen them properly and prepare them for the consequences.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, once you prepare the ingredients, I¡¯ll start brewing the potions,¡± Ewan said, finishing his glass of water. ¡°I¡¯ll need the Pale Oysters in a large number, please make sure they¡¯re fresh when they reach me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have them delivered by sundown as you want them. I¡¯ll leave the rest in your hands,¡± Abelard said and bowed.


    ¡°This method is not feasible for long term though,¡± Ewan said. ¡°So, when the first child is born, let me test its blood too, I¡¯ll check for the intensity of the curse. If it remains the same in the next generation, my potions will only alleviate the issue for a while. You¡¯ll have to look for a permanent solution in that case.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll talk to the elders, and if they agree, I¡¯ll let you run tests on the child,¡± Abelard said, mellowing his attitude on the topic of live subjects. ¡°We will not interfere with whatever you do.¡±


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°Please relax. I¡¯m not in the habit of hurting children, let alone the newborns. Just a small vial of blood will do, I won''t even need the flesh to do the tests,¡± he said. ¡°There is one thing I wanted to ask of you, however. My Astylinds are going through their rites on the peaks, as you know. And the time it¡¯s taking them has crossed my estimate.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, Sir Ewan,¡± Abelard said, puffing his chest and raising his head. ¡°You can stay here and use the peaks for as long as you want. One year, ten years, fifty years, no one will ever ask you to leave, you have my word.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.6 | Ice ¨C 26.6 | Blood ¨C 26.6 | Mystic: 26.6 | Dark: 26.6]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-245 Easy

    The Seroyotes had blended with Clinmere, the only island that held their population, and its nature rhymed with them. Thus, when it came to procreation, they did not hide away in the confines of opaque walls, instead they acted under the open sky and conceived with the sun and the stars as their witnesses.


    And so, when the vials of potion trickled out from Ewan¡¯s humble adobe, a batch of especially marked men and women melded into the woods, and their constant moans of ecstasy stirred the peace into a lustful clamor. Clinmere embraced a pinkish hue, the birds and the beasts yielded their territories to the onset of untimely heat, and the rest of the winged populace waited for the good news, turning a blind eye to the bad news that would come with it.


    The potion didn¡¯t touch their sanity, they still held to their reason as they indulged. It just revved their drive, amplified their urges, and resuscitated their physical function beyond the suppression of the curse. The men burned their lives to gain virility and the women withered away for fertility, just for their next generation.


    Nevertheless, the subject that the potion dealt with opposed rational thoughts to begin with, not to mention the long blank that the curse forced them under. A week hadn¡¯t passed when the batch of men and women broke the instructed structure of pairings, and they fell in a mayhem of animalistic depravity.


    Ewan sighed on a cliff, looking down at the forest and the hubbub it contained within. He did warn Abelard of this, that the spike in their appetite might lead to defiance of rules. If he wanted some clarity for the next generation, the confines of the walls was his best choice. Yet, he stuck to the conventions¡­


    ¡°Who will be the father of your child¡­¡± he muttered playfully then chuckled.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Nana¡¯s voice came from the bracelet as the dense foliage and the protective shield blurred them before the island.


    ¡°The package has been delivered, over,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Good job, now scuttle back and look for more drifting barrels,¡± Ewan said, strolling down the mountain, opening a gap in the cover for Nana with the temporary token.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Kidd saluted and heaved a phew, glancing at Nana. But before he could launch, a delirious and emaciated Seroyote broke away from the forest and rushed at her, a spray of sand trailing behind him on the beach.


    Ewan blasted off, shredding the woods around him in his wake, and landed in front of Nana without a ripple in the waves, facing the winged man. And he smiled at him, his Ryvia out for the kill if his words weren¡¯t enough. ¡°She¡¯s mine, go look for someone else,¡± he said.


    The marked Seroyote stared at him then at Nana and Kidd, grunting with each breath, and turned and left. Luckily, the sanity left in the batch was enough to overwhelm their lust when death greeted them.


    ¡°Boss, your potions are wild,¡± Kidd said, sheathing his dagger.


    ¡°What did you create?¡± Nana asked, pinching his waist.


    ¡°It really wasn¡¯t my potion,¡± Ewan said, flinching away from the sting. ¡°They were too pent up already; the potions just opened the dam.¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m leaving, Boss,¡± Kidd said and scampered back with Ewan¡¯s nod, ripping the cloud when he sped up. Lance was away from Stormfalcon, searching for a deep trench in the ocean for Stefan, so the security of the warship was down to the bare minimum currently. Stefan helmed the ship and Nyte assisted him, but the assurance of safety needed the presence of a Step-1.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been enjoying yourself in your little hut then,¡± Nana commented as they ambled up the mountain. ¡°You must have a lot to ¡®observe¡¯ now.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°I was busy with the potions, how could I observe anything,¡± Ewan said with a dry laugh, keeping a hand¡¯s distance from her lest another poke, pinch, or a bite came at him. The news of what his potions had done here had already stirred the insides of Stormfalcon¡ªdishes shattered on days, flaming chilies often laced the food, and the sudden outbursts in the corridors and in the mechanics hall tortured the three men. If Ewan hadn¡¯t ordered zero contact when he dove into the research, their whines would¡¯ve flooded the channel.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been here for a minute and a man already came at me,¡± she said, breaking the branch that blocked her, then she crushed it in her fist. ¡°You¡¯ve been here for how long now? How many have knocked on your door already?¡±


    ¡°None, my doors were always closed¡­,¡± Ewan said.


    Nana yelled a short howl. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear!¡± she said, covering her ears, and strode ahead.


    ¡­..


    She sulked by the table, carping and grumbling, her hands crossed under her hills, as Ewan sorted through and bagged the potions he created for her¡ªmainly the stabilizers and the ¡®Tonic¡¯ and ¡®Enliven¡¯ versions of Hunter¡¯s Worth. Unlike Ewan, Kidd, and Lance, a Seaborn walked a gentle path of progress beyond the thorny inception, so its advancement rite barely threatened Nana. The stabilizers were still necessary though, and the rest was just in case.


    ¡°I smell perfume,¡± she sniffed and mumbled.


    ¡°That¡¯s your own,¡± Ewan replied, adjusting the stack of vials on the shelf, the glasses clinking.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s a different smell,¡± she said, her nose twitching.


    Ewan sighed and walked to her, leaning towards her with his hands on the table, and she bent back, grabbing his shirt. ¡°It¡¯s still the night jasmine, the one I like,¡± he said, whiffing her neck.


    ¡°I only use that for my hair,¡± she said softly, her voice dimming. ¡°Don¡¯t change the topic, you¡¯ve stayed here for so long, you didn¡¯t come back even once. You don¡¯t plan¡­¡± Before she could finish, Ewan kissed her and shut her mouth.


    ¡°Finally, some quiet,¡± he said with a smile when he let go and licked his lips. ¡°Vanilla?¡±


    ¡°On coming back¡­¡± And she finished her sentence with a hazy whisper, her eyes misty and glazed. Ewan kissed her again, pulling her waist in, and she replied, hugging his neck.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­really easy for you¡­aren¡¯t I?¡± she whispered after minutes of entanglement, her shallow pants mingling with his.


    Ewan flicked her nose and pulled her cheek, his smile widening. ¡°You¡¯re the toughest book I¡¯ve ever read. My emotions go haywire whenever I read you,¡± he said. ¡°But I¡¯ve loved every page since the first word. So, show me some pity and keep being easy for me, after all, I¡¯m the only fianc¨¦ and husband you¡¯ll ever have.¡±


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


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    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.7 | Ice ¨C 26.7 | Blood ¨C 26.7 | Mystic: 26.7 | Dark: 26.7]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-246 Ocean’s Embrace

    The ocean of the night veiled all its affairs within the embrace of its fathomless waters. So, when the patches of dark clouds marred the purple sky, their shades blending as the seconds ticked, Ewan took Nana to the blackest depth in the vicinity.


    He checked the bed of sand while she remained in the bubble of his Ryvia, clenching and unclenching her fists to control her fidgets. An array of lives signed their presence at the bottom, the loose sand still holding their fresh trails and traces. The struggles of the bottom feeders, the ambushes of the night predators, the stubborn formation of the schools of fishes, and the ease of the apex hunters proved the absence of the blank bubble¡ªthe sphere of the haunted quiet that declared the territory of a Step-1 or higher Astylind.


    ¡°It¡¯s clear,¡± he said, returning into the bubble, rubbing her hands to warm them up.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± she said.


    ¡°You were always better than me in breaking through the levels, you won''t have any problems with this,¡± he said. ¡°And it doesn¡¯t matter if it fails, we¡¯ll try again.¡±


    She nodded and handed him her pendant, taking deep breaths. ¡°Should I take my clothes off?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Do you want to?¡± He chuckled. ¡°I had to take mine off, but my rite was¡­ I vote for taking it off anyway,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep them on then,¡± she said, chugging the stabilizing potions, and Ewan clicked his tongue.


    And when she stepped out of the Ryvia bubble, as Ewan¡¯s eyes lost the playful sparkle and his buried anxiety surfaced, the pressure of the ocean thudded down on her and triggered her rite¡ªthe ¡®Ocean¡¯s Embrace¡¯. The strong currents bent their paths, the weak streams surrendered to their aggression, and their amalgamation sphered Nana¡ªthe ocean crushed her under its endless might.


    The unrelated water vortexed around her, digging into the sand bed, and the swirl reached for the distant sky. It mangled the lives in the premises, even the predators became its prey, and their blood reddened the sphere. Water birthed life but it also conveyed death, the poetic aspect of the ocean almost entranced Ewan.


    The rite progressed and Nana¡¯s body cracked with the onslaught, shredding her clothes to rags that barely held on, trickles of water invading her body through the fissures. She paled, her breaths halted, and soon the cracks broke her body as she floated within the sphere, blood seeping out of her.


    Ewan clenched his jaws; his heart was in his mouth. The rite had no problem, this was just a stage she had to pass to advance to the next step¡ªhe knew but the sight of it tortured him. The perception of time lost him as he stared at her unmoving figure in the sphere, the surroundings fading away. How long had he waited; the absolute silence had no reply. His heartbeat counted for him, however, and when it crossed a baker¡¯s dozen, Nana twitched and the ocean flooded her body, reconstructing her.


    Ewan heaved a huge sigh of relief, his knees almost giving away, the gulps wetting his dry throat. The rite was a success, now only the final part remained. He crushed the ¡®Tonic¡¯ and ¡®Enliven¡¯ potions and let them mix into the streams that merged with her¡ª¡®Tonic¡¯ accelerated her healing process while ¡®Enliven¡¯ rejuvenated her spirit. And as the vortex rested, when the hovering sand returned to the bed below, her rite finally came to an end; she became a Step-1 Seaborn.


    She had a wide grin on her face when she opened her eyes, and she shot at Ewan and clasped him in a tight hug. ¡°I did it!¡± she hollered as he closed the bubble of Ryvia, the pocket of air he¡¯d trapped allowing their words.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Yeah, you did,¡± he said with a chuckle, caressing her head, brushing her hair.


    ¡°I¡¯m finally on the same level as you,¡± she whispered, burying her face in his collar.


    ¡°You still have to complete the life extension rite,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ah,¡± she broke the hug and exclaimed. ¡°Lime just moved in the rune,¡± she said. ¡°Luna and Biscuit might wake up too.¡±


    ¡°Well, hello, my favorite twins,¡± Ewan said, looking down at the two jiggling bare hills and the valley. ¡°Long time no see.¡±


    ¡°Be serious,¡± Nana said with a click of her tongue, pushing his forehead up.


    ¡°I¡¯m really serious about them,¡± Ewan said, and she smooshed his face then giggled at his mug.


    The ocean bed shifted beneath them as they bickered, vomiting a cloud of sand, and revealed a trench that hid its bottom with its depth. Nana yelped at the sudden noise and hugged Ewan again, scrunching up her eyes, gulping when she finally looked down at the chasm.


    ¡°I thought it was another space crack,¡± she said with a phew, patting her chest. ¡°That scared me.¡±


    ¡°Did that give you a trauma?¡± Ewan asked, staring at her body then glancing at the trench, but her attraction brought his gaze back to her again. ¡°Wear some clothes already, you¡¯re distracting me.¡±


    ¡°You have my pendant,¡± she said.


    ¡°Then say so,¡± he said, handing it back.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Are you trying to seduce me in this situation?¡± he said, annoyed. ¡°Wear your bottom first, don¡¯t start with the top. And don¡¯t wear a shirt right now.¡± He grunted and growled. ¡°This is pure torture.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t watch then,¡± she said, adjusting the fluffy round collar of her ivory sweater when she switched to it from the shirt, her lower half still unclothed.


    ¡°Can''t do that,¡± he said, ogling at her until she dressed up, tying the last knot of her boots.


    ¡°Done,¡± she said, patting her clothes as she got up.


    ¡°Finally,¡± Ewan grumbled. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said, and took her down the trench. Curiosity didn¡¯t lead his way this time, it was instead for Stefan, for his rite required an abyss.


    <hr>


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    </td>


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    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.7 | Ice ¨C 26.7 | Blood ¨C 26.7 | Mystic: 26.7 | Dark: 26.7]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-247 Tour

    They walked the depths of the trench inside Ewan¡¯s Ryvia, the deprivation of light even failing his eyes as he strained and squinted to confirm the surroundings. The distance they¡¯d trekked and the direction they took put them under the island, but the tunneled chasm still led a path without an end in sight. And only her irrelevant words yet comforting voice echoed in here.


    ¡°Tell me honestly,¡± she said, clutching his hand and sticking close. ¡°How many girls did you have in school? Did you do it with all of them?¡±


    ¡°None, not a single one. You know how I spent those years,¡± Ewan replied, shooing away a Step-0 eyeless fish with fangs that came to nibble on their bubble. ¡°And I already had a fianc¨¦e, why would I look for any other girl.¡±


    ¡°You seemed quite used to it when we first¡­.¡± She sulked and stopped amidst her words.


    ¡°We what?¡± Ewan chuckled playfully, relishing the fresh memory of the euphoric night with full moons, when he became a man and she a woman.


    ¡°I told you to go easy, it hurt,¡± she said, poking and drilling his side.


    ¡°It was hard to control myself,¡± Ewan said, suppressing his volume. ¡°And didn¡¯t I heat up your navel? I read that in a book, it helped right?¡±


    ¡°You could¡¯ve just used a healing spell,¡± she said, and Ewan fumbled for a step, halting for a second.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve told me that then,¡± he said.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t think straight,¡± Nana said, looking away as her ears reddened.


    ¡°And you expect me to stay level-headed in that situation,¡± he retorted.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The trench sloped upwards as they squabbled and walked. The water of the ocean soon bade its farewell, and they stepped on a damp path, the gentle glow from a lantern greeting them from the corner up ahead. A monstrous shadow of an old man blemished the light¡¯s flawless span and flickered on the wall, his trembling cane barely holding his hunched back.


    ¡°Hello, sir, may I know what place this is?¡± Ewan asked and neared the corner when he confirmed a lack of threat from the old man, keeping Nana several steps behind him.


    The old man groaned, and the shadow turned his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t had any guests in a long while,¡± he said, and his raspy voice echoed in the tunnel. ¡°What brings you two kids here?¡±


    ¡°A trench collapsed nearby, and we followed it here,¡± Ewan said, turning the corner, but there was no old man there, just the lantern hung from a nail, the flame flickering with the draught, and the shadow stretched from beneath it. He froze for a second then turned to the shadow on the wall with a deep breath and bowed. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m Ewan Ayres and she¡¯s Havanna Elsworth. We¡¯re guests of Sir Abelard. May I know what place this is?¡± he asked again, keeping Nana away with a gesture.


    ¡°You¡¯re the Potioneer? I must apologize then, Lord Ayres, I was rude before,¡± the shadow of the old man said. ¡°I had a name long ago, but everyone just calls me Shadowfarer now; I¡¯m the watchguard of this place. This is a restricted area of our island; the hall up ahead records the Seroyotes¡¯ history of origin and growth.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Forgive us for intruding, Sir Shadowfarer, it was not our intention¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°You¡¯re the savior of our species, you could never intrude,¡± Shadowfarer said. ¡°Please feel free to tour the hall if you want. Of course, Lady Elsworth can go in too.¡±


    Even with the absurdity of the circumstances, the shadow of the old man posed a severe lack of threat to Ewan¡ªhis quiet instincts deemed it so. And thus¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on your offer then,¡± Ewan said and accepted the invitation, holding Nana¡¯s hand who bowed to the shadow and leading her to the hall. The first half of the trench could accommodate Stefan¡¯s rite, they¡¯d already confirmed that. The exploration now was for their leisure, for Nana after her trying rite and for Ewan after the taxing minutes he waited in that silence for her success.


    ¡­..


    The lanterns inside lit up one after another with their steps, and the entrance corridor of the hall welcomed them with a well-looked-after mural of the olden ages. A much larger Clinmere than now sheltered a peaceful tribe back then, a tribe of humans who had no wings. They lived with nature, harvested what it gave them, survived and thrived on its gifts, and dreaded its rage.


    They worshiped the forest, revered the ocean, and venerated the earth. They cheered when bouts of rain soaked their dry soil and gave them fresh water, and they holed up in their caves, trembling in terror, when the whip of lightning cracked on their heads, the sky manifesting its wrath with a roar.


    The mural didn¡¯t specify any timeline, but the lack of Ashevas in the tribe pointed to an approximate part of Airadia¡¯s history. When this world had but one moon, when its horizon actually traced a curve, when the first of the Cerades walked the earth, and when they came together to create an immature defense force called Ceradate¡ªit meant the sage¡¯s cove.


    It was a time of vulnerability and exposure, when Airadia was the destination for invaders. Even though the Ceradate warred to protect its home, it could not shoulder the reach of a world. And from one of the gaps its ineptitude left behind, a small warship crashed on Clinmere. It seated only one Staron, and the paintings endeavored to draw him as a perfect being. When he climbed out, when the sun¡¯s corona became his halo, when the natives kneeled before him, his impeccable wings unfurled.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.7 | Ice ¨C 26.7 | Blood ¨C 26.7 | Mystic: 26.7 | Dark: 26.7]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-248 Quiet Echoes

    His descent, his wings, and his stature deemed him the agent of the sky for the tribe of Clinmere, and his words held the weight of that angry roar¡ªthe corridor ended, and the drawings led Ewan and Nana to the core of the hall.


    He settled on the highest seat of the largest hall, his chin up high and his shoulders wide as if it were a throne, overlooking the tribesmen with a prideful smile.


    The passage of seasons cemented his authority and the tribe bloomed under him; his command won them battles, and his directions led them to luxury. His advent shifted the tribe¡¯s hierarchy, and even the elders gave way to his rule. They crowned him, called him his king, and the seat indeed became his throne and the tribe his kingdom. Soon his harem birthed his firstborn, winged as he was, and he lifted the wrinkled child to the sky with a forlorn curve in his eyes.


    ¡°He was their source,¡± Nana whispered.


    ¡°Seems like so,¡± Ewan replied, moving on to the next section.


    The royalty owned the wings, and the commoners were without; the unsaid rule became the convention of the kingdom¡ªeven a king¡¯s son lost his status if his back bore no feathers. And the kingdom saw its ups and downs with the years, it flourished and withered then prospered again, but the crown changed no head. Yet the worst of it came when the ¡®greedy¡¯ and ¡®ungrateful¡¯ commoners rebelled under the banner of the wingless banished princes.


    ¡°Should we be seeing this?¡± Nana asked, clutching his hand.


    ¡°History is written by the victors, there won''t be anything here that they would want to hide,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Secrets that might sully them is already buried.¡±


    The mutiny washed the kingdom in a river of blood that spilled into the ocean. As steel bit into flesh again, the king saw the last man fall under his blade, his wings dripping red, and he trampled on his crown. The victory provoked his ambitions, and he finally saw the world outside the island.


    The paintings were vague beyond this, but they pictured his stay with a lofty mountain, acquainting with its spirit, and then his conquest of another island rivaling Clinmere¡¯s size. In the end, his kingdom expanded to triangle the three points¡ªhe owned even the breaths of the beasts within the bounds.


    ¡°Fallsard¡­,¡± Ewan murmured, looking at the strokes of the mountain on the wall.


    ¡°And that¡¯s Bexthon Haven I think,¡± Nana whispered. ¡°That giant stone in the middle, that¡¯s where they lived.¡±


    ¡°Weird coincidence,¡± Ewan said, and something clicked in his mind. He wasn¡¯t sure of the idea though, he had to go back and consult his family journal and the books, he needed confirmation before he evoked even a single thought about it.


    ¡°This is the end¡­,¡± Nana said as they traversed the hall and came back to the corridor again. ¡°What happened to him after all that?¡±


    ¡°Who knows, maybe he just lost against time and faded out,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± And they left, bidding Shadowfarer a silent farewell, taking the official exit this time at his prompt, climbing the steep corkscrewed steps out into an aged hall with cracked walls. The drowsy guard bowed as his wings drooped¡­


    ¡­..


    The chasm that touched the hall of history dwarfed any trenches that Lance found in the area, so Kidd remained on the warship, and he brought Stefan to the island. Nana stood on the waves, probing the conditions of her Astylinds, while Ewan joined Lance down in the trench, and under their secured gazes, Stefan sank into the abyss.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The world lost him with every inch of the dive, the darkness admitted him; he merged with the silence of the depth. And his rite¡ªQuiet Echoes¡ªkicked off with the inception of the soft whispers. They breathed and they hissed, and their rippling verge bubbled Stefan. He was the last of them still hovering in the Kyron¡¯s territory, and his promotion would finally level the crew.


    ¡°You take the first shift,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Switch with Nana or Kidd, whoever¡¯s up for it. I¡¯ll come keep watch after I brew a batch of potions.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Lance said. ¡°What should we do about the merchant ship though?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s most likely a bait, someone¡¯s fishing for the eager,¡± he said. ¡°I can''t see a Kyron merchant getting involved in something of this level on his own. But if he really is rescuing those children and keeping them alive, then we¡¯ll join the mess and trawl for what we can get. Tell Kidd to ask around about it when he comes here.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s befriended quite a lot of fishing ships in the area, he should be able to get something,¡± Lance said. ¡°How long do you think we have, sir?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve already crossed my estimate, Ashevagord is now stalling,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Even if the sun took all their resources, they should¡¯ve been able to attend to this issue by now, it was just a matter of announcing a ban after all. But they haven¡¯t, so there might be something else going on. I¡¯m also basing my presumption on what I¡¯ve read and heard, so I can''t be sure, but it¡¯s not like them to dawdle.¡±


    ¡°They were able to release so many contracts for the market crash, this should be much easier¡­¡± Lance muttered.


    ¡°We can infer all we want, but we won''t get any result without more information. And there¡¯s only one way to get some right now,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Once these three finish their rites and Ghost breaks through, we¡¯re attending that humble banquet.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 26.7


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 26.7 | Ice ¨C 26.7 | Blood ¨C 26.7 | Mystic: 26.7 | Dark: 26.7]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-C]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-249 Disturbance

    It rained when he slept, and his eyes opened to a shower again¡ªthe quiet year ended when a tremor ran through the mountain. The icy peak, home to the millennium ice, melted a foot when Frost shattered his raw grave and crawled his way out, ripping the glacial filaments that cocooned him down. His emergence tried the serenity of the soaked dusk, but his quiet egress met with only Ewan at the toe of the peaks, who smiled at him and petted his head.


    The rite ended in Frost¡¯s victory; his blood was of the nobility now. The immature rune on his hands reached for his shoulders and its strokes burned for completion. And the heightening of inches brought him a step closer to an adult Imp¡ªhe could barely match shoulders with a short pre-teen human.


    [Astylind Name: Imp (Ice-Variant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-11]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-A]


    [Anima Affinity: Ice]


    [Skills: Ice-Favored | Snowdoll (Dormant)]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Alvodor. Their talents and affinity vary based on their bloodline. But most are capable of decent spellcasting and melee combat.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Regal Rite (Galiac Lerise)¡ªGive and take; Pay the ice for what you took from it, lower its temperature to below its initial point.]


    [Remark 1: Low wisdom. Barely crossing the line. Possibility of taming and rearing is high.]


    [Remark 2: Basic contract doesn¡¯t work. Success rate might increase with a modified spell circuit.]


    [Remark 3: Hah, I¡¯m a master of a Demon now. But too much torture broke his mind. Tch!]


    [Remark 4: Modified spell circuit succeeded; the contract was a success. No oppression needed. Changing their format in the database, the contracted ones will be noted ¡®Astylind¡¯ from now on.]


    Obedience and gravity often defined Frost, as they did this fine evening too when his instinct yanked at him to trigger the Regal Rite, yet he stood before Ewan with not an utterance, not even a hum for permission. It was an itch he couldn¡¯t scratch, as long as this peak stood near him, his instinct wouldn¡¯t quieten. But Ewan couldn¡¯t grant him the leave just yet, not before he confirmed the details of the rite, at least in relevance to time.


    Another half a month would resolve Stefan¡¯s second attempt at his rite¡ªin triumph or defeat again¡ªand a fortnight after that would let Orange exit the seething lava. The situation with the Seroyotes had also settled for now, many women with child had popped up from the initial batch. And as their men wilted away, they waited for the labor.


    The lack of any urgent task on his priority list made the Seigneur¡¯s banquet his next destination. For information and for connection, they couldn¡¯t miss it anymore. Thus, after an initial scan of the thawed peak handed him the bad news¡ªits risen temperature would take several years to drop with Frost at his best¡ªEwan denied the Regal Rite, though with a twinge in his heart when his little imp accepted it without a wave.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you,¡± he said under his breath, hugging him.


    ¡­.


    Stefan surfaced with a comforted smile and a poised stature, the confidence from success washing away his weary distress from a year ago. Such was his path that guilt helped him grow, it even shouldered the anguish of losing his eyes, but the severity of it also thorned his way forward¡ªit hindered his rite that wanted his peace. When he indulged in the sin of his past, the whispers didn¡¯t reach him, and the defeat hammered him down. It also pummeled the thorns, however, and his second attempt ended in a smooth victory.


    Orange, on the other hand, didn¡¯t let it end with a serene smile. He stuck to his nature, and when his rite ended with his babyish roar, the lava erupted for his coronation. The little monkey soared up high, the red clouds of the dusk fluttering behind him for his cape, and the island quaked beneath as the rustling woods, the trembling earth, and the surging waters toasted him. Even the terrified screams of the winged men and women became his cheers and applause.


    He remained the same as always with a fine sheen on his coral-colored fur, the long tail swinging behind, and the blob of fire flickering on his forehead. The blue wisps floating around him though caroled a different side, they hinted at the change within.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    [Astylind Name: Fire Monkey (Mutant)]


    [Astylind Level: Level-11]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-S]


    [Anima Affinity: Fire]


    [Skills: Fire-Recipient | Wrath-Inferno]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Natives of Airadia. They are blessed with decent fire-element affinity (Recipient) but lack the skill to make use of it.]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: --]


    [Remark 1: Can be trained as a vanguard but require more attention with the elemental skills.]


    [Remark 2: They look cool, so can make them your mascot.]


    [Remark 3: I agree with the second remark, lol.]


    Now only Ghost remained, and when an abrupt shroud of night hid the island from the noon of the world, as the torrent of Dark-Anima surged into the black dome from Morinfair, and as the crows cried, he shattered his misery and advanced to Step-1. The conviction it birthed propelled him ahead with his chest puffed out and his head held high, he preened with pride, and Ewan answered him with another try at the grade-exalt.


    The streak indeed remained, and he succeeded with flying colors, marking his specifics with a higher but dormant affinity.


    [Astylind Name: Necros-Crow]


    [Astylind Level: Level-10]


    [Astylind Grade: Grade-B]


    [Anima Affinity: Dark]


    [Skills: Dark-Endued | Dark-Consonance (Dormant)]


    [Gender: Male]


    [Description: Possibly extinct natives of Airadia. Thought to be the harbinger of misfortune and ruination, revered and dreaded as the one closest to death. Exceptional affinity with the dark-element from the birth (Endued) but they also bear its consequences (Unproven).]


    [Grade-Exalt Requirements: Noble Rite (Nathiel Draew)¡ªNight and day; befriend the wanderers of the night and test your mettle against the source of light, prove yourself for a cycle of season.]


    [Remark 1: Beware, pay heed to their cries, for you will lose your Astylind if you don¡¯t.]


    [Remark 2: Suicidal tendencies, sensitive to foreign stimulus. A tougher stance combined with a softer touch appears to work well in managing them.]


    The consecutive disruptions of normalcy on Clinmere, however, from Orange to Frost and then Ghost, brought a pack of Seroyotes to his doorstep.


    ¡°I apologize for the disturbances,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°We¡¯re not blaming you, Sir Ewan, we were just hoping you would inform us before something like that, so we can be prepared,¡± Abelard said, but the disgruntled men behind him couldn¡¯t echo his words, even their feathers stood taut to manifest their annoyance.


    The gratitude for preventing their extinction already ran thin, he¡¯d emptied the bucket of favors. Yet, the existence of the peak for Frost¡¯s rite and his interest in their hall of history prevented Ewan from breaking ties.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll remember to do so for the next time,¡± he said.


    ¡°There will be a next time,¡± a man behind Abelard grumbled, and Ewan could only smile an apology. Regardless of the contract, his status as a guest weakened his position, he could not retort the hosts¡¯ discontent. And a wrangle here would just delay him; the sun was already a quarter up on its way and he wanted to fire Stormfalcon¡¯s thrusters for the Enclave before it loomed over their heads. Thus, he said his byes before their words entangled any further, and pocketing a temporary token for the protective shield, he left the hut and the island that became his home for the year passed.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 28.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 28.9 | Ice ¨C 28.9 | Blood ¨C 28.9 | Mystic: 28.9 | Dark: 28.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-250 Grail

    Stormfalcon, Meeting Room.


    ¡°Feels like it¡¯s been years since we all gathered here,¡± Nana said, swiveling her high-back chair, the crystal-white light from the ceiling bouncing off her satiny chestnut hair as she blew the loose strands that tickled her nose.


    ¡°We¡¯re all Step-1 now,¡± Kidd said, polishing the table before him; its glass squeaked, and he grinned with his reflection. ¡°Almost like a reunion after our success.¡±


    ¡°Stop rubbing the glass already, you¡¯ll scratch it,¡± Stefan said, slapping Kidd¡¯s elbow with a backhand. ¡°I keep the whole warship spotless; you won''t find even a layer of dirt in any corner.¡±


    Indeed, there weren¡¯t even any wiping marks left on the glazing table, the brushed-metal walls retained its mint condition, the lights radiated from the clean frosted caps, and not a hint of dirt and dust marred the corners and the crevices.


    ¡°How do you know, you can''t even see,¡± Kidd retorted, waving his hands in front of him. ¡°Did you grow your eyeballs again?¡±


    ¡°I can now, with my Ryvia.¡± Stefan bit back, grabbing and bending Kidd¡¯s pinky backward, wrenching it until he squealed.


    ¡°Feels like home again,¡± Lance muttered on the side, a slight smile tugging at his lips.


    The books had gobbled Ewan¡¯s heed, while their din brought the warship alive, even Nyte¡¯s stiff responses held a brighter hue today.


    ¡°Stefan,¡± Ewan said, finally breaking away from the texts in the journal. ¡°Did you check the database?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Stefan said, his squabble with Kidd ending with his reply. ¡°It¡¯s efficient enough, I couldn¡¯t make any improvement.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s use that for now then, we¡¯ll make changes in the spell circuit when we get more information to add. Transfer a copy of everything to Nyte¡¯s database too.¡±


    ¡°Are we hitting that merchant ship, Boss?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Do we even know where it is?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°Last I asked around, its actually roaming in the area that we¡¯ll cross on our way,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Even if it¡¯s bait, we should be able to pull out if things go wrong,¡± Lance said. ¡°We have a strong assembly now.¡±


    ¡°That is if the highest involvement is still Step-1,¡± Stefan said. ¡°We¡¯ll be fucked otherwise.¡±


    ¡°The lists we found so far hadn¡¯t had any mention of a Step-2 or higher Ashevas,¡± Ewan said, stuffing all the books back in his claw-ring, leaving only his diary out. ¡°Whoever¡¯s muddying the waters with these porters is limited to Step-1 for now, so the ceiling of the involvement should be that.¡±


    ¡°Some of the lists we found only had the details of Step-0 Ashevas, some had a mix of the two, and the rest were all Step-1,¡± Stefan said. ¡°By that pattern, we should see a list with Step-2 names soon.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll bail when it happens,¡± Ewan said. ¡°There is a chance that the merchant ship has a Step-2 list already, so we¡¯ll just check it from afar and see how things develop. We can''t be the first to bite.¡±


    ¡°There isn¡¯t much time left till the banquet though,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°We won''t wait for long, a few days to a week,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If nothing happens during that, we¡¯ll detour and be on our way. Prepare for the worst though, just in case.¡± When the four nodded and hummed in assent, he tapped the table and swiped away for Nyte to lay out the materials he¡¯d just added.


    ¡°What we saw in that hall?¡± Nana asked, glimpsing the holographic files above the table.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°I need more information to be sure, but after I consulted the books and my family¡¯s journal, I have enough data to share my thoughts on this,¡± Ewan said, deepening the underline of his premature conclusion in the diary. ¡°The king was from another planet, or it could be a plane or even a realm. He lived and ruled these waters ages ago, but if we can somehow find his vestige or where he fell, I might be able to use my <Remembrance> spell to trace it back to his home. We might be able to get a link to an undiscovered world.¡±


    ¡°Sir¡­is this something we can touch at our level?¡± Lance asked while the others gaped at the files then gawked at Ewan.


    ¡°Ewan, it¡¯s too risky,¡± Nana said, grabbing his hand with an anxious curve in her brows.


    ¡°If we get the link, Boss, can we use it?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°Not yet, no, but in the future,¡± Ewan said. ¡°If we succeed, that link might become one of our greatest reliance. Just like that king came to Airadia and prospered, we might be able to do the same. Our visit won''t be permanent, however, unlike his.¡±


    ¡°Getting the link shouldn¡¯t be that risky, unless there are no remains or the vestige is in a place we can''t reach,¡± Stefan said. ¡°The problem will start after we get it, it¡¯ll be a hot potato, Ewan.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why this topic will remain within these walls, we won''t discuss it anywhere else,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°What if the link points to a registered world, sir?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°Depends on how Ashevagord dealt with it. If it¡¯s a publicly available world, then we¡¯ll have the visitation rights for free. If its private, then we would¡¯ve strived for nothing.¡±


    ¡°How do we even get started on this though? Where do we look, Boss?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s follow the history recorded in that hall for now,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We need to focus on the three points of triangle. Also, I have an inkling we might not be the only ones looking for this, the curse on the Seroyotes is quite suspicious.¡± He heaved a deep breath after all the words and looked at the four. ¡°I know I¡¯m being a bit reckless. I might be aiming for something that¡¯s beyond our reach, but I think this might work. I won''t move forward with it if you guys disagree though.¡±


    Stefan laughed. ¡°Worst case scenario, we all die side by side, so be it.¡±


    ¡°I will go wherever you all will go, whether hell or heaven, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Lance said, sitting up straight with his chest puffed out.


    ¡°If we go up in flames, we go up in flames together,¡± Kidd said, his eyes sparkling. ¡°In flames together!¡± Walyn jumped out with a holler and echoed his words.


    ¡°It was so relaxing back when your biggest goal was the last slice of cake,¡± Nana said, looking at Ewan. She was one with him, she was his wife-to-be; his direction was what she followed.


    And he chuckled. ¡°Very well then, our next aim in this area will be that link. Once we get the green light from risk assessment and information gathering, we¡¯ll target the three major points. It¡¯s still a premature thought though, just a fleeting idea, and we¡¯ll probably fail hard at this. But the hunt should be riveting. Let¡¯s enjoy the quest for the grail together, shall we?¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 28.9


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 28.9 | Ice ¨C 28.9 | Blood ¨C 28.9 | Mystic: 28.9 | Dark: 28.9]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-251 Battle Royale

    They were late to the party. When the shadow of the merchant ship surfaced on the horizon, amidst the ring of sharks, the red in the waves had already waned. The wreckage of the warships blazed on the waters and the shattered ships of wood sank under the mayhem. Yet the bloodbath persisted with the few remaining, and Stormfalcon¡¯s emergence paused their hostility.


    ¡°And we become the common enemy by being last to the event,¡± Kidd uttered as they halted their warship and hovered out of the protective cover. The reverse thrust frothed the ocean and broke the ripples, and Nyte backed off on Ewan¡¯s command, his Astylinds staying behind for security. Victory or defeat, Stormfalcon couldn¡¯t risk the outcome that covered the waters in front of them, not until the optimum parts hugged its core modules.


    ¡°No one welcomed you here,¡± a burly man with tall tressed beard growled from afar, steaming from his baked-red skin, lugging a cudgel dripping with flesh and brain matter¡ªthe database titled him Parth Russel, the only man who meddled in the chaos alone.


    ¡°Call me rude then,¡± Ewan said, and the four took their position around him. Lance spearheaded the formation, his scythe buzzing for blood; Kidd complemented his brash offense with his agility, unsheathing his dagger; Ewan held the middle as the main spellcaster and the conductor; and Nana and Stefan manned the back for timely supports. The lack of experience manifested in their clumsy positioning though, and it elicited giggles from a woman on the other side.


    ¡°Bitch, you¡¯re not leaving alive here today,¡± Kidd said, grinding his teeth as his knuckles whitened on the dagger¡¯s grip. ¡°Not this time.¡±


    ¡°Ewan Ayres, regardless of what happened before, we can still be called old acquaintances. What do you say, want to join hands?¡± the bald man said as the database named him Orson Mave, the head of their team¡ªwho¡¯d invited Ewan and Nana before. ¡°We¡¯ll split the info fifty-fifty, then we can share what we got for a price.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why not,¡± Ewan said.


    The highest level on the field recorded a ¡®Second Surge¡¯, from Parth with the cudgel, while the rest settled at an average of ¡®First Surge¡¯; Ewan¡¯s side fell to the bottom against the competition with ¡®Zeroth Surge¡¯ or parallel across the team. And when the conflict resumed, the impromptu agreement split the waters into two¡ªParth and another team went for Orson, their Astylinds barreling against each other with coeval roars, and the last team faced Ewan, the barrage of fireballs hurtling in before their malice made its way.


    Ewan triggered his staff¡¯s etched spell for his side¡¯s defense as Lance culled the fireballs down, a torrent of water rising from Morinfair to smother the rest¡ªNana made her move, her glowing Runecube hovering before her.


    Elemental Cloak!


    Their affinities fashioned the cloaks for them, the elements granting their defense their characters. Nana donned an ocean-blue, Kidd fluttered a charcoal-black, Lance rocked a blood-red, while Stefan hugged an unseeming ashen-gray.


    A Fire Snake slammed into Lance¡¯s shield and the defensive cloak, a counterblast of fire slithering back, and Kidd matched a burning man as the flickering dark and the raging fire clashed. A Water Bear and a Wind Swan protected the last two men on their team while they assisted their front line with support spells from afar¡ªone healed while the other bade his time.


    Nana hauled streams of water from Morinfair, crushing and remaking it into compressed water, and launched the hefty bolts at the Fireborn. Kidd flickered away from the incoming storm of fire, slicing the stray cinders, and the bolts from behind rammed into the burning man, choking his storm, and engulfing him in the soaring steam.


    Stefan raised his lantern and echoed a droning hum, muddling the Fire Snake¡¯s intent, gouging an open space before Lance for him to breathe from the rapid onslaught. The fire flickered in his lantern, and as his voice undulated, the snake writhed in pain and rampaged.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°Stefan¡­l-lower it down.¡± Lance struggled to breathe the words out, groaning and holding his head, his shield trembling¡ªStefan¡¯s lack of practice with the target spell contained him into its range too.


    ¡°My bad,¡± Stefan muttered, and pulled his spell back, halting the agony for the snake too.


    ¡°Can you imbeciles really do it?¡± a man from Orson¡¯s team yelled, fishes of light swimming around him¡ªthe databased had him as Quinn, the conflict between them had happened because of him.


    ¡°Mind your own business,¡± Ewan said, finishing the last strokes of his spell, pushing the staff out as his overcoat danced with the bloodied wind.


    Ice Daggers!


    A few floated around him when the spell churned them out while the rest of the dozens zoomed out for the two battlefields, supporting Kidd and Lance with an eye out on Nana and Stefan for any sign of danger.


    Stigma: Negative!


    Bloodstars!


    The head-sized orbs of blood fashioned around the battlefield, dripping red as they drifted about, scant in number but each crash of the two yielded a third, and the increment checked the enemies.


    The Fireborn thrashed them away, defending against Kidd¡¯s edges, howling with each punch, while the Fire Snake creeped around them and attacked Lance again. Even at its peak numbers, the spell wasn¡¯t enough for stronger targets, so Ewan moved for a counter.


    Frostweb!


    Phantasm!


    And the mystic doubled the blood orbs on the field, blending the illusion with the reality, the cobweb of ice aiding its mirage. The two enemies stumbled with the false and truth, the frosty filaments snarling their advance, their attacks phasing through the faux and the real hammering them from behind, and Kidd and Lance finally got ahead, dominating the battle.


    When his spells gave his vanguards an advantage, Ewan aimed for the back support. But before he prepared his next spell circuit, a salvo of steaming water needles rained from the cloud and shredded the icy cobweb and the blood orbs, false or true alike, and the scale tipped to their side again.


    Ewan squinted at the man at the back¡ªOnyx Vaine¡ªwho rested his hand after the cast, meeting his heterochromatic glance before the Wind Swan covered him and glared back. The back and forth of the spells had already expressed its pattern¡ªif Ewan scarfed their meat, they would gnaw his bones, neither side could get a decisive victory. ¡°We¡¯re retreating.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status: Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 29.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 29.0 | Ice ¨C 0.4 | Blood ¨C 8.0 | Mystic: 8.0 | Dark: 29.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-252 Inferno

    Ewan¡¯s Ryvia transmitted his conclusion to his team.


    ¡°Are we leaving¡­empty handed, Boss?¡± Kidd asked as a giant ball of lava shoved him back, grating the inky cloak, and singeing his hair¡ªhis tips curled. Nana heaved a boulder of water from the ocean and met the lava¡¯s advance, the sizzle and the steam reaching for the clouds, the fishes in her plunder meeting their grisly end, as she panted, drops of sweat rolling down her cheek.


    ¡°No, we¡¯ll get something out of this,¡± Ewan muttered. ¡°It might even be better than what¡¯s on the ship. Just follow my lead and get ready to race back to the ship. Stefan, prepare Nyte for a quick launch.¡±


    And when they heeded his command and their intent of retreat tipped the scales even further against them, he played his hand with his spell.


    Deadlife!


    ¡°Awaken, my soulless¡­,¡± he whispered for the undead.


    The dead Ashevas paved the waters here, their blood soaked the ocean, and he designed them all back to life. The mangled corpses rose from the water to become his soulless, streams of water dribbling down, some leaving their severed limbs behind, the eerie blue scarring the light of their eyes, and they all howled at his bid. A bout of silence washed away the mayhem of the battlefield, and the conflict paused to confirm Ewan¡¯s purpose for the spell. Quinn fumed while Orson glowered at him, his nostrils flaring.


    ¡°I wish I could do this quietly, alas¡­ So long, my friends.¡± And Ewan bowed and bade his farewell with a smile, for his soulless carried the loot of the chaos¡ªthey all had their storage artifacts intact. Kidd guffawed and pushed back the dazed Fireborn while Lance saw Nana and Stefan back to the warship, the soulless flooding the top deck, pouring in one after another.


    Nyte fired the thrusters at their max, and Stormfalcon ripped the waves ahead and aimed for the skies. Kidd too bolted back, and they all waited for Ewan. But before he returned to savor the prize of his device, his instincts blared an alarm¡ªa shadow zipped out of the ocean, and as the strange spike in Ice-Anima around him disturbed Ewan¡¯s Varos for a moment, a jagged blade ran through his heart, thick blood dripping down its edge with chunks of flesh dangling about.


    ¡°Nailed it,¡± the shadow said behind him.


    ¡°¡­Shadowfarer,¡± Ewan breathed the words, his inhales struggling in whistles, the horror embracing him before the torment arrived.


    ¡­Sindra¡­Dark Endued!


    The struggle for the skill drained him, and as his heart strained to thump, his skyrocketed affinity choked the hostile Anima that was of the same element. And when the blade slipped out, when his maimed heart gushed the blood out of his chest in its ending beat, as the last thread of malice despaired, the world blacked out, and the screams and bellows of his team faded away. Nana was the loudest among them, she would cry again¡­


    ¡­..


    ¡°He¡¯ll live!¡± Kidd¡¯s muffled yell buzzed his ears when he came to, but he fainted the next second with a gasping breath.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°I can''t heal him!!¡± Nana cried as her tears drenched him and her blurred image cracked the darkness around Ewan, but he only stayed awake for a moment again.


    ¡°Nothing will happen to him; we won''t let it¡­¡± Stefan¡¯s voice dimmed and died.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°He¡¯s not breathing! Boss!!¡± Kidd bawled, clutching Ewan¡¯s wet shirt.


    ¡°Shut up! He¡¯s breathing, nothing will happen,¡± Stefan said, his trembling hands working on Ewan¡¯s heart, pouring the potion, as Iris labored to heal him, her roots fidgeting around his gaping chest.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s working! His heart is closing!¡± Lance shouted. ¡°Use more!¡±


    ¡°He needs more blood!¡± Kidd hollered. ¡°Hurry up!¡±


    ¡°We need to remove the hostile Anima first,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°There¡¯s none, I checked! Just hurry up!!¡± Kidd screamed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mess it up, be careful, check for any shrapnel too,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°Wait, he¡¯s opening his eyes,¡± Kidd said, soaked in tears and blood. ¡°Boss, do you recognize me?¡± He waved his hands before Ewan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stress him, let him rest,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°Stop¡­yelling¡­my ears¡¯ are ringing¡­,¡± Ewan barely whispered in a grinding voice. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡±


    ¡°Boss¡­¡± Kidd collapsed on his butt, sobbing, wiping his snot and tears.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Nana?¡± Ewan asked, leaning on Stefan to get up, waves of agony running through him¡ªthe aggression of pain numbed his chest.


    ¡°She fainted¡­,¡± Stefan replied, looking to the side of the deck where she lay, bathed in her tears. Toast guarded her, feeble and frail himself from Ewan¡¯s wound; his trembling legs barely propped him up, but his whetted eyes remained on the possibilities of any enemy.


    ¡°Sir¡­your Astylinds¡­,¡± Lance said then looked at the carnage outside. The fire of blue incinerated the ocean, the stirred ashes grayed the sky, the smoldering ships toiled to stay afloat, the melted warships lost their flight, and the deathly wails hung in the air long after the deaths. Orange burned blue amidst of it all, as the source of butchery, doused in blood that dried from his fire, and he roared again and blasted off, a ring of fire exploding away from him.


    ¡°Wrath Inferno¡­¡± Ewan muttered. It was the skill of royalty, and its rampage of rage stood up to its name.


    ¡°He burned down everything in the area, even killed that Fire Snake and injured that Fireborn¡­he also destroyed the merchant ship¡­ We paid all the loot for the others to back off,¡± Lance said. ¡°Frost and Ghost chased after that shadow, sir¡­he probably got away.¡±


    Ewan nodded. ¡°Come back, I¡¯m fine.¡± His words hummed and rolled out, and Orange came to a screeching halt, his glazed eyes staring back at Stormfalcon, and he launched at it, barging into the protective cover, and slamming into Ewan¡¯s chest, bawling as his fire flickered and turned orange again.


    ¡°The wound will open¡­¡± Stefan mumbled from the side but did nothing when Ewan stopped him.


    Soon, when his sobs quietened and he drowsed, Frost and Ghost shot out of the ocean and jumped on Ewan, their mingled wails stirring up the deck. Nana woke up from their clamor, and her eyes teared up again when she saw him, and she too joined his Astylinds and squeezed him, squalling away¡ªToast finally rested and closed his eyes, snoozing while flinching from pain.


    Ewan sighed and caressed Nana¡¯s head, comforting her. ¡°I didn¡¯t break my promise, I didn¡¯t die,¡± he said, then looked at the three men¡ªdried blood smeared their grins, and their tears cut a path down. ¡°Gather whatever parts you can from the warships, we¡¯re leaving when you¡¯re done.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± They saluted.


    <hr>


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    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 29.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 29.0 | Ice ¨C 29.0 | Blood ¨C 29.0 | Mystic: 29.0 | Dark: 29.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-253 Checkmated

    Stormfalcon, Bridge.


    ¡°It was really close this time,¡± Ewan said, resting on the captain¡¯s chair, the bandages on his chest reddening when he moved, and he groaned. ¡°Luckily, the enemy¡¯s forte was dark element.¡±


    ¡°This time again,¡± Nana grumbled on the side, her arms crossed as she glared at him.


    Ewan coughed and cleared his throat. ¡°Yes, this time again,¡± he said. ¡°This fight exposed a lot of our weaknesses. Before we do anything, let¡¯s try to fix all that.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about the banquet,¡± Nana said with a cute curve in her brows, her nostrils flared. ¡°I want a healing type rune now.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to defend you, sir¡­,¡± Lance said, staring at the floor, his eyes lost and bloodshot. Kidd lowered his head too, clutching his fist, while Walyn patted his back.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s fault, no one could¡¯ve defended me in that situation. He knew the weakness of my Varos, that shadow used something to create a surge in Ice-Anima,¡± Ewan said. ¡°I need more practice to control it below its critical temperature. I also need to hurry up with the element baths, I need the Elementalist subtype at Step-1.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll start gathering the blood on a large scale,¡± Stefan said. ¡°I also need to work on the targeting mechanism, I was a useless weight out there.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll look for a non-element targeting spell like my <Stigma>, it shouldn¡¯t be too hard,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll also learn spells,¡± Kidd said. ¡°I could only defend against that fire guy; I would¡¯ve even lost if not for Sae¡¯sa.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t become an average all-rounder, just get better at what you do best, train more with Willy and Lance,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Overall, we just needed to be more powerful. I¡¯m good at spells, but that man destroyed them with a single cast. We also need better reflexive awareness. When the shadow attacked me, I could do nothing but rely on my passive defense even when my instinct rang an alarm. And for better mobility and flexibility with our positioning, I have a new spell in mind, I¡¯ll start working on it from now on.¡±


    ¡°We need a dedicated healer, Iris will be out in your Elementalist state,¡± Nana said. ¡°I want a healing rune.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll start looking for one,¡± Ewan said with a stiff smile; she was a hornet¡¯s nest right now, he didn¡¯t dare poke her too hard. ¡°But we still need to go to the banquet, we need the Enclave¡¯s guild for information on that too. We also need better artifacts, that¡¯s your specialty, you decide how to proceed.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll need better materials, what I¡¯ve left from dad¡¯s collection is running low now, it won''t be enough,¡± Nana said, taking out her diary with burnt edges and a pen with a chewed cap, and scrawled from one end to another¡ªEwan succeeded in distracting her. ¡°I have an idea for your Spellbook, I¡¯ll try to turn it into a supporting artifact. Pure defense for Lance, I¡¯ll switch the armor for a stronger and durable metal. I¡¯ll work on something like your overcoat for Kidd, for better agility and stealth, and maybe modify the dagger. And an amplifier for soul spells for Stefan¡­but his lantern already does that¡­¡± She scratched her head with the pen. ¡°Spell stability¡­spirit recovery¡­stealth¡­defense¡­¡± she murmured and scratched the words one after another.


    ¡°If you can build something to enhance my Ryvia, that¡¯ll be better for me,¡± Stefan said.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°You can use my <Ice Daggers> as its basis, should be doable,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Add it in mine too then.¡±


    ¡°Ryvia it is.¡± She wrote and circled it in her diary. ¡°Your Spellbook is made of a strong material, it should be class-A Infinity Hide if I¡¯m right, it can handle multiple runes.¡±


    ¡°Can I keep the dagger, Sae¡¯sa?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°It¡¯ll still be the same, I¡¯ll just add some applications to make it better,¡± Nana said.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Ewan asked her.


    ¡°Runecube is enough for now, I¡¯ll create another when I get another rune,¡± she said. ¡°I might link them together for boosted support.¡±


    ¡°If I had just protected our loot, we could¡¯ve gained a lot, we could¡¯ve bought all the materials with that¡­,¡± Lance said.


    ¡°It was an inevitable situation,¡± Ewan said. ¡°We were checkmated here, we were humbled, that¡¯s all, let¡¯s learn from it and move on.¡±


    ¡°Did you know who the shadow was, Boss?¡± Kidd asked.


    ¡°It was Shadowfarer,¡± he said. ¡°Nana and I met him before.¡±


    ¡°From that hall of history?¡± Nana said. ¡°Why would he¡­¡±


    ¡°Either the Seroyotes want me dead, an unlikely scenario, or he moved on his own,¡± Ewan said. ¡°The whole merchant ship farce was probably his doing, to lure us in, and we did his bidding. I do have some guesses as to why, but they are just that for now.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t want you to undo the curse on the Seroyotes¡­,¡± Nana muttered.


    Ewan sighed. ¡°I can''t undo it anyway, I just skirted the curse, but yeah, we got involved in family drama. Regardless of his reasons though, the only conclusion for us is that we need to eliminate him.¡±


    ¡°The peak for Frost¡¯s rite is on that island, if he causes trouble or they all turn hostile, it might be a problem,¡± Stefan said.


    ¡°I already noted all the details, so even if we lose access to that, it¡¯ll only be a matter of finding another peak with Millennium Ice and creating the exact same conditions, his rite won''t have any problem,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Let¡¯s prepare for the banquet now, we need to decide on what congratulatory gift we¡¯ll give the Seigneur. And one more thing, we will meet our enemies there, and you will be provoked, but do not let your impulses make any decision. Unless necessary, we¡¯re not antagonizing the Enclave.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Injured | Hypovolemia


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 29.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 29.0 | Ice ¨C 29.0 | Blood ¨C 29.0 | Mystic: 29.0 | Dark: 29.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-254 Banquet [Part-I]

    A succession of flowers welcomed the Stormfalcon into the vast port A-2, station no.10, the vibrant petals rocking with the waves, and the droning melody of the scantily dressed girls met the splendor of the spectacle with each note. A ripple of festivities had washed over the citadel in the crater, and the lavish reception divulged the importance of the banquet in the power struggle, so much so that even Ewan and his team received the grand gesture. Declining the contract worked in their favor now, and the favorable change in their allocated port validated their decision.


    ¡°Welcome back to Fallsard Enclave, Sires, Lady, our Seigneur has been eagerly awaiting your arrival.¡± A man in a maroon swallowtail coat, his slick gray hair combed back, bowed and greeted them when the thrusters parked the warship in the designated zone. ¡°We¡¯ve prepared a restroom along with an assemblage of clothes and dresses for you to choose from, please feel free to pick any if you don¡¯t mind them.¡±


    ¡°We will, thank you,¡± Ewan said, walking down the ramp of the back hatch with the four following him. ¡°Please lead the way.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°What may I call you?¡± Kidd asked, matching the man¡¯s strides while Ewan took it easy in the back with Nana, and they trekked down the winding steps.


    ¡°My name is Kase, sire,¡± the man said.


    ¡°Kase, nice name,¡± Kidd said. ¡°You guys really went all out with this.¡±


    ¡°It was going to be just a humble feast before, but things have changed since then,¡± Kase said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of the brewing hostility against our Seigneur, sire, those accusations are all hogwash, my liege has no intention of destabilizing the economic status of the area. Instead, he¡¯s prepared well and beyond to ease other conflicts that doesn¡¯t even concern him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a respectable attitude, he has my admiration. But to be honest, solving small conflicts won''t make that big of a dent. Those allegations might be nonsense, but they are grave,¡± Kidd said.


    ¡°Those are certainly not small conflicts, sire, my liege hopes to settle the chaos that¡¯s expanding because of those children. I wish I could tell you more about his sacrifice, sire, but I apologize, I¡¯m not at liberty to say any more than that,¡± the man said.


    ¡°That is indeed praiseworthy,¡± Kidd said and met Ewan¡¯s glance and the nod, and a slight surge of Mystic-Anima paved their way, carrying the threads of suggestion. ¡°But you may not know this since you¡¯re safe in the citadel, the chaos for the children won''t settle down that easily. It¡¯s a treasure trove, and everyone wants it. We just happened to witness a massacre for it, so many innocents died in that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m most certainly aware of that, sire.¡± A hint of annoyance rose in the tug of his smile, but he pulled it harder, and his lips twitched. ¡°My liege is also aware of course, that¡¯s why he¡¯s arranged to give away wealth that rivals what those children possess, he¡¯s ready to sacrifice all that he owns for this, just so that we can have peace again.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to undermine him or his status, but I doubt he can give away something that can replace the thirst for the information porters,¡± Kidd said. ¡°But his attempt is most definitely commendable, however empty it might be.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not empty, not at all,¡± Kase said, his agitation eliminating the ¡®sire¡¯ from his words. ¡°My liege has readied mines and mines of Anima Crystals just so that those hungry wolves would stop killing each other.¡± His eyes widened a moment after the sentence, and he turned and bowed parallel to the stone-path, strands of his gray hair dropping down. ¡°I was rude beyond words, sires, lady, please forgive my impudence.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, we don¡¯t mind it,¡± Kidd said, patting his back with a smile, and they continued, the severe chatter giving way to the casual gossip.


    Soon the man opened the double door to a large restroom with rows of clothes crowding the right corner, and a mirror at the end of the hall that brushed the ceiling. ¡°There are several rooms on the side, you can use any that you like.¡± The brief tour ended after a circle when Kase showed them the final room. ¡°The banquet will begin shortly, Sires, Lady. Till then, I¡¯ll be at your service, you can call me whenever you want, for whatever you want. Just ring the bell and I¡¯ll be here within a minute.¡±


    ¡­.


    Ewan fixed his thin snowy jacket over his charcoal-black turtleneck t-shirt, checking the sides in the mirror, tying the laces of his sable shoes, and patting the hems of his inky pants, when Nana came out of her changing room, brushing the pleated long skirt of her navy-blue one-piece dress. And she took his breath away.


    ¡°Does it look good?¡± she asked, adjusting the wide sleeves around her forearm, the shallow v-neck collar complementing her tear-shaped pendant, her silken chestnut hair cascading down, some strands greeting her shoulders.


    ¡°If I say no, will you take two more hours?¡± Ewan asked rhetorically, taking out the pearl earrings from a velvet box.


    ¡°Did you go out to buy them?¡± she asked, wearing the first of the two with a grin.


    ¡°You were taking too long,¡± Ewan said, moving her hair aside to see it better¡ªthe blood orange of the dusk softened its glare on its lustrous curve, it matched her well as it dangled from her squishy lobe.


    ¡°How does it look?¡± she asked, wearing the second, then swirling around, the swing of her hair blending with her skirt¡¯s rhythm.


    ¡°It¡¯s a defense artifact, don¡¯t focus on the looks,¡± Ewan said, pulling her cheek.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve bought me anything then, why earrings?¡± she quipped.


    ¡°Your pendant looked lonely,¡± he said, and she giggled. ¡°Let¡¯s go now, those three are already waiting outside for us.¡±


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 29.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 29.0 | Ice ¨C 29.0 | Blood ¨C 29.0 | Mystic: 29.0 | Dark: 29.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-255 Banquet [Part-II]

    The grandeur of the banquet outdid the opulent welcome, with the well-paved path guiding them through the orderly garden, with the feathering fragrant petals saluting their steps, with the undulating notes of the orchestra enlivening the night, and the decorated hall added the last touch with its sumptuous assemblage of steaming and aromatic food.


    ¡°Welcome to my humble home.¡± When Ewan and the others crossed into the hall, and the soft clamor from the mixed chatter washed over them, a man in a formal black wear took the stage, standing high with his shoulders wide. His sonorous voice resonated with a slight buzz as his spotlight dimmed the rest.


    Moths fluttered in his shadow while a seething swarm veiled his face, and their existence validated his status¡ªMerwyn, the Mothflame, of the masked conclave and the Seigneur of Fallsard Enclave. ¡°I really appreciate you all answering my invitation, thank you all for coming. I¡¯m not a man of many words, so I won''t take much of your time,¡± he said. ¡°This was to be a simple get together before, acquainting with each other, and it will remain so now, but I must add something on this occasion.¡±


    The hall housed the guests and the hosts and their murmurs, yet maintained its expanse, and the rolling melody backdropped the casual talks. But as a female attendant with a deep valley served Ewan and the four and led them to their named table, they all hushed for Merwyn¡¯s words.


    ¡°As you all may know, our area of Morinfair has been engulfed in chaos recently, from the sun to the children, and many have died for it,¡± he said, taking a breath. ¡°And while I¡¯m deeply grateful to you for putting your trust in me and disregarding the unfair contract, I must ask you for more. I know the allure of information, and what you may achieve if you can gather all the children who carry such treasure. But this has caused too much bloodshed already, the unending news of death has me worn down. And since Ashevagord is too busy to take any step against it, I¡¯ve decided from my end to pay out all I have to end this madness. I will give out an Anima Crystal mine to each of the guests here, and I only want your promise in return. You don¡¯t need to sign any contract of peace; you just need to give me your word.¡±


    A wave of silence rippled in the hall, but it only rested for a moment when the realization dawned on the crowd and stirred the waters, and soon the heavy breaths and the sparkling eyes echoed with avarice.


    ¡°I agree!¡± someone yelled from his table, raising his glass, and the liquor sloshed out.


    ¡°I agree too!¡± Another followed. ¡°Same, I¡¯ll give you my word!¡± And then another.


    ¡°Boss,¡± Kidd whispered and looked at Ewan, and the other three did the same.


    ¡°We¡¯ll agree,¡± Ewan said to the four then raised his glass to the Seigneur. ¡°You have our promise; we¡¯ll strive for peace.¡±


    ¡­..


    ¡°Seems like the contract had some credibility,¡± Stefan said, taking a bite of bread with an overload of dressing on top. The restrained Ryvia of the guests barely moved beyond the reach of their arm¡¯s length, and the amalgamated gray in Ewan¡¯s eyes kept to their tables, as if isolated islands in the ocean. And so, they voiced their thoughts, minding the routes of the waiters.


    ¡°What about it?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°An upsurge in everyone¡¯s riches without the change in economic circumstances will inevitably lead to the crash of the market,¡± Stefan said. ¡°The generous gift of the mines is a sweet poison.¡±


    ¡°How so? We¡¯re just getting rich,¡± Kidd said, stuffing his face with meat and sauce, shoving all his greens to Lance¡¯s plate, sneaking some to Stefan¡¯s too.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°The rise in wealth will spike the demand in the market, but the supply will remain the same,¡± Ewan said, the ice cubes clinking in his glass, the fizzy brown liquor hiding their depth, and he also shifted his crunchy carrots to Nana¡¯s plate, dodging her glare. ¡°It¡¯ll lead to hyperinflation. The prices will soar; we¡¯ll have to pay an arm and a leg just to buy an Astylind Core. Whether he¡¯s doing it deliberately, hiding his motive behind the mask of goodness, or it¡¯s just a collateral damage that he¡¯s willing to accept¡­¡± Ewan shrugged. ¡°Can''t say.¡±


    ¡°What could he gain from making others rich though? The crash should affect him too, right?¡± Lance asked, finishing his plate diligently, mopping the last bit of gravy with the toasted garlic bread.


    ¡°Market manipulation, hoarding, some rite of advancement, pure chaos, who knows,¡± Stefan said, chugging his wine.


    ¡°It might even be something else entirely,¡± Ewan said, giving his share of the salted caramel ice cream to Nana¡ªshe¡¯d grown to love this flavor. ¡°The mines might have a problem¡­¡±


    ¡°Should we not take it then?¡± Nana asked, scarfing spoonful of the slightly melted ice cream.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see, we can decide that when he check it out,¡± Ewan said, wiping the corners of her mouth then licking the cream off his thumb. ¡°Eat slowly, no one¡¯s taking it away.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s melting,¡± she said with her mouth crammed.


    ¡°Let me freeze it then,¡± he quipped.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she said, keeping the ice cream cup away from him. ¡°It changes the texture, becomes icy.¡±


    The drone of the moths approached before Merwyn¡¯s elongated shadow reached for them, and the indistinct whispers of the nearby tables quietened¡ªonly the clatters of the cutlery rang aloud. The Seigneur made rounds in the hall, towing the moths with him, addressing each table personally with minutes of his evening¡ªhe had a smile beneath that humming mask of moths, no one could deny that. The polite words and the courteous stance garnered him a cordial response from the hall, but they were, in the end, icing on the wealth he gifted them. The man was about to make them filthy rich; no one could be rude to him. And finally, he came to Ewan.


    <hr>


    Next Chapter Free on Patreon</a>


    <table width="739">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Status:  Healthy


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 29.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 29.0 | Ice ¨C 29.0 | Blood ¨C 29.0 | Mystic: 29.0 | Dark: 29.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


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    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    </td>


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    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


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    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Chapter-256 Banquet [Part-III]

    ¡°Good evening, Sir Ewan, I hope the food is to your liking,¡± Merwyn said with a slight hum in his voice as Ewan got up and shook his hand. The other four also stopped jamming their faces and looked up at them, their cheeks puffed to their limits.


    ¡°It is, sir,¡± Ewan said, smiling, his hard grip on the shake met Merwyn¡¯s. ¡°We enjoyed even the last drip of it.¡± He glanced at the plates that these pigs had licked clean, their gleaming whiteness could contest a new out-of-the-packet piece. But alas, birds of a feather flocked together after all, and such a plate also rested before his seat; he¡¯d pigged himself on his favorite duck meat too tonight.


    ¡°This won''t do,¡± Merwyn asserted and beckoned the waiter nearby. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see any plate empty on their table, do you understand?¡± The waiter bobbed his head, gulping while straightening his crumpled vest. ¡°Ask them properly what they like and keep them coming, do you understand?¡± Merwyn asked and the waiter bobbed harder, and even his breath muted.


    Ewan laughed. ¡°Let me introduce you to my mates,¡± he said, and put the waiter out of his misery as he scuttled to the food station and loaded the plates up for them¡ªthe spicy glazed duck meat with crispy skin alone towered on a platter, and he also scooped a mountainous serving of salted caramel ice cream. ¡°This is Kidd Yales.¡± Ewan pointed at Kidd who helloed with a nod. ¡°This is Stefan Rad; this is Lance Silvester.¡± They all greeted Merwyn. ¡°And this is my fianc¨¦e, Havanna Elsworth.¡± Though the Seigneur might already know them all, furthering their contact required a proper introduction.


    And while he did, his hub-connector buzzed and quaked in his claw-ring, messing up his painstakingly organized space, and he almost popped a vein.


    ¡°Elsworth?¡± Merwyn looked at her when Nana said her hello. ¡°Please forgive me if I¡¯m wrong but are you by any chance related to Sir Keith Elsworth?¡± he asked.


    ¡°He was my father,¡± Nana said with a puzzled furrow in her brows, standing beside Ewan.


    ¡°Did you know him, Sir Merwyn?¡± Ewan asked.


    ¡°Very well so, Mr. and Mrs. Elsworth are my benefactors. I wouldn¡¯t have survived in the conclave without them,¡± he said then sighed. ¡°You look a lot like your mother, ma¡¯am, but you have your father¡¯s eyes. Alas¡­¡± He stroked the moths on his face. ¡°The rules of the mask are absolute, they made the wrong choice, it was a tragic loss¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡­didn¡¯t know they were in the masked conclave,¡± Ewan said with slight hesitation, and looked at Nana, holding her quivering hand, caressing her fingers. The report he read back in Obria listed them as the casualties of the conflict in the colony, that they¡¯d died because they chose the wrong side in the political war within the walls. But if the conclave killed them¡­


    Nana¡¯s wounds had barely scabbed, he couldn¡¯t gouge them for answers that would leave them with nothing but mournful sighs and tears of remembrance. Yet, if the threat lived, and its claws reached for Nana¡­


    She shook her head at him, her misted eyes pleaded for her, and her grip tightened on his hand.


    ¡°I apologize if I brought up sad memories, I shouldn¡¯t have said anything,¡± Merwyn said.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Nana said. ¡°I¡¯ve grieved for them and shed all my tears, it¡¯s better to move on.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s better to move on¡­,¡± Merwyn mumbled. ¡°Anyway, where are my manners. Sir Ewan, you have my deepest gratitude for putting your trust in me, for disregarding the contract.¡± He bowed then handed him a vial with sparkling gray water sloshing against its faceted walls. ¡°This is the coordinates for the mine, you¡¯re free to do with it as you please, no one will hinder you,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s protect the peace of our waters together.¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ewan said with a smile and pocketed the vial. ¡°We¡¯ll protect it together.¡±


    ¡­..


    Their weighty stomachs requested a stroll, and so they did in the dimly lit garden that invited their quiet and serenity¡ªEwan and Nana sauntered behind while the three chatted ahead, burping one after another like a contest. The talkative bunch remained among the clamors of the hall, sipping their warm brandy after the filling feast, while those of few words attended to the nightly greens outside like them. Nevertheless, the garden accommodated the crowd with much to spare just like the hall inside, and so the whispers kept to themselves.


    ¡°Ewan, let¡¯s not look into it,¡± Nana said, linking arms with him, matching his amble. ¡°I was na?ve before; I didn¡¯t know what I was doing. Please, I don¡¯t want revenge anymore.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we won''t,¡± Ewan said.


    ¡°You¡¯ve almost died so many times, you have scars all over you, my heart can''t handle it anymore,¡± she said, staring at him, and their steps halted. ¡°I can''t lose you too, please.¡±


    ¡°You won''t,¡± he said under his breath. And she sniffed and buried her face in his chest, squeezing him. Ewan smiled and stroked her head, her tears wetting his t-shirt and jacket¡ªshe knew him too well. ¡°Nana, back then I was also a na?ve kid, I was torn apart and lacked the confidence to accept relationships. I feared the weight they came with, so I kept my distance. But it¡¯s different now, it¡¯ll be even more so in the future.¡± He neared her ear, the pearl earring mirroring his visage, and the ever-so familiar and soothing perfume of night jasmine embraced him amidst her quiet sobs. ¡°Anyone who threatens you, I will end him,¡± he whispered.


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    Status:  Healthy


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    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


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    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


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    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


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    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 29.0


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    Anima: [Fire ¨C 29.0 | Ice ¨C 29.0 | Blood ¨C 29.0 | Mystic: 29.0 | Dark: 29.0]


    </td>


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    <tr>


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    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


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    <tr>


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    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


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    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


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    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


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    </table>

 Chapter-257 Banquet [Part-IV]

    ¡°Boss, what about me? What if someone threatens me?¡± Kidd popped his ugly grin between their talk and asked, flecks of brown stuck in his teeth. ¡°Me too.¡± And Willy also phased in, his head sticking out from Kidd¡¯s neck.


    Their antics finally evoked a giggle out of Nana, as she sniffed with her tears, her head still buried in his chest, and she wiped her snot and all on Ewan¡¯s t-shirt.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ll end anyone who threatens you all,¡± Ewan said in defeat, the solemnity of the night lost in their chuckles. ¡°And pick your teeth, you have meat stuck in them.¡± He grabbed Kidd¡¯s face and pushed his head away.


    ¡°You looked pissed before, sir, did something happen?¡± Lance asked.


    ¡°Yeah, my connector shook,¡± Ewan said as Nana scrubbed the wet patch on his t-shirt, fixing his jacket and the collar. ¡°It toppled my stack of books and notes, I had just arranged it by letters.¡± When he took out the hub-connector, it quivered again, and a message flashed.


    ¡°Why did you keep them together,¡± Nana said, checking the strands of his hair, and combed the loose bunch.


    ¡°Lesson learned,¡± Ewan said, and triggered the message on the connector.


    ¡®Invitation for Sir Ulrath: This is to inform you, sir, that your access to the hub has been cleared by the promise of Sir Thain Cesar. You may proceed to visit as you please, the connector will lead you, but do note that the hub is now opened only for physical stay. You have a personal docking station if you need so, and you may also extend the invitation to a limited number of people¡ªyour current limit is ten.¡¯


    ¡°The hub is open,¡± Ewan murmured.


    ¡°Finally, we can earn properly,¡± Kidd said, picking his teeth with his fingernails. ¡°I¡¯ll advertise our potions, and you can also start selling wines and liquors.¡± And he clapped Stefan¡¯s back with the same hand, cleaning his fingers on his blazer with a silly smile. ¡°Sae¡¯sa can sell her artifacts too now.¡±


    ¡°It said physical visits only though,¡± Lance said, and Stefan had Kidd in a chokehold within a second. ¡°Does it mean we have to personally go to the hub?¡±


    ¡°Seems like so,¡± Ewan said, putting the connector back in.


    ¡°But it¡¯s on invitation only basis, can we sell anything with that kind of traffic?¡± Nana asked.


    ¡°Probably not,¡± Ewan said. ¡°But limited premium sales should be possible, we won''t get much contention after all.¡±


    ¡°Finally, we can earn properly,¡± Kidd said in a hoarse voice, panting when Stefan let go, his face rocked a feverish flush. ¡°How long will it take us to go there by the way?¡± he asked then retaliated, locking Stefan¡¯s head, scraping his scalp with his knuckle with a maniacal laugh.


    The quick chug of the brandy after the rums and wines that accompanied their dinner made them tipsy, but they could not take credit for the foolery of this band of clowns¡­


    ¡°Can''t say for sure, depends on where the hub has traveled right now,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Either way, we¡¯ll head out for the hub once we clear things out in this area. We first need to check the mine, gather more information on the feathered king, and go to Clinmere again and see whether Frost can still complete his rite or not, we¡¯ll make plans after that.¡±


    ¡°So, you lived.¡± A brisk quip oozing with hostility interrupted their chat, and its owner swaggered in from the dark patch of the garden, his team strolling behind him¡ªit was Orson Mave¡¯s team, and the voice was Quinn¡¯s. ¡°What type of luck were you born with?¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°I would say bad luck with how I saw your fugly mug on this lovely night. Did your father never tell you that you shouldn¡¯t speak? Your voice is obnoxious,¡± Ewan said, and Nana tittered on the side, while Kidd cackled. ¡°Fugly mug,¡± he repeated.


    But when the soft lemon light from the lamps feathered on the man, as his neck strained and his eyes breathed fire, Ewan¡¯s database named him properly, with his surname and his origin, and it wrinkled Ewan¡¯s brows. ¡°You are Quinn Geltam, the royalty of Obria?¡±


    ¡°Took you this long to realize? Did you spend all your braincells murdering a crowd of innocents?¡± Quinn retorted. ¡°Whatever they paid you to do such a thing, I wonder,¡± he said. ¡°Or do you just enjoy killing, you twisted fuck?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Ewan flashed a wicked smile. ¡°I relished every single one of it,¡± he said. The constant accusation of the blood festival had long eroded his patience for a genuine reply, not like his sincere explanation could convince anyone who had already steeled the conclusion.


    ¡°Obria was your home, you ingrate, did you not even flinch when razing it to the ground?¡± Quinn said.


    ¡°My house of bricks was my home, where my family was, I couldn¡¯t care less about a walled colony,¡± Ewan said, the implications in the man¡¯s words rippled his doubts. ¡°It was yours to keep, it was yours to protect, and you failed at both, don¡¯t blame others for your mistakes. Neither its prosperity nor its demise had my hand in it, I was and am a mere bystander to its fate.¡±


    ¡°Hogwash.¡± Quinn scoffed. ¡°Do you think those who could auction a whole colony off to a butcher will keep their word to you? Once your value hits zero, you¡¯ll be the one lying dead under their blade.¡±


    ¡°Boss.¡± Kidd chortled. ¡°His information broker is shit, and he pays for it,¡± he said and broke into a laughing fit. ¡°Oh, it rhymes!¡± And the rest chuckled.


    Quinn stared daggers at Kidd, gritting his teeth, and took a step forward when the weapons came out of their sheaths, their edges shimmering with deathly lust. Ewan bared his malice with a gentle smile, well prepared to trigger a barrage of his deadliest spells. Nana, Kidd, Lance, and Stefan took their positions too, and matched the other side, the hostility smothering the serenity. An array of Anima raged in the area, and the garden under the moons seethed with conflict¡ªa hint of spark could decimate its beauty tonight.


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    <tbody>


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    Status:  Healthy


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    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 29.0


    </td>


    </tr>


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    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 29.0 | Ice ¨C 29.0 | Blood ¨C 29.0 | Mystic: 29.0 | Dark: 29.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


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    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


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    </table>

 Chapter-258 Banquet [Part-V]

    ¡°Let¡¯s all take a deep breath and calm down.¡± Orson Mave, the bald leader of their team, barged in between and shoved Quinn back, scowling at him. ¡°This is not the venue for bloodshed, neither side will benefit from this, how about we both pull back,¡± he said, turning to Ewan.


    ¡°He¡¯s a monster,¡± Quinn said, his eyes red. ¡°And one day, you all will face the consequences with your blood for trusting him. He couldn¡¯t even be loyal to his own home, so he will betray you, it¡¯s just a matter of when and where.¡±


    ¡°Boss, will you stab me in the back or the front?¡± Kidd asked, sniggering, and the heated ambience rested with the jests.


    ¡°Please, let me do the honors,¡± Stefan said, adjusting his blindfold. ¡°I¡¯ll start sharpening a perfect blade for you.¡±


    Lance cleared his throat. ¡°No need, you can have my scythe,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s sharp.¡±


    ¡°There you go, they will all just stab each other. We don¡¯t need to interfere,¡± Orson said and dragged Quinn off by his collar, his team following behind. And soon, only the fading clacks of their boots and their muffled argument made its way through the blackness of the garden. ¡°We just gave the Seigneur our word for peace, we can''t break it on his doorsteps¡­¡±


    ¡­.


    Ewan grunted a deep breath on a stone bench while Nana stood before him and hugged his head, her fingers running through his hair¡ªthe other three enjoyed the trimmed lawn up front with an assortment of chocolate that their designated buxom waitress had brought.


    The assertion of betrayal on his part cracked Ewan¡¯s mask of nonchalance, he couldn¡¯t brush it off, for the concept of it sat beyond the limits of his reasoning. If push came to shove, would he betray¡­


    Loyalty, trust, reliance; these words still eluded him to this day.


    ¡°Do you trust me?¡± he asked, looking up at her and meeting her eyes.


    ¡°More than myself,¡± she said under her breath.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°If you have a reason for trusting someone, then you trust that reason, not the man.¡± She tightened her embrace. ¡°Do you know why you trust me?¡±


    Ewan chuckled. ¡°You assume I trust you,¡± he said. ¡°Even when I¡¯m in bed with you, I sleep with one of my eyes open, in case you stab me in the back.¡±


    She pulled his cheeks and her nose wrinkled. ¡°Then why do I hear you wheezing in the deep night, you even kicked me once,¡± she said.


    ¡°You do that, you use me as your side pillow. And by the morning, you use me as your bed,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re heavy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not!¡±


    A gentle breeze through the garden bore its flowery whiff and interrupted their squabble; Nana¡¯s hair fluttered with it, the ends of her strands dancing with their breaks and snaps.


    ¡°But what if I¡­betrayed you one day?¡± Ewan asked, hesitant with his words, as his doubts clanked the armor of his confidence.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said with a smile, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°The sound of your heartbeat is my favorite music in the world, you¡¯re the reason I¡¯ve lived.¡± She tidied his hair again, the front that fell to his eyes, combing with her fingers. ¡°Any decision you make, no matter where you go, I¡¯ll follow you till the end. Even if¡­it means sharing you¡­¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®share me¡¯?¡± He laughed and flicked her forehead. ¡°I already have one headache; you want to give me more?¡± She rubbed the sore spot¡ªit caught a slight blush that blended with her reddening ears.


    ¡°Embarrassed now?¡± Ewan said then got up, pulling her in by her waist, and stroked her face before crumpling it, her lips jutted in a pout. ¡°You are mine, cement that fact in your head,¡± he said, pecking her, staring in her big eyes, and his caress gently brushed her cheeks again. ¡°And I¡¯m also yours,¡± he whispered. ¡°No one can change that, ever.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    And her tears finally rolled down, cuddling his fingers. When Ewan struggled with his doubts, Nana had her own battle to fight with her insecurity, so much so that such a suggestion became a possibility. His actions always proved his intentions, he thought, that she knew what she meant to him. But from their days in Obria to their journey on Stormfalcon, especially after they met again on Bexthon, she lacked his confirmation¡ªspoken words often held that weight, and their absence could dismantle a relationship. He thought he knew the value of communication, he thought he abided by it¡­


    ¡°Tastes of bitter salty caramel,¡± Ewan said, licking his lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s because you can''t taste the sweet in it,¡± she said, sniffing and wiping her tears off his hand. ¡°It¡¯s really good.¡±


    Kidd cleared his throat on the side and cracked the moment. ¡°Boss, everyone¡¯s leaving now,¡± he said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stay for the breakfast gathering, we still need to ask around for the vestige,¡± Ewan said. ¡°You all know what to do, make them tipsy and drop hints, some should talk. I¡¯ll chat up the Seigneur, see if he knows something. And we also need to buy what we can before the prices soar.¡±


    ¡°Ewan, about that Quinn guy,¡± Stefan said; streaks of chocolate smeared the corners of his lips. ¡°He¡¯s going to be a problem.¡±


    ¡°Wherever he got that messy information from, I wonder; he thought I was working for whoever orchestrated that massacre,¡± Ewan said. ¡°Either way, he¡¯s already proven his hostility, we need to deal with him when we can, or he¡¯ll just get in our way.¡±


    ¡°And you thought he was jealous of you, sir.¡± Lance chuckled.


    Ewan looked at him. ¡°When will you drop that sir and ma¡¯am?¡± he asked, and Lance choked for words.


    ¡°Bitch, you added ¡®sir¡¯ even when you made fun of him,¡± Kidd said.


    Ewan grabbed his hair and rattled his head, yet again as always. ¡°Clean that foul mouth of yours, you fuckface,¡± he said. ¡°We also have a girl with us, you cheese fucker.¡±


    ¡°Boss,¡± Kidd said, his voice shaking in a vibrato. ¡°Your vocabulary of curses is bigger than mine.¡±


    ¡°Vr¡­Vra¡­Vraan.¡± Lance finally uttered the Drarith¡¯s word for older brother¡ªit was the Kaalerian tongue¡ªand then looked at Nana. ¡°Sa¡­Sae¡¯sa.¡±


    ¡°The formality is killing me,¡± Stefan said, stuffing his face with another bar of chocolate.


    ¡°No! Sae¡¯sa was mine!¡± Kidd yelled.


    And Ewan kicked his ass. ¡°She¡¯s mine, you cunt,¡± he said and went on full assault.


    ¡°I meant the word, Boss! The word!!¡± The tranquil night rumbled with his tragic screams.


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    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


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    Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Name: Ewan Ayres


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Species: Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="374">


    Vitality: 7.0


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="365">


    Spirit: 29.0


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Anima: [Fire ¨C 29.0 | Ice ¨C 29.0 | Blood ¨C 29.0 | Mystic: 29.0 | Dark: 29.0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


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    Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="739">


    Rolling Cat [Toast]:  Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]


    <hr>


    Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-S]


    <hr>


    Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-11] [Grade-A]


    <hr>


    Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    <hr>


    Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Rainwarden v2.0 [Staff]; Blackfeather v2.0 [Overcoat].


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2" width="739">


    Storage: Journal; Elementalist¡ªThe Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon¡¯s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="374">


    Novas: 24,285


    </td>


    <td width="365">


    Anima Crystals: 37,645 grams


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>