《Vampire Reincarnation》 Chapter 1 : What is There to Protect Screams of pain and agony resounded across the wheat fields that would never be harvested. Their once golden-brown color was now covered in the crimson of red fresh blood, and a nauseating stench of decomposing bodies and coppery iron lingered on the corpse-strewn battlefield. The sound of crushed bones echoed in the distance and the ground shuddered under the footsteps of a horde of orks, advancing slowly towards a fortress city besieged by hundreds of different monsters. The Fortress¡¯s southern walls were surrounded by spikes made of wood and metal, the only free space was the front of the tightly shut wooden gate. Beyond it was a city filled with villagers, farmers, carpenters, salesmen, smiths, and hunters. Dust filled the empty streets as every one of them rushed towards the northern gate, hoping to escape the claws of death. The soldiers outside the walls did their best to push back against the ravaging army of monsters, in hopes of stalling for a bit more time for their families to escape. Among them was a young woman wearing iron armor. Her brown eyes burned brightly as she killed a gobelin with a swing of her iron sword. The creature¡¯s purple body quickly turned red before its explosion sent blood and organs flying everywhere. The girl let out a grunt of displeasure with a disgusted expression. ¡°I wish I were allowed to fight the orcs and demons as well, these¡­ things, they¡¯re so disgusting even after they die.¡± She voiced her thoughts as another gobelin lunged at her, casually swinging her sword at the creature. ¡°Master is too protective¡­¡± she said as her head turned upwards, her short brown hair fluttering as her eyes fixed on a man in one of the lookout towers. The man wore a black cloak that accentuated his sapphire blue eyes, and his black, long hair was tied into a ponytail that swayed gently with the wind. Soft rays of sunlight bounced off his beautiful pale skin and his left hand held the hilt of an exquisitely crafted purple sword in a scabbard on his waist. He was talking with a burly old man, whose short stature complimented his well-built body. He was balding, and his naturally white hair was cut short, which did nothing to hide his age. He wore simple linen clothes filled with patches and small holes which showed they had drifted down the river of time for almost as long as he had. Their expressions were grim, and they watched the battlefield with worry. Sometimes they would bring a transparent ring close to their mouth, giving out orders in an attempt to change the course of battle in their favor. However, things looked bleak. The young man¡¯s hand stopped mid-way to his mouth as his eyes widened. He ran to the edge of the tower and jumped off, his dark boots glowing with a faint blue light as he kicked up dust when landing. The young woman¡¯s pupils widened as she watched the sudden turn of events ¡°Master?¡± A scream of terror made her turn her head towards the battlefield, where a few dozen figures of the gigantic orks made her step back as her body jolted in fear. ¡°The orks infiltrated our backline, magicians, what are you doing?!¡± A deep voice rang in her ears, her eyes quickly dashing towards its source. A man dressed in black armor yelled commands from atop a horse, his hoarse voice amplified by spells. ¡°Magician, fire!¡± As he gave the command, dozens of fireballs shot toward the orks, instantly burning half their body as they turned to ashes. The orks were quick to act, and as the fire raged they cut off a limb and threw it forward. The limb would then dig itself into the ground and a new Ork would reappear in a matter of seconds. ¡°Commander, there are too many enemies, we can¡¯t keep up!¡± one of the magicians told the black-armored man as he took a deep breath. ¡°At this rate, we won¡¯t be able to¡­ My m-mom! My sister! What will we do?¡± he stammered as his voice rose into a shout of panic, his doubts remaining mostly unspoken behind his clenched jaw. ¡°Lad, we¡¯ll be fine just keep -¡± his sentence was cut short by a shockwave in the middle of the battlefield, his head snapped towards the source and his pupils widened, reflecting a huge hundred-meter barrier, connected to the ground and the monsters by hundreds of red threads. His breathing became ragged as his throat dried up. Even though his mouth was open, he was unable to utter any sound. He tightened his grip on the horse¡¯s reins and pulled out his wand, sending a red beam of light high into the sky. The hundreds of human soldiers looked up at the sky with terror before retreating towards the gate. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°That¡¯s the signal for the retreat! Have we lost?!¡± the young girl bit her lower lip as she cut down another gobelin, her hand trembling as she held the hilt of her bloodied sword. The red barrier trembled once again, its red hue accompanied by a blue fiery storm that rose into the sky. The blue flames dispersed as soon as they appeared, revealing a huge hole in the red barrier. The hundreds of crimson threads pulsated wildly as they absorbed the blood from the thousands of corpses and fed it to the barrier. ¡°Is that Master¡¯s magic¡­?¡± she asked herself Lily¡¯s brown pupils trembled as dozens more spells bombarded the barrier, turning the sky into a fantastical spectrum of different colors. A sharp swishing sound rang in her ears as a huge sword of light appeared in the sky, falling towards the red threads, instantly severing them. Hundreds of fire-covered rocks shot towards the bloody barrier, creating another hole that the young man tried to push through. Just as he was about to pass inside, a small demon that stood in the middle of the circle let out a sudden, sharp screech that made him pause briefly. The demon exploded at that moment, its flesh, bones, and blood mixing into a red goo that shot toward the barrier, instantly closing the passage. At the same time, the severed threads joined back together, resupplying the barrier with energy. He bit his lips, causing fresh blood to fall down his chest. He suddenly stepped back as the magic circle inside the barrier suddenly grew brighter, sucking all the mana from the surroundings at a rapid pace. The young girl¡¯s hair stood on end as she felt her blood flow backward inside her veins. ¡°Mas¡­.ter¡­.Kai¡± a low cry for help escaped her lips as she, along with a dozen others that were closer to the magic circle fell to the ground, convulsing as blood seeped through their skin, rushing towards the magic circle. All the gobelins, orks, lizardmen, magical beasts, dark elves, and demi-humans fell to the ground, their bodies exploding and transforming into a red goo that similarly rushed at the barrier. Kai¡¯s head snapped back as his ears twitched, his blue eyes trembling as he saw the young girl fall to the ground. The fiery red wand adorned with six prismatic crystals trembled in his hand, a sharp screech escaping from within its body. He let out a low sigh and waved his wand, then the dark ring on his index finger glowed slightly as the wand disappeared from his grasp. His hands clenched into a fist and his long hair flew wildly about as a strong gust of wind circled his body, kicking up dust. A dense amount of mana slowly escaped his body, creating an oppressive aura that sent shivers down the spines of the remaining demons. His black cloak tore into pieces as his muscles expanded, shiny silver scales covering his body. A morbid sound of tearing flesh resounded on the battlefield as a pair of wings grew from his back, as well as a tail with a sharpened tip. His fingers transformed into sharp claws, his long hair turned a similar silver color as his skin, and his blue eyes became a dark crimson red. A pair of sharp fangs grew in the place of his canines and he let out a loud, primordial roar that echoed into the distance as two horns sprouted from his head. The wind slowly faded creating a lull in the inevitable storm that was to come, as his extensive draconic transformation was completed. The dust was settling, and now that his loose hair was released from the constraints of its band, it ran down his unblemished silver back. He raised his right hand and his claws arched upward, trembling violently as a huge amount of mana gathered at their tips. The mana exploded silently and a small, invisible sphere that increased in size little by little, cementing its place, and disturbing the light around it. His muscular body trembled as it resisted the sphere¡¯s gravitational force. Kai shot up into the air, his wings creating a strong gust of wind that blew the corpses backward and disrupted the magic circle¡¯s blood absorption, freeing the human soldiers from its grasp. The invisible sphere at the tip of his claws grew larger and larger, the light around it bending unnaturally as he fed it increasingly more mana. His cold eyes closely examined it, measuring every little bit of energy absorbed by it until - he flicked his hand, the strange spell dashed towards the barrier, the space around it bending as it traveled in the air. It effortlessly passed through the barrier and shot toward the middle of the magic circle, partially destroying it and absorbing any stray demon it came into contact with. He pointed at the spell with his scaly finger, and he commanded in a language long forgotten ¡°Shimosi!¡± He instantly dashed back towards the soldiers, grabbing any that could still be saved on his way to the fortress gate, where most of them gathered. He swiped at the sky and several black barriers surrounded him and the humans, as well as the front of the fortress. A deafening explosion appeared in the distance as the spell released all the energy, dirt and debris flew everywhere due to the shockwave. The bloody field of wheat was overturned by the explosion and what remained of the monsters rained down from the sky in a morbid spectacle. Chapter 2: A White Speck of Light The pouring rain drowned out the sound of his footsteps, and water splashed everywhere as his fatigued legs stepped into the muddy puddles. Any trace of his steps was long washed away by the rain. His right hand was glued to his face, and blood seeped through his fingers before being washed away. The young man rushed through the dark alley, adrenaline coursing through his veins, feeding his muscles with much-needed energy. He grunted as he stumbled on a pile of trash, falling face-first on the ground. A group of three men gave chase behind him with relaxed expressions, their slow and rhythmic footsteps ringing in the young man¡¯s ears as he got up, his frightened face decorated by a freshly cut wound. Salted rain fell down his cheeks; his terror-filled eyes reflected the dim light from around the corner. A relieved smile manifested on his lips as he turned the corner with a soft sigh. He raised his head, his relief cut short by a sudden realization - there was no escape. The light in front of him came from a long pole, situated behind a tall and moldy wall. He snapped his head back to the three men walking towards him as if they were strolling in a park. His face darkened and countless thoughts rushed through his head. Was I¡­ being led around this whole time? The men¡¯s footsteps echoed in his ears like a church¡¯s bell at the hour of dawn, he felt death¡¯s cold grasp approach his neck. Helplessness, terror, and regret all mixed together with the desire to live that burned in his soul. All of these emotions manifested on his face as it twisted unnaturally, his widened pupils stared at the three men that would send him to meet his mother. He clenched his fists and took on a fighting stance, as his eyes filled with determination, and his muscles with rage. One man let out an involuntary scoff and another pulled out a short switch knife which still had some of his prey¡¯s fresh blood on its rusty blade. He stepped forward, brandishing his knife as his emotionless eyes stared coldly at the young man. One step, two steps, three steps. Just two more! The young man counted his attacker¡¯s footsteps as he waited to be within range. His fists trembled, and he gritted his teeth as the fifth step appeared. He punched with all his might in an arc, like a crescent moon, towards the attacker¡¯s face, whose eyes followed the trajectory. He stepped back, the punch passing by his nose as the young man fell forwards. Without hesitation, the knife pierced his neck, and blood gushed out everywhere like a leaking pipe. Why¡­ He closed his eyes and let out a last silent breath as the man pulled out the knife from his lifeless body, wiping its blade with a crimson-dyed napkin that he threw on the ground. The sun rose and fell as the body lay in the remote alley, and the nauseating stench of its decomposing flesh finally caught the attention of the authorities. The boy was quickly identified and a small funeral was held, the sobbing of a single woman echoed in the empty church. Just above it, high in the clouds stood a mass of calm white light, blending perfectly with the soft clouds. It lay motionless, small bits of its body breaking off and drifting into the distance every time it pulsated. Huh? The speck of light jolted awake, faint images flashing inside its rotund body. Images of a woman and a man, of blood and death, and - Where am I? Didn¡¯t I¡­ Is this heaven then? The images stopped as the speck of light moved about as it tried to make sense of the cloudy surroundings. This feels weird¡­ it walked to the edge of the cloud and found itself surrounded by a white void, unable to see the mortal world. Hmm? It looked into the distance where a multitude of colors slowly approached its direction, most of them were white but there were some green and red ones mixed within. They dashed toward the cloud it was in and seamlessly passed through its watery mass, however, once they touched the speck of light, it vibrated violently as it absorbed the color. Hundreds of color fragments bombarded its body as all of them entered its rotund mass, mixing within, turning the terrified white speck darker. AAAAH! What is this, it hurts! it hurts! Who are these people? Who- The speck¡¯s thoughts died down, its rotund body trembling violently as the last of the wave passed it by. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. It stood motionless once again, the dark color slowly disappearing as it turned to darker white. After a few minutes, a bright light shone upon the speck, and a white, humanoid figure landed next to it. It circled the rotund speck as it played with its fingers, its blank face covered with worry. ¡°Crap, I fucked up this time¡­ He will be so angry¡­¡± It picked up the speck and flew upward, the light disappearing along with it. Oh? The pain¡­ it¡¯s gone¡­ The white speck of light¡¯s consciousness slowly awakened, and the deep voice of a man and the soft voice of a woman rang in his mind as its vision slowly became clearer. In front of it stood two white silhouettes, one resembled a tall and slightly fat man while the other resembled the slim and sexy figure of a woman, their loud voices echoed in the empty void. ¡°Come on Lumi, please take this one as well, how am I supposed to explain this to Him¡­¡± the man pleaded with the womanly figure, his deep voice trembling slightly as he finished his sentence. The woman let out a long, exasperated sigh as her hand flew to her forehead. ¡°Yurman, how many souls have you given me so far? Not only that, but the other Gods are getting tired of your lazy angels as well! Our worlds are advancing too rapidly because of this.¡± ¡°But Lumi¡­¡± the man paused briefly, thinking carefully about his next words, ¡°He said he would lower my faith energy if the population diminishes now because I can''t keep maintaining the universe they will never be able to explore space! Please, just take this one too.¡± ¡°You said that last week as well!¡± her yell rang in the white speck¡¯s mind, who silently watched the exchange between the two god-like figures. ¡°Ahem,¡± it let out a low grunt, and the two gods¡¯ heads snapped toward him. ¡°Oh?¡± The woman stopped her yelling and her head snapped to its location. ¡°He¡¯s awake,¡± she said as she approached him, picking him up effortlessly. ¡°Now what?¡± the man asked, standing next to her. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll take him¡­¡± she sighed, feeling defeated. She turned her attention toward the boy, bringing him up to where her eyes were supposed to be. ¡°Well, there is no nice way to say this¡­ you¡¯re dead.¡± The boy, as if rolling his eyes, said ¡°No shit.¡± The two silhouettes moved their heads slightly backward, feeling surprised by the boy¡¯s lack of respect. ¡°Kid, do you even-...¡± the female raised her voice as she started berating the boy, but the man stopped her mid-sentence. She let out a grunt before she continued ¡°I¡¯m sorry kid, your guardian angel made a mistake and now your soul is incomplete, you will need to be transferred to another world.¡± ¡°Do I have a say in this?¡± he asked, his tone slightly hesitant. ¡°No.¡± the female voice answered instantly. ¡°Now,¡± she continued, ¡°You can choose between a variety of races: Humans, Orks, Gobelins, Demons, Elves, Demi-humans, Lizardmen, Dwarves, Mermaids, Nymphs, Ghosts, Ancient Beasts, Eons, and Vampires. I have to warn you though, vampires are like playing a game on hard mode.¡± ¡°Did you put the whole RPG genre in there?¡± he asked jokingly. ¡°N-no!¡± the Goddess¡¯s voice cracked as she replied anxiously. So I hit the nail on the head?... ¡°Enough with your comments, tell me which one you chose so I can get this over with.¡± She commanded hurriedly, in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. ¡°I want to be a vampire, how bad can it be?¡± The two Gods stared at each other and then at the boy before the Goddess asked ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s not the fantasy you may think it is.¡± ¡°Yeah, it could be interesting. I just want a simple life though, nothing too complicated¡­¡± The Goddess shook her head but in the end, she flicked her hand in front of the boy and he disappeared, her voice echoing in his mind ¡°Fine, but don¡¯t regret it later. Also, you won¡¯t remember anything¡­ hopefully.¡± A short moment later her and Yurman¡¯s figure materialized in the white void. She wore a white robe that accentuated her form, and her perfect skin sparkled under the halo of light behind her. She had long flocks of blue hair and her golden eyes shone with intense holy light. A look of surprise manifested on her face as she murmured under her breath¡­ ¡°Hmm? That family¡­ he should be fine, hopefully. Aye! Why is everything ¡®hopefully¡¯ when it comes to Yurman?¡± She gave the guardian angel a stern look of displeasure before her body disappeared, without even saying goodbye to the other God. The angel didn¡¯t notice her behavior, however, as his eyes lingered on the boy¡¯s soul until he disappeared. That soul was really weird¡­ Despite how many memories it should have lost, he was way heavier than any other. And usually, young souls are pure white, for some reason he had a lot of colors mixed in¡­ Chapter 3: Reborn Deep in a remote corner of a vast and vibrant continent lay a land unlike any other. It was shrouded by dark clouds, and its only source of water was a black and murky river that flowed through its heart. This was The Vampire Kingdom, a place devoid of life and lush vegetation. The only sign of greenery was a massive forest that stretched across one side of the continent to the other. Beyond that, lay the Kingdom of Aravia, home to the human race. Hundreds of derelict houses covered the dry land, and most of the occupied buildings lay between the walls of a massive city fortress. Wood and brick houses were densely packed together, and the roads that were barely wide enough for a carriage to pass through were silent and empty, save for a few shops. A lone house stood in the southern corner of this fortress, the area around it clean of any houses. A stray bird wandered into the area, and once it got within one thousand meters of the house, it disappeared, reappearing on the other side. Inside the house, in a room on the first floor, a baby lay motionless in the arms of a woman, whose eyes were drenched in tears. His opened eyes had a blank look, and his breathing was slow and uneven. ¡°Ray¡­ our son¡­ he¡­¡± A man embraced the woman tightly, his red eyes filled with worry as he assured his wife. ¡°Dear, don¡¯t worry, our son will be alright, isn¡¯t that right, Elly?¡± he said with a doting smile creasing his lips, his head turning toward the woman standing next to them, her emerald green eyes focusing on the unresponsive baby. She approached the bed, kneeling in front of the baby, touching his forehead, her delicate hand emitting a pale green light as it ran down his body. Her pointy ears twitched briefly and she let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°His body is healthy, there isn¡¯t any problem at the neurological level either, I¡­ I¡¯m sorry I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s wrong¡­¡± She stood up, avoiding the other woman¡¯s gaze. ¡°I will need to bring my mother, please wait a few minutes¡­¡± She excused herself and left the worried couple as she rushed out the door. The woman holding the baby turned her head toward her husband, her crimson eyes reflecting the pain in her heart. She bit her lip as tears dripped down her cheeks. The man brought his hand to her face, wiping her tears away as he kissed her forehead and whispered ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s our son, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be fine.¡± The woman¡¯s face lit up slightly as she nodded softly, waiting patiently for Elly to return. ¡­. The reincarnated boy¡¯s eyes opened with difficulty, the world around him blurry and difficult to make out. It looks like it worked¡­and I retained my memories. he thought as he tried to move his head and hands. Huh? Why can¡¯t I move? He tried looking around but his eyes were unresponsive, the only thing meeting his eyes being the wooden ceiling. His ears buzzed as three voices rang in his mind, barely hearing their foreign language. What¡¯s going on?! His thoughts raced in his head as he struggled to make sense of the situation, fear taking over his consciousness. It was then that the voice of a woman echoed in his ears, she spoke in a language that he didn¡¯t understand, but the worry and love in her tone relied on a feeling that was beyond words. Mom¡­ Next, he heard a man¡¯s deep, confidence-filled voice that spoke to the woman with a tender tone. The boy couldn¡¯t see this man¡¯s face but just hearing the hidden feelings of love, pride and worry in his almost shaky voice told him everything he needed to know. Dad¡­ You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Before he could process these new feelings, however, he felt a slight pressure on his forehead, accompanied by the hazy figure of a woman. Her long and pointy ears passed through her blonde hair that reached down to her waist, a pair of short bangs covering part of her emerald green eyes that looked at him with worry. An Elf? A faint green light dashed past his blurry vision, and he felt a burning sensation spread over his body. Her soothing voice entered his ears as she removed her soft hand, her panicked tone lingering in his ears before he heard a loud thump. A few moments later he felt a sharp, soul-crushing pain fill his entire head, then spread swiftly through his body. His blood vessels pulsated violently as his whole body turned red. This pain!!! Just like back then! The minutes passed as he silently endured, his body is unable to yell or scream as much as he willed it to, the only things helping him fight the pain were two pairs of voices and a gentle light that gave him the slightest bit of relief. Eventually, his mind went blank and his vision went dark. The pain stopped. He couldn¡¯t feel anything anymore, nor could he think, calmness overtook his soul as images flashed in his mind. Mother¡­? He blinked, his heavy eyelids slowly letting light touch his red irises. A soft light from a lamp touched his delicate skin as a subconscious smile manifested on his face. Am I¡­ awake? His eyes closed once again, his exhausted, pain-free mind falling into slumber. A few hours later, his eyes opened once again, and his hand twitched as he managed to move it in front of his eyes. I¡¯m awake! The pain is gone and I can see clearly! his thoughts exploded into a loud cheer before a sudden realization hit him: I¡¯m a baby¡­ ¡°Dear our¡­ our son, he moved!¡± The stammering voice of a woman entered his ears, relief, and excitement clear in her shaky voice. Tears ran down her red cheeks as she looked at her husband who was staring at the boy, his white teeth shining through his bright smile. ¡°He did! Haha, our son is healthy!¡± he said as he rushed to pick him up, tears escaping his trembling eyes. The boy¡¯s head flew slightly backward before being caught by a rough, large hand, and his vision blurred as he found himself being held by a big pair of hands. What¡¯s going on? He moved his eyes around as he tried to make sense of his surroundings, his vision fixating on the man that held him up. His little pupils expanded slightly as he inspected the man¡¯s appearance, and he quickly recognized him as the owner of the voice. Dad? His mind shook with emotion as he fixated on the man¡¯s face, warmth spreading all over his body as he saw the tears flowing down his cheeks. A shiver ran down his spine as memories of his past life flashed in his mind. Was that man my dad?... Or the other one? Both? He couldn¡¯t remember anyone that showed him such fatherly love, care, and worry. But the man in front of him showed him all of those things, felt pain for him, and cried for him. When was the last time¡­? His father had black, short hair, and a raspy beard of the same color. His watery eyes shared the same color as his - a dark crimson red. The man¡¯s smile revealed a small pair of sharp fangs between his pearly teeth. ¡°Look, honey, he¡¯s looking at me!¡± He shouted in happiness as his wife wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Despite not understanding the language, the boy smiled back at his father, whose eyes beamed with excitement. ¡°Haha!¡± The father laughed loudly, his eyes filled with pride ¡°Look at how handsome my son is!¡± His wife smiled with embarrassment but laughed together with him before he handed the boy to her. The woman¡¯s long and straight silver hair fell to her chest, and it reflected the faint light of the white crystals fixated on the yellowish stone wall. Her long eyelashes trembled as her big crimson eyes tenderly looked at the small baby in her hands, and her plump lips formed into a hearty smile. Unfiltered tears of joy flowed down her cheeks like a waterfall as she tightly held the baby to her chest, and her entire body trembled in happiness as she tried to calm her breathing. Her lips trembled as they parted and her soft voice rang in the boy¡¯s ears as she said with a shaky voice. ¡°My baby¡­¡± Mother, don¡¯t cry. The boy tried to raise his hand to wipe her tears but his short arm couldn¡¯t reach her tears. She smiled and brought her face close to his hand, taking it into her own, completely covering it. It¡¯s so small¡­ her thoughts escaped her face as she let out a light chuckle that eventually turned into laughter. His father joined them, and he took them both into his embrace, his large stature casting a shadow over the both of them. The door opened with a loud thud, and two people barged into the room, causing the couple¡¯s hearts to stop for a second. Chapter 4: A New World The couple turned around to see Elly and her mother rush nervously through the door. ¡°Elly, has the Professor arrived?¡± The mother asked after her mind cleared. ¡°Yes Elena, my mother called him over as soon as she could,¡± Elly said, her flushed face covered in sweat. ¡°This is Professor Arthur, the Dual Class mage.¡± she pointed with her trembling hand toward an old man wearing a midnight black robe decorated with golden stars. ¡°Pleasure to meet you.¡± He said in a husky voice as he took off his comically large wizard hat. His disheveled hair was painted in a natural white color, and his long and stuffy beard adorned the same sign of old age. He approached the couple, the floor creaking under his weight and inspected the boy. ¡°I say, he looks quite healthy to me¡­¡± He quipped as he took out a long wooden stick, its color akin to that of ash, decorated by six small crystals of two different colors. The wand glowed with a faint light as he hastily murmured something under his breath, and a gentle blue light enveloped the boy. Arthur¡¯s green eyes lit up slightly as they inspected the baby. His pupils widened slightly and a small smile manifested on his dried lips. Interesting¡­ He flicked his wand and the light disappeared, the room returned to normal as the boy glared at him. Arthur chuckled slightly before he turned his attention to Elena. ¡°He is as healthy as can be, and he will continue to be in the future. Now,¡± he looked at the couple eagerly, ¡°what will you name him?¡± Elena and her husband glanced at each other as they nodded with their eyes, turning their attention towards the baby as she said with a loving smile. ¡°Kai, his name will be Kai.¡± The old magician¡¯s lips formed into a wide smile as he laughed heartily. ¡°That¡¯s a fine name.¡± ¡­ Six months have passed since Kai was born, and his facial features started resembling his mother more than his father''s. His hair grew to be a beautiful silver color, just like Elena¡¯s but his eyes and eyebrows were sharp, more like his father, Ray. ¡°Come on Kai, you can do it.¡± His father called out to him from a few dozen centimeters away, beckoning Kai, who rolled his eyes internally, to come toward him. He stood up from his crawling position and did his best to walk forward, his body wobbling from side to side as he balanced his weight on his noodle-like legs. One¡­ Two¡­ Going well so far! He counted his steps as his eyes focused on the ground. Three, Four¡­ I¡¯m almost there! Ray¡¯s arms were within his reach, all that was left was one more step and he would have done it. However¡­ Thud His fifth step failed and he lost balance as he fell in his father¡¯s arms. I failed¡­ his face reddened with shame as he failed at something he had been doing for sixteen years¡­ A large hand rustled his hair as he jolted in surprise. He looked up to see his father¡¯s bearded face smile brightly at him. ¡°You almost did it son, good job!¡± He praised Kai as he lifted him in the air. The boy, taken aback, didn''t know how to respond, and he couldn¡¯t either as he didn¡¯t understand the language. He just smiled back at his father, something which would always make him beam with joy. The door creaked open and the two looked at the figure leaning against the frame with a wooden spoon in hand. ¡°Alright you two, dinner is ready, stop playing and come eat,¡± Elena called them to the kitchen, where a bowl of soup and a plate of vegetables awaited them on the round table. Ray rushed to the kitchen, its walls made out of the same yellow stone that the rest of the house was made of. The walls and ceiling were supported by a few thick wooden beams and the gray stone floor reflected the light of the magic stones from the chandelier. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. He placed Kai on a taller, wooden baby seat and sat down next to him, eagerly waiting for Elena to finish setting up the table. The boy let his eyes wander around, inspecting the surroundings and furniture with a curious gaze. Kai was surprised to find that the house remained warm despite the lack of insulation, but he wasn¡¯t quite sure why. The kitchen wasn¡¯t fancily decorated but still had the usual equipment: A stone stove that doubled as an oven powered by a ¡°Fire Magic Stone¡±, a fridge-like object that used an ¡°Ice Magic Stone¡± to keep food fresh, and a sink. The entire house was illuminated by ¡°Light Magic Stones¡± that were either carved into a chandelier or placed like a torch on the wall. At night his mother would turn them off with magic or his father would simply cover the few of them located in the bedroom. It seems like they replaced electricity with magic¡­ Kai concluded after inspecting these weird inventions for a while, however, with this answer a new question formed in his mind: How did these modern creations end up in such a medieval house¡­ could more people have retained their memories¡­? As he sat on the wooden chair and after inspecting everything, he came to a conclusion that excited him more than anything else. We must be rich! The house was made out of thick blackwood and a beautiful yellow stone, with a window in every room. It had a ground floor, where the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and a backdoor to an immense garden were, and the first floor where two bedrooms and a shower were located. Come to think of it, how does plumbing work in this world? His eyes dashed toward a locked door that his parents never used, his hands itching with anticipation at the thought of finding out what hid behind it. A sharp thud broke his train of thought, and his eyes snapped at the source: his mother who had just finished setting up the table. His stomach growled as he looked at the food neatly arranged on the table. In the middle was a large, crisp, and brown pork-like leg, except it was much bigger and fatter. Around it were fried horns, weirdly-shaped vegetables, orange grains, boiled potatoes, and bread. Somehow the bread and potatoes look normal¡­ ¡°Honhey, shis iss delishous!¡± Ray complimented Elena¡¯s cooking as he stuffed his face with food, his expression plastered with satisfaction. Kai stared at his parents as they ate, a small amount of drool leaving his mouth as he subconsciously reached for a piece of meat. His panicked mother pulled the plate away from his reach as she berated him ¡°Kai, you can¡¯t eat just yet!¡± His face lowered in disappointment upon hearing those words, however, it lit up as his father spoke up ¡°Why not? A few boiled vegetables should be fine, his teeth are going to start appearing soon.¡± She raised an eyebrow as she looked at her husband, who didn¡¯t seem to be bluffing. ¡°Are you sure?¡± He nodded, picking up a small piece of boiled potato. He turned to Kai and started making some weird sounds as he moved the potato around. ¡°Here comes the carriage, come on Kai, open up.¡± Kai died a little inside as soon as he heard that, feeling secondhand embarrassment. Stupid Goddess, what kind of interpretation is that? Are you mocking me? Who would want to eat a carriage? He opened his mouth and chewed on the potato, despite his disdain and lack of teeth. His pupils widened as a tear fell down his cheek, his taste buds exploding with joy. Despite being only a plain boiled potato, why does this taste so good? It feels so soft but it¡¯s not sticking to the top of my mouth and at the same time it makes me want to eat more, it doesn¡¯t even seem to be seasoned but yet! It''s so! Good! Memories flashed in his mind as he enjoyed the taste of the plain potato, which tasted better than the instant soup he was used to eating or the occasional, bitter home-cooked meal made by his aunt. Elena smiled at the sight of her beaming son. ¡°He looks so happy, how did you know he could eat?¡± She faced her husband and asked him curiously. ¡°I took care of the other children while their parents were at war, some of them were babies so I learned these things naturally.¡± He said as he looked at his son with nostalgic eyes. Her face suddenly darkened, and she could only let out a low ¡°Oh¡­¡± as her lips parted without a sound coming out. *Splat* A sudden sound broke the tense atmosphere between them, and they turned their heads to the source of the sound only to see Kai face first in the bowl of boiled potatoes. God damn it! he thought as he tried to lift his head from the now mashed potatoes. ¡°That¡¯s a bit much, even for him.¡± His father joked as he picked him up and cleaned his face with a clean towel, revealing a small cut on his forehead. ¡°He¡¯s wounded!¡± his mother said and she quickly put her hand over the wound as she chanted ¡°Heal.¡± Huh? Heal? Does she know healing magic too? In a few seconds, a multitude of green particles appeared over his mother¡¯s hand, creating a green light that healed his wound in a few seconds. His eyes widened as he watched all this happen, a single thought echoing in his mind. It''s beautiful¡­ Chapter 5: Secret Library Ray and Elena sat down on a white carpet around a small, brown coffee table, where Kai was struggling to write using weird symbols. He lifted his pen from the paper, and his father picked it up in that same instant, his face beaming with joy as he read the text. ¡°Haha, our Kai is so smart he can already write a letter by himself!¡± He laughed loudly as he said in a deep voice, Elena nodding along as she said ¡°Of course he is, he is my boy after all.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s not that amazing¡­¡± Kai laughed awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head. ¡°Nonsense! Look at how beautiful your handwriting is, I will frame it and hang it on the wall!¡± Ray praised Kai a little more as the latter dropped his head in embarrassment. ¡°Nonsense Kai, your birthday is coming up soon. We¡¯ll have to celebrate, and I¡¯ll make sure to prepare lots of sweets just for you.¡± He nodded excitedly, his long, silver hair jumping up and down as his sharp, crimson eyes sparkled with anticipation. ¡°Look at how handsome he is! I don¡¯t think I need to dress him up for the celebration.¡± Elena hugged him tightly, as she took a break from praising him. ¡°Anyway, Kai are you ready for your birthday? Next week¡¯s a big day¡­¡± She added while pinching his cheeks. ¡°Oh you¡¯re so handsome, I want to eat you right up.¡± ¡°Of course he¡¯s handsome, he¡¯s our son after all!¡± his father erupted into laughter while messing up Kai¡¯s hair. Kai smiled brightly as he felt his parents¡¯ endless love for him, and his face turned as red as a tomato; a wide smile plastered on his face gave away the happiness he felt in his heart. Is this what a true family is like? He asked himself as memories of a cold hand and hateful glare appeared in his mind. ¡°Kai!¡± his father¡¯s voice rang in his ears, distracting him from the painful memory. ¡°We will go out for a bit, my friend, Tom, is going to come over and look after you again. He¡¯s bringing his daughter with him so get along, okay?¡± ¡°Yes Dad, don¡¯t worry.¡± he nodded as he replied with a smile. However, a small question nagged at him... How come the two of them are leaving at the same time? Although Tom babysat him now and again, his parents had never actually left at the same time. He put this puzzling thought to the side, and instead, focused on a more important matter. This gives me the chance to see what¡¯s hidden behind that door! He bolted to the kitchen the moment his parents left and cast his gaze onto the mysterious door. Its appearance was the same as the others in the house, even its brown color didn¡¯t stand out. He inhaled deeply and readied himself to enter the room, his gut told him that there was something special about it. I never saw them enter, but I¡¯m sure the key is in the drawer¡­ somewhere¡­ The door had an archaic lock, unfortunately, which all the doors in the house shared. He rushed to open the drawer and before long the soft jingling of keys resounded in the room, a dozen skeletal keys tied with a metal wire, and they scraped against each other as Kai ran to the door with them. If I¡¯m lucky one of them will open it¡­ hopefully. He tried the first key¡­ nothing. The second and third keys had the same result. Oh, come on¡­ He inserted the fourth key and¡­ *Click* Bingo! The door creaked open and scattered rays of sunlight leaked through the widening gap. So bright! Kai blinked rapidly as the light bounced off his widened crimson eyes, and he flinched at the warm sunlight that slightly burned his skin. ¡°Woah¡­¡± he exclaimed out loud, taken aback by the interior. The room wasn¡¯t big, it was even smaller than the kitchen but it was different in every way. His fingers ran across the surface of the dark wood wall, and he winced in pain as a splinter pierced his finger. In the middle of the ceiling hung a chandelier that sparkled with red and white light from a dozen different magic stones, and below it lay a round wooden table surrounded by three chairs. He approached the table and looked around at the large number of bookshelves filled with hundreds of books of different sizes. The thinnest one was no thicker than his pinky finger and the largest one could fit his entire head inside. He turned his attention to the large window, which was placed so that the light would only shine on the table but not the bookshelves. He scooted closer to the window, looked outside, and his eyes widened as he took his first look at the new world. There wasn¡¯t much to see, at least in the proximity of his house. Dark and dead soil surrounded him, and it spread as far as the kingdom lay. Derelict houses littered its surface, and as Kai took a better look, he could see a deciduous forest, with trees so large it was difficult to estimate their size a few hundred meters ahead. Looking a bit to the left, he could barely see a huge tower far into the distance, surrounded by what looked to be hundreds of houses densely packed together. His ears twitched as the sound of a singing river rang in his mind, however, he could not see it, regardless of how far he tried to look. He closed his eyes and let the warm sunlight crash against his skin, enjoying his first time in the natural light. He felt his pores open up¡­ then a sizzling sound rang in his ears as a burning sensation, like an erupting volcano, spread all over his face. Waves of heat ran across his skin as his whole body started convulsing, and the smell of burnt meat spread in the room. His breathing became ragged and uneven, and very little oxygen reached his brain. His veins dried up as his blood felt like it turned into hot mercury, stiffening his muscles as it coursed through his body. He opened his eyes as his mind started to go blank, and alarms started ringing in his head. His muscles tensed up as he jumped to the side, away from the direct sunlight before he retreated into a dark corner. What the fuck was that?! His heart threatened to jump out of his chest as the burning sensation on his face slowly faded. He inhaled deeply as he did his best to calm down, his mind slowly returning to normal. Was it because of the sun? He rapidly came to the only logical conclusion as he recalled the intense pain he experienced a few moments ago. Hard mode, huh? He sighed and chuckled at the same time as he recalled what the Goddess had told him. And here I thought my life was going to be simple¡­ but how can my parents leave during the day? The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He shrugged off this thought as he retreated further away from the window, his body shivering at the idea of going into the sunlight again. He turned towards the closest bookshelf and scanned the few books in front of him. They were in alphabetical order, with subjects ranging across the whole spectrum of knowledge. He saw texts in every subject he could think of, including biology, history, math, linguistics, and of course, magic. Looks like they are arranged depending on the subject¡­ He picked up a book from the magic section, its cover was old, void of any text, and dusty with burnt and torn corners. Dust flew everywhere as he flipped it open, and he coughed lightly as he read the text on the yellow, water-damaged page. <> I can¡¯t even read the title but I¡¯m guessing it has something to do with magic¡­ He flipped over a few more pages, his eyes tearing up as the dust forced its way into his lungs. After a few minutes, Kai closed the book as he came to a jarring conclusion. I don''t understand anything, what are Inkos and Onkos? Seven Star? Big core? He put it back and moved towards the beginning of the shelf, from where he picked up a thinner book. Its pages were white and the smell of fresh ink still lingered on it. The title of the book was written in black ink on a brown cover with sloppy handwriting, making it difficult to read. Kai squinted his eyes to read the title and began to slowly recognize the handwriting. <> This title and handwriting¡­ it couldn¡¯t be. He inhaled deeply as he sniffed the book, as is customary with a new one. Definitely fresh off the printing press¡­ The pages fluttered as he flipped it open, his fingertips pressing on the fine pages as he read its contents. <> Kai stared at the first page with bewilderment, and his open mouth let out weird sounds as he tried to think through the shock. No way¡­ Dad actually wrote this? He continued reading, and the second paragraph was written differently from the previous one, the style and handwriting changed and Kai immediately recognized it. Did Mom write it as well? Why are they even writing it, are no books on the market? <> Kai blinked rapidly as he suddenly understood a bit of what that old book said, he raised an eyebrow at the thought which appeared in his mind. Why haven¡¯t I felt any mana yet though? Am I¡­ ¡­ what¡¯s the word? He shook his head before he continued reading, hoping to find an answer to his dilemma. <> Kai facepalmed after he finished reading the sentence, feeling more stupid than down. Just keep reading next time! <> Do I have mana veins then, how do I know? Sweat dripped down his forehead and into the book as the new thought tormented him. <> Huh? Is it that easy? But didn¡¯t she say that I wouldn¡¯t be able to feel mana without a mana core? Or did she mean the mana outside? Putting the book down, he followed the instructions and almost immediately he could feel tiny particles moving about in his body in an uneven line. Is that mana and¡­ my mana veins! He smiled with excitement as his heart raced in his chest, and immediately tried performing the spell as indicated. A sharp pain spread throughout his mana veins as the mana within them circulated backward, and his body shivered as he felt the mana leave through his five extremities. So cool! Speaking of¡­ I wonder what color my core will be. Green? Blue? maybe even¡­ white! Picking up the book again, he wanted to continue reading; however, in his excitement, he forgot about one thing. ¡°Kai! Are you there!?¡± A deep yell rang in his ears and he jumped up, visibly anxious. Crap! I forgot about that! He hastily placed the book on the shelf, not bothering to arrange it properly as he rushed out the door before locking it. Then, he threw the keys in the drawer and ran to the living room, where Tom and his daughter waited for him. ¡°Hello Uncle Tom, sorry for the wait, I was uh¡­ upstairs.¡± He quickly made up a lie as he greeted Tom, his dad¡¯s friend. He was tall, very tall, taller than his father by about two heads. His hair was short and black, much like his father¡¯s except that Tom had a cleanly shaven face. He wore simple linen clothing that hung loose around his thin but muscular body and he also had a pair of crimson eyes, although their hue was a bit muddier. ¡°No worries.¡± He said as he ruffled Kai¡¯s hair, before pushing out a tiny girl from behind him. ¡°This is my daughter, Kana.¡± Kana walked forward, her head lowered as she fidgeted with her fingers. She opened her mouth a few times, however, no sound came out of it. She had long, blonde hair that complimented her blue dress, and her eyes were of a deep and dark crimson color, in contrast to her father¡¯s. ¡°Hello¡­¡¯ Kai greeted them awkwardly, not sure of what to say in front of the shy girl. Kana nodded in response before hiding behind her father once again. ¡°Haha, excuse her, she¡¯s quite shy. She only turned five last week. Speaking of which, your first Lijgar is coming up soon, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, next week actually,¡± he replied with a faint smile, with excitement plastered all over his face. Lijgar¡­ vampires only celebrate their birthday, well name day in this case once every five years due to their long lifespan¡­ I wonder if all races are like that. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s sit down then.¡± he invited Kana and her father onto the couch, and he brought out his writing utensils. Tom taught him more complicated words. Kana watched from a distance, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she slowly approached the coffee table, peeking from a hole between Kai and Tom. ¡°You can write?¡± her barely audible voice shaking as she asked. ¡°Yeah, I learned pretty quick¡­¡± he replied casually as he finished writing the sentence. ¡°Can you write my name?¡± she turned to Kai and asked with a bright smile on her face. Kai looked at Tom, who only gave a slight nod of approval as he made way for Kana to join them. ¡°Sure, look, this is how you write Ka and this¡­¡± A few hours later, both Kai and Kana were asleep on the couch with Tom reading a book as he watched over them. Chapte 6: First Birthday The sun was still up when Ray and Elena returned with bags full of groceries and party decorations. Kai yawned as he woke up from his nap, and smiled faintly before shaking Kana awake, who was sleeping soundly next to him. She rubbed her eyes and the foggy surroundings slowly became clear, and she jumped up as she realized that everyone was looking at her. ¡°Come on Kana, it¡¯s time to go,¡± Tom called out as he beckoned her with his hand. She immediately jumped down from the couch and ran to her father''s side, watching Kai from the corner of her eye. Ray approached Tom with an amicable smile, his lips parted as he said ¡°Thanks for babysitting, Tom, the shop to get all these was quite further away than we anticipated.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, at least Kana managed to make a new friend. She is quite shy and no one inside the city wants to talk with her because of that, so I¡¯m grateful as well.¡± ¡°Glad to hear that! I hope they become good friends.¡± ¡°I hope so too, unfortunately, we have to leave, Isabella should be waiting for us to arrive by now,¡± Tom said his goodbyes and left, Kana, holding tightly to his arms as the door closed shut. Kai waved to them as they left, a question popping into his mind as he watched their figures disappear behind the door. ¡°Mom, why is Kana allowed to go outside?¡± He assumed he wasn¡¯t allowed to leave because his race was weak to sunlight, but after seeing Kana, a girl only older by a few weeks out in the direct sunlight, he couldn¡¯t help but ask. His parents gave each other a quick glance, and Ray scratched the back of his head as he said ¡°We¡¯ll tell you at your Lijgar, just be patient until then, alright?¡± Kai nodded but he lowered his head in disappointment. It''s only a week anyway, I can wait¡­ Elena picked him up and held his hand into her own ¡°Don¡¯t make that face, let¡¯s prepare you for your birthday,¡± she said as a smile creased her lips. Kai nodded and put his arms around her neck in a tight hug. ¡­ As Kai helped his father prepare the decorations, he gave his mother some modern snack ideas. Just like that, seven days passed by in the blink of an eye. Elena had made a small four-piece black suit with a white shirt for Kai to wear on his birthday, which complemented the black shoes chosen by his father. I didn¡¯t know Mom was so good at sewing, she made such a beautiful suit in a few months! Kai donned the ebony suit, its black color contrasting perfectly with his long silver hair and red eyes. He inspected the living room, observing the joyous and festive atmosphere in the house. His father had put up some colorful decorations and his mother hung an elastic, almost solid thread which she then imbued with magic, changing its color to fit the mood. Kana was as shy as ever as she hid behind her mother, Isabella, whose head was decorated with long locks of blonde hair, and her face with a pair of big, round eyes, and plump lips that formed into a hearty smile. Kana almost looked like a mini version of her, were it not for her eyes that resembled Tom¡¯s more. Isabella wasn¡¯t as tall as her husband, only reaching up to his chest. Elena was chatting happily with her, both of them smiling as they looked in his direction. ¡°He¡¯s so handsome at such a young age, I can¡¯t imagine what he¡¯ll look like in ten years!¡± Isabella remarked as Elena nodded, immediately agreeing ¡°That¡¯s right, he will need to wear a mask so he doesn¡¯t come home with five daughters-in-law.¡± Kai¡¯s nose itched as he saw his mother and Isabella giggling on the side while stealing glances at him. What are they talking about? He turned his head as he ignored the two, his gaze drifting toward Elizabeth, the elf he saw at his birth. She doesn¡¯t look like she aged one day, she¡¯s still as beautiful as back then. Elizabeth wore a red dress, which complimented her emerald green eyes and her long golden locks of hair that dropped down past her waist. It wasn¡¯t tied, instead, let loose to hang around her body, however not one hair was out of place, which only served to ingrain her picture in his mind. She was sipping on a glass of water as she occasionally glanced at Kai, whose crimson eyes lingered on her beautiful figure. Their eyes met, and his heart skipped a beat before he shook his head. She''s your mom¡¯s friend, not to mention she¡¯s decades older than you, what are you thinking? He berated himself as he quickly avoided her gaze, turning to walk toward his father. Elly chuckled as she got up from her seat, smiling slightly as she approached him. It didn¡¯t take long for her to arrive next to Kai, whose body jolted upon looking up at her. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Her huge stature that cast a shadow over him made him gulp as he tried to contain his racing heart. Was she always this tall? Or am I too small? Elizabeth¡¯s eyes wandered around Kai as dozens of images flashed in her mind, although she hadn¡¯t seen him in a while, she always wondered how that baby that couldn¡¯t even move his body was doing. She kneeled in front of him and touched his forehead with her index finger, and it glowed slightly as she drew a circle. A bright smile creased her lips as they parted ¡°You have a strong spirit, come to Evicario when you¡¯re old enough, and I¡¯ll take you as my apprentice.¡± Elly got up and walked towards Elena, leaving behind Kai, whose eyes were wide open. Did I just get a teacher? His father saw the whole exchange, and he chuckled to himself as he took a sip of red wine. A few minutes later Elena got up from her seat with a glass in hand, and she turned to everyone present as her lips parted. ¡°Thank you all for coming today, it warms my heart to see so many people present at my son¡¯s birthday.¡± She rose the glass into the air as she cheered, with everyone following suit. Chatter accompanied by the sound of clanking cutlery resounded in the living room, where a rectangular table was covered in all sorts of delicacies and everyone took what they wanted to eat, like some sort of all-you-can-eat buffet. Kai looked at everyone present, Kana and her parents, Elly, and most importantly his mother and father, who had prepared all of this for him. Warmth spread from his heart throughout his body, and a tear dripped down his cheek as he remembered his past birthdays, which weren¡¯t even a fraction as happy as this one. His mother immediately noticed and hurried to wipe it away as she kissed him on the forehead, signaling with her eyes toward Ray, who immediately got up and rushed to the kitchen. He quickly came in with a huge, chocolate-looking cake in hand, and Elena immediately turned off the magic stones with a wave of her wand, with only a dim light left to illuminate the room. Ray rushed to Elena¡¯s side and put the cake down in front of Kai, immediately flicking his fingers where a fire stone resided, lighting up the five candles on top of the cake. Kai looked at the scene with widened eyes, awed by his parents¡¯ beautiful spy-like performance. Everyone stood up and sang him a song in a long-forgotten language, leaving him and Kana confused. The birthday ended uneventfully, the kids finished the cake in record time before playing a few games, at which they failed exceptionally. The parents had a fun time as well, but all good things must come to an end as everyone left late into the evening. After cleaning up Kai and his parents sat in his bedroom, both of them wore serious expressions on their faces, that hid a hint of excitement. Ray flicked his hand and a small vial filled with a crimson liquid appeared in his hand. Blood? Kai immediately jumped to conclusions once he saw the vial¡¯s dark color. ¡°Kai,¡± his mother sighed as she sat next to him. ¡°The reason we didn¡¯t let you go outside was that it would be too dangerous, and we are living in the kingdom for the same reason as well. Our species is cursed, we are the only ones who can¡¯t live in the sun, and we are the only ones who must feed on blood to survive and live a regular life¡­¡± ¡°Specifically,¡± his father continued, ¡°it is human blood that is the most effective. Without it, ten minutes in the sun would be enough to turn us to ashes, and two hours under the moonlight would have the same effect.¡± A sigh escaped his lips as he prepared to continue, however, Elena interrupted him as she added. ¡°If we drink blood, we can not only reduce or even negate the sun¡¯s poisonous nature, we can also increase our magical and physical abilities. However, not all blood is created equally. Normal animal blood has little to no effect, likewise, the blood of an average human would only reduce the sun¡¯s effect by very little. Mana-infused human blood is the best and most effective type of blood, as blood from the other races have lots of adverse effects¡­This is why our species is so hated, we must feed on others to be normal.¡± Kai listened attentively, noticing the sadness in his parent¡¯s eyes. ¡°Anyway,¡± his father broke the awkward atmosphere, and he handed the vial over to Kai as he said, ¡°Drink it, and let us handle the rest.¡± ¡°Just like this?¡± he asked, bewildered. Ray nodded with a slight smile as he urged Kai to open the vial, which he did. The instant he removed the cap, a sweet, alluring scent bombarded his nostrils, and his eyes started glowing like two stars in the night sky. His fangs grew longer and sharper and his nails transformed into claws. Drool dripped from his mouth as his vampiric instincts took over his body. He bought the vial to his lips, the infatuating taste caused his muscles to tense up as he downed the blood without hesitation. It¡¯s sweet! So sweet it¡¯s addictive. The flavor, the taste, the texture, everything about this feels perfect. This satisfaction, this feeling of fulfillment, my entire body feels alive! He yelled inwardly as a euphoric feeling rose up within his body. Elena touched the mesmerized Kai¡¯s forehead and whispered softly in his ear as her hand shone with a pink light ¡°Kai, I am going to transfer the technique to form a mana core to your mind. It will hurt a bit though, but please endure.¡± He nodded subconsciously, his mind still infatuated with this new experience. The pink light grew in intensity as it filled the entire room before it quietly died down. Ray dashed behind Kai, placing his hands on his back as he said ¡°Use the technique to guide the mana and form the core.¡± Ray¡¯s voice rang in his ears and the technique became clear in his mind as he slowly woke up from his trance. This is¡­ the method to form a mana core? He thought, feeling surprised that he already knew how to do it, is this what the pain from earlier was? Following the technique, he guided the mana from his mana veins in a spherical shape at a spot right next to his heart, with Ray helping in the process to make sure he doesn¡¯t accidentally destroy his heart. The minutes ticked by, and a small, translucent core slowly appeared next to his heart, pulsating briefly before it stood still, and Kai¡¯s appearance returned to normal. His eyes opened slowly, his dilated pupils reflecting the dim light of the crystals in his room. ¡°Ha¡­ I¡¯m a magician now¡­¡± He chuckled as his mind drifted into unconsciousness and fell in Ray¡¯s arms, lightening the tense mood as his parents¡¯ lips formed into a smile. Chapter 7: Dreamspace Kai¡¯s eyes snapped open, a blinding white light greeting him as his unfocused gaze adjusted to the new surroundings. His long hair fluttered in the empty space, observing the unfamiliar environment. Everywhere he looked was white, bright, nauseating white. The ground beneath his feet mirrored the rest of the world, his eyes losing focus as he gazed into the blank abyss. It feels like I¡¯m flying but at the same time¡­ not. His eyes suddenly widened as a grim thought appeared in his mind. ¡°No way, am I dead again?¡± he asked out loud and waited for an answer, but the only thing he heard was the echo of his voice bouncing back to him. I guess not, where am I then? He slowly moved forward, his light footsteps echoed in the white void, and he did his best not to fall while holding back the urge to vomit. He halted his footsteps and shut his eyes as he took a deep breath. It¡¯s too difficult to move around, I can feel last night¡¯s food trying to leave my body¡­ He steadied his breathing as he contemplated the situation, his chest heaving rhythmically as he inhaled and exhaled rapidly. I¡¯m not dead, the proof is that no Gods showed up yet. I still have my five senses so this can¡¯t be an illusion, what is happening then? His eyes opened once again, and a dark object appeared far into the distance. Is that a person? He rushed towards its location as cold sweat dripped down his forehead, his heart fluttering with the anticipation of meeting someone in this empty space. The dark object quickly transformed into a silhouette as Kai dashed toward it, eventually taking the form of a man in his mid-thirties with brown, short hair, and fish eyes decorated by thick dark circles. His dead expression was further complimented by a poorly-shaven beard and dry lips that could make a corpse blush. He wore a simple white lab coat that, unlike his appearance, was kept perfectly clean. He held a cup of coffee and seemed to be staring into nothing, not even turning his head as Kai stopped next to him. ¡°Hello¡­¡± Kai called out to him, but the man¡¯s head didn¡¯t move an inch, seemingly ignoring his presence. Moving in front of him, he once again tried to start a conversation but the man continued to stare into the abyss, acting like Kai wasn¡¯t even there. ¡°Ah! Damnit! I thought I finally had some sort of clue about how to get out of here!¡± He yelled while kicking the air, when a chair materialized in front of him, followed by a desk, on top of which stood a computer, a night lamp, and a few hundred documents scattered about. Walls appeared around him and the man, then a couch and a coffee table, a chandelier that hung from a newly created ceiling, and another hundred documents. The man moved, passing through Kai as he made his way to the office chair, a fatigued expression manifested on his face as he inhaled deeply. The sound of frustrated typing resounded in the empty room, along with furious mouse clicks and light sighs every so often. Kai''s expression turned to shock as his mind was overloaded by the cacophony of sounds, and numerous locations appeared out of thin air before him: Schools and farms, labs, zoos, houses, front yards and backyards, parking lots, parks, town squares, and churches. Hundreds of environments from different places and different eras. Along with them, people appeared as well. Men, women, children, old and young, from the Victorian era and the modern era, as well as the medieval era and everything in between. Swordsmen and doctors, scientists and beggars, thousands of faces in different scenarios. Kai walked aimlessly, observing the huge assortment of people and locations, and he came to a few conclusions as he stopped in front of a few of them. These people seem familiar and at the same time, not¡­ This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. He walked in and out of the locations, the people inside never acknowledging his presence or the presence of other places. It seems like they live in a bubble, I can¡¯t interact with them, them with me, or them with others¡­ Walking from place to place, he found himself in a small space, occupied by a large, modern house and a front yard, in which a small child played with a ball. His mother sat on the veranda, phone to her ear and smoking a cigarette while writing down something. Kai smiled faintly as he watched the scene, a feeling of longing growing in his heart. He seems happy¡­ he thought as he turned around, leaving the small child¡¯s small bubble. The sound of screeching tires rang in his ears as his head snapped toward the child, his eyes widening as a morbid thud echoed in his mind. The small boy¡¯s body flew through the air, his skull smashing against the asphalt, creating a trail of blood before everything came to a stop. No! Why!? His eyes were fixated on the gory sight, his heart in turmoil as his mind was flooded with questions. He felt his stomach drop and quickly looked around, witnessing hundreds of people dying in a matter of seconds. He felt his stomach churn, and a hot burning liquid climbed up his throat as an acidic taste flooded his tongue. He clenched his gut, pushing it back down, his pupils constricted as he helplessly watched hundreds of people die. His footsteps matched the beat of his heart as he rushed back to the scientist, looking at all of the bubbles he passed by, and all of the different people inside. Whether they were happy or angry, smiling or crying, playing or sitting, all of them died, and time seemed to have stopped moments after they perished. Arriving in front of the small office, Kai let out a sigh of relief as he saw the scientist¡¯s lonely figure still typing on his computer and writing down some information on a piece of paper. He put down his pen right after he finished, rubbing his eyes as he let out a tired sigh ¡°What a frustrating project¡­¡± he thought aloud while getting up, laying on the couch behind him. Checking his wristwatch, he closed his eyes as he murmured ¡°I can sleep for thirty minutes before the next meeting¡­¡± Kai watched him close his eyes, and an ominous feeling instantly swept over him. No way¡­ He walked next to the man and noticed that he wasn¡¯t breathing anymore, his hand stopping mid-air as it fell. He¡¯s dead as well¡­ Grabbing the man¡¯s hand he his pulse, but the pressure he applied didn¡¯t even wrinkle the man¡¯s skin. He really is dead¡­ but¡­ his eyes drifted over to the scientist¡¯s face, he seems relieved. So his name was Rodney¡­ He read the name tag sewn to his coat, and his hand froze in mid-air as he let go of it. He walked over to the desk and read the document Rodney had written before his death, his pupils constricted after he finished reading its contents. < > He was a scientist researching black holes¡­ but what for? Could it be a military weapon? The sound of flipping pages resounded in the room for a few minutes, Kai¡¯s expression turned from shock to horror after he finished reading through a dozen reports, each with a different number of casualties. So many people died and the experiment still failed? Kai ignored the rest of the documents, too afraid to keep reading, and instead turned his attention to Rodney¡¯s lifeless body. He approached the couch and stared at the man, disgust written all over his face. How could he write such things? Is it true that statistics are easier to bear? His hands clenched into a fist, and a scraping sound echoed in the room as his teeth ground against each other. He stared at the scientist¡¯s body, which was as cold as his heart. He yelled as his fist ran through Rodney¡¯s body, completely shattering upon impact. The world around him shuddered as the sound of broken glass rang in his ears, the office, along with countless other locations disintegrated before his eyes, the corpses fading into the void along with them. Countless pieces of light bombarded his body as they disappeared, and a disembodied voice echoed in his mind. So much work to do but¡­ it feels so peaceful. I¡¯ll lie down for a bit more¡­ Then it was silent, the white void faded as darkness took its place, the quiet abyss whispering in Kai¡¯s head as he lost consciousness. Chapter 8: Magic Training Kai¡¯s eyes snapped open, and he found himself staring at a familiar ceiling. A painful scream escaped his lips as he jumped up, his hands warped around his temples. Argh!! My head! it hurts! it hurts! He clenched his teeth as a sudden, agonizing headache pierced through his mind, the pain intensifying as someone else¡¯s memories flowed through his brain. These memories¡­ Are they Rodney¡¯s? He thought, the pain fading away before he collapse on the floor. How come I have his memories? Those other people, what happened to them? His chest heaved up and down, dozens of images flashing in his mind, memory fragments telling the tale of a genius, a man envied and loved by many who tragically died at such a frail age. The image of an angry woman appeared in his head, her face covered in worry while berating the man. She wore a secretary¡¯s uniform and her beautiful brown eyes complimented her luscious red hair. Her sharp, harsh voice echoed in his ears as tears appeared in her eyes. "You''re going to kill yourself if you keep going on like this...Rodney... please stop... if not for you, please! do it for me. How much do you plan on working?" This woman was really concerned for Rodney¡­ and in the end, she was right¡­ She faded away, her image replaced by a crowd of cheering people. He could see an old man from the corner of his eye, who seemed to present Rodney to the crowd. "This is Rodney... he graduated top of his class at the Scientia Institute for Science and Technology and will now be our Team Leader on this project assigned to us from the military..." His old and raspy voice resounded in the crowd¡¯s ears as they kept on celebrating. Kai sighed as more and more information revealed itself to him, and his image of Rodney gradually changed. What a stupid genius¡­ He jumped upon hearing the sound of his bedroom door being slammed open, his parents rushing in, instantly arriving at his side. ¡°Kai, are you alright? What happened?¡± His mother asked while hugging him tightly, his father looking at him with concern as he grabbed some dry clothes. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just had a nightmare.¡± An emptiness formed in his gut as the lie escaped his lips, and his hands clenched into a fist at the thought of lying to his parents. ¡­ Kai changed his clothes and followed his parents downstairs, into the living room. They sat on the couch, excitedly looking at their son, who stood in front of them, his heart racing as they recounted the events from the previous night. ¡°We used my family¡¯s secret technique to form your mana core. It is best done when your senses and instincts are pushed to their limits, and that is when you drink blood for the first time. In doing so, your body is more active, alert, and more responsive.¡± Kai was deep in thought as he took it all in, his mother¡¯s explanation caught him off guard and various thoughts popped up in his mind. Then do all vampires use this method? Did Kana use it too? I wonder what color her core is, speaking of which¡­ ¡°Congratulations on taking your first step towards becoming a Magician.¡± Kai snapped from his thoughts, awakened by his father¡¯s deep voice. ¡°You have yet to become one though, just on the cusp of it. You need to solidify it and make the star appear, only then will you be a bona fide magician.¡± ¡°Close your eyes and focus on the mana in your veins,¡± his mother added ¡°Feel it as it flows through your body, feeding the mana core. Kai nodded and shut his eyes, focusing on the places where he knew his mana veins were, and once again felt the mana flow through them, rushing violently toward his yet-to-be-completed, translucent mana core. ¡°Oh? Looks like you don¡¯t need to explain what mana veins are?¡± Ray jokingly remarked before Elena lightly punched him. Kai lost his focus, and opened his surprised eyes as he asked ¡°You knew?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t take a genius to figure it out.¡± his dad replied nonchalantly as the dark ring on his finger glowed with a faint light, and a book materialized in his hand. It was the same book Kai read in the library last week. ¡°If you¡¯re gonna sneak around, be careful not to damage what you¡¯re snooping through,¡± he said with a slight, knowing smile. Kai rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment as he chuckled ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve got experience?¡± Ray¡¯s smile froze on his face, and he felt a piercing glare stare at him from his right side. ¡°Y-you brat, you even question your father now?¡± He scolded Kai before he coughed lightly ¡°Just do as your mother said.¡± He chuckled silently as he closed his eyes once again, focusing on the mana, and he saw the translucent core standing still next to his beating heart. ¡°Use the technique you learned and guide the mana from your veins inside your core, then compress it and do it again. Repeat the cycle a few times until the star and its color appear.¡± His mother instructed, and Kai was surprised to find that the technique popped into his mind the moment she mentioned it. So this is what a technique looks like? It isn¡¯t that complex but¡­ could be improved, right? Rodney¡¯s scientific expertise appeared in his mind, and he slowly compared his knowledge with the meager amount of information he had about mana and came to the conclusion that the current technique was inefficient. If I change the structure of the mana core, the results should be miles better¡­ but how do I do it? He tinkered with the idea for about an hour, a time in which his parents anxiously waited for him to open his eyes. ¡°Umm, dear, is there something wrong with the technique?¡± Ray shakily asked as he played with his fingers, sweat dripping through his thick beard. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be¡­¡± Elena replied, her hands held tightly together as she bit her lower lip until blood dripped down her pale face. ¡°I think he¡¯s trying to do something but I can¡¯t tell exactly what¡­¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Elena shook her head, and she dismissed the statement after a deep sigh ¡°Nothing, there¡¯s no way¡­¡± They waited patiently as the minutes passed. A crisp chime sound, like that of a bell being struck, resounded in the room as Kai¡¯s chest emitted a faint, multi-colored light that filled the entire room before it slowly faded away. He opened his eyes, inhaling lightly as he steadied his breathing. A wide smile appeared on his face, his glowing crimson pupils failing to hide his excitement. His parents jumped up, relief washing over them as they waited for Kai to regain his focus. His head wobbled a bit before his pupils widened in surprise, and he munched on his nails as he murmured ¡°Did I make a mistake somewhere?¡± Ray and Elena, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t wait to ask him an important question, something that was in their mind since last night. ¡°What color is it? Your mana core?¡± Kai raised his head and shakily said ¡°It seems¡­ it seems to be red¡­¡± His parent¡¯s mouths dropped open as they took a step back, glancing at each other as they tried to make sense of the situation. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean that his original color was¡­ Elena, this doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Ray said as he sat down on the couch. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± She said as he took a seat next to him. ¡°What matters is how hard he is willing to study.¡± Ray nodded, although his disappointment could not be hidden. Kai scratched the back of his hand as he stood deep in thought, analyzing every inch of his mana core before sighing internally. I should have studied magic more, I wanted to modify it so that the talent factor would be thrown out the window but I failed, and now I¡¯m stuck with a red core¡­ He exhaled softly and he turned to his parents, his piercing crimson eyes sending a small shiver down their spine. He coughed sharply and cleared his throat, a clear voice ringing in his parents¡¯ ears. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I will work hard to become a son you can be proud of. Talent? Irrelevant. In order to become a great magician, talent is only part of the process, it doesn¡¯t matter what color my core is, I will succeed no matter what.¡± His parents were taken aback by their five-year-old son¡¯s words, but they inspired confidence in them, and most importantly, he inspired confidence in himself. These words were a promise to himself more so than his parents, who had great expectations of him. However, unbeknownst to him, a slight orange hue appeared on his mana core, before it quickly hid away in the center. ¡°We¡¯re already proud of you, son.¡± His father said pulling him closer, tightly hugging him, and ruffling his long hair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t a good father for a moment there, please forgive me¡­¡± Kai rubbed his face in his father¡¯s beard, smiling faintly while saying ¡°No need to apologize, Dad, you¡¯re a great father, better than I deserve¡­¡± His shaky voice echoed in the room as tears dripped down his cheeks, which quickly stopped as a sudden pain suddenly emerged in his head. ¡°You brat, how dare you say you don¡¯t deserve us?¡± His mother slapped him on the back of the head before hugging him tightly, tears dripping down her cheeks as she ran her fingers through his hair. ¡°Mommy loves you more than anything, don¡¯t you ever forget that.¡± ¡°Umm!¡± he replied softly as a wave of warmth washed over him, the feeling of being loved inundating his senses with happiness. ¡­ The tight group hug broke after a while, salted tears and sweat mixing in their clothes, prompting them to separate. Before leaving, Kai turned to his father and said, pointing toward the book on the couch. ¡°Can I have it? I want to read it upstairs.¡± ¡°Sure you can, just don¡¯t cast any Onko spells, not like you could but I¡¯m saying, just in case.¡± Kai chuckled as he thanked his father, rushing upstairs, eager to theory craft and compare Rodney¡¯s knowledge with the book. ¡°Say, dear, don¡¯t you think our son is too smart?¡± Elena asked as she wiped her face with a handkerchief. ¡°Of course he is, he¡¯s our son after all!¡± Ray laughed lightly, however, his eyes told a different story. Who cares anyway? He¡¯s our son regardless. Elena nodded, and she wiped his beard with the handkerchief as well. ¡°You should shave sometimes.¡± she jokingly remarked as she made her way to the kitchen, Ray following close behind her. ¡°You think?¡± ¡­ Kai sat at his desk, the scribbling sound of a quill echoing in the otherwise quiet room. Sometimes he¡¯d stop and murmur something before he continued writing. ¡°Overachiever, workoholic, and anti-social. He graduated as a valedictorian in the most prestigious Science and Technology university and worked in several departments focusing on innovation, robotics, AI development, biological matter recreation, human cloning, teleportation devices, and other related topics. His last two years were spent on The Black Hole Project, where he performed hundreds of experiments resulting in a triple-digit number of casualties, and he died in his sleep.¡± Kai sighed as he tapped the pen on the table, thinking aloud as he tried to make sense of Rodney¡¯s character. ¡°He was amazing, a never before seen genius that wanted to improve the world, then why did he accept to work on the BH project? Unfortunately, his memories aren¡¯t complete and any fragments of his personality are missing but¡­¡± He tore a line through the thin page as the pen trembled in his hand ¡°It can be said that he had no empathy, was he a sociopath? Were the ends more important than the means?¡± He exhaled lightly as took out another piece of paper, writing furiously as his mind churned out theories. ¡°Rodney¡¯s knowledge of both basic and advanced chemistry is outstanding, it took me three years of high school just to memorize the periodic table, but I know all of it thanks to him. Not only that, hundreds of chemical reactions are now available to me, I wonder¡­ Could magic and science be combined? What would be the limit? Could I use the BH project data to create one myself?¡± He chuckled madly to himself as he wrote down countless theories, he only left his room to eat and piss, otherwise, he¡¯d either be taking notes or reading the magical book, his mind spinning as countless ideas popped into his mind. The moon was high in the sky when he finally fell asleep on the hard but comfortable surface of the wooden desk, his silver hair reflecting the small light stone his mother lit for him. ¡­ The sun hadn¡¯t even risen when Kai got up, waltzing in his parents¡¯ bedroom with the <> in hand. He carefully walked to his father¡¯s side, nudging him awake. ¡°Hmm? Hah? What is it?¡± Ray was still half asleep as he did his best to become alert, unsure of why his son would make him up before there was light outside. ¡°Magic,¡± Kai replied with a single word, surprising his sleepy father, who rubbed his eyes as he leaned on his elbow ¡°Ah? Now? Let me sleep for five more minutes¡­¡± but Kai quickly took his hand, and said in a bratty tone ¡°No, now!¡± Ray had a sudden, bad feeling, telling him that if he didn¡¯t do what Kai wanted something bad would happen, and indeed it would, because Kai was ready to wake his mom up if his dad didn¡¯t oblige. What a scary fox this boy is, scarier than his mother¡­ Ray let out a light groan as he got out of bed, not even bothering to change from his pajamas, and met with Kai in the backyard. ¡°Now that you have drunk blood, you can stay in the sun for a few hours, but we can stay longer as the damn sun didn¡¯t even rise yet.¡¯ He quickly slapped his mouth as he realized what he said: ¡°Crap, Elena will kill me, ah shit¡­¡± Ray shut his mouth and took the book from Kai, who was tearing up from holding back his laughter. ¡°Ahem.¡± Ray coughed lightly ¡°I hope you acquainted yourself well with the book, so I won¡¯t bother to explain much theory yet. I will do a small demonstration now, and listen closely as I explain.¡± Saying that, a dark wooden wand appeared in his hand, it was decorated by a few crystals of red and black, which glowed lightly as he muttered a set of syllables. ¡°O mighty flame god Grant me your powerful fire Burn my foe, fireball!¡± What is this? It¡¯s so¡­ ugh Kai physically cringed upon hearing the spell, unable to believe that this was a chant. What kind of Chunibyo wrote this? I¡¯d rather bury myself than ever chant that, maybe there is a way to cast chantless magic? His daydreaming got disrupted by the sound of an igniting flame, and sure enough, a small ball of fire floated in front of his father. His inner child exploded forth, as, despite the secondhand embarrassment, this was his first time seeing actual, traditional magic. His father smirked, and he pridefully said ¡°Watch closely.¡± The fireball then got bigger and bigger and Ray shot it toward the sky, and it flew upward with incredible speed. Before Kai could even react to what was happening, it exploded, creating a brilliant show of fireworks that rained down on the vast, barren land. Wow¡­ Kai stared at the sky, his mouth wide open as he admired the mesmerizing threads of fire as they danced in the twilight sky. He was so taken by the show that he forgot one thing, an explosion creates sound, and the sound¡­ His head snapped toward his father, and his pupils widened in shock as he looked at the door frame, where his mother sat with a ¡®Why the fuck did you just wake me up¡¯ expression. ¡°How was it? Pretty cool right?¡± his father said, none the wiser of the threat lurking behind him. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked, and he rapidly turned around as realization hit him. ¡°D-d-dear, I can explain-¡± he shakily pleaded to Elena, who was looking at him like an emperor would at a dead man. ¡°Ok then,¡± she said imperatively, tapping the ground with her foot, waiting for a well-deserved explanation. ¡°I was just trying to teach Kai magic and things got out of control and-¡± ¡°Enough!¡± she interrupted Ray before he could finish his sentence, clearly annoyed by his blatant boasting. ¡°You know better than I that we should lay low, don¡¯t do it again.¡± she gave him a warning glare before she turned toward Kai, who was stupefied by his mother¡¯s hard stance. Kai found himself being picked up by his mother, who asked him ¡°Did your father teach you what the elements are?¡± He shook his head, prompting Elena to shoot another glare at Ray. ¡°All this ruckus and you didn¡¯t even teach him the fundamentals?¡± Ray lowered his head and scratched the back of his head, murmuring under his breath. ¡°Why did he even read the book if he doesn¡¯t know them?¡± Chapter 9: Elemental Affinity Kai sat on the bench in the courtyard with his father, both of them looking at Elena, who gave Ray one last angry look before her lips parted. ¡°Mana, in our world, mana is everywhere, from the smallest blade of grass to the tallest mountain and the highest cloud. It is the energy that allows us to gain a supernatural power - magic. What we call mana is actually a type of energy that can be found in all beings, be they living or not. Everyone has it, me, you, the birds flying by and the bugs crawling on the ground, but not everyone can use it. In the beginning, most sentient beings weren¡¯t able to use mana, and we only learned after conducting some¡­ experiments. Eventually, we figured out how to use mana, and our bodies naturally evolved and adapted.¡± Elena paused briefly, and her hands clenched into a fist as she recounted the history of her people with trembling pupils, seemingly remembering something. ¡°Anyway,¡± she continued ¡°This energy has two main sources: Mortal Energy and Celestial Energy. Besides those two there is Life Energy, a very special energy that allows one to use healing magic, but very few people actually have it. It is theorized that Death Energy also exists but so far no one has ever awakened with it. Besides that, there is Time and Space, which allows people to use Spatio Temporal Magic, but those are derivations of Dark Energy, and there are a lot more types of submagic, like Blue Fire and Metal Magic, and it is speculated that there are a lot more. These are considered ¡®Insidiarum Magics¡¯, which also include ¡®Combination Magics¡¯. Mortal Energy, which includes Life and Death energy, is the energy that exists on Lumenia, our planet, and they are Fire, Earth, Water, and Air. Celestial Energy is the energy that exists outside of Lumenia, such as Light and Dark. You may think that Light exists on our planet, but our Light is different from that of the Sun, and as for Dark energy¡­ it¡¯s everywhere else!¡± His mother explained rapidly, her face covered in sweat as her chest heaved up and down. Ray pulled out a glass of water from his ring, which he then handed to Elena. ¡°Thank you, dear.¡± Kai excitedly absorbed all the new information, new theories forming in his mind as to how he can create new magics. Insidiarum Magics huh¡­ they seem to be random but Blue Fire is a fire with a high amount of oxygen, does that mean that White Fire is possible too? As for metal magic, are they controlling the metal itself or the earth within the metal? Did they discover magnetism yet? Life Magic and Death Magic¡­ this one is tricky, but¡­ doesn¡¯t seem impossible to learn. ¡°Now,¡± Elena said, waking Kai up from his daydreaming, and he found himself holding a small, red crystal in his hand. ¡°This is a Fire Element Crystal, it is the refined, more expensive version of the Fire Stone. If you infuse your mana within, it will tell us whether or not you have any affinity for Fire energy.¡± ¡°Elemental Affinity?¡± Kai asked, bewildered at the concept, is that some kind of RPG concept the Goddess introduced? His mother didn¡¯t answer, however, she told him take her seat, and she sat down next to Ray. ¡°Go on,¡± his dad said, ¡°you can close your eyes if you think it will help. Imagine the fire dancing in your palm as you infuse your mana into the crystal.¡± He did as instructed and shut his eyes, visualizing his palm, he sent little amounts of mana into the crystal and a small wisp of fire appeared in his mind, swaying gently in his hand. Is this it? He wasn¡¯t sure if what he did was right, but he enjoyed the feeling of the fire rubbing against his palm. It feels so real, it¡¯s so warm¡­ Suddenly, the small wisp of fire swayed violently and it began to shrink, threatening to extinguish and disappear. No! His heart skipped a beat, but he quickly regained his composure. Recalling Rodney¡¯s memories, he imagined the fundamental components of fire. Fire is a chemical reaction, combustion, created from oxygen, heat, and fuel. In this case, the fuel would be mana, the heat¡­ the spark, what can the spark be¡­? Cold sweat ran down his spine as his mind worked at 110%, he frowned as his teeth scraped against each other. The spark is¡­ mana as well, by moving the mana particles at rapid speeds I can create the heat necessary for the combustion to happen, and then¡­ The small wisp of fire grew quickly, from one meter to two, from two to three, from three to eight, from eight to twenty¡­ it grew into a tall, raging inferno that he struggled to contain. His eyes snapped open, a bright and intense red light blinding him temporarily. Elena and Ray jumped on their feet, their widened eyes focusing on the small crystal in Kai¡¯s hand, which threatened to explode as cracks spread all over its surface. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°This is amazing¡­ not even I had such a strong affinity with fire when I first tested¡­¡± Ray said slowly, his eyes sparkling with pride. His mother was just as shocked and full of pride as Ray. Her shivering hands were joined together on her trembling lips. Even if he can¡¯t use any other element, just this one is enough to give him a good life, he can join the academy despite his red core¡­ Her big, crimson eyes became wet as tears threatened to fall down her cheeks. She jumped as Ray hugged her from behind, calming down her nerves as he tenderly kissed her on the cheek. She handed Kai another crystal, one of a dark, blue color. ¡°Now try to imagine the ocean, the sea, the river, or a lake, imagine the rain falling on your skin as it sinks into your clothes and dampens your hair. Kai closed his eyes once again, and a small puddle appeared in his mind, which, just like the wisp of fire, slowly shrank until it disappeared. He didn¡¯t panic this time, however, as the formula for water popped into his mind. A strong tidal wave flooded his thoughts and his eyes snapped open once again, the crystal glowing with a blue light that reflected in his parent¡¯s sparkling eyes. Two elements! To think he¡¯d be able to use two elements with a red core¡­ Elena handed Kai one crystal after the other, each time glowing with intense light. His affinity for all elements was artificially boosted by Rodney¡¯s knowledge, and he could not help but feel disappointment in himself, even if he couldn¡¯t control the situation. Finally, it was time for the last crystal, the Light crystal. Kai did as usual, and imagined himself, standing in the courtyard. The world around him was black and white, and a deep darkness surrounded him like a shadow. He stared at the dark sun, which emitted a faint light that softly bounced off his skin. He waited patiently, waited for the element to reject him before using his modern knowledge to artificially acquire it. The light grew brighter and more intense, the scattered rays of sunlight piercing through the monochrome world, pushing away the darkness surrounding him. His widened eyes were focused on the sun, its blinding light forcing him to open them. He blinked rapidly as his eyes adjusted to the real light, the dim glow of the crystals greeting him, along with his mother¡¯s beaming face and his father¡¯s proud, trembling smile behind her. She picked him up, hugging him tightly as she jumped with excitement, Ray watching from the sides, doing his best to control his laughter. I can¡¯t believe Kai has an affinity with all elements. Is my son a monster? ¡­ A few weeks had passed since then. Kai and Kana stood opposite each other in his courtyard, each of them holding a fire crystal in their hands, in front of them were two target dummies made of stone. They murmured something under their breaths, and the crystal lit up as a small ball of fire appeared in front of them. The flaming ball would sometimes levitate for a few seconds before fading away, and other times they would send it shooting toward the target¡¯s general direction, either missing it by a hair¡¯s breadth or by a mile. Tom and Ray were watching them from the side as they chuckled and commented on their performance. ¡°Despite his high affinity for magic, he¡¯s no better than my Kana at casting spells, I have to say this is quite surprising,¡± Tom said as he took a sip from a small glass of wine. ¡°Not really, I¡¯ve seen plenty of people with high affinities waste their talents. There was one guy who had better affinity than me with dark magic but I still bested him,¡± Ray boasted as he sipped on a small glass of wine before he continued, ¡°I have to say though, Kana isn¡¯t that bad herself despite only having two affinities, and she¡¯s smart as well, she will acquire more in due time.¡± Tom let out a light laugh as he observed the two children doing their best to cast the simple spell. ¡°I¡¯m sure she will, she¡¯s got good genes after all.¡± ¡°Hahaha,¡± Ray laughed loudly, grabbing the attention of Kai and Kana, which made them turn their heads toward the two. ¡°You can say that again.¡± The children rolled their eyes before they went back to training, Kai smirking slightly as he continuously shot fireballs, everywhere but on the target. ¡°You kinda suck at this,¡± Kana remarked as she took aim at the stone dummy in front of her, and the fireball shot straight toward its head¡­ then missed by a few centimeters. ¡°You kinda suck at this too,¡± Kai chuckled as he cast another fireball, which faded away before he could even shoot it. His head dropped in disappointment and a sigh escaped his lips as he clenched his fist around the crystal. Even with the perfect elemental affinity, this stuff is really difficult, besides allowing me to use the element, what¡¯s the point of this affinity thing? He raised his head, his eyes burning with determination as he rapidly chanted the cringe spell his father taught him. A small fireball manifested in front of him, floating calmly as it waited for his command. Kai looked at it closely, much to the bewilderment of both Kana and their dads. If my accuracy isn¡¯t good enough, then a bigger projectile should hit regardless, time to put what I studied to the test¡­ He inhaled deeply and focused on the ball of fire, which grew in size as he fed it more and more mana, and its color changed to a slight blue hue as its temperature increased. Ray and Tom jumped up as they saw the spell¡¯s diameter rapidly increase, and they yelled while running toward Kai, who had a wide smile on his face despite the burning heat being so close to his face. ¡°Kai, stop!¡± his father warned as he got closer, however, it was too late. Kai¡¯s smile froze on his face and his pupils trembled as the fireball expanded at a rapid pace, until it violently exploded. Kai tumbled backward violently, groaning as he fell and landed on his back, his chest heaving up and down as he drifted in and out of consciousness, a faint light reflecting in his eyes before they slowly closed. Chapter 10: Emotion Kai opened his eyes, a bright and warm light greeting him as he struggled to awaken. Intense, sharp bursts of pain appeared all over his body as he tried to get up. He sighed inwardly as he saw the foggy image of his familiar ceiling. Inhaling deeply, the smell of burnt flesh and fabric inundated his nostrils, and he coughed lightly. Hastened footsteps rang in his ears, and his parents¡¯ blurry figure appeared in his vision. He blinked rapidly a few times as his sight became clear, an angry expression obvious on their faces. What happened? He did his best to remember what happened, vague images of a blue fire explosion flashing in his mind. His pupils constricted as the memory of the incident became fresh in his mind. ¡°Why didn¡¯t it work?¡± His thoughts escaped his lips, and his father¡¯s scoff resounded in the room. ¡°Because you¡¯re an idiot,¡± Ray answered, a hint of fury clear in his voice ¡°Why would you do something so reckless?¡± Elena stood quiet by the side, sighing as he healed Kai just enough for him to get up. He immediately saw Ray¡¯s angered face, who looked at him with crossed arms. ¡°I thought you knew better than doing that. It could have gone a lot worse, what were you thinking?¡± His imperative tone , his stoic face and piercing gaze giving Kai goosebumps all over his wounded body. He avoided Ray¡¯s gaze, instead staring at the hardwood floor as he said with a trembling voice ¡°I was annoyed I couldn¡¯t hit the target, so I thought that-¡± ¡°You thought that a bigger fireball would make it easier to hit? Have I not taught you well enough? I said that infusing too much mana into a spell will make it unstable, and the caster will experience dire consequences, didn¡¯t I?!¡± Ray cut him off, his words digging into Kai¡¯s soul. He bit his lower lip and clenched the sheets, his blood flow becoming turbulent. He gave his father a quick glance, immediately avoiding his burning gaze. ¡°Answer.¡± He demanded, his deep voice sending shivers down Kai¡¯s spine. ¡°Y-y-yes¡­¡± His lips trembled as he answered, tears threatening to flow from his reddened eyes, which he subconsciously shut, his muscles tensing up as memories from his soul flashed into his mind. He saw a huge, imposing fist fly toward him, its thick and hairy fingers descending upon him, causing his mind to shudder, and a wave of inner turmoil washed over him as the fist was within inches of his face. Then, he opened his eyes. He saw his father¡¯s tender expression before he found himself being hugged tightly, a warm hand ruffling his hair as he felt the rapid beating of a heart, one that was not his but it was much too familiar. His eyes widened as his father hugged him, and he endured the pain that appeared all over his body, waking up from the living nightmare he just experienced. ¡°Dad¡­?¡± He asked, unsure of the reality before him, his father¡¯s warm body pressed against his made him realize that this wasn¡¯t a dream. He returned the hug, wrapping his scorched hands around Ray¡¯s neck as tears dripped down his cheeks. ¡°Dad!¡± ¡°Kai, you stupid boy, I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re alive¡­ the scare you gave me at that moment- if you hadn¡¯t been breathing¡­ you¡­ I¡­¡± His father¡¯s voice was shakier than his, and he could feel warm tears drip down his neck. His mother¡¯s quiet sobbing rang in his ears, all the tension up to that point was broken by his father¡¯s gentle hug, and Elena couldn¡¯t hold back the despair she felt anymore. Her red eyes glowed under the light of the chandelier, and streams of tears ran down her cheeks as she sat next to Kai, whispering softly as she tried to calm down. ¡°My baby¡­¡± ¡­ The starry night watched over the entirety of the bustling city, countless stalls and shops were open, advertising their products with bright, different-colored light stones. The infatuating smell of freshly cooked food lingered on the busy, cobblestone-paved road. Food and barbeque stalls, shops with wooden or plush toys, hunting equipment stalls, clothing, and bookstores, were open on both of its sides, stretching as far as the eye could see. Vampires, demihumans, lizardmen, and some lesser demons manned the stalls, selling all sorts of various, exotic or weird food such as fried snake tongue, HoneyBread Bat legs, the pickled horns of a horned rabbit, or skewers fried on the antlers of a double-headed deer. One shop stood in a remote corner of the city, surrounding it were a few worn-down buildings and poor-looking shops. In contrast to them, this shop was brightly lit up by a few light crystals, its walls were covered in some vine-like plants, small violet flowers sprouting from them. The shop had a large window lit by a couple of fire stones. A dozen exquisitely crafted wooden wands were put on display, each of them adorned with small crystals of different colors. Three people stood in front of it, staring at the displayed goods as they talked. The smaller of the three was Kai, who has grown taller in the three years since the incident. His features developed to become more like his father- small eyes with long eyelashes, thin lips, and a nice jawline began to take shape. His long silver hair reached his chest, tied in a ponytail- as per Elena¡¯s suggestion. On the other hand, she and Ray never aged a day, their youthful looks remained untouched by the river of time, and not even a wrinkle appeared on their pale skin. ¡°Now that you¡¯re close to a Two Star magician, you will need a wand to continue training.¡± His father explained as they looked at the different wands on display. ¡°See all of those different crystals and woods? Just like you used a fire stone as a catalyst to control fire magic, the wand will act as a catalyst for multiple elements, not only that,¡± he said as he pulled out his own wand. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The crystals on it were six crystals of two different colors - red and black, three fire crystals, and three dark crystals. They shone with a mesmerizing light as they reflected all the light around them. ¡°With a wand, your spell will deal greater damage depending on how many crystals you have, and even your accuracy will increase slightly. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Ray finished his explanation and asked, seemingly to no one. A low and sharp screech rang in Kai¡¯s ears, and he looked around, confused and unable to find its source. ¡°It¡¯s my wand.¡± His father said before putting it back in his spatial ring. ¡°After a certain point, some wands gain sentience, which increases your control over mana, reducing the time to cast a spell.¡± Huh? How do inanimate objects even gain sentience? What the fuck¡­ Kai¡¯s inner voice questioned the concept that his parents seemed to have so easily accepted. He turned his attention toward the wands on display, signaling to Kai to come closer to the window. ¡°Close your eyes and tell me what you feel.¡± Kai did as instructed, and his eyes snapped shut. A few seconds passed, and he couldn¡¯t feel anything besides the wind running through his air. ¡°Dad uhh¡­ I don¡¯t think this is working¡­¡± Ray let out a soft sigh ¡°Send your mana toward the wands, dummy.¡± ¡°Huh? How was I supposed to know that?¡± Kai snapped back as his father finished the sentence, his face reddening slightly. He controlled the mana inside his mana core, moving it outwardly, penetrating the glass, and touching the wands. The moment his mana made contact with them, a wave of negative emotions bombarded Kai¡¯s mind, sending him tumbling backward, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as he inhaled with difficulty. What the fuck was that?! So many emotions, so¡­ such intense hatred and regret, the agony! His mother helped him up, shooting an angry glare at Ray, who did nothing to protect their son¡¯s mind. ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked as she brushed the dust off his clothes. ¡°Yeah, I¡­ I think, what was that?¡± Ray also helped clean some of the dust off as he explained - ¡°That¡¯s what happens to wands once they are abandoned or lose their owner. Just like humans who lose their loved ones, they become bitter with hatred, anger, agony, and grief.¡± Elena inhaled deeply before she sighed, urging Kai and Ray to enter the shop faster, afraid that her husband may implant some other weird thoughts in their son¡¯s head. The shop wasn¡¯t too big, but it was spacious enough for several people to stare at the multitude materials on the shelves, which were filled with different colored wood, crystals, and powders, as well as magic stones. Books, weird colored liquors, and a lot more unidentifiable objects and animalistic body parts. At the back of the shop stood a stall, on top of which was a scale, a few empty bags, and some lifeless wands. Behind it was a shopkeeper, his natural gray hair and wrinkled face giving away his age. He wore a simple linen shirt and pants, and a green vest embroidered with dark threads adding to his merchant aura. He was short and chubby, his dark and dead eyes lit up for a second, and a wide smile manifested on his face when he saw Kai and his parents enter. A wide smile manifested on his face as he greeted them in an excited tone. ¡°Ray, Elena, you brats, when were you thinking of visiting me?¡± He waved his hand, revealing a long and deep scar on his forearm. ¡°Gramps, it¡¯s been too long since last time, how have you been?¡± Ray hugged the man tightly, causing the old shopkeeper¡¯s face to turn slightly blue. Finally, Ray let go, and the old man coughed lightly ¡°Rascal, you still won¡¯t let it go?¡± he asked as he adjusted his posture, and, without waiting for Ray to answer, he turned his attention toward Kai, who was sitting quietly behind his mother. ¡°And I assume this is your kid?¡± The old man caressed his dirty beard while observing Kai, a hint of surprise appearing on his face, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Kai stepped forward, shaking the old man¡¯s hand as he greeted him. ¡°My name is Kai.¡± ¡°Haha, good, good.¡¯ The old shopkeeper shook Kai¡¯s hand rapidly as he said ¡°So young yet already a One Star Large Core Mage, so close to a Two star Mage! You taught him well!¡± ¡°Aye, you flatter me¡­¡± Ray smiled and laughed proudly, in contrast, Kai was visibly shocked. How does this old man know my exact rank? ¡°I was talking to Elena¡­¡± The old man quickly rectified, not wanting to let anything fuel Ray¡¯s ego. ¡°I can already tell what you¡¯re here for, tell me, child, what elements do you have the best affinity with?¡± Kai glanced at his parents, who nodded approvingly. ¡°I uhm¡­ all of them..¡± he said, feeling slightly embarrassed. ¡°All of them¡­ I see, I see¡­ ALL OF THEM?!?¡± Shock and amazement manifested on the old man¡¯s face, his mouth staying agape as the last words left his mouth. Not even The King, the strongest man to ever live on the continent had so many affinities at birth¡­ is this kid a monster? Even his mother only had four, and that is already extremely rare¡­ The old man glanced at Elena and Ray, unable to believe Kai¡¯s words. They nodded in response, barely able to contain their pride. He fixed his clothes and straightened his back, clearing his throat with a light cough, he said ¡°It will take me a while to make it¡­ maybe three or four weeks, perhaps even more, let¡¯s talk about the details. Usually, magicians only have one to two elements, the most gifted ones can even have four but I¡¯ve never heard of anyone having all of them¡­ not naturally anyway.¡± He walked back behind the counter, rummaging through the shelves before saying ¡°I assume you want a wand with all six elements, regardless I must have you pick two elements for the choice of material.¡± Kai inhaled deeply and thought carefully about which of the elements he¡¯d like or even need the most. Fire seems like a pretty good choice, it¡¯s versatile enough and easy to use, and it also looks the coolest¡­ for the second element¡­ I¡¯m not sure, eh¡­ does it really matter? ¡°I want fire and dark elements,¡± he replied nonchalantly, but his father¡¯s face lit up immediately, leading Elena to roll her eyes. The old shopkeeper''s eyes shone with enthusiasm, smiling lightly as he said ¡°Wonderful, then give me a little bit of your hair, that way the wand will recognize you as the owner. I will send word once it¡¯s ready and you can come pick it up, you should already be a Two-Star Mage by then.¡± ¡°Thanks, Gramps, we owe you one!¡± Ray said as he plucked a strand of Kai¡¯s hair, a soft wince escaped his lips. ¡°What can you owe an old man like me? Just pay up, you brat, you¡¯re not getting away this time!¡± The old man berated Ray, and a low giggle escaped Elena¡¯s lips. ¡°Thank you grandpa, make sure you stay healthy, alright?¡± she thanked him and they left the store quietly, the old man¡¯s gaze lingering on the trio long after the doors closed. A six-element wand was only made once, by The King, the ruler of the Old World. He unified all races during his reign, imprisoned us, and ruled the whole continent as one country, and even then, he only acquired his sixth element¡­ This will be my magnum opus! His mind raced with ideas as he mumbled to himself, opening a door just behind the stall, entering the room it hid. Chapter 11: Hidden Danger The bell chimed as the door closed behind them, and the kingdom¡¯s busy main street appeared in their view after turning a few corners. The hundreds of bright, artificial lights of the lamp posts illuminated the road with a beautiful yellowish hue. Elena held Kai¡¯s hand as they passed the dozens of stalls, filled to the brim with food, toys, and entertainment. The music of a few bards echoed in the air, which, accompanied by the infatuating smell of freshly grilled meat and vegetables, created a lively atmosphere in the bleak kingdom. As they wandered through the long street, passing numerous people of different races, a question lingered in his mind: Just who was that old man? He was able to tell my rank at a glance, and he was really friendly with my parents¡­ should I ask them? Ray noticed Kai¡¯s troubled expression, and his lips parted as he asked ¡°What is it? Are you hungry? Do you want some fried dragonyte wings?¡± Kai shook his head and halted his footsteps, and asked meeting his father¡¯s gaze ¡°Who was that old shopkeeper? How come you know him?¡± His dad scratched the back of his head and sighed, kneeling in front of Kai. He ruffled his hair and said with a hint of melancholy, ¡°That old man, he¡¯s someone who has helped us when we were in danger. If it weren¡¯t for him, I¡¯m not sure we¡¯d be here right now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry Kai,¡± his mother added ¡°He¡¯s a good person, you can treat him as your own grandfather. Unfortunately, we weren¡¯t able to tell him about you just yet¡­ we had our reasons, please understand.¡± That¡¯s weird¡­ Why couldn¡¯t they tell him about me? Whatever, as long as my parents trust him, then I will as well¡­ He didn¡¯t voice his thoughts and instead continued strolling through the city. It¡¯s my first time in the kingdom itself as well¡­ are my parents some sort of criminals? He excitedly observed the products as they walked past the stalls, his eyes widening at the large assortment of goods, including those that he¡¯d never seen before in both lifetimes. However, one stall had some things Kai recognized - objects from his old world, or at least, similar in nature and looks. A few plushes in the shape of horned rabbits and wyverns, wooden puppets tied to strings, and exquisitely crafted wooden boats that had their name - ¡®Titanic¡¯ - engraved on the side. Must be a coincidence¡­ He thought as he glanced at the vendor - a middle-aged human, who raised his eyebrow upon noticing Kai. A faint smile formed on his face as he let out a light scoff, and he asked ¡°Watcha looking at, kid?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking at you, shithead!¡± Kai stepped back as he blurted out involuntarily, shocking his parents and himself. The human burst out in laughter, unbothered by the reply. He watched Kai get dragged away by the ear while his mother apologized. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry, it was fun meeting you.¡± The noisy street grew louder and louder toward the center, where a small square was located. In the middle of it was a small stage, large enough for three people to comfortably move about. Surrounding it were a few crystals, sparkling with different colors as they rotated around it. Next to it, a group of dark-skinned men was singing an upbeat song on drums and string instruments, their pleasant music filling the square with a festive atmosphere. Atop the stage, three enchanting women moved in a mesmerizing dance, their bodies melting into the pulsating lights. Adorned with ebony skin, their alluring figures were accentuated by the multiple red lines etched across their bodies. Their luscious dark hair perfectly swayed with their graceful movements. With stunning yellow eyes and bewitching smiles, they captivated the audience, casting a spell on all who beheld their beauty. A few dozen people, mostly men, of varying races, surrounded them, cheering in unison as the three performed their number, their eyes sparkling with a faint light that glowed rhythmically with their audience¡¯s. ¡°Demons¡­¡± Ray muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper, but carrying a hint of deep-seated hatred. Kai turned toward his father with a bewildered expression, but Elena didn¡¯t let them linger as she pulled Ray away from the stage, walking toward the outskirts of the square, where a flavourful, irresistible smell inundated their nostrils. A few barbeque stands were lined up one after the other, manned by both men and women of the lizardfolk and human race. The sizzling meat of rabbits and poarks, finely seasoned with the best condiments their kind had to offer, attracted many customers, patiently waiting in long lines. Kai''s senses were completely overwhelmed by the cacophony of voices and the amalgamation of a dozen different smells, despite their individually pleasant flavors. His head went blank as a sudden wave of dizziness hit him, causing him to slightly lose balance. He staggered backward, barely managing to regain his footing just in time to avoid falling down. ¡°Kai, what¡¯s wrong?¡± His father placed a hand on his shoulder to help him stand straight. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah¡­ just a bit overwhelmed by everything, I¡¯ll be fine¡­¡± he answered, his head still aching in pain. ¡°I just need to sit down for a bit.¡± Elena picked Kai up as they quickly left the square, the smells gradually fading away as the bustling street got quieter. A warm sensation ran through his scalp as his mother used healing magic to calm his headache. He closed his eyes and leaned on her chest, breathing softly as he yawned. ¡°Oh? Are you tired?¡± His mother tenderly caressed his face, only getting a small nod in response. ¡°Well, it is quite late already, we should be heading home.¡± Ray walked alongside Elena, glancing at Kai¡¯s tired figure as he cuddled and got more comfortable. ¡°Isn¡¯t he heavy?¡± Elena shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her face as her loving gaze rested on Kai ¡°Not at all, I feel like he¡¯s too light, I should prepare him more food¡­¡± a melodious chuckle escaped her lips, with Ray joining in and adding ¡°Indeed, I think I¡¯m a bit light too,¡± he joked as he patted his belly. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. They walked silently, the sound of their footsteps accompanying them on the gradually empty street. Very few stalls were open this far out, and those that were had little clientele. The houses were derelict - cracks covered the walls and open roofs, and the broken windows, and doors made way for the chilly air to penetrate the empty rooms. They were inhabited by a few, grotesque-looking people - their skin was stuck to their bones, and their faces were so white they looked as if they had rolled in flour. Their hungry red eyes glowed as they peeked at the couple through the destroyed buildings. Drool flowed down their oversized shirts as their fangs grew and shrunk rapidly, but none dared approach Kai and his parents, slowly hiding away in the shadows as they passed by. ¡°The situation is worse¡­ last time there weren¡¯t as many.¡± Ray said as he quickened his pace ¡°I fear things will go out of control in a few years¡­¡± Elena nodded as she hurried as well ¡°Haniard¡­ that bastard, what is he doing?¡± Her voice carried a hint of repressed anger and hatred, her lower lip trembled as she bit down on it, small amounts of blood dripping down her face. Ray wrapped his arm around her shoulders, bringing her body closer to his. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡± he said shakily ¡°If I knew what would happen¡­¡± ¡°Stop! We already went over this, it¡¯s not your fault, end of discussion.¡± She quickly cut his speech short with an annoyed tone. ¡°We can¡¯t change the past, we must look into the future and protect the present¡­¡± a sigh escaped her lips, her eyes unconsciously drifting toward Kai, his soft pants sending warmth throughout her whole body. Ray agreed silently, vigilantly watching the owners of the shabby stalls and the sickly figures observing from the shadows. ¡°We should hurry,¡± he nudged Elena as they approached the city¡¯s exit. An aromatic smell lingered in the air as they passed a few barbecue stalls, a fragrance in particular was unlike any other. It was blander, less sharp, and hypnotic but it carried a simplicity rarely found anywhere. Kai unconsciously sniffed the air, and his eyes snapped open. He broke free from his mother¡¯s grasp, the enticing smell leading him to walk toward it like a zombie. This smell seems familiar, like something from my old world¡­ from home¡­ His parents followed closely behind him, curious and perplexed by his sudden behavior. Usually, he¡¯s very reserved, what could be making him act like this? Elena giggled inwardly as she and Ray vigilantly watched over him. Eventually, he reached his destination - a small stand manned by a short, bald and muscular man that sold grilled skewers. The man looked at Kai with a raised eyebrow but didn¡¯t say anything, only watching him with an amused expression in his eyes. He snapped out of his trance, dumbstruck by the object that made him act like a mindless zombie searching for brains - Grilled skewers - normal skewers, albeit the meat is of poorer quality, and is a bit different than what he saw thus far, but it was still poark, rabbits and dragonyte. What¡­? How could some simple skewers make me act like this? It''s true that I used to eat a lot of those when I went out with Nevan but¡­ did I miss them to this extent? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ magic skewers? It was the only hypothesis he could come up with that would explain his behavior. His parents looked in confusion at their child and the short man, then at the skewers sizzling on the hot grill. ¡°We passed by so many skewer stalls on our way here,¡± Elena whispered to Ray ¡°why did he choose this one? Do you think this means anything?¡± Ray shrugged and said, his voice barely a whisper ¡°Must be the ingredients or the way this man cooks them¡­¡± She nodded in agreement and handed Kai one silver coin, ¡°Go on, buy as many as you want.¡± He accepted the silver coin and inspected it for a bit. So this is what their money looks like¡­ The coin was about two centimeters in diameter - about the size of a nickel. The engravings on it depicted the face of a man unknown to Kai, with short hair and a piercing gaze. The letters on it were almost evenly spread around its circumference, spelling a simple yet imposing name The King¡­ I bet their current system is like that of those old-school MMORPGs¡­ how original he rolled his eyes before handing the coin to the shopkeeper ¡°As many as this can buy, please.¡± The man accepted the coin and handed him five skewers filled to the brim with meat, one piece almost falling off the stick. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said before he began devouring the skewers like a dog that hadn¡¯t eaten in days. Ray looked at his son eating with such appetite and couldn¡¯t help but swallow. ¡°You¡¯re not going to give one to your old man?¡± he reached for one as he asked Kai, who paused briefly, his mouth still full of skewers. ¡°No,¡± he said, quickly turning around. Elena let out a soft giggle as his father¡¯s mouth was wide open in shock. He quickly rummaged through his pockets and pulled out two silver coins, handing them over to the bald man. ¡°Another ten skewers please!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Kai gasped, having yet to swallow the food in his mouth as he protested ¡°No fair!¡± But, he was dirt poor, so he couldn¡¯t compete with his dad. Elena¡¯s hand flew to her mouth as she did her best to hide her laughter, and even the stone-faced short man let out a small chuckle at the sight of the comedic duo. Ray handed one skewer over to Elena and started devouring the skewers right in front of Kai, the grease and sauces spilling in his thick beard, much to his son¡¯s envy. ¡°Bully!¡± However, their moment didn¡¯t last long¡­ A sudden explosion reverberated through the air, jolting the group up, their eyes snapping toward the source - Far into the distance, a huge cloud of dust rose from the ground, sending debris, food, and liquids everywhere. A grotesque creature dashed out of the cloud, running away from a tall man dressed in a military uniform. The beast held another man wearing a similar uniform to the one chasing him, with a little less decorum. His eyes pleaded for help, and he weakly swayed his arms as he tried to lessen the beast¡¯s grip. Blood gushed out of his mouth as the creature¡¯s long, bony fingers gripped him tightly by the waist, every step it took shook the cobblestone pavement, and it rammed through a dozen stalls before slowing down. It brought the man up to its mouth, which was filled with razor-sharp teeth and two, sharp, protruding fangs, as long as the blade of a sword. It bit into the terrified vampire, ripping his arm clean off before chewing on it, the sound of crunching bones accompanied by the man¡¯s painful scream grimly echoed on the street. ¡°Stop it!¡± A deep voice resounded loudly in the air, signaling a few guards that were stationed nearby in case discord were to break out. The creature ran straight toward them, its gigantesque, humanoid form sent shivers down their spine, their pupils widening upon seeing the skin stuck to its bones, and its glowing, blood-red eyes stared them down as its bloody lips parted, letting out a primal roar. The two guards stood shoulder to shoulder with their spears braced to meet its charge. This enraged the monster, and it tightened its grip around the man, using his body as a club it sent both of the guards sprawling in the derelict houses. It looked around, its almost non-existent nose sniffing the air, seemingly looking for something. Its eyes widened and snapped toward Kai¡¯s direction, immediately rushing toward him. His food got stuck in his throat as his entire body trembled upon seeing the immense, bloodthirsty creature run toward him, his heart jumped a few beats, his limbs went soft and the skewers hit the ground with a soft thud. Cold sweat ran down his back, and his pupils widened as images from more than seven years ago flashed in his head, his gruesome and painful death. His mind turned blank, and his breathing ragged as he struggled to inhale. The creature¡¯s malicious aura spread over to him long before it actually arrived, and he fell to his knees as fear took over his body, his pupils dilated as he stared at the beast¡­ his consciousness slowly fading away. Chapter 12: The Wand The creature pounced on Kai with great speed, creating a blast of air wherever it passed, blowing the guards back, and destroying the few stalls lined up on the street. Its long and skinny arm reached for his throat with its bloody claws as it appeared in front of him in mere seconds. Kai shivered as he tried to step back but his body wouldn¡¯t listen to his inner cries of despair. The scythe of death brushed past his throat, images of his former death flashing in his mind. Death¡­ once again? It was then that a bright light descended from the sky, collapsing upon the creature which instantly turned into ashes, its silent death shocking the onlookers. ¡°Kai, are you alright?! Kai!¡± His mother picked up the unresponsive Kai and checked for any wounds. ¡°Thankfully you aren¡¯t harmed¡­¡± she said as she embraced her son, whose skin began to turn blue, his wide pupils staring into the void. No way¡­ am I dead again¡­ Ray quickly pulled out a small pouch from his spatial ring, taking out a few grams of a weird yellow powder. He fed it to Kai, who quickly fell asleep, his face slowly returning to a healthy rose. The man dressed in a black military uniform arrived shortly after, his small and red eyes rapidly scanning the scene before he turned to Ray and Elena. He didn¡¯t look unusual, he was tall, with short dark hair and a short balbo-style beard. He wore a stern look on his face as he made his way to the couple, and he raised an eyebrow upon seeing Kai¡¯s silver hair. Elena¡¯s eyes burned with rage, and she handed Kai to her husband before her voice erupted in the man¡¯s ears. ¡°WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!¡± her shaky voice resounded in the air, and everyone¡¯s eyes were glued to the military official. ¡°Madame¡­ Sir, I am terribly sorry for what has happened, I¡­¡± he tried to apologize, struggling to find the words suited to the couple who nearly lost their child. ¡°This was my fault, we detected the Lytic too late. I hope you can accept my sincere apology.¡± He bowed deeply for a few seconds, then straightened himself, his stoic expression reappearing on his face. Shortly after, the guards and military men who were chasing the beast joined the man, scratching their heads as they looked around. ¡°Captain, where¡­ Where is it?¡± one of them asked, bewildered by the sudden disparition of the enormous monster. ¡°You¡¯re looking at it.¡± The captain pointed towards a pile of ashes by Elena¡¯s feet, which was being slowly dispersed by the wind. ¡°This¡­ was it that light?¡± ¡°We will take our leave now if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Ray interrupted them as he turned to leave with his wife, ¡°But we are yet to forgive anyone.¡± He said angrily before disappearing behind a corner. The guards and military men watched the departing couple silently, and they hurried to collect the creature¡¯s ashes. ¡°Captain,¡± one of the men dressed in a similar black uniform to his said, ¡°don¡¯t you think these two look familiar?¡± The man seemed to be deep in thought, and he stroked his beard as he answered, ¡°No, I don¡¯t think they do¡­¡± He turned his attention towards the ashes, the heat from the light still lingering on their surface. I and my soldiers barely wounded this beast, but a light magic spell turned it to dust in an instant¡­ Could it be¡­ them? I need to report this¡­ ¡­ In the middle of the city stood an enormous castle, its outer walls were made of dark brick and the inner court was paved with beautiful white stones. A single, gigantic gate isolated it from the world, and guards marched atop the walls, patrolling the interior and exterior. A huge throne, made out of beautiful dark wood and decorated by red cushions stood alone in the back of a huge room, a long, gorgeous yet dirty red carpet divided the chamber in two. Two statues depicting a golden dragon lay on each side of the carpet, showing the importance of this room. On the throne sat a man dressed in a black robe, decorated by golden engravings in the shape of a dragon. He had long, black hair, and his face was shaven and clean of any beard. A long and deep scar ran diagonally across his face - from his right eyebrow to the base of his nose. The sound of metal tapping on wood echoed rhythmically in the throne room as the man¡¯s impatience grew, his cold, crimson eyes staring at the captain. ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡­ there¡¯s a chance they¡¯re in the kingdom?¡± The captain nodded, swallowing the saliva stuck in his throat, and his shivering lips parted as he said ¡°Y-yes! Although They didn¡¯t look anything like vampires, I sent a small squad of novice Shadow Soldiers, but the couple disappeared before they could even catch up.¡± He quickly explained, his gaze fixated on the floor, not daring to lift it by an inch. ¡°Not to mention their kid¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The man on the throne stopped his impatient tapping, his fierce gaze locked onto the man. ¡°Their kid¡­ had silver hair!¡± The man finished his sentence, and his eyes squinted as the long-haired man¡¯s voice rang in his ears. ¡°Enough!¡± He ordered as he rose from the throne, slowly walking toward the man, ¡°Dismissed.¡± ¡°Yes, your highness!¡± The captain quickly left, leaving the man by himself, whose expression turned sour, and a myriad of emotions could be seen on his face. A dense aura descended upon the room as the man gritted his teeth in anger, cracks slowly appearing on the walls and floor, as well as on the golden statues that began to crumble. Blood dripped down the carpet from his clenched fists, which shook violently before the man let out a painful scream. The room returned to normal as the scream faded away, his face returned to normal, and he touched the scar on his face as he gave out a simple order: ¡°Find them, they must be using disguise magic.¡± ¡°Yes sir!¡± A dozen voices said in unison as twelve men appeared from the shadows, quickly dispersing into six groups before disappearing. The long-haired man slowly walked toward a large portrait, half of which depicted a tall and blurry man, his large, red eyes complementing his short and dark hair, along with his thick and stuffy beard. His head was adorned with a small, black crown. The long-haired man gazed at the ground right below the portrait, where that same crown lay on the ground, its beautiful ebony surface dirtied by streaks of dark blood. ¡°It has come to this at last¡­¡± the man voiced his thoughts as his gaze drifted toward the other half of the portrait, which looked to have been torn and burned, the only proof of its existence was a small, silver-colored piece. ¡°I will cherish the opportunity you gave me, Aestra.¡± He said to himself, a light chuckle escaping his lips as he made his way back to the throne. ¡­. Small explosions resounded in the backyard, dust, and debris flying everywhere, steam seething from the water-covered scorched ground. Unnatural-looking holes and weirdly shaped rocks covered the once beautifully decorated earth. *Boom* Another explosion rang in Kai¡¯s ears, sweat dripped down his body as he panted heavily. The stone dummy in front of him was blown to bits, the bigger pieces emitting smoke from their scorched surface. His gaze drifted toward the firestone he held in his hand, gripping it tightly as it crumbled to pieces. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips as he sat down on the ground, throwing away the fine dust covering his palm. ¡°Well done, Kai.¡± Ray said as he approached his son with a thumbs up, ¡°Your basic spells are at an intermediate level now, but you¡¯ve still got a long way to go.¡¯ He pulled out a water pouch from his spatial ring and sat next to Kai as he handed it to him. ¡°Thanks,¡± Kai said, grabbing the water pouch, and taking a few big sips before exhaling in satisfaction, but a defeated expression rested on his face. Even after becoming a two-star mage, only my mana pool increased¡­ my weakness¡­ It''s disgusting. If I weren¡¯t saved by that light two months ago¡­ He shook his head as he voiced his concerns. ¡°But it¡¯s still not enough¡­¡± Ray glanced at his son, patting him on the back before looking into the distance, seemingly at nothing, or perhaps at memories. ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up, you weren¡¯t even a Two Star Magician before, and even if you were¡­¡± He dragged on his sentence as he looked around, and his pupils widened once the realization hit him. He quickly stood up, dragging Kai up with him as he scrambled to clean the yard. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Shit!¡± He let out an involuntary curse as he pulled out his wand ¡°I was too caught up in the training, I didn''t realize how much of a mess we made!¡± Kai inspected the backyard, and a shiver ran down his spine at the scene. It looks like someone fought a war here¡­. ¡°Hurry, we need to clean up before-¡± Ray stopped mid-sentence as an angry voice rang in his ears from behind him ¡°Before what?¡± he gulped and slowly turned around, the image of his angry wife slowly appearing in his vision. ¡°Before grandpa calls us over, haha¡­¡± he let out a nervous laugh as he scratched the back of his head, and an awkward smile manifested on his face. Elena rolled her eyes and a scoff escaped her lips. ¡°He just sent us word that Kai¡¯s wand is ready, we¡¯ll go get it while you clean up this mess.¡± Ray¡¯s smile froze, but he lowered his head in defeat and began leveling the ground. ¡­ The mother-son duo left for the store after Kai changed his clothes, opting for a black cloak with a hood that would help hide his long silver hair, as per Elena¡¯s request. Why would she make me wear such an ugly thing¡­ ever since two months ago¡­ The magic store quickly appeared in their vision, along with the image of the old shopkeeper waving toward them to hurry up. ¡°Come on in, fast!¡± He pushed them through the door, creaking as it opened, accompanied by the small chime of its bell. ¡°Follow me.¡± He led them into a small room behind the stall. It was filled with magic crystals and all kinds of wood, and on a table glued to the back wall lay a weird robotic hand that held a wand in its pincers. The old man carefully retrieved the wand from its grasp, staring at it with glee before handing it to Kai, who took a closer, curious look at it. His eyes widened in surprise as he held it in his hand - the texture of the dark red wood reminded him of an old branch he used to play with as a kid in his former world. Its thick base was decorated with three fire crystals, a faint light emitting from their surface. Higher up were two black crystals, which, if it weren¡¯t for the stark contrast in colors, would seem almost invisible. Finally, on the top, a smaller, heavier dark crystal was located. ¡°This wand is unique, a magnificent combination of magic and craftsmanship,¡± the old shopkeeper bragged as a wide smile manifested on his face. ¡°The wand itself is made from a hundred-year Loc tree, one of the best materials for fire and dark magic conductivity.¡± He explained before pointing toward the crystals. ¡°Although we usually use a few magic crystals to cut costs, and mainly because they are more than enough for your average two-element magician, I decided to only use crystals for your wand, and even better - They are interchangeable!¡± Elena raised her eyebrow slightly upon hearing the old man¡¯s last sentence, and she curiously asked as she took a closer look at the wand. ¡°Grandpa, what do you mean by that? How can a wand change crystals, aren¡¯t they fused with the wood?¡± ¡°Hohoho,¡± the old man laughed while playing with his beard, ¡°Normally that would be the case, but that¡¯s only because changing them is impractical for your average magician. But Kai over here isn¡¯t your average magician, he¡¯s someone with all six elements unlocked! I thought it would be a waste if he could only effectively use two or three, so I tried to make more crystal slots, but every time I did, the wand¡¯s structure would break apart¡­¡± He pulled out a small pouch, the contents within jingling as he placed it on the table, and beckoned the wand toward him, which flew straight into his hand. ¡°Then I thought ¡®Why not just change the crystals as he sees fit?¡¯ I used a combination of modern and ancient wand crafting techniques, and made the wood slightly magnetic toward the crystals, that way they would lock in place and form a connection once inserted in the slot.¡± As he said that, he made another hand gesture, and the crystals within the wand flew out of their place, arranging themselves neatly on the table as six crystals of different colors floated from the pouch, clicking in place in the wand¡¯s empty slots. ¡°And this is the result, a modular wand!¡± The old man showed off his creation with pride before handing it over to Kai once again, along with the pouch of crystals. ¡°I carved all of them to fit perfectly in the wand, if you lose any of them you will need to come back here or carve them yourself. Kid, I suggest you start practicing.¡± He explained with a slight grin plastered on his face. ¡°Grandpa, you have our gratitude, we will make sure to pay back this debt no matter what it takes.¡± Elena hugged the old man tightly, his bones popping under her force. ¡°Ayyye, Elena, aye!¡± he winced in pain, hoping that she would let go. ¡°Sorry!¡± she released her hug and hastily apologized before attempting to heal him. ¡°It¡¯s fine, don¡¯t worry about this, these old bones of mine are still strong.¡± He said with a light cough as he moved away from her, ¡°I think that was enough payback though.¡± He chuckled before turning his attention to Kai. ¡°I wish I could see you perform your first spells with that beauty, take good care of it.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Kai replied, placing the pouch and wand in his pockets as he turned to leave with his mother. ¡°Thanks a lot, Grandpa.¡± He sincerely thanked the man as the bell¡¯s soft jingle marked their departure. To think that I was able to create such a unique wand for them¡¯ brat''s child, he¡¯s a dragon among men, just like his parents. He thought as a feeling of intense pride rose up within him. I wonder what great feats he will achieve¡­ ¡­ Ray was in the midst of cleaning when he heard the front door open, and immediately dropped whatever he was doing, rushing to the living room. He saw Kai, who was holding the wand in his hand, and asked, feeling more excited than his son. ¡°How is it? Do you like it?¡± ¡°I don''t know Dad, I can¡¯t use any kind of magic with it.¡± He played around with the wand, attempting to send his mana into it, but nothing ended up happening. His father curiously approached and inspected the wand ¡°Did you make a bond with it?¡± he asked as he glanced at Elena and Kai with a bewildered expression. Elena¡¯s face reddened and her cheeks flushed red ¡°I¡­ completely forgot about that¡­¡± Kai, on the other hand, was staring at the two of them like an idiot, unable to follow the conversation. ¡°What bond? Can¡¯t I just use it?¡± Ray scoffed at the statement before explaining ¡°The first time a wand is created a bond must be made between it and the owner. As for why¡­ I would say because the wand has yet to gain a spirit, so a connection must be created in order for it to be used. In order for a bond to be created, the wand must be infused with the owner¡¯s magic signature during its creation, then must be confirmed after, this way only you and you alone can use it until it gains sentience.¡± Kai looked at the wand, seemingly lost in thought before his pupils widened at the realization ¡°I need to give it blood?¡± His parents stared at the boy in silence, their shoulders shaking slightly before they burst out in laughter ¡°Of course not, where did that even come from?¡± Ray said through bursts of laughter and plucked out a hair from Kai¡¯s head after he calmed down. ¡°Ouch, again?¡± he complained while rubbing his head. Ray smirked and handed the hair to Kai. ¡°Do you remember when we first ordered your wand? Grandpa needed a little bit of your hair, and this was why - One¡¯s hair contains their magic signature. Now, wrap the hair around the wand.¡± Kai did as instructed and coiled the hair around the wand, and it disappeared in a small, bright flash of light as the wand glowed strongly for a few seconds. He held it tightly in his hand as he looked at it with amazement. Almost immediately, he felt a deep connection with the wand, and also something else, something he could not put into words. This aura¡­small, longing for love, it¡¯s just like a child. The aura slowly faded, and he tried to awaken it but it was useless, however, he could feel its existence, he knew it was there, somewhere inside the wand¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s go try it out.¡± His father prompted them and hurried into the backyard that was yet to be completely cleaned. Kai halted his footsteps after arriving in the yard, his vision fixated on nothing as he remembered something. ¡°Dad, look!¡± He took out the crystal pouch from his pocket and showed his father the method to change the crystals, and chose to fill it with fire crystals under his father¡¯s widened eyes. Ray¡¯s lips parted, but before he could even say anything he got cut off by Kai ¡°I want to try the secondary spell: Dancing Phoenix.¡± His parents didn¡¯t say anything, but the silence was enough confirmation. It¡¯s good to be ambitious, even if he fails he shouldn¡¯t feel too bad about it. Kai walked in front of his parents, keeping a good distance from them, and recalled the spell he had studied. He slowly injected magic into the wand, the Fire Crystals glowing gradually with a beautiful red light. I see, so that¡¯s how it works¡­ He closed his eyes and started dancing almost instinctively, following the movements in his mind, his steps were timed and spaced perfectly, his consciousness fusing with nature¡¯s energy as the mana moved rhythmically in his veins. The mana around him grew denser, and the area became hotter as he murmured in a low voice : ¡°Oh King of the Sky Flame Lord above Allheaven Cleanse my path with fire!¡± At the end of the dance, a small, phoenix-like figure made out of flames floated in front of him. ¡°Amazing!¡± Elena happily exclaimed as she joined her hands together, her face beaming with excitement. His parents watched with amazement as the phoenix grew in size, becoming larger and larger, in almost two seconds it became a mighty, fully-fledged almost photo-realistic phoenix. ¡°What the...¡± Ray was awestruck by the scene in front of him, his heart racing in his chest as he jumped up, pulled out his wand, and immediately cast a few dozen sound-isolating and concealing barriers. Just as he was about to let out a sigh of relief, Kai¡¯s eyes snapped open, flicking his wand toward the Fire-Red Phoenix, and an almost identical one, but made out of blue fire appeared next to it. ¡°B-blue flames? How can he use that?¡± Ray muttered proudly but anxiously. Kai stared at his creation with widened pupils, and as he pointed his wand upward, the two majestic phoenixes launched up into the night sky. Seeing that, Ray flicked his wand toward the sky once again, creating another dozen barriers in an attempt to contain the wild magic creatures, who started moving in the same pattern that Kai was doing earlier. At the end of their dance, they met in the middle, where their collision created a huge explosion, splitting the sky in two contrasting colors, a rain of fire falling down on the ground as the flames faded away. Kai let out a satisfied, exhausted sigh, and fell asleep almost immediately, nearly hitting the ground. ¡°Got you,¡± Elena said as she caught her son, holding him tightly in her arms. ¡°Are you alright dear? She turned to Ray, who had a few drops of sweat dripping down his forehead. ¡°Yeah, it wasn¡¯t that hard to contain, although it was pretty unstable.¡± he replied as he heaved a sigh of relief ¡°Our son¡­ he¡¯s a genius!¡± Chapter 13: Leaving the Safety of The Walls A short distance away from the ruined walls of the former Vampire Kingdom, two short figures chased each other across the ancient buildings of the old city. The remnants of the once glorious empire were now only a pile of rubble and useless stones. The walls had lost their former glory. The two figures, a boy and a girl ran through what was once a beautiful, lively village. Its big, derelict houses told a story from ages ago. Its black cobblestone pavement, now brittle and broken into pieces, trembled as the two crushed it under their weight. They dashed past an old fountain, the dirty ceramic statues that once depicted their king were now nothing more than a moldering sign of a glorious past. ¡°Kai, wait up!¡± The girl¡¯s voice rang behind the boy, who only gave her a silent glance before he turned around, running faster toward the edge of the town with a faint smirk on his face. Kana pouted, and pulled out a green crystal as she yelled toward Kai ¡°Fine, if you¡¯re going to be rude, then I won¡¯t be polite either. Swift Step!¡± She used a spell and her body glowed with a faint light as her speed suddenly increased by threefold. She quickly caught up to him and touched his shoulder as she passed him, kicking up dust behind her. Kai¡¯s smirk disappeared, replaced by a helpless expression as he cried ¡°You¡¯re cheating!¡± Kana turned around and stuck her tongue out ¡°All¡¯s fair in a race.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes burned with determination after seeing the girl¡¯s cheeky attitude and he sped himself up with a similar spell, catching up to her almost in the same breath. He passed her rather quickly, and glancing behind him, he saw her joyous expression had turned to one of defeat. Am I really going to seriously fight with a brat?... Kai contemplated inwardly as he saw the finish line they set - the old, abandoned town square, appear within his view. Even though she is better than me at wind magic¡­ aye forget it¡­ I¡¯m the older brother after all. He let out a sigh as he tripped himself, falling face first on the ground, allowing Kana to easily pass him. He got up, dodging the broken pieces of the ancient cobblestone pavement, he arrived in front of her in barely any time. ¡°I win.¡± She said, panting, a wide smile plastered on her face, revealing her tiny, sharp fangs. ¡°That¡¯s because I tripped¡­¡± Kai acted like it was a mistake, and made it sound like an excuse, much to Kana¡¯s delight. ¡°That was your mistake.¡± She giggled, putting the crystal away before placing her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. He remained silent, inhaling deeply as he slowly regained his stamina. Kana straightened herself as well, the both of them were now standing shoulder to shoulder. They had both grown taller, Kana was about the same height as Kai, just a little bit shorter, and both of them had dark crimson eyes - their race¡¯s signature. Her eyes were big, much like her mother¡¯s, but she had her father¡¯s thin lips and small nose. Her long and curly hair was the pale gold of a wheat field, and she wore a red dress and black shoes - a gift from her mother. Kai¡¯s long silver hair was tied in a ponytail, and his facial features resembled Ray¡¯s a lot - small eyes, a sharp chin, and a small nose, but he inherited his mother¡¯s plump lips. He looked with curiosity at Kana, who let out soft pants as she regained her breath. I am close to a Medium Core Two Star Magician, and I have a wand, while she is only at the Medium Core One Star rank, and only uses crystals as catalysts¡­ Am I stupid? She noticed his burning gaze, and her face flushed red as she nervously asked ¡°W-w-what is it?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± he replied calmly, ¡°I was just thinking about what to wear for your birthday.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡­ Don¡¯t worry about it, just wear whatever makes you comfortable.¡± He nodded slightly as he said ¡°You do the same as well¡±, they walked over to an old stone bench, jumping up as soon as they sat on its chilling and wet surface ¡°So cold¡­¡± They explored the ancient town, their eyes widening as they walked through the historical buildings, and getting a scare upon seeing the occasional skeletons, unknown of which race they belonged to, due to their missing skull. ¡°I can¡¯t believe our parents agreed to let us explore this far out,¡± Kana said as she walked shoulder in shoulder to Kai, their footsteps resounding in the dark and creepy alleyways. ¡°They only agreed because of the emergency device I invented, although it¡¯s only effective in a small perimeter, it should be enough from here to my house.¡± He said, a light chuckle escaping his lips as he pridefully explained. ¡°Yeah, thank you for that, you¡¯re really smart. How did you even come up with that?¡± She asked curiously, failing to notice Kai¡¯s nervous expression. I barely explained it to my parents, but it should be easier to find an excuse for Kana¡­ ¡°I uhh¡­ I wanted to go out and explore, but my parents refused to take me anywhere, so I thought if they could find us in case of any danger maybe that would work, even I am surprised they agreed.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Well, I didn¡¯t exactly lie¡­ ¡°But how did you create it?¡± Her question pierced through his heart like a whooshing arrow, and he gulped as his nervous lips parted. ¡°It¡¯s not that complicated, I uhh, followed someone¡¯s advice and started carving crystals, and after my parents refused to take me anywhere I thought that by using two crystals that had the same mana waves, I could create a device that would allow one to detect the other once mana was sent into it¡­¡± As they explored the abandoned buildings, finding nothing of value and getting creeped out by armored skeletons of long-dead warriors, they finally reached the end of the town, marked by a huge, wooden gate, most of its frame eaten away by the rain and wind. Both of them halted in their footsteps, watching the large, tempting gate with the curious gaze of a child. The green canopy of the huge trees peeked out from behind the walls, and the sweet song of the chirping birds rang in their ears. Goosebumps spread over their body as a wild idea ran through their heads at the same time. ¡°Should we go outside?¡± The two stared at each other, gulping as they began walking forward toward the unguarded gate. I know this is a bad idea, it definitely is, one hundred and ten percent a bad idea but¡­ The gate is right there, the outside world! Kai yelled at himself inwardly, his gut telling him not to cross that barrier, but he couldn¡¯t help himself, the excitement of finally exploring a fantasy world sending adrenaline all over his body. It can¡¯t be that dangerous¡­ right? He told himself, despite being aware of the rough geography and the dangers lurking within. Most of the monsters in the vicinity aren¡¯t even Two Star, it should be fine¡­ Finally, he arrived in front of the gate, the other side barely visible through the numerous holes decorating the green and dry wood. He removed the useless plank that acted as a lock and pushed it open, its hinges groaning as they moved after countless years of rest. The world outside the walls appeared before them - A dark and moist natural path surrounded by trees taller than the walls, covered by lush-green vegetation, a stark contrast to the dead kingdom they grew up in. The enormous trees provided much-needed protection against the harsh rays of sunlight, which burned stronger and brighter compared to the ones covering the kingdom. They inhaled deeply at the same time and took their first step outside the safe haven of the city. Kana wrapped her hands around herself as she shivered nervously, feeling overwhelmed by the completely different atmosphere. The humidity in the air caused her hair to straighten, and she let out light sneezes as she trailed behind Kai. In comparison, he was feeling nostalgic, the scene before him reminiscent of the forests from his old world. Albeit, the trees were much smaller¡­ Regardless, he could not help but be amazed by the biodiversity of the forest. There were at least a few dozen different species of plants. The grass and the surrounding plants were of a dark shade of green, with a few flowers and bushes having a reddish hue. Thick vines traveled on the cold ground, climbing up the gigantic trees, and decorating them with a few pink flowers that sprouted every dozen meters. Accompanying it was a bright green, moss-like plant that similarly climbed up toward the tree¡¯s canopy. They passed a few fruit-looking plants, but they decided against picking them. The bushes and tall grass rustled as they advanced, and a few small animals such as horned rabbits and large squirrels ran away from them as they passed by their location. A few smaller reptiles fled in horror as well. The ground gradually flattened, with only a few patches of grass growing over the beaten ground, and the poorly concealed traces of a separate road that lead toward the kingdom could still be observed. Kai¡¯s heart suddenly skipped a beat as a shiver ran down his spine, his gut feeling telling him to be alert. ¡°We should go back.¡± He said, his voice barely a whisper. Before she could say anything, he grabbed her hand and started rushing the same way they came from, his pulse rose rapidly as his mind and body became alert, adrenaline coursed through his muscles. He tightened his grip around Kana¡¯s arm, causing her to wince in pain, but he didn¡¯t stop, uneasiness shadowing his mind, he pulled out a green crystal and used ¡®Swift Step¡¯, reducing the air resistance around his body. The wind blew his hair back as his speed increased slightly, but the panic in his mind only grew with each passing second. ¡°Kai, what¡¯s going¡­ on¡­?¡± Kana struggled to speak as the air blew out the oxygen in her lungs, her mind becoming lighter, about to pass out. ¡°Kana!¡± He stopped and quickly shook her, causing her eyelids to twitch rapidly. She inhaled deeply, coughing as color returned to her face. ¡°Just tell me¡­ what¡¯s going on¡­¡± she pleaded in a weak voice, her eyes having yet to regain focus. ¡°I have a feeling we¡¯re being followed, watched¡­¡± he paused briefly, trying his best to find the right word, ¡°hunted¡­¡± A shiver ran down their spine as the word left his mouth, the looming feeling of danger becoming increasingly stronger. He frantically looked around, trying to find, or hoping not to find, the source of his uneasiness. They traced their steps as he listened carefully, his ears twitching at the slightest sound. His heart skipped a beat every time the grass rustled, and he jumped up every time they accidentally crushed a fallen branch. He suddenly halted his footsteps, Kana stopping right behind him as she looked around, frightened by Kai¡¯s reactions. His pupils widened as his eyes snapped toward a rustling bush located to their right, where two yellow eyes slowly became larger, as their owner slowly walked out of the vegetation. Its white fur shone under the few rays of sunlight that sneaked through the dense canopy, its imposing size towered over the two children as it limpidly made its way toward them Their bodies shivered with fear, the lips of their open mouths trembled, and their pupils widened as the creature stopped right in front of them, blocking their only path of retreat. Kai¡¯s mind was buzzing, his heart threatened to jump out of his chest as the beast¡¯s image appeared in his mind, and almost instantly remembered the name of the canine looming over them. ¡°An Obbborik!¡± Chapter 14: Hunted The huge animal stared at them, and Kai¡¯s gaze carefully inspected the situation, doing his best to find a way out of this predicament. The Obborik is the descendant of the Legendary Fenrir, a huge canine that can perfectly wield any element. Obboriks are way weaker than their ancestor, but their huge size and ability to instantly cast Inkos magic make them a formidable opponent. This one seems to be a cub though¡­ A wave of regret washed over him as he recalled the information written in a book about the beast. Damn it, I should have read all of it, maybe I would have found a way out¡­ He clenched his fists as his teeth let out a harsh scraping sound, and he put Kana behind him as he stared at the Obborik. He inspected the creature, its muscular body hidden behind a thick layer of snow-white fur. Its hungry yellow eyes were fixated on them, ready to attack at the slightest sudden movement. Something isn¡¯t right! Kai recalled another piece of information that he glanced over. Isn''t it supposed to be in a pack? Are we surrounded or¡­ his gaze drifted toward a red line on the creature¡¯s leg. It''s alone¡­ He swallowed as he gently pulled out his wand from his back pocket, Kana following suit with an assortment of crystals that clashed softly in her fists... The beast¡¯s ears twitched as the sound rang in its ears, taking on a fighting stance as it snarled at the two. Kai also took a fighting position, clenching his wand tightly as his lips parted, his voice barely above a whisper ¡°We need to restrain its movements, then either run away or hit it with all we have¡­¡± Kana nodded, her still trembling pupils burning with determination, and she patiently waited for Kai to get her directions. Huh? Why do I feel such confidence in him? She looked at his back, which wasn¡¯t that much bigger than hers, but at that moment it looked like an imposing mountain, blocking her from harm¡¯s way. He glanced at her with guilt-ridden eyes, his stomach dropping as he gritted his teeth. I knew it was dangerous, I knew it too well¡­ Why did I let my curiosity get the better of me? His wand trembled in his hand as he tightened his grip around it. The Obborik let out a low howl as its fur flashed brightly. ¡°It¡¯s casting Inkos Magic, and so quick too! How is this possible?!¡± Kai exclaimed in shock, pointing his wand toward the ground beneath the creature¡¯s feet. Still, an Obborik cub should only be able to cast a few body enchantment spells¡­ the speed one will be tricky to deal with¡­ He quickly murmured a set of syllables, and the crystals on his wand grew with a fierce light, especially the finely carved, small brown crystal placed on the very tip. ¡°Restrain his movements!¡± Kai said toward Kana as the spell left his wand, the earth beneath the Obboriks¡¯ feet instantly turning soft. Kana followed suit, her blue crystals lighting up as she finished chanting, turning the soft earth into a deep mud puddle. The beast¡¯s body quickly sank into the muddy earth, and it howled angrily as it was unable to quickly break itself free. Its body lit up once again, slightly growing in size as it unshackled one of its paws, and, using the dry ground as an anchor it rapidly tried to pull itself up. ¡°Kana, use Air Blast at my signal,¡± Kai ordered as his wand grew brighter once again, its two white crystals glowing with a faint light. He aimed it toward the Obborik¡¯s face, and he used his fingers to count down, indicating to Kana to use Air Blast at the end. He put his fifth finger down, and he and Kana shot their spells simultaneously, one aimed at the Obborik¡¯s chin while the other was aimed just above. The Air Blast made the animal flinch, and it dodged the attack, his gaze ending up right where Kai¡¯s spell landed, exploding in a blinding light that lingered in the air for a few seconds. ¡°Now!¡± Kai yelled and rushed forward before he started casting another spell, Kana following suit, each of them preparing a binding chant, hoping that it would give them enough time to escape. ¡°Fire prison!¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Water bubble!¡± They cast their spells at the same time as they ran past the giant beast, their magic clashing against each other as it surrounded the Obborik, temporarily trapping him. ¡°Fireball, water ball, air blast, rock arrow, fire arrow, dark bind, light prism¡­¡± They cast all the beginner spells they were familiar with toward the creature, violently bombarding it with all sorts of magic as they ran toward the kingdom. Kai fiddled with a small, star-shaped device as he unsuccessfully tried to activate it, however, he couldn¡¯t get far before a song that made his heart drop to his stomach rang in his ears. His head snapped backward, staring at the Obborik, whose fur glowed with a blinding light. ¡°Magic break!?¡± he exclaimed as he hastened his footsteps, a cold shiver running down his spine as he felt the God of Death¡¯s scythe tickling their backs. A low growl rang in his ears, and he heard the air split behind him as the Obborik dashed toward them in a mad sprint. He grabbed Kanna and rolled sideways on the ground, barely dodging its sharp teeth by a hair¡¯s breadth. It landed in front of them, fresh blood trickling down its skin, seeping onto the cold ground, spots of its once-white fur were now scorched black. Its chest heaved heavily as it stared at the two with a deathly, angry glare. Kai¡¯s heart threatened to jump out of his chest as he held Kana¡¯s hand, her blood rushing madly through her veins. His pupils trembled, looking at the giant Obborik blocking their path, he could only be reminded of the day he died. He closed his eyes, images flashing in his mind, the faces of his unwavering, ruthless attacker as his attempts at self-defense were thwarted by his trained blade. It¡¯s the exact thing again¡­ He felt a sudden pain in his hand, his eyes snapped open, and he turned toward Kana, her frightened expression piercing his heart like a rain of ten thousand arrows. No, it¡¯s different this time¡­ He tightened his grip on her hand as images of his current life flashed in his mind, his smiling parents, his soon-to-be teacher, Kana¡¯s parents, and Kana herself, who trembled in his embrace. ¡°Do you still have mana?¡± he asked as his grip tightened around the wand. She nodded lightly and answered after a few seconds. ¡°I have very little mana left, maybe enough for a few Air Blasts, what about you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t be fighting it,¡± he replied as he raised his wand to the sky, the crystals on it shining brightly before it unleashed a blinding light, making the Obborik turn away for a brief second. Kana let out a startled gasp as she found herself in Kai¡¯s arms, and he cast body-enhancing magic continuously as his speed gradually increased, running away from the dazed beast. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± She asked as she put her arms around his neck, afraid of falling down. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the flat path. If people are regularly walking through the forest, at least one of them must be strong enough to defeat it.¡± He said, gasping for air as his mana continuously depleted in order to maintain the speed enchantment. ¡°You¡¯re not going to last!¡± Her desperate voice rang in his ears, his trembling hands slowly becoming steadier as he regulated his breathing, and he replied simply: ¡°I have to.¡± The Obborik¡¯s heavy footsteps echoed behind as it gave chase, its wounded leg and body slowing the beast down significantly. Its leg is wounded, paired with the small wounds we gave it, and with the fact that it must also not have a lot of mana and stamina left¡­ We have a chance! A slight amount of hope appeared on his flushed red face, and sweat dripped on Kana¡¯s body as large amounts of energy left his body with every passing second. Kai ran through the forest skillfully, barely dodging the thick vines and roots slithering on the ground, his clothes tearing up as he ran through the bushes and tall, spiky grass. Kana endured silently, protecting Kai¡¯s body with her back, her beautiful clothes ripping apart as she took the worst of the blows. She placed her hand on his chest, near his mana core, and began transferring the mana from her body onto his, helping him last a few more minutes, gradually winning distance over the Obborik. Finally, he arrived at the path, and stepped on it without hesitation, Unfortunately, their meager amount of mana still paled in comparison to the cub, who slowly caught up to them, a few dozen meters separating them from its claws. Kai gritted his teeth, and he winced in pain as he forcefully absorbed the mana in his surroundings, a sharp pain spread all over his mana veins as the unrefined mana fueled his speed enchantment, barely managing to halt the speed at which the beast approached. Kana immediately noticed this happening, and her eyes broke into tears as she brought her face closer to his hot body. ¡°Stop! You¡¯ll kill yourself!¡± she pleaded, her tears mixing with their sweat as they ran down her cheeks. He remained silent, his constricted pupils staring straight ahead, his ragged breath transforming into vapor as he painfully exhaled. His mind became lighter due to the small amounts of oxygen in his blood. Must¡­ hold¡­ on¡­ His muscles tore apart under the undefined mana¡¯s violent barrage, and his mana veins showed signs of cracking. His vision blurred as he kept running, enduring the searing pain. He let out a silent sigh of relief when he saw a small wall made out of poorly cut wood and an entrance that lacked any doors. He collapsed in front of it, falling on top of Kana as his body relaxed, his consciousness fading away as muffled voices rang in his ears. Chapter 15: The Old Man in the Woods Kai woke up surrounded by darkness, the only source of light was the small fire of a feeble candle laying on a shabby desk by his head. Where am I? Kana¡­ Where is Kana? He tried to get up but was swiftly stopped by a sharp pain that covered his entire body, his muscles crying every time he moved an inch. I shouldn¡¯t have done such a stupid thing¡­ from the very beginning¡­ He lay on his back, silently inspecting the room he found himself in. The walls were made out of animal skins of different sizes sewed together, and the door was nothing more than a curtain. The ground was covered with a thick carpet made of animal fur and pelts. He sighed softly, wincing in pain as the air escaped his lungs. Staring at the ceiling, he noticed that it was higher than the actual room he was in, and a faint light poked out from above. ¡°I-is anyone there?¡± He asked with a hoarse, weak voice. There was no answer except for the soft sound of rapid footsteps. The curtain opened violently as Kana passed through it, worry plastered on her tearful face. ¡°You¡¯re awake! Are you alright?¡± he winced in pain as she grabbed his wrist with trembling hands, tears streaming down her flushed face. ¡°Of course, I am¡­¡± he said as Kana helped him lean against the railing of the bed, putting a pillow behind his back. ¡°How are you *hic* how are you feeling?¡± she asked, hiccups disturbing her sentence, her big eyes staring at Kai as she continued ¡°The old grandpa said you¡­ you nearly died¡­¡± ¡°Grandpa? Who¡¯s Grandpa?¡± Kai asked with a perplexed expression. ¡°That would be me.¡± A weak and tired voice resounded from behind the curtains as it parted, revealing a small and hunchbacked old man. His head was full of white hair, and a short beard as white as his head decorated his wrinkled face. He wore an old, tattered black robe, and his small, piercing eyes stared at Kai, giving him the illusion of being seen right through. He made his way to his left and grabbed his wrist as he checked his pulse. ¡°It seems like your vitals are fine, however, your mana is in disarray and your mana veins are close to bursting, you won¡¯t be able to use them for a few weeks.¡± He said before letting go, a heavy sigh escaped his lips as he grabbed a chair from the corner of the room. ¡°You¡¯re one lucky brat I tell you that¡­ A few more seconds and your veins would have burst, followed by your muscles shortly afterward. This method of absorbing mana is very dangerous, without your core refining it, mana becomes poison, and a very potent one at that. In the best case scenario, you could have become a cripple, and in the worst case¡­¡± He lingered on his last words, unable to finish his sentence as he took a puff from a long, black pipe that suddenly appeared in his hands. The strong smell of mixed herbs caused Kai to cough lightly. ¡°However¡­¡± he continued ¡°You can also consider this a blessing because your veins were tough enough to expand to twice their size, after they heal, mana will flow much easier and faster in your veins, therefore your cast speed and even meditation time could be reduced¡­¡± He paused as he took another puff from the black pipe, the formless smoke rising up into the air before fading away. ¡°Don¡¯t make a habit out of this, in fact, don¡¯t ever try pulling such stunts, what would your parents say?¡± The old man glanced at Kai before he could utter a word, the chair creaking as he got up. He stood opposite him and faced away from him, the pressure in the room increased greatly as he brought his pipe to his lips, and he once again took a puff as he turned his head, looking at Kai through the corner of his eye. This¡­ it¡¯s even hard to breathe, what is this strong magic?! His voice deepened as he turned toward Kai, asking ¡°So what brings two little children in this accursed forest?¡± His oppressive voice sent cold shivers down Kai¡¯s spine, whose body started trembling from head to toe. He gulped, slowly parting his lips, he said in a feeble voice¡± We- I wanted to see¡­ see the outside world a-and I¡­ I brought Kana with me¡­ I put her in danger!¡± The old man nodded, a faint smile manifested on his face as he removed his mana from the surroundings. ¡°Good, a man who knows how to take responsibility is a good man, even if you¡¯re lying¡­¡± ¡°What?!¡± Kai looked with shock at the old man, who laughed and gestured toward Kana. ¡°She already told me everything, it¡¯s clear both of you are massive idiots. I just wanted to test you, to see what kind of child Ray and Elena have.¡± Kai¡¯s mouth was agape as he looked with bewilderment at the old man. How does he know my parents?! The elder smirked, however, his red eyes reflected his inner thoughts - feelings of guilt and regret that haunted him since that fateful day. ¡°You did well against Obborik.¡± He quickly changed the subject ¡°Although whatever you did could not be called fighting, as your attacks had close to no synergy, hell! You even completely canceled out each other¡¯s spells a few times, I must say, you suck at fighting.¡± Kai¡¯s pupils widened as the old man¡¯s words lingered in his ears. Was there such a thing? How come I never heard of that before? Magic synergy¡­ The old man gave Kai a red vial to drink and told him to rest for a few more hours before trying to move around. He left, taking one last puff as the curtains closed behind him, leaving Kana and Kai alone in the room. The two didn¡¯t say anything, silence descended upon the room as the two looked around the room, occasionally glancing at each other before looking away. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Kai let out a heavy sigh, breaking the silence, and said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Kana, we shouldn¡¯t have left the kingdom, I never expected for there to be such a beast so close to the walls¡­¡± Her beautiful blonde locks swayed slightly as she shook her head, a warm smile plastered on her face. ¡°We both agreed, so it¡¯s our fault, but you saved me, you saved us. Thank you.¡± She said, her soft voice bouncing against the furred walls, into Kai¡¯s ears. She helped Kai lay down on his back, reassuring him slightly, however the feeling of guilt and anger inside him did not lessen in the slightest. I¡¯m the one that already lived one life, why is she the one comforting me? He subconsciously sighed, wincing in pain as a wave of pain spread over his entire body. ¡°What is it?¡± Kana asked as he adjusted his pillow. ¡°Our parents are gonna kill us¡­¡± he quickly replied and he closed his eyes, leaving a worried and nervous Kana awake as he slowly fell asleep. ¡­ The next day he woke up drenched in sweat, and he frowned at the small amounts of pain in his limbs that appeared as he tried to move around. Oww! Well, at least it doesn¡¯t hurt as much as earlier. He carefully got up, moving slowly as he dragged his feed, he parted the curtains, observing his surroundings. The small room he was in was located in a bigger tent-like structure, animal pelts covering the cold ground, and the occasional sunlight hit his skin through the torn cloth of the ceiling. In the middle of the tent was a small firestone, constantly emitting a calming light, heating up the surroundings. Around it were a few shabby couches, on which Kana, who had a wide smile plastered on her face, and the old man sat, talking about who knows what. He made his way over to them, the light slowly revealing his image as he greeted them before sitting down as well. The old man observed him carefully, letting out a sigh as he said ¡°You really are their kid¡­¡± ¡°Kai took a deep breath, and his gaze met the elders as he asked, ¡°Old man, how do you know my parents?¡± The white-haired old man squinted his eyes, inhaling deeply as a hint of grief appeared on his face. ¡°It¡¯s a long story, one that is not mine to tell.¡± He said as he handed a string bracelet to Kai. ¡°Give this to your parents, will you? Other than that, how are you feeling?¡± Seeing that the elder refused to answer, Kai dropped the subject, accepting the bracelet with a curious expression, he replied with a faint smile ¡°I¡¯m better, as you can see. I can walk around but it does hurt quite a bit... ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± the old man said as he got up ¡°Come, I¡¯ll help you get home.¡± He and Kana followed behind him, slowly walking toward the narrow exit. Kai dragged his feet, and his lips parted as he asked with uncertainty ¡°Old man, what about the Obborik?¡± The elder kept walking as he nonchalantly said ¡°It ran away.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°That¡¯s simple,¡± he replied ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m a Medium Core Five Star Magician, and the reason I knew what you were up to was because of this:¡± He halted his footsteps as he swished his sleeve, and the small figure of a wooden bird appeared in his palm. ¡°It¡¯s called a totem, it can be used to scare off monsters, protect a small area, or as a second pair of eyes, depending on the magic formula you used to carve them with.¡± Kai¡¯s mind reeled, and his eyes widened in shock as the first statement entered his ears. A five¡­ five star? Five Star Magician? And the effect multiplied as another new magic item was presented to him. Totems? Magic totems? The books my parents let me read didn¡¯t have any such things¡­ The tent¡¯s curtains fluttered as they parted, the small amount of sunlight sneaking through the tree¡¯s dense canopy and gently hitting Kai¡¯s skin as a disgusting stench inundated his nostrils. His eyes snapped toward the source - A few black and dirty water-filled cauldrons placed boiling over a fire, sickly vegetables and white bones cooking within. Women surrounded the cauldrons, watching over them. Their skinny bodies and pale expressions sent shivers down Kai¡¯s spine as a certain feeling of familiarity appeared in the back of his mind. Small children of healthier complexions played around or waited patiently for the feed to be served, warming their sickly bodies by the bonfire. The camp had a few dozen tents made from pelts and furs, supported by large wooden pillars and small branches. The one he just came out of stood at about ten meters in height, but the ones before him only measured about three meters. What¡¯s going on? His eyes ran around the area, his pulse rising as he observed the dozens of sickly people, the men were only skin and bones, and blood seeped out of their skin as they lay under the cover of their tent. The women were a bit better off, but the healthiest ones were the very young children, those that have yet to reach five years of age, as for the older ones¡­ ¡°...Just, what is this place?¡± Kai unconsciously voiced his shock, and the old man turned to him with, his expression filled with grief. ¡°It¡¯s the place of the banished, of those too sick to work, or of those who were thrown out of the kingdom, those who cannot afford the cost of living¡­¡± He explained as he slowly advanced through the camp. ¡°None of these people are of our race¡¯s curse - The Blood Rotting. If vampires don¡¯t drink human blood for a prolonged period of time, our bodies eat themselves from within, and as hunger grows, so do our instincts. From time immemorial, our bodies were not able to properly develop without ingesting blood, we don''t know the reason why but we know the consequences of not doing so: In the best case scenario we die a painful death, and in the worst case¡­¡± He sighed before taking a puff from his pipe, his tender gaze drifting over the still-healthy children running around. ¡°In the worst case, we become Lytic, we lose ourselves, our body mutates and we will not stop until we get killed or simply die. Lytics search for food, any type - be it humans, vampires, animals, or whatever else, but their hunger is never sated, and will never be.¡± ¡°A Lytic?!¡± Kai exclaimed as the pieces in his head clicked in place, his breathing became slightly heavy, and he remembered the creature¡¯s appearance. Doesn¡¯t it look a lot like these men? Does that mean¡­! The old man let out a heavy sigh once again, the heaviness of the subject weighing on his heart like a boulder tied to his feet as he drowned in an endless lake. ¡°Before any of us here turn into Lytics we¡­¡± his lips trembled as he paused briefly ¡°We put a stop to it before it happens¡± Kai and Kana gasped in shock, their expressions turned sour as the old man¡¯s words lingered in their ears. ¡°Such a cruel illness, why?! Why does it have to be like this? Why do these people have to suffer?¡± Kana asked a half-rhetoric question with an anger-filled voice, her hands trembling as she clenched them into fists. ¡°It is as the king wills¡­¡± the old man replied ¡°Before and during the war, human blood was abundant, we had slaves and could drink as much as we wanted, growing stronger and stronger with each passing day. Now, on the other hand, the king controls who gets to feed on blood due to the anti-violence treaty with the humans. He distributed blood whenever needed, about seven years or so, and the people must buy it from him. Of course, the citizens can also trade with the humans for it, but¡­¡± he cut his sentence short, refusing to elaborate any longer but his eyes shone with a burning hatred before they snapped shut. ¡°Let¡¯s go then, your parents must be worried.¡± Chapter 16: Reunion Hurried footsteps echoed through the narrow alleys and dark paths of the abandoned town. Kai and Kana¡¯s parents ran around as they scanned the area with their mana. Ray fiddled with a weird star-shaped object that had five crystals on its extremities. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as painful warmth spread all over his body, his fingers trembling as he tapped the large crystals on the star¡¯s surface. Elena and the others walked closer to him, their chests heaving nervously as they stared at the device ¡°Dear, do you really believe this thing works?¡± Elena asked, her grief-filled voice barely a whisper as she approached him. ¡°It has to¡­¡± he replied with a hoarse voice as his mana flowed through the object. Tom stood next to Ray, his wife, Isabella following right behind him, worry and fear plastered on their faces. ¡°It¡¯s been two days since they disappeared, maybe even more,¡± Tom said as he frowned, and his voice gradually rose. ¡°We¡¯ve looked everywhere in the city, and that thing your son built has proved useless so far!¡± Ray let out a *Tsk* sound as he ignored his friend¡¯s statement, advancing toward the shabby wooden gate, he kept checking the device every few steps, and his heart dropped to his stomach every time he did so. Finally, he reached the gate, his goosebumps-covered body shivered slightly as he placed his fingers on the crystals, waiting in anticipation for it to light up, for its color to turn green, for his son to appear. ¡°Ray¡­¡± Isabella¡¯s soft voice rang in his ears, but he completely disregarded it, instead focusing on injecting energy into the device. His heart stood still as the mana flowed through his finger, and his pupils widened as one of the crystals¡¯ color slowly turned green. He raised his head, staring at the direction it pointed toward - Outside. ¡°No¡­¡± Elena let out a soft gasp as her hand flew to her mouth, water swelling up around her eyes as she lost the strength to stand. Falling to her knees, she couldn¡¯t hold back her grief, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she choked, gasping for air. My son¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not too late.¡± Ray comforted her, and he pulled out his wand as he prepared to step out into the forest, and Tom did the same as his heavy steps crushed the grass beneath his feet. A rustling sound rang in their ears, and their faces broke into painful smiles as they turned toward the source. Kana and Kai leaped out of a thick bush, their ripped clothes exposing the small amounts of wounds that covered their body. They dashed toward their parents with tear-filled eyes. Elena and Isabella hurried toward their children, hugging them tightly with racing hearts. ¡°Y-y-you¡­¡± his mother struggled to speak as she exhaled and inhaled rapidly, her body barely calming down at the touch of her son¡¯s warmth. ¡°We were¡­ so, so- where have you been, what, what happened?¡± She asked in a barely cohesive speech, her voice trembling as she voiced her concerns, her pupils trembling while looking at her son. ¡°Mom¡­ I¡¯m so, so sorry I¡­ promise I won¡¯t break your word again, I *hic* I will be a good son.¡± He apologized as he wrapped his arms around Elena, her racing heart ringing in his ears, and he felt like a sharp sword had pierced his chest. Ray looked sternly at Kai, and his lips parted, but his words got stuck in his throat as he noticed Elena glaring at him. He let out a soft sigh as his pulse returned to normal, and he bent down as he hugged his son. ¡°You don¡¯t even know how many worries you gave us, I think we aged twenty years in two days.¡± He joked, his voice trembling slightly before he sternly said ¡°But we will need an explanation at home.¡± A few meters away from them, Kana¡¯s parents scolded her as tears fell down her face like a coursing river. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I-¡± ¡°Are you really sorry?¡± her mother cut her off before she could finish her sentence. ¡°You bad child, you have no idea how worried we were. Our world slowly crumbled away with every second you were missing, I, we¡­¡± She started weeping as she knelt down, and hugged Kana¡¯s trembling body. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m really sorry. I¡­ I¡­¡± she sobbed on Isabella¡¯s shoulder as she hugged her tightly. Tom sighed and embraced Kana as well, his nervous voice barely above a whisper as he said, ¡°It¡¯s alright sweetie, you are safe and healthy, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± A few minutes passed before the group got themselves together, and they silently walked home, their breathing shaky, but relieved. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Kai suddenly reached for his pocket, having remembered the bracelet the old man gave him, he pulled it out and handed it to his parents. ¡°Mom, an old man told me to give you this.¡± His mother¡¯s pupils widened slightly as she gently grabbed the bracelet, carefully inspecting it before asking ¡°Did he say anything else?¡± Kai shook his head in response ¡°He wasn¡¯t really talkative, but he seemed to know you two well¡­¡± Elena nodded slightly as he stored the bracelet in her spatial ring, not saying another word until they arrived at their home, which was located in the southern corner of the kingdom, not that far from the abandoned town. Ray had a pensive look on his face, but he similarly remained silent, and only demanded an explanation from Kai once they calmed down their nerves a bit more. ¡°We were playing, originally we didn¡¯t have the intention to ever break your word but¡­ the gate was right there! There was a whole forest on the other side, how is that possible?¡± He explained under his parent¡¯s stern look, and as he continued to recount everything that happened to him and Kana, their expressions quickly turned to shock and anger. Finally, he told them what happened with the old man in detail, including the short history lesson. ¡°That old man¡­!¡± Ray¡¯s teeth let out a scraping sound as they ground against each, and he clenched his fists in anger. ¡°How dare he say such unnecessary things, I''ll beat some sense into him.¡± Elena grabbed his shoulder before he got the chance to sprint out the door, and she let out a sigh as she said ¡°Forget about that, right now¡­¡± she turned toward Kai, whose relaxed expression quickly changed to one of shock as he saw his mother¡¯s scary eyes. ¡°Our son needs to learn his lesson¡­¡± she continued, approaching him as a long and thin branch appeared in her hand. Kai gulped in fear as the expected punishment rapidly descended upon him, his grunts of pain ringing in his father¡¯s ears, who only watched with a pitiful expression from the side. ¡­ The days quickly passed and the time for Kana¡¯s birthday finally arrived. Her house was located on the outskirts of the only city that was still habitable - The Capital city, Mateso. She waited for Kai and his parents just outside, nervously fiddling with her fingers and a small bracelet around her waist. The small red crystals that stood at the center of a few beautiful roses, which were embroidered on her crimson dress, softly reflected the moon¡¯s gentle light. Her head rose as she saw Kai¡¯s figure appear from around the corner, his casual black and white clothes served as a stark contrast to her puffy dress. ¡°Happy 10 years.¡± He congratulated her while handing her his gift - A book written by himself containing multiple children¡¯s stories that he more or less remembered. Its hardcover was black like the ebony tree and the title, written in white ink, read ¡°Stories.¡± Kana inspected the beautiful book, her small fingers grazing over its rough texture, and her eyes briefly stopped on the title before she burst out into light laughter. Kai tilted his head as he curiously asked ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry I- this handwriting is just¡­ interesting.¡± She replied, opening the book and flipping through the pages before stopping somewhere in the middle. ¡°Oh? ¡®The bear tricked by¡­ the fox¡¯? What¡¯s this about?¡± She asked upon reading the title. ¡°Ah, just a story I came up with a while ago¡­¡± He scratched the back of his head as he entered the house, followed by his parents, who had used disguise magic to change their appearance. They said I can¡¯t use that yet, I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s so difficult about it, but why do they even need to hide? Kana¡¯s house was built from the same materials as his, except for the decorations, which consisted of many more plants than his. There were some potted flowers and small trees, as well as vines that climbed up an isolated pillar. It didn¡¯t take long for more and more people to show up, a dozen people quickly filled the house with chatter, creating a joyous atmosphere as the guests greeted each other and caught up. Off to the side was a small desk that had a few beautifully wrapped gifts The rest of the evening passed by uneventfully, and Kai found himself in Kana¡¯s room as per her request. She slumped down on the bed and let out a relaxed sigh as she looked at Kai with wide eyes. She handed Kai the book he gave her, and asked in a low voice ¡°Can you read me a story?¡± He sat down next to her as he took the book, and jokingly remarked as he opened it. ¡°Why? You still can¡¯t read?¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± She pouted as she repeatedly, but lightly punched him in the arm, and he asked as he burst out into laughter. ¡°Should I choose?¡± Kana nodded and laid down on her bed, attentively waiting for Kai to start reading. ¡°Alright, I like this one,¡± he said as he cleared his throat. ¡°There was once an old couple. The old woman had a chicken and the old man a rooster. The old woman ate eggs every day from her chicken and never shared them with her husband. One day he asked her to give him one but she refused, saying he should get his rooster to lay eggs...¡± A soft snore interrupted his reading session, and he slowly turned his head toward Kana, who was peacefully sleeping while hugging a pillow. His tender gaze lingered on her as he asked himself Is this what it feels like to have a sibling? A friend? Memories from his life on earth flashed in his mind, his head hurting slightly as he tried to recall what his family was like. I was¡­ alone, a single child. My mother¡­ father¡­ I can¡¯t seem to remember much of that. I had a friend, his name¡­ his name was Nevan, right? Nevan¡­ Nevan!!!!! His face reddened as blood rushed through his veins, and he inhaled while calming down. He closed the book and placed it on Kana¡¯s desk before he covered her with a blanket and softly closed the door behind him. He left with his parents, who had already finished having fun and slowly headed home, and two pairs of eyes watched them from the shadows as their figures disappeared behind a corner, following them from above under the protection of the darkness. Chapter 17: Leaving? The two silhouettes silently moved through the shadows, their feet barely touching the roofs of the houses as they jumped from one tile to another. ¡°We must inform the king,¡± one of them whispered to the other as he halted in his footsteps, turning to leave as the other¡¯s voice lingered in his ears. ¡°I would rather be safe than sorry, go back on your own.¡± The other shadow replied sternly as he resumed tailing Elena and Ray, not waiting for an answer as he disappeared into the darkness. The first one sighed reluctantly before following behind the other one, his figure also disappearing in the darkness. As Kai¡¯s parents left the main city, the two shadows resumed their pursuit on the ground, an eerie silence accompanying them as the city grew farther and farther away. The two suddenly stopped, and they looked around them as a cloud of pitch-black darkness surrounded them. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The first shadow asked with a panicked voice, clearly not expecting an answer from the second one, who suddenly jumped in place as his formless lips parted. ¡°RUN WE¡¯VE BEE-¡¯¡± his words were cut short by a whooshing sound, accompanied by a faint purple light, and his head left his body as blood spurted from his neck, softly hitting the ground, an expression of disbelief clearly on his face. The other one had no time to react to what happened. At the same time that his friend¡¯s head hit the ground, a small wisp of fire shot toward his chest, instantly shattering his mana core, and he fell to the ground as his body convulsed violently. Elena and Ray popped out of the darkness, slowly walking toward the corpses, and Ray kneeled in front of the beheaded one as he inspected it. His expression turned to one of disgust and anger, but it was quickly overtaken by worry. Elena looked at the two corpses from afar, her lips trembling behind her hands and her pulse rose slightly as her stomach churned. A wave of nausea took over her as she did her best to balance herself. She looked away from the corpses and said in a muffled, trembling voice ¡°Ray, those two¡­ who are they?¡± Ray stood up, a small, dark flame appeared at the tip of his gloved finger, and he said as he sent it toward the two corpses. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve never seen such concealment magic before but it seems familiar¡­¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be!¡± Elena gasped as she took a step backward, the smell of incinerated flesh lingering in her nostrils as the bodies disappeared without a trace. ¡°I¡¯m afraid so¡­¡± he said in a grave, slightly panicked voice and his heart dropped to his stomach as he turned to Elena, ¡°I can feel some leftover mana, but I can¡¯t erase it, I reckon we don¡¯t have much time before they start searching for us seriously. I assume that we have two weeks at the most, he isn¡¯t organized enough, but we¡¯ll leave once Kai¡¯s birthday passes. Let¡¯s let him have one last good memory of this place¡­¡± ¡°Where should we go? Elly¡¯s place? Or maybe to Fen Fen? What will we do about his hair and eyes?¡± Elena bombarded Ray with questions as her mind overflowed with worries. ¡°What do we do, the whole reason we even decided to live here was-¡± Ray cut off her sentence as he hugged her tightly, his deep and reassuring voice ringing in her ears as his lips parted. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine, we¡¯ll figure something out, we just need to hurry and pack our belongings¡­¡± They left the scene and hurried home, grabbing the already asleep Kai and laying him in his bed. ¡­ Six days passed by quickly, time in which Ray crafted two more spatial rings, while Kai watched him curiously. ¡°Listen carefully,¡± Ray said, ¡°a spatial ring is crafted from a very pure dark crystal and advanced magic. You basically find an empty spatial node and link it with our space, and the ring acts as a key. The size is mostly dependent on luck, but it¡¯s better than a backpack¡± He tinkered with a few small components in his hand that slowly transformed into a ring, and he reached toward emptiness with his hand, where a dark light appeared shortly thereafter. Ray passed the ring through the ring, and it glowed faintly as it let out a soft chiming sound. ¡°There you go,¡± he said as he handed Kai the ring, ¡°I think there are about three cubic meters of space, not too shabby¡­¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Kai put the ring on his finger, staring at the dark crystals with excitement as he said ¡°Thanks Dad, but must we really leave?¡± His dad sighed as he ruffled his hair, ¡°Yeah, it will be fun, I assure you. You¡¯re not a little chick anymore, you need to see the world.¡± He stood up and patted Kai on the shoulder ¡°Now go and pack your stuff, you just need to infuse a bit of mana in the ring when you hold an object in your hand, and you¡¯ll be good to go. If you want to take something out, just umm¡­ you¡¯ll figure it out when you use it.¡± Kai nodded and rushed to his room, where he picked up a random book and did as his father instructed. He jumped slightly as the book disappeared from his hand in the blink of an eye. Now¡­ How do I take it out? He fiddled around with the ring for a bit, nothing happening even when he sent Mana inside of it. There has to be some secret right? He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, carefully leading the mana through his veins toward the ring, and he focused intensely while thinking about the book. His eyes snapped open as a soft thud rang in his ears, and he saw the same book he stored inside the ring on the ground, not looking any different from how he stored it. Oh! That¡¯s quite simple, but I need to practice it a bit¡­ The day passed uneventfully as the three cleaned out the house of anything valuable, with Kai spending the whole day in his room, training with the ring like a child playing with a new toy. When he finally descended, the house he grew up in for ten years turned into an unfamiliar dwelling. The beautiful decorations his mother made throughout the years had been taken down, the bookshelves filled to the brim with knowledge disappeared and even the kitchen utensils had been stored away. Is this what Deja Vu feels like? He walked toward the window and grazed its cold surface with his fingers, memories of his past life flashing in his mind as image fragments quickly appeared and disappeared. He remembered the red patches of the empty walls as some older men helped him pack his belongings, his mother¡¯s room closed off by police tapes, and one officer talking to a middle-aged woman who kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief. So something like that happened as well? I had almost forgotten¡­ His red eyes lit up faintly as he stared at himself through the transparent reflection of the window, a melancholic expression plastered on his face, and a wave of sadness washed over him. Was I really about to forget¡­ my mother? A sudden chill feeling around his neck startled him awake from his daydreaming, and he quickly turned around with a racing heart, only to see Elena¡¯s face. He looked toward his chest and saw a beautiful dark sphere hanging around his neck with a beautiful silver chain. ¡°Do you like it?¡± his mother asked him as she rearranged his shirt, ¡°your dad made it for you, I think it may be a bit too heavy to wear it all the time though.¡± Kai held the large crystal in his hand, a shivering cold spreading from its surface up his fingers and down his arm, but he endured the frosty feeling as he examined it closely. Inside the sphere lay a small white cube, its exact details were hard to discern but Kai¡¯s gut told him that it was something very important. So cold¡­ He shivered as he let go of the thing, his hand temperature quickly returning to normal, and he raised his head toward his mother as he said ¡°Yeah¡­ I like it a lot, thank you.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m glad,¡± she answered, kneeling in front of Kai and hugging him tightly, her racing heart pushing against his chest. He returned the hug, feeling a shiver run down his mother¡¯s spine as he did so, and could not help but ask ¡°Mom, is everything alright?¡± Elena tightened her hug around his body, and she said in a quivering voice as a tear dripped down her cheek ¡°Yes¡­ everything is alright, don¡¯t worry.¡± She could barely hide the distress in her voice, and her body began to tremble, fear and anxiety took over her body as warm tears dripped down her cheeks like a waterfall. Her shoulders shook lightly as her soft sobs rang in Kai¡¯s ears, his heart skipping a beat each time. I may not read a lot of history, but¡­ even I know vampires aren¡¯t welcomed anywhere¡­ He ran his fingers through his mother¡¯s delicate, silver hair as he tried to reassure her, his uneven, uncertain voice shaking slightly. ¡°Mom¡­ it¡¯s alright, we¡¯ll be fine¡­¡± Elena¡¯s heart stopped for a second, and she took a deep breath as she separated her body from Kai¡¯s, wiping away her tears, saying. ¡°You¡¯re right, tomorrow is a big day, so let¡¯s go get some rest.¡± She stood up and turned off the light crystals as she walked up the stairs, Kai following closely behind her, and he let out a soft sigh as he took one last look at the empty house. A soft thud accompanied by a sharp click resounded in his ears as the door closed behind him. His dark, empty room gave him a melancholic feeling, the bed creaked under his weight as he lay down, and a heavy exhale left his lips as he closed his eyes. I have a bad feeling, but I can¡¯t quite put my finger on it. Now that I think about it, I don¡¯t remember falling asleep last week, I wonder what happened after Kana¡¯s party¡­ He rubbed the chilly surface of the necklace as he gradually fell asleep, his mind racing with thoughts and fears. Fragmented memories flashed in his mind, abstract dreams and nightmares, a violent thud pumping against his chest. Thud¡­ Thud¡­ Thud¡­ He tossed and turned, his clothes and sheets drenched in a cold sweat as his entire body vibrated rhythmically to the beat of the thuds. His mind shook as the thuds became louder and louder, his dreams vanished, replaced by pitch-black darkness. Jumping up, he gasped for air as sweat dripped down his entire body, panic plastered on his flushed face as he frantically looked around, his long silver hair swaying wildly about. What happened¡­ Was it a nightmare that¡­ Thud¡­ Thud¡­ Thud¡­ Thud¡­ Thud¡­ The horrific sound rang in his mind, and he jumped up, trying to make sense of the situation. Thud¡­ Thud!!! A huge earthquake accompanied a heavy thud, and the sound of shattering glass resounded in his ears, and he quickly ran downstairs with ragged breathing, blood rushing through his veins as he felt weakness growing in his legs. Chapter 18: An Enemy from the Past He pulled out his wand from the spatial ring as he nearly stumbled on the stairs, his heart threatening to jump out of his chest as he rushed toward the window. There, he saw a rain of light particles descend from the sky as if the heavens themselves were shattering. His parents quickly appeared next to him with pale faces, their pupils trembling as they stared outside the window, anger, resentment, and fear manifesting on their faces as they held each other¡¯s hands tightly. ¡°They broke the outer barrier¡­¡± Ray said, his voice barely a whisper, frowning as he scoffed Where did I make a mistake? Elena¡¯s hand trembled in his as he turned to face her, staring deep into her fearful crimson eyes ¡°I¡¯m sorry dear,¡± he whispered, ¡°I made a mistake, we¡­, he was one step ahead.¡± She brought his hand closer to her heart and lightly shook her head ¡°It¡¯s not your fault! I, I shouldn''t have intervened back then but Kai, he¡­¡± ¡°You did what you had to do,¡± Ray interrupted her, kissing her forehead gently before saying, ¡°Now we must do what we have to do, for Kai.¡± He quickly muttered something under his breath, and his face darkened as he clicked his tongue... ¡°They¡¯ve cut off any teleportation¡­¡± he said, his voice grave, ¡°It¡¯s probably a huge spatial lock domain, he must have at least a dozen mages¡­ Damn it!¡± Elena released herself from his embrace and straightened herself, taking a deep breath, her eyes turned resolute as she looked at Kai with a gentle gaze. She turned toward the door, closing her eyes as she steeled herself. Images of a tall man with black, short hair and a raspy beard appeared in her head. He wore a large black robe embroidered with golden thread, and a large crown decorated his head. His warm smile was as beautiful as a Lily, and his joyous laughter still rang in her ears after all this time. Father¡­ Ray also steeled himself for what was about to come, and he pulled out a small piece of paper from his spatial ring, turning to Kai as he handed it to him. ¡°Keep this close to your chest, and rip it when I say so, alright?¡± Kai nodded and looked at the small paper in his hand, its yellowish hue showing its age. His parents faced the door and they took out their wands as they slowly walked over to it. Each step felt like thousands of small needles relentlessly pierced their feet. The door creaked open, the faint luminescence of the moon spilling in revealing the grandeur of the army hiding within the darkness. Hundreds of soldiers wearing tar black armor stared back at them with gazes filled with murderous hate. Fifty of them were flying high in the air on some sort of black-winged lizard beasts, looming over them, ever watching, like the tip of death¡¯s scythe itself. Behind the soldiers stood two dozen magicians who chanted in an indecipherable, ancient language. The man who stood in front of the soldiers was the same who sat on the throne in the imperial palace, the commander of the shadow soldiers: The King of the Vampire Kingdom. He was tall, slim, and his long, dark hair reached down to his waist. His pointed red eyes stared at Elena and Ray with inexplicable hatred. He had a small nose and thin, red lips with a long and deep scar running across his face, from the upper left side of his forehead to the lower right and cutting along his eyebrow, nose, and stopping at the corner of his lips. His left hand was missing, replaced instead by a metallic arm, talons at the extremities of his fingers, creating some sort of claw. A grim, smile was etched on his face, his lips and legs were trembling. His expression was a mixture of excitement and anger. He watched the two as his breathing turned ragged, but quickly collected himself. His expression turned deadpan as he played with some small beads in his hand. His teeth let out a light scraping sound as they brushed against each other. Ray looked at the man with a fearful expression, his muscles trembled and his chest tightened. His gaze lingered on the man, and a wave of intense guilt swept over him as their eyes met. Master¡­ He quickly repressed the feeling and gulped, tightening his white-knuckled grip on his wand, his thoughts becoming resolute. I have Elena and Kai, a family I must protect, I made the right decision back then¡­ Almost as if the wand had sensed Ray¡¯s resoluteness, it let out a faint, sharp screech, similar to that of a bird. The Crystals on it flashed briefly as the sound abruptly stopped. Next to him, Elena gritted her teeth, blood dripping down from her taught fists. She angrily glared at the man in front of her, her arms, legs, and lips. Her whole body trembled as her muscles tensed up. Blood rushed through her veins as images of that fateful day flashed in her mind. Corpses. Countless corpses, a bloody throne room, and her father¡¯s large back protected her from this man¡¯s fatal blow. Her beloved maidservant had acted as a second mother. Her heart burned with anger and pain as she saw the man who took away her old family come to break apart her new one. I knew we shouldn¡¯t have come here¡­ everything would have been fine if not for that, Lytic! If only¡­ Her face flushed red as her muffled, angry voice escaped her lips through gritted teeth.¡°Ha-ni-ard!!!¡± She inhaled deeply as she tried to calm herself down. Ray grabbed her hand, his warm touch helping her compose herself. They stared into each other''s eyes briefly, both of them seeing the decisiveness within and their breathing returned to normal as they wordlessly assured each other. They inhaled deeply and faced the man named Haniard, whose face morphed into a piercing, maniacal expression. His lips twisted into a weird smile and he started chuckling, which gradually turned into a crazy crackle that sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spines. His crazed laughter continued for a minute until he finally calmed down, and his expression returned to a normal, neutral one. Hidden behind it, however, was an intense and vicious anger. His eyes made contact with Ray¡¯s, and a hint of a strange and complicated emotion revealed itself before slowly fading away. His lips parted, his hoarse voice ringing in Ray¡¯s ears again after countless years. ¡°Why?¡± he asked a simple, one-word question, the meaning behind it only known by a certain few. Ray bit his lip and avoided Haniard¡¯s gaze, staring at the ground as he replied in a shaky voice. ¡°It was wrong, all of it. We killed too many innocents, I had to make things right!¡± Haniard let out a sigh as he looked at Ray, then at Elena, who stood beside him. ¡°So this is your idea of making things right?¡± he asked, his voice filled with anger. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I wanted to believe you made a mistake, that you¡¯d come back to me once you figured it all out¡­ but instead¡­ you decided to side with her!?¡± He said as his resentful voice gradually rose. ¡°I raised you as my apprentice, my son! I taught you all I know and I saw in you what others didn¡¯t, yet you decided to stab me in the back anyway?! What about your parents? What would they say!?¡± By the end of his speech, any trace of pain in his voice disappeared, and his last words stabbed at Ray¡¯s heart like a sword pierced through his chest. He suddenly remembered the past he wanted to forget, the life of a young orphan left alone in the streets, his parents lost to war. He begged for food and lived in derelict houses together with the other war orphans. Back then he was angry. Angry at the country, the king, the nobility, and at his parents. ¡®After all that we went through, they surrendered? What about me? My siblings, what did our parents die for?¡¯ He kneeled in front of a shattered statue as tears ran down his cheeks, crying toward the sky. It was then, when he was five years old that he met Haniard, who had stopped behind him. He raised his head and looked at the man who extended his hand, and asked the question that sealed his fate ¡°Boy, do you want to be my apprentice?¡± How could he refuse? A noble - someone he hated - wanted to become his teacher. He knew all too well what would happen if he said no. From that day forth he became Haniard¡¯s apprentice. He was fed, taken care of, and educated, and gradually he began to see Haniard as more than a teacher¡­ until - Elena nudged him awake from his daydream, and as he looked into her eyes, reminding himself why he was there. He pointed his wand at Haniard and inhaled deeply before saying, ¡°Master, I regret betraying you, because you were someone I cared about. But I don¡¯t regret saving her from you, she did nothing to deserve this¡­ neither¡­ Neither did the servants¡­¡± Haniard remained silent, letting out a deep sigh as his eyes drifted toward the night sky. He raised his hand and parted his lips, ordering coldly, ¡°Men, fire!¡± Hundreds of spells and arrows flew toward Ray and Elena in an instant. They waved their hands, murmuring spells under their breath and two huge, transparent shields materialized a few meters in front of them, blocking the majority of the projectiles. A spectacle of colors covered the sky, and the sharp sound of metal on metal resounded in every direction. A few arrows managed to sneak past the massive shields. The air split apart as they careened toward the house. They stopped a few meters away from the wall, crashing against a translucent barrier that enveloped the entire house. The sound of falling arrows and crashing spells rang in Ray and Elena¡¯s ears as they hid behind the shield¡¯s protection, thinking of a way to get out of the situation. As time went on, the sound of cracking glass resounded on the battlefield, and thin lines began to cover the magic shields as they trembled. ¡°What should we do?¡± Elena asked through gritted teeth, ¡°We can¡¯t win a battle of attrition against them!¡± He nodded slightly and pulled out a glass flask filled with a transparent liquid and handed it to her, saying, ¡°Drink this and hold the shield for a minute, I will lessen the pressure¡­¡± His shaky voice caused Elena to shudder, but she bit her lip and downed the liquid, her shield gradually healing. Ray took a look at the battlefield and identified the people who were posing the biggest threat. A group of magicians were casting spells as if they didn¡¯t need to use mana. The cockatrice riders and the magicians behind, I bet they¡¯re holding the active spatial lock ¡­ If only I could get to them. He clutched his wand and pointed it toward the sky, and as his muffled voice echoed in the noisy battlefield, Elena was doing her best to protect them from the unrelenting bombardment, her shield continuously splintering and healing as her mana depleted faster and faster. ¡°I can¡¯t hold on much longer¡­¡± she said, her voice barely a whisper as cold sweat ran down her face while trying to hang on for a few more desperate seconds, just enough for Ray to finish his spell. A small wisp of fire appeared in his hand and it gradually grew larger and larger, metamorphosing into a small, dark phoenix. Similar to the one Kai cast, except for its temperature and color. Ray¡¯s Dark Phoenix exuded a bone-chilling air, and as its size gradually grew larger, its temperature plummeted even lower. It flew higher and higher, and after reaching a dozen meters in size, its eyes opened, letting out a loud screech as it hovered mid-air, waiting for Ray¡¯s commands. ¡°Extermination Phoenix!¡± he yelled as he pointed toward the flying beasts, and the Dark Phoenix instantly dashed toward them, the air splitting under its speed. It let out a sharp screech as it leaped right in the middle of the cockatrice riders, and it exploded without hesitation. The men at the center evaporated instantly, not even their weapons or beasts remaining. And those were the lucky ones, in the outer limits of the explosion, those who had been barely touched by the shockwave began rotting, pieces of skin and bones turned to dust as they slowly disappeared. They screamed in agony as their armor melted and molded onto their skin, before it too fell off, disappearing without a trace. Only those in the outer ring could say that they had gotten off scot-free, even if they were forced to cut off a body part. The explosion had spread to the ground troops relentlessly as well, the thousand or so soldiers running frantically from the shockwave. Those that were closest to the origin point had a similar fate to those on the outer limits - Their armor, skin, and bones melted and disappeared, and their muffled screams filled the battlefield with a horrific sound before finally dying out. Out of the thousand or so soldiers, about three hundred of them had lost their lives in this manner, and more than one hundred were severely wounded. Out of the fifty cockatrice riders, one-fifth of them perished instantly, while the rest were severely wounded, with only some of them getting away relatively safe. Haniard stood inside a small barrier as he watched the gruesome spectacle, feeling impressed and a little proud of his apprentice¡¯s skill, but those feelings were quickly drowned out by sorrow. I spent so much time and resources training them, and now, they¡¯re gone! He bit his lower lip as the soldiers rearranged themselves. I shouldn¡¯t have given him the time to cast that, I never expected him to reach such high proficiency in dark and fire magic¡­ With so many soldiers dead, the burden on Elena decreased exponentially, and she let out an involuntary sigh of relief before her pupils widened at the sight of so many people falling from the sky. The wails and pleas for help from those unlucky to still be alive rang in her ears as goosebumps spread all over her body. She looked toward Ray, unable to endure the horrific sight. His face was deathly pale as he struggled to breathe, and cold sweat dripped down his forehead as if he had just run a marathon. He clenched his stomach as he fought the urge to vomit, and his mind was flooded with thoughts he didn¡¯t have the time to process. His whole body trembled as he straightened himself, looking at the corpse-littered, scorched battlefield with a pained gaze. Is this the only way? Was there no other choice I could have taken¡­ Kai popped into his mind as he pulled out a vial filled with a faint blue liquid, downing it in one gulp. We moved here for him¡­ what¡¯s there to question anymore when we knew the risks? He pulled out another flask filled with a red liquid, and some color returned to his face after drinking it. The bombardment of the enemy quickly resumed, although not as bad as before, it was still difficult for Elena to endure by herself. Ray kneeled down and quickly activated a barrier that took most of the pressure off her shoulders. She undid the shield and took some time to catch her breath, her gaze drifting toward the mages that stood all the way in the back. ¡°Why aren''t they attacking as well?¡± She asked her husband as she drank another potion. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and answered with a hoarse voice, ¡°They¡¯re probably the ones¡­ maintaining the spatial lock active¡­ we must get rid of them¡­quick.¡± Elena noticed her husband¡¯s tired appearance and hurriedly cast a healing spell on him, easing his fatigue ever so slightly. Haniard glared at them, his heart getting slowly ripped apart and eaten by hatred. He noticed Ray¡¯s weakness after that attack, however, he didn¡¯t dare be reckless as he didn¡¯t know the strength of his former apprentice. Even a cornered rabbit bites after all¡­ ¡°Men, advance!¡± he barked an order as pointed forward, his wand pointed straight at Ray¡¯s heart. The sound of the soldiers marching in unison was like a symphony of death to Kai¡¯s parents, but like music to Haniard¡¯s ears. It was the song playing as he took the lives of two traitors! Their hearts raced as they did their best to remain calm, and Elena healed Ray continuously as his muscles eased up, her mana supplies not showing any signs of exhaustion. She stood close to her husband and they raised their wands, preparing themselves for the biggest fight of their lives. It was either kill or be killed, there would be no in-between. Chapter 19: Two Against an Army Ray stood his ground as the earth shook beneath the soldier¡¯s feet, their overwhelming presence sending shivers down his spine as goosebumps spread all over his body. Cracks spread over the thin barrier protecting them as the soldiers and cockatrice riders kept firing off spells and arrows, each hit increasing the number of thin fissures. Ray¡¯s grip tightened around his wand, and as he finished chanting a spell, a huge, dozen-meter transparent barrier manifested in front of them, the tip of the arrows shattering instantly upon impact, and any spells would immediately dissipate as the barrier¡¯s surface trembled and shone with a faint light. ¡°Elena,¡± he turned toward his wife with a guilty expression ¡°take care of the cockatrice riders, please.¡± She nodded slightly as she gulped, her pupils trembling while looking at the huge army that attacked them relentlessly. She took a deep breath, and a faint chant escaped her lips as her wand floated in front of her, shining with a bright light as she said: ¡°Original Magic: Light Weaponry.¡± The wand slowly morphed into a huge, longbow made of light, and a dozen transparent swords manifested around her. She pulled back the bowstring, and three arrows appeared within. The thin string of light vibrated violently as Elena released it from her clutch, the three light arrows silently flying with precision toward three riders, but barely missing them by a hair¡¯s breadth. The flying soldiers shot spell after spell in quick succession, their fire rate seeming like a modern-day minigun. How are they casting spells so fast? This isn''t normal! Something must be up! Cold sweat dripped down Elena¡¯s forehead as she struggled to aim at them, the barrier¡¯s strength diminishing with every passing second, and the enemies only got closer and closer. Ray stood motionless with his eyes closed, his soft murmur echoing on the battlefield as large pieces of rock suddenly broke off from the earth in a large area around him. As his chants grew quicker and sharper, the rocks¡¯ temperature gradually rose until a large flame covered each of them. They slowly flew upward, dozens upon dozens of flaming rocks looming over the large army like a sword hanging above their heads. Ray¡¯s eyes snapped open, and he pointed his wand forward as he shouted: ¡°Combination Magic: Flaming Meteors!¡± The few dozen meteors shot toward the footsoldiers, and, in almost the same instant that Ray finished his spell, half of the mages that were maintaining the spatial lock active suddenly opened their eyes. They pointed their wands forward, and a small crystal in the middle of the soldier¡¯s chests glowed like a burning star, creating a small shield that surrounded them as they advanced. However, the sound of shattering glass rang everywhere on the battlefield as the shields shattered. Like a brick thrown at a window, the meteors destroyed everything in their path. Pandemonium erupted once again as the soldiers stopped their march in an attempt to block the flaming projectiles however possible, but anything they tried quickly proved ineffective as the meteors crashed into their bodies, smashing them to a pulp. Pools of blood and disembodied limbs littered the battlefield as the meteor¡¯s relentless attack slowly calmed down. Crimson craters the size of a grown man covered the scorched ground, and screams of pain echoed on the battlefield. In the blink of an eye, another hundred or so soldiers perished under Ray¡¯s powerful magic, and another few dozen were grievously wounded. Haniard watched from afar with a bitter and shocked expression. Blood dripped from his tightly clenched fist, but he tightened them even more. He¡¯s already at the Medium Core Seven Star Rank!? How did he advance so fast? It¡¯s only been a few decades since then¡­ He let out a heavy sigh, and he advanced toward Ray as he commanded a few mages behind him ¡°Go heal the wounded.¡± They immediately rushed to the battlefield, handing potions and casting spells on any wounded soldiers they found. Haniard passed the hundreds of corpses with a heavy heart, biting his lower lip as he glared at the figures hiding behind the cracking barrier. The nauseating scent of coppery iron inundated Ray and Elena¡¯s nostrils, and their stomachs churned. Holding back the urge to vomit as they kept fighting back against the terrified army. Ray looked up with widened eyes, noticing that the cockatrice riders didn¡¯t diminish in numbers, and as they fired off spell after spell, the cracks on his barrier only multiplied. He turned his head toward Elena, noticing her swords hovering around her body, and he watched her fire off the three arrows toward the enemies missing all of them by a hair¡¯s breadth. Cold sweat dripped down her forehead as she gulped, her hands trembling as she once again pulled back the bowstring. A shiver ran down her spine as she felt Ray¡¯s warm touch, slightly calming her nervous body. ¡°It will be alright, just¡­ close your eyes and follow my movement.¡± He whispered in her ear, taking control of her arms as she infused mana within her light bow while shutting her eyes. As they pulled back the heavy string, a dozen small arrows manifested on the tip of her fingers, both of their arms trembling as they tensed up the string. Ray guided her aim, their trembling hands released the string and it vibrated violently as the thundering sound of the whooshing arrows rang in the dark soldier¡¯s ears. The invisible arrows split the air in two as they shot toward the cockatrice riders, and Haniard¡¯s expression turned grim after he detected them, his heart dropping to his stomach as he involuntarily let out an aggravated scream. ¡°No!¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. He waved his wand with haste, fruitlessly trying to protect his troops with a shield, but it was too late. A dozen riders let out pained grunts as the light faded from their crimson eyes, the arrows piercing their skulls before slowly dissipating. Elena watched in horror as a dozen bodies fell from the sky, hitting the ground with a hard thud as their skulls split open under their helmets. Pools of blood formed under their corpses as any hint of life vanished from their bodies. She fell to her knees, her stomach turning upside down as she stared at the grim sight before her, unable to turn her eyes away. These people¡­ all of them¡­ I¡­ I killed them¡­ Hot burning liquid climbed up her throat and she threw up as tears fell from her crimson eyes. Ray turned his gaze away from his wife, an overwhelming feeling of guilt washed over him knowing that what he had just made her do was unforgivable, but he had found it necessary to try and survive this situation. He glared at Haniard, hate burning in his eyes as his teeth let out a sharp scraping sound as they ground against each other. His hands clenched into a fist, and blood rushed through his veins as his face flushed red. How could I make her do something like that, something so against her nature¡­ All because of him, that¡­ that¡­ His fists tightened further, but he quickly stopped his train of thought, as he refused to badmouth the man who gave him a safe and secure future. Haniard similarly watched his most elite soldiers drop like flies, his face morphing into a vicious and twisted expression, his heart felt like it was being pierced by hundreds of needles. Gone¡­! They¡¯re all gone! After decades of research and mountains of resources, one-third of all my elite casters were defeated by two people! His eyes grew with a faint red hue, and he pulled out two purple stones engraved with intricate symbols, which he then crushed. Two long and thick purple spears took their place, and he let out a primordial roar as he threw them toward Ray one after the other, aimed straight at his heart. The first spear appeared in front of him in an instant, and the spear pierced the first barrier like a hot knife cutting butter, instantly shattering it and disappearing shortly after. Ray had next to no time to react, and he pulled Elena as he ducked to the side, dodging the second dark spear. It reached the house, and the sound of a mirror breaking rang in their ears as the barrier protecting it cracked and faded away as it broke into tiny shards. The spear flew through the barrier, and pierced their house from one end to the other, creating two huge holes before fading away as it relentlessly sped forward. Kai¡¯s small head peeked from the inside of the house, and a cold shiver ran down his spine as his eyes widened in fear at the sight of the bloody battlefield. Haniard instantly noticed his figure, and their eyes locked as Kai fell to his knees, his expression covered in horror as he felt the malice, resentment, anger, and pain in his eyes. What¡­ how strong is he? Kai felt overwhelmed by Haniard¡¯s aura, and his gut told him that the man in front of him could wipe him out with the flick of his sleeve. He gulped as he looked around, his face lighting up slightly after he saw his parents standing to the side, dirt and scratches covered their bodies, as they shielded against the enemy¡¯s attacks while panting, but they had yet to notice their son, whose body was trembling in fear. What is going on? My parents are wounded and that man¡­ who is he? His body trembled uncontrollably as he tried to move, his unresponsive limbs shivered as the threat of death overwhelmed him, and his gaze repeatedly jumped from his parents to Haniard. He parted his lips and tried to call out to his parents, but his fearful voice quickly turned silent as he saw Haniard pull out another purple stone which quickly transformed into a spear. Despite their distance, Kai felt the weapon¡¯s deathly aura and his hair stood on end as Haniard threw it toward him without hesitation. The spear vanished from his vision, appearing in front of him in less than a tenth of a second as dust and debris flew everywhere. His vision blurred as more than a dozen, small translucent barriers appeared right before his eyes, slowing down the spear. a warm touch wrapped around his body, dragging him to the side right before the spear destroyed the last barrier, whooshing past his body with great speed. He quickly looked around and saw his parent¡¯s horrified faces, cold sweat dripping down their forehead as they struggled to breathe. Looking toward Haniard, he saw a tall and wide translucent barrier block the hundreds of arrows and few spells that shot toward them relentlessly, and cracks slowly spread all over it. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s happening?!¡± Kai asked, his voice cracking as blood rushed through his veins, flushing his face red. Ray pulled out several pieces of paper and plastered them over his body as he activated them, and multiple barriers wrapped around Kai¡¯s body. ¡°Keep the piece of paper I gave you earlier close to your chest, and¡­¡± his father said, his eyes closing as he took in a deep breath before he continued, ¡°and tear it when I tell you to, it will keep you safe.¡± Ray stood up and left him and Elena alone, only glancing back slightly as a hoarse voice escaped his lips ¡°Hide, stay safe, and do as I instructed, alright?¡± ¡°Dad!¡± He called out in a painful voice, tears streamed down his cheeks as he watched his father¡¯s figure walk toward the battlefield. ¡°Kai, hide behind the walls, me and your father¡­ we¡¯re going to take care of it, alright?¡± Elena said with a smile filled with motherly love, her hands trembling as she handed Kai a round, green object. ¡°Keep it close to your chest, next to the talisman and necklace, and wait for us.¡± She said before watching Kai hide in the ruins of their home, her eyes burned with determination as she walked to her husband¡¯s side. They stood shoulder to shoulder, a faint smile plastered on their faces as a flame danced in their eyes. Haniard watched the couple protect their son, his expression turned into an ugly smile as he was reminded of that moment all those years ago, the day of his coup d¡¯etat, the day when he killed the former king, who also had that stupid smile on his face, just like Ray. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll just kill you together then!¡± He barked as he moved forward with his troops, who had stopped shooting arrows but instead unsheathed their swords, their silver blades reflecting the moon¡¯s gentle light. Ray and Elena stood still in front of their house, protecting it like a bird guarding her nest. She held her wand in a sword-like position, and the red light started enveloping it and extending as she chanted in a low voice, gradually taking the shape of a huge, two-handed sword. Twelve invisible light swords manifested at the same time, and they circled her slowly, waiting for any orders. Ray¡¯s spatial ring shone with a faint light and a long sword made from a purple and black metal appeared in his hand, its surface barely visible as it absorbed all light hitting it. Their bodies glowed faintly as they cast several Inkos spells, increasing their speed and strength for a brief duration. Ray¡¯s mouth moved rapidly as fifty small and thin barriers quickly appeared around him. He brought a small glass vial filled with blue liquid to his lips as he watched the army approaching them. I need to kill the mages and destroy the spatial lock, then instantly teleport away with Kai and Elena¡­ ¡°Stay here and protect Kai, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± He said as he placed a small green crystal in his breast pocket, and passionately kissed her on the lips as the sound of the advancing army rang in his ears. ¡°I¡¯ll support you from here,¡± she said as their lips separated. ¡°Do your best¡­¡± Ray marched forward, his small figure creating a huge contrast to the hundreds of dark armored soldiers. He glanced back at Elena as he tightened his grip on his sword, and said in a voice only he could hear, ¡°Thank you.¡± Chapter 20: Master vs Apprentice Kai watched everything from afar, fragments of the untold story slowly forming in his mind, but he could barely piece together a theory with the information he had. His heart raced as he inspected the battlefield, the countless corpses and destroyed land sent shivers down his spine. His gaze snapped to his father, who seemed to be swallowed by a dark and murderous wave. The sound of clashing metal accompanied by grunts of pain rang in his ears as Ray pushed against the army, his small body barely noticeable in the cloud of darkness. Sweat dripped down his forehead, blood and guts covered his clothes, and his purple sword was now painted with a crimson dye. Countless enemies surrounded him, and each of his slashes claimed one life as he nimbly moved around the battlefield like a rabbit. He held his wand in his left hand, quickly casting spells as he snared his opponents before cleanly slicing their necks, the morbid sound of their heads smashing against the ground rang in the battlefield. He ran toward the center of the army as he panted heavily, and his wand lit up as he quickly chanted a spell. A dark cloud slowly spread with him as the source, shrouding him in darkness. He silently walked behind the dark soldiers, who silently dropped to the ground as his sword swiftly sliced their necks, blood gushed out of them like a fountain before they could even process their death. Their number slowly decreased, and by the time his spell had dissipated, Ray had already killed more than fifty of them. His clothes were stained with black blood, and his irregular breathing gave away his fatigue. I didn¡¯t think it would be so hard to take on an army¡­ ¡®He¡¯ made it seem so easy¡­ He thought as he brought a vial to his lips, gulping down the red liquid as he dodged a swing coming from his right side. The tip of the thin sword grazed his cheek, leaving behind a trail of blood as Ray quickly thrust his sword in the soldier''s body. Huh? He let out a surprised grunt as the dark soldier¡¯s body transformed into a viscous liquid, trapping his sword and his legs as a horrifying, deformed grin formed on his dripping face as his body grew larger and larger. The creature let out maniacal laughter as its body exploded into bits, a corrosive liquid spreading in every direction, eating away at the ground and corpses. Ray¡¯s barriers were useless against this attack, and his feet were locked in place. Unable to dodge out of the way, he hastily cast a shield spell, blocking most of the liquid, however, a few drops still ended up landing on his skin. He grunted in pain as he endured, and his hair stood on end as the sound of whooshing arrows rang in his ears. His eyes widened as he looked up at the wave of hundreds of magic-imbued arrows, the air split in two as they traveled through the sky, raining in his direction. ¡°Ray!¡± Elena yelled from afar as her eyes snapped toward her husband, but she herself didn¡¯t have any time as dozens of soldiers attacked her relentlessly, their metal swords and dark armor barely able to endure the high heat from her two-handed light sword. Her twelve invisible swords also ran around the battlefield, cutting down any dark soldier that dared to underestimate her. The sword¡¯s mana signature was so small that they could barely detect it before they fell to the ground with an expression of disbelief. A slim man watched her from a distance, his sharp eyes locking onto her location as his longbow trembled in his hands. The tensed string immediately got released and it released a screech akin to an eagle. A single arrow sped toward Elena, creating silent explosions as its speed reached an incredible level. It split the air in its path, arriving almost immediately at the exact location where she would dodge. Her eyes snapped to the arrow, her heart skipping a beat, she reacted quickly and threw out a red crystal without hesitation. Flames burst out of it, instantly burning the arrow, and sending everyone tumbling backward. She panted as cold sweat ran down her spine, instantly turning to the archer who had a devious smile plastered on his face, another arrow instantly appearing within his bow as he took aim once again. He got ready to shoot once again, the string vibrating violently under his fingers, and Elena cast several barriers in quick succession before retreating, her large sword morphing into a light bow as she took aim as well. The string trembled gently as she pulled it back, and several arrows manifested in the bow. She carefully aimed at the archer while moving about on the battlefield, nimbly dodging and taking cover behind the degrees as dozens of soldiers chased her down. Their standoff was broken by the sound of shattering glass, which rapidly resounded on the battlefield in quick succession. Once, twice, thrice¡­ ten times¡­ Their eyes snapped toward Ray¡¯s location, which rapidly flashed with consecutive white lights as the rain of arrows descended upon him, his barriers shattered one after the other as he retreated, trying to dodge the mass of projectiles intent on taking his life. He nimbly ran around the battlefield, creating barriers and dodging the dark soldier¡¯s swings while trying to get closer to their backline, but the enemies kept attacking relentlessly, and when Ray killed one, another three took his place. The volley of arrows nearly stopped, however, the number heading toward him was not negligent. He grunted in pain as an arrow hit him in the shoulder, and his sword fell to the ground with a soft thud. Almost immediately, a dozen swords descended upon him, and his heart skipped a beat as he prepared to create several more barriers in an attempt to save his life. The twelve swords stopped mid-air, falling gently to the ground, accompanied by their owner¡¯s bodies. He quickly picked up his sword, briefly glancing toward Elena who was fighting intensely on her own battlefield. Escaping the entrapping, he pulled out the arrow from his shoulder and quickly tapped the green crystal in his breast pocket a few times. A gentle energy emitted from it, spreading throughout his body but mainly focusing on the wound, which closed up almost immediately. He let out a relieved sigh before moving his sword in a circular pattern, leaving a faint trail of light as he did so. The light became sharper, and as its form clicked in place, Ray pushed it toward the army approaching him. The circle grew larger and larger as it passed through the dark armored soldiers, until finally stopping a few dozen meters away, where it started spinning violently, emitting mana waves for a few seconds before slowly fading away. The mana waves affected all the enemies the circle passed through, making them drop to the floor and squirm in pain every time it pulsated. However, this only affected a few enemies for a short period of time, which barely gave Ray a small opening to dash forward and slay some of them. Cold sweat ran down his back as fresh blood dripped from his sword, its purple edges painted with a crimson hue. He panted, his breathing uneven, and he gulped as he stared down at the army coming toward him. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Damn it! No matter how many I kill, they just keep coming! He tapped one of his rings twice as he retreated, clutching his wand as he chanted a spell while avoiding the mass of enemies coming toward him. A ring on Elena¡¯s finger flashed twice, and her weapon changed back into a wand as she cast a small shield and jumped high in the air, freeing herself from the cluster of enemies. The slim archer smiled and scoffed as he aimed at a place where Elena would be. You can¡¯t dodge in the air, you wench! The bow¡¯s string let out a screech, the arrow dashing toward her as it split the air in two. It arrived below her feet in a few seconds and would pierce her body in mere milliseconds. The archer had a vicious smile plastered on his face as he excitedly watched the arrow travel toward Elena, however, it quickly disappeared as something unexpected happened. A small square of light manifested below her feet, which she then used to jump upward, dodging the arrow by a hair¡¯s breadth. She pointed her wand forward and a large speck of light shot toward the battlefield. Ray¡¯s eyes glowed with a purple hue after he chanted a short spell, and he looked toward Elena¡¯s attack, and a murmur escaped his lips as he prepared another spell. The speck of light exploded above the soldiers with a blinding light, and anyone who was within its reach had their vision taken away from them for a brief period of time. He took advantage of the situation and ran toward the mages, his vision unaffected by his wife''s spell, the dark crystals on his wand lit up with a fierce light as he pointed it toward the ground, chanting a spell as fast as possible. Ten seconds passed¡­ fifteen seconds¡­ His spell was just about ready when the blinding light faded, and the enemies regained their sight, however, it was far too late. A fierce, dark light exploded from his wand, enveloping everyone in a small area around him, binding them with dark, metallic chains that spread toward enemies outside the area of effect. The chains bound everyone, leaving them unable to move an inch, and, like an anaconda, they tightened around their limbs and necks, their faces turning blue and their bodies shaking in terror. The morbid sound of tearing flesh and crunching bones resounded on the battlefield as hundreds of limbs fell to the ground, an ocean of blood forming on the ground as their screams of pain rang in Ray¡¯s ears. A small clearing formed around him, and his clothes turned a dark shade of red, just like his eyes. Mountains of corpses lay at his feet, and the other soldiers shook in their boots as they looked at the horrific scene. Haniard was amongst them, his face flushed red, and his body shivered uncontrollably from anger. He bit his lower lip as blood dripped down his chin, and he glared at Elena and Ray with unfathomable hatred. I can¡¯t believe his strength rose by so much¡­ Aaaaah! Why did such a talented disciple betray me?! And that damn bitch! She¡¯s so strong as well, what kind of magic is she using? I¡¯ve never seen that before¡­ She¡¯s at least an Eight Star Small core¡­ He yelled inwardly, and he clicked his tongue as he slowly moved toward Ray. Regardless¡­ both of them will die by my hand! His spatial ring flashed and a purple sword, similar to Ray¡¯s, appeared in his right hand. It held a similar purple luster, and its black surface was akin to a deep, dark abyss that pulled people toward it. Its thin golden lines glowed under the moon¡¯s soft rays of light, and he brandished it in front of him as he got used to its weight. It¡¯s been a while since I last used this¡­ Ray¡¯s eyes widened upon seeing the sword, his body shivered involuntarily as his pupils trembled. The Purple Dragon sword! Memories of that sword taking the lives of countless soldiers under the former king¡¯s rule flashed in his mind. The sword which destroyed the castle¡¯s gates and killed the former king now lay before him, his master now wielding it against him. He retreated quickly, casting a few more buffs, but before he could finish, Haniard disappeared from his location and appeared right in front of Ray, his purple sword leaving a dark trail behind as he swung it in a crescent moon motion toward Ray¡¯s neck. What speed! He raised his sword, and the two clashed with a purple hue as he deflected the blow. The blades trembled as they pushed against each other, and Ray put all his strength into his sword, however, it wasn¡¯t enough to resist his master. His eyes widened as he saw Haniard raise his leg, kicking right at his solar plexus. However, dodging was impossible because of the sword pressed against his neck. He grunted in pain as he got kicked backward, sending him straight into the wall of his house, leaving a man-shaped indent on it as he slid down, coughing heavily and struggling to breathe. ¡°Dear!¡± Elena rushed to his side, quickly creating a mana shield in front of them, quickly healing Ray as he coughed a mouthful of blood. ¡°Fuck¡­ he¡¯s damn strong¡­¡± he said, his voice barely a whisper as he slowly stood up. Ray chuckled bitterly and several different colored flasks appeared between his fingers, Mana regeneration, strength boost, speed boost, endurance boost, endurance regeneration, natural shield¡­ so many potions. His heart ached as he drank them all in quick succession, his stomach churning briefly before he tightened the grip on his sword. ¡°You madman!¡± Haniard couldn¡¯t help but curse at the sight of Ray drinking so many potions at once. Usually, drinking so many potions with different effects would cause an overload of mana in the body, resulting in it falling apart or even exploding. Ray had a faint smile on his face as he dropped the empty flasks, feeling invigorated. I took a lot of time to make these potions, so of course I would make sure they were compatible with each other! He tightened his grip around the sword¡¯s handle, and he disappeared as he dashed toward Haniard, leaving after-images in his trail. His sword split the air as he swung at his former master, who instantly parried the attack, sending energy waves into the surroundings. Haniard¡¯s pupils widened as his sword trembled under Ray¡¯s strength, and he pulled back as he retreated before instantly attacking. Sparks flew everywhere as the two exchanged dozens of blows in mere seconds, their unfathomable speed creating illusions as the sound of muffled metal striking metal resounded on the battlefield. Blood and sweat dripped down their bodies as they pushed their blades against one another, and their eyes locked for a brief moment before continuing their harrowing exchange. He thrust his sword toward Haniard¡¯s chest, his purple blade glowing with a faint luster as it suddenly gained speed, catching his mate by surprise. The sword penetrated his shoulder, and blood gushed out as he quickly retreated, applying pressure on his fresh wound. Ray quickly dashed toward him, aiming his sword at Haniard¡¯s neck as he swung it in the shape of a crescent moon, but he quickly dodged to the side, barely avoiding the fatal blow. The two panted as they glared at each other, and Ray bit his lower lip as a grim thought surfaced in his mind. He isn¡¯t trying at all! At this rate I will be the one to¡­ die. He pulled out his wand and swung at Haniard with a single hand as he chanted a spell before quickly placing it into his mouth, and a symbol akin to a seal glowed on its base. Jumping forward, he swung at his master with both arms and in the instant, the swords collided, he opened his mouth, dropping the wand as he shouted: ¡°Break!¡± The wand lit up with a white, phantom light as small, ghostly hands manifested from its base, instantly grabbing Haniard¡¯s arms and legs. Ray took advantage of the opportunity and instantly crushed two paper seals, and a dark barrier manifested around Haniard instantly, the pressure within greatly increased. Void Bind?! Haniard thought, panicked. In that same instant, a small, white creature with only one eye and a large mouth jumped at Haniard, its razor-sharp teeth glowing with a faint luster. Not good! Haniard screamed inwardly as he saw the creature approach his body, he defensively raised his left arm, letting the beast bite on its metallic material. The thing munched on it, however, its teeth weren¡¯t sharp enough to penetrate the solid material. What? There is something even a Void Devourer can¡¯t eat?! Ray thought, chanting another spell while Haniard was still under the effect of ¡®Void Bind¡¯, and at the same time crushing one more paper talisman. As his spell finished casting, a dozen lightning bolts landed in Haniard¡¯s location, instantly scorching the ground as a black cloud of dust rose into the sky, slowly revealing that the place where Haniard stood was now a dark hole. Is it over? No¡­ it can¡¯t be that easy¡­ Ray turned his head in every direction, inspecting his surroundings and listening closely to the slightest rustle. His eyes widened suddenly and he raised his head as he heard a whistling sound from above. Impossible! Chapter 21: A Decisive Strike Haniard swung at Ray as he fell, his sword piercing the ground in the spot where Ray stood, leaving a small indent as he pulled it out. Ray looked at his master with shock-filled eyes, a question plaguing his mind that he could not help but voice. ¡°How did you get out?¡±, his wand flickered with a red hue as he asked. Haniard didn¡¯t answer, smiling faintly as the ground cracked under his feet, he lunged at his disciple, brutally sweeping at Ray¡¯s stomach, who dodged backward, instantly aiming his wand at his master. The wand¡¯s wood glowed with a fierce red light, despite its original black color, and the fire crystals etched onto it lit up with a blinding light as a small fireball shot toward Haniard. He scoffed and dodged to the side, and was about to strike at Ray again when he saw another fireball come his way, then another and another. In but a few seconds a meteor rain appeared in the sky, hundreds of fireballs descended upon Haniard, who frantically did his best to dodge. His figure became blurry as he advanced toward Ray, whose hands were burning while holding the wand, however, he never let go. Small cracks appeared on the surface of the crystals, and the wood started to shrink as it slowly burned. Ultimately, the rain of fire overwhelmed his master, who grunted in pain after being hit by one, momentarily stopping as cold sweat ran down his back. However, that one second of pause was more than enough for hundreds of fireballs to descend upon him, locking him in place. Ray let out a sigh as he pulled out another talisman, surrounding him in another ¡®Void Bind¡¯ as he ripped the talisman while dashing past him. He sighed sorrowfully as his wand let out a soft, sad screech, disintegrating into nothingness, disappearing like it never existed. I¡¯m sorry, but overcharging you was the only way to give me a chance¡­ I have no idea how he escaped the Void Bind and Void Devourer¡­ Inspecting himself, he clenched his fists and tightened his grip around his sword. Not much mana left¡­ His boots and blade glowed with a gentle light as he sent half of his remaining mana toward his feet, and the other half toward his sword. He disappeared from sight as dust kicked up behind him, dashing past any enemy soldier, aiming directly for the magicians, not daring to look back at his master, whose state was unknown. His purple sword whistled through the air as it split in two, and he arrived in front of the magicians in a few seconds. The blade left a purple trail in the air as he swung it toward the magicians, still chanting with their eyes closed, their deadpan expressions never disappearing. Ray¡¯s heart skipped a beat as watched the magicians stand still, his eyes gleamed with hope as he prepared to cast a teleportation spell with whatever mana he had left, however¡­ Nothing happened. The magicians were still alive, keeping the spatial lock active. His pupils trembled as his head snapped downward, a familiar purplish hue covering his vision. His heart dropped to his stomach as red drops fell on his blade, which now rested on the ground, his hand still clutching the hilt tightly. He slowly turned his head to his right, where a pale faced Haniard stood with The Purple Dragon Sword, now dyed with fresh blood. Ray¡¯s eyes snapped toward his other hand, where he held a vial with some leftover dark blood. His face flushed red with anger, ignoring the pain pulsating through his arm he yelled at his master ¡°Demon Blood?! You dare?!¡± Haniard chuckled in response, and raised his mana-infused right leg as he said ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I dare?¡± He kicked with an upward motion at Ray¡¯s stomach, intending to slash him almost immediately. However, Ray took advantage of the opportunity and used his master¡¯s kick to propel himself backward, flying all the way to the front of his house, right before Elena, who had just finished off another wave of enemies, and his son, who was watching from the inside of the house. ¡°Dear!¡± ¡°Dad!¡± They yelled at the same time, rushing toward Ray. Elena cast a few shields, quickly followed by Kai, who did the same in an attempt to protect his father, who lay motionless on the ground save for the heavy heaves of his chest. Elena quickly placed her hands, which emitted a soft green glow over his body, continuously casting healing magic in the hopes of restoring his hand. However, regardless of how much she tried, how much mana she used, or how many tears fell on her husband¡¯s body, the corrosive effect of the darkness magic in Haniard¡¯s sword was too severe. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. *Cough* Ray¡¯s eyes opened slowly as he coughed lightly, and he groaned in pain as he tried to get up. An intense, sharp pain spread from his stomach and arm all throughout his body, corroding it from the inside. He¡­ I can¡¯t believe it¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t let it end like this! He grunted as he struggled to raise his hand up, and a green book appeared in his hand as he barely activated his mana ring. Elena quickly grabbed the rough textured book immediately opened it in the middle, revealing a huge hole dug into its empty pages, in which lay a brown, green-ish stone. She quickly took it and placed it in Ray¡¯s mouth, and he instantly swallowed it, a bright green light covered his body as the crystal stopped near his mana core, fighting off the corrosive effect of the darkness magic. He quickly got up, propping himself on Elena¡¯s shoulders as they glared at Haniard, who was watching them with a darkened face as his expressions twisted, and he hit himself in the stomach, throwing up black blood before wiping his mouth. This should have gotten rid of most of the demon blood¡­ such a shame I can¡¯t use it for a long period of time, otherwise¡­ He clicked his tongue as he clutched his sword, inspecting Ray¡¯s body. What did he just eat, to have such healing power¡­? Did he go to that place?! He panted as he waited for the after-effects of the demon blood to wear off. Ray quickly downed a few more potions, smashing the vials on the ground, he retrieved a normal, iron sword from his spatial ring, brandishing it with his remaining left hand as he got used to the feeling, and enchanted it with a spell. ¡°This should do¡­¡± he said as he took a fighting stance, Elena following suit with her giant magic sword, and she murmured before saying: ¡°Combination Magic, Sharp Light.¡± Her sword glowed with a faint light as its edges became sharper, and the same effect applied to the twelve swords circling her. Both of them dashed toward Haniard, who similarly lunged at them with a maniacal expression on his face. Ray met his purple sword, his own iron blade shattering almost instantly were it not for the enchantment he cast on it. Cracks spread all over the sword¡¯s body as he and his master exchanged more than a dozen blows. Elena followed right behind Ray, jumping from behind him, and swinging at Haniard, who was distracted by his disciple. He quickly cast a protection barrier as he dodged the spell, pushing Ray backward as Elena moved her huge sword with incredible speed, rays of sword light shooting everywhere each time she swung her sword What kind of spell is this?! Haniard yelled inwardly as cracks quickly spread over his barrier, and he jumped backward as it shattered, slashing at the ground with his sword, a thick wall of earth quickly rising in front of him. Ray pursued him relentlessly, and swung from behind the wall, destroying it into pieces, taking advantage of the dust he slashed at Haniard¡¯s neck from a weird angle, and the sound of shattering glass rang in his ears as the barrier protecting his master broke. A shiver ran down Haniard¡¯s spine as he felt Elena¡¯s warm blade approaching his back. Locked in place, he decided to block Ray¡¯s fatal blow, arching his back in an attempt to protect his vitals as he endured the light sword¡¯s fierce blow. The morbid sound of tearing flesh accompanied by calming drops of dripping blood rang in their ears. A long wound appeared on his back, its edges sizzling as they cooled down. Haniard left a trail of blood as he quickly retreated, dying the ground crimson as he stood a few meters away from Ray and Elena, glaring at them as he panted. He sent vitality toward his wound in an attempt to close it, however, it would only heal half a centimeter at a time. He clicked his tongue and quickly pulled out a red and round pill from his spatial ring, dodging the duo¡¯s attacks as he swallowed it. The wound on his back started healing in mere seconds, and it completely closed up, leaving a long scar across his back. Haniard jumped backward, and let out an ear-piercing scream as he infused mana in his voice. He flicked his wand before him, and two people looking identical to Haniard appeared in Ray and Elena¡¯s view. The figures quickly multiplied, dozens of them appearing in a few seconds, rushing toward the two as they brandished their sword. ¡°Illusion technique!¡± Ray exclaimed as he stepped backward, Elena carefully following him as she swung her sword at the clones, which would quickly disappear upon being cut apart. Their heads snapped toward the side, where a sharp whistling sound approached them quickly. Elena grabbed Ray and propelled themselves backward using wind magic, the place where they stood instantly being pierced by a dark spear. Before they could even think about it, another spear rushed in their direction, which they quickly dodged, and as they ran around the battlefield, they realized that a cloud of darkness had enveloped them completely. Relying on their hearing and mana detection, they kept on dodging the spears as they appeared more and more often, the ground shaking every time once thrust into it. What¡¯s going on? This seems familiar¡­ Ray¡¯s pupils widened as he suddenly realized what was happening, however, it was too late. The spears had stopped, and Elena cast a light spell that drove away the dark cloud. A shiver ran down Ray¡¯s back as he looked around him, noticing the multitude of spears surrounding them. He gulped and turned toward his master, who wore a faint smile on his face. Elena¡¯s heart dropped to her stomach upon seeing her husband¡¯s reaction, even though she herself was unsure of what befell them. Chapter 22: The Asuras Crimson Blade The dark spears pulsated with a black light, surrounding Ray and Elena in a symmetrical fashion. Each spear was exactly two meters apart from the other, forming an octagon, inside of which lay a smaller one, where the two stood. Faint, almost invisible threads connected the two shapes together as they pulled in all the mana from the area. The air became thinner and the ground cracked as the feeble amount of mana got drained away into the formation. The wind howled as silence prevailed over the battlefield, and not even the birds dared make any sound. Haniard¡¯s hair swayed back and forth as he calmly watched his disciple trembling slightly inside the octagonal prison. Ray¡¯s heart sank into his stomach as the gravity of the situation descended upon him. His eyes dropped to the ground as a wave of despair washed over his body, regret and sorrow filling his heart. He bit his lower lip as his finger ran over his spatial ring, and he injected small amounts of mana into it as he faced his master. ¡°I assume you know what this is,¡± Haniard said slowly, unable to hide the shiver in his voice. ¡°Yes, I could have never imagined you would take the time to set it up, we really played into your trap, huh?¡± Ray replied sarcastically with a bitter voice. Haniard ignored Ray¡¯s rhetorical question, instead saying with a chuckle, ¡°Not even the former king had the right to see me use this Dark Siphoning Array, the cost was simply too great for¡­¡± he lingered on his last words as he looked at Elena, ¡°such an easy fight.¡± ¡°However,¡± he continued, ¡°you have too many secrets up your sleeve. Every time I thought I had you beat you rose back up, I didn¡¯t want to give you a chance anymore. It¡¯s a pity, but¡­¡± he took a small pause, a sinister smile manifesting on his face as he said, ¡°Your wife will be more than enough to make up for the vitality I will expend to activate it.¡± Ray¡¯s hand clenched into a fist as he increased the amount of mana sent into the ring, his face twitched and his pupils contracted as he glared at his master. He gritted his teeth as he endured, knowing that any sudden movement would cause Haniard to activate the Array, and they would be dead in mere seconds. Elena¡¯s face darkened, and her hand flew to her chest as it tightened, her heart skipped a beat as a wave of anger washed over her after hearing what Haniard had said about her and her father. She glared at him with a murderous gaze, however, she didn¡¯t dare act either after seeing her husband¡¯s helpless state. It looks like this Array isn¡¯t so simple¡­ Ray kept his head cool as he took advantage of his master¡¯s ego, preparing his escape plan, the chance of success becoming higher with each second they delayed. Cracking the thing is impossible¡­ damn it! I wish I had listened more closely to this lesson¡­ He sighed inwardly as he regretted the idiocy of his younger self. Haniard watched them carefully and looked to be in contemplation as he brought his hand to his face, his fingers running across the long scar. He frowned as he still felt the sharp pain running across his back, and he let out a bitter laugh as he addressed the couple. ¡°Originally, I wanted to kill you one by one, but¡­ I won¡¯t take the chance¡­¡± he closed his eyes as his voice lowered, and his decisive gaze turned slightly softer as he looked at Ray. ¡°Farewell¡­¡± He made some hand seals as the last word left his mouth, and half the color drained off his face, along with some of the luster on his eyes and lips. In that same instant, Ray¡¯s body twitched as he cast away the sword, pulling out five dozen red and white crystals as he turned his back from Haniard, hugging Elena as he shouted, ¡°Explode!¡±, stacking a few flimsy barriers at the same time. The crystals exploded immediately, enveloping both him and Elena in a blinding light of fiery mana. The Array shuddered constantly as the shockwave tried to escape the contained space, and the sound of cracking constantly rang in the battlefield as cracks spread over the barrier keeping them in. An intense sound of shattering glass resounded in their ears as the Array collapsed, releasing the vast mana pressure and sending Ray and Elena flying backward with great speed. Haniard also got blasted away, his injuries flaring up as he coughed a mouthful of blood, barely processing what Ray had just done. What madness?! An intense wave of anger washed over him as he watched the couple fly toward their home. He gnashed his teeth as his metallic left hand dug deep into the scorched ground. That idiot! To think he¡¯d use such a way to escape the Array¡­ I definitely need to create a fail-safe¡­ Ray and Elena shot toward their house with incredible speed, the wind current was so great that they couldn¡¯t even find it in themselves to chant a spell, and they arrived in front of their house in just a few seconds. I fucked up! Ray cursed inwardly as he could barely move his arm, his scorched back burning with intense pain as the threat of imminent death loomed over them. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. If they were to actually hit the wall at this speed, accompanied by their waning vitality and wounds¡­ A sudden gust of wind slowed them to a halt, gently descending upon the ground as their organs placed themselves back in place. They turned their heads in confusion to see who was it that cast the spell, only to see their son, Kai, running toward them with his wand. ¡°Mom, Dad, are you alright?¡± he asked, kneeling next to them, observing his parents¡¯ conditions. Both of them were breathing with heavy and irregular breaths, and his mother¡¯s arm and legs were burned from the explosion. Her body and lips lost some of their colors, wrinkles appeared on her face, and her hair had turned from a beautiful silver to a depressing white. His father¡¯s back was almost completely charred black, and his shirt fell off, revealing countless wounds on his abdomen. He tightened his grip on his wand, his eyes gleaming as he steeled himself. ¡°Kai,¡± Ray grunted as he said, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Go back inside the house, it¡¯s too dangerous out here¡­¡± Blood dripped from his mouth onto his scarred chest as he tried reaching for Kai, his hand barely reacting to his commands. Kai didn¡¯t reply, nor did he shake his head. He knew he couldn¡¯t do anything against such an opponent, and his heart threatened to jump out of his chest as he felt Haniard¡¯s cold glare on his back. He helped his father pull out several potions from his spatial ring and quickly helped him down them as he said ¡°I know I won¡¯t be able to do much, but¡­¡± his voice cracked, unable to make himself finish the sentence. Elena also drank a few mana regeneration potions as she did her best to heal Ray, whose entire body was trembling from the pain. I don¡¯t have much mana left¡­ Will this¡­ be enough? She sighed inwardly as her eyes snapped to Haniard. A twisted smile plastered on his face as he panted heavily, doing his best to heal his wounds with whatever vitality he had left. I can¡¯t believe I wasted half my vitality¡­ only for him to blow himself up¡­ that fool! He gazed behind him, the remaining soldiers were watching the battle with awe and fear, and the mages that maintained the spatial lock could not do so for that much longer, their mana and mana veins exhausted faster and faster. The spatial lock will only hold on for a few more minutes¡­ Haniard sighed inwardly as he slowly marched forward. A grin formed on Ray¡¯s disheveled face as he came to the same conclusion. He let out a pained grunt as he pulled out a silver sword from his spatial ring, propping himself on it as the color slowly drained from his face. The seed¡¯s vitality is about to run out¡­ and once it does¡­ He stopped his train of thought as he glanced at Kai and Elena, and he straightened his trembling back and he let out a deep sigh. Elena stood next to him, and her expression pales as she sensed the dwindling life force within her husband. Her shivering hand flew to his face as she gently caressed his scorched beard, and they nodded slightly as they looked into each other¡¯s eyes. A bitter expression formed on their faces as they thought about Kai, who wouldn¡¯t last long if they perished. Haniard won¡¯t give us enough time for the mages to run out of mana¡­ he will definitely do everything in his power to kill us. Ray thought as he downed another mana potion. Without waiting for Haniard to move first, they dashed toward him, and Elena shot up into the sky once she was a few dozen meters away from him, her wand once again turning into a huge sword that channeled a large amount of mana, and she kept herself hovering using wind magic. Ray rushed toward Haniard, the wind cutting his skin and causing his face to go numb. He imbued his silver sword with all the magic he could muster, its blade glowing with a cool black light as cracks covered it slowly. In that same instant, Kai also started chanting the strongest spell he could use: Double Phoenix Destruction. Haniard looked indifferently at the scene, his heart skipping a beat upon sensing the trio¡¯s magic. He sighed and placed his sword diagonal to the ground, its tip glowing with a small red dot. Countless crimson strings manifested around it, connecting the red light with the soldiers surrounding him, including the magicians. Their expressions didn¡¯t flicker as the thread penetrated their foreheads, rapidly draining their vitality. The sword tip absorbed the majority of it, Haniard only receiving a small amount that slowly healed him. The red dot slowly turned from a bright red color to a dark crimson hue, and Haniard gradually lifted its tip, emitting an indomitable might that surpassed all life. A shiver ran down Ray¡¯s spine as he approached the sword, but he didn¡¯t falter, picking up the pace as he thought, Regardless of what technique he came up with, he is also weakened, there is no way he can unleash it completely! He struggled to raise his speed once again, hoping to stop Haniard¡¯s attack before finishing it. He arrived in front of his master at the same time that the sword had been lifted to about 80%. Ray slashed at him with all his strength, the black aura around his sword shooting straight toward Haniard¡¯s forehead, and at the same time, Elena had finished her spell. Her sword had become as big as the trees, and she cleaved down as a blinding sword light shot toward Haniard. ¡°Original Magic: Execution!¡± The sword light passed right through Ray, its only target being Haniard, who watched the attacks with a deadpan expression on his face. Kai also finished his spell, and two large phoenixes of contrasting colors shot toward Hanird at rapid speed, leaving a trail of red and blue fire behind them. The sky got covered in four different colors, one mightier than the other, all of them aimed straight at one man, who calmly raised his sword as its tip trembled violently. He did nothing to protect himself, not even casting the smallest barrier. As the attacks were about to connect with his body, his sword slowly fell to the ground as all the leftover vitality in his soldiers and mages got sucked away by the red threads, and they instantly turned into ash, their armor and clothes falling to the ground with a loud thud. Ray¡¯s vision blurred, and a red hue covered his sight and the world disappeared under his feet. The only thing he saw was the clear blade of a crimson sword that descended upon him like an arrow show from a crossbow. Chapter 23: A Bitter Tenth Birthday The sky got drained of all color as his surroundings turned dark, and as he looked at the bloody sword, the image of an Asura from hell standing on the battlefield manifested in front of him. Mountains of corpses manifested around the creature as it stood there, its head was decorated with two sharp horns and its eight eyes stared down at Ray as it brandishes its eight weapons, each one held in a separate hand. It emitted a strong and murderous bloody aura, that made Ray tremble in fear, and he grunted in pain every time he inhaled. The Asura opened its mouth and let out a primal scream, its two sets of razor-sharp teeth glowing slightly under the moonlight. Ray lost the grip on his sword as it fell, letting out a muffled thud sound as it hit the ground, his pupils trembled as he took a step backward. Kai and Elena saw the same thing as him, fear gripped their hearts as Elena fell to the ground, unable to maintain her spell anymore, and Kai was kneeling on the floor as he stared at the sky with widened eyes. The sword tip stopped falling, and once again its tip was diagonal with the ground as its color was restored to its original purple, and it seemed to not have moved at all from its original position. The moment it made contact with the ground, a huge, crimson-red sword phantom split the sky in two as the clouds churned about. Crimson rain suddenly poured down as Ray was sent flying toward his house, and the ear-shattering sound of breaking the sound barrier echoed on the battlefield. ¡°Dad!¡± Kai woke up from his daze as he saw Ray shoot toward him, and he quickly attenuated his fall as he kneeled next to him. His father lay motionlessly on the ground, his chest struggling to raise, and a deep and long cut ran across his entire body, slowly eating away at whatever vitality he had left. ¡°Dad, open your eyes! Dad!¡± Kai placed his father¡¯s head on his knees as he pleaded, he pulled out a potion from his spatial ring which he shoved down Ray¡¯s throat, however, that was of no help. Tears dripped down his cheeks onto his father¡¯s gradually paler face, contrasting the red rain descending upon them. He gently lay Ray¡¯s head on the ground, placed his arms upon his father¡¯s chest bloody chest, and started doing chest compressions as his arms turned crimson. Come on Dad, wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Kai cried inwardly, his heart ripping apart as he did his best to bring his father back to life. As Kai applied his body weight to Ray¡¯s heart, a small faint light spread out from his chest, slightly healing him. His blood-soaked hands persisted as his mind slowly fell into despair, and he continued clinging to that thread of hope until¡­ ¡°Argh!¡± Ray groaned in pain as he opened his eyes, coughing lightly as his unfocused gaze turned to Kai, whose face lit up briefly. He inspected his father¡¯s body and saw that the wound wasn¡¯t closing up any faster, and instead, the blood that dripped down formed a large pool that surrounded them. A tender, apologetic look manifested on Ray¡¯s face, and he struggled to smile as his hand twitched before stopping. He felt the very last bit of strength leave his body, and he gazed into his son¡¯s eyes. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Kai, I¡¯m sorry¡­ the talisman¡­ break it¡­¡± his weakened voice barely left his body. He looked at his father, his tears still flowing out like a river in the intense rain, which, along with his shock and pleads, silenced Ray¡¯s last words, which only entered his ears as an incoherent mess. I¡¯m so useless! So useless! His despairing gaze fixated on his father, who slowly closed his eyes and gave his last breath. ¡°No!¡± Kai let out a light cry, which quickly faded as his voice cracked. His legs felt limp, and his heart raced as his gaze fell on his bloody, shivering hands. He gently ran his hand across the large wound as goosebumps spread all over his body. *Booom* He snapped his head toward a violent explosion, his hazy vision caused by his tears and thick cloud of dust made him unable to see exactly what was happening, but he could see two figures still fighting within. Elena fought against Haniard with all her power, but she also had a small but deep cut down to the bone, running across her arm. Wounds covered her body, deep, black cuts, and holes littered her abdomen and legs, and her face had been slashed several times. Blood covered her body, which only got worse and worse each time she swung her sword. She let out light grunts of pain as she slashed at Haniard, who barely managed to dodge by a hair¡¯s breadth each time. A wave of anxiety washed over her body as she glanced behind her, unsure of the state of her husband and fearing for her child¡¯s life. Tightening her grip around the sword¡¯s handle, and let out a soft sigh as it morphed back into a wand. A gut-wrenching cry of unwillingness emitted from it, and Elena¡¯s face twisted in pain as the sound rang in her ears. I¡¯m sorry¡­ She threw her hand at Haniard instantly, pulling out a dagger decorated with two golden dragons from her spatial ring at the same time. ¡°Explode!¡± Elena yelled the moment the wand arrived near Haniard¡¯s head, and she lunged at him with her dagger, aiming straight at his throat. *Boom* The wind howled as a bigger, more violent explosion rang in the battlefield once again, creating a small shockwave accompanied by a blinding light, and a small sea of fire. Kai quickly cast a small mana shield close to his body, but even with this added layer of protection, he shot backward like a kite with its string cut. He struggled to open his eyes as the light faded away, and he gulped nervously as he focused his gaze on the battlefield. He wanted to see his mother succeed, to win, to kill Haniard. Please¡­! The dust settled quickly, and his eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat. He saw his mother, not running toward him, not smiling or laughing¡­ he saw Haniard. His face was half scorched, his flesh sizzled, his body covered in burn marks, and his skin melted off his bones in some places. His long metallic left arm pointed upward, and what hung on its tip made Kai gasp in shock. His left hand had pierced Elena¡¯s chest, and he was holding her up like a piece of meat on a skewer. Her chest moved slightly as she struggled to hold on, her scorched black arms hung around her body in the air. She slowly turned her head toward Kai, her crimson eyes had lost most of their luster, and her beautiful silver hair swayed in the wind as her lips parted. No sound escaped her mouth, and even breathing sent huge amounts of pain throughout her entire body. She could only mouth her words as her eyes locked with Kai¡¯s. ¡°My son, please¡­ live¡­¡± Her mouth closed into a slight, melancholic smile as she closed her eyes. Haniard held her tightly with his right hand, which has been nearly maimed by the explosion, and a morbid flesh-tearing sound rang in the battlefield as he pulled his metallic hand back. A rhythmic beating sound echoed in Kai¡¯s mind as he watched his mother¡¯s body drop to the ground with a muffled thud, a gaping hole decorating her bloody chest. His gaze switched from Elena to Haniard¡¯s hand, which held a still-beating heart quickly draining of blood. It was immediately apparent the heart wasn¡¯t read, but instead, it was transparent like a crystal, which sparkled brightly under the twilight sun. Kai¡¯s pupils widened as goosebumps spread all over his body, tears ran down his face as he looked at his parent¡¯s corpses, lying in a pool of their own blood - dead. Chapter 24: Love Births Hatred His pupils trembled as his vision switched from one to the other, and his breathing turned ragged as a sharp pain spread from his chest all over his body. His muscles spasmed lightly as he tried calming his breathing, which gradually turned to hyperventilation. Mom, Dad, why?! He glanced at their corpses again and again before glaring at Haniard, who panted heavily, his bloody body in high contrast to the clear heart within his hand. He wore a twisted, excited smile on his face as he placed the heart into a glass box that contained immense amounts of mana, and he rubbed it gently before placing it into his spatial ring. I finally have the Crystal Heart! It was so hard to obtain that I didn¡¯t even bother putting it in my plans but now¡­ He gloated inwardly as he straightened himself. To think they¡¯d be so foolish as to stay in MY kingdom, all for a¡­ His head snapped toward Kai, who trembled like a terrified cat as he lay against the wall. I should get rid of him¡­ this brat¡¯s a variable I don¡¯t want. He thought as he walked toward Kai. Kai watched helplessly as his parents¡¯ murderer calmly approached him, brandishing his bloody sword as he looked at him with a piercing gaze. The sound of his footsteps got drowned by the scarlet rain, and it reminded Kai of that day ten years ago. Once again, backed into a corner, powerless to do anything but watch as his life was about to be taken away once again. His heart threatened to jump out of his chest as his face flushed red, and in his despair, he shut his eyes, trying to remember a simpler time. ¡­ Somewhere on the edges of a small city stood a small, crude house, it looked abandoned, ready to fall apart at any second. The walls were made out of cheap, crumbled stones while the wooden supports were filled with holes and insects. The kitchen had little to no appliances, only a sink filled with dirty dishes and a nearly broken-down fridge. A small and old window frame stood on the southern walls, patched with some rags in hopes of stopping the chilly air from coming in. A woman sat at a table, smoking a thin cigarette, tapping off the ash in an ashtray filled with a few dozen butts. She held a bottle of wine in her other hand, of which she took big gulps before placing it down on the table. She looked to be in her mid-thirties, and her beautiful brown hair already showed some white spots, and her face had a few wrinkles. Her emerald green eyes glowed with a faint luster, and despite her current appearance she still showed signs of a young beauty. Next to the kitchen was a bedroom, on which a boy, no older than five or six was drawing something before he got up, running toward the kitchen with a piece of paper in hand. ¡°Mom, look! I drew a dinosaur!¡± He yelled as he ran into the woman¡¯s embrace, handing her the drawing. She looked at her son, and gently caressed his black hair after putting her cigarette down. ¡°That¡¯s great baby, you¡¯re such a good artist.¡± The boy closed his eyes as he placed his head on her lap, and she continued gently caressing his head, looking at him with a tender gaze. The boy opened his eyes, reaching toward his mother for a hug. However, they weren¡¯t in the kitchen anymore, but in the bedroom. It was nighttime, and he struggled to keep his eyes open as he looked ahead, to where his mother was. Her hands were clenched around his neck, and she wore a maniacal expression on her face as she tightened her grip ¡°It¡¯s your fault, all of it. If only¡­ IF ONLY¡­ IF ONLY YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BORN! ¡­He would still be with me, loved me¡­¡± ¡°Mo-mom¡­¡± The boy¡¯s teary eyes squinted as he said weakly, looking at his mom with a pleading gaze. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The woman¡¯s pupils widened in horror as she seemed to have woken up from a daze, realizing what she had done. She let go of the boy, which she quickly took into her embrace, tears flowing down her cheeks as she apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry baby, mommy didn¡¯t want to¡­ please forgive me¡­ please¡­ mommy loves you¡­¡± The boy¡¯s eyes snapped shut once again, and the next time he opened them it was already daytime. He looked into the bathroom mirror as he brushed his teeth. He was a bit taller than before, and his unkept hair had grown longer as well. He seemed to be about eight years old now. He walked into the kitchen, and a man at least twice his size stood before him with a bottle of beer in his right hand. A strong, nauseating stench of alcohol escaped his body as he stared at the boy with a hateful gaze. ¡°Damn, it¡­ to think I have to raise a bastard child like you.¡± He said, bringing his hand up to his face, and sighed before he continued. ¡°But your mother¡¯s a babe and has a job so I guess¡­¡± he lingered on his last words as he made a clicking sound with his tongue. Suddenly, his foot rose up and struck down at the boy, who curled up into a ball to protect his organs. Endless signs of abuse revealed themselves through his tattered clothes, bruises littered his body, and his body trembled incessantly as the man hit him over and over again. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just die already? Eeeh? It would help us a great deal if you would just drop dead¡­!¡± The man raised his hand and smashed the bottle against the door¡¯s frame before aiming it at the boy, whose eyes had already widened while trembling in fear. ¡°No!¡± A sudden cry erupted from the side as the bottle was about to pierce the boy¡¯s back. A hand hit the bottle, sending it away, and fresh blood began to drip down the boy¡¯s back. His mother stood above him, her frail hand cut open by a deep wound that reached the bone. The boy remained speechless as he looked into his mother¡¯s horror-filled eyes. His consciousness faded away as the sound of a loud slap rang in his mind¡­ ¡­ Kai opened his eyes halfway as he blinked rapidly, vague memories, nearly impossible to understand flashed in his mind, but all he could see was a bottle of pills and a woman¡¯s dead body. A soft luster appeared in his eyes as he completely opened them. So something like that happened¡­ Both lives flashed before his eyes as he stood up, lifting his head and looking at his parents¡¯ bodies. Grief, despair, sadness, regret, indignation - A myriad of emotions washed over his body as a shiver ran down his spine. He steeled himself and decided to face his enemy, even if he was weak¡­ powerless¡­ even if his odds of victory were small, he decided to fight. I¡¯ve been cowering long enough¡­ He locked eyes with Haniard, who took a step backward as he sensed Kai¡¯s strong will and a faint smile appeared on his face as he quickened his pace. Kai inhaled deeply as he calmed down, his heart beating slowly but rhythmically, and with each pulse, he could sense large amounts of energy spreading throughout his entire body. Strong gusts of wind circled him and the ground beneath his feet started cracking under the pressure. Silver scales appeared all over his body at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his nails morphed into sharp claws. His feet grew bigger and slowly another pair of claws manifested as they tore apart his shoes. His fangs grew longer, thicker, and sharper and his pupils became thinner, akin to those of a cat. His silver hair grew even longer and two horns sprouted from the top of his head, pulling the mana from the environment toward him. He glared at Haniard as his hands clenched into a fist, and his muscles tightened in an unnatural anticipation for the fight. Haniard halted his footsteps, panicking slightly as he choked. Amazing¡­ he was in awe at the sight before him, and his eyes shone greedily as he looked at Kai. This brat¡¯s bloodline awakened at such a time, not even the former king had done this! A creepy smile manifested on his face, and he chuckled to himself as he thought, To think I¡¯d be able to obtain two treasures¡­ Once I extract his bloodline and fuse it with mine, and together with the Crystal Heart I will be¡­ unstoppable! His body shivered in excitement as he imagined himself ruling over the whole continent, he marched forward as his lips parted. ¡°Not bad, kid, to think you¡¯d have such talent¡­¡± Kai didn¡¯t reply, instead, he stretched his limbs, and as he got accustomed to the transformation, his skeleton let out loud noises as his bones creaked. He cracked his joints in rapid succession, the loud bangs ringing like thunder in Haniard¡¯ ears. His lips parted as he let out a primal scream, akin to an angry dragon yelling at the heavens. He looked hatefully at the man before him, and without concerning himself with inspecting his body¡­ he moved! Chapter 25: There is Nothing Left His body appeared in front of Haniard in less than three seconds, his silver-scaled fist heading straight for the man¡¯s pelvis, however, he dodged and Kai sent himself flying forward. Oh? Haniard thought in surprise upon noticing the interaction So he doesn¡¯t know how to fight yet, but that strength! He licked his lips as he waited for Kai to steady himself, before giving him a provocative look. I want to see how far this Dragonyc Form can go¡­ Kai scoffed as he faced him once again, this time imitating a fighting stance he saw in his previous life. His legs and shoulders stood apart and his arms were raised up to his chin, protecting his vitals. Haniard¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, but he only smiled faintly as he waited for Kai to attack, which didn¡¯t take long as he immediately lunged at the man. He sent a multitude of loose punches toward Haniard, which he casually dodged as he looked at the bizarre fighting technique. He has some sort of style but it¡¯s messy, uncoordinated, imprecise¡­ he¡¯s worse than a beginner¡­ He sent out a punch toward Kai, taking advantage of his many openings, and sent him flying backward a few meters before regaining his footing. He frowned, looking at Haniard with a perplexed expression. Is he toying with me?! Inhaling deeply, he dashed toward Haniard, sending out a fake right hook, causing him to dodge backward, where Kai¡¯s feet would wait for him. He kicked him up into the air, taking him by surprise, and before he could even land, Kai jumped toward him, sending him flying onto the ground. The ground shuddered as Haniard dug a small hole into it, and Kai landed on his body before he even got a chance to get up, deepening the hole he found himself in. Kai lifted him up by the collar, preparing to strike again, but before he could do that a sharp pain spread from his wrist. He let go of Haniard, and noticed that his hand had been rotated the other way around, not only that, his fingers were a jumbled mess of flesh and bone, and even his feet were barely recognizable. He let out a light scoff, ignoring the pain as he inhaled deeply. A wave of warmth spread throughout his body as his wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Haniard observed these changes and he took a mental note as he pulled out his sword. He barely has any power behind those fists, and when he does hit he ends up doing more damage to himself than to me¡­ what an idiot¡­ Kai ignored the pain as he rushed toward him, subconsciously imbuing his claws with the corrosive power of darkness as he aimed at his neck. The sound of metal clashing with metal rang in the battlefield as Haniard blocked the strike, causing Kai¡¯s claws to break. He lost and regenerated claws endlessly as he struck faster and faster, gradually gaining an understanding of his new form, and increasing his control over it. Haniard¡¯s focus increased as he noticed Kai hitting harder, faster, and more precise. He blocked Kai with his sword each time he would aim for his vitals and would dodge the strike whenever possible as his sword slowly lost its luster. As time passed, and Kai understood his powers better, Haniard was forced to block with his sword more and more often, wincing in pain each time he saw a small piece of it get chipped off. Kai¡¯s fists suddenly opened into a hand, and a small wisp of fire appeared within it, rapidly becoming a fireball, making Haniard take a step back, then hit him with a Windshot. Haniard stepped back slightly, in a place where Kai had raised the ground a bit, causing him to lose his balance. Kai¡¯s fists descended upon Haniard like a barrage, in response to which Haniard cast a few barriers, and let out a strong discharge of mana. ¡°Break!¡± he yelled furiously. Kai stepped back, losing his footing as Haniard imbued his sword with darkness magic, his sword casting a purple trail as it shot toward Kai¡¯s claws. He scoffed at the straight, and he extended his hand as he cast several small barriers around in the shape of his hand around his palm, and his arm trembled as he caught the sword with his bare hands. Haniard¡¯s eyes widened as he hastily tried to remove his sword from Kai¡¯s grasp, however, he found that no matter how much he wanted, he couldn¡¯t actually pull it back. How is this possible?! He suddenly let go of the sword as Kai reached toward his neck, and retreated as he cast several minor spatial barriers between him and Kai. He panted heavily as he analyzed the situation. Kai also took the time to observe the changes in his body, ignoring the physical changes, he contemplated on how to best use his strength. If I concentrate most of my strength in a single part of my body when striking, the damage I deal would be greater, however¡­ He sighed as he looked at the ground littered with claws, flesh, and blood, most of it belonging to him. I can¡¯t control it perfectly, I won¡¯t last long at this rate¡­ He clenched his fist as memories of his parents flashed in his mind, and his eyes snapped to Haniard, gritting his teeth as a thick killing aura emanated from within his body. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Glaring at Haniard, he let out a primordial scream that came from the depths of his soul, the sound caused the air to shudder, and all animals in a small radius looked toward Kai¡¯s direction with a look of reverence and fear. He stepped forward, ignoring all the spatial barriers, he appeared in front of Haniard in an instant, and the air split in two as his punch shot toward his enemy. Haniard¡¯s pupils constricted as he instantly cast several mana shields as he deflected Kai¡¯s punch with his metallic arm. The fist fell toward the ground, and the ground shuddered as they made contact, a shockwave spreading out from the impact. Kai wiggled his arm in an attempt to escape his hand, but it was firmly planted in the dried soil. Haniard immediately pulled out another sword from his spatial ring, slashing toward Kai¡¯s neck. Almost instinctively, he dodged in a weird manner, barely able to make the blade miss his vitals. Agh! He grunted in pain as a deep cut appeared on his shoulder, and blood spurt out everywhere as the darkness-imbued sword ate away at his flesh the moment it healed. How had Dad managed to endure this? Finally pulling out his fists, he retreated more than five dozen meters and he applied pressure on his wound as he glared at Haniard, and a wave of anxiety and fear washed over him as a thought popped up in his mind. Even when he looks shocked he¡¯s confident, although I seem to have the advantage over him¡­ how come I don¡¯t feel like that at all? Could it be¡­ He gulped as his heart skipped a beat, and his pupils trembled as he looked at Haniard. Could it be that he was testing me? A shiver ran down his spine as realization hit him, and his pupils constricted as he clenched his fists. You want to see how strong I am¡­ so be it! He cast a speed-enhancing spell, and his claws turned darker as two small tornadoes rotated around his fists, pulling everything before him backward. He imbued them with the power of darkness, and his eyes lit up with a witty glint as he shot the two pitch-black tornadoes which shot with great speed toward Haniard. Haniard cast several protection barriers in front of him in an attempt to slow them down, and he ran toward the purple sword Kai had left on the ground as he covered himself with layers of protection. Kai pulled his wand and smiled sinisterly at him, disappearing from sight once again as he stopped a few meters behind Haniard, who just managed to grab his sword. His head snapped back as he felt a sudden threat of death loom over him, and his eyes widened as he saw Kai point a wand at his head, mouthing only one word before all sound disappeared. ¡°You know - in my world gods aren''t the only ones that know how to wield a heavenly tribulation.¡± A large, violent explosion that seemed out of this world appeared in a small area around them. Haniard raised his sword, instantly casting several dozen layers of protection as he attempted to retreat, however¡­ he couldn¡¯t! The two black tornadoes were still blocking his path, which gave him no choice but to endure silently. His body flashed as he chanted several protection spells, however, it was far too late. A deafening sound reverberated through the air as the explosion gradually spread outward, and the ground cracked under the heat as the air became heavier. What kind of spell is this?! Haniard panted as he anxiously looked around, and a shiver ran down his spine as he felt the change of mana in the area. It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s disappearing!? He glanced upward, his skin burning hot as he tried to make sense of the situation, and he could vaguely see the shape of the explosion. From afar, it looked like a huge mushroom cloud that pierced through the heavens. The sound of shattering glass echoed in the area as Haniard¡¯s barriers shattered in quick succession, and he finally felt the brunt of the pressure as it reached its peak. He flew wildly about as the huge mushroom-shaped cloud revealed a horrific scene as it gradually faded away. A huge, scorched hole replaced the patch of ground that once existed in the area, and somewhere in it lay a person, coughing and spitting blood as he struggled to get up. Haniard¡¯s metallic arm was nowhere to be seen, and most of his hair had been burnt off, as well as most of his clothes. He wore a twisted, horrible expression on his face and his eyes widened in shock as he inspected the ruined battlefield. This area is devoid of any mana! And that brat¡­ where is he?! A doubt arose in his heart as he pondered over the matter, however, he quickly let off that thought. There are traces of teleportation left¡­ he must have escaped! His teeth let out a scraping sound as they ground against each other, fury overwhelming his body. He coughed out blood, realizing that there was nothing he could do anymore. The little amount of mana he had left almost flowed backward in his veins, and his muscles trembled under his weight as he slowly moved out of the death zone. He sighed as he looked toward the morning sky, and he crushed a small stone before disappearing. ¡­ Somewhere in the huge forest around the kingdom, the rustling of leaves and crackling of branches broke the silence of the quiet wonderland. The birds stopped their morning song as they quickly fled in panic, the flapping of their wings accompanied by a heavy thud. At the base of a tree lay a boy, his silver hair reflecting the stray rays of the twilight sun, and his water-crimson eyes trembled as his chest heaved heavily. Silver scales fell off his body, revealing a set of dark red and torn clothes. He grunted in pain as he tried to lift his head, his entire body shivering as tears slid down his cheeks, hiccuping lightly as he tried to calm his breathing. Sighing, he leaned against the tree to support himself, and his unfocused gaze stared at a piece of old and torn paper. He clutched it tightly as he brought it to his face, his gaze shifting toward the necklace hanging by his neck. Tears streamed down like a waterfall, gradually flooding his face as he pressed the necklace to his chest, a sharp, cold pain spread from his chest throughout his whole body. Mom¡­ dad¡­ *hic* mom¡­ *hic* dad¡­ His consciousness slowly faded away, and his breathing calmed down as the rhythmic drops of chilling rain landed on his body. Hurried, dragged footsteps slowly approached his location, and a small shadow cast over him as the tired figure of a person stopped before him. Chapter 26: Morbid Ever After The gentle breeze caressed the tender blades of grass, swaying them gracefully to and fro, while a scattering of dried leaves whispered in accompaniment, drifting harmoniously in its wake. The leaves followed the breeze, flying above the vibrant grass field before stopping on a boy¡¯s face. He scratched his nose, pushing away the leaves before he resumed his peaceful sleep. Laying in the field, his body sinking into the grass, his long silver hair was almost completely hidden within its blades. His chest heaved as he slowly opened his eyes, blinking rapidly as the sun hit his crimson pupils. His hair fell along his body as he slowly got up, stretching before looking around curiously. Where am I? He tried to stand up, however, he shot back to the ground the moment he raised, almost like an invisible force pulled him down. What the?! Kai¡¯s heart sank to his stomach as he tried standing up once again, but his legs felt heavy as if they were tightly constrained by spikey tendrils. He screamed in pain as blood gushed out of his feet, turning the grass to a deep crimson color. His gut-wrenching screams reverberated in the empty field, but his pleadings fell on deaf ears, as no one was there to hear. He wore a pitiful expression as he yelled toward the sky in a silent voice. He snapped his head backward as he felt a morbid aura rapidly approach him, and his pupils widened in shock at the sight before him. A man and a woman walked slowly toward him, their ghostly bodies covering a dozen meters in a single step. Mom¡­Dad¡­? He watched in horror as his parents¡¯ figures became clearer and clearer in his eyes, they both wearing smiling expressions as they casually strolled toward him sending a shiver down his spine. Goosebumps spread all over his body as he gulped, his face flushed red and his face broke into a relieved smile after seeing his parents alive and well, but he was too blinded by their presence to observe the morbid scene behind them. The grass withered and fell apart before disappearing into clouds of dust, revealing the dried and broken dirt, similar to that of the Vampire Kingdom. The sky darkened and a blood moon appeared, hanging above their heads following them wherever they passed. Kai tried getting up, and he grunted in pain as he fell to the ground, violently hitting the floor with his jaw. He raised his head, hopefully looking at his parents, and his heart threatened to jump out of his chest as their figures came closer and closer. He could clearly see their young faces, their bright smile, and their glowing crimson eyes. Mom! Dad! He yelled inwardly as he began crawling through the grass, dragging his bloody legs as he hurried toward his parents, his elbows gradually becoming a mangled mess as the grass turned into small, dark spears that dug into his bones. He steeled through the unbearable pain as he stared forward with anticipation, waiting for his parents to pick him up, hug and tell him that everything will be alright. His eyes gleamed with hope as their figures finally arrived by his hide, their translucent clothes fluttered past his body, which started decaying as soon as they walked past him. He gasped in shock as he looked toward his parents with widened eyes, and his body jolted slightly before he looked around. Finally seeing the death and decay his parents left in their wake, he stared at his decomposing body with horror as he let out a soundless scream. No! Don''t leave me! He pleaded inwardly, and his heart skipped a beat as they halted their footsteps. They slowly turned their heads at an unnatural angle, their exposed skull had bits of melted and rotten flesh hanging from them, their empty eye sockets glowed with a fierce red color and their teeth cackled as their body turned, following the motion of their heads. His mother had a gaping hole in her chest, while his father was missing his hand and clothes, exposing his still-beating heart that could be seen through his ribcage. Kai gulped and his entire body trembled as he tried running backward, however, he was unable to move. He shifted his gaze toward his legs, where he saw two pairs skeletal of arms tightly hugging his shins and thighs, dragging them to the ground as they slowly tore away his flesh. "Why¡­ son¡­? Why¡­?" His parents'' eerie voices rang in his mind, cold sweat dripped down his spine as he tried to pry open the arms, however, all his efforts were futile. "You¡­ you killed our son¡­" His eyes widened as stared at his parents, his left eye slowly fell out of its socket, turning into dust before even reaching the ground. "No! No! I¡­ I''m your son!" He yelled, spitting his yellow teeth out as bloody tears flooded his eyes. "Your fault! ALL YOUR FAULT!" The sky shuddered, the couple''s voices reverberating through the air, and a huge metallic hand raised up from the ground, violently slamming into Kai''s body, destroying his midsection. The skeletal arms finally dragged his legs into the ground, disappearing completely from view under Kai''s primal pain-filled scream. He tried removing the metal hand, his futile actions causing his parent''s teeth to cackle in amusement. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "Serves you right¡­ ri¡õht, you ¡õ¡õke!" Kai let out a bloody scream as the metallic hand dug its claws into his body, dragging him backward and into the crowd, his parents'' ghostly laugh echoing in his mind as he became one with the ground. ¡­ "Aaagh" His body jolted as his eyes snapped open, and he grunted in pain as his heart pushed wildly against his ribcage. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as he attempted to calm his unsteady breathing. He brought his hand to his chest, clutching at his heart as he tried to ease his pulse, inhaling deeply in an attempt to steady himself. His sweat-drenched upper body was covered in bandages, and blood seeped from his open wounds, dying them crimson. He looked around the familiar room, the walls made out of pelts gave him some privacy as he lay down on the large bed. He briefly inspected his bruised and bloodied arms before gently lowering them on the bed. A set of slow and heavy footsteps echoed in his ears as the figure of an old man appeared in the corner of his eye. He carried a vat of water and sighed as he stopped next to Kai, placing the vat on a chair by his head. "Another nightmare?" He asked as he wet a cloth, undoing his dirty bandages and cleaning his wounds, without waiting for Kai to answer. He didn''t resist, he couldn''t even if he wanted to as he barely had any strength in his body. The cold water sent shivers throughout his entire body as it touched his burning skin. A soft light emitted from the old man¡¯s wand, and a brief feeling of relief washed over his corrosive wound. He stared blankly ahead as the old man helped him up, drying him off before placing new bandages over his wounds and leaving without saying another word, only giving Kai a pitiful glance. Lying back down, he inhaled deeply, staring blankly at the ceiling as he tried to calm down. He held the purple necklace his parents gave him, his mind occupied by thoughts, but empty at the same time. His teeth let out a scraping sound as he remembered the events of the past few days, and his heart threatened to jump out of his chest as images of that day flashed before his eyes. The old man had found him five days ago, laying against a tree not far from his camp, unconscious. His body was drenched in blood and a few drops of rain washed off a bit every so often. Even unconscious, he held tightly onto the necklace, as if he was afraid that he might lose it. The old man¡¯s eyes widened after he inspected Kai¡¯s wounds. He poured mana into his body, carefully inspecting every nook and cranny and his shock deepened after he finished. How is this boy still alive¡­ A lot of the bones in Kai¡¯s body were broken, and a large percentage of his mana veins were covered in cracks, ready to shatter at any moment. His muscles were torn to shreds, and his internal organs were a complete mess. The most shocking thing, however, was the wound that ran across his chest from his shoulder. Malicious, dark energy ate away at his skin, rotting his flesh and drinking his blood. The old man gulped as he used some light magic to drive away the corrosion, but it did little to no good. It will take a while¡­ He sighed as he put his wand away. He brought Kai back to the camp, placing a small totem by his head to watch over him. His heart raced in his chest as he ran toward Kai¡¯s home, and an empty feeling appeared in his stomach as countless thoughts flashed in his mind. No¡­ it can¡¯t be! The battlefield appeared in his field of view, his heart dropped to his stomach as he panted while looking at the morbid scene. Countless corpses littered the crimson-dyed ground, bits and pieces of flesh rotting away, emanating a putrid stench, filling the air with the aura of death. The old man jumped over the burnt and mangled bodies of the black armored soldiers, frantically praying and hoping that his thoughts would not come to be. However what one fears to happen always becomes reality, and one¡¯s worst nightmares always end up being true. He ran toward what remained of the house, a few walls covered in holes, the roof had caved in and the windows became nothing more than glorified knives. The old man fell to his knees as he arrived next to Elena¡¯s lifeless body, her youthful vigor replaced by the face of a middle-aged woman. A gaping hole took the place of where her heart used to be. Her pale skin contrasted with the pool of dark blood that she was stuck to, and her faint smile remained frozen on her face, which, together with her widened eyes created a horrific picture. He brought his trembling hand to her face, slowly closing her eyes as he held back tears, and he took out a pelt from his ring, covering Elena¡¯s body before getting up. Ray¡­ where is Ray!? Looking around, he gulped as he feared the worst, but he had to make sure, he needed to verify with his own eyes that it didn¡¯t happen¡­ He looked toward the destroyed house, in front of which lay Ray, his body in a worse state than even Elena¡¯s as the darkness consumed most of his skin and muscles, leaving behind an almost empty skeleton. ¡°Ray!¡± The old man exclaimed, barely recognizing Kai¡¯s father at first sight, his heart ached painfully and a sharp pain spread all over his body as tears flew down his cheeks. ¡°WHY??¡± he let out a long, pain-filled scream as he stared at the cloudy sky, his soul tearing into pieces as he fell to the ground, repeatedly hitting the ground with fury and desperation. ¡­ He took out a small cart from his ring and gently placed their covered bodies next to each other, he finally departed after finding Ray¡¯s arm and sword. The cart¡¯s wheels creaked under their weight, and the old man disappeared into the forest, slowly dragging his feet behind him. He found a place where the sun would shine during noon, in front of two trees whose trunks intertwined. Using earth magic to dig two holes, he could not bring himself to separate the couple and laid them to rest together before dirt covered their empty husks. He then dug the sword deep into the ground, marking their resting place. He returned to his tent as darkness took over the land, his body swaying weakly from left to right as he balanced himself against the trees. ¡­ Kai woke up two days later, every fiber of his body screaming in pain even as he tried to breathe. He couldn¡¯t move, he couldn¡¯t eat, he could barely drink water and speak, and even that proved difficult. The old man rushed to his side, his being overcome with emotion upon seeing Kai awake, and dropped to his knees as his shoulders shook lightly. Kai looked at him from the corner of his eyes, their dimly lit crimson hue, and unmoving pupils seeming to have lost all life. ¡°Who did this?¡± the old man asked, choking lightly. He didn¡¯t answer immediately, instead looking at the ceiling with a deadpan expression. His disheveled hair covered part of his face, and after a long period of silence, his lips parted. ¡°Ha..ni..ard¡­¡± he said in a hoarse, barely audible voice, pain spreading all throughout his body with each syllable. A shiver ran down the old man¡¯s spine upon hearing the name, but his eyes burned with determination and fury. ¡°I knew it¡­¡± He hurriedly got up, his expression covered in the desire for revenge, and he got ready to rush out of the tent. His eyes widened in surprise upon feeling something drag him back. He snapped his head backward and saw Kai¡¯s pain-filled expression and trembling hand that held him by the cloak. Deep within his dim eyes, hidden behind a layer of grief and depression was a fire fueled by rage, emitting a hint of killing intent and bloodlust. The old man sighed and gave up on any thoughts of revenge upon seeing Kai¡¯s seething hatred. Looks like it¡¯s inevitable¡­ He freed himself and left the tiny room with his hands behind his slightly hunched back. Chapter 27: An Orphans Desperation. Recalling the events of the past few days, all the pent-up rage he¡¯d bottled up was ready to explode at any time. He winced in pain as he straightened his back, and clenched his fists while looking down at his body. Remembering the technique his mother shared with him, he attempted to circulate mana through his broken mana veins, causing excruciating pain to spread throughout his body. His stomach muscles convulsed violently and he threw up blood on the new pelts, immediately stopping the technique. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as he stared at the viscous pool of blood before him. His pupils trembled as tears slowly dripped down his cheeks, unable to contain the sadness and despair. His nails cut deep into his flesh as his shivering hands clenched into fists, and his teeth let out a sharp screeching sound as he grit them. Blood soaked his palms, turning them into a crimson hue which only grew larger as range and anger took over his body. I refuse! I refuse to be a cripple! He grunted in pain and slammed down on his knees, bloodying the pelt that served as a blanket as he wiped his hands on it. His bandaged and broken legs shivered as he removed the cover, and he wore a twisted expression while trying to get out of bed. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! His leg muscles spasmed violently as they barely listened to his orders, and the bone fragments rattled in his body as he fell to the ground with a loud thud. Biting his lower lip, he raised his head toward a makeshift torch, a small fire stone glued to the pelts situated next to a shelf. He dragged his feet behind him as he crawled on the uneven and cold floor. The chilling surface rubbed against his bandages, nearly undoing them as blood seeped out of them once again, the dark mana pulsating wildly as it ate away at his flesh. Enduring through the pain, he crept even closer to the magic stone, his eyes burning with the desire to prove himself wrong, to prove the old man wrong¡­ and to stop his fears from blooming further. Minutes that felt like hours passed, a sharp pain spreading all throughout his body each time he moved. Panting, he held onto the shelf as he raised himself, and he tugged the firestone while falling to the ground. He lay on his back as he held the stone above his head, its glowing surface reflecting in his crimson eyes. It burned furiously in his palm as the mana that the old man left in it had yet to be fully used, and he shut his eyes as he imagined the mana in his body. I can do it¡­ I can do it¡­ Recalling the spell for a simple fireball, he gritted his teeth while trying to control the energy within his cracked mana veins, and called to the meager amount of mana still present in his core. A burning pain spread throughout his nearly shattered mana veins as the old cracks expanded and new ones appeared, he could feel his core vibrating violently as the two dimly lit stars slowly spun to life. The firestone trembled in his hands as it accepted the barely usable mana, and a small wisp of fire seemed to be forming above it. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. However, that didn¡¯t last long as it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. As Kai forcefully used the magical energy, he could feel that his mana core stood at the brink of shattering, he could either persist and risk higher injury and death¡­ or he could accept that he was no longer able to cast Onkos spells¡­ His eyes snapped open, and he threw the firestone away in blinding rage. He brought his burning, shaky hands to his face, which he gripped madly, to the point of bruises and wounds. A voiceless scream left his body as he parted his lips, letting out a primal and muffled scream as his hoarse voice cracked under the insurable pain. The old man rushed madly to the room, his heart racing as anxiety overtook his body. ¡°WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU STUPID BOY?!¡± he screamed madly as he laid his eyes on Kai, who remained silent. Struggling to lift him up without provoking any more pain, the old man placed Kai onto the bed and looked at him with a scornful gaze before letting out a deep sigh. ¡°Just¡­ rest for now¡­¡¯ Kai stared at the ceiling, struggling to hold back tears as he questioned what could have caused such catastrophic damage. Was it that weird form I transformed into when I fought that bastard¡­ or maybe because of that ¡®Heavenly Tribulation¡¯ spell I didn¡¯t test properly¡­ perhaps a combination of both¡­Fuck! He grunted in pain as he cursed inwardly, and decided that it was better to sleep the pain away than dwell on things he couldn¡¯t change. However, even the sleep he longed for was nothing but a mental prison, where he was shackled by nightmares and whipped by guilt. He slowly fell into the fabrications of his own mind. Every time, the same scene would repeat, accompanied by a different sunset. Every time, the peaceful dream would turn into a hellish nightmare. Every time, this hell would become his eternal torture. Every time, sweat would drench his body, and his heart would race. The next month passed slowly, and Kai started walking and talking more freely. He often sat at a bonfire with the old man. There, the crackling wood accompanied his trembling voice as he recounted everything that had happened to the old man, whose face was covered in guilt. His heart skipped a beat when Kai told him about the changes in his body, about the weird form he had, and how he managed to fight Haniard equally¡­ of course he omitted the last part of the fight, which was largely unimportant, for now. The old man decided to look into it as he found the description familiar, but his old mind couldn¡¯t quite put his fingers on where it was that he saw it. During that time, Kai had taken small steps toward healing. The corrosive wound has been reduced to a small cut and the skin around it healed slowly, leaving a horrid scar behind. The boy was also worried about Kana and her family and had asked the old man to go look for them. Fortunately, their house was already vacant, and it looked like they had left in a hurry. Once he was able to walk normally, the old man accompanied him to his parent¡¯s graves, where the erected sword reflected the soft light that sneaked through the canopies. He made his way toward it, staring at the hole that was now covered in lush vegetation, and a single tree had sprouted from its resting place. His heart dropped to his stomach, and he fell down on his knees as he lost all feeling in his legs. Blood dripped from his clenched fists, his mind in turmoil as he struggled to accept the facts¡­ but he had to. He saw them die with his own eyes, and now their grave lays beneath his feet. Tears flowed down his cheeks like a river, and he bit his lips as he struggled to hold back his cries. He wept, and the sounds of his grief echoed through the calm forest so that anyone nearby could hear the sound of his suffering. They were the cries of an orphan. The light reflecting upon the blade faded, and so his cries stopped. His eyes snapped open and he walked toward the sword as he got up. A shiver ran down his spine as he grabbed the hilt. It¡¯s heavy¡­ The weight of the sword fell on his body as he raised it above his head, staring at its bloodied surface, he clutched it tighter as it trembled in his hand. The old man waited for Kai to finish mourning, and he let out a heavy sigh as he looked with pity at the boy. So much tragedy at such a young age¡­ I¡¯m surprised he¡¯s still so lively¡­ Chapter 28: All Thats left... is Hope Another half month passed, and Kai¡¯s physical injuries have recovered for the most part, even the corrosion has vanished after enough treatment. However his mana veins showed no signs of healing, his core was still cracked and the stars were still dim. The camp was shrouded in darkness, save for a few spots where the light passed through the dense canopy. On its far south was a training ground, with only two poorly made wooden dummies and a fence surrounding them. The dummies were covered in shallow and imprecise cuts, signs of poor swordsmanship. Kai¡¯s white clothes stuck to his skin as sweat drenched his body, and he clutched the purple sword hilt even tighter as blood dripped from his banged hands. He swung relentlessly at the wooden targets, fury, and anger fueling his every action, desperation driving his sword toward the enemy. His lack of technique didn¡¯t impede him from mindlessly slashing and thrusting, sometimes hitting the dummy with the side of his blade, sometimes it got stuck, but most of the time he¡¯d make shallow cuts that weren¡¯t even one centimeter deep. His chest heaved up and down as he took a deep breath, the hilt of the sword trembled in his hand as he planted the blade onto the ground, using it as support. He wiped the sweat off his face as he raised the heavy sword above his head. ¡°Stop it!¡± A deep and hoarse voice rang in his ears, and he suddenly felt a strong pressure descend upon his body. He fell to his knees, his sword clanking as it lay beside him. Struggling to turn his head, he was just able to make a figure out of the corner of his eye. ¡°What is the meaning of this?!¡± He demanded as his voice cracked, glaring at the old man as he fought against the magic. The old man¡¯s eyes seemed to be staring at nothing as memories of countless years ago flashed in his mind. His face darkened and he looked sternly at Kai, ¡°How many days has it been since you started doing this?!¡± He yelled back, his caring voice now filled with anger. ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough? Look at your hands and your body, for how long are you going to mutilate yourself like this? How would your parents react? What do you think you will achieve by doing this? Do you think it will bring back your parents? Do you think that by swinging that damned sword around all day you¡¯ll be able to defeat Haniard?!¡± His hoarse voice rose higher and higher, cracking by the time he had finished his speech, and his old, wrinkled eyes looked deeply at Kai, his young self and the boy before him merging briefly before he removed his magic. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the tent, you need to heal first¡­¡± He had just turned around when a tired, cracking voice echoed in his mind, ¡°What do you know?!¡± Kai stood up, leaning on the sword as he glared at the old man, his eyes burning with hate, but not directed at the elder. His chest heaved as blood rushed up his throat, which he coughed out before parting his lips. ¡°Do you have any idea how much it hurts to lose everything you hold dear?! To feel powerless? To not be able to do anything but rot in a pool of guilt and regret? Wha¡­ What does an old man like you know?!¡± Kai¡¯s face flushed red as he held back tears, and a few red veins appeared on his forehead. Silence, He stared at the old man¡¯s back, a faint aura of loneliness and grief exuding from his body, but he remained quiet. Kai realized he had said too much, and his trembling lips parted as he tried to excuse himself. ¡°Elder¡­ I-¡± ¡°I know,¡± the old man cut him off as he turned his head slightly, sadness visible in his sunken eyes. Once again facing forward, he beckoned Kai to follow him, his voice lingering behind as he slowly made his way toward the camp, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s treat your wounds for now.¡± Kai followed silently behind the old man, slowly making their way to the large tent situated in the middle of the camp. He curiously looked around and noticed that the children had stopped running around. The skin of the older ones began to stick to their bones, and even the younger ones began to show signs of Blood Rotting. The men were few and far between, and those extremely sick had disappeared completely. The women weren¡¯t doing that much better either, a large number of them had vanished as well, leaving behind those younger ones whose skin had almost completely withered. Kai¡¯s face darkened, and he gritted his teeth in frustration How have I not noticed this until now? His vision drifted toward the elder¡¯s hunched back, which suddenly seemed much larger than before. ¡°Elder¡­¡± His lips parted, however, the old man cut him off before he could continue. ¡°Call me Grandpa,¡± he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Kai halted his footsteps, taken aback by the elder¡¯s sudden request, but he quickly adjusted his speech before asking. ¡°Gra-grandpa, if this Blood Rotting is such a horrible disease, why do these people¡­¡± he cut himself short, not daring to continue however his question was obvious. The old man let out a heavy sigh, stopping as he straightened his back. ¡°Look around you, these people, the children, and their parents. What do you see? Are they not in pain? Are they not suffering? Yet they still persevere, they still keep a smile on their face. Why is it so?¡± Kai remained silent, pondering over the question however he was unable to find an answer even after a few minutes. The old man turned toward Kai, locking eyes with him as he parted his lips. ¡°They¡¯re hopeful. They hope that one day this curse will be lifted from our race, that maybe someone will find a way to free them from this constant suffering. I¡¯ve been watching over them for a while now, and none of them ever complained.¡± He inhaled deeply before he continued in a shaky voice ¡°When it was time for them to turn¡­ they left this world with a smile on their face¡­¡± After finishing his speech, the old man headed toward the tent, leaving Kai standing in the middle of the camp as he pondered over what he had said. He walked toward a large tree, and leaned against it as he sat down, quietly watching the camp¡¯s residents go about their life. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The sun changed positions, and the darkness that veiled the camp deepened even further as the cold night descended upon them. The wind blew in his disheveled hair, and a warm shiver ran down his spine as his body attempted to heat up. Yet, he remained unmoving, watching the sickly residents prepare for a night that may as well be their last. The children, although sick and tired, still chased each other as they played. The women watched over them with a faint smile. A small boy who was about half Kai¡¯s size approached him with caution, holding a small fruit. He tore it in two as he arrived next to him, and handed one half to Kai, who subconsciously grabbed it. His pupils suddenly enlarged as he broke out of his daze, and he looked at the boy who had already run away in fear. He stared at the fruit in his, slowly bringing it to his face before taking a bite. ¡°It¡¯s bitter¡­¡± ¡­ The tent¡¯s entrance slowly parted as Kai made his way inside, and noticed the old man sitting next to the fireplace. He made his way over and sat opposite the elder, who raised his head to look at Kai, the heat from the fire distorting the air between them. The buzzing of the cicadas and the owl¡¯s hoots broke the tense silence every so often, and Kai pondered the old man¡¯s words as he stared at the dancing flames of the fireplace. ¡°What do you mean to say?¡± his voice cracked slightly as he turned toward the elder. ¡°To not lose hope? To keep fighting and moving forward? What is there to hope for? What should I do?!¡± His voice rose into a yell as he jumped up, blood dripping from his clenched fists, staining the pelt carpet. The old man raised his head toward Kai, his sunken eyes revealing the sadness hiding deep within his soul. He shook his head as he looked at the boy whose eyes burned with hatred, and he sighed before his lips parted. ¡°What can you do right now? Do you want to give up? Your mana veins are crippled, your body barely healed to half a decent state, and your mind is a mess too! Do you want to go and kill Haniard? Do you really think that by swinging a sword randomly you¡¯ll get somewhere? Fool! The only thing you¡¯ll achieve is self-mutilation, you will only become weaker! You need to hold on to hope, hope that you can heal your veins, hope that you can become stronger, hope that you will have enough strength to kill that bastard!¡± Kai stared at the fireplace as the old man¡¯s words entered his ears and engrained in his brain, and he softly whispered to himself as a glint of determination appeared in his eyes, ¡°Strength¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, strength¡­¡± The old man took a puff from a pipe as he looked toward the ceiling, seemingly reminiscing about a long-forgotten past. ¡°I don¡¯t know how old I was back then¡­ maybe fifty or sixty, it wasn¡¯t that rare for me to wander the human kingdom, despite the restrictions imposed on us. It was in one of my outings that I saw her, a girl as beautiful as the full moon. Her eyes shone like the sun, and her smile made me feel something for the first time in my life. Back then I had no responsibilities or family, just myself and a derelict home. I wasn¡¯t sure how to approach her, but one thing I know is that I never thought about the consequences¡­¡± he paused as he sighed, taking another puff as he continued. ¡°I thought I could run away if push come to shove, after all the Inquisitors had no power in the Vampire Kingdom after, but I underestimated their viciousness-¡± ¡°Inquisitors?¡± Kai interrupted with a confused expression. ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry about them¡­ they¡¯re nothing but a legend now.¡± the old man said before he continued his story. ¡°So as I was saying, I eventually had the guts to meet with her after disguising my eyes, and we immediately got along. She was shy in the beginning, real shy, and couldn¡¯t even get a word out without her running away¡­ but we did start to talk. A few words here, a few words there, it didn¡¯t take long for her to fall for me, and I didn¡¯t even use our powers!¡± Kai¡¯s lips parted, looking as if he wanted to say something, however, he got shut down quickly by the old man, who didn¡¯t seem to want to dwell on the subject. ¡°We had been going for half a year at this point, I knew a lot of things about her, but I had to make up things for myself, lying to her like that didn¡¯t feel right but what other choice did I have? It seemed like your usual day when I went to her house, ready to pick her up for another date or to help do her chores and whatnot. However, when I got to her house I felt my blood boil, my temper got the best of me the moment I laid my eyes on her. ¡°She was crying, her eyes and face were as red as the blood flowing through my veins. Her arms were held tightly by another¡¯s, a man that I had never seen before, dragging her away from her home. But I knew what that man was, his shiny black uniform decorated with red roses gave away his identity in a split second, an Inquisitor. They were never up to any good, besides killing and torturing vampires the only other activity they did was torment the population. At that moment¡­ I didn¡¯t care about my identity anymore, I didn¡¯t think about the consequences or about the girl. Anger flowed through my veins and before I knew it¡­ the man was dead, laying in a pool of blood and scattered brains. My eyes had returned to normal, and humans surrounded me. The girl looked at me with her teary eyes, which were filled with fear even greater than before. I knew I fucked up, I wasn¡¯t safe anymore. I panicked¡­ and so I ran away.¡± Kai listened attentively, almost sitting on his toes as sweat ran down his back, but the old man only took another puff from his pipe and leaned back, struggling to find his next words. ¡°What about the girl?¡± Kai asked curiously, now intrigued by the old man¡¯s half-finished story. ¡°The girl?...¡± he sighed heavily before his lips parted, ¡°They knew I loved her, she had told them herself, apparently she hated me now. However, she was foolish, the Inquisitors used her as bait. Of course, I went, wishing to save her but¡­ there were too many of them. I could hear whispers from the bushes they were hiding in, their silhouettes through the houses they stole, and the girl¡¯s anxious expression gave it all away even more. I watched quietly from afar, from a bush hidden behind a rock, I watched her and the others grow restless, but I didn¡¯t expect what was about to happen.¡± The old man¡¯s voice trembled as his tone turned heavy, but he continued in a painful voice. ¡°Once the Inquisots grew bored, they attacked the girl¡­ they did¡­ unspeakable things to her¡­ Screams of agony, of terror, of despair, rang in my ears but I could do nothing except look away¡­ I hid behind the stone until they were done. Counting the hours¡­ it was no less than seven grueling and painful hours, not only for me but for the girl¡­ who had probably given her last breath by the fifth hour¡­¡± Kai gasped in shock at the elder¡¯s words, whose eyes were red with tears. The awkward silence was only occasionally broken by the old man¡¯s soft sobs, and Kai could only wait in silence until he calmed down. ¡°What about that weird form?¡± He asked after a slight hesitation, and the old man¡¯s eyes widened as he stood up, looking sternly at Kai. ¡°Don¡¯t ever use it again! He ordered simply, and refused to elaborate no matter how much inquired, but ultimately said something that sent shivers down Kai¡¯s spine ¡°It¡¯s a secret tied to the Genesis, I don¡¯t know much about it either so I strongly advise you not to use it.¡± Kai went to sleep after allowing the old man to clean his wounds, feeling perturbed but also slightly excited as he saw life in a different light. Chapter 29: A Hunt Leaves rustled under a young man¡¯s feet, his silver hair dancing in the wind as he maneuvered around the dense vegetation with a purple sword in hand. Blood dyed his clothes made out of brown pelts, turning them to a darker shade. The ground shuddered behind him, and the sound of cracking branches rang in his ears as he glanced backward, where a huge bear-like creature bulldozed through the flora as it angrily chased him, disregarding any injury to his it may cause itself. Blood dripped from a shallow cut that ran across its stomach, and it let out an aggrieved roar as it gained ground on the boy. The chase didn¡¯t last long, however, as the boy stopped in the middle of a clearing where the grass has been flattened, and the ground dyed a dark crimson hue. Kai wore a faint grin as he brandished his sword, which glowed with a soft blue light as the air around it distorted. The bear didn¡¯t think much about the situation as its eyes were locked onto Kai, and it let out an angry roar as it ran toward him at full speed. Kai retreated slightly, and took a fighting stance after stopping in front of a tree, watching the beast carelessly approach him as a glint appeared in his eyes. Thirty meters¡­ his heart began to race like never before, and adrenaline coursed through his veins as he prepared to take on the strongest opponent he¡¯s had thus far. Twenty meters¡­ he gulped, the sword¡¯s hilt trembling in his calloused hands as he clutched it tighter, his body curling up like a spring ready to snap. Ten meters¡­ the huge creature snarled as it opened its jaw, its red fur glowing with an intense light as its speed increased. Five meters¡­ the creature¡¯s breath inundated his nostrils as it rapidly came closer, the heat emanating from its fur distorting the air around it, and Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat after being caught unawares. The distance between the two was negligible, as the beast would maim him in less than a second, his whole body curled up while waiting for the right moment to present itself. The bear¡¯s snout was now less than thirty centimeters away from his body, and the heat emanating from its fur sent goosebumps all over his body as the pelts¡¯ fur burned slightly. Now! Kai kicked up a small cloud of dust as he jumped, barely avoiding the bear¡¯s ferocious fangs by a hair¡¯s breadth. The creature, surprised by the sudden turn of events had no time to react besides trying to halt its moment, however, it was far too late. A loud thud echoed in the forest as the beast¡¯s head collided with the trunk of the tree, letting out a muffled, rage-filled scream through its now flattened snout. It jumped on its hind legs, holding its maimed face as it struggled to suppress the pain, and its bloody eyes locked onto Kai¡¯s position like an eagle stalking its prey, however, it felt something it hadn¡¯t in a long time, fear. In its eyes, this puny human should have been an easy kill, yet it was forced to chase him after its belly has been cut, and now it would need to heal its mangled face. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. It glared at Kai, who dashed toward it, aiming his sword straight at the wound on its stomach. The bear dodged the strike by a centimeter and sent its claws flying toward Kai¡¯s back. Sparks flew as he blocked the strike with the sword as he turned around, and his body trembled as he tried to push back the bear¡¯s heavy paw, however, the beast proved to be way stronger than he was. His boots glowed with a soft light as they dug into the earth, providing him some much-needed balance, and his sword lit up with a purplish hue as the horrible sound of metal scratching on metal rang in his ears. Kai held the hilt and the blade, pushing it sideways in an attempt to free himself from its clutches, however, the bear was relentless and kept striking the sword faster and faster as its anger rose. It let out an annoyed growl as the mangled flesh that was once its snout glowed with a red light, and a small wisp of fire appeared within. The flame grew larger until it was the size of a giant peanut. Kai¡¯s pupils widened in surprise, and he grunted as he undid the enchantment on his feet. He grunted in pain as the bear slashed at his blade, grabbing it with its claws and holding Kai as the fire in its mouth got ready to explode at any time. He quickly dashed out from under the bear, giving up on the blade, and the fire beam that shot out of the bear¡¯s mouth burned the ends of his hair as he barely dodged the hit. The beast, who had used all of its body weight to lock Kai down, fell to the ground in almost the same instant it shot the fire beam, ash rose up from the scorched ground as it hit the floor. Kai took advantage of the opportunity, and pulled out a short dagger from his waist, jumping on top of the dizzy bear and landing on its neck. He raised the dagger above its head, pointing the blade right between the ridges of its skull, plunging the dagger right into its weak point. Blood sprayed everywhere as the beast¡¯s defiant roar reverberated through the air. It jumped to its feet, swaying back and forth as life slowly left its eyes. It threw the bloodied Kai to the ground and chased him around in a last-ditch effort to kill him, however, it was futile. A small river of fresh blood formed in the clearing, bathing the ground in a crimson rain formed from its life force. Falling to the ground, it wanted to let out a last defiant roar, however, the only thing that escaped its mouth was a muffled grunt accompanied by a small surge of blood from its maimed snout. Silence. Kai¡¯s rapid heartbeat accompanied by the sound of flowing blood was the only thing that could still be heard in the small clearing. He panted as he dragged his feet toward the bear, waiting patiently for the blood to finish flowing before approaching the corpse. Another set of footsteps approached the corpse, and Kai broke into joyous laughter as he retrieved the dagger. ¡°Well done my boy!¡± the old man said as he walked closer, his wand trembling in his hand as he put it away. ¡°You took down a second-rank beast with just your body¡­ I never expected that!¡± ¡°And trickery,¡± Kai scoffed, but he couldn¡¯t hide the pride in his voice. ¡°Without using its anger for my own benefit I¡¯m afraid I wouldn¡¯t be sitting here now.¡± The old man nodded as his fingers ran through the creature¡¯s scarlet fur. ¡°But don¡¯t forget that we¡¯re at a natural disadvantage when it comes to bodily strength, trickery is only natural¡­ and besides,¡± he coughed lightly as he placed his hands behind his back ¡°This is only a cub after all, so of course it would be stupid.¡± ¡°What-?¡± Kai coughed as the old man¡¯s voice entered his ears, however, his shock was short-lived. His ears perked up as the sound of dragged feet reverberated through the air, and he snapped his head toward the source. Two yellow eyes approached their location from within the darkness, letting out a low growl as its massive frame slowly revealed itself. Crimson dark patches covered its snow-white fur, and its huge stature loomed over the duo. It bared its fangs as it cautiously approached them, walking with its head held high despite its hopeless appearance. Chapter 30: A Familliar Face ¡°Boy, isn¡¯t that¡­?¡± the old man asked hesitantly, and turned his head toward Kai while vigilently watching over the beast. ¡°Yeah¡­ it¡¯s the Obborik.¡± his clothes fluttered as he jumped down from the bear¡¯s corpse, and picked up his sword from the ground. He gave the Obborik a curious glance, and couldn¡¯t help but question its reason for coming all the way here, especially with the old man present. Lowering his guard, he carefully watched the white beast¡¯s actions, and it growled softly as it slowly walked toward them. It left a trail in the black dirt as it dragged one of its bloody hind legs, cautiously approaching the duo, or better yet, what was behind them. Kai clutched the sword¡¯s hilt as a wave of anger washed over him, however, he decided against his better judgment and sheathed his sword. He watched the beast¡¯s actions carefully, his hand still holding the hilt as a small precaution. The Obborik glanced at the two as it walked past them, circling the bear¡¯s huge carcass, he began to take small bites from it. It tore the fur and the skin, finally reaching its flesh, and it began to devour the corpse under the duos¡¯ gaze. Kai¡¯s hand trembled on the sword¡¯s hilt, remembering the hell he had to go through because of the Obborik before him. He bit his lower lip, blood dripping down his chin as anger nearly blinded his judgment. Looking at the Obborik¡¯s pitiful state, he couldn¡¯t help but pity the beast, as he saw himself in it, however, he couldn¡¯t forget what it had done to him, and most importantly to Kana. I wonder if she¡¯s right¡­ He gulped at the thought that Haniard would attack her family, but the old man had assured him that they had long since left the kingdom. The sound of its chewing reverberated in the area as it hungrily devoured the flesh and entrails, digging its snout deep into the bear¡¯s body, and eating the mana-enriched organs. ¡°Kai, do you want to get rid of it?¡± the old man asked him after seeing that he was undecided. He didn¡¯t answer immediately, on the one hand, this thing wanted to maim and eat them a few months ago¡­ on the other, it did what it had to survive, just like he himself was in this moment. Softening his grip on the hilt, he let his sword fall down the sheath completely, letting out a sharp sound as it clicked in place. Looking at the Obborik, he couldn¡¯t help but feel pity for the bloodied beast. It was obvious its pack had abandoned it, and it was left to struggle all alone in this damned forest. ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ the camp won¡¯t miss a few pieces of meat.¡± He said as he turned his attention away from the Obborik, and instead to the bear¡¯s chest. Taking out his small dagger, he climbed back up the huge carcass and dug next to where the heart was. A hole gradually appeared, and Kai¡¯s bloodied hands dug deep into the mass of flesh, searching for a very specific object. He pulled out his dirty arms and held a small spherical object in his hand. Descending the bear, he handed the small core over to the old man with a grin on his face. ¡°That¡¯s some good stuff,¡± the old man said as he picked up the core, holding it between his index and thumb. ¡°Not very expensive, but can buy at least a day¡¯s worth of food, keep it in case of emergency.¡± Kai placed it inside his pocket before turning to the Obborik, who was still eating from the carcass. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you had enough?¡± he asked the beast, however, it seemed to not have heard what he said and kept on devouring away. He inhaled deeply as he approached the Obborik, and he gulped as its huge figure almost towered over him even when sitting. Why are these things so big¡­ he cried inwardly as he thought of how to get it off the hunt. ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± he turned toward the old man, who wore an amused expression on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me! Sort out your own mess.¡± he chuckled lightly as he leaned on a nearby tree, watching the spectacle that was about to ensue. Kai let out a deep sigh as he looked at the old man, unsure of how to react before staring at the Obborik whose eating speed had decreased at the very least. His brain raced as he tried to find a solution. He picked up a branch from the ground, poking the animal from a distance, however, that did nothing more than anger it, letting out a light snarl before resuming its business. After that, he tried hitting it, which ended with a light tap from its hind legs. Then Kai wanted to drag it away, however the moment he touched its white fur, the Obborik started kicking and screaming like a hyena. Kai let out an annoyed grunt, and he almost unsheathed his sword, however, he sighed and gave up on the thought. ¡°Why is it so hungry anyway? It couldn¡¯t catch a single-horned rabbit?¡± He voiced his exasperated thoughts as he slumped to the ground, almost tempted to give up on the bear. ¡°Catching one of them little things won¡¯t allow it to recuperate the energy lost while doing so.¡± the old man commented from the side, grunting as he got up. ¡°And whatever else that is nutritional enough it wouldn¡¯t be able to kill, that¡¯s why they live in a pack.¡± He walked to Kai¡¯s side, lifting him up, saying ¡°When dealing with wild animals you can¡¯t afford to be gentle or kind, nor can you be too tough or else they will suddenly attack.¡± The old man pulled out his wand and mumbled a short syllable as he pointed it toward the sky. ¡°Ki!¡± Kai¡¯s hair floated upward as a static pressure built up in the air, and a few arcs of electricity danced around his sword as a dark cloud appeared just above the trees. The cloud split in two as a deafening thunder reverberated through the air, and the canopie¡¯s leaves sizzled slightly as they burned in the same moment. A small bolt of thunder struck next to the Obborik in less than a second, startling it. It jumped to its feet, wincing in pain slightly as it opened and licked its bloody snout, crying in panic. Its heart threatened to jump out of its chest, and its eyes moved wildly about to look for the source of its scare. ¡°See? Now we can take the bear without any problems.¡± The elder chuckled as he pulled out a large cart from his spatial ring, which creaked under the creature¡¯s weight after dragging it in. The two tied the corpse to the cart before leaving for the camp. The Obborik watched them depart from the clearing, and it licked its snout staring at the huge bear. It looked at the forest with a lowered head, before quickly turning toward the carriage, and dragged its feet as it followed behind them. ¡°Grandpa¡­ is it following us?¡± Kai remarked as his head slowly turned toward the Obborik with a bewildered expression. ¡°Seems like it.¡± The old man answered nonchalantly, ignoring the beast as he dragged the carriage further. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Kai walked at a slower pace, feeling flabbergasted by the whole situation but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to drive the animal away. Ah whatever¡­ it¡¯ll get bored, probably¡­ The Obborik cared not for what Kai thought, however. All it saw was the huge meal that it didn¡¯t enjoy quite enough. However, after filling its belly earlier and looking closer at the boy, it barely managed to remember where it had seen him before. Its pupils widened in surprise after realizing it, and its footsteps halted briefly before breaking into a sprint. The Obborik¡¯s huge figure rushed toward Kai, lunging at him despite its wounded leg. He prepared to unseathe his word, however by the time he touched the sword¡¯s hilt it was too late. The creature knocked him to the ground, locking his shoulders with its paws as it leaned with most of its body weight on the boy. It snarled its teeth as its snout approached Kai¡¯s face, the bloody and nauseating stench inundating his nostrils. The old man quickly let go of the cart and rushed toward him in a panic as he pulled out his wand. He prepared to cast a spell, however, he stopped right away as he watched the Obborik lick Kai¡¯s face. What in the world? ¡°Argh, blah, get off, you!¡± Kai tried pushing away the furred beast that kept on licking his face, despite his protests, however, it seemed like an impossible ordeal. Argh what the fuck is wrong with this guy? The Obborik¡¯s incessant licking stopped after a few minutes, long after Kai¡¯s face got drenched in droll. It stared at him with widened yellow eyes and winced a few times as it lowered its huge head on his chest. Its head was wider than his midsection, and its puppy-like eyes seemed a bit comical as they completely contrasted its otherwise fearsome appearance. A small cloud of dust rose behind it as its tail wagged rapidly, creating a strong wind current. ¡°Can you get it off me?¡± Kai said as he struggled to free himself from the Obborik¡¯s strength, however, he wasn¡¯t strong enough to move an inch, let alone push off the thing. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± the old man scratched his beard while smiling, ¡°It seems to like you.¡± ¡°Like? What are you talking about, it wanted to kill me a few months ago!¡± he yelled as he struggled to turn his head toward the old man. ¡°I¡¯d much rather believe it''s tasting me!¡± The old man let out a light chuckle as he turned away, dragging the carriage further away, and his voice lingered as his figure disappeared. ¡°It¡¯s rare that you find a companion like that¡­¡± Kai sighed in frustration as he turned toward the Obborik, its huge snout almost pressing against his face, and its wet nose sniffed him playfully before finally getting off him. ¡°What do you want?¡± He asked the animal, who tilted its head in response as if it couldn¡¯t understand what he meant. ¡°Arg! This guy!¡± Kai let out an exasperated sigh before getting up and dusting himself off. ¡°Shoo! Go back in the forest!¡± he said as he signaled it to turn around. The Obborik¡¯s ears twitched slightly, and it walked in a circular motion before sitting down. Kai looked up at the beast and suddenly felt that it wasn¡¯t as scary as it looked¡­ perhaps it was dumber than it looked. Why is it acting like a dog when it wanted to eat me a few months ago? I¡­ is Lumiera fucking with me? Speaking of which¡­ argh! I¡¯ll kill her! Can I even kill a Goddess though? He slapped his face lightly as he turned around, ignoring the Obborik and shoving his useless thoughts aside, he ran after the old man. The wolf-like beast wanted to follow, however it hesitated, and let out a low growl as it ran back into the forest. ¡­ The days passed, and Kai once again left to train in the forest, accompanied by the old man. They stopped in the middle of the clearing where he had slain the bear, the once-fresh blood had long since dried under the forest¡¯s eternal shadow. ¡°You¡¯ve somewhat mastered the basic sword skills I¡¯ve taught you,¡± the old man said, standing ten meters away from Kai. ¡°However, without a body core I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t advance any further, and attempting to to cultivate one without a teacher is too dangerous.¡± Kai raised an eyebrow, and his lips parted briefly before closing just as quickly. The elder stroked his beard before he continued, his eyes gleaming with a faint light as he looked into the distance. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s nothing else I can teach you. Your last challenge¡­¡± he lingered on his words as a slight smile appeared on his face, and the ground shuddered slightly as the sound of rustling leaves and cracking branches reverberated through the air. ¡°Has arrived.¡± Kai turned around, his pupis widening in surprise as a huge figure emerged from the forest. Its scarlet fur was decorated by a few white streaks, and its huge paws left large holes wherever it went. The two round and small ears that decorated its head twitched slightly as the old man¡¯s words rang in its mind, and it roared as its head snapped toward the two. Its large, bloody snout rose up in the air as it sniffed the air, and its pupils constricted upon sensing a familiar aura. ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Kai¡¯s shaky voice escaped his lips as he turned to the old man, who was now grinning sadistically. ¡°Your final challenge is the mom, Good luck now. I will only save you once you¡¯re really about to die, so try not to break too many bones¡­¡± Kai¡¯s pupils widened after hearing the elder¡¯s words, and a shiver ran down his spine as the sword clanked softly he gripped its hilt, and he took on a fighting stance. ¡°Isn¡¯t that close to a four-ranked beast?!¡± he asked in a panicked voice, his heart racing as he watched the creature rush toward him, rising up a cloud of dust in its wake. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine¡­hopefully.¡± A chill ran down his spine as he let out an exasperated sigh as he unsheathed the purple sword, its dark blade emitted a chilly aura as Kai grunted in pain after infusing the slightest bit of mana into it. Stupid old man! No wonder my parents never mentioned him! His feet trembled as the bear rapidly approached him, and his brain raced through several ideas on how to defeat it, however, no matter what he decided to do, it would only end in death. Damn it! His muscles tensed up, and he could already feel the creature¡¯s hot breath hitting his face despite the distance between them. Holding the sword with two hands, a sharp pain spread throughout his limbs as he enchanted them with the lowest speed enchantment he could. He retreated toward a nearby tree, and waited for the bear to approach closer and closer, until finally¡­ he jumped! However the loud thud that he waited to hear never arrived, and before he could even look downward, he felt a strong force grab him by the ankle, and he smashed into the ground right after. Coughing up blood, he dodged to the side as a huge stream of fire enveloped the place where he landed, turning the ground black as the grass became ashes. What the fuck! He ran backward while looking at the huge bear with amazement, then he cursed after taking a quick glance at the old man, who seemed to be napping under a bush. However he couldn¡¯t afford to be getting too distracted, As the huge bear¡¯s claws turned to a blue hue, it slashed toward him and ten huge wind blades shot toward Kai. They arrived within five meters of him in just a few seconds, and his pupils widened as he blocked with the sword, protecting his vitals while enduring the rest of the strikes. His pelt shirt got ripped as small amounts of blood gushed out of his chest, dying the ground crimson. Coughing lightly, he ignored the pain spreading through his body and once again began running around the clearing, unsure of how to deal with the beast. Magic, strength, and speed¡­ not to mention how big it is and the fact that I can¡¯t even be considered a one-rank body cultivator¡­ just what is wrong with this damn old man?! He could hear his bones rattle as a few of them fractured from the violent impact, but he persevered, barely dodging the bear¡¯s furious attacks by a hair¡¯s breadth. ¡°Agh!¡± He grunted in pain as one claw slashed his shoulder, creating a shallow but long wound that ran across his chest. Not letting the opportunity go, he gritted through the pain and slashed at the thick arm, however, that did nothing more than leave a scratch and anger the bear. It puffed as its scarlet fur started to glow with a red hue, and Kai screamed in pain as it locked him down. Raising its other paw, it created a small air current as it descended toward the boy, who raised his sword in a meager attempt to block. The paw moved slowly in Kai¡¯s vision, and his eyes snapped shut just before it was about to make contact with his face, however, the excruciating pain he was expecting never arrived. Instead, a soft thud accompanied by the sound of crackling branches rang in his ears. His eyes slowly opened, and, seeing that the bear had disappeared he looked around in confusion. An angry growl rang in his mind, and he turned toward its source only to see the Obborik glaring at him, or rather to his side. The scarlet bear puffed as it stood up, and it briefly glanced at its body, where a bit of blood sipped out from a fresh wound. Chapter 31: The Need for a Pack[Book 1 End] ¡°You?¡± Kai asked the Obborik, bewildered by the sudden turn of events. He only got a friendly puff in response before the bear¡¯s huge figure dashed toward them. He acted immediately, jumping to his feet and clutching the sword¡¯s hilt, he ran toward the forest as he concealed himself in the darkness. The Obborik followed suit, not daring to stand face-to-face with a creature twice its height. Bushes rustled violently as they ran away as fast as they could while occasionally glancing at the bear, whose speed had been diminished by the forest¡¯s tricky terrain. Looks like I¡¯ll be safe for now¡­ Kai thought as he sighed a breath of relief, ignoring the pain from the bear¡¯s paw, he looked toward the white-furred animal that had saved him from fatal injury. Why did it save me? Is this Obborik actually stupid? He couldn¡¯t help but ask himself after seeing its illogical actions. They traversed the rough terrain, the bear¡¯s furious stomps still echoing in their ears. After a slight hesitation, Kai turned to the white beast and simply said, ¡°Thank you.¡± However, before he could think further about it, his back warmed up suddenly, and he could feel the smell of burnt fur and vegetation. He glanced behind him, and his pupils widened upon seeing a huge ball of fire rapidly approaching them. It burned violently through the bushes and branches, occasionally frying the few unlucky animals that dared stay in its path. They immediately dodged to the side, the ends of his hair getting burnt, as they barely avoided the massive heat ball. Laying on the cold ground, he took advantage of the forest¡¯s natural camouflage to avoid the bear¡¯s sight, whilst the Obborik did its best to copy him, the white fur decorating its body proved difficult to hide. ¡­How do these things survive in the wild? Is it because they¡¯re always in a pack? He had some more questions, however, he couldn¡¯t afford to ponder over them as the bear¡¯s heavy footsteps slowly approached their location. Whilst it was difficult to see Kai, the Obborik stood out like a sore thumb. Lightly slapping his face, Kai crawled away from the white beast, unwilling to get killed in such a stupid way. Damn geezer, how am I supposed to kill that thing? He inwardly cursed the old man, who was probably napping under a tree while he was fighting for his life. Letting out a heavy sigh, he carefully observed the scarlet beast as it slowly made its way to them, and it let out an angry roar as its eyes locked onto the Obborik, who growled in response. The bear imprinted the ground with its paws as it dashed toward the Obborik, growling madly as a small wisp of fire gathered around its mouth, rapidly transforming into another fireball that shot straight at the white beast. However, instead of running away, the Obborik stood its ground while the white fur covering its back glowed with a faint light just before the fireball made contact. A sound akin to that of shattering glass rang in Kai¡¯s mind, and he noticed that the Obborik was unharmed despite the direct collision with the untamed spell. Magic break?! So it really knows that? The bear was also taken slightly aback, and the Obborik let out a soft bark as it ran toward the scarlet beast, its speed increasing as its fur glowed with a faint light. Kai thought for a second before jumping to his feet and dashing toward the beast, frowning slightly as his purple sword glowed with a violet hue. Watching the Obborik jump at the bear¡¯s throat, he gritted his teeth and applied a small speed enchantment spell, reaching the creature at the same time as the wolf. As the Obborik distracted it, he thrust the sword straight at the bear¡¯s soft stomach, barely managing to cut through its thick flesh, and it let out a gut-wrenching scream as blood sprayed from its wound. The white wolf didn¡¯t hesitate to lunge at the fresh wound immediately, rapidly tearing away at what little flesh it could before the bear violently shoved it aside. Groans of pain reverberated in the forest as the scarlet beast did its best to endure the seething pain spreading from the wound, however, it could feel that something wasn¡¯t quite right. A faint, glowing dark color spread out from the wound, causing the bear to roar in pain as the putrid smell of decaying flesh spread within the air. However, it didn¡¯t last long as the light disappeared just as suddenly as it appeared. Kai sighed regretfully, and clutching the hilt of his sword he slashed toward the bear once again, taking advantage of its slightly confused state. Just as he expected, the damage he dealt was minimal, but he wasn¡¯t alone anymore. The Obborik attacked at the same time as he did, aiming toward the fresh wound again, It did its best to open it further, but even its sharp fangs could barely tear away at the thick skin. We need a better strategy, The darkness magic I used was too weak, otherwise¡­ Kai let out an annoyed groan as he stepped backward, avoiding the bear¡¯s angry paw, and taking another route toward the clearing, hoping that the old man would help. The Obborik quickly followed, and they soon found themselves back in the clearing. Kai scanned the area, kicking the air in frustration after noticing that the geezer had disappeared. ¡°AM I SUPPOSED TO RUN ALL THE TIME?¡± His yell reverberated in the air, hoping that the old man would hear him. Argh fine, he should be hiding somewhere anyway. He thought as he faced the scarlet bear who had just entered the clearing. Staring at the shallow wounds he and the Obborik had caused the beast, he let out a sigh and threw his sword away, landing with a soft thud on the dark soil. The Obborik glanced at him curiously but didn¡¯t question his actions, not like it could talk anyhow. Kai inhaled deeply and prepared himself for whatever was going to happen next. Clenching his fists, he dashed toward the bear, whistling for the Obborik to follow and pointing toward the bear¡¯s wounds. It nodded and lunged straight for the scarlet beast¡¯s wounds, where it would always get irritated. Kai coughed lightly as he cast a strength enchantment on his legs and arms, and the moment the Obborik distracted the beast, he jumped onto its back and locked its neck with his feet. As he got strangled, the bear tried to claw away at Kai, to either push him down or completely maim him, but all of its efforts proved useless as the boy endured the pain. Its neck was locked tightly, and as Kai struggled to cut off its oxygen, the Obborik too tried distracting the bear the best it could, however, it had lost all interest in it and the meager amount of damage it dealt. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Growling angrily, it looked for the perfect opportunity to claw at its throat, and soon enough it did. Kai tightened his legs further as he struggled to pull out the dagger from its scabbard, and he plunged it deep into the scarlet bear¡¯s throat. It roared in pain, but it wasn¡¯t quite enough to slay the beast as the dagger only pierced it on a superficial level. It was then that the Obborik acted, it lunged at the bear¡¯s throat but did not bite it. Instead, it used the force it had from the jump, and forced the dagger even deeper, causing blood to spray everywhere Kai finally fell down under the bear¡¯s erratic movement, hitting the ground with a loud thud before running away as fast as he could. Watching the bear struggle to remove the dagger from its neck, he felt a sense of rejuvenation at having survived such a troublesome opponent. If I were alone¡­ There wouldn¡¯t have been a second chance¡­ He thought as he glanced up at the Obborik, who sat down next to him. Maybe¡­ I won¡¯t be able to do this by myself... As he celebrated inwardly, a low and angry growl from behind sent a shiver down his spine. The bear¡¯s huge shadow loomed over both of them, the dagger in its neck serving only as a small source of fuel for its anger. It didn¡¯t roar anymore, instead it let out a quick puff before its claws glowed with a red light. It slashed toward the two, creating five sharp blades of fire that distorted the air from the heat. Their eyes widened in surprise at the extremely fast attack, and the fire blade was inches away from their bodies in less than a second, giving them no time to react. Kai stared at the dancing fire approaching them, its enchanting movement seeming to have slowed down in his vision. He could feel the burning heat touch his face, and a single thought ran through his mind as he unwillingly accepted his fate, Damn geezer! His legs shivered in fear as the only thing remaining in his vision were the firey blades that transformed into a burning inferno that slowly ate away at his body and soul. He wanted to scream but his voice remained stuck in his throat, unsure if he could ever say anything again. The time in his mind quickly returned to normal as a small explosion appeared before him, completely destroying the bear¡¯s spell, sending dust and debris everywhere as the scarlet beast¡¯s annoyed roar suddenly stopped. Kai fell backward, gasping for air as his hand jumped to his chest, where his heart pulsated widely against his ribcage. ¡°What the fuck happened?¡± He asked, his mind still reeling in shock before he finally realized, and yelled in anger, ¡°Old man!¡± Jumping to his feet, he passed through the nearly dissipated dust cloud, staring at the bear¡¯s body which now had a gaping hole in its chest. A set of dragged footsteps slowly approached the two, and the old man¡¯s short figure slowly revealed itself from who knows where. ¡°You did well, for the most part.¡± The old man said as he arrived beside them, ¡°But why did you let your guard down at the end?¡± he sighed as he put his wand away. ¡°That was very stupid of you!¡± Kai wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only lower his head as the old man was right. Regardless of the situation, he shouldn¡¯t have been so relaxed about it, and it had nearly cost him his life. ¡°Truth be told, I didn¡¯t expect you to harm the thing at all, I would have passed you as long as you survived a few minutes.¡± He pulled out his pipe and took a puff as his gaze shifted to the Obborik ¡°You¡¯re quite lucky this guy decided to help you, I don¡¯t know what devil made it do so, but I¡¯m glad.¡± The Obborik turned its head in response, sticking its tongue out as it stole glances at the huge bear carcass. ¡°I think I know what devil made it help you now,¡± the old man sighed and he didn¡¯t pay any more attention to the white animal. He looked at Kai, who seemed to be grumbling something under his breath, however, he didn¡¯t voice his thoughts, afraid of the old man¡¯s scorn. ¡°You were never in any real danger, but I felt like you needed to experience a real struggle, a real fight. Sure, the animals you killed until now were strong but were never too much. So please, don¡¯t detest me for this, but¡­¡± he sighed as took another puff from his pipe ¡°I know I can¡¯t hold you here forever¡­¡± Kai lifted his head, looking into the old man¡¯s tired and lonely eyes, a weird feeling rose up in his stomach upon seeing the worry and love he held in his eyes. ¡°Grandpa, I know.¡± He reassured the old man, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I know you wouldn¡¯t let me die like this.¡± The grandpa¡¯s eyes lit up slightly as his face broke into a faint smile. ¡°Good, then we should get started on taking away the beast, looks like our friend already started claiming its share.¡± He said as he stared behind Kai, where the Obborik already started eating away at the bear. Both of them sighed before going through the usual procedures of taking away the core, however when it was time to finally carry it away¡­ ¡°It¡¯s too big,¡± Kai said as he compared it to the multitude of carts the old man had brought with him. ¡°Seems like it, we¡¯ll need to care turns and carry it home piece by piece¡­¡± His grandpa agreed as he grabbed Kai¡¯s sword, getting ready to chop up the beast. ¡°Hey!¡± He protested, but he couldn¡¯t do anything to stop the old man from smearing his sword with the bear¡¯s blood. It took a few hours, but they finally managed to carry it home, and the Obborik followed them all the while. ¡°So what do we do with it now?¡± Kai asked the old man as they stared at the creature that had followed them the whole day. His grandpa thought for a bit before casually answering ¡°I say you keep it, it has already proved itself as a good ally, the extra help can¡¯t hurt.¡± Nodding, Kai agreed almost immediately and he picked up a piece of meat, handing it to the Obborik, who happily devoured it before licking its snout. ¡­ The day quickly passed, and the Obborik¡¯s old and new wounds healed completely under the old man¡¯s care, and so did Kai¡¯s. He and his grandpa stood inside the large tent, finishing up the last-minute preparations before Kai finally got ready to leave. Due to his inability to use mana well, the old man gave him an old backpack he had used back in the day, along with some dry rations and other necessities. Among them, an ugly and torn notebook stood out from the rest. Its hardcover was completely brown, and there was nothing fancy written on it besides a single letter, ¡°M¡±. ¡°I found it when I was younger, It was completely empty so I started using it as my own diary and to take notes, however, I can¡¯t remember the last time I wrote anything in it.¡± He explained as he stuffed it into the bursting backpack. ¡°But I¡¯m sure it will prove useful for you, just as it did for me.¡± Kai nodded silently before sighing heavily as he closed the backpack after checking that he had everything he needed. ¡°So, where to now?¡± The old man asked as they left the tent, the Obborik waited for them a few meters away. ¡°We¡¯ll go to Evicario, I¡¯m not sure if Elly can help me heal my veins, but at least it¡¯s a start¡­¡± His grandpa nodded but didn¡¯t say anything else as he accompanied the boy and wolf duo toward the edge of the forest. The few rays of sunlight that sneaked through the tree¡¯s dense canopy tickled the three¡¯s skin and fur every so often as they silently walked through the now familiar forest. Their muffled footsteps reverberated in the chilly morning air, and Kai¡¯s sword rattled as it brushed against its sheath. The Obborik didn¡¯t know what was happening, but it remained quiet as it felt the heavy atmosphere surrounding them. It wasn¡¯t long before they arrived at the tomb, and Kai sighed heavily as he approached the small mound covered by grass, in the middle of which grew a single tree. He closed his eyes, and his eyelids trembled as he held back tears, blood dripping on the ground from his clenched fists. However, he couldn¡¯t control his emotions, and his clothes fluttered lightly as he fell to his knees. Sobbing sounds escaped his shivering lips, and his fingers intertwined as he held them close to his chest. The Obborik slowly walked beside him, staring in confusion as the boy¡¯s tears dripped on his clothes. It let out a soft whine as its snout approached Kai¡¯s face, and it playfully licked his face, causing him to giggle lightly. Kai wiped his tears as he slowly stood up, ruffling the Obborik¡¯s fur, he looked deeper into the forest, and a spark lit up in his dim eyes as a small feeling of hope rose inside him. Picking himself up, he brushed the dust off his shoulder, and with a last look at the old man, he walked into the depths of the forest, slowly disappearing under his grandpa¡¯s anxious gaze. Chapter 32: Meeting New Faces[Book 2 Start] Kai¡¯s muffled footsteps reverberated in the air as he dragged his feet, the large backpack rustling as it rubbed against his sweaty back while traversing the complicated terrain of The Dark Forest. The brown pelts he wore as clothes were now painted a dark crimson color. The Obborik followed closely behind him, matching his pace while playfully biting at bugs within his gaze as its companions turned the map a few times over to get a sense of direction. The map he held in his hand could only be called old, it had many holes and the material emitted a putrifying stench and it seemed ready to break apart at any time. Water damage covered its surface, and some of the words were barely readable due to the passage of time. He took a look at the giant Obborik who blissfully played without a care in the world before glancing upward toward the gigantic trees that seemed without end. Sighing, his lips parted as he told his furred companion. ¡°We¡¯re in the south of this forest, and the elven kingdom of Evicario is located¡­ all the way up north¡­¡± he sighed in desperation before rolling it and putting it within his bursting backpack. The continent looked weird, its uneven shape and weird small islands that looked like feet of some kind raised a seed of doubt in his mind, but he couldn¡¯t be quite sure from such a zoomed-in map. The forest was marked on the map as ¡®The Dark Forest¡¯, and it bordered the ¡®Vampire Kingdom¡¯, which stood at the eastern part of the human kingdom, ¡®Alavia¡¯. The forest itself was marked as neutral territory, which meant that the vampires were free to travel and forage through it. It spanned several kilometers, seemingly reaching from one end to the other, and he almost couldn¡¯t believe his eyes upon seeing the distance they¡¯d have to walk. How did Elly get here so fast the first time around¡­? Putting the thought aside, they advanced slowly through the cold forest, unable to make out the time of the day solely from the few rays of sunlight that sneaked through the tall tree¡¯s intertwined, emerald fingertips. The sound of rustling bushes accompanied by the cracking of branches reverberated in the air as Kai and the Obborik advanced slowly but surely, measuring their steps in fear of stepping onto a wild anima¡¯s tail. Suddenly, his furred companion¡¯s hair stood on end as it growled at a bush not that far away from them. Its leaves rustled, and two red glowing eyes revealed themselves from within. Kai immediately went on high alert, pulling out his sword as his trembling pupils shone with a desire to fight. ¡­ Despite the lack of sunlight, the vegetation inside the forest thrived, even more so than everywhere else. Its plants are larger and grow faster, and due to the lack of sunlight their color also greatly differs from those of the other regions. There are many who theorized about why it is so but the most popular one is because of the abundance of mana. The concentration of mana inside this overgrown forest created many rare and exotic plants that many sought to have due to their various alchemical uses. One of these plants is called ¡®Glowing Bell¡¯ - A small plant the size of a squirrel with a white flower in the shape of a bell hanging from it. It was named as such because of the unique property of its flower glowing when the mana inside it reached its peak. It is usually found in large blooms of about fifty to one hundred flowers, and when all of them glowed they¡¯d give out the illusion of a small moon that descended on the earth. Due to all these reasons, many humans and various races venture deep into the forest to forage. Such a bloom resided not far from where Kai was walking, the light from the flowers illuminated this small corner of the forest, giving out the illusion of a small paradise. A young girl who looked to be around fifteen years of age walked among the small flowers, gently picking them up and storing them in a small, shoddily made leather bag. Long, ebony black hair adorned her head, and her innocent eyes shared the same deep and dark color. Her slim and malnourished body was covered by clothes riddled with tears and her small hands were trembling from the cold air in the forest. She had a faint smile on her thin lips and she hummed a song as she gathered the flowers. This amount should be enough-no! It has to be enough! She thought to herself, her dark eyes sparkling as she gazed at the flowers in her bag. Woosh A sudden gust of wind blew past as her hair flew wildly in every direction. Turning her head toward its source, her eyes widened in fear and disbelief. A loud roar resounded from within the darkness of the forest, and along with it came the huge figure of a bear. Its fur was a dark red, akin to that of a fox, and two long, sharp horns crowned the top of its head, giving it a terrifying appearance. That, along with its huge stature inspired fear into anyone who saw it. The young girl dropped down to her knees, her frail body shuddering in terror. She stared at the huge creature running at full speed towards her, with a single thought flooding her mind, Why?... Why is such a creature here¡­? She was filled with despair, her beautiful black eyes seemed to dim as tears dripped down her pale cheeks, accepting her fate. Mother¡­ In her hopelessness, she didn¡¯t notice that the bear was wounded, a deep, long cut ran across its stomach, with blood dripping as it fled, dyeing the beautiful patch of white flowers red. The bear ignored the girl¡¯s existence, running past her with great speed, sending her flying backward, passing through several bushes before she landed with a thud at the base of a tree. She grunted in pain while slowly raising her head, scratching the back of her neck as she was on her bottom lip. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Her face, arms, and the rest of her body were cut, scratched, and bruised in several places and fresh blood started dripping down from her wounds. She leaned against the towering tree, breathing heavily as she looked at the bear, however, what she saw next made her gasp in shock. A small boy with long silver hair wielding an exquisitely crafted purple sword with a few black spots covering its blade quickly dashed past her eyes, running towards the fleeing bear. He jumped up and landed on the back of the bear, his small stature paling in comparison to the huge creature, which stood up on its hind legs, attempting to throw off its attacker. It roared unwillingly at the sky, its voice echoing in the forest. Kai tightened the hold he had on his legs and quickly raised his sword with two hands. With a loud, savage shout he bore the sword down on the creature, barely penetrating its thick skull before jumping down onto the ground. The giant bear roared in anger as it tried to pull out the sword, however before it could even get a good attempt in, a white shadow jumped toward it, plunging the sword even deeper into the thing¡¯s skull. It fell to the ground with a loud thud, its last grieving roar falling on deaf ears as Kai walked toward it. After retrieving his sword he pulled out a cloth from his pocket and cleaned the blade thoroughly before putting it back in its sheath. The Obborik followed quickly after him, looking at the bear with eyes full of hunger, its mouth already wet with droll. It sniffed the air and suddenly turned towards the location of the girl, growling and snarling. Kai turned his head towards the girl as well, surprise colored his face. I didn¡¯t expect anyone to be here¡­ I think we may have gotten too close to the village¡­ His cold, crimson-colored eyes looked at the girl, and they glowed slightly upon noticing her blood-covered body. The more he stared at her, the more he seemed to fall into a trance, his pupils dilated as his fangs grew longer and sharper. His heart started racing as a primal instinct was starting to take over him and subconsciously released a faint killing intent. His gaze locked onto the girl, like a hunter staring at his prey. The girl felt Kai¡¯s eyes staring intently at her, She turned her head to look at him and as their gazes met, her entire body shuddered in fear. All of the muscles in her body contracted and cortisol rushed through her veins. A single thought kept repeating in her mind: I need to run! I need to run! I need to run! She tried moving her legs but her body refused to obey and the more she looked at Kai the more she felt that she was losing herself. This boy¡­ who is he¡­? Her body relaxed as her pupils dilated, her mind emptying and all of her fear disappeared. As more and more time passed, Kai¡¯s consciousness started fading away, being replaced by the primal instinct of a Vampire. His body started slowly moving towards the girl, and what was left of his rationale was weakly fighting back. His claws were growing longer and longer as he advanced and his eyes were glowing so bright that they nearly matched the Glowing Bells. The Obborik watched all of this unfold and it looked in confusion at Kai, asking itself if the young man in front of it really was the same one it had been traveling with. A glint of intelligence flashed across its eyes, and it quickly realized what its master was about to do. The Obborik rushed in front of Kai in an attempt to stop him. It barked loudly, in hopes of waking Kai up from his trance but its efforts were meaningless as Kai kept on marching forward. The Obborik turned its head to look at the girl but upon seeing that she had no reaction it growled softly before turning to face Kai once again. Its eyes were racing about as if thinking about what to do. After a few seconds, a resolute look appeared in its eyes, pouncing at Kai and biting his arm, blood dripping down on the floor. Kai grunted in pain and shook the Obborik off his arm. He looked around when suddenly his pupils constricted and his body trembled awake. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He flinched in pain before looking at his arm, which now had a large wound with blood flowing from within. Then, noticing the girl who seemed to be sleeping with her eyes open and the Obborik staring at him with a wagging tail, his expression turned grave upon realizing what he was about to do, disgust and fear taking over his body. His heart skipped a beat and sweat started dripping down his forehead as a morbid thought popped up in his mind, Was I really about to¡­ kill her? He looked at the Obborik, who had a knowing look in his eyes. It approached Kai and as if it was apologetic, it started licking the wound. Was it always this smart? Kai thought as he patted the wolf¡¯s fluffy head. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said softly before turning and looking at the girl. ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to be that old, what is she doing in this dangerous forest?¡± he said to the Obborik, not noticing the irony of his own words. He stood up and approached the girl, her figure slowly becoming clearer from within the cover of the bushes. Kai noticed the small leather bag she was carrying and he realized what was going on. He knelt in front of her, trying to ignore the blood that was starting to dry out. ¡°Hey you¡­ ummm¡­ wake up?¡± He clapped his hands and snapped his finger in an attempt to jerk her awake but nothing seemed to work. Before he could try to do anything more, however, the Obborik rushed to the side of the girl and started licking her face, its huge tongue covering almost half of it. This seemed to work as, shortly after, the girl¡¯s eyes started blinking before they turned back to normal. ¡°AAAAAAH¡± she yelled loudly and retreated backward at the same time, tightly clenching the left side of her chest with her hands, trying to regulate her breathing. Her face was covered in fear and sweat was dripping down her forehead as she looked at the boy and wolf that stood in front of her. The wind whistled softly and gently swayed the light branches of the trees, at the same time moving the long hair of the two people back. A sweet silence enveloped the area as the two looked at each other. Come to think of it, this is the first human I have met since being born¡­ He didn¡¯t have time to consider this before but now that he turned back to normal, his mind finally cleared. ¡°Umm, are you alright?¡± he asked in a soft tone, feeling a bit shy. The girl¡¯s eyes widened slightly, seeming a little surprised at the gentleness Kai was displaying, which seemed to be in stark contrast with the boy who killed a bear thrice his size earlier. She nodded gently without saying a word, and her heartbeat also slowed down a little, clearly her fear had greatly decreased. Kai didn¡¯t say much either, he looked at the girl¡¯s ripped and torn clothes and seemed to have come to a realization. He took out a small pouch from around his waist, and it jiggled as he searched through it and pulled out a small golden coin that had a weird symbol engraved on its sides. Placing it gently in her leather bag, he said, ¡°Here¡­ sorry for earlier, I think this much should be enough for your clothes and wounds.¡± He got up and turned towards the bear, leaving the girl in a daze as she looked at the gold coin. She turned her head towards Kai, noticing the wound on his arm. She pointed her eyes toward the ground, seemingly thinking about something. Chapter 33: The Healers Disappearance Lifting her gaze, her ebony eyes looked at Kai¡¯s back while the shiny golden coin hiding within her palms trembled as she held it close to her chest. Tightening her grip, she gently stood up and her pearly eyes shone with determination as her lips parted. ¡°H-hey¡­¡± her soft, trembling voice echoed behind the boy, who just arrived near the bear¡¯s corpse. Turning around in surprise, his crimson eyes met the girl¡¯s, whose lips shivered. ¡°Y-your woun-nd¡­¡± a cracking voice escaped her body, ¡°l-let me t-treat it¡­¡± Kai stared with bewilderment at the girl, shocked by her offer, however, he knew that taking it would be risky. ¡°My h-house¡­ is not far from here¡­¡± she said just as Kai was about to refuse, and, feeling intrigued, he stared into the girl¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why do you want to help me? Just a while ago I¡­ I tried to kill you.¡± His heart skipped a beat as the guilt-ridden words escaped the clutches of his body, and looked away with trembling pupils. The girl met his sheepishly met his gaze, and fidgeted with the coin within her palm as she pondered over the question, however, the resolution in her eyes didn¡¯t falter. I have a feeling¡­ a strange feeling that this boy beside me¡­ he can give me what I need. ¡°You don¡¯t seem like¡­ like a bad person, besides, that wound could get infected as well¡­¡± Her heart raced while staring at Kai, whose gaze had lowered toward the ground, and countless thoughts raced in her mind while she bit on her lower lip, blood dripping down onto her torn clothes. What am I even saying¡­ the words she just said echoed in her mind while blood rushed through her face, it¡¯s clear he doesn¡¯t need to be tended to¡­ what a lame excuse¡­ Kai stepped backward, surprised by her answer, and he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle inwardly. So a guy who wanted to kill her doesn¡¯t seem like a bad person? Wondering whether or not there was something wrong with this girl, they sat in silence as Kai started considering the offer. Besides getting my wound treated, I could also get some information¡­ the map Grandpa gave me seems older than him, and besides I can barely read it¡­ I already miss Woogle Waps¡­ ¡°Sure thing then.¡± Agreeing, he pulled out some rope from the bursting backpack, tying it to the bear¡¯s limbs and dragging it along while following the girl¡¯s lead. The trip there was silent, and the girl occasionally glanced at Kai and the Obborik with a wide smile on her face. The house was just as the girl said, not that far from their location, but it wasn¡¯t that close either as it was in the vicinity of one of the biggest trading cities in the area - Limmin City. Being the closest one to The Dark Forest, this city is a prime spot for adventurers and herbalists to gather due to the forest¡¯s naturally high concentration of mana. In this city lay one of the biggest trading companies - Padure Treasures, owned by the Padure family for generations. Farther away from the city¡¯s mighty walls stood a house, the land around it lacking any foliage besides the blades of grass softly swaying with the wind and the occasional weed disguising itself as a flower. The house itself, if one can even call it that, was shabby. The roof crumbled under its weight, as the putrid pillars could barely hold it in place, and the walls were on the brink of falling down from all the moisture that ate them away daily. However, in a small garden off to the side were a few crops, barely enough to make a salad, but it was enough to feed two people for a while The house''s interior was relatively large, and they shared a kitchen with the bedroom, which was also the living room. There was a single, creaky bed on the southern wall of the house, next to a furnace that let out feeble amounts of heat due to the lack of firewood. The ¡®kitchen¡¯ was a small table, with a few buckets to wash the few dishes they had and the sickly vegetables. The stove was a small fireplace outside the house. On the bed, under layers upon layers of sheets lay a woman, her body so thin one could see bone. Her face, although still young-looking, was covered in wrinkles. She coughed lightly and raised her head with difficulty after hearing footsteps coming from outside. Putting a small smile on her skinny face, she looked lovingly at her daughter. Her eyes widened, however, when she saw who followed behind her - A youth with eyes as red as blood, small fangs that stuck out of his mouth as well, and shining silver hair. ¡°Va-va-vampire!¡± she said in a raspy voice, her eyes covered in fear. The girl looked slightly confused, her face flushing red as she turned around, finally realizing Kai¡¯s true identity. She took a step back with a racing heart, his shadow looming over her as the expression on the boy¡¯s face turned sorrowful. I should have known people would recognize me, and my race, surprising how this girl didn¡¯t know but I guess she¡¯s too young to know, or too uneducated. Sighing, he turned around under the women¡¯s fearful gazes, dragging his feet whilst preparing to leave. They watched him pass the shabby door, however, a question lingered in the back of the woman¡¯s mind as she watched his lonely back before her gaze switched toward her daughter, who seemed worried about the young beast. ¡°Why are you here?¡± a hoarse voice escaped her body as she posed the question that ate away at the back of her mind. Kai halted his footsteps, slowly turning around while showing the wounded arm. ¡°She wanted to treat this, but I¡¯ll tend to it myself. I¡¯m sorry for bothering you.¡± Politely excusing himself, he shook his head while looking at the mother, a shadow covering half of his face, accentuating his gorgeous, glowing eyes. The girl¡¯s mother was taken aback by his words, and, shifting toward her gaze innocently smiling daughter, she could see a spark of hope within her ebony eyes. What will I do with this daughter of mine? She sighed inwardly before shaking her head. Turning to Kai with a weak smile and taking a closer look at him, she could feel that something wasn¡¯t quite right, however, it was hard to pinpoint what exactly. He¡¯s younger than my daughter, What is even even doing outside the kingdom? Well¡­ at least he doesn¡¯t seem to have any malicious intentions¡­ Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Laying back down and closing her eyes, she covered herself in the thin sheets and pelts before saying in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯re welcome to stay, although¡­ we don¡¯t have much.¡± Nodding, Kai stepped back into the house, standing next to the sole table, waiting for the girl, who glanced at her mother before searching for something under the bed. She pulled out a small, red and round wooden container covered in dust, and cleaned it slightly, revealing the small icon of a pine tree along with a beautiful engraving that read ¡°Padure.¡± ¡°Take a seat,¡± she pointed toward one of the two chairs around the table, and Kai quickly complied with the request, Placing the backpack next to him, he offered to extend his hand to the girl. With reddened cheeks, she gathered some ointment on her fingers before placing the case on the ground, and, pulling Kai¡¯s sleeve upwards she took a closer look at the superficial wounds. The bite marks that slowly started to heal reminded her of the Obborik waiting outside, as its size couldn¡¯t quite allow for easy access in such a small house. ¡°Thankfully the wound isn¡¯t that deep, but this may sting a bit.¡± She said with a whispering voice before applying the ointment, causing Kai¡¯s warm skin to shiver slightly upon feeling its cold touch. ¡°This should stop the wound from getting infected, and after that, your body will do the rest.¡± She chatted while applying the medicine, her soft fingers gliding over his skin. Her lips parted with a smacking sound as a light voice escaped her body. ¡°My name is Julie, by the way, I¡¯m fifteen. What about you?¡± Her question took Kai by surprise, and, standing in silence, thought whether or not to answer truthfully. There¡¯s no harm in telling her¡­ besides, nothing worth keeping hidden. ¡°My name is Kai, I¡¯m ten years old.¡± Answering sheepishly, he felt the girl¡¯s finger stop suddenly. She blinked a few times with a shocked expression etched on her face. Ten¡­ years? He killed a Horned bear so young? What the¡­ Staring in disbelief at the wound, then at Kai, she lowered her head, deciding not to think about it anymore. ¡°And¡­ what about the wolf outside?¡± Switching topics, she focused on his arm while re-applying the ointment. Kai rubbed his temples, taken aback by the question, trying to remember any details regarding his companion. ¡°I¡¯m guessing¡­ one and a half¡­ close to two I guess? Still a cub anyhow. No name yet, haven¡¯t thought of one.¡± Julie¡¯s face lit up briefly, and giggled slightly before she stood up, putting the ointment box back under the bed. Her gaze shifted over to her sickly mother, whose closed eyes twitched every so often while her chest heaved heavily. Kneeling next to her, Julie sighed, completely forgetting for a second that Kai stood behind her. Tears streamed down her face while sliding her fingers down the woman¡¯s old wrinkly face, each ridge she felt sent shivers throughout her body. Watching in silence, Kai¡¯s heart clenched as a sharp pain spread from it, gradually becoming more and more unbearable. With ragged breathing, a tear fell down his cheek, quietly breaking apart once it hit the ground. Calming down after a few grueling seconds, he looked at the duo, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask with trembling lips. ¡°What happened?¡± Julie raised her head, wiping the tears from her eyes as she gulped softly. ¡°She fell ill a month ago,¡± her shivering voice escaped her body. ¡°At first it was just a few dry coughs, it wasn¡¯t bad, however, as time passed, the coughing intensified and she even started throwing up blood¡­ She can¡¯t even eat anymore now, as everything she does eat doesn¡¯t stay long in her stomach. My mother¡­ she lost a lot of weight the past few weeks.¡± Taking a break, she rubbed her nose while holding back tears. ¡°The medicine I gave her did nothing, but I heard there was a healer that would come into the city every so often and offer help to those that could not afford it, but¡­ she seems to have disappeared as well. People said she lived in the forest, so I went looking for her, that¡¯s how I found that patch of Glowing Bells, and slowly gathered them while selling them in the city, hoping to buy a healing potion¡­ just in case that could cure my mother.¡± Kai¡¯s pupils widened in surprise upon hearing the story, and his brain quickly got to work as a realization dawned upon him. Could that healer be¡­ my mother? The disappearance date seems to match¡­ and if she came from within the woods¡­ mom! A gut-wrenching feeling spread throughout his body while his chest tightened, a feeling of helplessness washing over him. Placing those thoughts in the back of his mind, he didn¡¯t dare think about it anymore as the pain was too much to bear. However, the flames of hatred inside him only grew brighter as his eyes shone with a violent light before slowly dimming. Looking around the house, he asked curiously as his eyes scanned the surroundings ¡°Did you always live here?¡± Julie¡¯s eyes widened for a second at the sudden question, however, her lips parted while fidgeting with her finger, staring in shame at the dirty floor. ¡°No¡­ we only started half a month ago. The guards kicked us out as they thought some sort of plague-infected my mother¡­ I don¡¯t know who owned this house before us but at least they left us with a nice garden¡­ Kai nodded slightly, and after taking a closer look at the mother, he felt a faint connection form between him and the girl, something he couldn¡¯t explain with words alone. Rummaging through the bursting backpack, he pulled out a small vial containing a red liquid. ¡°Is this what you wanted to buy?¡± The girl looked at the vial with an agape mouth, and she subconsciously nodded while reaching for it. Kai remained silent, giving them a faint smile before picking up his backpack and going outside, leaving the two alone for a brief moment. Julie unsealed the vial without hesitation, and a strong medicinal scent filled the house as she rushed to her mother¡¯s side, feeding her the potion with a hopeful gaze. The woman¡¯s expression turned slightly redder as the medicine coursed through her veins, prompting her daughter to let out a sigh of relief. All I can do now is wait¡­ After watching over her mother for a few minutes, and making sure that her condition was stable, she left the house to look for Kai, whom she hoped had lingered for a few more minutes. Sure enough, her eyes lit up upon seeing his and the Obborik¡¯s figure standing next to the bear¡¯s corpse. Walking silently up to them, she stopped a few meters away, prompting both of them to turn toward her. Kai didn¡¯t look directly at her, instead somewhere behind whilst the Obborik stared at her with large puppy eyes, licking its bloody snout in delight. Letting out a chuckle, she turned toward Kai while doing her best to remain calm, and, bowing slightly, her lips parted as a soft voice escaped her mouth. ¡°Thank you for the potion¡­ All the herbs I¡¯ve gathered so far would barely suffice to buy me a transparent one yet you¡­ Kai shook his head, sighing softly he locked eyes with the girl, his piercing gaze making her heart skip a beat. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, you helped me as well, it¡¯s only natural.¡± A faint smile appeared on the girl¡¯s face, and her pearly eyes turned toward the Obborik who resumed eating the bear. Carefully approaching the distracted animal, her trembling hand slowly glided across the soft fur on its back. Its body shivered slightly, however, it didn¡¯t deny her touch, instead continuing to eat away at the carcass without giving it much thought. So soft and fluffy¡­ Julie giggled as her ears reddened slightly. ¡°Did you think of a name yet?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± he answered after thinking for a while, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give him one?¡± Taken aback by the offer, Julie hesitated slightly, however, her face beamed up in the next second. Looking at the Obborik, she stood deep in thought for a minute while playing with his fur. ¡°How about¡­ Onyx?¡± The Obborik¡¯s long ears twitched lightly after hearing that, and its fluffy tail kicked up a storm as he wagged it back and forth rapidly. ¡°Hehe,¡± she chuckled lightly. ¡°I think he likes it.¡± ¡°Aoouuu¡­¡± Onyx, the Obborik, howled happily in response, before continuing his meal. Chapter 34: A Mothers Sixth Sense Like countless fireflies dancing in the night sky, millions of burning stars covered the dark, vast canvas of this planet. Illuminating the mortal¡¯s otherwise pitch-black land. ¡°So beautiful¡­¡± A few succulent pieces of meat cooked just above the beautiful flames of a crackling bonfire, its soft sizzling sound echoing in the ears of the people surrounding it. The fire¡¯s smoke reached high into the sky, and along with so did an exquisite scent that lingered around the area. Kai and Julie sat on some hard, large, and chilling stones, which were covered in a few animal skins to isolate the cold surface from their bodies. Onyx lay on his belly, impatiently waiting for the bear meat to be fully cooked as Julie seasoned and carefully watched over it. Scribbling some things in his old and damaged journal, Kai sat some distance away from the fire while occasionally glancing at the map before letting out an annoyed clicking sound. ¡°So this map is accurate for the most part?¡± he asked, softly lifting his head to look at Julie¡¯s back while closing the notebook that had a drawing of two trees on its tar cover. The withering of time clearly left its imprint on the thing¡¯s yellow pages. Grandpa said he wrote a lot of useful information on here, I also saw a technique to form a mana core in there, as well as some old magic spells he found who knows where¡­ He must have traveled quite a lot. Julie nodded with a soft smile while collecting the food, placing it onto three plates of two different sizes, and handing the larger one over to Onyx, who didn¡¯t wait for an invitation to dig in. ¡°Yes, but most of the locations on yours are long since gone, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever heard of Moleni in my life, this map¡¯s only accuracy is the big cities and landscape.¡± She said while placing his plate to the side before adding, ¡°One name I do recognize is Lustra, Fifty years ago it was invaded by some creatures called go- gobelins. In any case, nobody visits that place anymore.¡± Kai wrote everything Julie said in his notebook, the scribbling of his pen accompanying the calm crackling of the fire. ¡°Fifty years¡­¡± he murmured while lifting the pen. ¡°Yes, sounds like a long time huh? Between then and now, even more cities and towns rose and fell, so the maps always need to be updated anyway. You¡¯ll need a better map, I¡¯m sure they sell them at a shop in the city.¡± The sound of the scribbling pen, accompanied by the flames of the campfire continued filling the silence of the night. As Julie ate up her last piece of sizzling meat, Kai put his pen down and placed it along with the notebook back within his backpack. Onyx had yet to finish his portion, which he seemed to be savoring, or maybe it was too hot. Kai also picked up a small piece from his plate, which seemed to have somewhat cooled down after such a long time out of the fire. Placing it into his mouth, a shiver ran down his spine as the taste spread throughout his entire body. He quickly picked up another one, then another one, and another one, his eyes almost shining. All I¡¯ve been eating since we left one month ago was burnt horned rabbit meat, I have no idea how she managed to cook this bear meat to taste so good! Not to mention the way she skinned the bear so fast¡­ ¡°You¡¯re really good at this, did someone teach you?¡± Julie¡¯s hand stopped mid-way to her mouth once she heard Kai¡¯s question and even Onyx had stopped eating, sensing the heavy atmosphere descending upon the small camp. Lowering her fork, she placed it gently on the plate while letting out a soft sigh. ¡°Yes, my mother taught me to cook and my father¡­he taught me how to prepare the meat,¡± she whispered softly as her unfocused gaze looked toward the ground. A small tear appeared on the corner of her eye, which quickly faded as it slid down her cheeks. Looking toward Kai, a small smile formed on her face as she parted her trembling lips. ¡°He was a butcher and a hunter, although he didn¡¯t go out often. Hehe~,¡± she giggled before continuing. ¡°I used to pester him a lot to take me hunting with him, but he always refused, until he taught me a bit of this and that, and let me observe him butcher the animals and before you knew it¡­ I became quite good at skinning and whatnot.¡± Reminiscing, her eyes lit up before dimming down, her entire body trembling while she locked her hands tightly together. Onyx approached her, placing his large head on her lap in an attempt to calm down her nerves, and Kai followed suit. Moving closer, he opened his mouth, wanting to say some comforting words but he had no idea how, so instead he just sat there, being present. Soft sobbing sounds echoed around the campfire as tears dripped down her soft, rosy cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I-¡± Julie said through tears and hiccups. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t bother you with my problems¡­¡± Looking at the girl¡¯s thin figure, Kai felt his heart tighten slightly as her eyes swayed gently with the cold breeze, and an aura of loneliness and despair seeped out of her skin. Gently parting his lips, he asked ¡°Your father¡­ he¡¯s dead, isn''t he?¡± Julie¡¯s body flinched briefly before nodding her head ¡°They said he died in the forest after meeting a Third Rank beast¡­ however I refuse to believe that!¡± her voice cracked in pain as she said that through gritted teeth. He stared at her frail body, unsure of how to react, after a bit of hesitation he held Julie¡¯s arm and asked ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Julie¡¯s raised to look at Kai, surprised by his sudden actions. Her teary eyes shone slightly as the two made eye contact and a brief moment of silence prevailed. Her lips were trembling as she struggled to talk, however before she could open her mouth, a low, raspy voice uttered from behind them. ¡°It¡¯s because my husband was a Third Rank Body Cultivator, and he would have never picked a fight with such a fearsome creature.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Julie flinched a little upon hearing her mother¡¯s voice, and with a face tinted in a rosy shade of red, she yanked her hand from Kai¡¯s grasp. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Her mother didn¡¯t say anything, instead placing herself in between Kai and her daughter, she shot him a cold glare. ¡°I know what your kind is up to, I don¡¯t know how I hadn¡¯t realized it before. You came here to bewitch my daughter and take her away, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kai was shocked by this statement, he looked at the woman with bewilderment. ¡°Me? Bewitch her?¡± Julie¡¯s mother looked Kai straight in the eye, her cold eyes penetrating deep into his soul. He gulped, feeling a little awkward. After another brief silence, the woman¡¯s shoulders started to move up and down uncontrollably, until she let out a burst of laughter. ¡°I¡¯m just messing with ya. If you wanted to do so you would have done it a long time ago.¡± She said with a light cough. Kai looked in confusion at her, but he decided not to comment any further since he found the whole idea of him seducing someone was weird in and of itself. Julie stared at her with rosy cheeks, and her dark eyes sparkled with a hopeful light as she grabbed her mother¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom, how are you feeling?¡± Ruffling Julie¡¯s delicate hair with a light smile on her lips, she looked tenderly at her daughter¡¯s pearly eyes. ¡°Yes, thanks to the potion this young man gave me, I feel like my sickness is starting to go away.¡± Her daughter¡¯s body trembled slightly, and tears streamed down her cheeks while a genuine smile formed on her lips. ¡°Mom¡­ that¡­ hic that¡¯s good, mom hic I¡­ I thought you were never going to recover.¡± The wrinkles on her face seemed to grow deeper while she looked at her daughter with a pained expression. Raising her skinny, trembling hand, she brought Julie into her embrace, gently running her bony fingers through the ebony hair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing you such worry¡­ and for being such a useless mother¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that!¡± Julie immediately got up, her red cheeks still moist with salty tears as she locked eyes with her mother. ¡°Don¡¯t ever say that again! Mom, you hic what would I do without you? You¡¯re not hic useless!¡± A weak, apologetic smile manifested on her mother¡¯s face. ¡°You¡­¡± she let out a soft sigh, grabbing onto Julie¡¯s hand, softly clutching it. ¡°What am I going to do with you?¡± After saying that, her gaze drifted toward Kai, who watched the two with a teary expression. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go inside?¡± She asked Julie ¡°I¡¯ll have a nice chat with our young friend over here.¡± Wiping her tears, Julied nodded gently before kissing her mother on the forehead and left quietly, turning her head toward the two before entering the small house. What would mother want to discuss with him? Kai seemed to be half asleep, his vision focusing on the crackling fire while the Obborik sat quietly by his feet. The woman let out a soft sigh at the sight, and scratched the back of her head, feeling slightly confused. What¡¯s up with this vampire kid anyway? She asked herself before snapping her fingers in front of Kai, making him regain focus. ¡°Kid, I have to say, for a vampire, you¡¯re really strange.¡± He shook his head, looking slightly confused at the woman before he fully came to. ¡°I¡¯m sorry ma¡¯am, I was just¡­ lost in thought.¡± She let out another sigh, looking into Kai¡¯s crimson eyes while straightening her creating back, she let out a light groan. ¡°Just call me Nora.¡± Her gentle, yet fierce gaze scanned Kai¡¯s face, staring right into his black pupils. ¡°You may fool my daughter, but you can¡¯t fool me. That look on your face, it¡¯s the same one she had when she lost her father¡­ Kid, what do you plan on doing?¡± Kai¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, and his lips quivered slightly while her words rang in his ears. What? How does she know¡­ Is this a mother¡¯s intuition? Ah¡­ My mom¡­ His heart pounded against his chest as Haniard¡¯s image appeared in his mind, blood rushing through his head while the memories of his parent¡¯s death flashed in front of his eyes and his thoughts gradually became a mess. It¡¯s suffocating, what is this? This? Darkness? Surrounding me¡­ Mom¡­ dad¡­ why¡­ me? Is it me? My fault¡­ it¡¯s my fault¡­ all my fault¡­ all of it¡­ all¡­ Breathe¡­ I can¡¯t breathe¡­ Kai¡¯s arms warped around his head, and his irregular breathing startled Onyx, who panicked upon seeing the state of his master. He winced in fear as he pressed his snout against Kai¡¯s leg. Kai¡¯s nails dug into his flesh as panic overtook his body and mind, which turned messier with every passing second. ¡°It¡¯s alright child, you¡¯re safe now¡­ don¡¯t worry.¡± A horse yet tender voice rang in Kai¡¯s ears, causing his entire body to tremble as two warm hands wrapped around his chest. The warm flame of the fireplace greeted his tired pupils as his eyelids parted, and the same warm voice resounded from behind. ¡°Shush, it¡¯s alright child, take your time.¡± Her embrace tightened around his trembling body, her frail figure completely covering his. The yellow sun painted the dark sky in a reddish hue as it rose from the ground, illuminating the cold earth as countless animals and insects slowly woke up from their slumber, the sound of the singing birds bouncing off the thick leaves of the trees. With the crackling fire dying down, the remaining ashes scattered with the morning wind. ¡°Evicario is quite a distance away from here, you¡¯ll have to make a few stops in the neighboring cities unless you want to camp out every day.¡± Nora¡¯s voice, accompanied by the scribbling of a pen echoed in the peaceful quiet. Her hand moved meticulously on the map as she wrote down a few instructions while also chatting with Kai. ¡°I recommend you go to Nivero first, It¡¯s the biggest city in the area besides Limmin, but this here is mostly a trading spot¡­¡± ¡°After that, you can slowly make your way North through the smaller cities, the whole journey should be a month or two, give or take.¡± Handing the map over to Kai, her eyes were with warmth as she watched him write down everything in his notebook. ¡°I can¡¯t thank you enough, Miss Nora¡­ but,¡± the sound of tearing paper resounded in the silence caused by his pause, and he handed a page over to Nora before continuing ¡°Maybe you or Julie will find this helpful.¡± Her eyes widened in shock as she took the paper with trembling hands, but she nodded gently before putting it away. Kai also placed the new-ish map in his ragged backpack, rustling as he stood up and threw it on his back. ¡°I should get going, thank you for all of your and Julie¡¯s help. If you ever need me, send me a letter and I will come in a heartbeat.¡± A small smile manifested on Nora¡¯s face while watching Kai¡¯s departing figure, and a small sigh escaped her lips while a raspy voice called out to the boy. ¡°Child, that hatred within you¡­ Let it go before it completely devours you.¡± His wide pupils stared at the woman for a second, and, bowing slightly, he turned his head, the sound of his footsteps gradually disappearing in the distance along with his and Onyx¡¯s figure. Frail child, be safe on your journey¡­ Chapter 35: Completely Overwhelmed. The sound of clashing metal reverberated in the air a distance away from Kai¡¯s current location, pain-filled screams echoed in the solitary road between Limmin City and Nivero as a small river of blood flowed along its path. Several wooden wagons stopped in the middle of the track, their simple design contrasted by the vast array of valuables laid inside them. Spices such as salt and pepper, oils, and cotton, as well as exquisitely sewn clothes made from the finest materials could be seen. Besides that, there were pelts and jewelry, as well as some foreign books. All of them are covered by a thin layer of mana, protecting them from the elements. At the very front stood a large, gorgeous carriage pulled by an enormous deer, its huge stature emanating a respect-inducing royal aura. The blueish-purple fur decorating its body shone slightly under the noon sun. Its thick and heavy hooves scratched against the ground, its long tail whipping about, lightly scratching the carriage with its spiky end. A crown made out of thorny antlers decorated its small head, and the five eyes covering its face blinked anxiously, the chains binding it to the carriage vibrating furiously as the animal tried to escape. A beautiful purple linen material decorated the exterior of the carriage, sewn by a golden thread that sparkled under the shining sun, creating a stark contrast between it and the wagons. Some similar purple material covered its spacious interior, whose seats were cushions with soft pillows, and the windows were covered by a thin curtain of the same color. Hidden behind them lay a girl with blonde hair and emerald green eyes, soft cries escaping her shivering body as they inundated the carriage¡¯s interior. Six dozen men wielding a vast array of weapons surrounded the carriage from all angles. Their blood-covered clothes were covered in holes and tears, and they tightly held their old and shabby weapons as they eyed the carriage like a vicious predator. The sound of clanking metal echoed among the drowning cries as the bandits stepped over a few corpses of men wearing dark green armor. Thirty or so men wearing armor of similar hue guarded the carriage, their swords trembling slightly in their hands while watching the bandits grow closer, however, they stood stall and proud, encircling the carriage in a defensive position as they prepared for another round of bloodshed. The dense foliage concealed Kai¡¯s presence, remaining motionless, his fingers tapping lightly on the hilt of his sword as he was struggling to make a decision. I want to help them but¡­ what do I do about my appearance? How would they react if they found out I¡¯m a vampire? Besides that¡­ I¡¯ve never fought another human before¡­ ¡°Aaarg!¡± Another painful scream accompanied by a soft thud broke Kai¡¯s train of thought, his eyes instantly dashing toward the direction of the cry. Another guard fell! His eyes lit up as an idea popped into his mind. I can use that! A soft thud resounded in the area as he dropped his backpack on the soft grass, the small blades bending under its weight. He plunged his hand into the depths of his backpack, fingers grazing the rough texture of the notebook as he pushed it aside. A soft huff escaped his lips, and he caught himself biting down on his lower lip in concentration. After a few seconds of searching, he pulled out an old cloak, dust flying in the air as he forced it out of the stuffed backpack. Holes and tears covered its rough, black material. Soft rays of sunlight passed through the damaged fabric, lightly hitting Kai''s pale skin as he inspected it. This is good enough! The cloak rustled silently as he donned it over his shoulders. He used the hood to hide his crimson eyes and silver hair. The wind whooshed past his ears as he dashed out from the concealment of the overgrown foliage and sped off toward the carriage. Onyx¡¯s huge figure followed closely behind Kai, his paws digging into the dry soil, leaving deep marks behind as he ran. Wind and dust hit his soft, tensed-up fur as he squinted his eyes to see better ahead. His chest heaved lightly as warm blood rushed through his tightened muscles, his eyes glowing with anticipation for the fight. Kai¡¯s eyes snapped to the Obborik, staring at him briefly before saying imperatively ¡°Remember, don¡¯t kill anyone.¡± Onyx¡¯s ears lowered as he let out a soft cry, feeling wronged after hearing that, but he still blinked innocently. ¡­ The guard fell with a shuddering thud, his silent scream echoing forever in the river of time. The group of bandits stepped over his dying body, crushing his chest as he gave his last breath. ¡°Haiie... I thought the guards of the mighty Orchid Merchant organization would be better than this, but is this the extent of their power?¡± A bandit with a missing eye and face covered in ugly scars sneered mockingly with a laugh as he advanced maliciously towards the green-armored guards. All of the guards wielded emerald green longswords, their blades shining brightly as they anxiously retreated towards the carriage, maintaining a perfect defensive formation. ¡°Aye, what a pity¡­ we even gathered this many men but i¡¯was a waste.¡± Another bandit with a crackling wooden hand agreed as he brandished his saber with a perverted look on his face, eyes locked onto the carriage. His dirty tongue ran across his dry lips as he chuckled lecherously ¡° I reckon the young lady and ¡®er maid will be more than sufficient for compensation.¡± ¡°Protect the lady at all costs!¡± A guard standing in the middle of the formation yelled out the order while brandishing his sword, cutting three bandits in the process, blood splashing on his sparkling vambrace. His armor, exquisite and dark green like the others, bore an orchid engraving on the left side of the cuirass. A strong, resounding ¡°Yes, sir!¡± shuddered the air as the three dozen guards answered in unison, a faint luster enveloping their jade-like swords. The glowing of their blades intensified as they sliced their swords through the air with the skill of seasoned warriors. A sharp, piercing whooshing sound echoed in the area accompanied by a strong gust of wind, pushing the assailants away, the glow of their swords dimmed as a thin, protective sheen of green light covered them and the carriage. *Tsk* The one-eyed bandit snickered as he observed the barrier, delicate as silk, pulsating under his gaze. A soft hiss echoed from his scabbard as he cautiously unsheathed his iron sword, thousands of minute scratches visible on the blade¡¯s surface. It¡¯s been a while since I had to fight¡­ Disdain covered the faces of the other bandits as they sneered while brandishing their weapons, eyes locked onto the paper-thin barrier. One of them stepped forward, pointing his keen halberd at it ¡°What¡¯s this flimsy thing gon¡¯ do?¡± he jeered, his voice dripping with contempt ¡°Bet I could pierce it wit¡¯ a needle¡± he added, pressing the sharp end of his halberd against the barrier with a mocking grin. At that moment, the barrier¡¯s glow intensified and a ripple spread out from the point of contact then bouncing right back as it returned to normal. The bandit shot back like a kite with its string cut, rolling on the ground before coming to a stop ten meters away, a pool of blood forming under his corpse. His companion¡¯s expressions froze, their mocking words stuck in their throat. The one-eyed bandit¡¯s pupil trembled as it widened, his mouth was slightly agape and he tightened the grip on his shabby sword. The Valiant Barrier¡­ I canne¡¯t believe it¡¯s so strong! The lips of the guards curled into a mocking smile as they watched the corpse of the bandit bleed out on the cold dirt, their eyes filled with disdain. The captain of the guards swept his icy gaze over the attackers, a soft grating sound accompanied the thunderous voice of the captain as he tightened the grip on his sword. ¡°You damn ruffians! The Orchid¡¯s Organisation techniques aren¡¯t something you peasants can deal with. Scram now before we cut off your tongues and feed them to the crows!¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Silence overtook the area, his imposing statement still bouncing off and echoing in the dense forest. The faces of the bandits were deathly pale, their entire bodies trembling as they struggled to hold their weapons. Their gazes danced around, rapidly switching between their dead comrade and the barrier. Their hearts faltered as they skipped a beat and some of them even turned to run away. ¡°Hehehehe¡­¡± an ear-screeching laugh broke the silence as a crackling noise accompanied by the sound of clashing metal drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Just ye third-rate technique and ye proud of it eh?¡± The wooden-handed bandit jeered at the captain as he played with his saber, the clean surface of the blade perfectly reflecting the rays of sunlight falling upon it. His wooden hand let out a clopping sound as he tightened his grip around the handle. His smile disappeared. A faint luster was visible in his squinted eyes. A suffocating pressure emanated from the bandit as the air around him thickened, his analyzing gaze observed the throbbing, soft barrier. A whistling sound echoed in the area and a thick cloud of dust rose in the air. The sound of glass shattering echoed through the air like a thunderclap a few moments later. A sharp whistling sound accompanied by a strong gust of wind dispersed the dust cloud, revealing a shocking scene. Green particles scattered in the air under the widened eyes of the guards, cold sweat dripping down their foreheads. The wooden-handed bandit stood in front of them, contempt visible on his face. ¡°So much for a family technique¡­¡± he ridiculed as he gasped for air, mist spreading out around him. This technique¡­ how did that strange man get his hands on it? The one-eyed bandit stared at his companion with his mouth wide open however he quickly regained his composure and a sly smile manifested on his hideous face. ¡°Men, attack!¡± The other bandits snapped out of their shock upon hearing the words of their leader. Their loud steps echoed like a death sentence in the guard¡¯s ears as they rushed towards the carriage at a quick pace. Choking dust rose as the ground shook under their feet¡­ ¡°Awooooo!¡± The bandits stopped in their tracks as a deafening howl shook the forest, causing leaves and branches to tremble in terror. A shiver traveled down everyone¡¯s spines as their eyes widened, the tip of their blades trembling uncontrollably. ¡°What¡­ what kind of creature is that?¡± One of the bandits fell to their knees, accompanied by a soft thud as his kriegsmesser hit the bloody ground. In the distance, the bright silhouette of a tall beast rapidly expanded, its loud growl seeming like a song of death. Inside the carriage, a trembling, curled-up girl lay on the soft pillows. A sudden warmth spread across her forehead, and a prickling sensation crawled down her scalp. Without a sound, she slowly opened her teary, sapphire eyes. As she blinked away the tears, a soft white light emanated from her forehead, leaving behind a faint mark in the shape of a moon and sun. Her golden locks of hair fluttered as she sat up with ragged breaths. Crystalline beads of sweat clung to her silky clothes, turning them transparent. Soft thuds echoed out from within her fragile chest. Her hands intertwined in prayer as light muttering resounded in the small space, and drops of sweat slithered through her rosy lips as they covered her mouth in a salty flavor. Next to her sat a petite freckled girl. Small, gray animalistic ears stuck out of her short auburn hair. They rustled back and forth as the howl resounded inside the small cabin. She hugged the girl¡¯s arm, her small nose twitching nervously as she stammered ¡°L-l-l-lady Orphelia, w-w-what is that sound?¡± The soft murmuring kept bouncing off the walls for a few seconds before stopping. A light burning sensation spread across the blonde girl¡¯s forehead, the moon and sun marking disappearing as quietly as they appeared. Orphelia¡¯s hand flew to her chest, feeling her thumping heart beneath her fingertips. Her mouth bloomed into a faint smile accompanied by sparkling eyes. Her lips parted slightly and a clear melodic voice filled the walls of the carriage. ¡°They have come to save us¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The freckled girl¡¯s ears perked up as her tar-like eyes stared intently at Orphelia ¡°They? Who¡¯s they? Did Goddes-¡± ¡°Shh¡± Orphelia¡¯s fingers darted at the small maid¡¯s mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t mention any of that, we don¡¯t know who may be listening.¡± The little maid¡¯s hair fluttered widely as her head bobbed up and down, showing her understanding. ¡°We are safe now.¡± Orphelia added, ¡°Just wait¡­¡± ¡­ The Obborik¡¯s huge figure cast a shadow over the group of bandits, his loud growling sending shivers of fear down their spines. A soft light enveloped his body as his pace quickened drastically. Woosh Onyx raced past the bandits like the arrow fired by an expert archer. A sharp whistling sound echoed in their ears as they were sent flying backward. Penggg A hooded figure raced towards the attackers with the momentum of a speeding bullet. Kai stopped in front of one of the weaker-looking members, a horrifying scar marked his face. A dull, muffled thud echoed in his ears after being hit by the wide part of Kai¡¯s purple sword before falling unconscious. Onyx also kept pushing the enemies towards Kai, who would then knock them down. The young Obborik was doing his best to make sure they couldn¡¯t move too much, however, due to his negligence or inexperience, a few of them still managed to escape the encirclement. Just when Kai was about to strike down another attacker, a faint crackling noise accompanied by the sound of whistling air sent shivers down his spine. He quickly jumped over the bandit and turned to look behind him. The wooden-handed assailant brandished his saber as he keenly observed Kai. ¡°Heh¡­¡± a mocking laugh escaped his lips as his eyes drifted about. His sharp saber curved towards the sky. Kai¡¯s body shivered uncontrollably accompanied by cold sweat that dripped down his neck as the bandit took the stance of a seasoned duelist. Slow gusts of wind blew against Kai¡¯s hood, slightly revealing his crimson eyes. ¡°Kid, w¡¯y didn¡¯t you kill them bastards?¡± he jeered in a mocking tone, feeling slightly curious. Kai tightened his hold on the handle without saying a word, his heart pounding against his chest as a rough crunching noise sounded from under his feet, assuming the combat posture taught to him by his grandpa. The bandit¡¯s dry lips formed into a faint smile after noticing Kai¡¯s fighting stance. His blade became slightly duller as his stance eased lightly. Such rough swordsmanship¡­ he¡¯s open to attack from all sides, against an experienced fighter this kid wouldn¡¯t last three seconds. A gentle breeze accompanied by the sound of fluttering leaves signaled the start of the fight. Dirt shot up in the air as the bandit dashed towards Kai with a thrust, the tip of his blade aiming straight at his throat. Sparks flew everywhere as a deafening clash of metal echoed on the battlefield. Kai¡¯s sword trembled as he blocked the vicious attack. Scraping noise reverberated as he pushed back against his opponent. The bandit¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. A disdainful scoff rang in Kai¡¯s ears as the saber circled his blade, causing it to hit the ground. The bandit immediately followed up with a fl¨¨che aimed at Kai¡¯s shoulder. Not good! He quickly retreated, sending dirt shooting in the bandit¡¯s face. Kai¡¯s hands trembled on the hilt as he raised his purple sword in a diagonal position. A short murmur escaped his lips after which his body lit up faintly. He squinted his eyes as the blade chirped soundlessly. Kai¡¯s figure rushed toward his foe with a whooshing sound, the sharp tip of his weapon aiming at their stomach. Fool! The wooden-handed bandit¡¯s body snapped to the side as he cut down toward Kai¡¯s neck. The young vampire crouched without hesitation, dodging the attack only to be met with a thrust aimed between his shoulder and neck. A feint?! A gruesome slicing noise followed by a loud grunt rang inside the bandit¡¯s ears, a vicious expression clear on his face. Warm blood trickled down on the cold ground, the unsettling dripping noise resonating like a melody. A long but shallow cut ran across Kai¡¯s chest, his bloodied hand trembled as he murmured something under his breath. A faint glow covered his body followed by a swooshing noise as his sword split the air, hurtling towards the saber. The sharp noise of clashing metal reverberated in his ears as a clattering sound followed shortly after. Me hand¡­! The bandit¡¯s wooden hand vibrated furiously as his saber hit the ground violently. His pupils contracted slightly. A loud clanging sound resounded on the battlefield. The bandit grabbed Kai¡¯s sword, his wooden hand trembling rapidly as he tightened his grip on the purple blade. His other arm reached towards Kai¡¯s neck, grabbing it with a silent swish. Little bastard, t¡¯is will teach ye! His eyes drifted behind Kai and a sly smile slowly manifested on his horrid face. The one-eyed bandit slithered silently on the battlefield, hiding in Kai¡¯s blind spots using his snake-like movement. His clothes rustled as a scraping sound resounded from his waist. Soft rays of sunlight reflected by the sharp blade of a dagger as they hit it gently. A muffled whistling noise directed at Kai¡¯s nape made his hair stand on end. His heart pounded against his chest as his breathing got shallower. The grip on his blade lessened as his vision started to blur. Crap! Can¡¯t¡­. Move¡­ Whoosh A strong gust of wind appeared from behind the one-eyed bandit. A wet squelch reverberated in the air as his eyes lost all light. A shuddering thud silenced the battlefield. Whoosh Another sickening crunch echoed. The grip on Kai¡¯s neck loosened immediately and another dull thud resonated in the area. The wooden-handed bandit lay limp on the ground, an arrow pierced his skull as blood gushed out of his head. Chapter 36: Facing the Mysterious Saviour The dreadful sound of flowing blood echoed in the calmness of the battlefield. Kai¡¯s hands trembled lightly, his pupils flickering wildly as the thick stench of iron entered his nostrils. His chest heaved as his breathing became irregular and heavy. Cold sweat dripped down the back of his neck as a burning sensation grew in his throat, and a chilly shiver ran down his spine as hot blood rushed through his veins. He stumbled slightly, barely able to support himself on the hilt of his sword. His hand flew to his chest accompanied by the fluttering of his cloak as he gripped tightly on the thin piece of fabric. What¡¯s going on? How did he die¡­? and behind me another¡­. another one? Was I about to¡­? Again? His mouth let out a retching sound, and stomach acid and pieces of meat fell on the bloody ground. Onyx¡¯s head snapped at Kai and rushed towards him like the wind, his ears bent backward and he lowered his head while he brushed it against Kai¡¯s face while yelping. ¡°I¡¯m fine, boy¡­ I¡¯m just not used to it¡­¡± His fingers caressed Onyx¡¯s huge, fluffy, and soft head before spitting out the last bit of vomit and wiping his mouth, a sour after-taste, like that of a sugary lemon left in his mouth. His eyes lowered slightly, observing the corpses of the two bandits. He looked around, his sharp eyes scanning the cover of the shadowy forest. His eyes widened along with his pupils as he looked for the one who had killed- saved him. The eyes of the captain of the green armored guards stood wide open, his mouth agape as he tried to say something. Did that kid just save us? And that creature¡­ an Obborik! His eyes inspected the battlefield, observing the shocked and dirty bandits. A silent clunking resounded from his armor while he tightened his grip on the sword. Regardless¡­ we can¡¯t let these sly bastards escape! He closed his mouth and cleared his throat. A swishing sound rang in his ears as pointed his emerald blade forward. After puffing his chest he commanded in an imposing tone ¡°Men, finish them!¡± The guards snapped from their trance and they tightened their grip on their swords in response to the captain¡¯s order. ¡°Captain,¡± one of the guards standing to his right said, ¡°What about the wounded? Should we take them prisoner or leave them to die?¡± The captain scratched his chin for a moment before speaking ¡°Take them prisoner if you can but don¡¯t risk your life, we don¡¯t want any more casualties.¡± A resounding ¡°Yes, sir!¡± vibrated in the air along with their armor. The three dozen men marched in unison. Their footsteps overlapped perfectly, giving the illusion of a single person stepping heavily as their boots made the ground shudder. The bandits were stricken with fear, their bodies shivered, and immediately gave up on attacking after seeing their leaders die in such a grotesque way. Bushes and grass got trampled over as they fled under the cover of the forest, the guards killing or capturing any that were too slow. Farther away, a huge dark figure observed the scene with a frown. God damn fool, losing to a brat, will put our plan behind¡­ Assh All won¡¯t be happy. His black and empty eyes snapped to Kai, who was approaching the forest. This brat has some kind of weird aura around him, and that aura of a Five Star mage protecting him¡­ he wouldn¡¯t be easy to kill. ¡­ Leaves and grass rustled under Kai¡¯s feet as he stepped into the forest. This wasn¡¯t The Dark Forest, the trees and vegetation weren¡¯t nearly as big and the area was quite poor in mana by comparison, he tip-toed carefully to not step on any branches as his keen gaze checked every tree and bush. Good thing I told Onyx to stay behind, he¡¯d stick out like a sore thumb¡­ he thought and let out a slight chuckle at the image of Onyx in this ¡®small¡¯ forest. The hairs on his neck tensed up all of a sudden and his pupils constricted. Woosh He snapped his head to the side, the air next to him splitting in two as an arrow dashed past his ear. What was that? His cloak fluttered as he turned around. Clenching his hands on the sword¡¯s handle, rays of light reflected on its violet blade. His eyes jumped from bush to bush, looking for any place that the attacker could hide in. A golden light flashed in the corner of his eye. A sharp swish resounded in the silent forest as he rotated to face the source. Kai¡¯s body contracted and he swiftly took a step to the side, a whistling sound dashing past his face accompanied by a strong gust of wind that blew back his hood, slightly revealing his crimson eyes. Got you! He immediately dashed towards the location of the archer, wind whistling in his ears as he pushed his body to the limit. The bush the archer was hiding in rustled softly and his figure slowly appeared. He wore a simple smile on his face, light bouncing off the ocean blue color of his eyes and his golden cuirass and leggings covered his clothes sewn with golden thread. Kai appeared to his side right when he got up, the violet blade rubbing against the archer¡¯s neck. ¡°You got me, you got me¡­ hehe.¡± He laughed weakly while raising his arms. ¡°You can put your sword down, I¡¯m not going to attack you, I just wanted to test you¡­¡± Kai¡¯s sword chirped silently as he applied more pressure, fresh blood dripping down its blade. He looked up at his attacker, who was two heads taller than he was. Their eyes clashed, an illusory roar of two dragons echoing silently in the darkness.¡°Why should I trust you?¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Because¡­¡± the archer said slowly before his figure blurred, his short, blonde hair fluttering slightly after reappearing behind Kai. ¡°If I wanted to, you wouldn¡¯t even catch a glimpse of me¡­¡± Kai¡¯s pupils constricted for a bit before smiling faintly and quickly murmuring an Intus spell. His figure disappeared soundlessly and he reappeared behind the archer as he placed his sword on the golden shoulder-guard. ¡°Two can play at this, and you don¡¯t have to be so dramatic, we¡¯re the only ones here¡­¡± This time it was the archer¡¯s turn to be surprised but a faint smile also manifested on his face. The two young men stood in silence for a second before their shoulders shook as they tried to suppress their laughter. Their attempt failed, however. The archer¡¯s armor rattled loudly as the two of them burst into laughter at the same time. Their joyfulness continued for one more minute before it slowly died down. Kai wiped the small amount of blood from his blade before sheathing it into his ragged scabbard. The archer turned towards Kai with a wide smile on his face. His blue eyes sparkled as he looked at the tiny hooded figure before him. ¡°I¡¯m L¨¦andro, twelve years old, how about you?¡± he asked while extending his hand for a handshake. Kai shook L¨¦andro¡¯s hand and smiled faintly under his hood. This guy¡­ I like him! He thought to himself before replying ¡°I¡¯m Kai, ten years old.¡± L¨¦andro¡¯s eyes widened in shock upon hearing the response. Huh? This little guy fought almost equally with a Rank Three Core? His swordsmanship is trash so what gives? he pondered as he tried to understand what was so special about Kai. His blue eyes lit up in a faint golden color as he inspected Kai¡¯s body. Foam seemed to appear in his mouth as his left eye started twitching uncontrollably. He doesn¡¯t even have a body core! But he can use magic, is he a mage? A mage with a sword and such feeble amounts of mana? I¡­He also seems to be wounded, and showing off his speed only served to deepen his wounds¡­ The young man seemed to have encountered some kind of anomaly and his pupils widened in confusion. Kai noticed L¨¦andro¡¯s expression and he felt confused as well. Did I say something weird? I guess it¡¯s rare to see a ten-year-old kid running around with a sword? The cricketing of insects and the chirping of birds filled the awkward silence. ¡°So¡­¡± Kai spoke up first, in an attempt to wake L¨¦andro up from his trance. ¡°First of all, thank you for saving my ass back then, and secondly¡­ what the fuck is wrong with you?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± L¨¦andro snapped at Kai ¡°And you¡¯re welcome. What do you mean, what the fuck is wrong with me?¡± ¡°You shot at me!¡± Kai snapped back at the archer with a slightly raised voice. L¨¦andro frowned slightly upon hearing the statement ¡°Oh I¡¯m sorry I shot at a hooded figure sneaking around.¡± he replied sarcastically. ¡°So you just shoot at any random person walking through the forest.¡± Kai objected to the illogical statement. ¡°Given the context of the previous situation, yes? Did you see how many bandits were there? What the fuck is wrong with you? Do you attack every gang of bandits you meet on the road with an oversized wolf?¡± L¨¦andro retorted angrily. ¡°Huuuuh? What do you mean oversized? Onyx is a perfectly fine size!¡± Kai shouted, feeling that Onyx was wronged. L¨¦andro¡¯s eyes turned blank as he looked at Kai with bewilderment. No, why is that the focus of the argument? ¡°Ah, forget it. It¡¯s clear you''re an idiot.¡± He said as he waved his hand in front of Kai ¡°You actually went and attacked them with such sloppy swordsmanship.¡± Kai¡¯s head lowered, his pupils trembling under the large hood. Sloppy? Did he just call Grandpa¡¯s technique sloppy? L¨¦andro gulped, feeling as if he said something he shouldn¡¯t have, but he decided to stick to his guns. ¡°Look, I haven¡¯t seen that kind of swordsmanship in my life but it¡¯s definitely inferior to what a normal soldier has¡­, if you want better sword techniques you can go join the Imperial army or find one somewhere. I heard Lustra was founded by a swordsman so maybe go search the ruins there¡­¡± Kai raised an eyebrow upon hearing the name ¡°You mean the city overrun by goblins?¡± he asked L¨¦andro who began scratching the back of his head ¡°No, the city overrun by gobelins¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Kai asked, thinking that Julie simply couldn¡¯t pronounce the word ¡®goblin¡¯. ¡°Well, goblins don¡¯t exist, I didn¡¯t even know that was a word until now. L¨¦andro replied while shaking his head. He doesn¡¯t have any magic¡­ and he¡¯s stupid as well? Kai¡¯s eyes fell in contemplation, ignoring whether they were goblins or gobelins for now. I had no idea Lustra had that kind of history, and as much as I hate to admit it¡­ I was about to die against that bandit, maybe I should go take a look¡­ he slumped his shoulders at the thought. ¡°I see, thanks for the heads-up, I will check it out later.¡± L¨¦andro stood in silence for a while before nodding. ¡°Alright, I hope you find something useful there.¡± He said while his eyes lit up a golden color once again. ¡°I suggest you get stronger before actually going. You can also go somewhere else like the capital or the Dwarves¡­¡± The dwarves? What do they know about swordsmanship? He tilted his head to the side, feeling slightly confused. ¡°Got it, thanks once again for saving my ass back there, it was nice meeting you despite your trigger-happy attitude.¡± he joked before saying his goodbyes. ¡°May we meet again?¡± L¨¦andro waved his hand with a weird smile on his face as he watched Kai¡¯s departing figure. What the fuck is a trigger? ¡­ Kai left the forest, the blinding rays of light bouncing off his dark cape. Onyx¡¯s huge figure cast a shadow over him as he approached the Obborik, his tail creating small gusts of wind as it swished back and forth. ¡°Did you wait long?¡± he asked while looking at the corpse-filled battlefield. The green armored guards collected their companion corpses and placed them into a wagon. ¡°Stay still!¡± The captain¡¯s angry voice accompanied by a loud thud resounded in his ears as he turned his head to see what the commotion was all about. The unlucky bandits who couldn¡¯t escape were tied up and struggling to escape but Kai paid them no heed as he signaled Onyx to follow him back to where he left his backpack. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± a melodic voice entered his ears. His cloak fluttered slightly as he turned to look at the source of the voice. A light creak resounded from the carriage¡¯s door as it slammed open with a thud. A girl with long and blonde curly hair emerged from within. Soft rays of sunlight bounced off her sapphire-like eyes onto her milky white skin. A warm breeze blew her soft hair over her bright smile. Kai¡¯s eyes widened at the sight, his heart pounding against his chest as he looked at the girl, sensing her faint but familiar aura. Chapter 37: The Orchid Merchants Organization Young Lady ¡°Wait a moment.¡± The girl¡¯s melodic voice wavered slightly as she stepped out of the carriage, the soft grass bent slightly under the rhythmic footsteps. Her figure sparkled as rays of sunlight caressed the golden robe embroidered with an enchanting Orchid emblem. Turquoise-colored garments hid under its cover. Their stunning color accentuated her sparkling eyes. Her glistening body stopped two meters away from Kai, his mouth slightly agape. Strong thuds resounded from within his chest as his heart threatened to break out. His Adam''s apple twitched slightly as he gulped silently. The girl¡¯s thin lips parted, a melodious voice reverberating in the air as her left hand flew to her chest in salute. ¡°Allow me to present myself. I am Orphelia, daughter of Vlad and heiress to the Orchid Merchant Organisation,¡± she stated as her back slowly curved forward, a faint smile appearing on her face. Kai¡¯s pupils constricted under his hood as the girl¡¯s aura became more apparent to him. Where have I sensed it before? Forget it, let¡¯s copy her while I figure it out. He quickly assumed the same stance as Orphelia, doing his best to look courteous. ¡°My name is Kai, son of Ray. I¡¯m just a nobody wandering the continent.¡± He said before pointing his arm at the Obborik. ¡°This here is Onyx, my travel companion and friend.¡± Onyx¡¯s ears pointed straight up as he raised his head proudly. Orphelia¡¯s smile grew brighter as a mesmerizing laugh echoed in the air. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Kai, and Onyx.¡± she greeted the two, her luscious hair whipped in front of her as she lowered her head in a deep bow. ¡°In my name as Orphelia, and in the name of my guards, I sincerely thank you for saving our lives.¡± Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and his hidden face gradually reddened with embarrassment. Stammering, he parted his trembling lips and said, ¡°T-there¡¯s no need f-for such humble thanks, I just h-happened to be passing by, that¡¯s all¡­¡± he said as his gaze drifted to the ground Besides, I nearly died myself¡­ Orphelia¡¯s eyes continued to sparkle as she rose from her bow, her bright smile inundating Kai¡¯s senses. ¡°It was no coincidence!¡± she explained excitedly ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to our Goddess that we made it out safely from this ordeal, she has brought you to us.¡± The guard¡¯s captain shook his head as he gave Kai a pitiful look before closing his eyes. ¡°We must make haste to Nivero to give our thanks!¡± Orphelia continued as Kai¡¯s expression froze. Give thanks to the Goddess? Is she talking about the same one that reincarnated me here? The two God-like figures appeared in his mind, looking at Orphelia with pitiful eyes, recalling the conversation he had with her Goddess. If only you knew the truth¡­ ¡°Won¡¯t you come with us?¡± Kai snapped from his daze upon receiving the invitation. Going to Nivero was my goal in the first place, and I don¡¯t mind the company, however¡­ his thoughts paused as he stared at the ground, tapping lightly on the hilt of his sword as he struggled to make a decision If my identity as a vampire is discovered¡­ his body shuddered at the thought. Noticing his hesitation, she bit her lower lip and looked at the hooded figure. A faint burning sensation began spreading over her forehead, her eyes twitching slightly before slowly fading away. Her pupils constricted slightly and she took a deep breath before her lips parted once again. Her delicate clothes fluttered in the wind as she took a rapid step forward, her soft fingers intertwined as she tried to convince Kai ¡°Since you¡¯re on this road I assume you want to go to Limmin town or Nivero right? You can come with us and ease your travels, this way I can also repay your kindness.¡± Kai¡¯s body shivered slightly as the girl¡¯s stature rapidly towered over him, approaching hastily, a wave of sweet-scented air hit him in the face and inundated his nostrils before she stopped. Blinking innocently, her sapphire eyes fixated on him, a mischievous grin forming before instantly disappearing. I haven¡¯t noticed this before but he¡¯s so small, I can just pick him up and throw him in the temple, right? Her sly smile didn¡¯t escape Kai¡¯s keen gaze but he slouched his shoulders before agreeing, a soft sigh escaping his lips. That familiar aura appeared again, it can¡¯t be a coincidence; I will have to ask her about it later, and besides¡­ I¡¯m afraid she will take me by force if I refuse¡­ Kai collected his backpack from the forest, then joined Orphelia and Onyx towards the end of the wagon tail where they waited for him. The guards prepared for their departure, the deer-like creature that reigned the carriage and wagons had calmed down by then and they were ready to leave in a jiffy. They walked past the wagon filled with corpses, the mountain of flesh emitting a stench of iron and death as drops of blood fell on the ground in a horrifying rhythm. Kai¡¯s stomach churned silently and he avoided the sight as he did his best to not think about it. Orphelia stopped in front of the wagon, a muffled murmur escaped her person as she joined her hands in prayer. ¡°Won¡¯t you join us in the carriage?¡± she asked after finishing her prayers, rays of sunlight shone through her blonde locks of hair that swayed with the wind as her fiery eyes turned to Kai. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. His heart skipped a beat once again, and, avoiding her gaze, he felt his pulse rise rapidly. What¡¯s with this girl, why does she make me feel like this? He fidgeted with his fingers before he nodded his head lightly. ¡°Umm, yes¡­ thank you.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes widened as they walked past the wagons filled with precious materials such as animal pelts, antlers, fangs, and scales as well as some thick, yellowish green skin. The other wagons had barrels of spices and alcohol, as well as mountains of medicinal herbs such as glowing bells, tied together tightly by a rope. These things must all cost a fortune, too bad I don''t have the slightest idea about how money works in this world. ¡°What do you say? Good stuff, right?¡± Orphelia asked after she noticed Kai gawking at her merchandise. He jumped back slightly, surprised by the question. Crap! What should I say? It¡¯s obvious by looking at my attire that I¡¯m oblivious to these things¡­ His brain worked overtime as he struggled to come up with something to say but in the end, all he managed to blurt out was ¡°Yeah¡­ they look really¡­ expensive?¡± The girl chuckled softly at the answer, her eyes smiling with a hint of amusement. ¡°I guess you could say that. We sold and traded ores from the dwarves, grains we purchased from the local farmers, and weapons from the smiths in the region.¡± ¡°This was quite a small trade but it¡¯s not bad for my first time,¡± she said in a prideful voice with a smile that extended from one ear to the other. This is a small trade?! Kai¡¯s footsteps slowed down briefly as a sense of bewilderment rose his spine. You call this a small trade? ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Orphelia spoke once again as if reading Kai¡¯s mind. ¡°When my dad or aunt go out they usually have a caravan three times the size of this one, and of course even more guards, and even mages. They usually do trade in the capital though.¡± A soft sigh escaped her lips as she stared at the sky with strong determination in her eyes ¡°One day I will take over the company and show those Padure bastards who the best trading company is!¡± she exclaimed with a reddened face as her fist rose into the air. ¡°Padure¡­ padure¡­ ah!¡± Kai exclaimed involuntarily as he recalled where he had heard that name. Their name was on that ointment Julie gave me. Orphelia¡¯s eyebrows suddenly shot up and her fierce gaze snapped at him when she heard his muttering. ¡°So you know of them?¡± her voice echoed in Kai¡¯s ears and a sudden threatening aura emanated from her person. Hmm? Is it me or does she look mad? A few drops of sweat fell down Kai¡¯s forehead as he gulped lightly. He gave Onyx a side glance in an attempt to get him to help but his mouth widened as he saw his companion rush forward after giving him a pitiful look. Damn traitor! Kai slouched his shoulders in defeat when he saw Onyx run with his tail tucked between his legs. Might as well answer truthfully¡­ ¡°Yeah, I saw their logo on a wooden ointment case some time ago.¡± He replied in a shaky voice under Orphelia¡¯s fiery eyes. To his surprise, her expression brightened upon receiving that response and she replied with a mocking laugh. ¡°Oh that thing, they sell it cheap and the production is even cheaper, it¡¯s so bad that you might also get an infection if you use it.¡± She said with disdain before she continued ¡°Nobody knows about that though, and don¡¯t let anyone hear you say that.¡± she warned him quietly before hurrying to the carriage. ¡°But you just said it-¡± he said quietly from behind her, afraid of incurring her wrath. When he reached the carriage his eyebrow shot up in surprise when he saw Onyx ¡®chat¡¯ with the huge deer-like creature. His pearly black eyes widened, and dust flew everywhere from the wind created by his rapidly wagging tail. His snout moved in all directions as soft yelps resounded from him. A light chuckle got stuck in his throat as he watched the amusing scene. Is that how he shows his affection? The gigantic white deer scoffed softly as it raised its head high without giving Onyx a second glance. Oh? Did he just get rejected? This feels like a scene from a drama my aunt used to watch, where a young man would fall in love with an older woman only to get rejected over and over again. A sliver of pity appeared in his eyes as he looked at the dejected Onyx. ¡°Yeek¡± Kai jumped slightly, startled by the sudden feeling of a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Kai, are you alright? I¡¯ve been calling you for a good minute, are you coming in?¡± Orphelia¡¯s soft whisper-like voice echoed in his ears, sending a light shiver down his spine. ¡°Y-yeah I am¡­¡± As he entered the carriage, a thick wave of aromatic, floral air inundated his nostrils, and he stepped back slightly. God damn! He placed his sword on the ground and quickly took a look around the cabin, his eyes drifting towards a small spot on the seats that were covered in a red blanket. It looks like they have some merchandise in here too. He sat down on the cushioned seats, breathing heavily as his lungs got accustomed to the heavy, perfumed air. These seats are really soft, not as soft as Onyx¡¯s fur but at least this is more comfortable than riding on his skinny back¡­ I will feed him plenty of meat when we arrive in Nivero. Orphelia sat opposite Kai with one leg over the other and a faint smile on her face. Her hands intertwined on her lap, her big blue eyes looking out the window as a rhythmic clopping sound accompanied by the rattling of wood marked the departure of the carriage. Kai straightened his back with a yawn as he stretched before he let his hand fall on the seats with a soft thud. Oh, what¡¯s this? A small, warm, and fluffy object filled his palm, and a muffled sound resounded in the cabin as he caressed the object with his fingers. This feels almost as good as Onyx¡¯s fur, it¡¯s even softer than that¡­ A light chuckle escaped Orphelia¡¯s lips as she took notice of Kai¡¯s shenanigans, and she looked at him with a mischievous grin. She silently drifted her gaze to the spot Kai was playing with as the object under the blanket let out a soft moan. ¡°M-my Lady this isn¡¯t¡­ appropriate- Agh!¡± The blanket flew on the ground as a petite girl jumped up from her seat, and her freckled face was as red as a tomato. Two small ears stuck out from her auburn hair and they twitched rapidly as her foggy eyes slowly turned a clear chocolate opal color. Cold sweat dropped down her face onto her rapidly heaving chest, a light pounding sound echoing from within her body. Her pupils widened as she scanned the area, quickly spotting Kai who was silently sitting in the corner. His robe fluttered as he turned his head upon sensing the girl¡¯s gaze. A shiver ran down his spine as an unnatural shade of pink spread covered his face. The girl¡¯s small nose twitched rapidly and her small innocent eyes quickly turned icy. The walls of the cabin got covered in a thin layer of ice and bits of snow started falling as the water droplets in the air froze as the temperature pummeled. Kai¡¯s crimson eyes made contact with the girl¡¯s cold glare and he could almost see a small, imaginary spark appear between the two of them. Chapter 38: Misunderstandings The chilly air filled the entire cabin with a dense blanket of fog that slowly rose from the floor. Kai squinted his eyes at the barely visible figure of the small girl, the muffled sound of his chattering teeth echoed in the frozen cabin like a pair of dice in a cup as his whole body shivered. What sort of magic is this? Kai¡¯s arms wrapped around himself, the moist material of the robe sticking tightly to his cold body. The petite girl¡¯s auburn hair stood on end as she heard a deep inhale, followed by a heavy sigh that bounced off the cabin walls and echoed in her small and round ears. With widening pupils, she turned her head towards the source of the sigh. An aggravated voice resounded in the air as her eyes met Orphelia¡¯s angry glare ¡°Ysne, you can stop, he¡¯s not an enemy.¡± Her freckles danced on her face as her nose twitched nervously, tears threatening to flow from her chocolate-colored eyes. She let out a soft squeak as her body relaxed and the ice on the walls began to melt away. Orphelia¡¯s gaze softened upon seeing the girl¡¯s frightened appearance. Rubbing her temples, she beckoned Ysne with her hand. ¡°Must you freeze everything whenever you feel threatened?¡± She gently rubbed the girl¡¯s head. Her other hand clenched into a fist, and a ring on her middle finger emitted a faint glow. The carriage shook slightly as a loud thud reverberated in Kai¡¯s ears. Instantly, warmth filled the cabin as the fog dissipated, revealing a huge crystal that glowed with a captivating red hue. Kai found himself surrounded by vapor as the moisture from his clothes quickly evaporated before disappearing as well. His eyes widened as he stared at the enormous crystal in the middle of the carriage with an open mouth. A firestone, this big?! His eyes then shifted to Orphelia, whose clothes seemed not to have been affected by the sudden snowstorm. ¡°My lady¡­ this man, is he¡­?¡± The freckled girl¡¯s high-pitched voice rang in his ears and he turned to look at her. His eyes flew straight at her short, gray ears, the tip of his fingers still remembering their fluffiness. Kai¡¯s face instantly turned a bright shade of pink as the petite girl¡¯s soft moan echoed in his mind. The now-dried robe fluttered rapidly as he shook his head, trying to remove that image from his mind. What¡¯s wrong with me¡­ Orphelia chuckled softly with an amused smile as she observed Kai¡¯s reactions. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s the one that saved us, originally I wanted to repay him but I think he already claimed his prize.¡± She said with a laugh as her blue eyes drifted towards Kai, who lowered his head after hearing her statement. Ysne¡¯s hands flew to her twitching ears as her freckled face got covered in a shade of pink. An awkward silence descended in the cabin and a single thought ran through both their heads: This is so embarrassing, is she doing this intentionally? Kai raised his head as his face returned to normal, and he looked straight into the small girl¡¯s chocolate opal eyes, sending a jolt of electricity down her spine before she avoided his gaze ¡°Y-Y-Ysne right?¡± he stammered as he spoke with a timid tone ¡°I¡¯m sorry for earlier, I, I didn¡¯t know tha-¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine!¡± Her high-pitched yell bounced off the carriage walls, sending a shiver down Kai¡¯s spine as the sharp sound entered his ears. Her face reddened even further and she lowered her voice as she said. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s fine, it¡¯s not your fault entirely¡­ after all, I hid under the blanket and before I knew it, I was asleep¡­¡± she played with her fingers and her voice got quieter as she lowered her head in shame. ¡°Then,¡± Orphelia¡¯s voice rang in their ears as their eyes turned to her. ¡°We can agree that it¡¯s no one¡¯s fault, right?¡± she said with a smile, her hands wandering around Ysne¡¯s auburn hair. Orphelia¡¯s slim fingers ran through the fluffy, luscious hair as she kept talking. ¡°We should reach Nivero in a few days, we will take a break at an outpost a day away from here then we will depart after a good rest. Other than that¡­¡± Her eyes turned to Kai, who was fixated on the huge crystal on the floor. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Besides the risk of catching a bad cold, I¡¯m quite alright.¡± he joked as he lifted his head, and a strange, faint glow emitted by a few red crystals on Orphelia¡¯s dress caught his attention. Are those fire crystals? How cheap are they to be embroidered on a dress, not to mention that big one¡­ Kai¡¯s keen gaze switched between the two crystals as a question suddenly popped up in his mind. ¡°Could you explain what happened earlier? The snow and all that stuff, how did she cast such a spell without a wand or chants?¡± he asked Orphelia, who, along with Ysne, gave him weird looks the moment the question left his lips. ¡°I guess you¡¯re entitled to an explanation¡­¡± Orphelia sighed as she put one leg over the other. ¡°I will keep it short. As I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware, Demi-Humans have a higher affinity with magic than normal humans, and in the wild, some Magic Beasts that reach the Eight Star Rank can develop a unique power called ¡®Domain¡¯.¡± Ah, I didn¡¯t know any of that¡­ Kai rubbed the back of his head awkwardly as he listened, taking every bit of new information. ¡°This ¡®Domain¡¯¡± she continued ¡°can be inherited by the descendants of that race. Ysne over here was lucky enough to awaken her bloodline and obtain the Domain of the Ice-Hearted Mouse, but she can¡¯t control it just yet.¡± She said as she looked tenderly at the round-eared girl. ¡°Well she can turn it off or wait until she runs out of mana but as for activating it¡­ it¡¯s more of an instinct. Whenever she¡¯s scared or anxious to an extreme degree it activates by itself, but she has time to learn how to use it, she¡¯s only sixteen after all.¡± Sixteen?! Kai widened his eyes as he looked at the small girl, who didn¡¯t seem that much taller than him. Good thing this hood covers my face otherwise they¡¯d think I had a seizure by how much my expression changed¡­ ¡°Lady Orphelia!¡± Ysne¡¯s high-pitched voice woke Kai from his thoughts. He snapped his eyes towards the small girl, who had an unhealthy shade of pink all over her face. ¡°You¡¯re sharing too much¡­¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Ah! Sorry Ysne, you¡¯re right.¡± Orphelia raised her hand to her mouth and apologized. ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you,¡± she said as her sapphire eyes moved towards Kai once again. ¡°I¡¯m twenty years old, have a little brother who currently goes to the Magic Academy in the capital and I can only use light magic.¡± She smiled towards Ysne as she asked ¡°There, is that good enough for you?¡± Ysne¡¯s ears lowered sideways as her gaze drifted towards the ground ¡°It¡¯s not fair¡­ you don¡¯t care about such things¡­¡± she said, sulking. ¡°Then what if our friend tells us something about himself?¡± she asked, pointing towards Kai, who jolted slightly upon hearing the question. ¡°Clearly he cares quite a bit about his identity, seeing as he didn¡¯t remove his hood even after all this time.¡± The girl¡¯s freckled face lit up and her ears rose upwards as she turned to look at Kai. Her nose twitched slightly and her eyes shone with a glint of interest. His gaze turned towards Orphelia who had a mischievous smile in her eyes. His pupils widened as he came to a realization. Was this her goal all along? No way¡­ ¡°Well¡­¡± he let out a faint sigh before he continued ¡°As I said, my name is Kai. I can¡¯t use magic¡­ at the moment. I¡¯m ten years old and the Obborik should be about two¡­?¡± He paused his speech, taken aback by the expressions formed on the girls¡¯ faces. The girls'' eyes widened and their lips froze in a strange smile. They blinked rapidly as they exchanged a quick glance, unable to hide their shock at Kai''s revelation. ¡°I¡­ I see, ten years old huh¡­¡± Orphelia stammered as she did her best to take in the information. How is this brat so strong? Furthermore, why does the Goddess want me to bring him to the temple? She let out a heavy sigh and turned her attention towards the window. The rattling sound of the carriage filled the cabin, accompanied by the clopping of the white deer, along with Onyx¡¯s yelping as darkness covered the land. ¡°We¡¯ll reach the outpost soon.¡± Orphelia¡¯s melodious voice broke the silence, waking up Ysne, who was sleeping comfortably on her lap. She yawned lazily while getting up, her dry lips parted as she said in a tired voice ¡°Already?¡± ¡°Yes, for how long were you planning to sleep?¡± Orphelia chuckled as she ruffled her hair. ¡°Be ready to get off.¡± She looked at Kai, who nodded slightly. They saw a wall made out of sharp, vertically placed logs appear in front of them after a few minutes. The outpost occupied a few hundred square meters zone and was built next to a wide river. The dancing flames of the torches placed inside the tall lookout towers served as the sole light source in the eerie darkness. Inside the area of the walls were a dozen wooden barracks and around twenty enormous tents, as well as a shower area close to the river. The loud chatter and joyful laughs around the outpost completely silenced Orphelia¡¯s rattling carriage as it slowly approached the gates of the miniature fortress. Four guards, two on each side, stood vigilant and unmoving in front of the gates. They maintained their poker faces even as they saw the approaching figure of the huge white deer. However, small drops of sweat ran down their backs as they saw the huge Obborik next to it. They gave each other a quick nod before two of them moved forward to meet Lady Orphelia, their silver armor clanked as the different components rubbed against each other. The other two guards moved to open the heavy wooden gate. A deep, rumbling creaking sound resounded in the air, its hinges groaning as it slowly opened. The carriage stopped in front of the guards, kicking up a small cloud of dust and it shuddered slightly as the door slammed open with a loud thud. ¡°We will leave in the morning,¡± Orphelia said as she left the carriage accompanied by Kai and Ysne. The two silver armored men nodded silently before greeting the captain of the jade-armored guards with a casual smile. The captain snorted and his expression darkened when he saw the two approach. ¡°You fucking bastards!¡± Their smiles froze in place, and they gave each other a puzzled look as the captain''s anger slowly rose. ¡°A large group of bandits attacked us on the way here!¡± He yelled, his voice filled with fury. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the courage of a young man we would be corpses on the ground!¡± They stared at each other with widened eyes, their lips twitching nervously as their faces reddened. ¡°Apologies sir! We scouted the area before you departed from Limmin, our patrols must have slacked off!¡± Their armor rattled loudly as they bowed towards the captain. ¡°We must report this at once!¡± Orphelia, Kai, and Ysne made their way inside the outpost where a burly man with a thick mustache waited for them. He approached the group with a wide, amiable smile, a faint shade of red covering his cheeks. His lips parted, the strong stench of alcohol escaping through his breath as he said in a hoarse voice. ¡°Lady Orphelia, I hope your travels were safe.¡± ¡°I guess we can say that,¡± she replied in an irritated voice as she made her way past the drunk man. ¡°I¡¯m tired, prepare a meal for us and send it to the usual cabin.¡± she said imperatively, and paused slightly before she continued ¡°And feed Hyperflon and my friend¡¯s pet as well.¡± The drunk man kept smiling, clearly unbothered by her behavior and as he turned towards the gate he saw the two guards approaching. His expression darkened as they told him what happened, and he scratched his mustache as he mumbled something under his breath. The barrack Orphelia chose had four bedrooms and a private bath, as well as a spacious dining area with a large rectangular table in the middle. Three bowls of hot soup accompanied by a few pieces of meat and bread were already placed in front of three chairs. The three of them sat down as the wooden chairs creaked under their weight. ¡°I will go take a bath, feel free to pick whichever room you like. If you want you can take a bath later as well.¡± She said as she stood up from the dining table, clearly in a hurry to clean herself. Kai nodded before he took his leave as well, and Ysne followed after Orphelia. As he wandered through the barrack, the wooden boards creaked beneath his feet. Curiously, he inspected each room, but they all looked the same. Finally, he picked up an unoccupied bedroom and threw himself onto the bed. He let out a heavy sigh as his eyes threatened to close. Who knew a carriage ride could be so tiring¡­ He sat up and looked around the room. It didn¡¯t have any decorations, it looked plain and the only furniture was a bed, a closet with a large mirror next to it, a desk and a chair. He walked up to the mirror and inspected himself. The robe he used to cover his face was dirty, and the old holes were accompanied by new ones. Undoing the robe, it fluttered softly as it hit the ground, revealing his face. His crimson eyes stared back at him through the crystal surface, sending small shivers down his spine as he saw the reflection of his parents within. Small tears trailed down his cheeks as their faces flashed in his mind, their distant voices echoing in his ears. His breathing became rapid and cold sweat dripped down his back as his whole body shivered. He brought his hand to his chest, and he took deep breaths as he tried to calm down. *Thud* Kai jumped on his feet as the door slammed against the wall, turning around, he saw Ysne¡¯s small figure staring at him with widened eyes. He quickly hid his eyes as he evaded her gaze, his long silver hair fluttering as it danced around him. Bonus Chapter: The Hunting Misadventures of Kai and Onyx! The crackling sound of burning wood echoed in the dark forest, accompanied by hoots of distant owls, disturbing the peace of this silent, eerie night. The faint light of a shabby campfire illuminated a small area around it, revealing the small figure of a silver haired boy and a huge wolf-like beast with fluffy snow-white fur. The soft hair of the Obborik served as both bed and pillow for Kai, who was inspecting the map as the fire warmed up his pelt-covered body. ¡°Neither too close nor too far¡±, my ass! Stupid old man, maybe it¡¯s not too far for you! Kai scoffed and sighed silently as he thought about the long journey. Evicario is on the other part of the map! How long would it take me to get there? If it took me a month to get close to the outskirts of this forest from the old man¡¯s camp then¡­ It''s at least six more months by foot! Grooooooowl! A faint, amused smile manifested on his face as a soft gurgling noise echoed in his ears, breaking his train of thought. He petted the belly of the large mountain of fur with one hand and patted his own with the other. ¡°I know boy¡­ me too¡­¡± he yawned lightly as he said in a raspy voice. ¡°All we have are the dried rations¡­ who would have thought we¡¯d eat so much in just a month?¡± Onyx¡¯s ears twitched back and forth as he listened to Kai, slowly inclining backwards as he huffed helplessly. Kai put the map away into his backpack which was filled with miscellaneous stuff such as some potions, a notebook, some clothes and a lot of pieces of dried, salted meat along with a few water flasks made from animal skin filled to the brim, yet the backpack was empty of any food besides some berries. Light rustling sounds resounded from within as he placed the map in between the notebook and a makeshift sleeping bag. I didn¡¯t even need the sleeping bag in the end, this boy is more than warm enough! He laughed silently to himself at the thought as he caressed Onyx¡¯s fur once again. ¡°Should we go hunt?¡± he asked the Obborik, who¡¯s ears instantly perked up as he barked excitedly Woof! Repeating, soft thudding sounds resounded in the air as small gusts of wind that threatened to put out the fire were created from Onyx¡¯s wagging tail. Kai hastily got up, the wind blowing his untied, long hair back while he tried to contain the Obborik¡¯s excitement. ¡°Ok boy stop, stop! I struggled to make the fire without magic, don¡¯t put it out just yet.¡± Onyx¡¯s tail slowly came to a halt as his ears fell down, his small black eyes stared wordlessly at Kai, who sighed lightly at the sight. ¡°Don¡¯t worry boy, I¡¯m not mad.¡± he assured Onyx while patting his fur with a wide smile and twinkling eyes. I really can''t get enough of this fluffiness! ¡°Come now, let¡¯s go hunt some game before we turn into vegetarians. he joked as he brushed some dust off his dirty clothes. Onyx stood up as well, his tall stature creating a huge shadow on the ground behind him. They departed their temporary base under the cover of the dark forest. Leaves rustled beneath their feet as they tip-toed on the dry and humid ground. With every step, branches cracked loudly, rendering their stealth-like mission useless. Onyx¡¯s pearly black eyes glowed with a faint blue-ish light as he inspected the area around them, looking for any prey. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Kai joined him in his search, his crimson eyes sparkling brightly as small amounts of mana freely circulated through them. ¡°Do you see anything?¡± he asked, a small cloud of vapor appearing around his mouth. Onyx sighed softly and lowered his head in response. ¡°I guess not, heh. We are quite loud so I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised.¡± Maybe we can hide and wait for something to pass¡­ he looked around as he thought and set his sights onto a large bush not that far away. ¡°Let¡¯s hide for now, maybe we will get lucky.¡± The bush rustled as the two slithered through the dense branches. Kai¡¯s small stature was completely hidden within leaves, while Onyx¡¯s body, save for the head, was completely exposed. Kai did not pay any mind to his companion¡¯s lack of stealth as his keen eyes were focused on a small clearing in front of him where small rays of moonlight slipped through the dense crown of the trees. The soft light walked on the icy ground, eventually disappearing then reappearing again someplace else. Clattering sounds echoed from the bush as Kai¡¯s teeth and muscles spasmed uncontrollably as midnight slowly approached. ¡°D-d-damn it w-w-will anything even show up?¡± he mumbled with crossed arms, small clouds of vapor forming at his mouth as he spoke. Onyx approached his head to Kai¡¯s face, unbothered by the cold. ¡°Thanks, boy.¡± A faint, rhythmic thudding sound resounded in their ears as the small figure of a deer appeared within their field of vision. Its delicate footsteps slowly came to a halt as its hooves brushed against the overgrown grass. The brown-ish, spot covered body of the deer stopped under the rays of moonlight, its long and sharp antlers glowing faintly with a silvery-white light. Kai and Onyx locked onto it, their stomachs emitting silent growling sounds. Their bodies froze in place as they stopped breathing, waiting for the perfect opportunity to jump onto the unsuspecting victim. Onyx¡¯s mouth was wet with hunger, his muscles twitching at the thought of the venison meat they were about to feast on. An icy breeze brushed past them, moving towards the deer who had its eyes closed. Its nose twitched as the breeze passed by, its eyes snapping open, staring straight at the two. Damn it! Kai cursed under his breath. The bush rustled as both of them jumped out, bits of white fur ripping out from Onyx¡¯s skin as his huge body forcefully passed through the intertwined branches. Kai followed suit with huge momentum, clutching his sword tightly. A rattling sound emitted from his scabbard as he pulled it halfway out. Agggh! His advance was quickly cut short as his body snapped backwards, a mischievous branch having caught him by the collar. Onyx¡¯s ears twitched slightly but his hungry gaze was locked onto the deer, who¡¯s eyes widened in fear. Its antlers immediately emitted a blinding light, forcing the Obborik to squint his eyes as he gave chase to the barely visible figure. A rhythmic sound of clicking footsteps echoed in front of him as the light slowly faded away. A puffing sound resounded from Onyx¡¯s snout as his tail lowered in disappointment. His head snapped at Kai, who still struggled to unbind himself from the playful branch. His pointy ears inclined backward as a fierce gaze manifested on his face. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Kai asked as his lips shaped into a weird, innocent looking smile. Onyx growled angrily in response, his hair standing on end as he slowly approached Kai with heavy footsteps, his head dropping towards the ground. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as he quickly freed himself from the clutches of the bush. The Obborik stopped in front of Kai and he sat down, his huge head brushing against his legs before he let out a puff from his snout. Kai knelt down as well, pulling the backpack from the bush and fishing for the dry rations. ¡°I¡¯m sorry boy¡­ This will have to do for now¡­¡± Chapter 39: One Murderous Necklace Ysne¡¯s burning stare rested on him for a while, and her eyes seemed as though they might fall out of their sockets as Kai¡¯s silver hair reflected in her pupils. ¡°Miss Ysne¡­ can I help you?¡± his weak, fatigued voice entered her round ears, and she jumped up slightly as her pupils regained focus. ¡°Ah? Yes! Lady Orphelia said the bath is empty right now so you can go ahead and use it.¡± She squeaked as her gaze turned towards the hardwood floor. ¡°A-alright.¡± Kai nodded, his voice breaking up as the words left his mouth. Cold sweat ran down his back, and his heart felt as though it might jump out of his chest. His shoulders shook as fear and anxiety took over his body. He turned his head a few degrees, just enough to see Ysne standing in the door out of the corner of his eye. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± He asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty. ¡°No¡­¡± she said, whispering ¡°but you don¡¯t seem well, did you actually catch a cold?¡± she continued, the wood creaking under her weight as she approached him. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­don¡¯t worry.¡± Ysne kept slowly approaching Kai, her lips parted as she asked in a worried voice ¡°Are you sure? I could ask for someone-¡± However, Kai¡¯s loud voice rang in her ears before she could finish her sentence. ¡°Stay away!¡± Her body jolted in surprise and she stopped in place, looking at his panicked figure. Her small ears lowered sideways as she apologized in a low voice ¡°Ah, right. Sorry for intruding.¡± She gently closed the door and her footsteps slowly faded. Kai took a deep breath as a heavy sigh of relief escaped his lips. His pulse, along with his breathing returned to normal and he let out a small chuckle after he calmed down. Why am I so jumpy? He sat on the bed and took a better look at his attire, which wasn''t in any better state than the cloak lying on the floor. Multiple holes and claw-shaped cuts covered his clothes, and dried blood turned his once-clean shirt a deep shade of red. He sniffed himself, his eyes teared up slightly as a heavy stench of iron mixed with dirt and grass bombarded his nostrils. ¡°I really should take a bath¡­ and change my clothes.¡± He picked up his heavy backpack from the floor and placed it on the bed before he started rummaging through it. ¡°I should have some spare clothes¡­¡± the backpack rustled as he emptied its contents. The first thing he took out was his wand, he rubbed its rough texture as he took a closer look at it, and sighed before he gently placed it on the bed. Then, a dozen glass vials of different colors appeared on the sheets: five red, three blue, two green, one purple, and one white. ¡°Grandpa said these are potions, not that surprising. There are different grades of potions based on different factors, can¡¯t remember what though¡­¡± He scratched his head trying to remember, and two leaves fell out of his hair as he did so. His face broke into a smile as he contemplated this lamentable situation. Next, he took out the maps and the notebook, arranging them next to each other before he continued. The bed rapidly got covered in all sorts of miscellaneous items such as an empty bag that once held their dried rations, several flasks of water, a few berry-like fruits, and the useless sleeping bag that took most of the space. ¡°I¡¯ll just leave it here, I doubt I will need it anymore.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for a new set of clothes to appear as well: A gray shirt and brown pants, as well as a pair of linen shorts and chemise. As Kai looked at the ¡®underwear¡¯, a silent thought popped up in his mind before it quickly vanished. ¡°Disgusting¡­¡± he said as his body shivered ¡°If only I could open my spatial ring¡­¡± He was ready to throw the backpack back on the floor when he felt a sudden weight that made him hesitate. ¡°This is¡­?¡± He peered inside and his eyes widened as they landed on the object that lay at the bottom. A violet sphere tied to a silver chain stood alone, it let out a faint glow as it moved about. Kai¡¯s hand jolted as he picked it up, an intense, icy feeling spread out from its shiny surface. ¡°This necklace, my last gift¡­¡± He whispered in a trembling voice as his fingers walked across the sphere¡¯s exterior. Water droplets appeared on his palm and eventually his face as he brought it closer, the hazy cubic shape still present inside the dark void. ¡°To think I¡¯d forget about it¡­¡± His heart swelled with joy and sorrow, and a wave of anger coursed through him. He gritted his teeth, feeling a sharp ache in his jaw as he clutched the necklace tightly. The grinding sound of his teeth echoed in the quiet room, and he winced as the sharp pain in his jaw intensified. Scraping noises rang in his ears as his nails scratched against the violet crystal. Once again, countless images flashed in his mind. Vivid pictures of his parents as they taught him magic, their clear voices echoed in his head, and a sudden pain spread from his chest towards the crystal. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Residual amounts of mana ran through his mana veins, causing them to tremble and crack, and the necklace stuck to Kai¡¯s palm as it sucked all the magic from his body. The unbearable pain nearly made him faint, and he closed his eyes as he took deep breaths in an attempt to clear his mind. ¡°Calm down, I have to calm down.¡± Like a sword hanging from a thin rope, he felt a fate worse than death loom over his head. This thing is forcing every bit of mana from my body, but there¡¯s no telling how much it will take! His bloodshot eyes snapped open, and he forced a wide smile as his muscles twitched from the pain. ¡°If it is mana you want, then fine!¡± His free hand reached towards the wand, its familiar feeling giving him some comfort in this dire situation. He flicked it toward the dark sphere and forced every available mana toward his wand. The tiny, dark crystal at the tip of Kai''s wand emitted a feeble glow, struggling against the necklace for the last dregs of mana within him. Waves of searing pain coursed through his feeble mana veins, which trembled and cracked, threatening to rupture under the strain. He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain rushing through his body as the wand grew brighter, drawing mana from the environment which Kai then fed to the necklace. He felt the pressure on his veins gradually decrease, and a muffled grunt escaped his lips as a hot sensation climbed up his throat. His mouth turned crimson as he spit out a mouthful of blood. The chilling sound of fresh blood dripping on the floor rang in his ears, sending shivers down his spine. His pupils constricted as he tightened the grip on his wand, and he forced even more mana to enter the necklace, causing his veins to crack even faster. A stinging pain appeared in his eyes as tears ran down his cheeks. ¡°Noooo!¡± He let out a painful, primordial scream and blood dripped down his chin as he gritted his teeth. "I won''t die, not again! Not until I kill that bastard!" Kai''s wand vibrated slightly in his hand, and it let out a sharp screech as if responding to his cries. The tiny, dark crystal on its tip glowed even brighter and cracks rapidly covered its surface as it rumbled on the verge of exploding. The sound of shattering glass echoed loudly in the room as the crystal cracked, sending high amounts of mana straight toward the necklace. The dark sphere started glowing with a violet hue and it gradually grew brighter as it greedily absorbed all the mana coming towards it. The necklace absorbed the unrefined mana like a hungry beast that hadn¡¯t eaten in weeks; its violet shine grew fiercer as Kai squinted his eyes against the blinding light that filled the entire room. A loud thud resounded in the chamber as the necklace fell on the hardwood floor; its hazy interior shook slightly before it returned to normal. The piercing light gradually faded away as it revealed the empty room and the dark sphere rolling in the pool of blood. ¡­ The bloodied figure of a young boy gradually materialized inside a silent, empty world. The dark, starry sky watched over the barren space like a guardian. He lay motionless on his back, his chest heaved up and down as light coughs escaped his lips. His small eyes opened slowly, and the faint light of the stars reflected in their crimson hue. Kai blinked rapidly as his eyes adapted to the new environment, and his pupils widened as he stared into the dark void. Groans of pain escaped his mouth as long silver hair brushed against his body while he got up. ¡°Where am I?¡± He asked, his voice disappearing into the void without a single echo. Sweat ran down his face as he felt his heart kicking against his ribcage, his breathing hastened as his mind jumped to conclusions. ¡°I can¡¯t be dead, not again!¡± He hastily turned his head in every direction, looking for a single sign of life, an escape to break out from his mental prison. He stopped, staring straight ahead he squinted his eyes and his face lit up. The star¡¯s faint light rained upon a cube-shaped building far into the distance, and a warm light emitted from the sides as it stood unmoving. Kai dashed towards the cube and he gritted his teeth as he ignored the searing pain of his nearly shattered mana veins. The cube grew closer and closer as Kai ran madly toward it, and the distance between them seemed non-existent as he appeared in front of it almost instantly. His eyes rested on the barely visible structure, the warm light bouncing off his body and onto the cracked, vine-covered walls. His hand ran along the cold stone wall, his fingers meeting a series of grooves as he made his way to the other side. A faint warmth greeted his palm at the end, and he winced in pain as a small splinter pierced his thumb. He placed his arm on the chilly iron handle and the door unlocked with a click, groaning as it slowly opened. A faint smile manifested on Kai¡¯s face and he let out a chuckle as he said in a soft voice ¡°So this was their gift?¡± He closed the door behind him with a gentle slam. His eyes inspected the familiar room full of books and candles. The sound of his unrhythmic footsteps bounced off the bookshelves as he made his way deeper into the library. As he left the jungle of books his eyes fixated on a small, round table surrounded by three chairs in the middle of the room. Under it stood a brand new chest made out of dark wood with golden corners, and on top of it a single, transparent crystal. He walked closer to the table and sat down on the middle chair, his gaze swapped between the two other chairs before landing on the crystal. His right hand trembled as he curiously reached for it, and his heart got stuck in his throat upon touch. Kai¡¯s eyes snapped shut as it emitted a brief flash, falling backward from the shock. Slowly opening his eyes, the after-effects of the light still blinded him slightly. His lips started shaking uncontrollably and his eyes widened as his pupils trembled. Soft gasps escaped his mouth while he stared at two figures standing at the opposite end of the table. ¡°Hello, son.¡± Their harmonious and melodic voices rang in his twitching ears at the same time; their love-filled smiles reflected in his crimson eyes as two gut-wrenching words escaped his lips: ¡°Mom¡­ Dad!¡± Chapter 40: A Message From The Past The almost silent words echoed in the dreadful quiet, accompanied only by the slight buzzing of the crystals that reflected the vivid imagery of Kai¡¯s parents, who seemed to be looking at him through time and space as their lips parted once again. ¡°Son¡­ we¡­ I¡­¡± His father¡¯s quivering, distorted voice bounced off against the walls, sending shivers down Kai¡¯s spine as his widened pupils looked at the illusory figure. ¡°How do I even start¡­ I¡¯m sure you know that¡­ by now we should be¡­ dead.¡± Ray said faintly, a sigh of despair escaping his body. ¡°Kai¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ we couldn¡¯t protect you¡­ and I hope you¡¯ll be alright.¡± Kai watched in awe, barely remembering to breathe as his agape mouth trembled as a jumbled mess of sounds escaped its constraints. A soft thud echoed as he feel to the ground, standing on his knees as time seemed to slow down. ¡°I know all of this must be quite a shock to you, and we shouldn¡¯t be telling you all of this in such a way, however¡­ fate wasn¡¯t kind to us, or rather, we were stupid, overconfident¡­ No, no, no, I was stupid. I shouldn¡¯t have left Haniard get this close to us¡­I should!¡± Kai¡¯s pupils constricted upon hearing that name, his fists clenching while his teeth scraped against each other. That bastard! That¡­ piece of shit! He¡¯s the one who took you away from me! How is it your fault?! Anger coursed through his veins, unable to understand why his father would blame himself for their own death. ¡°Dear¡­ let me.¡± Elena¡¯s figure interrupted him, her melodic voice causing Kai¡¯s heart to stop beating for a moment as he focused on his mother, her blurry figure seemingly staring into his eyes. ¡°Kai, I never wanted you to find out about¡­ this entire thing, at all. But you¡¯re entitled to an explanation¡­ and I¡¯ll be very brief about it. That man, his name is Haniard¡­ he¡¯s the man that killed your grandfather¡­ the former ruler of the Vampires.¡± The young child¡¯s mind reeled in shock, staggering backward as his breathing turned rapid, he stared at his mother with bewilderment and shock. That¡­ how could that be!? That means¡­ my mom she¡¯s¡­ how is that possible?¡­ Stunned by the information, he did his best to rearrange his thoughts and focus on what his parents said. Calming his racing heartbeat, he turned his attention toward Elena, who continued after a brief pause. ¡°He wanted all the power for himself¡­ and he got it. Killing my father was the first step, we are not sure of what his plans are but¡­ it doesn¡¯t look good regardless¡­ I was just another pawn as well, but that is all that you need to know.¡± Kai gulped, and watched his father move closer to his mother, before parting his lips. ¡°And remember, son¡­ run, run away, as far as you can and never look back¡­ Forget about him, just¡­ live your life. I set the talisman up so you would teleport in the old man¡¯s vicinity, I assume you¡¯ve already met him. You can trust him, although our shared past isn¡¯t all that happy, he is someone you can rely on.¡± He chuckled slightly upon hearing that, feeling slightly amused at the thought. Looks like they expected me to come here much earlier¡­ Alas, I would have been dead were it not for¡­ No, let¡¯s not think about that. ¡°Son,¡± Ray turned to look at Kai, his quivering lips struggling to part before he continued in a shaky voice. ¡°The truth is¡­ I and Haniard¡­ we¡­¡± ¡°Dear¡­¡± Elena interrupted him, seemingly putting a halt to whatever it was that he wanted to say, and placed her fine hand on his shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s alright, he doesn¡¯t need to know any of that.¡± Her sweet voice raised a bit of intrigue in Kai¡¯s mind, however, he had no time to think about it further at the moment. Elena planted a kiss on Ray¡¯s cheek before her illusory figure walked toward the table, pointing at the chest hidden beneath it. ¡°Son¡­ this was supposed to be your gift for your 15th birthday, but we decided to place it here just in case the worst happened¡­¡± She said, her voice trembling and breaking with every word she spoke, her entire body shaking as she fell to her knees with a soft thud. Tears streamed down her face, the salty droplets reflecting the crimson hue residing within her pupils. ¡°Mom!¡± Kai rushed to her side, his hands reaching out to embrace her, however, the warm feeling of is mother¡¯s body never reached his hands, and instead what met him were the rapid vibrations of mana, followed by a faint repulsion that pushed him backward. Staring at her with widened pupils, tears started forming around his eyes, angrily gashing his teeth, and clenching his fists in frustration as he watched his mother¡¯s pitiful figure. If only¡­ if only that bastard didn¡¯t exist! How dare he! How dare he kill my parents! What did they do wrong?! A soundless cry echoed inside his body as the hatred he held for Haniard increased with each tear his mother shed, with each moment her cries echoed in his ears, with each second that passed as he watched his mother suffer. Ray walked over to Elena, gently caressing her back before turning toward the chair that had fallen over. Propping his wife up, he calmed down her sorrow before gesturing toward the chair. ¡°Come son, sit down, this crystal can¡¯t record for much longer.¡± His tender, deep and confident voice bounced off the walls, right into Kai¡¯s ears, and he slowly stood up. Quickly making his way over, he raised the chair and sat down, waiting with a racing heart, waiting for his parents¡¯s last message to end, their voices and image to disappear, for the room go quiet. Elena walked over to his left, and Ray stood to his right, looking at him lovingly, their crimson pupils trembling as they kneeled in front of him. Letting out a soft sigh, they held each other¡¯s hands before placing the other in front of Kai. Extending his trembling hands, he carefully held his parent¡¯s hands, his entire body shaking as hiccups escaped his chest. ¡°Mom¡­ Dad¡­¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Son¡­ no matter how many words we say, our regret and grief cannot be expressed enough¡­ saying sorry isn¡¯t enough, nor is asking for forgiveness¡­ but Kai, all we can say is that we¡­ love¡­you¡­¡± They spoke in unison, their voices mixing in perfect harmony as their figure blurred and faded, a tear streaming down Ray¡¯s face, which shattered into a million light particles before it disappeared, along with their bodies and voices. The room became empty, quiet, the silence only drowned by Kai¡¯s light cries as his trembling hands flew to his face. ¡­ Tears trickled down for an unknown period of time, the tall bookshelves watching over him as his heart gradually calmed down. A last drop dripped down Kai¡¯s rosy cheeks, and, wiping his runny nose, he grabbed the beautifully decorated chest. A loud thud resounded as he placed it on the table, its golden lock shining under the soft candlelight. Taking a deep breath, his eyes scanned the chest, trying to figure out a way to open it. I have no key¡­ and there doesn¡¯t seem to be any secret mechanism¡­ so what¡¯s the deal?? Letting out a light sigh, he grabbed the golden lock, its smooth texture sliding across his skin, and a shiver ran down his spine as he carefully inspected it. It almost looks like gold, but¡­ I feel like it isn¡¯t¡­ weird¡­ Now, where the fuck is the key? Looking around the room and the empty table, Kai slowly made his way through the bookshelves, inspecting every nook and cranny, he could only scratch his head in confusion as he returned in front of the table, sitting down, he looked at the chest with intrigue and curiosity. A sudden sensation of dizziness hit him as he stared at the glimmering golden lock, and he let out a quiet cry as he grabbed his head, a sudden stream of information pouring inside his brain, sending sharp needle like pain throughout his skull. Ah¡­ fuck! This pain¡­! Just like¡­ arhg! Kai¡¯s mind raced as he barely managed to pinpoint the source of the pain. His eyes snapped toward the lock, and the key to opening it gradually appeared in his brain. ¡°Of course it¡¯s a fucking spell¡­¡± Kai grumbled in annoyance, and quickly checked his mana reserves. ¡°Not enough¡­ damn it! I had enough mana for a few spells but now I can¡¯t even cast the most basic body enchantement.¡± Slowly standing up, he glared at the lock, and clenched his fists in anger. His muscles contracted as his nails dug into his skin. ¡°Damn it all!¡± He screamed in a voice fueled by rage, and, in an impulsive fit, sent his fist rushing toward the lock, not caring about what the consequences could be. His eyes glew a strong crimson color, and a small spark appeared as the fist and seal collided, sending a sharp pain up his arm, causing him to recoil backward. ¡°What the-!¡± Shaking his hand, he looked at the lock with widening pupils, and watched it dissolve and disappear before his very eyes. ¡°...¡± Speechless, he walked toward the chest and raised the lid, a faint, pleasant smell inundating his nostrils as soon as the chest creaked open. Its inside was just as luxurious as the inside, the interior walls decorated by a soft, red material. Within the chest lay a curious assortment of items: A book worn down by time, its yellow pages and rugged leather cover held the promise of long past knowledge. Its title, <>, also written in old tongue, held a deep meaning for Kai, who had never studied much history. Besides it lay a pouch filled with golden coins, its melodious jiggling resounded in the room as Kai picked it up, measuring it, in awe of its weight. ¡°This much money¡­ where did my parents even get it from?¡± Placing it on the table, he changed his focus to a few potions and tools that could save his life one day. And finally, beneath all of those lay a robe, a magicians¡¯ robe of a deep blue hue, sapphire gems adorned its surface and a black hood complimented its appearance. ¡°What is this for?¡± Kai asked himself before putting it on, and it was immediately obvious it was a few sizes too large. ¡°Hmm¡­ I think I can wear it if I fiddle a little with it but why would they give me this?¡± Scratching his head in confusion, he noticed a small piece of paper at the bottom of the chest, which he picked up with great difficulty due to the robe. A messy text lay written on its dampened surface, the ink distorting slightly under a few salty patches. <> The paper trembled between Kai¡¯s fingers before slowly falling, gliding gently in the air before silently landing on the hardwood floor, followed by a single tear that shattered and disappeared. His hand flew to his chest as he took a deep breath, calming his emotions the best he could, and he took off the robe, placing it back into the chest along with the rest of the gifts, and let out a light sigh as the lid snapped shut. Looking around the library, a pang of nostalgia washed over him, but deep inside he was glad, glad that he had managed to see his parents one last time¡­ and glad that he now had a goal to strive towards. ¡°The Academy of Magic huh¡­ I¡¯ve heard things about it but¡­ I don¡¯t even know where it is¡­¡± His mind began racing, thinking about how he could even get to the city the Academy was located in, let alone actually getting a spot. Biting his nails, he stood in silence, contemplating what to do next. Going to Nivero is still top priority, after which I¡¯ll go to Elly and see if she has any way to heal my veins¡­ or at least partially restore them. As for my core, it hasn¡¯t shattered yet but if I force it any longer it will not end well¡­ Damn it! I shouldn¡¯t have bragged so much in front of L¨¦andro, but if I didn¡¯t he might have taken me for a weakling¡­ speaking of, he mentioned something about Lustra having a swordmanship technique, or something like that. Rubbing his chin, he let out an exasperated sigh and made his way over to the chest, picking it up before walking out of the library. Now¡­ how do I get out? Inspecting the area, there was only void as far as the eye could see. There has to be a way¡­ A faint light enveloped him as soon as the thought crossed his mind, and the next moment he found himself sitting in the room inside the outpost, chest in hand. The wand lay on the ground, the dark crystals on its tip shattered into fine pieces scattered on the floor. Huh¡­ that easy huh? Placing the chest on the floor, he grabbed the wand and looked at it with a grieving expression, feeling guilty about having forced it to fight with the murderous necklace, which lay not that far away from him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll fix you up as soon as I can.¡± He said, attempting to holster it in his clothes, only to realize he was naked. Ah¡­ Chapter 41: Finally Departing Heavy water droplets trickled down Kai¡¯s burning skin, memories flashing in his mind as he put together the pieces of a puzzle he was not privy to. Forcing himself to search through the painful images, he began forming a basic idea, however, the information he had just wasn¡¯t enough. Mom said that Haniard had a grander plan but¡­ what does he want to do exactly? He¡­ he stole her heart¡­ what is he planning? A heavy sigh escaped his lips, and he turned off the makeshift water faucet and stepped out of the wooden box that served as a shower. A modern shower huh¡­ should I even be surprised anymore? The floor dampened under his footsteps, water smashing against the hardwood floor as he dried himself with a towel, taking a particularly long time to dry his hair. It was so easier when doing it with magic¡­ he let out another sigh while stroking his silver locks. A knock reverberated in the room a few minutes later, followed by the creaking of the wooden door as Orphelia¡¯s voice rang in his ears. ¡°Are you doing well?¡± She asked, not daring to enter further. ¡°Ysne told me you seemed unwell.¡± Kai paused his movement, and slightly turned his head toward the door as a soft voice escaped his lips. ¡°Yeah¡­ I was just¡­ I¡¯m alright, thank you.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ see you at the dinner then.¡± She said, slowly closing the door, shutting it with a click before her footsteps disappeared into the distance. Kai let out a loud sigh as he flopped on the bed, his long silver locks sparkling under the chandelier¡¯s light. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and tried not to think about what his parents told him in the recording, and instead tried to look toward the future. We¡¯re going to go to Nivero, from there, to the Elven Kingdom¡­ and after that¡­ The image of the beautiful robe flashed before his eyes, and a faint smile creased his lips, however, it quickly faded away as his hands formed into a fist. I need to figure out a way to heal my veins¡­ and my core¡­ ¡°Motherfucker!¡± An angry curse escaped his lips as the reality of his pitiful situation loomed over him. Without magic, he could not attend the Academy, but before that, without magic, he could not even defend himself. My sword skills are¡­ bad. I almost died, again, were it not for L¨¦andro¡­ come to think of it¡­ why aren¡¯t I affected by the fact that I just watched two men die in front of me¡­I think some of their blood tainted my cloak as well. Blood¡­ He gulped, and his heart began racing, remembering the smell and texture of the blood he drank not so long ago. I didn¡¯t crave any just yet, however, what if someday I will? Will I be able to take a life, or¡­ feed from someone¡¯s body? I don¡¯t even remember why I wanted to become a vampire, even though she warned me¡­ I¡­ barely remember what my life was like before I died¡­ His pupils widened as he jumped to his feet, staring at the floor, his quivering lips parted, and asked, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°What was my name¡­?¡± Dreadful silence descended, fragments of memories flashed before his eyes, broken and soundless just like the quiet of the night. Both blurry and clear images appeared in his mind, vague faces that lacked features, and vivid images of objects that he frequently used. A woman stood before him, tall and gorgeous, however, her face was devoid of any emotion, like a mindless robot, she stood there before dispersing. Auntie¡­? Auntie¡­ her name¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t recall it! Nor my mother¡¯s¡­ I can¡¯t even remember her face properly anymore! With a racing heart, his internal screams fell on deaf ears, and a sudden, sharp pain spread from his head all throughout his body. Ack- What¡­ what¡¯s going on?!? Why can¡¯t I remember so much of my past life? Panicked, he ignored the pain and tried looking for an answer, anything that might help him make sense of the dreadful situation he found himself in. I was able to recall so much just a few months ago¡­ but now¡­ everything¡­ almost everything disappeared. My memories¡­ they¡¯re¡­ almost gone! Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, a chill ran down his spine and his palpitating heart skipped a beat as the reality of the situation set in. He brought his trembling hands to his chest, barely holding himself together, trying to control the fear enveloping his body. Darkness surrounded him, entrapped and loomed over him as a foreboding sensation tickled his skin. What if I forget everything? My name¡­ my face¡­ they¡¯re already gone¡­ my parents and kin¡­ my friend¡­ Nevan! I remember him! He was my only friend¡­ but what a good friend he was¡­ we used to go out all the time and¡­ what did we do? I don¡¯t even remember that¡­ but¡­ it wasn¡¯t so bad when he was around¡­ was it? Am I¡­ losing myself? ~Knock Knock~ Kai jumped, startled awake by the sudden knock. Quickly covering himself with the towel, he turned toward the door and said in a nervous tone. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The Lady told me to call you, dinner is served.¡± A maid¡¯s melodious voice rang from behind the door, awaiting a response. ¡°Tell them to eat without me¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Kai replied, feeling slightly guilty about refusing to dine with Orphelia, however, he could only sigh, and leaned back on the back trying to calm his stormy thoughts. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. I don''t even know what¡¯s happening anymore¡­ His eyelids grew heavy as his fatigued mind finally calmed down, and he yawned before falling asleep, albeit with disarrayed thoughts. Tomorrow is another day¡­ ¡­ The beams of the morning sun kissed Kai¡¯s bare skin, jolting him awake, and he sleepily pulled the curtains over the large windows. Scratching the back of his head, he began gathering his belongings, placing them neatly in his backpack, and leaving behind the huge sleeping bag, he found himself with a lot more room than before. The only thing I can wear is the spare clothes and¡­ the mage¡¯s robe. Glancing at it from the corner of his eye, he questioned how he could even make it fit him. Not like I have any other choice¡­ He thought, picking up the old cloak he had used all this time, multiple holes decorating its blood-stained material. Letting out a long sigh, he placed it alongside the sleeping bag in a remote corner of the room and donned a pair of leggings and a shirt before wearing the robe, whose large sleeves were just a tiny bit longer than his arm. Its extremities brushed against the floor as he walked, and the hood covered the entirety of his head. This is¡­ inconvenient. Sighing, he did his best to tuck in the sleeves, then stuffed part of the robe inside his pants before adjusting the hood just enough that he could see where he was walking. This should be¡­ manageable. Throwing the backpack on his back, he walked outside the room and made his way to the main hall, where Orphelia and Ysne waited for him. Their eyes widened in surprise upon seeing the mage¡¯s robe, however, they stood in silence as Kai stopped before them. Seeing his haggard appearance, a small chuckle escaped their lips at the sight of his oversized robe despite their initial shock. ¡°They say clothes make the man, but yours might just house the whole kingdom!¡± ¡°Funny,¡± Kai replied in a stoic voice, amused by the joke, however, he refused to entertain the two girls any more than necessary. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we get going?¡± Orphelia nodded, an amused smile decorating her face, and walked outside, followed by Ysne, whose ears lowered upon passing Kai. Reaching out for her, his hand stopped mid-air, hanging in hesitation. I guess I must have scared her last night¡­ He let out a soft sigh before following them outside, where the carriage and carts were already waiting for them. The emerald guards lay in waiting for Orphelia and the rest, watching over the carriage and wagons, making sure that no items went missing. The guard¡¯s captain stood next to the bizarre beast, separating it from Onyx, who kept trying to approach it. His big, puppy-like eyes looked at the beast with a certain yearning, however, the blue-blooded animal refused to even glance in his direction. How many times has he gotten rejected last night? Kai¡¯s lips formed into a soft smile while watching the whimpering Obborik, but didn¡¯t say anything as he climbed onto the carriage, where the two girls were already waiting for him. ¡°Walk on¡± the coachman grunted, prompting the noble beast to advance, the ratting of the carriage accompanied by its hooves rapidly hitting the ground filled the quiet carriage. Kai looked out the window, watching the outpost becoming smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared from sight, he let out a sigh of relief and turned his attention toward his backpack, from which he took out the book his parents had left him. Might as well try to read it, I may be able to learn more about this world, however judging by its age I¡¯m not sure I can understand it¡­ or if it¡¯s even up to date. Dust flew out of its pages as he flipped them, skimming through its ancient writing ingraining itself into his brain with each passing moment. ¡­ Time flew by, and the morning sun gradually turned to noon as it watched over the vibrant grasslands. Orphelia¡¯s carriage moved at a steady pace, creeping ever closer to Nivero. ¡°The City of Trade, or the Trade City as the locals call it,¡± Orphelia explained to Kai, who had already tucked the book back within his backpack after skimming through it. ¡°It earned its name due to it being relatively close to The Dark Forest, where precious resources such as herbs grow in abundance, the huge trees that can be used to build several structures such as houses and ports, but also furniture. Besides that, the animals that live in the forest are much bigger and stronger than the average one, and their mana cores sell for a much higher price.¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± Kai interrupted, his raspy voice ringing in her ears ¡°How much stronger are the animals in there compared to the normal ones¡­ let¡¯s take for example¡­ a two starred red furred bear?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Orphelia¡¯s hand flew to her chin as she thought about it for a second. ¡°I¡¯d say one such bear would be the equivalent of a third-rank cultivator or a Two Star Mage¡­ almost twice as strong as a normal one, yeah. Why?¡± Kai¡¯s pupils widened in surprise, and he inhaled lightly as he tried to control his shock. ¡°Just curious, I saw that you have a lot of pelts and I thought that¡¯s where you got them from.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Both Kai and Orphelia turned to look at Ysne, who let out an involuntary chuckle. Her cheeks reddened instantly upon feeling the pair of eyes rest upon her body. ¡°W-w-what?¡± she asked with a trembling voice as her small ears lowered in shame. ¡°Ysne¡­¡± Orphelia said softly, ¡°Just because our guest doesn¡¯t know that we don¡¯t actually kill the beasts, and actually trade with the small villages that live near the border, and that only five percent of the pelts we trade belong to animals from that cursed forest, it doesn¡¯t mean you have to laugh at him.¡± Kai stared at Orphelia with a bewildered expression, a small amount of anger firing up inside him as he analyzed her sentence. Did she call me ignorant? *Ahem* Orphelia cleared her throat, her ears turning slightly red, and she avoided Kai¡¯s burning gaze, instead looking out the small window to avoid the awkward atmosphere. ¡°Cursed forest?¡± he broke the sudden silence, intrigued by the term the young lady used. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Orphelia turned to face him, and, with a solemn expression, she parted her lips. ¡°There are some legends that say that the forest was cursed by the Vampires, although we do not know for sure what happened, the fact is that the earth after The Dark Forest is devoid of mana, there is not a single trace of it, and the meager amounts that exist there come from stones and crystals, as well as from the trees themselves¡­ The reason for that is said, is because the Vampires took over that part, and the Gods stripped away the land of its resources to punish them for their wrongdoings. The forest serves as a natural barrier, a shield to protect us from these monsters.¡± A shudder ran down Kai¡¯s spine upon hearing the last part of her speech, and his pupils constricted slightly. Monsters¡­ He looked out the window, the empty grassfields reflecting in his crimson eyes, and he subconsciously draped the hoodie forward, covering himself further. I don¡¯t even need to ask why she¡¯d call us monsters¡­ The reality of his situation became clearer in his mind, the reality that, no matter where he goes, he¡¯d always be regarded as a monster. And I choose to be like this¡­ It¡¯s too late to regret it now. He let out a light sigh, his reclusive behavior not going unnoticed by Orphelia, however, she only shook her head and silence once again descended upon them Chapter 42: Nivero - The City of Trade The sun had just finished setting when the warm lights of the night city greeted the group as the carriage rattled toward it. Even from afar, it was obvious that Nivero and Limmin were almost equal in size, however, what shocked Kai the most was the immense building lying in the middle of the city - A church made entirely out of white stone, with two bell towers looming over the entire city, and its walls were decorated with intricately painted windows. Between the towers stood a large statue depicting a gorgeous woman, a gentle smile caressing her lips as she watched over the citizens. His mind reeled in shock, and he had almost forgotten to breathe as the carriage crept closer and closer to the city, the statue¡¯s features gradually becoming more evident as the distance between them decreased. It depicted a woman with long flocks of hair, pale skin that rivaled the church¡¯s marble and a pair of wings decorated her back, along with a small halo that floated permanently above her head. Kai peeked over the window, and, despite the darkness of the night, he could clearly see the church, illuminated as if it were daytime. That is¡­! Goosebumps spread all throughout his body as a crazy thought appeared in his mind. Although I didn¡¯t see what she really looked like¡­ that aura¡­ I can¡¯t be mistaken! That¡¯s the Goddess that brought me here! His breathing became rapid, and his hands turned into fists, however, he relaxed his arms and laid back down on his seat. Orphelia could not make sense of Kai as she observed his weird behavior, however, she stood silent and turned her attention to Ysne, who had fallen asleep on her lap. What am I going to do with this girl¡­and that boy¡­ what is his connection with Goddess Lumiera? She glanced at Kai through the corner of her eye and shook her head. Countless thoughts raced through Kai¡¯s head, his rapid heartbeat reflecting his nervousness and conflicted emotions. Fidgeting with his fingers, he tried to calm himself down, however, it was no use. I didn¡¯t expect that Goddess to be in such a remote part of the kingdom¡­ even so, it has nothing to do with me, right? After all, it¡¯s not like she can communicate with me, if she could she would already have done so¡­ and¡­ He let out a short sigh of frustration as he recalled certain events, his lips quivering as an insane idea popped into his mind. Could I ask her to¡­ would it even be possible? She¡¯s a Goddess¡­ it should be, right? Maybe she was watching me this entire time? If she did¡­ perhaps¡­ No! Why would she even bother? I¡¯m a nobody, and she has an entire universe to look after¡­ surely she must be too busy¡­ As Kai¡¯s imagination ran wild, the carriage had already arrived in front of an arched gate, standing five meters tall, built out of a light brown stone. The gates themselves were made out of reinforced steel and before they stood ten soldiers, their lances pointing toward the sky and their shiny silver armor reflecting the moon¡¯s soft light. A wall ten meters tall and five meters wide, built from the same material as the gate frame surrounded the entire city, on top of which a few dozen soldiers patrolled each of its sides. The roads inside the city were covered in beautiful, dark rocks, with no gaps whatsoever visible between them, making for a smooth, elegant surface that the carriages and wagons could easily travel on. The buildings, on the other hand, were built out of a multitude of materials, the most prevalent being a brick of a warm and rich hue, ranging from a deep, earthy red to a more vibrant and slightly weathered crimson. Whilst some had a smooth surface, others had a rougher, more coarse texture. The houses, shops and other buildings were tall, the windows, just like the rest of their features, were irregular, the exterior asymmetrical, with the rooflines varying greatly and the decorative elements being seemingly placed at random. The outer walls were adorned with intricate details, the stained glass windows almost told a story from a long lost past, and the carved doorways gave each building a special atmosphere from the absurd details forged into the wood. Back at the gate, Orphelia¡¯s carriage had just been allowed to pass, the rattling of the wheels softening upon treading on the dark roads. Almost immediately, a few dozen people walked forward, greeting Orphelia and the emerald guards before grabbing onto the wagons and carrying them toward a large building that rivaled the church in size. ¡°Lady Orphelia¡­¡± one of the city guards sheepishly walked to the carriage, his armor rattling as he stood next to Onyx, whose large body cast a shadow over him. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°This¡­ creature¡­¡± the guard said, pointing toward the Obborik, who didn¡¯t pay him any mind. ¡°I¡¯m not sure you¡¯re allowed to bring it in¡­ and if you do¡­ you need to register it.¡± A furrow appeared on Orphelia¡¯s face, and she pushed aside the curtain, glaring at the guard. ¡°He belongs to my guest, and much more than that, this ¡®creature¡¯ played a vital role in saving my life, alongside his owner. I trust them, yet here you are, questioning my judgement, and who and what I decide to bring inside the city¡­?¡± By the time she ended the speech, her calm voice had turned to anger, and she stared at the shivering guard with venomous eyes, a look that took Kai by surprise. I didn¡¯t know she could be so¡­ assertive. That¡¯s a rich girl for ya I guess¡­ ¡°I¡­ I dare not! Please! Excuse me!¡± The guard stuttered in his words as he bowed before running toward the gate. ¡°I apologize for¡­ such a display.¡± Orphelia excused herself, the tip of her ears turning bright red as she pulled the curtain over the window, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. The carriage continued forward, this time undisturbed, besides the weird looks the people gave Onyx, and it didn¡¯t take long for it to stop once again, this time in front of a building a dozen meters tall, its front decorated with gorgeous columbines and violets, fennels, and pansies and of course - orchids. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°This inn is owned by my family,¡± Orphelia turned to Kai, whose eyes were fixated on the large church, its powerful, holy aura seemingly calling out to him, tugging at his heart. ¡°Hmm?¡± awoken from his trance, he glanced at the young lady, and a sigh escaped her lips as she continued. ¡°I have to report to my father, and unfortunately I cannot bring you with me, though I doubt you¡¯d have accepted my invitation either way.¡± She said, a hint of anger hidden within her voice. ¡°I¡­ I apologize Miss Orphelia, I didn¡¯t mean to be rude, it¡¯s just¡­the city and everything, and, and the uhm, the church as well, it¡¯s¡­¡± Kai stammered, nervousness taking over his voice after noticing Orhpelia¡¯s annoyance. A light chuckle escaped her body, and a soft smile creased her lips as she looked at the mumbling Kai. There must be a reason the Goddess asked me to bring him here¡­ and he also seems very interested in the church¡­ I dare not question Her judgment but¡­ what does She want with a ten-year-old kid? ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she reassured him, and handed over a piece of paper, on which ¡®He is my guest, treat him as you would treat me.¡¯ was written, alongside a beautiful signature and a wax stamp. ¡°Uhm¡­ thank you¡­¡± Kai gracefully accepted the gift, figuring out that this was his cue to leave. ¡°Just a question¡­ do you have these on the ready?¡± He could not help but ask, noticing the already-dried wax. Orphelia let out a chuckle but didn¡¯t answer and instead said as she watched Kai disembark. ¡°I¡¯ll come pick you up in the morning, try not to sleep in, I¡¯m busy.¡± Without waiting for an answer, she signaled the coachman to depart, leaving Kai, Onyx, and his backpack in front of the luxurious inn. ¡°Well¡­ she really was in a hurry.¡± Kai quipped as he looked at the departing carriage. Glancing over at Onyx, he patted his fur and said in a soft voice. ¡°Wait here boy, I¡¯ll go get us a room¡­ well, me a room and you¡­ we¡¯ll see?¡± The Obborik lay on the ground, letting out a light scoff before closing his eyes, prompting Kai to roll his own eyes before opening the luxurious doors. The in¡¯s doors parted soundlessly, and an infatuating perfume inundated his nostrils as soon as he stepped foot into the lobby. The main lobby was beautifully decorated with multiple species of flowers, and the warm light of the firestones hanging on the walls and beams created an inviting, homely atmosphere. A lot of people were present, each one of them in fancier clothing than the last, Kai¡¯s own outfit creating a stark contrast between them. ¡°Is that¡­?¡± ¡°It could be, but what are they doing in such a remote city?¡± ¡°... Could it be that something happened?¡± A few, more well-educated voices whispered as they observed Kai, his unusual robe sticking out like a sore thumb in their eyes, however, the significance behind it left their minds reeling in shock, and a tinge of fear. Kai walked to the seemingly empty front desk, dragging his feet, and his large robe onto the red carpet that covered the floor. Ringing the bell on the counter, he waited patiently for someone to show up, which didn¡¯t take long as a set of hurried footsteps rang in his ears. ¡°I apologize for the wait¡­!¡± He turned his head to look toward the source of the sharp, quivering voice, a young, chubby girl who wore a violet dress, with eyes the same color as her clothing, and a red ribbon that tied up her gleaming green hair. Oh? That¡¯s a new color¡­ did she dye it? Stoping in front of the counter, she straightened her outfit and welcomed Kai with a beaming smile, although her eyes curiously looked him up and down, his comedically large robe causing her to hold in a chuckle. ¡°Welcome to the Orchid Inn. My name is Maua Maridadi, but you can call me Mari, how may I be of service tonight?¡± ¡°Good evening¡­¡± Kai gave a courteous greeting before placing the small piece of paper on the table, and presenting it to the girl, and her hands trembled upon picking it up. However, her violet eyes sparkled, and, although her attitude didn¡¯t change, she immediately seemed more eager to help Kai. ¡°Of course Sir, please, follow me to your room.¡± She said, glancing over at a man dressed in fancy clothes, who immediately rushed to Kai¡¯s side, politely taking the backpack off his shoulders before reaching for his robe. Kai grabbed his wrist almost immediately, staring at him through the hood before saying in a coarse voice. ¡°Just the backpack is fine.¡± ¡°My¡­ ack- apologies.¡± The man broke free of Kai¡¯s grasp, rubbing his wrist, glaring at the boy but saying nothing more, instead waiting to follow Mari to the hotel room. ¡°Before that,¡± Kai turned to the girl, his voice shaking slightly as his face reddened. ¡°My companion is waiting outside, I hope you can accommodate him somewhere as well.¡± ¡°Of course, no problem,¡± Mari said, clueless as to what kind of companion Kai was referring to. ¡­ ¡°Finally¡­¡± He let out a heavy sigh of relief as the door closed behind him, undoing his robe and dragging his backpack on the laminated floor. The hotel room was spacious, very spacious. The ceiling stood four meters high, and the bedroom more than doubled the size of his old room, not to mention the kitchen and balcony, which provided a clear view of the entire city. Paintings of different men and women hung on the walls, and each room seemed to be a piece of art in and of itself due to the beautifully carved beams and small details sprinkled everywhere. This is¡­ a hotel room? He asked himself, taken aback by the luxurious furniture, beautiful view, cozy feeling, and beautifully decorated walls. The gorgeous starry sky welcomed him as he made his way onto the balcony, and more than that, the church shone like a beacon in the dark city. I wonder how they made it shine like that¡­ magic? Or perhaps the rock is more special than ordinary marble? Turning his attention toward the streets, he felt his heart skip a beat while observing the bustling streets. Stalls and shops at every corner, people hurrying somewhere or simply enjoying the view, merchants selling their wares and ordinary people trading their handmade products for money or food. It reminds me of¡­ He gulped, and took a deep breath as he remembered that night¡­ Clutching the sword hanging by his waist, he closed his eyes, clenching his teeth as his mental scars resurfaced briefly. No point anymore! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!!! Sweat trickled down his forehead, images flashing in his mind, memories he wanted to repress. He turned toward his backpack, and angrily scoured it, pulling out the jiggling pouch of coins his parents left him. Picking up and adorning the cloak, he stormed toward the door and slammed it shut as he rushed out of the inn. Taking a deep breath, he did his best to calm down as he walked toward the busy market with wavering footsteps and a racing heart, his thoughts and emotions in disarray, he went looking for something to distract him from the pain. I should find something else to hide my face besides this cloak¡­ argh! Chapter 43: Good Deals and Bad People A cacophony of sounds rang inside Kai¡¯s ears as he walked through the loud street market, the coarse voices of haggling merchants accompanied by the firm tone of the traders and the occasional cry of a child created a busy, bustling atmosphere along the road that seemed to extend from one part of the city to the other. The road¡¯s size differed greatly from area to area, ranging from narrow enough to fit three people to wide enough for an entire circus to pass through, each of its corners illuminated by the lamp post¡¯s warm light, on top of the beautifully lit storefronts. The hustling chatter turned to drunken mumbling and yelling as Kai passed by a bar, dozens of patrons drinking and enjoying the view from the outdoor seating area, and even in such a place there wasn¡¯t any lack of merchants or scammers trying to sell their wares to the almost unconscious customers. Gazing at it for a second, Kai scoffed and kept walking forward, his blue coak sticking out like a sore thumb amid the plainly dressed crowd. ¡°Hey bro, that kid, don¡¯t he look rich to ye?¡± A man holding a pint of beer said to another who sat next to him, his brown eyes following Kai¡¯s figure as he stopped and looked at the various wares on display. Next to him stood a man of similar appearance to him, sharing indistinct black hair and brown eyes, and even their face structure was similar. ¡°Mhm¡­ sure seems like it, bro¡­¡± Both of them let out a light crackle as they stood up, hurriedly following Kai, who in contrast didn¡¯t seem to be in a hurry. A heavy set of footsteps approached their table not long after, the nearby light revealing the figure of a tall, blurry man with broad shoulders and dirty clothes, a towel draped over his back, and he let out a light, aggravated scoff as he picked up the pint, cleaning the table before turning away, giving the brother duo a last, hateful glance before walking toward the bar. However, his footsteps froze in place as his eyes landed on Kai, and the pint within his hand broke into countless shards as he clenched his fists in anger. ¡­ Kai strolled through the crowd, sneaking through the small gaps due to his stature, and making his way to the few stalls that interested him. This city¡¯s architecture is eerily similar to the one from my old world¡­ as much as I can remember from it. Rodney¡¯s memories aren¡¯t exactly useful in this case¡­ but there are too many similarities for it to be a coincidence. And even at the last¡­ last market I¡¯ve been at, some objects didn¡¯t belong in a world such as this¡­ I want to figure out where they came from, so looking around the stalls seems to be the best option for now¡­ unless I can ask the Goddess directly. A light chuckle escaped his lips at the thought, brushing it aside and stopping in front of an old merchant with a relatively small stall. The stall could only accommodate a few pieces of merchandise, however, Kai¡¯s pupils widened in surprise upon seeing what the old man had laid out on the table. Among the piles of relative trash stood a metallic, circular object, something that every household had in one form or another - A clock. Looking at it with amazement, he carefully picked it up and watched the clock hands slowly turn, the characteristic sound of a mechanical tune ringing in his ears. A¡­ wind up... mechanical clock! Could it be that the people here managed to create such a relatively advanced contraption? This is the first time I see such a relatively new invention compared to the medieval period this world seems to be at¡­ and yet¡­ Kai shook his head and put the clock down with a racing heart, only now noticing that the old man looked at him with an annoyed expression. ¡°Youngling, are you going to buy it or not? If not then scram, you¡¯re scaring my customers!¡± He said, shooing him away before wearing an amicable smile toward anyone who passed by his stall. Lousy old man, no wonder no one buys your stuff! I wanted to ask him whether or not he made it, but forget it. Walking away dejectedly, he made sure to take a look at every stall, stopping in front of some before leaving or being driven away. Besides that clock¡­ everything else is either toys or carvings, but there¡¯s no doubt in my mind now¡­ other people from my universe arrived here, but it seems like their memories have been lost or they never reincarnated with them. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought, his eyes tearing up slightly at the prospect of forgetting where he came from, just like he forgot who he was. Just like I forgot my mom¡­ my aunt¡­ and¡­ who knows who or what else¡­ Clenching his fists, he turned around, unaware of the pursuers greedily watching him from the cover of the darkness. ¡°Brother, that kid, he seems pretty stupid, doesn¡¯t he?¡± the one who previously held a pint asked the other, who leaned against a wall, playing with a small pocket knife as his eyes lingered on Kai. A smile creased his lips, and he let out a light sigh as he stood straight, hiding the knife away before saying ¡°Yeah¡­ curious though, why is he only looking at the shit stalls? He hasn¡¯t made any purchases yet¡­ there¡¯s no point in attacking someone all show and no substance.¡± The other man rubbed his chin, seemingly deep in thought, however, his eyes quickly widened and his palms trembled in excitement as he pointed toward Kai¡¯s location. ¡°Brother! Look! That kid is filthy rich! He just pulled out a bag full of money!¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡­ ¡°Ah, sorry kid, I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± a man said in a shy tone, looking down at Kai who had already walked a small distance, tucking his robe back into his pants. ¡°No worries! It¡¯s fine, it was my fault, to begin with.¡± Not waiting for the man¡¯s reaction, his tiny figure quickly disappeared among the sea of people while he mumbled in a slightly aggravated voice. This is too impractical, if I get into any more fights this robe will be the death of me! I need a replacement, at least to cover my eyes. Although silver hair is rare¡­ it¡¯s not a trait, so I should be fine¡­ hopefully. Just as that thought crossed his mind, he stopped. Looking up, he saw a stall whose facade was covered in masks of different animal species, different cultures, and different, intricate designs. Well¡­ speak of the devil. Inspecting the masks, there was one that immediately stood out to him - A white mask, with red whiskers, eyes, and ears creating a fox-like pattern. This¡­ I like it. It didn¡¯t take long for him to reach for the mask, however, his small stature made it almost impossible for him to grab it. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said, grabbing the vendor¡¯s attention. ¡°I want to buy the fox mask, how much for it?¡± ¡°Three silver, a fair price for such a fine piece of art.¡± The middle-aged seller said without a hint of condescension, looking down at Kai, a soft smile creasing his bearded face. ¡°I¡¯ll take it!¡± Kai immediately replied, pulling out the pouch his parents gave him and picking out three silver coins from within, handing them to the vendor, who in exchange handed him the mask. Just as he turned to leave, excited to put on the mask, the man¡¯s voice rang in his ears from behind him. ¡°Kid, you best be careful swinging that money around, you never know what kind of characters roam these streets.¡± Kai halted his footsteps and turned toward the vendor before nodding lightly in his direction. He¡¯s right¡­ could I be any more stupid? Berating himself, he tucked the mask inside his robe and kept walking forward, occasionally glancing at some stalls or window shopping, eventually, a sharp cry rang in his ears, and his eyes darted toward its source - A small baby boy that had fallen while play running, scratching his knee in the process. The boy¡¯s parents rushed to his side almost immediately, picking him up and calming down his nerves before gently cleaning the small wound. Kai watched all this happen from afar, his eyes lowering to the ground, and he inhaled deeply as a melancholic expression formed on his face. The muffled sound of his dragged footsteps echoed in his ears, and they remained the only thing he could hear at the moment. The world around him slowly faded away, and only the road remained as the singular checkpoint connecting him to the real world. His heartbeats thumbed in an irregular rhythm, and a sudden wave of dizziness hit him as the flow of blood to his brain dwindled. What¡¯s happening¡­ my head¡­ Holding his head with one hand, he attempted to prove himself against a wall or a tree as he felt himself about to lose consciousness, however, the hard feeling he expected was instead replaced by a soft, rough texture. Looking up, he squinted his eyes, managing to make out the blurry figure of a man. ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir, I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Kai said, attempting to pull away his hand, however, he was swiftly met with resistance, a tight grip refusing to let go. ¡°Hey now¡­ kid, didn¡¯t your parents teach you not to touch other people all willy-nilly?¡± The man¡¯s coarse, muffled voice rang in Kai¡¯s ears, causing his entire face to flush red, and, clenching his fists in anger, he squirmed as blood and adrenaline rushed throughout his entire body, trying to break free of the stranger¡¯s grasp. ¡°Let¡­ go¡­!¡± He pleaded through gritted teeth, while at the same time uncospicously reaching for the purple sword hanging by his waist. His fingers brushed against the sword¡¯s hilt, ready to be drawn at a moment''s notice, however, before he could even entertain the thought of fighting with such a muddled mind, the morbid sound of crunching bones rang in his ear, and he quickly pulled back his hand, watching the person that held on to it be sent away flying by a¡­ Bear?! Staring at the figure before him, Kai''s eyes widened. The man''s imposing form created a looming shadow, and the intensity of his gaze sent shivers down Kai''s spine. Staring at his blood-stained fists, Kai clutched the hilt even tighter, shaking his head before taking on a half-proper fight stance, his legs shivering slightly, however his crimson eyes burned with determination. As his vision cleared, his heart skipped a beat upon seeing the scene before him, finding himself in a relatively dark and damp alley, he stared straight ahead at the large, tall man who glared at two others, their appearance eerily similar, as if they were twins, however, one of them had their face caved in, a mixture of blood and tears dripping on the ground. ¡°Fritz, what is the meaning of this!¡± The man whose face was still intact raised his stone, staring down at the large, burly man that stood beside Kai, steam emanating from his blazing body. ¡°Hmph.¡± Fritz let out an angry grunt and slowly made his way toward the second twin, his heavy footsteps sending increasingly more powerful waves of mana with each step. ¡°Fr- Fritz! We c-c-can talk this out! We¡¯ve been buddies for a while, right?¡± The twin¡¯s legs trembled uncontrollably as he backed away, his quivering fingers reaching for the knife in his back pocket, a terrified grin stuck on his face as he gazed at his brother, whose body lay almost motionless on the dampened ground, save for a few groans. Fritz¡¯s eyes squinted, his fists tightening even more as he advanced toward the man with rapid, steady footsteps, whose pace gradually increased until¡­ His fist flew toward the twin, who was now pressed against the wall, and reached him almost immediately as Fritz¡¯s huge figure became as agile as a snake. A loud boom resounded into the air, however, the crunching sound of bones that Kai had expected never arrived, but instead a small cloud of dust appeared from the point of impact. ¡°Don¡¯t go after children. Ever. Again.¡± Fritz said in a coarse voice, pulling out his punch from the wall, which now had a new hole on its surface. The twin fell to the ground, his knees shaking, accompanied by the metallic tang of his knife as it fell on the floor. The burly man turned toward Kai, walking slowly while rubbing and wiping his knuckles clean of blood, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to arrive by Kai¡¯s side. ¡°Kid, you alright?¡± Chapter 44: Unexpected Encounter Kai lowered his head, nodding slightly as he glanced at the twins lying on the floor, one a bloody pulp and the other¡­ ¡°Pfft¡± He let out an involuntary chuckle, noticing the man¡¯s pants had turned dark around the crotch and a foul-smelling liquid seeped out from under him. Serves you right! With that thought, he turned toward the man, vigilantly holding the hilt of his sword, and said in a low voice. ¡°Yes, thank you, Mister.¡± Kai dusted off his clothes and thanked the tall man, cautiously turning around and heading toward the market. Fritz let out a light sigh before parting his lips, saying in a haggard voice. ¡°You can let go of that sword now.¡± Kai halted in his footsteps, his head snapping backward, and, dropping all pretenses, his muscles tensed up and he readied himself to draw the purple blade at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°Easy there kiddo, I don¡¯t mean no harm.¡± The man assured Kai, raising his hands as he continued the conversation. ¡°You don¡¯t seem like the stupid type, why did you end up in this alley?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Kai paused for a second, lightening the grip he had on the hilt as he tried to trace his steps, however, the only thing flashing in his mind was the blurry shape of the darkened road. ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Fritz replied while shaking his head ¡°However I think ye were just ¡®bout to become a statistic, aren¡¯t I right?¡± ¡°I can take care of myself,¡± Kai spoke back, a slight chill present in his tone as he took a closer look at the man. Besides his large stature, nothing seemed out of the ordinary about him. He wore a simple brown tunic accompanied by a large apron and a pair of stained pants, as well as a belt that held the tunic and the leggings at the waist. His leather shoes were well-kept, with only a few scratches here or there. A small cap covered his bald head, and a thick mustache adorned his otherwise clean face. Fritz let out a heavy sigh, smiling softly at Kai and sitting down, lowering himself to level. ¡°Kiddo, I don¡¯t know why ye¡¯re so stubborn, but foolish children like you are a dime a dozen, and I seen even more than that go and never return.¡± His heavy, almost quivering voice rang in Kai¡¯s ears, his pupils shrinking in surprise at the stranger¡¯s words. Recalling the last sentence he said to the man, a small idea of what this man¡¯s character began forming in his mind. Glancing behind the man, he took another look at the twins, with the one that wet his pants trying to wake up his mangled brother. What¡¯s with this strange man, I could take those two in a fight any day were it not for¡­were it not for¡­ ¡°What do you care?¡± Kai replied coldly, trying to ignore the gap in his memory, slightly lowering his guard upon considering the situation the man put himself in to save him. Fritz placed his right elbow on his knee, leaning his head on it while staring straight at Kai. ¡°Lad, I reckon there¡¯s no reason to care.¡± He replied, his voice filled with a strange mixture of wisdom and weariness. ¡°But whether or not you wanna hear ¡®em, life has a way of teaching you lessons, and these two over here, I doubt they were the first ones to attempt teaching you, seeing your stubborn nature.¡± Kai furrowed his brows, a soft wave of warmth spreading throughout his entire body as the man¡¯s words reached his ears. What he said does make some sense, he does seem trustworthy but I¡­ Seeing the boy stand in silence, a soft smile creased Fritz¡¯s lips. Standing up, he slowly toward the alley¡¯s exit and said while passing Kai, ¡°Follow me to my bar, will ye? Get ya something to drink.¡± Kai hesitated for a moment, torn between wariness and the strange warmth and trust he felt toward this stranger. Undeniably, Fritz had saved his life, which put him in Kai¡¯s good books, but he couldn¡¯t throw off the unease he felt due to the man¡¯s caring nature. An ally gained is an enemy lost¡­ I guess. Kai¡¯s fingers grazed over the hilt one last time before he finally let go of it, giving Fritz a soft nod, he followed him out of the dark and damp alley toward the city bustling with life. An awkward silence enveloped the two as they walked toward the bar, which was in the direction Kai had come from. Why can¡¯t I remember walking past here? I¡­ what¡¯s going on with me? His heart raced as countless ideas popped up in his mind, one grimmer than the other, and he swallowed slightly as cold sweat dripped down his forehead. ¡°Say, lad,¡± Fritz broke the silence, at the same time awakening Kai from his daydreams. ¡°What¡¯s yer name? Mine¡¯s Fritz, Fritz Jitu.¡± ¡°Huh, uhm, my name¡¯s Kai¡­ Kai no-family-name.¡± He replied, only just now realizing that he didn¡¯t know his entire name. ¡°No family name huh? That¡¯s quite rare ¡®round these part, ye ain¡¯t from here amirite?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Kai grunted softly and nodded, losing himself in his thoughts once again as he walked behind Fritz, his large back casting a huge shadow over him. ¡°Friendly advice, Kai,¡± Fritz said, smiling softly as he turned his head toward Kai. ¡°Regardless of where you find yourself, best you keep your guard up but your heart open, after all, the east wind brings rain. You never know when you may find an unexpected ally. ¡­ The chattering of the crowd drowned their footsteps as they gradually made their way toward the tavern, the sound of drunken mumbling swiftly entering their ears and the bitter taste of ale and beer inundating their nostrils. ¡°C¡¯mon lad, I¡¯ll show you inside.¡± Fritz walked past the muttering crowd, his tall stature in huge contrast to Kai¡¯s, not to mention his comically large blue robe that was a dead giveaway he wasn¡¯t from here. ¡°Hey¡­ isn¡¯t that the kid the Uchafu Twins were after?¡± A man whispered to another while putting down his pint, an idea of what happened forming in his mind. ¡°Poor bastards, shoulda known better than to target kids on Fritz¡¯s turf.¡± The one accompanying him said before drinking some ale, the burning sensation flowing down his throat. ¡°Yeah, I heard he has zero tolerance after-¡± The man stopped mid-sentence as his body shivered, and, looking up, he saw Fritz glare at him slightly before turning around and entering the bar. ¡­ ¡°Here, lad.¡± Fritz served Kai a small glass of beer as he took a seat at the relatively empty bar. Taking a look around, Kai could only see a dozen or so clients, one more scary-looking than the other. Some mean-looking people¡­ I wonder if they¡¯re travelers as well¡­ ¡°So, what brings a young¡¯un like yeself to this city?¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Kai took a sip from the beer, albeit hesitatingly, and almost instantly a bitter burning sensation flooded his mouth before blazing down his throat. Grimacing, he put the glass down and thought for a second, looking at his reflection through the yellowish liquid. His fingers tapped lightly on the dark wood countertop, and bit down on his pale lips before saying in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s just a stop, I have somewhere else to go.¡± ¡°Hoh?¡± Fritz paused briefly, the cloth he used to clean a pint stopping mid-motion before immediately finishing it. ¡°What about yer parents then?¡± Kai¡¯s face tightened at Fritz¡¯s question, and he stared into the depths of his half-empty glass. Memories of that horrifying night flood back into his mind, images of his parents getting slaughtered by Haniard¡¯s cold hand, and his hands shaking ever so slightly as a sharp pain spread throughout his head. ¡°Agh¡± He let out a low grunt as he brought his hand to his forehead, a sudden feeling of dizziness hit him, and his vision became blurry for a brief moment. ¡°Woah there lad, you alright?¡± Fritz reached for Kai¡¯s shoulders, trying to stabilize his body after noticing his slight wobbliness. Kai flinched back almost instinctively, barely avoiding the man¡¯s grasp, who paused mid-air before pulling back. ¡°Sorry kid, didn¡¯t mean to startle ye.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mr. Fritz I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to react like that.¡± Kai apologized, feeling guilty about his subconscious reaction. ¡°It¡¯s alright lad, by that reaction I¡¯m guessing your parents¡­ they¡¯re¡­¡¯ ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡± Kai¡¯s quivering voice broke as the phrase left his mouth, his entire body trembling as he continued. ¡°They¡¯re gone Mr. Fritz, and¡­ and it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s all because of¡­ me.¡± Tears streamed down his face, dampening the large cloak that couldn¡¯t conceal the soft sobbing sounds reverberating in the bar. Fritz paused, and put everything aside before sitting down next to Kai, his dark brown eyes looking at the young boy with pity. Letting out a heavy sigh, he placed his large hand on the countertop and leaned slightly closer before his lips parted, a soft and tender voice escaping his mouth. ¡°Lad, I don¡¯t know what happened, but I reckon it wasn¡¯t your fault. Sometimes life deals us a bad hand, but that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re to blame. You¡¯re still but a child now, and you were a child when it happened. How could you be to blame?¡± ¡°I COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING!¡± Kai''s voice cracked with anguish as he shouted, his tears flowing freely now. The pain he had bottled up for so long burst forth like a dam breaking. He pounded the dark wood countertop with his trembling fists, his knuckles turning white with the force of his grip. Fritz didn¡¯t flinch, instead choosing to watch Kai with a deep, compassionate understanding. He carefully placed his hands on the boy¡¯s shoulder and spoke in a gentle tone. ¡°I understand why you feel that way, Kai, however, you must understand that you were just a child, what could you have possibly done? You couldn¡¯t have known what would happen, and I understand this burden is hard to bear, however, it is not your fault.¡± Kai looked up at Fritz, his teary crimson pupils quivering as his shoulders shook with each sob. ¡°I miss them so, so much Mr. Fritz. I am the one who caused their death¡­ I just¡­ I hadn¡¯t realized that until now¡­ if it weren¡¯t for me they would have¡­ they would be¡­¡± Tightening his grip on Kai¡¯s shoulder, Fritz shook the boy as he said in a voice filled with warmth and reassurance. ¡°You didn''t cause their death. You couldn''t have known what would happen, and it''s not your fault. No one blames you for this, lad.¡± ¡°I blame myself,¡± Kai said in a quivering voice, tightening his fists as his teeth ground against each other. ¡°They were all I had, and they¡¯re gone. Blaming their killer¡­ what use is there when I¡¯m not even strong enough to fight him? All I can do is blame myself. Blame me and¡­ continue forward.¡± A heavy sigh escaped the bartender¡¯s mouth, shaking his head before flicking Kai on the forehead. ¡°Ouch! What was that for?¡± ¡°Lad, I get it¡­ Grief is a heavy burden, and everyone manifests it differently. However, heed my words: When you feel like you¡¯re all alone, when everyone¡¯s backs are turned to you, and are about to fall into darkness, remember, you¡¯re not alone. I am here, and¡­¡± Fritz gently moved his finger, pointing toward Kai¡¯s chest as he continued. ¡°So are your parents. Never forget that.¡± Kai lowered his head, and a shiver ran down his spine as Fritz¡¯s words rang in his ears like a church bell when the sun was at its highest. His breathing stopped for a brief moment, and a last tear streamed down his blazing cheeks before he wiped it away. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Fritz, I¡­ *sniff* I¡¯ll do my best¡­ and¡­allow them to rest in peace.¡± His almost invisible crimson eyes stared right into the man¡¯s eyes as he said in a quivering voice filled with determination, the double meaning in his second sentence flying right past Fritz¡¯s head as a friendly smile creased his lips. ¡°Good, that¡¯s good! Find closure for yeself and for ye parents. Later though, now, let¡¯s drink!¡± He roared in laughter as he gave Kai another glass of beer, and he himself took out a large pint before downing it in a few seconds. ¡°Aargh, that hit a spot. C¡¯mon lad, bottoms up!¡± Kai looked at the joyous man with a strange expression, as if this was the first time meeting him. ¡°Looks like old Fritz is finally back, hehe.¡± ¡°Yeah, been a while since I seen ¡®im so serious.¡± ¡°Hey Fritz, another drink for the lad! It¡¯s on me!¡± ¡°Cheers!¡± The few people resting inside the bar burst out in healthy laughter as they murmured among themselves, and the cold, depressing atmosphere quickly turned jolly as the smell of freshly poured ale inundated Kai¡¯s nostrils. His face suddenly turned red, and as Fritz and the people in the bar cheered for him, he couldn''t bring himself to refuse the offers. Bringing the chilly glass to his blazing lips, he quickly downed the bitter-sweet mixture a few rapid gulps at a time. Slamming the glass onto the countertop, he let out a few exhausted pants as his face turned an unnatural shade of pink. ¡°Ohoooooy!¡± The entire bar roared, tables shaking under the bombardment of sound, and it wasn¡¯t long before Kai took another glass and slowly downed it as well, then a third, and then¡­ ¡­ ¡°Aaah¡­ I¡¯m dead¡­¡± Kai moaned in a drunken mumble as the doors to the inn slammed open, and he wobbly walked toward the receptionist, a middle-aged man with flaming red hair and a beard to match his sharp jawline. His expression immediately changed to one of disgust as his dark yellow eyes landed on Kai¡¯s drunken self, however, he had a job to fulfill. Finally arriving at the front desk, Kai almost passed it as he walked toward his room, however, a loud grunt of annoyance followed by a deep voice made him halt his footsteps. ¡°How may I help you tonight, sir?¡± ¡°Ha¡­? I¡¯m just going¡­ going to my room.¡± Kai replied lazily, his low yet raspy voice causing the receptionist to frown. ¡°May I see your key then, sir?¡± What¡¯s with this guy¡­ Kai annoyedly looked through his cloak, finally stumbling upon a metal object with a tag attached to it. ¡°Here¡¯s the damn key, can I go now?¡± He said, showing it to the man before turning away, stepping and stumbling on the mage¡¯s robe as he mumbled. The red-haired man¡¯s pupils widened immediately upon seeing the tag, and his disgusted expression quickly turned to one of panic as he caught up with Kai. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry to not have recognized someone important such as you, my apologies. Here, let me assist you.¡± He said with a completely changed demeanor, rubbing his hands together like a fly ready to eat from a sweet fruit. ¡°Mghnm,¡± Kai grunted, refusing to speak to the man any further, doing his best to focus as a splitting headache made him wish for nothing more than sleep. After taking a few turns, Kai had finally arrived in front of his door, and immediately inserted the key, turning the knob and slamming it open. The followed suit, however, his expression turned to one of terror upon laying eyes in the living room. Right in the middle of the floor lay a huge tuff of white fur, moving up and down as the occasional snore escaped its snout. ¡°Ah, monster!¡± The receptionist yelled, causing Kai¡¯s head to snap toward him and say in a half-serious tone. ¡°Dash not a monsthar, thatsh Onyx. Close the door behind you when you leave, I wanna sleep.¡± The red-haired man didn¡¯t stand on occasion and immediately rushed outside, the room shaking as he slammed the door behind him. ¡°Hmph.¡± Kai scoffed, taking off his cloak and looking at the sleeping Onyx before he quietly made his way onto his fur, letting out a long yawn before sinking into the snoring canine. Chapter 45: Facing Fate The morning sun sneakily made its way into the inn room, its soft rays caressing Onyx¡¯s ears, which twitched back and forth as he began waking up. His eyes opened slowly, scanning the room whilst still half asleep, noticing that Kai had finally returned, and used his body as a pillow once again. He immediately began licking Kai¡¯s face, the smell of raw meat emanating from his snout causing Kai to frown slightly before his eyes snapped open, jumping up and coughing as a splitting headache caused him to groan in pain. ¡°Glah, sit, boy. I¡¯m awake! I¡¯m awake!¡± Onyx gave Kai a few more licks before obeying, sitting in front of him with a wagging tail and exposed tongue, looking at Kai with a content expression. ¡°Waof!¡± ¡°Argh¡­ what happened last night?¡± Kai held his head as the pain started to subside, doing his best to remember why he woke up feeling like shit. I need to drink something¡­ After chugging a few cups of water and changing into clean clothes, he scoured his cloak, picking up the mask hidden within and looking at it with gleeful interest. It looks nice, plus I can hide my eyes with it, and my face. As for the hair¡­ well, silver hair isn¡¯t that much of a trait, and from what I¡¯ve read in the book my parents left me it¡¯s rare in both species so I should be fine¡­ hopefully. Leaving the robe on the bed, he put on the fox mask and stumbled out the door, Onyx following closely behind, curiously watching Kai¡¯s unusual behavior. I should not have drunk so much¡­ social pressure be damned! Orphelia must already be waiting for me outside¡­ Carefully and slowly making his way down the stairs, Kai gave the receptionist, the red-haired man, a small nod in greeting as he made his way toward the grand doors. ¡°Good morning dear custo-¡± The receptionist¡¯s voice got stuck in his throat upon seeing Onyx appear from behind the corner, freezing in terror with his mouth halfway open. Kai ignored the man and swung the doors open, stepping outside where a smaller but still just as fancy carriage waited for him. Its exterior was decorated with a dark blue texture, while its small and compact wheels made for easy travel through Nivero¡¯s busy streets, and the small windows on each side allowed for just enough light to be filtered through the white curtains. A pair of small auburn ears peeked through the opening before immediately retreating into the carriage. ¡°Come on in.¡± Orphelia¡¯s mesmerizing, melodious voice left the carriage, and a soft smile creased Kai¡¯s lips as made his way to the door, with Onyx following close behind. ¡°The wolf needs to stay behind¡­ I¡¯m afraid his presence would scare everyone, sorry for that.¡± Onyx¡¯s head lowered in disappointment upon hearing that and pushed Kai with his snout as if to say to let him come as well. ¡°I¡¯m sorry boy, go back inside, it won¡¯t be long. I promise.¡± Kai let out a light sigh and pet the Obborik¡¯s fur, beckoning him to go inside the inn before he stepped inside the carriage. The two girls looked at him with widened eyes, surprise covering their faces upon noticing Kai¡¯s new outfit. ¡°Looks like someone had fun last night?¡± Orphelia inquired in a joking tone. ¡°Uhm, we can say that.¡± He vaguely replied, too ashamed to say he almost got mugged by two nobodies and then got drunk. ¡°What a beautiful blade. I didn¡¯t get to see it up close until now.¡± She remarked upon noticing the purple sword, that he now placed on his lap. Its beautiful handle hung out of the makeshift sheath his grandpa had given him. ¡°Even from this far it looks like a piece of art, I can¡¯t even determine its quality. Where did you get it from?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a¡­ family heirloom.¡± He answered in a melancholic tone, lowering his gaze toward the blade before gently rubbing it. Orphelia fell silent, prompted to look away and biting her lower lip, seemingly regretting her question. Ysne¡¯s ears perked up, her nose twitching rapidly as she looked at Kai with curious eyes. ¡°What¡­ what is it?¡± He asked upon feeling her burning gaze scan his body. ¡°Why are you so keen on covering your face?¡± ¡°Huh?...¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Ysne!¡± Orphelia grabbed the mouse girl¡¯s small ears, softly pulling on them while scolding her. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t ask people that!¡± ¡°Ow, ow, ow. Sorry my Lady, forgive me!¡± Ysne cried out in pain, her face reddening as tears sprouted from her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine, no worries. I just want to keep my identity hidden¡­¡± Orphelia let go of Ysne¡¯s ear upon hearing Kai¡¯s words and looked at him with an amused expression. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± ¡°Wha- what is it?¡± Kai asked, feeling slightly flustered after noticing Orphelia¡¯s gaze. ¡°Nothing¡­ it¡¯s just, you want to lay low but walk around with a giant wolf. And with that mask or cloak, if I didn¡¯t know you I¡¯d think you were a wanted criminal or something. I just find the irony funny.¡± ¡°Haha,¡± An awkward laugh escaped Kai¡¯s lips, surprised by Orphelia¡¯s blunt statement. But¡­ she¡¯s not wrong¡­ Oh well, as long as they don¡¯t figure out I¡¯m a vampire I should be fine¡­ ¡°So, where are we headed? I assume you have a reason to pick me up so early?¡± He asked, quickly changing the topic to avoid more embarrassment. ¡°You¡¯ll see when we get there, it¡¯s not that far.¡± Orphelia¡¯s ambiguous answer left Kai with even more questions, but he didn¡¯t think about it further, instead choosing to direct his attention toward the window. Nivero¡¯s early morning stood in huge contrast to its nightlife, with most food stalls, pubs, and bars closed down safe for a few that also began tidying things up. The lights decorating the streets disappeared, and so did the busy atmosphere, now replaced with an air of tranquility as the citizens woke up to go to work, school, or church. The tall marble building stood like a beacon in the middle of the city, a holy and calm aura emanating from every inch of its surface, with the most abundant source being the statue depicting the Goddess. And that was precisely where the carriage was headed. Kai¡¯s heart began to race upon realizing that, and cold sweat ran down his blazing body. He clenched his trembling hands and looked at Orphelia with a hint of surprise. Feeling his burning gaze, Orhpelia looked out the window and let out a light sigh as her eyes closed, and said with quivering lips. ¡°I¡¯ll need to go prepare for the Solstice, which is in 7 days. I¡¯ll go to the academy to celebrate it with my brother, so¡­ this will probably be the last time we meet.¡± Her shaky voice held a hint of hesitation, and Ysne¡¯s ears lowered in disappointment upon hearing her words. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll meet again someday¡­¡± Kai replied in a similar voice, leaning on his hand while looking out the window. Anticipation, fear, anger¡­ a cacophony of emotions flooded his mind. The short ride ended quietly, stopping in front of a tall, pedestal-like structure, on top of which stood the Goddess¡¯ large statue. Kai and Orphelia silently got out, his eyes widening upon landing on the statue. It¡¯s even bigger up close¡­ From that distance, her intricately sculpted details became even more evident, and with the constant holy aura emanating from her body, she almost looked alive. Orhpelia¡¯s hands joined in prayer, bowing slightly while closing her eyes, a short murmur escaping her lips. Looking up at the statue, shivers ran down Kai¡¯s spine, prompting his head to lower back down, almost as if one wasn¡¯t allowed to stare too much. ¡°Follow me,¡± Orphelia said, walking toward the pedestal-like structure, and cautiously looking around before placing her hands on its surface. Its walls shuddered briefly before a flash of light covered it in its entirety, and a small door-sized hole carved itself into existence right before Kai¡¯s very eyes. ¡°Wha- what did you do?¡± He asked, bewilderment and shock evident on his face. ¡°Uhm¡­ nothing, don¡¯t worry about it. Quickly, get in.¡± Orphelia grabbed his arm and threw him through the door, which immediately closed up before he could even look behind him. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he scanned the interior, pitch-black darkness filling his field of vision. ¡°H-hey!¡± His cry for help echoed inside the seemingly empty structure, and his heart threatened to jump out of his chest despite his best attempts at remaining calm. Orphelia wouldn¡¯t hurt me¡­ would she? What reason could she have? Did she figure out I¡¯m a vampire already? What does it have to do with the church then? Could she- No way- As countless thoughts raced inside his brain, a bright flash of light manifested before him, and he instinctively shut his eyes while falling backward. What the?! An attack? Immediately reaching for his sword, a sharp, metallic sound rang in the area as he unsheathed it, and its purple surface reflected the light, which immediately softened up before Kai opened his eyes. Stepping back, he brandished his blade toward the unknown attacker. The light gradually took the shape of a woman with an almost perfect hourglass figure, a pearly white dress decorated her voluptuous body, with locks of blue hair falling down her back and chest. A pair of angelic wings manifested behind her, creating gusts of wind as they flapped gently, and a bright halo of pure yellow light floated above. Her eyes snapped open, revealing a sparkling, holy golden hue that lit up the entire room. Kai looked around in confusion, briefly scanning the empty structure, clutching the hilt even tighter as the sound of his racing heart escaped his body. Staring at the woman before him with widened eyes, blood rushed through his veins as a rush of adrenaline and cortisol coursed through his muscles. Heavy panting accompanied by soft mumbles resounded in the air, bouncing off the soundproof walls right inside the woman¡¯s ears. ¡°Greetings, soul.¡± Her melodious voice pierced his eardrums like a lightning bolt, causing his entire body to shudder, and the soft clang of his sword falling got drowned out by the divine echo of her heavenly voice. ¡°You-...¡± Chapter 46: Meeting the Goddess TRIGGER WARNING: SUICIDAL BEHAVIOUR/ALLUDING Her sparkling eyes stared at Kai for a second, and her pupils trembling briefly before saying: ¡°Greetings, allow me to present myself. I am Goddess Lumiera, creator of this realm. We have met before, though you may not remember it. I-¡± ¡°I remember.¡± Kai¡¯s quivering voice cut her off before she could say anything else, causing a hint of surprise to appear in her golden pupils. A soft smile creased her lips, and she waved her hand, immediately illuminating the room. ¡°That¡¯s great then, saves me some time. My astral projection doesn¡¯t have enough energy to exist for long, so I¡¯ll be brief, and I need you to listen.¡± She said quickly, not even giving Kai any time to answer before proceeding further. ¡°I asked Yurman to investigate what happened to you back on your Earth, and it turns out that whilst you stood there as a soul, a bunch of your memories broke away, causing your soul to be incomplete. That is one of the reasons you weren¡¯t recycled, another reason is that your soul was overflowing. We are not sure why just yet, you are the first one in existence to ever be in such a state.¡± ¡°The truth is that I¡¯ve been observing you, merely out of curiosity, but also a bit of worry. Your parents, weren¡¯t supposed to die so early, so I simply assumed that you would be fine, but I was wrong.¡± ¡°My parents¡­¡± Kai cut her off once again, his voice quivering as tears swelled up in his eyes. ¡°My parents, can you bring them back?... They weren¡¯t supposed to die so early? Then why are they dead? Give them back! Ray, Elena- my parents, bring them back!¡± His heart-wrenching cry bounced off against the empty walls, again, and again, creating a never-ending sorrowful song. ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ I¡­ I can¡¯t. Their souls have been recycled, they are¡­¡± Lumiera stuttered briefly, stopping mid-sentence while staring at Kai¡¯s brightly lit crimson pupils. ¡°Listen, that¡¯s not possible anymore¡­ I¡¯m sorry. But¡­ we have more important matters to attend to right now.¡± She waved her hand right as she finished, and Kai¡¯s mask emitted a flashing golden light that disappeared as quickly as it appeared. ¡°That should shut you up for now.¡± She let out a soft sigh, pitifully looking at Kai before resuming her speech. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve noticed by now, but you are starting to forget. More than before, Yurman and I have a theory: Because of the damage you suffered on Earth, there¡¯s now a hole somewhere in your soul. Before your fight with Haniard, your natural mana patched up that hole, however now that you no longer possess it, the leaks are starting to burst. In short, you will gradually forget¡­ everything.¡± Her soft, yet guilt-ridden voice rang inside Kai¡¯s mind like a waterfall crashing against rocks, and his eyes widened in fear and panic. Struggling, he tried ripping the mask off his face, however, all his efforts ended up useless, and his silent voice never escaped his body. ¡°Calm down.¡± She ordered, instantly stopping Kai¡¯s movements. His eyes rested on Lumiera, her clothes fluttering as she began weirdly moving her hands. ¡°Thankfully, my angels and I managed to collect a part of your soul fragments, so not everything is lost. With Yurman¡¯s aid, I managed to find a temporary solution to your problem, you will need to put in some work if you want to keep being¡­ well, you.¡± Her hands moved faster and faster as her monologue continued, her fine fingers eventually meeting together in a single point, which she then pressed on Kai¡¯s forehead. A muffled scream resounded in the air as he clutched his head, a splitting headache causing his mind to almost break apart from the pain. ¡°Endure, this is for your good, and¡­ ours.¡± Kai couldn¡¯t quite make out what she had said, but her heavenly voice caused his pain to greatly subside, and countless images flashed before his eyes in a few seconds. Mom, Aunty Michelle! Nevan¡­ he¡­ I, huh¡­ I still can¡¯t remember much of him¡­ and that bastard of a stepdad! The seal on his mask disappeared, and so did the Goddess. Kai¡¯s anguished voice finally escaped his body in the form of a tribal roar, his eyes lighting up in a crimson color while his muscles tensed up. The almost broken mana veins began healing ever so slightly, some smaller holes disappearing, with the large ones closing by less than a millimeter. In total, about 0.5% of his veins had been healed, which wasn¡¯t nearly enough for him to use any sort of mana. ¡°This is all I can do for you¡­ I¡¯m not sure when we will meet again but¡­ until then, take care.¡± Lumiera¡¯s crystal clear voice echoed in Kai¡¯s mind for a short period while his recovered memories settled in his brain. ¡°Fooouuu¡­¡± Letting out a heavy sigh, he clenched his hands into a fist, feeling the small improvements in his mana veins. So it is possible, even if¡­ He looked upward, a hint of anger hidden deep within his crimson pupils, but the helpless evident on his face masked it well. Even if the one that healed me is the projection of a Goddess. ¡­ Kai fell to the ground, the pitch-black darkness of the weird room enveloping him completely as the sound of his racing heartbeat and haggard breathing bounced against the walls. An unrelenting storm raged in his mind, as now with the Goddess gone, he finally had time to process what had just happened. There is no doubt in my head, it is her. She¡¯s the one that brought me here¡­ she¡¯s the one who put me with my parents¡­ and I¡¯m the one who asked her to make me a vampire. But why? Fidgeting with his fingers, he bit down on his lower lip, the sharp fangs digging into the flesh, causing a small stream of blood to trickle down his chin. Curling up against the wall, he placed his head in between his legs while tightly hugging them, a soft sobbing sound escaping his body. Salty tears fell on the floor made out of an unknown material, and his shoulders shook briefly now and then as the raging storm in his mind grew. Even with these old memories, I still can¡¯t figure out why I chose to be a vampire. Was it because it sounded fun? She warned me¡­ why did I go through with it? More than that¡­ my decision led my parents down this path? What did she mean by saying they weren¡¯t meant to die? What happened? Me¡­ I- I knew it¡­ it¡¯s my fault¡­ If I didn¡¯t exist¡­ If only I¡­ didn¡¯t make such a stupid wish, if only those bastards never killed me¡­ if only I was more careful¡­ ¡°My parents would still be alive.¡± A sharp yet familiar voice rang inside Kai¡¯s ears. Startled awake from his thoughts, he jumped on his feet, instinctively reaching for the sword, however, his fingers met with nothing, as the expected texture of the rough hilt wasn¡¯t there. As if remembering, he eyed the blade¡¯s location, which glew slightly despite the lack of light. ¡°Who is it?!¡± He cautiously looked around, scanning the darkness for any hint of movement, slowly but surely approaching the sword lying on the ground, his steady footsteps turning quieter as he said. ¡°Show yourself, I know you can hear me!¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°¡®Revive my parents, bring them back,¡¯ are you fucking kidding me? Your parents?¡± The unknown voice¡¯s mocking words echoed from every direction straight into Kai¡¯s mind, causing him to let out a low grunt while struggling to advance. ¡°You think you¡¯re a hero?¡± ¡°Wake up already, you¡¯re nothing but a killer.¡± ¡°You killed them¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s your fault!¡± ¡°You killed them!¡± ¡°You killed my parents! Not Haniard, you!¡± ¡°You fucking murderer!¡± Kai¡¯s hands flew to his head, tightly covering his ears while the sound of teeth grinding against each other was drowned out by the cacophony of words bouncing inside his brain. ¡°I WAS A CHILD, MR. FRITZ IS RIGHT! WHAT COULD I HAVE POSSIBLY DONE AGAINST THAT MONSTER?!¡± He raised his face toward the sky, his voice breaking apart while letting out an angered cry. ¡°You should not have been born.¡± The disembodied¡¯s voice cold tone echoed in the darkness, a hint of resentment hidden deep within. At the same time, the space around the purple sword lit up with a crimson light, and a set of eerie footsteps appeared in the silence. ¡°This is Ray¡¯s, my father¡¯s sword, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kai¡¯s pupils widened, and a shiver ran down his spine as the voice¡¯s words sent his mind reeling in shock. A figure slowly walked into the crimson light, its long silver hair reflecting the red hue, which bore the same color as its eyes. It wore nothing but a plain shirt and black leggings, however, its features held an uncanny familiarity. ¡°Why are you carrying it around? Is it some sort of trophy?¡± The figure dragged its fingers across the blade, dying it crimson with blood. ¡°Do you like it? My father¡¯s sword? Too bad I never got to see it in action¡­ after all¡­¡± A creepy smile adorned its face while turning toward Kai, whose face turned pale. Kai¡¯s trembling legs finally gave in, and he fell to the floor, kneeling in front of the purple blade, his eyes meeting the strange figure¡¯s as his trembling lips parted. ¡°Who are you¡­?¡± Letting out a light chuckle, the figure grabbed the sword¡¯s handle, struggling to lift it off the ground before briefly playing with it. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? Mother¡¯s hair isn¡¯t that easy to confuse¡­ is it?¡± Kai gulped lightly, clenching his shaking hands into a fist, and said while glaring at the figure. ¡°I didn¡¯t choose to be born... Not like this!¡± ¡°But you did. She warned you, and yet you accepted anyway. Look at you now¡­ You took my life, stole it, killed my parents, and now? Playing the victim. Pathetic. You shouldn¡¯t be alive.¡± ¡°They were my parents!¡± Kai retorted, his fists trembling in anger as the figure¡¯s words hit him where it hurt most. ¡°I¡­ I loved them! They loved me too!¡± ¡°Did they?!¡± The sharp voice yelled angrily, ¡°You deceived them, they didn¡¯t know the kid they raised was an impostor. How dare you say you loved them when you lied to them up until their death?¡± ¡°You are nothing, your existence itself is sin. You are the reason my parents died, if it weren¡¯t for you they would have been fine. You know I¡¯m right.¡± It continued, twisting Kai¡¯s heart further and further with each word it spoke. ¡°The Goddess said so herself, right? ¡®They weren¡¯t supposed to die so fast¡¯. I heard her¡­ So tell me, Kai, did my parents deserve to die for an ungrateful bastard like you? Revenge? Don¡¯t screw with me! Why do you want revenge? Isn¡¯t it only to make yourself feel better?¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong¡­¡± Kai whispered, his nails digging into his chest through the fabric, small crimson spots appearing on his linen shirt. ¡°I¡¯m not, if you truly loved them you should have suffered more. Cried more. If you felt guilty you should have paid with your life.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± ¡°Why did you even come here? Why do you want to go see Elizabeth? What is the point of all this? Isn¡¯t it just to fulfill your selfish desires? Don¡¯t tell me you forgot. You always wanted this.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong!¡± ¡°You always wanted to be a hero, you always wanted to go on an adventure, just like those stories you read. Now look at you, living your dream, at MY expense.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong¡­¡± Kai repeated the same sentence over and over again, the figure¡¯s words seemingly awakening something deep within his soul. Fragments of lost memories resurfaced within his mind. ¡°Finally remembered? All those drawings you made, those stories you wrote¡­ all of you as a hero. Is there a better story than a boy taking vengeance for his parents¡¯ death? Deep within you, you knew, this is what you desired.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t! I never wanted any of this to happen! I just wanted¡­ I¡­ just wanted a simple life¡­ a simple¡­¡± Kai¡¯s voice halted suddenly, his pupils trembling as he watched the figure approach him with the crimson sword, its sharp tip pointed straight at his throat. ¡°Just shut up already¡­ you selfish bastard¡­ a simple life? Bullshit.¡± The eerie voice became deeper, its silhouette growing slightly until it was about the same height as Kai. Its silver hair rapidly grew in length, and its facial structure morphed to resemble Kai¡¯s. ¡°Just like looking into a mirror, isn¡¯t it?¡± It said in a voice almost identical to Kai, whose pupils trembled as tears swelled up in his eyes. Blood trickled down on the floor in a rhythmic fashion, the crimson sword becoming even redder as Kai clenched its shaking blade, fighting against the figure¡¯s attack. ¡°Why are you fighting back? Isn¡¯t this what you want? Death? Freedom? Go on! Accept my blade, let it pierce your throat, and die a sinner! Cover this holy land with your blood, and repent for killing my parents! Repent! Repent! Repent!¡± The sword crept closer and closer toward Kai¡¯s neck, its sharp tip piercing through his flesh, creating a fresh stream of crimson blood that coursed down his body. ¡°Repent!!!!!!¡± The figure let out an anguished cry, the small red pool beneath them growing faster and faster as it pushed the sword with even more strength than before. Kai grit his teeth, however, his trembling hands can barely hold onto the sharp blade, which dug deeper and deeper into his neck. Kai¡¯s eyes snapped shut, his entire body shaking, and images once again flashed inside his mind. Countless memories from birth up until his parents died, his entire life almost flashed before his eyes in less than a second. Blood-mixed tears trickled down his cheeks, the sharp pain spreading from his neck almost making his head go blank. Helplessly pushing against the sword, he suddenly remembered Fritz, his words ringing in Kai¡¯s mind louder than ever before. He took a deep breath and, the rhythmic heartbeat slowed down whilst his mind gradually became clear. Wincing in pain, he clutched the sharp crimson blade even tighter, his arms shaking violently whilst fighting against the figure. ¡°Fighting back is useless now¡­ Are you going to believe some empty words from a stranger? What a joke, you¡¯re no better than Haniard¡­ Repent with your life, let the guilt eat away at your flesh, and devour your soul. Give up!¡± Kai grunted in pain as the figure¡¯s strength pushed against his body, the blood-covered blade piercing even deeper into his neck, slowly inching toward the point of no return. ¡°No¡­¡± His shaky voice resounded weakly in the room, the eerie sound of dripping liquid ringing in Kai¡¯s ears like a ticking clock. His heart, however, beat steadily, remembering what his old drinking buddy said, it beat louder and louder until its unrelenting song filled the room. Kai¡¯s eyes widened, a soft smile creasing his lips while staring at the malicious figure. As if having remembered something, he put all his strength into his hands, stopping the blade¡¯s progress at the cost of his blood. His knees began to shake, and he slowly began to rise as a weak whisper of melancholic memories escaped his quivering lips. ¡°I¡¯m not giving up¡­¡± Chapter 47: The Pasts but a Memory The figure¡¯s expression turned to one of shock and quickly morphed into one of anger as its arms began to shake, relentlessly trying to push the blade forward, to pierce even deeper into Kai¡¯s neck. A hint of fear hid deep within its crimson eyes while watching Kai slowly get up, gradually breaking free of the lock it created on him. ¡°A useless struggle, cease your futile existence, you abomination!¡± It said with slight uneasiness, putting even more force into the blade in a last-ditch effort to drive it through Kai¡¯s neck. However, the sword remained unmoving, and Kai kept on standing up despite the figure¡¯s best efforts. Fritz¡¯s words rang true in his heart, vague memories and torn images flashed within his mind. But most importantly, his parents¡¯ smiles, their voices, and their last goodbye as he stood kneeling in front of their illusion inside the necklace. ¡°Thank you, for opening my eyes,¡± Kai said through gritted teeth, gradually overpowering the figure, whose teeth ground against each other, cold sweat dripping down its neck while its pupils began dilating. Groaning, it did its best to retrieve the sword, however, it gasped in shock upon noticing that the blade stood motionless. True fear finally appeared within its eyes as it looked at Kai, whose stature finally matched the figure¡¯s. ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s like looking at a mirror.¡± His deep, confidence-filled voice resounded inside the dark room. Sliding his hand across the blade, his hand met the figure¡¯s at the sword¡¯s base, and his hands passed right through it as he clutched the hilt. ¡°To think you¡¯d be using my father¡¯s sword against me.¡± He said, pulling it out of his neck before slashing at the figure, its soundless cry ringing in Kai¡¯s ear as a tear slid down his blazing cheeks. Cracks spread all over the figure¡¯s body, and a sound akin to that of breaking glass filled the room as it shattered into a million pieces right before Kai¡¯s eyes. ¡°Thank you for showing me how foolish I truly was.¡± Stumbling backward, he leaned against a wall before falling with a soft thump, the sword¡¯s sharp, irregular clang accompanying him as it too fell to the ground, a purple luster shining through its newly found crimson coating. ¡­ Heavy breathing resounded in the room, the soft vibrations bouncing against the wall, rippling like a rock thrown inside a pond, sometimes broken by a weak sobbing sound and the occasional sniff. Kai¡¯s shoulders shook every so often, his hands bandaged with torn cloth wiped away his tears while the light-colored makeshift scarf around his neck turned a crimson, dark color as the blood dried up. The sword lay bare next to him, unsheathed yet clean, its violet luster forever unchanged even as the dust settled on its blade. Next to it, Kai sobbed, holding his hands between his knees, just like before the doppelganger appeared. Now, however, his stormy mind became a typhoon as a cacophony of emotions coursed through his head. Countless thoughts, regrets, and memories flooded his brain. However¡­ What the fuck was that?! Remained the main question of living rent - free in his mind. Although a vague idea had formed in his head, he found it extremely hard to believe it, regardless of how insane he believed himself to have become. My wounds are real, the pain is real, the blood is real¡­ everything was real except it¡­ Was I about to¡­ to end it?! This question plagued his mind ever since the figure disappeared, unable to make sense of what had just transpired. I need to figure it out but¡­ one way or the other¡­ A light sigh escaped his lips, and he only stood up after a long time had passed. Putting away those thoughts the best he could, he stood up, finally deciding to look for an exit. His gaze lingered on the sword for a brief moment before picking it up and placing it back into its sheath. Running his fingers across the smooth surface of the wall, he carefully made his way toward the outer wall, from where he had entered in. After a short while, his fingers finally grazed the entrance wall, its texture not much different from the others aside from the cold feeling climbing up his fingertips. How do I get out now¡­ there has to be a way¡­ hopefully not magic. He thought, carefully exploring the wall¡¯s smooth surface and going back and forth a few times. His footsteps halted suddenly in a spot somewhere in the middle, and he gently pushed on a tile after feeling its slightly different, rougher texture. Almost instantly, a rectangular light engulfed the tiles around, which vanished completely after a few seconds. The noon¡¯s blazing rays of the sun descended upon Kai like raindrops in a thunderstorm, and it took him some time to adjust to the new surroundings after being stuck in darkness for such a long time. Nivero gradually reveals itself to him, now bustling with a different kind of activity compared to the nocturnal days. Carriages and carts filled with materials, textiles, foods, and beverages were pulled by several types of animals, creating a small cloud of dust wherever they passed. The animals ranged from a scrawny Scarlet Horse and a featherless bipedal avian, to a magnificent deer-like creature, its translucent antlers and five legs making for a bizarre sight. Kai squinted his eyes before walking in the direction the inn seemed to be in, his gaze fixated on the beautifully paved path whilst he tried to rearrange his mangled thoughts. Although Lumiera restored some of my memories, some things are still incredibly hazy. I can¡¯t remember Nevan properly¡­ or my school life. Besides that, that Goddess- she¡­ she said that¡­ my parents¡­ they¡­ Inhaling deeply, he raised his head toward the sky, letting the soft rays of sunlight hit his pale skin. Using the stinging sensation spreading from his neck downward, he tried to silence the Goddess¡¯ echoing voice, instead thinking about the future and where he¡¯d go from here. A sudden thump awoke him from his thoughts, and his vision turned dark as something got in the way of the sun. Taking a step backward, his pupils widened in surprise upon seeing who it was that he walked into. Two figures stood before him, their expressions as scary and imposing as their aura. To the left stood a man taller than anyone he had ever seen. He wore a dark, hooded cloak that concealed most of his features, safe for his curling mouth and piercing eyes. Strapped to his back was a massive, jagged-edged sword that gleamed with a malevolent aura, its unsheathed blade coated with dried blood. Besides him was a woman with an equally foreboding presence. Her long, ebony hair cascaded like a waterfall down her back, and her pale skin shared the soft color of the moonlight. She wore a tight-fitting black leather outfit adorned with silver studs and carried an intricately crafted crossbow slung across her chest. Her chilly eyes looked at Kai, sending shivers throughout his body, and her lips curled into a chilling, sadistic smile. Both of them wore a similar red badge and armband, in the middle of which stood the symbol of a dragon with a spear piercing through its chest. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Inquisitors! Kai took a step backward, staring at the two with a racing heart, and cold sweat dripped down his neck as a chapter from the book his parents gave him flashed before his eyes. <> Quickly composing himself and heeding the warnings written in the book, he quickly bowed his head, turning as small as possible before saying in a soft voice ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, sir, ma¡¯am!¡± His tone quivered ever so slightly, his muscles contracting and expanding as overwhelming fear and anxiety coursed through his entire body. Shit, what is this feeling?!? Kai did his best to remain unmoving before the two executioners, his heart threatening to jump out of his chest. The man let out a low grunt whilst the woman remained silent, not even giving Kai a second glance before walking past him. A heavy sigh of relief escaped Kai¡¯s lips as he straightened his back, taking a moment to calm his nerves before heading toward the inn. Before him, the woman halted in her footsteps and took a second look at Kai, a tinge of suspicion appearing in her eyes. ¡­ What the fuck is wrong with me¡­ standing before those two, I felt¡­ helpless¡­ but how could I be so terrified of two people I¡¯ve never met? A shiver ran down his spine just remembering their faces, however, he anxiously continued walking toward the inn, his space gradually speeding up as the sunlight hit his bare skin with even more intensity than before. Ugh, it¡¯s starting to hurt really badly. Making his way through the busy streets, he tried to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible, walking in dark alleys and hiding in the shadows of the tall buildings. Taking this chance to observe Nivero closer, he noticed a lot of people there were not human, in fact, most merchants seemed to be a combination of animals and humans, some sharing more characteristics with one than the other. Even demi-humans exist in this world? Oh yeah, she did tell me but¡­ seeing actual ones with my own two yes¡­ it feels surreal. Funny though¡­ to think I only question these things now. He took a deep breath, inhaling the air mixed with dust and another dozen smells as countless people passed by him, sometimes giving his mask a few weird glances before going on their merry way. As he carefully moved and sneaked through the shadows, he finally found himself in front of the beautifully decorated inn, the flower¡¯s intoxicating smell inundating his nostrils as its door swung open. A few guests lodged around the lobby, their quiet whispering temporarily stopped as their eyes fell on Kai before resuming their mundane conversations. Kai made his way to the counter, where the girl waited for him with a bright smile. ¡°Greetings Dear Guest, what can I do for you?¡± She asked, her soft and pleasant voice filling the lobby. ¡°I¡¯m just going into my room, I wanted to ask if my companion¡­ caused you any problems?¡± The girl stood silently for a second, her eyes widening in surprise as realization hit her. ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s you! Uhm¡­¡± She avoided looking at Kai, instead glancing at the place where Onyx had stood and seemingly inhaled the meat through his nose. ¡°Not at all, your company behaved exemplarily.¡± An awkward smile creased her face as she said that, however nothing else was out of the ordinary. ¡°Alright¡­ I see.¡± Kai acknowledged her words before turning and walking toward the room. Something is telling me she wasn¡¯t one hundred percent honest but¡­ If he didn¡¯t cause any major trouble it should be alright. Finally standing in front of the door, he swung it open, only to be met with Onyx jumping and licking his face, well, his mask. ¡°Boy, get off of me!¡± He pleaded, doing his best to push Onyx away, however, it served little to no purpose as the Obborik didn¡¯t budge an inch. ¡°Woaf!¡± He barked, scratching at Kai¡¯s chest for a few seconds before getting down, his stomach letting out a low growl while he yelped. ¡°Oh, you must be hungry, right? Hmm¡­ I guess I can order something for now?¡± Promptly walking back out, Kai made his way to the restaurant inside the inn. Despite the sun still shining bright, a lot of guests and customers were already sitting at the table, eating from the dozens of different dishes and drinking alcohol. Kai gagged loudly, remembering what he had done last night, and tried to avoid looking at any alcohol for the time being. Behind the countertop, the bartender and supposedly the one who took orders carefully poured another pint of ale, sending it sliding toward Kai, who had just sat down. The soft orange fire from the torches lit up her ebony dark hair, along with her eyes that shared the same color. A soft smile creased her lips, causing the mole standing right above her upper lip to move slightly. ¡°Welcome, watch¡¯a ordering today sir?¡± Staring at the reflection inside the cup, Kai pushed it to the side and said. ¡°Definitely no alcohol for me today.¡± His sharp voice alerted the bartender, and immediately grabbed the cup from Kai as her face reddened slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know. Not with the mask and all that.¡± Sending it toward another customer, she handed Kai a menu and turned her attention elsewhere whilst he made up his mind. Oh? It looks like they do have drinking laws¡­ or at least morals¡­ Damn Fritz, serving alcohol to a kid! Chuckling to himself, he took a better look at the menu, his eyes widening in surprise upon seeing the prices. If it weren¡¯t for the money my parents left me¡­ I would have starved¡­ The violent sound of doors being kicked awoke him from his thoughts, and his head snapped toward the source - A small group of five men dressed in light armor wielding a various assortment of weapons such as swords, halberds, axes¡­ and a bow. One of them was taller than the door, his head almost touching the ceiling, and blood dripped on his dark skin from a large creature hanging from his shoulder. That¡¯s an entrance¡­ Whispering broke out almost immediately, the entire restaurant¡¯s eyes fixated on the group as they made their way toward the counter, leaving behind a trail of blood and dirt as they passed. ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t those the two star adventurers?¡± A soft whistle entered Kai¡¯s ears, and, turning around he saw a few men that sat not that far away from him talk amongst themselves. ¡°Yeah¡­ I heard they can kill Scarlet Bears in five seconds, and a small horde of pigelins aren¡¯t enough for them to pick the meat between their teeth with!¡± ¡°That¡¯s crazy! I can¡¯t even kill one pigelin and they can take on a horde?!¡± ¡°A small horde.¡± Whispers like these resounded in the dining room from every table, and the man leading the group walked proudly as the guests¡¯ words of praise entered his ears. He had blonde, piked hair, and brown eyes that stood in contrast to his white, albeit dirited and scarred skin. Faint pale, ivory patches covered his face and hands, however, they didn¡¯t seem to bother him that much, and only served to deepen his mystery. A sword shining with a silver gleam hung by his waist, and next to it a dagger in a shabby scabbard. A half-sly half content smile creased his lips as he stopped before a small door leading to the back. ¡°Tell Swiss we¡¯re back, and we brought quite a large haul.¡± His deep voice rang in the bartender¡¯s ears, her cheeks turning slightly rosy as she quickly walked through the door. The entire room burst into hearty laughter, excluding Kai and the man¡¯s party, who held a stoic expression all the while. Shortly after the laughing died down, a short, fat man dressed in a cook¡¯s attire walked through the door with a healthy smile, his lips parting under his already grey mustache. ¡°That¡¯s an adventurer for ya! Even Old Man Swiss is treating him well. Not to mention the old man¡¯s daughter is head over heels for him.¡± The man next to Kai said before taking a big gulp from his pint. Adventurer¡­ hmm¡­ Kai pondered over that word, a soft smile creasing his lips as he remembered what that entailed. Doesn¡¯t sound too bad actually¡­ Chapter 48: The Sword ¡°Frank, come in, I¡¯ve been waiting. Tell me, how much did you hunt?¡± Cutting directly to the case, he invited the man named Frank in, accompanied by the tall man who held the creature¡¯s corpse. The rest of the party took a seat at an empty table, where a waitress immediately ran to take their orders. ¡°Around ten pigelins, some of their corpses aren¡¯t intact. A Scarlett Bear cub and a weird green creature. I believe they¡¯re called gobelins, I¡¯m not sure how they appeared here, as Lustra is quite far away. However, it didn¡¯t pose a problem, although I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s edible.¡± Frank said in a stoic voice, confidence brimming within his tone despite his deadpan expression. Goebelins¡­ and by that description¡­ did Lumiera want to be quirky or were these people so close and yet so far in terms of names? Not dwelling on it too much, he inspected the menu again, pinpointing a few dishes that would definitely fill an Obborik¡¯s belly, or so he hoped. The bartender, however, didn¡¯t return even after ten minutes had passed. A morbid stench of death and decay filled his nostrils as a dozen men walked in, their hands filled to the brim with animal corpses. Guh, what the fuck? Kai cursed inwardly while watching the pig-like, humanoid monsters get carried in the back, followed by a small ball of red fur and a gobelin. It seems like that¡¯s everything, but surely there has to be a better way to carry these things¡­ He didn¡¯t pay them any further attention, however, his impatience grew with every minute, worried that Onyx may cause a ruckus if he took too long to bring him food. Besides, I¡¯m a bit hungry myself¡­ well more than a bit. Sighing, he glanced briefly at the makeshift bandages wrapped around his arms and neck, their pale color stained by a dark crimson shade. His body shivered as he recalled what had happened inside that room, but regardless of what that was, he had come out victorious. Turning his attention toward the dining room that also served as a bar, he looked for a waiter to take his order, and surely enough, there was one with only a plate of three large pints of ale heading toward the adventurer¡¯s table. Great¡­ Kai scoffed inwardly, already imagining the clich¨¦ scenario from one of the stories he remembered. Walking over to them, he patiently waited for the waitress to set the beverages down before approaching her with the menu in hand. ¡°Excuse me, I-¡± However, he quickly got interrupted before the waitress even took notice of him. ¡°Hey Little Brother, she ain¡¯t quite done with our order yet. Would you mind waiting for a bit?¡± One of the men with axes strapped to his waist yelled at Kai, holding the large pint before him while making eye contact. Kai wasn¡¯t quite sure what to do, as it was only giving her a small order and then she could rely on the chef. However, it was far too late now as the waitress had already disappeared. Sulking, he let out a light sigh before turning toward the bar top. ¡°Little Brother, wait a minute there.¡± Another man said, signaling toward Kai to stop as he turned to the axe-wielding man. Both of them looked very similar in appearance, their facial structure being almost the same, and were it not for their different hair colors, one would mistake them for twins. The man that stopped Kai had long locks of curly dark hair, blue eyes like the sky, and wore a couple dark clothes, whilst the axe wiedling man had long, curly blonde hair with a few scars decorating his face. Next to the dark-haired man sat an exquisitely crafted silver sword, its dark gold hilt being the only thing sticking out of the gorgeous dark scabbard protecting it. ¡°Razvan, why¡¯d you bully the kid like that? He just wanted to talk to the pretty waitress, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re starving.¡± Quipping, he turned to Kai and waved toward him. ¡°Come here Little Brother, have a seat. You can talk to her when she brings our meals.¡± Standing in the middle of the room, Kai felt awkward as dozens of eyes turned their attention toward him. Scratching the back of his head, he walked over to the table, sitting down quite a distance away from them while awkwardly smiling behind his mask. The two men gulped down the large pint in front of them, laughing heartily while discussing about their game. The last man, however, held a pensive look on his face, playing with the bow wrapped around his chest while staring at the kitchen. ¡°What¡¯s with ya, Kraft?¡± The dark-haired man asked, putting down his empty pint before wiping his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it weird, Hans? These gobelins, they-¡± Kraft turned around, his short straight hair fluttering in the wind, but stopped mid-speech when his emerald green eyes fell on Kai. ¡°What¡¯s with the kid? You finally decided to retire?¡± ¡°Hahaha! No, no.¡± Hans laughed, reaching for Kraft¡¯s ale and taking a large gulp before turning toward Kai. ¡°He just seemed interesting, that¡¯s all. Aren¡¯t you, Little Brother?¡± He said in a joking tone, however a hint of inquiry and caution hid deep within his brown eyes. ¡°I¡­uh¡­ Am I now?¡± Kai replied, laughing awkwardly while fidgeting with his fingers. ¡°For sure, yeah.¡± Hans nodded, grabbing Kai¡¯s hands and pointing toward the bandages covering his arms. ¡°Both of your hands and the neck must have been quite a fierce fight. Not to mention the mask, and even more so the sword you keep in¡­ I can¡¯t even call that a scabbard.¡± ¡°Oh, those¡­ haha yeah it was¡­ a difficult fight.¡± He said in a melancholic tone, which didn¡¯t escape the trio¡¯s ears. ¡°So, watcha kill, Kid?¡± Razvan asked from the side, eyeing the sword with curiosity. ¡°Can you show us the sword? It doesn¡¯t look like any ordinary weapon, yet is kept in such a shabby sheath.¡± Kai stood in silence for a second, unsure of how to answer that first question, and his face turned slightly red upon sensing the trios¡¯ burning gazes. ¡°Uh, yeah sure.¡± He removed the scabbard from his waist and placed it on the table, choosing to distract the group by not answering Razvan¡¯s question. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The trio put their pints to the side, making a place for the fairly large longsword, a soft purple light escaping the scabbard. Just as Razvan had said, the scabbard made from old, dirty leather and broken down even more by the river of time, didn¡¯t do justice to the exquisite blade it hid. ¡°So? You gonna show us or you want us to invite ourselves?¡± Hans quipped, prompting Kai to slowly pull out the sword from its sheath, slowly revealing its violet luster under the men¡¯s curious gazes. Their expressions changed from mere curiosity to genuine shock as their eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Is it¡­? It can¡¯t be¡­¡± Hans muttered under his breath as the entire sword finally lay bare before his eyes. Its beautiful violet blade absorbed all light hitting it and immediately reflected it in the form of a soft, purple shimmer. The tan dark lines covering it stood in bright contrast to the blade, and the pitch-black hilt seemed to absorb all light but not let any escape. ¡°Hans, this sword¡­¡± Razvan said in a quivering voice filled with disbelief. ¡°Yeah¡­ there¡¯s only one such sword that I¡¯ve heard of¡­ and it was his sword.¡± ¡°Right, what was his name?¡± Kraft added, ¡°Violet¡­ something.¡± ¡°The Demon¡¯s Plague¡­¡± ¡°Violet Night,¡± Hans said, his voice barely above a whisper while staring at the sword, looking almost mesmerized. Violet Night?! Kai¡¯s mind raced with questions upon hearing this name. Was that my father¡¯s nickname? Wait, he lived in the human world? The men¡¯s gazes immediately snapped toward Kai, whose heart skipped a beat upon sensing their eyes lock onto him. His vision quickly snapped between them, the sword and the exit, clenching his sweaty hands as he did his best to prepare for a fight or a run for it. Han¡¯s lips parted, supporting himself on his hands as he leaned closer toward Kai. ¡°Kid, you-¡± ¡°What¡¯s all this ruckus?¡± His words got cut short as the stoic voice of a man rang in their ears, and they immediately launched back into their seats upon hearing it. Their leader and the dark-skinned man halted in their footsteps in front of the table, to Kai¡¯s right, their burning gazes scanning him before looking toward the source of the commotion. Frank¡¯s pupils constricted immediately, and drew the sword strapped to his waist without hesitation, pushing it against Kai¡¯s neck before he even had time to react. What¡¯s going on?! Kai¡¯s heart threatened to jump out of his chest, trying to make sense of these people¡¯s reactions but to no avail. Not daring to move an inch, he locked eyes with the man and gulped before asking. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± ¡°That sword, why do you have it?¡± Frank¡¯s chilly voice penetrated deep into his bones, sending a cold shiver running down his spine whilst his mind raced. I can¡¯t possibly tell them the truth, not after this insane reaction¡­ ¡°I fo-¡± Kai¡¯s lips parted, however, he couldn¡¯t even get a word out before Frank slashed across his neck, cutting the makeshift bandage clean off, revealing Kai¡¯s yet-to-heal wound. ¡°Try to lie to me again, next time it won¡¯t be so pretty.¡± This guy¡¯s insane! Kai thought as he took a deep breath, Frank¡¯s blade ticking his neck before exhaling rapidly. How did he know I was about to lie?! ¡°It¡­ it belonged to my father.¡± The three men gasped in surprise at the same time, and even the dark-skinned man¡¯s pupils widened upon hearing Kai¡¯s statement. Frank, on the other hand, wore an expression of disbelief. Dropping the sword, he lunged at Kai and shoved him to the ground, pushing his elbow against Kai¡¯s throat. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, brat.¡± Kai clenched his teeth, quickly shoving his hand between the elbow and his neck as he tried to push the large man off of him. However, his actions were useless as Frank¡¯s body glowed with a soft light as he muttered something, his strength instantly increasing, putting even more pressure on Kai. ¡°How were you¡­ able to tell I was about to lie earlier¡­¡± Kai asked, his voice struggling to escape his body every time he breathed. ¡°But can¡¯t tell I just¡­said the truth¡­?¡± His words made Frank pause slightly, and, letting out an angry scoff, he got off of Kai, and sat on a chair at the table with the dark-skinned man behind him. ¡°Get up.¡± He ordered, signaling the waitress to bring over more alcohol while his eyes remained fixated on the sword. ¡­ Kai rubbed his neck, glaring at Frank who took a big gulp from his ale before slamming it on the table. Didn¡¯t even bother to apologize¡­ asshole. The rest of the men, including the one behind Frank looked at Kai with intense curiosity, the three men¡¯s lips quivering as they held back any questions they had. ¡°So,¡± Frank turned to Kai with a look that could kill. ¡°You¡¯re telling me Violet Night was your father? Let me guess, your mother was¡­ Evergreen? You don¡¯t look anything like them.¡± Ever¡­ what? Kai confusedly looked at Frank, the names coming out of his mouth being as foreign as a language he had never heard before. Frank sighed heavily and changed the topic as it was obvious from Kai¡¯s expression that he was clueless. ¡°Never mind that, this sword being here means it didn¡¯t reject you, and what you said is true, forget that. Violet Night.¡± His voice turned chilly as he closed his eyes, and asked in a shaky voice. ¡°Where is he?¡± Kai¡¯s shoulders sank immediately upon hearing the question, and, staring at the sword, he said in a soft voice. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ dead.¡± Frank¡¯s eyes squinted even further, and the trio¡¯s expression turned to disbelief as Kai¡¯s words rang inside their heads. ¡°That¡¯s not¡­ how can that be?!¡± Hans jumped to his feed, his cracking voice reverberating in the room, catching the attention of everyone present. ¡°And Evergreen?¡± Frank asked once again, his nails digging into his flesh as he clenched his fists. Kai didn¡¯t reply, however, his silence told the group more than enough about his parent¡¯s fate. They stood in silence for a moment, none of them able to make a sound as the shocking information had yet to settle inside their heads. Everyone except the dark-skinned man, tapped Frank on the shoulder, waking him from his daze. ¡°I see.¡± He said, placing the sword back into its scabbard before handing it to Kai. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for earlier Kid, I had to make sure. You see¡­ Violet Night he- I wouldn¡¯t be here without your father and mother.¡± Kai nodded, accepting his apology and placing the sword on his lap before asking, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Frank took another large gulp from his beverage, leaned back in his chair, and let out a heavy sigh before parting his lips¡­ Chapter 49: Violet Night and Evergreen The night sky stretched out above on a dark canvas painted over by a myriad of stars, twinkling like countless lamps floating over the restless earth. Falling meteors and comets accompanied the illustrious painting, unperturbed by mortal burdens¡­ even by the smoke rising high within the forest. The wind whistled through the forest¡¯s dense canopies, bringing with it a foreboding smell of ash and cinder. It sang a serene song, joined by the birds and the critters of the night, and the sleeping animals hidden away in their nests and burrows created yet another gorgeous picture. However, its tranquility was nowhere to be found, as, deep within the forest¡¯s depths lay a village, its once beautiful yet simple houses now ablaze in a fiery inferno. The orange and yellow hues flickered fiercely, their color growing denser and larger, as did the flames enveloping the small town. The door to one of the buildings slammed open, knocked off its hinges by a man carrying two small children whose mouths and noses were covered by a dampened cloth. He coughed heavily from the smoke and ash inundating his lungs, and ran toward the exit as fast as he could, ignoring his neighbor¡¯s pleas for help. The sound of crushing bones and tearing flesh, as well as maniac laughter, rang loudly in his ears, like a waterfall crashing against a rock. However, he did not look back, he did not stop, and advanced with gritted teeth with the small hopes of saving his children. Corpses littered the almost impossible-to-see road, a river of blood and guts flowed along its length, bringing a foul stench of death and decay along with it. A morbid chewing sound reverberated through the air, joined by screams of terror and sadistic chuckles. Shivers ran throughout the man¡¯s body as macabre images flashed in his mind, further boosting his desire to live, to get away, to escape into the forest. Creatures with sharp, black horns and razor-sharp teeth ran all around the village, killing everything and anyone in their path by using their sharp, long claws whilst the fire became fiercer and fiercer. Most of them had red skin, while the rest had yellow or purple skin. Among all of them, a small portion had thick tails covered in spikes and blood, however, every single one of them wore a sadistic smile, from which one could see bits of flesh and guts stuck between their teeth. One of these creatures had ebony black skin which almost made it invisible as the light hitting its body got completely absorbed. It had a long and thin tail, and its back was decorated by a pair of large, fleshy wings that swung back and forth as it flew through the rubbles of the once lively village. Its eyes were as dark as its skin, and a long and thick spear lay between its sharp claws. The children held the cloth tightly, their entire bodies trembling while holding on to the man¡¯s neck, not even daring to open their eyes from fear. On the man¡¯s right stood a little girl, her delicate face covered in ash and fresh wounds from the fire. On his left stood a boy, his blonde hair darkened by the ash, and his skin was similarly covered in ash and wounds. In the hand holding the cloth lay a small dagger in a damaged sheath, and he held onto it even tighter than the man¡¯s neck, seemingly afraid of losing it. ¡°Mister Sam¡­ how much¡­ how much longer?¡± The boy¡¯s faint, fear-filled voice echoed in the man¡¯s ears, however, the smoke and his heavy breathing, along with his fatigue prevented any sounds from escaping his mouth. He nodded gently, a fake smile creasing his lips while running toward the exit. His legs felt light like a feather, and, despite his inability to see that much ahead, he dodged every corpse that appeared before him. Similarly, the creatures seemed too occupied to notice him run past them, simply could not see him or did not care. Dragging his feet along the winded path, the remains of what once stood proudly at the town¡¯s gate appeared before him. Gasping for air and pushing his body to its limits, he held onto the thin hope that escaping into the forest would bring salvation, and he glanced at the kids at his side, holding them even tighter whilst approaching the burning pillars. However, the smallest shred of hope he held in his heart quickly vanished as the foreboding sound of distorted air rang in his ears. A tall, almost invisible figure landed before the man, causing him to take a step backward, his pupils trembling in fear whilst tears dripped from his eyes. ¡°Please¡­ no¡­¡± The incinerating inferno surrounding him almost drowned out his soft cry of despair, however, it still rang clear inside the creature¡¯s ear, and a sadistic smile creased its lips as it looked down at the man. His heart skipped a beat, and he fell to the ground with a soft thud as his fatigued legs finally gave up. Glaring at the ebony creature, its silhouette almost completely invisible safe for its sadistic yellow eyes, which glowed with a menacing aura as it reached for the spear strapped to its back. Sam¡¯s pupils widened, and he watched in horror as the creature¡¯s lips parted. Speaking in a weird, archaic language, it brandished the weapon, instilling even more terror into the man. Hearing the bizarre whisper, the children opened their eyes, instantly dropping the cloth as their gazes fixated on the monster, whose menacing aura caused their bodies to shiver. The boy clenched his teeth, and held even tighter onto the dagger, preparing to unsheathe it to fight the creature. The ebony monster¡¯s smile widened even further upon noticing the boy¡¯s act of bravery, its razor-sharp teeth on full display as it spoke in the foreign tongue. ¡°Mister Sam¡­ take Minxy and run¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll keep it occupied¡­ please¡­¡± The boy¡¯s cracked voice barely escaped his body as the fumes and ash invaded his lungs. The man looked at the boy with bewilderment and watched as he slowly unsheathed his dagger, its rusty blade glowing with an auburn color under the flames. A soft chuckle could be heard from the creature¡¯s body, its sadistic smile intensifying and growing even more malicious as it seemingly fed on the trio¡¯s fear. However, its smile suddenly vanished, replaced by a deadpan expression as it flew into the air, pulling the spear back as it prepared to launch it toward the man, its tip aimed straight at his skull. Sam¡¯s heart raced with panic, but try as he might, his fear-stricken body refused to follow any orders, and all he could do was watch as the creature¡¯s spear whistled toward him. Grabbing the children close to his chest and protecting them with his body, he closed his eyes, waiting for the spear to take his life. However, the awaited sound of crushing bones didn¡¯t come, or rather the absence of any sensation he expected didn¡¯t. Instead, small droplets of burning liquid rained down on him, tainting his already dirty clothes in a dark crimson color. Two soft thuds rang in his ears the next second, followed by a rapidly approaching set of footsteps. The man opened his eyes and stared at the scene before him with widened pupils. The creature¡¯s ebony corpse lay in a pool of its blood, its still sadistically smiling head motionlessly facing the sky, and the spear it held planted on the ground a few meters away from it. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. A woman raced toward him, her beautiful dark hair fluttering in the wind, however, it took on a faint scarlet shade as it absorbed the raging inferno¡¯s color. Her dress bore a green, forest-like hue with a transparent veil covered in leafy patterns hanging from the waist down, and her eyes shared a similar, forestry green with the dress. Stopping in front of the man and kids, her palms glowed with an enchanting lime green shade, which she then hovered over the three. A gentle warmth flowed through their body almost immediately, and the small wounds and scars they had gathered both recently and old began healing, disappearing under their widened gazes. Standing there with racing hearts, they looked at the woman, whose serious expression didn¡¯t hinder her beauty in the slightest, and then behind her, where a man wiped the fresh blood off of his violet sword. His short hair fluttered in the wind, ebony black like the night surrounding him, and his red eyes sent shivers down the trio¡¯s bodies, however, they couldn¡¯t look away from the slim figure. The boy looked at the man with a reverent expression, the dagger clutched between his fingers trembling with excitement at the sight of the exquisitely crafted purple sword, crimson blood still trickling down its blade, which seemed almost invisible as close to no light escaped its grasp. He wore a tight-fitting black leather suit, with bandages wrapped around his forearm and a scarf covering the lower part of his face. At his feet stood the creature¡¯s corpse, warm liquid still spurting out of its body as morbid squelching sounds reverberated in the smokey air, accompanied by the occasional spasm. As the boy looked at the man, he too turned toward the boy, however, he wasn¡¯t looking at him, instead, his gaze was fixated on the trio, and a wand appeared in his hand as he murmured something under his breath. A flame manifested before him, which shot toward the three almost immediately, leaving a burning afterimage as it flew past them. Its wooshing sound was swiftly followed by a muffled explosion, and a thud rang in their ears whole turning to see what had happened. Almost instantly, their stomachs began churning, and stomach acid and its contents began rising in their throats while looking at the morbid scene before them. Sizzling blood and guts lay on the scorched ground, flesh and intestines littered the area, and some bones even dug into the earth from the force of the explosion. The remains of what once was a creature ready to strike at and kill them stood before them in a morbid spectacle, almost causing them to retch. However, quickly looking away, they let out a sigh of relief as their muscles finally relaxed. ¡­ ¡°That was the first and only time I saw Violet Night, what happened afterward was a massacre, to say the least. The demons didn¡¯t stand a chance, he¡¯d cut a few of them with a single slash of his sword, which the poor bastards couldn¡¯t even see. However, most of my friends died that day, and the village quickly disbanded after the fire died down. I left with Mr. Sam and Minxy, however, we split up a few years after, no idea what they¡¯re up to now¡­¡± Frank let out a loud sigh as he gulped down the large pint, spilling some on his clothes and armor before slamming it on the table. ¡°Thirty years ago, were it not for your father and mother¡­ I would have become demon food¡­ and to think such a powerful duo could die¡­ I guess time eventually rusts all metal¡­¡± Kai listened quietly to Frank¡¯s story, his vision lingering on the sword on his lap, its hilt shaking within his trembling arms. The image portrayed by the man¡¯s story and his parents¡¯ last battle overlapped in his mind, with his father fighting fiercely and killing multiple enemies with a single slash, and his mother supporting and protecting him from the sidelines. No wonder they looked so well-coordinated before they had me¡­ they were adventurers¡­ Gulping, he clenched his fists and raised his head, ¡°My parents¡­ what else do you know about them?¡± The group looked at him with pity, and most of them let out a simultaneous sigh. ¡°Not much, honestly. They were legends for a reason, especially your father. For some reason, he held an incredibly deep hatred toward demons, and is said he specifically picked missions that had to do with them and even hunted them in his own free time.¡± Hans said, shaking his head before glancing at the others. ¡°I heard¡­ Evergreen healed people for free, much like a doctor, and she didn¡¯t charge anything despite so many people willing to pay for her services.¡± Kraft added, awkwardly scratching the back of his head while taking a large gulp from his drink. That sounds just like Mother¡­ Kai felt melancholic, strangely, as he remembered what Julie had said, about a woman going and healing people for free in the city. But dad¡­ I didn¡¯t know he had such a violent side to him¡­ A light chuckle escaped his lips, and a rare smile broke out on his face behind his mask. However, his joy didn¡¯t last long, as the dark-skinned man¡¯s lips parted, a thunder-like feeling shot through his heart. ¡°Some say¡­ Violet Night was a vampire¡­¡± he said with a raspy and deep voice. Kai¡¯s expression froze and discretely turned toward the man as countless gasps of shock reverberated in the air, filling the room with intrigued whispers. No way he knows¡­ Kai¡¯s heart threatened to jump out of his chest as he stared at the man, whose deadpan expression didn¡¯t reveal any of his thoughts, which drove Kai to further anxiety. No, he doesn¡¯t, otherwise, the inquisitors should have been here already. ¡°It¡¯s just a rumor I heard a few years ago, but nothing to be taken too seriously¡­ don''t worry about it.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Kai¡¯s voice quivered as he laughed, cautiously looking around and tightly holding the hilt of his sword, an action that didn¡¯t escape the dark-skinned man¡¯s gaze. The others quickly went back to drinking and sharing stories about Kai¡¯s parents, one more grandiose and amazing than the other, with some bystanders even pitching in some of the rumors they¡¯d heard. ¡°My pa said that he met Violet Night when he was a wee lad, Kid, just how old is your dad?¡± A man asked, white hairs scattered through his beautiful dark hair and a few wrinkles covering his dirtied face. ¡°I¡¯m uhh¡­ not sure myself, haha¡­¡± Kai laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head while the others quickly changed the subject to another story. The never-ending joyful atmosphere continued for a while, as more and more people pitched in their own stories and experiences, after which Kai gradually built up an image of his parents different from the ones he knew. Dad, the racist toward Demons and Mom¡­ just Mom¡­ He let out a light sigh, his unfocused gaze staring at nothing as memories flooded his mind. A muffled expression ran through the chattery bar, which immediately quieted down as a man dressed in light armor rushed inside the room, clutching his sword as he yelled, ¡°Enemy attack!¡± The two-starred adventurers immediately jumped to their feet, followed by Kai, who quickly broke out of his daze. A few others stood up as well, unsheathing their weapons as they quickly made their way toward the lobby, their racing hearts pumping blood and adrenaline throughout their veins. Kai followed close behind, and his eyes widened in surprise upon seeing the attacker, whose yelps of pain stabbed his heart like sharp needles. Chapter 50: A Feast White fur floated around the lobby like snow in the harsh winter nights, reflecting the light of the countless stars hanging in the sky. Somewhere in the middle of the room a few men dressed in full body armor shining with a silver glint pointed their weapons toward the gigantic creature, the enemy the man had previously warned them about. Kai¡¯s hair stood on end as he rushed through the crowd, brandishing his sword while running toward the so-called enemy. ¡°Stop this at once!¡± He commanded, placing himself between the attackers and the beast, who let out a light cry while looking at Kai with a pleading expression. The men stopped in their tracks, taken aback by the young boy¡¯s sudden act of, what they perceived, was foolishness. ¡°Little Brother, what is the meaning of this?¡± Hans asked, slowly approaching Kai with his hands behind his back. ¡°He¡¯s no enemy, he¡¯s my companion!¡± Kai said with gritted teeth, his anxious expression manifesting in his voice as the sword trembled in his hands. ¡°Onyx, sit down, behave.¡± Whispering silently, he patted the Obborik¡¯s head, who gently sat down beside Kai, glaring at the men who dared attack him. The two-star adventurer¡¯s gazes widened in surprise, and so did the guards dressed in full body armor. Back at the counter, the red-haired man from last night watched in terror as the show unfolded before him, however, seeing that things had calmed down a bit, walked out from behind the countertop toward the group. ¡°Gentlemen, what the young lad said is true¡­ this¡­ animal is indeed his companion.¡± He said in a sly voice, moving his arms around while slowly making his way to the center. ¡°It seems that he has briefly acted up but¡­ he¡¯s under control now, so let¡¯s put down our weapons, we don¡¯t want to scare our clients¡­haha¡± Laughing awkwardly, he did his best to diffuse the situation, despite the tense atmosphere filing the lobby. The men awkwardly looked around, but couldn¡¯t see the guests the man was talking about as they had long since fled the scene. The red haired man¡¯s expression turned weird as he looked around, and let out a heavy sigh as he murmured under his breath. Management will not be happy¡­ Hans looked at Kai with skepticism as he approached him and the guards, whose eyes widened slightly upon seeing him. ¡°Hans, do you know the kid?¡± One of them asked, his armor rattling as the symbol of an orchid engraved on his armor shone slightly as he turned to the man. ¡°Yeah, I do, well I just met him but the same thing really.¡± Hans said, clutching the guard¡¯s hand in a strong, firm handshake. ¡°You can lower your weapons, he¡¯s not a threat, give the children some room to breathe.¡± The guard captain nodded and swished his hand, signaling for his men to sheathe their weapons and retreat. Hans snorted lightly, crouched beside Kai and smiled gently. ¡°You never cease to amaze me Little Brother, care to introduce us to your friend over here?¡± Kai¡¯s muscles eased slightly, and a pensive expression manifested on his face behind the fox mask. Vigilently looking around and seeing that the guards had put down their weapons, let out a sigh before putting his sword away. ¡°Uhm¡­ yeah. This is Onyx, he¡¯s been my companion for a while now. We¡¯ve been through thick and thin together¡­¡± He explained, petting the Obborik, still weary of the men who wielded their weapons against him. Onyx let out a light yelp as he calmed down under Kai¡¯s reassuring touch, licking its snout before laying his head on Kai. ¡°Haha, it seems like you two are very close, no wonder you reacted like that.¡± Hans looked at the Obborik, whose head was as thick as Kai¡¯s body, yet still bunted on him. ¡°Though, what species is he? Looks like a Great Wolf but they aren''t usually white¡­ an albino maybe?¡± Kai played with Onyx¡¯s fur, hesitating slightly, unsure of how they would react upon finding out that his companion was an Obborik. Looking around, he gulped, and his heart began to race for a few seconds before calming down. They aren¡¯t that many, plus most of them are drunk¡­ it should be ok, just to asses their reactions. ¡°He¡¯s an Obborik, and still a cub, probably two years old or a bit older¡­¡± Gasps of shock rang throughout the lobby as Kai¡¯s voice dispersed, startling him and the Obborik as cold sweat began running down his back. ¡°An Obborik¡­¡± Hans murmured, bewilderment evident on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen one up close, to think that he¡¯d let you become so close to him¡­ kid, you¡¯re amazing. How did you do it?¡± ¡°Uhm, a weird set of circumstances¡­ and let¡¯s leave it at that,¡± Kai said, breathing steadily to calm down his nerves. Seeing that no one reacted aggressively besides the initial shock. Noted, do not tell anyone Onyx¡¯s race. With the whispering dying down, and the situation more or less solved, the crowd dispersed, returning to the dining room that served as a bar, leaving Kai, Onyx, the red-haired man, and Frank in the lobby. The guards¡¯ armor rattled as they took their leave as well, slamming the door behind them. Kai turned toward the man, standing in front of Onyx and parted his lips. ¡°What happened here? Why was my friend attacked?¡± The red haired man looked at Kai, smiling politely and rubbing his hands together. ¡°Dear guest, you see¡­ your companion, he¡­ kicked down the door to the room and walked out in the lobby¡­¡± Kai raised an eyebrow, glancing at Onyx before asking, ¡°What do you mean? Did that warrant calling the guards over?¡± ¡°Well,¡± the man rubbed the sweat off his forehead and pointed to a corner behind him. ¡°The door to your room is there¡­ by kicked down I meant¡­ broke off its hinges and sent flying into the lobby.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Kai let out a surprised gasp, turning toward the Obborik, who wore a helpless expression on his face. Letting out a heavy sigh, pat his companion¡¯s head and said. ¡°I apologize for the disturbance then¡­ I didn¡¯t expect Onyx to use magic¡­I think it¡¯s my fault as well¡­ he¡¯s probably starving.¡± The red haired man¡¯s smile never left his face, however a sudden, unknown feeling of dread ran down his spine, and he gulped. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m sure the young lady will handle it¡­ haha¡­¡± He said before turning toward the desk and sitting down, feeling anxious and slightly dejected. Meanwhile, Frank approached Kai, rubbing his chin while looking at Onyx. ¡°Kid, I have to say, there aren¡¯t many people that managed to surprise me as much as you have. Impressive, say, are you really not interested in becoming an adventurer? I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll help you grow into a strong young man.¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Kai shook his head, politely declining, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have other things I must do first.¡± A rarely seen smile creased Frank¡¯s lips, not insisting further, he observed the Obborik before carefully approaching him, and, turning toward Kai, he asked. ¡°Can I?¡± Onyx looked at the man, his yellow eyes lingering on him for a second before bringing his head forward. ¡°Heh, I think that¡¯s a yes.¡± Kai chuckled as he watched the Obborik act like a needy pet. Frank hesitantly placed his hand upon Onyx¡¯s head, rubbing it gently as a content expression manifested on both of their faces. His long, fluffy tail began wagging back and forth, kicking up a little amount of dust as Onyx indulged himself in the pats, and Frank¡¯s smile only grew brighter as he got even closer to the Obborik. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem much like what the legends describe it to be¡­¡± Frank murmured under his breath while rubbing Onyx behind the ear, causing Kai¡¯s eyebrows to rise under his mask. Yeah¡­ doesn¡¯t seem now¡­ A chuckle escaped his lips at the thought and began showering Onyx with pets as well. Ah right! I was supposed to get him food¡­ shit! ¡°I¡­ actually forgot why I even went into the restaurant, I was supposed to bring him some food¡­¡± He said, embarrassed as he turned toward the bar, hesitating whether or not to bring Onyx with him. He¡¯s already made such a commotion, pretty much everyone in there knows him¡­ He gestured toward the Obborik, prompting Onyx to stand up and rush by his side as they walked through the lobby. Frank got up and brushed the dust off his armor, and, coughing lightly, followed behind them. However, they quickly came to a halt, and their heads snapped toward the slamming door as a sharp yell rang inside the room. ¡°What is the meaning of this?! Ah- It¡¯s you.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes widened upon gazing at the figure storming into the lobby. Her golden locks of hair shimmered under the warm light emanating from the ceiling. Orphelia¡¯s former angry expression turned to a gentler one as her eyes landed on Kai and Onyx, briefly looking at Frank before turning to the red-haired man, whose entire body trembled behind the counter. Shooting him an angry glare, she didn¡¯t pay him any further attention. Quickly arriving before Kai, an awkward atmosphere descended upon the two as they looked at each other. ¡°I thought you said we wouldn¡¯t see each other anymore?¡± Kai joked, avoiding direct eye contact while chuckling lightly. ¡°That was¡­well¡­ I was going to be busy so I assumed we wouldn¡¯t see each other but father sent me to see why there¡¯s such a commotion here¡­ I should have known it was you and your companion¡­ I¡¯m surprised the guards weren¡¯t alerted earlier¡­¡± Orphelia sighed, rambling as she explained herself to Kai, laughing lightly as she switched her gaze to Frank. Feeling Orphelia¡¯s gaze land on him, the man bowed slightly as his lips parted, and said in a serious tone, ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Miss Orphelia. I¡¯m Frank of the Wild Names.¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you. Your name has traveled quite a bit among my father¡¯s group, The Wild Sword¡­ I couldn¡¯t have guessed I¡¯d meet you here.¡± ¡°I frequent this inn, actually, your cook is quite a character,¡± Frank said as he patted the hilt of his sword. ¡°Mhm, he¡¯s been here since before I was born. Dad always sings him praises, he even invited Mr. Swiss as a personal chef but the man refused, saying he¡¯d rather stay here with the folks than in a fancy mansion¡­¡± Orphelia said in a soft tone, almost reminiscing as a faint spark lit up in her eyes. ¡°Anyway,¡± she coughed lightly, turning toward Kai ¡°Care to tell me what happened?¡± ¡°Well¡­ haha¡­ Onyx kind of got carried away and¡­ blasted a door off its hinges. Although it was entirely my fault¡­ I went to bring him food and ended up chatting with Frank and his party.¡± Kai said, scratching the back of his head, feeling guilty about the whole ordeal. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Orphelia muttered, taken aback by Kai¡¯s quick yet bizarre explanation. ¡°I see, well, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a door. Onyx must be quite hungry to act like that, why don¡¯t we go and order some food for him?¡± ¡°Mhm, sure.¡± Kai readily agreed, petting Onyx¡¯s white fur as they made their way toward the bar, the men¡¯s drunken rambling echoing in the hallway, and it only got louder as the door creaked open. In an instant, everyone turned toward Kai and his group, their gaze lingering on Onyx for a brief second, before switching to Orphelia, whose expression trembled as the strong smell of alcohol invaded her nostrils. The cheery chatter soon reverberated in the air once again, the sound of clinking glasses and roaring laughter accompanying the group as they sat down at the table where Razvan, Hans, and Kraft had already begun their second round of drinks. Their eyes widened upon seeing Orphelia and respectfully greeted her with a wide smile. ¡°What¡¯s the young lady doing in such a crass place?¡± Kraft asked, clearly more sober than the others. ¡°I¡¯m accompanying Kai, his friend made me come to the inn so I might as well, I also wanted to see Mr. Swiss.¡± She said nonchalantly, waving toward a waiter who immediately rushed to the table. ¡°Bring me a serving of Faun-Fried Chicken, and whatever the others want, and put it on my dad¡¯s tab.¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± the waitress wrote down her command before turning to the others, and they eagerly ordered whatever sounded the most delicious on the menu. Kai scanned the menu, his mouth covered in drool as he read the very, and overly detailed food descriptions. <> Who came up with this thing? Are there any scholars in this tavern? Kai wondered, however, he couldn¡¯t get his mind off of it, and even just imagining it made him desire it even more. Kai immediately ordered a serving of the Faun-Friend chicken as well, and after checking in with Orphelia, ordered a plate of what everyone else did for Onyx, whose wagging tail created a small gust of air as it smacked loudly onto the floor. Whilst they waited for the food, Orphelia moved closer to Kai, her golden locks hanging in front of him as she lowered herself to his ear. ¡°So, what happened in the room?¡± Her whisper sent shivers down Kai¡¯s spine, as he was unable to come up with an answer right away. I¡­ how much should I tell her? How much am I even allowed to tell her? I¡¯m definitely not saying what happened during the end but¡­ would Lumiera allow me to reveal too much about her? However, ah, forget it. There¡¯s a reason I was brought there by Orphelia¡­ I¡¯ll just¡­ tell a half-truth. ¡°The Goddess she¡­ spoke to me. Yeah, that¡¯s about it, I don¡¯t remember much of what she told me but the little I remember seems important¡­¡± Orphelia¡¯s eyes immediately widened in surprise, a small sparkle appearing within them, and she grabbed Kai¡¯s hands, tightly holding them as her lips parted. ¡°What did she tell you? What does her voice sound like? Did you see her? Was she pretty? Does she really look like the statues?¡± She asked, speaking faster and faster with each question, however making sure that her voice never got too loud. Kai¡¯s heart rate increased as Orphelia stood right in his face, the bombardment of questions causing his mind to spin slightly. Taken aback by her sudden change of attitude, his lips parted and closed a few times before he finally replied, avoiding any truthful answers and dodging some questions that he couldn¡¯t make up stuff for. Chapter 51: One Last Farewell ¡°I couldn¡¯t exactly see what she looked like, there was a lot of light and her voice was distorted but¡­ I could tell she was¡­ nice?¡± Kai stuttered trying to find the right words to answer Orphelia, who kept asking wilder and wilder questions. Her expression changed to one of reverence and awe, and her eyes sparkled with glee while nodding and probably making a mental note of everything Kai said, causing him to frown slightly. ¡°Orphelia why don¡¯t we¡­ stop for now? I think our food¡¯s ready to be served, and¡­ we¡¯ve been whispering for twenty minutes now, I can feel their gazes burning my back.¡± He said, pointing toward the adventurer group who eyed them with curiosity as they chuckled among themselves. However, the gleam within Orphelia¡¯s eyes only grew brighter, completely ignoring what Kai had said. ¡°So, what did she tell you? Stop being vague, there¡¯s no way she met with you for no reason. She didn¡¯t even show herself to me-, I mean, she doesn¡¯t show up for just anyone, why are you so special?¡± Her voice trembled slightly each time she mentioned Lumiera and her flushed face turned even redder as her pupils constricted. Heavy pants escaped her lips and her demeanor seemed to have changed completely from a few seconds ago, almost as if she had become a completely different person. ¡°I-, wait. Why didn¡¯t you ask me before? I should ask you the same thing, how did you know she wanted to meet me?¡± Kai retorted, finally asking the question plaguing his mind but didn¡¯t feel right to ask, however, seeing Orphelia being so weirdly insistent, he couldn¡¯t help himself. Orphelia¡¯s expression froze on her face, gulping slightly as an awkward smile manifested on her face. With quivering lips, she tried explaining herself, however, the words got stuck in her throat as thoughts raced through her mind. Crap! I got too excited¡­ The Goddess rarely sends me oracles and¡­ argh! This is frustrating. I worship her so much yet¡­ yet¡­ She didn¡¯t show herself to me once! But does it for Kai, I¡¯m so curious about what they talked about but¡­. She yelled internally, and let out a heavy sigh as her lips parted. ¡°You¡¯re right I went too far, forgive me.¡± Kai let out a light, internal sigh, his curiosity about Orphelia still present, however, as long as she didn¡¯t inquire about more private things, he could suppress it for the time being. Plus, I have a small idea from all these anime and video games I watched and played¡­ hmm¡­ I don¡¯t remember any of their names though. Eventually, they turned their attention toward the table, doing their best to ignore the other¡¯s gazes as they waited patiently for the food to arrive. A short moment passed, and the kitchen door slammed open, followed by a line of waiters whose arms held around three plates each. About half of them stopped in front of Onyx, placing the food on the floor as the Obborik waited patiently for them to finish setting them all up before digging in. The amount of food ordered proved to be too much for a simple table, so the group quickly brought two others and put them together. The waiters finally placed the plates in front of the adventures, Kai and Orphelia. Hans and the others didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and immediately began digging in, with the dark-skinned man-eating while standing up. Kai, on the other hand, took his time to admire the plate before him. The hot air seeping out of the golden brown piece of chicken achieved through a seemingly perfect frying technique that ensured a crispy and inviting exterior caused Kai to hesitate to touch them. However, the temptation was too much as the coating was covered in a few herbs and edible flowers, and the light danced upon its surface. The generously sized chicken pieces had irregularly shaped and slightly ragged edges, giving them a rustic charm. Reaching for one, Kai carefully grabbed the small piece and dipped it in the provided sauce, which lay in a small tray to the side. Carefully lifting the mask and bringing it to his mouth, his eyes widened in surprise as the flavor exploded on his tongue. Delicious! I haven¡¯t eaten anything this good since¡­ mother¡¯s food¡­ He sighed inwardly and enjoyed his meal. The people¡¯s chattering, laughter, and joyful atmosphere put his mind at ease, and the sight of Onyx devouring the several plates of food filled his heart with warmth. ¡­ As the sun finally settled and the moon took its place, the dining room that served as a bar began to empty as it closed down for the night. The customers either made their way home or joined their friends for another round of drinking at the night bars. Just outside the inn, a beautiful yet modest carriage waited outside, this time reigned by a strange, bird-like beast. Frank and his group laughed as they chatted, their cheeks flushed a mix of pink and red as the alcohol circulated within their blood. Kai sat next to them, along with the Obborik and Orphelia, their conversation quieter than the adventurers. Hans turned to Kai, a bright smile adorning his face as he said, placing his hand on Kai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Little Brother, it was great meeting you. One day you¡¯ll make a great adventurer, I¡¯m sure of it!¡± The smell of alcohol smashed against Kai¡¯s mask, causing his eyes to tear up slightly. ¡°Thanks, Hans. I¡¯m still not sure about that though but I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Haha, it¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright.¡± Hans laughed as he turned away, joining Kraft, Razvan, and the dark-skinned man. Frank walked toward Kai as well, his expression serious as he knelt in front of Kai. ¡°Kid,¡± he said, his deep voice a pitch higher due to the alcohol. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for earlier, I was a bit rash. I¡¯m also sorry for your loss, your parents were great, in my eyes they were heroes. They still are. I¡¯m not sure where you¡¯re going or what your goal is, but if you ever need a party, there¡¯s always a spot for you. We usually stay in Acolyte, it¡¯s a fair distance away, but close to the capital.¡± Having said that, he walked away, joining his party as they slowly disappeared into the night. Kai¡¯s breathing quickened a bit, hearing his parents be labeled as heroes still felt unnatural to him. Their loving image remained fresh in his brain, and the idea of his father being a cold-blooded killer, a demon hunter, was hard to accept. Orphelia listened in on the conversation, slightly confused, but decided not to pry. ¡°I¡¯ll accompany my father to the capital to celebrate the first day of Solstice, and also visit my little brother. That reminds me, he¡¯s around your age¡­ well, two years older.¡± She said, a soft smile creasing her lips. ¡°I¡¯m leaving tomorrow morning, what will you do next?¡± Kai stood in silence, his contemplating gaze fixated on the stone floor for a moment before answering. ¡°I¡¯ll go where I planned to, there¡¯s still a lot left to do. Frankly, I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going to happen going forward but¡­ I¡¯ll continue walking.¡± His tone, unfit for a child his age, accompanied by the hopeful, yet insecure words sent a shiver down Orphelia¡¯s spine, her sapphire blue pupils trembling slightly as the words rang clear in her mind. ¡°I see, in that case¡­¡± She paused briefly, hesitation evident on her face, nevertheless, she said, ¡°Won¡¯t you accompany me? The capital is a good place to meet new people and opportunities, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to find what you¡¯re looking for.¡± Behind his mask, Kai looked with confusion at Orphelia, surprised by the sudden invitation. Although she did the same before, her motives definitely had something to do with Lumiera but now¡­ what¡¯s her reasoning? Did she take pity on me? She¡¯s double my age, so there¡¯s no way she fell in love, if so. Why? ¡°May I ask, why the invitation?¡± Orphelia¡¯s gaze paused on the ground for a moment, before turning toward Kai, saying in a confident yet endearing tone. ¡°Besides the fact that you saved my life? You remind me of my brother, although he¡¯s a bit older, you two have a similar look in your eyes.¡± Ah- I completely forgot about that¡­ Kai thought, feeling quite ashamed for looking past that. ¡°What¡­ what kind of look?¡± He asked, fidgeting with his fingers as curiosity got the better of him, ¡°Hmm¡­ how can I put it?¡± she thought for a bit, gazing at the night sky covered in shining stars. ¡°It''s a look of determination," she finally began, her voice carrying a soft, nostalgic tone. ¡°Both you and my brother have this unwavering resolve in your eyes as if you''re constantly reaching for something just beyond your grasp. You share a hunger for the unknown, a thirst for adventure, however¡­ your look carries something else, but I can¡¯t quite put my finger on it.¡± Kai¡¯s pupils widened, his mouth slightly agape as her words rang in his ears. He remained speechless for a while, his unfocused gaze staring straight at Orphelia. It does sound a little like me¡­ ¡°Kai, are you alright?¡± Orhpelia shook Kai¡¯s shoulders, awakening him from his daze. ¡°Yeah, I was just¡­ surprised, is all.¡± He said in a low voice, fidgeting with his fingers as he continued with a sigh. ¡°Thanks for the offer, however, the capital is too far from my destination. I¡¯ll just walk to the next city. Summer has just begun so it should be nice enough outside, right?¡± To think that the seasons here are the same as those on earth, this Goddess was lazy when designing the world¡­. A light laugh escaped Kai¡¯s lips toward the end of his sentence, and a confused expression manifested on Orphelia¡¯s face as she asked, ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± ¡°Nothing, nothing. Just, I had a funny thought, I couldn¡¯t help it.¡± ¡°Right¡­ anyway,¡± Orphelia said in an awkward tone. ¡°I have to go, my father is probably waiting for me to get home by now. Kai, it was a pleasure to meet you, truly. Maybe we will meet again in the future¡­¡± ¡°Mhm, it was a pleasure for me as well. This experience was¡­ eye-opening to say the least.¡± ¡­ Kai watched quietly as Orphelia stepped inside the carriage, giving him one last final wave before gently closing the door. The sounds of the beast¡¯s claws echoed in his ears, eventually disappearing as the night swallowed its figure. ¡°Well, boy, it¡¯s just the two of us again,¡± Kai said, petting Onyx¡¯s head as he made his way into the inn. Walking to the register, he apologized to the red-haired man before going into his room, which now had no door to speak of. He sighed as he looked at the door frame, bits of it missing where the hinges once stood. ¡°You did a number on the door. Sorry for that, we should order some more food before actually leaving. I¡¯m tired of dried rations¡­¡± Gathering his belongings from the room and stuffing them inside his backpack, he made sure to leave some space for actual food before flopping on the bed. He let out a heavy sigh as he turned on his back, took off his mask, and closed his eyes. Today was¡­ interesting. Shocking even¡­ to think my parents are such legendary figures¡­ also now that I think about it, the appearance Frank described didn¡¯t look like them at all, how did they do that? Disguise magic? Then how come I could see their true appearance? Argh, this is frustrating! Whatever¡­ that old book probably has the answer I¡¯m looking for. The bed suddenly rocked, but he needn¡¯t open his eyes to know who it was that joined him. ¡°Onyx, since you broke the door, you better guard it well while I sleep, alright?¡± Saying that he yawned as he turned on his side, falling asleep at the sound of Onyx¡¯s agreeing bark. Chapter 52: The Runaway Prince The sun shone through the tree¡¯s thick canopy, bouncing off of L¨¦andro¡¯s golden armor into the surrounding foliage. His blue eyes shone with a mysterious light as he watched Kai and Onyx interact from afar, and a soft smile formed on his lips as he turned around. However, it quickly faded as pairs of footsteps quickly approached him. A small group of people rapidly made their way toward L¨¦andro, knocking away the leaves and disrupting the bushes before finally stopping in front of him. Clicking his tongue at the sight, he crossed his arms while looking at the five people following him around. ¡°Hah¡­ your majesty can you stop¡­ running away?¡± A man of short stature, wearing loose, plain clothes that hid his rotund body asked. Sweat dripped down his forehead, passing by his brown eyes before stopping on his moustache, right above his dried lips. ¡°My old bones can¡¯t take it anymore.¡± L¨¦andro¡¯s eyebrow rose, looking strangely at the man while asking. ¡°Jerry, you¡¯re only thirty years old, what do you mean ¡®old¡¯?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± the man laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head with a half smile on his face. ¡°Your Majesty, we were assigned to protect you, please understand that we must be with you as much as possible.¡± ¡°Assigned? As if my father would ever care enough to assign guards. My meddling uncle just ordered you to follow me around, and even hired a mercenary because everyone else refused.¡± L¨¦andro said, a hint of anger hidden deep within his voice, and scoffed while glaring at a tall man standing behind everyone else. He looked to be middle-aged, his tanned skin speaking of his experience spending hours in the sun, and he wore a red scarf that complimented his dark clothes. They were lined with white thread, and on his left chest lay embroidered a symbol of an olive branch. A large, thick, and wide sheath hung on his back, its holster strapped around his body. At first glance, no sword seemed to be present in the sheath, as the hilt fused perfectly with it, however, keen-eyed people would be able to sense a dangerous, deadly aura sipping off from within. He wore a ring on his index finger, the stone decorating the golden base sharing the same symbol as the one on his chest. Opening his eyes, the man briefly looked back at L¨¦andro with a deadpan expression before shutting them again, not paying the young man any attention. ¡°What a rude fellow¡­¡± a woman¡¯s sharp voice rang in the mercenary¡¯s ears, however, he turned a deaf ear to it, but not before taking a better look at the woman. She wore a dark green shirt, and pants of the same color with black shoes, and her brown hair was tied in a ponytail. A bow wrapped around her chest, and strapped to her back lay a quill filled with arrows. Her emerald green eyes matched the foliage surrounding them, and faint sun freckles covered her pale face. Turning toward the prince, she wore an expression of annoyance. An angry voice escaped her rosy lips as they parted, ¡°Prince, you can¡¯t keep running away from us! If something happens to you¡­. We¡­ we¡¯d be done for!¡± L¨¦andro scoffed, rolling his eyes as he turned toward the merchant organization, looking at the two bandits he killed before switching his focus to Kai and Orphelia. Why are these two staring at each other¡­ Shrugging off that thought, his lips parted as he said toward the entourage, ¡°I can take care of myself just fine.¡± ¡°Why are these two staring at each other?¡± L¨¦andro jumped and turned his head toward the third man following him. A man of average height, whose age seemed almost ambiguous, sharing the short, white hair of an old man but the slim and lean body of a young man. ¡°What? It seems weird.¡± His voice which seemed neither feminine nor masculine rang in the prince¡¯s ears, and the only answer he gave was a short shrug. ¡°They seem to be¡­ communicating?¡± The brown-haired woman walked closer to the edge of the forest, pulling her long hair over her ear to have a clearer view. ¡°Mhm, looks like the staring contest stopped. God, that¡¯s hard to watch. Don¡¯t you agree, Zeliph?¡± She said, turning toward the androgynous man, whose yellow eyes looked at Kai and Orphelia with curiosity. ¡°That kid isn¡¯t normal, is he?¡± He remarked, playing with the wand tied to his waist. ¡°Mhm¡­ your eye technique came in handy for once. That kid¡¯s mana core is almost broken, and his mana veins¡­ are even worse than mine.¡± ¡°Worse than yours?!¡± The girl exclaimed, staring at Kai with widened eyes. ¡°Lilith,¡± Zeliph said, ¡°Keep it down.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Lilith lowered her, pouting as she murmured under her breath. ¡°That kid¡¯s aura feels off,¡± Zeliph remarked, rubbing his chin while curiously watching Kai. ¡°At first glance, it seems normal, but there is something weird, almost foreign mixed within it. There¡¯s also the aura of a Fifth Star mage lingering around him¡­¡± L¨¦andro¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing Zeliph¡¯s ramblings, and his eyes shone once again as he focused his gaze on Kai. However, he blinked rapidly after a few sec, and the luster in his eyes gradually disappeared. ¡°I don¡¯t see anything else besides the mage¡¯s aura¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal,¡± Zeliph chuckled. ¡°Your Mystic Eye is in its earlier stages, as time goes by you¡¯ll begin seeing more and more things. Even I¡¯m not sure what they will be as each Mystic Eye is different.¡± Having explained that, he took one last glance at Kai, a soft smile creasing his lips as he walked toward Jerry, the mercenary and the last of their group - A large, bulky man with short black hair and eyes of the same color. He wore simple linen clothing, on top of which he had an apron covered in blood, a mixture of different liquids and spices, and a few pockets with which he held a multitude of cooking utensils. A large backpack filled to the brim with plates, pots, ingredients, and other kitchenware was strapped to his back, held upright by two harnesses wrapped around his chest. ¡°Melon¡­¡± Jerry whispered to the man as he made his way toward him, which prompted Melon to turn his head and grunt as if asking ¡®What is it?¡¯ ¡°When¡¯s the next meal? I¡¯m already hungry¡­¡± He asked, licking his lips in anticipation as his stomach let out a low growl. ¡°When the sun sets,¡± Melon answered, his stoic voice and emotionless bearing making Jerry open and close his mouth, before quietly retreating. Damn Melon, he has plenty of snacks but I can¡¯t even dare ask for them. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. While Jerry sulked, Melon clicked his tongue as he looked at L¨¦andro. That boy should eat more, he¡¯s all skin and bones! What would his mother say? He used to eat everything I gave him but ever since she¡­ A light sigh escaped his lips, and he shook his head as he stood there, waiting for the prince¡¯s orders, or attempts to run away. ¡­ The sun began to set as the group marched through the forest, and it didn¡¯t take long for the night¡¯s darkness to completely envelop them. Immediately setting up camp and lighting up a large bonfire, Melon pulled out a pot and some basic ingredients, placing them above the fire in a sort of makeshift stove. The mercenaries blended perfectly with the shadows, watching from a distance while vigilantly watching their surroundings. Lilith, Zeliph, and L¨¦andro stood next to the fire with Jerry right in front of them, watching the flames eat away at the dried wood as smoke rose high into the sky. The crackling of the fire rang within the silent night, each member of the group seemingly deep in thought as they waited for the food to be done. L¨¦andro bit his lower lip, anguish apparent on his face as he stared at an old piece of paper with a long list of items. Some of them were crossed out, but a majority of them remained unmarked. They had no description of anything of the sort besides some names written next to them. Among them, a plant called ¡°Mogerth¡¯s Lips¡± was written in larger letters compared to the others. Next to it ¡°Death¡¯s Hollow¡± was marked in squiggly, uneven letters. ¡°Young Prince, shouldn¡¯t we give up by now?¡± Jerry said, approaching L¨¦andro, who only looked up at him with an annoyed expression. ¡°Death¡¯s Hollow isn¡¯t a place we can just casually walk in¡­¡± he continued, unbothered by his prince¡¯s demeanor. ¡°They don¡¯t have it in Nivero either¡­ what makes you think Brysthel has them? What if they don¡¯t? Will you go and look for them yourself?¡± L¨¦andro''s blue eyes glared at Jerry for a brief moment before they switched back to the piece of paper. Folding it and carefully placing it in his pockets, he turned toward the rotund man and said, ¡°Yes, I have to.¡± ¡°Prince, she-¡± ¡°Shut it,¡± L¨¦andro ordered in a cold voice before Jerry could even finish his sentence, causing the man to gulp and swallow whatever words he wanted to say. ¡°Prince.¡± Zeliph lip¡¯s parted, watching L¨¦andro through the fire. ¡°Jerry isn¡¯t entirely wrong. Nivero is known for its commerce¡­ Brysthel is known for its violence. Do you think a city like that would house such delicate plants?¡± ¡°They have to, otherwise¡­ I can¡¯t even think about it.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be seriously thinking to search for it yourself?¡± Zeliph said, a hint of surprise hidden deep within his voice, however, his eyes gleamed with intrigue. L¨¦andro didn¡¯t answer, instead, he let out a light scoff before getting up, his golden armor rattling as he stepped toward a makeshift tent made out of dirt and branches. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep early, I overexerted myself today.¡± The others kept going about their work, not paying him any mind. A sigh escaped Melon¡¯s body, his eyebrows arching downward upon hearing L¨¦andro¡¯s words That boy¡­ what am I going to do with him¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll go too far¡­¡± Lilith said to no one in particular while biting into a ripe fruit. ¡°Not even his brother dares go into Death¡¯s Hollow, why would he do so?¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t his brother,¡± Zeliph said, a soft smile creasing his lips. ¡°Regardless, our job is to follow him and to make sure he¡¯s safe, nothing more, nothing less.¡± ¡°How do you reckon we do that when he disappears? I don¡¯t even know where he got the stamina to run away from us, considering he only has half the mana veins.¡± Jerry commented, picking his teeth with his fingers as he looked toward L¨¦andro¡¯s tent. ¡°Who knows?¡± Melon quietly said from the side, not once taking his eyes off the pot above the fire. ¡°Come on, food¡¯s almost ready.¡± The three got up and began setting up a small table and chairs made out of logs and large stones. The mercenary watched them from afar, hidden deep within the shadows. A cold expression rested on his face as he pulled out a piece of what seemed to be animal skin, and began chewing on it while eyeing the prince¡¯s tent. Flicking his wrist, a small knife manifested in his hand. Closing one eye, he carefully aimed at the tent, and with a short, smooth motion, the knife silently swished through the air. The sound of flesh being cut open rang in the air, along with a brief hissing sound that disappeared as soon as it appeared. Fresh blood dripped down a tree close to the tent¡¯s entrance, along with the corpse of a Giant Violet Python. The group accompanying the prince didn¡¯t notice anything as they ate around the fire, the sound of their chatter drowning out the quick assassination. Clicking his tongue, the mercenary resumed chewing on his snack and closed his eyes while steadying his breath. ¡­ The rest of the evening passed uneventfully. The group retreated to their tents after cleaning up and putting out the fire, leaving the tanned man alone to guard them and L¨¦andro. The mercenary sighed as he leaned against a tree, sleeping in bouts of 30 minutes to an hour and guarding the camp for two to three hours, the night quickly passed under his protection. As the sun rose and its rays made their way through the forest, so did he. Jumping to his feet, he rubbed the ring around his finger while inspecting the surroundings. After making sure there was no danger, he woke everyone up and waited for the prince¡¯s further commands. The birds chirping accompanied the four as they got out of their tents, yawning and stretching their bodies. L¨¦andro¡¯s stomach let out a loud growl as he put on the golden cuirass, strapping it tight around his body before walking toward what remained of the campfire. Taking a brief look at the ashes, he let out a light sigh. He glanced at the mercenary before turning his attention toward the group employed by his uncle. ¡°Zeliph, how long until we reach Brysthel?¡± He asked in a coarse voice. ¡°Hmm¡­ We¡¯re at the middle point between Brysthel, Limmin, and Nivero¡­ I¡¯d say it should take us three more days if nothing unexpected occurs.¡± Zeliph said after pulling out a map of the small part of their kingdom. ¡°Our supplies should last us until then, but we better forage for some extra, better be safe than sorry.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± L¨¦andro grunted in acknowledgment, walking closer and studying the map alongside Zeliph. ¡°Do you think we¡¯d be able to find some of the medicine on the way?¡± Zeliph rubbed his chin, inspecting the map while making some mental calculations. ¡°Ambhrosia, it should be located somewhere close to Brysthel, although it¡¯s usually protected by beasts. It would not be easy¡­ and no one in that city bothers to gather it because it has so few uses. It would also delay our arrival by half a day to a day¡­ But it doesn¡¯t hurt us that much.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s agreed,¡± L¨¦andro said, turning toward the others. ¡°Once we reach the hotspot for Ambrosia, we¡¯ll start looking for some. In case you don¡¯t know what it looks like - It¡¯s a small purple plant with a small face patterns on its surface. They usually grow in large quantities next to each other, so they should be easy to find. The biggest problem will be the monsters protecting them¡­ They can range from one-star monsters to three-star monsters, and I¡¯m not sure we¡¯re equipped to deal with that.¡± L¨¦andro¡¯s voice carried a hint of worry and anxiety with it. Zeliph rolled up the map and shoved it into his clothes, a helpless expression decorated his face while looking at the prince, who began rolling up the tent and gathering whatever belongings he had. Doing the same, Zelpih and the others hastily packed up their stuff and followed L¨¦andro, walking even deeper inside the forest. Chapter 53: Magic Theory Kai dragged his feet as heavy footsteps resounded in the air. Soft rays of sunlight crept through the forest¡¯s canopy, occasionally hitting his pale skin, causing it to itch slightly. His backpack rattled as he and Onyx slowly advanced through the treacherous terrain, leaving deep imprints behind them. Kai wore his mask, and on his head was a larger shirt he had found in the backpack. It protected him against any stray rays of sunlight, however, clearly, it wasn¡¯t a permanent solution. ¡°We¡¯re close to the border¡­¡± Kai said, breathing heavily. ¡°Just a bit more and we can rest in the city¡­¡± Onyx yelped in response, looking down at the floor while licking his snout, as if to say ¡®I¡¯m so tired, my legs can¡¯t no more.¡¯ A light chuckle escaped Kai¡¯s lips, pulling a water pouch to his mouth and drinking it like he just walked forty days through a desert. Stopping, he gave some to Onyx as well before wiping his mouth and continuing on their path. ¡°I have to say, surprisingly we¡¯ve only met some wild beasts that ran away as soon as they saw you. Or is it that the smarter ones just didn¡¯t dare approach? Either way, I¡¯m glad we didn¡¯t have to fight anymore, it would have been too exhausting.¡± Kai remarked, smiling happily behind his mask while petting his companion¡¯s fur. Thankfully the forest around here is abundant, so the sun didn¡¯t burn me too much but¡­ looking at the map, for some weird reason it seems to end after this city. Onyx¡¯s tail wagged happily, and dried leaves and sticks, along with dust, flew behind him as he created small gusts of air. Barking once, he hastened his steps, dragging Kai along with him as they sped through the forest. Before long, a large city wall made out of spiked wooden logs appeared before them, with a lookout tower placed every ten meters. Inside the towers stood groups of four to six archers, vigilantly watching everything happening within the area. The wall¡¯s grand and imposing stature became clearer and clearer as they approached it, casting a looming shadow that stretched far into the forest. Soon, they stood before a wooden gate reinforced with iron and steel plates, with a few guards patrolling each of its sides, and two others seemingly controlling the gate¡¯s mechanism. ¡°We¡¯re finally here¡­ Menthral,¡± Kai murmured, glancing up at the towering walls surrounding the city lying at the border between Aravia and Evicario. A small river ran through its middle, its soothing sound giving power to the soldiers stationed in this military city. Along its length were a few mills, used to grind the grains grown by some villagers to make bread and pastries. The patrolling guards¡¯s heads snapped toward Kai and Onyx, and they quickly got into formation while readying their weapons. ¡°Halt!¡± One of them yelled, walking forward with his companions following closely behind. Their light armor rattled as they stopped a dozen or so meters away. ¡°Identify yourself!¡± The guard¡¯s firm voice echoed in the calm forest, grabbing Kai¡¯s attention as he too, stopped. Observing the guards, Kai¡¯s hair stood on end as he inspected their weapons- halberds, spears, and swords. Accompanying the foot soldiers were the people on the towers, whose arrows were pointed right in their direction. Gulping, his lips parted as a shaky voice escaped his lips. ¡°My name is Kai! This here is my companion, Onyx!¡± He yelled back, pointing toward the large Obborik, whose yellow eyes narrowed upon watching the guards pointing their spears and halberds toward them. ¡°We¡¯re here to rest and re-supply!¡± The guard¡¯s eyes lingered on Kai, whose hidden face brought a sense of mystery and vigilance to the man. ¡°Captain, that man seems suspicious, and that beast following him¡­ if I¡¯m not wrong that¡¯s an Obborik.¡± Upon hearing that, the man¡¯s pupils narrowed, and the hold on his spear tightened as he asked. ¡°How can we be sure your ¡®companion¡¯ won¡¯t wreak havoc?¡± Kai thought for a second, his gaze lingering on the ground before he slowly placed his backpack on the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust. Rummaging through it and pulling out the letter he had from Orphelia, he rolled it up and extended it toward the guards, saying, ¡°This was given to me by a friend, it should give you some assurance.¡± Almost immediately, a guard ran up to Kai, his legs trembling as he took the paper from his hands. Hastily retreating and handing it to the captain, he took his position and brandished his weapon. After reading the letter, the man¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Clearing his throat, he raised his hand, signaling the archers to put down their weapons. ¡°You may enter, but if anything is to happen¡­¡± The intention behind his words was clear as day without needing to finish the sentence. Retreating toward the wall, the large gate creaked open as the guards maneuvered its mechanism. Kai and Onyx hurried toward the captain, who waited for them right at the entrance. ¡°Thank you for letting us in, sir¡­¡± ¡°Rudolf.¡± The captain said, handing the letter back to Kai with a slight smile. ¡°Welcome to Menthral, enjoy your stay.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Kai nodded, patting Kai¡¯s fur as they stepped foot inside the city. Menthral, in comparison to Nivero, was like night and day. Nivero¡¯s large and lavish buildings were replaced with barracks and small houses, each of them owning a small courtyard where they could grow or build whatever they wanted. The city hall looked like a small church, but no actual church was present in this city. Squads of thirty to fifty men ran through the city, their armor rattling as sweat dripped down their tanned skin while they sang along to the river¡¯s soothing rhythm. An astonished expression colored their faces as they passed Onyx and Kai, picking up their pace as if to avoid bothering them. ¡°Boy, everyone we meet seems to be scared of you. Smile more, maybe that will help?¡± Kai quipped, letting out a light chuckle as he advanced. A snort escaped Onyx¡¯s snout, and his tail trailed behind him as he walked alongside Kai. ¡°What? It was funny.¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± he continued. ¡°We need to find a place to rest, buy food¡­ and get ready for running our last mile. I¡¯ll also need something to cover my head, there won¡¯t be any more forests going forward.¡± Saying that his eyes jumped from building to building until he finally spotted a building that somewhat looked like an inn or hotel. Its exterior, in stark contrast to the one owned by Orphelia¡¯s family, was simple. A one-story building built out of wood and yellow stone, on top of which lay a layer of thatched roof made out of hay and grass. A sign with the inn¡¯s name was nailed above the entrance Its rough handwriting and bloody imprints spoke volumes about the kind of place Kai was about to step in. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°Warrior¡¯s Jail. Well, that¡¯s not ominous.¡± He whispered as he walked in. Almost immediately, a putrid stench of cigarette smoke and alcohol inundated his nostrils. Everyone present immediately turned to them, their eyes widening in surprise upon seeing Onyx, whose head almost reached the roof, enter the bar. Glancing at the crowd, Kai noticed that besides the humans, elves, and dwarves were also mixed within the groups. ¡°They look just like they do in our media¡­ well the elves are a bit different but I don¡¯t know what exactly¡­¡± However, even as he thought that he felt his pulse rise upon glancing at the new races. The dwarves were short in stature, with tanned skin and well-defined muscles, wearing tight leather and chainmail armor. Large, puffy, and tied beards decorated their face, and most of them had an expression that screamed murder plastered on their faces. The elves, on the other hand, had fair skin, seemingly untouched by the elements. Thin and tall builds, wearing loose clothing of different, yet vibrant colors. They had brown, green, yellow, and even blue eyes. However, each of them wore the expression of a hardened warrior, the scars they bore proof of the countless fights they went through. Both races had weapons strapped to their bodies. From swords and daggers hanging by the waist to bows and arrows tied to their back, as well as wands holstered on their belts. Kai coughed heavily, holding his breath in as he asked the receptionist, a middle-aged man, for a room. ¡°A silver coin.¡± He said in a stoic voice, not even giving attention to the Obborik. Paying the man, Kai made his way up to the first floor, the lock opening with a click as the door creaked. Inside the room lay a simple bed, a desk, and a coat hanger. ¡°Well, this is quite a humbling experience. Not like much would change, I¡¯ll still be sleeping on you, boy.¡± He joked while putting aside the backpack and the sword, flopping on the bed, and letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°Soon¡­¡± His heart raced inside his chest as the image of a beautiful elf flashed before his eyes. Elly¡¯s words still lingered in his ears, and her gentle appearance sent a wave of warmth coursing through his body. Another heavy sigh escaped his lips as he turned on his side, hugging a pillow while taking off his mask. ¡°I hope tomorrow will go smoothly, I¡¯m almost there¡­¡± Murmuring, he closed his eyes and fell into slumber under Onyx¡¯s gaze. The Obborik quickly joined him in bed, curling up next to Kai as much as he could. ¡­ By the time the sun had set, Kai was already out and about, walking through the night city. Unlike Nivero, life after dark didn¡¯t differ much from the daytime here, except for the lack of soldiers training and even less so villagers wandering the streets. Despite that, some shops were still open, which Kai quickly visited and resupplied from. He bought curated meats, and some vegetables and refilled his water pouches from the fountain. He also purchased a dark robe with a large hood. It was thin but large enough to hide most of his skin from the harsh sunlight. As time passed, he noticed that the bars and brothels began to open up, and beautiful women filled the street, almost like a small red-light district. Scoffing, he avoided those parts of the city, however, he couldn¡¯t help but notice the amount of soldiers entering and leaving such establishments. He shook his head and before long returned to the inn, emptying his stuffed backpack and neatly arranging the food. Pulling out a few extra pieces, he threw eighty percent of them toward Onyx, who immediately devoured them. ¡°I don¡¯t know why but I feel that the more you grow, the hungrier I¡¯ll be.¡± Kai laughed, chewing on his food while reading through the ancient book. I can almost read some of it, the language seems to be similar enough to the current one but¡­ it¡¯s like trying to read Latin as an English speaker¡­ Regardless, the amount of subjects that can fit in this relatively small book is astonishing. From what I understand, it describes the continent¡¯s history, going as far back as the first king had appeared. Before that, however¡­ it seemed like the pages had been ripped off or damaged in some way. Besides history, it talks about magic, spells, techniques, incantations, enunciation¡­ I never would have imagined that the way you chant a spell could affect its power. It talks about why but¡­ I can¡¯t understand anything. However¡­ Kai let out a long, heavy sigh while rapidly flipping through the pages. It barely mentions anything related to broken mana veins¡­ or cores. It doesn¡¯t even contain medical knowledge¡­ I guess my last hope is Elly or someone she may know¡­ He thought as he read the few related pages, and his eyes widened in surprise upon reading the little he understood. <> I managed to use some magic back in the fight with the bandits, and to show off to L¨¦andro¡­ I¡­ why did I do that? Anywho, I was still able to use magic. Then the necklace almost killed me, but my veins and core still managed to withstand the mana impact¡­ I should have been dead long ago but I¡¯m not¡­ Ah¡­ I¡¯ll have to ask Elly¡­ With that thought in mind, he ruffled Onyx¡¯s fluff while staring at the ceiling. Rays of moonlight sneaked through the open window, a cold breeze accompanying them. Kai shuddered, and looked toward the moon, watching it rise as its soft light landed on his pale skin. As Kai¡¯s gaze remained fixated on it, his lips trembled as he jumped to his feet, and quickly walked to the window. With widened pupils, he held his hand out, making a grabbing motion toward the moon, and hiding it within his palm as he murmured. ¡°When the sage points at the moon, the fool looks at the finger.¡± A smile creased his lips as he dashed toward the backpack. Rummaging through it, he pulled the old notebook given to him by his grandpa. Its pages were already yellow, damaged by time and the elements. However, that didn¡¯t stop Kai from slamming it open on the desk, pulling out a pen, and fervently writing in it. What a fool I am! I still have Rodney¡¯s memories, he was a genius. Although he focused on chemistry and psychics, there is no way he didn¡¯t study medicine in his free time. If I managed to use his memories to alter the mana core forming process¡­ although I¡¯m not sure it was a failure, something changed. Proof being¡­ I¡¯m not dead. Besides that, I gained an affinity with five out of six elements, almost like cheating¡­ so then¡­ Kai began writing down every bit of medical knowledge he recalled from Rodney¡¯s memories, even the most insignificant ones. Although he found that most modern medicine practices could be used, they pale in comparison to healing magic and potions. ¡­ The night quickly passed by, accompanied by Kai¡¯s rapid scribbling and occasional rests. His dried lips smacked against each other as he sipped from a leather pouch he bought earlier. The sounds of flipping pages caused Onyx¡¯s ears to twitch as he woke up every so often, looking at Kai before going back to sleep with a low grunge, almost as if he was complaining. With the sun finally rising, Kai finally put his pen down, letting out a heavy sigh of relief while leaning back on the creaking wooden chair. Picking up the notebook, he flipped through the five or six dozen pages he had filled out, grimacing at his handwriting. I could have done a better job, but as long as I can understand it¡­ He got up and walked to the window, closing it and covering it with the curtains before flopping onto the bed, immediately falling asleep as soon as he shut his eyes. Chapter 54: Preparation Kai woke up just as the sun hit its midpoint, rubbing his eyes and yawning while getting up, he glanced at the notebook resting on the desk. Onyx snored lightly next to him, his huge head resting on the bed, along with his front paws. Smiling softly to himself, he donned his mask and the hoodie, took a few pieces of silver from his pouch, and tiptoed out of the room to not wake the Obborik up. ¡°Good morning, sir.¡± The man at the front desk greeted Kai as he walked into the lobby, a deadpan expression still resting on his face as he watched Kai walk over to him. ¡°I¡¯ll buy one more night.¡± He said, placing the silver coin on the desk before walking away. The man picked it up with a grunt and threw it in a small box under the desk, his gaze fixated on Kai¡¯s back. The sun¡¯s harsh rays of sunlight landed briefly on Kai¡¯s exposed hand, a sizzling sensation instantly spreading all over it as the smell of burnt meat permeated the air. It¡¯s gotten worse and worse, especially since the necklace incident¡­ so it has something to do with mana and blood? Otherwise, I can¡¯t explain this hypersensitivity I have to it¡­ Luckily, I bought this hoodie, I¡¯m not sure that shirt could have protected me well enough. Hastily hiding his hands in the hooded cape and rubbing them together to alleviate the pain, he slithered through the city¡¯s shadowy parts. I need to buy more food, maybe some materials as well. I have a theory¡­ if I¡¯m right¡­ I could heal my mana veins, or at least repair them to some extent. But first, food. With that thought in mind, Kai rushed toward the place where he had purchased the meats from yesterday night. Located in a smaller part of the city, the stand¡¯s appearance seemed like any other, ordinary. Four wooden bars held up a large sunshade, below which lay a table of some sort filled to the brim with product. The man holding the front looked to be in his fifties, he wore a head full of gray hair, and a large mustache sharing the same color. His plain linen clothes, ripped and dirtied by a crimson paint, along with an intense, smokey smell mostly gave away his profession, were it not for his merchandise. Meats of all types, from animals Kai had never even read about, filled his small wooden table, their smell leaving one with a drooling mouth even after long passing by. ¡°Oh? Young man, you¡¯re back already?¡± The old man asked, a faint smile manifesting on his face as he watched Kai appear from behind a corner. ¡°Yeah, my stay here has been prolonged, I¡¯m not sure how much for. How have you been?¡± Greeting back, Kai pulled out two pieces of silver, leaving him with only three to use to buy whatever materials he needed. ¡°Give me ten of the Smoked Lokemi Ribs, as well as ten of the Pulki breasts and with whatever remains¡­ smoked vegetables. ¡°Right away, pleasure doing business with you. May I ask, what brings you here?¡± The old vendor said, quickly filling up three bags and handing them over to Kai. ¡°I need to go somewhere and only planned to stay for the night, but something came up so I¡¯ll be staying a bit longer.¡± Having said that, Kai bid farewell and went on his way, this time looking for any medicine shops whilst his head raced with thoughts. Compared to the nighttime, this city¡¯s daily life bustled with activity. The busy main street echoed with the voices of countless ages and races, some of which Kai had only ever read about. The river running right next to it sang a song of moments old, although its lyrics remained a mystery to those who could not understand it. Just like Nivero, this city housed various merchants, although at a much bigger scale with more inferior products. Of course, the prices were steeper as well. Along the entire street, a soldier was stationed every twenty meters, protecting the few merchants that kept the already dwindled economy steady. Basic commodities such as bread, vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms, as well as cutlery and kitchenware, could be found on their wooden stands. Some of them only had a tower on top of which lay whatever they harvested or gathered yesterday. The merchants, or vendors, were mostly human, with only a third of them belonging to a different race. A fifth of those different races were elves, a third dwarves, and the rest a mixture of Mnatu - Humans with animal-like features, such as ears or tails, but also Bipedal animals with human features, such as limbs. Kai grimaced at the latter¡¯s sight, his expression a mixture of disgust and wonder. Stopping in front of one such creature, Kai kneeled, inspecting the different wares laid before him. Plants of a multitude of shapes and colors, each of them with a unique fragrance, mixing in a bitter-sweet aroma that inundated his nostrils. Carefully scanning them, he recalled the information he wrote down, as well as the descriptions of the plants from the books he read, including the old, archaic one. I need plants that provide life force and plants that work as mana supplements. It doesn¡¯t matter how little they provide, the more the merrier. With that thought in mind, he picked up a few of them and brought them to his nose, before placing them to the side after smelling them. The Mnatu selling the plants didn¡¯t say anything and only watched Kai with little interest. It seemed to be a male, his large, muscular upper body exposed to the elements, and his head seemed to be that of a Scarlet Bear. However, his arms, albeit muscular, stood in large contrast to the rest of his body. Compared to his furred chest, head, and legs, his hands were that of a human¡¯s, and if one looked closer, he had a second pair of pale ears hidden behind a large tuff of hair. Kai tried not to stare too much as he picked the last of his plants. However, before he could pay for them, a bunch of saliva landed on a herb right next to him, accompanied by a deep voice. ¡°Fucking abomination.¡± Turning back, he saw a man stopped a few inches behind him. With short brown hair and a missing eye, he stared at the vendor with his other one. Not bothering to hide the hatred and disgust from his face, he prepared to walk away. However, before his feet even touched the ground, the vendor, along with three other Mnatu leaped at the one-eyed man. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it His miserable screams were drowned out by the sound of punching and kicking as the four relentlessly beat him up. Kai watched with a bewildered expression, and he wasn¡¯t alone, as no one, not even the soldiers, bothered to help the one-eyed man. Some of them even worse smirk on their faces, basking in the man¡¯s stupidity. A few seconds later, the Mnatu dispersed, leaving the man spasming on the ground. The vendor returned to his seating position in front of Kai as if nothing had happened, despite his blood-soaked hands. Kai coughed lightly, ¡°I¡¯d like to purchase these herbs. Please.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fifty copper coins for all of them.¡± He said, his human voice barely fitting the shape of his head. He handed one silver over and placed the plants in a bag before carefully placing the change in his pockets. As he walked on, he stopped at every stand that had some sort of medicinal plant, whether they were manned by humans or by other races. However, as time passed, a strange thought popped up in his mind. It seems like most of the medicinal plant vendors are Mnatu, more than that, Mnatu with human hands and animal heads. The few that didn¡¯t have those features only sold some third-rate, damaged plants¡­ Could it be, they lack the dexterity? However, Kai did not forget to take a look at the other merchants, and he quickly noticed a pattern. Most medicinal plants are sold by Mnatu. Magical-related items like books and weapons are mostly sold by Elves¡­ specifically male Elves, I think they¡¯re male at least. Normal weapons and ores are sold by dwarves, however, something seemed off about them¡­ and none of them spoke even a single word. God- ahem Goddess¡­ it feels really weird to be stared at by such tiny men. ¡­ By the end of the day, Kai¡¯s bag was full, and his pockets were empty. Returning to the inn, he quickly dashed toward his room, where Onyx patiently, and hungrily, waited for him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry boy, I- I got¡­ lost?¡± He said as he took off his mask, an apologetic expression etched on his face. Onyx looked at him with big, puppy-like eyes, a seemingly devastated expression manifesting on his face as he yelped at Kai. Quickly pulling out the food he purchased, Kai immediately gave half to Onyx, who immediately began devouring it, wooden sticks and all. I feel like he¡¯ll end up eating me at some point. Chuckling to himself, he rushed over to the desk, a piece of meat stuffed inside his mouth. Pushing the notebook aside and laying the plants before him, he arranged them between Life Energy and Mana. After around thirty minutes, he finally finished sorting all the plants and sighed upon noticing how little he had despite the amount of silver he spent. ¡°I don¡¯t have many plants that can supplement me with Life Energy¡­ at least I don¡¯t lack in Mana plants¡­ hopefully¡­¡± He sighed once again as he picked up the notebook and scribbled the amount and brief description of each one. Category: Life Energy
  • Moonbloom Vine (Q:8)
    • A vibrant, winding vine with silvery-blue petals that glow softly under the moonlight. It''s known to thrive in the presence of strong life energy, providing a soothing aura.
  • Vitalis Fern (Q:3)
    • Delicate, heart-shaped leaves with a faint, calming fragrance. A rare find in the forest, this fern is believed to invigorate the spirit.
  • Eternal Willow Branch (Q:6)
    • A resilient tree with cascading leaves that never wither. Its presence signifies the enduring strength of life energy.
  • Luminous Petunia (Q:1)
    • A solitary flower with petals that emit a gentle, ethereal glow. It is said that a mere touch can restore vitality.
  • Serenity Lotus (Q:4)
    • A water lily with pure white blossoms. It''s known for its calming properties, easing both the body and mind.
Category: Mana
  • Astral Iris (Q:7)
    • A cluster of iris flowers with shimmering, multi-colored petals. They resonate with mana, enhancing one''s magical abilities.
  • Elemental Oak (Q:2)
    • A sturdy oak tree with leaves of varying colors, reflecting the elemental spectrum. Practitioners of magic seek its wood for wands.
  • Arcane Thistle (Q:6)
    • A purple thistle with silver thorns that can absorb and store mana. Alchemists and wizards value it for their experiments.
  • Enigma Moss (Q:4)
    • A carpet of green moss that conceals ancient secrets within its threads. It''s favored by scholars for its ever-changing nature.
  • Phantasmal Orchid (Q:1)
    • A single orchid, found only in the deepest and darkest parts of The Dark Forest. Its nectar is rumored to boost one¡¯s magical abilities and act as a second core when filled to the max.
  • Celestial Blossom (Q:5)
    • A radiant flower with petals that reflect the night sky''s constellations. It is said that it can increase one¡¯s affinity with Light Magic.
  • Voidroot (Q:7)
    • A pitch-black root, hidden underground, with the power to absorb excess mana from the environment, making it an essential part of Mana Regeneration Potions. They can also act as a Mana Capacitor.
¡°The Phantasmal Orchid and Luminious Petunia cost me one and a half silver alone¡­ However they are slightly damaged, I¡¯m lucky I even have them though.¡± After having finished taking inventory, Kai leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes. In theory, this is all I need¡­ now I just need to figure out a way to incorporate my theory into practice. I have a feeling¡­ it won¡¯t be without pain. Chapter 55: Hippocatrus Healing Technique Kai wrote down more and more ideas, with each assertive sweep, the pen''s relentless carving created a cacophony of defiant, rasping echoes. Page after page, a dozen ideas popped up in his mind, however they were all scrapped, and replaced by others. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he looked back at his notes, then at the old book. He began writing down another theory, however, the few sentences he wrote quickly got covered in circles and irregular shapes. Putting the pen down in his frustration, he quickly took a few large gulps from his water pouch before leaning back on the desk. There has to be a way for this to work¡­ Natural healing is out of the question, and so is surgery, that¡¯s too risky. And if it was that easy, more people would have done it¡­ or maybe it is that easy? I see no mention of surgery anywhere in this world¡¯s medical records, so perhaps they aren¡¯t that advanced yet. Regardless, I can¡¯t do it by myself, maybe at a later date. Forcing my veins to heal via plants rich in Life Energy could work, however, Kai closed his eyes and tore off a small piece from a plant before throwing it in his mouth. A faint wave of warmth spread throughout his entire body, rushing toward the areas where he was most wounded. Trace amounts of it passed through his mana veins as well, however, it made little to no difference. The energy simply gets redistributed everywhere, and there seems to be no way for me to focus it on my veins. This, without mentioning how much energy I¡¯m wasting by ingesting them directly. And¡­ I haven¡¯t tried the mana plants yet but I have a feeling it will be very painful and could even worsen their condition¡­ Arrgh this is so frustrating! And my core¡­ the Life Energy doesn¡¯t even pass by it, almost as if it simply doesn¡¯t exist in my body! The cracks are real, the pain I¡¯m feeling is real, yet I cannot free myself of it! Kai let out a long, heavy sigh, and his fists clenched in annoyance as blood trickled down on the table from the nails digging deep into his palm. Watching as his muscles contracted, Kai¡¯s eyes suddenly widened as realization dawned upon him. I need to stop thinking about the mana veins as veins, but more like a muscle. Grandpa said they grew larger and stronger after I overused them, so maybe¡­ Maybe if I forcefully pour mana through them, then Life Energy¡­ there¡¯s a chance that I could heal them to some extent¡­ right? A wiry smile creased Kai¡¯s lips, and even he began questioning his sanity as this insane idea took form in his head. Forcefully introducing mana inside the veins, causing the Life Energy to rush toward and heal them. It¡¯s a risky bet¡­ and probably the most painful one out of all the ones I¡¯ve thought up so far. However, it may as well be the only one that works. In this world, having no magic or core is equal to a death sentence, however, if I can manipulate already filtered mana¡­ it should give me a fighting chance. With that thought in mind, and a crazed expression forming on his face, Kai¡¯s hand flew to one of the many plants, notably one with a lower concentration of mana - Voidroot. Most of the mana it holds can¡¯t be used, but the little that can give me just enough to excite my mana veins¡­ after that, all I can hope is that Lumiera won¡¯t be picking me up again. He quipped internally, trying to alleviate the tension building up inside him. Well¡­ it¡¯s all or nothing now¡­ His hand shook for a second, but a defiant expression manifested on his face as he threw the entire Voidroot into his mouth, instantly swallowing it. Its coarse, wooden texture scratched against his throat before it melted like cotton candy. Almost immediately, the mana found its way inside his veins, activating them, and in turn causing Kai to scream in pain. Damn it! Even this little amount puts too much stress on them¡­! The mana traveled up his arms and down his legs, and the fissures covering his veins became larger and more frequent, seemingly on the verge of shattering completely. Cold sweat dripped down his blazing forehead, and his entire body trembled an agonized scream escaped his lips. Onyx¡¯s ears twitched as he woke up, immediately running to Kai¡¯s side, watching him with worry. Kai¡¯s eyes snapped open, watching the Obborik¡¯s concerned and anxious expression. Letting out a low groan, Kai leaned toward the desk as his muscles spasmed uncontrollably. With quivering arms, he picked up a random Life Energy plant and threw it into his mouth as well. A fiery sensation inundated his mouth as the plant immediately broke down, and a larger amount of life force coursed throughout his entire body. However, unlike before, it gathered toward his mana veins and this time they started healing. The cracks and holes slowly but surely closed up, but they did so at a snail¡¯s pace. Regardless, they began healing. Kai wore an expression of delight, his entire body shivering in excitement. Jumping to his feet, he paced around the room, clenching his fists before finally jumping on and snuggling Onyx. ¡°I did it boy, I found a way to heal them! Ouch! Looks like I¡¯ll have to be careful.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx barked, licking Kai¡¯s burning face before sitting on the floor, curling up like a pretzel. Without standing on ceremony, Kai sat down, letting himself relax in the Obborik¡¯s fluffy fur. His excitement quickly died down, however, as he realized that the mana inside his veins had already dispersed inside his body due to his mana core not being able to store it. Damn it¡­ I guess this is only a temporary solution¡­ But, the more I heal, the more mana I¡¯ll be able to store for a moment, meaning I¡¯ll be able to use Inkos spells and maybe even some low-tier Onkos spells¡­ although¡­ Feeling the changes in his mana veins, he could not help but sigh. It will take a while for either of those two things to happen¡­ but it worked! The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Petting Onyx¡¯s fur, his racing heart slowed down, and quickly fell asleep after closing his eyes. ¡­ The Obborik¡¯s wet tongue ran across Kai¡¯s face, his growling stomach echoing like a famished monster in his ears. Startled awake, Kai looked around while wiping the saliva off his face. The morning sun¡¯s docile rays passed through the window, and his eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Did I sleep for that long?¡± Getting up, his legs wobbled slightly while regaining balance. ¡°Damn, looks like this is pretty taxing on the body. Also, since it¡¯s a new technique¡­ I should give it a name, right?¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx barked in agreement, wagging his tail while waiting for Kai to finish his monologue so he could eat. ¡°Mhm¡­ How about¡­ ¡®Hippocratus Healing Technique¡¯? Named after the Father of Medicine, it signify a new step towards advancing this world¡¯s medical field. However, just like in the past, it¡¯s a very coarse one.¡± Kai nodded to himself, rubbing his chin slightly before Onyx¡¯s low growl echoed in his ears. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll feed you now, jeez.¡± ¡­ Kai began packing up his stuff as the moon replaced the hiding sun. He carefully placed the plants in a bag inside his backpack. Tucking them to the side, he placed them in such a way as to not get damaged but still be easily accessible. He looked around the room, making sure to not have forgotten anything, and turned toward the exit while donning his newly acquired cloak. Throwing the backpack on his back and the mask on his face, he picked up his sword and walked out of the room, Onyx following closely behind him. The sword¡¯s scabbard brushed lightly against his leg as he walked down the stairs, the backpack rattling lightly with each step. Everyone¡¯s gazes turned on them the moment they stepped into the lobby, however, Kai simply ignored their whispers as he turned toward the receptionist. Nodding lightly before walking out of the inn. The night¡¯s cold breeze hit his mask, the air inundating his nostrils as he took a deep breath. Feeling invigorated, he walked toward the city¡¯s gates, under the dark sky¡¯s looming gaze. The soldiers stationed at the entrance were the same as when he first arrived. Among them, Rudolf watched Kai¡¯s figure with widened eyes. ¡°Well fuck me, that beast did behave.¡± He said, approaching Kai with a half smile. ¡°I say, how did you tame it? If we had a couple of those per battalion those damn demons wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Kai stood in brief silence, the events of his ¡®bonding¡¯ experience with Ony flashing before his eyes before he coughed lightly. ¡°Let¡¯s say it was a stroke of luck. But, what did you say about the demons?¡± He inquired as they walked toward the exit, the gates rumbling as the captain spoke. ¡°Ah, I said too much. Just some pests, don¡¯t worry about it too much.¡± The man reassured Kai, although his voice carried a hint of anxiety. Kai didn¡¯t question it any further, even if he knew, his current self still lacked the power to do anything about it. ¡°Thanks once again for letting us in. Goodbye. ¡± He bid his farewells before entering the forest, skilfully slithering through the shadows as his figure disappeared. Rudolf let out a heavy sigh as he turned toward the city, a complex expression manifesting on his face as he gazed at the moon. Winter is coming¡­ ¡­ The sound of crackling branches echoed in the forest flooded by darkness as Kai crushed sticks and leaves under his feet. Even Onyx¡¯s white fur almost got swallowed by the night, making the two almost invisible to any passing gaze. Kai¡¯s crimson pupils glowed slightly behind his mask, and he slowly led the way, skilfully avoiding any stray roots or vines. Onyx lazily followed behind, his wandering gaze looking from left to right after every little sound. ¡°It¡¯s alright boy¡­ it doesn¡¯t look like anyone or anything is following us. You¡¯re scaring everyone away any-¡­¡± Kai chuckled as he turned toward Onyx, however, he stopped mid-way after observing the Obborik¡¯s expression. ¡°Grr¡­¡± ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re not scary¡­¡± As they advanced, the trees became few and far between, with only a few of them clustered together here and there, until even those groups dwindled until there were no more trees. A shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine as a cold breeze passed him by, rustling the grass around his feet. The moon¡¯s soft, yet burning light reflected upon his silver hair, making it glow slightly as he advanced under its harsh gaze. ¡°We¡¯re getting close¡­ Evicario is less than a day away¡­¡± Kai mumbled under his breath, his voice rising slightly as he turned toward the Obborik. However, Onyx¡¯s expression differed from his usual happy-go-lucky one. His ears perked up, twitching about as he listened to the silence. Kai¡¯s hand immediately flew toward his sword, tightly clutching the hilt as he grew cautious. His muscles tensed up as he listened carefully to his surroundings, however, he could not hear anything besides the grass swaying with the wind. His pupils suddenly constricted. He pulled out his sword while jumping next to Onyx, frantically scanning the ground. The Obborik¡¯s head snapped to a location not far away from where Kai stood originally, the grass in that area twisting unnaturally. Two small, glowing beads moved through the grass, zig-zagging toward the two as the wind carried a soft hissing sound. Chapter 56: Unexpected Disaster The light hissing sound sent shivers down Kai¡¯s spine, and Onyx¡¯s fur stood on end as he barked toward the rapidly approaching creature. Almost instantly, he shoved his head between Kai¡¯s legs, carrying him away from the unknown creature. The cold air bombarded Kai¡¯s body, his blood flow slowing down as the tips of his fingers began turning as cold as ice. Whatever could make Onyx react like this?! His muscles trembled from fear and anxiety, and his eyes widened in surprise as the creature gradually revealed itself. It lifted its head, slowly its horrifying appearance. Purple scales covered its thick skull, as well as its long, slimy body, which glimmered slightly under the moon¡¯s pale light. Two crowns decorated the spot above its beady eyes, which glowed with an ever-changing color. Accompanying them, a sharp horn stuck out of its nose, almost looking like a sharpened blade. Curling up, it almost took the appearance of a spring as it glared at Kai and Onyx as it stood at their eye level. Suddenly, its figure became a blur as a whooshing sound echoed in Kai¡¯s ears. Without hesitation, he jumped up, forcing Onyx to duck just in time for a strong gust of wind to pass in between them. The snake-like creature appeared behind, sticking out its raspy tongue as it hissed madly at the two. Its scale flickered with a strange light, and Kai¡¯s pupils widened. It can use magic? What is this thing? I¡¯ve never seen it anywhere in my books!! Panic began to take hold of Kai¡¯s mind, and he gulped as he clutched the purple sword¡¯s hilt. Cold sweat drenched his back, but he gritted his teeth as he glanced at Onyx. The Obborik¡¯s body also flickered with a soft light as he cast several enchantements on himself, and Kai jumped onto his back. ¡°Boy, can you outrun it?¡± He asked in a quivering voice, his eyes fixated on the creature¡¯s figure. Onyx let out a low snort, yelping slightly as his yellow eyes glared at the thing. Kai¡¯s expression under his mask immediately turned sour, but with no other choice but to face the beast he grits his teeth. ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s do this.¡± He grabbed the hilt of his one-handed weapon with both hands, tightening his fingers around it as much as he could. Sensing that Kai would not run away and instead face it, the creature opened its mouth as wide as possible, revealing a pair of sharp fangs dripping with an unknown substance. A shiver ran down both Kai¡¯s and Onyx¡¯s spines at the sight. The Obborik lowered its head and raised his lower body as he got ready to dodge the attack, whilst Kai could only do his best and react accordingly. ¡°Hisssssss!!!!¡± The beast sped toward the two, slithering through the thick grass, using it to slightly cover its tracks. However, Onyx¡¯s eyes followed it like a sniper and bared his fangs as the snake-like beast got closer and closer. The grass rustled violently, and Onyx moved to the side, barely dodging the attack by a hair¡¯s breadth. Kai¡¯s eyes widened, however, he was far too slow to react to the attack, even if he saw it coming. Damn it! My body¡­ it¡¯s too slow! However, he had no time to cry about it as the thing immediately launched at them once again, its speed increasing as the scales covering its body glowed with a faint light. Once again, its figure became a blur, and even Onyx had a hard time following. ¡°Awooo!!¡± The Obborik let out a loud howl, and an invisible mana wave followed his voice, smashing against the enemy, whose movements immediately slowed down. Without waiting for it to react, Onyx growled and bared his fangs as he dashed toward the snake¡¯s jugular. Kai reacted in time and aimed his sword at the creature¡¯s eyes. The air reverberated with the harsh scrape of metal meeting metal, as Onyx''s fangs connected with the resilient scales, leaving only faint marks that failed to breach the creature''s tough exterior. The keen edge of the purple sword hovered perilously close to the serpent''s eyes, but the small crown-shaped shields above them swiftly interlocked, guarding the vulnerable orbs against impending harm. Opening its jaw, a rapid jet of poison shot toward Kai and Onyx. Without any time to completely evade, they turned around as the poison spread on the Obborik¡¯s fur and Kai¡¯s black cloak. Onyx let out faint groans as he dashed away, creating some distance between them as his flesh sizzled under the corrosive liquid. Kai¡¯s cloak didn¡¯t fare any better, however, he didn¡¯t receive any further damage. Damn it, what kind of acidic poison is that? Fuck! Kai cursed inwardly as he stared at the serpent with trembling pupils. Those scales are way too thick¡­ can we even defeat it without magic?! Another flash of light even lopped the reptile¡¯s scaly body, rapidly gaining speed as it bared its fangs at Onyx. Its eyes stared at the Obborik with venomous hatred. Not waiting for an invitation, Onyx¡¯s body glimmered slightly, and this time his fangs seemed to have grown a bit, becoming sharper at the same time. Speeding forward, Kai stared at the purple scales covering its body, looking for the slightest gap in its seemingly impermiable defense. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The Obborik looked like he rushed straight toward it, preparing once again for a frontal assault. However, the snake¡¯s pupils widened as it watched Onyx kick the ground, jumping right behind it. Instantly, he bit toward the end of the tail, and the creature let out a loud hiss as Onyx¡¯s fangs dug deep into its flesh. Before it could even turn around, the Obborik¡¯s body flashed with a fiery light while lifting his head, and threw the snake toward the forest. A loud thud reverberated in the air, accompanied by rustling leaves and bushes as the snake slammed against a tree. Shaking its head, it quickly slithered out of the forest, the hatred in its eyes becoming even more evident. Its breathing turned rapid as it showed signs of exhaustion, however, the expression etched on its face seemingly refused to give up. A brief flash enveloped its body once again, however, it was much fainter this time. It let out one last, muffled hiss and it charged. The creature rushed toward the two once again, gradually coiling up its body as it prepared for another dash. Onyx¡¯s fur flashed with a white light and stood still, waiting for the perfect moment to dodge. It seems to be tired, but it also seems more pissed off! This time, Kai readied himself, immediately noticing the snake¡¯s attack pattern. However, now, he only held the sword with one hand, whilst the other one reached toward the side of the backpack. He pulled out a thick rope with a swift grabbing motion just as the beast¡¯s coiled body reached its limits. Like a spring let loose, it shot toward the two. Kai glanced at Onyx, and once again jumped off his back. However, the snake didn¡¯t aim for the Obborik, instead, it predicted where Kai would be after the previous interaction! Shit! Kai¡¯s vision slowed down as he watched the snake shoot toward him, its sharp horn pointing straight at his stomach. He panicked, knowing full well that his original plan had been derailed. This thing is smarter than it looks! The creature¡¯s purple scales reflected the moon¡¯s soft light. From afar, it looked like a firework ready to explode, however, from Kai¡¯s point of view, it looked like death¡¯s scythe. Suspended mid-air, Kai had no way to dodge out of the way. He gritted his teeth and quickly wrapped the rope around the blade¡¯s hilt, letting the other end fall to the ground. The snake-like creature¡¯s mouth opened wide, seemingly ready to swallow Kai in a single bite. In turn, Kai pointed the sword right at the creature¡¯s throat at the last moment. The sound of tearing flesh reverberated in the air, however, no blood dripped down on the floor due to the serpent¡¯s speed. It slammed right into Kai, its sharp horn piercing Kai¡¯s shoulder as they shot toward the ground. A loud groan escaped the boy¡¯s body, and the snake¡¯s agonized hiss followed soon after as it twirled and struggled on the ground. The purple sword pierced right through its skull, however, that didn¡¯t seem to be enough to take its life as it quickly turned toward Kai. His trembling pupils constricted, and he put pressure on his shoulder as he crawled away as fast as he could. The snake quickly pursued him, opening its jaw as it prepared another acid attack. Hot, steaming liquid shot out of its mouth, aimed straight at Kai¡¯s face, however, its trajectory quickly changed as the sword thrust into its skull pulled backward. The burning acid missed Kai¡¯s eyes by a hair¡¯s breadth, however, a few drops landed on his mask and the hand pressuring his shoulder. A soft smile creased his lips despite the blazing pain in his hand. Not far away from them, Onyx held a rope between his teeth, and pulled it as tightly as he could while running circles around them. The Serpent¡¯s head unwillingly moved along with the sword, unable to do anything besides watch as the rope twisted and turned around its body. Its head slowly lowered, the luster within its eyes slowly fading away as the heat generated by the tightening rope, took away its breath at the same time. Kai panted as he watched the serpent fall, its head slamming against the grass with a soft thump. Cold sweat drenched his clothes, making them stick to his blazing skin. The creature glared at Kai, and it let out a last hiss as it gave its last breath. His heart threatened to jump out of his chest as adrenaline coursed through Kai¡¯s veins, and he choked while exhaling. Onyx rushed to his side, breathing heavily with his tongue stuck out. Quickly sniffing the serpent¡¯s corpse, he let out a low growl before flopping next to Kai. Both of them stood like that for a few minutes, doing their best to calm each other down while glaring at the corpse spasming a few meters away from them. ¡°What the fuck¡­¡± Kai blurted out as he stared at the creature before him, his arms, his entire body shaking. He jumped to his feet, throwing his mask to the side as a burning liquid rose his throat. Onyx¡¯s eyes snapped open to the sound of Kai¡¯s wrenching, and walked over to him, placing his paw on the boy¡¯s back. Letting out a light yelping sound, he waited for Kai to finish throwing up before moving next to the corpse. Sniffing it, he tried to take a bite out of its flesh, however, its scales remained just as strong even in death. Kai approached them as well, dawning the mask over his face as he crouched before the snake. ¡°We did it¡­¡± he said, a tinge of disbelief hidden within his eyes. ¡°We did it.¡± Onyx scoffed in response, however his expression and wagging tail gave away his true emotions. Kai¡¯s heart still raced in his chest, however there was no time to waste, as the twilight sun began showing itself. His skin sizzled slightly, and quickly his arms under his cloak. ¡°We need to hurry¡­¡± he said, glancing over at the tied-up corpse. ¡°We can¡¯t leave it here, can we now? But first¡­¡± His backpack landed on the ground with a light thud, and he quickly rummaged through it as he took off his cloak. Crimson blood soaked his clothes, however, the bleeding seemed to have stopped some time ago. Kai pulled out a few bandages and signaled Onyx to block the sun for him. Taking off his shirt, he rapidly covered his wounds, tightening the bandage as much as he could before tying it. Quickly wearing a new shirt and his ripped cloak, he got up while throwing the backpack over his shoulder. He took the end of the rope before jumping on the Oborik¡¯s back, leaving a trail as they approached Evicario. Chapter 57: A Warm Welcome A gentle, refreshing breeze blew through the empty plains surrounding Kai and Onyx. Grass as far as the eye could see, its greenery sometimes interrupted by a large boulder or a stray beast, which quickly ran away upon seeing the two. Kai let out a light sigh as he looked at the map, holding it with one hand while the other dragged the corpse. ¡°Damn beast, we¡¯re late by half a day at the very least. Well, not like Elly is expecting us, I wonder what she will say upon seeing me. Wait, how can I even find her¡­I think my parents mentioned her clan protects the gate¡­ so that means she must be important. I should be able to find her if I mention her to the guards, after all¡­ she seemed strong, or resourceful at least. Now that I think about it, how did they go from one end of the continent to the other in ten minutes?¡± With these questions in mind, Kai rolled up the map and placed it under his thighs, letting out a few light groans as he did his best to cover his body. The scorching sun loomed harshly upon Kai. Sweat dripped off his forehead, and his clothes were completely drenched as the heat bombarded his body. His arms trembled, and rope marks covered his hands as he dragged the heavy corpse. A soft sizzling sound, accompanied by the smell of burning flesh accompanied them on their path. Damn it, it¡¯s getting worse and worse! Kai groaned in pain as the sun pierced his clothes, the rays that sneaked through the fabric burning and scorching his skin. At least it doesn¡¯t hurt as bad as the first time¡­ ¡­ Time slowly passed, and, much to Kai¡¯s delight, the sun finally retired. The moon took its place, its light, although still harsh, was much more manageable. They took a break next to a large boulder, and Kai pulled out the meats he had purchased earlier in town, feeding Onyx quite a large portion. ¡°Good job boy, I would have been a goner without you.¡± He said as he bit down one of the meats, quickly following up with a soggy, yet edible vegetable. ¡°I wonder though, why did it decide to attack us?¡± Onyx didn¡¯t answer as he devoured whatever Kai put in front of him. However, his ears did twitch slightly upon hearing the question, though he ignored it just as quickly. ¡°Hmm, alright. I¡¯ll let you eat then, not like you can talk back anyway.¡± Chuckling to himself, he raised his and looked at the stars as his head emptied. They sparkled like fireflies dancing in the night sky, each one of them telling a different story. Some of them may have been long dead, or some were just born. Regardless, they all had different experiences, and, despite seeming so close together, millions of light years separated them. Kai¡¯s pupils widened as he stared at them, an almost empty canvas, yet so full of life. A soft smile creased his lips as he looked at Onyx, whose snout turned into a mess after devouring the meats. Conveniently, he left every vegetable on the side, refusing to even touch them. ¡°Picky eater, aren¡¯t we? Hehe¡­¡± He picked up his leftovers, storing them in the backpack and picking up the pace once again. Trees of a vibrant green could be seen on the horizon, peeking their crowns at Kai, whose expression changed to one of delight. ¡°Finally¡­¡± he murmured under his breath, almost letting go of the huge serpent¡¯s body as he felt a wave of warmth wash over him. His first goal, finally appearing before his eyes. To go to Evicario and meet Elizabeth once again, heal, and seek guidance. ¡°This is my first step, finally¡­ I didn¡¯t expect it to be so steep¡­ perhaps it will be even harder in the future.¡± As he neared the village, he could barely make out the figure of a few elves patrolling¡­ floating¡­ through the trees, moving from one to the other as they cautiously inspected the area. The guards were mostly women, each one of them dressed in a green military uniform embroided with golden patterns. On top of the uniform, they wore a few pieces of armor such as breastplates, bracers, shoulder guards, and knee pads. Some of them had swords tied to their waist or strapped to their back. Similarly, some had bows and spears, whilst others just played with their wands. A stark contrast quickly became obvious to Kai: The Elven women that wielded weapons were muscular, their uniforms ripped, exposing their toned skin. In comparison, the ones that wielded wands had fair skin, slim and curvaceous bodies, and seemed more leisurely. Among the guards, however, were a few men. Unlike the women, their figures differed greatly from one to the other. The males with wands had a slim, almost feminine build, with short hair and pale faces. The rest of them, however, were burly, and muscular and held a multitude of different weapons in each of their hands. From spears to swords, to daggers and halberds, their finely crafted weapons shone with a luster unlike the ones owned by the females. With a racing heart, Kai approached the kingdom¡¯s entrance - A magnificent, giant tree standing guard over all the rest. Its height dwarfed the ones from The Dark Forest, and it exuded an oppressive aura that made Kai¡¯s heart skip a beat. It¡¯s just a tree¡­ a really big¡­ magical tree¡­ Yegou. <> Amazing¡­ Kai gasped as he looked at the tree, recalling all the information he¡¯d read about it. They say it¡¯s the foundation upon which the Elves built their Kingdom¡­ they also say¡­it¡¯s the originator of life on the continent. A reverent expression manifested on his face, and he jumped off Onyx¡¯s back, slowly walking the rest of the way. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The Elves quickly took notice of him, and rushed outside, gracefully landing on the ground as they readied their weapons. The archer¡¯s muscles contracted and expanded as the arrow trembled on the bowstring, and the mages slowly chanted a spell under their breaths. The swordsmen stood in formation, creating a semi-circle around Kai and Onyx. A single woman walked out of the crowd, her dashing, authoritative appearance causing Kai¡¯s heart to skip a beat. She had brown locks of straight her that fell down her back, just a bit past the shoulders. Her enchanting, mysterious purple eyes locked with Kai¡¯s crimson pupils, a shiver running down his spine as he stopped. Her well-toned abs were exposed to the elements as she wore a crop top with golden embroidery, above which rested a breastplate. On her belt lay an intricate sheath, similarly embroidered with golden threads, inside which rested a silver longsword. With a serious expression, she puffed in the air before yelling at Kai, her voice boosted by magic. ¡°Who are you? And how can you dare bring such a foul creature amongst my people?!¡± Her authoritative tone reverberated in the air, echoing in Kai¡¯s ears as he parted his trembling lips. ¡°My name is Kai¡­¡± His barely audible voice barely reached the elf¡¯s ears, and an annoyed expression manifested on her face as she cut him off. ¡°Hurry up and speak louder! I can barely hear you!¡± ¡°Eh¡­ I-¡± Taken aback, Kai stuttered as he spoke a bit louder, however, the elf¡¯s voice resounded once again. ¡°Louder!¡± Ah, motherfucker I¡¯m trying! Annoyance quickly grew inside Kai as well, and inhaled deeply as he yelled, ¡°My name is Kai! I am here to see Elly- Elizabeth!¡± A collective gasp echoed from the guards, and the elf captain¡¯s expression quickly turned to anger. ¡°HOW DARE YOU ADDRESS OUR CLAN¡¯S HEIR BY HER NAME?!¡± Her voice exploded as she pulled out her sword, pointing it toward Kai. ¡°AND EVEN MORE, YOU DARE BRING THAT THING WITHIN OUR DOMAIN. APPREHEND HIM!!¡± As she said that, she rushed toward Kai, followed by the rest of the guards. Kai¡¯s heart raced, and anxiety overwhelmed him as an empty feeling appeared in his stomach. This again¡­? He let go of the robe, enduring the burning sensation as he placed his arms behind his neck. ¡°Alright, well¡­ there¡¯s nothing I can do¡­¡± He murmured under his breath, letting himself get caught, a helpless expression on his face. I just hope they¡¯re not going to be rough, OW! The captain grabbed his arms, tying them behind his back with a rope. Her pupils, however, constricted upon seeing the snake¡¯s corpse. This brat killed that¡­? And he¡¯s, aye! Good thing the scales are resilient but any jewelry uses it had is now gone! A shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine as she glared at him, however, he didn¡¯t dare turn around. What is wrong with her¡­. Instead, he turned to Onyx and said. ¡°Boy, cooperate, we¡¯ll be fine¡­ I hope¡­¡± Hearing that, Onyx didn¡¯t resist the guards, who tied up his snout and put a glowing, seemingly magical leash around his neck. Almost instantly, he felt the mana inside his body stop circulating, and even his body became weaker. He only let out a low whine as he walked behind Kai, staring hatefully at the woman. ¡°Hurry up, we don¡¯t have all day.¡± She said, poking Kai¡¯s back with the hilt of her sword. ¡°Aye, I got it, no need to be rude¡­ just you wait until Elly hears of this¡­¡± The latter part of his sentence, which he said in a quiet, almost whispering voice, didn¡¯t escape the Elf¡¯s ears. However, she decided to remain on the side of caution and stopped bullying him. It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the gates, which were placed inside one of Yegou¡¯s roots. They stood at about five meters tall, towering over Kai, and even over Onyx. However, Kai exhaled sharply as he looked up, his pupils trembling upon seeing the tree¡¯s imposing height so up close. The gates rumbled, slowly opening and revealing what lay beyond them. A cacophony of lights, colors, and smells bombarded Kai¡¯s senses. A mixture of voices, both old and young reverberated in the air. Bouncing within the forest which seemingly devoured another. Everywhere he looked, trees of all different sizes filled his vision. On their branches hung lanterns of a fiery orange color, like countless stars illuminating the village. Streaks of scattered moonlight sneaked through the canopies, adding to the surreal feeling of this painting. Platforms and buildings were built on the tree¡¯s bases, or slightly above them. Serving as houses, launch points, shops, or governmental buildings. Despite their seemingly scattered nature, the trees were arranged in such a way that it looked like a path formed, much like a street inside a city, with carefully planned interactions and crossroads. The diverse elf population filling the streets didn¡¯t pay Kai any mind, however their pupils constricted upon seeing the Obborik, and the large snake the army dragged with them. Almost immediately, whispers began to fill the air, and rumors quickly began to form and spread. The captain¡¯s brows furrowed, however, she could not stop the populus from talking. She walked forward, leading the way toward a fairly remote corner of the village. There, she threw Kai into an empty animal cage, taking away his backpack before glancing at him with hesitation. Whatever, we don¡¯t need to see his face¡­ She thought after careful deliberation of whether or not to take off his mask. Onyx yelped as he got shoved inside another cage, however even curling up it seemed a bit too small for his size. Kai let out a chuckle at the sight before turning toward the captain. ¡°Could you please tell Elizabeth Kai is here? I don¡¯t mean any harm. And the snake, please don¡¯t take it away, I almost lost my life killing it.¡± His words rang inside the captain¡¯s words like a bell, and she glared at Kai. ¡°You¡­! How can you demand such things? You¡¯re the prisoner here! Do you want me to prepare a hot bowl of soup as well? The nerve of some people!¡± She said, her voice loud but not quite a yell yet. ¡°And for your information, our heir isn¡¯t present at the moment. If you want to see her, you¡¯ll have to wait quite a bit!¡± ¡°Uhm, sure? I¡¯ll wait¡­¡± Kai replied, feeling defeated, not quite sure of what to make of this situation. I should have known it would not be easy¡­ but to get jailed, in an animal cage no less¡­ there has to be something wrong with her head. He sat down and let out a light sigh while watching the guards depart. Where did I go wrong¡­ Chapter 58: Aina Kai lay inside the cage, breathing slowly as he waited for something to happen. However, even as the sun left the sky and the moon took its place, and even as it rose and hung within its center, nothing transpired. He let out a long sigh and looked at Onyx, who got somewhat comfortable, well, as comfortable as one could be stuck in a small cage. The Obborik stuck his front paws out from the cages¡¯ grids, as well as his snout and tail, making for a very hilarious sight. ¡°Comfortable?¡± Kai chuckled to himself before laying back down on his back, watching the leaves sway with the wind. It was quiet, just the breeze blowing, tickling his scalp while he emptied his mind. ¡°Well, who do we have here?¡± An old, raspy yet pleasant voice rang inside Kai¡¯s ears. Jumping up, his eyes widened in surprise as a sharp current flowed through his brain. ¡°You are¡­?¡± The woman before him seemed familiar, weirdly so as he didn¡¯t recall meeting her. She had a head full of pale, white hair which went down a bit past her shoulder. Her emerald green eyes of a similarly faded hue looked at Kai with a mysterious light. Despite being an elf, as her long and pointy ears suggested, wrinkles and ridges covered her face. A sweet smile creased her lips as she walked closer to Kai, her hands interlocked behind the hunched back that showed age. ¡°Hoho, just a random old lady.¡± She laughed, briefly exposing her perfect teeth before stopping in front of the two¡¯s cages. ¡°Euphy called for me, saying she captured a weird guy with a disgusting beast. Got yourselves in a pickle?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Kai shrugged after standing up. ¡°I¡¯m expecting someone, though honestly, I could have planned this better.¡± Awkwardly scratching the back of his head, he took a closer look at the woman, the feeling of familiarity intensifying with each passing second. ¡°Please forgive Euphy, she¡¯s a little hot-headed but she¡¯s got a good heart.¡± Smiling, she walked toward the Obborik, ¡°You¡¯ve got yourself quite a friend here¡±,She kneeled in front of Onyx, patting his snout before her lips parted again, ¡°Who could have believed the boy I saw some ten years ago would come here and get thrown in the animal cage.¡± The old woman¡¯s eyes shone with a mischievous glint as she observed Kai, whose mind reeled in shock. It was her! The elf lady that Elly brought over that day¡­ her mother?!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got quite a memory, to remember me from the literal day you were born¡­¡± She remarked, a hint of incredulity hidden in her voice. ¡°But that proves that the rumors I¡¯ve heard about you are half true at least.¡± ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°Genius.¡± Elly¡¯s mother said. ¡°Elizabeth said you were a genius, and even hearing it from her mouth, it was hard for me to believe. Natural mastery over all elements? It¡¯s hard to think such a thing is possible.¡± Walking closer to Kai¡¯s cage, her emerald eyes glowed with a faint yellow hue, ¡°But the young man before me seems like the complete opposite of the image I had in my head.¡± Pausing, she glanced over at the snake¡¯s corpse. ¡°Although they may not all be fake.¡± ¡°Why did you come here?| She asked softly, ¡°I can¡¯t believe your parents sent you without a letter in advance.¡± ¡°Stuff¡­ stuff ha-happened¡­¡± Kai¡¯s voice struggled to escape his lips as he choked on the words. The old woman¡¯s ears twitched upon hearing the pain within his tone and immediately took out a chain of keys. Her hands trembled as the door to Kai¡¯s cage creaked open, and asked with widened eyes. ¡°Kid, what happened?¡± Remaining silent, Kai¡¯s head lowered to the ground, and tears began falling through the holes within his mask. ¡°Kai! Elena, Ray, where are they?!¡± She asked with a trembling voice as her hands flew to his shoulders. He shook as more and more tears fell on ground, soft sobbing sounds escaping his lips. ¡°No¡­ no, no, no, no!¡± The woman embraced Kai without hesitation, placing his head on her chest while tightly hugging his frail body. Kai didn¡¯t reject her hug, comforting himself in her warm body, he took off the mask before wrapping his arms around her waist. Taking on her warmth, he felt the faint feeling of a mother¡¯s love for the first time in a long time, and he couldn¡¯t help himself but become vulnerable. More and more tears fell down his cheeks, soaking the woman¡¯s silky shirt in salty water. Her comforting presence seeped onto his skin, and her rapid yet soothing heartbeat rang in his ears like a drum. His sobs turned to light crying, then to anguished screams as all of his emotions burst out like a floodgate. ¡­ Some time passed before Kai finally stopped, his face red as a tomato as their bodies parted. An awkward silence descended upon them, and Kai scratched the back of his head while letting out a bitter laugh. ¡°Awooooo¡­¡± Onyx¡¯s soft cry rang in their ears, his snout wet with tears as he stared at them with puppy-like eyes. A light chuckle escaped the woman¡¯s lips, followed by Kai, who wiped the last of his tears. ¡°Aha¡­ sorry boy, I got uhm, caught up¡­¡± ¡°My name is Aina, by the way.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s mom said while getting Onyx out of the cage, his fluff flying everywhere as he stretched his bones. Looking at Kai, the Obborik scoffed and turned his head, although his tail still wagged slightly. What a drama queen¡­ Kai thought to himself, his mind having calmed down with this light-hearted moment. Aina turned to him and grabbed his hand, a slight, reassuring smile creasing her lips. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later, alright?¡± Her soothing voice sent slight shivers down Kai¡¯s spine, and he only nodded softly in response. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to my house. We can talk after you rest.¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Kai followed behind her, admiring the city¡¯s beautiful architecture. The houses seemingly integrated the trees, almost as if they were carved inside their trunks. Leaves and vines decorated their exterior, and some of them even had small gardens with plants of all shapes and colors. Above him, wind currents blew constantly, from one massive tree to another. The elves used these wind currents to travel, using magic to make their bodies light and control the flow of hair, or simply force their trajectory by changing the way their bodies were. ¡°Amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Aina said, a proud smile manifesting on her lips as Kai took in the sight. ¡°It took us a few centuries to develop this system, as funny as that sounds. A long time ago we were attacked by¡­¡± She took a long pause, glancing at Kai before a light cough escaped her lips. ¡°By a few nefarious people. Back then all of our buildings were on the ground, bases, houses, shops¡­ hospitals. However, the enemy took advantage of the terrain, they hid in the shadows and ambushed us. Many died, and many more were captured.¡± A tinge of sorrow and helplessness appeared on her face, however, she continued as they walked through the paved roads. ¡°After our enslavement ended, and magic became more common among the masses, we decided to use the forest¡¯s massive stature to our advantage. We tore down every single building and created new ones atop the canopies. We used Air Crystals and a mechanism to create wind tunnels which we can use to travel between trees. By making use of Air Magic, Modifying our mass with magic or sheer brutality, we can freely travel anywhere in the kingdom via these Wind Wakers. Although you can¡¯t see everything from here. After all, we haven¡¯t even entered the kingdom yet.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t?¡± Kai looked around with an expression of disbelief. ¡°No, this is just the Southern Gate¡¯s Public Place. It¡¯s mainly used to sell and buy products from the outside, trade mostly. But sometimes we also get some interesting fellas who look for trouble, that¡¯s why we have some animal cages in the outskirts.¡± She chuckled, eyeing Onyx with the corner of her eye. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re aware, but this guy¡¯s ancestors really drove a nail through our skulls at some point. Without going into the nitty-gritty details, they put a lot on our plate.¡± Onyx¡¯s ears twitched and looked at Aina with a curious expression. ¡°Huh, What happened?¡± Kai asked, just as curious as his companion. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now, just know that he may not be welcomed. Not to mention¡­ you¡¯re not that much different.¡± ¡°Ah? Oh yeah¡­¡± Kai nervously fidgeted with his fingers before reaching for the mask. Aina¡¯s voice rang in his ears as he placed it over his face and made sure it doesn''t fall off. ¡°Smart choice, silver hair is rare but not a vampire trait. However, only your race possesses eyes like yours. They¡¯re a sign of danger, everyone is cautious of them regardless of race or background.¡± Kai inhaled deeply before letting out a long, heavy sigh. The words of the other Kai, the one he met back in Nivero stuck to his brain like a leech, making him question his own identity. Did I want this?... I- I wish I could remember. Damn it! His distress didn¡¯t go unnoticed, but Aina remained silent as they slowly walked forward. Leaves and branches crunched under their feet, and the gusts of wind blew their hair back slightly. More and more elves, dwarves, humans, and demi-humans appeared as they approached the gate. A good number of them looked at Kai and Onyx with bewilderment, some with disgust, but shock and awe manifested on everyone¡¯s faces upon seeing Aina. ¡°Greetings, Matriarch!¡± ¡°Long Live the Matriarch!¡± ¡°Greetings Great Healer!¡± ¡°Greetings Madam Aina.¡± Regardless of race or background, anyone that they passed by stopped in their tracks and respectfully greeted Elizabeth¡¯s mother, much to Kai¡¯s surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were such a big shot.¡± ¡°Hoho,¡± Aina laughed. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, let¡¯s hurry up, I¡¯m sure you must be tired.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Kai grunted, still observing his new environment with awe. To think that they managed to make such ingenious contraptions¡­ maybe I should stop looking down on this world. They finally arrived at the gate after a few more minutes, and, just like the day Kai arrived, it was eerily empty, in stark contrast to the inner and outer parts they just walked through. Suddenly, the voice of a woman rang in his ears, and he turned toward its source with widened pupils. ¡°Madam Aina, what¡­ what are you doing with this man?¡± The woman was the guard captain who captured Kai in the first place, the one Aina referred to as Euphy. ¡°It¡¯s fine Euphridia, he¡¯s an old friend.¡± Aina smiled as she walked forward, unbothered by the guard¡¯s attitude. ¡°Old friend?¡± She looked at Kai with a bewildered expression, and her face reddened in shame upon realizing that he had told the truth. ¡°Yeah, can you go and grab his hunt and backpack? My old bones can¡¯t carry all that and I don¡¯t want to have my guest do it.¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± Euphy replied, her tone slightly annoyed, and she grumbled while walking back toward her squad. Shortly after, she departed with three other elves. ¡°Isn¡¯t she a sweetheart?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kai replied. ¡°Got my heart racing¡­¡± ¡°Fufu, then you better prepare. I don¡¯t want to boast, but my clan¡¯s women and men are one of the most beautiful.¡± ¡°I-¡± Kai¡¯s face reddened, as well as his ears which the mask failed to hide. Aina laughed softly at his reaction, and her eyes sparkled as she stopped in front of a seemingly empty space. Without waiting for Kai to say anything, she took out her wand, which resembled a twig more than it did a wand. Its body was long, and, much like a branch, it was in the shape of a ¡°y¡±. From its tip sprouted what seemed to be leaves, but upon closer inspection, one could see countless crystals glued together in a pattern. As she waved it around, they moved along with it just like leaves, and they glowed softly as she chanted under her breath. Suddenly, the space before them morphed and crystalized. A portal-looking circle manifested in front of Kai, its surface riddled with cracks that formed a pattern, like Church windows. The pattern formed a beautiful, intricate painting, depicting a world filled with lush vegetation, a blue sky, and countless, beautiful Elves. ¡°Shall we?¡± Aina asked, grabbing Kai by the arm and walking inside the painting. Chapter 59: Evicario Just like a pebble thrown in a calm lake, the image rippled and distorted as they stepped in. Onyx watched the thing with caution, but in the end, closed his eyes and followed them as well. The portal slowly faded away, disappearing as if it was never there in the first place. A brief flash of light greeted Kai upon entry, making him squint. His blurry vision returned to normal a few moments later, and his mouth dropped open as he looked around him. To compare the South Gate Public Place to the area he found himself in was like comparing a firefly¡¯s light to the moon¡¯s - impossible. As soon as he stepped in, an intoxicating blend of natural scents invaded his nostrils, and he coughed as he adjusted to the air. The trees, although shorter than the ones outside, had thick crowns forming an emerald canopy that shone brilliantly as the moon¡¯s light bounced off its verdant surface. A tranquil sound reverberated through the air, the wind breeze running through and crashing against the leaves. Accompanying it, the bird¡¯s beautiful melody echoed through the forest, adding to the peaceful atmosphere. The beautiful night sky covered the kingdom¡¯s lush vegetation, its stars shining upon it like countless eyes casually observing Evicario¡¯s beauty. Buildings of different shapes and sizes, made out of a luscious pale wood carved with several intricate symbols decorated the trees. Within them, crystals that shone like a firefly in the night were embedded, adding a luxurious tinge of beauty. Some of the buildings even spanned several trees, all of them blending harmoniously with the trees they warped around. Gargoyels depicting different sorts of animals, some of which Kai didn¡¯t recognize, were placed on the roofs of the more important buildings. Inns, shops, governmental buildings, trading alleys - As far as Kai could see, each tree served a purpose, and, regardless of which type of building it was housing, at least ten elves were going to and fro. All of them however had launch pads, similar to the ones outside, which the elves used to travel through the magnificent landscape. Down on the ground, hidden among the lush vegetation, were a few buildings. Although it lacked the intricate design of those atop the trees, they did their job - To house and help the non-elf visitors travel through the different zones. Both male and female elves helped the different races travel through the trees, and a clear difference became immediately obvious. The guests that looked more important had upwards of five elves guarding them, all of them as beautiful as a rose regardless of gender or build. In contrast, the more ordinary guests only had one elf, which lacked in appearance compared to the others. Of course, there were exceptions, but very rare. The flora covering the ground, however, seemed ripped off of a painting and dropped on the earth. Beautiful, glowing flowers covered the ground, their soft, comforting light illuminating the vibrant grass. Joining them, thin, long flowers with silver petals covered the surface like vines, and wrapping around these veins were crimson flowers that resembled vipers. At the base of the trees, mushrooms of all shapes and colors fed off their trunks like parasites. Some of them glowed, some of them were nearly invisible and some of them fed off the insects roaming about. Kai¡¯s mouth remained wide open as he struggled to take all of it in. He had never witnessed such scenery before, and even Onyx¡¯s eyes widened in surprise upon glancing at the city. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy, to get all this,¡± Aina said a trace of melancholy hidden in her voice. ¡°My house is right around the center, let¡¯s go.¡± She beckoned Kai, walking toward one of the launchpads designed for guests. Upon arrival, the elves and other races stared at Kai with widened eyes and began whispering amongst themselves as they stepped inside the launchpad. Onyx stared at the two with anxiety, seeing that his size didn¡¯t allow him to get in even if it was empty. Letting out a low yelp, it looked toward Kai with begging eyes. ¡°Take the Obborik to my house, we¡¯ll meet you there.¡± Aina pointed toward two bulky elves, their well-toned and developed muscles bulging as they grunted in acknowledgment. ¡°Kai, get ready, the first time you launch isn¡¯t the prettiest, fufu.¡± Laughing, she gestured toward one female elf who stood a distance away next to what looked like a controller. She waved her hand above a crystal, and a strong gust of wind suddenly appeared from below Kai¡¯s feet. ¡°Hold on tight.¡± Aina grabbed Kai and pressed him tightly to her body, and in turn, Kai hugged her waist as they got launched into the air. His hair and robe flew backward, and he almost started tumbling were it not for Aina holding him tight. Suddenly, a warm light enveloped him and the woman. He felt his body turn lighter, but, despite that, the air surrounding him turned gentler, and he almost seemed to be able to control its direction. A soft smile creased Aina¡¯s lips, disappearing as they landed atop a platform. ¡°How was it?¡± she asked, letting go of Kai¡¯s body. ¡°It was¡­ interesting.¡± He stumbled, only replying after regaining his footing. ¡°What was that toward the end? The light and¡­¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°That was my magic, I modified the energy around our bodies. I¡¯ll teach you how to do that later.¡± She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the next launchpad before Kai could even process her words. As they flew and traveled through the air, Evicario slowly revealed itself to Kai. What he had seen from the ground could not compare to actually being in the painting, floating like a fairy amongst the verdant branches. The buildings, commercial, industrial, or housing, turned even more beautiful as he walked past them, his mouth agape. Aina purposefully slowed down, letting Kai take in all the new information. Strolling through the bustling platforms, which almost resembled a street but not quite, Kai felt a sense of being a fish out of water. All kinds of people of different races, heights, occupations, and status walked past him. Some of them with wide eyes, and some with disinterest, awe, reverence or simply curiosity. Regardless of which it was, the large variety - from dwarves to elves, to lizardmen and humans, but also countless Mnatu people. Most of the buildings they passed by were shops or inns, however, there were also a few personal homes that stood out like a sore thumb compared to the other lodgings in the area. They were grand, tall, and majestic despite the similar materials. Intricate designs covered every inch of the wood and glass panes, and a large garden could be seen every so often. The flowers within seemed to have been taken out of a book and carefully placed inside the soil, as their beauty made all others pale in comparison. Likewise, some yards had one or two magical beasts, the aura and pressure they emanated made Kai shudder slightly. So strong?! Are they keeping them as pets or something?? After a few minutes, Aina suddenly halted in her footsteps, stopping in the middle of what resembled an intersection. To his left stood a relatively large building decorated with gargoyles, flowers, magical beasts statues, and several trees. The material it was made of differed greatly from all others, as its white surface shone like a pearl in the night. A multitude of people gathered around it, most of them with various wounds covering their bodies, All of them seemed to be in pain or discomfort as they waited outside, creating a seemingly never-ending line. Situated just above the entrance, right in the middle, stood a green cross made out of glistening emeralds. The symbol looked terrifyingly familiar to Kai, however, he had no time to think about it further as Aina¡¯s voice rang in his ears. ¡°Let¡¯s enter, my house is just around the corner.¡± Kai didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and turned around, following Aina a few dozen meters before stopping abruptly. His eyes widened in shock and awe as he stared at the building before him, its appearance resembling a castle more than a house. At the end of the street-like platform, placed between nine trees, a tall, shining, majestic building surrounded by a beautiful purple fence, was a¡­ manor. Its brown exterior, although weathered by time, left one in awe. Vibrant green grass filled its courtyard, on top of which stood several smaller shacks, greenhouses and workshops. Weirdly shaped yet gorgeous purple and pink trees lined up along the centrally paved road, which led toward two circular staircases. Standing opposite each other, their trajectory met in the middle, right in front of two giant doors, which had the symbol of a snake wrapped around a staff engraved on them. The Serpent of Epidaurus?! The Staff of Aesculapius? Kai¡¯s mind reeled in shock as he looked at the symbol which signifinied medicine, small snippets of his memories, along with Rodney¡¯s flooding his brain. His eyes widened in shock as he remembered the green gross etched onto the building as realization suddenly hit him. This¡­ it can¡¯t be a coincidence, right? He looked at Aina with a deep, profound gaze, his body shaking briefly as he tried to regain his composure. Elizabeth¡¯s mother noticed this but didn¡¯t pay it any mind as most people seeing that building had a similar reaction. Looks like this brat can be impressed after all! He shook his head and followed Aina toward the manor¡¯s gate, which seemingly opened by itself as soon as they stepped in front of it. What the fu¡­- Kai exclaimed internally, however, he kept walking nonchalantly as the gates quickly closed behind them. He took a step backward and took in a deep breath as he adjusted to the new atmosphere. The air seemed to have become thicker, and the mana permeating it turned denser, to the point that even Kai, with his broken veins and core, could feel it. ¡°What is this?¡± A question involuntarily escaped his lips as he felt his entire body ache, the mana forcefully invading his body, coursing through his broken mana veins. He grunted, his arms trembling as the pain became more and more excruciating. With a racing heart, he fell to his knees and tears dripped down his cheeks as he struggled to contain a scream. Aina¡¯s expression immediately turned to horror as she watched Kai tumble to the ground. ¡°Kai!¡± She yelled while dropping to her knees, immediately grabbing one of his arms. A painful scream escaped his lips as she injected mana into his veins, and he almost fell to the ground were it not for Aina holding him up. ¡°Boy, what¡­ what happened to you?!¡± Her faint, broken voice fell on deaf ears, and Kai¡¯s head rang as if a bell struck it. Aina¡¯s pupils constricted as she immediately pulled out her wand. Waving it, a small barrier encompassed both her and Kai, cutting off the mana from the outside. With a gesture of her fingers, the leftover mana rushed toward her hand, safely entering her body. She laid Kai down on the ground before running her hands over his chest, her fingertips glowing with a faint green light. The horror on her face intensified as Kai¡¯s broken body slowly revealed itself before her as she felt the movement of the mana through his veins. ¡°How could this be¡­¡± her vision seemed to turn blurry as she inspected the hole-riddled mana veins, countless thoughts and questions appearing in her mind. Kai¡¯s pained groan awoke her from the daze, and she immediately got to work, moving her fingers up and down in the air, forcefully extracting the mana from within. A wave of warmth spread all along his body as the pain began to subside, however, he felt himself losing consciousness as his muscles began to relax. The last thing he heard was Aina¡¯s horror-filled voice, however, her words turned incomprehensible as he fell into slumber. Chapter 60: The Truth, revealed. Kai¡¯s eyes opened slowly, the blurry image of a chandelier covering his vision. Sniffing the air, a sweet smell inundated his nostrils, sending a wave of warmth throughout his body. His loose clothes rustled along with the blanket as he propped himself up, rubbing his eyes as he looked around the unfamiliar room. The fancy decor and seemingly expensive materials made him feel a bit weird. That, accompanied by the golden chandelier with actual candles hanging off of it, led him to believe that he had died once again¡­ or at least it would have were it not for the woman sleeping at his bedside. As he turned to look at her, the head full of pale blonde locks he expected was instead replaced by a luscious, healthy golden hair. Her fair, rosy complexion brought a rush of blood toward his face. Elizabeth¡­ He felt his heart pounding against his chest as he looked at the woman, whose appearance hadn¡¯t changed one bit in the past five years. However, unlike five years ago, her attire was drastically different. She wore a green, military uniform with silver shoulder guards and a pair of brown pants. Leaning against the bedframe, a sword rattled quietly as Kai moved about. Elly let out a soft breath as her eyes blinked open. Lifting her head, she stretched and let out a long yawn. However, her arms froze mid-air as she stared at Kai with widened pupils, tears forming around her emerald eyes. Without hesitation, she jumped on Kai, hugging him tightly as they fell on the bed. Her body shivered, and she inhaled and exhaled sharply while hugging him tighter and tighter. ¡°Kai, you¡­ how dare you scare me like that?!¡± Her cracking voice rang in Kai¡¯s ears, whose initial shock still hadn¡¯t disappeared. ¡°I-...¡± His faint voice struggled to escape his mouth, as the air entering his lungs became scarcer under Elly¡¯s hold. Frantically patting her back, his face began to turn blue as he once again began to fade into unconsciousness. ¡°Aye, Kai, don¡¯t die! I¡¯m sorry!¡± She anxiously got off of him, and he inhaled deeply as oxygen once again reached his brain. ¡°Goddamn it Elizabeth, if that snake didn¡¯t kill me you would have finished the deed!¡± ¡°Snake? What snake?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ nothing, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Kai chuckled, taking off the blanket covering his steaming body. Looking down, he found himself in a loose, green pajama. Blood rushed to his face once again, which he did his best to hide however it was much too difficult without the mask covering his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we have a lot of doctors and nurses. Sorry for the pajama size though, we didn¡¯t have any that fit your body in such a small time frame. ¡°It- it¡¯s fine. Thank you¡­¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Elly grunted, however, her expression quickly turned serious as she locked eyes with Kai. ¡°My mother told me something bad happened, but doesn¡¯t know what. Kai, what happened to your parents? To your mana veins? To your core?! How¡­ - Just, just tell me everything¡­¡± Kai hiccuped, his muscles twitching as he stared into the elf¡¯s eyes. Clenching his fists, he began recounting the story, not missing any details aside from hiding his secrets. From the day she left to meeting Julie and Orphelia¡­ to fighting bears and snakes, and finally to arriving here and getting caged. Elizabeth¡¯s expression changed several times, from anger and shock to awe and pity, but she also began piling up some questions as she analyzed Kai¡¯s story, however, she held back as he finished up. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a fun journey I have to say¡­ but I¡¯m here because you offered to be my teacher. I¡¯ll take you up on that.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes shone with resolution as he looked at Elly, whose pupils trembled briefly. ¡°Elly,¡± he continued in a wavering voice. ¡°Please, help me find a way to heal my mana veins. Teach me! I want to become stronger¡­ I-¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Elizabeth spoke over him. ¡°I¡¯m not going to teach you and lead you to an early grave!¡± She jumped to her feet, glaring at Kai as she took a deep breath. ¡°Listen, Kid, I know what you want to do. Stop it.¡± Her concerned voice rang in Kai¡¯s ears, making him shiver. However, an unwilling anger built up inside of him, but he did his best to contain it as he looked at the floor. ¡°You should count yourself lucky you¡¯re even alive! You-, your mana veins are practically useless, not to mention your core! It should have shattered a long time ago! You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re still alive!¡± Her voice gradually rose, turning into a yell as tears streamed down her face. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Elena¡­ oh, Elena¡­ why?!¡± She fell to her knees, hugging the bed as sorrowful sobs echoed in the room, accompanied by soft hiccups. Whatever words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat, and her eyes turned red as she gripped the sheets. Her nails dug into her palms through the fabric, intense, violent emotions taking over her body as the reality of the situation fully set in. Kai leaned toward Elizabeth, however, the door slammed open before his lips could fully part. Aina stormed in like a typhoon, a worried expression painted on her face as she kneeled next to her daughter. Gently patting her back, she turned silently toward Kai, whose face was a mixture of worry and anger. The woman looked away, letting out a soft sigh as she sat in silence A few minutes passed, and Elly finally lifted her head, turning with a flushed face toward her mother. ¡°Mom, Elena¡­ Ray, they-¡± ¡°I know¡­ I- I was just outside, I heard the entire story¡­¡± she said sheepishly. Watching the two interact, Kai couldn¡¯t help but feel a knot in his stomach, his heart burning as images of his mother flashed in his mind. These damn memories¡­ He sighed and did his best to hold back his tears, sitting quietly as the tense atmosphere eased up. Aina coughed lightly and got up. Sitting on the bed, she looked at Kai with a gentle expression. ¡°Kid,¡± a soft voice escaped her lips. ¡°I¡¯m afraid my daughter can¡¯t teach you anything¡­ You can¡¯t use magic anymore, she-¡± ¡°I can use magic, it¡¯s just¡­ it takes time.¡± Kai interrupted her. ¡°As I said, there is a way to heal, at least, my veins. I have no idea what to do about my core, but if at least my vein-¡± ¡°Kai! No!¡± Aina retorted. ¡°The method you used it¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s way too dangerous! Do you think you¡¯re the first one to come up with it?! I¡¯ve seen people, just as desperate as you do the same thing! They-¡± ¡°I¡¯m different!¡± Kai retorted as he raised his voice, ¡°My mana veins are-¡± However, his voice quickly got shot down as Aina¡¯s hand flew to his face. The sound of a fierce slap reverberated in the air. Kai¡¯s face immediately turned red, the imprint of a palm burning on his face. Aina took back her, gently rubbing it while giving Kai a fierce look. ¡°The slightest misstep will make your veins completely shatter and break. If it¡¯s just them, that¡¯s fine but¡­ But if your core explodes-.¡± Her wavering voice stopped, unable to continue explaining the horrific consequences that would befall him. Kai¡¯s pupils trembled, his stomach dropping as he clenched his fists. ¡°What other¡­ what other choice do I have?¡± His voice cracked, barely containing the torrent of emotions within him. ¡°There¡¯s one thing you can do¡­¡± Elizabeth interjected, her voice barely escaping as she said hesitatingly. ¡°You can turn your useless mana core¡­ into a body core.¡± Aina¡¯s pupils widened and immediately shook her head. ¡°No! No way! That¡¯s too dangerous, too reckless! No one has ever succeded in doing that!¡± Elizabeth took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as her lips parted. However, as she turned to her mother, the language escaping her body turned foreign. He didn¡¯t recognize it as Lazarah, the continent¡¯s universal language, nor as Elvish, be it the little he studied it. ¡°Mam?! Nimeni nu a supravie?uit vreodat? cand miezul de mana a fost uscat ?i rupt. Nimeni nu a supravie?uit mai mult de o s?pt?man? cand venele lor de mana s-au rupt. Uit?-te la el, uit?-te ?n ochii lui ?i spune-mi c? ar accepta s? tr?iasc? ca un infirm!: Aina turned silent, her eyes glimmering as she switched between the bewildered Kai and her propsoperous daughter. ¡°Ascult?, Elizabeth, Kai-¡± ¡°Kai..¡± Elizabeth didn¡¯t let her mother finish before speaking. ¡°La fel ca tat?l s?u, are un foc aprins ?n suflet. L-am v?zut, de ziua lui. Sufletul care se afl? ?n el nu este obi?nuit. Este puternic, mai puternic decat orice altul pe care l-am v?zut vreodat?, la fel ca ?i voin?a lui. Dac? nu-l ajut?m, va continua s?-?i ri?te via?a ?ntr-o urm?rire f?r? sens. Dar dac? reu?e?te s? treac? ?i s?-?i transforme cu succes miezul inutil ?ntr-un nucleu corporal... ar putea ?ncepe s? caute modalit??i de a folosi magia Onkos din nou.¡± Aina inhaled deeply, closing her eyes as she pondered over her daughter¡¯s words. Finally, she turned toward Kai, a defeated smile creasing her lips. ¡°Fine, Kai. Prepare yourself, I¡¯ll help you start the process when the time is ripe. Until then, train, and get your body ready¡­ if you¡¯re successful, you may be able to find a way to truly heal your veins, given your intellect. However, even with a functional body core, too much magic may completely cripple you.¡± She turned around, not waiting for Kai¡¯s answer as she waved toward her daughter. Elizabeth¡¯s expression was up, and gave the boy a small kiss on the forehead, carrying his heart gently before running toward Aina. ¡°Can I train him?¡± She asked just as they turned around the corner, however, Aina¡¯s response didn¡¯t manage to reach his ears as he stood in complete silence. ¡°What the fu-¡± Chapter 61: Surprise Teacher! An icy wind blew through the thick leaves, creating a faint song that resonated with the evening¡¯s chilly atmosphere. Behind Aina¡¯s manor, grunts and moans reverberated through the air, and the dull sound of air getting smashed apart echoed in between the flowers and bushes. In the middle of a garden stood a large, emerald circle. Covering it were countless pebbles, leaves, dead flowers, and¡­ dried blood. In the middle of it, a boy, no older than what looked to be ten years of age swung a large, wooden sword. His pale, frail yet slightly scared body reflected the moon¡¯s glistening flavor as sweat covered his skin. Onyx watched from the side, lying with his snout within his paws. The wooden sword wooshed fiercely through the air, however, aimed at no one in particular. It stood at a height of 160 centimeters, just a tad bit shorter than Kai¡¯s actual height. Its thin blade gave the illusion of a sharpened edge, while its broken-down tip captured within the years it passed and lived through. The hilt, although short, was easy to grip with one hand, and very comfortable upon touch. Elizabeth watched next to Aina, a soft smile creasing her lips. ¡°Not bad, is he? It¡¯s only been a month and has already recovered¡­ damned Vampire constitution!¡± Aina¡¯s expression turned weird as soon as the comment escaped her daughter¡¯s lips. However, instead of retorting her daughter, Aina asked. ¡°How long do you think his supply will last?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­ such cases are very rare, but we¡¯ll have to wait and see, maybe he won¡¯t need it again.¡±: ¡°He will,¡± Aina said, confidence and fear brimming in her voice. ¡°But-¡± However, Elly¡¯s counterargument was quickly drowned out by the sound of rattling armor, which quickly approached him as he forced his exhausted body to swing the sword again and again. The woman¡¯s black hair stood out like a sore thumb among the three, however, she didn¡¯t seem to care as she tied it into a ponytail. It swayed back and forth, finally stopping next to Kai¡¯ her viper-like eyes inspecting his every move. ¡°Aye aye aye aye aye aye!¡± She finally broke the silence, grabbing the sword from Kai¡¯s hand. ¡°What¡¯s the point of swinging if you¡¯re not thinking? You believe your muscles will grow stronger like this?¡± Her voice rang inside Kai¡¯s head, scrapping against his brain as he turned toward her with a surprised look. ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Captain Euphridia, but for you, I am Trainer Euphridia. The clan chief herself appointed me to train you, so be prepared!¡± Her loud voice echoed in the air as she threw away the sword onto the soft grass. ¡°Your body is so weak it¡¯ll take a while to build up your body enough to handle a First Stage Body Core. Not to mention, you can only train at night, Vampire.¡± Kai¡¯s pupils shrunk upon hearing her words, and he looked at the mother-daughter duo with incredulity in his eyes. The two only smiled softly, a hint of amusement hidden within their pupils. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, unlike all the other races, we don¡¯t hold much of a grudge against your kind,¡± Euphridia added. ¡°However, that does not mean I will go easy on you. Come on now, give me five laps!¡± ¡°Five laps of what?¡± Kai asked, looking around at the huge courtyard. ¡°Five laps!¡± ¡°Of what?!!¡± Kai¡¯s exasperated question put a joyful smile on Euphridia¡¯s face, as well as the other two as if they knew what was about to happen. ¡°Of the manor, from the outside.¡± Kai¡¯s expression changed to one of helpless horror. However, he grits his teeth, clenches his fists, and let out a heavy sigh. He started walking toward the front gate, which stood in complete parallel to his current position. Behind him, Onyx followed with a wagging tail. ¡°I guess you¡¯re just happy to be here, eh, boy? After all that trouble you caused in five minutes¡­¡± ¡°Arf¡­¡± Onyx let out a low, pleading bark as if saying ¡®It wasn¡¯t me!¡± ¡°Ha, I know, I know¡­¡± Kai pat his white, fluffy fur as he gulped. I guess the real training starts now¡­ It didn¡¯t take long for him to reach the gate, and he took a deep breath of fresh air as he finally walked outside. ¡°Aaah¡­ it feels good to finally breathe properly¡­¡± He sighed as a chilly breeze blew past him, sending shivers down his spine. ¡°I guess we better start running?¡± ¡­ Two hours later, Kai¡¯s lifeless body flopped on the ground. He let out a few, miserable moans as he glanced upwards. The three women, and Onyx, looked at him with pity and worry in their eyes. Euphridia kneeled and grabbed him by the collar as she said. ¡°You only managed to do three laps, you¡¯re worse than I thought¡­ even children can do more than that¡­¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Kai attempted to clench his fists, however whatever strength he had left could only be used to breathe. ¡°Euphy¡­¡± Elizabeth¡¯s said, patting the captain on the back. ¡°He did good enough, let¡¯s take him to his room to rest.¡± Euphridia scoffed softly, however her eyes gleamed with anticipation. Handing Kai over to the two, she turned toward Onyx, who had given up after half of the first lap. ¡°I¡¯m not done with you, boy. Let¡¯s see how much an Obborik can run!¡± Saying that, she pulled out her sword, and hit Onyx¡¯s backside with the flat part of the blade. Letting out a low yelp, he looked toward Euphridia, whose sword began to descend once again. Not wanting to get hit again, Onyx ran as fast as he could, hoping to get rid of the crazy elf. However, no matter how much faster he ran or how much magic he used, she was always behind him, ready to strike his ass. ¡°Awoooo!!¡± ¡­ Kai blinked lazily as he woke up, staring at the now familiar chandelier once again. Rubbing his head as he got up, he looked around and let out a soft groan. ¡°Ack- I¡­ should not have done that¡­¡± His legs trembled as he tried moving them, and a sharp current of pain spread throughout his body. Looks like I¡¯m sitting here for a while¡­ He leaned back into the soft pillow and closed his eyes with a sigh. As he relaxed his mind, faded images of his past life appeared in his mind. Heavy gym equipment, running bands, and exercises he had seen from ads on TV. His eyes snapped open, and his heart raced as he almost wanted to yell ¡®Eureka!¡¯. If I manage to build dumbbells and the other stuff from the ads, then I could probably have an easier time training my body¡­ as long as I use it properly¡­ With that thought in mind, he began making blueprints for the simple equipment: Kettlebells, Dumbbells, Barbells, and Medicine Balls. These should be enough to train every muscle without too much of a hassle, and the Medicine Ball for balance and stability¡­ yeah. Ugh, I hope I remember the details well enough, not that they look complicated but I don¡¯t want to break my back¡­ He let out a low chuckle as he closed his eyes again, drifting into sleep as he allowed his muscles to relax. A dark quiet enveloped him, and an anxiety-inducing atmosphere descended upon him as a knot formed in his stomach. Unlike before, his heart raced in an uneven rhythm, and his eyes snapped open. Cold sweat ran down his body, but he couldn¡¯t budge a muscle, as if his body had been completely paralyzed. He could only look around, but darkness covered his entire field of vision. Suddenly, a bright light appeared before him, which transfigured into a large and scaly closed eye. It filled the room, and its presence sent shivers down Kai¡¯s spine. The room shuddered as it opened, revealing a large eye that shared the same hue as Kai¡¯s. Its dark, sharp pupils stared right into his soul. He groaned as the blood in his body began to boil, his heart pumping blood faster and faster with each passing second. A short while later, a scoff rang in Kai¡¯s ears as the large eye disappeared, along with the darkness and pressure. Exhaling rapidly, Kai caught his breath as he tried to control his shuddering body, however, it was no use. The knot in his stomach traveled upwards as he leaned above the hardwood floor, staining it. The door slammed open just as the wretching stopped, revealing Aina¡¯s concerned figure. ¡°Kai!¡± She grabbed Kai, whose paler than usual complexion almost made her think he already died. ¡°Kai, what¡¯s wrong?! Go grab me a glass of water, uh, two glasses of water!¡± Leaning him against the bed, she yelled out to the maids waiting outside, who immediately scurried off to the kitchen. Kai remained silent, shaken by the vivid image of the eye, and a single word escaped his body as he faded into consciousness, ¡°Dragon¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°What do you think happened?¡± Elizabeth asked worriedly, sitting next to the boy. Aina stood in contemplative silence, her eyes scanning Kai¡¯s body as they shone with a soft light. ¡°His blood flow is stable, and his muscles are normal¡­ I¡¯d have understood throwing up if it was on the spot but¡­ right after he woke up? It¡¯s too weird. And his face when I found him, it was¡­ like the blood didn¡¯t flow right¡­¡± Both women wore a fearful expression, scared of the unknown circumstances that had occurred Kai. ¡°It can¡¯t be because of running, right?¡± Elizabeth bit her finger as she asked. ¡°No, even if it was a bit too much for a first day, just running wouldn¡¯t reduce him to the state I found him in¡­ maybe, nightmares?¡± ¡°Nightmares? I¡¯ve never seen anyone pale as a ghost from a bad dream¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s been through a lot.¡± Aina said after a brief silence, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s having night demons?¡± ¡°Night demons? But those are legends, you don¡¯t think demons can really inflirtate dreams, do you?¡± Aina didn¡¯t reply, and only sighed after along time before her lips parted ¡°Who knows¡­¡± The blanket next to Elizabeth rustled as Kai woke up in a cold sweat. His heart raced and he frantically looked around, pinching and touching his body to make sure he wasn¡¯t dreaming. ¡°Kai, are you alright?! What happened?¡± Elizbeth frantically wrapped her arms around him, her warmth permeating his skin. Aina stepped closer and grabbed his hand, tightly holding it while looking deep into his crimson pupils. ¡°Kai, that word you said before passing out, what does it mean?¡± ¡°W-word?¡± Kai stuttered, ¡°What word? I don¡¯t, I don¡¯t remember¡­¡± his weak voice struggled to escape his body. ¡°I really can¡¯t remember anything¡­ there was just a lot of¡­ darkness, so much darkness it- it gripped me, surrounded me. I couldn¡¯t escape¡­ I-¡± His words, cut short by Elizabeth¡¯s soft hug, remained stuck in his throat as her gentle hand caressed his disheveled hair. A delicate whisper escaped her lips, sending shivers all throughout his body. ¡°Shh, it¡¯s alright¡­ don¡¯t force yourself to remember¡­¡± A tear fell down his cheek as he gripped her arm, however, he held back his emotions, simply enjoying her warm embrace as he calmed down. Aina¡¯s eyes flickered with uncertainty, however, she only sighed and gave them some space. As the doors slammed behind her, Elizabeth¡¯s voice rang in his ears. ¡°Are you feeling better now, Kai?¡± Nodding as he let out a low grunt, his racing heart slowing down to a normal rate. ¡°There was something in the darkness. I remember¡­ I, a very powerful presence¡­¡± He said, rubbing his head against her body. They stood in silence, Kai enjoying Elizabeth¡¯s comfort while she wore a contemplative expression on her face. Chapter 62: Training... and... The moon scattered on the beautiful pale rocks decorating the Elven training ground. Pillars as wide as a tree and just as tall stood in three rows, alligent at an equal distance from one another. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, blowing the dust off their delicate surface. In the middle of a circular stone platform covered in vines, Kai stood in a horse stance. His face, red as a tomato dripped with sweat as pants escaped his trembling body. The beautiful silver hair adorning his head flowed loosely down his back, slightly protecting him from the moon¡¯s rays. Euphridia watched him like an eagle, wearing a serious expression as she played with a long stick between her fingers. ¡°Straight! Your butt lower, I want to see a ninety-degree angle!¡± Her commanding tone boomed in the serenity of the night, making Kai flinch as he followed the orders. ¡°Miss Euphy¡­ I- I¡¯ve been doing this for the past two hours¡­.¡± He said in a coarse, trembling voice. However, as soon as the words escaped his lips, his barren back met with the silent whistle of the branch. Groaning softly, he bit on the lower lip until it bled, but he kept holding that position. ¡°Fifteen more counts and you¡¯re down, isn¡¯t that good?¡± Fifteen counts¡­ he repeated in his mind, converting it into a time he was more familiar with. Thirty minutes¡­ Unable to let out a sigh, he focused on a single point in front of him - a small hole in a tree, within which stood a sole bird. It slept with its head between its wings, unaware of the eyes observing it. Sometimes its wings fluttered, or spasmed, whether because of a nightmare or because of the cold wind remained unknown, but it returned to stillness soon enough. If one didn¡¯t know better, they¡¯d assume it had died peacefully, dreaming of the large skies it would travel. The unknown lands and kingdoms it was about to see, or the oceans it wanted to traverse. The sun shone upon its golden wings as it soared into a phoenix. But none of that happened in the bird¡¯s dreams. Instead, Kai¡¯s imagination got the better of him, seeing and morphing images he had seen in his previous life, creating a story for the unaware bird. ¡°Enough.¡± Just like that, the fifteen counts passed as Kai dreamed. Upon hearing Euphy¡¯s words, he collapsed onto the cold ground, which embraced him as his body cooled down. A small puddle of sweat formed around him as he stared at the moon and stars, the light of which softly tickled his skin. Soft burning sensations suddenly appeared on his skin, making his heart skip a beat. However, the sore and tired muscles only allowed him to squirm slightly as anxiety began to overtake his body. Euphridia scoffed, observing the situation. Her pink lips parted, this time saying in a much gentler tone. ¡°Calm down. Breathe in slowly¡­ in and out¡­ exhale¡­ good. Keep going, you¡¯re doing great. The moon cannot harm you as much as the sun, the scars aren¡¯t long-lasting so just learn to embrace this pain. Unless you plan on feeding often, that is.¡± He did as she said, taking control of his breathing under her guidance as the feeling of anxiety started passing away, even as she finished her sentence. However, her final words struck a cord, and realization dawned upon him. So that¡¯s why¡­ I- No¡­ no way¡­. ¡°It¡¯s not the end of the world kiddo.¡± Aina¡¯s voice rang in his ears, and, although he couldn¡¯t lift his head, he knew Elizabeth arrived together with her. A light chuckle barely escaped his lips as a soft, green light hovered above his body, causing the fatigue within his muscles to lessen. ¡°People would pay good money to get a few hours of training from Euphy. Good job, by the way.¡± Aina said, turning toward Euphridia toward the latter part of her sentence. The guard¡¯s face reddened and exploded in happiness, her trembling hand flying to her forehead as she shouted, ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am!¡± A soft smile creased Aina¡¯s lips as she looked at Euphridia, however, a contemplative expression quickly replaced it as she turned to Kai. He groaned as he got up, helped by all three women, and skipped toward a nearby bench. Its cold surface embraced his blazing skin, sending a shiver throughout his body as he let out a light sigh of relief. There¡¯s no point in thinking about that now¡­ if my parents found a way to get it¡­ harmlessly then I should be able to as well. ¡°Here, how are you feeling?¡± Elizabeth handed him a bottle of water as she sat down next to him, inspecting his pale body with a soft glow in her eyes. Kai immediately downed the bottle in its entirety, letting out a satisfied moan as he placed it to the side. ¡°I¡¯m doing fine now that the torture is over¡­¡± He touched his lower lip, a bit of blood staining his finger. A light chuckle escaped between Euphy¡¯s beautiful smile. ¡°Truth be told, this is just the beginning¡­ Euphridia¡¯s being very gentle with you right now¡­¡± Kai¡¯s expression immediately darkened upon hearing that, and he could only silently accept the situation. ¡°Right, Kai,¡± Aina said as she handed him a yellow paper sheet. Drew on them were the schematics of the gym equipment he decided to try building, accompanied by a bunch of text written in Elvish. ¡°Our engineers said they don¡¯t fully understand the weights and proportions based on what you drew, said you should visit and explain a bit better.¡± ¡°I- I don¡¯t understand Elvish¡­¡± Kai said as he glanced at the foreign language, finding it slightly familiar yet unfamiliar. ¡°But yeah, I¡¯ll pass by tomorrow morning¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you.¡± Euphiridia suddenly said from the sidelines, intrigue clear in her eyes. The three of them silently agreed although Kai felt a bit weird having someone babysit him all the time. Rolling it up and placing it in his back pocket, he leaned back and stared at the night sky. The stars sparkled as they stood untainted, a wave of nostalgia spreading through his body as he looked at the familiarly unfamiliar carpet. Elizabeth healed him all the while, and after a short break, his aching muscles returned to a normal, healthy state before he could even relax properly. ¡°This magic¡­ is scary.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Euprhidia chuckled, picking up a wooden sword and throwing it to Kai. ¡°That¡¯s only because your muscles are too under developed. Come on now, show me what you can do.¡± Scoffing, Kai grabbed the sword mid-air, and gripped it tightly as he walked toward the center. Euphy stood barehanded before him, and she took on a stance he found familiar. Is that¡­ kickboxing? However, he quickly shrugged off that Nah, it has to be something similar¡­ ¡°Stop staring, get in position,¡± Euphy ordered as she eyed him like a hawk. Grabbing the sword with both hands, Kai took the stance taught to him by his grandpa, the one even L¨¦andro made fun of back then. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. What an old starting pose¡­ where did this brat learn it from? Unlike L¨¦andro, however, Euphridia didn¡¯t look down at the technique but instead grew more cautious. Although his combat experience is close to zero, considering who his parents were¡­ Despite her thoughts, she couldn¡¯t help but look down on Kai, who rushed toward her with the stance of an amateur. He ran with the sword leaned forward, his feet wobbling as he swung it toward Euphy¡¯s chest. She let out a light scoff, and took half a step backward, completely dodging Kai¡¯s foolish attack. ¡°Is that all?¡± Euphridia asked with a disappointed tone. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you swing that sword countless times, but you aren¡¯t even capable of doing a vertical slash? Again!¡± She yelled with an imposing tone, flicking Kai backward. Taking the same stance again, he took in a deep breath and rushed toward Euphy again, this time doing a vertical slash which she easily sidestepped. ¡°Too slow, Again!¡± ¡°Too fast, too clumsy! Again!¡± ¡°Not good enough! Again!¡± Hours passed as Euphridia¡¯s words rang in his ears like a sharp knife. Criticizing him every day with more and more vigor. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she walked toward a sword rack and picked up a wooden long sword. Holding it parallel to her body, with a shape forty five degrees angle pointing toward Kai, she moved her feet to a perfect distance to improve balance. ¡°Watch me carefully.¡± Before the last of her words had even left her body, the distance between her and Kai already closed by more than half. His eyes widened in surprise, unable to understand how she achieved such speed without any magic enchantments. In just a few more light steps, Euphridia already stood before him, swinging vertically at an unfathomable speed that didn¡¯t leave Kai any room to dodge. The blade stopped inches away from his forehead, which dripped with cold sweat as he looked at her with trembling pupils. ¡°Short movements, shorter swings, but more powerful. Got it?¡± Kai nodded, dumbfounded, by Euphy¡¯s sword mastery. ¡°How¡­ did you do that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll teach you tomorrow, we¡¯ll stop for now, you¡¯re exhausted. The chief¡¯s healing magic isn¡¯t as powerful as you think¡­ you¡¯ll feel the backlash soon enough. ¡°Backlash?¡± Before Kai even had time to ponder the question, however, a wave of fatigue rushed over his body, making him fall to the ground almost immediately as he groaned in pain. ¡­ Compared to daytime or evening, traveling through Evicario¡¯s Main Gate city at night seemed like a completely different city. The bustling street like paths were now filled with the clamor of songs and chatter. Soft, warm light permeated the air around the inns and bars. Customers of different races in a multitude of shapes and forms exited and entered the pubs, both drunk and sober. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s the same everywhere, huh?¡± Kai commented as they glided through the air, jumping from platform to platform, past countless different buildings. ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a few things that races have in common, but one of them is our love for alcohol,¡± Aina said casually, however, Elizabeth and Euphridia looked at the passing drunkards with slight scorn on their faces. ¡°I don¡¯t think alcohol does any good, why people like it is a mystery.¡± Euphy¡¯s rhetorical question remained unanswered, as everyone present knew the true reason people would choose to lose themselves in the intoxicating world of alcohol. The journey back to the manor remained silent, with only the wind whooshing past their ears. Countless eyes turned toward them as they landed on the main platform, however, the locals had already gotten accustomed to their presence. Despite that, the crowd¡¯s whispers became more and more intense as they walked toward Aina¡¯s house, and they couldn¡¯t stop themselves from hearing despite doing their best to avoid it. ¡°Looks like the chief cares a lot about that kid¡­¡± ¡°Not only the chief, look, even the captain of the guards¡­ and the chief¡¯s daughter¡­¡± ¡°Who could that vampire brat be?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I don¡¯t like him. Sooner or later he¡¯s going to have a taste of us¡­¡± ¡°Shut up, there¡¯s a reason our race had it easier during those dark times!¡± ¡°Yeah because our blood-¡± ¡°Shh, that¡¯s taboo talk, idiots!¡± The crowd¡¯s malevolent whispers raised a hint of intrigue inside Kai, as the few sentences he could hear spoke about something he had always found weird. For some reason, elves didn¡¯t detest vampires to the same extent as the humans and the other sentient races. He pondered it for a few minutes, and the small hint the chattering people gave him led to a bizarre, yet logical conclusion. Their blood isn¡¯t as good¡­ A weird smile creased Kai¡¯s lips, and he could not help but stare at Euprhidia¡¯s neck as curiosity got the better of him. However the curiosity gradually turned into a fixation, his pupils dilating as a deep hunger seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Staring at Euphy¡¯s pale neck, he felt his fangs grow sharper, and her main artery seemed to stand out as fresh blood rushed upwards. A little bit of saliva dripped down his chin, landing on his clothes. Unconciously approaching the guard¡¯s neck, his mouth opened slightly, revealing a pair of petruding fangs. His heart raced as his primeval instincts slowly took over his body. However, his pupils constricted before he could do the unforgivable. He quickly bit down on his lower lip, forcing himself awake from the trance with cold sweat dripping down his body. Low, heavy pants escaped his lips, causing Elizabeth to immediately run to his aid. ¡°Kai!¡± Her eyes swiftly ran across his body, inspecting every inch of his muscles as she nervously took his hand. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be anything wrong with him¡­¡± Aina concluded after a similarly quick inspection. ¡°Must be the exhaustion¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Kai replied, holding his chest with the other hand. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ let¡¯s hurry to the manor, I still need to finish the training¡­¡± He quickly changed topics, doing his best to sit straight as he walked. Aina¡¯s furrowed eyebrows as she looked at Kai left a lot for interpretation, however, her age, experience, and gut made her think that he had lied about his condition. As for Elizabeth, although her eyes hid a hint of suspicion, she masked it with genuine concern, turning toward him every so often. Out of all of them, Euphridia was the most excited. ¡°Good idea Kai! I had planned to let you rest but since you want more training, how could I refuse?!¡± A half-sadistic smile creased her lips as she looked at Kai, a shiver running down his spine. I should have kept my mouth shut! He cursed inwardly, however, it was too late to regret now. Quickly reaching the manor, Kai flopped on Onyx, who stood just outside the gate. ¡°Awooo¡± He let out a light howl, licking Kai¡¯s face with a toddler¡¯s excitement. ¡°Boy, I¡¯ve only been gone for a few hours, what got you so riled up?¡± Kai chuckled, patting his companion¡¯s huge head, who continued snuggling against his bare body. ¡°To think this is the Obborik of the legends¡­¡± Elizabeth said in an almost incredulous tone. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be¡­ scarier?¡± ¡°Tales do not reflect reality, but in this case, the tales do not give them justice. I have no idea how Kai managed to tame ¡®Furiosul Alb¡¯. Even my Dad trembled upon seeing one and yet¡­ here before me lays a dog in the shape of one.¡± Onyx¡¯s ears twitched, and his large yellow eyes snapped toward the three women as he let out a scoff. ¡°Well, he matches the attitude¡­¡± Elizabeth said, which prompted another muffled scoff to echo in their years, making them let out light laughter as they watched the duo snuggle. ¡°I think he can skip the rest of the training tonight¡­ let the boy rest,¡± Aina said with a soft smile. Euphy nodded in response, waving her goodbyes before heading toward the barracks. Chapter 63: Innovation Kai woke up early the next morning, so early in fact that the sun hadn¡¯t even risen yet. Throwing some clothes on his back, he dashed toward the manor¡¯s gate, where Euphridia already waited for him. ¡°Took you long enough.¡± She said jokingly and started walking alongside him. Their footsteps echoed on the quiet streets, alongside the bird¡¯s joyful song and the bugs cricketing. Besides that, the cold morning breeze bringing a myriad of aromas and the rustling of the leaves filled the awkward silence between the two. The tension, however, was so dense one could cut it with a knife. With Kai rushing toward the forgery, and Euphy casually following behind him like an eagle. Her armor, in contrast to Kai¡¯s histerical rustle, rattled in a rhythmic beat as she strolled on the platform she¡¯d seen a thousand times before. ¡°You know, you didn¡¯t have to volunteer.¡± Kai finally broke the silence, a slight annoyance in his tone. ¡°I have to keep watch over you.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that incapable!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even use magic¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see your point.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be able to traverse between platforms, for one. Second, if anyone decided to fight you, I doubt you¡¯d stand much of a chance. Third¡­ you¡¯re under my wing, so like it or not, I¡¯m following you!¡± ¡°I¡¯d have found a way to travel and fight someone, and the third point isn¡¯t even related to magic!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Euphy said with a confident smile, ¡°Just get used to me being around, I don¡¯t even see why you¡¯re so annoyed.¡± Kai stopped in his tracks, snapping toward Euphridia as he raised his tone. ¡°You locked me up in an animal cage! You had perfectly good cells, then left me in the dark and cold¡­ And now you¡¯re even tormenting me with training.¡± The guard¡¯s eyes widened, taken aback by Kai¡¯s sudden assertiveness, she weighed her words before saying. ¡°I apologize for that, I thought you were just scum that wanted to get close to our Heir, but the way you addressed her was just too weird. It was either the animal cage or outside, and snakes like the one you killed are a dime a dozen in those fields.¡± Kai clicked his tongue and turned around, walking slightly slower until he stood side by side with Euphy. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, I should be grateful?¡± ¡°Uhh¡­. yes?¡± she replied, slightly confused. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m just following you around, I don¡¯t see what''s wrong with having a bit of extra protection?¡± Kai¡¯s face reddened, whether from anger or shame remained unknown, however, he said with a trembling voice. ¡°I, I¡¯m tired of everyone treating me like a child¡­¡± A light chuckle escaped Euphridia¡¯s lips as she stared down at Kai, whose head barely reached her tummy. Her eyes shone with amusement as she looked at his flustered expression, but she didn¡¯t comment any further for fear of angering him too badly. ¡°Hurry up¡±, she picked up the pace, glancing behind her briefly before turning away into a sprint. Kai looked at his trainer with a tired, deadpan expression, however, in the end decided to rush after her, holding tightly onto the blueprints. Damn it¡­ making me run so early. ¡­ As one ran and the other chased, the platform the forge stood on quickly appeared before them. Located next to a mountain range, into which the elves and dwarves dug a large hole. Inside, forges, anvils, ores, and whatever else covered the walls and pathways, every room serving a purpose and every worker moving around, creating new armor and tools for the Kingdom. ¡°Salut, Euphy!¡± An elf that seemed to share Euphirida¡¯s age walked up to them as soon as they landed on the platform. He had brown, curly hair sparkling blue eyes, and a thin, frail build. His waist was a fair bit larger than his chest, giving him an hourglass-ish figure that many in his old world vied for. ¡°Salut Mar, this here is Kai, doesn¡¯t speak Elvish so let¡¯s just chat in the continent¡¯s language.¡± Euphridia pointed at Kai, paying no particular attention to the young forger. ¡°Ah! So this yere the young genius? It is an honor, aye.¡± Mar spoke with a bizarre, thick accent as soon as he switched to the continental language. A bright smile creased his lips as he lowered himself, extending a hand to Kai in greeting. ¡°I¡¯ve to say, them machinations you gave us gave us a headache despite their simplicity.¡± Kai shook Mar¡¯s hand firmly and replied with a friendly smile. ¡°Haha, just something I dreamt about. Anyway, I couldn¡¯t quite understand the notes written on the blueprint¡­¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Mar exclaimed. ¡°That must be old Nick¡¯s handwriting, don¡¯t worry, even we barely understand it.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that-¡± Kai tried explaining himself, however, it was to no avail as Mar grabbed his arm and yoinked him inside the forge with unexpected strength. Kai¡¯s entire body heated up in an instant as soon as he stepped foot inside the room filled with raging furnaces, and the further inside Mar dragged him in, the harsher the conditions. The rhythmic beating of metal upon metal rang in his ears, the sound growing louder and louder as they approached a room hidden deep inside the mountain. Forges, weapons, furnaces, anvils, hammers- All sorts of equipment necessary for forging and mending metals and other materials covered the walls and filled the rooms as they rushed through the middle of the forge. Mar hummed excitedly, and Euphridia followed leisurely behind them. Out of the three, only Kai felt the extreme heat sizzling his skin and curling the ends of his hair. Why is this twink-looking man so strong?! I thought they were supposed to be good at magic but his grip¡­ I can¡¯t even struggle! Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. A mischievous smile creased Euphy¡¯s lips as she watched Kai get dragged around by someone else, and she couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. Serves that brat right! After a short while, they arrive in a room inside the mountain, the door of which shone with a metallic glint. The sound of metal upon metal echoed out of the room, and the ground shook each time the hammer struck whatever it was shaping. Mar knocked three times, took a small pause, and then knocked three more times before saying, ¡°Hey, Old Nick! The vampire kid is here!¡± The sound stopped almost as soon as Mar finished the sentence, and the door clanked and groaned as it opened, letting out a large cloud of steam. As the hot air dissipated, the figure of a short, bald man with a thick beard gradually revealed itself, however, the darkness hid some of his features. His eyes were black like the ebony tree, and so were his calloused hands. He only wore a pair of boots and legs, leaving his muscular upper body and arms exposed to the infernal heat. ¡°A dwarf?¡± Kai unconsciously said out loud as he stared at the miniature man. Mar¡¯s, and even Euphridia¡¯s expression immediately changed to one of anxiety. Both of them immediately hid behind Kai, whose small frame could barely hide a strand of their hair. Looking around, Kai¡¯s heart raced with panic at the sudden turn of events, and he turned his attention toward the short man as he gulped. Old Nick¡¯s eyebrow twitched as his expression morphed to one of anger, and he spit out blood and¡­ spit as he yelled, ¡°YOU DAMN BRAT, YOU DARE COMPARE ME TO THOSE LAZY GOOD FOR NOTHINGS? SO WHAT IF THEIR WEAPONS ARE SOUGHT OUT BY EVERYONE IN THE CONTINENT?! SO WHAT IF THEY HAVE A RICHLY DEVELOPED CULTURE AROUND WEAPONRY?! SO WHAT IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE BETTER PART OF THE MOUNTAIN AND WE ONLY HAVE THIS FOREST?! WHAT¡¯S THE POINT IF THEY DON¡¯T EVEN LIFT A FINGER TO GATHER THEIR MATERIALS?!! OH GODDESS LUMIERA GIVE ME PATIENCE BECAUSE IF YOU GIVE ME STRENGTH I¡¯LL KILL THIS BRAT!¡± Kai shivered in his boots, his heart racing as he watched the raging old man with fear. Is he¡­ is he crazy?! ¡°You, brat.¡± Old Nick pointed toward him as he walked into the light, finally revealing his entire body. A pair of sharp and long ears, one of them black and one of them cut off at the midpoint, decorated his wrinkled head. ¡°I am Old Nick! First Captain of the First Gate! The Celestial Forger! I am the one who made Mjolnir and created a sword for your great-grandfather! Remember my name: Nicu Vulka Ni Zare!¡± Kai stood there, dumbfounded by the old man¡¯s ramblings. What the fuck¡­ did this man just say he met¡­ he knew my great grandfather?! And he made him a sword?!!¡± Euphridia let out a sigh, and seeing that the worst moment had passed, walked in between the two of them. ¡°Nick you¡­ you¡¯re saying too much again.¡± ¡°You knew too?¡± Kai asked, prompting Euphy to turn toward him with a weird expression. ¡°You knew my identity?¡± ¡°Everyone knows it boy, well, everyone that matters. Your parents were pretty much regulars around here. I remember forging your dad a purple sword back in the day. Haha, he had to pay me an arm and a leg, and his eye too! For it.¡± ¡°Nick! Shut up!¡± Euphridia interjected, however by this point everything that didn¡¯t need to be said had been said, so she only sighed dejectedly and turned around after giving the old man an ugly look. ¡°Anyway,¡± Nick coughed ¡°We¡¯ll reminiscense about old times later¡­ For now, Kid, tell me, how did you come up with these?¡± He snatched the blueprints from Kai¡¯s hand, inspecting them carefully, his cheeks almost reddening. ¡°I¡­ had a dream?¡± Trying to bullshit his way out of this one, Kai used the most obvious excuse on the board, hoping that the old man would take it. Old Nick shrugged, an invisible spark glowing inside his dark eyes, but didn¡¯t care enough to pry upon the secrets of a child. ¡°Alright then, come in, I have some questions that need to be answered.¡± With that, he turned away and entered the steaming room. Kai turned around, only to see Euphy and Marc looking at him with an approving expression. A sigh left his body as he followed the old man inside, the metallic door slamming closed as the locks clicked into place. ¡­ Inside, the room seemed fairly empty, yet spacious. Besides the obvious things needed for forging, there were also books and quills, as well as the necessary ink. On top of that, countless weapons and tools littered the walls and floors, most of which were either broken or unusable. ¡°Excuse the mess, I didn¡¯t expect guests on such short notice.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s alright,¡± Kai said, wiping the waterfall of sweat sliding down his face. ¡°Quite a cozy place.¡± ¡°Right, well, it serves its purpose. Here, hold this.¡± Old Nick said, handing a pendant over to Kai. ¡°Or wear it around your neck, whatever suits you.¡± As soon as he touched the pendant, a chilly wave ran down his spine, immediately cooling off his body and balancing its temperature. ¡°I got it as a gift but I don¡¯t need. Its only use is when people such as yourself come to visit me.¡± ¡°People such as myself?¡± ¡°Weaklings.¡± Old Man Nick said without hesitation, almost as if by instinct. ¡°However, that can be changed. A weakling can become strong, but an idiot can¡¯t become smart. Kai, you¡¯re not an idiot, neither am I. As for how you got these, I¡¯m not going to pry, however in the future be careful, as you¡¯re playing with fire.¡± he said without even looking at him, however, Kai felt like his very being was nothing but a piece of glass before the old man. A shiver ran down his spine, and he gulped before nodding softly. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Good, now, let¡¯s get to business. I assume you need these to train your body, and I can assume why, seeing how weak you are to the forge¡¯s flames. These things, they¡¯re balanced weights meant to train every muscle group at once, right? And the big sphere¡­ I can¡¯t exactly tell its purpose, so you¡¯ll have to enlighten me.¡± ¡°Ah that, it¡¯s just to train balance¡­¡± ¡°Train balance?¡± he said with a scoff. ¡°Piatra morii is better for balance, younglings these days and their fancy equipment¡­¡± Piathra Morei? What¡­ Kai didn¡¯t question the old man¡¯s weird innuendo, and instead decided to get straight to the point. ¡°So, what is it you didn¡¯t understand?¡± ¡°Oh, that? Just an excuse to meet with you. Ya think I couldn¡¯t figure out such simple schematics? Please. I was more interested in the mind behind them.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yeah, the crippled son of two legends who should not have this kind of information. But I got the gist of it more or less, and that¡¯s all I needed. Now,¡± He said, slamming the blueprint on his work table. ¡°You can either loiter around and then leave, or you can help me and learn a thing or two, we can chat more if so. I¡¯ll even answer one of your questions if you got any.¡± Kai didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or smile, but he began to take a liking to the old man. Picking up a dirty apron from the side, he tightened it around his waist and stood quietly next to Nick. The process of turning iron into weights didn¡¯t seem difficult, however, Kai seemingly fell into a trance as the hammer hit and molded the cube-shaped metallic slab¡­ Chapter 64: Who am I? It fell and rose in a rhythmic pattern, sending sparks flying everywhere as the dense material flattened under the hammer¡¯s weight. Again and again, tempered by the heat and the force exerted through the tool, bending to Old Nick¡¯s will. To the piece of metal, he was its God, and he could do whatever he wanted with it. Unable to resist, getting hit over and over again, changing from its cube shape to a rectangle and then to a circle, it took on the loose form of a small weight. Kai watched it all happen. He watched as a sturdy, thick metal cube turned into a circle in a few hours under the old man¡¯s hands. During that time he stood silent, handing Nick whatever tool he needed at the time. ¡°Aye kid, the first one¡¯s almost done.¡± The weight sizzled as it cooled down in a chilly vat of water. ¡°All that¡¯s left is smoothing it.¡± ¡°How will you do that? With magic?¡± Kai finally spoke for the first time in hours. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, that¡¯s not my job. Well, I shouldn¡¯t be the one making such simple objects either, but I was fascinated by your idea. This little thing?¡± He picked up the newly made weight and waved his hand, opening a small hole in a wall, revealing a secret compartment. ¡°I¡¯ll send it to the others to take care of it. After beating into shape it needs to be smoothed, polished, and engraved, I¡¯m beyond such menial tasks.¡± Chantless and wandless magic¡­ Kai¡¯s pupils widened, however, he remained silent as he looked at the old man. Old Nick didn¡¯t speak further and instead started cleaning up the leftover scraps, placing them into a small vat filled with other such metallic pieces. ¡°Well, while you¡¯re here, why don''t you help me clean up?¡± Nodding, Kai gathered the tools lying around and placed them where they belonged. The short elf¡¯s workshop was specifically designed for him, with most drawers being just a bit lower than himself, and some places had stepladders readily placed for him. The old man sat down and pulled out a cigar from his pocket and ignited it with the heat of his forge. ¡°Y¡¯know Kid, you don¡¯t resemble your old man at all. I remember he used to yell at me for daring to ask him for help gathering materials, and only your mother could help calm him down¡­¡± ¡°My dad?¡± Kai replied, seemingly out of it. ¡°Haha, yeah.¡± Nick adjusted his position, leaning forward and placing his hands on his knees. ¡°Such a hotheaded fellow he was, always rushing into things. Not thinking about his actions and consequences¡­ Ah- I¡¯m sorry, I guess I shouldn¡¯t talk about him like that.¡± ¡°No, no. It¡¯s fine.¡± Kai hurried to correct the old man. ¡°After all¡­ it shows that he was human.¡± ¡°Human?¡± The old man chuckled with a weird glint in his eyes. ¡°Yeah, you could say that.¡± ¡°I know he was an adventurer¡­ I¡¯ve heard stories. Never could I have expected that my parents were such legendary figures in the hearts of these people.¡± ¡°Legendary Figures or Living Nightmares? Haha, I remember a rumor back then talking about how Ray fed on demon flesh and your mother drank their blood, oh you should have seen the expressions on their faces. Priceless.¡± ¡°But enough chitchat now,¡± Old Nick continued. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else get out, Euphy is probably tired of waiting.¡± ¡°You said¡­ you would answer one question I have.¡± The old man raised his eyebrow, however, he didn¡¯t say anything and instead listened attentively. ¡°Who¡­ am I?¡± Kai¡¯s quivering voice escaped his body, his questioning tone spelling more than what he had just asked. A soft smile formed on Old Nick¡¯s face, and an approving glint appeared in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re the cube of metal I just beat into shape.¡± ¡­ Kai walked away from the forge with a puzzled look, his silence accompanied by Euphy¡¯s annoyed chatter as they passed from platform to platform. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you looked at him turn a cube into a circle for hours! With his skill, he could have done that in five minutes. God, I seriously don¡¯t understand this man sometimes. He basically called you over for no reason! And Mar¡­ that guy I swear he has to have the hots for me¡­ or maybe not, he didn¡¯t even glance at my face, only at my sword¡­ Yes, he¡¯s some kind of sword pervert!¡± Euphridia¡¯s incessant complaining didn¡¯t bother him though, instead, he thought over the old man¡¯s words and actions. I am the metal cube? He could mostly understand what the old man wanted to say, however, he seemed to be missing a few key details for a complete interpretation. The metal cube he beat into shape¡­ Stopping in his tracks, he closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, the chilly breeze swaying his long, unkempt hair. Euphy also stopped, and looked at him with a puzzled look, but didn¡¯t say anything more. She stood guard over him, slightly increasing her vigilance. ¡°You are the cube of metal I just beat into shape.¡± Those same words rang inside Kai¡¯s mind again and again as he tried to decipher them. He said that this is just the first stage¡­ Temper the metal by mixing it with more malleable materials, heating it up, and hitting it into the desired shape. After that, it needs polishing and engraving¡­ I must have missed some steps from his explanation but that¡¯s the basics. Kai¡¯s brain worked over time as he pieced together the small puzzle the old man presented him, and quickly began drawing comparisons, just like the old man compared him to the metal cube. If I¡¯m the metal cube that means that I am a mass ready to be tempered and shaped, becoming something better than before¡­ Heat, shaping, and heating again - Training. Repeat this process over and over again until I become what the blacksmith wants. In this case¡­ who¡¯s my blacksmith? A shiver ran down his spine as his eyes snapped open, a single bead of seat racing down his skin. Blood rushed through his veins, and a soft smile creased his lips as he looked toward the boundless sky. Whoever it is¡­ do your worst! Stolen story; please report. ¡°You¡¯re a weird one, you know that?¡± Euphridia said, her voice awakening him. ¡°Uh, yeah, haha,¡± Kai replied, walking forward while scratching the back of his head. ¡°I just realized something, that¡¯s all¡­¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Euphy walked alongside him, this time keeping her chatter to a minimum as they rushed toward the manor. The morning sun finally made its appearance as soon as they stepped through the gate, and a small barrier quickly manifested around Kai with a flash. ¡°Thanks.¡± He said to Euphridia while rushing inside, not waiting for her to reply. This brat has gotten more and more afraid of the sun¡­ She sighed and shook her head, returning to her post for the rest of the day until the sun set again. ¡­ ¡°Welcome back.¡± Aina greeted Kai as he rushed into the living room, where she sat on a couch, reading a book written in Elvish. ¡°How did it go?¡± Kai quickly looked around, locating Aina¡¯s graceful figure sitting on a carefully crafted purple couch, its frame constructed out of an ebony wood. The pillows were made out of an incredibly fluffy and comfortable material that seemingly took the shape of whoever laid on them. Behind the couch, tall and grandiose bookshelves filled to the brim with books covered the wall, putting the library Kai had around his neck to shame in comparison. In front was a simple coffee table made out of similarly dark wood, with the top made out of glass, and inside it laid a layer of coffee beans. The table itself sat on a red carpet with shining golden embroidery, in the middle of which was engraved a tall, gigantic tree. The floor, made out of a lighter shade of wood, perfectly complimented its contrasting environment, combining into a serene mix that brought peace to one¡¯s mind. ¡°Hum, it went well. Old Nick is a really¡­ how do I say it¡­? Interesting fellow.¡± ¡°You called him a dwarf, didn¡¯t you?¡± The question stunned Kai, and he turned around with a look of incredulity. ¡°What¡¯s with that face? He explodes every time someone calls him that because of his size. Your father did too when they first met, ever since then they never really liked each other.¡± Kai coughed lightly as he sat down next to her, melting on its puffy surface. ¡°Where¡¯s Onyx?¡± ¡°Ah, he should be outside playing or something. It¡¯s not good for anyone to sit too much in one place.¡± She slowly and carefully turned the page, the sound of it ringing like a melody unlike any other in her ears. ¡°Elizabeth is out making potions at Ms.Burleanu¡¯s clinic.¡± ¡°Ms.Burleanu? Is she the only doctor around here?¡± ¡°Well, not exactly.¡± The turning of the page accompanied Aina¡¯s voice. ¡°There¡¯s me and Elly, but also Dr.Petrescu and Dr.Mihael. They¡¯re each located in one corner of the First Gate City. Ms.Burleanu is more like a local witch, you should visit her sometimes.¡± A peaceful quiet descended upon the two, with only the sound of fluttering pages accompanying them in the silence. Kai closed his eyes and felt as the blood rushed through his veins each time his heart pumped. ¡°Do you not want to ask about your father?¡± Aina broke the silence, gently putting the book down on the coffee table, right next to an encassed candle that released a pleasant fragrance in the air. ¡°I assume Old Nick started blabbering about him¡­¡± ¡°Haha, yeah. However, the more I find out about my parents, the more I feel like I don¡¯t know them. Besides, why is everyone focusing on my father? What about my mother? Wasn¡¯t she just as important?¡± ¡°Elena¡­ was a very gentle person. She did her best to never hurt anyone even if they wanted to cut her head off. The first time she came to Evicario wasn¡¯t uneventful either¡­ Back then, Elly was much more reserved and adventurous, and would often find herself in trouble. You can imagine my shock when I saw my bleeding daughter in the hands of a vampire, of royal blood no less. And the masked man behind her¡­ even with my strength I couldn¡¯t help but shiver. Now, you can¡¯t imagine my surprise when I see that vampire kneeling in front of me with tears streaming down her face¡­ I wasn¡¯t sure what to think. Turns out Elly got hurt by a demon running away from those two. It took her hostage and sliced at her belly before Ray took its life. They panicked and rushed here as soon as they could¡­ thankfully it wasn¡¯t too late and I was able¡­ able to save her in time.¡± Aina¡¯s voice quivered as she recounted the events, her pupils trembling as she recalled the image of her half-dead daughter. ¡°I-¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t blame your parents. Not back then and not now.¡± She cut off Kai before he could say anything. ¡°Unfortunately there isn¡¯t much to say about your mother. She was a reserved person, always keeping to herself, following your father in whatever dumb situations he got himself in. We did find out she could use healing magic and decided to train her. She outshone most of my pupils at the time, and definitely saved your dad¡¯s ass more than she should have.¡± She leaned back with a sigh, seemingly exhausted from remembering such old memories. ¡°How long ago was that?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ a few centuries¡± Replying casually, she closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep, leaving the shocked Kai alone in the living room. ¡­ Aina¡¯s blurry vision turned clearer as she slowly woke up, stretching and smacking her lips quietly while making sense of her environment. Looking around, her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at Kai, who lay on the floor with multiple books lying around him, silently reading them. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m teaching myself Elvish. Might as well since there¡¯s nothing much I can do during the day.¡± A smile creased her lips as she took advantage of the leg room, and laid horizontally on the couch. She watched Kai like a mother would at a child playing with their toys, and couldn¡¯t help but admire the young man before her. ¡°How do you suppose you¡¯ll learn?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll just read the simple manuals until starts to make sense, I guess? There are illustrations present in the books so eventually I¡¯ll get the hang of it.¡± ¡°That is¡­ very inefficient, kid.¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t wanna bother you or Elly too much, you¡¯re already doing so much for me.¡± ¡°I could just call over a tutor you know¡­?¡± Kai stopped in his tracks, smacking himself on the head with a book. ¡°Careful now, they¡¯re fragile¡­ and old.¡± ¡°Ah, yeah sorry,¡± Kai said as he picked them up and gently placed them in a pile. ¡°What got you to learn anyway?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I want to fill up my free time during the day, and besides, knowledge is important to temper myself. The elves have one of the richest collections of books known to man, so¡­ I should take advantage, right?¡± ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right,¡± Aina said with a smile, standing up and picking up the books Kai laid on the ground. ¡°Theory of Relation, Medical Science, Pythomas¡­ None of these books are for beginners. Not to mention I barely understand them well. Aye, the things my ancestor left behind still make me question whether or not he was a genius or an idiot.¡± ¡°Hmm? What do you mean?¡± Kai¡¯s ears perked up, intrigued by Aina¡¯s seemingly blasphemous act. ¡°Ah, nothing don¡¯t worry about it.¡± She said as she gathered the books and placed them in their place before walking into a different room, signaling for Kai to follow her. Chapter 65: Its only just begun Kai accompanied Aina through the giant manor, walking through dark corridors lit only by candles, creating small sources of light as their footsteps echoed on the soft carpet. Aina slowly reached toward a large door at the end of a long hallway. Gently pushing, it creaked and groaned as it opened, and the room it hid illuminated with a snap of the woman¡¯s fingers. The warm light revealed a library, simple in nature, and looked like any other. Rows upon rows of bookshelves stacked upon one another. Each bookshelf seemed to encase one subject, some of them were mixed but most of them presented a wide variety of information. Ranging from the vaguest subjects to so specific it felt like a programming question on weddit. ¡°You had this entire place¡­ hidden here?!¡± Kai¡¯s shocked voice echoed in the silent library. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t use it as often but it¡¯s regularly cleaned so there shouldn¡¯t be any dust.¡± Kai swallowed as he walked inside, followed by Aina as the doors closed behind them. ¡°Do all doors here close automatically?¡± He chuckled as he looked inside the nearest bookshelf. ¡°Not really, only the ones I don¡¯t wanna close.¡± Aina¡¯s casual reply made Kai look at her with a weird expression, however seeing that she didn¡¯t go into any detail, he didn¡¯t find it appropriate to ask. Instead, he focused on the books within eye level, however, although he could see the letters not even one word made sense to him. ¡°Not here kiddo, come with me.¡± Aina grabbed him by the shoulder and walked toward the center of the room. There, hidden between walls of books lay a table surrounded by two chairs. ¡°Well, this seems familiar,¡± Kai said in a low voice, walking next to the chair, getting a feel of its material. ¡°How come?¡± Kai let out a light sigh as he reached around his neck, and took out the necklace given to him by his parents. ¡°My dad put a library they used to teach me inside this thing, and the layout is¡­ eerily similar.¡± For the first time since Kai met her, Aina¡¯s pupils widened, and she reached toward the spherical jewel. Squinting her eyes, she sucked in a breath of cold air. However, before she could take a closer look, a sharp electric current spread from her arm and she suddenly let go, letting it fall to the ground with a soft thump. ¡°Fascinating¡­¡± A soft murmur escaped her lips, however her expression instantly became serious as she turned toward Kai. ¡°Kid, did you show this to anyone else?¡± Quickly shaking his head, Kai picked up the necklace from the ground and placed it around his neck again. Dad put protection over it but couldn¡¯t put a fail-safe to ensure I have enough mana?... ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe¡­ how did he do this?¡± She sat down on the chair, resting her head on the table with her hands support. Shaking her head, a wry smile creased her lips as she reached for a book on a close by bookshelf. ¡°Forget about that¡­ that rascal for now. Take a seat.¡± Kai sat down as the pages rustled as Aina placed the book in front of him on the third page. There, on its white sheath lay the picture of an apple, below it, written in Elvish was a three-word sentence. ¡°What¡­?¡± Kai asked, unsure about this entire ordeal. ¡°Ana¡­¡± Aina placed her finger over the first word, slowly transitioning to the other ¡°are¡­¡± and, with a final stroke of her finger, she articulated the last word with a certain accent, ¡°mere.¡± ¡°Ana has apples.¡± She said the full sentence all at once, her eyes shining with a purple light that stared into Kai¡¯s soul as he did so. ¡°Now, repeat after me¡­¡± ¡­ Hours passed, and the sun finally set, allowing the moon to settle on the open canvas. Inside the library, Kai¡¯s head felt like it might implode from all the information stuffed into his brain. ¡°Well, today¡¯s lessons are done,¡± Aina said just as the doors to the library slammed open, followed by rapid footsteps that got closer faster and faster. ¡°Mom!¡± Elizabeth¡¯s anxious voice rang inside the room, and her hand flew to her face upon realizing she was too late. ¡°Mom. for Goddes¡¯ sake!¡± ¡°What is it dear? I¡¯m just teaching Kai our language.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the issue! Look at him! Oh no, not that book¡­ how far have you gotten?¡± Elly picked up the book, closing it shut, running her trembling hands over the cover, which read <> Her head snapped toward Kai, whose unfocused eyes rested on the table as he kept murmuring words in Elvish. ¡°Ah damn it.¡± Elly sighed and slammed the book on the table, angrily turning toward her mother. ¡°I thought we discussed you wouldn¡¯t do this again?¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°What? He wanted to learn, who am I to say no?¡± ¡°No¡­ even if¡­ just¡­ no! I still remember the hell I went through, it was traumatic!¡± ¡°Oh dear it wasn¡¯t that bad¡­¡± ¡°It was! All the sleepless nights, the constant grammar rules¡­ the poems! I can¡¯t let him go through that same suffering!¡± ¡°Oh you¡¯re just being a drama queen,¡± Aina said, pointing toward the mumbling Kai. ¡°Look he¡¯s already learned the alphabet and a few sentences.¡± ¡°Mom¡­ he looks like some kind of ghoul¡­¡± Elly said dejectedly, pulling Kai into a tight hug. ¡°Look at him, he can¡¯t even see me!¡± ¡°That just means I did a good job,¡± Aina said in a most prideful tone as she stood up, returning the book to its rightful place before leaving. ¡°Take care of him now, I¡¯ll make sure he speaks fluently within a few months, you never know when he may need it.¡± I¡¯d rather not¡­ Elizabeth said to herself as she started chanting a spell, bringing some focus to Kai¡¯s dilated pupils. ¡°Hm? What¡¯s ¡­going on?¡± He murmured as he rubbed his eyes, slowly waking up. ¡°Ah! Ana are mere!¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± A light chuckle escaped Elly¡¯s lips as he separated herself from Kai. ¡°Looks like my mom did a number on you, I can¡¯t remember if I had the same reaction but it definitely took me longer to wake up. I¡¯m impressed.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you?¡± Kai said as he stood up, balancing himself with the table as he gained balance. ¡°I¡­ what just happened?¡± Elizabeth sighed, bringing her right hand to her face, and propping it up by the elbow with her left hand. ¡°My mother, she cast a spell on you to help you learn faster¡­ that¡¯s how she teaches us. It happened to me and some of my cousins¡­ I swear she can¡¯t use traditional methods to save her life! Old hag¡­¡± ¡°Huh? What was it¡­ that last part?¡± Kai asked with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. ¡°Hm? I said Old hag. Wait, you understood that?!¡± Shock manifested on her face as soon as realization dawned upon her. ¡°How is that possible? It¡¯s only been a few hours! Here, how about this? I plecat la my home to adun apples.¡± ¡°I understood¡­ about half of it I think.¡± ¡°Amazing¡­ are you some kind of genius?¡± ¡°No, no way. It must have been your mother¡¯s spell.¡± Kai fidgeted with his fingers as he looked around, as even he couldn¡¯t figure out how he had picked up Elvish so fast. Elizabeth¡¯s shock remained obvious on her face, however, she didn¡¯t comment on the subject anymore as she remembered why she looked for Kai. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s time to start your training. Your muscle mass has improved quite a bit over the past few days but not nearly enough to start forming your core. Kai nodded gently and followed closely behind her, curious about the new torture methods Euphy had cooked up for him. ¡­ Back in the Elvish training ground, Euphridia waited next to a few dummies and a rack of wooden swords. Kai took off his shirt, revealing his skinny, pale skin, and decided to tie his hair in a ponytail to ease his training. Nervously walking up to his teacher, he stopped exactly one meter away from her with a straight back. Like a soldier, he didn¡¯t move too much, doing his best to be as straight as a statue while waiting for orders. ¡°Kai,¡± Euphridia said in a serious tone. ¡°Up until now I¡¯ve only just tested you to find out what kind of training routine suits you best. You surprised me time and time again.¡± A soft smile creased her lips as she looked at his almost perfect stance, however it quickly disappeared. ¡°Despite your muscles, or lack-there-of, and your low stamina, you pushed through your limits with your will and knowledge alone. From that, I created a temporary training regiment until Old Nick and his forge finished your toys. So, your basic training will be: A hundred pushups, a hundred situps, and a ten-kilometer run every day! In addition, you will do one-minute planks between each set and at the end of the day a short sparring session with the sword, understood!?¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± Kai replied without hesitation, looking forward as a bead of sweat dripped down his face. ¡°Good, start warming up then!¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Without further ado, began doing the routine Euphy had taught him to warm up his muscles so as to not contract or twist muscles, and shortly after finishing, he fell to the ground. His entire body trembled as he began doing the push-ups, sweat dripped down his now blazing skin and he grit his teeth under Euphy¡¯s gaze. ¡°You¡¯re doing great, come on, you already did ten! Do that again and you can begin doing the plank!¡± Her voice filled the emptiness surrounding them, along with his pants. ¡­ The hours slowly passed, each minute feeling like ten for Kai, who dragged himself through the last kilometer. Buckets of sweat ran down his blazing skin, creating small puddles wherever he went. With a last heavy breath, he collapsed to the floor, looking at the sky unable to stand up or even speak. A muffled set of footsteps approached him, accompanied by Euphridia¡¯s stern yet warm voice. ¡°Good. You did everything well, just as I expected. I¡¯ll give you a one-hour break before we spar, then you can go to sleep. Understood?¡± A weak groan escaped Kai¡¯s lips as he struggled to move his head, however, the intense fatigue did nothing to aid him in replying to Euphy. ¡°Well, I got it. Here, drink this.¡± She pulled out an orange vial from her pouch and opened it, releasing a bitter-sweet aroma in the air. She brought it to Kai¡¯s lips, and he slowly swallowed the liquid as a wave of warmth spread throughout his body. ¡°It¡¯s a minor stamina potion, should help you recover within the hour. I¡¯ll keep watch over you.¡± With that said, she leaned against a wall and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she felt the breeze brush against her skin. Chapter 66: Training... Training and... Training! Kai sat crosslegged on the bed inside his room, thick curtains blocked the natural sunlight from invading his space. Rows upon rows of plants laid before him. Onyx stood by his side, blocking the door with his large body as he curiously watched the boy. Rubbing his hands together, Kai picked up a reddish plant from a larger pile and a small, pale plant from another, and, with a heavy sigh, ingested both of them at once. Sweat quickly appeared and dripped down his increasingly blazing skin, muffled groans exploding within his body as the life force and mana crashed like waves against each other. Following the Hippocatrus Healing Technique, he quickly focused and diverted as much life force and mana as he could into his limbs, forcing his mana veins to activate, shatter, and repair themselves stronger than before. The microscopic holes covering them quickly sealed up, only to be replaced by larger holes which quickly closed up as well. Following this vicious cycle of destroying and reconstructing, he felt his mana veins become tougher, although the hellish price made him reconsider countless times. Onyx didn¡¯t react too strongly, seemingly already used to Kai¡¯s suicidal behavior. His ears twitched, however, and he quickly stood up, scratching with one paw at the hard floor. Kai immediately noticed this, and hid away the plants as fast as possible before throwing himself under the blanket, controlling his breathing to be as steady as possible while his eyes snapped shut. The door creaked open, revealing Aina¡¯s figure who carefully peered inside the darkness. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she turned toward Kai and Onyx, however, she only shook her head and left without saying a word. Kai sweated profusely under the blanket, however, he didn¡¯t dare move a muscle even after Aina left. Onyx snuggled close to him, licking some sweat off his face. Unable to move further, or even utter a word, Kai sat with his eyes shut and waited for the energies to consume themselves. ¡­ In the manor¡¯s backyard, next to a rack of wooden swords were a few shelf-like storages, inside which lay thick discs of metal of different weights and sizes, as well as a few bars and metallic collars. Besides them, a couple of medicinal balls and kettlebells lay on the cold ground. Elizabeth, Aina, and Euphy watched as Kai sat on a bench and lifted a fifty-kilogram dumbbell, admiring his dedication but deeply questioning his sanity. ¡°I mean, I can see how it works but¡­ I¡¯m not entirely convinced.¡± Euphy carefully observed the boy train, how his muscles moved, and the effort he put in. ¡°But the more I study it, the better it gets. I wondered why he wanted it so bad¡­ how did he even come up with this?!¡± ¡°Well,¡± Aina began, ¡°it¡¯s better not to ask questions we don¡¯t want the answer for. Plus, if they work they work, so who cares?¡± ¡°Me!¡± Euphridia exclaimed. ¡°Now I need to turn the entire training regime on its head and integrate this equipment!¡± ¡°Haha,¡± Elizabeth chuckled, ¡°good luck with that then.¡± The dumbbells - a metallic, sturdy yet elastic bar on the ends of which were two smoothed discs, held together by a collar to not fall, couldn¡¯t compare to what his previous life had, but they served the same purpose. Although Kai¡¯s arms and body were burning, he refused to give up and let go of the deadly weight above him. One more¡­ one more¡­ he kept repeating until finally¡­ he reached fifty lifts. At that point, beads of sweat clustered together like a river, and the drenched bench he sat on almost made him slip as he signaled for Euphy to come to help him. The guard quickly appeared to his side and lifted the thing with one hand, giving Kai the most desired room to breathe. He panted heavily while standing up, wiping off the streams of sweat with a nearby towel. ¡°Damn¡­ that was¡­ stupid of me to do!¡± He groaned as he moved his hands and leaned forward. I should just let Euphy take care of that and only demonstrate¡­ slightly. ¡°Well done Kai, whatever it is that you created seems to show some results, although only time will tell.¡± her voice rang in his ears just as he thought about it. ¡°I just need to know how the others work and I¡¯ll figure out how to integrate it in your current training. Maybe have alternative days? I don¡¯t know yet. This is all very new and fascinating.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ yeah¡­ probably.¡± Kai¡¯s barely coherent speech slipped past Euphy¡¯s ears as she excitedly grabbed one of the larger kettlebells, grabbing it with one and laying it in front of him while asking. ¡°So, how is this one used?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­¡± Kai blinked slowly, bringing the towel to his face once again before trying to stand up. However, before even trying to stand up, Euphy¡¯s voice rang in his ears. ¡°It¡¯s fine, just tell me how to do it, doesn¡¯t look too complicated.¡± Stolen story; please report. Taking a second to recall the correct way to use a kettlebell, Kai slowly explained the process in perfect detail, and watched as Euphridia lifted and lowered it with an equally perfect form. ¡°Not bad,¡± he remarked, slightly shocked by her ability to casually lift a one-hundred-kilogram kettlebell. ¡°And what¡¯s the ball for?¡± Elizabeth asked as she picked one of the larger ones up, casually switching from one hand to the other. ¡°It¡¯s for balance¡­¡± Kai sighed as he laid the towel on the bench and lay down on his sweat. ¡°Balance? Do you really need a ball for that? What¡¯s it even made of?¡± ¡°Uhh, leather and rubber, I think.¡± He replied, a bit unsure of the materials used by the forgers. ¡°Something along those li-¡± He suddenly jumped to his feet as a large sphere of water drenched him and the bench. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± He yelled involuntarily while frantically looking around, his eyes finally fixating on Aina. She wore a playful smile on her face, and quickly tucked away a wand in her sleeve. ¡°Why?!¡± Kai shivered from head to toe as the breeze brushing against his skin intensified the cold. ¡°It¡¯s not good to lay in your sweat, and you looked like you were about to fall asleep when you still have so much more training to do.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wanna hear it. I told Arthur about your situation. He said he¡¯s¡­ willing to let you join the Magic Academy.¡± ¡°Arthur¡­ The Dual Class Mage?¡± Kai exclaimed in surprise. He recalled the old man, however, he couldn''t see the relation between him and that magic academy. ¡°What do you mean, Magic Academy?¡± ¡°Right,¡± Aina took over. ¡°He¡¯s the headmaster of that academy, and I told him about your condition. He seemed intrigued so he agreed to let you in, but the minimum acceptance age is 15 years, and that¡¯s one thing even he can¡¯t change. So in that time, I want you to get as strong as possible.¡± ¡°But what does that have to do with me? I can¡¯t use any Onkos spells and the few Inkos I can attempt right now are pretty weak.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we want to change¡­ don¡¯t think I¡¯m not aware of your little-¡± Upon hearing Aina¡¯s words, Kai¡¯s face immediately switched to panic. His pupils shrunk and his eyes turned to Elizabeth, who, thankfully, seemed focused on the new equipment. ¡°Anyway, as I said. I will help you with whatever it is that you¡¯re doing while also teaching you Elvish. In the meantime, Euphy will train you until your body is ready to change to a body core.¡± She let out a deep sigh as her hand gently flew to her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re such a pain sometimes, you know? I¡¯m not entirely sure what will happen but for now, this is the best approach I can think of.¡± ¡°That- That¡¯s a lot of things to do¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid so, but look on the bright side. You have the best healer in the entire kingdom in front of you, her daughter, and one of the strongest guards in the kingdom at your disposal.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you quite humble?¡± ¡°My reputation is well deserved, fufu.¡± Giggling, she walked toward the other two, where competition between who could lift the most discs started taking place. ¡­ Back in his room, Kai flopped on the bed and let out a long, heavy sigh before groaning in pain. ¡°These¡­ damned witches!¡± He cursed, taking off his drenched shirt and dropping it on the floor. ¡°I can¡¯t even feel my muscles even after healing magic¡­ God. Boy, come here.¡± Onyx immediately got up from his spot on the floor, climbing on the bed as much as he could and curling up around Kai. ¡°They made me train even after I couldn¡¯t anymore, they just used¡­ used healing magic and I started again! And later today I¡¯ll have to go learn Elvish¡­ this feels like torture!¡± Onyx nodded and let out low, sharp sounds as if agreeing with everything Kai said. Occasionally, he¡¯d make an angry gesture with his paw as he listened to Kai¡¯s blabbering, signaling his unhappiness. ¡°I know¡­ right? Speaking of, Boy, you¡¯re not doing any training, how do you expect to be stronger?¡± Upon hearing that, Onyx lowered his head and let out low yelps, brushing his snout against Kai¡¯s body as if pleading. ¡°Haha, ok, I got it, I got it. I guess Magical Beasts grow stronger as they age. I remember reading about it in the big book¡­ Wait!¡± Suddenly jumping to his feet, he ignored the pain and ran toward a dark corner, where his old, rugged backpack lay unattended. It remained filled to the brim, except for the food he took out in fear of it going bad and creating unwanted smells and destroying whatever else he hid inside. Pulling out the thick, old, and heavy book, he flipped the pages as he sat down on the hardwood floor. ¡°Not here, not here¡­ ah!¡± Stopping somewhere near the end, his finger grazed over a drawing that looked eerily similar to Onyx, albeit maybe older. The text accompanying it was all written in Elvish. ¡°No wonder I skipped over it! I couldn¡¯t understand a thing! But now¡­¡± Onyx curiously looked over his shoulder just as he finished the sentence, and listened to Kai mumble reading the paragraphs next to the familiar-looking creature. ¡°The Obborik is a¡­ ma-, uh whatever, I assume it says magnificent but I can barely understand it, the faded pages don¡¯t help either. Anyway¡­ it looks like it¡¯s describing what your race looks like and¡­ your powers. Hmm¡­ high mana, high speed¡­ strength average¡­ spells¡­ damn I can¡¯t understand any of that. Origin¡­ huh weird.¡± All the text after the Origin seemed to have faded away, not due to time or corrosion but because someone had deliberately deleted the text. Only a few words remained, and even those, while difficult to understand, did not indicate the Obborik¡¯s true origins. ¡°What the hell? Why would anyone want to hide that?¡± The mystery surrounding Onyx grew deeper in Kai¡¯s mind, with even the book that had never let him down until now failing to delve further into it. Looking at his companion¡¯s pearly eyes, he let out a soft sigh and petted his fluffy head. ¡°Well, no matter. I¡¯ll figure it out eventually.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Chapter 67: Improving The Technique Kai and Onyx returned to cuddling on the bed, this time in simple silence as the fatigue finally took over him, and began drifting to sleep. However, right before he could properly fall into unconsciousness, he heard a gentle knock on his door, followed by a soft creaking sound as it opened. ¡°Kai, are you awake?¡± Aina¡¯s low voice rang in his ears, and he stretched his arms while getting up. The woman silently closed the door behind her and sat down next to Kai and Onyx. She wore a gentle smile on her face as her hands ran through the Obborik¡¯s gentle fur. Her motherly eyes stared deep into Kai¡¯s soul as she asked in a concerned, low voice, almost as quiet as a whisper. ¡°This technique of yours, tell me again how did you come up with it?¡± Kai, slightly taken aback by Aina¡¯s disposition, sat in silence for a second before beginning to recount the night he burned through idea after idea, omitting of course the part where he used Rodney¡¯s memories. The woman¡¯s eyes widened as she heard Kai tell of the theories he had in his head, which he eventually scrapped for the crude technique he eventually settled on. ¡°How did you know all of that?¡± Aina¡¯s slightly shocked voice landed in his ears, and he gulped as a drop of sweat ran down his forehead. ¡°I¡­ it¡¯s information from my parents¡¯ library. I read a lot of books on different topics before leaving, but I could only take one out due to my lack of mana¡­¡± He quickly came up with a lie, albeit weak, it would have to do to satisfy Aina¡¯s curiosity. ¡°I see, too bad I can¡¯t open it myself, I would have loved to read all that new material.¡± She sighed while grabbing his arm, sending a bit of mana into his fingertips. It quickly traveled upward, integrating into his mana veins as a sharp pain spread all over his body. ¡°What you¡¯re doing right now has been attempted before, as Elizabeth said, however, it is very rare and there hasn¡¯t been much research done on it.¡± She explained, freeing Kai¡¯s hand. ¡°It seems your veins were already sturdier and better developed from before¡­ although I can sense a lot of micro wounds that have turned into scars. What happened before the Haniard incident?¡± Upon hearing that, Kai gave Onyx a weird look, and for the first time in a while, found himself unable to give a direct reply. ¡°Well¡­ you see, I had to run from a very scary beast,¡± the Obborik¡¯s ears twitched slightly, and he raised his head before quickly lowering it in shame. ¡°And ended up using two pools of mana before running out, so I was forced to use raw mana to keep my speed boost up.¡± Aina¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly as she looked at the two, however, decided not to press it further as it was mostly irrelevant. ¡°Anyway, it seems like this lucky unlucky encounter was the sole reason your mana veins didn¡¯t break in your last stand, although that doesn¡¯t explain the core¡­ hell it barely explains the veins¡­¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Kai scratched the back of his head as he spoke before Aina could question him any further. ¡°Right, so I thought that if I considered mana veins to be muscles, which they seem to be given my unlucky encounter, then the more I train them the higher the chance they¡¯ll heal.¡± ¡°Yeah but¡­ Kai, you do realize that if you were wrong¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m well aware. But it was either that or nothing¡­¡± ¡°You could have waited to arrive here,¡± her voice broke slightly she said in an anxious tone. ¡°I¡¯m sure we could have-¡± Kai interrupted Aina mid-sentence, her worried words stuck in her throat. ¡°But it all ended up well, so let¡¯s not dwell on that.¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± She calmed down her nerves and the cogs in her mind began turning once again. ¡°It seems that by constantly ripping and healing your veins, they slowly begin healing, although at a very slow pace. It would take decades for them to be where they were before. Not to mention your core¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need them in that state¡­ I just need them to work.¡± I need them¡­ to kill Haniard¡­ to avenge my parents¡­ to appease my anger! To give a reason for my existence! Kai¡¯s crimson eyes locked gazes with Aina¡¯s own, his will sending a shiver down her spine. A soft smile creased her lips, and she nodded gently as she said. ¡°Very well, then. Time to brainstorm ways to improve it. First, the biggest problem right now is that you¡¯re ingesting the plants directly, and they¡¯re weeks old by this point, so you¡¯re losing a lot of medicinal efficiency. Second¡­ Even though you managed to guide the energies toward a single limb, a single mana vein, they are untamed. Wild mana and life force constantly clashing inside your body will do you more harm than good in the long term. Finally, the method you came up with is decent, but not quite enough. As I said, decades. This is the part where I will need your help. We need to figure out a way to control the energies, tame them, and use them at your own will.¡± Kai listened attentively to Aina¡¯s words, taking mental notes of everything she said. Blood rushed through his arteries as his heart raced like a rabbit¡¯s, his eyes finally opening to the flaws right under his nose. ¡°Is it possible to preserve the medicinal efficiency of the plants? Or, a way to get more out of them?¡± His question brought a frown upon Aina¡¯s face, and they stood in silence for a while before her lips finally parted. ¡°There is a way, it¡¯s still an experiment in its infancy but it could work. So, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re well aware of potions, they''re brewed using special plants, much like the ones you used, by alchemists. However, their biggest downside is that their medicinal efficiency decreases rapidly as soon as it''s brewed, that¡¯s why they¡¯re stored in spatial rings. But-¡± The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°But I don¡¯t have that option¡­¡± ¡°Yes, so¡­ my ancestor spoke of a lot of weird things. Amongst them, recorded in the annals of our history, were something called pills. Small pellets filled with medicinal powder that could be ingested directly. They never said anything about how they are made, or if they were even a thing we could make. But I think I figured it out¡­¡± As she said that, her palm opened, revealing a small, golden bead. ¡°This is the pill, made from several plants rich with life force, we managed to trap almost eighty percent of its energy, and the best part is¡­ it''s barely losing any even as I hold it like this!¡± Kai¡¯s eyes widened as soon as he laid eyes on them, a small shiver running down his spine as memories from his past life appeared in his mind. That thing¡­ looks exactly like those pills from the cultivation mangas I read¡­ And wait! Body core¡­ body¡­ However, a sharp pain spread throughout his skull as the rest of his memories faded away. ¡°Kai, are you alright?¡± Aina¡¯s hand flew to his forehead, checking if he had a fever before verifying his pulse. ¡°It¡¯s a bit irregular, I didn¡¯t expect you to be this shocked¡­¡± ¡°Ha¡­ well, it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s an impressive creation. This way even people like me who can¡¯t use spatial rings can get an advantage in battle. How did you make it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t say, as even I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ve had a secret group of alchemists work on this prototype for the past three centuries¡­ you¡¯re the first person to see it.¡± Kai reached toward the pill, curious about its weight and feel. However, before he could even feel it with his fingertips, Aina pulled her hand back and hid the pill in her spatial ring. ¡°It is still a prototype, so I¡¯d rather be careful with it. I hope you understand¡­ Now, I thought of a way to tame those energies, so hear me out. What if we introduce a third one into the mix? Something to balance the life force¡¯s brutal vitality and something to act upon the raw mana¡¯s destructive force. I just can¡¯t figure out what¡­¡± Something that can act as a link between the two different types of energies¡­ Destruction and Healing¡­ they¡¯re already opposites, Yin and Yang¡­ What if the balancing problem is internal? There is no healing in destruction and no destruction in healing, they¡¯re a single element. What if¡­ ¡°What if, instead of a third element¡­ you merged a bit of each one in the other, creating an internal balance?¡± Aina¡¯s expression turned solemn, and a frown quickly appeared on her face. ¡°How can we do that? I¡­ I¡¯ve never thought of it like that¡­ internal balance.¡± ¡°We could use those pills.¡± Kai¡¯s mind began to race as he theorized. ¡°When making a mana pill, add life force, and when creating a life force pill, add mana¡­ I think that would work.¡± ¡°But we barely managed to make a stable one with barely any leaks, mixing two energies¡­ I¡¯m not sure about the result.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s worth a try, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kai added, his eyes gleaming with hope as he looked at Aina. Aina sighed, resigning to her fate as she placed her hand over Kai¡¯s head. ¡°Yes¡­ it is worth a try.¡± ¡­ The next few weeks passed like a breeze, with Kai, Aina, and Euphridia continuing their routine, which changed slightly every few days. During the day, Kai learned Elvish from Aina before training using the Hippocatrus Healing Technique, making slow progress toward perfecting it every day. Although Elizabeth protested, Kai assured her time and time again that he¡¯d be fine, so in the end she gave up. After training with the technique, he ran to the training course, either the manor backyard or the elven training ground. There, he did the most hellish training he had ever experienced before sparring with Euphridia, although the progress was clear. His body, although still pale, became more muscular, and even his stamina and speed improved. However there seemed to be no progress with the creation of the pills, and Aina would sigh with disappointment each time Kai inquired about it. The two sat in Kai¡¯s room, and he leaned on Onyx¡¯s large frame as he asked the same question again. ¡°We¡¯ve wasted so many medical herbs already, we¡¯re lucky some nobels from the court are helping us fund this project, otherwise we¡¯d have been forced to stop already. No matter how much or how little foreign energy we add to the pill, it keeps devouring and assimilating it, eventually blowing up or turning to ashes before even being fully concocted. Our alchemists said it¡¯s almost impossible to control it.¡± Kai listened attentively, his heart racing with anxiety as he tried to look for a solution. ¡°How are the pills usually produced?¡± ¡°That¡­ well¡­¡± Aina hesitated briefly, stuttering before letting out a light sigh. ¡°It¡¯s a bit complicated. First, we use a large vat of water to boil the medicinal plants, and we then filter that water through a nanomesh. Oh, nano is something very small. It¡¯s made using magic and Wyvern Hair and takes an incredibly long time to make, so we only have a few of them. After the water gets filtered, we are left with the raw energy, which we then clean into a bowl. Using a combination of degradable, digestible leather and, using a combination of healing and water magic, create the outer shell. It¡¯s not that difficult, but it took us centuries to figure out this process, and it works well enough for a single type of energy¡­ but two energies at once¡­ difficult. The energies mix in the nanomesh and again when poured into a bowl. When creating the inner and outer shell, the dominant energy will ¡®consume¡¯ the other and then¡­¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Kai nodded as his brain raced, calling upon both his and Rodney¡¯s memories to find a solution to this problem. Eventually, he sank into Onyx¡¯s fur with a sigh. I should have figured, although Rodney was a scientist, he was by no means a medic, the creation of pills didn¡¯t interest him either so he doesn¡¯t have any information about it¡­ I guess that leaves me with what I knew¡­ which isn¡¯t much. All I can remember¡­ are those damn xianxia stories! How am I supposed to figure out a way to¡­ ¡°Aina, how do you control the energy, or whatever, for it to stay together?¡± ¡°We use a special magic to control it, why?¡± Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat as an insane idea popped into his mind, and he began blabbering with ideas. ¡°What if you used heat instead of boiled water? Sort of, cooking the plants in the air, and controlling the energy as it cooks? That, and just scrap the leather inner shell, just use the energy itself to form a shell, that way, there could be much less loss, right?¡± ¡°This¡­ Kai, you¡­¡± Aina stared in shock at the boy, her lips trembling as she jumped to her feet. ¡°That¡­ worth a try!¡± She said, storming out of the room without even saying goodbye. ¡°Well¡­¡± Kai sat in awe at her speed and leaned back onto Onyx as he drifted into sleep. Chapter 68: Breakthrough(Part 1) A muffled clashing sound echoed in the backyard as Kai and Euphridia sparred with wooden swords. Sweat dripped down the boy¡¯s glistening skin, burned and damaged by the moon¡¯s now much harsher rays. ¡°Come on kid, you can do better than that! Six months of training, I ought to have trained you well! ¡°Shut- shut up¡­¡± Kai groaned as he deflected her blows, his hands trembling each time their sword met mid-air. She wore a smug expression on her face, and she slowly retreated while circling Kai, whose eyes followed her like a viper. Euphy¡¯s pupils constricted, and, with a simple, precise step she arrived right in front of Kai, her sword violently clashing with his shoulder. He fell to his knees with a loud groan, rubbing his shoulder while looking up at his teacher. ¡°Did you have to hit that hard?¡± ¡°Well, how else will you learn? You can¡¯t even block a practice strike. If I were an actual enemy you¡¯d have died so many times in the past hour.¡± ¡°An actual enemy isn¡¯t the captain of the Elvish First Gate!¡± Kai complained as he rose to his feet, letting out a long sigh as he stared at this teacher¡¯s smug smile. ¡°One of these days¡­ you¡¯ll see!¡± He cursed, walking toward a bench to rest. However, before he could even take a first step, Aina¡¯s excited and fatigued voice rang in his ears like a church¡¯s bell. ¡°Kai, you¡­ little¡­ genius!¡± She yelled from across the courtyard, her body glowing slightly as she picked up speed, arriving in front of Kai in less than five seconds. ¡°Look¡­ this¡­ your idea worked!¡± Aina pulled out a silver pill from within her pocket. Kai squinted his eyes, and, although he couldn¡¯t sense the pill¡¯s composition, he made an educated guess. ¡°Is this¡­ the inner balance pill?¡± ¡°Yes, we did it! Thanks to your idea, and not only that¡­ this is¡­ unheard of! Come on, hold it!¡± Aina grabbed Kai¡¯s hand, placing the pill in his blazing palm. The pill¡¯s cold, shining surface rapidly cools down the skin around it. His pupils widened as grabbed it between his fingers, looking at it with a child-like curiosity. It¡¯s almost like a pearl¡­ and so beautiful. ¡°Is this the mana pill?¡± ¡°Yeah, and it has retained eighty-seven percent of its energy! Eighty-seven! This is a monumental breakthrough! The life force is staying still inside the pill, tamed by the raw mana. I don¡¯t know what gave you that idea, or why it works but by Lumiera! Kai! This is¡­ huge!¡± ¡°What is?¡± The two suddenly froze as Elizabeth¡¯s voice resounded behind Aina, wearing a complex expression on her face as she rushed and snatched the pill from Kai. ¡°This is¡­ a¡­? Mom! Is this what I think it is?¡± Aina wore a wry smile on her face, while Kai gulped and took a step back. Crap, she¡¯ll kill me if she finds out what I and Aina have been up to! His expression almost gave away his fear, and if there was a competent God in this universe, he¡¯d pray to it. However, as it stands, he could only pray that Aina could bullshit her way out of an actual explanation. She let out a light sigh and grabbed back the pill, ¡°Yeah, it is, so what? You weren¡¯t supposed to know so much anyway!¡± Elizabeth¡¯s eye twitched slightly before speaking ¡°Mom, this¡­ didn¡¯t I tell you it¡¯s not worth it? The time and resources necessary are too much in theory. Potions are much easier and much cheaper to make.¡± ¡°Elly, potions don¡¯t last for those who don¡¯t have magic. How many of ours have died because they couldn¡¯t heal or gather mana in time? This is a revolutionary invention. Once The Court hears of this¡­ we¡¯ll be able to allocate many more resources in The First Gate.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s say I believe they¡¯re worth the price. What does Kai have to do with this?¡± Elizabeth¡¯s question hit Kai like a hammer, but he didn¡¯t dare utter a word in hopes that Aina could somehow throw her off his tail. ¡°Well, he simply gave me some¡­ ideas. Yeah, we didn¡¯t know how to mix two energies so I consulted him.¡± ¡°Two energies?¡± Elly¡¯s contemplative expression quickly turned into a frown as her eyes snapped to Kai. ¡°You! You¡­! Didn¡¯t listen to me after all, did you?! And you dragged Mom into this? You! Bad! Kid!¡± She brought her hand to her forehead, massaging her temples while continuing. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you told her or what she told you but¡­ she¡¯s doing it in her best interest.¡± ¡°Elly I¡­ even if it¡¯s so, what¡¯s the problem? I need to get stronger, I need to be better. I must be. And if I can do it¡­ what stops people in my situation from doing it as well? I¡¯m not a hero or selfless by any means, but if whatever we¡¯re doing right now works¡­ then I don¡¯t care.¡± Elizabeth stood in silence, biting her lower lip as her body trembled in fury. A tear formed at the corner of her eye as she stared at Kai, their gorgeous emerald green sparkling under the moonlight. ¡°Fine, as you wish¡­ but I¡¯ll monitor every session, and take over mother¡¯s role.¡± ¡°Huh? What did I do?¡±Aina asked in a faint voice, however the soft smile creasing her lips betrayed her tone. My daughter cares so much about this boy, she finally started taking charge of things. Can I retire early then? Fufufu. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°You¡¯re too irresponsible and inattentive to watch over him¡­ Mother, I can¡¯t compare to you in terms of medicine and magic but¡­ you don¡¯t have any capability to take care of a child.¡± Hearing that, Aina¡¯s smile immediately turned into a genuine frown as her eyes twitched. ¡°Hey! You can¡¯t say that, don¡¯t forget who raised you after your deadbeat father left!¡± Her annoyed voice hid a tinge of anger as her fists clenched slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that about Dad!¡± Elizabeth¡¯s face flushed red as she raised her voice, and a small tear dripped down her cheek. Kai wore a shocked expression, surprised by how fast things had escalated, however, he didn¡¯t say anything for fear of making things worse. On the other hand, Euphridia seemingly disappeared into the darkness without a trace. Seeing her daughter¡¯s expression, Aina let out a light sigh. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Elizabeth, I- It was too far. I¡¯ll take a step back and let you help Kai.¡± The apology, made in a voice barely above a whisper ended with her slowly walking away with her head lowered. What¡­ Kai stood astonished at how quickly the situation went from zero to one hundred and back to zero. Aina¡¯s lone back as she walked to the manor left a deep imprint in his mind. Is this how my parents¡­ how they left as well? How did they feel in their last moments¡­ their expression¡­ resembled Aina¡¯s a bit. My dad¡­ was also more than I thought, and so was my mother. Yet, they didn¡¯t reveal any of that, they just wanted me to have a normal life¡­ A light sigh grabbed his attention, and he locked eyes with Elizabeth as he turned to her. ¡°Excuse me for that, Kai. My mom she¡­ she doesn¡¯t see what I see.¡± Kai stared deep into Elly¡¯s trembling pupils, a soft smile forming on his lips as they parted, ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ but is she alright?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ mom¡¯s stronger than that, she¡¯ll sulk for a bit but she went through worse.¡± The boy remained silent, and, seeing that his teacher had disappeared, decided to head back to his room inside the manor and rest for a bit. Elizabeth accompanied him. The short road there remained quiet, with only their heartbeats echoing in the cold corridors of the empty manor, safe for a few crickets and critters. His room door creaked open, revealing its dark, empty but cozy interior. Onyx was nowhere to be seen, but Kai had grown accustomed to it by now. Kai flopped on the bed, and let out light groans as he threw himself below a thick blanket and two large pillows. ¡°Are you going to sleep, so early?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll try to, at least.¡± His muffled voice barely escaped the constraints of the comfy area he made for himself. Sighing in the pillow, he turned around toward Elizabeth. ¡°The technique I created is difficult and very painful to use¡­ now, with Aina¡¯s pill it should be much easier. But I feel like something is missing, I think it¡¯s incomplete but I don¡¯t know why¡­ it¡¯s been bothering me for a while. Not even your mother could help me figure it out, maybe you can?¡± ¡°Maybe, can you describe it to me?¡± Standing up, Kai stretched out his arm and pointed at a spot somewhere between the hand and the elbow. ¡°There¡¯s a microscopic spot here, and I can feel it getting bigger each time I use the technique. For now, the only thing escaping from it is mana, however, later¡­ I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll lose my ability to use my arm as its nerves get damaged.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s eyes glowed with a faint green light as she got closer to his arms. Her warm breath crashed against his skin, however the expression on her face quickly changed to a frown. ¡°Kai, this is a wound created by a small amount of mana traveling at incredibly fast speeds¡­ How, how could this happen? It¡¯s like a magic spell!¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what Aina said as well, but she couldn¡¯t find a reason despite researching for days and days on end. I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t know what to do. I need to keep going, but there¡¯s no point if I lose something else in exchange.¡± Elizabeth stood in contemplative silence, her mind churning out ideas as she theorized what could have caused this reaction in the first place. It makes no sense that this exact spot is the only one on his entire body, it seems way too random for that¡­ but what could have caused mana to travel that fast¡­ I didn¡¯t even think it was possible. Even when it¡¯s in raw form, it just bloats and shatters mana veins but punching a hole through skin and bone¡­ Minutes passed like hours and Kai¡¯s fatigued eyes started to droop, weighted down by exhaustion. His arm ached as Elly refused to let go no matter how many times he pulled. Sighing, he gave up on attempting to free his arm from her bind and began thinking as well, taking the memories from his past life and Rodney¡¯s in hopes of coming up with a decent idea. Aina said the life force could have changed the raw mana¡¯s structure, resulting in it becoming thinner and sharper. But I have felt no such thing, and why that point in my arm specifically? Had I not sensed something wrong¡­ but what could it be then? Think! It¡¯s invisible to the naked eye¡­ caused by sharp mana¡­ argh! Fuck! Meanwhile, Elizabeth¡¯s eyes stopped glowing, and she let go of his arm. Standing up from the bed with a sigh and looking at Kai, she turned toward the door and silently closed it, leaving Kai alone with his thoughts. Damn it! She raged inwardly while storming off toward the library. There has to be something, a similar symptom or a hint of some sort! Her racing heart echoing in the lit corridors gave away her anxiety if her expression didn¡¯t reveal enough already. The doors slammed open, creating a strong gust of wind that swayed the curtains and flipped book pages. The entire library lit with a snap of her fingers as she rushed toward the back, stopping beside a rather unpeculiar bookshelf. It stood at about three meters tall, and the books it held were just as uninteresting looking as the others. However, Elly¡¯s eyes revealed hope as she looked at them. One of these has to have a solution, a hint¡­ something! It has to! Mom is too proud to look at books she¡¯s already read but¡­ I¡¯m not! With that thought in mind and filled with determination, Elly picked up a handful of books and sat at the table. The sound of flipping pages instantly filled the silent library. It softly bounced against the books and bookshelves as she quickly but carefully read every word. Her mind turned into a sponge as she absorbed every bit of knowledge, slowly filtering it while trying to come up with a solution. Chapter 69: Breakthrough(Part 2) The days passed like normal. Kai trained tirelessly and studied Elvish with Aina, who seemed to have returned to normal after two days of being a no-show. At first, it seemed like her sulking wouldn¡¯t end, but once she started teaching, her entire personality did a 180. After the lessons ended, she pulled out a small pouch from her pockets and handed it over to Kai. It felt heavy, despite its size, and a few marble-like sounds resounded from within as Kai squeezed it in his hand. ¡°You have ten pills of each inside.¡± Aina said with a sigh, ¡°Do some tests with Elizabeth and see how long they last and how much you progress. I had to fight my engineers for them, I swear they¡¯re so stingy¡­¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Kai opened the bag with a gasp of cold air as the golden and silver pills reflected their glow into his crimson pupils. ¡°There¡¯s so many of them! It only took your team two weeks to create them?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ it wasn¡¯t easy, and convincing them to give them to me was even less so¡­ but I managed.¡± She wore a bitter smile on her face while explaining the situation, however, she didn¡¯t let it show for too long. The chair creaked as she stood up, leaving together with Kai whose exhausted mind couldn¡¯t help but think about the pills. Maybe I¡¯ll be able to cure this damned hole now! Elizabeth has been helping me with the technique, but she hasn¡¯t seen anything out of the ordinary, and even as the hole grew larger she still didn¡¯t see what happened. Perhaps the tamed mana will help me¡­ but also¡­ He gulped as he thought about the unknown effects and side effects. A hole seemed to have opened in his stomach as he walked toward his room, still following Aina. ¡°Aina, are you coming with me? I thought you said you¡¯d let Elly handle it.¡± Kai asked in a whisper as he hurried beside her. ¡°I reconsidered. My daughter may be good at a lot of things but she still has to catch up on medicine. I¡¯d rather observe this one time, besides I think I found a solution to your ¡®illness¡¯.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes immediately widened, and his heart skipped a beat as a cracked voice escaped his lips, ¡°Re-really?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I will need to see how your body reacts to these pills but I hope I¡¯m right.¡± Her half-confident tone killed some of Kai¡¯s excitement, but he nevertheless clenched his fists in anticipation. The short way to his room remained silent until they finally arrived in front of it. The door cracked open, revealing Elizabeth¡¯s figure, her right leg rapidly moving up and down as she fidgeted with her fingers. Her head immediately rose with excitement, only for her brows to slightly furrow upon seeing Aina. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± She asked, making space for her mother and Kai on the bed. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve managed to acquire a few pills, and I want to observe their effects,¡± Aina said with a smile that betrayed her otherwise stoic voice. ¡°Just pretend I¡¯m not here and do what you usually do.¡± ¡°Al- Alright.¡± Kai nodded and showed Elly the pouch, pulling out one silver and one golden pill, and gently holding them between his fingers as he inspected them under the chandelier. The silver pill had a hint of a warm color inside, like the first ray of the spring sun after a harsh winter. The golden one, on the other hand, appeared like a miniature sun, whose blazing surface contrasted with its chilling core. Together, both pills formed an invisible balance, canceling and taming each other¡¯s energies. Even Elizabeth¡¯s emerald pupils widened as she laid eyes upon them, and gulped as her trembling hand reached for the silver one. Inhaling sharply and bringing it closer, she activated her eye magic, peering deep inside the pill. Blue-ish, transparent clouds filled the small, spherical medicine, and the mana seemed to condense into small droplets under the pressure, which quickly evaporated back into a gaseous form under the life force¡¯s supervision. ¡°Incredible¡­¡± Elly retracted her vision, small droplets of sweat dripping down her forehead as she handed the pill back to Kai. ¡°Mom this is¡­¡± ¡°Revolutionary,¡± Aina said confidently, a smirk creasing her lips as she stood with one leg over the other. ¡°Now, hurry up Kai.¡± She beckoned with a trembling hand. Kai nodded and sat down on the bed, cross-legged. Taking a deep breath, he swallowed both pills at the same time and immediately began controlling the energy as the pills melted in his mouth. The tamed mana and life force circulated through his body like a river on a mountain, passing through the forest and dirt that was his flesh, and entering the canals that were his mana veins. Letting the mana go first, he grits his teeth and prepares to endure the painful process of destroying his mana veins. However, that feeling never arrived, as the tamed mana traveled through the veins, the amount that escaped through the holes gently tore through them, gradually chipping away. Next, the life force met the newly enlarged holes and immediately began repairing them even faster and better than before. The microscopic gaps or additional wounds caused by the rampant life force were now reduced by more than fifty percent. The two women bit their lips and fidgeted with their fingers as they observed the changes in Kai¡¯s body. Aina let out a sigh of relief as she noticed the pills acting exactly like they should and the increased efficiency in Kai¡¯s healing. However, Elizabeth started clenching her fists as she saw the boy¡¯s expression changing to a frown. Sweat dripped down his body as he carefully controlled the energies, and his arms and legs trembled each time a full cycle passed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Aina reassured her daughter. ¡°Now that the energies don¡¯t have a mind of their own, Kai has to put in more effort to move them around, which is already incredibly difficult without mana¡­ I don¡¯t know how he¡¯s doing it.¡± Hearing that, Elizabeth¡¯s nerves seemed to have calmed down a bit, however not enough for her heart to stop racing. Just as Aina said, Kai now depleted more mental energy to move the mana and life force around, but the results were clear - The process at which he healed had sped up by at least twenty percent and the amount of healing done by thirty-seven, with a now much more painless process. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Hours passed, and the mana and life force cycled through his body hundreds of times before the seemingly infinite energy within the pills finally dissipated. Kai¡¯s sweat-covered body burned hot with vigor, however, the mental exhaustion quickly caught up as he fell unconscious. Elizabeth quickly rushed forward and caught him before his face met the bed. Placing Kai gently on her lap, she finally let out a heavy sigh of relief while looking at his fatigued yet content face. ¡°Wow, I haven¡¯t seen him sleep this well in a while¡­¡± Elly remarked as she brushed away his disheveled hair, a soft smile creasing her lips as she chuckled. ¡°I¡­ am sorry about what I said a few weeks ago, Mom. I was just afraid and anxious¡­ Kai is¡­ the last royal now. Ray and Elena¡­ it¡¯s just¡­ it was too much. Even after all the time that has passed, I couldn¡¯t calm down, I still can¡¯t...w. And then¡­ I snapped at you, it was unfair.¡± Aina listened silently, and she scooted over after Elizabeth finished her apology. Raising her hand, she placed it over her daughter¡¯s blonde locks and brought her closer to her chest. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I understand how you feel. To you, your father was someone capable, a hero, a dragon amongst men. I won¡¯t badmouth him again but¡­ I can¡¯t forgive him either.¡± Elizabeth sighed but remained close to her mother¡¯s head as she continued her previous conversation. ¡°I don¡¯t know what Haniard is up to but eventually he¡¯ll come looking for Kai. I already saw posters circulating amongst the human kingdom¡­ they look similar to Kai but not quite enough. Especially not now when he¡¯s changed so much. He¡¯s safe in here, in Evicario. Haniard wouldn¡¯t dare send anyone in unless he had a death wish. However¡­¡± Elly bit her lower lips as she caressed Kai¡¯s silver hair. ¡°Kai has other plans.¡± Her mother continued, staring at the boy with curiosity. ¡°He¡¯s bent on getting stronger¡­ on getting revenge. Even if he doesn¡¯t say it, I see it in his eyes. His soul burns with the desire to kill Haniard¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°You are scared?¡± Elly echoed, turning to Aina with surprise. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The boy is weird¡­ he¡¯s not strong, he can¡¯t even use magic¡­ but throughout these six months, he¡¯s never once missed a training day. He kept enduring this immeasurable pain of strengthening his mana veins in hopes of being able to use the most basic of Inkos magics¡­ and on top of that, he¡¯s learning Elvish. His willpower¡­ is scary. His methods are even more so¡­ I mean, that weird weight training creation he came up with¡­ Not to mention the technique itself¡­ and the name - Hippocratus, doesn¡¯t it seem familiar?¡± Elly jumped up with widened eyes as realization hit, and her ragged breathing barely calmed down as she stared at Aina, whose expression almost mirrored her daughter¡¯s. ¡°No way¡­ Kai- he¡¯s an¡­¡± Her mother remained silent, however the silence was enough to confirm Elizabeth¡¯s suspicion. ¡­ Kai woke up the next day alone, tucked in his blanket. Not even Onyx had returned from his endeavor, but that wasn¡¯t the first thing crossing his mind right now. He jumped up and concentrated on his mana veins with a racing heart. Although he couldn¡¯t use mana for spells, he could still use it to look inside himself. A smile creased his lips as he inspected the amount he healed. Immediately jumping to his feet and grabbing the pouch of pills, he rushed out the creaked door in excitement, completely forgetting to check his illness. Walking in the empty hallways wasn¡¯t that weird for him, as even the staff slept during the night when he was awake. The only thing keeping him company were the countless lights and the shadows created by them, however, he found some kind of solace in these unanimated shapes. He strolled around the manor, picking up an apple from the kitchen before walking outside. He took off his shirt, revealing his slightly muscular yet pale upper body, and placed the bag of pills to the side. Welcoming the moon¡¯s harsh rays with a smile, he walked toward the training ground and picked up a wooden sword as he finished up the apple. Gripping the hilt tightly with both hands, he took a deep breath as he placed himself in the stance Euphridia modified for him. It was just as basic as the one taught to him by his grandpa, however, it now had way fewer gaps. It seemed sturdier, yet more agile and less open. He inhaled swiftly and sang the sword horizontally, its figure becoming nothing more than a blur as it split the air. In almost the same instance as the slash finished, he returned to the original stance and prepared himself for another swing. The air once again split, and it did so again and again, each time faster and faster until¡­ The sword split in half after the fiftieth swing, unable to take the drastic change in kinetic energy any longer. Kai let out a soft chuckle and sat down on the chilly floor. Sighing, he looked up at the moon, the being that watched over him since he started on his journey. Enduring the slicing pain in his retinas, he smiled bitterly and laid down on the ground, his chest heaving. Seven months¡­ has it been seven months? Eight? I don¡¯t even remember¡­ The first few days since Haniard¡­ since¡­ Haniard¡­ He immediately stood back up, his nails digging into his palm as creaking teeth escaped his mouth. It¡¯s been seven months! That bastard¡­ I never once stopped to consider what he did in those months! My mother¡¯s heart! What could he have possibly used it for? Seven months¡­ seven months and all I did was swing a stupid sword around and act like a hero! His heart raced as anger rushed through his veins and he kicked the ground, jumping to his feet. The muscles on his body contracted and spasmed as he looked around the training ground with constricted pupils. However, besides the wooden swords and weights, the only thing within his eyesight was the wooden dummy they used to train his swings. Its once clean appearance now stood covered in scars, cuts, and markings. Kai picked up a wooden sword, tightly holding it in one hand as he let out a primeval scream and rushed toward the wooden puppet. Tears formed around his eyes as the muscles in his dominant hand contracted even more, the wooden sword cutting through the air like an arrow released from its bow. Kai¡¯s screams only got louder and sharper as his weapon approached the dummy until the two finally collided with a muffled explosion. The blade within Kai¡¯s clutch shattered into pieces, his eyes widening as the pain within his right hand spread throughout his body. He fell face first on the floor, gliding on the chilly ground and creating a faint red trace until he finally stopped a few meters away from the wobbling puppet. Groaning, he stood up, his pale face covered in blood however the anger within his eyes not having subsided one bit. More and more blood rushed to his face, and more dripped onto his cheeks. Looking up at the moon, his lips parted into a widened mouth as a raw, powerful, pain-filled scream escaped his body. It didn¡¯t last long, just long enough for tears to accompany the blood smashing on the floor, and just long enough for his scream to become a cry. He fell to his knees, hitting the floor as hard as he could, remembering the pain and hardships Haniard brought him. In his blurry, tear-filled vision he saw the last ray of hope in his journey. The bag of pills, which seemed to be winking, beckoned him to approach like a siren to a sailor. Kai crawled over to them, stopping his tears as he grabbed the bag, holding it tightly in his palm as an insane idea popped up in his head. Chapter 70: Breakthrough(Part 3) Kai sat cross-legged in the middle of the training field, the marble-like pillars surrounding him like a formation. He didn¡¯t bother to put away the sword and weights, nor the dummy staring at him mockingly. His focus was on the bag he held between his hands. It had nine mana pills and nine life force pills. Both of his legs shivered without pause whilst his entire body quivered. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m doing this¡­ I really must have gone insane¡­ However, this short moment of clarity quickly faded as he brought the bag to his mouth and¡­ swallowed all eighteen pills. Each pill immediately melted in his mouth a few seconds after initial contact, which allowed him to ingest all of them in the span of a few breaths. He held back a scream as immense amounts of energy flowed through his body, crashing against his flesh and bones. It merged into his blood and condensed into a thin stream as the pressure created by his body compressed the intangible energy into gas and then into droplets. However, unlike before, Kai¡¯s mana veins were now acting as actual veins¡­ except they weren¡¯t a closed system, but instead an open one. That meant that if Kai wasn¡¯t careful, much, much more mana and life force would infiltrate into his bloodstream, leading to unknown consequences. His veins and arteries started glowing from within, making them visible from the outside like the stars in the night sky. Groaning, he curled up into a ball. Clenching his fists, he focused on the rampant energies, controlling them the best he could with the technique. However, despite his best efforts, more and more droplets fused into his bloodstream, cycling around through his heart and brain. Sharp bouts of pain spread throughout his body like small needles passing through his bones. Tears dripped down his flushed face, along with blood that seeped through his skin. Come on¡­ I can do it¡­ I will do it¡­! Each time the mana and life force completed a full cycle, Kai felt his mana veins become sturdier as they broke down and instantly healed. Although the pain created by physical substances felt ten times worse than its counterpart, its efficiency couldn¡¯t be questioned. Five minutes¡­ ten minutes¡­ twenty¡­ An hour passed as Kai grit his teeth and endured the pain. The moon neared its midpoint in the sky, and its rays turned harsher and harsher. They scorched and marked his back and arms as the moon rose into the sky, however, the external pain couldn¡¯t be compared to what was happening inside his body. He had only used twenty percent of the mana and life force he absorbed, of which about two percent had integrated with his blood. Small cracks covered his blazing skin, which only became wider and wider as time went on. The amount he healed during the hour remained unknown, however, one thing he was sure about - the microscopic cracks and holes in his veins completely disappeared. The life energy stuck inside them in the form of droplets, which then hardened as the mana washed over them. His mental energy had reached an all-time low, however. With a blurry vision and faint heartbeat, he could barely control the rest of the energy. A muffled set of footsteps echoed in his ear, along with a familiar, yet faint voice. It wasn¡¯t long before a hand, cold compared to himself, reached out and placed him on his back. The expression he wore resembled that of a dead man¡¯s, his dry lips pointing toward the sky as the dried spots of blood on his face hardened like mud. His wide, unfocused crimson pupils resembled a dark abyss as they twitched each time a bit of foreign energy cycled his body. Terrified and anxious screams rang in his ears, however, the only thing he heard was a sharp, continuous ring as he did his best not to lose focus. A dark green light washed over his body, cooling it down and relaxing his mind at the same time. At the same time, a lighter shade of green surrounded his skull, which amplified and added to the calming sensation. His mental energy slowly replenished, and he subconsciously took advantage of the opportunity and exercised greater control over the mana and life force in his mana veins. His body tensed up as he picked up the pace, rapidly advancing the healing process at the cost of greater pain. ¡­ Hours passed in this fashion, and the three women surrounding him began to grow weary with fatigue. Euphridia washed Kai¡¯s sweat, blood, and tears off his body as Elizabeth and Aina each took care of him. Elly healed his body, fixing the cracks as soon as they appeared, however, she wasn¡¯t able to completely get rid of the scars. At the same time, Aina did her best to replenish his mental energy and aid him in guiding the energy in his body. However, even as the moon began to set, Kai showed no signs of stopping, nor did the energy show signs of depleting. Their anxious expressions mixed with fatigue as their eyes began to close, and the mana within their body depleted faster and faster. ¡°At this rate¡­ we¡¯ll last at most one more hour.¡± Aina said in a voice barely above a whisper. ¡°No¡­ we¡­ we have to¡­ more! we can¡­ can¡¯t¡­¡± Elizabeth¡¯s fatigued voice broke as sweat droplets covered her body. ¡°Need¡­ last¡­ more¡­¡± She panted as her trembling hands leaned on Kai¡¯s chest, unable to hold them up anymore. The speed of her healing slowed down, and more and more cracks appeared on his body. Blood seeped out of them, which Euphridia did her best to clean and isolate to avoid infection, however, even she began to feel the toll. Tension built up in the air as the first rays of sunlight hit the three of them, who did their best to protect Kai from its pain. However, despite their best efforts, they weren¡¯t able to stop some from landing on his skin. The sound of sizzling flesh and the smell of burnt meat permeated the air, sending shivers down the three¡¯s spine. Elizabeth, in a bout of hurry, stopped the healing process. Taking out her wand and, it lit up as she cast a simple spell, using up a good amount of the little mana she had left. The earth trembled as it rose, completely covering them and shielding Kai from the sun. She put it away with heavy breathing and started healing his body once again. I should have thought of it sooner! Damn it, how could I be so stupid? The wounds created by the sun covered Kai¡¯s body, and they seemed to slowly spread, completely ignoring Elly¡¯s healing. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Euphridia asked, her eyes filled with panic as her eyes landed on Kai¡¯s body, illuminated by a light crystal that Aina pulled out of her ring. ¡°The sun is much more deadlier than the moon¡­ I have no idea how long he¡¯s gone without blood, but I assume at most half a year. It¡¯s not deadly, not yet at least¡­ however, his natural weakness to sunlight is getting worse with each passing day.¡± She said, her voice breaking as she struggled to keep healing Kai¡¯s mental energy. ¡°His skin is too weak, the wounds are eating away at his body¡­ he needs to hurry before it gets worse.¡± The sense of urgency in her voice stood in bright contrast to her weakening tone, and her breathing turned ragged as sweat dripped down her forehead. Kai remained unaware of what happened around him due to having to control the energies with exact precision. By this point, almost fifty percent of the energy he ingested had been used up, and his veins started healing faster and faster as time went on. With the microscopic holes now filled up, and with the new trick he discovered, Kai simply split his attention. Controlling the two great parts of energies as they cycled his body, he also took out a portion of life energy and used it to fill the bigger holes. It took several cycles for it to harden and integrate with the veins, but this was much, much faster than before. Out of all his five veins, the four he focused on the most had been collectively healed for seventy percent, and that number only rose. The reason Kai only focused on his limbs was because the mana vein leading to his neck was too risky to attempt in his current state. However, despite all this, he couldn¡¯t feel the wound from the sun burning his flesh, eating away at his vitality and spreading without pause. His back had several dark spots, where blood seeped through. Aina grit her teeth and pulled out two silver pills, handing one to her daughter and immediately swallowing the other. Elizabeth followed suit. The pill immediately dissolved in her mouth, its cold feeling followed by a burst of energy as her core greedily swallowed the mana. Her pupils constricted, and she upped her healing output. Much to her surprise, the wounds from the sun seemed to be spreading slower, and she let out a sigh of relief knowing she could at least prevent any further damage. With a flick of her wrist, several blue, purple, and transparent vials appeared in her hand. Her mother¡¯s pupils widened, however by the time she could take action it was too late. Elly swallowed all three mana potions, her face reddening and her mana veins visibly bulging as she let out a low grunt. ¡°You fool!¡± Aina groaned, shaking her head. However, Elizabeth didn¡¯t pay any attention as she upped her healing output once again, causing the sun''s wounds to stop spreading altogether. Although this kind of output was impossible to keep up with potions also, Elizabeth persevered and did her best to stop any further damage. The wounds, however, unable to spread any longer, began digging deeper and deeper into his already damaged skin, revealing the flesh underneath along with some bone. Aina, Elizabeth, and Euphridia all sucked in a cold breath of air as panic manifested on their faces. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± Aina whispered with trembling pupils, her heart skipping a beat. Despite that, she remained as calm as she could, and never once lost focus on healing Kai. Elizabeth¡¯s spell on the other hand began waivering, and the wounds took advantage of this opportunity to spread and eat away at his flesh at the same time. ¡°Aina what¡¯... what is this?!!¡± Euphridia¡¯s lips trembled, and her blood-stained hands could do nothing to stop the horror happening before her. ¡°I- I don¡¯t know! I¡¯ve never seen this kind of wound before, it¡¯s too bizarre! I¡¯ve seen it spread before, and even that is rare but¡­ it¡¯s almost like it has a mind of its own!¡± ¡­ Back inside his body, Kai finally began to feel his body getting eaten away. His mind shook as his heart skipped a beat, causing a bit of energy to inflate his circulatory system once again. Damn¡­ it¡­! He groaned internally as he peered outside, and he let out a scream as he finally felt the pain. The three startled women jumped, their anxiety reaching a peak as sweat dripped down their foreheads. Kai¡¯s horror amplified as he realized that the unknown wounds managed to eat to his bone in a short amount of time. With his attention now split, the mana and life force began slipping from his grasp, more and more energy infiltrating his bloodstream. Not good! Despite that, he couldn¡¯t ignore the pain spreading all over his body, nor could he take control back in time. Panic washed over his body, however, he tried to remain calm as his mind raced looking for solutions. What¡­ the damage¡­ the wound, is it from the sun?! Damn it! I¡­ I took too long. This is¡­ bad. Think¡­ think! I need to stop it from killing me further, and I need to stop the energies from killing me! Think! What can I use to resist rampant energies and¡­ corrosive magic! He almost let out a cry as he remembered his final fight with Haniard. Although blurry, he remembered seeing his hands and body covered in some sort of silver scales, which barely budged under Haniard¡¯s dark magic. That¡­! If I can access that weird form. But Grandpa said to never use it again, however, if I don¡¯t I will die anyway! Besides, how do I even activate it? Rivers of sweat and blood ran down his body as the seconds passed, which then turned to minutes, and eventually¡­ Kai shivered. His flesh began burning and his eyes gleamed slightly as the teeth turned to fangs. The places where the sun had eaten away at his body began to regenerate at a speed visible to the naked. Soft, silver scales grew out of these spots, eliminating the corrosive power. The three women¡¯s bodies trembled as they distanced themselves from Kai, fear visible in their eyes, which were fixated on Kai¡¯s transforming body. Gulping, they steeled their resolve and kept on healing the boy, even as their hearts raced and mana cores trembled. A weird, extremely faint feeling washed over their bodies, one that told them to worship and kneel before Kai. Looking at each other, they let out a collective, heavy sigh and stood their ground. Chapter 71: Final Stretch As the sun got ready to set, Kai¡¯s eyes finally opened. Adjusting to the darkness, he slowly stood up, rubbing his head while looking around. Much to his surprise, he found himself in a dark, small room, surrounded by Aina, Elizabeth, and Euphridia, who looked at him with complex expressions. Elly¡¯s pupils trembled, tears forming in the corner of her eye. Disbelief, confusion, and fear manifested on her face, but above all, worry. She felt her anxious heart calm down, however the anger burning within couldn¡¯t disappear just as easily. Her mother let out a long and heavy sigh as her head shook disapprovingly. Euphridia on the other hand, stared at Kai with visible shock, and even a hint of fear. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­?¡± He asked in a faint unsure voice, which barely left his body as he stood straight. His heart raced with anxiety, and a pit formed in his stomach as his lips parted. ¡°I can ex-¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s condescending tone sent shivers down his spine. A tear formed in the corner of his eyes as he looked at her with an expression of disbelief. ¡°Elly I-¡± However, the sound of a sharp slap quickly interrupted him. Finding himself looking toward the wall, his body shivered as sobbing sounds echoed in his ears. The room of earth around them opened slightly, and Elizabeth quickly left as she sealed it back again. Kai remained flabbergasted, his cheek flashing red as Elly¡¯s handprint manifested on his face. Turning toward Aina, whatever words he had remained stuck in his throat as their eyes locked. Her disapproving expression sent a sharp pain through his heart, as if a sword pierced it and then pulled it out while crushing his chest. ¡°Kai¡­ why did you do this?¡± Aina¡¯s current tone didn¡¯t resemble any of her previous mannerisms, and it didn¡¯t sound this broken even when she fought with Elizabeth. ¡°You¡¯re smarter than this¡­¡± ¡°Aina¡­ I- I wanted to hurry things up. I couldn¡¯t stand being so weak anymore and¡­ thinking of Haniard and my parents¡­ Something came over me¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± She sighed and placed her hand over his shoulder as her lips parted. ¡°Kai, I don¡¯t think sorry will fix it this time¡­¡± She lowered her head before saying, ¡°Come on, go rest, we need to have a conversation later.¡± His heart skipped a beat as her words landed in his ears, however he could do nothing but watch as Aina dispelled the magic around them. She slowly walked to the manor, rubbing her temples as she disappeared into the darkness. An awkward silence descended upon Kai and Euphridia, who jumped in place as he turned toward her. They looked in silence at each other, however, Kai could tell she didn¡¯t feel entirely safe around him at the moment. Euphy¡¯s mind raced with thoughts, images of the boy she trained during the last six months flashing before her eyes. However, they quickly mixed with the form he took earlier, and it almost seemed like another person. She stood up, her blood-covered hands trembling slightly as she hid them behind her back. ¡°I¡¯ll go home now, take care of yourself¡­¡± Her armor rattled as she hurried away toward the gate, similarly disappearing into the distance, leaving Kai all alone. He stood in the middle of the training ground, at his feet a pool of blood and sweat. Scattered moon rays crashed against his skin, revealing the wounds created by the sun. Although his transformation healed some of them, most of them already began scarring. Despite his inability to see them, he felt them cover his back and arms. Sighing, he picked up the empty bag that previously held the pills and dragged his feet toward the manor, leaving the mess he made behind. ¡­ The door to his room slowly creaked open, however its usual emptiness was instead filled with Onyx¡¯s faint silhouette. He jumped up from his corner and rushed toward Kai, who flopped on the bed and let out a heavy sigh as he pat Onyx¡¯s fur. ¡°Ah, boy¡­ I fucked up¡­¡± The Obborik turned his head sideways in response as if asking Kai to elaborate. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it¡­¡± He said, turning on his back, and staring at the chandelier hanging above him. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I did something reckless, worried a lot of people, and¡­ scared them. Maybe even drove them away¡­¡± His voice quivered as he recalled the last moments before transforming. I couldn¡¯t think straight¡­ I had to do something. That was the best thing I could do but¡­ wow. He thought as he inspected his mana veins. 96.3 percent of his veins had completely healed, leaving only some smaller gaps that would need a little bit more time to repair. However, the thing that Kai was the most worried about was his core. Circular, rope-like marks covered its surface, some parts of it corrupted by something. A shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine as he pictured the only method he had found of activating his dragon form. So I was right in the end, if it detects I¡¯m in danger, it activates automatically¡­ However had I not been careful I would have died right then and there. Thankfully, my idea worked, otherwise¡­¡± Thinking about it, Kai began to fully understand the three¡¯s frustrations, and his stomach dropped as he realized just how truly reckless what he had done was. I could have died¡­ I- Aargh! Yelling internally, he turned and punched a pillow before throwing it toward the door, which creaked open at that exact same moment. The pillow hit Aina right in the face, but she paid it no mind while kicking it away. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Did you finally realize just how fucking stupid you were?¡± Kai stared at her in silence, lowering his head while clenching his fists. ¡°You nearly died, you were within an inch¡­ if it weren¡¯t for Euphridia waking us up you would have died before the sun even rose! And if it weren¡¯t for that bizarre form of yours even I would have been unable to do anything¡­ Kai, is revenge that important?!¡± Aina¡¯s voice rose higher and higher, however never turning into a full yell. Instead, her tone became more stoic, although some hint of worry and anxiety occasionally slipped through her voice cracks. Kai nodded and dug his nails into deeper into his fists as he parted his lips. ¡°Revenge¡­ Yes. I¡¯m¡­ I don¡¯t know. I just don¡¯t want to be weak¡­ I don¡¯t want my parent¡¯s death to have been¡­¡± Kai bit his lower as he swallowed the words he was about to say. ¡°I want to fix myself, I want to repair my body¡­ that is all.¡± Aina¡¯s eyebrow raised, however, she only sighed and sat down next to the boy. Grabbing him in a tight hand, she caressed his silver locks and said in a voice barely above a whisper. ¡°It¡¯s alright boy¡­ you can tell me when you¡¯re ready. Take your time, what matters is that you came out alive and well¡­¡± Kai froze for a moment, however, unclenching his fists, he hugged Aina as well and took in a deep breath. ¡°I forgive you,¡± she said softly ¡°However I¡¯m not sure if Elizabeth can do that just yet¡­ and Euphridia¡­ I don¡¯t know what happened with her.¡± ¡°She seemed scared¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I was¡­ I was too. I know you told me about your form but I could have never imagined it would be so¡­ terrifying.¡± ¡°Terrifying?¡± ¡°The presence coming out of it¡­ I- I felt so little, so powerless¡­ Like an ant standing on a blade of grass watching the deer walk by. I almost wanted to kneel and worship you¡­ and Euphridia nearly bowed. I put up a barrier around her to isolate your aura but even that was barely enough. Kai, I¡¯ve never heard of that before, how did you manage to summon it?¡± Hearing that, a knot formed in Kai¡¯s heart, knowing he was going to get scolded as soon as he told the truth. However, despite all that, he gulped and explained the process to Aina. ¡°I knew¡­ it would be too late and that was the only solution I could come up with. However, the last time it came out by itself when I got¡­ angry, and mad, I was broken and devastated and Haniard¡¯s aura almost crushed me. The only thing that came to mind was¡­ if something threatened to kill me, it would come out. I thought that the wounds from the sun and the rampant energies inside me could be enough so I waited¡­ and waited¡­ and¡­ nothing. In the end, I- I wrapped mana around my core and started tightening it, tighter, tighter. The pain almost made me pass out, however, I held strong until¡­ Until I felt my blood boil, the feral energies calmed down instantly, and¡­ I lost consciousness shortly after.¡± Aina¡¯s expression turned to shock and horror as soon as Kai¡¯s words landed in her ears, and her arms trembled as they stopped carrying his hair. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, sighing. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ insane.¡± ¡°Yeah, I may be¡­ but I had to take action. I do¡­ know I was in the wrong. I overestimated myself, or rather, I didn¡¯t think about my actions at all. It-¡± ¡°Shh¡­¡± Aina interrupted him. ¡°I understand¡­ but you were way too reckless.¡± She looked down at him and rested her on his head. ¡°What am I going to do with you? Even your father wasn¡¯t this stupid.¡± Kai chuckled and escaped Aina¡¯s grasp, as he looked up at her. ¡°It seems like my father was also a troublemaker¡­¡± ¡°Haha, yeah.¡± Aina laughed. ¡°You¡¯ve still got a few hundred years before you can catch up to the amount of headaches he¡¯s given me. Although Elizabeth never quite got used to the amount of times he nearly lost his head.¡± ¡°Elizabeth¡­¡± Kai¡¯s smile died down as he thought about her expression. Rubbing his face, he inhaled deeply before letting out a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to make up to her¡­ I should have thought this through¡­¡± ¡°Just give her some time¡­ after losing her father¡­ Ray and Elena¡­ you¡¯re their last living relative. You¡¯re¡­ the only image left of them¡­¡± Kai lowered his head upon hearing Aina¡¯s words, his hands trembling as they clenched into a fist. ¡°I was too inconsiderate¡­ I thought that if I just did it everything would end well. If I just became stronger¡­ I- I didn¡¯t think about any of your feelings.¡± Aina smiled softly and patted his shoulder. ¡°Just remember to think more than once next time. For now, just leave Elizabeth alone, for now, she¡¯ll come around.¡± Nodding, Kai exhaled sharply and relaxed his body. His anxious heart kept beating, and the hole in his stomach grew bigger as Elizabeth¡¯s crying footsteps echoed in his mind. Ruffling his hair one last time, Aina left the room, gently closing the door behind her, leaving Kai in complete darkness, safe for the chandelier. Onyx scooted closer and rested his head on Kai¡¯s lap, letting out a low yelp while licking his hand. ¡°Hehe¡­ good boy¡­¡± Kai mumbled as he flopped on the bed, staring at the ceiling as he slowly fell asleep. Chapter 72: Unmarked Roots The sun rose and fell over Evicario, its warm rays ignoring any kind of magic barrier set up. As the day passed, a lone figure sat in the middle of the training ground. His long silver hair fell down his scarred, slightly toned back. He clutched the sword within his hand, flexing his muscles as his closed eyes snapped open. The moon¡¯s soft rays bounced off his crimson pupils, which became a blur as he moved toward a wooden puppet. Its body, bruised and cut, shook as a muffled twacking sound echoed in the area. And another, and another¡­ and another. Hit after hit, Kai¡¯s voice began escaping his body as he grunted and moaned until finally¡­ The wooden sword split in half as it hit the dummy one last time. ¡°Hahh¡­ haah¡­ ahh¡­¡± The boy¡¯s groans rang in the air as he threw the hilt away, landing in a pile of broken swords not too far outside the training grounds. Clenching his fist, his nails dug into his flesh as he let out a long sigh. Sweat dripped down his blazing body as he picked up a towel with panting breaths, and he looked into the distance as he dried himself off. A complicated expression, a mix of regret and longing manifested on his face as he looked toward the manor, whose windows were shrouded in darkness. Lowering his head, he walked toward a bench, above which hung a barbell with two thick discs hanging on each side. He laid on the bench and took a deep breath as his hands wrapped around the cold metal. Gripping it tightly, his muscles tensed and contracted as he lifted it, then brought it down just above his neck. His face flushed before turning as red as a tomato, a vein bulging on his forehead as he pushed the weight up, then took it down again and lifted it. Sweat drenched his trembling body, however, his trembling hands didn¡¯t stop pushing the weight up. Finally, he placed it back within its holder and let out a heavy sigh of relief as his chest heaved rapidly. I have to do this¡­ I need to prepare my body for the creation of the core. He thought to himself as he stared at the moon, which burned his already blazing body. Although the pain wasn¡¯t as intense as when the sun had hit him, he also grew accustomed to it, despite hurting more and more as the weeks passed. Soon enough I won¡¯t even be able to train like this¡­ it will be way more exhausting with clothes covering my body¡­ He got up and walked toward a bag placed alongside the weights, and, after rummaging through it for a few seconds, pulled out a water bottle. After quickly drinking more than half, he took another towel as he rested the bottle on the ground. Letting out a soft sigh, he brought the towel closer to his head and sunk his face into it, taking a deep breath before wiping the sweat off his forehead. My mana veins are almost completely healed, however, my core has suffered a lot of damage, and¡­my sword technique has been at a standstill for two weeks. I¡­ Euphy¡­ I have to check on her, I have to. He gulped and slowly made his way toward the manor, where Onyx waited for him at the entrance. Getting up with a wagging tail, he gently licked Kai¡¯s shoulder as they went inside. ¡°Come on boy, we¡¯re going to pay Euphy a visit¡­ after I shower.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx let out a gentle bark as he made his way through the hallways, going in front of Kai. The door to their room creaked open as the Obborik rummaged through a pile of clothes, out of which he grabbed a few pieces before bringing them to Kai with a wagging tail. ¡°Interesting choice¡­¡± Kai said, looking weirdly at the clothes his companion picked for him. ¡°But I¡¯m not going to argue.¡± He said, taking them and entering the bathroom. ¡­ Evicario¡¯s streets were lit up by beautiful, pale green lamposts, evenly placed at about twenty meters away from each other. And, despite the night¡¯s darkness, they were still filled with people of all different races and origins. A lot of them came here with business, as the First Gate didn¡¯t exactly have any touristic spots, or for lodging before moving deeper into the Kingdom. Kai walked on one such street, his pale face hidden by the fox mask he bought a while ago, and his long, silver hair tucked in a hoodie which he used to cover the rest of his head. Kai¡¯s small figure allowed him to sneak through the crowd and rapidly advance toward the First Gate¡¯s exit, where a portal remained available at all times to pass through to the other side. Looking behind, he let out a sigh as he imagined Onyx¡¯s lonely figure standing in front of the manor. I¡¯m sorry boy, but you¡¯re too big to be stealthy with¡­ Passing through the crowds, he swiftly made his way toward the inner gates, where the portal stood guarded by a few dozen guards. Unlike the other side, the portal inside the inner gate displayed a crystal clear image of the outside world. Within, Kai saw the closed Outer Gate, along with the guards surrounding and patrolling it. In that same instant that he looked, he noticed Euphridia with the corner of his eye, nervously walking back and forth. With trembling pupils, he made his way to the portal, only to be stopped by a keen-eyed guard a few meters before walking in. ¡°Halt, what are you doing?¡± The guard stepped in front of Kai, his tall figure completely dwarfing Kai¡¯s own. He held a halberd in his right hand, and wore the same type of light armor as every other guard, except for his head. Instead of wearing a normal helmet or going without one, the guard wore a helmet that resembled a bucket. Taken aback by the guard¡¯s unique attire, Kai froze for a second before his lips parted behind his mask. ¡°I want to pass, I have business on the other side.¡± He said stoically in a fake, deeper voice. Despite that, the guard didn¡¯t flinch. He did not react as he stood there like a statue. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you before, walking with Miss Aina and Euphridia! I thought you had already been fed to the hounds, but it seems you¡¯re still alive.¡± The guard snickered, grabbing the attention of the other guards and guests. ¡°What about your Mutt? Where is that damned beast?¡± Hearing his words, Kai¡¯s hand almost clenched into a fist. However, taking a deep breath, he locked eyes with the guard before saying. ¡°That is none of your business.¡± Peeking behind the guard, his eyes followed Euphy, who still did her usual routine. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware we weren¡¯t allowed access through here?¡± He questioned with a raised eyebrow. The bucket head guard noticed Kai¡¯s gaze and his expression suddenly turned into a frown. ¡°No, this is an entrance only save for a few people.¡± His tone suddenly raised a notch, and his helm rattled as he stepped even closer to Kai. His halberd rattled as it hit the ground, causing Kai to jump in place as it left a small indent right between his legs. ¡°Now tell me, what is your purpose here?¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Kai¡¯s pupils narrowed, and he grabbed the hilt within his cloak as the guard¡¯s aggressiveness amplified. The tension rose higher as the guard¡¯s lips parted once again. ¡°Tell me before I make you say it!¡± ¡°I refuse, my business is no concern of yours. I¡¯d much rather be informed of where the nearest exit is located.¡± The grip on his sword grew tighter as he noticed the bucket-head man¡¯s hand begin to move, his halberd grazing the grass as it began to incline toward Kai¡¯s head. ¡°Chylde! Stop this nonsense at once!¡± A sudden, imposing tone rang from behind the guard, which caused him to freeze in place as he slowly turned around. ¡°E- Captain Euphridia!¡± Euphy¡¯s angry figure marched out from the portal, her purple eyes staring at the bucket head with anger and disappointment. ¡°Were you really about to raise your weapon against a child?!¡± She asked, her voice filled with furry. ¡°Get the fuck out of my face right this instant, you have two weeks'' suspension! Please return your weapon to the Guard Headquarters and don¡¯t let me see you this pathetic again!¡± The guard named Chylde lowered his head and immediately left without saying a single word. Kai, on the other hand, remained stunned in front of Euphridia¡¯s imposing presence. I¡¯ve never seen her this¡­ assertive before¡­ she must be mad¡­ Their eyes locked, a complex expression manifesting on her face as she inhaled deeply. ¡°Kai¡­¡± ¡­ On one of Evicario¡¯s main streets, located in a corner between two platforms, a bar that wore the name ¡°Sapheic¡± stood proud. The bustling commotion coming from outside of it wasn¡¯t nearly as bad as any other, and, for the most part, seemed relatively quiet. Kai and Euphy stood at one of the tables in the corner. The bartender, elven woman of unknown age looked at Euphridia with keen, shining pupils. The other guests, like the bartended, were women of different races, shapes, and sizes. Not a single man was present, except for Kai, whose face flushed red behind his mask. ¡°Euphy¡­ just what is this place?¡± He whispered as he tried to avoid the women¡¯s gazes. ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± The bar itself looked different from what he had seen so far. Instead of rough, wooden tables decorated with vomit and blood, this place had fancy, round tables covered in purple tablecloth. Beautiful chandeliers illuminated each table, on which stood a set of glasses and a beverage. Although made out of wood, the walls seemed to have a pattern engraved on them, which took much effort to see and appreciate. The bar itself - A large, wooden box with a marble countertop surrounded by high chairs, behind which stood the beautiful bartender. The woman didn¡¯t look a day past thirty, however, in this city age could not be determined by appearance alone. Her emerald green eyes shone under the chandelier. Her ebony locks of hair flowed down her chest and back like a waterfall, and her red, pinkish smile brought any man to a halt. Behind her were a little over a hundred different bottles, each one containing its own different taste and flavor. However, alcohol wasn¡¯t all that this bar served, as most of the guests sipped a hot beverage from tea cups. And, just like the bartender, the women here were pretty enough to topple a kingdom over, and all of them looked at Kai with slight interest and curiosity, but most of them observed Euphridia. She sipped silently from her cup, hot steam rising and crashing into her face as her eyes locked onto Kai. With a sigh, she placed it down and her lips parted. ¡°I owe you an apology for not coming over to train you.¡± Her melodious voice rang in his ears like a church¡¯s bell, however it only brought forth dread. ¡°I should be the one apologizing, I-¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Aina explained everything to me already¡­ Regardless my behaviour¡­ wasn¡¯t normal. I owe you an explanation.¡± Her trembling hand reached out for his, inviting the gasps of the women watching their conversation. Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he instinctively pulled back, however he fought the urge and allowed Euphy to grab him. She looked toward the bartender, who immediately nodded and waved her hand, causing a small sphere to flicker into existence around them. Soundproofing barrier? Kai could not tell what it did, but making educated guesses was one of his stronger points. Turning to Euphy, he avoided her gaze while lowering his head, focusing on their interlocked hands. Her quivering voice escaped her body as her lips parted, and Kai could feel her heart race through her hand. ¡°When you first turned into that dragon form¡­ I- I didn¡¯t feel good, or normal, I didn¡¯t feel like myself at all. I wanted to bow down, to kneel before you and heed your every command. It was awful and scary, I was frightened. You were asleep, unconscious, and yet- yet your power, your aura¡­ it made me feel weak for the first time in my life. At first, I didn¡¯t know why, I panicked. But after some time I figured it out¡­¡± She recounted, touching her purple eyes. ¡°It¡¯s because of my father-¡± She stopped, her sentence cut off by a hiccup and a tear dripping down her cheeks. ¡°He- He was¡­ he wa- a vampire¡­¡± Kai¡¯s pupils almost popped out of their sockets as her voice landed in his ears, and a shiver ran down his spine as he stared straight into her purple eyes. ¡°How is that possible? Weren¡¯t vampires imprisoned before you were born?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ my father¡­ was one of the few slaves that didn¡¯t manage to return home after losing the war¡­¡± Her voice barely rose above a whisper as she mentioned the word slave, however, despite her racing heart, trembling hands, and clattering teeth, she continued. ¡°My mother too was a slave, her blood was mixed with that of a dark elf. She wasn¡¯t deemed worthy of a normal life and was sent with my dad to take care of plants and animals. Of course, things have changed, but the truth remains¡­ I¡¯m a slave born. They fell in love and eventually had me. However, my dad died for ¡®unknown¡¯ reasons soon after, and my mom- The Lord that owned her¡­ he¡­¡± A light hiccup escaped her lips, followed by a stream of tears that landed softly on the tablecloth. Kai immediately brought his other hand upon Euphy¡¯s, doing his best to stop her from crying. ¡°Euphy, it¡¯s alright¡­ you don¡¯t need to speak any further. I understand. Thank you for telling me about it¡­ I promise this information will be safe with me and¡­ I apologize. I promise I won¡¯t use that so recklessly from now on¡­ if I can ever summon it again.¡± ¡°No Kai, it¡¯s¡­ you¡¯re not at fault here. Yes you worried me, and you acted recklessly but, it¡¯s also clear you regret it deeply. It¡¯s just, that I was afraid of coming back to the Manor, of seeing and talking to you. I thought, what if at some point you turn into that thing again¡­ what if you can¡¯t control it? I- I was scared for my life.¡± Kai stood silent, Euphy¡¯s words shocking him greatly. His heart skipped a beat as he tightened his grip on her hand, and said. ¡°You can trust me, Euphy. You¡¯ve been my teacher for the better half of a year, nothing happened, and nothing will. It¡¯s going to be alright.¡± His reassuring words brought some peace to the elf¡¯s heart. She inhaled deeply, her pulse racing as she held onto Kai with trembling hands. ¡°I know¡­ I just, need more time off. I didn¡¯t expect you to come looking for me. Thank you.¡± Nodding, Kai¡¯s expression turned to one of joy as he prepared to stand up. Euphridia¡¯s next words, however, slowed him to a stop. ¡°I still need some time off. I¡¯ll come back in a month- no, two weeks. In two weeks I¡¯ll be ready to teach you again.¡± Her soft smile, bordering on nervosity and love, trembled as he stood up. The soundproof barrier trembled as she stepped out, leaving Kai alone without even saying goodbye. Chapter 73: The River Flows Tok! Chok! Plack! Kai¡¯s sword clashed against the wooden dummy like a tornado, leaving sloppy cuts and dents everywhere as he trained his technique. He returned to his sharp basic stance after each hit or chained hit, walking around the dummy and striking at precise points. Sweat dripped down his bare chest, accentuating his more muscular places as the moonlight shone upon them. His skin, still painted with the scars of his endeavor, began getting damaged more and more. Anywhere the light shone, a soft, short-lived stinging sensation spread in a small area. However, ignoring the temporal pain, Kai kept attacking the wooden puppet with vigor and technique. He let out grunts as he exhaled, and used sharp, precise movements to conserve energy as he moved back and forth. His footsteps left puddles in their tracks as sweat drenched his clothes and disheveled hair. ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx watched from the side, his tail standing upright as Kai trained. The Obborik¡¯s eyes observed his companion¡¯s movements and began imitating the direction with his paws. His eyes focused on Kai¡¯s torso and hands, the place where the Giant Serpent attacked the most - The beast that almost took their lives due to imperfect coordination. His ears suddenly twitched, and his vision snapped toward the gate, hidden by the darkness. A soft pair of footsteps approached the training grounds, sneaking behind Kai, whose focused state didn¡¯t allow him to notice an additional person standing next to him. The mysterious figure reached out and lightly tapped his shoulder. He turned immediately and swung his sword toward the figure¡¯s head. It dodged, the blade cutting nothing but air as Kai stepped backward. His chest heaved as he swung once again, putting one foot forward and using both of his arms to deliver a vertical slash, which the figure easily evaded. It took a short step forward and lunged its arms at Kai¡¯s forehead. Before he could even react, the boy¡¯s head flipped backward as an intense pain spread from his head. He fell, rubbing his skull while looking at the attacker, only to be left with widened eyes as the moonlight shone upon their face. With beautiful dark locks of hair and a mesmerizing pair of purple eyes, her enchanting figure immediately revealed her identity. She wore her usual armor and green clothes, and a grey cloak to protect her against the cold. ¡°Euphy!¡± His fatigued voice bounced against the pillars as he quickly stood up, ignoring the burning pain spreading on his face. Kai dropped the sword and grabbed her into a tight hug. His heavy breathing crashed against her armor as it rattled under his strength. ¡°Yes, Kai. Hello.¡± She said in a soothing voice, returning the hug with a soft smile. ¡°Are you finally back?¡± He asked, looking up at her with puppy-like eyes. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m back. I feel better now, thank you for waiting. I see you¡¯ve been training by yourself, you have progressed pretty well.¡± She separated herself from his body and began paying attention to his muscles. ¡°Your chest and arms look good, however, your legs seem a bit skinny. Have you been training your entire body or just your upper chest?¡± Hearing that, Kai¡¯s face flushed red, unable to hide the shame of having his body grazed upon this closely and being immediately told off. Averting his gaze, he quickly said ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling¡­ ready to teach a brat what true pain feels like.¡± She grabbed Kai¡¯s ear and twisted it lightly before letting go. ¡°Come on, we got some training to do, and we¡¯re starting with your legs!¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wanna hear it! Come on, start doing some squats!¡± She commanded, slapping Kai on the back and prompting him to follow her orders. Without waiting any longer, or talking back, he began rising up and down in a rhythmic pace. Sweat drenched his body before long, and he let out groans as his knee creaked. Euphy, however, didn¡¯t look like she had any plans to stop this torture any time soon. ¡°After this I want you to do ten laps around the manor, and then one hundred more squats, after which¡­¡± ¡­ The sound of fluttering pages occasionally disturbed the quiet silence of the library, as Kai, Aina, and Elizabeth each stood in their corner. Aina and Elizabeth each read a book about history and medicine, respectively, whilst Kai read a black one with the engraving of a variety of plants on its cover. His eyes sparkled as he mouthed the words, speaking them under his breath. ¡°You¡¯re getting better and better at Elvish, Kai.¡± Aina remarked, putting her book down and listening closely. ¡°I¡¯m surprised at how fast you¡¯ve grasped the basics, it¡¯s been what¡­ nine months since you arrived here? And you can already read such complicated books.¡± Kai stopped reading and locked eyes with Aina as he replied in his broken Elvish. ¡°Yes, I learn to read. Book easy, medicinal plants, helpful.¡± His tone had a bit of a thick accent to it, however, the attempt brought a smile to Aina¡¯s face as she added in her tongue. ¡°You¡¯re doing great, this language isn¡¯t as easy as it sounds. At least you can read better than you speak, that¡¯s for sure, fufu.¡± She chuckled as she picked her book back up. ¡°That¡¯s a good one to start on herbology, you¡¯ll need it for whenever you go out, or for whenever you feel ready to leave.¡± Kai¡¯s gaze drifted downward, a melancholic expression manifesting on his face before he continued reading, absorbing the information within its pages the best he could as he trained in Elvish. The hours passed like that, none of them talking too much or causing too much of a commotion as the books in their hands changed. However, while Aina and Elizabeth picked up different subjects, Kai still struggled to read and understand the herbology book. He frowned occasionally, and after a few seconds he picked up a notebook that stood beside him. In it, he looked for what he didn¡¯t understand or wrote it for future translations. After that, he picked up from where he left off. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. As the moon rose, Kai put the book in its place and prepared to go outside to train. His muscles contracted as he stood up, revealing the shape of a skinny, yet well-toned body. His hair, now tied in a ponytail, had also grown longer, and so did his height. After putting the book in its place, he left without disturbing the two, and picked up a bag placed just outside that he had prepared beforehand. Onyx waited a bit farther away, in an intersection between two hallways. Standing up with a wagging tail, he walked up to Kai and caressed him with his big, fluffy head. ¡°Alright boy, come on. Today is a big day¡­ I hope I¡¯ll be able to take my first steps and not fail¡­ catastrophically.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx answered with an excited bark, his paws softly stepping on the carpet as he almost pushed Kai to go faster. ¡°Alright, alright. I don¡¯t see you this excited when you train.¡± Kai chuckled, a soft smile creasing his lips as he watched Onyx¡¯s ears lower slightly. Patting the Obborik¡¯s head, he hastened his steps as they walked into the training grounds behind the manor. A metallic clang rang from the middle of it, and Euphridia¡¯s figure rapidly appeared in his field of view. She wore the usual armor, given to her by the kingdom. It bore the history of her fights, with scratches and dents covering the metal protecting her body. And her sword, made out of a beautiful, silvery iron, showed slight signs of wear and rust. Sweat dripped down her forehead as the blade cut into the wooden puppet, whose head immediately fell off as she delivered a horizontal slash. ¡°How many more are you going to cut off?¡± Kai chirped as he picked up a wooden sword. ¡°As many as the number of swords you¡¯ve destroyed.¡± She quipped, throwing the head in the air, and slicing it in half with a single horizontal slash. ¡°That¡¯s a bit much, isn¡¯t it?¡± He chuckled as he took a ready stance in front of her. Breathing deeply, Kai faced Euphirida who sheathed her blade and grabbed a wooden sword from the side. Sweat dripped down Kai¡¯s forehead, the blade within his grasp trembling softly as his heart raced. Gulping softly, he licked his dried lips as he watched his teacher like a viper, ready to react to any of her movements. ¡°No warm-up?¡± She asked, standing in a casual stance, her hand tightly gripping the hilt as well, looking at Kai with an excited expression. Their eyes met mid-air, and her figure instantly became a blur as she sped toward Kai. Biting down on something, his body glowed with a faint light as he murmured something under his breath. Euphy¡¯s sword passed a few centimeters away from his face, creating a gust of wind that blew his hair back as he dodged to the side. Watching the blade with widened pupils, he raised his own, aimed straight at her throat. Euphridia took two steps back, dodging the blow before bowing down and advancing with a horizontal slash toward his stomach. Kai¡¯s midsection contracted as he arched his back, blocking most of the blow with the side of his blade. Dust rose under his feet as he got pushed back, and he took a short breath as her sword lost momentum. However, Euphridia didn¡¯t wait for him to recover and instead turned the horizontal slash into an upward slash, heading straight for his chin. Clicking his tongue, Kai¡®s pupils trembled as he watched the sword rapidly approach him. Biting down on his slip, he quickly moved out of the way, however, it didn¡¯t prove enough as the tip of the wooden blade grazed his shoulder. A sharp, crimson line connecting the sword and his shoulder formed for a split second as Kai groaned in pain. Gripping his sword and ignoring the fresh wound, he thrust as Euphy recovered, taking her by surprise. A soft smirk manifested on her face, along with a small glint in her eye which quickly faded as she deflected Kai¡¯s blade. Raising her leg, she aimed toward Kai¡¯s stomach. Kicking him to the ground and pinning him in place, her sword swished toward his chest, splitting the air in two as he heaved. Kai bit down on something and quickly murmured under his breath as his body glowed with a faint orange hue. With Euphy stepping on his midsection, Kai struggled to turn over for a split second before kicking toward her leg. Clicking her tongue, she took a step backward, allowing Kai to free himself and quickly stand up. With heavy breathing, he quickly took the proper resting stance as Euphy charged him once again, not giving him a single break as she aimed for every weakness of his, any blind spot and difficult angle. Despite all that, Kai managed to stand or get back up each time, bringing even Euphridia to the point of annoyance. ¡°Alright, time to get serious then!¡± Hearing that, Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she watched Euphridia¡¯s body glow like a candlestick. I¡¯m fucked¡­ Her figure turned into a blur as she appeared before him in an instant, her sword splitting the air as it landed on his shoulder. ¡°Argh!¡± He fell to his knees, dropping the wooden sword and rubbing his shoulder, where his flesh turned red. ¡°Why!?¡± His cry, mixed with grief and tears echoed in the night as he looked up at Euphridia. ¡°You needed to be put in your place.¡± She said with a smug expression on her face, behind which hid a bit of guilt. ¡°You just used three spells! Three! I can barely cast half of one and you used three! You¡¯re cheating!¡± ¡°Alright crybaby, calm down. You can¡¯t complain when an actual enemy intends to take your life, now can you?¡± She sat down with her legs crossed, watching Kai wince in pain. ¡°But this is training, Training!¡± He replied, rubbing the wound and the newly created mark. ¡°You hit too hard as well! What the hell!¡± ¡°Language! And I only used the blunt part of the sword with minimal strength, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t be able to complain right now.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°No buts, ten counts of rest and then we¡¯re going back to training. You¡¯re still a bit off being able to develop your body core, though I¡¯m impressed by your progress.¡± A soft smile appeared on her face, and she rested her chin on her hand, which rested on her leg before continuing. ¡°However, most elven children would have already developed their body core by your age, and a mana core even earlier. ¡°I-¡± Kai¡¯s lips parted, however before he could continue Euphridia cut him off once again. ¡°I know, I know, your mana core was already formed. But right now I want you to understand the difference between the past you, a genius, the current you, a cripple, and your peers. You are weaker than them, I could pick any random kid off the street and they¡¯d wipe the floor with you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ sort of mean, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m sure I could defeat a toddler¡­¡± Euphridia chuckled, her cheeks turning rosy, however, she remained silent, wearing a smug on her face as she went and used the gym equipment, letting Kai rest for the time being. Chapter 74: New Opponents The sound of hammers smashing against the blazing surface of metallic ingots echoed in a large cave. The walls, cracked yet covered in crystals, minerals, and ores, sparkled like the night sky. Wooden bridges and stone staircases connected a multitude of platforms and railways. Lamps hung from the ceiling, their beautiful yellow flame, imprisoned by a dark irony frame and glass. On the ground, barracks and houses filled the side of the walls, alongside stalls covered in weaponry and armor as well as barrels and carts filled with precious minerals. Short, bulky men and women filled the narrow roads, stopping to look at the weapons and tools on display. All of them wore stoic expressions and gandered at the merchandise uninterested despite taking their time. Deeper inside the cave, in a grand room, similarly illuminated by flames and crystals, stood a large, rocky yet metallic golem. In front of it was a teenager, only a head taller than the rest of the people, yet he had a slim build, in contrast to the overly muscular people surrounding him. With a dark face and bright yellow eyes, he stared at the creature before him with a desire shining for combat and victory within his pupils. His left hand gripped a tall shield, taller than him even, and in his right a sword made out of a black material. It seemed almost invisible as the light didn¡¯t bounce back off of it, and instead got absorbed as if it were a black hole. A smirk manifested on his face, and his body glowed with a faint light as he gripped the blade¡¯s handle. His figure blurred, instantly appearing in front of the golem, whose dead eyes suddenly lit up with life. A shuddering roar escaped its clattering mouth as its body moved to attack the young man, whose sword took on a horizontal trajectory toward the creature¡¯s midsection. However, before his sword could get any closer, he flew toward the wall, causing rubble to fall as he smashed right into it. ¡°Sverik!¡± An older man with white locks covering his head ran toward the boy, who groaned as he stood up, propping himself on the shield. ¡°Sverik my boy, are you hurt?¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ No¡­¡± Sverik moaned as he stared at the creature, which had already gone back to its lifeless, resting position. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I still can¡¯t best it after so long.¡± The old man let out a sigh of relief upon noticing the kid¡¯s will and fighting spirit remained intact. ¡°It¡¯s our strongest product after all, were it not for the limitations built into it, you¡¯d be dead already.¡± Sverik clicked his tongue, glaring at the thing before dragging his feet out of the room, followed by the old man. ¡°Old Zar, when will I be strong enough?¡± The man named Zar rubbed his beard, seemingly pondering over the young man¡¯s question. ¡°Something outside of our control is brewing¡­ I can¡¯t say for sure, but right now it¡¯s a needless worry. Just do your best, your eleventh anniversary is coming soon. If, by then you can¡¯t increase your strength to the Three Star Medium Core¡­¡± ¡°I know-¡± Sverik interrupted him. ¡°I know¡­ which is why- I have to grow stronger. I¡¯m not anywhere near her level¡­¡± He threw his shield toward a pile and sat down on a nearby bench, leaning his sword with its blade upward. Seemingly losing himself to the blade¡¯s void, his unfocused pupils growing with unrest. ¡°Sver.¡± The old man placed his hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder, breaking him out of the trance as he called out his nickname. ¡°There¡¯s no pressure, it¡¯s just one year in the mountains, mostly everyone did it to get stronger.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not everyone!¡± Sverik¡¯s annoyed tone echoed in the old man¡¯s ears like thunder, however, he chose to remain silent as the boy¡¯s lips parted again. ¡°I must prove myself, otherwise these bastards at the academy will never accept me! Zar, those things the elves created, what were they called? Dumbbells? Those weights. I must have them! Such an ingenious creation! Whoever invented them must have been a genius, so little weight compressed into a small, modular disk. A simple, yet amazing system.¡± His eyes shone with admiration as he spoke about them, and clenched his fists in expectation. Hearing that, the old man¡¯s expression turned into a frown, and immediately refused. ¡°No way! We¡¯re not using whatever these creatures created!¡± However, his expression immediately turned to dread and guilt as he looked at the boy, whose hands flew to his ears, covering them in shame. ¡°A-alright¡­¡± Sverik fell silent and leaned into his seat, closing his trembling eyelids as he grabbed his sword and brought it closer to his chest. ¡°Sver, I-¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright Zar, I understand. I- I¡¯ll go mine now, I think they need some more ores at the refinery¡­¡±The boy¡¯s voice lingered in the old man¡¯s ears as he dragged his feet, leaving Zar alone. Sighing, he rubbed his temples and sat down on the bench, cursing under his breath. ¡­ Inside Aina¡¯s manor, Kai sat down at the round table in the library, a pile of books and notebooks sitting before him as he worked silently. The notes, written with messy letters and unclear doodles, depicted a sphere in the middle of what looked like to be a human body and connected to it were five tubes going in different directions. On the sphere lay a single star, seemingly engraved into it. The boy read the words accompanying the drawing with a pondering expression, his mind racing with ideas as he absorbed the words like a sponge. ¡°Kai, did you memorize the technique?¡± She asked, walking back and forth in front of Kai. She held a green book in her left hand, its hard cover framed by golden ridges, decorated by an assortment of similarly colored symbols. Its title <>, written in weirdly shaped, faded, and broken letters, spoke of its age more than anything. ¡°You¡¯re on the cusp of being able to attempt forming your core, however, your situation is very different from the norm. Word the technique in your head as you train, and get accustomed to what it feels like so when your body is ready, it will be a smooth pass. Now, since your core is¡­ special, we will need to modify it as you train, so I trust you¡¯ll give me a report of how the body core technique affects you and your existent core so we can respond accordingly.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Kai¡¯s focused eyes followed Aina as he marched, occasionally flying toward Elizabeth, who meditated to the side on the floor, her beautiful figure illuminated by the chandeliers. ¡°Kai?¡± Aina snapped her fingers, breaking Kai out of his trance. ¡°I know she¡¯s pretty, but there are other things we must focus on right now.¡± ¡°What- I-, what? Yes!¡± His flustered expression brought a soft smile to his teacher¡¯s face, however, his face reddened as she heard Elly¡¯s soft chuckle. ¡°Ahem.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°Right, chant the technique while I train, observe the changes, and report them to you. Understood.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± A soft laughter escaped Aina¡¯s lips. ¡°Boy, get your head out of the gutter and focus.¡± She said, slapping his head with the book. ¡°Hey-¡± Kai protested as he rubbed his scalp, however, Aina cut him off before he could continue complaining. ¡°In order to make training easier for you I arranged for someone from the dwarven side to come train with you. His name is Sverik, and he is marginally stronger than you from what I¡¯ve heard. That remains to be seen. Winning or Losing doesn¡¯t matter, learning does. Got it?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­¡± He replied in an annoyed tone. ¡°Why is he even training with me if he¡¯s stronger?¡± ¡°Well, his teacher owes me from way back, so¡­¡± ¡°Ah, I see. Blackman-¡± ¡°Shut it you fool!¡± Aina smacked his head with the side of the book, interrupting his speech. ¡°It¡¯s just a favor, nothing else.¡± ¡°Ouch, ok, ok stop hitting me!¡± ¡°Alright, remember to be respectful when addressing the dwarves, they are very proud. And don¡¯t look down on them¡­ well, not in the literal sense- You know what I mean.¡± Aina¡¯s face turned slightly red as she corrected herself, prompting a chuckle from Kai and her daughter. ¡°Haha, yeah, alright. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± He said, standing up and gathering his belongings. ¡°I¡¯ll go outside and wait for Euphy while meditating¡­ I hope it will work.¡± ¡°No need to fear Kai, just do your best, you¡¯ll get the hang of it eventually,¡±Aina said, gathering the rest of the books and making her way toward the bookshelves. ¡­ Outside the training field, Kai sat cross-legged under a tree, its shade serving little purpose as the moon hid behind a large cloud. The whistling wind passed by, tickling his bare skin and sending a shiver down his spine as he repeated the technique repeatedly in his mind. I can¡¯t help but want to attempt to modify it¡­ I managed to do something to my original core, so how difficult could modifying a body core be? I¡¯d rather keep my mana core as well¡­ is there a way to have the best of both worlds? I managed to modify the original one because of Rodney¡¯s scientific knowledge and equating the energies necessary for a mana core. It was a fluke though, it was risky¡­ damn was I stupid. My parents¡¯ aid definitely took a big role in successfully modifying it¡­ but now, I¡¯m alone. So, what¡¯s the solution? I need to study the technique again, although this technique is archaic¡­ First, my body should be strong enough. At first, I didn¡¯t know why but now¡­ this technique¡­ the way to form a body core is¡­ scary! <> Hmm¡­ the method doesn¡¯t seem that different from a mana core, and the only reason this exists is for people who don¡¯t possess mana veins¡­ but I do. In that case, I should be able to reform my mana core, right? If I use my parents¡¯ technique again¡­ I should be fine. It¡¯s worth a try at the very least¡­ Kai inhaled sharply and straightened his back, gathering the mana from the outside with his mana veins and guiding it toward the center, where his crippled mana core lay. The mana coursing through him shuddered as he began chanting the technique ingrained into his brain, recalling the first time he had formed his mana core, and the slight modifications he did. The old core trembled the moment it got enveloped in mana, and, so did the veins connected to it. Short, microscopic cracks began spreading from its center, and it seemed to be on the verge of exploding. His veins began showing signs of breaking again, as cracks and wholes manifested on their surface, causing mana to leak inside his body once again. His heart skipped a beat, and his pupils constricted as he began breathing heavily. Reducing the amount of mana he fed the core, he observed its reaction before completely cutting the supply. Inhaling sharply, he leaned against the tree, his chest heaving rapidly as he tried to calm down. My mana veins¡­ they¡¯re definitely different- they¡­ They can¡¯t support the forming of repairing this mana core, let alone forming a new one! Where have I gone wrong? Or is this how it¡¯s supposed to be? Do I need to reinforce them again? His eyes snapped shut as he observed the damage done to his core and veins, as well as the damage done to his body. The core almost exploded¡­ my mana veins have been damaged and there is just¡­ an insane amount of mana in my bloodflow. It will take a few weeks to repair the damage, damn it! I almost lost all of my progress because of my stupid curiosity. I should have known Aina suggested a body core for a reason! Kai lost deep in thought and mulling over his misery, jumped slightly as an unknown voice entered his ears. ¡°This loser is supposed to be my opponent?¡± Its tone, filled with disdain and contempt, made Kai flush red as he stood up, looking with annoyance at the newly arrived figure. ¡°You¡¯re the opponent Aina arranged for me?¡± Kai asked, scoffing slightly as he laid eyes on him. His skin, as dark as a bear¡¯s fur, and sharp yellow eyes took Kai by surprise. They stood at about the same height, and similarly to him, the boy had long, straight hair running down his back, although it was black instead of silver. ¡°Where¡¯s Euphy?¡± ¡°Euphy?¡± The boy asked, confused by Kai¡¯s question. ¡°I don¡¯t know any Euphy. The only person I know is the Captain of The First Wall, the strongest elf of our generation and the most- Ahem.¡± The boy cleared his throat before switching topics. ¡°I¡¯m Sverik, by the way, not that it matters.¡± Kai scoffed, a soft smile creasing his lips as Sverik¡¯s words entered his ears. Interesting¡­ ¡°I¡¯m Kai. You know, for a dwarf you seem awfully worshipful of my teacher.¡± He quipped, however, the reaction he expected from the dwarf didn¡¯t arrive. Instead, Sverik remained silent but turned his head slightly as to avoid Kai¡¯s gaze. Chapter 75: Clashing Unrefined Swords ¡°I see you two already met?¡± Euphridia¡¯s melodious voice rang in their ears as her figure appeared from within the darkness. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kai replied, ¡°An amazing first impression I must say.¡± He smirked and turned toward his teacher, glancing at Sverik with the corner of his eye. The young dwarf didn¡¯t utter a word, in contrast to his earlier demeanor. All the barking he did before ceased as Euphy got closer, letting out a scoff at Kai¡¯s comment. ¡°Sverik¡¯s a feisty one that¡¯s for sure, but he doesn¡¯t mean any harm, right?¡± She slammed her hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder, causing his entire body to tremble as he turned toward Euphridia with trembling pupils. An amused smile creased Kai¡¯s lips, although he didn¡¯t show it for long, as a knot began forming in his stomach. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s go, no time to lose!¡± Euphridia laughed and walked toward the training field, her armor rattling as she almost broke into a sprint. Behind her, Kai dragged his feet, his occupied mind not noticing Sverik¡¯s venomous glances. The moon, still hidden by the clouds, struggled to cast its light over the pillars, however, the stars decorating the night sky and the lamps scattered on the ground provided more than enough light for the three of them. Kai and Sverik sat crosslegged on the cold floor, the former breathing heavily as he straightened his back, while the latter¡¯s back was arched. Euphridia stood in front of them with a hand on her hip, looking at the two with excitement. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already gotten acquainted but let me re-do the honors. Kai, this is Sverik. He comes from the neighboring Dwarven Mountain Range, his teacher is Zarem, a skilled blacksmith and swordsman. Sverik is also skilled and talented in both fields and is currently a Two Star Big Core Body Mage, at the cusp of reaching Three Stars. Naturally, he can use a wide assortment of Inko spells, and uh¡­ he¡¯s strong.¡± After that introduction, Euphy turned to Kai with a smile, gently pointing toward the boy. ¡°And Sverik, this is Kai.¡± Upon hearing his introduction, Kai¡¯s contemplative expression shattered, and he stared at Euphirida with widened eyes. ¡°That¡¯s it? I¡¯m Kai. He¡¯s all of that, but I¡¯m Kai?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Euphridia rolled her eyes, and leaned toward Kai, ¡°This is Kai, a vampire, and a cripple.¡± ¡°Huh-?¡± ¡°What?!¡± The two jumped to their feet, their eyes clashing mid-air before turning toward Euphridia. ¡°He¡¯s a vampire?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a cripple!¡± Sverik took a step backward, clenching his fists as he stared at Kai. ¡°I wasn¡¯t told I¡¯d be fighting a¡­ a¡­ a¡­!¡± He stuttered gritting his teeth as his pupils constricted. ¡°A what?¡± Euphy¡¯s voice resounded in the area, her tone strict and cold as a faint suppressive force escaped her body. Sverik¡¯s body trembled, and whatever words he had remained stuck in his throat. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. I don¡¯t want to hear such remarks again, you two are equals, so I expect respect.¡± She paused, turning to Kai. ¡°From both of you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything-¡± ¡°Yet,¡± his sentence got cut short by Euphridia, ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything yet.¡± ¡°Not like I would have done anything¡­¡± He pouted and walked closer to her before sitting down cross-legged. Glancing at Sverik with the tail of his eye, he saw him sitting at the same spot. ¡°So, how is this going to go?¡± ¡°Well, I devised a small warm-up consisting of one hundred pushups and situps, then fifteen counts of rest, and then you two will duel. Simple, right?¡± ¡°I guess so¡­¡± Kai said, disappointment present in his voice. ¡°I thought we¡¯d jump straight to dueling.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯d be stupid, wouldn¡¯t it? Plus I need to observe the difference between you so I can estimate when the duel should end. I don¡¯t want either of you to get too hurt while fighting.¡± ¡®Too hurt¡¯ she says¡­ Kai chuckled bitterly, remembering the pain he went through during their training and duels. He turned toward Sverik, a mixture of disgust, anger, and pity manifesting on his face, however, he quickly hid them as he stood up. Walking a short distance away, he began stretching, starting with his head neck, and arms, and finishing with his legs. After breathing deeply, he fell to the ground and began doing a hundred pushups, sweat dripping from his body each time he rose. Sverik watched Kai with widened pupils, his mouth turning agape as he started doing push-ups right away. It took him some time to get started, however his speed didn¡¯t fall far behind Kai¡¯s after warming up. ¡­ The two sat parallel each other, their bodies drenched in sweat. Kai gripped a wooden sword, which swayed gently as his chest heaved. Sverik, on the other hand, held both a shield and a sword, both made out of a grayish-white wood. Giving each other death stares, they took a combat stance as they waited for Euphy to give them the go. Soft rays of moonlight rained over the two yet-to-be warriors, and the desire to battle shone brightly within their eyes. A cold breeze passed them by, causing their hair to gently sway back and forth as a shiver ran both their backs. Euphridia stood in between them, observing their body language with a smirk. Kai held the sword diagonally in front of him, his arms loose and his knees bent with the left foot forward. Sverik, on the other hand, held a much more stable stance, holding his shield straight and his left hand backward with the sword pointed downward. Euphy inhaled sharply and took three steps backward, raising her hand and rapidly lowering it, signaling the start of the duel. The two didn¡¯t immediately jump at each other¡¯s throats but carefully approached each other, eyeing each other like a viper stalking their prey. Their blades, although not pointed directly at the enemy, posed a good enough threat for them to be wary. Kai, who had never dealt with a shield before hesitated to take the lead on the attack, whilst Sverik¡¯s pupils constricted upon seeing Kai¡¯s stable, yet unhardened stance. Hiding most of his body behind the shield, he used a rectangular whole carved within to observe Kai¡¯s movements, stepping backward as he advanced to keep a safe distance. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Damn this guy! Sverik thought as he glanced beyond the shield. I can¡¯t find any flaw within his stance! His weak points aren¡¯t obvious at all, and on top of that, I¡¯ve never fought a vampire before. How strong can they be? With those thoughts in mind, Sverik¡¯s sword trembled back and forth as he hesitated to attack, unsure of his opponent¡¯s strength and technique. Meanwhile, Kai¡¯s eyes scanned Sverik and frowned as his eyes locked onto the shield. Why is this guy using such a big shield? I¡¯ve never had to deal with that before¡­ compensating for something? However, in the end, he grits his teeth and carefully approaches his opponent until only one meter separates his sword and the shield. A soft smile creased Euphy¡¯s lips as she watched Kai¡¯s decisiveness, only to turn into a neutral smile as she looked at Sverik. Tactically speaking, Sverik isn¡¯t wrong in being cautious, however, he¡¯s being too careful while also stalling for time. Kai, on the other hand never fought a shielded opponent, however, the time Sverik gave him is more than enough to conclude. A muffled thud echoed in the ears, and, awakening from her thoughts, she looked at the two just in time to see Kai thrust at Sverik, bouncing off his shield before immediately spinning, aiming toward his opponent¡¯s hand with a horizontal slash. That idiot! Sverik blocked the upcoming attack almost immediately, moving his shield, it absorbed the brunt of the attack, however, he got pushed backward just enough for Kai to attempt another thrust. Damn it! Sverik cried inwardly as he hastily planted his feet on the ground, dropping his sword and holding the shield with both hands. Thump! In a rush, he pushed his shield forward just as Kai¡¯s blade struck it, resulting in both of them getting pushed backward. ¡°Are you insane?!¡± He yelled as he quickly recovered his sword, glaring at Kai whose arm trembled along with the hilt and blade. Smirking in response, Kai advanced once again, yelling and charging like a madman at the still-unprepared Sverik. However, a resolute look manifested on his face as he grits his teeth. A soft murmur echoed into the night as his body started to glow with a faint light, and he began charging toward Kai as well. Euphridia¡¯s hand flew to her face as she looked at the two. And they started so well¡­ Zar did tell me his pupil has some reckless tendencies but¡­ I didn¡¯t expect both of them to be morons! Oh well¡­ She sighed and sat down, letting the two brawl with each other. They¡¯re sturdy little bastards anyway. Kai kept swinging toward Sverik, while Sverik kept blocking with his shield, looking for any opportunity to attack. Rivers of sweat ran down their backs, especially so on Kai¡¯s who could barely keep up with Sverik¡¯s enhanced strength. The muffled thumping noises went on for a while, accompanied by the two¡¯s heavy breathing. This coward! Kai yelled inwardly as he took a step backward, observing the damage he had done to the shield, he clicked his tongue in annoyance. I can¡¯t get to him, not with this sword, or rather¡­ tactic. His shield can block all sorts of slashes, and he has a solid stance, I can barely shake him down. And also the magic¡­ I can¡¯t use it yet despite having my veins healed, there¡¯s too little mana I can filter and use¡­ annoying. Wait- Filtered mana hmm? However, before he could finish his train of thought, he heard the air split as a blurry figure appeared in front of him, its blade aiming straight for his head. ¡°Bastard!¡± Kai attempted to raise his sword, however it was too late as he barely managed to block it with the hilt. Sverik didn¡¯t follow up immediately but instead observed his reaction. This guy is pretty slow, the guard captain said he¡¯s a cripple, I thought he meant he was like me but it seems like¡­ he¡¯s worse! With this new assessment, a grin appeared on Sverik¡¯s face as he got closer to Kai, who responded by taking a few steps backward, increasing his vigilance. Kai rubbed his hand before gripping the hilt, paying close attention to Sver¡¯s movements. Seems like he got cocky¡­ Clicking his tongue, his pupils narrowed as he took notice of the boy¡¯s posture. His back arched slightly, and the shield covered less of his body than before, instead prompting him to raise his sword diagonally. Finally, going in the offensive? Gulping, he patted his back pocket, surprise manifesting on his face as he pulled out a small plant. A flower, its petals blue like the sky, yet lacking any sort of life. One of the plants I collected on my way here, can¡¯t believe I still have it. With a bitter smile, he downed it in one gulp, and his body immediately glowed with a faint light before immediately disappearing. Tsk, can¡¯t even use a full-speed enchantment spell¡­ Sverik¡¯s pupils constricted, however, a smirk formed on his face as he approached, revealing even more of his body as he prepared to attack. With a shot murmur, his speed immediately increased, and his figure turned into a blur. Using the darkness to his advantage, he thrust toward Kai, who in turn hastily raised his sword to block. Unlike before, however, their swords met mid-air with a soft thump. ¡°What?!¡± Sverik¡¯s surprised voice escaped his body, and his sword trembled within his hand as Kai pushed it sideways with his own. Having the advantage of using two hands, Kai rapidly approached Sverik, extending his hand after briefly disarming him, aiming straight for his throat. Hastily raising his shield, Sverik prepared to retreat after Kai¡¯s blow, although it never arrived. Instead, Sverik jumped on his feet as Kai¡¯s hand grabbed the shield via the rectangular hole, and immediately pushed it down in an attempt to rip it from his hands. Give it up, dwarf! Yelling inwardly, Kai¡¯s nails dug into the wood as he pulled back in the same second he grabbed it, and successfully pried it from Sverik¡¯s hands. He retreated as he threw it to the side, looking at his opponent with a strong fighting urge. ¡°Come now, you can stop hiding and fight me for real!¡± He yelled, charging once again, disregarding any sort of technique or dueling standards. ¡°Who does that?!¡± Sverik yelled as he gripped the sword with both hands, getting ready for Kai¡¯s maddening attack. ¡°I do!¡± With a short reply, his sword swished through the hair as he aimed a vertical slash straight at Sver¡¯s head. Dodging to the side, Sverik prepared to attack, however he found himself wide open as Kai¡¯s horizontal slash rushed toward his midsection. ¡°Bastar-!¡± However, his words, broken by the hit, remained stuck in his throat as he took a few steps backward. Drool dripped from his mouth, but he grits his teeth, inhales sharply, and jumps backward, avoiding another blow of Kai¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ll show you!¡± He yelled as he chanted under his breath, his body flashing three times as he turned into a blurry figure, rushing toward Kai, whose pupils constricted. Not good! He instinctively blocked in front, however a shiver ran down his spine as the air behind him split. Before he could react, a heavy, powerful blow landed on his back, causing him to fall. Rolling, he avoided another fatal blow as Sverik thrust toward his chest. Quickly standing up and retreating, dirt and grass shot up from where he once was. Inhaling sharply, he regained his footing and raised his word horizontally, holding it with two hands just before the air split again. Sverik¡¯s sword landed on Kai¡¯s, chipping away at the dull blade. ¡°What the hell?¡± Kai cursed as he looked at his opponent, whose constricted pupils looked at him with a venomous glare. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± However, Sverik didn¡¯t reply and instead yelled as he kicked toward Kai. Taken by surprise, he contracted his belly, and his sword trembled as he tried to pull it back, but it was too late. Kai fell to the ground, immediately rolling away to avoid the blow he expected to come, however, his body shivered as he saw Sverik aim toward his new position. Following that, a muffled thumping sound echoed in his ear, and accompanying it was a strong gust of wind. His vision blurred as he watched the sword¡¯s tip hanging a few centimeters away from his neck. Chapter 76: True Feelings Kai gasped for air as he watched the swaying sword tip float above him, his pupils trembling while his heart threatened to jump out of his chest. Euphridia held Sverik¡¯s hand, forcing it back as the venomous gaze he pointed at Kai faded away. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Her angered voice echoed in Sverik¡¯s ear like a bell, and he gulped as his lips parted. ¡°I¡¯m teaching him a lesson.¡± He scoffed, letting go of the blade and turning toward Euphridia. ¡°He¡¯s too arrogant for someone with no body core or ability to do magic. Using a half-assed speed enchantment spell and going feral! Were it a real opponent he¡¯d be dead a hundred times over! So much for a vam-¡± ¡°Silence!¡± Euphridia¡¯s stern voice bounced off the stone pillars and echoed into the night. ¡°What did I do earlier?! And who are you to teach my pupil a lesson? Aren¡¯t you the arrogant one? You should have stopped the moment he fell to the ground, yet your sword didn¡¯t show any intention of doing that. Are you insane?¡± Sverik remained silent, unable to utter a single word under Euphy¡¯s scolding. Lowering his head, he held back a sigh, and his lips trembled as two words barely escaped his body. ¡°I apologize¡­¡± His faint voice brought a hint of pleasure to Euphridia¡¯s eyes, however, she continued in a harsh voice. ¡°Don¡¯t think that¡¯d be enough, Kai could have gotten injured, or worse. I¡¯ll have a talk with Zarman, clearly, you need some patience training. Losing your cool the moment you get disarmed? You could have died as well if Kai had more experience! Speaking of¡­¡± Turning to Kai, she bowed and grabbed his ear, lifting him up as he yelped in silence. ¡°And you, mister¡­ Where did our training go? Didn¡¯t I tell you not to charge like a madman toward your opponent? You started so well but lost your cool the moment things didn¡¯t go your way, you¡¯re worse than a child! Sverik is right, you became arrogant because you disarmed his shield, thinking he can¡¯t do anything without it, and look at you now! Goddess¡­ Have I taught you nothing?¡± She let go and walked before the two, her arms crossed below her chest, looking at both of them with a stern gaze. ¡°I was impressed when you two began, but I have to say I¡¯m extremely disappointed. I expected more, especially from you, Kai.¡± The boys¡¯ eyes fell to the ground, unable to utter a single word or even look up at Euphridia. She let out a soft sigh, and her lips parted again, ¡°Dismissed. Today¡¯s training is over.¡± Saying that she turned around and left, the rattling of her armor echoing in their ears. Both of them remained seated, staring at the ground even after she left. Kai clenched his fists, while Sverik wore an annoyed, yet guilty expression. Neither of them spoke, the silence occasionally broken by the cricketing of insects or flapping wings. Suddenly, the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps echoed in their ears, and both of them jumped to their feet as they looked toward a spot near the manor. A white shadow appeared in their field of view, its gigantic figure illuminated by the candles and crystals on the ground. ¡°What the hell is that?!¡± Sverik yelled as he reached for his wooden sword, getting in a combat-ready position as fast as he could. Raising his trembling blade, he glanced at Kai, who seemed undisturbed, in contrast to him. ¡°What are you doing? Do you want to die?!¡± He yelled, however, it was too late as the white shadow instantly appeared before them, and jumped onto Kai. Sverik let out a panicked shriek, and fell backward with a racing heart. ¡°Kai!¡± However the panicked etched on his face was replaced by confusion, as the expected scene of a dismbered and mauled Kai never arrived. Instead, the giant beast licked his face and snuggled close to him as Kai laughed. ¡°What¡­ the fu¡­¡± Sverik cursed, unable to believe the sight before him. Onyx raised his head, staring at Sverik and letting out a playful snarl as he walked up toward him. Compared to the Obborik, Sverik looked like a mole next to a grown man. Crawling away in retreat, he watched with horror as Onyx followed him, and his heart skipped a beat as he ran into a tree. ¡°No, wait, go away!¡± His pleas, however, fell on deaf ears as Onyx gave him a few sniffs before licking his face, covering it entirely with a single lick. ¡°Arg- Get this thing away from me!¡± Kai chuckled as he stood up, dusting off his pants and watching Onyx playfully torture Sverik. ¡°You kind of deserve it though. You could have injured me after all.¡± ¡°Ack- You know that¡¯s bull-¡± Onyx gave him another lick, cutting him off. ¡°I would have stopped anyway, no need to act so hurt over it!¡± ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t know.¡± Kai walked closer to the two, however taking his time. ¡°You seemed eager to hurt me, and don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice your ¡®vampire¡¯ remark. What¡¯s the problem anyway? I didn¡¯t do anything to you. You were mean when we met as well, for no reason either.¡± ¡°That-¡± Sverik fell silent as Onyx shut him up again, however this time he didn¡¯t try to argue or complain. He closed his eyes, and let out a sigh as his lips parted. ¡°Fine I- I¡¯ll tell you¡­¡± his voice, barely above a whisper landed in Kai¡¯s ears, prompting a smile to form on his face. ¡°But first get this thing off of me! Please!¡± With a smirk, Kai¡¯s lips parted, slightly revealing his fangs. ¡°Onyx, come here boy.¡± The Obborik quickly got off of Sverik and sat by Kai¡¯s side, wagging his tail in excitement. His yellow, bright eyes switching between the two, he rubbed Kai¡¯s body with his head, prompting Kai to give him some head scratches. ¡°You¡¯re still such a baby aren¡¯t you?¡± He chuckled, Sverik watching him with shock drawn over his face. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Now,¡± Kai¡¯s eyes jumped to the dwarf. ¡°I believe you have something to say?¡± ¡°I-¡± Sverik began, supporting himself with the tree as he stood up. ¡°I owe you an apology, well, more apologies.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ and?¡± Sverik bit his lip and clicked his tongue as he looked at Kai. ¡°I heard that you were the one that invented the weights and was excited to meet you. A boy my age changing the way we do things, but seeing you struggle like that¡­ ¡° Fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, his gaze flickering between Kai and the ground. "I thought... I thought you''d be different. I envisioned a strong and smart man since you made those weights. I mean, they''re amazing. But then, I saw you struggle, looking so weak that even a breeze could blow you away, I was disappointed." He scrunched up his face, his voice a mix of confusion and frustration. "It''s just weird. You invent something so cool, but you''re not at all like what I expected." Shifting uncomfortably, hands tucked in his pockets, he grit his teeth and looked at Kai, saying: "I''m sorry for thinking you were something else, and for acting like a prick because of my assumptions." Kai stood in silence, pondering Sverik¡¯s words for a brief moment before breaking out into loud laughter. ¡°Man.. that is¡­ that¡¯s the reason? Haaa¡­¡± He gasped for air and tried to collect himself in between sentences. ¡°Pfft- Change the way we do things? They¡¯re just weights.¡± Holding onto Onyx¡¯s fur, he did his best not to fall to the ground as he finally began to stop. ¡°Sorry, sorry it¡¯s just- Wow. I thought you hated me because I¡¯m a vampire, but then you didn¡¯t know I was one, and I was just confused. I was thinking you were mad because Euphridia is my teacher or something.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sverik let out a confused grunt. ¡°Why would I be jealous for that reason?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, you¡¯re like an obedient puppy when she shows up, I was thinking you loved her or something.¡± ¡°L-l-l-love?!¡± Sverik stuttered as his face reddened. ¡°How could I love her? Not to mention our age difference, she¡¯s just way beyond my level. I mean- she¡¯s the captain of the guards at such a young age, a six-star medium core mage. Her skill with the sword- no one here at The First Gate rivals her, not even our leader. She¡¯s just amazing, there are rumors she trains every day by fighting ferocious beasts in the mountains, how awesome is that? She doesn¡¯t even have an amazing sword or fancy armor. On top of that, not only is she disciplined, she trains entire squads and manages a small army. Every single guard at The First Gate is trained by her, not only that, she even gives our small dwarven army pointers. I heard that she comes every once in a while to personally train a few younglings from the mountains for a week or two.¡± By this point, Sverik¡¯s entire body trembled, and his face turned red like a tomato as he continued. ¡°I was excited to be invited to train with her, it¡¯s an opportunity few are capable of having and it was given to me due to my teacher¡­ a lowly one like myself! How could I dare be jealous of you when I barely deserve her pointers?¡± He finished, taking in deep breaths as his flushed face started to return to normal Kai¡¯s widened pupils stared at Sverik like one would at a madman or an insane man. His mouth almost turned as he tried to find any words, however, the only thing that came out was an awkward chuckle, followed by a brief glace between him and Onyx. ¡°Ah, sorry. I must have sounded weird, well, I just admire Miss Euphridia a lot, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Kai laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head as he let out a sigh. ¡°Well, at least you don¡¯t hate me, despite your remarks.¡± He emphasized the second half of his sentence, clearly pointing toward Sverik¡¯s racism. ¡°Ah that¡­ Sorry.¡± Sverik lowered his head, fidgeting with his fingers. ¡°That was uncalled for, it¡¯s just- you know vampires aren¡¯t spoken well of by old folk, or any folk. I think the elves are the only ones that tolerate your race as a whole. I mean, our history books paint you in a bad light, not that you¡¯re bad yourself but your whole race as a whole - Agh, you know what I mean.¡± He paused, locking eyes with Kai as his lips trembled. ¡°And they also say you¡¯re insanely strong so I, you know, assumed¡­¡± ¡°Ha¡­ I should call you the assumer at this point, that¡¯s two strikes and we¡¯ve barely known each other for a day.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Sverik apologized once again, this time in a softer one. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m also sorry for fighting like a barbarian,¡± Kai said as he scratched his nose. ¡°I got excited about fighting someone other than the monster Euphridia is. ¡°Haha, me too, I got tired of fighting Derikk.¡± ¡°Derikk? Who¡¯s that?¡± Kai asked, petting Onyx. ¡°Ah, Derikk is our training golem. He¡¯s a fighting war-prepared golem but toned down from 100 to 5, otherwise, us trainees would die very quickly. Even still, I can¡¯t defeat him, only Three Star Medium Cores or higher have succeeded in all of our history.¡± Sverik said sheepishly, a hint of fighting spirit lighting up in his eyes as he did so. ¡°You have golems to train? Wait, how do they even work? Are they alive, machines?¡± Kai¡¯s brain also lit up with excitement as he began thinking about the inner details of such a being. I wonder if it¡¯s bio-mechanical¡­ in that case how would such a machine be built? Based on Rodney¡¯s memories, bio-mechanical machines are a work of intricate automation. A self-sustaining battle robot¡­ ¡°Ah well¡­ I¡¯m not sure about the intricate details but¡­¡± Sverik said, scratching his chin with one finger. ¡°Tell me everything!¡± Kai said, rushing toward Sverik and grabbing his hands, taking the dwarf by surprise. ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx followed suit, hopping over to the two and sitting down. Chapter 77: News ¡°Hah¡­ huh¡­ah¡­!¡± Grunting sounds echoed in the elven training center, accompanied by the sounds of clanging metal as Sverik and Kai clashed in the middle of the arena. Both of them were shirtless, exposing their toned upper bodies, along with the scars of their fights. Whilst Kai had wounds from the sun, Sverik¡¯s body was filled with bruises and marks, some of which seemed unnatural, and some were faded. The moon painted the night with its intricate brush, lighting up the reflecting floor, which was in turn decorated by a multitude of light crystals. All of this lit up the stage as if it were day, meaning the two could fight without being afraid of a misstep. Both of them held a proper stance. Their knees bent, with one foot in front of the other, and Kai with loose arms and the sword leaning diagonally forward. Sverik, on the other hand, still held on to a tower shield, and his dominant arm backward, holding the sword upward. Both of them wielded metal weapons, similar swords made out of iron and silver, while Sverik¡¯s tower shield seemed to be made out of a denser, sturdier metal. Scratched and dents covered its surface, as well as a few layers of rust. Kai thrust toward Sverik, who blocked with the shield, after which he immediately counter-attacked. Pushing the blade aside with his shield, he swiped toward Kai¡¯s midsection with his sword. *Clanggggg* Their weapons vibrated as Kai blocked, and now with Sverik¡¯s defense slightly open, he kicked toward him. Sverik quickly defended with his shield, barely catching Kai¡¯s foot as he bashed it in, sending Kai tumbling backward. His figure became a blur as he sped toward where Kai would land, and aimed the sword. The tip floated right above Kai¡¯s neck. ¡°I give.¡± Kai chuckled softly, prompting Sverik to stand aside and drop his sword, helping him up. ¡°Well fought today,¡± Sverik said with a smile. ¡°You weren¡¯t too bad yourself.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough now, come down here.¡± Euphridia¡¯s voice echoed in their ears, and both of them smirked as they picked up their belongings and jumped down the stage. Her voice echoed once again in their ears as they put their shirts back on. ¡°You two did great today, I¡¯m proud. Looks like the stern talking I gave you two weeks ago worked wonders in fixing your attitude.¡± The two looked at each other, a soft smile manifesting on their face as they let out a chuckle at the same time. ¡°I guess it did,¡± Kai said, placing his hand on Sverik¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Gave us a lot of time to reflect too.¡± He continued, still wearing that soft smile. Euphridia¡¯s brow raised as she observed their behaviour, but didn¡¯t comment on anything. Instead, she turned around, her beautiful hair whipping in front of the boys as her armor rattled. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll discuss more at home.¡± She said, walking toward the exit, not waiting to see if they would follow her or not. Taking the opportunity, Sverik pushed Kai¡¯s hand off of his shoulder and ran toward Euphridia, his gaze the same as ever yet his heart racing. Kai let out a light chuckle and walked behind the two, taking in the scenery. Although the training arena here lacked the privacy of their own, it was nonetheless a sight to see. Several hexagonal fighting rings cluttered the surroundings, with one placed every ten or so meters, in between which lay a mixed array of equipment. From wooden and metal swords to the weights and other gym equipment Kai recreated. The arena itself stood in a corner near the entrance, so naturally, a lot of guards lingered or even used the facility. Regardless of what they were doing, every one of them stopped and stood up, greeting Euphridia as she passed them by. Kai¡¯s mouth widened slightly at the sight, however he rolled his eyes and simply followed silently. The guard encounters became less and less frequent as they left the training field, the artificial light hanging from the tree branches enveloping the three as they walked through the bustling streets. Due to the tree¡¯s crowns, the moon and stars barely snuck some light in, which caused some faint, almost invisible wounds on Kai¡¯s body, which quickly healed. Sverik didn¡¯t pay anything or anyone any attention in the slightest, his eyes were instead fixated on Euphy¡¯s back. If one were to listen close enough, they¡¯d hear it race like a rabbit¡¯s, if his flushed face wasn¡¯t enough to give away his thoughts. Finding the whole ordeal funny, Kai smirked as his lips parted. ¡°I¡¯m kinda hungry, and I never tried the food from these parts, could we stop for a quick meal?¡± He asked Euphridia, who stopped in her tracks. Slowly turning around, Kai gulped from the pressure she exuded, and Sverik took a few steps back. However, the expression they expected, an angry, scolding Euphridia didn¡¯t appear. Instead, a bright smile decorated her face, and she clasped her hands together as her pink lips parted. ¡°Of course! Of course! I wanted to ask you before, but I didn¡¯t want to be rude in Miss Aina¡¯s eyes, but if it¡¯s you who requested¡­ Well, she can¡¯t say anything now can she?¡± She grabbed both Kai¡¯s and Sverik¡¯s forearms before either of them could reply, and dragged them along. Her tight grip made them unable to even fight back and caused them to wince as they turned and passed several buildings. Finally, they stopped in front of a dimly lit restaurant, the boy¡¯s mouth hanging agape as people passed them by. The restaurant, although filled to the brim with clients, looked more like a bar than a dining establishment. Broken chairs and tables lay against the front walls and even the door was broken and almost thugged out of its hinges. Drunken chatter echoed out into the street, drowning out the murmur coming from behind them with laughter and yelling. Its windows, depicting a beautiful picture of a green landscape- a field covered with flowers and wild animals, were now shattered. Its frame, or what remained of it trembled under the guests¡¯ footsteps, showing signs of falling at any second. The sign that once spelled this restaurant¡¯s name, the letters of which could still be vaguely read, hung on a few nails and bolts, ready to crash into the ground at the softest of winds. A few people stood outside, elves, dwarves, beastmen, and humans, all of whom reeked of alcohol, holding on to a tankard of beverage as they leaned against the crumbling walls. ¡°Euphy¡­ what is this place?¡± Kai asked, taken aback by the restaurant, which was completely out of place even in a fairly remote corner of the First Gate. ¡°This is the best place in town!¡± Euphridia exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the boy¡¯s neck as she walked inside. The intoxicating smell of alcohol and food inundated their nostrils as soon as they stepped foot through the creaking door. In contrast to the broken-down exterior, the inside felt more alive and comfortable, almost inviting. The red carpet on the ground, although covered in alcohol, spit, and vomit, seemed pretty well taken care of. The tables and chairs, made out of a dark, sturdy wood didn¡¯t show any signs of decay despite the scratches and visible damage. The bartop, made out of white marble with black lines, accompanied by the two brown shelves of alcohol, with bottles locked behind a similarly brown glass, gave the entire place a premium feel. That is if it was empty. The customers, a weird mixture of all the different races around, and even some foreign ones Kai had never encountered before stood harmoniously around the tables, drinking and laughing as if they were old friends. Dwarves, Elves, Beastmen as well as what looked to be bipedal lizards shared alcohol joyously. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Oy, Euphy, watcha got there?¡± A deep, rugged voice echoed in their ears, and they raised their heads with widening pupils. In front of them stood a man taller than even Euphridia by at least two heads. A thick beard decorated his face, however it was unable to hide the wide smile pointed at the woman. A warm, scattering light reflected off of his baldness from the chandelier hanging high on the ceiling, causing the two to squint their eyes. ¡°Hoy Paul! This is my pupil, Kai.¡± She said, pointing toward Kai with her head. ¡°And Zarman¡¯s,¡± she let go of the boys as she let out a sigh. ¡°They¡¯ve been giving me so much trouble, give me the usual, and one for them as well!¡± ¡°Haha! Comin¡¯ right up! Take a seat in the meanwhile, why do n''tcha.¡± Euphridia quickly sat down at a table, with mostly everyone in the establishment turning around to give her a friendly greeting before going back to their drinks. Kai looked at the numerous races with shock, staring particularly at the lizard-like people. Their skin, scaly like a reptile¡¯s and glossy like a snake¡¯s, decorated each with a unique, colorful pattern. Their head, unlike many others, ¡¯s in the establishment weren¡¯t flat but instead resembled an actual lizard¡¯s head - A slightly elongated, scale-covered skull, their eyes standing on each side, yet pointing forward and a mouth full of sharp needle-like teeth and a long tongue. Kai¡¯s steps paused for a second as he looked closer at the creatures, inspecting their limbs, the extremities of which resembling claws more than hands or feet. Alongside those, a tail decorated their backside, some sturdier or larger than others. The chairs creaked as they sat down, and Kai¡¯s eyes shone as he looked around, taking in the beauty and strangeness of these new people. Likewise, the people looking at them wore a mixture of emotions on their faces. On one hand, admiration and envy toward Euphridia, on the other fear and caution toward Kai, whose crimson eyes stood in full view. In contrast, nobody looked at Sverik, treating him like a rock on the side of the road. He let out a light sigh and burrowed his face into the shirt as he waited for whatever Euphridia ordered. Whispering and chatter echoed in their ears, some of it they barely caught from the groups sitting closer to them. ¡°Is that a Vampire? With the captain? Wait¡­ didn¡¯t he arrive here a few months ago?¡± A dwarf asked, his beard littered with food and alcohol. ¡°Yeah, I remember seeing him-¡± ¡°What¡¯s the blood fiends doin¡¯ere??¡± One of the lizardmen asked, squinting his eyes at Kai before licking them. ¡°Who knows? Looking for food, they really must have gotten desperate haha!¡± ¡°Right? To think they¡¯d come here for blood, pff.¡± A few elves tried to hold in their laughter, however it became obvious that they found the entire situation funny. ¡°Why did they send a child? Couldn¡¯t that king of theirs have come personally?¡± ¡°Actually- I heard he got into a huge fight some time ago, still hasn¡¯t Recovered.¡± A human said before bringing the tankard to his lips, sipping from it as he gave Kai a side-eye. ¡°Yeah, and besides, he¡¯s too much of a coward to come here anyway.¡± ¡°Right? What a waste of talent¡­¡± These conversations, however, didn¡¯t seem to bother either of them as they waited patiently for Paul to send someone over with their food. And soon enough, the smell of food accompanied by the clattering of pints rang in their ears and turning their heads they saw Paul accompanied by an elven woman. She was dressed in casual attire, a pair of black pants, a white shirt, and a black vest. Her beautiful auburn colored eyes complimented her tanned skin tone, and her toned, muscular yet lean body revealed itself under the tight clothes. She carried the three plates, accompanied by the tankards of ale and bread with both hands, carefully tiptoeing around the bar before gracefully placing them down on their table. ¡°Hey Paula, it¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Euphy¡¯s armor rattled as she got up and hugged the waitress, giving her a tender look as she sat back down. ¡°Have you been well?¡± The waitress nodded, fidgeting with her finger as she spoke, ¡°Yeah, It¡¯s been alright, nothing out of the usual, you know.¡± She laughed awkwardly, lowering her head. ¡°I gotta go serve other customers now¡­ c-cee ya E-Euphy.¡± Paula quickly turned around, bumping into Paul before collecting herself and running away. ¡°She¡¯s a cute one, isn¡¯t she?¡± Euphy asked the two boys as she took a large sip from her tankard. Kai and Sverik remained silent, their faces reddening as they simultaneously looked back toward Paula. ¡°Haha, trying to get my daughter wed, are ya? No way, she¡¯s only been alive fifty years, my baby isn¡¯t ready to leave yet.¡± Paul laughed as he grabbed a chair, turned it backward, and took a seat at their table. ¡°So you haven¡¯t been coming here because you¡¯ve been training them two younguns here?¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess you could say that.¡± She wiped her mouth after taking another sip. ¡°It¡¯s been busy, and you know how Miss Aina is, but Kai wanted to eat out tonight, so I grabbed the chance as soon as I could. Though, Sverik here has only been under my wings for a few weeks, and he¡¯s still training with Zarman during the day.¡± ¡°Right, speaking of.¡± Paul turned toward Kai, briefly locking eyes as he asked. ¡°You sure he¡¯s allowed to be out here like this?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Well you know better than I how much his kind is unwelcome¡­¡± He said, getting closer to her ear as his voice turned to a whisper. ¡°I heard he¡¯s wanted, there¡¯s posters of him everywhere in Aravia. There¡¯s not a single corner where his face isn¡¯t plastered everywhere.¡± ¡°What?!¡± She exclaimed, almost dropping the drink from her hand. ¡°How could that be?¡± Paul shrugged and shook his head, standing up with a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but his head costs a nice penny, especially alive.¡± A shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine, and he looked at Paul with bewilderment. His heart started racing as cold sweat ran down his back. Euphridia switched between the two with widened eyes, and she gulped. However, before she could say anything, Paul¡¯s voice echoed in her mind. ¡°I need to show you something as well, it¡¯s bad news.¡± His aggravated tone helped Euphy snap out of it, and she downed the last bit of her alcohol before addressing Kai and Sverik. ¡°I trust you two will be able to stay put, alright?¡± Their lips parted briefly, however, she disappeared with Paul before they were even able to reply. ¡°What could be so important?¡± Sverik said, letting out a sigh as his eyes finally turned to the food. ¡°And what is this?¡± Kai dully followed his sight, expressionlessly looking at the plate before him. It didn¡¯t seem like anything special, carrots, meat, and other vegetables shoved together into a mixture one would call stew. However, Kai¡¯s mind could think nothing of the food, as Paul¡¯s words caused anxiety to appear and rise within his stomach, his heart beating irregularly as his head became slightly lighter. The restaurant¡¯s door opened suddenly, inviting a short, cold breeze that quickly left through the broken windows. Two short, middle-aged men accompanied by another, seemingly much younger three quickly made their way toward a table, sitting down at one not that far away from Kai¡¯s. Sverik¡¯s pupils widened, and he quickly hid his face and lowered his head as much as he could. Despite that, the group still took notice of him, and a smirk appeared on their faces as one of the younger ones brought his hands to his mouth. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that the Lechiar?!¡± His deep, yet immature voice echoed in Sverik¡¯s mind like needles, and it made the entire room fall into a brief silence as everyone¡¯s gazes turned to them. ¡°It¡¯s him, isn¡¯t he? Haha!¡± The dwarf continued, however, everyone turned back to their chatter as they quickly lost interest. ¡°Oy, I¡¯m talking to you!¡± The man picked up a small coin from his pouch, launching it toward Sverik, and hitting him right in the head. ¡°Ow!¡± Sverik¡¯s cry of pain awakened Kai from his trance, and he immediately frowned as he saw the dwarf¡¯s smug smile. Chapter 78: Mysterious Machine ¡°What¡¯s going on here?!¡± He asked, jumping to his feet while glaring at the group. ¡°Who threw that?¡± His yet-to-be mature, slightly deep voice echoed in the room, causing the chatter to die down completely as everyone turned toward them. The dwarf scoffed as he stepped forward, cupping his hand into a fist as he flexed his muscles. ¡°What is it kid, trying to stand up for that mixed blood over there?¡± He chuckled, accompanied by his entourage, whose mocking expressions couldn¡¯t be hidden behind any sort of facial hair. Mix blood? Kai frowned, his vision switching between the group and Sverik. He indeed looks a bit different, but he¡¯s still a dwarf, isn¡¯t he? He pondered as he stood beside his friend. ¡°What did you just call him? Earlier, I couldn¡¯t quite hear.¡± His tone, more imposing this time, was met with a roaring laughter from the group, and a few chuckles from the bystanders. ¡°What? Mix blood or¡­ Lechiar?¡± The dwarf emphasized the last word, making sure Sverik, who kept hiding behind his hood heard it clearly. Kai clicked his tongue and began walking forward, only to be stopped shortly after by Sverik¡¯s trembling hand. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Kai. They¡¯re right, after all.¡± His voice, barely above a whisper echoed in Kai¡¯s ears, causing his anger to rise even more. ¡°It¡¯s not alright,¡± Kai replied, distraught by the way Sverik acted. ¡°They¡¯re clearly bullying you, and for what? You¡¯re just gonna sit and take the abuse like that? Why?¡± ¡°Because he¡¯s a Lechiar.¡± The dwarf interjected. ¡°He¡¯s neither elf nor dwarf, he¡¯s just a broken halfling.¡± ¡°Broken halfling?¡± Kai¡¯s eyes snapped toward Sverik, and he clenched his fists as he thought about Euphridia. Immediately turning back to the dwarves, he inhaled sharply as he said. ¡°So just because he was born like that, it¡¯s his fault? He deserves to be abused?¡± Grtting his teeth, he tried controlling his anger, deciding not to act upon his emotions. ¡°Right-¡± The dwarf¡¯s lips parted, however, Euphridia¡¯s angry voice, accompanied by her and Paul¡¯s footsteps interrupted him. ¡°What''s all this?!¡± She asked, standing next to Kai. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°They called Sverik a mix of blood and a Lechiar, whatever that means.¡± Hearing that, Euphridia¡¯s pupils constricted almost instantly, and her fighting aura unciounsly escaped her body as she turned to the group. The hardwood under her feet cracked as she began taking a step forward, however, Paul stopped her before she could get too far. ¡°It¡¯s alright, let me take care of it.¡± He said, slowly walking toward the dwarves wearing a bright smile on his face. ¡°May I ask you all to take your leave? We don¡¯t accept such discrimination here in my restaurant, so if you will, please get out.¡± He said politely, although the anger hidden within his tone spoke another story. ¡°I¡¯m not going to ask twice.¡± The dwarves gulped, looking up at the giant that Paul was, then toward Euphirida, whose glance alone made their legs shiver, and in the end, ran away with their tails tucked between their legs. ¡°Sorry for that lad.¡± He said, placing his hand over Sverik¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s always people like that wherever you go, don¡¯t let it get to ya.¡± Sighing, he patted the boy on the shoulder after seeing he didn¡¯t acknowledge or move at all. Paul turned to Euphridia with an apologetic expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see that, I¡¯ll make sure them fuckers can¡¯t ever eat or drink in the First Gate again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Euphy said, shaking her head. ¡°You can¡¯t help it, forget about them don¡¯t bother yourself too much.¡± ¡°I insist, the less scum in here the better. I¡¯ll make sure the people in the mountains know about it too. This kind of thing has been abolished long ago and people like them still dare open their mouths!¡± ¡°Paul,¡± Euphridia said, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°You know better than I it¡¯s just above the surface, You can¡¯t change people¡¯s hearts so easily.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­.¡± He replied with a half-hearted tone. ¡°Look, today¡¯s meal is on the house, and so are the drinks so don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Euphy nodded, sitting down at the table, together with Kai. ¡°Sverik, how are you feeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He grunted in a low voice, avoiding her gaze the best he could. ¡°Do you know them?¡± Kai asked in a grave tone, taking a sip from his tankard. Sverik remained silent, his eyes jumping from Kai to the ground and back to him. He gulped, sweat dripping down his forehead, however, his trembling lips parted as he said in a voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Yeah¡­ they¡¯re from my village¡­¡± ¡°Those assholes!¡± Kai yelled as he slammed the table, causing both Euphy and Sverik to jump up in surprise. ¡°Kai, what¡¯s wrong? I¡¯ve never seen you this worked up.¡± Euphridia reached out for Kai¡¯s hand, tightly holding it within her own. ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Kai hesitated, his eyes moving around the table, switching from it to Sverik and then to the woman in front of him as a feeling of helplessness gathered in his heart. ¡°It¡¯s not fair, mix blood or Lechiar or whatever. Sverik wasn¡¯t born to be this way, he shouldn¡¯t be hated just because he is different.¡± Kai lowered his gaze, looking at Euphy¡¯s comforting hand, then at his friend¡¯s face, whose pain remained hidden deep within his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not fair¡­¡± Kai repeated with quivering lips, gritting his teeth as he seemingly spoke to himself. ¡­ Kai flopped onto his bed, letting out an annoyed sigh as he looked at the ceiling. Running his hand across his face, rubbing it before spreading it out. Onyx walked next to him, cuddling Kai with his head as he let out a light yelp. Sighing again, Kai pat the Obborik¡¯s fluffy head, a light smile creasing his lips as he sat deep in thought. To think that such discrimination exists¡­ even among themselves. ¡®Mix-Blood¡¯, is that the slur they use when talking about people born from two races? Like Euphridia¡­ and even Sverik. Such needless hatred¡­ Is that why he also didn¡¯t react so strongly when he found out my identity? He gulped and moved backward, leaning against his pillows and the walls as Onyx followed suit, placing his hand on Kai¡¯s lap. If they react that strongly to their own¡­ I could not imagine if they were to find out I¡¯m a- a Vampire¡­ I need to be more cautious when I go out, the First Gate houses a lot of races. Even if the elves don¡¯t hold a grudge against us¡­ I¡¯m sure the others do, after all our history isn¡¯t that beautiful, and I- I chose to be born this way. From now on- If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. *Knock Knock* His head snapped toward the door, interrupting his train of thought as it creaked open. Aina¡¯s head peeked through the gap before entering, taking a seat next to Kai as she said, ¡°Sorry to bother you¡­ I heard what happened today- Kai those things, they shouldn¡¯t bother you too much, it¡¯s a common thing mostly everywhere.¡± ¡°A common thing¡­ so because it¡¯s common it should be accepted?¡± He asked, a hint of anger hidden within his voice. ¡°Should Sverik suffer like that because his parents were different? Should¡­ should Euphridia be treated the same then?!¡± ¡°So she told you¡­¡± Aina sighed, grabbing the bedsheet. ¡°You¡¯re right, they shouldn¡¯t be treated that way just because of their upbringing. However, it¡¯s the only way these people know how to defend themselves. They¡¯re afraid. They fear that one day a mixed race will rise, as the child of two different races can either be marginally stronger than both¡­ or marginally weaker. They don¡¯t want to gamble, they shut down any potential growth without any ultimatums¡­¡± A shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine as his eyes widened upon hearing her words. He grit his teeth and inhaled sharply. ¡°So they don¡¯t want a second tyranny. A second¡­ Vampire race.¡± He said, his voice breaking. ¡°Kai!¡± Aina¡¯s voice rose slightly as she looked at him with a harsh gaze, however, she quickly cleared her throat and continued. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. They fear another such war¡­ or such a terrible life coming again.¡± ¡°There¡¯s better ways, aren''t there?¡± ¡°Yes, but none as easy. However, things are starting to change, it just takes time.¡± ¡°And in that time we¡¯re supposed to wait and let those people suffer?¡± ¡°No,¡± Aina said, standing up. ¡°We help them the best we can.¡± Heading to the door, she stopped briefly as it cracked open. ¡°Zerman invited us to the Dwarven Ascension Ceremony in two weeks.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Kai asked, raising himself slightly higher. ¡°It¡¯s to determine which mages of the new generation become forgers or warriors¡­ that¡¯s all you need to know.¡± With that said, she left, leaving Kai once again alone in the darkness. ¡­ The two weeks quickly passed, and Kai¡¯s research into the body core became more and more intense. Studying the way his body reacted upon chanting the technique in his mind and using the appropriate way to conduct the mana, he noted everything down in the notebook his grandpa gave him, then forwarded his research to Aina. However, what he didn¡¯t tell her was that he had also begun to research how to modify the body core technique. Sitting at his desk, illuminated only the light crystals and candles, the sound of his pen scribbling against the rough paper echoed in the darkness. Onyx sat at his feet, sleeping comfortably to his right. If I use the way the body core technique gathers mana, but instead use it to form a mana core¡­ hm¡­ I haven¡¯t attempted it since last time, when my veins almost cracked and shattered again. I need to be careful, theory only. But this method doesn¡¯t seem viable, the mana core requires way too much mana¡­ but I feel my body has gotten stronger. One month¡­ in one month I¡¯ll be able to attempt forming a body core. That means I have one month to perfect this technique¡­ Rodney, please don¡¯t fail me¡­ He thought as he wrote down ways, ideas, and goals to achieve the ability to cast Onkos magic. The only requirement for Onkos magic is a core with the capability to store mana, and then call upon it when casting. The problem with the body core is that it only acts as a filter¡­ I¡¯m not sure how it achieves that, however¡­ If I manage to hollow out the core without affecting its ability to filter¡­ then using it as a storage box for mana would work¡­ It seems simple, then that means other people tried it as well¡­ and didn¡¯t live enough to record their progression¡­ He gulped, however, his grip tightened around the pen as he continued writing. *Creeeaaak* The door opened, making way for some light from the hallway to enter his room. ¡°Come on Kai, we need to go.¡± Elizabeth beckoned him as the door fully opened, revealing her enchanting figure. She wore a red dress, similar to the one she wore at Kai¡¯s birthday if it wasn¡¯t the same one. A pair of green earrings and some light makeup.¡°Mom is already waiting downstairs.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right down.¡± He closed the notebook and sat up, bothering Onyx, whose ears twitched slightly before shifting position and going back to sleep. He¡¯s like a cat¡­ Kai thought with a light chuckle. As Kai stepped into the artificial light, his casual, everyday outfit stood in stark contrast to Elizabeth¡¯s fancy garments. ¡°Do you dress like this for every occasion?¡± He asked, slightly amused as they made their way downstairs. ¡°How else am I supposed to dress?¡± ¡°Your everyday outfit would have done just fine, actually I think most people here would prefer that.¡± ¡°But our ancestor¡¯s books say this is the best way to go to a gathering¡­¡± She pouted, crossing her arms and picking up the pace. Your ancestor was an interesting man¡­ Kai smirked as he hurried after her. Meeting up with Aina, his eyes widened in surprise upon seeing her outfit, which resembled her daughter¡¯s a lot, except for the dress color. Aina wore a loose, green dress with a necklace a pair of earrings, and green high heels. If Kai hadn¡¯t known better, or were it not for her light blonde hair, he would have thought she and Elly were the same. ¡°Finally here, took you long enough.¡± She quipped and walked toward the back of the manor, opposite the gate. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Kai asked, confused. The two women didn¡¯t say anything, however, their mischievous smiles couldn¡¯t be hidden behind their pretty makeup. They stopped in front of a brown, sturdy door made out of old oak. It shone with a blue hue, signs of a magic protection spell being cast on it. Aina waved her hand as her fingers glowed softly, and the door opened silently. It revealed a seemingly empty room, shrouded in darkness and mystery. ¡°What is this place?¡± Kai could not help but ask, however, his question remained unanswered as the two stepped foot in, prompting Kai to follow them. The door slammed shut, leaving Kai with no source of light, however, that didn¡¯t last long as Aina took her wand out, casting a chantless spell, lighting up the entire room. His eyes widened as he looked around the almost crumbling walls made out of brick and clay, however the thing that shocked him most was a machine sitting back, almost glued to the wall. Its circular frame was white like a bone, and it stood on a pitch-black block of stone, within which words he could not even begin to understand were carved. Connected to the rock was a branch, or multiple twisted branches that formed into a spheric shape at their end. Chapter 79: Beast Sword Spirit Kai¡¯s mouth stood agape, unable to utter a single word as he looked at the mysterious contraption. The texture of its white, eerie frame, resembled dried bone sent a shiver down his spine, and the black rock pedestal exuded a horrifying chill that almost dug into his flesh. He shivered, his gaze switching to the twisted branches, whose surface seemed to pulse with life, as blood-red vein-like creases ran along their exterior. ¡°Is this¡­?¡± He barely blurted out a question with a racing heart, the simple thought of it being real rocking his mind. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a transportation portal, like the one at the entrance,¡± Aina confirmed his thoughts, making him reel back in shock. She smirked and flicked her hand, causing a spherical object to appear in her hand. It emanated a wild amount of mana, seemingly unable to conserve the unfathomable amount of energy within. ¡°I¡¯m not going to into details, but it creates a temporary portal between two places, however, it¡¯s very expensive, depending on the distance.¡± She explained, placing the sphere within the branches, the vein-like creases of which immediately glowing with a strong light. ¡°To go to the dwarven mountains, we only need mana cores from Second Rank beasts, however, the cost increases exponentially with distance.¡± As she spoke, the inscriptions carved within the rock began lighting up, spreading upwards towards the portal¡¯s frame. ¡°Now that I think of it, you cost me a pretty penny when you were born.¡± She quipped, placing her hand over the frame. ¡°It costs one core per person and we had to make the trip a few times, I almost went bankrupt!¡± Her palm emitted a soft light as it ran along the frame, inscribing symbols or words Kai could not understand onto the white surface. ¡°Only to find out there was nothing wrong with you! Ha¡­ you should have seen Elizabeth¡¯s face back then¡­¡± Uh¡­ I did¡­ Kai thought, almost saying it out loud as his mind still tried to accommodate the idea of teleportation. As Aina¡¯s hand reached the end of the frame, the interior of the portal lit up with a spark, glowing with a blue, purple-ish light. Elizabeth wasted no time and walked through it, her figure disappearing in a few breaths. ¡°What?!¡± Kai gasped in shock as Aina loaded in another core. ¡°No time to be shocked now, it¡¯s your turn to step through. And don¡¯t forget your mask, we don¡¯t need everyone knowing who you are.¡± She beckoned Kai, breaking him out of the shock. ¡°Zarman doesn¡¯t know either, we only told Sverik because he was gonna train directly with you so it would have been impossible to hide. And also he¡¯s¡­ never mind that.¡± Pulling out the mask from his robes, he placed it over his face and walked toward the portal, not questioning Aina¡¯s reasoning. He gulped, letting the insane amounts of concentrated magic crash against his body as he took in this marvel of magical technology. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± He stepped in, and it seemed like time had slowed down as he did so. Like his first time entering the manor, the mana inside the portal seemingly wanted to crush him. However, unlike before, it took a gentler approach, and before he knew it¡­ he disappeared. His thoughts, vision, hearing, his whole being had seemingly vanished from the world, only to re-appear somewhere else. He felt himself become nothing, a being that wasn¡¯t here nor there, existing in a transient state caught between space and time. Visions flicked before his shut eyes, vivid yet ephemeral glimpses of landscapes rushing past his body as he traveled like a bullet shot from a bolt action sniper rifle. A multitude of colors, both cold and warm flickered in his mind, painting a canvas of an infinite gallery of images. With time they faded away, leaving Kai with more questions than answers, and they were instead replaced with a hazy, dimly lit room, but finally breathing the air of the real world again. He felt a gentle pair of hands holding him up, his blurred vision slowly coming to normal as muffled chatter echoed in his ears. Blinking a few times, he was greeted by Elizabeth¡¯s lively smile and found himself in her arms. ¡°Are you alright?¡± She asked, helping him stand up properly. ¡°Yeah¡­ that was¡­ weird¡­¡± Kai managed, his words carrying the echo of the transition that had just unfolded. ¡°The first time is always a unique feeling.¡± She said, patting him on the shoulder and fixing his unkempt hair. ¡°Now we just need to wait for Mom to Ah, she¡¯s here.¡± Simultaneously turning their heads, they saw Aina¡¯s figure appear seemingly out of thin air, with only the slightest magical distortions fading away behind her. ¡°So, what are we waiting for then?¡± She said, smiling brightly while walking in front of them. ¡­ The sound of rattling minecarts invaded their ears as soon as they stepped out of the room, accompanied by lively chatter and an intoxicating mixture of flavors and ingredients. Along them, the smell of charcoal, fumes, and smelted metal lingered in the air despite the distinct lack of lit forgeries. Kai¡¯s eyes widened as he looked around, greeted by the magnificent sight of a tall statue made out of a shiny, seemingly ethereal metal. In its center, a large, flaming yellow sphere illuminated and warmed up the cold, dimly lit cave. Looking up, he could barely see its top after squinting, and yet he could not discern exactly what it was. Around the statue, dozens upon dozens of sturdy, suspended minecart tracks beautifully decorated the environment, adding to the atmosphere Kai had always imagined of a dwarven city. The ceiling looked like a beautiful night sky as ores and crystals shone upon the ground below, which was in turn lit up with countless lamposts and scattered minerals. Taking a step forward, his feet emitted a slight clopping sound as he stepped on the stone path, which in turn housed an uncountable amount of little shiny shards, compressed into the stone and pebbles to create a sturdy, breathtaking road. Kai looked around curiously, staring at the houses and shops which, contrary to his expectations were non-dwarven-sized. Despite that, the people living inside or managing the stalls were anything but. With comparatively short stature and robust body, these elves looked exactly like what Kai had imagined. A muscular frame with pale, yet dirtied skin and large, beady eyes, fit the description of a dwarf he had in his mind to a T. Elizabeth and Aina watched the young boy with amusement as they slowly followed behind him, turning heads wherever they went, as they seemed to be the only guests dressed in such intricate, fancy clothing. As they walked forward, the houses, stalls, and shops became more and more common, and so did the variety of guests attending. Humans, beast folk, lizardmen, and other elves began appearing amidst the crowd, although very scarcely. Going deeper, the vendor¡¯s voices became louder and louder as they began advertising their products, taking on a more aggressive approach. One such voice grabbed Kai¡¯s attention, and he lowered himself slightly to look at the assortment of weapons and tools displayed on the stall. His gaze switched toward the seller, a young woman whose features resembled that of a twenty-year-old. She had a fairly slimmer figure and wore a head full of dark locks tied into a bun, her mesmerizing green eyes staring straight into his soul. ¡°Did you make these?¡± He asked, taking notice of her calloused hands. ¡°Yes, me and my father.¡± She said confidently as Kai inspected her merchandise, a good amount of kitchen tools, mostly made for butchering and preparing animals, but also everyday items like lock pick sets, spoons, and the like. Next to them lay a large assortment of weapons, from axes and maces to swords and daggers, this girl seemingly had an entire battalion¡¯s weaponry at her disposal. A little bit behind, on a few crudely made armor stands lay a few sets of armor, ranging from leather to chainmail, iron, and materials Kai had not even heard of. An item shone in the corner of his eye, grabbing his attention. It seemed to be calling to him, pulling him closer as his interest in it depended. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. At first glance it seemed like a normal iron sword, nothing putting it aside in terms of appearance from the others, however, Kai¡¯s curiosity peaked, and he decided to send some mana into it. The bloody figure of a two-legged deer flashed briefly before his eyes, followed by a painful screech and a splitting headache. His pupils widened almost immediately, his face reddening while taking a step backward. Gasping, beads of sweat dripped down his forehead while staring at the weapon. ¡°Aina¡­ is that?!¡± He asked, turning to the two women with an expression of disbelief. ¡°Seems to be, a sword infused with a spirit, or a spirit born with the sword, though it doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s old enough for that.¡± She said confidently, her eyes shining slightly before looking at the girl. ¡°Madam is right,¡± the dark-haired woman said. ¡°This is my dad¡¯s best creation, and only a few of its kind exist in such markets. Not because it¡¯s a bad weapon¡­ it¡¯s simply inferior compared to true spirit weapons.¡± She explained, blushing humbly, looking at Kai and Aina. ¡°Interesting¡­ What kind of spirit is inside?¡± ¡°Dad used an animal he trapped, something called a Vrgosir. He said it¡¯s quite rare and couldn¡¯t wait for a second before locking himself into the forge. Three weeks later, he came out with this sword, however, this cost him slightly less than his life. He is now bedridden, unable to stand or work anymore....¡± She said casually, a half-broken smile creasing her lips. ¡°He can barely move, and left the business to me¡­¡± Her soft voice brought an expression of pity to both the women¡¯s faces, and even Kai¡¯s expression saddened behind his mask. Elizabeth chuckled softly and took the sword, swinging it around a few times. ¡°It¡¯s quite light and not that big. Mom, this sword is perfect for Kai, even if it has an artificial spirit.¡± Aina nodded, turning toward the girl. ¡°How much is it?¡± The girl¡¯s face lit up instantly and she pulled out a golden plaque with the number twenty inscribed onto its face. On the other side, what seemed to be a certificate of ownership along with a small place to put your handprint on was also inscribed. ¡°Twenty gold coins huh? Quite pricy¡­ but not bankruptcy pricy!¡± She flipped her hand, a small pouch appearing in her hand as the ring she wore shone with a faint light. Throwing it toward the girl, she signed with a magic-imbued finger before grabbing the plaque and turning around with a smile, grabbing Kai by the shoulder. Elizabeth smiled and put the sword away in her spatial ring, keeping it safe. ¡°You should be grateful, twenty golds for such a quality sword is a steal! The material alone is worth a third of that, and the craftsmanship is intricate. Sadly it¡¯s only a lower beast spirit, but it¡¯s a good start! I can also feel the smith¡¯s will coursing through the metal, and it¡¯s also his last work¡­ it¡¯s practically invaluable.¡± Kai looked at the two with a dumbfounded expression, his head turning lighter. ¡°If it¡¯s that valuable why did you buy it for me? I already have Dad¡¯s sword anyway¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish, Kai,¡± Aina said with a smile. ¡°Anyone close to a hundred years with eyes would recognize that sword anywhere, even if it¡¯s turned black.¡± ¡°That-¡± He wanted to fight back, however remembering the mess he almost caused at the tavern, he kept his mouth shut and continued following behind them. An artificial sword spirit huh¡­ I thought only wands could have spirits but it looks like swords can too. If swords can¡­ does that mean any tool can have a spirit? How could they only brush past the topic and not even say anything anymore¡­ Urhg! So infuriating! He thought, lowering his gaze. Although the thing I saw¡­ it seemed afraid, why did it call out to me? With this new concept gnawing away at the back of his mind, both excited and curious about the new sword, Kai could not be bothered to explore anymore, making the way to the main area much faster. Although, he still looked around, observing his surroundings, scanning the hundreds of different doors dug into the walls, some bigger, some smaller, with dwarves frantically moving about on the different levels. All of this reminded Kai of a small colony of ants, one of those personal ant farms he saw ads for on TV. That¡¯s a weird comparison but¡­ it¡¯s close enough. He shrugged and kept advancing, the joyous atmosphere starting to mess with his mood. Eventually, the road forked, some turning thinner and some becoming wider, lively chatter coming out of either type as the crowd gathered at the event area. Rows upon rows of stone seats were placed around a round arena, big enough to accommodate a few hundred people and tall enough to fit a small hill. Kai watched with amazement, having never seen such an uncountable amount of people in a single place. Although most of them were dwarves, the few other species didn¡¯t look to be ordinary members of their race. Each of them wore a beautiful suit, dress, or carefully crafted armor, all of them wearing the emblem of their respective families or clans. Of course, there were also the occasional solo, unaffiliated individuals, whose simple attire fit more into the crowd than the others. ¡°Why are there so many different races gathered here?¡± Kai asked, looking up at Aina, expecting her to answer. However, to his surprise, Elizabeth¡¯s voice echoed in his ears instead. ¡°It¡¯s for them to reserve one of the younger members, which they deem suitable enough to become one of their many smiths. It¡¯s a competition between whose pockets are deeper, or which dwarf is more desperate.¡± She didn¡¯t bother to hide the disdain within her voice, gathering a few silent glances from the surrounding crowd. One of the bystanders walked toward them, wearing a gentle, yet unfathomable smile. ¡°Elizabeth, Miss Aina, It¡¯s been too long.¡± He said, bowing toward them in greeting before straightening himself. He wore a four-piece black suit with a white shirt and a black tie and wore his equally dark hair backward with what seemed to be an awful amount of gel. His sharp ears and slick figure quickly gave away that he was an elf as well, however, he didn¡¯t have any accessories, save for a piercing under his nose, slightly above his lip. ¡°Zvaran, it¡¯s been¡­ not long enough,¡± Elly said, not bothering to bow toward the man nor hide her displeasure. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were interested in smiths?¡± She inquired, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Haha,¡± he laughed awkwardly, ¡°Likewise, I thought Niku was more than enough for you.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not here to hire,¡± Aina interjected, her voice cold and stern like never before. ¡°We were invited to watch one of our pupils¡¯ friends, is all.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zvaran looked down at Kai with a curious expression, his smile fainting slightly. ¡°So this is the boy I¡¯ve been hearing so much about? ¡®Euphridia¡¯s prodigy¡¯? I didn¡¯t know he had three teachers.¡± He said, barely hiding the venom within his eyes. ¡°Why is he wearing that foolish mask?¡± Kai looked back at the man, raising an eyebrow behind the fox pattern covering his face. Weird, he either doesn¡¯t care that I¡¯m a vampire¡­ or doesn¡¯t know. Judging by his reaction, it¡¯s most likely the latter. ¡°I could ask you the same thing.¡± He blurted out, taking both the women and Zvaran by surprise. A chuckle escaped Elizabeth¡¯s body, shortly followed by Aina before they broke out in light laughter. The man¡¯s face, however, turned a brighter shade of red as the smile creasing his lips completely disappeared. ¡°You¡­! Kid, you should learn some manners!¡± He said angrily, glaring at Kai as he raised his hand, quickly lowering it. However, before his hand could get within ten inches of Kai, the man felt a sharp pain on his wrist, wincing as he looked up. Meeting his gaze was Elizabeth¡¯s anger-filled eyes, her hand tightly clenched around Zvaran¡¯s own. ¡°You should be the one who should learn some manners.¡± Her raspy voice echoed in his mind like the Grim Reaper¡¯s. ¡°Daring to raise your hand against him in front of us? You must have gotten tired of living.¡± She said, tightening her hold even further, making Zvaran fall to his knees as he yelled out. ¡°Argh- I¡¯m sorry Elly, I-¡± However, the morbid sound of crunching bone reverberated in the air, inviting a shrill scream of pain to escape his body. Kai watched in horror as Zvaran¡¯s wrist almost turned to dust inside Elizabeth¡¯s grasp, not letting go even after crushing it. The man¡¯s face turned from red to blue as tears fell down his cheeks, accompanied by drool which quickly crashed on the cold floor. Elizabeth undid her grasp, letting Zvaran¡¯s hand fall to the ground, prompting another scream from him as he looked up at her, his pupils red and dilated. ¡°You should know better than to piss me off by attacking my pupil!¡± Elizabeth said as she walked away, glaring at the man with the corner of her eye. The bystanders all let out a collective gasp, giving Zvaran a pitiful glance before turning away and minding their matters. The man¡¯s body convulsed, his pupils trembling as he looked at the unnatural shape of the wrist, and any attempt to bring it up would only result in more pain. Eventually, he forcefully prompted it up, using the adrenaline to stand up before slowly walking away, gritting his teeth in anger. Chapter 80: Competition Day The three walked silently, followed by countless gazes and whispers as they made their way toward one of the entrances to the arena. Kai looked toward Elizabeth with newfound awe, respect, and fear. Her angry expression slowly turned to a neutral one as she calmed down, smiling after meeting Kai¡¯s gaze. ¡°That bastard always icked me the wrong way, but to think he¡¯d be so insane he¡¯d raise his hand against you¡­ he had it coming!¡± She complained, cleaning her hand with a handkerchief which she quickly burnt away with fire crystals. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see that, but scum like that can be found anywhere. To think he¡¯d dare try to hit a child¡­ my Goddess¡­¡± Kai decided to remain silent, only giving a small shrug before glancing forward, his eyes lighting up as they landed upon Sverik¡¯s small figure in the distance. He stood in front of the entrance, dressed in light metallic armor and a small helmet. His long hair ran down his back, with a few strands resting on his chest, right next to an intricately forged symbol of a hammer entangled with a rose. Next to him sat Zarman, whose hands were crossed as he waited patiently next to his pupil. ¡°That must be Sverik¡¯s adopted house,¡± Aina said with a smile, ¡°The house of the Gentle Hammer. They¡¯re ancient and survived through countless calamities. Kai, you must be respectful toward them, especially toward Zarman.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Kai nodded softly, picking up the pace. ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± Zarman clicked his tongue as his eyes landed on the trio. ¡°That damned woman is as attractive as ever¡­¡± He said under his breath, although not quiet enough for Sverik to pretend not to hear. ¡°You say that about every woman you see.¡± He quipped gently, waiting for Kai to arrive with a soft smile. ¡°Yeah but that¡¯s different, I mean it this time. They may not be good at forging, but elven charms are hard to surpass.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just an old pervert¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Go meet your friend, he¡¯s taking his time it seems.¡± Zarman nudged Sverik, making the boy let out a soft sigh and approached Kai with a rattling sound. ¡°You finally made it, took you a while,¡± Sverik said, shaking hands with Kai as they waited for Aina and Elizabeth. ¡°How do you find Monten? It¡¯s not the biggest city, but it¡¯s where I grew up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s charming.¡± Kai replied with a hidden smile, ¡°This is my first time inside the dwarven cities, are they all like this?¡± ¡°More or less, the only difference is size¡­ and housing size. Because of the influx of visitors here every few years, the locals decided to modify their houses to accommodate bigger people, but it¡¯s a rare sight in other parts of the kingdom.¡± Kai nodded, finally making sense of one of the questions he had at the back of his mind. ¡°Thank you for coming, by the way. My round starts in two days, but I can show you around in the meantime.¡± ¡°Sure, that¡¯d be great! But I haven¡¯t been told much about what this event is about besides¡­ hiring?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Sverik let out a light gasp. ¡°It¡¯s simple, the new generations of the dwarves must show off their skill in both forgery and combat, the best of which will be chosen by other race¡¯s elites to be their personal smiths or will be recruited by the dwarven army. Of course, the participants can refuse both as long as they pass. Although¡­¡± Pausing, his eyes wandered off as he seemingly got lost deep in thought. ¡°Sverik, you there?¡± Kai shook his shoulder, breaking him out of his trance. ¡°Ah? Yeah, sorry¡­ I wanted to say that if you fail in both contests and nobody picks you¡­ you¡¯ll be sent toward the Northen Mountains.¡± ¡°The Northen Mountains?¡± Kai asked, confused. ¡°Humiliation.¡± Aina¡¯s voice echoed behind him, her tone full of disdain and pity. ¡°It¡¯s a place inhabited by certain species of mysterious Lizardmen and a multitude of beasts. That place is almost barren of plants, and even less trees.¡± ¡°What?! Why would they send their young to such a place?¡± Kai¡¯s voice rose slightly as his mind reeled in shock. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that kill them?¡± ¡°Dwarves are tougher than other races, and a high percentage of those sent there come back alive. As for the reason¡­ nothing more than to toughen them up before being sent to the army for training.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the army do a better job in toughening them up?¡± ¡°Not exactly¡­¡± Sverik interjected, ¡°Our armies aren¡¯t as good or skilled as the other races, and our generals are mostly old smiths who can¡¯t pick a hammer up anymore, so it¡¯s up to us to train and get stronger. Their excuse for such treatment¡­ are our golems.¡± ¡°That¡¯s stupid! It¡¯s like saying Evicario is safe because of the giant tree at The First Gate!¡± Kai exclaimed angrily, garnering a few dozen angry glances. ¡°Shh!¡± Sverik lightly tapped his shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s how things are. That¡¯s not even the worst thing, after the three-year mandatory service you can either choose to live in the village, stay in the army, or go to the academy.¡± Clenching his fists as he mentioned the latter, his pupils trembled slightly as he bit into his lower lip. ¡°However the acceptance rate for people in these conditions are¡­ miniscule, as the academy doesn¡¯t see any value in us.¡± ¡°Us?¡± Kai inquired, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah. The truth is, unless I miraculously break through before tomorrow¡¯s event ends I will be automatically sent to the mountains even if I did well in both categories.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Speechless, Kai turned toward his two teachers, who could only give a solemn nod of affirmation. ¡°But you¡¯re so strong, how could they¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll find a way to break through. I¡¯m right on the cusp, I can feel it!¡± Sverik assured Kai, putting his arm around his shoulder, and slowly walking toward the arena. ¡­ Zarman walked forward to greet Kai and Elizabeth before turning to Aina, who said with a soft smile. ¡°Zarman, nice to see you again. I see your belly hasn¡¯t changed one bit.¡± ¡°Haha, I try to stay in shape what can I say.¡± He laughed, patting his belly before saying, ¡°It seems your beauty has only grown since last time as well.¡± ¡°Oh, you flatter me.¡± She brought a hand to her mouth while laughing, lowering herself and pulling the man into a hug. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you¡¯re as healthy as ever.¡± Zarman replicated the hug and said with a chuckle. ¡°Of course, not even a Scarlett Bear or Mountain Eel could kill me, let alone an illness.¡± The small crowd around them stared at the two women, whispering amongst themselves. ¡°Hey isn¡¯t that¡­?¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s Old Fool Zarman¡­ who is he meeting with? They¡¯re so hot!¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s¡­ fuck I don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Well, I suppose a man of his caliber must have appropriate guests.¡± ¡°Mhm, mhm. He forged so many weapons for the kingdom back then, and all by himself! Did you know that¡¯s how he got the name ¡®Fool¡¯?| ¡°Dude¡­ everyone knows that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Aina said, standing up and shooting a disgusted glance at the crowd. ¡°Shall we go inside or stop by at your house first?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s not much point to going inside now, as today is the First Generation and then tomorrow The Second. Sverik is part of The Third so we have plenty of time to kill.¡± ¡°Alright then, looks like we¡¯re going to be loitering for a bit,¡± Elizabeth said as a soft smile creased her lips. ¡°What about you two, what will you do?¡± She asked, turning toward the two boys. Kai and Sverik briefly glanced at each other before letting out a simultaneous shrug. ¡°I want to see what Sverik¡¯s house looks like.¡± ¡°Alright then, follow me. It¡¯s not that far away anyway.¡± Zarman said to the group, joyfully turning around and walking toward one of the smaller roads. ¡­ ¡°This is more of a residential area,¡± Sverik explained as they advanced on the intricately paved road, passing by dozens of dwarven-sized houses, each one of them having a small front yard decorated uniquely with stones, rubies, crystals, weapons other forged items. Some of them had statues made entirely of metal, depicting an animal or an object, whilst some of them had plain rocks arranged in a special formation. ¡°Our clan isn¡¯t that big, not anymore at least, but most of the people here are under our leadership. Speaking of, Zarman¡¯s house is right up ahead.¡± Looking ahead, Kai saw a taller-than-average house hidden behind a bunch of other smaller ones. Its courtyard, significantly larger than the others housed a lot of workshops and storages, as well as a couple of farms where a few vegetables sprung out of the ground. The house itself was about five times taller than Kai, and thirty of him holding hands wouldn''t be enough to measure its length. Its outside walls, made entirely out of black stone, shone with an enchanting light from the crystals imbued within, and the crimson-red roof completed the subtle yet beautiful color palette. Connected to it was a building out of which clouds of smoke and smog escaped into a ventilation system which led to parts unknown. Its nonexistent front walls clearly showed Zarman¡¯s beautiful forgery, with furnaces and charcoal killins spread on one side, while the other had minecarts and chests full of minerals. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, but please come in!¡± Zarman laughed as he slammed his forged iron door open, walking on a path made out of similar-looking black stone, contrasting against the grass filled with flowers and insects on either side. Aina and Elizabeth didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and quickly followed behind him with a soft smile creasing their lips. Kai, on the other hand, stared with an agape mouth at the subtle display of richness the dwarf before he showed. ¡°It¡¯s alright Kai,¡± Sverik patted his shoulder. ¡°I understand¡­ I was the same way when I first saw it some five-odd years ago.¡± ¡°Five years ago?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a long story but he took me in and decided to train me in the arts of the forge, but my stubborn self insisted on learning the sword¡­ I¡­ I think I¡¯m an idiot sometimes.¡± Hearing that, a soft smile creased Kai¡¯s lips, and he let out a light chuckle as he said. ¡°You and me both. Speaking of, how old are you?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m eleven in five weeks, how about you?¡± Sverik asked, slightly surprised they had never asked each other this question until now. ¡°I turn eleven in four weeks,¡± Kai said, a melancholic expression forming on his face ¡°So we¡¯re the same age then¡­ well, almost. You¡¯re a bit older.¡± He said, finally entering Zarman¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kai followed suit, smirking. ¡°You better call me big brother Kai from now on!¡± He smugly said. ¡°Like hell, I will!¡± The two laughed as they made their way toward the house, which looked more like a manor compared to all the others around. The front door slammed open, revealing the luxurious, humbling interior. A weird, large brown animal skin greeted Kai right at the entrance, followed by the sight of a luscious, shining hardwood floor seemingly made out of one piece of large wood. Its brown, scarlet-ish surface blended well with the carpet decorating the living room¡¯s floor. Accompanying them was a chandelier filled to the brim with light crystals encased in colored glass, reflecting a warm pale yellow light onto the room. ¡°Welcome, haha. It¡¯s been a while since I had guests so excuse the mess.¡± Zarman said as he waited for everyone to enter before gently closing the door. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s enough for an old man like me.¡± This isn¡¯t much? Kai thought, feeling slightly appalled. Then what is a lot for you?? Sverik clicked his tongue before chuckling and walked toward the kitchen. ¡°Do you want anything to drink?¡± He asked, opening what seemed to be a fridge, similar to the one Kai had in the Vampire Kingdom. ¡°Water will do,¡± Aina said, sitting down on a sofa, shortly followed by Elizabeth and Zarman, who sat opposite them on a couch. ¡°Bring me a tankard of ale, my boy,¡± Zarman yelled, turning toward Kai. ¡°Kid, what do you want?¡± Kai remained silent, unsure of how he¡¯d drink water, or anything for that matter with a mask over his face. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll be fine, thanks.¡± He said sheepishly, refusing as politely as he could, gaining a chuckle from Elizabeth. ¡°I¡¯ll have water as well.¡± She said, following her mother. ¡°Tsk, you all don¡¯t know how to enjoy life!¡± Zarman said, clicking his tongue and leaning back into his seat, letting out a long sigh. The two women smiled softly, glancing at each other briefly before Aina¡¯s lips parted. ¡°We don¡¯t usually drink, and your stuff is too strong for us to handle. Besides we¡¯re here to chat, not party. Not yet at least.¡± Her smile still creased her lips as she turned toward Sverik, who appeared with two glasses of water in one hand and a large tankard in the other. ¡°Haha, good! You know what this old man likes!¡± Zarman roared with laughter as he snatched the booze from the boy¡¯s hands, immediately taking a big gulp before wiping his mouth. Sverik rolled his eyes, ¡°I¡¯ve been living with you for five years, it¡¯d be weird if I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, haha, that¡¯s true. Come on boy, get yourself a drink as well, we need to get ready for the competition in two days. No better way than to get blackout wasted!¡± ¡°Zar¡­¡± Sverik said, sitting down on the floor. ¡°I¡¯d much rather not, last time I did that I woke up in the next village.¡± ¡°Ha, yeah that¡¯s true. You didn¡¯t even drink that much.¡± Zarman laughed. ¡°I definitely did though, yet I still managed to find you. I don¡¯t even know how you passed the guards there.¡± ¡°Stop talking about that please.¡± Sverik¡¯s face reddened visibly, his face slowly turning to the shade of a tomato. ¡°More importantly, I need to train in order to break through¡­¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Zarman¡¯s expression quickly changed to a contemplative one, leaning forward and resting his right hand on his knee. ¡°I say¡­¡± He hesitated, his trembling lips stood agape however he decided against saying his thoughts. ¡°I say you go and do your best, and if push comes to shove¡­ the mountains aren''t that bad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an option, you know that.¡± Sverik sighed, his hands forming into a fist. ¡°Yeah, I know¡­ Where do you plan on training?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go to the golem¡­ I feel like he¡¯s my best chance at this point.¡± Kai¡¯s ears perked upon the mention of the golem, and he raised his head, looking straight at Sverik. ¡°Yeah, I think the golem is a good idea. Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll accompany you.¡± Saying that he immediately stood up and walked over to his friend, grabbing his shoulder and raising him with one hand. Aina and Elizabeth stared at Kai with a shocked gaze, never having seen him be so excited about something. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Elizabeth asked, fearing for Sverik¡¯s life for once. ¡°Yeah, yeah. It¡¯s just- you know, it¡¯s a living golem!¡± Kai replied, trying to stop himself from rushing out the door. ¡°I mean, how cool is that? It¡¯s a living being made out of magic! I-¡± He cleared his throat slightly, calming down his excitement. ¡°I don¡¯t know why but something inside me is way too excited about it, and I can¡¯t contain it. I apologize.¡± ¡°No need to be sorry.¡± Aina placed a hand over her mouth, chuckling lightly. ¡°I totally get it, but please don¡¯t try to mess with it, even I can¡¯t afford reparations.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry I won¡¯t¡­ I just¡­ want to look at it. Yeah, from afar¡­¡± Kai¡¯s voice trembled slightly, his dishonest intentions evident within his tone. Chapter 81: Sveriks Insanity Kai and Sverik slowly made their way toward the Monten Training guard, where dozens upon dozens of both adults and children of the dwarves trained diligently. Some, to keep in shape while some got ready to face their competition in a few day¡¯s time. Moaning and grunting echoed in their ears while walking toward where the stone golem was located. It had a room of its own, the radius almost as big as Zarman¡¯s courtyard and even taller than his house. The golem sat still in the middle, not even the dust on its body moving as Sverik equipped himself with a sword and a shield, completely forgetting any sort of armor. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not going to get hurt? A hit from that thing is bound to leave some crushed organs, Also it seems like nobody else is using it?¡± Kai asked, slightly concerned yet excited to see the bio-magical and mechanical creature come to life. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m tough enough. No one is using it because they think it¡¯s useless, since this thing can easily wipe out armies in its unmodified form. However, I know this one has to have some sort of weakness, besides its reduced strength!¡± Sverik gripped his sword and shield and stared at the golem with battle intent. ¡°Besides, the last time I fought it was when we started training, I¡¯m not the same anymore. And I¡¯m also on the cusp of a breakthrough¡­ I¡­ for some reason I can¡¯t manage it!¡± Kai took on a contemplative expression and asked Sverik after a short while. ¡°Could you explain that in more detail? I feel like that¡¯s some valuable information I will need when I finally form my core.¡± ¡°When you finally¡­what?¡± Sverik¡¯s mouth stood slightly agape, almost completely forgetting about the fight he was about to be in. ¡°Right¡­¡± he mumbled, slowly coming back to it. ¡°As you know, to advance to the next stage, you need to manifest around a star around your core, but due to the body mage''s low amount of mana and magic prowess, it¡¯s pretty difficult to do that. That¡¯s when the technique comes in¡­ once the star appears you fuse it into your core. When the core changes size, the stars melt and coat it, possibly changing its color as well. The problem is that I can¡¯t manifest that third star and I have no idea why¡­ but I must try still, though I have an idea.¡± He explained, saying the last sentence with a suspiciously calm tone. ¡°Which is¡­?¡± ¡°Beat myself until it appears!¡± ¡°What?¡± Kai gasped, surprised that he¡¯d see someone with an idea half as insane as his. ¡°Are you stupid or something?¡± Sverik smiled softly, letting out a light chuckle as he stared at the golem, the will to fight and win within his soul burning brighter than ever. Slowly approaching it, the golem seemed to have sensed the challenge and began shaking to life. A small cloud of dust rose along with it, and its eyes shone with an ethereal green light, letting out a roar that shook the entire cave. Countless eyes turned toward it and the two boys, slowly dropped whatever they did and gathered around. Observing the small crowd building up, Sverik¡¯s heart raced as he began approaching the golem, only to be stopped by Kai, who grabbed him by the shoulder. ¡°If you ever think you¡¯re in danger, eat this.¡± He handed Sverik one of the Inner Balance Pills he had, sneaking it into his breast pocket without anyone seeing. ¡°Now, good luck!¡± ¡°Uhh, thanks?¡± Sverik shrugged off whatever Kai did, trying not to think too much about it. He sat at the edge of the golem¡¯s arena, watching it with anxiety and caution. Gulping, he took the final step, fully indicating to the golem that he was ready to fight. Sverik¡¯s body glowed several times as the golem dug into the ground, picking up a good handful which it then compressed into a rock. Throwing it toward the boy, his figure turned into a blur as he dodged the projectile, causing it to smash against an invisible barrier and get crushed to bits. Sverik dashed toward the golem, taking advantage of its low intelligence, and gained ground as it thought about what to do next. The golem¡¯s eyes dwindled for a second before lighting up again and taking on a combat position as it detected Sverik¡¯s rapid approach. Raising its foot, the ground shook slightly as it slammed down, and tracked the boy¡¯s position like a viper, its giant earthen arms ready to strike at any time. Sverik circled the creature, looking for any gaps in its defense or any obvious weak spots. However, regardless of how much he tried, he could not see any such thing. Without giving it a second thought, he grit his teeth and sprinted forward, preparing to dodge the golem¡¯s obvious attack and counter with one of his own. Just as Sverik expected, the golem sent a punch flying right toward him as soon as he got in range, and just as he planned, he stepped to the side. Pulling out his sword, he thrust it at the stone elbow, aiming right between a small ridge connecting it to the forearm. It was a risky move as he could easily lose his sword with the slightest faux pas. Fortunately, his precision had greatly improved and the blade masterfully penetrated the thin spot, earning a cry of what seemed like pain to echo from the golem. Kai¡¯s pupils constricted as he observed the man-made beast, drowning in fascination at its mechanical movements yet a thought process comparable to the AI in his old world. Sverik only told me how they¡¯re produced, and that very vaguely, and nowhere did he mention its intelligence¡­ Grunting, Sverik twisted the sword, however, instead of a pained yell, the golem only let out an angry scream as it retracted his hand, hoping to catch Sverik and throw him in the air. Before that could happen, however, Sverik quickly pulled out his sword and retreated briefly before charging once again. His blurry figure didn¡¯t escape the golem¡¯s sight, and it kicked toward the boy with a strangely fast speed despite its large size. Sverik jumped up and braced for impact, using the shield to absorb most of the impact as he used the momentum to fly in the air. Gulping, he tried maintaining a stable form as he fell, aiming at the creature¡¯s eye. Is he an idiot? Kai thought, slapping his face and praying that Sverik was really as tough as he said he was. In that same moment, what seemed to be a smirk creased the golem¡¯s rugged lips, and, without any hesitation, slapped Sverik out of the air like a fly. He blocked with the shield, which absorbed most of the impact as it broke into pieces. Sverik felt like a mountain had hit him, and got sent flying toward the walls. A magical barrier that absorbed most of the damage appeared behind him, causing him to fall to the ground. The crowd watching him all let out a collective gasp, some of them even looking away at the moment of impact. Did that thing just¡­ smile? Kai raised an eyebrow after observing the golem¡¯s behavior, shocked yet intrigued even more. Interesting¡­ these things are more than they seem. Letting out a sigh, he turned to look at Sverik, who barely got up while coughing madly. Leaning on his sword, he threw away the shield, or what remained of it, and wiped his mouth as he glared at the magical creature. His entire body trembled, however, he didn¡¯t show any signs of giving up and immediately approached the thing once again. He clutched the hilt, softly murmuring something under his breath as he brought his hand to where his core was located. Sending a trace amount of mana, he felt something forming around his core, and a smile creased his lips as he straightened his back. ¡°Is that all you can do!?¡± He yelled, causing the golem¡¯s expression to change to one of annoyance, much to the onlooker¡¯s shock. ¡°That thing can show such emotion?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it! I heard of golems sometimes lashing out but this one is just too¡­ human!¡± ¡°Bullshit! I¡¯ve worked with these golems for hundreds of years, and none of them acted any differently than an expressionless and soulless tool!¡± ¡°Soulless tool¡­¡± Kai repeated in a mumbling voice, his eyes widening at the sinister thought he just had. Could it be¡­ However, before he could think about it further, another roar echoed in the training area, accompanied by a light thump and the muffled sound of a rolling body. Sverik got up from within the cloud of dust created by himself scraping against the ground, coughing up a wild storm as he brought his hand to his chest once again. However, he missed by a few centimeters, and he found himself feeling up the pill Kai placed in his front pocket. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°What is this¡­¡± He held the weird-looking sphere between his fingers but shrugged and swallowed it without much thought. Almost instantly, the two energies within the pills coursed through Sverik¡¯s artificial mana veins, accompanied by an unsuspecting amount of pain. Kai observed his friend, taking note of the changes he could observe from afar. It shouldn¡¯t hurt him a lot¡­ hopefully. Interested in the effects the pill had on an actual physical mage. Sverik charged the golem, tightly holding the sword as his mind raced with ideas. His eyes jumped from location to location, trying to find a way to best the creature, which in turn eyed him like a viper. It prepared once again to hit the boy, its right arm moving back as it waited for Sverik to get in range. Squinting its mechanical eyes, the fist arrived in front of the boy before he even had time to process it, only able to raise his sword to block what little damage he could last second. ¡°Damn it!¡± He grunted as he got shot backward, his landing accompanied by a snapping noise. Standing up and letting out a low growl, his hand rushed toward his ribs. Gritting his teeth, he leaned on the now-bent sword to recuperate his breath. However that seemed like an impossibility as the ground shuddered below his feet, and he watched with widening pupils as the golem slowly approached him. ¡°What?!¡± He exclaimed, his heart racing. ¡°He¡¯s never done that before¡­ just what¡¯s going on?! Why is it so weird today??¡± Picking up his sword, he retreated toward the edge of the arena, taking advantage of its slow movement speed to recuperate. With each heavy breath, he took, the energy within the pill gathered toward his ribs, sending a small amount of warmth in that area. ¡°Hmm?¡± He grunted, looking at this mid-section, however he had no time to question the changes within his body as the ground trembled once again. Watching in horror as the golem dug into the earth and picked up a large amount of earth before compressing it into a dense, almost rock-like ball and sending it flying toward Sverik. He murmured under his breath, causing his body to become a blur as it glowed with a yellow light, instantly disappearing from his previous location and appearing a few meters ahead. The boulder slammed against the ground and then the barrier just as he disappeared, turning to fine dust upon impact. ¡°So fast¡­!¡± Sverik gasped, sweating profusely as he ran away, afraid for his life. ¡°That thing isn¡¯t training me anymore, it¡¯s out to get me!¡± He yelled toward the crowd, but no one could hear him due to the barrier separating them. ¡°Fuck!¡± Cursing, he once again murmured under his breath, picking up speed as his feet glowed, and so did his arms after chanting another spell. Running in circles, he kept a safe distance between himself and the golem, however, he and the crowd knew he couldn¡¯t last long enough. ¡°Hey, what rank is Zar¡¯s pupil again?¡± One of the onlookers asked with a perplexed expression. ¡°Uhh¡­ close to Three Stars, right?¡± Another answered, biting down on a fruit. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Then how did he consecutively cast ¡®Instant Transmission¡¯, ¡®Speed Enchantment¡¯ and ¡®Strenght Boost¡¯? He cast two Two Rank Spells and one Third Rank spell, shouldn¡¯t that be impossible?¡± ¡°Now that you mention it¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s holding up pretty good for a Mix-Blood¡­¡± A short dwarf with a golden eyepatch said, a frown creasing his lips. ¡°Yeah, show that even trash can become something under Zarman.¡± Another one wearing black attire with skin as pale as the moon said. ¡°Shut it you two!¡± Discussion broke out in the crowd as soon as the man finished his sentence, gasps of shock and questions swam through the people, eventually finding their way to Kai¡¯s ears as well. He frowned upon hearing the not-so-nice remarks, however, he knew that there was nothing he could do about it, so he focused on the pill¡¯s effects instead. So the pill allows him to cast more than he normally should? Makes sense considering the amount of concentrated mana inside, but just how much is the question¡­ Kai took a mental note as he watched Sverik fight the golem, rooting for his friend to defeat the creature as soon as possible. The sooner he¡¯s done with it, the sooner I can inspect it¡­ He thought, wearing a mix of excitement and curiosity on his face, his weird expression luckily hidden by the mask. Sverik hadn¡¯t yet realized that his actions had caused a stir among the onlookers, nor did he care as the golem seemed to pick up speed with every step it took. Cold sweat ran down his back, however, he refused to give up, he knew that it was either advancing in rank now or giving up on his goal forever. ¡°That damned magic academy! This damned clan!¡± He yelled, burning through mana as both enchantments remained activated, his current spells only running on the mana from the pill. The heat spreading throughout his body stopped, with the remaining life energy idling within his veins, waiting to heal any new wound that may be created. Gritting his teeth, Sverik started chanting the technique taught to him by Zarman as he rushed toward the golem, who also approached him. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, and along with it so did the mana and life energy. He suddenly picked up speed and felt his body become lighter as the star he desired began forming next to his core. His heart started racing as the euphoric feeling of finally breaking through filled his brain. However, the star started fading away as soon as it appeared, causing despair to replace his happiness. ¡°Daaaaamn itt!!!!¡± Tears streamed down his cheeks as he slowed down, the desire to give up and let the golem defeat him flooding his head. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the golem¡¯s punch arrived before him, this time hitting him square in the chest, right where his core stood. The star that began to fade suddenly stopped as life energy rushed toward it, reconstructing it instead of healing Sverik¡¯s newfound wounds. Spit and blood instantly rushed out of his mouth as he got sent flying backward, crashing against the barrier, which absorbed most of the otherwise fatal damage. A clanging sound rang in the silent arena as he dropped his sword, and the golem scoffed as it went back to an idle state. A collective gasp of shock rang among the crowd as they inhaled sharply, and some of them, Kai included, tried rushing in to help. ¡°What¡¯s going on??¡± One of them yelled, punching at the barrier. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it have done down by now?! That boy is almost dead!¡± ¡°Tsk, it only goes down when one of them admits defeat or the barrier detects death or loss of consciousness.¡± The paled skin dwarf said. ¡°Looks like that Lechiar isn¡¯t either of those just yet.¡± Some of the people in the crowd frowned upon hearing his words, however, none dared say anything more than a whisper. ¡°That damned son of the captain hasn¡¯t worked a day in his life and yet¡­¡± A dwarf close to Kai whispered to another, his wavering tone showing the fear he held toward the pale man. Hasn¡¯t given up yet? A smile formed behind Kai¡¯s mask as he stared at Sverik. That¡¯s more like it! Meanwhile, as the crowd either laughed at his misery or watched him silently, Sverik feigned unconsciousness and observed what happened within his body. Although he couldn¡¯t see as clearly as Kai or the others could, despite having a mana core, he could still see enough to make out what was happening. A six-point star formed close to his heart, using whatever life energy the pill had left within to take form and solidify. Unlike the other two stars already fused with his course, this new one took on a color similar to the twilight sun - a beautiful yellowish-orange. A light chuckle escaped his body, causing the golem¡¯s eye to open slightly, briefly looking in his direction. ¡°To think such a thing would happen¡­ I have to thank him later hehe.¡± He whispered, standing up as the star fully solidified. The golem¡¯s eyes fully opened, and a surprised, almost shocked noise seemingly escaped its body. ¡°Now let¡¯s see if you can help me again!¡± Sverik yelled, rushing toward the creature as fast as he could, his speed increasing rapidly as he clutched the bent sword in his hand. Quickly standing up, the golem tracked Sverik¡¯s movement and instantly sent a punch toward the boy, however, before it could make contact, his body shone with a yellow hue as he disappeared from sight. Reappearing a few meters ahead, he jumped, aiming the sword at the golem¡¯s chest. There, hidden beneath a thick layer of stone and ore, lay its core. A pulsing, heart-like purple crystal, only visible to a small gap in his chest, which fueled its movements and thoughts. It gasped and tried retreating, however, due to its size and weight, it was impossible to do so in time. ¡°Again?!¡± The crowd gasped, their hearts beginning to race. ¡°He¡¯s not even a Three Star yet! This should be impossible, and yet!¡± Ignorant to the crowd, Sverik¡¯s sword rushed straight at the narrow gap and made contact before the golem¡¯s hand could grab him. A shower of purple light exploded forth, hiding the boy¡¯s figure, which shot backward as the massive amounts of energy blasted him away. A defiant roar echoed in the small area, causing his ears to bleed slightly as the ground shook violently. The golem fell to the ground, its body spasming briefly before it lay unmoving. As the barrier shone with a soft light, it disappeared, allowing the crowd to enter the arena. Kai rushed to Sverik¡¯s side, catching him before hitting the outer walls, as this time there was nothing but hard rock upon landing. A smile creased his lips as he observed the changes within Sverik, most notably his core, where an orange star with a hint of purple now stood right next to his two yellow ones. ¡°You did it¡­ you crazy son of a -¡± However, before he could finish his sentence, the sound of shattering glass echoed in Kai¡¯s ears, his head snapping toward its source with widened eyes. Chapter 82: Shock and Delight Kai quickly put down Sverik, making sure he had no other wounds before rushing toward the golem, his heart skipping a beat as he jumped over the crowd. Cracks spread throughout its shell, the pieces of rock covering it breaking apart and falling, revealing more and more of its core. A purple crystal as big as the golem itself slowly came to the surface. Lines and cracks covered it, starting from the point where Sverik stabbed it all the way to the other end. Its light slowly dwindled as the mana it held scattered in the air, and along with it so did the golem¡¯s magical abilities. Its jaw moved up and down, as if trying to talk, to say its last words, however nothing more than a few grunts came out. Eventually, a soft smile creased its lips, seemingly accepting its fate as its eyes snapped shut. Watching all this happen, Kai felt a complex set of emotions, and the sight brought more questions to his mind than answers. Approaching the core, he placed his hand over it, trying to make out its magical structure. He felt a cold shiver as his hand made contact with the crystal¡¯s warm surface, feeling the mana seep through the cracks, crashing against his skin before dispersing in the air. However, a small amount of it got absorbed by him, and his mana veins trembled as it circulated through his system. Interesting¡­ It looks like the mana coming from this crystal is¡­ pure¡­ very pure. I¡¯ve never felt anything like it before¡­ I bet using it to make spells would make them stronger by a few times. This purity¡­ feels amazing! Ignoring the pain, he attempted to absorb minuscule amounts of it, however, cracks began appearing as soon as the smallest amount coursed through him. Damn it! Come on, endure! He attempted to absorb it regardless, feeling that the crystal was almost spent. Enduring the pain that came with the cracks, he forced the mana to travel through his body, observing the effects it had, besides the damage it did. Come on! Come on! Come on! Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, however, he refused to give up. I need to at least try! It¡¯s too pure to let go, maybe¡­ maybe¡­ However, even as he did his best, the supply of mana suddenly disappeared. The crystal turned gray, the silent disappearance of its color prompting a disappointed sigh to escape Kai¡¯s body. ¡°Damn it!¡± Turning away, he walked toward Sverik, circulating the Hippcatrus Healing Technique to heal the damage. His pupils suddenly widened as he did so, and he immediately snapped to the golem as a faint voice echoed in his mind. ¡°Finally¡­¡± ¡°Who said that??¡± He yelled toward the dispersing crowd, however, none of them gave him the time of day. Weird¡­ He thought, rushing to Sverik¡¯s side. The boy lay unmoving, his heart beating and seemingly out of consciousness. ¡°You can stop pretending now,¡± Kai said with a chuckle, flicking Sverik¡¯s forehead. ¡°Ouch! You could tell?¡± He chuckled, getting up and sitting crosslegged. ¡°Only a blind man or a golem could not, haha. Congratulations man!¡± Kai patted Sverik on the shoulder, as he laughed heartily, ignoring his pain. ¡°Aw, man stop it hurts!¡± ¡°Alright, alright. So tell me, what happened?¡± Kai asked, unable to contain his excitement. ¡°Well, how about we get home first? I¡¯m tired¡­¡± ¡°Ah, yeah, right. Sorry haha, I guess I¡¯m a bit too excited, y¡¯know.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know¡­ I gotta ask you something too. Also, I heard the ¡®son of a-¡¯ part¡­ you asshole haha.¡± ¡­ ¡°Haha, I knew you could do it, my boy!¡± Zarman slapped his knee as he roared with laughter, bringing a large tankard to his lips. ¡°You completely destroyed that golem, it¡¯s not rare but not many people manage to do it!¡± He said before taking a big gulp of alcohol and letting out a satisfied sigh. Elizabeth and Aina looked at Sverik with a hint of shock, while also eyeing Kai with the corner of their eye. ¡°That¡¯s amazing Sverik, I¡¯ve never seen such a core before¡­ do you mind?¡± Aina asked, her hand approaching the boy¡¯s chest, who only replied with a shy nod of approval. Mana escaped her arm, which she sent into his body, inspecting the core, most notably the third star that newly appeared on his core. It was not only its color that intrigued her greatly, but also the way it was formed and then fused. ¡°You said it first appeared when the golem hit you, do you recall what you felt in that moment?¡± She asked in a gentle voice, her eyes glued to his core. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure actually.¡± He replied in a wavering tone. ¡°It was unlike anything I¡¯ve felt before, it was warm, very, very warm. Although my entire body hurt, for the few moments that it took the star to form, it didn¡¯t hurt at all. After that, when it fused with my core I felt¡­ powerful, like I could do anything. My hearing was sharper, I could see better, and my body moved like I wanted it to. Now though that feeling faded, I only feel like myself but slightly stronger.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Elizabeth murmured under her breath, taking note and analyzing what happened. Although she wasn¡¯t as knowledgeable as her mother or Kai in the domain of pills, even she could tell something was amiss. Regardless, she chose not to pursue this issue right now, but instead make her observations alongside Aina. ¡°Aye, what¡¯s it matter, tit for that,¡± Zarman said in a slightly annoyed tone. ¡°The boy advanced and that¡¯s all that matters, what comes after comes after. Let¡¯s celebrate tonight!¡± Standing up, he walked toward the exit, wobbling slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll go bring my finest wine and ale! Haha! My boy broke through!¡± The door slammed shut behind him, and in that moment both women¡¯s gazes snapped to Kai, who watched nonchalantly from the side. ¡°What did you do?¡± Aina asked in a stoic tone, removing herself from Sverik. ¡°Are you crazy, Kai?¡± Gulping, Kai straightened himself, ¡°No? I just gave him something to help, and it helped him.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t yet tested their effect on artificial veins¡­ You!¡± She sighed as her hand flew to her face. ¡°I know you had your issues in the past but¡­¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Kai snapped, jumping to his feet. ¡°I actually thought it through before doing something so reckless, I¡¯ll have you know!¡± He said, bringing a fist to his chest. ¡°I knew Sverik could handle it, alright? Plus what could the Inner Balance Pill do to him that¡¯s so harmful? Nothing happened to me, and he¡¯s much stronger.¡± ¡°BOY!¡± Elizabeth raised her voice, causing his heart to skip a beat. ¡°It¡¯s not about strength, and you know that damn well. Those pills were made for you, not for public use. We have no way to know what could have happened to him, and we would not be there to save him like we saved you! Why do you never consider such things? How are you so stupid even after-¡± ¡°Elizabeth.¡± Aina¡¯s calm tone echoed in her ears, forcing her to stop mid-sentence. ¡°What¡¯s done is done, and no one is hurt. We should continue to observe Sverik for the coming days and be ready to help at a moment¡¯s notice, alright?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Elly hesitated, glancing slightly at the wide-eyed Kai. ¡°A-alright¡­ I¡¯ll excuse myself for now.¡± She got up and walked into the kitchen, which was a fair bit away from the living room. ¡°Forgive her Kai, she-¡± Aina said, however, Kai¡¯s faint voice broke her speech and caught her off guard at the same time. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°It¡¯s alright, she¡¯s right. I- I should have given it more thought. Even she knew it was a bad idea and she barely knows how the pills work, let alone me who¡¯s been working with them for so long¡­ I, I think I need some time.¡± He turned toward Sverik, who listened to the entire exchange with a confused expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Sverik, I could have killed you, I- I¡¯m not that good of a friend.¡± He turned around under Sverik¡¯s hesitant gaze, with the door slamming behind him. Aina let out a soft sigh as she sat down, her hand flying to her forehead as she crossed her legs. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for this Sverik, I think Elly¡¯s words cut him a bit too deep. Kai didn¡¯t mean any harm, I hope you know that.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± Sverik nodded, glancing at the door with a complicated expression. ¡°I trusted him enough to eat it, so I accepted that whatever happens happens.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, I¡¯m glad to know he has someone else besides us,¡± Aina said with a smile. ¡°Thank you, by the way.¡± ¡°For what?¡± Sverik¡¯s perplexed voice escaped his lips. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°For being Kai¡¯s friend, things have been hard on him these past few months. Although he¡¯s been more joyful lately, and there¡¯s no one else to attribute that to.¡± ¡°Ah- You¡¯re welcome then, I guess?¡± ¡°Fufu.¡± Aina chuckled slightly, however, her expression quickly turned to a serious one, and said as she eyed Zarman¡¯s half-empty tankard. ¡°We¡¯ll need to observe your training in the coming days and see how this new core affects you. It¡¯s probably nothing bad most likely, but just to be sure.¡± Sverik nodded briefly, standing in silence as he waited for Zarman to come back with the wine. For the first time in a while, despite all that¡¯s happened, Sverik felt happy. His heart burst with excitement, and he barely controlled his trembling hands. The fact that he broke through at the last minute was not only a testament to his strength but also his willpower. Not giving up until the very end when most people already would have filled him with pride and glee. Although it felt like he cheated his way through, it was his own fortune to have Kai as a friend, although now he wasn¡¯t so sure if that was bad luck in itself. ¡­ Kai sat in the back of Zarman¡¯s courtyard, climbed up on the wall, and watched over the city¡¯s nightlife. Countless lights, like hundreds of fireflies shone from the town, where the people that could be seen looked like ants bustling about. The cold breeze of the air currents forming from the ventilation systems blew his hair back as he let out a heavy sigh. The warm air forced itself through the gaps in his mask, which he promptly removed to allow for easier breathing. He stood in silence, accompanied only by the song of small critters and the faint noises from below. Another sigh escaped his body as he got more comfortable, staring up at the closed-off ground covered in crystals and roots. His crimson pupils shone with a complicated light, and he grits his teeth in anger and regret. Damn it, I really fucked up this time! Elizabeth was really angry at me¡­ and even Aina disapproved of my actions. And they¡¯re right, I should have thought it through more! The pills are a secret, a single bad move or a more keen-eyed spectator and Aina¡¯s entire project could have gone downwind. Although Sverik broke through seemingly without any issue, does the means justify the end then? Damn it! I feel like I¡¯ve turned dumber ever since reincarnating¡­ or was I always like this? It¡¯s true I never really did well in school but¡­ did I lack critical thinking skills as well? Damn it Lumiera! Looks like I need to figure out how to get the ¡°Watcha doing up there?¡± Zarman¡¯s coarse and half-drunken voice interrupted his thoughts. Panicked, he grabbed his mask and quickly put it back on his face, slowly turning to the dwarf, who held a couple of bottles in his arms. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ taking a breather¡­ yeah,¡± Kai replied awkwardly, his heart still racing. ¡°Haha, I get ya.¡± He said, placing the bottles down and climbing up next to Kai. ¡°I¡¯ve always liked this view myself, you know? It¡¯s amazing how we managed to dig into a mountain like this and still keep it standing, and what¡¯s more amazing is what we managed to build over thousands of years. Down there, everything feels grand, fancy, important. But up here? All of that fades away.¡± Kai looked at Zarman with a complicated expression, not expecting such words to come out of this drunk man¡¯s mouth. ¡°Haha yeah, it does feel insignificant from up here.¡± He chuckled, leaning back slightly. ¡°And yet our problems don¡¯t quite seem to fade away, even up here.¡± ¡°They never do youngling, it¡¯s all about balance. If something bothers you, take care of it. If someone annoys you, take care of it. Life is too short even if you¡¯re an Eon¡­¡± ¡°An Eon?¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry about it. You¡¯ll get to learn about them if fate so desires.¡± The two sat in silence, neither of them speaking but enjoying the landscape together. ¡°Thank you,¡± Zarman said after some time. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you did, but it helped Sverik, so thank you.¡± He scratched his nose, his gaze lingering on the star-struck ceiling. ¡°Well, it¡¯s about time we got going. Kid, you look old enough to drink.¡± Zarman jumped down, picking up his bottles and yelling at Kai. ¡°Now come on, we don¡¯t want to keep my guests waiting. And we also need to celebrate Sverik¡¯s breakthrough!¡± ¡°Alright, wait for me!¡± Kai jumped down, a soft smile creasing his lips, hidden behind his mask. ¡­ Back at Zarman¡¯s house, it didn¡¯t take long for him to open the bottles he brought, pouring cup after cup and drinking joyfully, accompanied by Aina, whose appetite for wine seemingly beat Zarman¡¯s own. Next to her sat Elizabeth, quickly sipping from a half-full glass of wine, her face already flushing red, with her ears turning as red as the beverage she held. Opposite each other were Sverik and Kai, whose expressions resembled Elly¡¯s, both of them similarly sipping from glasses of wine. Sverik¡¯s face turned from his normal pale to a healthy shade of cherry red, his pupils dilated and seemingly unfocused as he gulped down the entire glass like a shot. ¡°What are you doing, you dumbass?!¡± Aina yelled, slamming her glass down. ¡°Wine ish meant to be enjoyed and slowly drank, not all¡­ not all at once like that. You¡¯re wasting the taste!¡± Sverik didn¡¯t seem to fully understand Aina¡¯s drunken words, whether it be because of her slurred speech or because of his drunkness. Suddenly, both of them turned their heads toward Zarman, whose explosive voice caught their attention. ¡°Nonsense! Let mah boy drink! So what if he drinks wine all at once, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re going to run out!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what this is about¡­!¡± Aina replied, ¡°It''s about¡­ about the art of wine!¡± ¡°Art my ass! Alcohol is alcohol, come on my boy, drink! You did well today!¡± He said, pouring Sverik another glass, spilling a bit on the table due to his trembling hand. ¡°Ahha, oops¡­¡± Aina gritted her teeth but remained silent as she took another sip from her glass, circulating some mana at the same time to alleviate some of the drunkness. While that was happening, Kai, whose complexion seemed better than Sverik¡¯s, however, his pale face still flushed with a pinkish hue. He turned around and took another sip while carefully lifting his mask, afraid of Zarman seeing him but also not wanting to be unpolite. On the other hand, Elizabeth watched everyone carefully, only taking a sip every so often, in fear of getting too drunk. ¡°To think he was so frail and weak when I first found him¡­¡± Zarman sighed, turning toward Sverik with an endearing look, a hint of a tear forming in the corner of his eye. ¡°Well, now he isn¡¯t as weak anymore, haha! I don¡¯t know why he insists¡­ insists on being a, a warrior, I could have raised him as my *hic* as my successor and no one would have batted an eye. Hell, he could have skipped this entire competition altogether¡­ But he¡¯s a stubborn brat!¡± Sverik didn¡¯t say anything to defend himself, only lowering his head as he listened to his teacher¡¯s drunken speech. Elizabeth and Aina glanced at each other at the same time, then toward Kai who listened to Zarman¡¯s speech innocently. ¡°Yeah, we couldn¡¯t imagine that feeling.¡± They said at the same time with a chuckle, prompting Kai to look at them with confusion. Weirdos¡­ He thought turning around and taking another sip of his drink. ¡°Hey Kid, why do you always¡­ why do you always turn around?¡± Zarman asked, chugging down a large tankard of ale. Wiping his mouth, he let out a satisfied sigh. ¡°More importantly, what¡¯s with the mask? You got some kind of scar or something?¡± ¡°Ah, no. That¡¯s because he¡¯s a¡­ a vampire.¡± Instantly the room turned quiet as Zarman¡¯s pupils shrunk, letting go of the empty tankard in his hand as it fell with a muffled thud. Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat as the atmosphere quickly tensed up, and even Aina¡¯s usually calm demeanor changed drastically. The dwarf¡¯s lips trembled as he stood up, towering over the three despite his short size. He grit his teeth and gulped as he walked backward, his thumb resting on a ring he wore on his index finger. He stared at Aina, and then at Elizabeth, whose mouth she covered with her hand. His lips trembled briefly before he parted them, asking in a shocked tone. ¡°You two¡­ are harboring a vampire?!¡± Chapter 83: Recalling the Past Aina¡¯s heart threatened to jump out of her chest, and a cold bead of sweat dripped down her cheek as she stared at the man standing before them. Glancing at Elizabeth, she could see the panic setting in her eyes. Her gaze switched to Kai, who remained almost petrified in response to Zarman¡¯s sudden change of attitude. What¡¯s going on? Wha- He thought, feeling a hole form in his stomach. Turning to Sverik, he didn¡¯t notice the same amount of panic as the other two, but the fear in his eyes was obvious as he quietly put down his glass. ¡°You should know better than that!¡± Zarman raged, ¡°Have you forgotten just what¡­ what they¡¯ve put us through!?¡± His anger-filled voice hid a hint of fear, however, he took a passive stance, careful about jumping directly into a confrontation. ¡°Me, my father, grandfather, and the man before him! What did we fight for?! What about Maria?! What did we sacrifice so much for?! Three thousand years of war, three thousand years of suffering!¡± His lips trembled, sweat running down his spine as he clenched his fists, the rage within him growing stronger as he spoke. ¡°I can still hear the sound of my friends, perishing, getting sucked dry by these¡­ by these creatures!¡± His voice, pupils, arms, and legs trembled, his entire body shaking in anger as a screeching sound reverberated from his teeth. His ring shone with a soft light, and he instantly clutched the sword that appeared out of thin air. He took small, careful steps toward Kai, who froze as the man¡¯s robust stature shadowed his. ¡°You¡­ how dare you¡­!¡± Barely managing to moan those words, he raised the sword and slashed toward the boy. However, even before it could get close a sudden, ferocious force grabbed his arm and flung him backward. ¡°Zarman, you need to calm down,¡± Aina said in a soft voice, staring at him in front of Kai. ¡°Kai isn¡¯t at fault for what happened all those years ago! We lost people too, we lost good people. Friends and families!¡± ¡°But you weren¡¯t used as livestock! You weren¡¯t¡­ you-¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Aina interrupted him with a sigh. ¡°But Kai wasn¡¯t even born back then, why should we reject a child because of the mistakes of his ancestors? Without us, he has no one¡­¡± ¡°But you still brought him into my house! Have him eat my food and drink my wine!¡± Zarman cried, his eyes filling with anger. ¡°Aina, I thought you knew better than that. The horrors I had to go through in my youth because of his people¡­ We still celebrate the day their king retreated from our mountains every goddamned year¡­ I thought I knew you better.¡± He said, disappointment evident in his voice. Elizabeth¡¯s quivering voice resounded amongst the man¡¯s heavy breaths and the sound of racing hearts, its soft tone seemed to calm everyone¡¯s nerves. ¡°Kai is orphaned, Zarman.¡± She turned to him, tears dripping down her cheek. ¡°His parents died not so long ago. He walked all the way from the Vampire Kingdom to Evicario because I was the only other person he knew.¡± ¡°I was terrified¡­¡± She confessed, a light hiccup escaping her body. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to do, I couldn¡¯t turn him away and when I heard his mother - Elena - died¡­ I¡­ I was so devastated-¡± ¡°Elena?¡± Zarman¡¯s shocked voice interrupted her. ¡°This is Ray¡¯s child? Elena and Ray¡­ were vampires?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡± Aina interjected, ¡°They were, but no one could ever tell because of their disguise magic, not even you, Zarman. Only Arthur and a few others could see through them.¡± ¡°This¡­ but how-¡± His pupils constricted and he fell to the ground, the sword following with a muffled thump as he let go of it. His arm flew to his forehead, trembling as it ran through his hair. ¡°They were invincible! A Dragon and a Phoenix amongst men, dead?!¡± Cold sweat drenched his back as he looked at Kai with a flabbergasted expression, and he in turn stared at the man with intrigue. This man knew my parents personally¡­ I get that they were legendary figures but¡­ how is this possible? He thought, barely feeling the burning gaze focus on him. Ah, this has become messy, who even divulged my identity? ¡°Child,¡± Zarman whispered. ¡°Take off your mask, let me see your face.¡± He pleaded, the tense atmosphere, so thick that you could cut it with a knife, suddenly melting away before this old man¡¯s trembling voice. Kai exchanged glances with Aina, who gave him a slight, approving nod. Seeing that, he reached for the mask, slowly undoing its hold and placing it on the table, revealing his features. The crimson eyes he shared with his parents glowed with a faint light under the crystal¡¯s light, and his father¡¯s small nose twitched as he glanced at Zarman. His lips, plump yet rosy like his mother¡¯s moved slightly, however, no words came out as he waited for the man to say something. ¡°You look¡­¡± Zarman whispered, his shaky voice breaking as his face reddened. ¡°You look nothing like them¡­¡± A tear fell on the hardwood floor, breaking apart into hundreds of pieces as soon as it hit the ground. Then came another¡­ and another¡­ and another, and then a dozen more as Zarman¡¯s sorrow created a small puddle in front of him. He grit his teeth as he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Were their smiles fake too? The times we drank and laughed together, was it all an act? - What¡¯s going on¡­ Ray, how could you¡­¡± He questioned, however, that the dead cannot speak, and neither can they repent. Aina looked pitifully at Zarman and shook her head slightly. Sverik stood silent, Elizabeth too, and even the wind seemed to have stopped, allowing the man to grieve. Complete silence, broken by nothing except the dwarf¡¯s soft sobs and the crackling of the fire. ¡°My father¡­¡± Kai¡¯s sudden voice echoed, ¡°How was he?¡± The question, simple in nature, shocked Zarman as it entered his ears. He looked at Kai, tears still dripping down his cheeks, and his lips parted. ¡°Your father¡­¡± He repeated, ¡°He was great¡­ Joyful, always the heart of the party wherever he went. Nothing and no one could beat him in a drinking contest, or a chattering contest. His voice was always the loudest, he liked to be heard, although that didn¡¯t last long as your mother would always put him in his place.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Kai said with a soft chuckle, images of his father roaring with laughter at every occasion, his booming voice and flamboyant attitude flashing before his vision, which turned hazier as a tear formed at the corner of his eye. Zarman straightened himself, a soft, almost impossible-to-see smile creasing his lips before he continued. ¡°He was handsome too, no matter where we went there would always be someone flocking over him, and he didn¡¯t want to be impolite so he could barely tell them to leave. However, he was always just and never went past joking with them, even when your mother wasn¡¯t around. Although the smile on his face always gave away how happy he was to be given attention.¡± Hearing that, no words escaped Kai¡¯s mouth, no quip or joke, he stood there solemnly as he listened to Zarman¡¯s speech. He held back tears as his father¡¯s face appeared in his mind, his bright smile and confident behavior, and then his mother who¡¯d always be there to ensure he didn¡¯t do anything stupid. ¡°Whenever he fought, though¡­ he felt like someone else. The happy-go-lucky Ray disappeared, and he seemed almost possessed as he hunted down demons. His sword flowed like water, but it was no louder than the whispering wind.¡± Zarman recounted, the tears in his eyes turning rarer as he did so. ¡°I was always jealous and impressed whenever I got the chance to see his swordsmanship. He cut down enemies in mere instants, and even the higher ranking demons turned tail when they saw him¡­ ha¡­¡± He wiped his face, trying to catch any fugitive tear. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°And your mother too¡­ her beauty didn¡¯t do her justice. Whenever she cast magic it seemed like a scene out of a book, her hair flying wildly about, as she cast healing spells and barrier spells one after the other. She was powerful¡­ very powerful, and yet all she did was protect your father from harm¡¯s way. I never understood that woman¡­ and I guess I never will.¡± He whispered with regret. Hearing that, Kai¡¯s eyes filled with tears as he recalled the scene he saw that fateful day when he lay hidden behind the rubbles of his house and watched his parents fight Haniard and his army with all they had. His father, moving and advancing, killing and tearing through anyone who dared be in his presence, and his mother protecting him from anything, healing even the smallest wound. I thought they looked like they had done that before¡­ they looked so amazing, so strong, so- ¡°And yet they died¡­¡± Zarman said, summoning a pint of alcohol and gulping it down, his swallowing accompanied by Kai¡¯s softened sobs. Placing it down, he looked at the boy, whose tearful face still showed a smile despite everything. ¡°Kid, tell me, how did they die?¡± He laid against the wall as he asked. ¡°Haniard,¡± Aina replied, barely allowing herself to say that name. ¡°He killed them both¡­ and we have no idea what he¡¯s planning.¡± ¡°Planning?¡± Zarman immediately stood up with a racing heart. ¡°What do you think he could be planning?¡± Aina shook her head, refusing to speak another word. ¡°Could he be thinking of starting another war?!¡± Panic immediately set in his voice, and he quickly took a seat on the couch. ¡°Oh, Lumiera!¡± He exclaimed, ¡°Why are you allowing this to happen?! Haven¡¯t we suffered enough? If he¡¯s strong enough to kill Ray and Elena, there are only a few people in this world who can match him!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions¡­ not yet,¡± Aina reassured Zarman. ¡°Kai and his parents dealt him quite a huge blow, wounding him badly enough that he didn¡¯t turn over the Dark Forest to look for Kai, and only placed wanted posters in Aravia. He must think he¡¯s going to the human, after all, it¡¯s been far too long since he last fed on blood.¡± Hearing that, Zarman twitched and rubbed his neck as he grew slightly defensive. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it seems that his instincts are¡­ weird.¡± Aina continued, talking as if Kai wasn¡¯t even in the room. ¡°I don¡¯t recall how many years it¡¯s been since he last drank blood, but it¡¯s definitely more than the instincts of an Awakened should have allowed. I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s good or bad, but he isn¡¯t thirsty, for now.¡± Awakened? Kai asked himself, trying to recall information as the two talked, Zarman¡¯s nerves calming down as Aina reassured him. Awakened¡­ from what I can recall, it refers to vampires who¡¯ve developed a mana core after ingesting blood, or rather, at the same time. Apparently doing that isn¡¯t easy, it¡¯s a sort of privilege. I never paid attention to it, but I don¡¯t think it ever said anything about¡­ ¡®thirst¡¯. Although it¡¯s true I didn¡¯t feel any craving for it¡­ I wonder what the reason could be. My soul? Maybe my body isn¡¯t synced with my consciousness so I don¡¯t feel it? It¡¯s possible, after all my¡­ I am broken. I don¡¯t remember everything, so who¡¯s to say my body isn¡¯t either? Well¡­ for the better, I don¡¯t know if I could handle drinking blood from an innocent man¡­ ¡­ As he thought about all of that, Sverik had gone to the kitchen, letting the three adults talk it out while Kai himself slept with his eyes open. Snapping out of his head, Kai slowly made his way toward Sverik, whose pale complexion made Kai worry. ¡°You alright Sverik?¡± ¡°Ah-¡± he jumped slightly, surprised by Kai¡¯s presence. ¡°Yeah, I am¡­ for the most part. I think.¡± ¡°You think?¡± Kai repeated, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sverik hesitated, his lips smacking together, but no words came out. ¡°Are you there?¡± Kai placed his hand over Sverik¡¯s shoulder, shaking it gently as to get his friend to come back to it. ¡°It¡¯s my fault¡­¡± His soft voice echoed in Kai¡¯s ears. ¡°I- I¡¯m the one who revealed your identity. I think I- had too many drinks. I¡¯m sorry, Kai. I-¡± ¡°Ah, man it¡¯s¡­ look.¡± Kai smiled, ¡°It¡¯s alright, all¡¯s well that ends well, alright? And it seems like they have other things to talk about now. I think the news of my parents¡­ shocked Zarman quite a bit.¡± ¡°Ah yeah¡­ sorry to hear that, yknow, about your parents. I didn¡¯t know-¡± ¡°No worries, it¡¯s been, what? Almost a year since it happened¡­ no big deal, alright?¡± Kai said, his smile turning less sincere, and he let out a light cough as he turned around. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else, I want to lay down.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Sverik nodded silently, and led Kai upstairs in the attic, in his room. The stairs were tight and steep, every step they took causing them to moan as if they were threatening to break. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it¡¯s been like this since even before I came here. That¡¯s what Zarman said anyway¡­¡± The door to his room creaked open, revealing a spacious yet empty room, with a large window looking directly into the courtyard. A beautiful, intricately detailed rug covered the entirety of the floor, in the middle of which was a diamond-like shape shoe softly. Above it hung a chandelier with a dozen blue crystals and a dozen red crystals which sone in perpetuity whenever the moonlight hit them. On the right of the room side was a bed which lay glued to the wall, besides which a night shelf with a few crystals lit up Sverik¡¯s little corner. A desk stood a bit away, on top of which mountains of books and textbooks threatened to fall with every step they took. ¡°This place is huge,¡± Kai remarked, mouth agape. ¡°You have all this to yourself and you haven¡¯t used it all?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to do with it.¡± Sverik said, ¡°I have a bed, and I sleep on it. I have a desk and I do homework and study on it.¡± ¡°Ah-¡± Kai exclaimed, remembering that this world didn¡¯t have the luxury of modern distractions. This room would have been used for a huge gaming space filled with TVs, consoles, and a VR playspace back in his old world. That, or a walk-in closet. But here, the best distractions one can have are training, playing outside, or prostitutes. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right. It¡¯s a very nice place though, I could see myself spending all my time reading in here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I do when I don¡¯t train or serve Zarman alcohol¡­ though lately I haven¡¯t had the luxury. Well, not until now at least. Now that I broke through¡­ I can take it easy, well, easier. I don¡¯t think I thanked you for that by the way¡­ or if I did, well, thank you anyway.¡± Sverik said awkwardly. ¡°Even if I knew the risks, I would have still swallowed it without a second thought. It allowed me to somehow breakthrough¡­ and I¡¯m grateful for that.¡± ¡°Why were you so desperate for that anyway? I didn¡¯t get the entire reason.¡± ¡°Ah well¡­ if I were to be sent into the mountains, I¡¯d lose one year of quality training¡­ and resources. Whilst I would become a better fighter, my chances of entering the Magic Academy would be slim to none.¡± ¡°Magic Academy?¡± Kai remembered Artur and the supposed letter Aina had gotten from him. ¡°Why do you wanna go there? Isn¡¯t it full of humans?¡± ¡°For the most part, yes. They make up eighty percent of the campus, but the rest are other races, like dwarves and beast people, elves and some other¡­ interesting ones.¡± Sverik explained, albeit with some restrain. ¡°There are no vampires though, not that I know of¡­¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Kai fell into silent contemplation, losing himself for a minute. I want to go there to become stronger, and I assume Sverik wants to do the same. That means we¡¯ll also meet if we go at the same time¡­ I hope things won¡¯t be too awkward then. ¡°Kai¡­?¡± Sverik called out to him, waking him up from his thoughts. ¡°Uh, yeah, sorry what is it?¡± ¡°I asked you, like, what are your plans for the future?¡± Kai remained silent, taken aback by this question. Such a question would be asked to an eight-year-old by an adult, yet here he found himself in this same situation, barely able to answer. ¡°I want to become stronger¡­¡± That is all he could say, not wanting to reveal his true plans. ¡°That¡¯s kinda vague but¡­ I won¡¯t pry. I¡¯ll say the same, I want to become stronger and slap the faces of everyone who thought less of me, and of people like me.¡± He clenched his fists as he emphasized the latter part of his sentence, a bit of hatred seeping through his gritted teeth. Chapter 84: Sveriks Fight Zarman turned more defensive after that day, more cautious, but didn¡¯t entirely reject Kai¡¯s existence. He and Sverik stood in the attic, reading books outside of the man¡¯s eyes and ears when they weren''t training. Kai knew he wasn¡¯t quite ready to accept that he and his parents were vampires, and he understood why. A three thousand-year war, led by nothing but greed for power and lust for land wasn¡¯t something anyone could easily get over, especially not when one lived as long as he did. Aina and Elizabeth accompanied them sometimes, exchanging their lavish clothes for more casual attire as they waited for Sverik¡¯s day to arrive. During their causal spars, Sverik had noticed that his new star provided much more energy and refined mana way better than his other two. Delighted by this discovery, Kai and Aina began probing the limits of what it could do. ¡°Cuts heal faster¡­¡± Aina remarked, writing it down on a notebook she pulled out from her ring. ¡°Regeneration and Mana Regeneration have increased, further testing is needed.¡± She put it down, watching the two boys spar with a soft smile on her face, Elizabeth standing right behind her. ¡°He¡¯s improved quite a lot, hasn¡¯t he?¡± She asked her mother with a similar smile etched onto her face. ¡°And his body is sturdier than before¡­ I think he¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Aina shook her head, ¡°Give it one more month, to be sure. After that, it¡¯s up to him.¡± ¡­ As the sun rose on the third day, so did Kai and the others. Despite the sun itself not being present inside the dug-up mountain, they hastily got ready and prepared for this decisive day. Unlike his peers, Sverik didn¡¯t intend to participate because he wanted a patron. On the contrary, he wanted to showcase that he was nothing more than a sword, and not a smith. Whilst most of the competition focused on the knowledge of metals and forging of equipment, there was one round, one match that focused solely on fighting. Most people would not wait for that period to hire the dwarves unless they were extremely bored. After all, no one needs a dwarf for a bodyguard or a warrior. Humans, Elves, Beastmen, and Lizardmen are way better at combat and magic than the dwarves. The four walked toward the arena accompanied by an awkward silence, the quiet street echoing their footsteps as they glanced at each other without saying a word. The vendors excitedly opened their stalls, arranging their merchandise and waiting for guests to buy the fruit of their labor. Out of nowhere, a chilly wind blew from behind them, causing their hair to sway slightly and sending a shiver down their spine. ¡°How are you feeling, Sver?¡± Zarman asked, placing a hand over his pupil¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m nervous¡­ and excited, to say the least. It¡¯s the day I¡¯ve been training for since you took me in¡­ my ticket to freedom, to power¡­¡± He said, whispering the latter part of his sentence in a voice only he could hear. Zarman smiled, patting his back and letting out a proud sigh. ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯re going to succeed and join the academy.¡± He encouraged the boy, his eyes staring at the rocky ceiling. ¡°And when you do¡­ I¡¯m finally going to sleep soundly at night.¡± He chuckled teasingly. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Aina let out an involuntary chuckle, glancing at Sverik who began pouting. ¡°You¡¯re going to do well Sverik, I¡¯ve seen you train.¡± Sverik turned away, not saying another word as he simply walked in silence, although he couldn¡¯t hide the smile plastered on his face as well as he wanted to. Gradually, the huge arena appeared before them, its grandiose appearance towering over them like a mountain. ¡°We¡¯ve finally arrived¡­ my boy. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Sverik nodded and clenched his fists, taking a deep breath as he stared at his lifelong goal. ¡­ The arena slowly filled up with people, the lower seats mostly occupied by dwarves and average spectators, while the higher seats, disguised as podiums housed the VIP¡¯s and most important people. Those are the people who get to choose whom they want to hire, and logically are to be treated like royalty. The dwarf''s economy relies on a few sources of income: Exporting Ores, Exporting Weapons, and workforce. The workforce being the smith apprentices, whose salaries are taxed by their respective cities. Loud chatter and laughter reverberated in the air as the first stage got set up - a simple pile of ores and stones, accompanied by a few pieces of paper and a pen sat on a table. Sverik gulped as he watched from afar, biting his lip to calm down his nerves. Kai patted his friend on the back, smiling softly as he said in a confident voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it, Sverik. Just do your best, the dwarves here didn¡¯t train nearly as much as you did. You got this!¡± ¡°Haha, thanks¡­¡± Sverik chuckled lightly before watching the grand arena, inhaling deeply. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ anxious I guess, afraid. It¡¯s starting to feel like a dream, all of this¡­¡± ¡°I¡­ know that feeling.¡± Kai sighed, patting Sverik¡¯s back. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it, just let instinct drive you. It¡¯ll be over before you know it.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Sverik murmured, his eyes focusing on a particular place at the top of the arena - A fancily decorated room, at least in comparison to the others. On its side was a beautiful purple octagon, its edges embroidered with gold, and in the middle of which lay a whaling dragon, wrapped by a thorny rose sprouting from its back. This was the emblem of the Magic Academy, and behind it lay Sverik¡¯s future. ¡­ Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen to the third and last day of the Three Hundred and Fortieth Monten Competition! Today, please welcome our youngest contestants to the stage! As the announcer¡¯s voice reverberated throughout the arena, Sverik took a deep breath and walked inside the arena, his legs weak as nervousness washed over him. Around three dozen younglings followed him, while another dozen walked in front. The majority of them looked no different than the average dwarf - Chubby short, with muscular arms and thick legs. Of course, their facial features differed, and so did their hair - or baldness for that matter, but there was no doubt that they were smiths. Amongst them, however, walked a few that stood out from the crowd. Ahead of Sverik, a tall, bald, and lean yet muscular man walked proudly, glancing at the ores surrounding him with scorn, and shot the VIPs at the top a distasteful glare as he took a seat at one of the piles. Likewise, behind him was another man, shorter in stature, yet his skin slightly paler than the others, signs of lack of sunlight and not spending too much time at the forge. Unlike the others and even Sverik, he wore a weapon - or rather a tool on his back, a hammer made out of some kind of bronze-colored ore. Its held, sturdy, and cylindrical wore a tar-like color, not allowing any sort of light to escape its grasp. He spread his arms and yawned as he too picked a spot, and immediately lay down on his side and began snoring. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Clearly, these two trained for more than the forge and seemed to be Sverik¡¯s main competitors in the upcoming battle. The ore selection round passed by fast, as it wasn¡¯t particularly challenging for these apprentices. Even Sverik, who didn¡¯t seriously study managed to guess about half of them right. Julius Koestar - One Hundred Percent! Marel Meri - One Hundred Percent! ¡­ Sverik - Sixty Percent! The announcer yelled, Sverik being the first competitor to guess below ninety percent, causing gasps of shock to ring out in the audience. However, Sveirk ignored all of them and waited patiently for the second round to start. Romain Precaious - Forty Percent! Keveler - Zero Percent! The tall bald boy scoffed, looking over at the hammer-wielding dwarf, who seemed to be asleep, evident by his loud snoring. ¡°Looks like that useless shortie is still as lazy as ever,¡± He muttered under his breath, speaking just loud enough for the people on the stage to hear him, getting a chuckle out of them. Sverik rolled his eyes, not even glancing at Romain, who chuckled along with the rest of them. Although, the corner of his eyes was focused on Sverik, a hint of shock and delight was hidden within them. The second round, which consisted of forging a weapon designated by a group of judges quickly started as they brought furnaces, anvils, ores, and whatever else the contestants may need. The result didn¡¯t differ much from the last round, with the three people in the last being Sverik, Romain, and the sleeping Keveler. The day passed slowly for Sverik, who didn¡¯t put much or if any effort at all into the competition, and the bell finally rang to mark the start of the combat round. By this point, most of the VIPs had selected their young talents, with negotiations already underway before the competition could even finish. With that being said, most of the spectators had already left, not caring one bit about the fighting round. In a short ten minutes, the arena became almost empty, with only the people from the Magic Academy and a few other random dwarves and elves left to spectate. However, Sverik cared for none of that, no - what he wanted has finally arrived, after years of waiting. The combat round. This round didn¡¯t have nearly as many competitors as before, with only a dozen at most, most of whom just wanted to showcase their measly skills. They were quickly eliminated, whether by Sverik¡¯s quick jab, Romain¡¯s imposing stature and presence, or by Keveler¡¯s hammer. The three of them advanced at a rapid pace until only they were left. What an amazing spectacle, Ladies and Gentlemen! The announcer¡¯s voice reverberated in the arena once again, hiding a hint of excitement. It looks to be a three-way tie between Sverik - Zarman¡¯s Pupil; Keveler from the house of the Hammer and Romain, the current mayor¡¯s son! To settle the second to last round, we will have our contestants roll a dice, and the highest number will advance automatically to the final round! An old man quickly crawled his way into the arena and handed over a dice to Romain before leaving quietly. Without losing any time, he threw the dice, creating a small hole in the ground and raising a small cloud of dust. A five! Looks like Romain may advance directly! Keveler picked up the dice and lazily rolled it, not even bothering to check the number it landed on. Oh, looks like Keveler has rolled a ¡­ three! It is now Sverik¡¯s turn! Picking up the dice, Sverik took a deep breath and let it fall to the ground, not caring about whether he¡¯d advance or not. Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like Sverik rolled a¡­ one! I don''t know if that¡¯s lucky or unlucky! The boy let out a sigh as he watched Romain walk away with a grin plastered on his face. He shook his head as his gaze turned to Keveler, who slept soundly a few meters away, unperturbed by the amplified voice. It looks like we have our fighters for this round! Keveler of the Hammer and¡­ Sverik!! Contestants, please get ready for the fight. None of the spectators seemed to care, not showing any hint of interest or excitement at the announcement. Sveirk had already expected this to happen, and he turned to Zarman with a soft smile. The man returned a short, encouraging nod accompanied by a wide smile. Sverik nodded back and walked toward one of the nearby weapon racks, grabbing a simple longsword and stepping onto the fighting ring. Keveler yawned and slowly got up, lazily dragging his feet as he stepped into the ring as well. He squinted his eyes, looking at Sverik like he didn¡¯t even consider him an opponent. Grabbing behind him, he pulled out the giant hammer and waited for the announcer to give the go, which didn¡¯t take long. The moment the announcer gave the signal to start fighting, he rushed toward Sverik, raising his hammer high up into the air, exposing his entire midsection, and leaving it vulnerable. Seeing that, Sverik didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry, but he advanced without unseathing his sword. He arched his back and his figure turned into a blur, appearing in front of Keveler, jabbing his fingers right at the dwarf¡¯s throat, stopping him right where he stood. Keveler fell to the ground, dragged down by his hammer as he lost consciousness. Well¡­ it looks like our winner is Sverik! Congratulations¡­ do you want to take a break? Sverik shook his head, prompting the last and final round to finally start. Romain walked up on the stage before the announcer called him, looking at Sverik with scorn and disdain. Glancing at Keveler, who got dragged away by two staff members, he scoffed before turning to Sverik. ¡°Not bad for a Mix-Blood, but unfortunately this is as far as you¡¯ll go.¡± His voice reverberated in the arena, causing Zarman to clench his teeth, however, there was nothing he could do, besides believe in his pupil. ¡°That damned Romain¡­ Sverik better teach him a lesson!¡± Sverik, in turn, remained silent in front of Romain¡¯s open racism, only unsheathing his sword and preparing to start the fight. The announcer¡¯s words echoed in his ears, and he once again arched his back, getting into a sprinting position while clutching the hilt of his sword. Romain¡¯s lips parted, eyeing Sveirk like a viper. ¡°That speed may have worked against that lazy pig, but don¡¯t think that-¡± However, before he could even finish his speech, he felt Sverik¡¯s cold blade press against his neck, leaving him paralyzed as he forgot to even breathe. L-ladies and gentlemen! This is amazing, Sverik won against Romain in less than three seconds¡­ such speed, how is this even possible?! This time even the unresponsive crowd let out a shocked gasp, unable to believe their eyes. Zarman nodded proudly, and a soft smile creased Aina¡¯s and Elizabeth¡¯s lips. Kai¡¯s mask didn¡¯t reveal any expression, however his eyes shone with a strong desire to fight. Just a bit more and I¡¯ll be able to use magic again¡­ until then, just you wait! Back in the arena, Sverik let out a heavy sigh and sheathed his sword, walking out of the stage and leaving Romain still frozen in shock. Returning the sword to its place, he walked up the stairs toward Zarman and the others, a dissatisfied, unwilling expression on his face. ¡°Mah boy! You did it¡­ You won the fighting round!¡± Zarman brought Sverik into his arms, hugging him tightly. Letting go after a few seconds, a concerned expression appeared on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You won!¡± Sverik sighed, unable to hide his disappointment. ¡°It feels¡­ anti-climatic. I won, sure, but it wasn¡¯t even a fight to begin. I don¡¯t know what I was expecting, but this wasn¡¯t it¡­¡± He said, staring at the ground. The two women looked at each other, their smiles disappearing altogether upon hearing the boy¡¯s words. Both of them glanced at Kai and gave each other a knowing nod. ¡°Sverik,¡± Aina said, ¡°How about you fight with Kai? The people from the Magic Academy have yet to leave and it¡¯s empty enough.¡± ¡°Fight with Kai?¡± Sverik asked, staring at the boy in question. Their gaze met mid-air, and neither of them waited for the other to answer. Bolting down the stairs, they rushed to pick up a sword from the rack and, with Sverik choosing a shield as well, quickly got into position. Chapter 85: Clashing Heated Swords The two sat opposite each other, a slight, competitive smirk creasing their lips as the wind blew between them. Complete silence filled the arena, as even the announcer had left in a hurry, and the rest of the spectators were either asleep or uninterested. However, in the Magic Academy¡¯s VIP room, this city¡¯s representative had yet to leave and watched the boys with an amused expression. ¡°It looks like we¡¯re going to have a proper show put on display.¡± The man said, his voice rough and raspy. A long, gray beard decorated his face, accompanied by a mustache of similar color. His ashy eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the two, and a soft light appeared within the hazel amber-like jewels he had instead of eyes. Or rather, those were his eyes - a pair of beautiful crystals that enhanced one¡¯s magic vision at the price of losing their sight. ¡°What makes you say so?¡± A feminine voice asked, her melodious voice leaving much to the imagination as her figure was nowhere to be seen inside the room. ¡°This Sverik kid, he isn¡¯t exceptional, but he¡¯s still worth cultivating. We need as much manpower as possible for the upcoming battle.¡± He explained, walking to the window and taking a closer look at Kai. ¡°However this other kid, he¡¯s weird. I can barely sense his presence, it¡¯s like he has no magic¡­ yet I feel such a powerful aura emanating off of him. It both confuses and scares me.¡± The female voice didn¡¯t respond as silence filled the room, and the man sighed as he waited for the fight to start, curiosity gleaming within his jaded gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s be fair, no magic?¡± Sverik asked, clutching the hilt of his sword with excitement. ¡°Sure.¡± Kai agreed, after all, he had no easy way to use magic, and Sverik¡¯s spells had been boosted by his third star. No other words were needed to be said as both of them readied their stance. Sverik held the shield high, protecting his vital organs, but unlike his previous choices, this time he only took a buckler shield. His sword pointed high at the skies, and he held it diagonally to his defensive weapon. Kai held his longsword with two hands, placing it diagonally in front of him. The wind blew, whispering in a soft voice the start of the battle. Sverik advanced with his guard up, carefully analyzing Kai¡¯s movements as they grew ever closer to each other. Kai, on the other hand, moved diagonally, slowly, taking careful, calculated steps as he waited for his opponent to make the first move. However, that¡¯s what both of them wanted, so they looked for an opening, a moment of distraction - a small edge that would give them the upper hand. None of them bulged, however, a clash was inevitable. Five meters¡­ three meters¡­ one meter¡­ They could almost feel each other¡¯s shaky breath, hear their racing heart and the swords¡¯ desire to meet. Clang¡­ The weapons kissed, creating a sharp sound that reverberated in the air, followed by a second and a third. Metal scraped against metal as Kai launched a horizontal slash, which Sverik parried with his shield, followed by a counterattack aimed directly at his opponent¡¯s shoulder. Stepping to the side, Kai avoided the attack and thrust toward the stomach, causing Sverik to attempt to block. However, his eyes widened in surprise as Kai didn¡¯t commit to the attack, and instead threw a punch toward Sverik. Without any time to dodge, Sverik took the hit and used the opportunity to retreat. Rubbing his face, he raised an eyebrow at Kai. ¡°I didn¡¯t know duels were allowed with fists when we picked up swords.¡± ¡°We only agreed on no magic.¡± Kai laughed, dashing toward Sverik and crouching as he slashed toward his legs, however, the dwarf dodged, jumping above Kai and sending a slash of his own aimed at the shoulder. Kai clicked his tongue and quickly fell to the ground, rolling away before jumping back to his feet. The moment he landed, however, Sverik was ready to meet him with a piercing thrust at the midsection, which Kai quickly deflected with his sword, only to be met by Sverik¡¯s shield bashing against his head. With no free arm to defend himself, Kai fell backward but quickly rested on his arm and sent a kick toward his opponent¡¯s legs, giving him enough time to stand up. Panting heavily, both of them took a second to catch their breath, however the smile on their faces only grew wider as the fight went on. Clutching the hilt of their blades, the two quickly advanced toward each other, with Sverik holding his buckler a few inches away from his face, ready to parry whatever attack Kai threw at him. As their swords met, the two quickly took a step back before Sverik quickly thrust forward, rotating his wrist and turning his attack into a diagonal slash. Kai grunted and caught the blade with his hilt and bounced it back before slashing downward. The sound of metal scrapping against metal reverberated in the air as Sverik defended with his buckler, gritting his teeth while his hand trembled from the impact. He clicked his tongue and pushed Kai¡¯s sword away as he swung his own, rotating his wrist and aiming toward his midsection. The two continued exchanging blows, with neither of them getting the upper hand or getting tired. Sweat drenched their back as the sound of metal scraping metal reverberated in the arena. Kai¡¯s heart raced with excitement, his mask turning into a sweaty mess and his disheveled hair flew about as the wind blew. Each strike seemed to take away more energy than the last, and soon enough this fight became a competition of endurance and not skill. He clicked his tongue and took a step back after deflecting another blow. His chest heaved heavily and he let out a light sigh. Creaking his mask open, he inhaled deeply and tried to recuperate, however, Sverik would not give him such an opportunity. The air split as his sword came crashing down, shaking as it hit the hard floor of the arena in the location where Kai once stood. Pulling it from the ground, he exhaled sharply, catching his breath alongside his opponent. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I wonder why that boy isn¡¯t taking off that stupid mask?¡± The female voice echoed in the VIP room, catching the man by surprise. ¡°A bad scar perhaps? Disfigured? Shy? Regardless of the reason, it¡¯s clear that he suffers because of it. This battle has gone on for far too long already. If it was a short duel it wouldn¡¯t have been a problem, but both of them are evenly matched. I¡¯m frankly impressed, neither of them uses magic but it¡¯s clear the masked boy¡¯s sword skills are cruder, and if Sverik used magic this match would have already been over.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± the voice agreed. ¡°I find it weird, that boy doesn¡¯t have either a magic or mana core, yet has mana veins. I can still feel a little bit of magic inside his body, but it¡¯s very faint.¡± ¡°You can feel it?¡± The bearded man asked in shock, as even he with his eyes could not sense any sort of mana from Kai. He cleared his throat and quickly regained his composure, ¡°You¡¯re right, but this kind of practice does wonders in the long run, knowing when to rely on magic is an important survival skill.¡± ¡°Mhm, let¡¯s keep watching, this has been the best battle I¡¯ve witnessed at these events. These dwarves ought to stop caring so much about their golems and train their warriors more.¡± In the arena, the two eyed each other like eagles as they rested, the desire to win burning strong inside their This mask isn¡¯t helping me one bit¡­ in an actual fight, I¡¯d already be dead or running. I need to end it quickly. With that thought in mind, Kai¡¯s left hand let go of the sword, and he quickly ripped his shirt, creating a small tear that could easily be ripped off with the gentlest of movements. Taking in a deep breath, he carefully advanced toward Sverik, who in turn waited for him with a heaving chest. None of them said a word, as both of them understood this next exchange would determine the winner of this duel. Mere inches separated them as they faced each other, and they simultaneously raised their swords, touching the weak sides to mark the start of this last move. Kai stepped backward and waited to observe Sverik¡¯s move, however, the young dwarf had the same thought in mind. They began drawing circles, holding a defensive position while waiting for the other to reveal an opening. Their blades trembled, and so did their arms as fatigue began taking over them, however, none of them backed off despite the amount of sweat dripping down their faces. Sverik bit his lip and swung first, his blade aimed straight at Kai¡¯s wrists, which he quickly dodged and counter-attacked with a thrust. His movement, however, was slower, duller but more refined. He used less raw strength but his technique became sharper and more precise. Sverik¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly turned in an attempt to dodge the strike. The sound of cloth tearing and the soft dripping of blood reverberated in the air. Quickly taking a step back, a soft smirk creased Kai¡¯s lips as a crimson liquid dripped off the edge of his blade. His opponent frowned but didn¡¯t pay the fresh wound any more attention than he should, and it instead fueled his desire to win even more. With the fire within his soul burning even brighter than before, Sverik dashed toward Kai, aiming his sword right between his eyebrows. Raising his sword to block, it was Kai¡¯s turn to be surprised as instead of meeting the weak side of Sveirk¡¯s blade, he met with the solid buckler, which easily pushed his sword to the side, leaving him defenseless to the next attack. Sverik¡¯s blade feinted to the side, quickly attacking once again, this time going for the shoulders. Kai panicked and quickly ducked, successfully dodging the blade aiming for his arm, however, one thing he forgot was that Sverik, too, could use other weapons besides a sword. He found himself with a kick to the collarbone as he fell to the ground with immeasurable pain. Despite that, he rapidly collected himself and rolled away, jumping to his feet and running at Sverik, holding his sword back, thrusting forward as soon as he was within striking distance. Sverik dodged with his buckler and prepared to swing another hit, however the sound the expected sound never arrived, and neither did the weight. Without much of a choice, Sverik attempted to dodge backward, however, the wild blade still grazed his pants, creating a small, linear hole inside them. Kai allowed him to retreat one step, catching his breath for the briefest of moments and analyzing the exchange. This is it, now or never! Clicking his tongue, Kai¡¯s hand flew toward the tear he made in his shirt, quickly gripping it as he slashed toward Sverik¡¯s shoulder, which was blocked with his buckler. Like before, he used the opening to swing at Kai, however, his eyes widened in surprise as Kai showed no signs of backing off. Sverik hesitated for a split second before continuing the motion, however that split second was all that Kai needed to approach one step closer. Sverik¡¯s sword stopped mid-air, caught by Kai¡¯s hand, blood seeping through the thin cloth he used as protection to grab the sharp blade. He pushed it to the side, and instead of swinging his own weapon, he kicked at Sverik¡¯s midsection. The hit made contact, and the dwarf lost all strength in his body as he let go of his sword and buckler. He staggered slightly before falling on his back. A strong gust of wind appeared above his face before he could even process what had happened, and as his blurry vision returned to normal, he was greeted by the tip of Kai¡¯s sword. ¡°Ha¡­¡± he let out a long sigh as he laid down, silently admitting defeat. Kai exhaled heavily and dropped his sword as he fell next to Sverik. They both let out a light chuckle, as that was all they could muster and closed their eyes. The man from the Magic Academy nodded and prepared to leave, only to be stopped by the now familiar voice. ¡°Don¡¯t approach the masked kid, let him be. Recruit Sverik, we¡¯ll take him in as a special apprentice.¡± ¡°But he doesn¡¯t fit the criteria?¡± ¡°Arthur¡¯s orders.¡± The woman barked before falling silent. The man let out a sigh and left the room, not moving directly toward Sverik but instead disappearing into the shadows, with not even a hair of him left. Chapter 86: Close Farewell The air filled with the scent of cheap candles and dead flowers inundated Kai¡¯s nostrils, his nose twitching as he slowly woke up. His blurry vision turned cleared, albeit blinded by the bright chandelier hanging just above his head. The bed creaked as he moved, covering his gaze with one hand and letting out a light grunt. Panic quickly set on his face as he realized that the mask had disappeared, and he frantically got up, rapidly observing his surroundings. A light sigh soon escaped his body as he noticed the masked standing on a nightstand next to the bed, and he leaned against the bedframe with relief. He quickly scanned the room - a bunch of small beds next to which lay a small nightstand, separated by cheap, ruined, and torn curtains. The color of the walls didn¡¯t do it any service, as the bright green decorating them shot rays of pain straight into his soul. Squinting, he looked in a far corner of the room, where he noticed another person¡¯s silhouette lying unconscious right behind the curtain. By deduction, it could only be Sverik, but they didn¡¯t dare risk awakening the other guy. Turning to the side, he felt every muscle in his body ache, scream for help and relief. Ah- What the However, a gentle force pushed him back down into his sheets, the feeling of the magic much too familiar to Kai. ¡°Aina?¡± He whispered as soon as the woman¡¯s figure showed itself from who knows where. ¡°Where am I? What¡¯s going on?¡± Aina sat down next to him, smiling softly. ¡°You¡¯re in the¡­ arena¡¯s ¡®infirmary¡¯, if we can even call it that. Elizabeth and I brought you and Sverik here shortly after you collapsed, and this was the only place where we could quickly let you recover. Although the quality of this place is¡­ missing.¡± After hearing the explanation, Kai let out a light chuckle, groaning in pain as he did so. ¡°Looks like I won¡­ serves him right haha- Ouch¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re such an idiot¡­¡± Aina sighed upon glancing at Kai¡¯s right hand. ¡°You could have lost a finger, or worse.¡± ¡°I had to do it, I could barely breathe¡­ and my stamina had almost run out. I can barely compete with someone in possession of a core¡­ I need to train harder¡­¡± And to research more¡­ I need to find a way to recycle my mana core! One month, that¡¯s the amount of time I have left until I¡¯m ready to form the body core, that¡¯s a hard time limit but I can do it¡­ No! I need to do it. He clenched his fists, ignoring the pain and causing his wounds to open again. ¡°Tsk-¡± Aina clicked her tongue and lightly tapped his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about that, you¡¯re basically ready, we just need to make sure your mana veins are strong enough.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Kai rubbed the spot where Aina had hit him. ¡°I¡¯m just tired of being so¡­ weak.¡± The last word he uttered turned into a sigh, and his pupils trembled softly as he looked up at Aina. ¡°I need to become stronger, and I need it fast¡­¡± ¡°Kai, you¡¯ve already advanced faster than any other student I¡¯ve ever had, and that is without magic or potions¡­ granted the pills had a tremendous effect, but they only got you back to ground level.¡± She ruffled his hair, a smile creasing her lips. ¡°And you beat Sverik, you may not know it but¡­ he¡¯s really strong for his age.¡± ¡°Yeah- I don¡¯t have actually anyone to compare him to besides myself, or Euphridia¡­ but she¡¯s a monster, doesn¡¯t count.¡± ¡°Pffft¡­¡± Aina chuckled. ¡°You may be right, she truly is a monster. However compared to the people at the academy¡­ she¡¯s like a water snake to a wyvern.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Kai exclaimed in surprise. Are the people there really that strong? Speaking of, do you think Sverik has any chances to enter the academy?¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯d say so, especially after that fight with you. In fact, I think you helped him quite a bit¡­¡± ¡°How so?¡± Kai straightened himself, groaning in pain. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t he get accepted either way?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Aina¡¯s gaze turned away from the boy, blinking rapidly as she took a deep breath. ¡°There is a special program within the academy for gifted people¡­ and Sverik got recruited into it. The representative talked to Zarman about it and I overheard. I knew about the program but I never expected someone from here to be accepted there. That basically means he can attend the academy before the age of fifteen, although it¡¯s just a preparatory period.¡± ¡°What?!¡± This time, it was Kai¡¯s turn to be shocked, as he had never heard of such a thing. Didn¡¯t Arthur say that he cannot get me in through backdoors and that I have to wait? Now Sverik can attend before me? ¡°I know what you must be thinking but¡­ as it stands you have no talent, Kai. To be honest I¡¯m not sure what the inspector saw in Sverik either, he¡¯s strong, sure, but not exceptional¡­¡± Kai let out a light sigh, glancing in the direction where Sverik supposedly rested, and whispered. ¡°Do you think this is the headmaster¡¯s doing?¡± Aina nodded silently but didn¡¯t say anything more than that, but instead took Kai¡¯s wounded arm and cast a healing spell over it. However, she made sure to only close the wound, and not fully heal it. ¡°You must learn that recklessness has consequences, I won¡¯t always be there to babysit you.¡± Hearing that, Kai forgot to breathe for a second. Lowering his head, he let out a soft sigh and said in a voice barely above a whisper, ¡°I know¡­¡± That¡¯s right¡­ if I just sit here and be trained by Euphy I¡¯ll never be able to fight properly, I may as well just give up¡­ and never leave Evicario. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The two sat in solemn silence until the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps quickly brought them back to reality. Aina quickly strapped Kai¡¯s mask over his face, the smell of dried sweat making his eyes tear up slightly. God, I need to remember to wash it regularly¡­ or change it. ¡°Kai!¡± Elizabeth¡¯s voice rang in his ear like thunder, not because he feared her, but because her voice almost caused his ears to bleed. ¡°Shh!¡± Aina brought a finger to her mouth, signaling for the new guests to keep it silent. ¡°Sverik is still sleeping, we don¡¯t want to wake him up.¡± ¡°Right, sorry.¡± Elly apologized and stood next to her mother, Zarman following close behind, and looked at Kai with a relieved expression in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re such an idiot! Do you know how dangerous grabbing a sword is?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ I knew Sverik wouldn¡¯t put all his strength into that, otherwise, I would have never done something so reckless.¡± Kai tried to explain himself, however, the ¡®I don¡¯t believe that for one-second¡¯ expression on both the women¡¯s, and Zarman¡¯s faces left him at a loss. ¡°It¡¯s true tough¡­¡± ¡°Boy, even for¡­ your race¡­ I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be that stupid.¡± Zarman said, trying very hard to hide the contempt within his voice. ¡°I guess you must have taken after Ray¡­¡± ¡°Hey-¡± Kai wanted to protest, however, Aina¡¯s light chuckle stopped him before he barely said a word. ¡°Yeah, I guess he does. I always thought the take after Elena more¡­ but I see the similarities now.¡± ¡°But-¡± Kai tried speaking again, however, Zarman was the one to interrupt him this time. ¡°Why did you put that mask back on? It must be disgusting and filthy¡­¡± ¡°I-¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you two aren¡¯t the only guests I¡¯m expecting.¡± Aina once again stopped Kai from speaking, causing the latter to simply sigh and give up. ¡°Speaking of-¡± She turned around, spotting the man from the Magic Academy right as he entered the room. ¡°Ah, there you were.¡± His amber eyes stared at the group, giving Kai a good look of inspection while walking closer to them. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you.¡± He said, turning to Zarman, however not before politely greeting Aina. ¡°Nice to finally meet you, Mistress Aina¡­ The headmaster said a lot of things about you.¡± ¡°Oh? I wonder what that old sack of bones said?¡± She teased with a chuckle, not expecting an actual answer. The inspector knew that as well, however, he couldn¡¯t help but frown at her comment. ¡°Well, he praised your healing abilities and magical aptitude¡­ But leaving that aside, Mr Zarman-¡± ¡°Yes, I know¡­ I already accepted, what more do you want me to do? Sell my kidney?¡± The dwarf said, interrupting the man mid-sentence. ¡°Just give me some time to get him ready.¡± ¡°Thank you for being understanding, however, I would like to speak to Sverik as well, where is he? I can¡¯t wait any longer, it¡¯s already been one day since he was hospitalized.¡± ¡°He should be waking up soon, especially with all the noise going around,¡± Aina interjected, glancing in the boy¡¯s direction. ¡°I¡¯ll go check up on him.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± The old man said, however, he jumped slightly as Sverik¡¯s voice rang in his ears. ¡°No need, I already heard it all¡­ I woke up a few minutes ago but wanted to go back to sleep.¡± He said, dragging his feet toward Kai¡¯s beck. ¡°I dreamt I was the strongest man on the continent, man why do you need to be so loud?¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± he continued. ¡°Pleased to meet you Mr¡­?¡± ¡°You can call me Stefan.¡± ¡°Mr. Stefan, I don¡¯t know what my teacher agreed to, could you please tell me?¡± ¡°Yeah, so you see¡­¡± The man from the Magic Academy explained everything to Sverik, who took a seat next to Kai due to the fatigue and soreness from the earlier fight still being present in his body. His heart raced with excitement as he listened to the details, and his breathing involuntarily hastened before the man could even finish. ¡°To put it simply, this preparatory academy for gifted students will guide you in your path to joining the academy. You need at least a Five Star Body Core to be eligible, and a Three Star Mana Core. So, during these four years that will be our priority. If you can reach that earlier, you are free to do as you please - Leave, keep studying, or you can ask to be associated with a guild and learn under them. The sky¡¯s the limit. But you have to remember that this does not grant you entry into the official academy. You will still need to take the entrance exams and get admitted.¡± Stefan finished with a sigh, happy to see that at least Sverik was happy with the proposal, unlike Zarman whose frown deepened the more he spoke. ¡°I understand it¡¯s a difficult decision and I advise you to talk it over with your teacher, after all, you won¡¯t have many opportunities to return home.¡± Hearing that, Sverik¡¯s excitement faded slightly, and the smile on his face disappeared as he turned to Zarman. The old man¡¯s face greeted him, a complex, yet saddened expression on his face. ¡°I¡¯ll be back within a few months, you can give me your reply then,¡± Stefan said, getting up and leaving after bidding farewell to Aina and Zarman. The room fell silent as the pupil-teacher duo looked at each other, complicated emotions manifesting on their faces. Zarman¡¯s pupils shon with pride, regret, and reluctance as he looked at Sverik, the boy he had raised since he was six. ¡°Kid,¡± the old man¡¯s raspy voice echoed in Sverik¡¯s ears. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, my boy. Feels like yesterday that I found you outside, in the rain. And now look at you, about to become a student at that prestigious academy full of pricks¡­¡± A tear threatened to form in the corner of his eye, however he held strong. ¡°I will miss you¡­ very, very much boy. But I know this is what you want, this is what you must do to achieve your goal, whatever that may be. You¡¯ve always been smart, so don¡¯t make a joke of my name when you finally get there.¡± He chuckled slightly before letting out a soft sigh. ¡°I did my best to teach you, and I¡­ I consider you my son. The son I- the son I wasn¡¯t allowed to have.¡± Sverik¡¯s expression changed, tears trickled down his chin as he looked at Sverik with widened pupils. The man before him had never been so emotional before, he¡¯d never seen him display so much affection. A warm feeling spread from his heart throughout his body, and he jumped down from the bed into the man¡¯s embrace. Zarman accepted him wholeheartedly, spreading his arms before tightly wrapping them around his small body. No more words were needed to be said as the two hugged, ignoring the three pairs of tearful eyes looking at them. Kai turned his head toward the two women next to him and a sudden wave of sadness washed over him. Bonus Chapter: Onyx Short Stories [1] Story One: A first impression Onyx and Kai walked through Aina¡¯s gate for the first time, and, whilst Kai had nearly fainted, Onyx curiously looked around. The well-kept grass, the tall trees, and the beautiful stone statues filled him with a sense of wonder. However, he remained uncertain and slightly fearful, after all, they had only met these two strange women a few hours ago not to mention the hell he had been put through just getting here. Jumping from one platform to another, waiting for a strange contraption to lift him, then waiting again. At some point, he even felt a few people pet his fluff! He found it all unacceptable, as very few people had ever touched him. Although, now that they¡¯ve entered the manor, his opinion may have changed a bit. Immediately feeling the superior mana quality in the air, he inhaled deeply and let it flow through his body, replacing the old mana like a raging tsunami destroying a city. Stealing a glance at Aina, his eyes shone with a glint of respect. His gaze, however, was left unremarked as the two women had other things to attend to. That other thing being Kai. Onyx immediately ran up after noticing the commotion, however by the time he licked his companion¡¯s hand, a protective barrier was already set up around him. Onyx barked at Aina, letting out a low growl and placing himself between Kai and the women. His ears twitched slightly as a light chuckle echoed in the air before feeling the hand of his companions caressing his fluffy head. ¡°It¡¯s alright boy, they helped me.¡± Turning his head to Aina and noticing the amused smile on her face, he suddenly leapt and stood on his hind legs, towering over the elderly elf. Her expression remained unchanged, up until the point where she felt Onyx¡¯s warm and stinky breath crashing against her face, followed by his wet and slimy tongue. Kai¡¯s laughter reverberated in the air, accompanied by Elizabeth¡¯s own light chuckle. Aina barely managed to get Onyx off of her her shoulders shaking from the immense weight placed upon them. ¡°I think he said thank you,¡± Kai remarked with an amused smile on his face. ¡°Yeah¡­ I could tell.¡± Aina wiped the saliva off her face the best she could and proceeded to hurriedly walk toward her mansion. Kai and Elizabeth followed suit, with Onyx marching slightly behind them. He felt himself becoming slightly stronger with every breath he took due to the better mana quality. His core let out a sharp screech as if it was sentient, however, the source of the sound was nothing more than the vibrations caused by the rapid exchange of mana. Onyx looked around, slowing down and admiring the decorations. Though he didn¡¯t know much about art, he could still appreciate some of it. Like the freshly cut lawn, decorated by a lot of tasty-looking flowers, Onyx licked his lips just thinking about it. However, he knew that he wasn¡¯t allowed to consume them, although maybe a small taste wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone. Story Two: Indoor Misadventures Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Some time has passed since the two entered Aina¡¯s Manor. While Kai was outside training or in the library reading, Onyx had little to do besides sleep, eat, and eat some more. Naturally, he had to find something to do, otherwise he¡¯d die of boredom. During the first few weeks, he stayed put, not causing any trouble or stirring up any commotions. He knew that Kai needed these two strange women¡¯s help, and the food they served was marginally better than whatever his companion always managed to burn. Onyx walked through the manor, his large frame easily fitting through the doors. He kept staring at the ground, watching the carpet bend and squish under his weight with childlike curiosity. Advancing through the dimly lit hallways, his ears twitched as the distant sound of cheerful laughter bounced off the walls. Hurrying to find the source, he peered his head through a half-open door, the light from which cast a huge shadow behind him. Inspecting the new room with his small, beady eyes, and sniffing the air, he instantly fixated on a large piece of meat placed upon a table. Six or so women surrounded it, cutting off small chunks of fat and throwing them to the side. His mouth watered at the sight, and he unconsciously walked inside what he now discovered was a kitchen. The girls instantly went quiet as soon as his body snuck through the door. Staring up at the huge Obborik, fear quickly overtook them, halting any movement and even their breathing almost coming to a stop. Onyx didn¡¯t care much for them though, as he licked his lips while advancing the cast away fat. He would have liked to eat the entire piece of meat, but he knew that was not allowed. After quickly devouring whatever he could, he exited the room and continued exploring the mansion, leaving the girls with cold sweat dripping down their foreheads. They inhaled sharply at the same time, and glanced at each other, trying to understand what just unfolded before their eyes. However, they dared not ask any questions and swiftly went back to work, ignoring the pain they heartfelt at the loss of such precious pieces of meat. Onyx licked his lips, content from his hunt, and advanced lazily through the maze-like corridors of the manor. He walked past dozens of doors, some as quiet as the depth of the ocean, whilst some were filled with the silent chatter of fluttering pages. Although he didn¡¯t care much for them, as they were closed. Soon, he found himself in the south hallway, with the outside wall covered in windows. The light from the morning sun shone gently upon the red carpet, and he squinted slightly as he looked outside. Despite the manor sitting dead center in First Gate¡¯s city, it had a lot of land, most of which was covered by a beautiful, dense forest. The blue sky outside made Onyx take a deep breath, and he sat down, looking at the workers taking care of the garden and cleaning the yard. He sat like that for a little while, just enough for Elizabeth to pass him by, coming from the direction of the kitchen with a weird expression. A soft smile creased her lips upon seeing the Obborik. Walking next to him, her red lips parted as she stared outside as well. ¡°No matter how much I look at it, I never get tired of this sky.¡± Onyx turned to her, surprised that she would talk to him. She chuckled and leaned on the window frame, leaning her face against her palm. ¡°Kai told me you¡¯re very smart, so I might as well tell you something now.¡± Her tone turned slightly more serious, turning the Obborik more attention. ¡°I know you¡¯re bored, and I don¡¯t blame you, but don¡¯t get into too much trouble with the kitchen staff, they¡¯re the ones preparing your meals after all.¡± Rotating his head, Onyx took a few seconds to process what Elizabeth said, until he finally let out a bark, his tail waging rapidly at the same time. He reached over with his paw and grabbed Elly by the shoulder, bringing her closer and licking her cheek. The young elf, shocked by his sudden display of affection, remained frozen in place even long after he went on his way. Chapter 87: A Fusioned Core Some time had passed since that day, and the seasons finally changed, with the fresh breeze of spring enrichening the cold winter air. The grass, once frozen and limp sprung back to life, accompanied by the trees whose green crowns decorated the sky. Along with the flora¡¯s revival, the fauna, which once turned quiet, began moving anew. Insects, reptiles, birds, and other magical beasts began once again traversing the land. During the day, the sun shone with a bright, warm light, bathing the earth and its creatures with its gentle rays. However, during the night, despite the shivering cold, the moon¡¯s rays beautifully illuminated the few places it could reach. A soothing breeze blew through Aina¡¯s backyard, making the thin, newly green crowns rustle, and along with them so did the grass. Soft rays of moonlight rained upon the dark soil. A few water droplets trickled through the blooming canvas, painting it with the first shower of spring. Kai¡¯s footsteps turned muddy as he walked outside, donning a black cloak with a similarly colored hood, blending perfectly into the night as he walked through the eerily quiet city. The sound of shattering raindrops accompanied him. He stopped, raising his head to the sky, letting the water sneak through the mask¡¯s eye holes, and he sighed as it ran down his cheek. Advancing slowly, he stopped in front of a shop, the front of which was beautifully decorated with flowers of all colors. The soft jingle of a bell accompanied him as he stepped inside, prompting the woman at the front desk to raise her gaze. Her tired, pearly black eyes stared at Kai, surprised by his appearance, however, she otherwise seemed unperturbed. Her short, blonde hair, accompanied by a tall stature made the young woman stand out amidst the sea of Elves in Evicario. ¡°Welcome, how may I be of help?¡± She asked in a lazy, unbothered voice. A human? Kai asked himself. It¡¯s been a while since he¡¯d seen one, and even longer since he interacted with one. What¡¯s she doing here? ¡°I want to buy twenty-four roses.¡± He simply said, not questioning the woman¡¯s identity or her purpose. The shopkeeper¡¯s eyes immediately beamed with life, and immediately sat straight as she prepared the flowers. ¡°That¡¯s going to be ten silver. Anything else?¡± Kai nodded and handed her the silver, picking up the roses she handpicked for him. The same bell announced his departure as he walked through the rain, tightly holding the flowers. Their crimson color mirrored his own, and his hands shook as he pressed them against his chest. He sniffed softly, silently continuing on his way. Shortly after he arrived at the exit, the magical gate guarded by a dozen guards whose eyes threatened to close. They all immediately stood up as he approached, greeting him with respect, but not impeding his path. Easily passing through the portal, he found himself standing before the same gates he did nine months ago, with the powerful tree pumping with life behind him this time. The guards outside didn¡¯t bother to greet him, some even scorned him, but none stopped him as he left the FirstGate, and walked toward the forest a few kilometers away. He walked at a leisurely pace, not caring about any monster that may be hidden within the bushes, however he held on tightly to the necklace around his neck. Its purple color immediately giving away its origin - the same piece of jewelry Ray and Elena gifted him that day, almost one year ago. It glowed with a soft light, and the sound of scurrying footsteps echoed in the night as it pulsated. Kai kept walking, looking straight ahead as his footsteps began to wave. His body became lighter as blood rushed to his brain, but he kept walking, observed only by cowardly beasts and the moon up above. Soon, he hid under the protection of the trees, and he walked, looking randomly around. Delving deeper and deeper into the forest, his eyes lit up slightly as they fixated on a spot in a small clearing. Walking there, he found himself surrounded by two tall, yet withering trees in the middle of which stood a single sapling. He smiled softly to himself and removed the mask, placing it on a nearby trunk, alongside the roses. He kneeled and started digging in the moist dirt, making a hole not deeper than his fist or longer than his hand. Searching through his pocket, he took out a seed, its texture, crystalline, like a diamond, yet its color shared the same one as a sprouting leaf. Placing it gently within the hole, he carefully covered it up and wiped his hands on his cloak before taking out a pill. Quickly ingesting it, the ring on his hand flashed, and a sword appeared out of thin air, falling to the ground with a muffled thud. It looked ordinary, and it was ordinary. Its shape was perfect, without a single flaw or dent, and its shiny surface spoke wonders of the fine craftsmanship that went into creating the sword. Kai stood up and picked up the flowers, dividing them evenly on each side of the seed he just planted. He then took the sword and dug it firmly onto the ground a few centimeters above the hole. The moonlight shone perfectly on the blade, which then scattered it like a prism, creating a small, yet temporary rainbow. A spectacle of colors that was bound to simply fade away after a few seconds. Kai stared at the scene he had created, tears dripping down his cheeks as his shoulders shook. His lips parted, and his voice trembled as he whispered in a grieving tone. ¡°Happy Birthday to me¡­ Mom, Dad.¡± ¡­ The next day arrived, washing away the sorrow from the previous night as Kai stood up, waking up Onyx as well, which he used as a pillow. The Obborik yawned as he blinked, still half-asleep and muddle-headed. Kai quickly changed from pajamas to a set of casual clothes and walked out of the room followed by his companion. With the sun still up, Kai didn¡¯t dare set foot outside. However, he walked to the library and sat down at the table, whilst Onyx sat a distance away, resting his head on his paws as he watched. It didn¡¯t take long before he fell asleep, however, as Kai only wrote and read, but he appreciated the company. Kai quickly read through the books he picked out from the library, most of which were written in Elvish, but some of them were written in the universal language. They shared a common subject - Mana Cores and Body Cores. The notebook given to him by his grandpa was now filled with drawings, theories, and overall writings of what could be considered a madman. This is it! He yelled inwardly as he flipped to the last page, where a step-by-step, comprehensive guide was written, accompanied by images and instruction. This is the way to merge my broken mana core and body core! It¡¯s so simple, yet so complicated! Exhaling softly, he leaned back on the chair and put the pen down, staring up at the chandelier with a hopeful light shining in his eyes. <> << For the two to merge, I have theorized that they must coexist. Just like the energies within a pill, they must form a perfect balance. The simplest way would be to encapsulate the Mana Core within the Body Core, using it as a shield. From then, used mana and life energy to attempt the repair of the Mana Core using the technique imparted by my parents. The result should hopefully be a sturdy Body Core protecting the Mana Core. The Body core will be used as support when filtering mana, while the Mana core will be used as storage. The reason for this is that I have concluded that completely reforming the Mana Core is impossible, however by merging them and using one to fill the other¡¯s weakness, I should be able to use the same amount of mana as a Mage while having the body and endurance of a Body Mage. It has never been heard of, and perhaps never will be heard of if I fail¡­ Let¡¯s just hope it just doesn¡¯t come to it.>> ¡°Haha¡­¡± Kai chuckled to himself as he re-read his findings, and he couldn¡¯t help but think that he was insane. After promising the three that I wouldn¡¯t do anything suicidal anymore¡­ However, losing this Mana Core would be¡­ a shame. He wasn¡¯t quite sure about what he did to his Mana Core when he tampered with the technique, but he wasn¡¯t quite ready to give it up. Staring at a clock nearby, he watched as time trickled down, the sound of the tik and tok echoing in his ears like a countdown. ¡­ The moon finally rose, and Kai put down the book he was reading and sat up from the study. Inhaling deeply, he walked toward the backyard, where Onyx, Elizabeth, Aina, and Euphirida, as well as Sverik and Zarman, waited for him. Seeing the small crowd of people turn toward him at the same time sent a shiver down his spine, and an empty feeling began forming in his stomach as he approached them. A large pillow, accompanied by a few candles and flowers were placed in the middle of the training field, seemingly waiting for him to arrive. Passing by Aina, they gave each other an understanding nod as he sat down, crossing his legs and gathering himself. Elizabeth and Euphirida both looked at him with complex expressions - a mix of fear, nervousness, anxiety, and pride shining within their pupils. Sverik smiled softly at Kai, trusting that he would succeed without a doubt. Zarman, however, didn¡¯t show any emotion, at least not on the surface. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Deep inside, a battle took place within his heart. On one hand, Kai belonged to the race that enslaved his people, forced him and his entire bloodline to war, and put him through so much suffering it would be impossible to forgive. On the other hand, Kai was the son of Ray and Elena¡­ and their last living relative. He didn¡¯t even want to come watch, but Aina begged him to, so in the end, he gave in. Although his eyes held a bit of curiosity, he wanted to see what the offspring of two legendary figures could do. Kai sat down crosslegged in the middle and took a deep breath, the burning scent of the candles inundating his lungs. He took one last look at everyone before closing his eyes and began chanting the technique his parents gave him in his mind. At the same time, just like he practiced, he chanted Aina¡¯s Body Core technique under his breath. The mana gathered around him, entering his veins and rapidly circulating in his system. The mana reached the dried-up core, however, it didn¡¯t get absorbed, and instead gathered a few inches away from it, rapidly compressing itself as it turned to liquid, and then to solid. A sphere-shaped ball of compressed energy formed at an alarming pace. It grew from the size of a grain of rice to a bean, then to an acorn¡­ ¡°Things are going smooth,¡± Aina remarked from her place, watching everything carefully. ¡°Maybe a bit too smooth, knowing him.¡± ¡°We should¡­ we should just trust him,¡± Elizabeth said, albeit reluctantly. ¡°He¡¯s been behaving¡­ recently.¡± ¡°Yeah that¡¯s what worries me, he¡¯s been too quiet this past month.¡± She said with a chuckle, ¡°That means he¡¯s scheming something¡­¡± Elizabeth didn¡¯t say anything but instead began watching Kai with more consideration. She knew what her mother said was right, the boy didn¡¯t know when to stop courting death. Sverik listened in on the conversation, and his faith in Kai suddenly decreased slightly, however, he didn¡¯t stop believing that he¡¯d succeed just because of that. He crossed his fingers, and leaned against a tree, watching carefully and ready to intervene if something were to happen, not that his help would be needed. Zarman stood next to him, not uttering a word, still showing his deadpan expression. Inside Kai¡¯s body, however, drastic changes took place. The Body Core slowed down its growth, giving Kai some room to breathe. He breathed in deeply, and focused on utilizing the theory he had come up with. First, he fed a minuscule amount of mana to his Mana Core, just enough to energize it but not cause it to crumble. Then using the rest of the mana, he focused on hollowing the interior of the Body Core. However, he expected the process to be a simple and fast one. Contrary to his expectations, creating a hollow zone inside it was like swimming against a current. Each time he hollowed out a small area, the mana would forcefully fill it back up, nullifying his progress. Damn it¡­ He clicked his tongue, and his heart began to race as he struggled to come up with a solution on the spot. Despite that, he still kept a cool head and kept digging fruitlessly at the core until he figured it out. There must be a way to hollow it out. If my original plan didn¡¯t work then¡­ I can only improvise! He grits his teeth and used a little mana to guide the Body Core toward the Mana Core. I didn¡¯t want it to come to this but I¡¯m left with no choice. Truthfully, he had expected something to go wrong, so he came up with a last-minute, drastic and brutal solution. And that was to create the Body Core around the Mana Core. It¡¯s so¡­stupid. Kai sighed inwardly, however at this point he knew that he had no other choice. He didn¡¯t know what result to expect, but he knew the process would be painful at the very least. After a moment of consideration, he pushed the two cores closer together, carefully placing one over the other. He waited. Waited for the Body Core to grow large enough to engulf the shriveled-up Mana Core, and after a few dozen counts, he deduced that it was time. Compressing the Mana Core, he did his best to shrink it as much as possible, then forcefully shoved it inside the other core. His heart thumped against his chest, beating strongly as air escaped his lungs and he felt like he was drowning on dry land. However, he pressed through, forcefully pushing the mana aside, making way for the core. Hyperventilating, he endured the seething pain coursing through his body. As he pushed the Mana Core deeper and deeper inside the Body Core, he felt a surge of energy blasting through his body. Mana escaped the confines of his control, and slowly fused with his flesh and blood, poisoning him. However, he grit his teeth and endured, ignoring his body¡¯s cry to end this hellish experiment. The mana outside gathered around him at a faster pace than usual, causing Aina¡¯s heart to skip a beat, and a drop of sweat dripped down her face. She stood still, however, fully trusting Kai that he wouldn¡¯t sabotage himself again, not after what happened last time. After another fifteen counts passed, the Body Core, forced by the Mana¡¯s Core pressure, finally fully hollowed out. The only thing left of it was the outer casing, within which the Mana core settled. Just as the Body Core completely encased the Mana Core, Kai felt the mana within his body change in behavior. After sealing the hollowed core shut, the mana re-routed itself and began feeding into the shriveled and cracked Mana Core, which in theory should not have been able to accept such big amounts of mana. Kai inhaled deeply, knowing full well that the true fight had only just begun, because the Body Core now served as a filter for the Mana Core, slowing down and refining the wild mana that wanted to enter it. However, the process right now was less than ideal, as the two were still separated, and any mana that entered the casing served to advance the fusion project. Combining two cores, let alone two different cores, was something that no one had ever heard about, whether it be due to failure or incapability. Kai knew, however, that this was the most difficult part. His heart skipped a beat as the cores shook, and he along with them. Taking a closer look, he saw the two cores fight for supremacy, with one attempting to devour the other. He gulped, afraid of what might happen if either of them won. His current mana veins were still far too weak to deal with a Mana Core, let alone a mutated one. Besides that, what would happen after was everybody¡¯s guess, but he didn¡¯t want to use his body to find out. A soft cry escaped his lips, alarming everyone watching over him, including Zarman, whose stoic expression quickly changed to one of concern as he rushed next to Kai. Aina quickly kneeled in front of him, his face lacking any color, though it wasn¡¯t much different from his usual tint. Her eyes glowed with a faint light, and she let out a soft gasp as she observed the happenings within his body. ¡°This stupid boy!¡± She exclaimed, feeling a wave of weakness wash over her. Elizabeth quickly caught her mother, and similarly gasped as she looked at Kai. Zarman judged that, by their expressions, Kai must have done something, he just didn¡¯t know what. Unlike the two, he didn¡¯t possess any spells to enhance his vision, neither did he have the eyes of the man from the Magic Academy. He didn¡¯t dare ask what happened, as he felt he shouldn¡¯t know, and his pupil seemed to share the same sentiment as he observed quietly. ¡°Lady Aina, what¡¯s wrong with Kai?¡± Euphridia asked, placing one hand over Kai¡¯s forehead. ¡°He¡¯s gone and done it¡­¡± Elizabeth replied in her mother¡¯s place. ¡°He¡¯s trying to fuse two cores.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Both Sverik and Zarman exclaimed at the same time, shocked and horrified by the implications. Euphy¡¯s pupils widened, and her face seemed to have gotten paler as she fell to the ground. ¡°Why would he do something like that?!¡± The women shook their heads, and Aina¡¯s lips trembled as they parted. ¡°He¡¯s like a stubborn mule, no matter how many times he gets hit he still does what he wants.¡± She sighed and sat down on the floor, supporting herself against a pillar. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to be a Body Cultivator his whole life.¡± Silence descended, none of them daring to utter a sound as they watched Kai struggle to fight, unable to do anything but pray to Lumiera that he would be right. However, Lumiera didn¡¯t even know that Kai was doing something unheard of in her world, and neither did she care, as her job of taking care of him had passed. Pressure build up inside his body from the fight, accompanied by the large amounts of mana poisoning his body. As the fight grew fierce, he grew weaker, and he knew that he had to do something. Struggling to take control of the mana, he persevered through the pain and reduced the amount entering the mana core, using it instead as a buffer between the two, which he then evenly fused. That was the plan at least, however, the difficulty proved way more than what he had anticipated. The Mana Core kept pushing against his advancement, however at the same, it also became weaker, so all Kai had to do was persist until he could do what he wanted. And that¡¯s what he did. For hours that felt like an eternity, Kai battled with the core, battled against his own body that had been poisoned. However, as time went on, he gained more and more control of the energy swirling within him, eventually limiting the mana poisoning before finally getting rid of it altogether. Outside, his body turned into a sweaty mess, his clothes sticking to it as the moon¡¯s scattered rays reflected off of the beads of sweat dripping down his face. He wore a pained, almost agonized expression, and his nails slowly dug into his flesh. However, the weakness he felt hours ago completely faded away as he expelled the mana from his blood, leaving only trace amounts that would fade away with time. However, the battle has yet to reach its peak. Inside him, the Mana Core kept fighting against his will, however, the Body Core tried to help Kai as much as possible, despite how weak it was in comparison. And truthfully, it seemed like the Mana Core would win the battle, as Kai¡¯s energy reserves ran lower and lower. Damn it! Listen to me, now! He yelled inwardly, circulating the modified technique within his mind. As he did that, the few bits of orange that still creased the Mana Core¡¯s red surface glow with a faint light and spread slowly as the core¡¯s control began weakening. The gap between the Mana Core and the Body Core was almost closed, with the two being on the brink of fusing as one. Now, in the last moments, the battle had almost ceased. And then, it finally happened¡­ as he sealed the last, microscopic gap, the two combined into one, causing Kai¡¯s body to shake and tremble as he sat cross-legged. His face turned red, his arms shook, and the mana veins instinctually expanded toward the core, creating a direct channel between the mana and his limbs. The chaotic energy within calmed down, like the ocean after a storm, it settled down and filled Kai with a homogenous power. His eyes snapped open, a strong light emanating from his crimson pupils, shocking everyone present. A strong shockwave shot from his body at the same time, and he stretched while getting up, his bones creaking and snapping. Inhaling deeply, he accustomed himself to the newfound power, to the one thing unique to him and something that nobody has ever managed to achieve¡­ a Fusioned Core. Chapter 88: Start, Encore. Kai stood in place, inhaling deeply and exhaling sharply as his body accommodated the new core. Power surged through his body, and flowed through his veins like a raging river. His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists, and looked up as he let ouprimaleval scream. This action caught everybody off-guard, and they listened as the scream turned into a roar that resembled a dragon¡¯s, reverberating throughout the city. It slowly grew quiet as Kai lowered his gaze, and watched the group with renowned vigor and excitement. His lips parted, revealing his sharp fangs. However, before he could even utter a word, Elizabeth¡¯s hand flew toward his face, making his head ring as he stepped backward before suddenly getting dragged back. Finding himself in Elly¡¯s arms shaking arms as she tightly held him. Kai didn¡¯t have the time to process the searing pain on his face, losing himself in the comfort of her embrace. They spent a few minutes like that, Kai¡¯s face turning red from his inability to breathe but Elizabeth refused to let go, afraid that she might lose him. He had realized that and also realized that they had somehow found out what he had attempted. He endured though, until finally they parted and he managed to gasp for air. Coughing lightly, he finally gazed upon the group¡¯s expressions, and whilst a hint of excitement was present in their eyes, their faces told another story. Fear and anxiety painted them, even their bodies still shaking slightly from the few seconds of dread they had felt when Kai started acting up. Anger, however, was absent from their being, and they could only let out a sigh of relief upon confirming that nothing was wrong with Kai. A moment of awkward silence descended upon them, however, it was quickly broken by Aina, whose disappointed sigh echoed in the air. ¡°Congratulations, Kai. You¡¯re back at ground zero.¡± She stood up and gently patted his head as she walked inside the mansion. Her footsteps faltered, and she stopped to take a deep breath before continuing. Kai watched her with confusion, then turned toward Elizabeth, whose focus seemed to be lost as she looked at her mother. ¡°She¡¯s going to be alright, you just gave her a scare, is all.¡± Her shaky voice couldn¡¯t hide her anxiety, however, she held on better than her mother. Euphridia¡¯s armor rattled as she approached, looking at Kai with a gentle, yet stern expression. Grabbing his heart, she lifted him and said as he yelped. ¡°You¡­ when will you stop trying to kill yourself?! Every single time you do something you make us worry so much. It was the case last time, which only ended well because we were there to help you. Do you have the slightest idea of what you¡¯ve put us through? We could not do anything this time, only watch as you squirmed in pain! You stupid, stupid, boy!¡± Her scolding rang in Kai¡¯s mind like a church¡¯s bell, hurting him more than any sort of cut or stab. Tears fell on his cheeks, which was when Euphy let go of him and also brought him into her embrace. Her cold, hard chestplate barely comforted Kai, but thankfully she didn¡¯t hold on to him for nearly as long as Elizabeth did. As their bodies parted, the indents of the armor printed themselves on Kai¡¯s face. Kai looked over to Zarman, whose stoic expression returned firmly to his face. Noticing the boy¡¯s gaze, a soft smile creased his lips, which he quickly shut down. He grunted, seemingly fighting with himself, however in the end his lips parted, saying in a coarse voice. ¡°You did well kid, your parents would be proud.¡± Hearing that, Kai gulped as a small tear threatened to appear on the corner of his eye, however, he pushed it back, only giving a small nod in response. Sverik also turned to him, however, he didn¡¯t say anything, but instead gave an awkward thumbs up, bringing a chuckle out of Kai. ¡­ Shortly after things settled down, everyone returned to their respective homes, whilst Kai and Elizabeth went to their own room to cool down for the night and discuss more things tomorrow. He stepped into the shower and cleaned himself before donning a soft pajama. Sitting down at his desk, he noted down what had happened today in great detail. In his concentration, he failed to hear the knocking and the subsequent opening of the door. ¡°So this is where you keep your secrets?¡± Aina¡¯s stern, weak voice startled him, making him jump backward and fall along with the chair. She reached over for the notebook, flipping its pages as she carefully read through it. Kai stood up, nervously standing next to her without uttering a word. With each page, her eyes widened more and more until she finally reached the last page, where Kai had noted down his conclusions. ¡°When were you planning on telling me about this?¡± ¡°After I succeeded¡­¡± He replied, feeling guilty. ¡°And what if you hadn¡¯t succeeded?¡± She asked, closing the notebook. ¡°What then?¡± ¡°I-¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± She cut him off, her tone turning angrier. ¡°I thought you learned your lesson the last time, yet it looks like you didn¡¯t.¡± She sighed and sat down on the bed, placing one leg over the other and leaning her elbow on her knee. Propping her head in her palm, she let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Not even your father was this stupid Kai¡­ The fusion of two cores¡­ who knows what would have happened? You could have exploded into pieces, burnt to death¡­ worse. And you didn¡¯t even plan on telling me at all, you could have DIED, and then what? What would I do? Blame myself for not taking proper care of you? For rushing you? For not taking my time with helping you recover? What about Elizabeth? You¡¯re her best friend¡¯s last kin, her only kin. She cares for you more than she lets it seen, and you break her heart over and over again by doing your stupid experiments on yourself! Kai, do you ever stop to think about the consequences?¡± ¡°And yet¡­ you did it.¡± She said softly, raising her gaze toward Kai, tears dripping down her flushed cheeks. ¡°You managed to do it by some miracle of Lumiera or by some sort of coincidence, you did what we previously thought was impossible¡­¡± She inhaled sharply, wiping her tears as she stood up. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Aina¡­¡± ¡°Save your apologies for later¡­ We¡¯ll talk about it tomorrow.¡± Closing the door behind her, she left Kai and Onyx alone. The boy glanced at the notebook before finally joining Onyx on the floor. The Obborik wrapped his tail around him, warmly snuggling Kai before both of them fell asleep. ¡­ Kai woke up with the first rays of sunshine that somehow sneaked through his curtains. His cheek sizzled softly before turning red, eventually emanating the smell of burnt pork. That¡¯s when he jumped up, letting out a sharp screech, waking up Onyx in the process. The Obborik started barking loudly for a second, before realizing what had happened. ¡°Shit¡­¡± Kai cursed as he glared at the place where the curtain had seemingly gone out of place, and he quickly covered the fresh burn with his hand as he rushed down the hallway. Knocking on Aina¡¯s door, he didn¡¯t wait long for an answer as the door creaked open. ¡°What is it so early?.. Ah!¡± She immediately dragged Kai inside, noticing the wound. After taking a closer look, she sprinkled some medicine on it and began healing him with magic. A few seconds passed and the burn disappeared completely, prompting both of them to release a relieved sigh. ¡°It¡¯s getting worse¡­ Aina.¡± ¡°I know¡­ soon enough even the moon- Let¡¯s not think about it. Go back and get some more rest, I¡¯ll get things ready and wait for you and Elizabeth in the living room. Kai nodded gently, going back into his room and sitting down on the bed, where he knew that the sun wouldn''t be able to reach him. Deciding to take his time to study the changes in his body, now that things had relatively calmed down. Observing his core and how the mana flowed through his body, he felt like the first time he had formed it, seven years ago. Except this time things were different, very different. Taking a closer look, he noticed that unless he forced himself to focus, he could barely see the Mana Core. Otherwise, all one could detect was a Body Core with a slightly higher mana capacity. Interesting¡­ but this may also be because I am weak, I¡¯ll need to ask Aina to look at it as well¡­ Besides that I- I can¡¯t believe it. It¡¯s there, my old Mana Core is there, along with the weird mutation that saved me at the last stretch¡­ Aina was right, I¡¯m too reckless. It¡¯ll be the death of me someday. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, circulating the technique imparted to him by his parents. His core gleamed with a soft light as the mana gathered around him, entering his veins through his pores. Unlike before, however, when they started shattering at the slightest chant, they held on strongly. Although they aren¡¯t as strong as before, they can at least handle seventy percent of the input¡­ but the biggest hurdle will be casting spells. Inhaling deeply, he stopped the technique and decided to wait for Aina and Elizabeth to be present for the worst-case scenario. Until then he trained his control over mana, and he felt his heart skip a beat upon realizing that it bent to his will better than ever before. If back when he had a normal Mana Core, the energy would reply to his call like a normal worker doing a nine to five, after he could barely use any kind of magic the mana would rebel like a teenager. Right now it beckoned to his call like a puppy, listening to his every whim. Amazing¡­ He wasn¡¯t sure why this happened, but at this point, all that he knew was that more testing was necessary, due to this new core variant. Kai sat in meditation, watched over by Onyx as he waited for the time to pass. However, even he couldn¡¯t sit like that for too long, despite all the new exciting changes. His eyes snapped open and he looked under his bed, spotting a big ball and grabbing it. Onyx¡¯s ears instantly lit up as he stood up, his tail kicking up a storm. Rushing to the door and opening it with his paws, he waited eagerly for Kai to throw the ball. And he did. Kai launched the ball as far as he could into the hallway, sending it down the stairs and who knows where. Onyx rushed after it, his large frame making the staff cower in fear as they got out of his way even after this time. Screams rang within the entire manor, and Onyx returned in less than two minutes with the ball, placing it at Kai¡¯s feet and waiting for him to throw it again. ¡°You know,¡± Kai chuckled. ¡°For such a feared beast, you sure act like a puppy.¡± Onyx¡¯s head turned sideways, letting out a soft cry as he nudged the ball closer. ¡°Yep, like a puppy¡­¡± Kai pat the Obborik¡¯s head, losing himself in all the fluff before throwing the ball again, much to the staff¡¯s horror. ¡­ The living room rustled with activity as Kai sat down on the couch, and opposite him were Aina and Elizabeth. Both of them have calmed down since yesterday, although Elizabeth still felt a bit anxious about everything, and she had a dreadful sense of unease that she couldn¡¯t let go of. Although she hoped it was only her imagination. Kai fidgeted with his fingers as he waited for one of them to speak, at least. And it didn¡¯t take long before Aina¡¯s voice resounded in the air. ¡°Did you play fetch with Onyx again?¡± ¡°I¡­ uh¡­ yes¡­?¡± He replied, unsure why she had asked it in the first place. ¡°The staff told me he made quite a mess running up and down the stairs¡­¡± she sighed, ¡°You should-¡± ¡°Mom, stop avoiding the question.¡± Elizabeth intercepted, annoyance evident in her voice. Aina sighed and lowered her gaze slightly before lifting it back up at Kai. ¡°Fine¡­ Kai,¡± she said slowly. ¡°What did you do to your core? Even after I read your notes it¡¯s quite clear things didn¡¯t go as you wanted them to, how did you salvage the situation?¡± ¡°Ah- Well¡­¡± His faint voice barely escaped his lips, taken aback by their sudden curiosity. ¡°You don¡¯t have to explain it if you don¡¯t want to but it could be useful in the future¡­ in case this happens again,¡± Elizabeth said with a reassuring tone. ¡°No, no. It¡¯s fine, but I don¡¯t think it will apply to anyone else.¡± He felt quite bad about it, however, he started explaining everything in detail, not even hiding the fact that he had a mutated core. However, he didn¡¯t t say how and why he got it, although the two could easily come to a conclusion based on past experiences. ¡°Fascinating¡­¡± Aina said, standing up and sitting down next to Kai. Her eyes glowed and peered into his mana core, however, her pupils widened upon realizing something. ¡°I can¡¯t see the Mana Core, only the Body Core¡­ this is interesting. That means you can hide your power as much as possible and people would be none the wiser about it¡­ I wonder how well the people from the Magic Academy could make a difference, or the people with special eye powers¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good thing though, normal humans wouldn¡¯t be able to tell he¡¯s a Mage, though he still doesn¡¯t have any stars. I wonder how that would change the form.¡± Elizabeth added, feeling quite curious herself. ¡°We¡¯ll see¡­ for now he just needs to train and achieve the first star¡­ and let¡¯s hope it all goes smoothly.¡± Aina sighed softly, caressing Kai¡¯s disheveled hair. Chapter 89: One Step Closer Sitting cross-legged on the living room couch, Kai used the technique his parents gave him to circulate the mana throughout his body. From the outside into his limbs and then to his cores, the process ran smoothly until the part where the cores needed to absorb the mana. When it reached the Body Core Shell, the mana scattered, unwilling to fuse with it or even pass through it, he repeated the process time and time, and each time it yielded the same result. ¡°It looks like the Body Core Shell is unwilling to absorb the mana and filter it, something your Mana Core can¡¯t do anymore¡­¡± Aina noted down this discovery in Kai¡¯s notebook, which she grabbed from upstairs before commencing the experiment. ¡°Now try using the other technique.¡± Kai did as told and used the Body Core Technique, which gathered and processed mana at a faster rate than the other technique. However, unlike its counterpart, this one did not limit the amount or type of mana, which meant it took more time to filter it. Just like before the process went smoothly up until the absorption part. While the Body Core-Shell accepted this mana gathered using this technique, the Mana Core refused to accept more than ten percent of it into its storage, and that ten percent being the purest yet filtered type of mana. ¡°It looks like these two are really picky with their food.¡± Kai chuckled nervously, not having expected this. What could even be the cause for this? The two techniques are similar enough in terms of how it¡¯s done, so what sets them apart besides the functionality? This is way more complex than I thought originally¡­ ¡°Alright Kai, now try using both at the same time like you described in your notes.¡± Nodding gently, Kai closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He began chanting the Mana Core technique in his head, and the Body Core technique out loud. The surrounding mana instantly shot toward Kai, regardless of the level of purity, and flowed through his veins like a raging river. It didn¡¯t take long for it to slam into the Body Core Shell, which filtered about fifty percent of the mana whilst the rest scattered inside Kai¡¯s body. After the filtering was done, again, the Mana Core accepted about fifty percent of the mana, leading to a small increase in its total storage. ¡°I see¡­ so it looks like there is a conflict between the two, which was to be expected,¡± Elizabeth said as she carefully observed Kai, who continued chanting the techniques. ¡°At the same time, they can work harmoniously together, but the results are less than optimal. Even if his core was originally red, it didn¡¯t take him a long time to reach the rank of One Star. But now under these circumstances, advancing will become harder and harder with each new star.¡± Aina nodded softly, slowly writing down her theories inside the yellow pages. ¡°But he can at least absorb some mana, and there doesn¡¯t seem to be any leaks. He will get stronger with time, thankfully, but it¡¯ll take at least twice as long for him to advance.¡± Upon hearing that, Kai suddenly stopped the techniques, his eyes snapping open. He bit his lower lip and clenched his fists, however he only let out a soft, defeated sigh. ¡°That just means I have to train twice as hard¡­ it¡¯s doable, I can do it!¡± The two women exchanged a look before smiling softly at each other. Aina put down the notebook on the coffee table in front of her and crossed her legs before parting her lips. ¡°You¡¯re right, until we find another technique or means for you to better gather mana, this is the best we got. This is still an unknown land for us. You are the first ever person to do this, and so we must research this further.¡± Aina glanced back at Elizabeth, seemingly giving her the stick, which she accepted with an understanding nod. ¡°With that being said, Kai.¡± His and her eyes met mid-air, causing a shiver to run down Kai¡¯s spine. ¡°Now that you have achieved¡­ this, My mother and I decided that we could talk to Arthur and ask him to let you enter the academy the same way Sverik is. The convoy will take two more months to arrive here and pick him up, which gives you plenty of time to reach at least One Star. That is well below the requirement, but given your special circumstances I¡¯m sure he¡¯d accept.¡± She inhaled deeply, catching her breath. Kai¡¯s pupils widened, and his heart raced as this new opportunity suddenly presented itself before him. The two looked at him with eager expressions, and sweat dripped down his body as he struggled to come up with an answer. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. A few awkward minutes passed, and Kai¡¯s brain seemingly turned to mush as he remained unable to utter a word. Aina and her daughter chuckled at the sight, after which she flicked his forehead, awakening him from his trance. ¡°You don¡¯t have to reply now, take your time Kai.¡± She reassured him, after which she got up and left the room, leaving him and Elizabeth all alone. The woman looked at Kai with a complex expression, unsure of what to say. However, before she had any time to think, Kai got up from his seat and bowed deeply toward her, catching her by surprise. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you worry, and I¡¯m sorry for being so reckless. Elizabeth, I knew I said I wouldn¡¯t do it again, but I did and I regret hurting you and the others. You don¡¯t need to forgive me¡­ I-¡± His voice faltered suddenly, and his body shivered as Elly placed a hand over his shoulder, and said in a gentle tone. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you don¡¯t need to go so far. Although you did something stupid again, it all ended well so,¡± she sighed, a defeated smile creasing her lips. ¡°Just get up now, I¡¯m not mad at you.¡± Kai¡¯s head slowly rose, eventually meeting Elly¡¯s midsection. He blushed briefly before raising his gaze and lost himself in her shiny emerald eyes. For a moment time seemed to have slowed down as his heart skipped a beat, however, he quickly pulled himself back together, and could only nod gently in response to Elizabeth¡¯s kind words. She patted his head and chuckled lightly, although a hint of pain still hid well within her eyes. ¡­ Kai meditated somewhere in the manor¡¯s backyard, accompanied by Onyx, who watched him from a distance. His chest heaved slightly as he circulated both techniques, trying to fill up his mana core. Currently, it sat at about fifteen percent of what it could hold, and for Kai to advance from a Small Core to a Medium Core, it would require about 150 percent. He let out a light sigh, his eyes slowly opening as he stopped. Laying down on the cold grass, he looked up at the sky, and he could only see bits and pieces from the dense foliage. At this rate, it will take me a few months to reach the One Star Rank, just like Aiaa said. That is unless I somehow develop a new technique which is a mix of these two, but I don¡¯t even understand the basics of them, so where do I begin? Even I can¡¯t pull off miracles¡­ Thoughts raced in his mind, however regardless of how much he pondered about it, he just didn¡¯t feel like he had enough knowledge to modify, let alone create a new technique. Maybe going to the magic academy is the right call, after all the experts there could help me, or at the very least I could learn myself. However, if it resembles anything like my old high school¡­ Shuddering at the thought, he got up and sighed once again, prompting Onyx to come and snuggle him. Putting the Obborik¡¯s head, he voiced his thoughts, albeit in a whisper. I¡¯m sure they have something in their library somewhere¡­ right? Wait¡­ library! Kai pulled out the necklace that hung around his neck, its intricate detail and beautiful color sparking his heart with joy and sorrow. Inside it, the cubical shape of the library his parents took and placed inside seemed to be calling for him. Maybe they had something that could help me understand techniques better¡­ He rubbed its surface, remembering the moment it sucked the last bit of magic he had on him¡­ plus the life of one of the crystals on his wand. Remembering it, his ring glowed with a soft light, and also pulled it out. The beautifully carved branch and carefully placed crystals filled him with a sense of nostalgia like never before. He took out the destroyed crystals, casting them away and replacing them with a firestone. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he manually removed the rest of the crystals and replaced them with the fire ones the old wandmaker gave him. He stood up and walked a distance away within the open field and for the first time in a year, he cast a spell. Holding the wand in front of him, he felt the mana within his core exit and travel through his right arm, then the hand and the fingers, finally meeting the wand which gladly accepted the energy. It let out a joyful screech, like that of a phoenix as the crystals embedded within glowed like the stars in the night sky. Finally, a simple fireball appeared in front of him as he murmured the syllables required for the spell, which he then pointed at the sky. It shot up into the air, causing the barrier surrounding Aina¡¯s home to flicker as it traveled past it, and then it exploded high above the clouds. Like a firework at its peak, it created a spectacle that Kai had never thought he¡¯d ever see again. Fire rained down upon the barrier, dissipating as soon as it made contact with it under Kai¡¯s widened pupils. A large grin, stretching from one ear to the other manifested on his face, and blood rushed through his veins. Chapter 90: Fighting Practice ¡°Impressive.¡± Euphridia¡¯s voice awoke Kai from his trance, making his heart skip a beat as he turned to face her. ¡°That¡¯s a nice beginner spell, I¡¯m amazed you can cast it so soon after getting your core back.¡± She walked over to him, a complicated expression decorating her face. ¡°I can¡¯t even do it despite being a Five Star Medium Core¡­¡± Unable to hide the bitterness in her voice, she gave Kai a faint smile before walking toward the training area, sitting down, and getting herself ready for another night of training. Kai put the necklace and the fireball away, and walked toward her, followed by Onyx. She wore a slightly annoyed, yet defeated expression clear on her face. She stood up before Kai could say anything and undid her breastplate, letting it fall with a metallic clang. The boy blushed and closed his eyes as his face reddened. Euphridia chuckled softly, and said in an amused voice, ¡°You can open your eyes, don¡¯t worry, I wouldn¡¯t undress in front of you, idiot.¡± Kai hesitated for a second, however, he trusted Euphy and so he opened his eyes, glancing at her perfectly sculpted body. She wore a simple, loose yet tight enough top, its green color contrasting to her overall appearance. Her arms, although thin, were muscular and well-defined, and so was her stomach, which sparkled as sweat poured down her perfectly cut abs. His face reddened even more, and he gulped, however he gathered himself the best he could and cooled down. Euphridia smirked, and her ring glowed with a soft light as two items poured out of it. One of which was a sword, its brown hilt decorated with a few red lines and golden symbols. Its golden cross guard held a beautiful, yet indecipherable symbol within, and its silver blade was similarly decorated with golden imprints. The other time, another sword, caught Kai by surprise, as it was the same sword they had purchased in Monten. She threw it toward him, and he caught it by the handle, just barely slipping through his fingers. He smiled softly, having almost forgotten about it. ¡°That¡¯s a nice sword they got you,¡± Euphridia said, her purple eyes burning with competitive spirit. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see if you can handle me when I put thirty percent of effort.¡± ¡°Huh? Wait what-?¡± Kai wanted to protest, however he barely had the time to process things before Euphy¡¯s body appeared in front of him. His hand instinctively moved to block, however even if he parried perfectly, he still got sent flying backward by her immense strength. His head rang, however, he could not dwell on it as he felt the woman¡¯s blade approach him, and he dodged to the side as it barely grazed his cheek. Raising his sword, he wanted to counterattack, but before he could even get in position he fell to the ground after being kicked in the stomach. ¡°Well¡­ that was fast.¡± He groaned as he struggled to get up, propping himself on the new sword. ¡°You¡¯re so damned strong¡­¡± ¡°Language,¡± she chuckled as she pulled out a bottle of water. ¡°Your reflexes have gotten better, though there¡¯s still a lot of places left to improve.¡± ¡°Yeah, or maybe you need to go easier on me¡­¡± ¡°I did go easy on you though¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I said easier.¡± ¡°Haha, sure! I¡¯ll go easier on you, crybaby.¡± ¡°I-¡± Kai wanted to protest, however, he let out a defeated sigh and took off his shirt as well. The moon from the light hit his glistening skin, burning it slightly, however, he was already used to it after so many days. Picking up the sword and clutching the hilt, he could feel it vibrating, creating a weird, roar-like sound in the air. ¡°Looks like it accepts you,¡± Euphy said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s rare for a beast spirit to accept a new owner so fast.¡± ¡°Beast spirit?¡± Kai asked, hearing this unknown term again. ¡°Yeah, I thought Aina talked to you about it, guess not. Don¡¯t worry about it for now, just focus on feeling how the sword reacts to you. Move it like it wants to move. That sword is really good, if you take care of it it will serve to be a good companion.¡± Kai glanced at its shiny silver blade and smiled softly, feeling a tinge of pain at not being able to use his father¡¯s sword, but he knew that he had no other choice. If anyone sees me with that it¡¯ll bring me more trouble than it¡¯s worth¡­ I was lucky last time, I can¡¯t rely on luck all the time. ¡°Are you ready? I won¡¯t use my sword anymore, try and touch me.¡± She said, putting her weapon away and getting into position. Kai gulped and followed suit, getting into his usual stance. The sword vibrated softly, sending a shiver down Kai¡¯s body, and their hand moved almost instinctively. It slightly lowered the angle, however that was seemingly enough to give Kai a better sense of balance. Euphridia turned into a blur, her speed splitting the air in two as she approached Kai, whose eyes fixated on her the best he could, trying to predict her movements. He turned around and blocked, getting pushed backward but this time he held his ground and took advantage of the moment to sweep a kick at her feet. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. She retreated, hopping in places and watching Kai with a fervent desire to battle. ¡°Not bad kid.¡± She said before rushing him again. ¡­ Kai panted heavily as he lay on the cold floor, Euphridia¡¯s sword pointed straight at his neck and a small puddle formed below him. He could barely make out her figure through his hazy vision. In the end, his eyes snapped shut, feigning a silent defeat. ¡°Why don¡¯t we call it a night then?¡± She asked, grabbing Kai and lifting him. His exhausted expression told her more than any word he could utter, and she chuckled softly. ¡°You haven¡¯t used any magic this match, but you should start doing that soon. Now that you have regained your ability to cast spells, mixing them with your swordplay will become necessary.¡± Her speech turned more rapid, and the excitement in her eyes grew at a rapid pace as she tried to guide Kai. ¡°Although there aren¡¯t many people who¡¯ve used both weapon and magic, there are enough of them for us to know it¡¯s a viable option. For example, there¡¯s Fenrus the Great, who used both a halberd and a wand simultaneously against the vampires. I wasn¡¯t there to witness it but rumors say the thing almost melted as he enhanced it with the power of fire. There¡¯s also Catherine of Landalau, the last descendant of her bloodline. She only had one element, that being earth. That didn¡¯t stop her from training and becoming strong enough to lift a whole sword made out of compressed sand¡­ I heard she was so cool¡­ And there there is also¡­¡± Kai¡¯s ears rang as he listened to Euphy ramble on about different figures from times past, and in the end, decided that he couldn¡¯t take it anymore and closed his eyes. Letting himself free fall to the ground, he fell asleep just as she caught him, and chuckled to herself. ¡°This boy, I hope you will become one of these legendary figures. I believe in you.¡± She whispered before giving him a small kiss on the cheek. Onyx barked silently as he watched from a distance, seemingly frowning at how she handled his companion. He got up and shook off the dirt from his fur before rushing to Kai¡¯s side, placing his large body below him. Euphridia smiled and placed the boy on the Obborik, who then carefully walked inside the manor. She couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the sight and began tidying up the training area after seeing Onyx disappear behind a corner. ¡­ Kai lay on his bed, its comfortable blanket and pillows enveloping him with a flowery scent. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he rustled and moved about. His heart raced, threatening to jump out of his chest as he clenched the bed sheets. Light, muffled groans escaped his mouth, seemingly struggling to yell something. However, no matter how much he tried, his raspy voice only came out as incoherent syllables. Onyx woke up from the commotion and hurriedly rushed to Kai¡¯s side. Licking his face in an attempt to wake him up, he yelped in a sharp voice and scratched the boy¡¯s arm. His attempts were in vain, however, as Kai seemed to be lost in a deep sleep, forced to live inside that nightmare. The Obborik closed his eyes and placed his large fluffy head over Kai¡¯s chest, hoping that he would be able to help him calm down. Much to his surprise, his companion¡¯s unrest began slowing down, until it finally disappeared a few minutes later. His heartbeat had returned to normal, and so did his breathing. Onyx let out a relieved sigh and kept Kai company until the morning sun rose. ¡­ He woke up a sweaty mess, the clothes Aina had changed him into sticking to his body. Slowing rising, he patted Onyx¡¯s fluffy head, not questioning what he was doing on his chest, well, belly now. What happened after I passed out? He took a sniff around, his expression changing to a frown before smelling again and realizing something. I stink¡­ After getting out of the shower and changing into something more presentable, he tossed his dirty clothes in a basket. Before he could do anything more, however, a light knocking disturbed his peace. ¡°Enter.¡± The door creaked open, revealing the tiny figure of a maid. She wore a head full of leafy green locks, decorated by a few flowery hair clips. Her crystally eyes, illuminated by the faint light of the chandelier, shared a similar color to her hair. She took a quick look around, her arms shaking slightly upon noticing Onyx, however she quickly gathered herself. ¡°Lady Aina has summoned you to her study. She told me to¡­ to tell you to make haste.¡± Her quiet, squeaky voice raised a chuckle out of Kai, and he shot a glance at Onyx, signaling him to back away. What did he do to all the maids while I was training? This one seems especially terrified of him¡­ ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be on my way then.¡± He replied as he walked past her, stopping in his tracks shortly after remembering something. ¡°Can I bother you to take my laundry to the washing room? Thanks!¡± The young maid nodded, her sharp ears reddening slightly. Looking inside the room, she instantly spotted the laundry basket, but she also saw Onyx. Hesitating slightly, she grits her teeth and walks inside, stomping on the ground as she seemingly prepared for a fierce fight. Kai walked toward Aina¡¯s study, his shadow created by the dim light splattered across the hallway¡¯s lonely lights accompanying him on the way there. Unlike the library or the living room, the study was a place that he had never stepped foot in. I wonder if it looks fancy like one of those offices? She doesn¡¯t have a computer but¡­ maybe a magic ball, like a witch? He chuckled at the thought, and he finally found himself in front of the door. Its brown leather surface, decorated by what seemed to be button bolted inside the wood created a beautiful, diagonally checkered pattern. He took a deep breath and knocked twice on the door, waiting patiently for a reply. It didn¡¯t take long for it to creak open, revealing Aina¡¯s figure, standing at a desk surrounded by books, documents, and paperwork. ¡°Come in already.¡± She said in a slightly annoyed tone. ¡°You¡¯re letting the warmth escape.¡± Kai did as told and walked in, the door silently closing behind him as he stood in front of Aina. What¡¯s going on? The atmosphere felt tense, almost as if you could cut it with a knife. She raised her gaze, and a hint of distress hid within her pupils. Chapter 91: A Serious Discussion Kai waited patiently for Aina to talk, his eyes carefully scanning her office as she looked through countless documents. The hardwood floor was covered by a gorgeous, crimson carpet with black borders and golden embroidery. As usual, a large bookshelf with hundreds of books stuck to a wall, with some empty spots decorated by porcelain figures of different animals. Likewise, paintings brought life to the interior, one of which depicted a middle-aged man with large pointy ears and black hair. His hazel-colored eyes shone with a magnificent light, even through the masterful brush strokes. He wore a simple, loose shirt and held a wand that looked like a branch, and a book that Kai found familiar. ¡°Take a seat.¡± Aina pulled him out of the trance, and he padded in front of her, sitting on the leather chair. His body almost sunk right into the soft fabric as it let out a light creaking sound. Looking more closely at the desk, countless documents with various signatures and stamps could be seen, as well as what seemed to be Aina¡¯s stamp. She flicked through the documents, giving them a quick read before putting them to the side, and she let out a sigh upon finishing a pile of them. Leaning back on her chair, she took a deep breath before moving forward, placing her elbows on the table. ¡°I have some news,¡± She said slowly. ¡°First, I talked it over with Arthur and he agreed to let you join the special classes starting next year. That is, if you want to.¡± Kai¡¯s pupils widened upon hearing that. Such an opportunity¡­ he found it hard to refuse but something deep inside told him that maybe it wasn¡¯t the time yet. It could certainly help me advance as a mage¡­ more so than what I could ever do alone. However what if it¡¯s a mistake? What if I¡¯m missing out on other opportunities by going to that place and isolating myself¡­ The representative from Monten said that I could leave and do whatever I wanted once I reached the required level of a Three Star Mage¡­ however, who knows how long that would take? His gaze wandered, and his behavior hadn¡¯t gone unnoticed by Aina. ¡°You don¡¯t have to make a decision right now, however, if you refuse and you want to do something else, I will wholeheartedly support you. I think I already know what¡¯s on your mind though.¡± She pulled out a green piece of paper from her ring and slid it over to Kai. On it, written with a bold, cursive font in the common language was written ¡°Pavlov¡¯s Guild¡± along with an address. ¡°If you want to go down that path I suggest you go here first, it¡¯s the best option for you. I know the owner, an old human who lived for an unknown period, however long enough to give me crucial information¡­¡± Her tone suddenly turned heavy, and she took in a deep breath before continuing. ¡°After your little experiment which revealed your¡­ weird form, I took interest and did a lot of research. However, regardless of how many pages I flipped through,gh there was no information on it. Recently, when getting some info for your plan B, so to say, I mentioned it in passing to Pavlov¡­ and I can barely believe what he told me.¡± Kai¡¯s breathing seemed to have grown to a halt as he listened, his heart threatening to jump out of his chest. He never knew where this weird form had from, nor had he questioned it, however the weird eye he saw so long ago still kept him awake at night sometimes. However, as much as he wanted to know the truth, he wasn¡¯t sure if he was ready. Aina paused and gave the boy some time to think about it and catch his breath. The information which was still fresh in her mind shocked her greatly, and she couldn¡¯t imagine how hard Kai would be impacted. ¡°It may be hard to believe¡­ no, it may even be impossible. Pavlov would never lie to me about such things though, I know him too well, so, Kai, let me know when you are ready.¡± The boy gulped and clenched his fists. However, he nodded in the end, allowing Aina to start recounting the story. She inhaled sharply, and her lips parted. ¡°This happened a very, very long time ago, back when The King was still alive, he fought and subdued the Vampire Lord. Although a lot of details were lost after this point, Pavlov¡¯s source - An old notebook passed down from generation to generation, described the Vampire Lord¡¯s appearance during that fight in some detail. ¡®Scales surrounded his body, and claws decorated his fingers. Its painful roar echoed stronger than the cry of a wyvern, and in the moment of his defeat all creatures around me whimpered.¡¯¡± Aina¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke, and looked at Kai whose expression flickered between fear, disbelief, and bewilderment. Leaning back on his chair, he raised a hand to his chest as his breathing quickened. Cold sweat drenched his body, and his mind raced with questions. How could I forget¡­ I- Mom said my grandfather was the former king¡­ that means she was the princess at some point¡­ I- But to think it¡¯s the original lineage from millennia ago?! That¡¯s insane! Silence descended upon the room, broken only by Kai¡¯s rapid breaths, and by Aina¡¯s soft sigh. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ hard to believe, isn¡¯t it? What are the odds? Well, a lot of things make more sense now.¡± Kai¡¯s shock hadn¡¯t faded yet, however, he turned his gaze toward Aina and questioned her with his eyes. ¡°The reason Haniard attacked you and your family, and the reason he is hunting you through the entire Kingdom of Aravia¡­ You are a descendant of the royal bloodline¡­¡± Of course, Kai already knew that but it seemed that besides him, only a select few knew the truth, and Aina wasn¡¯t one of them. Noticing his unchanged expression, she let out a heavy sigh and leaned back on her chair. ¡°So you already knew¡­¡± Kai nodded softly, however, the fact that his bloodline had something to do with his form, and the fact that it was so ancient left him with way too many questions, and no one to give him any answers. ¡°Alright then, that is all I wanted to talk to you about¡­ take your leave whenever you feel ready.¡± She placed her hands on the desk and placed her head within, inhaling deeply as she calmed herself down. ¡­ The door creaked open as Kai slowly walked out, the shock from the revelation still ringing in his mind like a church¡¯s bell. It was hard to believe, but at least it made sense, however, this new knowledge didn¡¯t bring him any joy. So what? I swore to never use it again, and even if I did¡­ there¡¯s something rotten at the core of all this¡­ and until I find out what¡¯s wrong I¡¯m not sure I can trust myself to use it again. More information¡­ the academy surely won¡¯t have anything on it, and the only place that could have¡­ is the kingdom. He took his time going back to his bedroom, tracing the walls with his fingers as he tried to calm down. Flopping onto his bed, he let out a heavy sigh, prompting Onyx to press his head against his chest. Kai pet the Obborik¡¯s fluff and took in deep and slow breaths. There¡¯s no use worrying about it now, it¡¯s good information to know, however, what matters most now is increasing my strength. The fact that Haniard targeted my parents after betraying my grandfather is unforgivable¡­ I¡¯ll make him pay for all the pain he¡¯s caused me and my family! Clenching his fists, he got up and sat cross-legged on the bed, and started training by refining mana and storing it inside the core. It will require a lot of mana to even advance from a Small Core to a Medium Core but I have to do it, and I need to develop a new technique to refine mana¡­ It takes a long time to advance anyway, the core needs to adjust in size constantly and it can only grow by pushing it to its limits¡­ meaning I will need my reservoir to be at one hundred percent all the time before even thinking of advancing¡­ and right now it¡¯s barely at twenty-six percent¡­ He let out a heavy sigh but continued his training. Inviting the mana inside his veins and guiding it to the core before filtering it and storing it, he continued this process over and over again. Onyx watched over him and offered him comfort whenever he could, however in the end he ended up falling asleep next to his companion. A few hours passed and Kai finally opened his eyes. Inhaling deeply, a soft smile creased his lips before being replaced by a deceived expression. ¡°At this rate, it will take me¡­ a few months to advance to a Medium Core. This won¡¯t do, I need to find a faster way.¡± He said out loud to no one in particular, except for Onyx who had just got awoken by his voice. Licking his lips, he squinted at Kai, almost as if asking ¡®Why are you talking to yourself, man?¡¯. The boy let out a chuckle and pet Onyx¡¯s fluff, bringing their heads closer together and apologizing discretely. ¡°Come on now, it¡¯s time to train. Or, well, you can also just stay in here and sleep some more.¡± Onyx¡¯s gaze lingered on the bed, seemingly contemplating the offer. However, it didn¡¯t take long for him to fully jump on the bed and coil himself up, instantly falling asleep and snoring lightly. ¡°Heh¡± Kai snorted as he prepared to walk outside, however, he suddenly remembered something, and pulled out the purple necklace. A shiver ran down his spine as he stared at its shiny surface. Gulping, he placed it around his neck and sat down on the bed, clutching the sphere within his shivering hand. One other place that may have some information about the form¡­ This library. I¡¯m sure there has to be an old book, or a hint, or something! His crimson eyes stared into the cube hidden within the purple sphere, his pupils trembling as he inspected it. A few drops of sweat dripped down his face, as it had been much too long since he last entered it. Recalling what happened last time, he felt hopeful, but he knew it was foolish for any more than that. However was it that bad of him to believe he could see his parents again? His teeth ground against each other, letting out a scraping sound as he contemplated his next decision. ¡°Fuck it.¡± He said in a voice barely above a whisper and injected mana within the necklace, and he instantly felt his consciousness get dragged inside. He didn¡¯t struggle like last time, however, the amount of mana stored within his core lowered by more than half. His seemingly lifeless body fell on Onyx, startling him. His expression immediately changed as he woke up after seeing his companion¡¯s body, his breathing stable but very frail. He jumped up and howled loudly, waking up anyone in the manor who had already fallen asleep. Chapter 92: Blasphemous Book Kai¡¯s eyes slowly opened, his blurry vision becoming clearer as he stood up. His heart skipped a beat upon seeing the familiar room again after such a long time. Everything remained as he left it, almost as if time didn¡¯t pass. He slowly walked through the bookshelves, tracing his fingers along the covers as he quickly read the titles. They left so many books behind, I wonder if I¡¯ll ever have the time to read all of them¡­ A light sigh escaped his lips as he picked up a book related to history. Flipping through its pages, he noticed a great deal of them were damaged, although not unreadable. I wonder where they even got all of these from, most of them looked like they¡¯d been picked up from a broken-down library. Oh well, as long as they¡¯re helpful¡­ He picked up a few more related books and walked toward the table. The chair creaked under his weight, and he began reading the books. Silence accompanied his endeavor, as the quiet void outside enveloped the room in a tranquil atmosphere. Sighing, he laid forward and immersed himself in the books, carefully reading every word as the sound of flipping pages filled his brain. After finishing one book he picked up another, and another before re-reading them. The notion of time had completely vanished for him, and he didn¡¯t care about anything other than gathering information. With each book he put down, a little bit more information about the continent revealed itself to him. Information about the prominent figures of humanity, elves, and even the dwarves. More details about the different races and even some forbidden zones he took note to avoid. Even if he didn¡¯t find what he was looking for, his desire to learn more about this world pushed him to memorize the contents of each book, though he wasn¡¯t sure how much of it he¡¯d lose. I was never good at studying anyway¡­ if I retain ten percent of all this I¡¯d be lucky He chuckled to himself as he started reading another book. It had an old, brown cover, the title of which has long since been lost to time, as even the front page referring to it had been torn apart. Its yellow pages were covered in dirt and soot, with holes gaping through some of them. A dark, crimson splatter dirtied its back, some of it spilling onto the pages. There were signs of burning all over it, almost as if someone wanted to get rid of it but couldn¡¯t do so in time. As he flipped through it, his pupils widened as a small piece of paper flew out from within, landing gracefully on the table. Putting the book aside, he grabbed the mysterious document, fiddling with it and eventually undoing it, revealing a large map of the entire continent. Drawn onto it were a few, thick and uneven lines, starting from the Vampire Kingdom and ending somewhere between a forest and the Kingdom of Aravia. Based on Kai¡¯s knowledge, that spot has been taken over by a mysterious force, however, he didn¡¯t know the exact details of what it was. This seems to be a map¡­ like from one of those old pirate movies. He chuckled lightly as he pondered over it, feeling quite intrigued. I wonder what it could lead to, by the looks of things my parents didn¡¯t explore it yet¡­ either they didn¡¯t get the chance to or simply refused to do so. If it¡¯s the latter, does that mean that whatever is hidden in that area was stronger than them? The thought alone made him shiver. Although he didn¡¯t understand how strong his parents were, he had a pretty good idea just from seeing them fight with all they had. His chest tightened as a flash of that horrifying moment appeared in his mind, which he quickly dispelled and distracted himself with the book, putting away the map. I¡¯ll grab it with me, though I¡¯m not sure about ever going there¡­ With that idea in mind, he started reading the old book. At first, it seemed ordinary, safe for the messy handwriting. It began like most other history books, presenting the continents and their inhabitants, and then focusing on a race, usually humans, and explaining their history before moving on to the next. In all the other books he¡¯d read, vampires were always last to be talked about, and never in a good light. Under those circumstances, Kai was naturally shocked after he saw that this book, broken and burnt as it may be, with missing pages and holes in the middle of the chapters, first spoke about the vampires. However, the most baffling part was the way they were described, and how the author had even introduced them. Kai took a step back and inhaled deeply, re-reading the paragraph to make sure he wasn¡¯t seeing things. <> Kai¡¯s mind reeled in shock as he read the first few paragraphs over and over again, barely able to believe what he was reading. Krepiskin? Is that what our race¡¯s actual name is? And, another God? What is this man talking about? Isn¡¯t Lumiera the only one? Well, at least for this universe. Besides that, I don¡¯t even understand what he is talking about in the second half, was this man a prominent figure? This¡­ maybe he has the answers I need? His gut told him as much, at least, so he kept on reading, however as he continued, he noticed that it became increasingly difficult to read. Whether it was because of the ugly handwriting, the crimson marks, the burns or holes, or because of a language barrier, as there were words so old he wasn¡¯t sure they even existed in the current vocabulary anymore. <> Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. <> <> The more Kai read, the more he realized that this book wasn¡¯t ordinary¡­ Just like it stated, it was the diary of a prominent figure from ages past. A religious fanatic huh¡­ Yet I can¡¯t even read the name of this religion or who their God was. It seems like any record for that name, regardless of where in the book it was located, has been destroyed. This can¡¯t be a coincidence! Someone destroyed this religion! Coming to that conclusion, Kai took a break to rearrange his thoughts. He had not expected such a shocking and blasphemous book to be located in the library. After all, he had already met Lumiera, so he knew the truth, but he felt intrigued by this fake God. If Mom and Dad left this here, that must mean they want me to learn more about it¡­ maybe they even marked the map for me. I¡¯m sure they¡­ they planned to take me there themselves one day¡­ He wiped the tear threatening to form in the corner of his eye and stood up, stuffing the map and the rest of the books within his spatial ring, before taking a deep breath. ¡°Time to get out of here¡­¡± His body turned into a blur right as he said that, and completely disappeared in a bright flash of light as he returned to the real world. ¡­ His eyes opened lazily as if he had just awoken from a very long nap. A quiet chatter landed in his ears, followed by a hot, slimy sensation on his face. Startled awake, he jumped on his bed with widened eyes, only to find that Aina, Elizabeth, and Onyx watched over him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He asked as he yawned and stretched. ¡°You tell us. Onyx yelled like a maniac for five minutes until we came to check what the commotion was all about.¡± Kai turned to the Obborik and asked with a slight smile. ¡°Are you part husky too?¡± ¡°Husky?¡± Elizabeth repeated, ¡°Stop with your jokes and tell us what happened.¡± ¡°Nothing, I just went inside the necklace for a bit.¡± ¡°Necklace? Ah!¡± Aina exclaimed as she moved a bit closer. ¡°That¡¯s right, you can access it now, can¡¯t you? What did you find?¡± ¡°Well, nothing much. Just books, and books, and then more books. I think my parent¡¯s favorite child was this library.¡± He quipped with a light chuckle, not revealing the entire story. Not that he wanted to hide anything more from them, but such controversial information was hard to explain to begin with. ¡°I spent a bit of time reading about the continent and picked up some books I haven¡¯t finished yet, nothing much.¡± ¡°Fascinating¡­¡± Aina murmured, still unable to believe what kind of magic Ray had developed. ¡°This is unheard of, such a large storage device, and it looks like there''s a lot of space left to fill as well.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Now that you mention it, there seems to be a lot of land inside of there.¡± Kai added, feeding Aina¡¯s information-hungry mind even more. ¡°But the cost to enter and get things out, even in a storage ring is¡­ huge. It¡¯s like it knows exactly what I took out and I had to pay the price.¡± He remarked after inspecting his mana core, and let out a sigh after seeing how little mana he had left. ¡°I need to start training more seriously from now on, at this rate this won¡¯t do.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Elizabeth said, finally able to insert herself into the conversation. ¡°But remember that your situation is special, so you should take your time understanding how everything works.¡± Kai nodded, bringing a hand to his chin as he contemplated. ¡°I can¡¯t seem to think of any solution though, I¡¯m stuck at just using both techniques together¡­ It¡¯s way too inefficient but I don¡¯t understand them enough, they¡¯re more magic than the spells I¡¯m casting. In retrospect, I should have looked for some books related to that instead of history¡­¡± He sighed and leaned against the bedframe, placing a pillow in between. ¡°That¡¯s alright, we have time to figure it out. Oh, now that I think of it we may have one book about magical techniques¡­ For something so important, weirdly, they weren¡¯t researched more thoroughly.¡± Aina stood up and got ready to leave, however she halted in her footsteps as Elizabeth¡¯s lips parted. ¡°If you don¡¯t know much about techniques, then how did you modify the one Elena gave you?¡± The room fell silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. ¡°That¡¯s a great question, actually, how did you?¡± Aina added, feeling quite intrigued. Kai¡¯s vision ran all around the place, trying to remember what exactly he had done six years ago with the technique. ¡°I¡­ I just felt like it didn¡¯t feel right, that it wasn¡¯t complete. I¡¯m not sure why but it¡¯s like the solution popped into my head, I was too excited and focused to question it, but now that you mention it¡­ It¡¯s weird, to say the least.¡± Aina walked toward the door and turned to Kai as she left, her voice lingering inside the room. ¡°Well, let¡¯s not fret over it then, and let¡¯s just focus on how you can start understanding them. Truth be told I don¡¯t know either.¡± Elizabeth sighed and chuckled. ¡°That woman¡­ she always gets like this when it comes to innovation, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed.¡± ¡°I have¡­¡± Kai scratched the back of his head, remembering how Aina acted when they first made a breakthrough with the pill, and during said process. Well, it¡¯s good she¡¯s lively, though you¡¯d almost forget she¡¯s the boss around here with all the free time she has¡­ Elly squinted as she looked at him, seemingly reading his thoughts. Scoffing, she ruffled Kai¡¯s hair, and then Onyx¡¯s and left as well, leaving the two alone. Kai inhaled deeply and pulled out the books he took out, not including the diary and the map. He figured it was already too late to train with Euphridia, so he decided to study some more before going to sleep. Alright¡­ let¡¯s try to recall the information first, and then I¡¯ll pick up on what I forgot. Chapter 93: Seeing Results A soft breeze blew through the thick canopies, causing the fragile leaves to sway slightly as they sang a melancholic song, together with the dancing blades of grass and the critter who had yet to sleep. The moon hung high in the sky, its gentle rays illuminating the chilly ground, and millions of stars accompanied it on the dark canvas of the night. Below, at Evicario¡¯s First Gate, somewhere deep inside the city, Aina¡¯s mansion bustled with activity despite the late hours. Grunts echoed into the empty area, and scorching lights escaped the tree¡¯s foliage every so often, giving the illusion of a burning bonfire from afar. The sound of crumbling rocks echoed in the mansion¡¯s backyard, accompanied by a small cloud of dust that quickly scattered, revealing the remains of a burnt stone pillar. It wasn¡¯t one of the ones surrounding the training field, but a small one, about the same height as Kai¡¯s. Cuts, scorch marks, and other signs of damage covered what remained standing. Kai panted a few meters away from it, holding his wand with an excited expression on his face. Euphridia sat down on the nearby bench, alongside Elizabeth who oversaw Kai¡¯s magic performance. ¡°Not bad,¡± she commented with a slight smile. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few weeks but you can already destroy magic-enhanced structures, you¡¯re advancing fast.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Kai smiled back and clutched the wand in his hand. ¡°But I¡¯ve still got a long way to go, I¡¯ve yet to get close to where I was before.¡± Hearing that, Elizabeth¡¯s expression changed slightly, and she sighed as she stood up. ¡°It¡¯s not about the past-¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Kai interrupted her, waving his hand. ¡°My core is way too different, I¡¯m aware. Still, I can¡¯t help but compare myself¡­¡± ¡°Well, could the past you have sliced stone dummies in half with a single slash?¡± Euphridia interjected. ¡°I bet not. You¡¯re not the same as before, so comparing yourself to your younger self is redundant.¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯re ri-¡± ¡°No, I am right. If you keep sulking each time you see your magic being worse than a few years ago and not strive to improve you¡¯ll never get better.¡± Kai sighed, finding himself at a loss for words from Euphirida¡¯s lecture. She¡¯s right¡­ I¡¯ve been crying too much about the past lately¡­ ¡°Enough about that,¡± Elizabeth said, waving her wand toward the destroyed stone pillar. The rocks shuddered and disappeared into dust, from which another pillar rose from the ground. It stood at about two meters tall and was considerably thicker when compared to the last one. ¡°Try using something else besides a fireball now, you have access to all elements so show us some other spells.¡± ¡°Ah- alright.¡± Kai sat down and plucked out the fire crystals from his wand, storing them inside the ring and taking out six others. Their color reflected that of the ocean - a deep, dark, and mysterious blue. Waves seemed to form on its surface, seemingly copying the tides. He quickly placed them in their place and they lit up with a soft light as the wand accepted them as a catalyst. ¡°That¡¯s one interesting tool, isn¡¯t it?¡± Euphy commented as Kai got up. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen, what did he call it, a ¡®modular¡¯ wand?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s¡­ intriguing to say the least. But I guess when you can use all elements¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Kai overheard the two talking but didn¡¯t feel like explaining it right now. Well, they have the gist of it anyway¡­ I¡¯d rather not tell too much to anyone. He inhaled deeply and aimed at the newly formed stone pillar, and a soft, quick murmur escaped his lips as he swayed his wand forward as if he were slashed with a sword. A thin blade of water manifested before him, which shot directly at the pillar. It scattered upon impact, leaving the target unscathed. Kai frowned upon seeing that and proceeded to shoot three more blades before he became slightly exhausted, however, the result didn¡¯t change. Elizabeth chuckled lightly as she walked next to Kai. ¡°Your casting is good, but you lack in everything else.¡± She said, placing one hand over Kai¡¯s back and the other on his chest. ¡°Your posture is all wrong for example. You used the same stance for both Fire and Water when they are the exact opposites.¡± ¡°Fire is wild, unrestrained. It seeks destruction, it wants to devour all life in its path.¡± She explained, taking out a fire crystal and placing it on the ground before crushing it beneath her feet. It exploded in a thousand pieces, leaving behind a small flame, which she then fed a few pieces of wood. ¡°It grows as it consumes life, and in turn, creates it. It is said that our ancestors survived this long because of fire in its most natural and most feral form.¡± ¡°As a result, mages who focus on fire are more aggressive, angrier, and more unpredictable.¡± Kai nodded as he watched the small fire grow into a wild flame, the wood crackling as it broke apart under the increasingly high temperatures. However, before it could fully devour the Kindle, a large ball of water descended upon it, instantly putting it out. ¡°Water, on the other hand, is the essence of life.¡± Elizabeth put away her and explained. ¡°Without water, life would not be possible, it flows through all of us in roughly the same quantity. It exists in plants and mountains, sky and earth, it is everywhere. However, water, unlike fire, is gentle. It is malleable, taking the shape of any container you place it in, but it is also diverse. Water doesn¡¯t exist under a single form, but rather it changes depending on the environment.¡± As she said that, she waved her wand, creating another sphere of water which she levitated carefully. ¡°At a normal temperature, water is gentle, comfortable, and adaptive. That doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s not dangerous, as even in its current state it can take a life just as easily as its counterparts.¡± She murmured under her breath, and the water instantly turned to ice, becoming a frozen, cold sphere. ¡°It is most dangerous in this form. It¡¯s rough, hard, and numbing, however, at its core, it is still water.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°However, Kai, tell me, which would it hurt more to get hit by?¡± ¡°Well, the ice sphere.¡± He said without hesitation. ¡°And you¡¯d be right. Although it is easier to predict, in this form water is no different than earth, except¡­¡± She murmured once again and the ice melted back into the water, which she then shot toward the stone pillar, and with another murmur, it turned back into ice just as it made contact. The ice shattered into pieces, barely leaving a dent in the earth. ¡°It is brittle, it cannot compare to the earth¡¯s toughness. Now, look carefully¡­¡± Elizabeth inhaled deeply and waved her hands in a swift, rapid but gentle motion. She imitated the movement of the waves crashing against the shore, and she cast a chantless spell as she shot a small blade of water toward the pillar. It disappeared upon contact, however not because it scattered, like Kai¡¯s previous attacks. The upper half of the earth pillar slid down, crumbling to the ground due to a perfectly clean cut. ¡°You used the same principle for fire magic as you did for water, which is the wrong approach. You need to understand that the elements are fundamentally different in nature, and each of them has a technique to be used effectively.¡± Kai stared at the cut, his mouth agape and a shiver ran down his spine as his teacher¡¯s words echoed in his ears. He gulped and nodded after a brief moment before clutching his wand. ¡°I¡­ I will try again.¡± Elizabeth nodded, and Euphridia sighed with a longing expression as she watched the two perform such amazing acts of magic so effortlessly. ¡­ A few days had passed since then, and the day Sverik needed to leave for the Magic Academy approached swiftly. According to Aina, Kai could leave at the same time, however, he has yet to make a decision. He sat cross-legged in his room, breathing slowly as he absorbed mana by using the two techniques at the same time. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his expression trembled as it changed from the calmness of the ocean to the wrinkles of the forest. The mana around him, although turning scarcer with each moment he meditated, rushed toward his extremities and fed his core. He let out a light sigh as his eyes opened and his lips stopped moving. Stretching, he took a look at his mana core, which has expanded by at least twenty percent since the first time he had created it. That meant it could roughly hold at least twenty percent more mana, and that it was getting closer and closer to the point of medium core. Still so long to go¡­ A saddened expression manifested on his face, however after taking a sip from his water bottle, he went right back to training. And the days kept passing like this. During the day he trained his mana core and read any book he could get his hands on, and during the night he trained the sword with Euphridia and magic with Elizabeth. The notebook his grandpa gave him was almost full as he wrote down any observations and details that he saw during these two periods. Although he clearly wasn¡¯t happy with his progress, he continued as every little bit counted. Onyx was mostly absent from the daytime training, as there was only so much he could sleep while watching over a statue. During the night, however, he decided to get more involved and began doing practice with Kai. Whether it be a sword or wand, Onyx was the first one to fight him or alongside him. And just like that, weeks passed, time in which Kai had spent countless nights without sleep all to advance, even if just a tiny bit faster. His core had grown to about sixty percent, and so did his sword and magic skills, as well as his coordination with the young Obborik. Despite that, he still couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Euphirida, even when they fought two versus one. Kai panted heavily during one such training session, where Euphridia¡¯s figure was nothing more than a blur which became increasingly faster in his eyes as his mana supplies dwindled. Even Onyx, with his animalistic instinct, could barely keep up with her, and it didn¡¯t take long for both of them to fall to the ground, defeated and exhausted. ¡°I didn¡¯t know your specialty is speed¡­¡± Kai quipped in a haggard voice. ¡°It¡¯s not, I just want to train your eyesight and reactions better. If we were to compete in strength you¡¯d stand no chance.¡± She bragged proudly, despite her opponent being barely older than eleven. ¡°Yeah, yeah, keep staying humble,¡± Kai replied, followed by Onyx who mockingly imitated her tone. A light chuckle escaped the boy¡¯s lips, which turned into a hearty, albeit weak laughter. She stomped the ground, however, she joined in, laughing as well and taking a seat alongside them. ¡°You¡¯re improving a lot every day, Kai. I¡¯m proud of you, however, don¡¯t neglect your health. I know you¡¯re barely sleeping, and no, meditation doesn¡¯t count as sleeping.¡± Kai sighed and closed his eyes. ¡°You may be right, but the less I sleep¡­ the fewer nightmares I have and the more I can train.¡± ¡°You¡¯re having nightmares?¡± She asked concerned, putting down the bottle she was about to drink from. ¡°What kind?¡± The boy sighed again, a few seconds passing before he replied. ¡°They¡¯re vague but¡­ I feel like something is haunting me. Or rather, hunting me. I¡¯m running, faster and faster in an endless, foggy void¡­ and yet I never seem to reach my destination. At first, the fog is white, however, it turns redder and redder the more I run, until it becomes so black I¡¯m afraid to continue¡­ And the worst part is, there is no light. No hope.¡± Euphy remained quiet, analyzing the boy¡¯s words, however, she found it hard to conclude, let alone give advice. ¡°But Kai, a nightmare is still but a nightmare.¡± ¡°I know, which is why it hurts even more. What could be haunting me so much¡­ it¡¯s just¡­¡± He sniffed as a tear ran down his cheeks, followed by another and then countless more. ¡°It¡¯s scary, Euphy. I¡¯m scared¡­¡± The woman scooted closer to him, and lifted Kai into her embrace, tightly hugging him and petting his disheveled hair. She didn¡¯t say anything besides letting him take whatever warmth she could give as he sobbed wordlessly. ¡­ Euphridia got up, carrying the sleeping boy into his room, followed by Onyx who seemed to have gotten used to Kai getting escorted. Euphridia tucked him into bed, not bothering to change his clothes. His steady breathing indicated a peaceful sleep, however, the period where dreams began hadn¡¯t yet arrived. She watched over him for a little more before taking her leave, failing to notice a soft, glowing light over his forehead. Not even Onyx saw it, and if Aina were present she would have been oblivious to it as well. Over time, Kai¡¯s heart rate became faster and faster, and so did his breathing. Sweat drenched his body, and Onyx did his best to calm him down, however, unlike before it seemed less effective. The Obborik wasn¡¯t sure what bothered his companion so much during his sleep, and he yelped gently as he used a little bit of wind to cool the boy down. ¡°Awooo¡­¡± He howled gently, as if begging the heavens to leave Kai alone, however his prayers fell on deaf ears, as the only Goddess in this world stopped paying attention to them a long time ago. Chapter 94: Endless Void A white void filled with countless clouds of dust. Complete silence and a voiceless scream echoing in the distance. Kai¡¯s eyes widened with shock as realization hit him. Back here again¡­ He inhaled sharply as he slowly turned, trying to figure out which part of the nightmare he ended up in. It¡¯s the beginning, that means I have some time. Clenching his fists, he didn¡¯t hesitate to start running in a random direction. His feet didn¡¯t leave any footsteps, nor did the clouds change when he dashed through them. However, at the same time, he let out a low grunt as the seemingly fluffy entity sent a sharp, needle-like pain throughout his entire body. Gritting his teeth, he marched on and picked up the pace despite the unimaginable pain. His breathing quickly turned ragged, however, he didn¡¯t care about exhaustion or discomfort or any damage that he suffered, all he cared about was running as far away as possible. The void shook, and the clouds behind him began dispersing each time it did so. A cold shiver ran down his spine however as much as his soul told him to, he didn¡¯t dare look back. With a racing heart and weakening limbs, he kept on running and running, the weird entity behind him seemingly never able to catch up. It¡¯s toying with me again! He yelled inwardly, clenching his fists, unable to contain his anger. Bastard! Despite all that, he advanced, and the surroundings began to change as he did. The white void slowly turned into a night, countless stars shining upon the black canvas. Kai¡¯s steps halted slightly as he inhaled sharply, his mouth agape as he watched the new environment with widened eyes. Countless corpses of similarly dressed men and women littered the ground, crimson rivers forming from their blood. He gulped and closed his eyes, refusing to look anymore as he began running again. It¡¯s an illusion, it¡¯s not real! It¡¯s not real! However, no matter how many times he told himself that, the awful feeling rooted deep within his psyche refused to listen. The battlefield he ran through was much too familiar to him. He ran and ran, stumbling upon corpses and rocks, hurting himself in the process as he stubbornly refused to watch the massacre, even with the fearful entity close on his chase. It¡¯s not real! He screamed with shut eyes. However, as he bit his lower lip, the temperature suddenly changed, and he was surrounded by a frozen hellscape. Buildings as tall as the trees from the Dark Forest surrounded him, accompanied by lamp posts, shops, and everything the modern world encompassed. However, everything was covered in a thick layer of ice, including the ground, which Kai instantly slipped on. Falling, he closed his eyes and the world changed once again, this time to a veritable hellscape. There were no signs of human activity. The earth, albeit covered in molten lava, fire, ash, and dust, seemed at peace. A shocked sigh escaped Kai¡¯s body, his pupils widening. His entire body trembled as he watched the unfamiliarly familiar sights burn away into nothingness. A tear ran down his cheek, which landed in the ocean of lava, immediately changing the surroundings to the surface of a calm ocean. The sky, as blue as it could ever be gave the water a similar color. He advanced, briefly forgetting about why he was running in the first place, and simply enjoyed the rippling of the ocean as he stepped upon it. Just like a rock thrown into a pond, his presence left behind ripples that met and destroyed one another until none remained complete. Biting his lip, he kneeled and touched the water, however, a thunderous boom echoed in the area just as he did so, followed by a quick bolt of lighting which transformed the tranquility into a disastrous storm. Waves crashed against his body, sending him flying everywhere, which slowly turned red, becoming more and more aggressive. Bloody water forced its way into his lungs, depriving him of oxygen. Holding his hands to his neck, he tried swimming, he tried running, he tried getting away, however, the unforgiving tides refused to let him go. Before he could even get a proper footing, a huge wave brought him to the bottom of the ocean, where he gave away his last breath of air, which slowly floated to the surface and scattered into the bloody wind. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± an ancient, archaic voice echoed within the storm, followed by a light chuckle which slowly faded away¡­ ¡­ Kai¡¯s eyes snapped open, his widened pupils staring at the ceiling as sweat trickled down his blazing skin. The clothes he wore stuck to his body, revealing his pale skin as they became see-through. A puddle formed under him, permeating his bed sheets. The chandelier¡¯s light blinded his hazy vision, which slowly returned to normal as he blinked rapidly. Tears fell on his cheeks, and his chest heaved heavily as he tried to calm down his rapid breathing. He slowly stood up, leaning against the bed frame, and held a hand close to his heart, which threatened to jump out of his chest. Onyx rushed to his side, licking his face and trying to get him to calm down by placing his head on Kai¡¯s lap. The boy pats the Obborik¡¯s fluffy head as he inhales deeply and exhales slowly, helping him gradually calm down. A few minutes passed, and the sound of ragged breathing became less and less present as Kai managed to get his nerves under control. Onyx let out a low yelp, licking his face and jumping onto his lap, curling up like a cat and doing his best to fit despite almost crushing Kai due to his weight. ¡°Arggh¡­ get off of me you¡­ fatass!¡± He groaned and did his best to put the beast off of him, however, the effort turned out to be fruitless as Onyx¡¯s weight turned out to be too much, even for Kai¡¯s current strength. ¡°C¡¯mon boy get off, I¡¯m fine now.¡± The Obborik¡¯s ears twitched, and his tail wagged rapidly back and forth as he removed himself from Kai¡¯s bed, and only placed his head back on his lap. Letting out a light chuckle, Kai ruffled Onyx¡¯s fluff and let out a large sigh. His lips smacked as they parted, and a quiet, raspy voice escaped his body as he said, ¡°Thank you¡­¡±. Closing his eyes, he sighed once again and slowly got up, looking back at the bed and then at his clothes. I don¡¯t remember the entire dream, but it must have been pretty bad¡­ His legs trembled slightly as he walked toward the shower, not bothering to get any extra clothes as he hurried to get the sweat and dirt off of his body. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡­ Aina and Elizabeth sat on a sofa in the living room, and in front of them, placed on the coffee table, two cups of warm coffee emanated an intoxicating, alluring smell. Kai stood opposite them, on a couch and read and commented on his findings, which he wrote in the journal. ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to add compared to last week. I tried to fuse the two techniques countless times but failed each time. My understanding of how they work is too shallow.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Aina said, taking a sip from her cup. ¡°How much have you progressed?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve almost reached the medium core level, however, it feels like it¡¯s taking an eternity. The amount of mana absorbed decreases as I advance. At this rate, the most I¡¯ll be able to get is one star without actually taking an eternity to advance.¡± ¡°Hmm, according to the data you¡¯ve written down you should be able to reach the one-star rank in one to two months, after which progress will almost completely stagnate,¡± Elizabeth said after snatching the notebook from Kai¡¯s hands. ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m not sure how I can advance afterward.¡± ¡°I think the problem is that the mana quality is too poor here, even with the barrier filtering it from the outside,¡± Aina said after thinking for a good minute. ¡°Mana quality? Is that why when I first stepped foot here my mana veins almost exploded?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s precisely why. To begin with, mana quality differs depending on where you are on the continent. In the Vampire Kingdom, mana is so scarce and poor in quality it¡¯s considered poison to some, but in Evicario and the Dwarven Mountain range it is passable.¡± Aina explained, manifesting a pen out of thin air and grabbing the notebook from Elizabeth. ¡°In Aravia the mana quality is considerably better, but I cannot vouch for the other parts of the continent. The Dark Forest and The Great Forest both have great amounts of pure mana, however everything else is beyond my scope. I haven¡¯t explored the rest personally, nor have others before me as it¡¯s simply too dangerous.¡± ¡°Not even the high-ranking court mages?¡± Kai asked, feeling a bit puzzled. ¡°Well, they don¡¯t exactly care for such matters. This brings me to another thing. The barrier that protects my residence also filters the mana from outside and siphons it inside, making it easier for us to train and cast spells using it. It¡¯s about twice as pure as the one outside, however, it¡¯s not that big of an improvement compared to the facilities in the Magic Academy and Royal Palaces.¡± ¡°Even two times isn¡¯t a lot? Then what is considered a lot?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Five times is the minimum in the Magic Academy and ten times in the Evicario Royal Palace, so you can discern how pure the mana in those places must be.¡± Kai¡¯s mouth turned agape upon hearing that, and he fidgeted with his fingers as he thought about Arthur¡¯s proposal. Going to the Magic Academy would mean that I get to train faster in a better environment¡­ but also means losing my freedom. He grits his teeth, weighing the pros and cons, however in the end he lets out a sigh and lays back on the sofa. ¡°Not an easy decision to make now, is it?¡± Elizabeth asked, sipping from her coffee. ¡°Though I would suggest going out to gain experience first. Most of the people in that academy are stuck up and don¡¯t know hardship. Spoiled brats, hmph.¡± Aina nodded in agreement, however, her lips parted after a brief moment of contemplation. ¡°That¡¯s true, however, the kids in special classes are mostly comprised of commoners or low-ranking nobles. Not to mention Kai¡¯s situation¡­ I think he¡¯s already gone through a lot.¡± Silence descended upon the three, and Kai let out a light chuckle to diffuse the situation. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m not sure which path to take but I¡¯ll decide when Sverik leaves, I still have some time until then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, don¡¯t be hasty in decision-making,¡± Aina said as she crossed her legs. ¡°Speaking of, I think Euphy wants to take you hunting outside to see how well you do against wild animals, I¡¯m not sure when though.¡± ¡°Next week,¡± Elizabeth added, ¡°I¡¯ll be accompanying them just in case.¡± ¡°Ah- That¡¯s great!¡± Kai leaned forward, a dumb smile plastered on his face. ¡°I¡¯m so tired of getting my ass kicked by her!¡± ¡°So you want to get your ass kicked by the savage animals then?¡± Elizabeth chuckled, covering her mouth with one hand. Aina quickly followed suit, and Kai¡¯s face immediately turned as red as a tomato. ¡°Hey! It won¡¯t be like that, I¡¯m telling you, plus I¡¯ll take Onyx with me, let¡¯s see who dares fight me then!¡± ¡°Well, the snake you brought back when you first arrived dared to¡­¡± Aina said with a wide smile. ¡°Though that¡¯s a pretty rare common occurrence you should be fine now, they¡¯re pretty weak. ¡°That one doesn¡¯t count. Speaking of, what did you do with the scales and everything?¡± ¡°Oh! I almost forgot about that. Well, we ate the meat¡­ a long time ago. As for the scales, well I asked Old Nick to make you an armor out of it¡­ And I think he¡¯s already done with making it, well probably has been for a few months now. Oh Goddess he must be so annoyed¡­ you should go fetch it with Euphridia later.¡± ¡°Huh, why don¡¯t you go get it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need him yelling at me, I¡¯ve had enough of his complaints over these past few centuries, it¡¯s time to pass on the torch.¡± ¡°The torch of¡­ his yelling?¡± Aina turned to Kai, looking at him straight in the eyes, and said in a very serious tone. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Arrgh, fine. I¡¯ll go pick it up once the sun goes down, until then I¡¯ll keep meditating.¡± Kai got up after saying that and rushed to his room, the growling of his stomach echoing in the hallway. ¡°I¡¯ll go eat first, then meditate!¡± The two women looked at each other and let out a hearty laugh before their expressions turned serious once again. ¡°Euphridia said Kai is having nightmares,¡± Aina said in a concerned voice. ¡°I know, she also told me. They seem-.¡± Elizabeth said, however, she couldn¡¯t even finish her sentence before Aina interrupted her. ¡°They¡¯re messing with him, did you notice he seems¡­ different?¡± ¡°Ugh, I was about to say that.¡± Elly rolled her eyes and pouted. ¡°Haha, sorry, sorry.¡± Aina chuckled. ¡°But I do wonder what could be going on with him, or what his nightmares may mean.¡± Elizabeth sighed and fell into contemplative silence, however in the end only shrugged and leaned against the sofa. ¡°They¡¯re his demons to fight, we can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, but we can still help him-¡± ¡°Maybe he doesn¡¯t want help, if he did he would have told us already. Let¡¯s let him be for the time being and wait.¡± Aina nodded and leaned back as well, picking up a book from nearby and flipped through its pages, filling the silence with its song. Chapter 95: Hunting A forest as large on the surface as a big human city and as dense as The Dark Forest hid under the cover of the night. Soft rays of moonlight slithered through its leaves, touching the dark ground underneath the soft blades of grass. The wind whistled gently, murmuring about times long gone, and about the present, however it seemed more like an illusion than the truth. This forest, compared to its neighbors, housed countless valuable plants whether they were used for medicinal purposes, food, or aesthetics. It was a good foraging ground for travelers, elves, and wild fauna. Most of the beasts slept at this time, hidden away from predators in their little holes. Underground, on the surface, or burrowing inside the trees, all of them dreamt of tomorrow¡¯s meal. However, some of them were nocturnal predators. They hunted their prey at night, hoping to find it sleeping and vulnerable before striking at its vitals and enjoying a barely deserved meal. However, this fateful night the peaceful atmosphere was disturbed by a group of hunters. The ground shook and the grass rustled as a large beast ran through the forest. Its giant paws left large footprints in the soft earth, and it broke apart the green blades of grass into multiple pieces as it rushed away from something or someone. Its orange, black, and scaly tail stood on end as it jumped on a large fallen tree, grabbing onto it with its sharp claws. It escalated it with dexterity, easily climbing over it, however leaving a thick trail of a crimson color which stretched long before the tree. Whipping its tail, it looked backward, toward its hunters. However, even as it caught its breath, unable to see anyone in its trail, a ball of fire landed upon it. It scorched the scaly skin decorating its body and caused a furious, yet fearful roar like a hiss to escape its elongated mouth. The feline-like creature rushed over the tree and into the forest. A shiver ran down its spine as the sound of a distant howl echoed in its ears, prompting it to run even faster, however, the crimson tail it left behind revealed the beast¡¯s location. A group of three people followed quickly behind it, accompanied by a white canine. They stopped in front of the trunk, not trying to go past it, and sat down to catch their breath. There were two women, one of whom had a head of blonde, luscious hair and emerald green eyes. She had a wand strapped to her waist and sat in a beautiful, thin holster. The other woman had deep purple eyes and straight, black hair, similarly holding a sword in a sheath on her waist. Both of them wore armor made from compressed tree leaves, leather, and iron. The last person was a short boy with long, silver hair and red eyes like the blood etched onto the trunk. They were, of course, Kai, Elizabeth and Euphridia. ¡°Great shot back there Kai, too bad it didn¡¯t do any damage to the Terp.¡± Elizabeth sighed as she pulled out a water bottle from her ring. ¡°Its only weak spots are the belly and head.¡± ¡°Well you did a great job slashing its chest, too bad it ran away like a coward!¡± Euphridia sighed, anger evident in her voice. ¡°This is supposed to be combat training not running training! I swear to Goddess, nocturnal animals are the biggest cowards!¡± Her armor clattered as she hit the ground with her fist before similarly pulling out a bottle of water and drinking it in a few gulps. ¡°Thank you, and it¡¯s a shame it ran away like that. There¡¯s no point in catching up since it won''t fight anyway, and going deeper into the forest won¡¯t do us any good either way.¡± Kai leaned against the tree and sighed, pulling a water bottle and a bowl to share with Onyx, who growled toward the beast¡¯s location. ¡°It¡¯s alright boy, we don¡¯t need to chase such cowards, I¡¯d rather we find something stronger.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know Kai, most animals are diurn and they hide well once they go to sleep, we¡¯ll need the help of an actual hunt,¡± Euphy said, munching on a piece of fruit she picked from who knows where. ¡°But can¡¯t we-¡± ¡°No, we can¡¯t.¡± Elizabeth interrupted him immediately, ¡°For you to be out in the sun even with a hundred layers of protection is like a death sentence.¡± ¡°I know Elly, I¡­ I know.¡± He sighed and closed his eyes, the scars still present on his body, aching as he remembered the incident all those months ago. Clenchist his fists, he jumped to his feet and waited for the other two to follow him. ¡°Let¡¯s go look for another one, maybe a bear of some sort.¡± Euphridia nodded and got up as well. ¡°There is a nocturnal species of bear in those parts, however even the cubs are at least Two Star¡­ oh well it should be fine. It¡¯s called a ¡®Dark Urs¡¯, and it¡¯s incredibly strong because it can use a tiny bit of dark magic.¡± ¡°Dark magic?¡± Elly asked, ¡°Are you sure Kai can go up against that?¡± ¡°Well, worst case scenario we intervene. Plus he has Onyx as well, right boy?¡± ¡°Woof!¡± The Obborik barked, as if saying ¡®Leave it to me!¡± ¡­ Deeper into the forest, the group carefully snuck around a small clearing, looking closely at a bear as dark and mysterious as the night. Two small horns sprouted from its head and a long tail, like the body of a serpent snapping from one side to the other. The beast stood on its hind legs as it scratched its back against a tree, letting out low growls of satisfaction. Its yellow eyes shone brightly in the shadows of the night, creating an eerie, fearful sight. The four looked at each other, neither of them willing to make a sound despite coming here to fight it. The Dark Urs before them looked to still be young, as it carelessly walked around without paying attention to its surroundings. However, its stature said otherwise, as its height seemed to be at least twice as tall as the average man. Kai gulped after inspecting the creature, and his confidence seemed to have suddenly plummeted as he clutched the silver sword¡¯s hilt. Euphirida noticed his nervousness and patted him gently on the back, before smiling mischievously and pushing him forward, out of their hiding spot. He immediately wanted to run back, however it was too late, as the Darks Urs quickly spotted him. Letting out a low growl, it jumped on all fours and rushed toward Kai like a mad bull. Crap He yelled inwardly as he unsheathed his sword and got into a combat position. Staring at the beast, his entire body trembled as his eyes shone with an intense desire to fight. His weak, wobbly legs barely managed to prop him up as the large beast approached him at an intense speed. Quickly murmuring under his breath, his feet shone with a faint light, and so did his body afterward. He waited for the bear to be within inches of him, and jumped up, dodging its fierce bite. The beast sunk its teeth into a branch, ripping it clean off the tree as it looked around for Kai, who came crashing from above. However, before the sword could even get close to its back, the bear rolled away, and Kai dropped the sword and tumbled onto the ground. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. He immediately picked up his wand and sent a fireball straight at the beast, deterring it from charging again. After picking up the sword he retreated and prepared another fireball, this time letting it float around him, waiting for the perfect time to shoot it. Taking a deep breath, he summoned another three, and bit down on his lower lip. Four¡­ good enough. Once again, he got ready to fight the bear, this time his legs rooted firmly on the ground. Kai gulpe, and clutched the hilt tightly as the enraged beast dashed toward him. His heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat ran down his forehead, however, he kept a cool head and prepared to counter the bear¡¯s attack. The creature¡¯s body flashed with soft light, its speed increasing by twofold, its huge figure almost becoming a blur as it appeared in front of Kai in the span of a few seconds. Still too slow! Seeing the bear¡¯s paw move in slow motion as it aimed straight for his face, and with the dexterity of a cat, he avoided the fatal blow and slashed at the beast¡¯s stomach. However his pupils widened as the strike had little to no effects on the tough fur, and he quickly retreated, avoiding another fatal blow. Commanding a fireball toward the beast, he retreated even further as a precaution and quickly analyzed the situation. It can use Inko magic and its body is resistant to slashes¡­ there is also the possibility of Dark Magic¡­ this opponent is going to be tricky. He grinned and looked at the bear, his eyes shining with the desire to battle and kill. Luckily this one doesn¡¯t seem like it will run away¡­ the perfect training partner! The sword shook in his arms, and his body flashed with light as he cast several enhancements. Taking the initiative, he rushed the bear, his body almost becoming a blur, and jumped in the air. He shot a fireball at its face, temporarily blinding it, and thrust his sword straight into its shoulder. Blood sprayed out like a fountain, covering Kai in the crimson liquid. However, he couldn¡¯t be bothered, and he clicked his tongue as he wiped the tip of the sword. Only a flesh wound¡­ That didn¡¯t deter him from trying again, and he slid under the bear, attempting to slash at the soft tissue connecting its legs and lower body. Before his blade could even reach, the beast rose onto its hind legs and rapidly descended once again, its front paws aimed straight at Kai¡¯s stomach. Bastard! He cursed inwardly as he rolled away, barely managing to escape the crushing blow. Jumping up and landing on his feet, Kai didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and shot another fireball at its face, then jumped up again and landed on its shoulder. He raised his sword, ready to plunge it deep into its neck, however before he could even attempt that the bear rose on its legs and rolled over on its back. The boy¡¯s pupils widened and he jumped down without hesitation. He panted, his heart racing after experiencing such close calls one after the other. His right leg shook, the adrenaline coursing through his veins causing unrest. Taking another leap back, he watched the bear roll over on all fours, its disheveled appearance sending a shiver down his spine. The two opponents locked eyes mid-air, and the beast let out an angry growl. However, unlike what Kai expected, it didn¡¯t charge or use any magic but instead seemed to look him up and down. The boy¡¯s pupils constricted, and he suddenly changed his stance, putting his sword away in favor of the wand. The bushes rustled as Onyx jumped out, circling Kai a few times before eyeing the bear with a fierce, annoyed look. He let out a low howl which echoed throughout the forest, waking up a few birds that fled as fast as they could. The Obborik¡¯s body flashed briefly as he cast several Inkos spells, and waited for Kai to give him the go-ahead. Gritting his teeth, the boy pointed his wand at the bear, prompting Onyx to charge straight at it, his figure becoming a blur as the wind howled past him. Compared to the Dark Urs, the young Obborik looked like nothing more than a teenager to an adult. Despite that, the huge beast let out an apprehensive scoff as it carefully followed Onyx, eyeing him like a viper. Kai¡¯s mouth moved wordlessly, a few whispered murmurs escaping his body as a small fireball manifested at the tip of his wand. Waving it around, the flame followed it as it grew bigger and bigger until it reached the size of a baby¡¯s fist. Just like the Dark Urs, he carefully observed his companion and waited for the perfect moment to assist. Squinting, he advanced with caution, calculating the distance and how long the fireball would take to reach the Urs. Onyx approached the bear, and when he was less than three meters away, cast another speed buff spell, which increased his speed by a very small percentage. However, that was all he needed, as the bear¡¯s paw, which would have slammed into his body, missed by a hair¡¯s breadth. The ground shook slightly as the bear¡¯s paw left an imprint, and Onyx took advantage of the slight moment of confusion. Baring his fangs at the creature¡¯s body, he aimed for the soft tissues at the ankle of its front legs, and bit down without mercy. The Dark Urs let out a deep, painful roar and rose on its hind legs, however Onyx didn¡¯t let go. Seeing the opportunity, Kai shot the fireball without hesitation, reaching the beast¡¯s body in less than two seconds, and hit it square on the abdomen. The smell of scorched fur and slightly burnt flesh permeated the air, however, it was nowhere near enough to cause an actual wound. Another roar shook the entire forest and echoed in the air, sending a shiver down Kai¡¯s spine. However, he instantly prepared another fireball and shot it in the same spot. At the same time, he immediately took out three fire crystals let them drop onto the ground, and immediately inserted three earth crystals. All of this happened before the second fireball even hit the bear. When it finally did, the bear¡¯s anguished roar resounded in his mind, finally fully revealing its skin. Kai rushed the beast as fast as he could. A low murmur escaped his body as the ground rose from around him, sending dozens of small, sharp stones and earth projectiles at the freshly revealed soft tissue. Without any fur to protect it, blood began seeping out from its torso. The bear grits its teeth, and its horns glow with a dark light as anger seems to take over its body. The free claw it had lit up with a similar glow, causing Kai¡¯s, and the two women¡¯s pupils to widen in shock. Dark Magic! However, before either of them could do anything, the bear¡¯s magic inmubed paw rushed toward Onyx, who kept digging deeper and deeper into its flesh. Blood covered his white fur, however he refused to let go, even as the deathly attack rushed toward him. ¡°Onyx!¡± Kai yelled out, preparing to send another fireball. But he wasn¡¯t fast enough, and the paw made contact with the young Obborik. The boy stopped breathing for a second as his pulse rose, and anger coursed through his veins at the thought of his companion perishing. However, the muffled sound of shattering glass echoed in Kai¡¯s ears like a church¡¯s bell, which was accompanied by a brief flash. Following, the bear staggered backward, falling onto its back. Onyx immediately took advantage of the opportunity and aimed for its neck, his body glowing with a faint light once again. The Dark Urs let out a pained growl as he once again reached for the Obborik. Onyx glanced at Kai, waking him up from the shock, and the boy immediately acted. Stomping the ground, he waved his wand downward, causing the dark crystals on his wand to glow slightly. The earth around the bear trembled, immediately rising at the same time as the wand, then enveloping the creature¡¯s limbs and torso, rendering it unable to move. With one last move, the ground sunk, burying the beast, the only part of it still visible being its head and neck. Kai panted heavily, putting the wand away and leaning on his sword for support. He let out a relieved sigh, however, this moment of relaxation lasted for only that, a moment. The ground shook once again, small fissures appearing around the bear¡¯s body as it seemed to quickly break free from its earth prison. Onyx let go of the thing and barked repeatedly at Kai, who grabbed the sword and ran as fast as he could, quickly arriving next to his companion. Watching the bear roar and struggle, the will to fight within his pupils softened, and hesitation began to set it as he looked at his blade. The Dark Urs¡¯ horns glowed with a black color once again, and it seemed to break free faster and faster. It bared its fangs at the same time, trying to reach for Kai¡¯s legs. He clutched the hilt of his blade, which shone with a faint silver light, and closed his eyes. Chapter 96: Glory Kill The smell of fresh blood permeated the forest, covered only by the odor of sizzling meat and crackling firewood. A small bonfire warmed the inside of the shadowy clearing, illuminating the gruesome scene a few meters away. On top of it sat a makeshift grill where several types of meat, including fish and poultry, and a few vegetables added for flavor, simmered. Surrounding it were Kai, Elizabeth, Euphridia, and Onyx. They sat on the trunks of dead trees that they carried over from the forest, with Onyx lying close to Kai, looking up at him and licking his blood-covered snout. Kai pets his head, staring at the flame with dilated eyes. The two women looked at each other, concern visible within their trembling pupils. However, they chose to stay silent and let Kai alone with his thoughts. Minutes passed, the tense silence broken only by the wood breaking apart under the extreme heat, accompanied by the singing of the critters. The moon still hung proudly in the sky, however, its light dwindled as the sun began to rise. Elly and Euphy grew worried, however they let the boy sit for a few more counts, but couldn¡¯t stay here forever. ¡°Was it¡­ necessary to kill it?¡± Kai¡¯s lips parted, his voice weak and hoarse. ¡°Did I have to take its life?¡± Elizabeth remained silent, her beautiful emerald eyes focusing on the fire as well. Euphridia however, grit her teeth and stood up, walking over to Kai. ¡°Do you think it would have let you live? Once it escaped we would have had to intervene, and its fate would have remained the same.¡± ¡°But we could have run away as well, we could-¡± ¡°You can¡¯t run away, Kai. Sooner or later you¡¯ll have to take lives. You already did, the snake you brought back is a perfect example of that.¡± ¡°That one was different, it wanted to kill ME, to kill US.¡± He raised his voice, his shoulders shaking slightly as he locked eyes with Euphy. ¡°This time, it was us who wanted to kill it, and we did. But for what?¡± Elizabeth sighed, a complex expression manifesting on her face. ¡°Kai,¡± she said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter why the creature died, the cold truth is, there is no reason. It could have lived and fed on the creatures of this forest, or it could have died to something else besides us.¡± ¡°Then it would have been natural! Then it-¡± ¡°This is nature as well, you needed to grow stronger, and a live opponent was what you needed.¡± Euphridia interrupted him, saying in a tender voice. ¡°Look-¡± ¡°We need to go.¡± Elizabeth sighed and stood up as the first rays of sunlight hit her back. ¡°We can talk later, and we¡¯ll send someone to pick up the corpse.¡± The other two didn¡¯t say anything else, knowing too well the consequences of staying in the sun. Kai immediately covered himself with cloth, and the four rushed home as fast as possible, with Kai trying to avoid the morning light as much as he could. He grit his teeth, a few rays of sunshine still sneaking through the foliage and cloth, burning his face and arms. However, he endured and quickly ran past the guards at the entrance of the forest before entering the First Gate. Once inside, Elizabeth picked him up and enchanted her body, rushing through the streets and moving platforms, arriving at the manor as fast as she could. Aina walked outside in her silky pajamas, peacefully enjoying the morning air. She yawned and stretched her limbs, not expecting a gust of wind to blow past her, disheveling her hair and rising dust in its wake. Looking behind her, all she could see were the manor¡¯s doors slamming shut. ¡°What kind of tornado just passed through here?¡± she chuckled and continued her morning walk, looking up toward Kai¡¯s room. ¡­ Elizabeth placed Kai on the bed and quickly took off the cloth he used to cover himself, revealing the faint burning scars created by the sun. They weren¡¯t as deep as the previous ones, due to the little exposure, however, it was bad enough to leave scars if not treated quickly. She sighed lightly and placed her hand over his skin, using healing magic to quickly get rid of the wounds and any possible marks. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. They disappeared as quickly as they appeared, making Kai let out a short sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you, Elly.¡± He got up and leaned against the bed frame, covering himself with a blanket. ¡°I guess I got too carried away and forgot about the time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she smiled gently. ¡°Luckily I can heal those minor wounds just fine, however, I won¡¯t always be there. Take care of yourself¡­¡± She lingered on the sentence and got up, taking a last hesitant look at Kai as her voice trembled. ¡°Please.¡± Kai nodded, a wide smile creasing his lips. ¡°Of course, I will!¡± Elizabeth smiled as well before leaving, the door closing with a soft click. Alone, the boy¡¯s eyes wandered over the bed and chandelier, jumping from one thing in the room to another, trying to distract himself. Inhaling deeply, his eyes snapped shut as a low murmur left his body. The mana in the room gathered toward him like a crowd of people fighting for free t-shirts. Sweat quickly drenched his body, and even his arms began trembling. A low growl echoed in the room as the mana filled his core, which almost emptied completely from the fight against the Dark Urs. Whilst he meditated, the fight replayed itself over and over again in his head - The times he almost died or got hurt, the times he almost had his opponent, and the final moment before he took that beast¡¯s life. Its pitiful eyes, filled with the desire to live and the anger for vengeance burned Kai¡¯s soul, and the gut-wrenching sound of his blade taking away its light echoed in his mind like a church¡¯s bell. His eyes snapped open, and he gasped for air as the mana around him dissipated. Gritting his teeth, his palms clinched into a fist, which he used to hit his chest. Get a grip! They are right, it¡¯s either kill or be killed. One moment of hesitation and I¡¯d be the one laying on the ground in its place! He knew that, and he told himself over and over again, that the pit forming within his stomach grew larger with each passing second. A slight feeling of nausea washed over him, the image of the bear practically begging him, or as he remembered it, flashing before his eyes. The sound of flesh against flesh reverberated in the air, his cheek turning red with a hand imprint. Stop it! Stop feeling guilty, it was just an animal¡­ just an animal. I did this before. The bears grandpa made me hunt, the snake, why is it so different this time? Why does it feel more personal? Is it because I was the one chasing it this time, unlike before when it was already angry and ready to kill me? Damn it! This world doesn¡¯t hold the same values as mine, and even there poachers and¡­ cruel people existed¡­ He inhaled and exhaled deeply, repeatedly, attempting to calm down his nerves the best he could without Onyx by his side. Come to think of it, he wanted to kill me and Kana too, yet I forgave him¡­ I wonder why he was alone. A deep, tired sigh escaped his lips, and he lay back down on the bed, covering himself completely and escaping in the soft feeling of his pillows. Yawning, he brought the blanket as close to his head as possible and closed his eyes, falling asleep almost immediately. ¡­ A few hours later, Onyx quietly entered the room, not even letting the door make a sound as it opened. He didn¡¯t close it but shut it just enough that a minimal amount of light sneaked through. Sniffing around, he noticed the sleeping Kai, buried all the way into the sheets, his body trembling. The Obborik let out a low yelp and climbed on the bed as much as he could, given his size, and pressed his snout against Kai¡¯s face. Scoffing lightly, he sent a putrid, warm current of air crashing against his companion¡¯s face, accompanied by a bit of wetness. The boy wiped his face, and his eyes creaked open slightly, barely making out Onyx¡¯s figure through his blurred vision. A light smile creased his lips, and reached out for Onyx¡¯s head, pulling him closer and hugging it like a large stuffed toy. The Obborik didn¡¯t protest in the slightest and let himself get dragged by Kai as he fell asleep as well. ¡­ The day passed by uneventfully, and the night finally arrived. The trio of Elizabeth, Kai, and Euphridia, accompanied by Onyx once again ventured out into the forest. However, they didn¡¯t go as deep as last time, only threading the outer area where the beasts are much weaker, but also more common. What Kai needed was to train and hone his combat instincts, not dance with death at every encounter. Although in theory that would sharpen his combat sense, it could also lead to unforeseen circumstances. Kai resigned himself to the thought of having to kill animals, as he understood there was no other way but to do so to get stronger. Meanwhile, during the days when training was light, Kai mediated and increased his mana reserves by a great amount each day. However, it all came at a cost. His sleep grew rarer with each passing week, sometimes only sleeping a total of three hours, or sometimes six. However, the results were clear. His mana pool almost reached ninety percent capacity, and its size increased by fifty percent. Meaning that he stepped into the realm of Medium Core and will soon reach Big Core, after which came the most desired One Star Small Core Rank. That was the first step in the journey of a mage, a step he already took and yet will have to walk once more. He ended the mediation session with a big smile, despite his fatigue. His hands trembled, and he inhaled deeply before collapsing on the bed. Chapter 97: Sky Lit by a single Star As time passed, Kai trained, fighting off wild animals and trying to survive against Euphridia, and working on coordinating with Onyx. These challenges proved to be more difficult than Kai expected as the opponents Euphiridia and Elizabeth threw at him grew stronger and stronger. To his surprise, the Dark Urs he fought before proved to be nothing more than a baby compared to the Ricakle, Mosperus, and Turtaroo. Thanks to them, and Euphy¡¯s training, his sword skills improved greatly, though nowhere near where his teacher wanted him to be. Kai meditated every chance he got, whether they were in the forest or the training ground, he always used the techniques to improve his mana capacity. However the contrast between the mana inside the forest and the manor was too great, and he decided to nap instead of training while they were out hunting. The Mixed Core hidden within his chest grew larger and larger, finally reaching the Big Core Rank. Along with it, his mana reserved reached ninety-five percent, almost at the maximum until it began to overflow. Aina also got ready to assist Kai with breaking through and forming his first star, the first step toward becoming a full-fledged Mage, a path he once again could tread. He wore a simple set of black clothes, a black cloak and shoes. His footsteps echoed in the eerie silence as he walked in the middle of the training field, his heart racing with excitement. He sat down, crossing his legs and taking a deep breath. The moon showed itself, outshining the stars as it watched over Kai. Aina sat down on a chair close by. Onyx stood a bit farther away, watching over his companion and making sure that no surprises would occur. Euphy and Elly walked closer to him, and Elizabeth pulled out her wand and drew a circle in the air. Almost immediately, a mana ring appeared around Kai, which fell to the ground. Once again waving her wand, the ring grew taller and met at the center, becoming a dome. Euphridia placed her hand on the sphere and gave Elly a slight nod. Kai¡¯s notebook, which by now was almost filled with his and Aina¡¯s writing was placed on a wooden table, and alongside it was a pill. Its cold surface illuminated the surroundings with a blue hue, and, if one looked closely, they could see a myriad of mana particles moving about inside. Aina picked it up and threw it toward Kai, who caught it with trembling hands. He took it between his fingers, hypnotized by its enchanting pattern, and almost forgot why he had it in the first place. ¡°Ahem,¡± Aina cleared her throat and met her eyes with Kai, feeling his anxiety through the crimson hue of his shaking pupils. ¡°That is the best pill we managed to make so far. To be honest, it borders on the edge of being poison¡­ I don¡¯t honestly believe anyone but you could take it and survive its effects, which besides increased mana regeneration and temporary boost of capacity, remain unknown.¡± After saying that, she, along with Elizabeth, placed their hands on the dome, and the three of them sent large quantities of mana inside it. Kai¡¯s pupils widened at the sight, immediately feeling the mana inside this little bubble rapidly increasing in quality. He nodded and gulped as a cold shiver ran down his spine. Staring at the pill, he grits his teeth and finally, he takes it between his lips. The cold feeling made him shudder, however, with clenched fists, he swallowed it in one gulp. Making its way down his throat, the pill dissolved quickly and Kai began chanting the two techniques at the same time. The released energy swiftly traveled through his body and into the mana veins. A thin layer of ice manifested around his mana veins, and his blood turned icy as it traveled through his body. Gritting his teeth, he endured the freezing, numbing pain and kept on chanting as the mana slowly made its way to the core. As it did, the layer of ice became thicker and thicker, almost causing his blood to freeze in place. Kai¡¯s body stiffened, frost almost forming on his arms, legs, and neck. Beads of water trickled down his skin due to the temperature difference, turning his pale skin even more so. The three women watched him with anxiety, and Onyx got up and got closer to his companion, worry evident in his eyes. Kai shivered, and a low growl escaped his body, however he endured and marched on, not stopping the technique for even a moment. Besides the wild energy running around in his body, he absorbed the mana provided by the three and the one rushing toward him from all around. The barrier, the dome served as a quick filter for the mana, increasing its quality before mixing with the rest and entering his body. His mind remained clear, and he did his best to stay calm as the mana core filled up. The last five percent, according to Aina and his experience, will require exponentially more mana than the first ninety-five percent. And he quickly found it to be true. As the mana made its way through his body, the Mixed Mana Core¡¯s capacity increased very slowly, however, he knew that he had more than enough mana. What he lacked, however, was time. Just as Aina said, the mana pill made him feel like thousands of ice needles pierced his body, cutting off his nerves which gradually turned him into an icy statue. However, all he could do in this situation was quicken his chanting and wait. His mumbled words became incoherent, and the strain on his mind almost reached its maximum as he hurried the pace. Ninety Six Percent. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Gritting his teeth, he endured the pain, his heart skipping a beat upon reaching this mark. He would have let out a relieved sigh were it not for his current situation, as the energy from the pill showed no signs of slowing down. It raced through his body, exploring every available inch it could as it circled, waiting to be absorbed by the core. His fingers and toes turned a black color, which slowly spread upward. Ninety-Seven Percent. The minutes that passed felt like hours to Kai, and his teeth began to clatter from the icy air. The women watched from outside, biting their lips. However, they remained calm, and Aina¡¯s hand glowed with a green hue as she sent healing magic straight into the dome. The rapid spreading of the frostbite halted, however it seemed that was as much as she could do, and even adding Elizabeth¡¯s healing didn¡¯t make the situation any better. Sighing, they watched and pumped Kai¡¯s dome with mana. It¡¯s all on him now. Ninety Eight Percent. The more it filled up, the more mana it required to advance, and the more pain Kai went through. His chanting speed began slowing down due to the fatigue and cold, however his voice didn¡¯t falter. Ninety Nine Percent. He grit his teeth and pushed his mind to its limits, absorbing mana at incredible speeds, causing the damage it did to his body to become even more dangerous. One Hundred Percent. He let out an anguished scream as his mana core filled up, temporarily breaking the chanting as he jumped to his feet. The frostbite sent pain coursing through his body, however, he ignored it and began chanting once again. Aina¡¯s Elizabeth¡¯s and Euphirida¡¯s expressions lit up, and they fed Kai even more mana as it began to overflow within his body. This is it, this is the moment we find out if everything we¡¯ve done so far was in vain. Please, Kai, do it! Aina prayed internally, gritting her teeth. Mana gathered around Kai¡¯s Mixed Core, circling it briefly before choosing a spot not too far from it where it began to gather. The familiar feeling of a star beginning to form washed over Kai¡¯s body, making him let out an icy sigh of relief. All the mana remaining within his body gathered in that single spot, compressing itself as it began to form a very thin layer, which slowly expanded as more and more mana entered it. At the same time, Kai began shrinking his Mixed Mana Core. The process was slow and difficult, and he grits his clattering teeth. How much he shrunk and compressed it would determine how much more mana he could store in the future, so naturally he did his best to do that while the star formed itself. It glowed with a faint, blue hue, its shine only increasing as it absorbed more and more mana. Seconds, minutes, hours passed. His core was now at the same size it had when it was small, and the star, in comparison, grew to be larger than his Big Mana Core and didn¡¯t show any signs of stopping just yet. Due to its ethereal, nonphysical nature, the star could, in theory, grow as big as a real one, given that the right circumstances were met. However, Kai, Aina, and the others knew that it was nothing but a dream to achieve such a feat. With mana still present in his body, and plenty more to be absorbed from the outside, Kai decided to push his limits and compress the core even more whilst at the same time growing his first star. Biting his lower lip, he began bringing the star closer to the core, hoping that its pressure would help him. His heart skipped a beat as the core showed clear signs of shrinking, and, overjoyed, he aided the star, which grew bigger and bigger. Outside his body, the three girls sighed and fell to their knees, feeling that Kai had succeeded in breaking through. Their hands left the barrier, which slowly began opening as it lost its mana supply. ¡°He did it¡­¡± Aina¡¯s raspy, fatigued voice left her body, echoing in the other¡¯s ears. Elizabeth and Euphirida only nodded, and a soft smile creased their lips as they gasped for air. However, even after a count passing, the mana whirling around Kai still didn¡¯t stop, and a faint, blue light appeared in the middle of his chest. ¡°What is that?¡± Euphridia asked, backing away along with Elizabeth. Aina¡¯s pupils widened at the sight, and she jumped to her feet, ignoring any sort of fatigue or lack of mana she had. Her eyes shone with an inconceivable light, wonder and shock filling them. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ his star.¡±. ¡°What?!¡± The other two¡¯s pupils constricted, watching in awe as the light before them grew brighter with each passing second. Kai¡¯s figure disappeared behind the wall of light, the star swallowing him and taking his place. The enchanting blue hue became a blinding spectacle of colors, and ultimately the three, and Onyx had no choice but to shut their eyes. Kai stood there, unmoving, his mumbling breaths echoing in the dark quiet of the night. His voice, carried by the wind, crashing through the leaves, sang an incomprehensible song as his star grew larger and brighter. The moon¡¯s light shone upon him, stronger and harsher than before, seemingly jealous of his newfound brilliance. However, he remained unbothered despite the sizzling pain spreading across his body and continued chanting as his mouth dried up and his mind turned to mush. The wind howled as Kai absorbed more and more mana, at a faster and faster pace. A small tornado-like air current formed around him, disheveling his unkept hair, which now swayed wildly about. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, the crimson pupils within shining with a sharp light. Finally moving his frozen hands, he slowly brought them together. At the same time, the star¡¯s light dwindled, or rather, decreased as it retracted into his body. It became smaller and smaller, compressing itself at the same time as the core until it finally reached its limits. Both the Mixed Core and Star were the same size, no bigger than a baby¡¯s fist. The quality of the mana inside them, however, could be likened to the difference between heaven and earth. Kai¡¯s frostbite gradually disappeared, his color returning to normal as the star began to orbit his core, like the moon orbits the earth and the earth the sun. Clenching his fists, he held back a yell and instead let out a deep sigh of relief as he collapsed. Hitting the ground with a soft thud, Onyx immediately rushed to his side, sniffing his face and chest before laying on top of him. Chapter 98: Bloodrotting Void. Endless Void. Here again¡­ Kai thought to himself as he found himself floating in a cloudy world. A world he was much too familiar with. I can¡¯t even celebrate in peace¡­ He sighed, his eyes scanning the environment that he grew accustomed to. His long hair danced in the wind, the warm breeze sending a warm shiver down his spine as he began walking forward. He didn¡¯t run or hurry, he remained calm, or, as calm as he could be. Dragging his trembling legs and leaving a trail behind, he breathed rhythmically, trying to calm down his racing pulse. Despite that, a feeling of dread rose inside him. Blood trickled down his fists as his nails dug into his flesh, the sound of the droplets smashing against the phantom ground echoing inside the quiet void. Suddenly, the floor beneath him began moving, making Kai advance faster and faster. His heart threatened to jump out of his chest as the landscape around him changed rapidly, so fast that he couldn¡¯t even make out where or when he was. Oxygen escaped his lungs, and the following weakness made him fall to his knees. Holding his crimson-colored hands to his throat, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, the stain on the ground following him as he glided through a flashing world of images. He gasped as his lips parted, unable to utter a single word or scream. All he could do was wait. Wait and see where his dream would lead him this time. Eventually, he started slowing down, until he stopped. The world around, whilst still a void, turned blue, like the sky on a clear day. Looking down, he saw an endless, beautiful dark blue ocean as far as the eyes could see. Devoid of life, devoid of land or creatures. It was empty. His heart jumped as a faint roar echoed in the distance, the blood flowing through his veins boiling as a wave of warmth washed over him. It was a sudden, familiar feeling. His heart jumped to the source of the roar, however he couldn¡¯t quite make out what it was, or who it was. The flapping of wings echoed in his mind, followed by the splitting of air and another, excited roar. Below him, a large, dark figure slowly descended, raised, and flew through the air. However, the moment didn¡¯t last, as, as sudden as it came into being, the creature let out a breathless shriek before plummeting to the ocean. Its unclear, blurred, gigantic figure became smaller and smaller as it met with the water. A sudden, sharp pain spread from Kai¡¯s heart throughout his body, and he too, fell to the ground. Writhing in pain unlike anything he ever felt before, Kai scratched his chest, tearing the clothes off his body and digging into his flesh. However, no matter what he did, the pain didn¡¯t stop, even as blood pooled around him, the pain didn¡¯t stop, and even as his voiceless scream of agony echoed in the world¡­ the pain didn¡¯t stop. It continued. It burned him, burned his soul, and threatened the existence of his very being. His body spasmed violently on the translucent ground, the puddle of blood beneath him dying his clothes and flesh a dark crimson color. In his suffering, he didn¡¯t notice the arrival of an ethereal figure or rather a shape. A single large eye manifested before him, watching like an eagle stalking its prey. Its large, vertical pupil widened upon scanning the boy, and a weird, crackling laughter echoed in the empty void. ¡­ In the living room, Aina and Elizabeth sat on their respective couches, quietly enjoying a cup of tea. Aina¡¯s eyes were focused on a book, like usual, whilst Elizabeth nervously scanned the room. Her breathing, although steady, faltered every so often as she fidgeted with her fingers. Aina let out a light sigh, removing her gaze from the pages, and glancing at her daughter. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry anymore, he did it. Kai is now a first star¡­ fully fledged Mage.¡± ¡°I know¡­ it¡­ it just feels, surreal.¡± Elizabeth bit her lower lip, leaning back on the couch. ¡°Less than one year ago he couldn¡¯t even absorb mana and now¡­ I¡¯m worried, maybe he advanced too fast.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Unfounded. He achieved much more when he was younger, what makes you think he can¡¯t handle it now?¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t wounded before. Besides, have you not noticed? He¡¯s paler than usual¡­¡± Elly¡¯s voice lingered in the air as she looked toward Kai¡¯s room. Inhaling sharply, Aina placed her book aside and brought the cup to her lips before letting out a sigh. ¡°I did. He isn¡¯t sleeping well. Nightmares¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s also overworking himself and¡­ he¡¯s gotten skinnier. Mom, what if¡­?¡± Elizabeth didn¡¯t finish her sentence, however, it wasn¡¯t necessary, as Aina knew all too well what her daughter referred to. ¡°The Blood Rotting¡­¡± ¡°Is it possible?¡± ¡°...Very.¡± Silence. Complete silence covered the two, and only the sound of their thumping hearts could be heard as they finally began to come to face with the facts. ¡°Mom¡­ could we?¡± ¡°No, absolutely not!¡± ¡°What other choice do we have?! Even if our blood isn¡¯t any good to him, it should still help, if even a bit.¡± ¡°It will make it worse, you know that well. Once a vampire that''s feeding, there¡¯s very little that can satiate their thirst. I saw it happen¡­ and the fate of those reluctant wasn¡¯t pretty.¡± ¡°Then we could ask Arthur or someone from Aravia! I¡­ I can¡¯t watch Kai succumb to that wretched disease!¡± Elizabeth¡¯s voice bounced off against the wall, ringing loud inside Aina¡¯s mind. However, she sighed and turned away, dismissive of the idea. ¡°Arthur knows that this was inevitable, however, he didn¡¯t offer anything. Why do you think that is? Once Kai feeds once¡­ he¡¯ll need to do so again, and again, lest the Blood Rotting advances even quicker. It¡¯s a vicious cycle. A curse brought upon by his ancestors.¡± Elizabeth stared at Aina, her lips parting without a sound. She sighed, defeated, and sunk into the couch and nibbled on her nails. ¡°Then we can only hope he is resistant enough. He may not feel it now but sooner or later¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope it won¡¯t come to that.¡± They both suddenly jumped at the same time, startled by a loud bang coming from above. Exchanging a quick, worried glance, Elizabeth stood up and headed toward the exit. ¡°I¡¯ll go check up on him.¡± ¡­ Cold sweat drenched Kai¡¯s body. The place where he once slept again became a puddle of tears and sweat. He found himself lying on the hard floor, and his eyes snapped open before touching the ground. Groaning in pain, he caught his breath and calmed down. He¡¯d grown accustomed to the process, as the repeat nightmare didn¡¯t allow him a peaceful sleep, or peaceful awakening. Sighing, he tried piecing together whatever memories he had left of the dream, however, little more than blurs and the general feeling of excruciating pain remained. Onyx wasn¡¯t in the room this time, so Kai had no one left to lean on to calm down and lay back on the drenched bed. Laying on the floor, he questioned the significance of his nightmare and when it would end. Why was it so specific, so similar, and so repetitive? No one so far has managed to answer his questions, not even the books his parents gave him or the ones in the library. Despite that, he knew that there was no use questioning it, and he resigned himself to his fate, albeit reluctantly. His hand flew to his chest, moving up and down along with his thumping heart. Up and down¡­ up and down¡­ blood raced through his veins, flaring up every so often as his eye snapped shut, recalling the blurry figure he saw below. What even was that¡­? He raised his head, awoken from his thoughts by the sudden opening of the door, inviting Elizabeth in. She looked around and gasped upon seeing Kai lying on the floor. Rushing to his side and quickly picking him up, her lips parted as she placed him on the bed. ¡°That nightmare again?¡± Kai nodded, staring into Elizabeth¡¯s emerald green eyes, which calmed down his racing heart. ¡°It¡¯s gotten worse, my body feels hot, very hot¡­¡± His raspy voice escaped his body, weakened by the terrors of his dream. ¡°I don¡¯t think sleeping is much of an option anymore¡­¡± Elly placed her hand over the boy¡¯s forehead, her pupils constricting slightly as a chilly feeling rose on her arm. ¡°You¡¯re freezing,¡± Her voice echoed a hint of worry and fear hidden beneath the calm exterior. She quickly changed his drenched clothing and shoved him on the opposite side of the bed, where it was dry. Turning the blanket over and covering Kai, she rushed out the door. A fragrant smell filled the room as Elizabeth returned with a hot cup of tea. ¡°Here, drink this. It will hopefully help you feel better.¡± Kai sat up, flinching lightly as he picked up the cup, and took in its aroma before drinking a light sip. ¡°It¡¯s bitter¡­¡± He said, a tear streaming down his cheek. Chapter 99: Clashing Refined Blades Shadowed blades of grass moved rhythmically, guided by the wind as it lightly touched them. The forest sang a song, unlike the others it had before. Its gentle, soothing tune is now replaced by a more aggressive, yet confident melody. Branches thumped against each other, intertwining in a rough dance, their leaves falling gracefully on the cold ground. The forest¡¯s animals listened and crawled, jumped, climbed, and walked, doing nothing but remain still, aggravated by the war-bound song. Inside a large clearing, where the light of the moon sneaked through with difficulty, illuminated mostly by torches and light crystals, two young men stood parallel to each other. Their racing hearts echoed like a drum, accompanying the forest¡¯s subtle choir. Warm light reflected off Kai¡¯s long, silver hair, which was now tied in a ponytail. His crimson eyes stared at his opponent like a viper, a desire to fight burning fiercely within. His black clothes - a simple cloak, shirt, and pants, contrasted his pearly white skin to a terrifying degree. On top of them lay a scaly chest piece, shoulder guards, and armguards, giving him a thin layer of protection. At his waist hung a sheath made out of brown leather and black iron, within which hid the sword made of silver, which housed the spirit of a beast. He rubbed the ring wrapped around his finger and licked his lips as his eyes met with Sverik¡¯s. Sverik¡¯s long hair fluttered in the wind, its ebony color merging with the shadows. His clothes shared a similar color palette to Kai¡¯s, which only served to camouflage him even better. In his left hand, he held a small, iron buckler, and a short sword lay tied to his waist. His pupils constricted as they met Kai¡¯s, however the burning desire to fight shone brightly within them as well. A coppery leaf floated between them, twirling up and down, guided by the wind as it slowly descended. The two¡¯s attention shifted to the leaf, and quickly got in position to fight, each assuming their stance. Finally, the leaf touched the ground. Kai¡¯s body shone with a faint light as it turned into a blur, his clothes violently flapping in the wind. The sharp sound of his blade unsheathing cut the air. The steel rang out again steel as their blades met and sparks sprayed out from the impact. Sverik got pushed backward as he blocked Kai¡¯s violent attack. He rolled backward and dodged the strike aimed at his stomach. His body glowed with a bright light before Kai¡¯s eyes. Kai¡¯s pupils narrowed as Sveirk attacked again, the blade¡¯s thrust aimed straight at his stomach. He blocked with the side of this blade, however, his pupils constricted as he noticed Sverik¡¯s sword changing trajectory, aimed toward his stomach instead. Biting his lip, he stopped mid-movement and took a step back instead, side-stepping and slashing at Sverik¡¯s midsection. The buckler blocked the attack, and the sword countered in one swift motion, its sharp edge making contact with the scales. It slid right off, leaving the armor unharmed, allowing Kai to take two steps back. Rotating his sword around his wrist, he thrust at Sverik in a simple, fast motion. The boy hurried to meet his attack with the shield, however, Kai once again spun the blade and transformed the thrust into a slash, which successfully connected with Sverik¡¯s body. A clanging sound echoed in the air, and Kai¡¯s blade vibrated violently as he took another step back. The fabric of Sverik¡¯s pants is now decorated with a clean hole cut through them, however, no blood trickled down. Skin Hardening? Kai clicked his tongue and circled Sverik, holding his sword diagonally with both hands, getting ready to attack or parry at a moment¡¯s notice. Sveirk didn¡¯t hesitate, took a forward step, and slashed with his sword. Kai¡¯s sword raised to block, however his opponent¡¯s buckler pushed it askew, leaving the boy defenseless. He groaned and fell backward, his eyes fixated on the blade¡¯s bloody tip. He retreated, as his body flashed with a white light. The two caught their breath, a wide smile creasing their lips before rushing each other again. Kai¡¯s feet sprung back, and he leaped in the air, descending right above Sverik. Caught off guard, he hastily threw his buckler to the side and held his sword with both hands. However, a few meters before the expected clash of steel, Kai pushed his leg forward, bouncing off the blade, and landed right behind Sverik. A quick slash caught the boy off guard, surprised to find himself stabbed from behind. Without any time to turn, he quickly mumbled something under his breath, and his skin glowed. It flashed quickly as the sword made contact, causing Kai¡¯s sword to vibrate once again. Gritting his teeth, he took back control of the sword and redirected it at Sverik¡¯s arm. Pwack! The boy¡¯s arms bled like a fountain, and blood spurted everywhere from the wound. Enraged, he stabbed backward, hitting nothing but thin air as Kai had already retreated. ¡°Looks like your ¡®Skin Hardening¡¯ isn¡¯t good enough yet.¡± He taunted, trying to get a reaction from his opponent. Sverik groaned and picked up his buckler, then turned to Kai. The wind howled. Kai clicked his tongue and approached Sverik. He sped up with a faint light, then raised his sword and cleaved down. Sverik blocked and pushed the blade aside, however he raised his buckler again. The sound of metal scraping metal echoed in the night. Kai rained down a flurry of blows, slashing faster and harder with every continuous strike, pushing his opponent back. Sweat dripped down his face, but he struck once again. Sverik blocked with his sword and ducked. Kai jumped, dodging Sverik¡¯s low swipe, then attacked downward. His slash stopped mid-air, blocked by Sverik¡¯s blade. Both swords fell downward, and Kai¡¯s pupils widened in surprise upon seeing the buckler flying toward his face. He let go of the sword and pushed Sverik with a kick to the stomach. He forced his sword free and thrust at Sverik¡¯s mid-section. The boy blocked the attack, and Kai¡¯s sword rotated along Sverik¡¯s. Kai clutched the hilt with both hands, and his arms shook as he pushed against Sveriks¡¯. He gasped, seeing Sverik lock him with a single hand. Before he had time to think, his opponent¡¯s buckler descended upon him, and he fell backward. Dodging another strike and rising to his feet, he brought a hand to his forehead, blood smudging on his palm. A chuckle echoed in his ears, and he turned to see Sverik look at him with a smug expression. He puffed and wiped the blood and sweat from his face. Letting out a light sigh, he brandished his sword and advanced slowly. ¡°Looks like your head is thicker than it looks.¡± Sverik laughed as he put his buckler forward, and his short steel sword a few inches back. ¡°I hope there¡¯s a brain hidden in there too.¡± Kai spat on the ground, rolling his eyes as his cloak fluttered in the wind. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t cry too much when I defeat you.¡± The two carefully approached, probing each other with their swords as their feet danced. Kai slashed diagonally, which turned into a stab as Sverik raised his buckler to block. The young dwarf quickly retreated, then deflected the sword downward before kicking at Kai¡¯s head. He let go of the sword, grabbed the leg, and got shoved to the side from the impact. Kai¡¯s hand trembled and resigned his weapon. Taking a step back, he dodged another buckler hit. His back arched as he barely evaded a swipe attack, and created more space between him and Sverik. The ring around his finger flashed with a faint light as a wand appeared in his hand. Kai¡¯s voice immediately reverberated in the air, followed by two red crystals glowing on the wand¡¯s surface. A ball of fire manifested in front of him, which quickly became bigger and shot toward Sverik. He rolled out of the way, only to be greeted by another one, which landed squarely on his buckler. The intense heat scattered, leaving black scorch marks on Sverik¡¯s shield. Kai didn¡¯t stop his barrage of spells, however, and drew a circle mid-air, summoning a dozen fireballs that waited for his command. Another soft mumble, and a transparent green stone on his shone brightly, then so did his body. Speed increased, wind resistance decreased, fireball barrage, and now¡­ He thought inwardly as he whispered, and the earth suddenly trembled as walls of earth rose from the ground, enclosing the two in an earthen cage. Ground Fortress! Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. With a wave of his hand, three fireballs shot toward Sverik, Kai¡¯s eyes observing his opponent''s movement like a viper. Sverik stepped to the side, then rolled as the second fireball approached, and finally raised his buckler to destroy the last one. The two locked eyes and slight anger hid beneath Sverik¡¯s competitive gaze. Kai smiled tauntingly, a smirk creasing his lips as he shot three other fireballs. He advanced, picking up the pace until his legs broke into a sprint, and waved his wand as Sverik began dodging again. He shot a fireball at Sverik¡¯s legs after dodging the first fireball, making him jump in response, and he hastily raised his shield. The force from the impact sent him reeling backward, at which point Kai sent another blazing flame flying toward his opponent, at the same time picking up the silver sword lying on the ground. Sverik gasped, however, Kai gave him no time to think as he shot another fireball, followed by another, and then another. Sverik blocked the first one and dodged the second one, however, the third one hit him in the chest, shooting him backward and scorching his clothes. Kai waved his wand before his opponent even hit the wall he raised, creating two claw-like outward indentations, which closed shut on his arms as soon as Sverik neared them. They pulled him to the wall, locking his hands in place. Kai sped up and sheathed his wand. His sword reflected the moonlight as it stabbed at Sverik¡¯s neck. The sound of air getting split echoed in the night as the blade rapidly approached. Sverik kicked with his feet, launching himself upward as his body flashed with soft light, and his muscles instantly contracted. He groaned and broke himself free of the bind. Sverik kicked against the wall, leaped forward, and dogged Kai¡¯s strike. The boy rapidly turned, transforming his stab into a slash. Metal scraping metal reverberated in the air as his strike got blocked by his opponent¡¯s blade, however, he did a one-eighty and struck once again, this time the buckler parried his sword. Annoyed, he took a step back and shot the remaining fireballs he had. He didn¡¯t wait for them to land, as he clutched the hilt between his hands, and diagonally slashed toward Sverik¡¯s hand. His sword bounced back, deflected by Sverik¡¯s blade just in time for the fireballs to bombard his body. He tumbled backward, and Kai followed suit. Kai thrust toward Sverik¡¯s mid-section, grinning as he did so. However, the smile on his face faded as the buckler once again blocked him. Sverik used the momentum given by the strike to flip, regaining his footing. ¡°That all you got?¡± He wiped the few beads of sweat dripping down his forehead as he taunted Kai. ¡°So much for a One Star Mage.¡± Kai slouched and leaned on his sword for support. His drenched clothes stuck to his body like a leech. He inhaled deeply and stood upright. ¡°Like you¡¯re one to speak, so much for being a Three Star Body Mage.¡± Kai yawned, raising a hand to his mouth. ¡°I thought I¡¯d have some competition.¡± He scoffed and sheathed his word, then picked up his wand and gave Sverik a provocative glance. ¡°About time I wrap this up.¡± Without waiting for Sverik to respond, Kai waved his wand, a dark crystal on top of it glowing briefly before a dark mist manifested around them. Shroud; Vision; Kai¡¯s crimson pupils shone, and he blinked rapidly, getting accustomed to the darkness. His eyes fixated on Sverik, whose breathing hastened. Kai quietly advanced, putting away the wand and silently unsheathing his sword, he approached the unsuspecting Sverik. This Night Vision spell is amazing¡­ He thought, sneaking behind his opponent. Swinging with the dull side of the blade, aimed straight at Sverik¡¯s neck. However, his pupils widened as the boy turned around and perfectly avoided the blow. How?! He took a few steps back, then inspected Sverik, whose eyes seemed to fixate on nothing in particular. Using only sound?.... Amazing. Kai smirked, grabbed his wand, and then cast a countless spell as he waved his wand. A strong gust of wind blew through the mist, not affecting it in the slightest. However, it served as the perfect buffer to cover Kai¡¯s attacks. Sverik instantly activated his ¡®Skin Hardening¡¯, and planted his feet on the ground, unmoving. Kai circled him a few times, taking advantage of the wind to change positions, then struck once again. He swung the dull part of his sword at Sverik¡¯s belly, which landed successfully. Kai, however, found himself unable to retrieve the blade, as Sverik clutched it tightly between his hands after dropping the buckler. Kai flew toward him as he pulled on the sword, running straight into his opponent¡¯s sword. He grits his teeth, lets go of the sword, and jumps behind Sverik. His landing was greeted by a kick, and then a punch to the chest. He coughed lightly as he fell backward. The mist around them disappeared as Kai regained his footing. Tsk, out of mana¡­ He sighed and prepared to face Sverik hand to hand, at least until he recovered his sword. ¡°Didn¡¯t know your mana pool was this shallow. Do you want to do hand-to-hand? Fine¡­¡± Sverik said, throwing aside his weapons with a smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t think yourself too tough, you¡¯re shorter than me.¡± Kai retorted, clenching his fists. Both boys smirked and rushed each other like two savage beasts, then grabbed each other by the collar and wrestled to push the other to the ground. Kai threw a punch aimed at Sverik¡¯s face, which he barely avoided with a twist of his neck. He punched back, but Kai avoided it, wind whistled past his face as he sent a kick at Sverik¡¯s stomach. The boy grunted, held his breath in, then lifted Kai slightly, kicking at his legs and making him fall over. Kai dragged Sverik down with him, and squirmed on the ground, tumbling with him in the dust. ¡°Just give up already!¡± He yelled, hitting Sverik square in the face.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll run out of stamina before I give up.¡± Sverik retaliated with a punch to the throat. Kai coughed, however quickly regained his senses and looked at something within reach with the tail of his eye. He grabbed Sverik above him, then kicked with his feet and broke free of his clutch. Quickly jumping to his feet, he reached for his sword and brushed it against Sverik¡¯s neck, who didn¡¯t manage to get up in time. Kai breathed rapidly, his chest heaving up and down as a raspy voice escaped his body. ¡°I¡­ I win¡­¡± Sweat dripped down his forehead, cheeks, back, and hands, the blade trembling within his hands. Sverik raised his head, feeling the cold surface against his blazing skin, and fell back to the ground. ¡°Fine, fine¡­ you win.¡± Kai scoffed, and let go of the sword, letting it fall with a soft thud. ¡°I beat you fair and square, man.¡± He extended his hand to Sverik, helping him rise to his feet. ¡°Yeah, by picking up the sword!¡± Sverik punched Kai lightly, earning a soft groan. ¡°Nothing wrong with that, who told you to drop your weapons?¡± He retorted, taking off his sweat-drenched shirt and armor. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it took me that long to defeat you with magic.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you managed to defeat me. It¡¯s only been what¡­ two weeks since you reached One Star.¡± ¡°Yeah, and I only managed to cast a useless spell for two minutes.¡± Kai sighed, thinking about the ¡®Shroud¡¯ which barely gave him an advantage over Sverik. ¡°Not to mention I had ¡®Vision¡¯ on as well.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s no wonder you ran out of mana so quickly.¡± A familiar female voice rang in their ears as the walls of earth around them collapsed. Returning to their rightful place inside the ground, it revealed five figures who slowly walked out from the shadows. Aina walked in front, wearing a dark green hunting uniform, her untied, long hair swaying with the wind. ¡°These two spells, ¡®Shroud¡¯ and ¡®Vision¡¯ aren¡¯t meant to be used at the same time, fool. ¡®Vision¡¯ uses more mana the darker the environment is, and you use it inside a Darkness Spell¡­ It¡¯s like you didn¡¯t pay attention to my lessons.¡± Kai scratched the back of his neck, letting out an awkward chuckle. ¡°And you, Sverik.¡± Zarman¡¯s rough voice echoed from behind Aina, revealing himself as he strutted toward the boy. ¡°How could you drop your weapons? Do you think your opponent will be lenient in a real fight? Aye! You¡¯re leaving in a few days and you¡¯re still this foolish.¡± Sverik smiled, and let out a defeated sigh. Kai looked toward his group. Aina, Elizabeth, and Euphridia walked toward him with complex expressions. Onyx was a little bit behind them, however his large stature still shadowed them as they stopped a few meters away from Kai. They sat in silence, if even for a moment, and then Elizabeth walked forward and locked eyes with her pupil. She looked happy, and proud, however, a tinge of regret and helplessness hid behind her emerald eyes. She raised her hand, ruffling his disheveled hair, and said in a soft voice, ¡°You did well, that was a masterful display of magic¡­ Even if you messed up toward the end.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kai lowered his head, his pale face reddening slightly. He glanced inside his mana core, and let out a sigh. ¡°I only have a little mana left, what a waste.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± Aina said, bringing out a clean cloth from her ring, and throwing it toward Kai. ¡°That¡¯s why we organised this duel, and the training with the beasts. You need more firsthand experience with these things.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx barked, seemingly agreeing with the elf woman. ¡°Since when was he that close to you?¡± Kai chuckled, wiping the sweat off his body. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a long story.¡± Aina chuckled, not intending to tell it at all. ¡°Alright then,¡± Euphiridia said as she walked forward, passing Aina and standing next to Elly. ¡°Kid, you did good, exceptionally well. Though the tumbling on the ground or whatever you two were doing wasn¡¯t¡­ optimal. Your swordsmanship wasn¡¯t half bad. You too, Sverik boy, you did even better than this brat, considering he had magic as well.¡± She lookedat Kai, letting go of his head only after he let out cries of pain. ¡°Haha, alright, let¡¯s clean up and go inside then.¡± Aina urged the group, taking the lead and walking toward her manor, collecting the crystals and torches on the way. Chapter 100: [End of Book 3] For when God showed himself before me, I knew then, that there was God. And God told me to fulfill his task, to aid his rebirth. However, God did not tell me how, and I fear that calamity will be brought upon my people for this foolish act.
Kai stood in his room, right next to the bed. The light from the chandelier fell upon a few items placed upon his blanket: Books, Clothes, Magic Crystals, and Money; A few of those stood out, like the Mage Robe his parents prepared for him, the old notebook, and the history book found within the same chest as the robe. His wand rested amongst clothes, and next to it, his father¡¯s sword. Its once violet hue is now reduced to nothing more than an abyssal darkness. He sighed and picked it up. It¡¯s so heavy¡­ Swinging it around, he felt the unnatural weight, different from when he first used it. Injecting mana into it did nothing, but a power unknown to him pushed him away, not letting him use the blade. Putting it away in his ring, he grabbed the wand and brought it closer. Its red, rugged surface remained the same as when he first got it, with not even a scratch or mark visible on it. He smiled to himself and fed it a bit of mana before putting it away as well, then gathered whatever else he thought he¡¯d need wherever he was going. The door suddenly creaked open, inviting Aina¡¯s figure. A soft smile creased her lips, and she let out a light sigh while sitting down. ¡°I trust you¡¯ve taken everything you need?¡± ¡°Mostly, I think so.¡± He replied, taking a seat next to her. ¡°I¡¯ll need to double-check.¡± ¡°Right,¡± she said slowly, taking a ring off her finger. ¡°Take this as well, I¡¯ve put in some things you may need.¡± Kai grabbed it and took a peek inside, a grateful smile manifesting on his face. ¡°Thank you, Aina.¡± ¡°Aye, this kid.¡± She ruffled his hair while getting up. ¡°How long are you going to call me by my name? You know your mom is old enough to be my daughter, right?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ shall I call you grandma then?¡± Aina halted in her footsteps, taking a second to contemplate before saying, ¡°Aina will do just fine.¡± and hurrying away, the door clicking shut behind her. ¡°And don¡¯t forget to get ready to leave for Monten, and make sure you have everything, alright?¡± Her voice echoed in the hallway. Kai shook his head, an awry smile decorating his face. He flopped on the bed, staring at the chandelier, his pupils reflecting its soft light. Sighing, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling gently. He cleared his head, trying not to think about what was about to come, and instead reflected on the past. The memories of the past several months flashed before his eyes. A light giggle escaped his lips as his shoulder shook. So much happened¡­ it feels almost surreal. Like a bad nightmare turning into a dream, except it¡¯s reality. And the dream isn¡¯t dreamy at all¡­ He stood up and opened his eyes, then changed into something more fitting for a party, and walked downstairs. There, Aina and Elizabeth sipped on a cup of tea, while Euphridia stood up next to them, leaning on the couch. ¡°Are you ready to go?¡± Elizabeth asked, getting up. Kai nodded and looked around curiously. ¡°Where¡¯s Onyx?¡± ¡°He¡¯s waiting for us outside. I swear he¡¯s grown a lot since you arrived here.¡± Aina placed her cup down and made her way out, followed by the others. She whistled softly, and Onyx¡¯s large figure quickly ran toward them, his snout covered in flower petals and grass. Aina let out a light sigh but didn¡¯t say anything. Looking up at Onyx, Kai realized that his companion had grown a fair bit taller. Tall enough that he had to use spells if he wanted to get on his back. When did this happen? How could I not see that before? ¡°He¡¯s grown, hasn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Yeah, truth be told he¡¯s hit a growth spurt in the past month you¡¯ve been training with him. I think his Rank increased but he refuses to let me check.¡± Aina explained, petting his head. ¡°Not to mention he¡¯s been eating a lot more lately, I guess that¡¯s how Obboriks are. I never actually met one.¡± ¡°The books don¡¯t say anything about them either, it¡¯s like someone tried to hide away their existence,¡± Kai added, remembering the old book his parents left in the chest. ¡°Oh? That¡¯s news to me, what book?¡± Aina asked, and Elizabeth closed in, just as curious. Kai chuckled and pulled it out from his ring, handing it over to Aina. ¡°I must have forgotten to mention it. They left me this book but I can barely understand half of it.¡± ¡°Interesting¡­ I¡¯ll read it later then, should have plenty of time.¡± She put it away, disregarding any opinion Kai had. ¡°Also, I taught Onyx a spell to decrease his size, although it costs a lot of mana to maintain.¡± ¡°Huh? You did? When?¡± ¡°Some time ago, when he started growing.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t I know this?¡± ¡°Kai¡­¡± Aina sighed, ¡°The universe doesn¡¯t revolve around you, you know?¡± Elizabeth and Euphridia chuckled in the background, while Kai himself turned as red as a tomato. ¡°Can we just go now?¡± He said, hurrying off toward the portal. The women let out a hearty laugh as they followed suit, and Onyx hurried along, using the spell to decrease his size. ¡­ The group appeared in Monten, a small city inside the Dwarven Mountain Range, the same place where the tournament had taken place. Inside Zarman¡¯s courtyard, a large circle appeared out of nowhere as they walked out of it. He and Sverik waited for them outside, a wide smile manifesting on their faces. ¡°Quite a fancy entrance you have here.¡± He said, walking forward and kissing the back of Aina¡¯s hand. She gracefully accepted the gesture and said in a soft voice. ¡°Oh please, if you hadn¡¯t allowed us to use your place we¡¯d be in a back alley somewhere. I think I¡¯ll use this place next time I have business here.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t abuse my goodwill!¡± Zarman puffed, however the smile on his face gave away his mood instantly. Elizabeth rolled her eyes while Euphridia¡¯s widened as she looked around. The myriad of crystals hanging from the ceiling, the numerous lights dancing far away into the city. The weird sense of being entrapped but free at the same time, she took in all of these new sights and feelings as it was her first time visiting a dwarven city. ¡°This place is amazing¡­¡± She mumbled softly under her breath. ¡°Well then,¡± Zarman clapped his hands, let¡¯s go inside. The man from the Magic Academy will arrive tomorrow evening, until then let¡¯s blow the house up!¡± He yelled, raising his fist and slamming the door open, revealing the lavish interior. ¡°I didn¡¯t prepare much because I didn¡¯t expect a lot of guests, well besides us. There should be more than enough alcohol though, haha!¡± He let out a hearty laugh as he walked inside, the rest of the group following suit, Onyx included. Although apprehensive, he trusted the other¡¯s judgment and went inside with the tail tucked between his legs. It seemed that Zarman made little effort to decorate the place, except for a big banner with messily written text that read ¡®Congratulations.¡¯ Sverik¡¯s face flushed red as the group chuckled at the sight, however, he did his best to ignore them and sat down at the table. Zarman quickly took out a large tankard of wine and poured a cup to everyone before he sat down as well. ¡°Let¡¯s drink and eat until we can¡¯t anymore!¡± He raised his cup and yelled, the others following suit as cheery laughter broke out. The girls took small sips, while the boys barely touched the burning alcohol. Onyx, on the other hand, didn¡¯t drink anything, not even water, as nobody gave him a bowl. Sverik got up and walked to the kitchen, bringing snacks and placing them on the table. Although this was supposed to be a party, the joyful atmosphere that came with one wasn¡¯t present here. Despite laughter and wide smiles, the underlying feeling in the room was that of a solemn sorrow. After today, the routine they had grown accustomed to would completely vanish. Sadness and regret hid behind their shimmering pupils, and even as they drowned themselves in alcohol, these feelings only grew until they could barely be held back. Aina¡¯s trembling lips parted, her shaky voice echoing in the room. ¡°I can¡¯t believe the helpless boy that came to us nine months ago would leave so fast¡­¡± Her sorrowful expression softened as she reminisced. ¡°He takes so much after his father,¡± Elizabeth said, glancing at Kai. ¡°In the craziness aspect, that is. One day he¡¯ll be the death of us.¡± She broke into a soft laughter, taking another sip of wine. Zarman sighed and chimed in, leaning on his knees as he stared lovingly at Sverik. ¡°Aye, that little boy I picked up had also grown into a fine lad¡­ And now he¡¯s going away to study at some prestigious school.¡± He emptied his cup in one gulp and let out a satisfied sigh. ¡°Boy, you better study well and come back rich, you hear me?¡± Sverik nodded, too shy to say anything in response. ¡°Good, good.¡± Zarman¡¯s sigh rang in his ears, followed by another sip. They sat and talked about how fast their pupils advanced while the pupils in question looked at each other weirdly. Eventually, after barely finishing their cup of bitter alcohol, they decided to go outside, bringing Onyx with them. The cold wind blew against them, their clothes fluttering in the chilly breeze. Making their way to the edge of the wall and climbing it, they looked down at the large city. The lights from the houses and street lamps look like nothing more than static fireflies. Kai leaned back and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. ¡°So this is it, then?¡± he said in a slow, emotional tone. ¡°Tomorrow we will¡­¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sverik replied, his voice cracking. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel real. I never imagined I¡¯d leave this village, yet here I am.¡± Kai sat in silence, reflecting on the past two years, and even more so, when he first arrived in this world. He nodded, remaining silent as the cold breeze passed them by. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Onyx looked up at them, and suddenly began to grow in size, then stood on his hind legs, joining the two on top of the wall. Sverik jumped back, almost falling off the edge as he stared with wide eyes. ¡°When did he grow so big?!¡± ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t know either¡­¡± Kai pet Onyx¡¯s fur, smiling softly. ¡°But I¡¯m not complaining, saves me the need for a sleeping bag.¡± Onyx licked Kai¡¯s face, his tongue almost covering it in its entirety. ¡°Although his breath still stinks.¡± Sverik chuckled softly and ran his hand through the Obborik¡¯s fluff, causing his tail to wag back and forth rapidly. ¡°Seems like he enjoys it.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ he does,¡± Kai replied, a soft smile creasing his lips. ¡°What will you do at the academy?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m not sure yet. Study, I guess? Get stronger. That¡¯s the goal, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah, I suppose. Won¡¯t you feel trapped?¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s here or there,¡± Sverik sighed, looking at the closed-off ceiling. ¡°Isn¡¯t it all just a cage anyway?¡± ¡°Yeah-¡± ¡°What about you?¡± He interrupted Kai, ¡°What will you do once you leave?¡± ¡°Well, I thought of joining a guild and doing menial jobs, though I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll need the money. I want to get stronger, that¡¯s all that matters¡­¡± Kai looked toward the city with a longing gaze, his pupils trembling. ¡°Though I doubt myself a lot. Is power what I want? What do I gain? What¡¯s the point?¡± Sverik didn¡¯t say anything, only solemnly listening to Kai as he too asked himself the same thing. However, the doubt in his heart was cleansed as quickly as it appeared, remembering all the abuse and humiliation he had to endure at the hands of his race. Inhaling deeply, his lips parted in a soft voice. ¡°Maybe, you¡¯re just doing it for yourself. Sometimes you don¡¯t need a reason or motivation to do something. That¡¯s what Zarman always told me.¡± ¡°Hm, you may be right,¡± Kai replied with a gentle smile creasing his lips, however, he knew the reason he wanted to get stronger. The questions he posed himself were related to his final task, his final goal, to defeat Haniard. To avenge his parents and¡­ And what¡­? ¡­ The day passed, indicated by the loud jingle of a bell in the distance. Because there was no sun or window to the outside world, the dwarves in Monten developed a system that automatically chimed a bell once the sun rose and fell. The group, still asleep, began waking up, lazily rubbing their eyes and yawning. Jugs upon jugs of alcohol littered the floor, accompanied by food, tableware, and cups. Elizabeth lay on her mother¡¯s lap, which in turn lay on the sofa. Euphridia was snoring in a corner and Zarman clutched a pint of alcohol in his hand. Aina was the first to rise, her hazy eyes becoming clearer as they dried up. She took a look around, her face turning a bright shade of pink. Slapping Elizabeth, startling her awake, she quickly pushed her aside and stood up. She did the same to Zarman and Euphy, then went looking for Kai and Sverik. The attic was empty, and so was the kitchen and the rest of the rooms she could access. Eventually, Aina made her way outside and let out a chuckle as she saw the two boys sleeping on Onyx. ¡°My, what do we have here.¡± Her soft voice escaped her lips, however, she didn¡¯t say anything and let them rest. Walking back inside, she quickly got to cleaning the mess they made. ¡°Hurry up, we can¡¯t have the inspector see the state of this place.¡± ¡°My head still hurts¡­¡± Elizabeth brought a hand to her forehead as she stood up, supporting herself on the couch. ¡°Why did we drink so much last night?¡± ¡°Why, to celebrate our pupil¡¯s departure, of course!¡± Zarman downed the rest of the alcohol in his cup as he got up, raising his pants. ¡°Of course, we had to drink.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Euphridia groaned, unable to get up from her corner. She rubbed her yellow face and looked around in confusion. ¡°What¡­? Where¡­? Arg my head¡­¡± Aina sighed and kept cleaning up alone, not knowing when exactly the inspector would show up. After a few hours, the house seemed almost spotless, even the spilling of alcohol and food disappearing without a trace. Aina sat down on a sofa, one leg over the other, and read the book Kai ¡®borrowed¡¯ her. Euphridia¡¯s face retained her yellow hue, and Elizabeth lying on the sofa with a similarly pale expression. Zarman, on the other hand, seemed as joyful as ever, clearly used to passing out after drinking his heart out. Outside, the two still slept on Onyx, his thick, fluffy fur serving as the best kind of pillow and blanket, not to mention the natural body head emanating from him. Kai¡¯s eyes cracked open, and he yawned as he reluctantly got up. Inspecting his surroundings, he jumped at the sight of Sverik, however quickly remembered that both of them chatted until they fell asleep. Man, I didn¡¯t expect my last night here to be spent talking¡­ I should have drunk more alcohol. He stood up and took a deep breath, inhaling the recycled air deep within his lungs and exhaling softly. His hand flew to his chest, feeling the weak heartbeat thump against his flesh. It¡¯s real¡­ He thought, a pit forming in his stomach. I¡¯ll be on my own, again, but this time out of my own volition¡­ Biting his lower lip, he kicked Sverik awake, startling the poor boy. ¡°C¡¯mon man, get up.¡± He immediately jumped up, looking at Kai with a half-annoyed and half-tired face. ¡°Did you have to kick me like that?¡± ¡°We won¡¯t see each other for a while, when else am I gonna show my brotherly love?¡± ¡°What brotherly love? Just because you told me to call you big brother once doesn¡¯t mean I have a brotherhood with you!¡± ¡°Haha, sure, sure. C¡¯mon, the others must have woken up already.¡± Kai chuckled, walking toward the house. Sverik bit his lip and quickly followed, leaving Onyx unbothered in his rest. The two¡¯s eyes widened in surprise upon entering, having expected a mess to be made after so many jugs of wine. ¡°Looks like you didn¡¯t party as much as I thought.¡± Kai chuckled and sat down next to Aina, ¡°Did you mana-¡± He wanted to continue, however, her voice interrupted him before he could get a word in. ¡°Oh please, while you two slept we had to clean it all up, not to mention Murphy couldn¡¯t do anything besides throw up everywhere!¡± She closed the book and stood up, grabbing Kai¡¯s hand and pulling him into a side room. Inside, a large basin filled with a black boiling liquid stood atop a fire. Before Kai could even think about it, he found himself thrown onto a nearby chair, and his hair grabbed. ¡°What are you doing-¡± ¡°Sorry, if I don¡¯t hurry the effectiveness of the dye will decrease. And there¡¯s something more I need to talk to you about, and we¡¯re in a bit of a hurry. Now stay still.¡± He did as told and let Aina do whatever she pleased. She dipped his hair into the liquid, and his beautiful silver hue rapidly got replaced by a tar-like black color. ¡°Since you can¡¯t use any disguise spells yet, we¡¯ll need to dye your hair the traditional way. It¡¯s not the most effective method, but this is all I can do given the circumstances.¡± ¡°Huh, but why would you-¡± ¡°You think Haniard doesn¡¯t know what you look like?¡± She said, coating his hair in black. ¡°Do you realize how rare silver hair is? You were fine walking around with it here because his people had no way of entering, however, Aravia is another can of worms. That place is littered with vampire spies and supporters.¡± Kai bit his lip and remained silent, allowing Aina to finish painting his hair despite the ache he felt in his heart. A few minutes passed, and his once beautiful silver hair had completely turned black. Aina quickly dried him off and handed him a bag. ¡°Whenever it starts to come off, boil a bit of this in water and die it yourself, got it?¡± Kai nodded and quickly stored it in his ring as Aina dried his hair. The two returned to the living room, Kai¡¯s face turning red as everyone stared at him with widened eyes. Sverik chuckled softly, and so did Euphridia and Elizabeth, while Zarman just stared quietly at him, a voiceless thought echoing in his head. ¡°Now,¡± Aina said, picking up the book. ¡°We have some things we need to talk about.¡± Her voice seemed worried, however, she remained glued to the book, flipping page after page. ¡°This book is quite weird, I don¡¯t know where your parents got it from but¡­ I suspect it has a hidden meaning. Here, activate the spell I told you and read it again.¡± She passed it to Kai, and he did as told, activating a minor eye-enchanting spell. As soon as he did, words appeared upon the already-filled pages, words he had never seen before. His pupils widened in shock, and he glanced at Aina before taking a closer look. After a few minutes, his vision returned to normal, and he blinked rapidly as his eyes wettened. ¡°What¡­ what is all this? I can barely understand it.¡± ¡°Looks to be a personal journal disguised as a book, written in old Lazerch. The contents inside are interesting, nonetheless, however judging by how old it is this was common knowledge back then. Some information was intentionally destroyed, and at some point, it seemed like destruction of this book was attempted as well.¡± The entire room stood in silence as Aina explained, and Elizabeth moved in to take a closer look as well. ¡°This, do you think my parents knew about this?¡± She shook her head and handed the book to her daughter. ¡°It¡¯s unlikely, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have casually handed it over to you. I don¡¯t know who the author is but from the little I managed to decipher¡­ it was a vampire. And not any ordinary one either.¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s¡­¡± Kai¡¯s breathing halted for a second, and he took a deep breath before saying. ¡°And what does it say?¡± ¡°Well, boring stuff, mostly. It talks about his daily life and his thoughts, though it took me a while to translate. I only have a small dictionary on me, but that should help you plenty.¡± She said, flicking her sleeve and handing Kai a small, yet thick book. ¡°Thank you-¡± However, before he could continue the sound of galloping horses and turning wheels made a pit form in his stomach. He bit his lip put the book in one of his rings, and grabbed the one from Elly as well. The group walked outside, a complicated expression forming on their faces as they watched a grand carriage, pulled by four white horses approach the house. Despite its size, the carriage had no particular decoration or fancy curtains, unlike Oprphelia¡¯s. The thing that made it stand out, however, was the sigil of the Magic Academy- A purple octagon with golden embroidered edges in the middle of which lay a whaling dragon, wrapped by a thorny rose sprouting from its back. It came to a halt, and the door opened, revealing the man present at Sverik¡¯s contest. He looked the same, except his crystally eyes were covered by a cloth wrapped around his head. Onyx woke up as well, rushing toward the others and sitting down, waiting patiently. The man from the Magic Academy took a few steps forward and stopped a few meters away from Kai and Sverik. ¡°I assume you¡¯ve already said your goodbyes. If you haven¡¯t, I¡¯ll give you one count but then we have to go.¡± His stern voice reverberated in the air, a feeling of reluctance washing over them as they glanced at each other. Aina nodded, then kneeled in front of Kai and placed her hand on his shoulder. ¡°Kai, I- I wish I could tell you a thousand things, however, words aren¡¯t enough.¡± She choked on her words as she said with a trembling voice. The reality of the situation finally hit her, and tears dripped down her cheeks as she brought Kai into a hug. ¡°Just, take care of yourself, alright? Never forget you have a home here, with us. Don¡¯t stupidly risk your life again, think three times before you do anything dangerous. If you feel lost just come back here, if you¡¯re sad just think of us, if you need anything contact us through any means necessary. Please don¡¯t ever forget about me and do something stupid, alright?¡± Kai nodded softly, his shoulder shaking as he held back tears. ¡°Damn it, Aina, why are you so emotional now¡­¡± He said, hugging her as tightly as possible. Elizabeth and Euphridia joined in on the hug. Elly¡¯s whisper echoed in his mind. ¡°Stupid boy, make sure you keep practicing your magic and revise the medicinal knowledge we gave you, alright? Don¡¯t forget to eat properly, and feed Onyx well as well. Write to us, ok? Let us know you¡¯re alive and kicking¡­ and¡­ and¡­¡± Her voice broke as her tear-covered face plastered against his shoulder, the whispering turning to a barely comprehensible voice. ¡°Live up to your parents¡¯ name, don¡¯t let them down okay? Don¡¯t die until you¡¯ve avenged them, you hear me?¡± Kai bit his lip, his face turning red as a shiver ran down his spine. He nodded again, unable to utter any words despite his wanting to say so much. His jaw clenched as tears dripped down his face, which increased as soon as Euphridia¡¯s voice landed in his ears. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare neglect your sword training? So what if you have magic now? Keep practicing and make me proud, make me prouder, ok? You brat¡­ daring to leave like this when you haven''t even defeated me yet¡­¡± Her purple eyes slowly shut as they turned moist, her shoulders shaking as she pressed herself against his back, wrapping her hands around his chest. ¡°Grow up strong and come back, alright?¡± Kai gulped, wiping his runny nose as he tried to hug them all at once. His mouth opened and closed, salty tears flowing inside like a river. Ultimately, his lips parted and, with a raspy, forced voice, he uttered, ¡°Yes¡­ I will¡­¡± Chapter 101: Unseen Shadow I gathered my army, their blood boiled with the desire to fight. And so did mine. We quickly believed what God told us, it was not difficult after seeing what He did. However, I question, still this decision, but it is what He wills, and we do too. After all, what better world to rule than a world without this curse?
The moon hung high above the forest, its scattered rays sneaking through the canopies, illuminating the dark earth. A rocky, uneven path stretched across the forest, seemingly dividing it into smaller sections. The path split into multiple roads, connecting Monten to the rest of the world, such as the other Dwarven Villages, Evicario and Aravia. Despite its jarring appearance, a lush green ridge ran through its center, with compacted soil on either side and flattened vegetation decorating its surroundings. A beautiful, yellow flower bloomed next to the ridge, sprouting from the hardened soil. Its petals were closed as it slept, waiting for the sun to rise and feed it. The muffled sound of clopping horses echoed farther into the distance, accompanied by the weak rattling of the carriage and its wooden wheels rubbing against the hardened ground. Owls hooted as the carriage approached, its appearance hidden by the darkness, and its front illuminated by a single lamp hanging above the forecarriage. The wind whistled softly, moving the metallic lamp. Its perpetual motion hid and revealed the figure of a slouching, fatigued driver hiding behind a brown hat. The shadows of the beautiful, white horses accompanied the man¡¯s as they slowly walked through the rugged path. Bushes rustled into the distance. Someone or something, hiding within the forest''s darkness, stalked the man. However, the coachman paid it no heed as he riled the horses to go faster with the crack of a whip, a command which they obeyed to perfection. The rattling sped up, creating a mangled song as it dashed past trees, flattened vegetation, and disturbing the sacred peace. The rustling also sped up, moving not too far away from the carriage. Its outside didn¡¯t speak of grandeur or lavishness, but instead of modesty. The exterior wore a plain dark color, with a pale brown wood door, with a darker-colored frame. The window, however, was made out of glass, and the curtains of a black material. A strange sigil made the carriage stand out, however - A purple octagon with a whaling dragon in the center, wrapped by a thorny rose sprouting from its back. The sigil of the Magic Academy. Inside, three men sat quietly on the soft, cushioned seats. One of them wore a fox mask, completely hiding his face, and had a head of flowing black hair cascading down his chest. He wore an all-black getup, which made him blend in with the surroundings. In his hand, he held a large book, the sound of its flipping pages accompanying the incessant rattling echoing in the night. Next to him stood a tanned, shorter boy. He leaned against the window and watched the darkness outside with sparkling eyes. Opposite them stood a man whose frame suggested a certain character. He wore a dark robe embroidered with the same sigil as the one on the carriage and a black bandana over his eyes. These three were, of course, Kai, Sverik, and the man representing the Magic Academy - Stefan. They sat in silence, neither bothering the other. A few hours passed since their farewell, and the reluctant emotions gradually faded away, replaced by nervousness, eagerness, and anxiety. Stefan cleared his throat and looked at Sverik, knowing where he was and how he looked despite the cloth over his eyes. The boy¡¯s gleaming eyes and fascinated gaze intrigued him. ¡°Have you never been outside, boy?¡± His low, coarse voice echoed in the carriage, making both Sverik and Kai turn toward him. Sverik¡¯s gaze moved from the window to the man, and he nodded, a bit embarrassed. ¡°This is my first time exploring outside, sir.¡± He said in a respectful, almost reverent tone. ¡°Hmm, I see. Unfortunate. You can only see pitch-black darkness right now. This part of the path is most beautiful during the day.¡± He sighed, almost regretfully before turning to Kai. ¡°And what about you?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Kai¡¯s eyes separated from his book. ¡°I¡¯ve been outside more than once, though not for very long.¡± Stefan nodded, still looking at Kai, and his lips parted. ¡°I can get you to Brevit, a small town near Aravia, but after that, you¡¯re on your own. I¡¯ll need to go and collect two other people from the different dwarven cities.¡± A soft smile creased Kai¡¯s lips, although nobody could see it. He nodded gently and opened his book. ¡°Thank you, that¡¯s more than enough. I am grateful you took me along.¡± ¡°Haha, it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± The man chuckled, ¡°However, may I ask why you¡¯re wearing that mask, even in private?¡± Kai¡¯s gaze faltered for a second, and he raised his head. ¡°I¡­ just prefer to hide away. I hope I¡¯m not offending you.¡± ¡°No, no, that¡¯s alright.¡± Stefan gestured with his hands. ¡°I was just curious, however, I must warn you as well. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re hiding, but people with eyes like me could easily see through your disguise. Or people with special eyes and spells. Although we are rare, it¡¯s better you take precautions and don¡¯t make an enemy out of them.¡± Kai nodded again, and went back to his book after saying a brief ¡°Thank you.¡± The quiet atmosphere returned, the clopping of the horses and creaking of the carriage filling the silence. Accompanying them were the nightly creatures, grasshoppers and owls, and the occasional rustling coming from the forest. Onyx sure is hiding well for someone his size. Kai thought to himself, still absorbed in the book. He hadn¡¯t bothered to read the journal parts, as he couldn¡¯t understand most of it. Instead, he opted to fill his brain with knowledge of the land, its history, and races. Despite the book¡¯s age, most of the information still held up. Is that proof of how strong the races and beasts are, or of their incompetence? Either way, this information will prove to be useful soon enough. He glanced out the window, the eerie darkness surrounding them disappearing as his eyes shone with a faint light. The outside world became clear, as if it was daytime, however even so the forest¡¯s creepiness didn¡¯t decrease. The trees¡¯ crowns danced slightly with the wind, whistling a melancholic song as the carriage advanced. The leaves intertwined, fluttered, broke apart, and floated down, carried by the chilly breeze. It was peaceful, calming, and weirdly reassuring. Eventually, Sverik¡¯s heartbeat slowed down as he fell asleep, still leaning against the window. Kai followed soon after, his fatigued mind resting under Stefan¡¯s watchful gaze. A light sigh escaped his body as he stared outside, his ears twitching as the cacophony of sounds mixed in a soothing melody. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. A thunderous boom, accompanied by a flash of lighting invited a drop of water to crash against the ground, breaking apart into a million pieces. Then another, and another. Rain fell upon the ground, the muffled hitting against the grass and dirt contrasting with the violent crashing on the carriage. Another instrument joined the symphony of nature, guiding the two boys along the jugged path with a beautiful melody of farewell. ¡­ The sun rose, and the carriage stopped at the edge of the forest. Sverik, Stefan, and the coachman lay on the soft grass, taking a break from the uncomfortably comfortable cushioned seats. The rain from last night lingered on the blades of grass and leaves, however, nothing a short wind spell couldn¡¯t blow away. Kai opted to remain in the carriage, hidden away from the sunlight and ate a small piece of fruit with his eyes glued to the book. Due to the black curtains blocking away all the sunlight, Kai hung a small light crystal above him, illuminating the entire carriage. Letting out a soft sigh, he glanced toward the curtains, a longing expression manifesting on his face. Pushing one aside, the sunlight quickly infiltrated the interior. Kai groaned in pain as the light hit his hand, forearm, and face, even through the mask. He quickly blocked off the sun with the curtain and rubbed the spots where he got burnt. The smell of sizzling, burnt meat filled the interior. Biting his lower lip, a small, red pill appeared in his hand, which he quickly swallowed. The fresh wounds healed as quickly as they appeared, leaving no scar behind. I hope Stefan doesn¡¯t question my displeasure with the outside too much¡­ With a bitter taste left in his mouth, he returned to his book and waited for the carriage to depart again. Brevit is half a day¡¯s away, thankfully. We¡¯ll reach it during the night so that means I¡¯ll be able to leave as is. He glanced at the fruit he just finished eating, and chuckled. I wonder what Onyx is eating. The carriage¡¯s door opened quietly, and Stefan and Sverik entered quickly. Thankfully the sun didn¡¯t reach Kai, as he made sure to subtly avoid it. The wheel rattled into motion as soon as Stefan knocked twice on the walls, and the quiet journey continued. The other two made some small talk on the way, with Stefan explaining how things would be in the Academy and trying to understand more of Sveirk¡¯s character. Kai remained silent, reading his book and trying not to give away too much about himself. Eventually, as the sun set and the moon rose, the silhouette of a small town decorated with orange lights appeared over the horizon. The tallest building inside seemed to be the church, which towered over everything else. As they got closer, the details became clearer. After the church, the second most important building was the ¡®Guild¡¯s HQ Association¡¯, a fancy name for the central hub of all the existing guilds. Brevit was by no means small, however when compared to the other places Kai visited, it was definitely amongst the smallest. A tall, four-meter wall made out of wooden spikes stretched around the entire village. Watchtowers, within which archers hid, were placed every twenty or so meters. In front of the iron-reinforced wooden gate sat a few guards, their eyes lazily opening and closing. They wore leather armor and clutched long wooden spears in their hands. One of them looked over at the carriage, not paying it too much attention. He nudged his colleagues, their backs immediately straightening as they waited for the carriage to come close. ¡°Halt, identify yourselves.¡± The coachman grunted and pulled out an iron plate with the Academy¡¯s sigil on it. As soon as the guards saw it, their eyes widened and immediately creaked open the gate, too afraid to utter a word. Kai walked out slowly, accompanied by Sverik. He locked eyes with his friend, and held his hand out, reaching for a handshake. Kai smiled, and accepted, bidding Sverik a silent farewell. The carriage left soon after, heading toward the other Villages scattered across the Dwarven Mountain Range. Kai whistled. The bushes behind him rustled as Onyx flew out from the forest, rushing toward his companion. He used the spell to decrease his size, going from a four-meter-tall monster to the size of a normal wolf. Kai patted his fur and pulled out a piece of dried meat which Onyx instantly gobbled up. ¡°Let¡¯s go, boy.¡± The two passed through the gate, ignoring the flabbergasted guards, and finally entered Brevit. Kai took a deep breath, inspecting his newfound surroundings and the town he planned to call home for the next few days. Due to its location in between the human kingdom - Aravia, and the Dwarven Mountain Range, the city flourished as an adventurer¡¯s heaven. All the big guilds gathered here, at least in spirit, as a few dozen representatives from each lived here. Instead of hunting and completing missions, these people worked at the ¡®Guild¡¯s HQ Association¡¯ - a large building that housed them, and in turn, the guild they were sent here by. From recruitment or signing up, to payouts and accepting missions, all adventurers met at the HQ. Luckily for Kai, it was open all day and all night. But first, lodging. Kai thought, walking through the cobblestone-paved streets. Tall, wooden polls worn out by time illuminate the roads via the lamps hanging on either side. Fire and Light crystals nested inside the metal-framed box, with glass on all sides for the easy passage of light. Beggars and adventurers often lay below them, hoping to get money or sell their wares. Buildings made out of timber stretched across the roads, some of them having balconies decorated with vines and flowers, giving a beautiful look of the city below. Unlike Nivero, whose nightlife consisted solely of bars and brothels, Brevit¡¯s streets were bustling with activity. Hooded figures sneaked through the crowds with purpose, while small children begged and stole from the passersby. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes, decorated by shiny armor and sharp swords stretched as far as the eye could see. Kai walked through one of the narrower, emptier streets, hoping to avoid any altercations and misunderstandings. I need to get to the town center and make my way from there. He thought as he looked behind him. Onyx walked by his side, carefully looking around for any potential danger. Kai¡¯s cloak fluttered as he walked deeper and deeper inside the dimly lit alley, his expression changing to one of disgust the more he saw of it. A weird smell oozed from the surroundings, potentially due to the human or animal feces, the blood-stained clothes, and rotting corpses of animals, or what he hoped they were. Trash littered the floor, in stark contrast to the earlier scene of the bustling streets. However, he didn¡¯t mind it much, the fewer people that saw him, the better. The noisiness of the main road slowly died down, replaced instead by an eerie silence that sent a shiver down his spine. He activated ¡®Vision¡¯, his eyes glowing faintly as the darkness before him dissipated. His footsteps echoed, accompanied by Onyx¡¯s muffled paws, bouncing off against the walls that got closer and closer the further he went. Looking ahead, he saw a strong, blinding light due to the spell, and the city''s distant noise landed once again in his ears. A creak startled him, his footsteps halting right next to a corner. The sound of rapid footsteps approached his location. Focusing on the darkness, his pupils widened as he didn¡¯t see anything, even with ¡®Vision¡¯ activated. However, he could feel a strong, imposing presence far into the alley. What is that?! He took a step back and glued himself against the wall. Onyx did the same, however, his white fur did nothing less than make him stand out. The footsteps crept closer, faster and faster. Kai¡¯s heart raced, his hand trembling slightly as his thumb pressed against his ring. His muscles tensed in anticipation, adrenaline coursing through his veins. And as the unknown figure drew closer, so did his desire to flee. They beat rhythmically like a drum against the cobblestone, echoing in Kai¡¯s heart. Kai felt its presence a few meters away from him, even if he couldn¡¯t see it. He gulped and silently drew his sword, his pupils narrowing as he got ready for whatever lurked within the shadows. Chapter 102: Feisty Goddess The days of seeing my kin die due to not being able to feed are long since gone. They can eat and drink in abundance now, and our army grows stronger every day. Although we have not yet gotten even close to where He resides, I look toward it with excitement¡­ but also apprehension.
Onyx growled as the unknown figure stood within meters of them, baring his teeth and waiting as the deep footsteps beat like a drum. Kai clutched the hilt, his palms sweating profusely. However, just as the sounds reached a peak, they hurried off into the darkness, with Kai still unable to see who or what rushed through these pitch-black alleys. Staring in the direction of the strong mana present, he let out a sigh of relief as he put away his sword, unable to sense what he perceived to be an enemy anymore. A wave of relief washed over him, and he held back his desire to fall to the ground. They took a minute to catch their breath and shook off the experience as nothing more than a ghost. After all, Gods existed, why not ghosts? Finally leaving the alley and entering the town center, he was greeted by a cacophony of sounds and smells. His vision filled with countless people of different types. Of buildings covered in plants, vines, and paintings. Trees were erected in front of a large statue of Lumiera, behind which lay the church. The statue itself pictured the vague figure of a woman with large wings sprouting from her back, and a large golden halo floating above her head. The clothes were loose but well-defined, and they covered the statue¡¯s body well. Kai stared at the large, fairly accurate depiction of the Goddess. The artist didn¡¯t meet her himself, otherwise, that smile would be way less pretty. He chuckled to himself and slowly walked toward the church. The path in front of it was smooth, unlike the cobblestone roads covering the city. On either side stood beautiful, rectangular, perfectly trimmed bushes, almost to a fault. Two towers stood parallel to each other, each of them having a tell lazily hang from their lapis ceiling. Around the church, a few people stopped just like Kai did, and admired the structure before continuing on their way. Most of these people seemed to be visitors, as the locals seemed preoccupied with indulging their desires a few houses away. Kai stepped forward, his heart racing as he climbed the wide steps. Onyx followed silently, not understanding why his companion paid so much attention to this building. The large staircase made out of dark material, or rather, a material that has darkened over time, led to a thick, arched wooden door. Its knobs and handles glowed with a gold-like hue under the polls, illuminating the intricately carved details. Looking from below, the church was akin to a giant, towering over both people and buildings. Its immense, suffocating presence loomed over Kai, even as he admired the carefully carved white stone it was made of, despite its grayish coat. Higher above the door, a wide window made of colored glass pictured the image of Lumiera. Her eyes were shut, and her hands joined together in prayer. The holy aura spread from her azure-clothed body and pushed away what seemed to be creatures made of darkness. Kai gulped, unable to take his eyes off of her, despite seeing the Goddess more times than he¡¯d have liked. It was almost like some sort of magical spell drove him to worship the figure before him. He shook off that thought and continued forward. Pushing against the door, it opened without any resistance. The sweet smell of burning incense inundated his nostrils, making him subconsciously let his guard down as he stepped inside. Jesus Christ¡­ Kai gasped once he entered, the outside of this grandiose building not giving its actual size justice. Before him stood another door, much smaller than the one before, and much thinner. Instead of a window, it had a large hole filled with a metallic wire, allowing him to see just enough to be left in awe. He reached for the doorknob and shook it back and forth, however the door showed no signs of bulging. Locked huh¡­ I guess it¡¯s to be expected. Kai looked around, searching for an alternative way to get inside. Surely enough, to his right was a hallway. He didn¡¯t know where it would lead, but he wasn¡¯t about to give up trying to enter. I still have unsolved business with her. Clenching his fists, he turned to Onyx and patted his soft fur, before saying. ¡°Wait for me here. If I don¡¯t return in thirty minutes come look for me, alright?¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx replied and sat down, watching his partner enter the dimly lit hallway. It stood tall, about twice Kai¡¯s size. Actual torches with crackling fire hung from the sides, bringing Kai a weird sense of familiarity. He traced his finger along the left wall, a shiver running down his spine from the chilliness. Suddenly, his footsteps halted, and he brought his wand out. Quickly casting an illumination spell, he took a step back and looked at the walls with widened eyes. He walked back, meeting Onyx¡¯s gaze briefly before turning his attention to the wall. The first thing he saw was the outline of a large, empty sphere sitting in some kind of space. Its vagueness didn¡¯t stop Kai from recognizing the weird ball, and he inhaled sharply as he continued. That looks like Earth¡­ The next picture over showed little spots starting to take shape on that sphere. And the next one over showed them getting closer and closer, until finally, the third one took the vague shape of the continent Kai was so familiar with. No way¡­ Advancing, the next mural showed the detailed image of Lumiera looking over the sphere with a gentle smile on her face. After that, the story progressively unfolded before Kai¡¯s very eyes. She brought her finger to the bottom of the continent, giving it a gentle touch which created a mass of exploding light. Then, from the light grew a tree, which then spread its roots all over the continent. From then, the only thing appearing were the trees growing more and more, until a layer of light appeared over the landmass, which quickly merged with it. Next, it depicted the first lifeforms. Animals guarded the original tree, feeding off of it and growing larger and larger as the days passed. More and more such beasts appeared all over the continent, taking control of it until¡­ The first intelligent species appeared. They learned how to control magic from observing the animals, from hunting down the weaker ones until they finally mastered the art of magic. Kai continued forward, his heart racing as he quickly digested this information. His expression saddened, however when he saw that¡­ there were no more carvings. Letting out a sigh, he looked behind him, above and below. Looks like that¡¯s all they were willing to tell the public. Or is that all they know too? It can¡¯t be¡­ To know so little about how their world was created¡­ Well, I guess it¡¯s a pattern in all worlds. He put away his wand and advanced through the hallway until he finally met with a staircase. Biting his lower lip, he climbed the first step and walked on his toes to not make too much noise, as even his breathing echoed. Around what he assumed to be the halfway point, he saw a door which he quickly tried. To his surprise, it opened, and quickly made his way inside the church. The smell of incense burned even stronger inside, his eyes almost watering from the intensity. Moonlight hit him through the colored glass on the ceiling, slightly burning his hand. This roof window showed a similar painting to the one outside, except Lumiera¡¯s eyes were wide open, and out into the darkness, fighting the black creature were four vague figures of what seemed to be angels. Kai stared at it for a good minute before turning his eyes away, toward the ground. On the floor, hundreds of chairs arranged in a circular formation pointed toward a large podium decorated with flowers. His eyes widened as he looked behind it, where a huge statue of Lumiera made out of marble stood tall. It almost reaches the ceiling¡­ Kai thought as he walked forward, unable to take his eyes off of it. Compared to this one, the statue outside was akin to a firefly, while this one was the moon. Its smooth skin was extremely detailed, without any flaw or stain visible on its surface. The clothes were realistic, their texture, folds, and flaws sculpted with much care and attention. Her beautiful face showed a mother-like, gentle expression as her large eyes looked over the entire hall. Its presence, much grander than the church itself, suffocated Kai with every step he took forward. His heart skipped a beat, briefly halting in his footsteps as a shocked expression appeared on his face. Did she just¡­ no, no way. However, it was obvious to him, the pupils had moved. He took a deep breath and advanced slowly until he was within meters of her. It was then that an even more frightening presence enveloped Kai, and from up above where he was standing, he could see the marble statue glow brightly. He covered his eyes and reeled back in shock as a seemingly mechanical noise scraped his ears. Peeking through his mask, he saw the giant statue move and come closer to him, her deadpan expression sending shivers down his spine. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. She stopped within inches of his face, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before Kai looked away. A soothing, ethereal voice echoed in the church, making his ears ring. ¡°Why have you come, soul?¡± Kai gulped and took a few steps backward until he was stopped by a wall. His legs shook, arms trembled and lips quivered. However, he grits his teeth and says in a weak voice. ¡°I-I-I have some questions¡­¡± The statue¡¯s face leaned on her palm, her head turning slightly as the voice echoed once again. ¡°Is that so? Why then, must I answer you?¡± ¡°W-what?¡± Kai asked, taken aback by her question. Right, why should she answer me? He bit his lip and raised his voice, if ever so slightly. ¡°You¡¯re the one who brought me here¡­ you¡¯re the one who left me alone below the church in Nivero¡­ you have some responsibility!¡± ¡°Ah? Fufu¡­¡± The statue chuckled, a smile creasing her dried lips. ¡°I guess giving you another life wasn¡¯t enough¡­ would you much rather be recycled right now?¡± Along with that statement, a huge pressure descended upon Kai, and his soul screamed in agony, just like back then when he was born. Although the pressure didn¡¯t overstay its welcome, and soon vanished. ¡°Watch your words, soul, I am your Goddess now.¡± A warm breeze blew through the closed-off church, followed by Lumiera¡¯s voice. ¡°Yurman sent me a handful with you.¡± Ignoring her remarks, Kai clenched his fists and built up the courage, the words he¡¯d always wanted to say since that day finally escaping his mouth. ¡°How¡­ How can I get back the pieces of soul I lost?¡± ¡°Ha? Didn¡¯t I tell you already? Go look for them, they¡¯re all scattered around the continent.¡± ¡°Even if I were to begin searching now, finding one now, or in ten lifetimes is still an insurmountable task. Throw me a bone, please.¡± Lumiera stood in silence, seemingly contemplating his request. Another gentle breeze blew through the church, and the statue¡¯s hand rose, its index finger reaching toward Kai¡¯s forehead. The boy froze up, both out of fear and respect, and endured the piercing coldness that he could feel through his mask. ¡°That should be enough, I made it so when you look at a map it shows you the vague location of the pieces.¡± She said as the statue walked back to its original position. ¡°Wait- What?¡± Kai gasped in shock. ¡°So you already knew where they are? Hey! What kind of power is that?¡± The statue¡¯s expression turned to a frown as it glared at Kai, Lumiera¡¯s angry voice echoing within the walls. ¡°What? Are you not happy with that? I thought kids like you already knew this stuff. Do you want me to explain everything? I don¡¯t know where your soul pieces are, your soul does, looking at a map just projects what the soul knows on the map. Oh my, so clueless, have you never picked up a ga-. You know what, never mind. Don¡¯t bother me again, I¡¯m not going to answer anymore.¡± With that, the statue returned to being just a statue¡­ with an expression that changed ever so slightly. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± Kai stared in shock, more taken aback by her reaction than the actual power She granted him. ¡­ Kai and Onyx walked out of the church with more questions than answers, however even he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to know what went through that Goddess¡¯s head anymore. He sighed and pulled out a map, and, just as she said, small dots of light appeared all over the continent. Twelve in total huh¡­ The closest one was somewhere inside the human kingdom, Aravia, while the rest were scattered in places with little to no documentation available. You gotta be kidding me¡­ Putting the map back into his ring, he sat down on the cold steps and looked toward the sky. Inhaling deeply and staring at the stars and moon, he ignored the pain on his retina and contemplated what his next steps should be. I guess joining a guild, well, get a room first, then join a guild¡­ Yeah. Well, at least I have another goal now¡­ besides getting stronger. But had I known Lumiera would be so rude I¡­ would have just gone to the Academy. He sighed and stood up, patting off the dust off his clothes, and strolled through the city center. The shops and stalls were nothing to write home about, especially in comparison to Nivero, whose streets were filled with merchants and amateurs. However, the smell of billowing smoke and heated iron, something which Kai had not felt, permeated the air as blacksmiths worked even late into the night to finish their commissions. One such smithery stood a few streets away from the church, its open area creating a sort of stage as a dozen workers walked to and fro with hot metal and buckets of icy water. Sparks flew about as the sound of a hammer hitting metal echoed into the street, and Kai watched as a bar of metal turned into a sword. Of course, its quality was lacking in comparison to even the trashiest weapon made by a dwarf, but for humans who mainly focused on magic, it was more than enough. Advancing past that little show, he passed countless bars and brothels, the loud chatter of the guests present gradually overpowering the sound of the ringing metal. The smell of alcohol permeated the air, accompanied by the alluring scent of fried meats. Onyx licked his lips and looked at Kai, yelping with a sharp sound as he nudged his partner toward one such food stall. Feeling defeated, Kai gave in and walked toward the stall filled with a familiar smell. It was small and sold a variety of grilled delicacies, one such thing being skewers. Kai paused and looked at the man, squinting his eyes at his familiar features. Do I know him from somewhere? Nah, no way. After ordering the man¡¯s entire grill, as per Onyx¡¯s begging, Kai stored away most of the food and gave his companion a few large steaks to chew down before asking directions for an inn, which the man happily gave. Turns out one was so close, nice. He walked inside, the lobby being part bar as well. He found that to be the case in most lodgings in this world, but he couldn¡¯t do anything about it nor about the gazes focusing on him as soon as he stepped through the door. The receptionist, who was also a bartender, looked at him with furrowed eyes but didn¡¯t say anything as her expression turned into a smile. ¡°Welcome dear Guest, how may I be of service to you?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like a room for me and my partner.¡± He said with an expressionless voice, pitched a few octaves lower to mask his age. Hearing that, the receptionist bit her lips and said with a tinge of regret. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but we don¡¯t have any available rooms, most of them have been reserved already.¡± All of them? Kai thought, feeling suspicious about the whole thing. There¡¯s no way. Fine then, I¡¯ll try this. ¡°I¡¯m willing to pay a ¡®small¡¯ premium.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for the girl to answer as he pulled out a gold coin and sneakily placed it before her, making sure to hide it and annunciate the small part of his sentence. I don¡¯t wanna get robbed by some losers trying to make a quick coin either¡­ The girl¡¯s pupils widened, however, she placed the coin back in his palm, even as her heart screamed in regret. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we don¡¯t have any more rooms.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ alright then.¡± Kai didn¡¯t take the coin, and left together with Onyx, looking and asking around for other inns. However, no matter where he went, the answer was the same, regardless of how much he insisted. After the sixth rejection, he sensed that something was amiss, and after the eighth, he knew it for sure. Is there some kind of conspiracy going on here? He sat down at a bar and ordered himself a drink he didn¡¯t intend to finish, hoping to pick up some useful information. Perking his ears, he listened carefully to the people around him. ¡°Did you hear? Fala¡¯s daughter is going to get married next month¡­¡± ¡°Aye, business has been bad recently, the monsters in the West have been wreaking havoc.¡± ¡°Some green little shit destroyed my garden the other way, I wonder where these pests came from?¡± ¡°Ho, look at that guy with the mask, he thinks he¡¯s being sneaky.¡± Kai shot to his feet, and left the table with a few coins under the drink, clicking his tongue. Was I that obvious? I guess these things happen often so people are wary. Damn it! I¡¯ll go to the guild first and worry about it later. He followed the roads and eventually arrived at the building where all the guilds gathered. It was big, large in width and height, but still not as big as the church. Clear windows decorated its sides, with large staircases leading toward a large door made out of weird metal. The gate was wide open, inviting anyone and anything inside. From outside, its splendor shone through the water fountains, statues, and flags decorating the large entrance. Flags with each guild¡¯s sigil flowed freely in the wind, even though there was no wind anywhere else. No gate or wall surrounded the building or anything related to it, showing how sure of themselves the people residing within were. Besides all of that, their biggest show of power and wealth had to be a large statue made out of magic crystals sitting proudly in the middle of the entrance. Its bottom was transparent, not obscuring the overall view, which gradually turned red and green, which then mixed with the other colors toward the top. It depicted a man with a large frame- Big chest and arms, wearing armor and wielding a sword. A crown decorated his head, and a large beard his face. Kai gasped as he walked inside, barely able to calculate just how much mana existed in that singular space. As he stared at the statue with widened pupils, a cold hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, sending a cold shiver down Kai¡¯s spine as he felt the immense amount of magic emanating from the person behind him. Onyx yelped, frozen in fear as well, and Kai couldn¡¯t even turn to see who it was that locked him down. His heart raced madly as a deep voice echoed in his ears, and a pit formed in his stomach as soon as its words rang in his mind. ¡°You got an interesting animal there.¡± Chapter 103: Guild Application I feel powerful, more powerful than ever. Blood is rushing through my veins, feeding my core, my very being. I feel my body screaming in pleasure, who would have thought blood this pure existed?
¡°Ah, excuse me.¡± The deep voice said as its pressure diminished until it fully disappeared. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I was being that obvious with my testing.¡± It chuckled, removing his hand from Kai¡¯s shoulder. Turning around and looking up, Kai saw a man dressed in a gray suit with darker stripes. He wore a head of short, brown hair, his face decorated by a fairly thick beard and his eyes shone with a sapphire blue hue. He took a step back, a soft smile creasing his lips. ¡°I¡¯m Raymond, a member of the Wildfire guild.¡± His soothing voice echoed in Kai¡¯s ears, a small shiver running up his spine as he gulped. It was deep, like any man¡¯s, but had a gentle aura around it, unlike the ruffians wandering the streets of these cities. It¡¯s weirdly pleasing¡­ He thought, observing the stylish gentleman. Raymond searched in his breast pocket, and pulled out a card, presenting it to Kai. The card itself seemed to be made out of a special, thick paper, and a faint mana shield covered it. A red border covered its grayish center, and the letters seemed to glow with a faint golden color as Kai read the information on the card. <> Kai¡¯s pupils constricted, and he took a step back after making sure he read the rank right. Five Star?! This man? No way, from the pressure alone he has to be stronger! The man noticed his behavior and chuckled to himself as he put away the card. ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°I¡¯m. uh. I-¡± He stuttered, his eyes flying about as he tried to think of a good name. ¡°¡­ Ichor?¡± Is that the best you can do?! ¡°Ichor huh¡­¡± Raymond repeated, raising an eyebrow, however, a happy, almost excited expression manifested on his face as he patted Kai on the shoulder. ¡°Great! I assume you¡¯re here to join a guild?¡± ¡°Uh, y-yes¡­¡± ¡°Alright! I saw you staring at the statue of The King earlier, and I couldn¡¯t help but notice the¡­ ¡®wolf¡¯ next to you. Doesn¡¯t seem like any species from around here.¡± ¡®The King?¡¯¡°Ah, right. Onyx is¡­ well I am from afar. We came here because it was the closest city to our village.¡± ¡°Your village? I wasn¡¯t aware there were any villages in the vicinity¡± ¡°Ah¡­. well¡­ we weren¡¯t numerous, I don¡¯t think we¡¯re even on the map so that¡¯s normal. It was me, my parents, and a few people I called friends¡­ however a vampire killed them all, and burned down my house¡­ and the rest of the buildings along with them.¡± His voice tensed up, retelling an abridged version of the events that happened to him not so long ago. ¡°My parents protected me and so¡­ I remained the only survivor.¡± Kai recounted a story he made up on the spot, however, the reality of the events made him hold back tears. ¡°A vampire?¡± the man said, his tone raising suddenly. Clearing his throat, his lips parted as he whispered. ¡°How did a vampire get so far out from their kingdom? The Royal family is keeping a tight hold on anyone going in and out of that area.¡± Are they¡­? Kai thought, however he couldn¡¯t drop the act now. Lowering his head and sniffing gently, he shook his head and turned away, fidgeting with his fingers. ¡°How am I su- supposed to know?¡± Raymond¡¯s expression turned soft, and he let out a sigh at the sight of such a helpless-looking child. His eyes turned toward Kai¡¯s fingers, decorated with the two spatial rings he always wore. Noticing the man¡¯s gaze, he bit his lower lip and quickly hid them away. ¡°Hmm¡­ alright. Well, I hope you¡¯ll find a home in our guild. We are Wildfire, you can find us inside that huge building, our flag is the one with a burning lotus on it.¡± His voice turned serious as he explained, and he looked with pride toward the flag he described. ¡°Of course, you can take your time and choose, there¡¯s no rush.¡± Kai nodded silently, patting Onyx¡¯s fur and looking toward the gigantic building. Glancing back, Raymond was nowhere to be seen, disappearing into the light like a ghost. Five Star my ass. Grandpa is a Five Star and he didn¡¯t have half your presence. He took a deep breath, and passed the statue, walking on the paved, smooth road leading to the huge set of stairs. From close by, the building felt overpowering, however it didn¡¯t have the same presence as the church. Walking inside, he was greeted by a mixed cacophony of voices, the lobby filled with an air of professionalism. Despite the adventurer¡¯s appearance - Bloody, with torn clothes, broken blades hanging by their waist, and some of them even missing limbs. The large building held itself to a standard, unlike the bars, inns, and brothels Kai visited before. It reminded him of Ophelia¡¯s Inn or at least the one owned by her family. Few people paid attention to him as he took in the grand atmosphere, scanning the area, and turning around to see it in its entirety. There were twelve, large sections dividing the room, and a thirteenth divided into eight next to them. Most of them looked the same, with very few things being different, besides a large logo displayed everywhere in its respective section. The first big section held the sigil of a Lion-like creature, with a snake for a tail and the legs of a horse, roaring at the sky. A lot of people gathered around what seemed to be a large number of receptions, handing in paper, sacks, and rings, and exchanging them for gold. Otherwise, they stood at neatly arranged tables, drinking ale and other alcoholic beverages accompanied by a large serving of food. Next to the tables, half a dozen bulletin boards plastered with posters stretched across the wall, with dozens upon dozens of people gathering around them and choosing one of their liking. The next one over held the symbol of a rose around which revolved a halo of light. This section had a similar style of placement, except the boards weren¡¯t sitting against a wall. The third one was a symbol Kai was familiar with, a burning lotus. So that¡¯s Wildfire¡­ He took a look at the others, and in total, there were exactly twelve guilds sharing the space, along with eight others cramped together in a corner. Two of them stood out to him, however - A guild with a wand wrapped in mana, and a guild with a sword wrapped by cloth. On the wand side, a bunch of people dressed in mage robes walked about, something glaring at the other side. Their neighbors, the sword guild - of course, those weren¡¯t their actual names - were dressed in light armor, or no armor at all. Some of them even walked topless around, or with very little clothing, showcasing their muscles. They stopped now and then to glare at the other party, even making obscene gestures, leading to a back-and-forth exchange of insults. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. One other guild that stood out to him was one filled with scholarly-like people. They were dressed in loose robes, and they held neither sword or wand, but pen. He didn¡¯t know what exactly they were doing, but one thing he was certain of - he didn¡¯t belong there. Next, he walked toward a center, where what seemed to be a circular neutral zone stood marked by a large pillar. Shelves filled with small books surrounded the pillar, and surrounding them were people who seemed a bit older than Kai, picking up the books and placing them down after skimming briefly. The others didn¡¯t pay any attention to him, safe for a double glance at his mask and Onyx. Picking up a small book and reading its title <> he immediately realized what this place was about. So just read about the guilds then make a choice? Seems easy enough. He flipped it to the first page, then to the second, and finally to the third, where it presented the first guild. <> What kind of guild is this¡­ Seems like a bunch of weirdos trying to play God-, ahem, Goddess¡­ Moving on, the second guild didn¡¯t have any grand story or noble goal, just a very slight obsession with light magic. <> That was¡­ short. I guess it¡¯s pretty straightforward. Flipping the pages over, he arrived at the presentation of the third guild - Wildfire. Its main page was about as basic as the others, however, what intrigued Kai most about it were their aggressive marketing tactics. <> Huh? This short¡­ Who wrote this thing? After skimming through the rest of the guilds and their presentations, Kai put down the guide and looked through the shelves. Digging into it, he finally found a booklet that presented Wildfire, and he immediately began flipping through its pages. <> Kai stared at the rest of the booklet with a tired expression. Besides this short introduction and the names of the founding members, the booklet was relatively useless¡­ What is with these people and not explain anything? Letting out a defeated sigh, he placed it back within the shelf, and took a look around, at the other guilds, before deciding to walk toward Wildfire. I should be fine, worst case scenario I join a lower-ranking one. As soon as he walked within the guild¡¯s zone, countless eyes turned toward him, their gazes figuratively burning them through his clothes. He did his best to ignore them as he walked past countless veteran and newbie adventurers. Onyx felt the gazes as well, however, he couldn¡¯t care less about these people. Standing in front of the front desk, his head barely reached past the gap. Staring at the space, he wasn¡¯t sure how to get the staff¡¯s attention, until he saw a bell. He waited after ringing it a few times and didn¡¯t have to wait long as a set of rhythmic footsteps approached the desk. His pupils widened as the figure of a beautiful woman leaned over the gap, looking for whoever it was that rang the bell. Long, brown hair cascaded down her chest, hanging past her waist. Deep, dark pupils decorated her slightly tanned face, and her rosy lips contrasted her darker features perfectly. ¡°Uhm¡­ here,¡± Kai said, blushing and turning away. ¡°Ah! Excuse me, I didn¡¯t see you.¡± She said, backing away and giving Kai a courteous look. She brought out a wand and waved it slightly, causing the ground beneath Kai¡¯s feet to rise high enough for them to meet eye-to-eye. ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± He said, his face as red as a tomato. What¡¯s wrong with me? Get yourself together man¡­ ¡°No problem. How can I help you?¡± A beautiful, almost enchanting smile creased her lips as she said in a warm, gentle tone. Kai shook his head and reminded himself why he was here. His pupils flickered with enthusiasm, and he said with a slightly more confident tone. ¡°I want to join Wildfire.¡± ¡°You want to¡­ join wildfire?¡± The woman repeated slowly, her eyes blinking rapidly as she wanted to make sure. ¡°Did I hear that right?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Y-yes ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Well¡­ how old are you? I don¡¯t think we¡¯re allowed to accept children. Where are your parents?¡± She could tell I¡¯m a child? Well, I guess it¡¯s not that hard to discern. ¡°Well, I should be almost twelve¡­ or a little bit past eleven. Yeah, I¡¯m eleven and some change.¡± Upon hearing his response, the woman took half a step back, her eyes scanning the area as her head turned slightly. Biting her lower lip, she was about to reject Kai, however she halted for a moment. Inhaling deeply, she took out a piece of paper and placed it in front of Kai with a hesitant smile on her face. However, her eyes hid a glint of interest in the boy, and she quickly said with a customer service voice. ¡°Here you go then, please fill out this form and we¡¯ll let you know if you were accepted. Please keep in mind you still have to pay the fee.¡± ¡°Sure, that¡¯s no problem,¡± Kai replied as he picked up the entry form and a pen from the side. He filled out the form relatively quickly, writing the name Ichor instead of his real name and choosing only two elements: Fire and Light. Someone like me with no background having more than one element is already shocking enough¡­ probably. I¡¯d rather play it low for now¡­ <> Humm, I suppose I do. He thought, glancing at Onyx. < > Let¡¯s see. Name, Onyx, age¡­ I think he¡¯s two years old, so I¡¯ll write that. As for race¡­ High Wolf? I can¡¯t put Obborik in, and the only thing he comes close to is a Wolf, so I guess High Wolf makes sense. He handed over the form to the woman after signing it, at the same time flicking his wrist and placing a bag filled with jingling coins onto the desk. ¡°Th-thank you.¡± She said, skimming over the information and throwing the coins in a box full of them. ¡°Please wait, a response will be given out shortly¡­¡± After saying that, the spell she cast for Kai disappeared, the ground turning back to its beautiful, original shape. He walked toward a table, Onyx following closely behind, and sat down. His foot jumped up and down as he waited, watching the adventurers pass by as time trickled down. His nervousness grew after about an hour when he didn¡¯t get an answer, and his anxiety flared as the moon was a few hours away from setting. Behind the desk, the beautiful receptionist read a book as she too waited for an answer from upper management. The door to her small room slammed open, inviting a tall, well-dressed gentleman. ¡°There are no records of any Ichor, or of any village nearby.¡± his deep voice rang in her mind. ¡°Then-¡± ¡°Tell him he¡¯s accepted. You evaluate him personally and make sure he¡¯s fairly tested. I will be watching from close by.¡± The woman jumped up and bit her lower lip as she hesitated. ¡°Sir,¡± Her faint voice trembled. ¡°If he¡¯s that suspicious, why go to such lengths to take him in?¡± The man remained silent for a minute, his eyes fixated on Kai through the thin glass. ¡°He wasn¡¯t lying about his parents, that much I can be sure of. Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m just curious and leave it at that. See to it, Anna.¡± ¡°A-Alright¡­¡± Chapter 104: Guild Examination This magic is dangerous¡­ However, its mysterious nature makes me want to explore it more. It¡¯s so¡­ strong, so potent. It gives me a euphoria like no other. God truly blessed me on that day, and He continues doing so. To think such power was possible¡­
Kai sat at the table, looking down at the floor and playing with a pen he pulled out from his ring. The guild headquarters had mostly emptied, leaving a few sleeping people and adventurers who had yet to finish filling up some sort of paperwork. Anxiety rose inside him, and his nerves were on the edge as he waited for a reply. It¡¯s not even that important, yet I¡¯m sweating as if it was exam day¡­ However, his mood quickly changed as he heard the familiar set of footsteps approach him. Rising his head, he was greeted by the beautiful receptionist, her figure accentuated further now that Kai could see more than her face and upper body. He stood up, and so did Onyx, a nervous smile and a flushed face hiding behind his mask. ¡°Follow me,¡± the woman said without going into too much detail, however, her beautiful voice had turned an octave lower, and her tone stricter. Kai gulped and did as told, looking to the side while occasionally glancing at the receptionist. She hurried her footsteps, rushing through the small crowd and finally arriving before a door, which she swung open. Holding it, she invited Kai inside with her gaze before closing it shut. Looking around, he only saw darkness, before the room slowly lit up before his very eyes. Light crystals shone brightly one after the other, revealing a very simple environment. A storage cabinet stood to the right, holding several different types of crystals, protected by glass. In the center lay a desk littered with documents and folders, and on either side were two cushioned chairs. Behind the desk, a large canvas painting depicting a lotus flower in full bloom and a mystical green fire burning away at its very core. To the left of the painting was a grandfather clock, which ticked periodically, filling the eerie quiet. Then, farther left, a door leading to another dimly lit room. The woman¡¯s shoes hit the ground, clopping as she walked toward the cabinet. She picked out a few crystals - A yellow one and a red one, as well as a transparent one. Walking to the desk, the chair scratched the floor as she dragged it back and sat down, gesturing toward the seat opposite her. Kai understood and sat down, quietly waiting for any new orders. ¡°This exam is simple. We will test how fast you can output mana into each crystal based on the elements you filled out in the form. I see you chose Fire and Light. Are those your only two elements or your two best elements?¡± ¡°Uhm, my only elements,¡± Kai replied in a soft voice. His eyes couldn¡¯t help but wander around the room, its simplistic design striking a contrast to what he had imagined it would be. Although his face wasn¡¯t visible, his hesitant voice and body language gave out more than enough for the woman to discern something was wrong. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± She asked, clicking her tongue. ¡°Well, I expected¡­ something else? Like, a huge crystal sphere where I put my mana in, and at the end, it gives a set of exact numbers that tell my exact ranking¡­ or something.¡± The woman looked at Kai with the expression of someone who heard an insane person recount how they killed a dragon. Her pupils widened, and, after letting out a nervous chuckle, said. ¡°Please stop joking, I¡¯ve never heard of such a thing. No, we, the receptionists also count as examiners, so we are the ones who, let¡¯s say, determine those ¡®numbers¡¯ of yours. Let¡¯s move on then.¡± She let out a light sigh and searched through the stack of papers, finally pulling one out of a large pile. ¡°Take these two crystals and infuse your man into them.¡± she barked out an order, picking up a pen. Kai stood dazed for a second, then followed her instructions. The crystals'' warmth seeped into his skin, sending a warm shiver down his spine. He clutched them in his palms, and sent a bit of mana inside, making them glow. ¡°Continue, faster.¡± She ordered again, and he followed the orders as the woman¡¯s gaze fixated on his hands. The crystals glowed even fiercer than before as Kai infused more and more mana into them. Kai¡¯s fingers shook slightly as he gripped them tighter, and sent even more mana to be eaten by the crystals. The red one began burning with a fiery heat, and the yellow one shone as brightly as the ones hanging on the walls. The receptionist nodded and handed Kai the transparent crystal. ¡°That¡¯s enough, thank you. Please put those aside and inject as much mana as you can, as fast as you can into this one.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He mumbled and put the two to the side, picking up the transparent crystal. It¡¯s cold¡­ Holding it in his palm, the contrasting temperature made him shiver, however it wasn¡¯t unpleasant. It felt weirdly comforting. He clutched it as tight as he could, and, without being prompted, bombarded the crystal with all he had. Visible cracks began showing within moments before it broke apart into countless shards which rapidly disappeared into thin air. Kai didn¡¯t even have time to react as he found himself with an empty hand, the crystal nowhere to be seen. ¡°Uh¡­ I can pay for it¡­ I hope...¡± He said quickly, turning to the receptionist, only to find her beautiful red lips parted in a gasp. ¡°Ah? No, it¡¯s alright, that was supposed to happen.¡± Scribbling down a few notes and checking a box, she mumbled as she pursed her lips.¡°Fastest, weird¡­¡± Behind the painting, a man rubbed his chin as he watched all this unfold, and smiled to himself as he walked over to his right, waiting for the next examination stage to start. Inside the room, the woman took a moment to breathe and stood up, signaling for Kai to follow. The regard in her eye changed, however, as she looked at Kai with slightly more respect than before. He jumped to his feet and followed, accompanied by Onyx. His shallow, timid footsteps hastened as he tried to keep up with the woman. The door welcomed him to yet another room, which quickly lit up just like before. His eyes widened, however, as the contrasting interior revealed itself. Unlike the other, office-like room, this one felt more like a recreational field. Benches scattered against a smudged, broken wall, and dark fragments littered the ground. Burn marks accompanied them, as well as random holes, and yet have dried puddles. On the opposite corner of where he stood, a large amount of black, shiny puppets-like objects lay in an evenly spaced formation at different distances. Separating him and them was a simple wooden fence, accompanied by a sign onto which the corresponding distance was written. The woman stopped at the center and waited for Kai to get closer before her lips parted. ¡°This is where we test your actual magic aptitude. The one before was just to test how much mana you can output and at which rate.¡± She pointed toward the puppets, a light smile decorating her face. ¡°Now, there are a few qualities we are going to assess during this phase. First, your Magical Strength - That is to say, how strong your current spells are. We determine that by judging the damage done on the ¡®Obsidium Puppet¡¯ Afterwa-¡± ¡°Obsidium? Not Obsidian?¡± Kai interrupted, raising an eyebrow behind his mask. Stolen story; please report. ¡°No, Obsidium is right. The names indeed sound similar but they are two very different materials that only share appearance. For example, obsidian can be used to make weapons, it¡¯s sharp and resistant to several elements, however it is also brittle. Obsidium, on the other hand, cannot be sculpted, or used for anything else but as a large, heavy shield. Its magic resistance is very high, so it is often used for such purposes. Today, it will be used to discern how strong your current spells are.¡± She cleared her throat, breathing softly as she continued: ¡°The examination will have no time limit, you can go until your mana is exhausted or until you think it¡¯s enough. There are nine puppets, each at a different distance. We ask you to use one of your strongest spells on each puppet first, then they will be turned ninety degrees, and you will use another spell. Did you get that?¡± ¡°I- yeah, I did.¡± He said, glancing at the puppets, and he pulled out his wand donned in fire crystals. I don¡¯t know any offensive light spells though¡­ Glancing at Onyx, who made himself comfortable on a bench, Kai sighed and walked to the first fence. By his eyes, the obsidian puppet, or rather, target, sat at a distance of roughly twenty meters. Not that far, but I guess just for testing it will do. He turned toward the woman, who positioned herself close by, holding a notepad and a pen. ¡°Ready when you are.¡± Kai nodded, faced the target, took a deep breath, cringed at what he was about to do, and raised his wand. Strongest spell¡­ strongest spell¡­ ¡°O mighty flame God¡­ The woman raised an eyebrow, her expression changing upon hearing the chant, however before she even had time to react, a ball of fire appeared before Kai. It started at the size of a walnut, then grew to the size of a baby¡¯s fist, and finally stopped when it reached the size of a soccer ball. Grant me your powerful fire¡­ The man watching Kai from the shadows gasped, his expression mirroring the woman¡¯s. However, a slight smirk creased his lips as he studied the fireball Kai manifested. Its fire burned with an atrocious hunger. Shimmering waves of hot air fed the fire, which flared and floured furiously toward the target as Kai finished chanting the spell. Burn my foe, fireball!¡± A thundering explosion rang out in the enclosed space as dark fragments shot out like bullets from its center. Dust rose briefly, however, it settled quickly, revealing the remains of the obsidian target. The woman gasped as she rushed over, appearing in front of it in less than an instant, her pupils constricting as the ends of her hair curled backward. ¡°A Rank One Mage did this?¡± She mumbled under her breath. Kai rushed over as fast as he could, however, his reaction heavily contrasted with the women''s. I only did this much damage? I¡¯m truly weak¡­ He sulked as he waited for his examiner to recover. The target now had a deep, scorched, spherical indentation. The signs of burning spread a few centimeters above, and some parts of the obsidian glowed with a fierce red light which quickly cooled down. After a few moments, he looked down at the woman, who didn¡¯t seem to be done examining his spell. Clearing his throat, and bringing her back to reality, he asked. ¡°So¡­ did I do well?¡± ¡°Huh? Ah, y-yes!¡± She jumped to her feet and exclaimed, ticking off a box on the piece of paper. ¡°Do you want to move on to the next spell then?¡± Kai choked on his spit upon hearing that, and he beat his chest a few times to regain his breath. His face turned as bright as a tomato, which the woman luckily couldn¡¯t see, and a timid voice escaped his body. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know many other offensive spells, at least not stronger than this one.¡± ¡°Uh?¡± The woman let out an involuntary exclamation, which made her in turn choke as well. ¡°Excuse me. But¡­ What do you mean? Your best spell is¡­ ¡®fireball¡¯?¡± He didn¡¯t reply to the question immediately, but instead took some time to think. Looking back my strongest spell was¡­ that. Recalling the image of a large explosion appearing mere centimeters from him, a shiver ran down his spine. The aftermath of that spell had left the area devoid of any mana, at least according to his grandpa. Not using that anytime soon¡­ I¡¯m not even sure I can¡­ ¡°Mmm¡­ No, I- ¡®Fireball¡¯ is truly my strongest spell, that¡¯s why I used it first.¡± ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± She replied in an almost disappointed tone, however, her spirits lifted right back up a few moments later. ¡°Right then, if this is all you can show me, please take a seat and I will come back with the results shortly.¡± Why did she seem so sad? Damn it, she really thinks I¡¯m a weakling, doesn¡¯t she! Well¡­ perhaps I am. He nodded and walked out of the field, taking a seat beside Onyx, dejectedly patting his fur. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be accepted, boy, looks like my magic isn¡¯t good enough.¡± ¡°Arf!¡± Onyx replied in a high-pitched tone and placed a paw over Kai¡¯s head. He chuckled in response to his companion¡¯s attempts to cheer him up and slapped his back a few times in retaliation. ¡°I¡¯m the human- well I guess I¡¯m the vampire here, you don¡¯t get to pet me!¡± ¡°Awou? Grr, arf!¡± Onyx barked and placed both his paws over Kai¡¯s head, practically climbing on top of him as if to say ¡®Who¡¯s the human now, huh?¡¯ ¡°Ah, get off of me, boy! You¡¯re still heavy, the spell didn¡¯t reduce your weight! Argh, get off me fatass!¡± Hearing that, Onyx growled angrily and finally put all of his weight on Kai, making him fall to the ground, alongside his companion. ¡°Ow, Onyx, down! Down I say! People can see us.¡± However, his pleas fell on deaf ears as the canine compatriot kept playfully digging at his chest and lightly biting his arm. Suddenly, the two froze as a deep voice echoed in their ears, and both of them looked up at the same time to see the man that met them at the entrance earlier. ¡°I was right, it seems like you two have a special bond. Isn¡¯t that right, Ichor?¡± Kai jumped to his feet and quickly patted the dust off his clothes, taking a step back at the same time. ¡°Haha, yeah we do Mister¡­ Raymond.¡± The man¡¯s lips curled into a soft smile as his eyes looked Kai up and down. The receptionist approached them, her sheepish footsteps halting right behind Raymond. ¡°Here are the results of the short examination, sir.¡± She said, handing over the notepad to the man. He nodded, his eyes sparkling as he scanned the surprisingly detailed writing. <> What? She was able to discern all of that just from me inserting some mana into crystals?! Kai¡¯s pupils constricted, goosebumps spreading across his skin as he listened to the man read the detailed report out loud. > The man continued, however he stopped, and he smiled to himself before putting the notepad aside. ¡°Whatever, that¡¯s for the others to read. I want to personally congratulate you for successfully joining Wildfire. Consider yourself lucky, young man.¡± Raymond stretched out his hand, smiling and locking gaze with Kai. The boy rolled his eyes and shook the man¡¯s hand, chuckling. ¡°I guess your marketing strategy worked?¡± ¡°Oh yeah definitely, I think I¡¯ve made a good investment.¡± Raymond laughed as he glanced at the damaged obsidian target. ¡°Excuse me now, I have business elsewhere.¡± With that said, he took off and disappeared beside a corner, leaving Kai alone with the receptionist and examiner. Her gaze lingered in the man¡¯s direction, however she quickly snapped out of it and turned to Kai. ¡°Well, the pre- I mean Raymond already welcomed you, so come back tomorrow and we¡¯ll hand over your Guild Identity Card and anything else you may need to get started with.¡± After saying that, she hurried off into the distance, disappearing after the same corner as the man, her hurried footsteps filled with anxiety. That was¡­ bizarre. Kai thought to himself but he paid it no mind because he too had to hurry and find lodging. ¡­ ¡°President¡­ that spell he chanted-¡± The receptionist¡¯s voice echoed, accompanied by her footsteps echoing in a dimly lit hallway. ¡°Speak none of it to anyone. That boy¡­ he¡¯s got secrets, and I¡¯m going to find out what he¡¯s hiding. A visible threat is better than an invisible one.¡± The man barked, his voice lingering as he marched forward. Chapter 105: Karfi and Tausi I don¡¯t know how many I¡¯ve slain. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Mnatu¡­ even a stray Eon. Death doesn''t phase me anymore, the suffering I bring to these people¡­ is all but a breeze in the wind.
After leaving the large building with a smile creasing his lips, Kai marched toward the town center, scouting any places that could provide him lodging. I¡¯ve already asked at most of the places on the main street, so there¡¯s no point going there¡­ that only leaves the outer ring and then¡­ outside of it. A light sigh escaped his lips before taking a look at the moon. It¡¯s¡­ very close to morning I suppose. He pats Onyx on the back and walks around the main street, making his way from one end of the city to the other, however, lady luck doesn¡¯t shine upon him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry kid, we¡¯re fully booked.¡± A woman said, her tone monotone, and seemingly out of energy. ¡°Go look somewhere else.¡± Kai held back the urge to yell, or break out in anger, and simply huffed and left, leaving a simple ¡°Thank you, goodbye¡± behind. Outside, he let out a frustrated sigh and sat down on a nearby bench. Looking back toward the center, and picturing all the inns he visited with no success, he punched his seating, slightly bending the metal holding it all together. Damn it, how come none of these people accept me? There¡¯s no way all the inns are full, there aren¡¯t even enough adventurers in this town! Something is fishy, fuck! He cursed internally, however took a deep breath and gradually calmed down. There¡¯s no use breaking my arm over this¡­ I should go inside somewhere and decide what to do next. Lifting his head and looked around, besides the inn and random houses, the only place in the vicinity was a run-down bar with barely any clients. Better than nothing, he got up and walked toward the bar, Onyx following beside him. The door, accompanied by the ringing of the bell, announced Kai¡¯s entry, much to his ¡®delight¡¯. Great¡­ However, the sight of heads turning and sizing him up one after the other didn¡¯t arrive. His gaze was met with that of a little girl a few heads shorter than him. Short black hair decorated her head, and her beautiful big, green eyes seemed to stare right into Kai¡¯s soul. The clothes she wore, although at first glance looked common, were littered with tears and stains. Regardless, a bright smile decorated her face as she ran toward the bar counter, yelling in a cutesy, high-pitched voice. ¡°Daddy, daddy, look! A strange customer has entered, and he has a puppy!¡± Huh?- Kai glanced at the barman, the man the girl called dad, and their gazes met. A soft smile creased the man¡¯s lips, hidden away by a thick beard. Long, dense hair cascaded down his back, sharing a similar brown color to his beard and eyes. He rubbed the bar counter with a cloth as a deep, gentle voice echoed in the almost empty room. ¡°Welcome, please excuse my daughter. She hasn¡¯t seen a¡­ pet in a long time.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s quite alright.¡± Kai chuckled awkwardly as he walked to the counter. He sat down, his shoulders barely reaching past the table, despite the high chair. Onyx sat down below it, leaning on his paws and looking around at the empty bar. The dirty windows barely let any sort of light enter, and the rundown, rotten chairs, and tables creaked at the slightest movements. ¡°What¡¯s a young feller like you doing in here?¡± The man asked, pouring Kai a glass of still water. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see someone your age in this part of town, let alone in a bar.¡± ¡°Well, I-¡± Kai said, however, he was quickly interrupted by Onyx, who let out a yelp before jumping out from under the chair. He circled a few times before patting his tail and glaring at the child. ¡°Awrf!¡± He barked as if to say ¡®She grabbed my tail!¡¯ Kai and the father quickly looked at the girl, who held a bit of fur in between her tiny fingers. She quickly hid it, however, her dad already wore an awry expression, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He let out a light sigh, and quickly leaned over the counter and brought the girl into his arms. ¡°Tausi¡­ it¡¯s not nice to grab an animal like that, it hurts and scares them.¡± The man scolded her lightly before turning to Kai. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, she, let¡¯s just say she hasn¡¯t seen many animals besides those locked in a cage. I know that¡¯s no excuse, but please forgive her.¡± His small, beady eyes seemingly penetrated Kai¡¯s soul, and his gentle tone couldn¡¯t help but make one get any bit of anger they had been appeased. Letting out a sigh, he looked at Onyx, who wore a bitter expression on his furred face. ¡°It¡¯s not up to me, the one who needs to forgive someone is him.¡± The bartender looked at the Obborik with a complex expression, however he quickly understood and turned to his daughter. ¡°Go and say sorry to the big wolf, alright?¡± The girl named Tausi nodded smiling as her father put her on the floor. She immediately rushed to Onyx¡¯s side, slowing down as she got closer and stopping a few centimeters away. Placing the bit of fur she pulled out from his tail, her rosy lips parted as she said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mister Wolf, please forgive me for pulling your tail.¡± Her large eyes turned even larger, and she made a puppy face that could rival even Onyx¡¯s own. Seeing that, Kai chuckled as Onyx stood up and sniffed away the fur, raising his snout to her face and licking her on the cheek. ¡°I think he accepted the apology,¡± Kai said, smiling behind his mask and turning toward the man. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he doesn¡¯t hold a grudge. Though I¡¯m surprised you let her get close, Onyx isn¡¯t exactly a ¡®pet¡¯ kind.¡± The man took a second and looked at the Obborik who seemed to be playfully giving his daughter the cold shoulder. ¡°Well,¡± he sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s say I¡¯m a good judge of character. I¡¯m almost-¡± he continued, but stopped himself before clearing his throat. ¡°Forget about that, why did you come here?¡± ¡°Well, the truth is I¡¯ve been looking all around for some lodging, but all the inns are full, everywhere,¡± Kai said with a little bit of anger and annoyance hidden within his voice. ¡°Ah!¡± The man exclaimed, giving Kai a weird look. ¡°That¡¯s normal, the inns here are owned by the Twelve Big Guilds, so unless you¡¯re affiliated with them, don¡¯t expect to be treated nicely.¡± ¡°Huh? That¡¯s stupid, why would they do that?¡± ¡°Simple, to attract more members. The inns in the middle of the town are the best - Good food, good rooms, close to the headquarters. Plus they offer perks such as free meals and the like. They want to give members the best environment so naturally they will gatekeep them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ still stupid. And what about people like me who aren¡¯t affiliated with anyone?¡± The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Well, there aren¡¯t a lot of people like you.¡± The man explained, scratching his chin. ¡°You¡¯re one of the only people that don¡¯t belong to a guild, as far as I know. As for them, well, tough luck. Another reason why they gatekeep all the inns and the like. More members, more profit, and more benefits.¡± Kai sighed, feeling defeated by the whole situation, and reached for the glass of water, only to realize he still had his mask on. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such predatory tactics. Damn them! Had I known I would have signed up when I arrived instead of wasting time.¡± Hearing such words coming out of Kai¡¯s mouth, an awry smile creased the bartender¡¯s lips. ¡°Well, that¡¯s how it is in this town. Gotta do the best you can to attract members. I assume you¡¯ve signed up with someone already then?¡± ¡°Uh yeah, Wildfire. Some weird man introduced me to them¡­ really weird man.¡± ¡°Wi-wildfire?!¡± The bartender exclaimed, scaring even his daughter. ¡°You joined the third-ranked guild in the country? Kid, are you some sort of prodigy? No, even with talent, joining them is difficult. You need an established background and power, and even then you may not get accepted.¡± Kai took a figurative step back, looking at the bartender like he would at a ghost. Not quite sure what to say, all he could muster was an awkward laugh while scratching the back of his head. ¡°They didn¡¯t tell me any of that, I just went and filled out a form, then they examined me and tomorrow I¡¯ll get my Guild ID. That¡¯s all, it seemed extremely simple.¡± The barman blinked rapidly, staring at Kai with widened pupils and a twitching lip. ¡°That easy huh¡­ yeah that easy¡­¡± He mumbled before clearing his throat. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good, that means that by tomorrow you¡¯ll have a place to stay, right?¡± ¡°Right,¡± Kai said, ¡°But there¡¯s an issue, I¡¯m extremely tired right now after traveling for so many days, and I wanted to sleep the day off. Unfortunately, there¡¯s nowhere I can go, I doubt they¡¯ll accept me if I say I belong to a guild¡­¡± ¡°Haha, no, they won¡¯t¡± The man laughed. ¡°Tell you what Kid, I¡¯ll let you sleep at my place for tonight, how does that sound?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kai smiled behind his mask, delighted to hear that. ¡°I¡¯ll compensate you, sir, don¡¯t wo-¡± ¡°Ah you kids and always paying back, don¡¯t worry about that, it¡¯s not that important.¡± He said with a hearty chuckle. ¡°Name¡¯s Karfi.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ichor, thank you again, sir, I won¡¯t forget your hospitality.¡± ¡°Ah, look at you using them big words. Let me close for the night then, not like we had any customers anyway.¡± Having said that, he walked out from behind the counter, his large frame towering over Kai and the small-sized Onyx. The lock to the door wasn¡¯t fancy, and neither was it effective and keeping the place safe. But looking at the state of the building, Kai doubted anyone would even bother breaking in. Superficial lock in place, Karfi picked up his daughter and walked toward a door to the side of the bar. Onyx and Kai followed unprompted, and the door creaked open, inviting them in. On the other side lay a large room with two couches sitting opposite each other around a large coffee table made out of glass. The couches themselves were beautifully crafted, however time and stains left their mark on them. The floor was decorated with what seemed to be a beautiful, large rug, however upon closer inspection, it became obvious that it, too, wasn¡¯t in a good condition. The few windows it had were broken and bandaged with wood and cloths, so the cold air couldn¡¯t get in, and the entire palace was illuminated by wax candles and very few, dwindling light crystals. Next to the couches, a fireplace crackled with life, providing some much-needed heat to the icy adobe. They also had a kitchen not too far away, however, its usage, judging by the dirty counter, seemed limited to cutting up bread and dried meat, accompanied by the occasional vegetable. A corner staircase led upstairs, supposedly to the bedrooms, however, Kai couldn¡¯t be sure unless he went there. ¡°Please excuse the mess, we didn¡¯t expect any guests,¡± Karfi said with an awkward chuckle, rearranging and dusting off some thin blankets he laid out on the couches. ¡°That¡¯s alright, I¡¯m grateful you¡¯d allow me to rest here.¡± Kai smiled, although no one could see it. ¡°Uh, may I?¡± He asked, pulling out a few light crystals and scattering them in every corner, completely revealing the room stowed away by darkness. ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t have to¡± Karfi¡¯s lips parted, however before he even had time to finish his sentence, Tausi¡¯s light laughter bounced off against the walls. ¡°Daddy, look, there¡¯s so much light!¡± She exclaimed with a childlike cheerfulness. Her little eyes sparkled as she gazed at the light crystals, and the sight of her visage made Kai take in a short gasp. The girl looked frail, almost malnourished, the clothes she wore stood loosely on her body, much like an oversized sweater. Dark patches, dirt, and a few scars decorated her pale face. Despite all that, she still wore a bright smile on her face, seemingly unaware of the situation she was in. And then, she said, her voice lowering by a few octaves, and her gaze losing some luster. ¡°I wish Mommy were here to see this.¡± Kai¡¯s stomach sunk, the girl¡¯s words thugging away at his heart like a singer at their zither. He understood why the house and bar were in such a state, though he didn¡¯t have the full picture. ¡°Yeah¡­ I wish that as well¡­¡± Her dad¡¯s voice almost broke, his eyes lingering on the small girl before he took a short breath and broke a pained smile toward Kai. ¡°Some stuff happened and her mother¡­ she died of an unknown illness¡­ But let¡¯s put the depressing stuff behind us now. I¡¯ll prepare the guest room for you.¡± Kai nodded and stood still, refraining from looking at the house anymore only to find out more about the awful conditions the child lived in. I guess it¡¯s not really out of place in this world¡­ Julie wasn¡¯t living that good of a life either. I guess I got so spoiled after leaving the vicinity of the kingdom that I had forgotten poverty is still a thing. What a fool. He chuckled to himself, more out of nervousness than amusement. The girl turned toward him, her smile brightening up as she ran toward Onyx, who stood not right next to Kai. ¡°Mister, can I pet the dog?¡± ¡°If he lets you,¡± Kai replied, a soft smile creasing his lips. Tausi let out an excited laugh and reached her hand toward the Obborik¡¯s head, who wore a look of hesitation on his fluffy face. Regardless, he let out a low puff, seemingly sighing, and lowered himself so that the girl could pet him. However, he instantly regretted it and let out a low yelp as the girl carelessly disheveled his fur. ¡°No, not like that,¡± Kai said softly, lowering himself before her. ¡°You need to be more gentle, like this.¡± He pressed his head against Onyx¡¯s head, and patted down, stopping at the neck before scratching under the chin and using both hands to put his fluff in place. ¡°See, careful movements, slow motions. If you¡¯re too forceful it will just make him hate it.¡± The little girl nodded and let out a determined puff before copying what Kai did, gently ruffling Onyx¡¯s fur and scratching under the chin. Onyx seemed much more content this time, and let Tausi do what she wanted, letting out a light yawn. ¡°Oh, is doggy tired?¡± ¡°Haha, yes, it¡¯s been a very long day for both of us,¡± Kai said, ruffling Onyx¡¯s fur. ¡°Speaking of, why are you not sleeping so late at night?¡± ¡°Ah- I don¡¯t like leaving daddy alone,¡± Tausi said, her tone turning lower. ¡°Mom used to help him but she disappeared, so I have to stay with Daddy until she comes back, right?¡± ¡°Mhm, you¡¯re right. You can¡¯t leave Dad alone, but you also need to sleep properly. Otherwise, you¡¯ll end up remaining short all of your life!¡± ¡°What!?¡± She gasped, comparing her height to Kai¡¯s by moving her hand around. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna be short, I want to be tall like daddy!¡± ¡°Then you need to sleep a lot,¡± Kai chuckled and stood up, hearing a door click open. Karfi¡¯s frame appeared from behind a corner. ¡°The room is ready, please make yourself at home, kid.¡± ¡°Thank you, mister, I will,¡± Kai replied and headed inside, Onyx not falling too far behind him, and closed the door with a click. What greeted him was a dimly lit room, which he quickly fixed by placing a light crystal on the desk. An unexpectedly clean room revealed itself before him - The bed, sheets, floor, desk, and chair were in pristine condition, and it even had a functioning window. Of course, Kai preferred it to be as broken as the others, but he couldn¡¯t ask for much. He let out a light sigh and took his mask and hoodie off, letting his long hair cascade down his chest and back. Because of Aina¡¯s dye, its silver color was now replaced with an ebony black. Such a shame, Mom¡¯s hair is really pretty¡­ He thought to himself, placing the mask on the desk and closing off the blinds, making sure to not let any light enter. A gentle knock startled him, followed by the creaking of the door as it slowly swung open. Chapter 106: Strange Purple Creature Oh, my people! Grow strong! Flourish! Live, because the power God granted us is something beyond what humans can comprehend. Still, I see dishonesty, even if their lives are at our mercy.
The sudden forced invitation took Kai by surprise, and he didn¡¯t have nearly enough time to grab his mask. He stood still, staring at the closed-off window as he waited for the uninvited guest to speak up. That didn¡¯t take long, as Karfi¡¯s deep voice echoed inside the room. ¡°Sorry to bother you kid, I just wanted to know if you want to be woken up in the morning or at noon? I forgot to ask earlier.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll wake up by myself when I¡¯m rested. I hope that won¡¯t bother you.¡± ¡°Hah, that¡¯s fine. Have a good rest then!¡± Karfi said, slamming the door behind him. Kai let out a light sigh, his racing heart beginning to calm down. Didn¡¯t expect that one for sure¡­ He flopped on the bed after taking off his cloak, and Onyx¡¯s size returned to normal, barely fitting in the humble room. ¡°I guess you can¡¯t keep up that size for too long, huh? Would have been convenient, now you¡¯ll leave a lot of furs everywhere.¡± ¡°Awoowa!¡± Onyx yelped and playfully bit Kai¡¯s hanging arm before lying on the floor and letting out a heavy snort. Kai didn¡¯t hesitate to go under the blankets either, however, he couldn¡¯t fall asleep right away, unlike his companion. In the end, he got up and leaned against the bed frame, then pulled out the map Lumiera modified, and clicked his tongue. The remaining fragments of my soul are in really inconvenient places¡­ but the first one isn¡¯t too far. As for the rest¡­ One is Mnatu, some are in the large forest to the south of Aravia, while some are in the mountains. The rest¡­ to the west. This is inconvenient for me, but the more I remember the better I suppose. ¡­ Kai and Onyx slept through the entire day, only waking up after the evening had long since passed. Kai¡¯s hair was disheveled and unkempt, his eyes barely opening as he yawned. Getting up, he spent a few minutes waking up, leaning against the bed frame and wall, rubbing his face. Damn, I slept like a log¡­ Regardless, he jumped out of bed after a few minutes of accepting that he had to eventually leave. He nudged Onyx awake as well, and quickly donned the cloak and mask before making the bed, then left, dragging his feet. Man, waking up after sleeping for so long¡­ it¡¯s different. Walking out to the front of the house, he saw Karfi and his daughter taking care of the empty bar once again. They mostly sat around, cleaning whatever they could, and for the rest of the time it looked like Tausi was studying, or rather, learning with her father. Ah, that¡¯s nice, I guess she can¡¯t go to school either¡­ Do they even have schools? I didn¡¯t go to school here, but that¡¯s because¡­ yeah. ¡°Oh, what are you studying?¡± He asked, sitting down and laying his tired head on his hand. ¡°Reading,¡± Tasui said, her eyes glued to the small paper laid in front of her. ¡°Haha, yeah, she¡¯s been wanting to learn for a long time so I decided it¡¯s as good a time as any to start,¡± Karfi added, a melancholic expression manifesting on his face. ¡°Atria was supposed to be doing this, I have no idea what I¡¯m doing. Alas, I can only keep on going¡­ however long that¡¯ll be.¡± He whispered the last part of his sentence, making sure Tasui couldn''t hear him properly. Kai gazed at the little girl and let out a soft sigh before turning away, preparing to leave. He didn¡¯t say anything on his way out, however, the frail child image remained in his mind as the doors slammed shut. The same atmosphere greeted him outside - dark, gloomy, eerie, and quiet. Such was the environment at the abandoned outskirts of the city. He took a last look at the bar and walked toward the center, Onyx following closely behind, having returned to his small size. Soon enough, the familiar streets greeted him, and the loud chattering, laughter, and intoxicating smells inundated his senses as he passed through, hurrying toward the guild headquarters. To no one¡¯s surprise, both the interior and exterior were littered with people - Humans, Mnatu, Elves, even Dwarves and Lizardmen. Some were alone, like Kai, but most of them were in groups of two, three, or even more. Mages, Swordsmen, Archers, all of them wearing bloodied or tattered clothes. Loud laughter echoed in the area, as they discussed and bragged about their adventures during the day. ¡°Yeah, yeah - I encountered something weird today, some kind of green humanoids. They didn¡¯t speak or anything, just hissed and left. I¡¯ve never seen them before.¡± Kai happened to overhear a conversation between two groups, and he raised an eyebrow behind his mask as he recalled the creature he had seen so many months ago. Sounds exactly like what Frank and his group hunted¡­ it looked like a goblin if anything, but these people don¡¯t know of it. Weird¡­ However, he didn¡¯t pay it much attention, after all in his mind goblins were a common occurrence in fantasy novels. As he reached the large staircase, he spotted a figure with the corner of his eye - beautiful locks of blond hair that disappeared into the crowd as he turned to take a better look. Was that¡­ Nah, no way. He shrugged it off and walked toward Wildfire¡¯s zone, its tables, and area more crowded than the night before. They must be really popular. It didn¡¯t take long for him to spot the beautiful receptionist and examiner he saw yesterday, and his eyes brightened as he approached the counter. He didn¡¯t wait for her to raise the ground this time, doing it himself instead, which took her by surprise. She took a step back, her confused vision sparkling upon seeing Kai¡¯s fox mask. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, young adventurer. My colleagues waited for you all day, yet here you are at night again. If this keeps up one may think you¡¯re a vampire, fufu.¡± She quipped, turning away and looking through countless drawers. Luckily, Kai¡¯s panicked, reddened face couldn¡¯t be seen through the mask, or she didn¡¯t have any such magic, otherwise, he¡¯d be in some trouble. He cleared his throat and laughed awkwardly, ¡°That¡¯d be preposterous, how could a vampire even approach Aravia undetected?¡± The receptionist - Anna as Raymond called her, placed a thick, laminated card before Kai, and said. ¡°Who knows? I¡¯ve heard rumors of wanted posters being spread all around the country, and what¡¯s more, issued by the Vampire King himself¡­ someone must have pissed him off. Anyway, here¡¯s your card.¡± Kai gulped and held back a nervous laugh, picking up the card and inspecting it. <> Ichor¡­ That¡¯s a nice name, I wonder where I heard it. He stowed it away in his ring and turned toward Anna, who looked at him with a customer service expression. She also handed him the guild rules and its system, saying. ¡°Just as a heads up, to rank up you need both to have been with us for at least three months and to have accumulated enough merit points. For more details please look at the Guild Rules.¡± ¡°Hmm, alright.¡± Kai nodded and undid the spell after saying goodbye. He looked for a nearby empty seat, which he found after looking for about five minutes, and opened the rule book she had handed him. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± <<.... From Lowest to Highest, the ranks are as follows, together with their equivalence in strength. This also roughly estimated the strength of a mage compared to a body mage, or cultivator. Please note that if you have a higher Guild Rank than your Mage Rank, that is because the evaluator deemed you strong enough. Ranks are divided into groups. Group Mor: Trainee: Rank OneMage or Rank Three Cultivator - 0 Merit Points, 101 Gold(Sign Up Fee) Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.Novice: Rank Two Mage or Rank Five Cultivator - 500 Merit Points, 0 Gold Acolyte: Rank Three Mage or Rank Five Cultivator - 1000 Merit Points, 0 Gold Group Inger: Journeyman: Rank Four Mage or Rank Six Cultivator - 5000 Merit Points, 500 Gold Fellow: Rank Five Mage or Rank Seven Cultivator - 7500 Merit Points, 500 Gold Sub-Master: Rank Six Mage or Rank Seven Cultivator - 10,000 Merit Points, 1000 Gold Group Zmeu: Master: Rank Seven Mage or Rank Eight Cultivator - 15 000 Merit Points, 2000 Gold Grandmaster: Rank Eight Mage or Rank Eight Cultivator - 30 000 Merit Points, 5000 Gold Primar: Rank Nine Mage or Rank Nine Cultivator - 50 000 Merit Points, 10 000 Gold Therefore please, take care to earn a lot of merit points. Merit points can be earned by completing Guild issued tasks; Outside Requests; Working for the guild, and other miscellaneous activities such as: Selling weapons to the guild; Selling meats, pelts, and other animal-procured items directly to the guild; Selling magic crystals; Selling potions; And the list goes on.>> As Kai read through the booklet, his eyes shot toward the bulletin boards stretching across the area. So that¡¯s where the queue- I mean, tasks are. Interesting, I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s where I¡¯ll go for combat-related missions. << To accept a task>> He continued reading, <> Wow, they cover all bases huh? Well, better for me I suppose. He thought, closing the booklet and walking toward the bulletin boards, where most people are usually gathered. These boards were tall, and stretched across the entire guild zone, having tasks on either side, some even overlapping each other. That¡¯s¡­ a lot. Kai easily snuck through the gaps, due to his size, and looked through the tasks at his eye level¡­ as there were none below. <> Ah, a classic. Let¡¯s see, Moonpetal - A delicate herb with silver-white petals that grow in open areas of the forest, blooms during the night, and reflects the moonlight. It is used as an ingredient in calming teas, helping relieve anxiety and aid with insomnia. It is a fairly rare plant but can be artificially cultivated under the right conditions. He recalled the information Aina made him remember about countless medicinal plants, hoping that it would someday be of use. And she was right¡­ I know exactly how to locate these things, however, it¡¯s tricky because they are usually guarded by¡­ Horned Pigs. Kai let out a sigh, wondering why they just didn¡¯t name them hogs and be done with it. He placed the task within his ring, and looked for more, hoping to find something with a better reward. Ten merit points are really little, compared to how many I need to pay if I want to advance. After looking for about ten minutes, he ended up with three additional tasks, plus the one he had already taken. A content smile creased his lips as he walked toward Anna, the receptionist. There was a small queue, however, it disappeared just as quickly as it had formed, and it wasn¡¯t long before he had to raise the ground again. <> <> <> ¡°I¡¯d like to accept these four tasks, please.¡± He said, without wasting a breath, and laid down the pages he acquired. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see¡­ mhm, it seems good. I¡¯ve already registered them under your name, so please feel free to complete and turn them in whenever it¡¯s convenient.¡± ¡°Already? That was way too fast!¡± He exclaimed, gathering his tasks. ¡°Well, we are trained to work fast, and we have a very good memory so things like these are second nature, like breathing. Now please excuse me, but there¡¯s a line forming behind you.¡± She explained with an amicable smile. ¡°Ah, sorry, sorry.¡± Kai excused himself, dispelling the spell and hurrying away. His blazing face soon met the night¡¯s chilly wind, and his embarrassment quickly disappeared. Fuck me that was awkward. He hurried toward the city¡¯s gate, Onyx following closely behind, his tail pointing at the sky. It didn¡¯t take long for Kai to arrive, and he quickly presented his Guild ID to the guards, which quickly let him pass through the opened gate. Countless adventurers passed by every day and every night, so the gates remained open for most of the day, with the guards only doing some random checkups to new faces or people they didn¡¯t recognize. Finding himself in the first, under the cover of the shadows and the night, Kai took off his mask and placed it within his ring. ¡°I can finally breathe properly.¡± He said with a sigh. Similarly, Onyx undid his spell and grew back to the towering height he had before. He shook his fur and stretched, letting out a content sound as he ran circles around Kai. ¡°Ha, it must feel good to be able to move in your own body. I¡¯m sorry boy, but if people recognize what you are I¡¯m afraid life will become more complicated.¡± ¡°Aworf!¡± Onyx barked as if to say ¡®I understand.¡± and licked his companion¡¯s face a few times, dampening it with saliva. ¡°Well, I guess I should have kept the mask on-¡± He chuckled, quickly drying himself off with a cloth he pulled out from his ring. Onyx scoffed and ran ahead of him, sniffing the fresh, untainted air. Kai followed behind, not daring to slow down, and his eyes were on the lookout for places with abundant moonlight. Their muffled footsteps echoed in the night, accompanied by the occasional crackling branch and rustling bush. I guess most animals are sleeping right now, hidden away. He thought, crouching and signaling Onyx to trail behind him. He parted a bush with both hands and looked through the creak, a soft smile creasing his lips. Except these guys¡­ Before him, a patch of Moonpetals bloomed under a strong ray of light, and surrounding them was a herd of Horned Pigs, about a dozen in number, adults, and piglets included. <> A bunch of junkies. Kai chuckled and hesitated whether to pull out his wand or sword. Well, since I wrote down that I¡¯m a mage¡­ I should at least use magic for these tasks. He inhaled deeply and pulled out his wand, donned in fire crystals, and prepared a basic fireball with a mumbled chant. He took in a deep breath and aimed at the Horned Pigs. Please forgive me, little ones. Nine small fires appeared in front of him, which instantly shot toward nine of the twelve Horned Pigs. It hit them straight on the side before they could even see what happened, penetrating their thick fur and skin and burning their vital organs. Loud screeches of pain and panic resounded in the eerie quiet of the forest, with the rest of the Horned Pigs scrambling and running around, not giving a second thought to the Moonpetal they guarded so dearly. Onyx jumped out from the bushes, and went after the healthy, unscathed Horned Pigs, and immediately arrived before one of them. He instantly sunk his teeth into its neck, killing it with one strike. Before its corpse even managed to fall on the ground, he was already in front of another, and the other. He quickly took care of the wounded ones as well and helped Kai bring them all into a pile. Kai looked at the almost intact corpses with a bit of pity, however it quickly faded away as he pulled all of them into the ring given to him by Aina. Traces of their existence, safe for the trails of blood and footsteps they left behind, completely disappeared. ¡°It''s almost full, luckily the rest of the tasks don¡¯t require so much space.¡± He knelt, laying a large cloth on the grass, and carefully pulled the flowers from their roots. Of course, he couldn¡¯t do it perfectly, and some parts of the flower broke, reducing its quality. Picking up an entire patch of flowers was unwise and wasteful, as they didn¡¯t retain their medicinal properties for very long after being severed from the ground. Kai gathered a third from the patch, took some seeds, and planted them back into the ground. Afterward, he rolled up the cloth and placed it in his storage ring. ¡°Well, looks like we are done here boy, we just need some spirit vines now, and some antlers. Neither are difficult, so we can take our time.¡± He stood up with a sigh and looked up, inhaling sharply and enduring the burning sensation on his pale face. And, after looking away, the small wounds healed as quickly as they appeared. Turning, he walked away from the flower patch, leaves rustling as he passed through a thick bush. A purple shadow flashed past the corner of his eye, and he immediately turned, unsure of what the thing could be. He dashed toward its location, leaves rustling as he jumped over back to the flower patch, only to see a small, purple humanoid kneel and lick the bloodied grass. Kai¡¯s pupils immediately constricted, and his heart raced as the creature let out a sharp hiss. The sound inundated his ears, creating a headache that spread throughout his skull. His hand flew to his head, blocking out the sound the best he could, however, it didn¡¯t seem to be enough. Onyx didn¡¯t fare much better either, and his heightened sense made it even worse for him, as he almost rolled on the ground due to the pain. The purple creature rose to its feet and rushed toward Kai, baring its sharp teeth as he jumped, and shot like an arrow toward Kai¡¯s mid-section. A low grunt of pain escaped his body as the thing dug its teeth into his flesh, penetrating past the armor he wore underneath. Chapter 107: What was that? The first time I feasted, it felt normal. The second time, my body was craving more. The third time, I couldn¡¯t live without it; the fourth time, I had already become dependent on it. Such is my curse.
Kai knelt down, his pupils dilating as he felt the creature¡¯s razor-sharp teeth dig into his stomach. Blood and adrenaline rushed through his veins, his heart threatening to jump out of his chest. He grits his teeth in anger and raises an intertwined fist as a primal howl escapes his lips. Onyx sped forward, baring his fangs at the purple creature. However, before he could return the favor, Kai¡¯s fists glowed with a soft light and then shot toward the monster¡¯s skull. The sickening cacophony of snapping bones and agonized hisses echoed through the air, sending shivers down the spine of any who dared to listen. The thing fell, grabbing a piece of bloodied armor and flesh along with it, and it stood there dazed, the ebony scales still stuffed in its mouth. It twitched, daring to get up, however, Kai would not give it a chance. He screamed once again and lowered his fists upon the creature again, and again, and again. Letting out anguished grunts each time, his hands became a bloody mess, and pieces of bone and brain remained stuck between his fingers. The creature stopped moving, and Kai took a step back, leaning above it. He blinked rapidly, his pupils constricting as his vision switched between his hand and the humanoid corpse lying before him. His breathing hastened, and he smudged the blood and parts on his clothes as he tried wiping himself. Onyx watched from a distance, taking half a step forward before stopping, his pupils widening. The purple creature¡¯s skin turned a bright red, and before either of them had time to think, its body exploded into a million pieces, littering the ground with mangled flesh and dirty blood. Some of it landed on the moon petals, bloodying their beautiful flowers. Most of it, however, landed on Kai, whose horrified expression amplified tenfold as blood painted his face red. His entire body shook, and he remained unmoving, the shock driving his mouth to stay agape. He gulped, swallowing some of the creature¡¯s blood. Kai¡¯s heart instantly raced as a half-euphoric, half-disgusted feeling rushed through his body, and he had to stop himself from licking his lips clean. Minutes passed, and he stood unmoving before the bloodied patch of flowers, grass, and himself. He didn¡¯t care about the sharp pain coursing through his body, how could he? His perforated clothes meant nothing to him, and neither did the blood littering his body, both his own and the creature¡¯s. All he could think about was the drops he swallowed, the euphoria that rushed through his veins and into his brain. The sweet taste of the red liquid lingered still on his lips. A smile broke out on his lips, laughter escaped his body, and he brought his hands to his face. Pressing his fingers against his cheeks, he scraped at his flesh and finally brought his palms down, taking away most of the blood with them. What¡­ have I done? He yelled inwardly, however, he already had the answer. I killed it¡­ I tasted it¡­ it was- However, before he finished that thought, a burning liquid climbed up his stomach, into his esophagus and finally, he bent down and threw up, right where the creature once stood, now nothing more than a bloody hole. Kai threw up everything he ate and drank, and kept going for several more minutes until he only had stomach acid left. Taking off the tattered, bloody clothes, he threw them to the side and took off his scaled armor, now with a brand new hole in its midsection. He barely managed to flick his wrist and pulled out a clean cloth, wiping away the blood on his hands and what remained on his face, then threw it on top of the clothes. Now, almost naked, Kai¡¯s shocked mind began returning to some sense of normalcy and began inspecting his body with the little sanity he had at that moment. The skin on his belly had been scratched and torn apart, bits of flesh hanging in the air, ready to fall apart at the gentlest breeze. Blood covered his lower upper body, the shape of a mouth engraving itself onto his flesh. Besides that, a few dozen miniature holes littered his legs, arms, and chest. A piece of bone stuck out from one of these wounds, and Kai reached for it with a trembling hand. He whimpered while taking it out, despite its size being no larger than a large pea. Its. it''s bone¡­ Kai thought, horrified as he looked at every wound. They¡¯re everywhere¡­! Pieces of bone stuck out from almost every hole, be it shallow or deep, and those deeper ones¡­ Kai feared the worst. Damn it! He didn¡¯t panic, his heart still raced after all, and the only thing keeping him from collapsing was the adrenaline and cortisol keeping his body alert. He pulled out two red pills and instantly swallowed them, prompting his body to begin healing the wounds, however, the bone shrapnel stuck inside would have to be pulled out manually, and the wound on his stomach would need a few days to fully heal. Onyx approached, smelling his companion¡¯s body, and trying to give him a gentle, consoling lick. However, Kai dodged, prompting Onyx to lower his head and yelp. ¡­ A small fire crackled behind him, in the bloodied hole where he burned his clothes and armor, unable to keep them or to keep looking at them anymore. He changed into a pair of loosely fitting clothes, still as black as before, and donned a new coat to cover his head with. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Onyx stood behind him with a lowered snout, trying not to bother the solemn atmosphere he suddenly found himself in. Kai brought a finger to his mouth, wiping his lips before licking them, a pit forming in his stomach as images of what just happened flashed within his mind. He did it, he drank blood after so many years. The excited, childish disposition he had when he was a kid had disappeared, replaced by horror and terror, and a morbid euphoric feeling he started longing for. ¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s keep going, boy,¡± Kai said in a soft voice after stashing away a few silverish-green strands he picked out from within a tree¡¯s bark. Onyx followed silently, feeling that his companion¡¯s heart was still in turmoil after what happened. Spirit vine grows inside old trees, Kai told himself, trying to flood his mind with anything he could. It¡¯s mostly used for mid-tier mana potions as it absorbs the life force of trees, which it then converts into mana it uses to grow, like photosynthesis. He picked up another strand, forcefully pulling and ripping it in half. And now it¡¯s dead¡­ Placing it within his ring, he stopped before the tree, and dug his hand into the bark, then pulled and stripped the rotting log. He winced in pain, the bone shrapnel stuck into his body sending sharp waves of pain all over. About a dozen strands of spiritvine lay underneath, which began squirming like worms upon being discovered. Kai¡¯s hand shot toward them and grabbed as many as he could before snapping them free of their roots. ¡°Still need more,¡± He mumbled, glancing inside the ring where about four hundred strands stood motionless. ¡°After that, we need to look for Emberhorns. It should be shedding season so with enough luck we¡¯ll find them lying around.¡± Onyx tilted his head and walked in front of Kai, his tail lowered, however, he sniffed the air. Trying to detect some in advance, just like with the Horned Pig, heh, he¡¯s smart for sure. Normally, Kai would be amazed, however he barely had any energy to bend down and look through the grass. As Onyx looked, he¡¯d sometimes shove his hand into another bark, pulling another dozen spirit vines and storing them into his ring. ¡°Just a few more and we¡¯re done.¡± Onyx barked, his tail wagging slightly as he shot toward a small patch in the forest. He reached down and brought something between his teeth. A scarlet stick-like object, which Kai immediately identified as an Emberhorn¡¯s antler. He smiled, albeit reluctantly, and pat Onyx¡¯s fur. ¡°Good job boy, we only need nine more and a dozen spirit vine strands and then we can go back¡­ and the sooner we do so the better.¡± He whispered the latter part of his sentence, reminding himself of the wounds he sustained. ¡°Woarf!¡± Onyx dashed forward, bringing another two antlers with him before sprinting elsewhere. Kai, on the other hand, punched another tree and gathered a few spirit vines which then disappeared into the ring. Well, that¡¯s done¡­ He thought, his spirits unable to be lifted even with the prospect of about a thousand merit points in total. His hand shook as he wiped it clean of bark and rot, however, the only thing he was reminded of was the blood he wiped and burnt. He staggered, leaning against a tree for support, his legs weakening as his stomach growled. Falling, he supported himself against a tree pulled out a piece of dried meat, and began chewing on it. Its former acceptable taste turned into a disgusting, vomit-worthy object Kai could barely bring himself to swallow. It threatened to climb back his throat, however he punched his chest, and pushed it down, making sure it stayed there. It¡¯s fine, it will fade away¡­ He thought to himself, sure that the rejection he faced from his body would soon disappear. It has to. Meanwhile, Onyx returned with another three antlers, and a wagging tail, as he smelled the curated meat. ¡°Woof!¡± He barked demanding for his fair share after placing the final task items on the ground. A soft smile creased Kai¡¯s lips, accompanied by a genuine chuckle. He waved his hand and a few dozen pieces of meat appeared before him, which Onyx instantly gulped down and swallowed in one go. ¡°Good boy.¡± Kai disheveled his fur and picked up the antlers as he stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we have enough.¡± Onyx licked his lips and placed his snout under Kai, gently bringing him to sit on his neck as he walked back toward the city. ¡°Thank you,¡± Kai said with genuine gratitude and focused on healing himself and preventing any infection from spreading from the bone shrapnel stuck in his body. The way back to the city was uneventful, they didn¡¯t meet anyone or anything, or at least any that was smart enough to stay out of his way. There were the occasional hares and horned pigs, but those low-intelligence species fled in terror upon seeing the Obborik. Finally, a few hundred meters before the city gate, Kai descended and Onyx returned to his small size. Kai also put back his mask and walked out from the forest as nonchalantly as he could. The guard, the same man who saw him out, didn¡¯t stop him from entering, nor did he check his identification. The sounds he almost grew accustomed to mixed into a cacophony of laughter, yelling, chatter, and banter. His footsteps and everyone else¡¯s combined into a drum that beat rhythmically with his heart. He dragged his legs, the pain from his wounds spreading throughout his body, and he suffered in silence as he carefully passed by the large crowds, heading straight for the bar he sat at. I can¡¯t go to the guild, not yet¡­ I must¡­ take care of this first. He thought as his vision turned into a blur, a blur which spun around him as if he were in a carousel. The sounds stopped. That¡¯s good¡­ he thought as he reached for a door handle, and he let his entire weight fall onto it as the door slammed open. His body collapsed, his vision collapsed, his hearing ceased and every sense in his body halted its functioning. The pain was no more, it disappeared like the win, and so did his sense of self as his consciousness faded. Chapter 108: Fear Fear not, my children, my subjects. Victory is upon us, God has blessed us with power, strength, and desire! Come, stand by my side, for the enemy sits at our borders, hungry, and we, too, shall feast.
A red sky met Kai as his eyes snapped open, and, looking around, he found himself sitting on a bed of white flowers in the middle of an empty field. A gentle breeze blew past, disheveling his silver hair. He raised a panicked hand to his face, only to discover the missing mask. Removing his fingers, he gazed upon his palm, and he let out a soundless cry as blood dripped down his arm. Jumping to his feet, he staggered as a howling wind almost pushed him to the ground. He caught himself, and stood straight, his breathing hastening as he noticed the emptiness around him. What¡¯s going on?! This isn¡¯t the usual nightmare¡­ Thinking that, he raised his foot, however he wasn¡¯t able to put it back down. A familiar jingle resounded in his ears, and his head snapped down, meeting a thick, black chain binding his feet to the ground. No! He yelled, however, no sound came out no matter how open his mouth was. Stomping down, and pulling hard in an attempt to break himself free, another chain shot from the earth, this time binding his left arm, and then another one, binding his right arm. No, stop! Stop! His anguished cry rang, but only inside his head as the chains pulled him down, smashing his spine against the bed of flowers. The nearest one to him spun, turning from a three-petal flower into a Bloody Red Spider Lily, and another one followed, and another, until he lay on a scarlet bed, his crimson eyes shining as his agape mouth let out a soundless cry. ¡­ Kai jumped up, his scream echoing inside the cramped walls of the guest room. His body ached, and bandages covered him from head to toe. As he moved, they turned bloody, his wounds opening once again. A heavy sigh of relief escaped his lips as he rubbed his wrists, content to be free of the illogical nightmare he was in. A soft smile creased his lips as he looked down, seeing the small-sized Onyx sleeping peacefully. He nudged him with his feet, prompting him to wake up and instantly climb up, furiously licking his face. ¡°Haha, thank you, boy, it¡¯s ok, I¡¯m awake.¡± Chuckling, he got down from the bed and stretched his limbs before donning a new set of clothes. The door creaked as he opened it, and, after seeing that nobody was in the house, he walked into the bar. A relieved smile creased his lips as he saw Karfi take care of the countertop, and Tasui, his daughter, reading aloud from a poorly written book. The man didn¡¯t smile, only acknowledging Kai¡¯s presence with a nod. His daughter, however, raised her head and smiled cheerfully toward them, her eyes fixated on Onyx, as always. Kai walked over and sat down, an amicable smile on his face. ¡°Good morning, sir.¡± ¡°Good morning Kai,¡± Karfi said, handing him a glass of water before turning back to his duties of cleaning the already spotless counter. The boy laughed and drank the entire glass in one go, letting out a delighted sigh. ¡°Thank you, I needed that.¡± He said, but neither Karfi nor Tausi acknowledged his words, however, he chose to ignore that as he looked around the bar. It was dirty, as usual, however the light from the lampposts seemed extraordinarily bright that night. He glanced at Tausi¡¯s book and tried reading it, however, he couldn¡¯t understand any of it, whether it was because of the handwriting, or because the language was foreign to him, he just couldn¡¯t understand it. But the writing seems familiar¡­ doesn¡¯t it? Shrugging it off, he simply leaned against the counter and took in a deep breath, taking a proper look at his bandaged wounds. ¡°Hey, uh, thank you for treating me, by the way. I¡¯ll cover the costs, don¡¯t worry.¡± He said, patting his bandages. However, his pupils constricted as he noticed small, sharp bumps spreading across his skin. Shocked, he turned to Karfi, who did not react, and then to Tausi, whose gaze had long since left the incomprehensible book. ¡°But of course,¡± Her lips parted, a voice that was not her own escaping her frail body. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I treated you, so of course it¡¯s free.¡± The voice doubled, a sharp, screeching tone mixing with a lower octave one. ¡°So tell me, boy.¡± Tausi approached him, sending goosebumps all over his body. He fell from the chair, landing on the ground, his legs giving in as the sharp indents became larger and larger. ¡°Tell me, how did it taste?¡± The voice asked, its menacing tone sending shivers down Kai¡¯s spine. ¡°T-taste, Tausi, what do you mean? Is this some sort of bad joke?¡± ¡°Oh don¡¯t play a fool.¡± It said, multiplying once again, ¡°How did it feel, sinking your fangs into its flesh? Drinking its blood like the holy nectar it truly is¡­¡± ¡°W-what? Blood, fangs, what- what are you talking about?¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk.¡± Tausi clicked her tongue, her neck elongating, and approaching Kai¡¯s ears with her lips. ¡°You know you liked it, you want more, don¡¯t you?¡± It whispered, the voice changing to an alluring one, one that messed with Kai¡¯s brain. He recalled the euphoric feeling when the creature¡¯s blood entered his mouth when he swallowed it. ¡°You loved it¡­ Don¡¯t fool yourself, because you can¡¯t fool me¡­ Come on¡­ just take it. Take your prize.¡± Tausi¡¯s neck warped around Kai¡¯s, her tender, succulent veins flashing before his eyes and placing themselves right at his lips. ¡°Come on, just take a bite¡­¡± ¡°N-no¡­ stop! I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± Kai moaned, his throat drying up as he gulped. ¡°Kai-¡± Karfi¡¯s voice reverberated in the room, his deep, calm tone hiding a tinge of disappointment. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us you were a vampire? Now look at what you¡¯ve done.¡± As he finished saying that, the windows broke and the doors swung open, letting the sun enter, flashing right onto Kai¡¯s skin. He yelled out in anguished pain, his feet disintegrating as he squirmed, and, from the doors entered men and women clad in armor. The emblems on their chests signal Kai¡¯s worst nightmare - Inquisitors. One of them swung their lance, and, before Kai could let out a sound, Karfi¡¯s head flew out from his body, a fountain of blood spraying from the headless corpse as it fell to the ground, tainting the counter. Another one slashed at Tasui¡¯s neck, meeting the same fate as her father, the lifeless, elongated neck falling on Kai, binding him with its weight. Lastly, a man wielding a spear slowly walked toward Kai, his weight making the floor shake with every step. He let out a chuckle, sending a cold shiver down Kai¡¯s spine. The air split as the spear shot toward his face, penetrating his skull and slicing his brain in half. Blood gushed out as the inquisitor pulled out the spear, and looked toward Onyx, whose true form remained frozen in fear, watching all this unfold. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Last one¡­¡± ¡­ Kai¡¯s eyes snapped open, his body drenched in cold sweat which permeated into the blankets and mattress. He breathed heavily, a blazing warmth seemingly cooking his face from the inside. Taking a deep, sharp breath, he stood up and patted the surface of his face. ¡°Phew¡­¡± He let out a heavy, relieved sigh as he felt the mask under his burning fingers. Quickly uncovering himself, and looking at the puddle of sweat that formed under him, he looked around him, not finding Onyx anywhere. His heart raced, and he pinched his arms to make sure he wasn¡¯t dreaming again. He got up and creaked the door open, making sure there weren¡¯t any overly bright lights, and, just as expected, the house was empty. That means they¡¯re tending to the bar. Walking with an eerie sense of deja vu, he opened the door to the bar and walked inside. Greeting him were Onyx, who played with Tausi, Karfi who cleaned the counter and an unknown woman drinking booze from a large pint. ¡°Uhm, good morning.¡± He said in an awkward, tired voice. Everyone turned toward him, and Onyx immediately rushed toward his side, jumping and knocking him over as he licked his mask and arms. He quickly got off of Kai, though, and even helped him get up as everyone in the room stared awkwardly at him. His heart skipped a beat, and he brought a hand to his face just to verify once again that his mask was still present. Walking forward, he nodded toward Karfi, whose face wore a soft smile, then glanced at Tausi before fixating on the foreign woman. Long, ashen hair cascaded down her ample chest, her mesmerizing orange eyes staring down at the cheap alcohol. She brought the pint to her thin lips, and a few drops dripped down her tanned neck. Kai gulped and looked away. She slammed the glass down, stood up, her white cloak fluttering in the wind, and looked at Kai with an annoyed, yet intrigued expression. She wore a black choker, with a silver star hanging from the center, and underneath her cloak, what seemed to be a tailored-made uniform. It didn¡¯t have any intricate patterns or fancy embroidery, but instead, similar to her choker, a silver star decorated its center. The woman didn¡¯t say anything, but instead approached Kai, invading his comfort area completely, and seemingly scanning every area of his body. She grabbed his arm, took off his shirt, and ran her fingers along the crease where the holes once stood. Nodding, she sat back down and said. ¡°Good, it seems that you¡¯re healing well. I¡¯d hope so after two days of coma. ¡± Her melodious voice rang in Kai¡¯s ears, and his flushed face turned even redder as he realized that she was the one who treated him. ¡°Yes, it seems so.¡± He said sheepishly, ¡°Thank you for uh, bandaging me.¡± The woman scoffed and turned to her drink. ¡°The one you should be thanking is this big bear over here, he used every trick he had to get me to come here.¡± ¡°N-Natasha!¡± Karfi¡¯s embarrassed, slightly high-pitched voice escaped his lips, greatly contrasting his overall appearance. ¡°The kid doesn¡¯t need to know that-¡± ¡°Well, why not? He came to you after all. I have to say you greatly oversimplified the state he was in.¡± Natasha said, a tinge of annoyance hiding within her amused voice. ¡°Speaking of, what the fuck happened to you?¡± ¡°Language!¡± Karfi glanced at Tausi, who thankfully played with Onyx, and hopefully didn¡¯t hear what Natasha said. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a long story,¡± Kai said, not paying any attention to Karfi or his worries. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what happened either, I was just¡­ it was shocking.¡± He put his clothes back on, and climbed up the chair, then leaned his elbow against the counter, supporting his head on his hand. Natasha watched him with amusement, however her expression quickly changed, and so did her tone. She locked gazes with Kai, her eyes turning serious, and said in a deeper, more professional voice. ¡°Kid, your wounds weren¡¯t normal. I¡¯ve seen them before, from metal exploding due to heat, and the victims barely survived. Bone, however, that¡¯s new. And the bite marks on your belly are unlike anything I¡¯ve seen thus far. ¡± Taken aback, Kai straightened his back and lowered his hands. He gulped and rubbed his forearm, the itchiness from the wounds making him recall the awful sight of an exploding corpse. Biting his lip, he brought his hands together and clutched his fingers. ¡°It was¡­ a monster. A purple one, it was humanoid. It- It bit me¡­¡± His voice wavered, and he held back a tear, instead letting out a nervous scoff. ¡°I killed it, then it exploded¡­¡± That¡¯s the most he could bring himself to say. He didn¡¯t recount how the thing looked after it died, how its skull caved in, how brain matter covered his fingers. He couldn¡¯t. And he didn¡¯t want to. Natasha and Karfi listened, a confused, yet horrified expression manifesting on their faces as they pictured the gruesome sight. The man shook his head and stopped himself from prying any further, however, Natasha¡¯s intrigue only grew further as the mental image formed in her mind. ¡°I see, is that all?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s all.¡± Nodding, and placing one leg over the other she reached for her pockets, pulling out a thick notepad and a pen. She flipped through the pages, and stopped somewhere toward the end, her eyes litting up. ¡°Looks like I lied, I did see those bite marks before. However, the guy I¡­ treated didn¡¯t have any abdomen left to speak of.¡± Natasha handed the notepad to Kai, letting him read the results of the only other case she had. < > Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he read the notes, and glanced at the accompanying illustration. It was a simple, rough sketch, yet incredibly detailed where it mattered. The drawing described the size of the hole, markings, the way the intestines looked, and the absence of the stomach. This could have happened¡­ to me? His hands trembled as he thought about the scaled armor he threw away, and he felt a little ache in his soul. I owe my life to that armor¡­ and I burned it¡­ He placed the notepad down, and took a deep breath, thanking his lucky stars. Of course, if he had been lucky he wouldn¡¯t have encountered the thing, but he¡¯d rather be alive than with a gaping hole where his stomach used to be. Biting his lip, he turned to Karfi and said with a solemn voice. ¡°Thank you for helping me, I know It¡¯s-¡± ¡°Aye don¡¯t worry child.¡± The man interrupted Kai, patting him over the shoulder. ¡°I did what anyone would have done in my place, so don''t fret over it.¡± A light laugh escaped his lips, and he poured another drink to Natasha after clearing the counter. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you got lucky or unlucky,¡± Natasha said, taking another sip from her drink. ¡°On one hand, you¡¯re complete, on the other you were close enough to death to shake its hand.¡± Kai didn¡¯t say anything, however a pit had formed in his stomach, not realizing how fragile his body truly was. If what she says is true¡­ then I need to be careful. Without the armor I¡­ Fuck! He cursed himself for being so stupid, but all he could do going forward was be more careful. Letting out a heavy sigh, he jumped down from the chair and walked toward the exit. ¡°Where are you going, boy?¡± Natasha asked with an annoyed tone. ¡°Your treatment is far from over.¡± Kai halted and turned guiltily toward the two. That was kind of rude¡­ He cleared his throat and said, signaling for Onyx to follow. ¡°I¡¯m going to Wildfire, I have some tasks to hand in.¡± And left without saying another word, with the Obborik quickly following behind him. ¡°Huh? That kid is part of Wildfire?¡± Natasha mumbled, turning back toward her drink, slightly surprised. ¡°He should be fine then¡­ hopefully.¡± Chapter 109: Handing the Tasks A couple of thousand corpses lay at my feet, all slain by my hand. Worthless scum that tried taking my life, now ending up as nothing more than fodder.
Outside, Kai took a deep breath, enjoying the chilly breeze crashing against his body, and cursing the mask for not having better ventilation. I definitely need to make some holes, this is absurd. He walked toward the guild, greeted by the same atmosphere as the nights before, except there were many more gazes on his this time. Paying them no heed, he hurried toward the guild, rubbing his spatial rings and checking their contents. Looks like I have everything I need, and some extra. I hope there¡¯s no expiration date¡­ The large headquarters quickly appeared before him, the dozen or so flags fluttering in the wind, despite its strength not being enough to make them do so. He rushed through the entrance, straight toward Wildfire¡¯s side, where Anna stood at the counter, filing her nails. Does she work every day? He thought as he snuck through the crowd, alongside Onyx who had an even easier time doing so. Like usual, a long line separated him from Anna, however, he didn¡¯t mind, as she worked as fast as a bee, and in less than five minutes, he found himself before her again. He raised himself and presented the papers, and before he could say anything, Anna¡¯s lips parted. ¡°Hello again. I see you¡¯ve completed your tasks. In that case please walk through the door on the right and someone will process everything for you.¡± Kai nodded and only managed to say an awkward ¡°Alright,¡± before getting down from his molehill. He glanced at Anna, who already started talking to another adventurer, and made his way to the right, where a designed door greeted him. I guess this must be it then. He knocked gently and opened it with a click, accompanied by the cheerful jingle of a bell. Walking through it, a sensation of his body being pulled apart and put back together washed all over himself, and a shiver ran down his spine as he fully passed through the door. Closing it, and looking around, he was surprised to see such a large room hiding behind that little door. Unlike the office he was in to get tested, or the field right next to them, this room was twice the size of both combined. Countless shelves with drawers stood on either side, and the floor was decorated by a beautiful ebony carpet with red embroidery and a lotus flower pattern. Engraved flames danced around multiple stone pillars stretching across the room, in between which stood large desks filled with documents and miscellaneous items. Behind each one of them stood a person working for Wildfire, as suggested by their uniforms and the fact that countless people lined up before them. Mages, body mages, women, men, old and young. Large groups formed around these desks, discussing and handing over their completed tasks, along with proof. So this is how it works¡­ interesting¡­ Kai thought to himself as he advanced through the crowd, looking for a smaller line he could get into. However, no matter where he looked, the amount of people at each desk was about the same, except for one. Far away at the back of the room, between two pillars, lay an empty desk, with very few documents and no one sitting behind it. Kai looked around, however everyone seemed to be too busy for him to bother so he decided to make his way over to the abandoned desk. Gazes followed him, and scoffs of disdain echoed behind him, however, he paid them no heed. He stopped in front of the desk, its neat, arranged yet eerily empty table making him get second thoughts. ¡°Uhm¡­ hello?¡± Kai called out, and Onyx sat down and yawned next to him, happy to be out of such large crowds for a change. Seconds passed and no one showed up, a frown manifesting under Kai¡¯s mask, and he prepared to leave. However, before he could even turn around, a sharp, yet to be mature and desperate-sounding voice echoed from under the desk. ¡°Wait, wait, I¡¯m here.¡± An ¡°Ouch-¡± accompanied by someone slamming the wooden frame resounded in the air, shortly after which a figure appeared. A boy, seemingly younger than him, with square glasses and a red nose, rubbed his head decorated with black, short hair. He brought his chair out, and sat down on it, supported by a couple of books to reach the desk. Adjusting his glasses, a soft smile creased his lips as he said cheerfully. ¡°How can I help you, dear adventurer?¡± His customer service and professional words stood in stark contrast compared to his childish figure and voice. Kai shook his head, snapping out of his shock and saying in an awkward voice. ¡°Ah- Yes, I want to turn in my tasks.¡± ¡°Tasks? Yes, yes, tasks! Please, show me your tasks.¡± The boy said with unexpected excitement, making space for Kai¡¯s documents on the table. His eyes shone as Kai placed his tasks on the table, and he immediately grabbed them, pulling them closer to his face and reading them aloud. ¡°Hmm, hmm, collecting Moonpetal, Spiritvines, Antlers, and killing Horned Pigs.. I see, I see, very good tasks for a novice. Follow me, we¡¯ll check those in a moment.¡± The boy jumped off from his chair, tasks in hand, and walked toward an empty, solid wall. Kai raised an eyebrow and followed behind him alongside Onyx. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the young man phase through the wall like a ghost, disappearing on the other side. Perplexed, Kai walked over, and pushed his hand forward, only to be met by the cold smoothness of the wall. He tried again, with the same result. Behind the mask, a look of confusion manifested on his face, and he glanced at Onyx, who curiously sniffed the wall. The Obborik wagged his tail, and walked forward with confidence, his head phasing through the wall before his entire body disappeared. What the fuck? Then why can¡¯t I? Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Slightly angry, his eyes closed shut as he took a deep breath, and stepped with his head forward. The same feeling of his body being torn apart washed over him, and, as painless as it was, it still felt weird. His body shook as a warm light shone on his hazy vision, and he once again found himself in a different place. What kind of teleportation magic is this¡­ Looking around, he saw Onyx sniff some plants and decorative flowers, and the little boy searching through a large set of drawers. ¡°Hey, what did you say your name was again?¡± ¡°Uh, Ichor,¡± Kai replied, his footsteps clicking as he walked on the hardwood floor. He sniffed the air, an intoxicating smell of burning incense inundating his nostrils, but weirdly enough there were no sticks of incense anywhere. Instead, he saw half a dozen balances of varying sizes, accompanied by a large amount of weights. ¡°Right, Ichor. Please take a seat while I find your file.¡± The boy said, hastily slamming the drawer he was looking in, then moving to another one across the room. Kai pulled the chair opposite the boy, its legs emitting a sharp shriek as it scraped against the floor, and sat down. Shortly after, the boy pulled out a thin file jumped onto his chair, and opened it with a delighted expression. ¡°Right, Ichor, let¡¯s start with the easiest ones to count then. TOIDN 18239116, Gather ten Emberhorns antlers. Uhm, please show proof of task completion.¡± Upon hearing that, Kai hovered his hand over the table and activated his spatial ring, causing about a dozen antlers to fall onto the table. The boy¡¯s expression lit up, and he immediately picked them up and started counting, placing them neatly to the side. ¡°Hum, hum, twelve antlers, task successful. Now, onto the next one TOIDN 13592647, gather¡­ five hundred strands of spiritvine¡­¡± The boy let out a heavy sigh and looked at Kai with a dejected expression. ¡°Please¡­ hand over the strands.¡± Kai bit his lower lip and placed all the spirit vines he gathered on the desk, creating a small green hill. The boy¡¯s eyes widened, and he lowered his head as he reached for the first strand. ¡°One¡­¡± then the second ¡°Two¡­¡± and third ¡°Three¡­¡± and placed them neatly to the side, similarly to the antlers. Kai wore an awkward smile, and his right leg shook as he listened to the boy count the strands aloud. He¡¯s not gonna¡­ count them one by one, right? He thought, fearing that he may spend the entire night there. ¡°Thirty-seven¡­¡± He will! If Kai had any drinks to spit out, he would, but in the end resigned himself to this fate and waited for the boy to finish counting. Minutes passed, and with nothing else to do, Kai looked around and counted the tiles on the floor. These tiles are really pretty actually, I wonder what kind of wood they¡¯re made from. Not to mention the patterns, they seem almost artificial but I¡¯m certain they¡¯re natural. I should tell Aina to use this kind of wood as well. All five hundred and thirty-seven tiles around me have a unique model, indeed, such a beautiful wood¡­ ¡­ ¡°Five hundred and thirty! Done.¡± The boy said, waking up the half-asleep Kai. ¡°Phew, that took a while. You know, no one does these quests because they¡¯re so low-paying and take so much effort since we have to be exact with the numbers. I¡¯m surprised you even bothered.¡± ¡°Ah, yeah¡­ haha.¡± Kai laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, then went ahead and dropped the Moonpetals as well, which should be easier to count since they had to be weighed. ¡°Ah, the moon petals, sure. One hundred grams.¡± The boy said, and pulled out a balance from under the desk, as long as one hundred grams worth of weight in ten, twenty, and fifty increments. He carefully unwrapped the cloth, revealing the beautiful flowers which still glowed with an ethereal light. Due to the spatial ring¡¯s properties, they didn''t wilt or wither, as time didn¡¯t flow inside. The boy gently picked them up and placed them onto the scale, which immediately began to tip. After putting all the flowers, he grabbed the weights and placed them on the other, raised side. The scale tipped slightly, but was still higher than the flowers, which meant Kai had completed the task, and then some. ¡°Great, then, let me place the flowers inside the ring so they don¡¯t lose their properties, and then we can move on to the Horned Pigs.¡± The boy quickly pulled out an empty ring from the drawer and placed it on his finger, grabbing the entire bouquet, which immediately vanished. The young boy jumped off from his chair and walked over to one of the bigger balances, where he had more space to items on. Kai stood up and followed, then threw all the hogs he had onto the scale, piglets included. Similarly, their corpses were still fresh, so the expected putrid smell of decay wasn¡¯t present. The scale tipped instantly, slamming against the floor, and the young boy looked in awe. Onyx walked over, and licked his snout, his tail wagging and brushing the hardwood as he looked with desire and gluttony at the mountain of meat before him. The boy picked up a five-kilogram weight, two, two-kilogram weights, and, one-kilogram weights and tried placing them onto the scale, however,, his short stature made him unable to reach it. He clicked his tongue and placed the weights down, walked behind the desk, and brought out a step ladder, which he then climbed while carrying the weights. He placed them, and the scale tipped, but not enough for the corpses to be equal, so the body added more and more weight, until finally, they balanced out at a little above twenty-five kilograms. ¡°Hum, hum, not bad! I can¡¯t make an estimate right now but be assured we will not scam you!¡± He said with a wide smile and collected the corpses in another storage ring. ¡°Now, come sit down, I just need you to sign some papers and then you can go.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Kai said, taking a seat and nudging himself closer to the desk. He watched the boy pull out a small stack of papers, onto which he quickly scribbled down the TOIDN¡¯s. ¡°Just sign at the bottom of the page, it¡¯s just a safety measure to make sure the tasks you handed in are correct.¡± The boy gleefully turned over the paper, holding it with his index finger and pointing to Kai where he needed to sign. His body covered the entire page, making the document unreadable. Kai sighed internally and scribbled down a random signature, fully trusting the boy, as he had been hired by the guild after all. ¡°By the way,¡± Kai began, ¡°I noticed that nobody lined up for you, why is that?¡± ¡°Ah- that?...¡± The young boy said as he retrieved the documents, hiding his wide smile with a hand raised to his chin. ¡°Must be because of my appearance, they must not trust me because I¡¯m a kid, their loss though!¡± ¡°I guess it is, haha¡± Kai laughed awkwardly and stood up, his heart racing slightly as he walked toward the wall. I should have asked beforehand¡­ He thought as he passed through it, accompanied by Onyx, and reappearing back in the grand hall. Some people looked at him with mockery, while some with pity, but none of them approached him. He immediately got a bad feeling in his stomach, and, as he turned to re-enter the room, his head slammed against the hard wall. What the fuck?! Chapter 110: Scammed And so, my reign finally started. We¡¯ve broken past what we considered normal, we thrive when others bleed, and laugh loudly when they die by our weapons. God¡­ Just wait, I shall find a suitable vessel, and then, you shall ascend.
Kai slammed his fist against the wall, however, no matter how hard he punched, the portal disappeared and he couldn¡¯t pass through anymore. What¡¯s going on? He looked around and saw the dozen heads turned toward him with a mocking smile. Flustered, he rushed through the crowd and slammed the door open, angrily marching toward Anna. Upon seeing her, he took a deep breath and waited for everyone to be done with their requests, which didn¡¯t take long, as usual. A rocky hill immediately rose from the ground, surprising Anna, who took a step back before smiling awkwardly. ¡°Yes, how may I help you?¡± ¡°Miss, something strange is going on.¡± Kai began, pulling out his tasks and preparing to present them, however, Anna¡¯s hand rose before he could say anything else. ¡°Let me stop you right there, it¡¯s the kid-looking guy, isn¡¯t it?¡± She asked with a defeated sigh. ¡°Uh, yes, how did you know?¡± ¡°He always makes trouble for newcomers, I should have warned you but I was too busy. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Anna said and rubbed her temples. ¡°Please tell me you didn¡¯t sign anything.¡± ¡°Well- About that¡­¡± Kai laughed awkwardly, without needing to continue his sentence, as the receptionist had already understood. ¡°Damn that brat, always picking on newcomers¡­¡± She sighed and leaned backward, exposing her pale neck, her veins visible on the surface. Kai gulped and clenched his fists as his heart threatened to jump out of his chest. Biting his lower lip, he glanced away and said through gritted teeth. ¡°What does that mean??¡± His voice, which had turned rougher and raspier, escaped his lips in an unintentional, threatening tone. Anna¡¯s pupils widened upon hearing that, her heart skipping a beat and she immediately straightened herself. However, she let out an inner sigh of relief upon noticing that Kai wasn¡¯t looking at her. ¡°Well¡­ the contract you signed means that¡­ you gave away all the resources you gathered for that task, to the child.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Kai gasped, almost falling from his hill. ¡°But I couldn¡¯t even read it!¡± ¡°Well¡­ a signature is a signature. I¡¯m sorry kid¡­ it¡¯s out of my hands now.¡± She almost shrugged her shoulders, and Kai¡¯s expression changed from flustered to angry, he gritted his teeth as he thought about all the hardships he went through getting those materials. ¡°You have to be able to do something about it!¡± He said, a tinge of despair hidden in his voice. ¡°You¡¯re the one who hired him, you¡¯re liable for my losses. That contract isn¡¯t legally binding, I¡¯m a minor!¡± ¡°That-¡± Anna paused, her eyes widening in revelation. ¡°That makes a lot of sense actually, but wouldn¡¯t that mean you can¡¯t join our guild either?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t sign anything when I joined¡­¡± Kai said, ashamed of the inconsistencies in his reasoning. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s not what¡¯s important here, please help me get my materials back.¡± Anna stood with her mouth agape for a second before reluctantly closing her mouth and nodding gently, giving Kai a look of assurance. ¡°Alright then, please be patient and I will talk it out with the director.¡± Kai grunted, and stepped off the hill, then walked outside under the gazes of Wildfire¡¯s and the other guilds¡¯ members. He took a deep breath and sat on one of the benches, staring up at the moon with disgust in his eyes. To think that I was fooled by a child, there are a lot of kinds of people in this world, huh? Malice at such a young age, I wonder where he learned it from¡­ He sighed and calmed down as he waited, refusing to allow his mind to wander too much. That child is damned weird, he seems younger than me but behaves like an adult already, what a pain. I hope they can deal with that soon enough. Kai leaned back on the bench, spreading his arms and taking in the beautiful view of the natural starry sky. Such a sight was rare back in his world, but now he¡¯d grown accustomed to it. However, no matter how much he gazed at the shining stars, he could never have enough. His eyes shimmered as tears fell down his cheek, although he quickly shook off from his trance and redirected his gaze toward the ground. A pair of feet stopped before him, and as he looked up, he noticed Raymond, wearing a wide smile and a few smoked meats planted on a stick. ¡°Everything alright, kid?¡± He said as he sat down, handing Onyx a small piece of meat, and then offering one to Kai. ¡°For¡­ for the most part.¡± Kai refused the food, prompting an eyebrow raise from Raymond. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°I heard that little kid took your loot, is that why you¡¯re so down?¡± The man asked, swallowing the rest of the food. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s already taken care of. At least he counted everything right, haha.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Kai exclaimed, straightening his back. ¡°I just reported it.¡± ¡°Well, that kid¡¯s been a pain in the ass for us for a while now. But don¡¯t worry, there are never any serious consequences due to his antics.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ I see.¡± Kai sighed, feeling relieved that he would get the fruit of his labor after all. ¡°Yep, you can go to Anna and she¡¯ll take care of it for ya,¡± Raymond said, standing up and walking away, leaving Kai alone once again. What a weird dude¡­ He thought as he leaned back on the bench, calmly breathing as he took in the peaceful quiet around him. ¡­ ¡°Here you go, Ichor. I¡¯m sorry for the inconvenience.¡± Anna said in a soft, half-guilty half exhausted voice as she handed Kai a handwritten receipt. <> A measly one thousand and sixty points, huh¡­ Kai nodded half-heartedly toward the woman and got down, stuffing the note in his ring. He took a deep breath walked once again toward the board, and picked up some hunting jobs, as well as other plant-gathering jobs. They may not amount to much, but then again, I don¡¯t need much. He picked up five pages, and, just as he began walking toward Anna, he caught something with the corner of his eyes, or rather, someone, running away. It¡¯s that brat! He placed the tasks in his ring and immediately chased after the boy, sneaking through the crowd. As he got outside, he looked around frantically, until he spotted a small figure rushing into the city. Jumping off the stairs, he followed it with Onyx close behind, afraid of losing the boy. Where¡¯s he going at this hour? Kai followed quietly, using the shadows as a disguise to go unseen, and his soft footsteps were barely audible as he tiptoed around the busy streets. His eyes followed the scammer like an eagle, and even Onyx made as little noise as possible as the two trailed the young boy. He took many turns, sneaking through sometimes empty alleys and circling back to make sure he wasn¡¯t followed. Of course, whenever that happened Kai would use a dark spell to conceal himself and Onyx before continuing to follow. Finally, the boy looked around one last time, then sighed, and walked toward a large alley, which was much too familiar to Kai. It was the same alley he had felt that immensely strong presence when he first arrived a few nights ago. What is he planning? He thought, taken aback by the coincidence. Or maybe it¡¯s not that much of a coincidence¡­ He hid behind a corner, concealing himself and Onyx, and watched as the boy stopped in front of a wall, and pulled out a stone from his ring. Pressing it against the cold surface, it rippled slightly, and the young man quickly passed through. Kai grits his teeth, and rushes, afraid of the gate closing. Onyx lagged, and, just as Kai¡¯s body fully passed through, the wall turned back solid, causing the Obborik to hit its face, or rather, snout first. After phasing through the wall, Kai made no effort to conceal his presence, and his eyes widened upon seeing the interior. It wasn¡¯t fancily decorated but still held a certain aura of prestige. The velvet carpeted on the floor, although a bit damaged, perfectly mixed with the red couches with golden embroidery. A chandelier filled with large light crystals hung from the ceiling, and a large coffee table sat in the center of the room. Kai¡¯s eyes snapped toward a half-open door located on the west wall, and he quietly made his way over, peeking through the gap. His pupils widened and he gulped as he saw a creature that stood two meters tall, an ebony fur decorating its body, and a pair of sharp fangs baring themselves at the boy. ¡°Quiet now,¡± He said, bringing out a few pieces of meat. ¡°Eat this. You gave me too much trouble last time, and now I could barely bring you some food after practically begging. You¡¯re lucky I caught you, you know?¡± The creature instantly devoured the food it was given, and let out a yelp however the anger in its eyes couldn¡¯t be more evident. It growled and stared at the boy with mild hatred. ¡°I know, I know. Stay still, I still want to experiment on you. I know you understand me, so cooperate.¡± The boy said in a tone that didn¡¯t fit his age and behaved in a similarly weird fashion. He stood hunched over a desk, reading over documents and scribbling down on papers. His visage resembled a seasoned worker more than a clueless child. Kai watched silently, his heart racing as a wild idea formed in his mind, however, he didn¡¯t dare voice it in any sort of shape. He observed the boy walking over with a weird, pointy object, and stabbing the creature with it before pulling back. A syringe? He asked himself, and his question was answered with an even crazier question. The boy pulled out a lot of glass circles, placed them in a weird, familiar object, and ejected some of the blood onto a glass trail. No way¡­ The boy peered through the glass he placed on the device, then smiled to himself after a minute, and wrote down some findings. ¡°I¡¯ll soon find out how you can turn invisible, and then I¡¯ll be rich, haha!¡± Hm? Invisible? Could it be¡­! Kai took a closer look at the beast and felt its familiar aura once again. Yes, that¡¯s it, the thing running through the alley back then. To think that this boy captured it¡­ or rather¡­ this man. Kai wanted to observe further, however, the boy¡¯s eyes suddenly snapped in his direction, and he took a haste step back before pulling out his wand and casting a concealing magic. His figure turned blurry, and he quickly walked into the most shadowy part of the room, holding in his breathing. Moments after, the door slammed open, and the boy walked through, his eagle-like eyes scanning the entirety of the room before turning away with a scoff. Now, out of his range of vision, Kai let out a sigh and inched closer to the door. However, at that moment, the boy¡¯s voice echoed in his ears, and he found himself face-to-face with a wand. ¡°Identify yourself before I blow your brains out.¡± He barked, the wand¡¯s tip glowing with fierce darkness as it stood inches away from Kai¡¯s head. Chapter 111: Do you Believe in Gods? Chapter 111: Do You Believe in Gods? My crimson hands sing of a tale that the continent will not forget. The forests will sing me praises, and the rivers will spread the word of the great King who lived to free God.
Kai sighed and slowly stood up, the concealing spell slowly undoing itself as he stared at the boy with a deadpan expression. ¡°It¡¯s you¡­ You followed me?¡± He asked, shocked, a tinge of surprise hidden within his voice. Kai nodded and took a moment to get himself together before saying. ¡°Yeah, I was curious to see where you were going in a hurry.¡± The boy stared at Kai with a baffled expression and slowly lowered his wand, the glow disappearing as he placed it back within his ring. A light chuckle escaped his body, and he said in a half-angry, half-surprised voice. ¡°Honestly¡­ you¡¯ve got guts for a child. Fine, since you¡¯re already here might as well show you.¡± For a child? Kai raised an eyebrow, however didn¡¯t say anything and followed the young man inside the room, where he came face to face with the beast. Up close, it felt even more terrifying, and even its aura alone sent a shiver down Kai¡¯s spine. It had paws, but unlike any creature he had seen before. They were long, with protruding claws coming out from the upper flesh, as well as a second pair in their usual place. Its ebony body seemed almost ethereal, an illusion yet physical, and its face- decorated by a flat snout and red glowing eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is either, I found it running around the city a few weeks ago. Don¡¯t touch it though.¡± The young man said nonchalantly as he took another look at the device on his desk. ¡°You must have seen me pull out some blood from it right, can you see it anywhere now?¡± Kai stepped closer, and looked beneath the device, his pupils constricting as he noticed the stark absence of any sort of blood. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the boy said. ¡°The blood vanished, but it¡¯s still here. That means that it turned invisible after a while once enough time passed away from the body. It¡¯s intriguing, and I¡¯m curious to see where this propriety of this comes from. It could be revolutionary for the obsolete magic of this world.¡± Kai took half a step back and held his tongue as he scooted closer, and looked closely at the glass device. So I was right, a makeshift microscope¡­ However, He closed his eyes and recalled Rodney¡¯s memories, sorting through the technical knowledge in less time than it took him to exhale. As expected, he didn¡¯t know the exact workings of a microscope either, but the information I have could be enough to construct a better one than this. Do I want to, though? This guy seems pretty nonchalant about reincarnation and divulging his secrets. ¡°You said ¡®this world¡¯, what does that mean?¡± Kai asked as he raised his head, feigning ignorance. The boy¡¯s expression turned smug, and he immediately turned to Kai, their gazes meeting mid-air. ¡°Do you believe in Gods?¡± He asked, his tone as serious as it could get, and the sparkle in his eyes sending a light shiver down his spine. ¡°O¡­ of course-¡± Kai said, stuttering as he felt out of breath. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about that phony Lumiera, I¡¯m talking about actual Gods.¡± Lumera, phony? Well, at least he got half of that right¡­ Kai gulped, and walked backward, standing within reach of the dark beast. I have to put on a convincing act. ¡°You dare¡­ call Goddess Lumiera, phony? You should be thankful she hasn¡¯t stricken you down yet, you blasphemous fool!¡± ¡°She will do no such thing, she isn¡¯t even aware of my existence, so don¡¯t worry about it. Anyway, as long as you believe in something you should get the gist of it. I was sent here by another God, and that¡¯s all I will say.¡± Kai gulped again, and walked in a circle, distancing himself from the beast. ¡°How can I believe what you¡¯re saying is true, and why would you tell me?¡± He rubbed his spatial ring, preparing to pull out his wand and sword at a moment¡¯s notice. This time, he wasn¡¯t just feigning it, he felt something wasn¡¯t right with the kid before him. If his word is to be trusted, then he¡¯s stronger than let''s see. I thought only Lumiera could send souls into her world, but I was wrong. The young boy scoffed and turned, returning to his research. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have no interest in your life, you¡¯re free to stay if you wish. However, if I hear even a whisper of anything going on here, I¡¯ll turn this city into a ghost town.¡± His tone became menacing, and the aura escaping his body felt like nothing Kai had ever sensed before. It was foreign, yet powerful. It¡¯s at least equal to a Five Rank in strength¡­ What kind of dragon¡¯s nest did I sneak into? Kai cursed his luck and lowered his guard. After all, if the boy wanted him to, he¡¯d already be dead. I better get out while I still can- He didn¡¯t dare linger much longer, and stepped outside, closing the door behind him and walking toward the wall. However, before he could attempt phasing through, the door he previously closed slammed open, and a paper flew toward him. Catching it as it floated gently, he read its contents and discovered a list of ingredients that were much too familiar to him. ¡°Since you sabotaged my operation, bring me these ingredients, and make haste.¡± He barked out an order, then Kai found himself flying right through the wall, popping up back in the dark alley, where Onyx waited for him. ¡°Awrf!¡± The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Kai quickly got up and brushed the dust off his clothes, then patted Onyx, spit on the wall, and went toward the guild. ¡­ He let out a sigh as he walked through the bar¡¯s door, the dusty bell signaling his entrance as if the creaky door wasn¡¯t loud enough. He didn¡¯t spot Natasha, however, Karfi and Tausi were back to their usual places. The young girl immediately got up, and rushed toward Onyx, dashing past Kai. Karfi let out a light chuckle, his thick mustache curling into a smile as he said. ¡°I thought you were going to stay in one of Wildfire¡¯s inns now.¡± Kai¡¯s cloak fluttered as he jumped on the tall chair, flopped on the clean counter, and exhaled deeply. ¡°Well, I decided to take advantage of your courtesy and decided to stay here, I already got used to it.¡± He straightened his back and stretched his limbs. ¡°Besides, I assume the doctor lady will come back to check on me, and she¡¯s already familiar with you.¡± Karfi nodded, and pulled out a glass and filled it with water, then pushed it toward Kai, despite knowing he wouldn''t take off his mask. ¡°Thanks,¡± he chuckled and licked his lips. Fuck it. He thought, then took out his wand. A small spark formed on the tip of his wand, and Kai made a small, pea-sized hole where the mouth would be. Afterward, he took out a thicker flower, cut off its bulbs, and bent the top. Inserting it inside the glass, he used it like a straw, allowing him to sip on water - Grass-tasting water, but water nonetheless.- ¡°That¡¯s¡­ quite ingenious. Hah, who would have thought of that.¡± Karfi said, staring at the makeshift straw. Kai finished the water, and let out a satisfied sigh. ¡°Thanks, it¡¯s called a straw, it¡¯s useful for a lot of things. Mainly for drinking beverages, but you can also turn food into a paste and feed patients like that.¡± Upon hearing that, Karfi¡¯s eyes lost their usual luster. Kai noticed and immediately sensed something was wrong, however, he didn¡¯t pry. ¡°Haha, yeah, I think Natasha would love to hear of this invention of yours.¡± He said with a half-broken smile, however, his mood quickly turned back to normal as he stared at his daughter with a wide smile. ¡°Allow me to ask this, though. I hope you don¡¯t mind, but why do you refuse to take off your mask?¡± Kai hesitated, not entirely ready to answer such a personal question. ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer if you don¡¯t want to¡± Karfi quickly picked up, however, Kai stopped him. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He brought a hand to his face. ¡°This mask simply hides what I don¡¯t want people to see. A scar, a past, maybe both? It¡¯s better like this.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± The man grunted and wanted to refill Kai¡¯s glass with water. ¡°Can you give me some booze?¡± Kai asked with a sigh, ¡°It¡¯s been a long day.¡± Karfi glanced at Kai, and then at his daughter, who didn¡¯t seem that much younger than him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I- I can¡¯t do that in good conscience.¡± Kai lowered his head but didn¡¯t retort. He¡¯s right, after all. However, before either of them could utter another word, the door slammed open, inviting the figure of a woman. She had a rough walk, yet it still had some elegance. A white coat fluttered in the wind, and her hands were tucked neatly into her pocket as he walked toward the two with a soul-stealing smile. ¡°Give the kid a break, Karfi.¡± The woman said, placing one leg over the other as she took a seat next to Kai. ¡°Some kids his age are already getting married.¡± ¡°Natasha,¡± Karfi protested. ¡°He¡¯s still a child.¡± ¡°So what? I started drinking at twelve, and you started bartending at fourteen, what''s a small difference going to do? Come on, put it on my tab, and give me one too.¡± Karfi¡¯s eyes widened, and he let out a defeated sigh. ¡°Fine, but I¡¯ll water his down.¡± ¡°Tsk, waste of alcohol.¡± Natasha clicked her tongue and stared at Kai, her beautiful eyes seemingly reaching into his soul. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few hours and you¡¯re already in bad shape, who did this to you?¡± ¡°You should have seen the other guy.¡± Kai blurted out almost immediately, however, he quickly covered his mask where his mouth was. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry I-¡± Natasha¡¯s hearty laughter interrupted his sentence, and she let out a satisfied sigh. ¡°It¡¯s fine kid, that was funny. Seriously though, who slammed you against a wall?¡± She said, turning his head over and rising his sleeves. Even if I told you, you wouldn¡¯t believe me. Kai chuckled to himself. ¡°Nobody, just bad luck running into a wall.¡± ¡°Hmm, if you say so. I¡¯ll come change your bandages when you go to sleep. Karfi informed me you¡¯re a night owl, so I went to sleep after you left.¡± ¡°A-alright,¡± Kai said, feeling slightly embarrassed. However, the feeling didn¡¯t last long as the man placed two glasses of alcohol on the table, and sent one, which was much dimmer compared to the other, toward Kai. ¡°Here¡¯s your drink,¡± He said, then turned toward Kai. ¡°Please don¡¯t drink it all in one gulp, and certainly don¡¯t copy this crazy woman over here. She¡¯s a bad example.¡± ¡°Haha, I won¡¯t.¡± Kai chuckled, pulling out another flower and turning it into a straw. He took a sip from the distilled alcohol, and a fire spread inside his mouth, traveling down his throat and settling in his stomach. ¡°Kyyya~ This is the good stuff.¡± Natasha¡¯s voice echoed as she downed the entire glass, slamming it on the table. ¡°Karfi sure knows where to get the good stuff.¡± ¡°Haha, please. It¡¯s just been sitting here due to the lack of clients.¡± Karfi said, pouring her another glass, then poured one for himself as well. ¡°Right, keep being humble, big man.¡± ¡°Big man~!¡± Tausi¡¯s voice echoed in the distance, mirroring Natasha¡¯s, prompting Karfi to bring a hand to his face and sigh. ¡°Haha, anyway. Kid, what¡¯s that thing you¡¯re using to drink?¡± ¡°Oh, this. It¡¯s a straw.¡± ¡°A straw you say¡­ and you use it to drink liquids¡­? Ingenious¡­ I wonder what other uses it could have.¡± Hearing that, Kai felt like giving another explanation, however, after remembering the way the man reacted, he decided it was better to keep it to himself for now. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, I can tell you later.¡± ¡°Ah-¡± Her pupils shone with realization, and the smile creasing her lips visibly decreased. ¡°I see.¡± The atmosphere instantly turned sour, and only Tausi¡¯s laughter and Onyx¡¯s barks of annoyance accompanied the brief, deafening silence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Karfi,¡± Natasha said suddenly, lowering her head. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry man.¡± ¡°I know, Natasha. It¡¯s all in the past now, please let¡¯s not bring it up.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± she grunted and downed the second glass of alcohol, a tear streaming down her flushed face. ¡°I miss her.¡± Chapter 112: Casual Stroll Sitting on my throne, the room¡­ It''s desolate. There is nobody to my right or my left, they¡¯ve all gone to their duties. And I remain alone, in this cold palace, ruling over the specks of dust that do not even answer my voice.
¡°Ouch, ta ta ta ta ta¡­.¡± Kai groaned in pain as Natasha tightly bound his arms, legs, and torso, discarding the old bandages and replacing them with clean, disinfected ones. She let out a weary sigh and looked at Kai with a soft smile creasing her lips. ¡°To think that such a creature existed¡­ you¡¯re fortunate.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Kai nodded, a shiver running down his spine as he remembered the creature''s appearance, both before and after. ¡°It wasn¡¯t any taller than Tausi, but it was bald and skinny. That purple skin¡­ it distracted me. And it was fast as well, it closed the gap faster than I could blink and immediately attacked my stomach. If I didn¡¯t have my armor on I-...¡± He didn¡¯t finish the last part, for both of them knew what the consequences would have been. Despite that, he still managed to break out a smile, even though nobody could see it. ¡°Thank you, Natasha. I owe my life to you. Hah¡­ if I had a nickel-¡± ¡°A nickel?¡± The woman interrupted, asking with a perplexed expression. ¡°Ne-nevermind¡­¡± Kai laughed awkwardly and stopped himself from saying any more weird things. After all, he couldn¡¯t be sure who was a person from another world anymore. Not after meeting that weird boy. Just what exactly is he? I thought I was the only special case with ¡®full¡¯ memories, but that guy¡­ He seems to have another purpose for coming here. According to him, this world is ¡®backward¡¯, so what business could he possibly have? Maybe if I get close to him¡­ Yeah, he did ask me to fetch him some stuff, perhaps I may get more information about the world¡­ about this world. Even if it¡¯s just hints or slips of the tongue¡­ And not to mention that big creature. As cruel as it seems, Rodney¡¯s memories tell me this is the best course of action. If I help him get its ability to turn invisible, I could use it to get around places¡­ you never know when you need to be out of sight. Concealing magic is almost useless against someone much stronger than you, but invisibility is¡­ ¡°So don¡¯t make any sudden movements for the next few days¡­ Hey, Ichor, are you listening to me?¡± Natasha asked, snapping her fingers in front of Kai, bringing him out of the trance. ¡°Did you hear me? I said to take on milder tasks that don¡¯t involve any sort of combat if you must take tasks. Otherwise just don¡¯t take any at all and rest, got it?¡± ¡°Ah- yeah, got it.¡± He replied, shaking his head. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry hun, now that you¡¯re feeling better, how about you tell me how that invention of yours works hum?¡± ¡°Invention?¡± Kai looked at Natasha with confusion for a second, before his eyes lit up. ¡°Oh, you mean the straw. It¡¯s just a thin tube that you can suck liquids from. It¡¯s used for drinks but it works for liquid food too.¡± ¡°Liquid food¡­? I see. Thank you. You won¡¯t mind if I use your idea, will you?¡± ¡°Mhm. Go right ahead, if other people can use it I¡¯m happy¡­ Speaking of, you know more about Karfi, right?¡± Natasha paused, her eyes pausing and her smile froze, before lowering her gaze and whispering. ¡°Yeah¡­ I do.¡± Her pained tone lingered in the air, her cracking voice ringing in Kai¡¯s ears. ¡°It¡¯s a long¡­ needless story. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± She sighed, but didn¡¯t continue further, and slowly stood up. Biting her lower lip she turned to Kai before leaving. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it to Karfi either¡­ let him tell you when he¡¯s ready. That is if you plan to stick around.¡± Her voice lingered as the door clicked shut, and Kai let out a soft sigh as he took off his mask. He leaned on the bed, covered himself in blankets, and closed his eyes. His body didn¡¯t fall asleep just yet, he couldn¡¯t, for some reason. The previous nightmares etched vividly into his mind, the eerie imagery refusing to let go. His heart raced upon seeing the headless Karfi, and the bed of crimson lilies he slept on after being dragged to the ground. He jumped up, his eyes snapping open, and cold sweat dripping down his face. Kai breathed hastily, and he took a quick look outside, verifying that it was still night, then grabbed his cloak and mask. He carefully left the house, as to not disturb Karfi, Tausi and Onyx who were sleeping soundly upstairs. Sadly, the cheerful jingle of the bell still rang as he walked outside, and took a deep breath of fresh air. The chilly breeze sent a pleasant shiver down his spine, and he began walking in a random direction. He tried to avoid the busy streets - he was tired of them and instead visited the less cramped, yet still populated alleys. They shared the same lampposts, placed every twenty or so meters to illuminate the buildings. There were homes, of course, but also inns - which Kai had visited before - and shops of all sorts. Some even had a blanket laid on the ground, onto which they placed their products. Toys, medicinal herbs, and animal parts; Sold by humans, elves, or demi-humans. Kai gave them a slight glance as he kept walking, his loose cloak fluttering in the wind. He pulled down his hood, revealing the beautiful dark hair hiding beneath. It grew longer than before, almost reaching his waist now. A couple of women turned their heads upon seeing it, giggling amongst themselves. He shook his head and kept walking, simply enjoying the lively city, even during the night. During these times, back on Earth, even back in the city, it was quiet. It was scary, but just like right now, it was eerily calming. I think I remember, walking through my hometown alone. It was darker than here and more dangerous. Yet something called me to do it anyway¡­ and look how I ended up¡­ hah. Kai sighed after remembering how he got reincarnated in the first place. He died after being stabbed by a group of thugs. The rain was sudden, that¡¯s for sure¡­ I don¡¯t even remember why they killed me¡­ must have been pretty bad. Did they ever get caught? Well, what does it matter now? He put aside these thoughts and pulled out a piece of paper from his ring. On it were written the ingredients the weird boy asked for. After giving them a thorough read, Kai came to a simple conclusion. I have no idea what they¡¯re for! But he shrugged his shoulders and went on the lookout for them. He stopped at every other stall, picking out medicinal herbs, and verifying that they were the ones he was looking for after searching through his memories. Nightingale and Moonpetal¡­ Crimson Pits¡­ These are a weird combination, I have to say. I¡¯m curious what he would do with them¡­ well, only one way to find out. He purchased what he could and made his way deeper inside the city, passing by a myriad of different faces, forgetting each one as they faded from his view. Eventually, as he walked, he found himself back in the town square - the place where Lumiera¡¯s Church was located. He glanced at it briefly, a soft smile creasing his lips upon seeing the statue the townspeople erected in her image. I bet they would go crazy if they knew I¡¯d spoken to her a few times, though they did get her characteristics right. Not that I was able to see much of what she looked like though. Kai took a seat on an empty bench and took a deep breath as he admired the bustling part of town. The difference is like night and day, compared to Karfi¡¯s side of town. He thought, observing the countless amount of people passing by and admiring the statue, or simply ignoring it due to how much they¡¯ve seen it already. Some people bowed down, prayed, and dropped coins at her feet. Hah, as if she¡¯d listen to your prayers¡­ Kai scoffed and got up, his hair glimmering under the lampposts, and his footsteps echoing as they clicked against the paved road. Next, he circled the church and then walked through a secluded street. It was darker than usual, with lampposts few and far between, their magic crystals almost extinguished, not providing nearly enough light. Man¡­ I should turn back. Kai thought, however, as he turned, his body reacted on its own, and he pulled out the silver sword from his ring. Its icy blade pressed against flesh, causing a bit of blood to coat its surface as Kai pushed it slightly deeper in. Before him stood a man, his trembling hand holding a crooked dagger. He gulped, and his weapon fell to the ground with a jingle. ¡°Let me go¡­ please.¡± He begged, his hazel eyes tearing up as he sniffed. ¡°Please¡­¡± Kai sighed and put his sword away. ¡°Go.¡± The hazel-eyed man almost fell to the ground as he picked up the dagger, and ran in the opposite direction as fast as he could, his figure disappearing in a few seconds. ¡°Tsk,¡± Kai clicked his tongue and rubbed his arms, a small, crimson puddle forming under his bandages. They opened up again¡­ He pulled out a pill from his ring and swallowed it, a wave of warmth immediately spreading throughout his body. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. He attached the sword to his waist, feeling that he needed more security in these kinds of places. Who would think that even in this city there¡¯d be these kinds of crooks¡­ Kai thought, biting his lower lip and moving forward. His muffled footsteps accompanied him in his solitude, and, after taking a few turns, a peculiar sound rang in his ears. This is¡­ He approached, and the beautiful melody of a hammer hitting and bending metal echoed through the alley. Another shop in the middle of nowhere¡­ Kai chuckled to himself and approached the smithery, his heart thumping at the same rhythm as the hammers. Soon, it revealed fully to him - A small, corner-placed smithery with no sign or name, just a short man hammering away near the front of the shop - A dwarf? Yes, Kai could not mistake the man¡¯s appearance for any other race than a dwarf. Small of stature, thick beard, balding, and most importantly, an aura that makes it hard to breathe each time the hammer descends on the hot metal. The front of the shop was relatively normal. A window shelf displayed a myriad of weapons and accessories man-made, including daggers, swords, knives, and jewelry. Each item seemed to shine with a soft light that gave them a certain allure - a weird presence that would make one want to at least hold them. Kai raised an eyebrow upon closer look, after noticing Wildfire¡¯s logo carved into every single piece, even the tiny rings and earrings. ¡°Hey there, young one. Need a hand with somethin¡¯?¡± Kai¡¯s head rose, and he took a step back. The dwarf leaned over the counter, looking down at Kai with a welcoming smile. ¡°Ye liked me craftin'' so much, ye didn''t even hear me approach, eh?¡± The boy looked at the dwarf with curiosity, intrigued by his¡­ foreign dialect. ¡°Haha, yeah¡­¡¯ Kai laughed awkwardly, looking up at the man. I¡¯ve never heard anyone speak like that, let alone a dwarf. ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad ye fancy my work, but I see ye already possess a fine sword.¡± The man said, getting down from the elevated counter and getting close to Kai. Despite his age, Kai was still taller than the adult dwarf, who now looked strangely at the sword by Kai¡¯s waist. ¡°Can I take a peek at yer blade?¡± He asked after clearing his throat. ¡°Ah, sure,¡± Kai said, albeit reluctantly, and handed over the silver sword to the man. He threw the scabbard to the side as he pulled the sword out, and he pointed it out toward the moon, letting its soft light reflect upon its silver surface. The dwarf cut his finger as he traced the sharp end, and took a sniff at the handle right after. ¡°This here smells of Monten craftsmanship, it does.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing that, and he grew slightly wary of the man. How did he know just from touching it for a few seconds? The dwarf smiled and placed the sword back, handing it to Kai. ¡°''Tis easy to tell by the way the dwarves of Monten forge their swords. There be still some impurities, yet I can hear the beast''s soul within it, cryin'' out. This here be the last work of an unknown craftsman, for sure. It''s clear by how many times the silver''s been heated, cooled, and hammered. I smell a few days of relentless toil on it. ''Tis not rare, but ''tis peculiar. And I must say, ye have some courage. Most folk would not flaunt their Beast Sword in the open as ye do. Ye be either foolish, or ignorant, or both. Kid, ye possess a fine sword there.¡± ¡°Uh, thanks?¡± Kai said, bewildered and weirded out by the man¡¯s vast, seemingly omniscient knowledge about forging. He could even tell the details, who is this old man? After retrieving the sword and hanging it on his waist again, Kai glanced deeper into the smithery and saw a few burning furnaces and other human workers. ¡°Are you the owner of this smith?¡± ¡°Owner? Nay, not in the true sense of the word. Wildfire claims it, I just oversee it, but I tend to everythin''.¡± He replied, a hint of disappointment hidden within his voice. ¡°They hired me when I was a mere teenager, and I''ve been toiling for them ever since if ye be wonderin''. I began with humble tasks, but eventually, they granted me my enterprise here. Not many clients, but enough stray ones to keep this venture afloat.¡± The man rubbed his nose and walked back behind the counter, looking at Kai with glowing pupils. ¡°I know ye be not seekin'' a sword, so what be bringin'' ye here then?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just wandering around the city, sightseeing. I think I needed to take a walk.¡± ¡°A stroll, eh? Doesn''t sound too shabby. But these streets ain''t the safest, especially with elves and demi-humans about. The humans ain''t much better, but at least they fear the law more than the rest.¡± The dwarf said, rubbing his chin. ¡°What else ye searching for then, lad?¡± ¡°Uhm, some medicinal plants and whatnot.¡± ¡°Medicinal plants, eh? Ye won''t find any ''round here, I reckon. I suggest ye head to the main streets, but most of the reputable shops be closed at this hour.¡± Kai sat in thought for a minute and bit his lower lip. It¡¯s true I guess, who in their right mind would be open at this hour? He thought, glancing up at the dwarf. Yeah, no one in their right mind¡­ Suddenly, the dwarf¡¯s eyes lit up, and his voice quickly escaped his body, startling Kai. ¡°Ah, I know of a shop run by a young lass on the far side of the city. She''s a lively one, keeps her place open through the night as well.¡± A young lady, during the night? He raised a suspicious eyebrow, and the dwarf chuckled as if reading his mind. ¡°Fear not, she''s stronger than any man I''ve laid eyes on, that''s for certain. She can fend for herself quite capably. I recall a day when some lad tried pilferin'' her medicine, and the next day he could barely walk, haha. She''s a delightful one, yet fearsome indeed.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Kai unwillingly voiced his thoughts, and then promptly instinctively covered his mouth, or rather, mask. The dwarf laughed heartily but didn¡¯t add further to his statement. ¡°Ye gotta see ¡®er to believe me, lad. I reckon ye be finding her pharmacy if you keep going straight.¡± He pointed toward a road leading back toward the city center. ¡°I see, thank you, then,¡± Kai said, then walked away into the street, his ears ringing with the dwarf¡¯s fading voice. ¡°Don¡¯t ye forget to come to do business, aye lad?¡± ¡­ He followed the simple, yet clear instructions he was given by the man, and eventually found himself in a lightly remote part of the city. Unlike the previous place he had been on, this one was lit up by several, functional, lampposts. Closed shops stretched out from one side to the other, and above them, some windows were lit up, with even some silhouettes being visible through the thin curtains. At the furthest corner of this street, a shop, decorated by vines that sprung from the tiles outside, and a welcoming sign that simply said ¡®Pharmacy¡¯ greeted Kai. A warm light spread out from within, an orange hue that seemingly pulled him in. Before he even knew it, the sweet jingle of a bell resonated in his ears, and the lit-up face of a young woman sprouted from behind the counter. ¡°Oh, a customer - How can I help you?¡± She said with a smile so wide it could light up the whole room. Her pearly white teeth were on full display, contrasting her reddened lips and cheeks. She wore a beautiful head of red hair, cascading down her back, almost reaching past her waist. Looking around, Kai noticed the shop wasn¡¯t just a pharmacy, as the sign and the dwarf claimed, but more of a miscellaneous shop that posed as a pharmacy. Wand materials, magic crystals, medicinal and nonmedicinal plants, and even some food and liquor. His eyes widened as he looked at the logo etched on the wooden counter. Where have I seen that before? A slight smile creased his hidden lips, and he said as he approached the counter, ¡°I¡¯d like to purchase the materials that aren¡¯t crossed out on this list.¡± Kai handed the piece of paper over to the woman, who gleefully picked it up. ¡°Right away, please wait a second.¡± Her figure disappeared behind a door, and the sound of crashing glass quickly reverberated into the air. Kai took this opportunity to take a closer look at the shop, a warm shiver running up his spine as he picked up a pleasant smell. They¡¯re burning incense here! He chuckled and approached a glass shelf, where Display Wands stood quietly, seemingly looking at Kai with a hungry desire. He raised an eyebrow and remembered what his dad taught him. Closing his eyes, he let his consciousness spread outward, toward the wands and infused each one of them with a little bit of mana. Almost immediately, their cries rang clear in his mind - Despair, Sadness, Happiness, Warmth - A myriad of emotions invaded his brain, and he had to quickly break off to avoid any possible damage. Damn¡­ it¡¯s worse than the ones back¡­ back home. He thought, biting his lower lip, and taking a deep, calming breath. It seems like a lot of people lose, abandon, or discard their wands¡­ or die. ¡°Here we go Sir,¡± he broke out of his train of thought and approached the woman, taking the bag filled with plants and giving them a light check. ¡°That¡¯ll be two silver.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Kai held out his hand, and two silver coins appeared from within his ring, which he handed over to the woman, whose intrigued gaze lingered on him for a brief second. ¡°Thank you for your patronage!¡± She waved her hand as Kai walked out, his departure signaled by the same cheery jingle that welcomed him in the first place. He sniffed the air, taking a last wisp of the pleasant fragrance with him before inhaling the icy cold air blowing through the city. Placing the bag of plants within his ring, he pulled up his hood, hid his hair, and walked toward Karfi¡¯s bar. Despite the far-away noise, Kai felt weirdly at peace, and he stopped in the middle of the road and took in the beautiful sky that he rarely saw. Or rarely took a closer look at. Ever since that day, I¡¯ve been traveling or training without stopping. Stuck in the library during the day¡­ sweating my ass off outside¡­ I don¡¯t even know what the sun looks like anymore, I only know it hurts. Even the moon would if I weren¡¯t protected by so many layers. Life has become quite troublesome¡­ He licked his dried lips, and a smile broke out on his face, which he quickly suppressed as a thought that made his heart race popped into his mind. No¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ anything but¡­ but there has to be a way! How did my parents manage to get me a vial back then? They don¡¯t seem like the type to acquire it forcefully¡­ Donations? But why would anyone donate? If I ask for it, I¡¯m afraid my head will roll on the ground¡­ argh, damn it, this is so frustrating. Chapter 113: Deal I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ve grown tired, or if boredom has taken over me. I¡¯ve almost conquered the entire continent, yet my goal is far from reach.
Kai took a deep breath and stopped in front of the wall. The boy had phased through the same dirty and broken-down wall when he followed him from the Guild Headquarters. He raised his hand and knocked a few times, but there was no reaction. Sighing, he kicked the wall as hard as he could and let out a light yelp upon impact. Taking a step back and rubbing his foot, he almost cussed out the wall, however, he opted to pull out the sword from his scabbard instead. He imbued it with darkness magic, and rose it high above his head, getting ready to slash at the building. Before he could do that, however, the wall turned transparent, and the figure of the young boy revealed itself, yawning as he walked out. ¡°Back so soon?¡± He asked, waving his hand. Kai undid the magic on his sword and lowered it, gently placing it back within the scabbard. ¡°Haha, Yeah¡­¡± He replied with an awkward laugh. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep well tonight.¡± The boy looked him up and down, raising an eyebrow before asking in a more demanding tone. ¡°You got what I asked you to get?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kai nodded, but stood unmoving, clearly having no intention of handing the ingredients over. The boy sighed and rolled his eyes before inviting Kai in with a handwave. His face lit up under the mask, and happily followed him inside, the wall turning back into solid form as soon as Kai¡¯s figure disappeared behind it. The interior remained unchanged, not that there was much time for it to change. Kai pulled out all the ingredients and laid them out on the coffee table before following the boy inside the other room. The ebony beast was still locked inside the cage, its eyes glaring at the two, and bared its fangs as Kai tried getting closer. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ approach it-¡± The boy said, however, his sentence got cut short by the sight of Kai pulling out a few animal corpses and throwing them inside the cage. The beast instantly devoured the meat, as it disappeared in the blink of an eye. Its large, stuffy tail rapidly wagged back and forth, and it licked its abyssal snout with great satisfaction. ¡°What the fuck?¡± The boy exclaimed in surprise, and he got closer to the animal. Its tail immediately stopped waggings, and it bared its fangs at the boy, who rolled his eyes in displeasure. Suddenly, a strong aura escaped his body, putting immense pressure on the beast, and Kai at the same time. He shivered as the boy¡¯s aura landed on him, his breathing almost freezing to a halt as his entire body got overwhelmed. What kind of magic is this¡­? To make me tremble from indirect pressure, this is insane! Thankfully, the beast calmed down quickly, and the boy retracted his aura, coughing heavily as he turned back toward his desk. ¡°You can leave now,¡± he said, struggling to piece together the makeshift microscope. Kai didn¡¯t listen, despite the knowledge that the boy before him could end his life with a single slap. Something deep inside told him to stick around. He circled the boy and glanced at his research papers. His pupils widened, however, upon discovering that the text was written in a completely foreign language. ¡°Don¡¯t bother, you won¡¯t understand it even if you studied it for ten years.¡± The boy said, his voice filled with arrogance. ¡°Well,¡± Kai said, feeling slightly hesitant. ¡°I did learn Elvish in one year¡­¡± ¡°You-¡± the strange boy dropped the tools within his hand and looked at Kai with widened pupils. ¡°You learned that hellish language in one year? Huh, then I guess you could learn this one as well. But I don¡¯t have any time to teach you, so good luck figuring it out on your own. It seems like you have no intention of leaving anyway.¡± ¡°Haha, you caught me.¡± Kai chuckled awkwardly and picked up some papers that the boy threw to the side. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the other room then, I don¡¯t want to bother you too much.¡± He said, however, he quickly turned and pointed at the glass. ¡°Those lenses aren¡¯t that good, by the way-¡± And he quickly stopped upon realizing that he almost outed himself. ¡°Or at least¡­ I think, haha¡­¡± ¡°Huh, what did you say?¡± The boy asked, turning toward Kai with a slightly bewildered expression. ¡°Nothing I-, haha, nothing.¡± Kai quickly retreated into the other room, closing the door tightly behind him. He let out a sigh of relief, however, and sat down on the couch, beginning to inspect the documents. The letters were ugly - twisted, incomplete, elongated, almost as if the calligraphy of the person writing them was¡­ off. Don¡¯t tell me, he can¡¯t write it properly¡­ Kai chuckled to himself, studying the letters and trying to make sense of their meaning. Minutes passed, and Kai already felt a headache coming as the side study he wanted to do turned into an actual challenge, trying to understand the boy¡¯s writing. However, he quickly found a pattern in the documents. At the bottom of each page, a similar string of letters that seemed to resemble a name could be found. The letters were as ugly as the rest, however, they were consistent and half-readable. This must be his name then, noting it on each page, he must be either very aloof or proud. Trying to read the letters out loud based on the experience he had by learning three languages - Common, Elvish, and the language on his Earth. He read the name, ¡°Bra-... Bra¡ª hm¡­ Barhm? No that¡¯s not right¡­ Bar¡­ Barhm? Hmm, maybe.¡± He kept tinkering with the name, saying every syllable out loud, each time very differently than the previous one, trying every combination of sounds he could think of. ¡°Ah for Goddess sake, it¡¯s Barhum!¡± The boy yelled from the other room with an annoyed tone. ¡°What¡¯s so difficult about saying it?¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Kai¡¯s face flushed red as the boy''s condescending words landed in his ears ¡°Sorry, so, it¡¯s Barhm, then?¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s- You know what, never mind, fine, it¡¯s Barhm.¡± He replied, annoyed, then returned to being quiet. ¡°Goddess? Didn¡¯t you keep mocking her?¡± Silence. The boy refused to even utter a grunt in reply to Kai, seemingly disappearing entirely from the building Heh, Kai thought, then went back to reading the documents, although he couldn¡¯t understand anything inside. Well, at least he¡¯s good at drawing. He glanced over at the images Barhm drew to accompany his texts, which made Kai¡¯s job of learning the language somewhat easier. He leaned his head on the couch, reading the documents, however, his unfocused vision and open mouth told another story. Now that I joined a guild, my next goal should be getting stronger. He thought, completely disregarding the text before him. To do that, I should fight more and train my mana core. I haven¡¯t trained it a lot since I left Evicario and simply relied on it passively filling up. However, it will never advance at this rate. Furthermore, I need to¡­ Kai yawned softly as he stretched his hands. I need to develop a better technique to absorb mana. What I have right now works, but it¡¯s not efficient at all. Maybe¡­ maybe Barhm can help me! After that, I can travel to where that L¨¦andro guy pointed me to the place with the sword technique¡­ Although I think it¡¯s quite far¡­ hah¡­ so many things to do. His vision turned blurry as his eyes closed, and he fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ Kai woke up the next evening drenched in sweat, on the floor next to the coffee table. Letting out a light snort, he jumped to his feet and anxiously looked around, only letting out a sigh of relief after realizing that he was in Barhm¡¯s house. Wait- I fell asleep in here, fuck! He cursed and turned his head, only to be met by the boy¡¯s annoyed glare. ¡°You have some nerve, kid.¡± His annoyed tone rang in Kai¡¯s ears like a waterfall, and he quickly drew some distance as he choked on spit. ¡°Gah- Aha, sorry, sorry. I- I didn¡¯t realize I fell asleep.¡± ¡°Clearly,¡± the boy rolled his eyes and walked toward the room where the ebony beast was located. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I have a bed, otherwise I¡¯d have thrown you out in the streets.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m grateful you didn¡¯t?¡± Kai said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. ¡°Don¡¯t use that tone with me, now get up and clean my sofa, you made a mess.¡± Ah, right. Kai quickly got up and looked at the sweat-drenched pillows, let out a sigh, and began thinking of how he could clean them. ¡°By the way, do you sleep all day?¡± He asked, genuinely curious but also trying to divert attention. ¡°Hmm? Why the interest? Well, yes and no. My magic allows me to reduce the amount of energy my body uses so I need to sleep less, but I also prefer working when the big star in the sky - the sun - is not visible. It gives me¡­ peace.¡± He said, sighing and lingering on his last words as if remembering something. ¡°But enough about that, it¡¯s about time you left, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­ I still haven''t read through all the documents yet¡­¡± Kai¡¯s voice wavered as he picked up the papers from the ground. ¡°But you¡¯re probably right, I still have things to do.¡± He placed the papers on the table and dusted off his clothes, then walked to the wall. ¡°Here, take this.¡± The boy chucked a black stone at Kai, which he grabbed mid-air, and glanced closer at it. In his eyes, it looked like a simple Dark Crystal, with a few cracks covering its ebony surface. ¡°Use it to enter and leave, I¡¯d much rather have an intact wall next time I leave.¡± Kai nodded and chuckled as he turned to leave. ¡°Quite an¡­ interesting way to enter a room.¡± ¡°No, this is just the norm¡­ you¡¯re the weird ones,¡± Barhm said, waving Kai away and going back to the room where the beast was located. Shrugging his head, Kai phased through the wall and headed toward the guild at a leisurely pace. Gradually, the large building revealed itself before him, and he strutted inside. A strange quiet sounded in his ears before being inundated with the usual, loud chatter. He took a step back as he got accustomed to the atmosphere, and walked toward the task board, only for his pupils to widen. Crap, I have already taken on a lot of tasks¡­ I hope none of them had a time limit. He scurried through his ring and swiftly found the tasks he had, then walked out, his face flushed with embarrassment. I hope Anna didn¡¯t see me¡­ Sighing inwardly, he hurried toward the exit, locking eyes with the same guard from earlier. ¡°Not going out with your wolf today?¡± He asked as Kai passed him, after which the boy paused briefly before walking away, muttering under his breath. I forgot about Onyx¡­ He¡¯s going to be mad at me for sure¡­ I hope Karfi has enough meat to feed him¡­ shit. He let out a frustrated sigh and dashed through the forest, looking over the tasks he had and moving accordingly. It didn¡¯t take him long to complete the simple, low-paying tasks, and within a few hours, he returned to the Guild Headquarters and entered the room where clerks took care of weighing and counting the materials. It was full, as always, even fuller than the main lobby. Luckily, the number of clerks matched the amount of people, so the lines weren¡¯t too big. However, the place where the boy - Barhm - did business was now manned by another man. Kai walked there and waited in line - a line which was considerably shorter than the other clerks, and it only took thirty minutes for his turn to arrive. The verification process was more or less the same as when he did it with Barhm, except this time he didn¡¯t have to sign a contract and was given a receipt instead. He thanked the man and left, albeit he still felt weird, especially after the last incident. After waiting in line for the clerk, he then waited in line to go to a receptionist - the same woman as always - Anna. She quickly took care of the points and gave Kai another receipt with a soft smile. He sighed and placed the note, which read <<400 points attributed to the account.>> into his ring, then rushed toward the bar. A warm orange light shone through the dirty windows, accompanied by the jingle of light laughter, and a few soft barks and growls. He smiled under his mask and pushed open the door, his arrival signaled by the bell¡¯s melody. Taking a glance, he saw Karfi and Natasha standing at the bar, then Tausi and Onyx playing on the floor. The four of them turned to him, and the Obborik dropped whatever he was tugging on and dashed toward Kai, letting out a loud bark and then jumping on top of him. Knocked to the ground, the boy felt a strong gust of wind blowing against him, and his companion¡¯s wet snout sniffing his mask. ¡°Ah¡­ boy you¡¯re still f¡­. heavy!¡± Chapter 114: Bread Boy Ever since that human rose, the other weaklings started fighting back¡­ The rate of escape attempts has risen, and so did assassination attempts on my soldiers. Of course, they were only attempts, but it seems they have forgotten what fear tastes like.
Kai rushed through the forest, Onyx in front of him, and a large Scarlet Bear trailing behind them. Damn it, this thing isn¡¯t nocturnal! He cursed inwardly as he jumped past bushes and roots, circling trees and breaking the grass under his feet. He ran, and so did Onyx, until the bear seemingly gave up, allowing them to catch their breath in the middle of the forest. Fuck! I got scammed, I even double-checked the flier, and yet! Damn it, these Menahem guys, putting out hard tasks and disguising them as noob ones. Scammers! The lot of them. He cursed repeatedly, then did so again until all the rage left his body. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we got what we wanted¡­ and what he wanted as well.¡± He turned to Onyx, and both walked opposite the Scarlet Bear, taking a longer route to make sure they didn¡¯t fall prey to it again. ¡­ Back in the city, Kai waited in a long line to hand in his tasks. The verifying process went similarly to the one he did with the young boy. However this time there was no contract signing and was much more straightforward. After collecting his Merit Points, he didn¡¯t immediately go to Karfi¡¯s bar but instead walked to the place he followed the young man to and phased through the wall together with Onyx. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re back.¡± The young boy said, lounging on a couch and reading from a torn book. ¡°I have to say, this world¡¯s history is quite interesting, but the lack of deep records shows that Lumiera is incapable of ruling.¡± Kai sighed, taking away the book. ¡°Will you please stop badmouthing the Goddess?¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s just a minor God amongst many.¡± ¡°It just, look, it just feels wrong. Come, I brought the stuff you asked for.¡± Kai walked toward the room where the beast was being held, and its tail wagged rapidly back and forth upon seeing his visage. ¡°Here Darky, I brought you some deer.¡± He said, flashing his ring and throwing an entire deer carcass inside the cage. The creature - now named Darky - Gobbled up the thing in a few bites, bone and fur included. No matter how many times I look at it¡­ I can¡¯t get used to it. As time passed, and the creature fed, it became more docile, and at the same time, its fur grew longer, darker, and seemed to resemble some kind of void. ¡°Are you sure this thing is¡­ from here?¡± Kai asked the boy, who yawned lazily and sat down at the desk. ¡°And aren¡¯t you supposed to be my assistant? It¡¯s been two months since you invaded my home and are already taking over my entire space.¡± Kai chuckled awkwardly and dumped medicinal herbs, materials, and a few coins in separate containers. ¡°Well, between helping you discover what this thing is, and doing tasks all day, this is more fun.¡± ¡°Even if I could kill you in one hundred different ways?¡± The boy said, his tone changing suddenly. ¡°Pfft,¡± Kai let out an involuntary laugh. ¡°Barhm, you¡¯ve already used that line a dozen times, it won¡¯t work anymore.¡± The young boy sighed and turned back to his desk, picking up another book and reading through it while chewing on a carrot. ¡°You¡¯re right, you¡¯re too useful to me right now, to think you were quivering in fear a few weeks ago, tsk.¡± ¡°Haha, well¡­ you¡¯re not as bad a guy as I thought, especially after scamming me.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Barhm hit the table, ¡°You can¡¯t blame me, have you seen how much food this thing requires to be kept alive? Not to mention me, I¡¯m a growing boy.¡± Kai rolled his eyes and walked toward another desk sitting at the opposite corner of the room, and took a seat as he pulled out a couple of circular glass panes. Barhm instantly perked his ears and scooted over to Kai¡¯s side. ¡°Are these the new lenses?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kai pushed him away. ¡°Don¡¯t bother me too much, I have no idea how to assemble it properly.¡± ¡°But the blueprints you came up with after seeing mine were pretty detailed.¡± ¡°I just look at what you made and improved upon it with theory, doesn¡¯t mean I can just wish it into existence,¡± Kai said, half-lying. That was the best course of events, I don¡¯t wanna out myself after all. But Kai wasn¡¯t wrong either, he truly did not know how to assemble it. He sighed and went back to brainstorming, using the few pieces of ¡®technology¡¯ he commissioned to put together a barely functional microscope. This will take longer than I thought¡­ Kai sighed and went back to work. While he tinkered with the microscope, Onyx lay at his feet, glancing at the ebony beast with caution. At the same time, Barhm had a myriad of different, black animal parts laid on his desk - Claws, Fur, Skin, and a few seemingly empty vials. He picked up a claw, and smiled to himself as he pulled out a dark crystal, and crushed it within his palms. Holding the claw, a dark, bright bubble encapsulated it. The claw broke apart and decayed, disintegrating into countless particles floating before Barhm¡¯s glowing eyes. Kai glanced at the process briefly and clicked his tongue before paying no more attention to Barhm¡¯s weird magic. He tortured Darky with all the claws and fur he took from it, but last time I suggested other methods¡­ He shivered and decided not to think about it anymore. After all, Rodney would agree with this way of thinking. ¡°Hey, can you go fetch me more dark crystals?¡± Barhm asked without even turning to Kai, mesmerized by the particles floating before him. Kai let out a frustrated sigh and stood up. ¡°Sure.¡± He said through gritted teeth as he walked out the door, Onyx hurrying with him. ¡°But I don¡¯t have an infinite amount of money, you know?¡± ¡°Bullshit, just do more tasks,¡± Barhm replied nonchalantly, earning a grunt of anger from Kai. However, in the end, Kai didn¡¯t say anything and phased through the wall, reappearing outside the alley and storming toward the closest magic shop. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Menahem¡­ He sighed inwardly as he pushed the door, his entrance signaled by the soft jingle of a bell. Greeting him was a woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties. Her beautiful face was decorated by a few wrinkles, and red locks of hair cascaded down her chest and back. A smile creased her lips as she saw the masked Kai, and leaned forward on the counter as she greeted him. ¡°Welcome dear customer, back for the same thing?¡± Kai smiled upon seeing her, but didn¡¯t say anything, and just looked around at the small shop filled to the brim with magical items, some he didn¡¯t even know the names of. Display Wands and Magical Crystals decorated the shelves, along with some medicinal plants, branches, and other wand-crafting materials. The shop felt cozy, with a warm orange light sprouting from small crevices, and the wooden interior making it seem like a wooden cabin more than the money pit it had become for Kai. ¡°Yes, Miss¡­ same old thing.¡± He sighed and placed a couple of gold coins on the counter. The woman¡¯s eyes instantly beamed with light as she grabbed them, and handed a bag to Kai. Despite its small size, the bag was heavier than it looked, and as he counted the dark crystals, her melodious voice rang in his ears. ¡°Say, you¡¯ve been coming here every few weeks, what do you need those crystals for?¡± Kai sighed, and a wry smile formed on his face. ¡°I wish I knew as well¡­¡± He left, sulking, the same melodious jingle marking his departure. He didn¡¯t place the crystals back in his ring and instead listened to the beady sounds they made clashing against each other. It¡¯s the only interaction I¡¯ll have with them anyway. Clenching his fists, he pulled out a separate crystal and hit it against the wall before phasing through it. This magic is weird¡­ He shivered as he looked at the crystal, which now had several visible cracks on its surface. ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡± Barhm¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°Great, I need you to buy me a list of ingredients, here.¡± A small piece of paper flew toward Kai, which he picked up and clenched within his fists. ¡°You know, there¡¯s a reason the microscope takes so long to be finished, right?¡± Kai approached Barhm, placing the bag of crystals on his desk before turning away with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not urgent, for now, I need to figure out if there¡¯s a way to replicate this creature¡¯s invisibility.¡± ¡°So you just turned me into your breadboy?¡± Kai chuckled, turning away and preparing to leave once again. However, before he could take two steps, the sound of screeching metal inundated his ears, and his eye snapped toward the cage, which now had a large hole decorating it. Barhm let out a yell as his desk seemingly crumbled without any warning, and a large cut ran across his chest as he struggled to crush an orange crystal. ¡°Damn this body! Fuck, help me Ichor!¡± He yelled, seemingly desperate, and Kai immediately realized what had happened. He pulled out his wand, and immediately cast a light spell, blinding Darky, then cast a fire spell which pushed it away from Barhm. An angry growl resounded in the air as the floor before Kai cracked, the source of the fissures rapidly approaching him. Shit! He cursed and retreated into the other room, then murmured something under his breath. The top of his wand glowed with a dark light, which he then shot toward where he thought Darky was. The creature dodged, or Kai missed, and the spell hit Barhm instead, a large, dark net covering and restraining his entire body. Damn it, how is this possible? Was the cage not strong enough? He questioned, but had no time for answers as he prepared to shoot another spell, but where? Clicking his tongue, his mind raced to find any solution. However, a white shadow dashed past him, smashing through the door and ramming into the invisible creature. The room shook as Onyx wrestled with the thing, digging his teeth deep into its flesh, causing a red stream to flow down its invisible body. It growled, but couldn¡¯t overpower Onyx¡¯s true body, and eventually gave up the struggle. Its figure turned opaque once again, and Kai didn¡¯t hesitate to bind it with several spells. ¡°Phew,¡± he let out a sigh, patting Onyx¡¯s fluff and giving him a large amount of meat as a reward. ¡°You did good, boy.¡± The Obborik¡¯s tail wagged back and forth as he devoured the food. Kai quickly rushed to Barhm¡¯s side. The boy groaned in pain as Kai lifted his head, and the wound decorating his body emanated a dark aura. ¡°That doesn¡¯t look too good¡­¡± Kai said as he placed as much cloth as he could under Barhm¡¯s head, allowing him to move closer to the cut. He pulled out a clean cloth, and dipped it in alcohol, then cleaned the boy¡¯s wound. Barhm let out a pained groan as the alcohol seeped into his wounds, and the cloth turned bloodier. ¡°Fuck man what are you doing?¡± He cursed, however, Kai quickly restrained him. ¡°I¡¯m treating your wound unless you want it to get infected.¡± He said but didn¡¯t wait for Barhm to reply as he recalled what Aina taught him, and what he read from her medical books. Who thought they¡¯d ever come in handy? Hah. Although the procedure was simple, it was still his first time bandaging someone. After he thoroughly cleaned the wound and bandaged it with special, medicinal herbs, he gave the boy a few drops of a Health Potion, which he had lying around from Aina, and laid him on the bed. ¡°You should be better in a few hours, I think children¡¯s bodies heal faster.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ thanks.¡± Barhm said with his mouth half open, ¡°More importantly, can you go get a new cage for the beast? I¡¯m not sure how long it will stay like that.¡± Kai paused and glanced at Darky before nodding. ¡°Yeah, please don¡¯t hurt him more than this though. I¡¯ll leave Onyx here, just in case.¡± Barhm nodded and glanced at the Obborik, whose size towered even the ebony abyssal beast. He didn¡¯t think much of it, but a glint of interest shone within his eyes. ¡°If you touch even a hair on his body,¡± Kai said, noticing his regard. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure your whole operation goes under and you get discovered, even if it will cost me my life. Got it?¡± His tone was violent, and threatening¡­ unlike his usual self. Barhm gulped and nodded, deciding that it wasn¡¯t worth the trouble. Kai phased through the wall, ended up back in the usual spot, and hurried off into the distance. He dashed past stores and bars, sneaked through crowds, and took shortcuts via dark, dirty alleys. Finally, he ended up on the other side of the town, and a familiar sight embraced his vision. A small smithery filled with smoke, where the sound of a hammer hitting blazing metal never stopped. He approached the workshop, the heat emanating from the furnaces tickling his skin. A dwarf greeted him as he got close, not a rare sight, but an unusual one in such a city. Dwarves were usually kept in noble houses and manors, and very rarely did they operate in blacksmiths outside their mountain range or their employees smithery. ¡°Ah, my hearty companion! What be¡¯ bringing ya here so soon?¡± He asked with a thick accent and an ever-thicker dialect. Like most other dwarves, the man was short with a semi-bald head and a large beard. He wore the usual apron, black, charred, and torn from the heavy work and high temperatures it¡¯s going through every day and every night. Below that, a simple black T-shirt and a pair of leather pants protected him from the elements. ¡°Mahe, hello again,¡± Kai said with an awkward smile. I¡¯m still not fully used to the way he talks¡­ ¡°I¡¯m here on business again.¡± ¡°Tell me what ye be needing. I¡¯ll forge it for ya quicker than you can mold a sword!¡± Igor laughed, a smile manifesting behind his braided beard. ¡°Nuthin¡¯ be beyond reach, for the right plunder, of course.¡± He continued with an ever-widening smile. They stopped beside a table, and Kai didn¡¯t hesitate or waste any time as he met gazes with the dwarf. ¡°I need a big¡­ wide and tall cage. A very strong one.¡± He dropped a small pouch of coins on the table, causing the dwarf¡¯s eyes to shine with a bright light. ¡°And urgent.¡± ¡°How urgent be the matter?¡± Mahe asked, his smile fading slightly upon hearing Kai¡¯s tone. The boy flicked his wrist and pulled out another, smaller pouch, filled with jingling coins. ¡°This urgent.¡± He said, dropping it next to the other. ¡°Aye,¡± The dwarf said, weighing the pouches in his hand. ¡°It¡¯ll be ready before the sun kisses the horizon. Fear not, and consider it done, friend.¡± ¡°Consider what, done?¡± Suddenly a deep, intrigued voice resounded in the air, accompanied by a set of rhythmic footsteps and a beautiful suit with gray stripes. ¡°Could I perhaps be made aware as to what my forgery plans to do?¡± Chapter 115: Unexpected Guest The lands of the west are poor and inhabitable, I¡¯m not even sure any living organism could thrive in such a place, however, maybe that place is where I must go¡­
Kai¡¯s heart jumped as the voice rang in his ears, and he slowly turned around with an awkward smile plastered on his face. This voice¡­ Much to, or rather, little to his surprise, the familiar voice was accompanied by its owner - A man dressed in a fancy black suit with gray stripes, short hair, and a trimmed beard. ¡°Raymond,¡± the dwarf sounded out from behind Kai. ¡°Not much. Just conducting a bit o¡¯ business with this wee friend here.¡± ¡°Hmm? Is that so?¡± A smile manifested on the man¡¯s lips, his eyes scanning Kai with an intrigued expression. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re earning quite a bit from the guild, seeing as you can afford Mahe¡¯s services.¡± Oh trust me, this hurts me more than you can imagine¡­ This is what Kai wanted to say as he remembered the amount of coins he handed over just for the few pieces he ordered for the microscope. Luckily Barhm has some money as well¡­ otherwise it would hurt too much. ¡°Well¡­ I had some savings¡­¡± Kai blurted out with a tinge of annoyance. ¡°And his items are well worth it. However, did I hear you say your forgery?¡± He replied, then attacked with another question, raising an eyebrow at the strange man who wouldn¡¯t stop bothering him. ¡°I did? I don¡¯t remember.¡± Raymond feigned ignorance and chuckled, walking away with a hand in his pocket and the other waving ¡°Well, I have some other business to attend to right now, so I¡¯ll see you around, Ichor.¡± ¡°Right, see you around, Mister,¡± Kai said, a shiver running down his spine as he heard Raymond call him by that name. Something¡¯s off about the guy! He cleared his throat and turned back to the dwarf - Mahe - and let out a sigh. ¡°Who is that man anyway?¡± ¡°If he didn¡¯t tell ye, I¡¯d much rather not get involved in his affairs, aye.¡± The dwarf said, almost avoiding Kai¡¯s gaze as he scribbled on a piece of paper, which he then signed and handed over to Kai. ¡°Here¡¯s the receipt. Return in a week with the payment and somethin¡¯ to transport it with. If ye haven¡¯t got anything we can handle delivery for ye.¡± He said with his unmistakable accent and dialect, then apprehensively went to the back of the smithery after saying a brief goodbye. That was weird¡­ Kai thought as he walked away, and sighed as he headed toward Barhm¡¯s house. ¡­ Meanwhile, in the back of the smithery, in a side room, separated from the smog and heat of the furnaces and metals, a man played with a coin as he waited with a leg over the other. He wore a black suit with gray stripes, and a smirk creased his lips as he spotted Mahe hurrying toward him. The door slammed open and closed just as quickly as the dwarf stood before the man with slightly shaking pupils. ¡°Is everythin¡¯ alright, Sir Raymond?¡± Mahe¡¯s quivering voice escaped his large body and waited for Raymond to speak. A few minutes passed, a time in which the coin in his hands never stopped moving, and he finally clicked his tongue and said. ¡°I want you to write me a report of everything that boy has been doing, and keep interacting with him as normal.¡± ¡°Is there a problem with young Ichor, if I knew-¡± ¡°No,¡± Raymond interrupted him and sat up with a small sigh. ¡°Nothing concrete yet, but I have a suspicion. However, that¡¯s all it is right now.¡± After giving Mahe one last look, Raymond pulled out a wand - as black as the night sky, and shining just as bright due to the amount of dark crystals covering its surface. He murmured under his breath and drew a circle in the air, which he then stepped into, his figure disappearing without a trace. Mahe gulped and shook his head, wiping the sweat from his forehead and quickly leaving the room. He let out a heavy sigh which turned into a yawn, and he stretched his limbs as he walked one of his employees. A human woman, her short hair barely reaching past her ears, and her skin wearing a bronze color, tanned from the heat, coated with dark patches from the smog and coal. A few freckles covered her face, and her beautiful black eyes sparkled under the orange light. ¡°I¡¯m heading off for the night. I trust you¡¯ll take good care of the shop, aye lass?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± She said, jumping slightly as she saluted Mahe, not breaking her posture until long after he left her sight. ¡­ Kai dragged his feet through the alley, having already grown accustomed to the sometimes quiet, sometimes loud, and all the time creepy atmosphere of the streets he took to avoid as many crowds as possible. This road had already become second nature to him, as during the two months he¡¯s been sneaking through the city at night, even the shadows have come to know him. Tonight was especially quiet, however, and even as he phased through the wall, he had a weird feeling that he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. However, somehow, he felt watched. ¡°Where¡¯s the cage?¡± Barhm asked as soon as Kai stepped foot inside the building, a bitter expression decorating his face. ¡°It¡¯ll be done in a week¡­¡± He replied with a tinge of hesitation and looked toward Darky, who stood still under the giant¡¯s Onyx gaze. ¡°Not sure what to do until then.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Barhm said. ¡°I can just repair the cage and make sure it won¡¯t act up until then¡­ Besides that, I think you have some explaining to do.¡± ¡°I do?¡± He asked, before realizing that Onyx was indeed not small anymore. ¡°Oh yeah, I do.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to say? It¡¯s a big wolf¡­¡± ¡°A big wolf wouldn¡¯t make that thing shiver in fear.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a very¡­ scary big wolf.¡± Barhm stood in silence, staring at Kai with a baffled expression, and sighed in frustration. ¡°Fine, don¡¯t tell me, I don¡¯t care enough. I guess we¡¯re lucky¡­ Damned thing took me by surprise.¡± ¡°Yeah, what happened?¡± Kai asked, looking at the fresh wounds on the boy¡¯s body. ¡°The hell do I know? It turned invisible, which isn¡¯t uncommon, however, the next second the bars broke and suddenly it put its entire weight on me. It¡¯s all because you overfed it.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be giving it so much food if you didn¡¯t take so much blood, you know?¡± ¡°I need as much data as possible, and-¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Kai interrupted, disregarding Barhm¡¯s words. ¡°We¡¯ve already talked about this. The new cage should be able to hold it, you know, inside the cage.¡± ¡°I hope so, I need to make better preparations. Here¡¯s another list, bring me these things. I¡¯ll be damned if I let myself be killed again.¡± Again? Kai thought but didn¡¯t voice them out, and simply took the piece of paper from the boy. ¡°You know, writing better doesn¡¯t cost you anything. And why do you always send me to buy you stuff, go yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a child.¡± ¡°So am I?¡± Barhm paused and looked Kai up and down. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be able to tell.¡± ¡°Same goes here¡­¡± Kai replied sarcastically, looking at the child with the personality of a grown man. ¡°Anyway, I need to get going¡­¡± ¡°Right,¡± Barhm said and took out five dark crystals from his ring, and walked over to the ebony beast. He threw all of them out into the air, and they spun around as they flew toward a specific point. One in the center and four diagonally, close to the beast¡¯s body. A wall of dark light connected each point as the crystals fell to the ground, then connected to the centric crystal. Kai got closer and pressed his fingers against the light, however it felt like pushing against a concrete wall. Fascinating ¡°What kind of magic is this?¡± ¡°I should be the one asking you that, to me this is normal,¡± Barhm replied and sat down on the chair, staring at the quivering beast. ¡°This should hold out for a while, but it¡¯s not a permanent solution.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Yeah, but how does it work? Kai couldn¡¯t help but ask, his curiosity getting the better of him. ¡°If I were to tell you I¡¯d have to kill you,¡± Barhm said, earning a chuckle from Kai, however, the boy didn¡¯t seem to be joking this time. Choking on his spit, Kai turned to the wall and left the boy¡¯s room together with Onyx, who had returned to his original size. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to bring me the items tomorrow-¡± Barhm¡¯s fading voice echoed in Kai¡¯s ears before being cut off completely by the wall. Kai scoffed and walked away, biting his lower lip as he read the list of ingredients the boy gave him. Fuck, what does he need so many of these for? I don¡¯t even know what they do! He cursed and kicked a pebble, the muffled sound of stone hitting stone bouncing against the walls. Suddenly, a rustle landed in his ears, and Onyx¡¯s twitched as they both turned in the same direction, staring at an empty corner next to a recently crushed bag. The Obborik sniffed the air and approached the suspicious spot, however, he didn¡¯t detect anything worthy of suspicion. With a last sniff, he left together with Kai. As their figures faded into the dark alley, a heavy sigh escaped the constraints of the corner, followed by hurried footsteps in the opposite direction. ¡­ Kai was greeted by the familiar sight of the run-down bar, the place he long since started calling home. The dirty windows barely let the warm orange hue escape, the almost broken-down door, which creaked as he pushed it open. The beautiful melody of the bell he¡¯d grown accustomed to signaled his entry, and the usual faces immediately popped into his vision. Karfi laughed with Natasha as she drank glass after glass of alcohol, and Tausi stood alone not far away, reading or drawing. However, besides those three, there were a few new faces. Namely a man with a bald head and broad shoulders, his large stature dwarfing the chair he was seated on, and the pint of ale he held within his hand. Next to him, leaning against the table was a wide sword, with a large hole near its tip. Its blade was painted with the ferrous color of rust, tainted with blood most likely. And its hilt, as long as the man¡¯s hand and thick as his fingers, was decorated by a few dozen short cloths. The man himself, besides his bald head, had an average appearance. His sharp eyebrows were neatly cut to resemble two swords, and his black eyes absorbed all light touching his tanned skin. A large scar ran that seemed to be made by a sword ran along his right cheek. His muscular arms seemed to have a presence of their own as he brought the cold ale to his lips, and he looked straight ahead, but at nothing in particular. Next to him sat his direct parallel. A thin, average-height man with short hair and the allure of someone who¡¯d rather read books than draw a blade. His fair, untainted skin spoke volumes of the life he seemed to have lived. His white clothes were clean, without a speck of visible dust or hairs, and his emerald green eyes were hidden behind a pair of round glasses. He sipped from a warm cup of tea. Its fragrance reached Kai¡¯s nose, making the boy lick his lips as he walked toward his companions. The two glanced at Kai, paying him little attention as they kept enjoying their drinks. However, the scholarly-looking man''s eyes widened upon seeing Onyx. He immediately placed his cup on the table and took a second to compose himself before calmly walking in Kai¡¯s direction. Stopping a few meters away, he took a short breath, his lips parting. ¡°Little friend, is this animal here your pet, by any chance?¡± The man¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t demanding nor ignorant, hiding a tinge of excitement behind his friendliness. Kai raised a figurative eyebrow took a step forward, and said, ¡°No, he¡¯s not my pet.¡± The man¡¯s expression seemed to have saddened, however, his eyes lit up after hearing the rest of Kai¡¯s sentence. ¡°He¡¯s my companion.¡± His eyes beamed, and he cleared his throat. ¡°Then¡­ May I interact with him? Could you tell me what species he is?¡± Kai¡¯s pupils constricted slightly, and he unconsciously stepped forward, placing himself between Onyx and the man. Another weirdo¡­ He thought after remembering Onyx¡¯s last interaction with fanatics. ¡°May I ask, then, Big Friend, why?¡± Seeing Kai¡¯s apprehension, the man took a step back and an apologetic expression manifested on his face. ¡°Please, little friend.¡± He said, ¡°I don¡¯t mean any harm. It¡¯s just-¡± The man hesitated, a drop of sweat running down his now reddened face. ¡°Let me present myself first. I am Lutha, Lutha Vay. I come from the southwest, just like my friend over here.¡± He pointed at the large man, then continued. ¡°I have always been fascinated by animals, but canines, for some reason, I always wanted to know more about them. I studied almost every, how do I put it, almost non-lethal species of wolf, dogs, demi-humans¡­ foxes. Everything.¡± Onyx took a step back himself, a shiver running down his spine after remembering his last run-in with such a nerd, and made himself as small as physically possible. Kai sighed and turned to Lutha with an awry smile. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not entirely up to me, you see. Onyx has had some¡­ accidents with other humans.¡± ¡°Please, friend, I promise not to do anything weird-¡± ¡°Define weird.¡± Kai interrupted the man, asking an obvious statement. ¡°Weird¡­ well, you know, weird.¡± Kai didn¡¯t seem too convinced by the man¡¯s answer, and he almost wanted to tell him to ¡®fuck off¡¯, but in a much nicer way. However, before he could even say another word, a notebook appeared in Lutha¡¯s hands, which he handed to Kai. ¡°Please, if you don¡¯t believe me, take a look at my notes!¡± Taken aback by such a gesture, Kai couldn¡¯t help but chuckle awkwardly as he grabbed the notebook from the man¡¯s hands, and started flipping through its pages. His eyes widened almost immediately as he looked at the drawings, accompanied by text detailing every animal¡¯s behavior, patterns, magic, diet, and so on. He was almost scared by the amount of information and foreign terminology that he only saw in the Elven libraries. He raised an eyebrow as he coughed lightly, and handed back the notebook. Suddenly, he felt that the man could be of use to him, and he looked at Onyx with pity. The Obborik immediately lowered his ears and yelped slightly, however the decision had already been made. ¡°Fine,¡± Kai sighed and stepped away. ¡°However if Onyx doesn¡¯t accept, you can¡¯t blame me.¡± ¡°Of course, of course. Thank you for giving me such an opportunity, Little Friend.¡± Lutha said and approached the cowering Onyx. He kneeled before the Obborik extended his hand, a warm smile manifesting on his face, and his tone suddenly changed. ¡°Come on little one, I¡¯m no enemy.¡± His tender voice echoed in the room, sending a small shiver even down Kai¡¯s spine as a warm, calm feeling washed over him. What is this trick? He questioned and watched Lutha slowly approach Onyx¡¯s snout, hanging his hand a few centimeters away but not touching. The Obborik¡¯s head rose, and sniffed his hand carefully, before shyvily approaching and giving it a soft lick. A smile broke out on Lutha¡¯s face, and a small piece of meat appeared in his fist, which he opened and handed over to Onyx. The canine gave the meat a good sniff before slowly eating it, and his tail began wagging crazily as he stood up, his eyes shining toward the strange man. ¡°How¡­ Did you do that?¡± Kai asked, bewildered by Onyx¡¯s sudden change in attitude. ¡°Well, if I told you the details it wouldn¡¯t be a secret. But the short part is that I used magic to enhance my vocal cords and spoke on a frequency that calms the mind and body.¡± He explained in brief detail, not getting too much into it. ¡°You¡­ changed your vocal cords?¡± Kai repeated, wanting to make sure, however he only got a slight smile in response. Next, the man took out his notebook and a pen, as well as a primitive measuring tape and even a balance. Kai immediately gulped upon seeing it, knowing that his size wouldn¡¯t match Onyx¡¯s weight at all, however, he felt that it was too late for regrets now. Onyx. however, didn¡¯t seem to feel any sort of anxiety or discomfort even as the man put his hands all over his fur. This is¡­ bizarre! However, he sighed and walked toward the bar, exchanging a few glances with Natasha and Karfi, then observed as the man furiously wrote at an extremely weird speed. Just who is this man? Oh well¡­ It should be fine. ¡°Looks like Onyx isn¡¯t as careful as he seemed at first,¡± Karfi commented, pouring Kai a glass of water. ¡°Yeah, no¡­ that man must know what he¡¯s doing,¡± Kai added, bringing out a proper, metal straw. ¡°Why did you even agree to this?¡± Natasha¡¯s sweet voice echoed in Kai¡¯s ears, immediately followed by a sigh of satisfaction as she gulped down a strong liquor. ¡°Truth be told I don¡¯t know much about Onyx either, after seeing that man¡¯s notes¡­ I figured we may get some good information.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s fair I guess.¡± The two of them -Natasha and Karfi - said in unison, chuckling lightly to themselves. A few minutes passed, time in which page after page got filled with countless notes and observations Kai could only dream of seeing. Meanwhile, the man accompanying Lutha stood in the same position, not moving a muscle, still sipping from his ale. ¡°Dad, look!¡± Tausi¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in the room, accompanied by her tiny footsteps as she ran toward the three like a penguin, holding a drawing. ¡°I finished it.¡± ¡°Hmm, now what is this?¡± Karfi said, a smile reaching from one ear to the other. ¡°Let daddy see.¡± He said gently, reaching over the counter and picking up his daughter, placing her on the table. She gave the drawing to his father, and the smile on his face froze briefly before his expression changed to a melancholic, almost sad expression that hid a tinge of regret. ¡°What is it? Let me see.¡± Natasha reached for the drawing, and her expression came to resemble Karfi¡¯s before she broke out into a cheerful, yet pained laughter. She placed it on the table, letting Kai see it as well. The drawing, crudely as it was, colored using broken-down pencils and plants, brought a smile to Kai¡¯s lips. On the white paper, drawn on a blue sky background with a smiling sun in the corner, sat four people and a wolf on a grassy field. In the middle was a small child with long hair, her bright smile outshining the yellow star, and she held the hands of a tall, large man and a smaller woman dressed in doctor¡¯s clothing. To the side, a boy with black hair and a mask that resembled nothing at all, walked toward them, followed by a white wolf with an interesting-looking tail. They weren¡¯t labeled, however, the meaning behind it was clear. Kai couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply and glanced at the clueless, smiling little girl beside him. His lips parted, however, they only managed to smack back together as he decided to stay silent. And silent they remained, all of them, ignoring Lutha¡¯s mad ramblings. Tausi¡¯s smile began to fade, and she tugged Karfi¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Dad, is something wrong?¡± Karfi broke out of it, and his eyes landed on his daughter as he began smiling again. His mustache moved as he picked up his daughter into a tight hug, patting her back as a small tear formed in the corner of his eyes. However, before he could say anything, the door to his bar swung open, almost breaking the bell. His vision widened as a calm set of footsteps hit against the decayed wooden floor, creaking as the figure approached. Lutha, the man studying Onyx, turned around and stood up after seeing the newcomer. Even the tall man¡¯s gaze shifted toward her and they gave each other a slight nod before going back to their business. ¡°Y-Yasa?!¡± Karfi¡¯s shocked voice escaped his body, and Natasha almost dropped her drink upon seeing the foreign figure. ¡°Long time no see, Fatty.¡± Chapter 116: Gobelin Invasion How much is there? Where else can I look? The Western Lands are a long journey away, and more difficult than the war I fought so far¡­
Karfi sighed and put his daughter down, temporarily forgetting about the drawing. ¡°Please, don''t call me that.¡± He sighed and broke out into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve been a Fatty.¡± ¡°Fatty~¡± Tausi repeated as she picked up her drawing and crawled away on the counter. A smile creased the woman¡¯s thin lips, and her short, black hair swayed gently as she hurried over to the countertop. Her armor - A set made out of dark leather reinforced with iron, rattled as she sat down and leaned her elbows on the table. ¡°Cut the jokes Fatty, you¡¯ve barely lost any weight since ten years ago.¡± ¡°Yasa.¡± Natasha¡¯s cold, yet wavering voice reverberated in the air. ¡°What do you want?¡± The armored woman glanced at Natasha, scoffed, and said similarly coldly. ¡°I¡¯m here on a mission from the West Side Army. I figured if anyone were to know something about it, Fatty would be the one.¡± ¡°Right,¡± she continued, pulling out a few copper coins from her pouch and dropping them on the table. ¡°Could you give me a glass of ¡®Halved Cooper Serpent Blood¡¯? I know you still have some in stock.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to see your tastes haven¡¯t changed, Viper,¡± Natasha said, downing another glass of liquor. ¡°Pour me one as well.¡± Karfi sighed and served the two women, a spark seemingly forming between the two as he turned away, which quickly faded as he poured their drinks. ¡°Yasa, will you tell me what brings you here now? Not that I don¡¯t enjoy seeing your face, of course.¡± ¡°Well,¡± she said, bringing the glass to her lips and taking a small sip. ¡°Thing is, there have been some strange¡­ creatures showing up all around the Kingdom.¡± ¡°Strange creatures?¡± Karfi asked, placing the bottle back below the counter. Strange creatures? Kai¡¯s ears twitched as he made himself as invisible as possible, listening in on the conversation. ¡°Yeah. They¡¯re very weird and¡­ aggressive. They¡¯re small, about the size of a toddler, with varying colors of skin. So far we¡¯ve seen a lot of green ones, and very few purple ones, but never managed to catch any ourselves. All we have to go off of is word of mouth and corpses.¡± Hearing that description, Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he couldn¡¯t help but give Yasa a long, meaningful stare as the food and drinks he had began rising his throat as he remembered what he had done not so many weeks ago. Yasa didn¡¯t notice his strange behavior, and he completely ignored him as she continued. ¡°I heard a few rumors that their origins are from this side of the continent.¡± Kafi locked eyes with Natasha, and they quietly spoke through glances and eye movements, and ultimately let out a soft sigh. ¡°Indeed, we have heard of them before.¡± ¡°We?¡± Yasa asked, turning to Natasha who downed another glass of alcohol before gently placing it on the countertop. Wiping her mouth with her sleeve, she said, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve seen a few of them¡­ their victims that is.¡± Her eyes quickly darted toward Kai before switching back toward Yasa, and they locked gazes as Natasha continued. ¡°They¡¯re rare, but not uncommon. Their victims steadily increased over the years¡­ At first, seven years ago, I wasn¡¯t sure what they were, and I didn¡¯t know precisely until two months ago. ¡°The number of victims has steadily increased at a rapid rate, and that¡¯s the patients I know of. This can only mean one thing, I hope you realize that.¡± ¡°They¡¯re breeding¡­ and fast,¡± Yasa said under her breath, before lifting her gaze. ¡°Wait, you said you didn¡¯t know precisely until two months ago, what happened?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Natasha began, a look of hesitation appearing on her face, glancing briefly at Kai, whose heart raced still. Yasa¡¯s eyes quickly flew to the boy as well, causing him to jump in place, startled. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it has to do with that kid.¡± Natasha bit her lip and nodded gently, prompting a frustrated sigh from Karfi. The armored woman immediately turned to Kai and a smile that seemed innocent at first creased her lips. The boy almost took a step back before realizing he wasn¡¯t standing on the floor and gulped as the woman¡¯s intense gaze scanned him. ¡°Um¡­¡± Kai mumbled, feigning fear as he avoided looking at the woman altogether. However, his eyes couldn¡¯t help but wander toward her pale face, then down her neck, and he gulped once again as blood rushed to his head. ¡°Can I help you?¡± ¡°Yes, you can!¡± She said, missing the subtle hints Kai gave her, prompting an exasperated sigh from Karfi and Natasha. ¡°Yasa, get your ass back here,¡± Karfi said, pulling her by the collar, leaving Kai some room to breathe. ¡°You¡¯re suffocating the child.¡± ¡°Right, sorry.¡± She said, her tone as sincere as a crocodile¡¯s tears. ¡°It¡¯s just, it¡¯s an urgent matter.¡± Her voice held a tingle of panic this time, unnoticeable to Kai, however obvious to the other two, who were much too familiar with her. ¡°Please tell me everything you know.¡± ¡°Well¡­ The thing is-¡± Kai¡¯s heart thumped, his eyes almost tearing up as he eyed the woman. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Yasa, it¡¯s fine. He already told me everything.¡± Natasha interrupted, pulling out her notebook and flipping its page to her most recent notes. A drawing of Kai¡¯s wound, accompanied by his description of the beast and its weird ability to explode. The armored woman didn¡¯t waste a single second and quickly read everything, her fingers trembling as she continued reading. ¡°So you¡¯re telling me they¡¯re weak enough for a child to kill them?¡± Yasa said, almost mocking the dead creature, and inadvertently attacking Kai¡¯s pride. A child who trained his body like hell- Kai wanted to add, quipping to himself as he calmed his nerves. ¡°I-I got lucky, haha.¡± He chuckled awkwardly instead and sipped from his drink. Glancing at Onyx, he saw the man still wasn¡¯t done studying him, and he turned his attention back to the other conversation. ¡°So they explode as well¡­ good to know. Although,¡± Yasa said, flipping through the pages. ¡°It seems like there are more attacks in this area than all the others combined¡­ This is peculiar.¡± She pulled out a map as well, a geographical map depicting the continent, with eye marks in the different corners of the kingdom. ¡°Most of them here were only spotted, and there are almost no attacks. However due to the weird nature of the creatures we were sent to investigate them. I hate to say this but we¡¯ve mostly come up empty-handed.¡± ¡°Now, however.¡± Her eyes sparkled, rolling up the map and turning to Karfi. ¡°Now we have a lead that could potentially lead us to understanding these things more.¡± As Kai listened, he calmed down, and his mind became clearer. He avoided looking at the people before him for too long, however a peculiar memory popped up in his mind. It was right after he saved Orphelia and got himself killed that he looked for the archer who saved his life at the last minute and found a strange boy named L¨¦andro. That little bastard mocked my sword skill and told me to go look for a technique in a city¡­ a city infested by ¡®Gobelins¡¯... I thought they were commonplace but it seems that it¡¯s the opposite. How did he know of them then? And Julie too¡­ Well, I guess the closer you are to the weirdness the more common it is. This was indeed a weird detail, that Kai only picked up on now. But this information will surely be useful to them. He smiled to himself and tried to recall the conversation he had with the weird man. Lustra, he and Julie said¡­ He raised his gaze, looking at Yasa and the other two as they talked about the gobelins. ¡°To think such a thing was happening right under our noses!¡± Yasa bit her lips as she clenched the glass of liquor in her hand. ¡°I¡¯m ashamed to call myself a knight of the Kingdom.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up too much,¡± Karfi said, cleaning an already spotless glass. ¡°How could you have known this so fast? It¡¯s a recent event after all.¡± ¡°Yes, maybe..,¡± She said, looking at the map. The circles - the markings where the gobelins were spotted - only focused on the central and western parts of the continent. The eastern side, toward the Vampire Kingdom, was almost deprived of markings, safe for a place near Evicario. That¡¯s the city I was in before going to Aina and Elizabeth! Kai thought, stealing a glance at the map. But Lustra isn¡¯t even on the map¡­? Kai had a weird suspicion about all of this, however he held his tongue still and listened in for a while longer. Occasionally, he glanced at Onyx, who seemed to be pampered by Lutha, and the other man who now stared at Yasa with a burning gaze. Weird guy¡­ ¡°This is making me worried.¡± She sipped from her glass of liquor, downing it one gulp. ¡°We need to go to the Barren East and check there as well¡­ it¡¯s weird though, the generals there haven¡¯t been replying for a few months now.¡± ¡°What?¡± Natasha¡¯s voice suddenly rose a pitch higher. She cleared her throat and turned away from Yasa, her cheeks reddening slightly. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Yasa shook her head, sighing. ¡°We¡¯re not sure, scouts have been sent and they reported that everything was normal.¡± ¡°All of them?¡± Karfi raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yes, all of them. I don¡¯t know the details, but I will go see it in person. Before that, the south is more important. I rushed over here first though.¡± Natasha chuckled, holding the glass just below her lips. She placed one leg over the other, slowly moving them under Yasa¡¯s gaze, before saying. ¡°It seems like you just wanted to see Karfi.¡± Yasa blushed and looked away, hiding her reddened cheeks. ¡°Shut up Natasha.¡± However, she glanced at the woman and said in a fairer tone. ¡°But thank you, this information is invaluable.¡± ¡°Fufu, you¡¯re welcome, Viper.¡± Natasha chuckled and finished her drink. ¡°Stop calling me that.¡± ¡°Stop calling Karfi ¡®Fatty.¡¯¡± ¡°Never¡­¡± Yasa turned around and whispered, her flushed face meeting Kai¡¯s equally burning gaze. ¡°What do you want, Kid?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Kai held back a sarcastic tone and avoided looking too much at the woman. Fuck is going on with me? He thought, gulping. ¡°Just¡­ I may know of¡­ some clues.¡± ¡°Clues?¡± Yasa immediately returned to normal and looked at Kai with an icy gaze. ¡°Kid, you better not be joking around.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not, I¡¯m not!¡± Kai quickly waved his hands, turning his head slightly. ¡°But if I tell you, you need to promise me something.¡± Yasa stared blankly at the boy for a second before letting out a sigh, ¡°Fine, just tell me what you want.¡± ¡°I heard that- I heard that Lustra has been overtaken by these monsters, these creatures. If you go there, I want you to let me accompany you.¡± It should be safer than traveling alone¡­ I can just say I have a rare condition that makes me sensitive to light¡­ What was it, albinism? ¡°Lustra?¡± Yasa asked, bewildered. ¡°You mean the abandoned city¡­ the one that was abandoned decades ago?¡± ¡°Yes, that one. A¡­ friend told me about it when I was on my way here.¡± Kai quickly told a half-truth. Well, it¡¯s not entirely a lie¡­ ¡°They said it¡¯s infested by these creatures now, but I haven¡¯t seen it with my own eyes.¡± ¡°Right¡­ it¡¯s worth taking a look if what you¡¯re saying is the truth.¡± Yasa agreed with a half-skeptical tone. ¡°But why do you want to go?¡± ¡°I¡­ have some business there.¡± Kai looked away, his voice stuttering, and a small bead of sweat running down his forehead. ¡°Right¡­ I¡¯ll think about it, kid.¡± The woman stood up and handed Karfi a large silver coin before heading toward the door. Lutha sighed, and scribbled down one last piece of information before standing up as well, and, accompanied by the large man, left the bar all at once. ¡°That was¡­ weird?¡± Natasha commented on the weird interaction that just happened. ¡°They were together?¡± The other two shook their heads, an awry smile decorating Karfi¡¯s face, whilst Kai¡¯s gaze lingered on the closed door. Chapter 117: Unfounded Fears I did it, I finally arrived at the border¡­ The Tree of Life¡­ if God will not show me the path, I will need the strength to pave it¡­
Kai left the Guild Headquarters, holding another receipt in his hand. Onyx followed closely behind him, turning the heads of newcomers, who whispered amongst themselves upon seeing his larger-than-usual figure. The older members rolled their eyes, having already grown accustomed to seeing his fluffy tail wag behind the young boy. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re going to need to take on tougher jobs¡­ However, fuck, my rank is still too low.¡± Kai told Onyx as he sat on the bench, letting out an exhausted sigh as he stared at the moon. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d ever need money¡­ but Barhm, that bastard¡­!¡± Images of Dark Crystals after Dark Crystals, medicinal plants, and tools flashed in Kai¡¯s mind, accompanied by how much everything cost. He raised a hand to his heart, the pain of watching his parents¡¯ money be washed away for a scientific experiment imposed upon him by a foreign will pounding against his chest. Damn it Rodney¡­ I can¡¯t even read his notes, why are you doing this to me? He yelled inwardly as if the memories could respond. Of course, Kai knew that mere memories could not affect his state of being, however, who else could he blame for his irresponsible spending? Truly, it¡¯s his fault¡­ haha. Chuckling to himself, he took a deep breath, despite the mask¡¯s best attempt to suffocate him. ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx barked, jumping on the bench and laying his fluffy head on Kai¡¯s lap. ¡°Well, you¡¯re still heavy¡­¡± Kai joked, petting his companion¡¯s head as the two stared at the people passing by. Despite how far away this city was from Mnatu - The Demi-Human city - They were still present in large numbers. From Mnatu people with animal limbs to people covered in fur and a human head, or to people with a split body, the Mnatu race was by far - according to both Kai and Barhm - One of the most interesting races in this world. I wonder how they even came to be¡­ actually no, I don¡¯t want to know. As he got ready to leave, a familiar set of footsteps rang in his ears, and a wave of warmth ran down his spine as he turned his head. Him again¡­ is he stalking me? ¡°Ah, Ichor, what a surprise to see you!¡± Raymond said, face full of smiles. Is it? ¡°Mister Raymond¡­¡± Kai sighed and brushed Onyx off of him, standing up to meet the man. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Raymond said, the smile never once leaving his face. ¡°I was wondering what our young adventurer was doing.¡± But then, a light chuckle escaped his lips. ¡°It¡¯s funny, you always sit down here after exiting our guild.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Kai said, his face red. ¡°I just enjoy having a bit of time to digest events. And the night here is beautiful.¡± Raymond sighed and looked up, his blue eyes reflecting the stars, and said in a heartfelt, sincere voice. ¡°It truly is, not even the capital compares. It¡¯s one of the reasons I moved here¡­¡± He turned to Kai, and his tone suddenly changed. ¡°And I¡¯ll do everything in my power to protect it.¡± His voice held a faint threatening aura, unlike before, sending an eerie feeling down Kai¡¯s spine. ¡°Luckily this town is away from most problems¡­¡± Raymond said as he stood up, giving Kai a firm pat on the head and handing Onyx a piece of meat. That guy¡¯s got a loose screw¡­ Kai thought, rubbing his head and staring at the disappearing figure. I don¡¯t even know what to make of him. Onyx quickly ate the meat, disappearing as soon as it entered his mouth, and he licked his lips as he too looked at Raymond with a wagging tail. Kai raised an eyebrow and smacked the obborik on the head, clicking his tongue. ¡°You trust strangers too easily.¡± ¡°Awr¡­¡± ¡­ As they walked through the alley, the weird feeling of being followed sprung up inside Kai once again, however, he couldn¡¯t confirm his suspicions. He circled a few buildings and passed from the south side of town to the north, then back to the south again, until he felt like he was safe. Then, he cast a concealing spell on him and Onyx, and snuck back toward Barhm¡¯s place, quickly phasing through the wall. Barhm raised an eyebrow at Kai¡¯s rush, and quickly got up from his couch, throwing aside the document he was reading and immediately pulled out a few dark crystals. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Where¡¯s the war? Who are we killing?¡± Kai took a deep breath and turned to the boy, who looked ready to cause a massacre. ¡°We¡¯re not killing anyone, at least, I think so.¡± He said, pulling his hood down. ¡°But I think someone¡¯s been following me.¡± ¡°Following you?¡± Barhm put away his weapons and looked at Kai with a bewildered expression. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°What- what do you mean that¡¯s it? Isn¡¯t it a big deal?¡± ¡°Well, not really.¡± He brushed away Kai¡¯s worries with a wave of the hand. ¡°Not like we¡¯re doing anything illegal.¡± ¡°Illegal, maybe not, but it sure as hell is suspicious!¡± Barhm rolled his eyes, and let out a sarcastic chuckle. ¡°Suspicions can always be cleared. Plus, didn¡¯t you follow me? What, are you scared of having another research member?¡± Kai paused for a moment, stared at the boy, and his right eyelid twitched as he let out a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not the same thing¡­ Who knows what kind of weirdo will just¡­ barge in here!¡± The boy looked at Kai, his expression as cold as a glacier, and scanned his appearance. A fox masked with plenty of holes, always hooded and hidden, wearing a couple of layers of clothes and walking around with a ¡®Mutant Great Wolf¡¯. ¡°Yeah¡­ wouldn¡¯t want any sort of weirdos in here.¡± He said in an ironic, almost mocking tone. He turned around and walked toward the makeshift lab, signaling Kai to follow. ¡°Huh, what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Kai asked, chasing after him, however he got no answer whatsoever. Instead, he was welcomed by a stack of neatly arranged papers on his desk, right next to the yet-to-be-assembled microscope. Darky - now sitting in a cage much bigger and stronger than before - stood almost motionless as the void of its fur escaped through the bars. ¡°What¡¯s all th-¡± Kai stopped himself mid-sentence as he looked at the much too familiar, messy handwriting, and similarly familiar language. < > The title of the first paper read, and he turned toward Barhm with widened pupils. ¡°You translated it all?¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Not all, but most of it.¡± ¡°Wha- Why?¡± Kai asked, a smile almost beaming through his mask. ¡°I got tired of you butchering my language,¡± Barhm said, without adding another comment and getting back to his work. ¡°Heh.¡± Kai chuckled, and sat down, grabbing the papers and devouring all the information on them like he hadn¡¯t eaten in several weeks. Onyx sat next to Darky, glaring at the beast, however little to no malice could be seen within his yellow pupils. Instead, he nudged the weird beast with his snout and yelped in short bursts. Darky¡¯s head raised, its violet eyes glowing through his thick fur, and let out a similarly sounded yelp, imitating Onyx. Looks like they¡¯ve grown closer to each other. Kai thought, his ears twitching. Well, I guess it¡¯s better than being left alone¡­ then again the best course of action would be to let it out, but at this point, I¡¯m scared of what it might, or can do. Pulling out a few pieces of meat, he threw them at the two, much to Barhm¡¯s disdain, then went back to reading the translated papers. ¡­ ¡°I think we¡¯re close¡­¡± Barhm¡¯s voice broke the silence as he finished scribbling one last thing onto his papers. ¡°We are?¡± Kai quickly turned and almost jumped to his feet as he approached the boy¡¯s desk. ¡°Yes, look.¡± He placed a piece of raw meat onto the table, then took out a vial from his ring. It was small, very small, no bigger than his pinkie, and it seemed to be empty. However, as he opened it, and poured a drop over the meat, it gradually disappeared before Kai¡¯s very eyes, much like Darky¡¯s invisibility. He reached to pick it up, however before he could even get close enough, it turned back visible. Its shape, now, however, was rotten, aged, and inedible. ¡°What the¡± ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t expect that,¡± Barhm said, nonchalantly, and placed the vial back within his ring. ¡°Back to the drawing board, I guess.¡± ¡°That was¡­¡± ¡°A failed experiment.¡± The boy interjected, leaning back on the chair. ¡°But it¡¯s progress. You need to hurry up assembling that thing, I think I will have better success if I can see what¡¯s happening.¡± ¡°Yeah- I¡¯ll get to it soon¡­ soon enough at least.¡± Barhm sighed and got up, scratching his back. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a nap, this whole thing is exhausting.¡± ¡°Mhm, sure,¡± Kai replied half-heartedly, his eyes glued to the documents. Unbelievable¡­ so much detailed information and research. This is months'' worth of work¡­ even if it¡¯s almost illigible¡­ haha. He was captivated by the information, his curiosity fueled by the desire to learn, and, paired with Rodney¡¯s memories, he was able to translate and understand the majority of the documents. Despite not being able to see the changes at a molecular level, Barhm still managed to almost successfully replicate its effects. Is he a genius? Kai asked himself, questioning the boy¡¯s old identity. I don¡¯t fully understand what he¡¯s doing, or who he¡¯s working for, but he isn¡¯t running around like a headless chicken, unlike me. He let out a light chuckle and continued his lecture, with the sound of Barhm¡¯s snoring accompanying him. ¡­ Hours passed, and Kai felt the crack of dawn rapidly approach. I don¡¯t want to crash at his place again¡­ He sighed and leaned on the chair after putting down the paper he was reading. Glancing at Onyx, a smile creased his lips as he nudged the boy awake, signaling with his head. Onyx yawned softly and got up, lazily dragging his feet toward Kai. He took a short look at Darky, who seemed to be sleepy and walked out the door alongside his companion. Passing by the sleeping Barhm, Kai scoffed and quickly phased through the wall He had to get home quickly, lest he spend the day outside. Luckily he left just in time, so the sun would not be able to harm him even if he took his time. However, he ran, afraid of the consequences if he got caught by the star. Even with several layers of cloth, the sun still reaches my skin¡­ it¡¯s so annoying! But if it were that easy to escape it, there wouldn¡¯t be any need for him to only go out at night. Hurrying over to Karfi¡¯s place, he slammed the doors open and let out a breath of relief upon feeling the comfortable security of the place he¡¯d been calling home for the last couple of months. Now, besides the usual Karfi, Tausi, and Natasha, sat at the bar with a leisurely expression. There were new additions - Yasa, Lutha, and the large man. They¡¯re here again?! Kai asked himself as he awkwardly passed by, approaching the counter. Lutha didn¡¯t waste any time and brought out a piece of jerky, which, after giving Kai a glance for approval, Onyx went to and ate it from the man¡¯s hand. ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t come back.¡± Kai grabbed the glass of water Karfi gave him, and sipped it with a straw. ¡°Well, we¡¯re going to leave south soon, I just wanted to visit one more time before going,¡± Yasa said, staring at a half-empty glass of alcohol. ¡°I still miss those guys even though so much happened between us¡­ Why am I even telling all this to a Kid?¡± She sighed and downed her liquor before letting out a satisfied sigh. Karfi chuckled, slightly, and poured her another glass. ¡°It¡¯s unlike you to say such things so easily.¡± Natasha played with her drink, holding the glass by the rim and softly rotating the alcohol around. ¡°Has that kid gotten under your skin so fast?¡± Yasa glanced at Kai for a moment, then scoffed, leaning her elbows on the table as her lips parted. ¡°As if.¡± Kai glanced at her as well, then turned around and finished his drink before jumping down from the chair. ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired, I¡¯ll go to sleep early today.¡± He yawned and glanced at Onyx, who seemed to be enjoying himself. I¡¯ll leave him be I guess¡­ Karfi and Natasha nodded with a soft smile, while Yasa looked at him with a curious expression. ¡°Does he sleep all day?¡± The two glanced at each other and gave a helpless nod. ¡°Yeah, pretty much, honestly I¡¯m surprised we even stay up this late.¡± ¡°Why¡­ why though?¡± Yasa looked toward the door that Kai disappeared behind. ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­ a little suspicious?¡± ¡°Hum? What do you mean by that?¡± Karfi asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You think he¡¯s¡­?¡± Yasa¡¯s heart skipped a beat and gently shook her head. ¡°No, no, that¡¯d be insane¡­¡± ¡­ In his room, Kai let out a heavy sigh and took off his mask before making sure the window was tightly sealed with the curtains, clothes, and magic, and that his bed was nowhere near where the sun would shine. He locked the door and took off his clothes. First his cloak, then his shirt, and the shirt below that, and the last one below. Same for the pants and shoes. Despite all his precautions, however, new scars appeared next to the old ones he incurred during his reckless actions. He sighed and rubbed his newly acquired wounds, taking out his wand, and placing a light concealing spell over the window just to be sure. That¡¯s gonna burn through a lot of my mana throughout the day¡­ But I can¡¯t stand waking up to so many burns, it¡¯s like a dozen mosquitos all over my skin. Kai closed his eyes and crossed his legs, pulling a red pill from his ring and ingesting it as he focused on healing his body. I don¡¯t want any permanent scars after all¡­ Taking a deep breath, and exhaling gently, the new wounds on his body slowly began to heal/ Some of them disappeared, whilst some would remain forever, marking his body. He clicked his tongue but knew that it was better than nothing. However, when even the moon hurt him through a thick layer of clothes, he couldn''t help but worry. After all¡­ things can only get worse. He thought as he remembered the taste of fresh blood on his lips. Shaking his head as he shivered, he decided to distract himself by circulating his Mixed Core Technique. Although it barely helped him make progress, there was some progress, and he was happy with it. At least I can reach the next rank at this rate¡­ in a few months. This is annoying- I wish I could advance at a normal rate but¡­ he sighed again. At least I can train. He kept circulating the technique, gathering as much mana as he could and sending it toward his core. The more he did this, the less effective his technique was, although he had no other choice for the moment. Kai kept going until his eyelids trembled, and he fell asleep after doing one last cycle. He covered himself with two large blankets and tucked himself in, letting out a large yawn and turning away from the window. Chapter 118: Eureka! These lands seem treacherous¡­ even more so than the mountain peaks covered in lava. This forest¡­ even I get shivers as my army marches through its territory. Could it be the Tree of Life, the beasts, or something else giving me this feeling?
Kai let out a heavy sigh and leaned backward on the chair, massaging his shoulders. A smile broke out under his mask, and a light chuckle escaped his lips. On the table before him stood a creation of metal, glass, and engineering. A makeshift microscope that Kai hoped would help him and Barhm discover the secrets to Darky¡¯s invisibility. He leaned forward and looked at the invention with sparkling eyes, the thing¡¯s shiny surface reflecting in his pupils. It didn¡¯t look professional, like a lab microscope, but it looked better than whatever Barhm made. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± He exhaled and turned toward his lab partner, whose head snapped toward the table, and even jumped from his chair as he dashed toward Kai. Barhm stopped a few inches away and reached with his almost trembling hands, picking up the microscope and looking at it with keen interest. His pupils widened as he inspected it, and placed it back upon the table before putting a small leaf he pulled from who knows where on the glass tray. He placed another glass sheet on top, clamped it down with a piece of steel, and then looked through a metal tube filled with smaller glass lenses. ¡°Hm? It¡¯s not working?¡± He said, taking a few closer looks at it and looking through the tube. ¡°What gives?¡± Kai chuckled and flicked his wrist, pulling out a small Light Crystal and placing it within a slot on the side. ¡°Well, of course, it doesn¡¯t work¡­ to make an actual microscope we¡¯d need¡­ other stuff.¡± He hesitated to continue his sentence, fearing sounding suspicious to Barhm, however by now if he didn¡¯t have a hunch then he shouldn¡¯t be considered a genius. ¡°The lenses are there to help, but the Light Crystal will do all the heavy lifting. It¡¯s¡­ complicated, and the reason why it took me so long to make it.¡± ¡°Light Crystal? What does that have to do with it? Aren¡¯t those used mainly as a light source?¡± ¡°Ah- w-well¡­¡± Kai looked away, and quickly tapped the crystal, activating it. ¡°Just try it.¡± ¡°Fine¡­¡± Barhm agreed, although his voice seemed unsure. He peeked through the metal tube toward the leaf, and his heart skipped a beat as an unbelievable image showed itself before him. A top-down view of a maze-like structure, with interconnected lime-green paths stretching out, seemingly infinitely, surrounded by darker green patches. Its surface was covered with some sort of floating dark dots. ¡°You¡­ this¡­ How?!¡± He stuttered as he looked away, unable to see Kai¡¯s smug smile hidden behind his fox mask. Thank you Rodney for being so smart. He thought and quickly picked up the microscope. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how, but let¡¯s go, we need to see how Darky¡¯s blood works.¡± ¡°Right- Let¡¯s go!¡± Barhm said, his voice almost creaking. However, he kept himself composed and walked toward Darky as Kai set up the microscope on the desk. Upon seeing Barhm approach, Darky immediately stood up with a snarl, glaring at the boy who already held that makeshift syringe of his. ¡°Stay still, I need a fresh sample.¡± He groaned, grabbing the almost ethereal creature by the stomach and quickly inserting the syringe. Darky let out a low yelp, causing Kai to click his tongue. ¡°I think that¡¯s enough, isn¡¯t it?¡± Barhm nodded and retracted the apparatus, now filled with blood, and he quickly hurried toward the microscope. Dripping a few drops of it onto the freshly cleaned glass pane, upon which Kai instantly placed the other sheet of glass and secured it in place with a metal clamp. ¡°Move aside.¡± Barhm barked and shoved Kai aside, his trembling hands grabbing onto the microscope and carefully observing the liquid as the Light Crystal shone with a faint light. The blood seemed normal at first glance, at least to Barhm. The red and white blood cells floated in the viscous liquid, although their color seemed to be a little darker, and black spots covered some of the cells. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be any irregularities.¡± He said, squinting harder through the metal tube. Just as he said that, however, a sudden change occurred within the microscopic view. His heart skipped a beat and he flinched as he paid extremely close attention to the blood. ¡°Wh-what happened?¡± Kai asked, scooting closer and looking at the blood drop, which disappeared right before his eyes. So far, that was normal, but he was more interested in what it was that Barhm saw. ¡°Hey, so what¡¯s going on?¡± He inquired, patting Barhm¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Incredible¡­¡± He whispered under his breath as he lifted his head. With a look of stupefaction, he turned to Kai with a stupid smile. ¡°So?¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Nothing¡­ I couldn¡¯t see what happened exactly, it just vanished like any other time. It¡¯s almost like there¡¯s nothing to observe.¡± Barhm chuckled and sat on the chair, running a hand through his hair before leaning on his knees. ¡°What?¡± Kai took a step back and raised an eyebrow, cleaning out the glass panes and dripping another drop of blood. He pressed his eye against the metal tube and activated the light crystal, then waited patiently. His wait wasn¡¯t long, however, as, just as Barhm described, the blood cells disappeared completely, leaving out a completely clear glass pane that Kai could easily see through. ¡°What the fuck?¡± A light curse escaped his lips as he lifted his head, glanced at Darky, and then back at the glass pane. He took it out and smeared the blood on his finger, its sticky texture sending a shiver down his spine, and his head turned hotter. Quickly wiping it off, he looked at Barhm, and he back at Kai. ¡°Well¡­ I-¡± ¡°This is amazing! To think that such an advanced lifeform exists in this world!¡± His excited gaze flew toward Darky, eyeing the poor creature like a hungry tiger. Kai gulped and sighed, looking at the poor thing with pity and regret. He bit his tongue and turned back to Barhm, his lips parting, ¡°So, what do you mean then?¡± ¡°I mean that it¡¯s amazing such a quick transformation is possible! The blood cells turned from visible to invisible in mere fractions of a second! I think it¡¯s even faster than when I first found it.¡± His speech turned faster the more he spoke, and he even seemed to sweat as Darky listened in on the conversation, its abyss-like fur almost trembling. Even faster?! Kai gasped inwardly and clenched his fist. Just what is this creature, to be able to naturally turn invisible and get better at it as it grows? For the first time since he last ¡®saw¡¯ it, Kai felt fear when standing near the large creature, who seemed to be getting bigger and bigger with time. He gulped, and shook his head, then sighed. ¡°I have to leave now, I think, I still need to visit the guild.¡± ¡°Mhm, alright.¡± Barhm nodded as he picked up a blank sheet of paper and started writing and drawing on it, leaving Kai speechless at how fast the boy could adapt. ¡°Wait.¡± He said, ripping out a piece of paper and scribbling down another list on it. ¡°I think I have an idea about how it turns invisible, but I¡¯ll need these ingredients and a very cold freeze- uhm¡­ ice box?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Kai rubbed his head as he read the list and shrugged. ¡°Sure, I guess? But you know the money I earn is barely enough to buy your supplies.¡± ¡°What can I do? I¡¯m poor, and a child.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the son of a noble family or something?¡± ¡°Uhm, well.¡± Barhm coughed. ¡°I may or may have not been disowned by the main family for doing a thing or two¡­¡± ¡°Huh? What-¡± ¡°Whatever, just leave already.¡± ¡°F-fine!¡± Well, I better go. He whistled for Onyx and left the room, phasing through the wall and ending up back in the dark alley. God- Goddess, I¡¯m tired of this entrance¡­ He chuckled at the automatic correction and headed toward the guild. Upon arriving there, he noticed that it was mostly the same as always, a lot of people, very busy, and plenty of new faces to stare at Onyx with curiosity. He stopped in front of the boards, and grit his teeth as he chose another half a dozen of low-ranking tasks, then stood in line for Anna to register them. Or so he thought, as, this time, the person greeting him wasn¡¯t the woman he was accustomed to. ¡°Hello¡­ sir?¡± She stuttered, leaning above the counter and saying in a surprised voice. ¡°How may I help you?¡± Kai looked at her with similar surprise, not expecting anyone else to be here during the night except for Anna. This woman - her supposed replacement, was just as beautiful as her, however, if maybe even more. Her dark skin almost seemed to sparkle under the light of the crystals, and her beautiful, short orange hair contrasted it perfectly, alongside a gorgeous pair of jaded eyes. A few freckles decorated her face, but they weren¡¯t too noticeable. She wore a soft smile on her lips and quickly waved her hand to raise the ground below Kai. ¡°Are you here to accept tasks?¡± She asked, noticing the stack of papers in Kai¡¯s hands. ¡°Uhm, yes-¡± He replied almost absent-mindedly. His eyes fixated on her bare skin, and he licked his lips before knocking himself out of his trance. ¡°Please register them, here¡¯s my Guild ID.¡± Quickly reading the information on the card, the woman¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, however, she quickly turned away, acting normal and manually inputting the TOIDN into Kai¡¯s folder. As he waited, a set of footsteps that he couldn¡¯t mistake for anyone else¡¯s rang behind him. His heart skipped a beat as he turned, meeting the sight of the much too familiar, much too creepy man. Raymond¡­ He gulped, and Onyx suddenly stood up, growling at the neatly dressed man. Kai turned to his companion, and a cold sweat began dripping down his forehead. Arranging his tie, the man walked toward Kai with a friendly, yet suspicious smile. He nodded slightly, and his lips parted as he placed his hands on Kai¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Ah¡­ Ichor¡­ What a surprise.¡± A similar greeting, with an unfamiliar tone. Kai jumped in place, and let out a light chuckle. ¡°Is it though?¡± Raymond¡¯s gaze fell upon him, making him shiver, and, for a second, it seemed like the entire world stopped just for the two of them, deafening Kai and making his body freeze. However, That¡¯s not possible¡­ And truly it wasn¡¯t, as the countless whispers and laughs rang in Kai¡¯s ears once again not a moment later. ¡°Come on, finish what you were doing with Rebeka, don¡¯t mind me.¡± The man said, his actions creeping Kai out more than usual, however at the same time a pressure that he could not get out of descended upon him. ¡°R-right.¡± He stuttered and turned, only to take a step back as Rebeka¡¯s eyes glowed with a faint light. Her face instantly changed, her soft smile morphing into trembling lips. She took a step backward, and then another before she fell to her knees. Kai watched all this happen in slow-motion, or at least what he perceived it as, before complete darkness surrounded him, and he lost consciousness after feeling a strong hit in the back of his neck. Chapter 119: Kidnapped It looks like finding the Tree of Life is much harder than I originally believed. It¡¯s been forty days in this accursed forest and it feels like we¡¯ve been running in circles¡­
¡°Hahh¡­¡± Kai¡¯s heavy breathing escaped his mouth freely. Opening his eyes, he saw darkness, a lot of it. A humid sensation hit his face, and what seemed to be a drop of water fell rhythmically a couple of meters away from him. Slow footsteps circled him, the same ones he¡¯d grown more than accustomed to, and he coughed but didn¡¯t dare utter a word. He waited. The footsteps stopped eventually, and a creepily calm voice bounced against the walls, echoing into his ears. ¡°Finally awake?¡± Raymond asked, his tone sending a light shiver down Kai¡¯s spine. He remained silent, not even sure where the man¡¯s voice came from and bit his lower lip. ¡°Don¡¯t give me the silent treatment, Ichor.¡± Raymond¡¯s voice sounded before Kai''s. He raised his head and did his best to look at the man. He saw a silhouette, his back illuminated by the faint light of fire crystals, however even as he squinted there wasn¡¯t much more that he could see. ¡°I thought we were good friends.¡± ¡°Friends?¡± Kai chuckled, lowering his head, his gaze falling upon the table, where the reflection of his mask landed into his pupils. ¡°I doubt it.¡± ¡°What games are you playing, boy?¡± Raymond looked down on Kai with a regard that could kill. ¡°What¡¯s your purpose?¡± ¡°Purpose?¡± Kai repeated, laughing bitterly. ¡°I wonder as well¡­ but what about you?¡± His gaze met Raymond¡¯s, unwavering despite his trembling pupils. ¡°Why have you kidnapped me into this dark room?¡± Raymond chuckled slightly and approached the table, slamming it with as much force as he could, causing the ground to shake slightly. Kai¡¯s mask, which lay on the table, fell with a scratching sound. ¡°Would you rather be let out into the sun, Vampire?¡± His tone dropped as he stared right into Kai¡¯s crimson eyes. The boy¡¯s heart shook, and a pit formed inside his stomach as what little resemblance of a smile he had faded. Raymond smirked and straightened himself. ¡°I have a lot of questions for you, and depending on how you answer I may or may not kill you.¡± Remaining silent, Kai awaited Raymond¡¯s questioning, which came soon after his previous statement. He waved his hand and a chair appeared out of thin air. Sitting down on it and putting one leg over the other, he leaned forward. ¡°How did you come out of the Kingdom?¡± ¡°Kingdom? I¡¯m not sure I know what you mean by that.¡± Kai feigned ignorance, either out of spite or as a defense mechanism. Either way, that got Raymond to click his tongue. ¡°Your Kingdom, the Vampire Kingdom.¡± He clarified. ¡°Ah right, that Kingdom. Well, there¡¯s not much to say, is there? I just walked out.¡± He replied casually, hiding his trembling voice. Raymond stared at Kai with a dumbfounded expression, seemingly at a loss for words toward the boy¡¯s casual attitude and statement. He stood silent for a second, then sighed and slightly straightened his back. ¡°You walked out of the Kingdom?¡± A small, intangible, and invisible area appeared around Raymond, its pressure falling upon Kai like a large fire. His breath stopped for a second, and his heart raced as he looked at the man. ¡°The Kingdom surveyed by Aravia¡¯s Military? Do you expect me to buy that bullshit?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know what to tell you. That¡¯s what I did¡­¡± Kai replied honestly, his mind racing upon finding out that his people were being watched. Raymond cleared his throat and asked. ¡°Right, let¡¯s say I believe you. How did you make the journey from there, all the way here, undetected?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­¡± Kai¡¯s lips parted, thinking about all the close calls he had since he left, and how much of a coincidence it was that no one inquired about his identity. ¡°I just¡­ walked.¡± Hearing that, a vein seemed to pop on the man¡¯s forehead, and he suddenly stood up, his aura expanding and pressuring Kai even more. ¡°You walked several dozen kilometers without anyone noticing you? Do you expect me to believe that shit?¡± His hand clenched into a fist, which he sent flying toward Kai. The boy closed his eyes and braced for impact, however, the expected pain didn¡¯t arrive, as dust rose behind him. Raymond punched the wall, the bricks locking his fist. ¡°How many of them have you killed, monster? Have you killed every human you¡¯ve met, is that how you haven¡¯t been noticed? Or did you charm them into killing themselves? How did you avoid suspicion? How many of you are out there?¡± What? What is this man talking about? Kai looked at Raymond like one would stare at a crazy person. His pupils widened, and, despite the pressure locking him down, he almost wanted to laugh at the man¡¯s delusions. Is he that paranoid? Well, I guess he has every right to be. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a lot of questions.¡± ¡°Answer them!¡± Raymond barked, angrily pulling his fist out and turning around. ¡°Or I¡¯ll place your skin under the sun and cut off your limbs after they burn to almost nothing.¡± Kai gulped the malice in the man¡¯s voice echoing like a drum in his ears. ¡°Raymond- listen I-... I never hunted a human, alright? I-¡± ¡°CUT THE CRAP!¡± Raymond yelled, imbuing his voice with mana, making it bounce against the walls several times. ¡°A vampire that doesn¡¯t consume blood? That''s a new form of madness.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Kai swallowed hard, and his arms shook as he grit his teeth. He felt the scars covering his body flare up from anger, and he looked Raymond dead in the eye. ¡°Undress me.¡± Suddenly, the room turned quiet, and even Raymond¡¯s aura retracted back into his body. ¡°...What?¡± ¡°Take off my clothes, see for yourself whether or not I fed.¡± He said, his voice quivering, yet sincere. ¡°Do it.¡± ¡°Uhm¡­¡± Raymond scratched the back of his head, the awkwardness of the situation suddenly throwing him off his momentum. ¡°I- That¡¯s an absurd request.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already kidnapped me and threatened to torture me. But then again, you must know the sun hurts me, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t have said what you said in the first place. You¡¯re not 100% sure, are you?¡± Kai asked, unveiling Raymond¡¯s act. After all, vampires who feed on blood don¡¯t get hurt by the sun, or at least if they drink it regularly. Raymond clicked his tongue, and let out a light sigh. ¡°I¡¯m not going to undress you, I¡¯m not stupid¡­¡± He said, slowly walking in circles around Kai. ¡°Otherwise you¡¯d show up at the Guild during the day as well, you¡¯re smarter than you look, Kid.¡± ¡°Uhh¡­ thanks?¡± Kai said with a bitter tone, feeling a little more relaxed now that Raymond¡¯s aura vanished. However, his heart kept racing. He knew that it wouldn¡¯t be this easy to get away from this man. After all, he was still a vampire in human territory. With a quick flick of his wrist, Raymond pulled out a paper from his ring. Kai glanced at it and noticed the very fine text which would be ineligible even from close by. ¡°Vampire, your presence here is concerning, and your motives are unknown. You are a variable I do not need.¡± Raymond said, his voice cold, and glanced at Kai with a similarly icy expression. ¡°Especially not at this time. Give me a reason as to why I shouldn¡¯t kill you right here and now.¡± Kai gulped as a shiver ran down his spine, and his entire body shivered with fear. Why is he hesitating so much? What¡¯s his goal? If he wanted me dead I¡¯d already be. ¡°Tell me, Ichor, what are you scheming with that weird brat?¡± ¡°Weird brat¡­ Ah!¡± Kai¡¯s eyes flashed with realization, ¡°So you were the one following me?¡± Raymond¡¯s pupils constricted slightly upon hearing that, however he kept his cool and ignored Kai¡¯s question. ¡°Tell me, what are you two doing?¡± The boy remained silent, staring at the man with a contemplative silence. If I tell him, who knows if I¡¯d have any other bargaining chip¡­ He thought, and bit his lower lip, letting the time pass by. However, just as time passed, Raymond¡¯s patience grew thin. Slamming the table, he summoned a multitude of ¡®tools¡¯ that drove a cold shiver down Kai¡¯s spine, his boiling blood instantly freezing in his veins upon glancing at the instruments. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re friends just because I retracted my aura? Kid, stop playing the fool or you may regret it.¡± Raymond¡¯s voice was even icier than before, and his lips morphed into a puppet-like, emotionless smile. He picked up a tool, its usage unknown, however the elongated shape and curved edges hinted at the utilization of this particular device. Kai¡¯s eyeball twitched and he fell back onto his chair as the man stood there, motionless, tool in hand. ¡°Speak.¡± He barked without any emotion. Kai¡¯s trembling lips parted and inwardly cursed Barhm. ¡°I- We- We¡¯re just¡­ you know-¡± ¡°Speak clearly!¡± His imperative tone rang loud in Kai¡¯s ears, and he flinched as Raymond once again released some of his aura. ¡°We¡¯re researching¡­ an animal.¡± Kai forced himself to speak, saying a half-truth, hoping to bore the man. However, by the time he realized his mistake, it was too late, as the man seemingly teleported right next to him. The device in his hand slipped under Kai¡¯s nail. A fast thug later, Kai¡¯s pained scream echoed in the room, accompanied by the light sound of his nail falling on the ground. His hand, arm, shoulder - everything shook furiously as tears involuntarily fell from his eyes. Raymond stepped back and said. ¡°Tell me the whole truth or next time it won¡¯t only be your nail in the dirt.¡± However, Kai could barely hear him. His mind was preoccupied with the agonizing pain of having one¡¯s nail pulled out from under their skin. He bit his lip, grit his teeth, and glared at Raymond with a seething hatred. Kai didn¡¯t speak another word, he couldn¡¯t, not as he tried to endure the burning feeling at his fingertip. This fucking bastard¡­! He- Fuck, he¡¯s serious about this! Taking deep breaths, he tried to calm down, his racing breathing slowing down, however, his heart kept on beating fast, pumping adrenaline through his body. Raymond played with the tool in his hand and started visibly counting as he stared at Kai¡¯s fingers. ¡°I have all night, and then¡­ all day. I suggest you start talking before the sun rises.¡± Kai¡¯s head burned as if a fire lit up inside his skull. Parting his lips, he said in a trembling voice. ¡°It¡¯s- It¡¯s a¡­ weird beast¡­ one that can turn invisible- invisible.¡± ¡°Invisible? Such a creature exists?¡± Raymond repeated a hint of shock hidden within his voice. He approached Kai, his face inches away, and said as his breath crashed against the boy¡¯s face. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve been doing?¡± Kai nodded furiously, unable to answer with a yes, and took deep breaths. Raymond grunted and took a step back, standing silent for a moment, playing with the tool. ¡°So you¡¯re telling me two children are researching an unknown beast?¡± A glint of malice flashed within his eyes as he snapped at Kai, his cold smile revealing his white teeth. Kai gulped and instinctively tried bringing back his tightly bound arm. He didn¡¯t instantly go for my nails, so that means he at least believes me halfway. ¡°Would you believe me if I said yes?¡± ¡°I would,¡± Raymond replied quite casually, however, the tone of his voice scared Kai halfway to death. ¡°That kid was always weird, however, you¡­ Are not normal.¡± He put the tool down, and traced his fingers along the table, scratching it with his nail as he chose his next device. ¡°No family, no identity, no records of your existence anywhere in either kingdom¡­ and using a Forgotten Spell.¡± He finished the sentence and picked up another tool, a familiar one. It was a finger-bound tool with a small hole in the middle. It had two holes on either side, one at the base, and one controlling a spring-loaded lever that, once pushed down, revealed a sharp blade that pierced through the middle hole. Anybody with two brain cells could instantly tell what the device did, and Kai even more so as he almost lost all feeling in his lower body. His hair stood on end and didn¡¯t know whether to look at the man or the device. Raymond clicked it a few times as he locked eyes with Kai. An icy warmth spread throughout his body, and his heart skipped a beat each time the sound of the blade scraping metal echoed in his ears. ¡°Tell me, Ichor¡­¡± His voice grew softer as he approached Kai, and placed the nailless finger inside the trap. ¡°Who are you?¡± Chapter 120: Who Am I? A voice whispers in my head, about something I had seemingly forgotten, and it scares me more than this ever-watching forest.
Kai¡¯s finger trembled, his mind raced, and fear coursed through his veins just as much as adrenaline and cortisol. Raymond kneeled in front of him, and looked at the boy with a deadpan expression. Any hint of emotion he had a second ago completely disappeared, which drove Kai mad as he couldn¡¯t read the man. Who am I? What sort of question is that? What does he mean by that? Fuck! One wrong answer and my finger is gone! ¡°C-could you be more specific?¡± Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, however his question didn¡¯t serve much purpose, besides helping the tip of the blade make contact with his skin. A line of blood dripped down on the chair, and then on the floor. Fuck! This heartless bastard! Kai cried inwardly, and his pupils shook as he gulped, his voice stuck in his throat together with any other questions he wanted to ask. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. Think, Kai, think! His throat trembled as his breath sped up, and the chair shook as he moved his bound feet. Please, think! He grit his teeth and closed his eyes. Who am I? Who am I? I am Kai¡­ the vampire, son of Elena and Ray. It is who I am, right? Suddenly, as he asked himself that, all of his anxiety, pain, and fears faded away. His eyes snapped open, and he caught his breath as he looked around. A dark space surrounded him, completely devoid of any light. He looked down - blank, not even his body was visible. Looking up, nothing yet again. The tranquility of this place weirded Kai out, more than that, it scared him. This feels familiar¡­ He took a step, as silent as the void, and then another. Nothing changed, the dark void didn¡¯t shift, or disappear, however he kept going forward. It¡¯s warm¡­ Something called out to him, from the void, from the emptiness. He followed it, unquestioning, and kept a steady pace. He kept going, without a goal or destination. Gradually, the void shifted, a red light manifesting before Kai, which transformed into a bright-red eye, with a lizard - like pupil. Its imposing presence caused Kai to fall backward, and yet, despite the magnificent spectacle, he felt nothing. The eye blinked, and stared at Kai with a burning gaze. Child, not running away anymore? It asked, its voice echoing rapidly as it spread within the void. ¡°No¡­¡± Kai said as he stared blankly at the thing, feeling a familiar - more than familiar - blood - linked feeling. ¡°Who are you?¡± Bwahahahahaahaah! It laughed, its voice scraping Kai¡¯s ears. Quite an ironic question, isn¡¯t it? Weren¡¯t you just asked the same thing? Kai stared at the eye, almost expressionless, or at least he thought he was. ¡°Right, I guess it is. Where are we, then?¡± Well, isn¡¯t it obvious? Inside your head, aren¡¯t we? ¡°This is¡­ my head?¡± Kai looked around with confusion. A little empty, isn¡¯t it? The boy nodded, prompting the eye to squint slightly. You know why? Because this is the innermost part of your brain, where the ¡®original¡¯ you lived. Original me? Kai repeated the sentence, and his thoughts echoed inside the empty void just as his voice would. Yes, the original you. The one who was supposed to inhabit this body. Hwahahahaha! The eye¡¯s laugh scraped Kai¡¯s mind, like a fork on a plate. And you killed it twice, isn¡¯t that fun?! Twice? What do you mean? First, when that damned soul of yours took over the newly born baby. Second, in the church, when you let your mind gate open, it tried to take over, and failed. It disappeared afterwards however, and now this part of your mind is empty. Kai gulped and stared in shock, unable to believe the words coming out of this strange entity. He didn¡¯t want to believe them, how could he? After all¡­ I didn¡¯t know any of this- I- So what? You still killed it, haha! And without remorse nonetheless, Kid, I like you more than whoever the original was. Taking a second to rearrange his thoughts, Kai took in a deep ¡®breath¡¯. Why are you telling me all this? The eye rolled its pupil and said, Well, considering your current situation, to put it in your terms, you¡¯re fucked, aren¡¯t you? Fucked? How are you so sure? The man is stronger than you by a lot, and no matter what you say, the answer will always be wrong. But- But? Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. I can help you, accept me. Tap into my power and defeat that man. It said, and a shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine as an enormous magical aura enveloped him. It was warm, like the sun which he hasn¡¯t felt in a long time. The aura hugged him, sending a wave of powerful warmth all over his body, stimulating his core and veins. What¡­ This is a fraction of my power, reincarnator. I can give it all to you, let you borrow it, if you will. The only condition is allowing me to reside inside your mind. Borrow? Kai scoffed, So that means you¡¯ll take it back at some point, isn¡¯t that right? The eye squinted and approached Kai, standing inches away from his face. Well, aren¡¯t you a smart one? Little boy, if you were to keep my power for more than one minute your entire body will shatter into pieces and turn to atoms! Well, isn¡¯t that a convenient excuse? Haha, don¡¯t make me laugh. I may have died young but I¡¯ve seen enough shows to know what you¡¯re scheming. Scheming? Stupid boy, I¡¯m offering you a way out. Kai remained silent, not thinking or speaking, however, his lips parted, and said in a loud voice. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help. Now, if you were to be so kind as to fuck off from my brain-¡± FOOL! YOU THINK YOU CAN SURVIVE THAT MAN ALONE? YOU DON¡¯T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA ABOUT HOW STRONG HE- ¡°Yeah, yeah. Shut it, monster. You¡¯ve been haunting me for so long, and you expect me to trust you?¡± It¡¯s an exchange. You want to live and get your revenge, I want you to help me later. Simple as that. ¡°Sure, thanks, but no thanks. Now-¡± Boy, listen to me. The eye said, sounding almost desperate to Kai¡¯s ears. Just let me take this empty place, and call upon me when you want my power. I will help you with whatever you need to deal with. ¡°No, now fuck off from my mind, I don¡¯t need an unknown thing¡¯s help.¡± You-, fine¡­ I¡¯ll be watching you, let¡¯s see who will have the last laugh. ¡­ Kai woke up, his blurry vision making out Raymond¡¯s figure, staring at him with a deadly look. The man took a rushed breath and looked away for a moment before locking eyes with Kai. ¡°So are you going to tell me?¡± Taking a deep breath, Kai closed his eyes and prepared himself. Just as his lips parted, however, Raymond grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him and the chair in the air. His aura flared up, and intense magical force burned against Kai¡¯s skin as the man¡¯s voice rang in his ears like a bell. ¡°I¡¯m losing my patience here!¡± One hand gripped Kai¡¯s neck, and the other held him in place by the collar. However, alongside it, Raymond also grabbed the necklace, which immediately rejected his presence. However, due to the intense mana fluctuations, it couldn¡¯t fight against his touch. Instantly, a bright flash of purple enveloped the room, trapping and extinguishing Raymond¡¯s magic before his eyes rolled backward, and he let go of Kai as his unconscious body collapsed on the ground. ¡­ The much too familiar void greeted Kai once again, and he let out a sigh of relief upon finding himself in the world created by his father, somehow. He rubbed his eyes and looked around, his pupils widening upon seeing a man chained up, unmoving not too far away from him. He quickly hurried over, his silver hair flowing in the non-existent, yet present wind, and gazed at the magical prison with intense curiosity. The man, of course, was Raymond, and surrounding him were chains made out of magic. A dark-ish purple hue coated the metallic bindings, and they bound around the man, and a pole, tightly holding him in place. His eyelids blinked softly, and he inspected the surroundings with confusion. The chains clinked as he attempted to move, however his pupils constricted upon feeling the force of his restraints, and quickly gave up any such thoughts. ¡°What is this place?¡± He asked Kai, who stood before him with a similarly confused expression. ¡°How did you get in here?¡± He replied back with a question, and circled the man a few times. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to tell me that?¡± Raymond scoffed as he followed Kai, ¡°That hair color¡­¡± ¡°Ah? Yeah, this is my natural color.¡± ¡°Natural? Then did you use a spell to mask it previously? But that¡¯s not possible, you¡¯re too weak for it. How did you do it?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Kai grunted, ¡°Do you not know about hair dye?¡± ¡°Hair, what? Wait, forget about that.¡± The man¡¯s voice grew a little annoyed, surprised by this sudden change of dynamics. ¡°What did you do to me?¡± ¡°Me? Nothing. Must have been a defense mechanism dad put in place in case of intruders.¡± ¡°Dad?¡± Raymond repeated, looking around the world surrounding him. A land that stretched deep into a thick fog, a purple sun and a small building not too far into the distance. ¡°Your dad¡­ created his pocket space?¡± ¡°Hmm? I guess so, if that¡¯s what you want to call it. I never actually gave it a name.¡± Cold sweat dripped down Raymond¡¯s forehead, and any thought of escaping or fighting back had completely escaped his mind. A light chuckle escaped his mouth, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Kid¡­ just who is your dad?¡± ¡°First you asked who am I, then who is my dad. Well, aren¡¯t you curious?¡± Kai said sarcastically, finding the sudden turn to be quite comedic, despite all the very real danger he was in earlier. ¡°I¡¯m not going to answer your second question, but I¡¯ll tell you one truth.¡± He locked eyes with Raymond, who had a sudden chill run down his spine. ¡°I am Kai, and I care not for your city or kingdom. I only have one goal, and, just like you¡¯d do everything to protect your property, I will do whatever it takes to achieve it. You got it?¡± I¡¯m so glad this necklace activated when it did, otherwise I¡¯d have had to tell him my entire story just to hope he¡¯d let me live. I have to at least scare him a bit, right¡­? Just as that thought passed his mind, the chains around Raymond tightened slightly, just enough for him to be short of breath. Oh? Kai giggled and looked at the man¡¯s shirt, which immediately disappeared, leaving his upper body almost naked safe for the suit. ¡°Amazing¡­¡± He murmured, and took a step, immediately appearing in front of the library, then another step, which made him return to his original location. ¡°Kid just¡­ what are you doing?¡± Raymond asked, his cheeks slightly red and voice filled with fury. ¡°I don¡¯t know either, I didn¡¯t know I could do this until now.¡± A slight smile creased his lips, and he manifested the shirt back on Raymond¡¯s body. ¡°Sorry for that.¡± The man looked at Kai with an annoyed expression, however simply sighed and seemingly gave up. ¡°This isn¡¯t a funny situation to be in, kid.¡± Chapter 121: Tables Turned It¡¯s still haunting me, the thought in the back of my mind, a thought I can never get rid of. A seed¡­ no, a thorn is growing somewhere.
A little time passed as the two sat in silence. Kai sighed. Then, turning toward Raymond, his lips parted. ¡°Look man, I wish I could say I¡¯m sorry but you did threaten to take my life.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a vampire, what do you expect? You should be grateful I didn¡¯t cave your skull in instantly.¡± His more than unhappy voice echoed in the void. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not fair, is it? I haven¡¯t done anything wrong.¡± ¡°Yet-¡± ¡°Right, if that helps you sleep at night. I never planned to do anything to anyone, for your information.¡± Kai sat down on a freshly manifested chair, and put one leg over the other, then leaned on his hand. ¡°Honestly, this kind of discrimination feels uncalled for.¡± ¡°Uncalled for?¡± Raymond chuckled, ¡°Are you that clueless of your own race?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ No¡­ maybe?¡± Kai laughed awkwardly. Sure I read about it but there aren¡¯t any books that go in-depth about it. Plus, history is boring¡­ I mean I know we did some pretty awful things but¡­ ¡°Your people, your race, your entire existence is cursed! The things we endured¡­¡± Raymond interrupted Kai¡¯s thoughts, his angry expression telling a story that could never be forgotten. ¡°My great-grandparents, grandparents, and even parents suffered under your people¡¯s reign.¡± Suffer?¡­ I think I read about something like that¡­ but the wording was definitely different. He raised an eyebrow and stood up, his demeanor softening slightly despite having the man who kidnapped and tortured him tied up in imaginary chains. He took a look at the finger which now had a missing nail, however, no matter how much he willed, it didn¡¯t grow back. With a sigh, he took a step forward and the space around them shifted, instantly bringing them closer to the library. Snapping his fingers, the restrictions around Raymond came undone, allowing him to fall to his knees as he looked up at Kai. The door creaked open, revealing the cozy, familiar interior, and he stepped inside with a slight smile. He turned and signaled Raymond to follow. The door closed shortly after the two reached the table, now empty. Kai smirked upon seeing Raymond¡¯s confused expression, and pulled back the chair, inviting him to sit. ¡°This place was a gift from my parents.¡± His melancholic voice filled the room as he sat down as well. ¡°They¡¯re dead now. This is the only thing I have left from them.¡± The man looked at Kai with surprise, shock covering his face. ¡°¡®How could someone who made something like this be killed?¡¯ Is what you¡¯re asking right now, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kai chuckled and stared blankly for a second before his lips parted again. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Someone stronger killed them. Haniard.¡± Upon hearing that name, Raymond jumped from his seat, his arms trembling slightly as he said with a shaky voice. ¡°Haniard? You mean-¡± ¡°Yeah, the current king.¡± Suddenly, gears seem to turn inside Raymond¡¯s head, as his shocked expression turned to realization. He sat down and took a deep breath. His lips parted slightly but closed right back, the words he wanted to say remaining stuck in his throat. ¡°They were good people. They taught me how to be a good person. They never talked about killing humans or other races and gave me the best life they could. Sometimes I think they were stupid, after all, why would they stay in the kingdom when their enemy was right there?¡± Kai leaned back and sighed shakily. ¡°They remained because of me, as I found out. They wanted me to grow up semi-normally, I guess¡­ But they were fools.¡± He said and held back a tear from running down his cheek. ¡°They died because of me, Raymond.¡± ¡°That-¡± The man¡¯s lips parted, barely processing the words coming out from the mouth of a twelve-year-old child. ¡°All this to say. I do not mean any harm to you, or the people of the kingdom¡­ I just want to get stronger. Haniard¡­ Haniard is my one and only goal. I haven¡¯t drunk blood in¡­ I don¡¯t even know how long. The Blood Rotting is starting to consume me, I believe.¡± He took off his clothes, undoing layer after layer, revealing the scars the sun and moon left on his pale skin. ¡°I can barely go out at night, you knew that already. But I can¡¯t even heal properly.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Raymond visibly cringed upon seeing Kai¡¯s skin, almost as white as bone, covered in blisters, cracks, and burns. Suddenly, even he, the man who tortured that very same child, seemingly felt compassion and pity. ¡°So¡­ why aren¡¯t you drinking blood?¡± Hearing that question, Kai paused, and a rough voice escaped his body. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a killer¡­ I don¡¯t want to take someone¡¯s life. I don¡¯t want to become the monster you all believe we are.¡± Raymond remained silent, for once, he really didn¡¯t have anything to reply with. ¡°But then, your parents-¡± Kai shook his head and sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know how they got blood, and I¡¯ve only had it once when I created my core.¡± He stood up and walked toward a shelf, picked out a book, then sat back down. Its cover seemed old, with fainted writing and dents in some places. Dust scattered in the air as he opened it, and was greeted by a map. Unlike the one he used regularly, this one was mostly covered in a single color. ¡®The Political Map of the Lazhar Empire¡¯ it read, and it showed all the regions ruled by the vampire kingdom oh so long ago. ¡°This¡­¡± Raymond gasped as he looked closer at the map, inspecting the book¡¯s pages. Their texture, smell, and color. ¡°Just how old is this book?¡± Kai shook his head. And flipped through the pages, causing dust to scatter in the air. The book had several chapters, all of which were written in a language Kai could not make out for the most part. It¡¯s the same one as the diary. He thought as he rapidly switched from one chapter to another. Raymond tried to read the words written in old, almost faded ink, however, he could not even come close to understanding one word. ¡°You see, there is no history for me to learn,¡± Kai said as he closed the book and put it away. ¡°So how could I know what my people did, if nobody told me?¡± Raymond stood in silence, contemplating his words and staring at his scarred body. Finally, he sighed. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± A faint smile broke out on Kai¡¯s face, and his lips parted. ¡°I truly wish no harm on anyone, anyone besides Haniard. I don¡¯t have any intention to destroy your village or kill your people. I hope I managed to make you understand that.¡± Hearing that, Raymond¡¯s face darkened slightly. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter, your very existence is a threat. You said you¡¯re developing Blood Rotting? I¡¯ve heard of it, you¡¯re not stable.¡± ¡°I- I haven¡¯t devolved that much¡­ yet. I¡¯m still fine.¡± Kai¡¯s voice seemed unsure, as even he himself barely believed those words. ¡°I have no symptoms¡­ as far as I¡¯m aware, though little is known about it.¡± ¡°The more the reason you should get the fuck out of my town before something happens.¡± ¡°I¡¯d love to.¡± Kai sighed and stood up, circling the table. ¡°However, there¡¯s still some things I need to do, so I can¡¯t, not yet.¡± With that said, Kai wanted to snap his fingers and exit the necklace world, however, he quickly realized that the power he held here would quickly disappear. I don¡¯t want to be left at his mercy anymore. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal.¡± He said, staring right into the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°A deal?¡± ¡°Yes, if you-¡± ¡°What makes you think you have any power to negotiate with me?¡± Raymond interrupted him and stood up, towering over the boy. Kai flicked his wrist and made the man sit back down. ¡°For now, I have this power.¡± Kai snickered and straightened his back. ¡°And without me, I assure you, you¡¯re not getting out of here.¡± Raymond¡¯s arms trembled slightly, anger flowing through his veins. However, he couldn¡¯t move, or even raise his head. ¡°Fine¡­ let¡¯s hear it.¡± His voice broke out through gritted teeth. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Don¡¯t harm the people close to me, let me do as I please. If anything that seems¡­ related to vampires during my stay here, you are free to kill me.¡± Raymond struggled to chuckle, tears forming around his eyes as he tried to raise his head. Kai allowed him to do so and listened to what he had to say. ¡°That seems like quite a nice deal for you, doesn¡¯t it?¡± His raspy voice escaped his reddened face. ¡°And in the eventuality, you go crazy? What am I supposed to tell the citizens and government?¡± ¡°You can just lie, although I assure you¡­¡± Kai elongated his last sentence and placed his hands on the table, leaning forward and whispering. ¡°I¡¯ll kill myself before I go crazy.¡± ¡°That-are you-¡± ¡°Yes. I saw what this disease does, it¡¯s an ugly sight and even uglier repercussions. My parents died because of it¡­ I¡¯m pretty sure. It started a chain of events that eventually led where it did.¡± Kai¡¯s sincere, broken voice reverberated in the air, tuggin'' even at Raymond¡¯s strings. He gulped but remained quiet, taking his time to think about the proposition. Minutes passed, filled with silence. There, in the void, where the passage of time seemed frozen, and no other living being besides them, the only company they had was their own breathing and the sounds of their beating hearts. ¡°Fine¡­ with one condition- I will make someone follow your every move, and the moment you start doing something that may put my city in danger, you will die.¡± Kai took a deep breath and reached out with his hand without hesitation. The pressure on Raymond completely disappeared, and he too, held out his hand, sealing the deal. Chapter 122: Returning This damned forest¡­ It''s been a year since I¡¯ve started exploring it. My men seem tired, and the livestock is getting used up. We must return soon, yet the Tree of Life is nowhere to be seen¡­
¡°Damned old man.¡± Kai cursed as he walked out of whatever building he was trapped in. He took a quick look around, clicked his tongue, then stepped forward as he rolled his eyes. The part of the town he was in, if it could even be called that, seemed to be located near the outskirts. Looking back, the mansion he was confined in - Big, modern-ish, and almost brand-new, stood out like a sore thumb amongst the myriad of derelict houses and abandoned shops. ¡°This guy must make good money to use this remote location for¡­ whatever he is doing.¡± He shrugged and kept advancing, figuring that, at some point, he would make it back to the main city. Although, to say he wasn¡¯t surprised by the secret side of this town was an understatement. The buildings, old and in ruins, didn''t resemble the beautiful architecture found when you first entered it. The houses were shorter, but wider, with large windows and even some with open roofs. A weird smell permeated the air - a mix of rusted iron and rotten bodies, mangled together with the scent of melting candles. Such a weird place is located in this town¡­ What¡¯s with all these weird buildings? Whatever¡­ Not paying them any further notice, he hurried home, his heart racing as he thought about Onyx and whatever he may do without him. That big baby¡­ We¡¯ve never been separated this long before! His rushing footsteps echoed in the slumbering night, bouncing against the broken-down walls and scattering in the wind. Kai¡¯s breathing was ragged and heavy, and in his rush, he didn¡¯t notice the shadowy figure following him from a distance. Slowly but surely, the city¡¯s lights revealed themselves before him. The lampposts and windows glowed with a warm yellowish-orange hue, and the moon and stars added to the peaceful ambiance¡­ if it weren¡¯t for a boy running through the crowd like a madman. The cacophony of yelling mixed with laughter, chattering, heated discussions, and footsteps inundated his ears. However, he couldn¡¯t care less as he rushed back to Karfi¡¯s bar. The quiet street welcomed him once again, as not a single soul was present to witness his disheveled appearance. His messy black hair flowed in the wind, and his heavy breathing barely escaped the constraints of the mask. Gasping, he quickly entered the bar, slamming the door open and taking a quick look around. Karfi, Tausi, and Natasha¡¯s expressions each changed to a different state of shock as they watched him rush past them and into the house, before hearing the quick sound of a door opening and closing. Kai¡¯s light footsteps echoed in their ears while looking at his disappearing figure. Damn it, he isn¡¯t with them! Alarmed, he dashed toward the only other place Onyx could be at. Bharm¡¯s place wasn¡¯t far from the bar, but it wasn¡¯t close either. The wind rushed past Kai¡¯s ears as he hurried, having already learned the route after how many times he¡¯d used it. He knew every crevice, shortcut, trash can, and hole. Five minutes later, he tapped the wall with the Dark Crystal. Phasing inside, he caught his breath and out a sigh of relief upon seeing Onyx sleep on Barhm¡¯s couch. The Obborik¡¯s ears twitched and his eyes opened lazily before widening upon seeing Kai standing in the entrance. Onyx jumped up immediately, his large tail winding up a storm as he rushed to Kai¡¯s side. Jumping, he threw the boy to the floor and lifted his mask before sniffing his face. A warm, stinky tongue ran across Kai¡¯s face, making him frown, however a smile still formed on his face. It quickly faded, however. He realized that Bharm didn¡¯t know his true nature, and quickly pushed Onyx away as he placed his mask back down. And just in time, because the young boy barged into the room the very next second. ¡°What¡¯s all this fucking ruckus?¡± He cursed, taking off a pair of thin gloves and throwing them in the trash. ¡°Scared the shit out of me¡­¡± He paused and took a closer look at Kai, who tried to hide his nails and other wounds. ¡°Never mind that what happened to you?¡± His slightly concerned, yet even more curious voice brought a hint of warmth to Kai¡¯s chest. However, it quickly faded, as the boy¡¯s next sentence brought him back to reality. ¡°You look like a beaten horse dying on the side of the road.¡± Kai didn¡¯t say anything, and just let out a silent sigh of relief. He stood up and coughed. ¡°It¡¯s been¡­ an eventful night, to say the least.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Bharm frowned, however, he only shrugged his shoulders and turned back to the room where Darky was being held captive. Kai didn¡¯t follow. He took off his coat and whatever else he had on him and sat on the couch, rubbing his temples. That damned bastard¡­ Raymond. Fuck, I can¡¯t even be mad. I¡¯m not exactly sure what happened in the past, maybe¡­ I should ask someone. He glanced toward Bharm, however, he quickly shrugged off that thought. No, he isn¡¯t from here, and if even our history books don¡¯t have any info, how could humans have anything of value? He chuckled lightly, humans, huh? Yawning, he lay on the couch and closed his eyes, falling asleep almost immediately. ¡­ Kai¡¯s eyes opened slowly the next evening, and, stretching as he got up, he looked around. Onyx was, of course, sleeping close by, however Bharm seemed to have disappeared like a ghost. He stood up and walked into the ¡®laboratory¡¯, as one would call it. Darky was there, still locked in a cage, and the boy¡¯s desk, full of neatly arranged papers, stood to the side. Kai¡¯s bureau was messy, however a large stack of papers stood on a fairly cleaner spot. Smiling softly, he walked over. As he expected, the papers were the translation of Bharm¡¯s notes. Well, I guess he still needs me around¡­ He sat down, and his stomach growled. Pulling out a few pieces of meat, bread, and water, he set up a small dining spot on his desk and began eating. Onyx immediately rushed over, and jumped a few times, beginning with his front paws. Kai pulled out a large piece of raw meat and he threw it over to the Obborik with a chuckle. He then turned around and did the same for Darky, whose void-like tail wagged back and forth as the food immediately disappeared. Does he even have a stomach? Regardless of whether that question had an answer or not, Kai went back to his meal. He finished it quickly, however, and immediately began reading and studying the documents. Somehow, the little amount of experiments he does gives him so many answers. Especially since we got the microscope working¡­ His intelligence is insane. I wonder if Rodney could ever compare to him. ¡­ <> ¡­ What the fuck? Just as Kai finished reading the last page, a set of footsteps resounded in his mind. He couldn¡¯t mistake them for any other even if he wanted. Of course, Bharm returned home. ¡°You¡¯ve been out a while.¡± ¡°I had no choice, I needed more supplies and you were sound asleep. I let you do so, considering your state. However, I trust there won¡¯t be a next time, right?¡± Kai chuckled awkwardly and turned to face the boy, who immediately sat down at his desk. ¡°I hope so, it was quite peculiar.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Well- Actually never mind, it¡¯s best I don¡¯t say. Either way, it wasn¡¯t pleasant.¡± ¡°Knock yourself out. Now, either help me experiment or shoo, I¡¯m busy.¡± Hearing that, Kai stood up and walked over, intrigued. ¡°What kind of experiments, are you done looking at blood all day?¡± Barhm rolled his eyes. ¡°Yeah, I think I¡¯m done with that.¡± A chuckle escaped Kai¡¯s lips, and he walked over to Darky. He pet the creature through the cage. Its dark fur enveloped the boy¡¯s hand, a sensation of heaviness weighing down on him. Darky¡¯s tail wagged slowly, a trail of dark¡­ something lagging behind it. ¡°Is it me or has he gotten stranger?¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s always been strange. I¡¯m not sure what to tell you.¡± ¡°Well yeah, but I mean- Isn¡¯t his fur denser than before? I feel like he¡¯s grown in size too. It¡¯s only been a few days.¡± Barhm shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m studying it, to understand it better.¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± Kai said as he stood up, and sat back down at his desk. ¡°So then, what kind of experiments do you have in mind?¡± ¡°Well-¡± Barhm hesitated for a second, glancing at Kai and then at Darky, before saying, ¡°Originally I wanted to test its¡­ ¡®durability¡¯. ¡°Durability?¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah- forget it. There are other experiments I can do.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kai said, surprised. ¡°Did you finally grow a sense of morals and ethics? ¡°No, you¡¯d just be a pain in my ass until I stop.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. So, what else do you have in mind?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Barhm stood up and walked toward Darky. ¡°You¡¯ve only given him meat so far, but I wonder if he can eat other things. If he can, what kind of changes will be made? Also, he¡¯s grown much faster since you started feeding him better meat. I suspect-¡± ¡°Will his diet change the way he functions?¡± Kai interrupted, almost finishing the sentence. ¡°Yeah, something like that.¡± After saying that, he pulled out a dozen different kinds of plants, each of which was in large quantities. Mushrooms, leaves, vines, fruits, vegetables, fish, and a couple of other different kinds of foods stretched across the floor in front of Darky. ¡°I want to see which one he chooses to eat first.¡± Chapter 123: Suspicious I don¡¯t think the journey back will be any safer than the journey here. We¡¯re exhausted, low on feed, and¡­ I feel ¡®it¡¯ looking at us. God, have you forsaken us?
Kai and Barhm watched Darky eat all the different types of food with a shocked expression plastered on their faces. ¡°He has quite an appetite, huh-¡± Kai said as the beast licked its dark snout, an unclear, hazy smile barely appearing through the ever-changing void. ¡°Do you think he has a stomach?¡± ¡°Well-¡± Barhm said with a slightly annoyed tone. ¡°I¡¯d know if you weren¡¯t here.¡± ¡°Haha, yeah- I wonder when did you grow a conscience?¡± ¡°Just shut up, go away if you don¡¯t have anything better to do.¡± Kai shook his head and chuckled. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll stop teasing. But yeah, I should go¡­¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t actually serious-¡± Barhm glanced at Kai, a slight surprise hidden in his voice. ¡°But yeah, sure.¡± ¡°Haha, look at you-¡± Kai cleared his throat, stopping mid-sentence upon noticing the boy¡¯s cold glare. ¡°Well, uhm, I- yeah. Haha.¡± He rushed toward the exit and phased through the wall as quickly as he could. Onyx followed closely behind him. The moon shone brightly on the almost empty sky, surrounded only by clouds and a few brighter stars. The cold air blew through the dark alleyways, carrying various smells and sounds, spreading and scattering the story of a bustling town. Kai walked calmly, taking in the familiarity with a tinge of nostalgia. He sighed. How much longer do I have to live in this city? I¡¯ll need to leave for Lustra soon¡­ and I need to get ready; I need to reach the next level at least. With that goal in mind, he decided to take a detour. For the first time in a long time, he walked through the busier streets. People filled the road, bars, and every other corner. Kai gulped. Such a large crowd made his heart race and palms sweat, and the constant looks he got from his appearance, and the large white wolf trailing behind him, didn¡¯t help his case. Despite all that, he pushed forth. The strange encounter he had with Raymond lingered in the back of his mind. Even though the latter part, when they were inside his necklace, managed to help calm his nerves, he didn¡¯t feel safe. That bastard definitely sent someone to follow me around. I need to prove I¡¯m trustworthy, or at least, not dangerous. And so he walked, scanning his surroundings and trying to ignore the burning gazes focused on him. Eventually, his eyes widened upon noticing a bar a short distance away. It didn¡¯t stand out in terms of appearance, or drinks, or anything else for that matter- Besides the amount of clientele. Compared to other bars in the area, this one had a fourth of the amount of people sitting down and drinking. Kai immediately rushed toward it and sat down, leaning back and letting out a light sigh. Now, he didn¡¯t know why there weren¡¯t as many people, however, something - namely a man walking toward him with a smile that only wished people the best - told him he¡¯d soon find out. He straightened his back. ¡°Greetings¡­ uh, sir.¡± The man said, his accent sounding foreign, yet familiar. ¡°What would you like to order?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­¡± Kai looked around for a menu, however there didn¡¯t seem to be any present, and the man didn¡¯t give him one either. ¡°I¡¯ll have a glass of water.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t serve water here, sir.¡± The man said, a tinge of annoyance hidden within his voice. ¡°A beer?¡± ¡°No, we don¡¯t have beer either.¡± ¡°Uhm, what do you have then?¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Red Wine, White Wine, Ros¨¦¡­¡± The man began listing a myriad of different wines, the names of some Kai couldn¡¯t even spell the names. ¡°So, what would you like to order, sir?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take¡­ Red Wine, then¡­¡± Kai said, quite unsure of himself. I didn¡¯t even know they had wine in this world, but I guess it makes sense¡­¡± He looked around as he waited, and noticed the rest of the clients staring at him. Their gazes differed vastly, and so did their expressions. Some of them looked at him with interest and curiosity, whilst some seemed more intrigued than anything. Regardless, Kai quickly made himself as small as possible and waited for the man to come with his drink. However, he quickly realized something - How the fuck am I supposed to drink it¡­ I can¡¯t just pull out a straw to drink wine¡­ Although, just as he finished that thought, the man returned with a glass in hand. It was a wine glass, just like the ones he¡¯d seen on earth, filled halfway with a beautiful red liquid. Its texture almost seemed mesmerizing, and Kai found himself gulping despite his distaste for alcohol. The waiter put the beverage down without as much as looking at Kai and left him and Onyx alone. The boy simply stared at the glass, as did the others watching him. An awkward atmosphere quickly filled the air, and even the bystander stopped to see what was going on. Uhm¡­ Kai gulped as he looked around, noticing the couple dozen glances focused on him. What¡¯s going on? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± A light whisper mirrored his thoughts, coming from the seemingly mesmerized crowd. ¡°A young fella ordered a glass of wine and now he¡¯s staring at it.¡± ¡°... So why are we staring at him?¡± The crowd fell silent, and some looked at each other, then shrugged their shoulders. ¡°Well, those other guys stared at him first.¡± ¡°But why?¡± ¡°How am I supposed to know? Let¡¯s go, I feel self-conscious now.¡± A couple of people scattered, however, some still remained, curiously watching Kai¡¯s next movements. He took a sniff of the wine, and a wave of dizziness immediately washed over him. His head fell forward and he swallowed, his heart racing as blood rushed through his veins. His pupils dilated, and, as he looked around, the world around him turned red. Cough He turned his head toward the source of the sound - An old man, rather, a demi-human whose body resembled that of a deer, save for one leg which belonged to a human whilst the rest of his body was a mix of feline and bear. The old man stared in shock at Kai, whose gaze seemingly penetrated through his soul. The demi-humans eyes turned blank for a second, however, they quickly returned to normal as Kai turned away. What the fuck? He screamed internally and stared at the wine, before biting his lower lip and grabbing the entire glass as he sat up. Then, making a run for it, he rushed back through the remote alleyways, making sure he lost everyone. Except for that annoying bastard¡¯s rat. However, he knew nothing could be done about it, and he had more important matters to tend to. Tchk He clicked his tongue and rubbed his temple, doing his best not to inhale too much of the strange liquid. However, the more he did, the more his vision reddened and his senses went haywire. Almost like poison, it infiltrated his body and messed with his internal functions. Eventually, Barhm¡¯s wall greeted him, and he instantly phased through before rushing into the lab. The boy, whose head leaned on the table, with loud snores escaping his mouth, woke up in a hastened fury. ¡°WHO DARES TRESPASS- Oh it¡¯s you?¡± ¡°Yes, Barhm, I need your help. Here, this thing is weird, smell it.¡± Kai said, handing the wine over and getting as far away from it as possible. Barhm rolled his eyes, but indulged Kai, and took a quick sniff. Then another. He even took a sip after confirming it was wine, and, much to Kai¡¯s surprise, nothing happened. ¡°Have you finally gone insane?¡± The boy asked, putting the wine to the side. ¡°This thing is fine.¡± ¡°No, I swear it isn¡¯t! Put it under the microscope, there must be something!¡± He said in a pleading, almost desperate voice. Eventually, Barhm sighed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it. Waking me from my sleep just for some cheap wine-¡± Barhm walked over to the device and extracted a drop from the glass, then put it under the microscope. He yawned as he peered through the lenses, however his nonchalant attitude faded. ¡°What is it?¡± Kai asked from outside the room. ¡°Uhm, I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s not just wine in here. You should come back later, I¡¯ll do some tests.¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± Kai said without any protests. However, just as he was about to phase through, he bit his lower lip and turned around. Closing the door separating the two rooms, he lay down on the couch and let out a heavy sigh. No way I¡¯m going outside right now¡­ Onyx let out a low yelp and sat his chin on Kai¡¯s stomach, his tail wagging from side to side as he and Kai locked eyes. ¡°Heh¡­¡± The boy chuckled and patted his companion¡¯s fur. Onyx¡¯s soft strands brushed past his fingers as his hand sank into them, and, slowly closing his eyes, fell asleep. Chapter 124: The Wine is What?! It is not every day that I feel fear, however¡­ Today is one such day.
A calm forest spread out across a large land. Its crown reached the clouds, with leaves as wide as a man and a trunk large enough for ten people to embrace it. Thick, dense fog engulfed the surroundings, and soft droplets of rain crashed against the ground and trees, creating a natural white noise that inundated the forest. Kai walked, dragging his footsteps through the muddy earth. His legs felt heavy, heavier than rock and steel, and he flinched with every step. However he kept advancing, his hair blown by the wind, and heavy panting escaped his body as he looked forward. His crimson pupils shone with an eerie light, and he licked his dried lips. Whatever light penetrated through the fog bounced off his pale skin, and he looked around mindlessly. Not knowing his destination or who he was, he kept walking through the fog. Slowly but surely, with each step, he advanced until finally¡­ A giant statue made of gold and silver appeared before him. Its appearance was vague, cloudy, and unobservable. He just knew the materials it was made of and its basic silhouette which resembled a large, skinny human with wings and notches on their head. Kai instinctively reached for it, his arm trembling as it made contact with the sculpture. Instantly, it exploded into a bright flash of light, blinding Kai and making him take a step backward. He stumbled and fell on the muddy earth. Looking around, he noticed a small area around the explosion had been cleared of fog, however, a stomach-turning sound echoed in his ears. A sharp chuckle, and then another - A wave of laughter penetrating through the thick fog and rainy weather sent an unimaginable shiver down Kai¡¯s back. He jumped to his feet and looked around, fear taking over his expression. Light footsteps, like those of a child, approached from all directions. Turning his head, small figures quickly appeared in his field of vision. His pupils constricted as he saw their mangled bodies and horrifying expressions. Most of all, the shock he felt upon glancing at their skin, and the mirrored wounds on each of their heads, could not be described in words. This! He cried inwardly as he spun, looking around for an exit, for a place he could run away to. However, no such thing existed, as, everywhere he looked, the ghosts of the humanoid figure he killed in cold blood surrounded him. Their teeth clattered, bones creaked, and fingers snapped as they slowly approached Kai. Circling him in, a wave of despair washed over his entire being. A slight squeak escaped his body as the first of the monsters touched him, its cold hand burning Kai¡¯s skin like hot metal. He didn¡¯t have time to be shocked, however, as another creature dug its sharp teeth into his skin. It then tore the flesh away, causing blood to spray out like a fountain. Kai let out a soundless scream and quickly fell to the ground as he got stomped on, devoured, and ripped apart by these creatures. ¡­ Hah!!!!! He gasped for air as he jumped up, hyperventilating and startling both Onyx and Barhm, who immediately came to check up on him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The boy asked with what seemed to be genuine worry as he stared at Kai. Sweat drenched his body, the clothes sticking to each other, and to his skin. His entire body shook. Staring at Barhm, he gulped and forced out a nervous chuckle. However, even the boy could tell something was wrong, yet he only opened his mouth halfway before closing it. Onyx jumped on top of him and rubbed his soft fur against the boy¡¯s body. The Obborik yelped lightly, his tail wagging as his head rose, placing it upon Kai¡¯s chest. In that brief moment, something formed between the two of them. Rather, it solidified, and Kai smiled softly as he patted Onyx¡¯s head with tender care. A few minutes passed, and he gradually calmed down. Barhm gave him a glass of cold water and sat down opposite him. ¡°What¡¯s happened, what got you so disturbed?¡± ¡°Just¡­ just a bad dream,¡± Kai replied with slight hesitation, unsure of what to say exactly. ¡°A bad dream, huh?¡± Barhm replied, then pulled out a vial filled with a viscous red liquid from his ring. ¡°Could it have something to do with this?¡± ¡°That is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the wine you gave me earlier. I studied it, just like you asked me to. The results were¡­ interesting.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Kai almost jumped from his seat. ¡°Tell me!¡± Barhm cringed and stared at the glass container with intrigue. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know if I should.¡± Frowning, Kai stood up and walked in front of Barhm, then said while breathing heavily. ¡°I need to know, Barhm. It¡¯s important.¡± Kai¡¯s almost pleading voice and soft desperation escaped through his voice. However, the boy only looked at him with a deadpan expression, and, in one quick motion, popped the lid of the vial open. A strong, pungent smell permeated the air as soon as he did so, inundating Kai¡¯s nostrils and causing him to take a step back. He felt blood rush through his body, his heart racing, and even the nails on his hand turning into claws. Kneeling, he let out a pained groan and did his best to control the sudden, violent urge coursing through his veins. His teeth clenched, and his vision turned blurry. He could feel his fangs sharpening, and he could sense his body and mind becoming two different entities as his instincts were about to take over. However, Barhm closed the lid and took out a green stone, blasting the surroundings with a huge gust of wind. He placed the vial away and reached for Kai¡¯s mask, pulling it away. At that same moment, Onyx growled and jumped on him without any hesitation, his size increasing, and so did his weight. He pinned Barhm to the floor, however, it was too late. Kai¡¯s identity had been unveiled, as easily as stealing candy from a child. Despite the sudden revelation, Barhm¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he stared at Kai. His crimson eyes glowed with a strong light, and his pained expression gradually lessened as the red liquid¡¯s smell dissipated. Barhm chuckled and took out a black stone, which he flicked with a quick motion, and sent Onyx flying across the room. The Obborik yelped, however he couldn¡¯t get back up. The floor and walls around him creaked, threatening to break under sudden, powerful pressure. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Kai blinked and lifted his head, staring straight into Barhm¡¯s eyes with widened eyes. A mixture of emotions painted his face, however none as prevalent as anger. ¡°What¡­ are you doing?¡± He said through gritted teeth, too weak and afraid to stand up and face the weird boy. ¡°I was just confirming something. I was right, you¡¯re a Vampire.¡± His words made Kai pause, and, after the initial shock, he realized that Barhm was holding his disguise - the fox mask. A cold shiver ran down his spine and stumbled as he tried to stand up. The pressure focused on Onyx reached him from across the room. He rubbed his spatial ring and got ready for a fight. However, much to his surprise, Barhm chuckled and removed the magic within the room, then threw the mask to Kai. He caught it and stared at the boy with bewilderment. Kai quickly rushed over to Onyx¡¯s side and made sure he was alright before glaring at Barhm. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you are, I am not from here. I only know of this name because of the history books I was forced to study. I need to say, your race was quite barbaric.¡± Kai stared at Barhm, holding his mask. His gaze turned unfocused, however, as he fell deep in thought. Barbaric? What does he know, even dad¡¯s history books don¡¯t have anything related to our history. ¡°Don''t bother, such information is not available to the general public.¡± Barhm broke his train of thought. ¡°You¡¯d have found it already otherwise. No, only the nobility has it, along with other information.¡± Gulping, Kai raised himself on the couch and put the mask on the table before him, then sighed. ¡°Since when did you know?¡± He asked, changing the subject. ¡°Not that long, in fact, it was only a recent theory. I only thought about it after your reaction to the wine. I acted hesitant to get you to come closer, and then I confirmed it.¡± ¡°You¡­ you could have died,¡± Kai said with slight hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re not strong enough for that.¡± Barhm chuckled lightly and leaned on his sofa. ¡°You¡¯re way too weak.¡± ¡°Weak¡­¡± Kai repeated, his claws digging into his fist. ¡°Well, it doesn''t matter.¡± Barhm sighed. ¡°By the looks of things you haven¡¯t been feeding at all. Speaking of. The wine you gave, has a significant amount of human blood inside it. Where did you get it from?¡± ¡°The wine has¡­ human blood? How could that be possible?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, I don¡¯t know what kind of twisted person the guy who made it is, but I can¡¯t be mistaken.¡± Kai¡¯s pupils constricted. However, he let out a sigh and leaned down, fully trusting Barhm. ¡°I can¡¯t take this many events in only two days¡­ is this Goddess pulling a prank on me?¡± ¡°I doubt it,¡± Barhm commented. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Lumiera is incompetent.¡± ¡°Ah, right, right¡­¡± Kai chuckled and placed a hand over his forehead. ¡°Regardless¡­ what a shitty week¡­¡± ¡­ Walking back to Karfi¡¯s place, Kai¡¯s mind thundered with a cacophony of thoughts that jumbled together into an incomprehensible mess. His rapid footsteps, and similarly racing pulse echoed in the dark alleyway. The bar quickly revealed itself before him as he took a corner, and the jingle of the bell announced his arrival. Six pairs of eyes immediately fell on him, and the smallest one of them - Tausi, instantly rushed toward the Boy; Obborik Duo. Her wide eyes, filled with tears, and a nose full of snot sent a warmth feeling throughout Kai¡¯s body. He knelt and opened his arms, waiting for the little girl to arrive in his embrace. However, to no one¡¯s surprise but his own, Tausi jumped on Onyx, almost knocking him to the ground as she gave him a large hug. The adults in the room chuckled, and Kai shook his head as he walked toward them. ¡°What¡¯s up kid, you looked distraught the other night.¡± Natasha raised a glass of alcohol toward him as she asked. Kai laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head before sitting down next to her. ¡°It¡¯s been¡­ a weird night, to say the least.¡± How come? Natasha asked, leaning on the counter and staring at Kai with a curious expression. The boy shook his head and sighed, ¡°I¡¯d rather not recount it, to be honest.¡± He said as he caught the glass of water Karfi slid to him. Pulling out his straw and taking a sip, he leaned with his elbow on the counter and held his head in his hand. ¡°Life¡¯s getting difficult, to be fair. Not that it wasn¡¯t already.¡± Karfi smiled softly at the boy, his eyes shining with a tinge of melancholy as his unfocused gaze looked slightly behind Kai. Turning his head, he saw Tausi playing with Onyx, along with the weirdly obsessed man. Hum? Kai suddenly felt awkward, and his face reddened under his mask. Right¡­ who am I to complain? I haven¡¯t done anything to better my situation either¡­ all I¡¯ve been doing is mopping around and playing lab with Barhm. He glanced inside his spatial ring and bit his lower lip as he looked at the few mana pills stored within. If I had been stronger, maybe things would have been different to a certain degree. His mind raced with thoughts, and a sudden pressure grabbed his throat, suffocating him. The blood within his veins boiled, and the entirety of his body began to burn. With a resolute glimmer in his eyes, he stood up and walked past everyone, the bell ringing as he swung the doors open. ¡°I¡¯m going to get fresh air,¡± Kai excused himself and disappeared into the shadows. Onyx yelped as he stood up, however in the end decided not to follow his companion. Kai¡¯s figure whistled through the streets, splitting the air as he stealthily jumped over the guarded fence and streaked through the darkness of the forest. He ran, fast, with as much dexterity as he could. Evading thick roots, holes, and rocks, he let himself be guided by the wind. Taking off his mask, a smile broke out on his lips as he let the cold breeze crash against his blazing skin. Despite the moon¡¯s rays burning him ever so slightly, he bolted without a care in the world, using magic to enhance his speed. Kai¡¯s body turned into a blur, and the sound of rustling bushes echoed behind him, as well as soft footsteps. That guy¡¯s dog is following me, as expected. He smiled. Whatever. That didn¡¯t deter him from advancing, after all, as long as the dog¡¯s only job was to watch, he didn¡¯t mind. Though my display today wasn¡¯t the best, so much for averting suspicion. He almost felt like crying, as his failed attempt to be a normal person may lead him to his downfall. Oh well, too late to worry about it now¡­ As he ran through the forest, the clouds began to darken and a thunderous boom echoed across the land. Shortly after, a soft trinkle filled the calming silence, as droplets of rain fell and crashed against the leaves and ground. Kai stopped, finding himself in a small clearing where little leaves blocked the flow of rain. He raised his head and allowed the drop to hit his skin. He flinched with each one and even seemed to laugh as they dripped down his skin. I remember reading that this does good for the mental, must be a quack though, I¡¯m just wet now. Chuckling to himself, he looked at the moon, bearing the sharp pain. He shook his head and restarted his journey, letting his body guide him wherever it pleased. Eventually, he saw a small hill in the distance and walked towards it. For the most part, it was just a normal hill, blending perfectly with nature. It wasn¡¯t that tall, just a little taller than three Kai¡¯s on top of one another, however, the boy got an idea as he stared at a seemingly flatter side. Pulling out his wand, he replaced two of the fire crystals with earth crystals, and swung it toward the hill, casting a mumbled chant. As the magic crystals glowed with a faint light, an indent appeared on the side of the hill, just tall enough for Kai to pass through. He swung his arms a few more times, and with each instance, the hole became bigger and bigger, until, finally, a small room carved inside the hill. Well, that ought to do it. Kai smiled to himself as he walked inside and quickly placed a couple of light crystals in the walls, illuminating the room. Next, his ring flashed as a couple of pelts covered the floor, and he created a small hole in the middle of it with a wave of his wand. After throwing a dozen fire crystals inside, he sat down and sighed. Leaning against the wall, Kai closed his eyes and listened to the soft drops of rain, the whistling wind, the crowns of the trees moving, guided by the strong air currents and the small critters moving about. It was peaceful, as far as he was concerned. The boy took out a thicker pelt and placed it over his legs before closing his eyes, and allowed himself to fall asleep once again. I need some proper rest¡­ Chapter 125: Cave Rank Up I shivered upon seeing it, me, the great Lazhar King- It was gigantic, hideous¡­ soulless. The ground shook with each step it took, and the sound of its hisses struck fear into my men. It had only two giant legs, and a body made of stone and flesh¡­ that did mean it could bleed¡­
He awoke with a yawn, having slept peacefully for once in a long while. His blurry vision quickly focused, and he gazed outside, thinking about that bastard¡¯s poor dog. I bet he was forced to sit in the rain all this while. Then again, these guys should have their own way of dealing with it. Standing up, he placed a pan over the fire crystals, something his grandpa gave him when he left, though he barely used it. Placing a bit of oil and letting it heat up, he prepared a few pieces of meat on a polished plank. Kai pulled out the silver sword and cut the meat into small pieces as he chuckled to himself. Well, using a blacksmith¡¯s magnum opus to cut up meat is mean¡­ but ironically funny. With that said, he turned his attention over to the pan. With a soft smile, he took the food and gently placed it over the hot oil. The sound of sizzling meat inundated his ears, and its alluring smell quickly made its way into his nostrils. Kai almost salivated, however he shook his head and quickly pulled out a small bag, sprinkling some salt onto the cooking meat. Hehe, looks like I can still cook¡­ damn you Onyx, making me doubt my skills! He thought with a smug smirk. After ten or so minutes, he took out the meat and let it cool down on a plate as he stored the pan back into his ring. Taking a look outside, he noticed the rain had stopped, and the air was now filled with a fresh, humid scent. He walked back into his cave and sat down, plate in hand, then snacked on the food he prepared. However, the moment he tasted the first piece, his expression changed from delight to horror. Fuck- So bland¡­ Well, I only put salt on it, but still¡­ Eventually, he finished it, despite its less than delectable taste, and leaned back with a sigh as he stored the plate back into his ring. Well, that was a nice breakfast¡­ Now on to important matters. Kai crossed his legs, his eyes shutting gently as a deep breath coursed through his body. His heart rate slowed down, and he took a moment to collect himself before sending mana inside his body and inspecting the mana veins. They were wider than before, and looked sturdier. The intangible, immaterial mana flowed through them like a river¡¯s water, cycling through all five extremities and storing up any excess in his core. So far things are looking good¡­ yet I haven¡¯t advanced at all these past few months¡­ I guess I¡¯ve been slacking too much in between quests and helping Barhm out. However, if I can¡¯t prove to Raymond I¡¯m normal¡­ I have to prove my value, at least as an asset. For the moment. With that thought in mind, he pulled out a handful of pills, the last few Aina gave him. Their shiny surface emanated a cold air. A shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine as his mouth arched open, and the pills melted into his mouth as soon as they touched his tongue. Almost instantly, a wild surge of mana rushed through his mana veins, making its way into his core and gradually filling it up. Holding back a pained groan, he focused on guiding the mana, moving it around his body and letting his core absorb as much as it could all at once. However, he wanted to let out a sigh as the absorption rate disappointed him. This double core is both a blessing and a curse, at this rate it will take me¡­ too long to advance to the next rank. However, I think that increasing its size should be doable¡­ within the week. A cold drop of sweat trickled down his forehead as he turned all his focus towards not letting the mana escape his veins, as getting rid of severe mana poisoning wasn¡¯t something he wanted to deal with. Not without Aina¡¯s help, at least. Regardless, he felt the mana within his core increase, even if by little. His body shook, and his actual veins popped out from the pressure the mana put on his body. However, he grit through the pain and concentrated all his efforts into breaking through. I must¡­ do it. I need to leave soon, and my current rank won¡¯t do. Both Barhm and Raymond can toy with me however they want, and I¡¯d be powerless to defend myself, let alone stop them. The minutes passed, and the feeling he had when facing the two monsters kept pushing him forward. Raymond¡¯s vicious tone rang in his head like a church¡¯s bell. A shiver ran down his spine. The mana coursing through his veins fought against his will, as the rate of absorption was simply too slow. His body burned red, and a vein almost popped on his forehead as he recalled the pressure he felt from Bharm. God damn it! His lips parted as a pained groan escaped body, and cold sweat drenched his back. The scream resounded through the cave, bouncing against the walls before eventually escaping outside. Kai¡¯s back arched forwards, and his nails dug into his palm, creating a small river of blood which stained the floor. Work together with me, damn it. He thought as the mana flowing through his body began seeping through his veins, entering his flesh and poisoning his blood. ¡°Ack-¡± He groaned and pulled his head back, enduring the pain and trying to keep control of the wild mana. The core within him was small, as he compressed it to an extreme level with the aid of his star. His Mixed Mana Core would need at least twice the amount of mana required to advance to the next stage. Luckily, it had already been filled around halfway through, and now, it only required twenty percent more mana. The last twenty percent of the work required eighty percent of the effort¡­ huh. He wanted to sigh, however Kai could barely focus on his own thoughts, and maintained a stable flow. Why do I always do this to myself? Truly, he wanted to cry, however any sort of regret could be saved for after he advanced. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Taking a deep breath, he called upon his star, which slowly revolved around his Mixed Mana Core, and made it store the overflowing mana. Although doing it this way was almost the same as letting it flow around his body. It¡¯s just a band-aid solution¡­ at least it¡¯s concentrated somewhere. He thought while chanting the technique he made up, and with each breath he felt its efficiency decrease. However, he had to push through. After another two hours, the whispering sounds stopped, and Kai fell to the ground in a pool of sweat and blood. A dumb smile creased his lips, accompanied by a fatigued chuckle and a faint mumble. ¡°So much for a measly Rank One Medium Core¡­ hah-¡± ¡­ The night passed as Kai laid unconscious on the cave¡¯s floor, the light heaving of his chest being the only sign of life he showed. Advancing in ranks like he did is dangerous, however not unheard of. He can¡¯t afford to passively wait for his mana core to fill and refill because of his slow absorption rate. Any other technique besides risking his life simply wouldn¡¯t work, at least of the techniques he knew. Until now, he had relied on the mana pills Aina gave him, however¡­ Kai woke up with a series of groans, his bones snapping and crackling as he straightened his back. Lazily wiping his eyes, he stretched and yawned as his gaze fell on an empty bag sat next to him. That¡¯s the end of that huh¡­ He sighed as he picked up the pouch where the rest of his mana pills once stood. Oh well¡­ Jumping to his feet, he stretched his entire body then took a quick look at his core. ¡°Rank One Medium Mixed Mana Core¡­ that¡¯s a mouthful- However¡­¡± His hands clenched into a fist, and a soft thunderous boom resounded from his knuckles. ¡°Such a small increase in rank yet I feel myself to be this powerful¡­ I need to test my strength!¡± Pulling out his wand, it let out a light chirp. However, a burning wave of pain washed over him, and he quickly retreated back into the cave. ¡°Right, it¡¯s daytime¡­¡± Sighing with reluctance, he hid back into the cave and made sure to raise a safety wall, just in case, then sat down. What am I supposed to do¡­ I¡¯m stuck in here now¡­ He lamented about his situation, however sitting around and crying won¡¯t do anyone any good. With the flick of his wrist, and a soft glow, a couple dozen books appeared neatly on the floor. Most of them were books he already read, such as magic spells and the history of the continent - as told from a ¡®vampire¡¯s¡¯ perspective, which was quite lacking. ¡°I guess they really don¡¯t want us to know the truth¡­ ¡° Besides those, Aina¡¯s herbal, cooking, first-aid, magic and general life skills books were also mixed in, along with some old and ragged books Kai had lying around. Out of all of them, one stood out to him - The old, ripped and burnt book which he recently found out it doubled as a diary. Its invisible words, readable only by infusing one¡¯s eyes with mana, were written in an old, almost lost language. A language used before the humans forced their own onto all the other species, and one which Kai didn¡¯t learn. However, I can understand some words, or at least I think I do¡­ I hope not. He shivered upon thinking about the few phrases he deciphered. I rather it not be¡­ Regardless, he picked up a book and leaned against the wall, waiting for night to break out, and chuckled at the thought of his watchdog looking at a hill for days on end. ¡­ ¡°Yaawmn~¡± Kai stretched and let out a relieved sigh as he got up after placing the books within his ring. Gathering the magic crystals, he flicked his sleeve. A wide smile ran across his lips, and, pulling his wand out, accompanied by two red crystals, two white ones and two dark ones - The crystals made specifically to fit into his wand - He put the fox mask back on his face and walked out of the cave. The refreshing, cold air greeted him as soon as he showed himself, and he took a deep breath, then released it as his lips parted. ¡°HEY, RAYMOND¡¯S DOG, COME OUT HERE!¡± His scream resonated through the forest, waking up the birds sleeping peacefully within their nests. However, little to his surprise, there was no answer from the figure he supposed was following him. ¡°HE ALREADY TOLD ME SOMEONE WILL BE TRAILING ME, DON¡¯T MAKE ME FIND YOU!¡± He yelled once again, unafraid of the beasts he would be waking up. He sat down cross legged and waited. Closing his eyes, and releasing scarce amounts of mana, he formed a mental image of his surroundings. Just like in those cultivation novels, right? He chuckled to himself and placed a dot on every single large object his mana happened to collide with, and a triangle with everything he thought was a living being. Ants¡­ birds¡­ mammals¡­ no human-shape though. He sighed, of course it wouldn¡¯t be that easy¡­ His eyes flew open, however, as a set of footsteps slowly approached his location from the shadows. With a soft smile, he scanned the figure that has been tailing him for a couple of days, which, much to his surprise, actually appeared before him. He was a man with a head full of white hair, tied neatly in a ponytail, with a clean shaven face, which in turn was covered in wrinkles. His square jawline stood out, as a small hole seemed to puncture his lower jaw. A glance filled with boredom, yet determination was pointed at Kai, however the man¡¯s deadpan expression didn¡¯t give away any thought he had. In terms of clothing, he was simple, even simpler than Kai - A dark blue shirt and a pair of dark pants, tied together at the waist by a make-shift belt. His shoes seemed old and tattered, however upon taking a closer look, their condition, or rather, functionality seemed to hide something Kai could not discern. A thin, long scabbard rested on his back, and he stopped a few meters in front of Kai with a soft sigh. ¡°What do you want, child? You know there¡¯s no need to hide your appearance.¡± Kai took a figurative step back, and looked at the man with slight shock. However, he smirked and took off his mask, placing it inside his storage ring before standing up. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he told you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m his most trusted man.¡± The old man replied, taking a quick look at Kai¡¯s appearance. ¡°You look familiar.¡± ¡°Familiar? How so?¡± Kai asked, his heart now racing. ¡°The shape of your face, your eyebrows¡­ your facial features. You can change your appearance with magic, however modifying the skeletal structure is much more difficult.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Kai mumbled, surprised by the old man¡¯s words. ¡°Is that so¡­¡± He nodded softly and approached Kai, his expression neutral. ¡°I think I met them¡­ Violet Night and Evergreen¡­ a long time ago.¡± Kai¡¯s pupils constricted upon hearing those names, and he jumped to his feet. His lips curled down, and his brows furrowed as he glared at the man. ¡°Calm down kiddo.¡± The man said as an imposing aura emanated out of him. ¡°Before I make you regret calling me a dog.¡± The boy fell to his knees almost instantly, and he barely managed to raise his head, looking at the man with a softer expression. ¡°Ask anyone that¡¯s over 250 years of age and they¡¯d have met your parents, too. No need to overreact.¡± Two hundred and fifty years?? Where would I find such old monsters?! ¡°I- I- apollo- apologize¡­¡± Kai¡¯s lips parted with difficulty, his teeth clattering and entire body shaking as he mustered up the strength to speak through the extreme pressure descending upon him. God damn it, why is everyone so much stronger than I? He cried internally as he tried to move, however he couldn¡¯t do more than an inch before his entire body almost gave out. ¡°Hmph-¡± The man scoffed and scattered his aura, however he didn¡¯t release the pressure on Kai, and stared him down with a glare. ¡°Now tell me, what kind of idiot are you? Chapter 126: Double Phoenix Destruction ¡­ But even if it could bleed, who is to say we can actually cut it deep enough?
¡°I¡¯m not an idiot¡­¡± Kai retorted with a half-heart. Upon hearing his reply, the man shook his head but decided to drop it. ¡°Tell me, why did you call, rude brat.¡± He asked, his tone hiding a tinge of annoyance. ¡°I-Uhm¡­¡± The man raised an eyebrow as he groaned. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°I wanted to test¡­ test my strength,¡± Kai said in a soft, low voice. Hearing that, the man¡¯s expression finally changed. His lips curled up as he broke out in laughter, crossing his arms and shutting his eyes. ¡°Oh kid, that¡¯s hilarious. Calling upon someone just so you can fight them? I thought you were smarter than that.¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand¡­ uhm.¡± ¡°Hideyoshi, my name¡¯s Hideyoshi.¡± ¡°Right, Hi... Hideyoshi?!¡± Kai paused for a second, holding back a chuckle. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, I have no one I can fight to test.¡± ¡°You have that kid, the noble one you spend all day with.¡± ¡°Ah- that kid¡­¡± A shiver ran down his spine at the thought of asking Barhm for a sparring match. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s too young, haha¡­¡± Chuckling nervously, he quickly changed the subject. ¡°I just recently uhm, increased in rank, so to say. I want to see how far I¡¯ve come¡­ without risking death.¡± ¡°Without risking death, you say?¡± The man rubbed his chin with a soft smile. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right, I wouldn¡¯t kill you¡­ but I don¡¯t guarantee I won¡¯t injure you.¡± Kai gulped, but grit his teeth and readied his wand. ¡°That¡¯s fine by me, allow me to receive your guidance.¡± He said with a respectful tone, a stark contrast to his attitude when he called Hideyoshi over. The man smirked, and his pupils shone with curiosity as he glanced at Kai. ¡°You brat sure know how to talk, no wonder Raymond felt defeated.¡± ¡°Well, that''s all I got, hehe.¡± Kai chuckled, scratching the back of his head. ¡°So, do you accept it?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hideyoshi nodded and placed his hands behind his back, taking on a contemplating expression. ¡°Why should I bother?¡± ¡°That-¡± Kai found himself awestruck, or rather, shocked, at the man¡¯s blatant refusal. He¡¯s right though, what would he gain from this? His face quickly turned to disappointment, and he slowly lowered his wand as he thought about what he could offer the man. There¡¯s nothing in my storage ring I could use¡­ nor do I have any knowledge that could help a swordsman¡­ including Rodney¡¯s memories. Well¡­ unless he¡¯d be interested in chemical formulas and physics theories. He let out a light sigh and prepared to put his wand away. I¡¯ll find a beast or something, I guess. Onyx being here would be really useful. ¡°Well, I¡¯m saying that, but to be honest-¡± The man stopped Kai from even taking his first step as he said. ¡°I am curious to see what the child of two legends could do.¡± ¡°Ah-¡± Kai¡¯s eyes instantly beamed with light, however, before he got too excited, his lips parted. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask, how did you meet them? More than that, how are you not surprised I am here?¡± ¡°Haha, Kid.¡± The man replied with a light tone. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. I think¡­ about 150 years ago, there was a Great Demon invasion at my home village all the way to the southwest of the Kingdom. I was an instructor at the Magic Academy at the time, and teleportation portals were still in their infancy. I rushed there as fast as I could. You see, my parents were still there, as well as my nephews and siblings¡­¡± Hideyoshi paused for a moment, his eyes stuck on empty air as he seemed to remember the incident. ¡°By the time I got there, the village was already destroyed. However, funnily enough, no one was injured. I soon learned why. Your mother, Evergreen, had protected everyone whilst your dad fought against a small army of demons. I managed to catch them on their way out. I could tell they had used a spell to disguise themselves, however I didn¡¯t pry. Although their facial features, even altered, remained with me.¡± ¡°The moment I saw you¡­ I saw them as well. Reason for why I¡¯m not surprised¡­ There were rumors that Evergreen was pregnant. And considering the raids from the demons have almost completely disappeared¡­ It wasn''t hard to piece things together. My biggest surprise was that they were vampires, however, at the very least I knew they were not human. Legends of their existence have been passed down from the time of my father¡­ There is no way humans can live that long, even at the pinnacle of their strength. That is, except for a select few. Although I have to ask¡­ why are you here alone?¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Hearing that, Kai bit his lower lip as his heart sank into his stomach. He fell silent. The man¡¯s expression changed considerably, and a hint of anger flashed within his pupils. However, it quickly disappeared as he asked in a serious tone. ¡°Who did it?¡± The boy took a moment, his nails digging into his flesh, and he said through gritted teeth. ¡°Haniard¡­ The King.¡± ¡°That bastard!¡± Hideyoshi cursed and looked up at the sky with a solemn expression. ¡°I know not all vampires are bad, kid. I know you don¡¯t have a choice in the matter either, so I don¡¯t hate you. And, quite frankly, after that day¡­ I used to revere your parents. Most people my age do, I think¡­and even younger ones who caught a glimpse of their legends do. Back then, nobody did anything about the demons, but your parents had a deep hatred of them, for some reason.¡± ¡°Not in two hundred years did I ever think someone as strong as them¡­ would be killed.¡± The man said, almost talking to himself, a hint of concern hidden within his voice. ¡°This is bad¡­¡± Kai gulped, and a bead of sweat rushed down his forehead. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have said that¡­ He bit his lower lip, however he couldn¡¯t change what had already happened. I hope this won¡¯t cause any trouble for me¡­ ¡°Mister Hideyoshi, can I trust you to keep this secret for me? I don¡¯t want anybody to know who my parents were.¡± ¡°Hum?¡± The man glanced at Kai, returning from his thoughts. ¡°Sure kid, it¡¯s not that important anyways. At least not to most people alive right now.¡± Kai let out a light sigh of relief, and his racing heart began calming down. ¡°So then, kid. Do you still want to fight?¡± The man asked with a slight smirk. ¡°Spar, I want to spar¡­¡± Kai corrected him quickly, not wanting to risk anything. ¡°Right, spar. Well then, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Somewhere a little bit more open, try to keep up. If you can¡¯t even follow me, don''t think about trying to exchange blows.¡± ¡°Uhm, alri-¡± However, before Kai could even reply, the man¡¯s figure disappeared like a ghost, and he left behind after-images that the boy could barely follow. What the fuck! He instantly cast several speed enchantments on himself, and the wind cut past him as he tried to follow the blurry figures left behind by the man. As soon as he caught up to one, it¡¯d disappear, however, that at least gave him an idea of where the man passed by. However, little to his surprise, the after-images began disappearing before he reached them, meaning his time to catch up was extremely limited. Gritting his teeth, he waved his wand and created a small pointy barrier around him, decreasing the air resistance. However, it quickly shattered under the pressure as the sound of breaking glass echoed through the forest. Despite that, that gave him a small boost in speed for the brief period of time it was active. Dodging roots and bushes, Kai let out a relieved sigh upon seeing the man stopped in the middle of a clearing in the forest. It was big enough for a professional football team to play in, which was considerable considering the average density of the forest. Stopping to catch his breath, Kai looked around with a bewildered expression, his pupils dilating upon glancing at the unfamiliar sight. ¡°What is this place?¡± The man smirked and said with a scoff. ¡°It¡¯s a small place I created a few decades ago. Back then I used to have¡­ an apprentice.¡± His tone changed slightly toward the latter end of his sentence, to a more melancholic tone. ¡°However she left me soon after attaining a Rank Three Mana Core¡­ I didn¡¯t stop her. I wanted to¡­¡± ¡°Anyway, good job on keeping up kid, I honestly didn¡¯t expect you to be able to.¡± Well so much for that¡­ ha¡­ Kai sighed internally, making a mental note of the man¡¯s words. ¡°Alright, well¡­ let¡¯s start then?¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite eager, aren¡¯t you? Fine then. Let¡¯s see if you can hit me at least once.¡± Just once? Kai shivered slightly, scared of the monster he invited to eat his flesh. In the blink of an eye, the man¡¯s figure reappeared at the other end of the clearing, and his voice rang inside Kai¡¯s mind. ¡°I won¡¯t use any Inkos magic, only my physical body. Let¡¯s see how good Evergreen and Violet Night''s kid is.¡± After that, there was no further communication from the man, who simply looked at Kai with a deadpan expression. Well¡­ shit. Cursing inwardly, Kai readied his wand and with a flick of his wrist, and a short incantation, he shot a bright flash of light into the air, which exploded into a full-blown flashbang. Looking away, he prepared another spell - His wand glowed with a dark light, which surrounded him shortly after appearing, acting as a layer of protection. Afterward, he cast several fireball spells in quick succession, which lingered in front of him, waiting to be shot at his command. Meanwhile, the flashing effect faded, and, much to his surprise, the man hadn¡¯t moved from his original spot. However, the distance between them made Kai unsure of whether or not his spells would hit. Throwing caution to the wind, he made several circles with his wand, summoning two dozen fireballs, which he shot toward Hideyoshi like a small meteor shower. Not waiting to see the result of their landing, he boosted his speed with a quick body enchantment spell, after which his wand got engulfed in flames which became larger and larger as his murmuring voice echoed in the air. ¡°Mystical Sea of Flames!¡± He yelled out, and almost immediately the entire parameter got covered in burning hot flames. However, he wasn¡¯t done, as he cast several Blinding Light Spells. Biting his lower lip, he quickly dashed in another direction and began doing the spell his parents were proud of him for. The Double Dancing Phoenix is my best spell¡­ and also the longest it takes to cast, however, I can do it! Without further ado, he recalled the moves his parents taught him, and began moving as the incantation for it flowed out of his mouth like a river going downstream, and very quickly two fire phoenixes - One Red and One Black - Appeared above his head. They gradually turned bigger and bigger, until they reached the size of a small tree, at which point Kai¡¯s eyes flew open, and he stared at the man, whose deadpan expression seemed to have changed slightly. He pointed his wand at him. The two firebirds shot toward Hideyoshi with a majestic screech and then exploded into a myriad of particles upon crashing against the ground. Kai¡¯s vision turned a mixture of black and red, and he even had to move away due to the extreme heat caused by the collision. With hopeful eyes, a racing heart, and sweating palms, he stared intensely at the dissipating wall of fire and dust, waiting eagerly for the aftermath to reveal itself. Chapter 127: Just as Expected It fell¡­ it took days and dozens of sacrifices, but the accursed beast fell¡­ It had sharp teeth, like a sword, and a long tail with a thick lump of flesh at its end. A single attack covered meters, and a smash sent a shockwave through the earth¡­ but tonight we shall feast upon its blood!
As the dust settled, and the fire faded, Kai¡¯s pupils constricted upon seeing the man standing there with a slight smirk. His clothes, which settled as the wind disappeared, were clean, without any sign of burn or tear. Similarly, his white hair remained unchanged, the only damage done being around him. Charred dirt and foliage covered the ground, and filled the holes Kai¡¯s bombardment of spells had made. What?! Kai¡¯s mind reeled in shock, although deep inside he always knew the result wouldn¡¯t be that much different. However for him to not even have moved? What kind of madness- ¡°Ha,¡± A light chuckle interrupted his train of thought, accompanied by a slow clap, and then the man¡¯s figure appeared in front of him in a matter of seconds. ¡°Not bad, kid. You almost hit me.¡± ¡°How-¡± ¡°How did I escape all of that? Well, you see.¡± The man turned around and tapped his temple. ¡°All of your spells were concentrated on a single point - The place I was standing on. Your ¡®Blinding Light¡¯ was useless as I already knew where the spells would be. I simply moved out of the way at the moment of impact, and then returned to my original location for dramatic effect.¡± ¡°T-t-that-¡± Kai stuttered, a sense of loss washing over him, followed by his hand slapping his cheek. ¡°I should have thought of that.¡± ¡°Haha, kid, you¡¯ve never really fought with your wand, have you?¡± ¡°Well¡­ um¡­¡± Kai murmured, remembering the few times he used his wand. ¡°There was this time when I did use it¡­ uhm, to¡­ I- Hmm¡­¡± Hideyoshi burst into a hearty laughter, his hand flying toward Kai¡¯s shoulder. However, it stopped midway and retreated onto his hip. ¡°If you don¡¯t even know how to cast spells then why did you challenge me to a fight?¡± ¡°As I said, I just wanted to test out my strength, but I don¡¯t think this is the best way to go about it¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The man scratched his chin and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wait, if you don¡¯t know how to use your wand, what have you been fighting with this whole time?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been using a sword, well, a magical sword, I guess.¡± ¡°A sword?¡± He let out an intrigued chuckle. ¡°Is that so, a Mage with a sword? Fuck me if I¡¯ve ever heard of that before. You¡¯re really special.¡± A smile broke out on Kai¡¯s face as he heard the man¡¯s words, gracefully accepting the man¡¯s compliment. However, it quickly faded as he realized he was truly just mocking him. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Ahaha,¡± Hideyoshi chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it kid, it¡¯s just very unusual. Mages prefer to spend their time bettering their spells and upgrading their Mana Core, not training their body.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be the exception.¡± ¡°Yeah, a stupid exception. But I guess you¡¯re right. Why don¡¯t you show me your true skill, then? I¡¯ll only be using my physical body. No magic, no spells.¡± Kai raised an eyebrow as well, however, he didn¡¯t question the man¡¯s motives. Not after seeing just how much of a monster he was. Even if he knew where the spells would be, that doesn¡¯t mean he could just dodge them considering their speed and quick succession. This man is truly something else. What is he doing as Raymond¡¯s dog? Regardless of his thoughts, he put the wand away and instead pulled out the silver sword he had gotten familiar with. Its blade shone with a faint luster, and the soft cry of a beast could be heard resonating through the vibrations. ¡°Oh? A Beast Sword Spirit, you don¡¯t see these often. Good sword.¡± ¡°Mhm. To be honest I don¡¯t know what that means exactly.¡± Kai nodded and looked at his sword with an endearing regard. ¡°But it¡¯s been serving me well.¡± Hideyoshi sighed and looked at Kai with an amused expression. ¡°Well, you¡¯ll figure it out eventually. Now come on, don¡¯t waste time.¡± Kai nodded and readied his sword. Holding the hilt with both hands, he pointed its tip diagonally upward, then pressed the dull part against his chest. This position gave him a large range of motion and allowed him to be ready for any attack. Glancing at Hideyoshi, who disappeared at the spot where all the spells landed, Kai grit his teeth and began enhancing his body. ¡®Speed Amplification¡¯, ¡®Strength Amplification¡¯, ¡®Vision Enchantment¡¯, ¡®Tough Skin¡¯, ¡®Magic Shield¡¯, ¡®Magic Bubble¡¯, ¡®Air Nullifier¡¯, ¡®Greater Strength¡¯ ¡­ Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. All of these low-ranked spells he cast were spells any mage and body cultivator knew, and almost the only spells Kai knew. Infusing mana into the sword, its blade shone with a bright light, and Kai¡¯s figure disappeared from the place where he once stood. Whilst he wasn¡¯t nearly as fast as Hideyoshi, his speed could almost match Onyx¡¯s, which was something he could be proud of. Dust flew about under his feet as he kicked the dirt, his footsteps ringing loudly with each pass he made. The man¡¯s eyes followed him closely, despite his speed, and, with a smirk, he stepped sideways. Kai¡¯s sword descended upon the ground the very next instant, creating a small hole on impact. He raised his sword and quickly swiped at the man¡¯s legs as he ducked, however, Hideyoshi jumped, dodging Kai¡¯s strike, then leaped backward as he dodged a vertical slash. A light chuckle escaped his lips as he stood in place. Quickly turning his head, he evaded Kai¡¯s thrust by a hair¡¯s breadth, then took a step forward and tapped him on the forehead. Kai was sent flying backward from the light flick, only stopping as he crashed into a tree. He spit out a mouthful of blood, and stood up with a grin, wiping his chin. Blood rushed through his veins, accompanied by adrenaline and cortisol, and he gripped the sword even tighter as a smile creased his lips. Without wasting any time, he pulled out his wand and cast a quick ¡®Wind Barrier¡¯, a spell that would help him negate air resistance even more. Due to not having any wind crystals embedded into his wand, the spell would be weaker, however the current Kai didn¡¯t care about such things. He took a step forward, and his figure disappeared, leaving behind a brief after-image, which shattered as the sound of a tree being hit resounded moments later. The silver sword cut through a tree, penetrating it deep enough for sap to flow out. Kai glared at the man, and he forcefully pulled out his blade before leaping forward, aiming the tip right at Hideyoshi¡¯s heart. The man dodged the strike, taking a step back. What awaited him was Kai¡¯s fist, which he met with a slightly shocked expression. However, he quickly ducked, and then drove a spin-kick right into Kai¡¯s ribs. The young vampire was once again sent flying. He rolled on the ground and stopped himself by scratching the ground, after which he jumped to his feet. Catching his breath, he stared at Hideyoshi with a focused glance, and the desire to fight burning deep within his pupils. His body flashed with a soft light as he murmured something. He lifted his arm until it was at a ninety-degree angle, and pointed the blade¡¯s top at the man. Slowly advancing, Kai¡¯s eyes darted from one corner to the other, and he took a glance inside his Mixed Mana Core. The mana within was depleting at a rapid rate, however, the amount it was able to hold had increased by more than two times what he previously had. With a smirk, he moved. His body became a blur as the wind whistled past him, and he kicked up dust with each step he took. Hideyoshi snickered as he followed Kai¡¯s movement, until¡­ A rapid flash of light caught him by surprise, forcing his eyes to shut. He took a step back and listened carefully, however, Kai¡¯s footsteps stopped completely, and so did any other sound besides the forest¡¯s tranquility. Only a second passed between the time he shut his eyes and the time he opened them back again, but after a quick glance, he was shocked to see that Kai was nowhere to be found. And then, he rolled. His eyes widened in surprise, and he instinctively rolled backward. The next moment, Kai¡¯s body descended from the sky. A flurry of wind accompanied him as he smashed into the ground, his silver sword cutting into the earth. He bit his lip and immediately lunged at the man, letting out a yell as he held the sword with both hands. Kai kicked the ground, jumping which he transferred into a spin attack aimed right between the man¡¯s eyebrows. He missed, however, and quickly got up, then pulled out his wand. A small fireball shot forward, followed by another, which the man dodged with ease. A barrage of small fireballs, which Kai cast in rapid succession, flew toward his face. Sidestepping them all, he waited for the boy to throw another blade attack, readying his fingers. Just as he did so, Kai¡¯s sword appeared in between the flames. With a smirk, he caught it between his fingertips. His expression changed, however, as it fell to the ground effortlessly. ¡°Damn it!¡± He cursed and looked down at Kai, whose fist flew at the man¡¯s crotch. ¡°Little bastard, you!¡± Hideyoshi yelled as he jumped, barely avoiding the ¡®fatal¡¯ shot. A smile creased Kai¡¯s lips, followed by a flick of his wrist. The violet sword - his dad¡¯s sword, now as black as tar - appeared in his left hand, which he quickly fed eighty percent of the mana in his body. With a loud groan, he threw the sword at the man, whose widened eyes could not believe what they saw. Unable to use any sort of magic to change his direction, the heavy lump of sword-shaped metal hit him squarely in the face. He fell to the ground. The sword¡¯s muffled thud accompanied him. The man stared at the sky, the stars, and the moon through the tree¡¯s canopy as he lay on the cold ground. ¡°Ha.¡± A light chuckle escaped his lips, and he rubbed his face, where the faint mark of a wide blade appeared. Kai walked over and picked up both swords before collapsing on the ground next to the man. His skin met the moon¡¯s rays, which he embraced as sweat drenched his body. He took a look at his mana reserves, most of which had been exhausted. Any longer and I wouldn¡¯t even be able to move my limbs¡­ speaking of- A light groan escaped his lips as the mana faded from his body as he stopped casting the spells. He felt a light burn spread all across his body, which felt light like a feather, yet heavy at the same time. His breathing became heavier. Finally, the fatigue he ignored whilst fighting at more than one hundred percent of his ability caught up, so, in a sense, even without having all his mana exhausted from his body, he was paralyzed. ¡°Well, fuck.¡± He cursed with a quiet chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s what I should be saying¡­ damned child.¡± ¡°Well, I hit you, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°That barely counts¡­ but yes you did,¡± Hideyoshi grumbled as he placed one hand over his chest. ¡°That was¡­ I¡¯ve never seen someone throw out their weapons.¡± ¡°I have to do what I have to do, you know?¡± Kai replied with a chuckle, followed by a pained groan. ¡°Well¡­ you won. Are you happy?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ very, haha!¡± Kai said with a light smile creasing his lips. I managed to see the limits I have better and¡­ realized that despite being a mage¡­ I am not a mage. I¡¯m more of a swordsman¡­ with magic. Magic Swordsman? Yeah, that sounds about right¡­ Chapter 128: Maddening Beast There is an uneasiness flowing through me¡­ however, we¡¯ve finally left that accursed forest. One day we shall return, I shall return. I can feel strength coursing through my veins¡­ surely because of that beast. I cannot wait to dine upon it again.
¡°Ouch¡­¡± Kai groaned as he dragged his footsteps through the forest. Rubbing his chest, in the place where Hideyoshi had hit him with the force of what seemed to be a hundred horses. Really didn¡¯t have to hit me that hard¡­ He cried internally as he felt a burning sensation cover his entire upper body. This will take me at least two days to heal from¡­. It could be worse, I guess. Looking around, Kai didn¡¯t notice the bodyguard, or rather, observer anymore. Clearly, the man¡¯s stealth skills were top-notch. Then again, I don¡¯t have any good detection magic. I hope the academy can fix that. Ahh¡­ the academy, I still need to wait three to four years¡­ As he walked, he sent a trace of mana inside his body and observed the changes within the Mixed Mana Core. Its hue remained the same, however, its size has increased by 50%, and the amount of mana it could store more than doubled. A smile broke out on Kai¡¯s lips, the kind that could not hide his happiness. Of course, the star revolving around his core shone beautifully, and even brighter than before, as it received mana of better quality. After a few days, my core will finally settle and I will be able to operate at one hundred percent. Until then I will absorb as much mana as I can. Hehehe¡­ Aina, Elly, and Euphy would be proud of me. I wonder how they¡¯re doing¡­ Kai walked slowly, reminiscing about the almost full year he had spent in Evicario, the Elven Kingdom. A chuckle escaped his lips. Remembering all the pain and panic attacks he might have caused the three women during his healing process and even after that. However, a melancholic feeling washed over him, and his smile turned softer whilst also thinking about Sverik. Hah¡­ he must be eating well at the academy¡­ Smirking, he stealthily pulled out a Health Regeneration Pill and popped it into his mouth, instantly melting and circulating through his bloodstream. It¡¯s really rejuvenating¡­ Ugh, but it still hurts. He laughed bitterly and slowly marched through the woods. Much to his dismay, the way home took much longer than when he got here. Partially due to his wounds, and partially because he still had some tasks to complete. Bowing down and collecting a couple of strands of a rainbow-colored plant, he smiled softly to himself and then continued on his way home. As time passed, the moon slowly began descending, slowly starting its final phase. The sky turned brighter, and the stars began to disappear. Even so, Kai walked leisurely toward the city gate. Putting his mask back on as he left the forest, he nodded toward the guard as a form of salute and hurried on toward Karfi¡¯s bar. Onyx must be missing me¡­ He thought as the thick snout of his companion passed through his mind. Hehe, I should cuddle him to sleep today. However, his heart skipped a beat as an unfamiliar growl echoed in his ears. His head snapped to the side, however, nothing appeared within his field of vision, aside from the large number of people crowding the streets. A shiver ran down his spine, and, frowning, he turned his attention toward a dark alley, and a faint sense of deja vu hit him as he slowly approached it. A strange pressure enveloped him, familiar yet not, which made him take a step back. Before he could think of when he first had this feeling, the sudden sound of hurried footsteps made him forget any apprehension he had, and he followed the invisible presence as closely as he could. Luckily he was much too familiar with the alleyways. Isn¡¯t this just like¡­ Darky! Finally, it clicked in Kai¡¯s mind, and his desire to catch up to the beast grew even more. Unfortunately, even if he knew the streets like the back of his palm, predicting the movement of something he couldn¡¯t see still proved to be difficult. He looked for hints in the environment - Crushed trash, puddles, muddy footprints, anything that could tell him where this strange animal went. His heart raced as he traced the steps, and realized the direction he was going in. Isn¡¯t this¡­ towards Karfi¡¯s place?! Alarmed, he hurried in his footsteps and pulled out his wand, as well as the silver sword. Placing the wand in his mouth, he pulled out a large bag filled with medicinal powder, after which he quickly scanned the area. Bang! A sudden collision alarmed him of the beast¡¯s presence, and, without thinking twice about it, threw the bag in that direction, followed by a strong gust of wind shot from his wand. The bag exploded, scattering the powder. Most of it landed on the ground or got blown by the wind, however some of it landed on the beast, which now turned visible in Kai¡¯s eyes. Using his keen vision, he ran through the alleyways, jumping on top of a rooftop after amplifying his legs and running across the tiles until he caught up with the creature. Blinding Light! He murmured under his breath and shot a bright beam of light right in front of it. Brandishing his sword, and jumping down from the roof, he landed just behind the beast. It didn¡¯t stop upon hearing the commotion but instead hurried its footsteps. ¡°Damn it!¡± Kai cursed, panicked. However, the time it took him to recover from the fall put him behind the thing by a dozen or so meters. So fast! Rushing away from his location, a couple of men gathered around the place where he had cast the ¡®Blinding Light¡¯ spell. They shrugged at each other as they met in the alley''s center. ¡°Was it me or did the sunrise for a second?¡± One man asked, his shaven beard and sharp jawline standing out as he rubbed his chin. ¡°No, that seemed to be magic. Much worse¡­ inside the city no less.¡± Another one said, his old age beginning to show through some white hairs growing out of his head. ¡°Right, another dumb child.¡± A blond-haired man with eyes as blue as the ocean spat on the ground and prepared to return to his house before being stopped by the older man. ¡°Now, now, let¡¯s see what the commotion is about. We could be missing out on something fun.¡± His eyes held a hint of excitement, but mostly boredom. ¡°After all, for us adventurers life is very monotonous, we can have a bit of fun now!¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Geh, you senile man, what¡¯s so fun about seeing a kid get arrested? I¡¯m going back inside, the sun ain¡¯t even up yet. People will think we¡¯re vampires.¡± ¡°Ah bollocks Tim, just come with us you boring bastard, haha!¡± The handsome man chuckled and grabbed the blonde man¡¯s arm, then dragged him toward the direction Kai had rushed off to. The boy was quick on his feet, and he caught up with the beast in a little over a minute, however the destruction it did upon fearfully entering the main road was considerable. Screams of terror rang through the city, like loud bells from a church¡¯s tower. Barrels and boxes filled with dried food, beverages, and spices, splattered all over the ground. Not to mention the countless wounded civilians dragging their bodies to the side of the road. The invisible creature rushed through the street as fast as Kai chased it, but to any random onlooker, it looked like Kai was destroying everything before him. He bit his lower lip and ignored the whispers and shocked gasps. Despite his perseverance, however, he wasn¡¯t able to catch up to the invisible creature. Kai¡¯s only luck was that it didn¡¯t know where it was running to, so its speed had slowed down considerably. Fucking hell, if only I wasn¡¯t already exhausted! Kai cried internally, however, he pushed through and gritted his teeth despite the pain. I shouldn¡¯t have used all my mana pills... damn it! Finally, once the road was relatively clear of people, Kai raised his wand and pointed it at the beast, then murmured under his breath. Slowly, a large ball made of yellowish-blue flames formed before him. He aimed and shot it directly toward the thing. The fireball landed squarely on its back, earning Kai a loud grunt of pain, followed by an angry growl. Almost instantly, the animal turned toward the boy, his form finally taking shape as its invisibility gradually faded. Unlike Darky, this creature¡¯s body wasn¡¯t akin to a dark void or mist, but more to a bipedal wolf. Its scarlet fur, decorated with dark undertones, glistened under the gentle light of the moon, and its yellow eyes glared at Kai with a mixture of hatred and fear. Baring its sharp fangs, the creature¡¯s mouth opened wide, similarly to that of a snake, revealing a few sets of razor-sharp teeth. The onlookers watched with shock as the unfamiliar beast revealed itself. Its unnatural shape, cries, and freakishly wide mouth made everyone take several steps back. Similarly, their vision turned to Kai, a boy no taller than their children, facing this beast. A shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine as his hair stood on end, and he prepared to roll away from any attack the creature might do. However, much to his surprise the animal didn¡¯t get closer than a few meters before taking off in a sprint again. Once again turning invisible, the only sign it left behind was the dead fur flying about in the air. What the fu- Kai cried internally and immediately gave chase after shaking off the initial shock. That thing is strange! He thought, his eyes focused on the ground. Now that the beast was running through a clean street, the hints Kai had toward its position diminished greatly. Letting out a light sigh, he grits his teeth and releases what little mana he had left, just enough for him not to faint. Spreading it throughout the street, and filtering out what he could see, he hurried on forward. Finally, his eyes lit up. There it is! He kicked the ground and immediately sped toward a location a few dozen meters away, his heart racing upon recognizing the surroundings. Soon, the beast would arrive at Karfi¡¯s bar, and a cold shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine upon realizing this. Damn it, why there?! Putting his wand and sword away, his speed increased slightly once again. The wind whistled past his ears, and his figure practically became a blur - A furious torrent running through the wide and narrow streets of the city. He knew Hideyoshi was watching him, however, that fact didn¡¯t bother him as much as the thought of his friends getting hurt. The mana he spread faded away, and he lost track of the beast, however that didn¡¯t matter. Kai stopped and looked around, his eyes widening upon landing on Karfi¡¯s bar, and his heart raced upon noticing the beast had stopped right in front of it. Its invisibility remained, however, its loud, wet sniffs landed on Kai¡¯s ears. Without hesitation, he pulled out his sword. With a light step, Kai threw caution to the wind and aimed his blade where he thought its legs were. His eyes widened, however, as the sword hit nothing but air. The beast¡¯s light footsteps rang in his ears, and he turned around, flabbergasted by its speed. What?! Regardless, he grit his teeth and stared at the beast¡¯s location. Clutching the sword¡¯s hilt with both hands, he approached it carefully. Kai almost forgot to breathe as the pressure coming off the angered beast descended upon him. He glanced back as the bell¡¯s soft jingle rang into his ears, and saw Karfi, Natasha, and Tausi appear from inside the bar, their expressions turning to confusion as soon as they saw him. In contrast, Onyx, who yawned lazily as he sneaked in between them, immediately went on high alert. He dashed forward and joined Kai, standing by his side as he snarled at the invisible creature. A low growl escaped the beast, and a loud sniff rang into the air. Onyx took a step back, its yellow eyes seemingly meeting the beast¡¯s. As they clashed, the creature¡¯s scarlet fur once again materialized before Kai. Its brows were furrowed, and eyes were locked on to Onyx. Suddenly, from its standing posture, it fell on all fours, its resemblance to a wolf becoming more obvious. However, unlike before when it showed itself, it didn¡¯t growl or snarl but only stared at Onyx silently. Countless other people gathered around the three, some from their own houses, inns, or bars, and some followed Kai and the destruction left in his wake. From up close, the beast dwarfed Kai¡¯s stature, something he hadn¡¯t noticed until now. It was even bigger than Onyx, from what Kai could tell, in his true form. Quickly turning his head, and glancing at the people that took care of him when he needed it most, the resolve he held within hardened. I need to protect them! He didn¡¯t know why the beast rushed here, nor did he care. All he knew was that he had to stand his ground until someone came to help. I really doubt I can fight it, at least not in my current state¡­ and that Hideyoshi fella definitely won''t help. That¡¯s the city guard¡¯s job, speaking of¡­ there¡¯s no way they haven¡¯t been informed yet, right? Kai thought and took a quick look around. He saw several familiar faces - Adventurers that frequented the guild¡¯s headquarters, some of whom were ranked a couple of notches higher than Kai. Their expressions, a mix of fear, disgust, and amusement, twisted Kai¡¯s stomach and made him feel like throwing up. He clicked his tongue in the end, and, just as he turned back, the beast lunged forward. Its snake-like jaw opened wide, revealing the insides of its mouth. The razor-sharp teeth sent a shiver running down Kai¡¯s spine. Its throat - as wide as his head - seemed ready to eat him in one gulp, and the stench coming out of it made Kai¡¯s stomach churn. He took a step back as he brandished his sword, trying to stall for time. Onyx backed off as well, sensing the weakness coming out of his companion¡¯s body, however, he placed himself a couple of centimeters in front of Kai. The Obborik¡¯s body flashed with a few gentle lights as he buffed himself silently, and waited for the enormous beast to take action. Chapter 129: Maddening Fight The journey has ended¡­ What felt like an eternity was only a couple of months, and yet nothing has changed. My cities are just as prosperous, my armies just as strong¡­ and our cattle remained subservient.
Kai¡¯s breathing quickened as he stared at the beast right down its throat, and a cold shiver ran down his spine as he gulped. The closest he¡¯d been to such a gigantic beast was the bear his grandpa had made him fight, however, the powerful pressure the beast before him exuded was like comparing a firefly to the moon. The blade trembled in his arms, however, he didn¡¯t back down despite his entire body telling him to do so. Instead, he glanced at Onyx and smiled briefly upon seeing his companion¡¯s care. Ugh, I barely have any energy to hold the sword¡­ What bad timing! Kai cursed internally. However, before he could even think or react, the beast¡¯s wide mouth lunged directly at him. It shadowed his tiny figure, and he could only widen his eyes as he almost saw death flash right before his eyes. ~Graaaah~ He took a step backward as soon as he recovered, awoken by the beast¡¯s pitiful cry. Kai let out a soft gasp upon seeing Onyx hanging by the creature¡¯s neck, having bit it. Much to his surprise, though, no blood trickled down. The beast raised its head, and Onyx along with it, then shook furiously in an attempt to get the Obborik off. Onyx, however, held on strong despite the creature¡¯s best attempt at getting rid of him. Without hesitation, Kai dashed straight at the beast, slashing toward its legs at a diagonal angle. However, as soon as the sword made contact with the thing¡¯s skin, it sent a shockwave from the blade up the hilt, and then to Kai¡¯s body. He jumped backward, almost losing his grip on the sword, and thought as he stared at his trembling hands. Did I just hit a piece of stone?! Quickly retreating, he whistled toward Onyx. The Obborik instantly let go and jumped off, rushing over to Kai¡¯s side. The creature, upon feeling its head getting lighter, fell back down on all fours. It glared at Onyx with an ugly expression and snarled at both him and Kai. The boy¡¯s grip on the sword loosened for a second, allowing it to fall by a couple of millimeters before gripping it tightly once again. A small bead of sweat dripped down his forehead, although nobody could see it. Damn it! He cursed as he let out a heavy sigh, and he looked around, hoping to find someone to help him. Looking at the adventurers, whose expressions varied between terror, excitement, or scorn, and the onlookers who couldn¡¯t even be bothered to call for help, Kai¡¯s mixed bag of emotions soon turned to nothing but anger. These bastards, they¡¯re simply looking at me, like I¡¯m some kind of spectacle! Is this not their home? Glancing back at Karfi, his anger subsided a little upon seeing the three standing by the door. Tausi hid behind both Natasha and her dad, grasping at his pants while looking at the scene with a terrified expression. Despite that, he couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly betrayed by the entirety of the onlookers, who couldn¡¯t be bothered to send for the city guards, who seemed to be sleeping on their job. More than that, however, the sun began rising, which only spelled disaster for Kai. It wouldn¡¯t be long before it showed its first rays, at which point he would be forced to flee, lest he wanted to perish. Facing the beast once again, and staring at the parts where both he and Onyx tried wounding it, he came to a dreadful conclusion. Physical attacks don¡¯t work on it¡­ at least not in my current state. Damn it, I¡¯m not even sure magic works on it, but I have no way to try anyway. This is bad, really bad! He complained internally, however knew that there was absolutely nothing he could do about it right now. Think, magic¡­ What sort of magic do I have that doesn¡¯t use any mana¡­? Ugh¡­ zero. Kai¡¯s spirits fell upon realizing that he had nothing that could hurt the beast and that all he could do was stall for time until help arrived¡­ if it ever did. Bitter, he readied his sword in an attempt to make himself look bigger and more threatening and stared down at the beast. Why is it here? This seems fishy¡­ However, as much as he wanted to know the answer to these questions, the animal wouldn¡¯t give him the chance. With a quick lunge, it appeared right in front of Kai, biting at his neck. With a quick parry, he stopped the rotten teeth from piercing his flesh, and in the same timeframe, Onyx unleashed a strong gust of wind, knocking both the beast and Kai to the ground. The boy quickly jumped back, putting some distance between him and the creature. His heart beat like a drum, threatening to jump out of his chest after the sudden attack. Damn it, I can¡¯t keep this up too long, this thing is angry! Kai¡¯s body trembled at the prospect of getting killed by a beast he knew nothing about, even more so with so many people surrounding him. However, none of them showed any desire to help him, neither his friends nor the strangers he always saw at the guild headquarters. That is, besides Onyx, of course. Taking in a deep breath, he glanced at the Obborik with a soft smile. Deep inside he knew that Karfi and Natasha couldn¡¯t do much to help him, but that didn¡¯t excuse the other adventurers. The beast¡¯s mouth opened once again, brandishing his sharp teeth at Kai as if that was the only move it knew. However, Kai didn¡¯t immediately get scared or retreat right away this time. Instead, he examined the creature, hoping that there¡¯d be some kind of hidden weakness he didn¡¯t notice. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. He grit his teeth and watched the thing rise on its hind legs, lunging with its wide jaw toward him in an attempt to eat him like a serpent. His pupils widened as he watched the literal jaws of death descend toward him. However, his eyes glistened with a faint light upon seeing a small, flesh wound to the side of its mouth, where Onyx¡¯s wind blast had hit it. Of course! Without hesitation, he pulled the last of his available mana and took out a couple of fire stones from within his ring. With a quick half-step forward, he threw the crystals up, then hit them with a determined swing of his sword. They exploded only a couple of centimeters away from the beast¡¯s jaw, prompting a gut-wrenching scream to escape its mouth as it tumbled backward. A black spring of blood shot out from the thing¡¯s mouth, however its figure disappeared almost instantly. It left, running away and leaving a trail of blood which quickly faded away. A short sigh of relief escaped Kai¡¯s body as he fainted, his clothes burning up and turning to ash as he fell limp. His entire world turned to black, and a comforting warmth enveloped him as darkness took over his vision and he fell unconscious. ¡­ Kai stretched as he woke up, a soft groan escaping his mouth, followed by a louder ¡®Ouch¡¯. He took off the blanket covering his body and found himself not naked, but covered in bandages from head to toe. Well isn¡¯t this Deja Vu¡­ He chuckled to himself, and felt his face, making sure his mask was still in place. Letting out a light sigh of relief upon finding it in place, he remarked that its usual smooth surface turned to a more carbonic¡­ burnt wood texture. Ah¡­ I must have gotten caught in the explosion, damn it¡­ Crying internally at the revelation, he now understood better why so much of his body began to itch. The itching sensation spread from his right arm towards his chest, akin to a thousand ants marching up and down his body. Scratching it did nothing, but instead made it worse. Even thinking about it made it worse, so he decided to distract himself. As usual, the room was empty, yet well isolated from the harsh rays of the sun and moon, only this time a table had appeared by his bedside, upon which rested several bandage rolls and ointments. Natasha must have set this all up¡­ it¡¯s the second time she had to patch me up. He let out a sigh and rolled out of bed, ignoring the burning pain spreading throughout his body as he did so. After making sure that the mask sat well on his face, and putting on some clothes, he walked out of the room, toward the main bar area. As soon as he stepped through the door, an intense, almost intoxicating smell of alcohol inundated his nostrils, making him take a step back. He blinked a few times, and finally took in the sight of Karfi¡¯s bar - an empty place more often than not - now filled to the brim with clients. Their laughter and happy chatter bounced off the walls, fully landing in Kai¡¯s ears as nothing more than a cacophony of voices. ¡°Ah, Ichor, you¡¯re finally awake!¡± A familiar voice rang in Kai¡¯s mind, and, as he turned, Onyx¡¯s large figure quickly covered his entire field of view. With a quick lick and a light push, Kai found himself on the cold floor, held down by the Obborik¡¯s small, yet heavy body. ¡°Boy get do-¡± Kai protested, however, a sharp, intense pain spreading over his body stopped him from finishing his sentence. Luckily, Karfi and Natasha rushed over, the former grabbing Onyx off of Kai. The woman quickly lifted the boy and brushed the dust off his clothes before checking his bandages. ¡°Phew,¡± she sighed, relieved. ¡°Looks like your wounds didn¡¯t open up¡­ again.¡± Kai chuckled awkwardly as he stood up, and a sudden tightness formed around his legs not long after. Looking down, he saw Tausi¡¯s small figure snuggling on his torn clothes. He smiled softly and patted her little head, then lifted his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He asked Karfi, who looked at him with a complicated expression. ¡°How come there are so many people?¡± ¡°Well, the thing is¡­ erm¡­¡± Karfi tried explaining the situation, however, all that came out of his mouth was an indecipherable jumble. ¡°Lots of people saw Aunty Natasha bring you inside and they followed!¡± Tausi¡¯s squeaky, innocent voice interrupted her father, and told the truth outright without beating around the bush. Kai paused for a second, surprised by the sudden news, before letting out a faint chuckle. ¡°I see, haha¡± ¡°What¡¯s more surprising is that they¡¯ve come back even after three days¡­ you must be really popular now,¡± Natasha added with a slight smirk. ¡°Three days?! I¡¯ve been sleeping for three days?!¡± ¡°Yes, your body must have been really exhausted. Boy, what the hell did you do after you left unannounced? You come back all broken and bruised, fight a giant¡­ something, and then collapse all burnt. Do you like getting hurt that much?!¡± Kai choked on air upon hearing Natasha¡¯s nagging, getting a familiar feeling from listening to her talk about how much he got hurt. Ah¡­this is too much deja vu. ¡°A-Anyway¡­ we should go inside,¡± Natasha said, opening the door toward the house side of the bar, inviting everyone but Karfi in. Tausi, Onyx, and Kai quickly made their way inside, followed by the woman. The door closed with a soft click behind her, and she sat down on the couch with a light sigh. ¡°This whole ordeal has been exhausting¡­ I''ll tell you that much.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Kai groaned as he too, sat down. ¡°How come?¡± ¡°Boy, after you fainted, the city guards arrived and asked us what all the commotion was about. We explained what you saw, who you were, and all that, then got you inside. Goddess Lumiera, when I saw your body I thought I was about to faint¡­ thankfully you heal really fast otherwise you¡¯d be bedridden for weeks! After patching you up Karfi saw an increase in clientele after people somehow just now discovered this building here was a bar as well, plus the publicity of you making a creature five times your size running away¡­ ah so much stuff, I had to serve as a nurse and bartender¡­¡± Kai sat and listened to Natasha give a short resume of the past three days, and the more he heard, the dizzier he got. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve caused you a fair bit of trouble again.¡± ¡°Oh no, not at all! I¡¯m a doctor, this is what I do. Don¡¯t worry your head with that.¡± She said reassuringly, then pulled out a bottle from her ring, then took small sips. ¡°Is that¡­ alcohol?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­ Yes. Why, you want some?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Kai thought about it for a second, then remembered the last time he drank alcohol, then decided against it. ¡°I¡¯m good¡­¡± How could she drink alcohol at this time¡­ what time is it actually? His question was soon answered, however, by Karfi¡¯s entrance. As the man¡¯s exhausted voice left his mouth, beads of sweat trailed down his forehead. ¡°Natasha¡­ I need your help, please. These guys won¡¯t stop ordering alcohol¡­ and I¡¯m also running low on supply!¡± With a sigh, the woman in question stood up, wiped some booze off her lips, then spoke. ¡°So¡­ Tell them you¡¯re out, it¡¯s almost morning anyway.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°No buts, man, just go¡­¡± She said lazily and sat back down without waiting for Karfi to speak another word. ¡°F¡­ fine.¡± Chapter 130: Not so Maddening Aftermath Or so I thought¡­ I hear news of magicians rising amongst the humans¡­ damned bastards, they should know their place.
Kai rubbed his bandaged arm, trying to scratch a literal itch, however it was useless. He sighed and leaned back on the couch, melting inside the soft cushions. Onyx jumped and laid his large, fluffy head on Kai¡¯s lap, lightly wagging his tail back and forth. Karfi sat opposite him, with Tausi in his lap and Natasha to his left. Both adults drank from a large bottle of wine, which they poured into glasses. Meanwhile, Tausi¡¯s small body begged to fall asleep whilst her conscience wanted her to stay awake even if just a little longer. A light chuckle escaped Kai¡¯s body, followed by a grunt of pain. ¡°Argh, this is really annoying.¡± ¡°Well¡­ you did this to yourself, again,¡± Natasha said, holding a glass of wine at her eye level. ¡°I swear, the only thing you know how to do is go missing and get hurt. Has anyone told you they¡¯re going to die of worry because of you?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ yes, they have¡­ several times already.¡± Kai rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, his face flushing red behind the mask. ¡°Right, expected that.¡± Natasha giggled lightly while drinking from her glass, causing a little wine to spill down her neck. Kai¡¯s focus immediately shifted to the drop of wine and remembered the smell of the drinks at that particular bar. He watched the drop rush down Natasha¡¯s neck, passing by her veins, which pulsed with warm blood. His heart immediately began to race, and his teeth began to clench whilst he felt his fangs fight to come out. With his entire being trembling, he mustered the little willpower he had to look away. ¡°Are you alright, Ichor?¡± Karfi asked, concern clear in his voice. ¡°Hum?¡± Kai gulped and glanced at the man, his glowing red eyes almost visible through the mask. ¡°Y-eah, I am¡­ just, pain.¡± He replied through gritted teeth. ¡°That¡¯s good. You¡¯ve really done a number on yourself, huh? I meant to ask what that was all about.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Kai gulped and lightly cleared his throat, thinking of a way to explain the weird creature. Looking down at Onyx, he collected himself, and his lips parted with a sigh. ¡°I saw that¡­ thing, well more like sensed it, while it was invisible. I chased it through the city and noticed it was heading in this direction. I got anxious and tried to stop it, but I was unsuccessful. It stopped right in front of your house, rather, the bar, for some reason. I didn¡¯t want any of you to get hurt, so I fought it, naturally¡­ but.¡± ¡°Woah there, slow down kid.¡± Natasha put down her glass and stood up. ¡°You¡¯re talking too fast. I think I get the idea.¡± She said while heading toward the bar, returning with a large cup of water shortly thereafter. ¡°Here, take it slow, alright?¡± Kai nodded and avoided looking in the woman¡¯s direction, or at Karfi, for that matter. He simply pulled out a straw and finished the cup in one fell swoop. ¡°Right¡­ I was already exhausted from my, uhm¡­ trip. Luckily I had some crystals in my ring, otherwise, I¡¯m not sure I could have defeated it.¡± ¡°Ah yes¡­ so much money. Kid, are you loaded or something?¡± Natasha said with a sigh, taking a small sip from her glass. ¡°Loaded, why?¡± ¡°Have you seen the price of those things? You basically exploded a small fortune right in front of the bar!¡± ¡°Uhm¡­ I have, maybe? Aren¡¯t they a necessity?¡± Hearing that, Natasha sighed once again and tilted her head back, placing the back of her palm over her forehead. ¡°Kid, crystals of that purity are not a ¡®necessity¡¯ but a ¡®luxury¡¯... I could feel them from the door for Lumiera¡¯s sake!¡± ¡°Ah so-¡± ¡°Now, Natasha. The kid basically saved us, stop nagging him about this and that. He could have died.¡± Natasha sighed heavily and leaned back in her seat. ¡°You¡¯re right, not like I¡¯m his mom. I¡¯m just glad he¡¯s alive¡­¡± Kai chuckled awkwardly as a light wave of warmth sprung up inside his chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing you two trouble again¡­¡± Kai lowered his head, an apologetic expression hidden behind his charred mask. His hand clenched into a fist as images of the events three days ago flashed through his brain, and anger quickly overtook him as he thought about all the bystanders. I¡¯m going to have a talk with Raymond very soon¡­! However, the thought of facing that man again sent a cold shiver running down his spine. I shouldn¡¯t have toyed so much with him. Upon hearing Kai¡¯s words, Natasha instantly got up and walked over to him, then lifted his head and seemingly stared right into his pupils. ¡°Listen here kid,¡± an imposing, unfamiliar tone erupted out of her mouth. ¡°We never thought about you as a troublemaker, so don¡¯t assume you¡¯re one, got it?¡± Kai nodded, his body shaking from the woman¡¯s sudden firmness. ¡°U-Understood¡­¡± ¡°Hahahaha¡± A loud, hearty laughter broke out from behind her, and Karfi¡¯s large figure shook as he pulled his head back. Slapping himself on the knee, and waking Tausi up from her land of dreams, a tear ran down his reddened cheeks. ¡°Man, it¡¯s been a while since I saw you like that, Natasha.¡± The woman¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, and she slowly let go of Kai as she stumbled backward, landing on the soft couch next to Karfi. ¡°Indeed¡­ quite a while huh.¡± Her melodious voice reverberated in the air, carrying a hint of melancholy and sadness. ¡°How many years?¡± She asked, picking up the wine bottle resting on the table, and taking large chugs from it. ¡°Too many,¡± Karfi sighed as he took the bottle from her hands, and in turn took large chugs as well. ¡°Ever since Isabella¡­¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Isabella¡­ hah.¡± Natasha chuckled. ¡°She was always our sunshine, but she was such a dummy¡­ such a big¡­ dummy.¡± A tear dripped down Natasha¡¯s cheek, which she quickly wiped and stole the bottle again. ¡°Fuck¡­ go get another bottle.¡± Karfi took a moment to glance at Natasha, then stood up with a groan. He gently picked up his daughter, who had quickly fallen asleep again. After tucking her in bed, a few bottles appeared on the table after searching through the bar. Kai watched the two silently, complicated feelings forming in his chest. He wasn¡¯t sure what to make of the situation, after all, he¡¯s the one usually being emotional. I better leave them alone¡­ That is what he thought, however, the clinking bottles on the table posed too much of a temptation. It¡¯s been a while after all¡­ but I couldn¡¯t possibly¡­ not with them around. He sighed, finally, and pat Onyx on the head, preparing to return to his room. ¡°It¡¯s alright, kid, you can stay.¡± Natasha¡¯s voice quickly rang in his ears, and as he turned he was met with her pleading eyes. Turning to Karfi, the man nodded, and Kai decided to remain, at least until they passed out. Perhaps, even people like them need company¡­ Kai thought, and picked up a small bottle before pulling a wooden glass out of his ring. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accompany you.¡± Seeing Kai be so eager, the two smiled, and each took their favorite drink to enjoy. It didn¡¯t take long for the two of them to completely lose their sense of self under the influence of alcohol, not to mention the previous glasses of wine they drank before. Natasha¡¯s sad, melancholic disposition turned to be slightly more cheerful, even joking about the past as Karfi quietly recalled those times. ¡°Fatty, say¡­ hah, do you remember when¡­. remem¡­ when¡­. we met?~¡± She asked, forcing herself to make coherent sentences in between sips. ¡°You were so big¡­ li-like, so big. You know? Rotund, haha¡­ that¡¯s why I called you fatty, ¡®cause you were fat!¡± ¡°Yes Natasha, I remember¡­ hah. That was¡­ the-twenty years ago, right?¡± Karfi¡¯s slightly slurred speech showed that the alcohol got to him as well, however, he was much quieter. ¡°O-or thirr ty? Hic Who knows¡­¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ thirty¡­ we were so¡­ so yo young¡­ and so, so stupid.¡± ¡°Yeh¡­ I remember one time, we were with¡­ with Paul¡­ hah, that ba- bastard.¡± Karfi hiccuped, then took another sip from his bottle, which was almost empty. ¡°Righ¡­ Paul, Hah¡­ he was so¡­ dumb, such a dummy¡­ but¡­ hic he was so¡­ hot¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha,¡± Karfi roared with drunken laughter. ¡°You had the hots for him. Poor guy couldn¡¯t take a hint¡­¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ poor Paul, dumb bas hic bastard¡­¡± Natasha¡¯s eyes lost some of their sparkle, and she chugged a couple of large sips from the bottle before wiping her mouth. ¡°I still remember¡­ his¡­ his¡­ stupid face¡­ fuck! Why was he smiling? He was dying¡­ in my arms, right in my fucking arms¡­ he was dying¡­ and he was smiling. What, did he finally get the hint?! Fuck!¡± A tear ran down Natasha¡¯s cheek, then another¡­ and swiftly another, and not long after two long rivers slid down her reddened face. ¡°Fucking idiot¡­¡± She sniffled and took another sip from her bottle. Karfi let out a heavy sigh upon hearing her story, and he took a drink as well before parting his lips. ¡°Isabella was the same¡­ even on her deathbed, coughing like a maniac. I still remember them vi- vividly, the re¡­ red spots slowly sucking away at her life. But her smile¡­ shit¡­ it was so bright¡­ brighter than any star or sun. Even on her deathbed¡­ Tausi. I did- didn¡¯t let her see Isabella, even in her final moments. I wanted our child to remember her mom healthy¡­ I wonder¡­ Did I make a mistake?¡± He asked, his question falling on deaf ears as Natasha¡¯s soft breaths slowed down as she lay comfortably on the side of the sofa. With her eyes closed, and bottle threatening to fall out of her arm, it was clear that she had quickly fallen asleep after discharging the feelings she¡¯s been holding on to for who knows how long. Karfi chuckled quietly and took the bottle before it had a chance to fall on the floor. He looked toward Kai, whose head lay on Onyx, seemingly sleeping, the straw he used to drink with still in the glass. After tidying up the place a bit, Karfi took two blankets and placed them on both Natasha and Kai, then silently retreated into his room. ¡­ Hearing the door click shut, Kai¡¯s eyes opened, his mind slightly dizzy. So that¡¯s how his wife died¡­ what a tragic fate¡­ He thought as he got up and gathered himself. Thankfully I didn¡¯t drink too much, but I¡¯m still not accustomed to alcohol. With a sigh, he quickly got up, feeling the sunrise, penetrating through the holes present all throughout the house. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m lucky or stupid¡­ Glancing in Natasha¡¯s direction, he gulped and felt blood rushing through his body. His nails turned visibly longer, and the eyes hidden behind the mask took a cat-like shape. No! He struggled to turn his head and bit down on his tongue, the sweet, coppery taste of blood rushing down his throat. I can¡¯t not¡­ I should try going to that wine place¡­ No, that¡¯s not a good idea either, I don¡¯t know what kind of place it is. Fuck, just move! He willed his body to hurry over to his room, secure from the sunlight. Onyx followed quickly behind, and the door closed with a click behind them. The boy¡¯s breathing turned heavy, and he quickly threw the mask on the ground, revealing his pale face. Sharp fangs, like those of a viper, protruded out of his mouth, alongside a set of large canines. After drinking his own blood, the taste of the gobelin¡¯s flesh resurfaced on his tongue. His nails now turned into claws, dug into his hand as he clenched his hand into a fist. Calm down¡­ fuck, damned gobelin¡­ calm down. He struggled to keep his instincts under control, however he did so to the best of his ability. He took a deep breath and sat down on the bed, his legs in a lotus position and both hands on his knees. Meditation seemed to work for some people¡­ maybe¡­ And with that thought, he began breathing in a rhythmic fashion, trying to distract himself with other thoughts. Isabella¡­ that was Karfi¡¯s wife''s name, what a beautiful name¡­ Makes me think of a flower, a very pretty one. However, was it so? How did she die, was the disease so bad even Natasha couldn¡¯t cure it, or did she become a doctor because of that, or could it be because of Paul? When did Yasa come into the picture? Thirty years ago¡­ It''s a long time for a human. I¡¯ve almost forgotten, considering the elf''s lifespan, and possibly even my own. He sighed and opened his eyes. To his delight, the claws and fangs had gone away, and so did his desire for blood. Fuck that was scary¡­ With another deep breath, he closed his eyes again, this time letting his mind wander, or be empty. After a couple of minutes passed, his blood-like, red eyes opened, a determined look within them. Alright, after three days of rest, my Fusioned Core should have settled¡­ With that thought, he took a look deep inside his body, and a small smile formed on his face. Indeed, it looks like I have improved greatly. I bet I can cast even better spells now¡­ if I knew any. I think I really need to find a teacher, my body spells fell behind as well, although I can use them for a lot longer now. Regardless, he was delighted with this result, despite the deep heartache of having used all of his remaining mana pills. Wait! His eyes shone with an excited glint as he grabbed the necklace around his neck, and looked with eagerness at the cubic building inside the violet fog. I have the best teachers right here, and countless books! After a simple thought, his body fell limp, almost as if asleep, alarming Onyx for a second, however, the Obborik quickly calmed down. He licked his snout and made his way to the door. Increasing in size, he sat down in order to block the door if anyone tried to enter, and quickly fell asleep, snoring on his paws. Chapter 131: Magic?! I sent my best man to investigate, a bastard made of noble blood and cattle. His loyalty has always been questionable, but he¡¯s given me better results than pure-blooded nobles.
The purple fog rested upon the seemingly soft ground, both stretching as far as the eye could see and even beyond. The glass-like sky above glistened with the splendor of a thousand stars, which shone upon the few things that existed in this world. In the middle of this space stood a building, cubic, with an inclined roof made of brown tiles. They were broken, filled with cracks, and covered in moss, which spread down on the outer walls, creating long curves from one end to the other. Inside this building, the sharp sound of rapidly flicking pages bounced off the countless books, that sat upon shelves that were as tall as the ceiling. In the middle of the library, a thin boy with skin as white as bone, and a head full of silver hair, sat down at a table. He leaned his head on one hand, while the other flicked through the yellow pages of a dark book. Some words were missing, and the smell of rotten paper filled the room as particles broke off the already damaged pages. His red eyes scanned each word, carefully ingraining them into his brain. Hours passed, and the boy finally reached the end of the archaic book. Carefully, he closed its thick covers and took one last look at its title, smudged and faded, yet readable. <> Kai let out a sharp breath as he stood up, his crimson eyes gleaming with excitement. The title is stupid at first glance, but the contents are¡­ fucking amazing! However, even as he thought that a sigh couldn¡¯t help but leave his lips. Too bad I can¡¯t use any of this information, I¡¯m far too weak! I need to have at least three stars to even begin thinking about it. He placed the book down, and made his way several rows to the left, then picked up another book, the cover of which made him gasp. It had a tar-like color, decorated with countless red diamond shapes, and a small golden flower at the bottom. Its title, written beautifully with a handwriting Kai couldn¡¯t forget, read <>. ¡°Mom!¡± Kai muttered out loud as he looked at the book, his entire body shaking with emotion. A warmth spread out from his heart, and he almost dropped the book after the first glance. He sat down where he stood and opened the book, the first page revealing the same title, written with a beautiful, gracious calligraphy. Unlike the previous one¡¯s yellow pages and smudged letters, this one¡¯s black, sharp lines of ink contrasted beautifully with the white pages. Below the title, a heart was drawn, as well as a signature, above which read ¡°With love, for Kai.¡± With a quick sniff, Kai turned the page, greeted once again by Elena¡¯s beautiful handwriting, this time opening directly into a chapter. <> <> (...) As Kai read it, he stood up and very carefully walked toward the table, whereupon he sat down and slowly took in the contents of every page. It didn¡¯t matter that he already knew the subject, his trembling pupils regarded the pages with the excitement of a young child. He yearned for knowledge, but more than that, he yearned for the voice of his mother. Reading each word with great attention, tears streamed down his cheeks, however, none touched the pages as they fell, instead disappearing into the void. In his mind, he saw his mother with a quill and ink, sitting down at this very table, writing each sentence with as much love as she could. Next to her sat Ray, circling the table, talking to her with a stupid smile on his face, and occasionally hugging her from behind as he too, read his wife¡¯s words. <> And with that, the first chapter ended. Kai took a deep breath and lifted his gaze, willing the remaining tears away from his face. The information written in the first chapter alone proved valuable, and each spell ingrained itself in his brain. Closing the book, he put it to the side, then stood up, looking for something else. His gaze lingered on the book, however, and a comforting warmth spread out from his chest. Forcing himself to look away, he went to the deeper parts of the library, analyzing each title until a certain one stood out. <> Perfect! He thought, then took out the book and quickly skimmed it. Dust flew out from within its pages, prompting Kai to cough a couple of times. With a smile, he rushed toward the table and immediately started reading it. The book explained the requirements to be a Body Mage, its advantages, and disadvantages. However, those were the basics, and that¡¯s all that Kai knew about. <> Kai took a step back upon reading this passage, a look of surprise visible on his face. Interesting¡­ However, he kept on reading, until finally it reached the part he was most interested in. <> <<, Unlike Mages, Body Mages have no ability to cast any Onkos spells, and that is because of their lack of elemental affinity. As one would know, all magic in this world is tied to an element, however, our ancestors figured out a way to overcome this problem by using our body as a catalyst. You see, unlike Mages, it is a Body Mages¡¯s body that determines our power. Most creatures are born with a Mana Core, but a small part of them do not have Mana Veins. So, in order for us, normal people to use magic, we must first create our Mana Veins. For millennia this ordeal was thought impossible. That was until the first Human Emperor - The King - created a technique that would allow us to strengthen ourselves. Using this power, he fought against the oppressing forces of -???-????-?????-????-???-?????-?????-?????-????-???????-????. Eventually, he took over the continent and instated an era of peace. The technique to create Mana Veins has been studied, modified, and improved over the years, such as the success rate being almost one hundred percent, and for the most part, painless. (...) Now, as for spells, a Body Mage has several low-level techniques he can employ, such as enhancing their base strength, speed, endurance, etc. Each technique has a different multiplier, and the higher it is, the more mana it costs. Spells such as Speed Buffs, Strength Buffs, and the like have an upper limit, however, it all depends on each individual Body Mage. For the more advanced Body Mages, a range of spells will be open to them that go beyond Inkos and may even thread the realm of Onkos. Firstly, using your body as a catalyst is useful, that is using your entire body, which will divide the available mana. The best way to cast spells is to concentrate mana in a single point in your body, such as your legs or your first. Now, with that covered, besides the basic spells, there are several that can, to some extent, release mana outside one¡¯s body. Spells such as ¡®Flaming Fist¡¯, whilst it won¡¯t cause actual fire to appear, can give such an illusion due to the heat forming as one punch. To use this spell, all it takes is concentrating mana on your first, then moving it in a rotating pattern, which in turn creates heat and strengthens your strike. The same goes for ¡®Flaming Kick¡¯, except instead of rotating the mana around a concentrated point, you rotate it throughout your entire leg. I know, the names are not very original. We try.>> ¡­ Kai¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he finished the chapter, and his body shook with expectation. He jumped to his feet and clenched his fist, sending out a swift punch. However, nothing happened, besides his sleeves moving about. He sighed and lowered his head, but quickly picked his spirits back up. Alright, I have enough knowledge to train both my Mage Spells and Body Mage Spells¡­ that¡¯s a mouthful. After this, I should have a better grasp of my magic. Rubbing his neck, a translucent version of the purple necklace appeared, shining with a dark light. After placing the book in the same place he found it, he sent a wave of mana toward the phantom - necklace around his neck, then promptly disappeared from the library. Time to do some magic! Chapter 132: Mind-blowing strength! He reported back. As described, some humans discovered the use of magic, thankfully he quickly took care of them and hung their heads as a message to the rest of the cattle. Despite that, I can not help but worry¡­
With a quick spasm, Kai¡¯s eyes opened, gleaming intensely. He jumped to his feet and almost stormed out the door. However, he found himself opening it with his face, as he stumbled on Onyx¡¯s body, then fell face first. The Obborik quickly woke up and bared his fangs, before realizing it was Kai who just tickled him. Jumping up, he took advantage of the situation and landed on top of Kai, then licked his face. Onyx¡¯s stinky breath, accompanied by his warm, wet tongue, blasted Kai like a heated oven. Coughing, he tried to run away, however, much to his dismay, he couldn¡¯t. ¡°Ah, sh-, not again!¡± Kai yelled under his breath, but he eventually gave up. The Obborik¡¯s tail wagged back and forth, up and down, creating a gust of wind as he ¡®broomed¡¯ the floor. Eventually, he stopped, and got off, his tail still moving about. Kai quickly took out a few drags and wiped his face off all the saliva, however, felt it wasn¡¯t quite enough. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Kai wrapped his face up with another piece of clothing he didn¡¯t need, picked up the mask, and only then did he put it on. I don¡¯t want any saliva to get on it¡­ Actually, I should change it anyway, He sighed and took a quick glance out the window through the corner of his eye. ¡°Great!¡± After confirming it was night, he picked himself up and creaked open the door, then left. Onyx accompanied him as he stepped onto the paved roads, and then the two - A boy and his wolf - Dashed through the town like two arrows fired from a bow. The wind whistled past them as they cut through it, zigzagging through the empty, dark, and creepy alleyways, ignoring the main roads. By now, the way to the main gate had ingrained itself into their memory. They took a walking pace, nearing the gate, and quickly left after giving the guard a nod. The man looked at Kai with a raised eyebrow, however, he had gotten used to the boy¡¯s weird schedule by now. ¡­ Vegetation rustled as Kai and Onyx dashed through the dark forest. The Obborik¡¯s footsteps left deep, large prints in the ground as he ran, while Kai¡¯s were light and barely noticeable. The two rushed off into a corner, passing by the clearing where the boy and Hideyoshi fought. He¡¯s probably following me right now, oh well¡­ After moving for what felt like hours, the sound of running water finally reverberated in the air. With a smile, Kai rushed over to the river, breaking past the bushes and stopping right on the bank. He kneeled, took off his mask and the clothes covering his face, then stopped and took a moment to observe the water. The water flowed rapidly, crashing against rocks and going around them. The moonlight reflected on every part of the river, creating a beautiful, rippling, and ever-changing painting. The boy hummed, then stood up and started undressing. Might as well, he thought as the clothes on his body rapidly disappeared into his ring. Onyx watched him curiously, and his tail wagged, its sound covered by the river¡¯s ever-flowing current. ¡°Fuck it,¡± Kai said, his entire pale body exposed to the moon before jumping into the water. Almost instantly, a suffocating sensation spread from his chest, as the cold water gave him a slight shock. His heart raced but quickly calmed down as he got accustomed to the iciness. Onyx barked, and, without waiting for an invitation, jumped into the water. Kai quickly washed his face clean of the Obborik¡¯s saliva, then enjoyed the cold feeling of the water brushing against his skin. He quickly pulled out a healing pill from his ring and swallowed it, all in order to endure and heal the pain caused by the moon on his body. Despite the discomfort, he still had a child-like smile on his face. Onyx dove under the water, grabbed Kai¡¯s foot and, with a shocked gasp, he found himself under the water. There, the light of the moon reached but wasn¡¯t as aggressive. However, he rushed to the surface and then hurried onto solid ground, coughing and cursing. ¡°Damn it Onyx I can¡¯t breathe if you surprise me like that!¡± ¡°Awrf!¡± Onyx cried as he too got out, and lowered his head, then licked his snout. Kai sighed and, after coughing one last time, laid down on the dirty, cold ground. To him, it felt comfortable, despite how frigid it was, and even the sharp stones almost cutting through his back didn¡¯t bother him. His hair fell to his side, and a tinge of white showed through the black dye. ¡°How long has it been since we camped?¡± He asked, out loud, obviously not expecting a serious answer. He stood like that for a couple of minutes, bathing under the gentle rays of the moonlight, before a cold shiver covered his entire body. ¡°Well¡­ no time to mop, is there?¡± Jumping to his feet, he pulled out his wand and quickly cast a wind spell, drying himself up and cleaning any debris stuck to his skin. He did the same for Onyx''s fluffy fur, which spread out like a blow-dried cow. The boy chuckled lightly, his partner unaware as to why, then got dressed. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. They raced through the forest, passing by bushes, flowers, roots, and vines. A short while later, they took a break inside a small clearing. Kai looked around and stretched his limbs. Then, he took in a deep breath, staring at the leaf-covered sky, and kneeled in front of Onyx. Brushing his face against the fluffy fur, he whispered something in his ear. The Obborik¡¯s ears perched, but he yelped and licked his snout, then nodded once. With that taken care of, he sat down and crossed his legs. By using the two techniques he learned, he slowly but surely gathered mana into his core, filtering it, and then compressing it. The process proved to be damning, as the rate at which mana filled up his new core was extremely slow. Whilst filling it up in the parts where it already had mana is easy, breaching past every new layer is very difficult. I don¡¯t know how other people¡¯s cores work but when I had my original one it was as easy as breathing. Now¡­ He sighed and kept circulating the technique, absorbing as much mana as possible. His face got redder, and veins seemingly began popping out from his forehead. Some mana pills would have been nice¡­ Kai thought through gritted teeth, however, he¡¯s already regretted his decision enough. I need to ask for Bharm¡¯s help, I wonder how he¡¯s advanced with the research in my absence. With those thoughts, Kai resigned to his fate for the moment and his eyes opened slowly. Their crimson color shone with a faint light, which quickly faded away as he got up. Waving his hand, he sent Onyx away, then walked toward a tree. Placing his hands upon its bark, the rough texture glided across his palm. Taking a better look at it, he concluded that the trunk was about fifty to sixty centimeters in diameter, just wide enough for an adult man to wrap his arms around. Should be good enough. With that thought in mind, he took a horse stance, as Euphridia taught him, and then recalled the contents of the book he read. Taking in a deep breath, he pulled his fist backward, and, at the same time rotated mana around it. Doing so created a tiny spiral around it, which heated up as more and more time passed, and it spun with even greater speed. Finally, he sent his fist flying toward the tree and¡­ Tunk Kai¡¯s fist hit the tree square on, making an empty, muffled sound that reverberated in the air followed by a sharp hiss of pain and a ¡®Fuck!¡¯. Looking at his hand, he only saw the bark¡¯s texture imprinted on his fist, whilst the tree itself stood undamaged. ¡°What the fuck?¡± Onyx made his way to Kai, then licked his fingers while looking at him with a confused expression. His eyes darted from the boy¡¯s hand to the tree, almost as if asking ¡®Why¡­?¡¯ Of course, if Kai told him, he wouldn¡¯t understand. I failed¡­ He thought, trying to recall what he did wrong. I don¡¯t get it, I circulated the mana exactly like the book said, how could it not work? After waiting for a couple minutes, he retook the stance, securing his lower body to the ground, then circulated the mana and¡­ Tunk! Again! Tunk! Again, again! Tunk! Tunk! ¡°Fuck!¡± He cursed out loud, flaying his hand around, which had trace amounts of blood on the surface. It shouldn¡¯t be so hard¡­ magic is so much easier. However, after failing so many times he realized that something was fundamentally wrong, and if he kept doing it, his hand would suffer. What to do¡­ He thought as he sat down in a lotus position, resting his head on his hand, which in turn rested on his knee. What to do¡­ Throughout his many attempts, he did as the book said, following it with extreme detail. Despite that, he never did an actual successful ¡®Flame Fist¡¯. Ugh, what the hell¡­ As Kai sat down in contemplation, a gust of wind blew his hair back. Quickly turning around, his eyes widened in surprise. He jumped up to his feet and arranged his garments. ¡°Mister Hideyoshi¡­¡± The man nodded and quickly analyzed Kai. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve taken my comment well.¡± Kai chuckled awkwardly and carefully hid his fist. ¡°Yeah, I realized that I¡¯m lacking greatly.¡± Hideyoshi noticed the boy¡¯s subtle movements and clicked his tongue. He then brushed Kai to the side and walked toward the tree he had hit until now. Its surface was slightly dented, and strokes of still-running blood painted the rough bark. With a frown, the man turned toward Kai with a cold glare. ¡°Demonstrate the technique to me.¡± Kai nodded and did as told, planting his feet on the ground, he pulled back his punch and controlled the mana, then punched. Tunk! The result didn¡¯t change, as expected, however, Hideyoshi¡¯s eyes hid a glimmer of interest. With a quick snort, he walked toward the very same tree Kai had been punching. ¡°Flame Fist, is that right? Observe, I¡¯ll only demonstrate it once.¡± He took a deep breath planted his feet on the ground, and gathered mana around his fist as he pulled it backward. Kai¡¯s eyes remained fixated on the punch, his pulse rising as he carefully took in every small detail. Hideyoshi waited for a couple of seconds before his fist sprung into action, the air around him becoming hotter and denser, and the mana concentrated on his fist glowed with a bright orange hue. In Kai¡¯s eyes, the fist moved in slow motion as it neared the tree, and his pupils widened as the two made contact. Boom! A thundering roar, akin to a tiger¡¯s, echoed through the forest, scaring away all matter of animals and birds. Leaves and bushes rustled as every living being ran away, fearing for their life. Kai hurled backward with tremendous force, and he rolled a couple of times before Onyx hurried to catch him. A thick orange light flare reflected within his pupils for a moment before disappearing, and he looked with an agape mouth and ragged breathing at the aftermath. The tree that had posed so many problems to Kai, an immovable giant he dyed with his blood, now had a gaping hole a few inches wider than Hideyoshi¡¯s fist. Smoke accompanied by the smell of burning wood emanated from the trunk, its edges scorched black. Looking behind it, Kai¡¯s pupils constricted in disbelief. An unnatural, perfectly straight line stretched for about thirty meters, becoming a dead zone wherein everything ceased to exist. Grass, bushes, animals, and even the trees were obliterated. Burnt remains of plants, horned rabbits and even a large bear littered the ground, almost as if an army had passed through and decimated the land. An eerie silence rested upon the lifeless void, descending upon Kai, whose ragged breathing and rapid pulse made his entire body shiver. So this is¡­ a Body Mage! Chapter 133: Flame Fist I found something peculiar¡­ a human not born and raised in the range¡­ free-spirited if you will. He had no idea who or what we were, but he was swiftly brought into my throne room. At first, he was apprehensive, and I showed modesty, all to get answers.
The forest turned restless as every animal within a small area woke up from their slumber. Birds flew around in circles, inspecting the area, while bear-like beings and other prey both ran in different directions - One intrigued, the other terrified. A burning smell accompanied by a faint trail of smoke rose within the sky, filtered by the canopies. In the small clearing, Kai couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the destruction caused by the man before him with nothing more than a low-level punch. He swallowed and slowly rose, supporting himself on Onyx. Hideyoshi walked toward Kai and placed a hand on his shoulder, bringing him back to reality. ¡°I demonstrated it for you,¡± he said with a monotonous voice, however, his pupils shone with an intrigued glimmer. ¡°I did it slowly on purpose, I hope you learned something from it.¡± Kai nodded and walked toward the tree, taking a closer look at its damaged insides, and gasped. The hole was smooth, almost as if polished by a tool, and showed no signs of burning. Turning around, he found that the man had already disappeared, gone like the wind. He gulped and bowed before preparing to sit down. However, the low growl of a bear sent a shocked shiver down his spine, and he quickly ran in the opposite direction, Onyx following behind him. ¡°We need to find another spot.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± ¡­ In another place a good distance away, Kai and Onyx rested on the gross. The boy had his eyes closed, sat in lotus position, and his brows furrowed, while the Obborik slept on its back. Hideyoshi¡¯s punch was¡­ powerful. If he had used that against me I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d have a body left. Regardless¡­ The way he used that technique was very different from me. Although they were the same movement, the result was vastly different. He took in a deep breath and recalled what he saw. Hideyoshi didn¡¯t use any fancy stance to plant his feet into the ground, and when he pulled his fist back, it slowly gathered mana in a typhoon-like shape. It was probably slow because he wanted me to see it carefully¡­ The way I executed the technique was enveloping my fist with a few layers and making them rotate at the same time, but the way he did it looked more like¡­ a drill! Of course! Kai slapped his head upon realizing this, starting Onyx awake. ¡°Ah, sorry¡­¡± But it¡¯s so simple¡­ With that thought, his body twitched to try once again, however, he took a deep breath and recalled the rest of the movement. Whilst it was pulled back, the mana rotated faster and faster. Although it was visible to the naked eye, Kai felt the movement because of the high concentration of mana. Following the rotation, when Hideyoshi punched, a light akin to a spark ignited the mana, causing it to glow with a bright orange hue, and it reached its target - the tree - in less time than it takes to blink. What was that spark? Could it have been a natural reaction or something he did to finish the spell? Damn it, the book doesn¡¯t say anything about a spark¡­ He stood up, a determined expression donning his face, and walked toward one of the nearby trees. Taking in a deep breath, he didn¡¯t get into a horse stance like before but simply bent his knees slightly. Clenching his hand into a fist, he began rotating his internal mana around a point in the center of his fist. At first, it was slow, like a windmill blown by a weak wind, but quickly began to pick up the pace. In just a few moments, the mana spun with the speed of a cartwheel pulled by a galloping horse, and, feeling that this was the limit, Kai punched out. There was no spark or orange light, like Hideyoshi¡¯s, however, the fist Kai did now and the fist he did before was different like the moon and the sun. Clak! The fist and tree connected. A muffled clash, followed by the rustling of leaves rang softly through the forest. Kai let out a pained grunt and recoiled, landing on the soft grass a few meters away. An excited expression decorated his face, and he leaped to his feet while rushing to the tree. There, on the rough bark, a small, circular, and smooth indent the size of his fist had formed. His eyes gleamed, and he struggled to hold back a smile. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. I did it! I did it! Although it paled in comparison to the one Hideyoshi did, at least this time he managed to make a change in the tree. He shook his right hand, feeling a light numbness covering his fist. Taking a closer look, dark spots covered it as if his skin had been carbonized, and it was red all over, seemingly as if it were roasted over a fire. If it were a normal mage executing this I¡¯m afraid their entire hand would have been useless for a couple of weeks¡­ He thought after considering the damage and the recoil. No wonder they¡¯d rather stick to wands¡­ Kai clenched his fist, ignored the pain, and approached the tree again, this time with even more determination than before. Don¡¯t fear the man who did a hundred techniques once, fear the man who did one technique a hundred times! And so the process of punching, getting hurt, and punching again began. The muffled hits were irregular at the start, some louder than others, some faster than others. The time between each hit varied depending on how much mana Kai used and how badly he hurt himself, however, the average was about ten seconds. Kai repeated these movements regardless of how much he bled or how much it hurt, and with each consecutive hit the indent in the tree grew larger and deeper. Onyx sat there, watching him, his beady eyes glowing with confusion. The boy fell once again, his hand numb, covered in scars and blood. The Obborik drew closer and took a look at Kai, then licked his wounds clean. A soft smile creased Kai¡¯s lips, and he took to patting Onyx as a form of thanks. It was a short moment of rest he much needed, as his ragged breathing and sweat-covered body suggested. However, it didn¡¯t last long, as his muscles trembled, the desire to learn grew stronger and stronger with each consecutive punch. He grabbed a piece of fabric from his ring and warped it around the fist, then stood up and once again performed a ¡®Flame Fist¡¯. The attack connected, however, the cloth burned to a crisp as soon as it did, disintegrating into ash. Kai sighed, after having been launched backward, and quickly got back up, patting his clothes. ¡°I guess that won¡¯t work, then.¡± By this point the moon hung high in the sky, staring directly at Kai from high up. Likewise, Kai glanced at it and frowned. The sun will rise soon¡­ His heart raced with anxiety, however he took in a deep breath and walked over to the tree again, studying its surface. He closed his eyes and felt the indent he had created. It was smooth, not like Hideyoshi¡¯s, as it still had splinters and holes. It¡¯s not good enough¡­ He recalled the middle part of the fist, where the spark ignited the mana. That must be the key¡­ Body Mages don¡¯t have elements, so they can¡¯t produce actual fire, so as the book said, it¡¯s just the mana¡­ mana¡­ heat¡­ maybe¡­ the flame was provoked by introducing a new mana thread used as a catalyst¡­ But how come the book never mentioned it¡­ is it maybe more like a suggestion? Incomplete? Maybe I¡¯m just wrong? I must try it just to confirm. Kai took a deep breath and took a step backward, then his eyes flew open. Bending his knees, a popping sound rang out as his hand clenched into a fist. Pulling it backward, mana began to gather around a central point, rotating like a drill once again, and it began to spin faster and faster. A weak gust of air formed due to the torrent of mana, making Kai¡¯s hair move wildly about. With a loud groan, Kai¡¯s punch flew forward, the speed of the rotating mana reaching a pinnacle. His fist clenched even harder as he willed another strand of mana to gather where his fist would be, and, just as he expected, the clashing between the invisible energies created a spark that ignited his fist. The mana turned orange and it quickly enveloped his entire fist. He grinned. The air surrounding him turned hot, becoming denser. Then his pupils widened, and he bit his lower lip as what he perceived to be a crazy idea popped into his mind. Without hesitation, or further thought, he took out a fire crystal from his ring and then used it to imbue the mana surrounding his fist with fire using a basic spell. Almost instantly, a flaming tornado surrounded his entire arm, burning away his clothes, and whatever strands of hair were unlucky enough to touch it. A split second later, the fist and tree made contact. A thunderous explosion rang out within the forest, startling Onyx and making him back away. However, before he could get too far, his beady eyes caught a glimpse of Kai, who flew through the air at great speed. The Obborik¡¯s body glowed with a faint light, and he immediately dashed toward his companion, catching him in mid-air. He placed the boy on the ground, his entire right arm as red as crab¡¯s feet, and half of his clothes burned away into nothingness. Kai groaned as he stood up, leaning on Onyx for support, and he quickly swallowed a pill to help him regenerate. His crimson pupils trembled upon looking at the aftermath of the attack, and his mouth stood agape. The tree he hit - a giant standing at over twenty meters tall and as thick as two of him - fell, breaking away twigs and causing leaves to shoot out from its canopy. However, that was the extent of the damage. Unlike Hideyoshi¡¯s hit, which destroyed everything in its wake, Kai¡¯s ¡®Flame Fist¡¯ solely obliterated what stood before him. A light chuckle escaped Kai¡¯s lips, and his eyes closed shut against his will, and then fainted. Chapter 134: Rainy Cave I trembled upon tasting his blood¡­ It reminded me of the olden days. It was sweet, oh, so sweet, and the energy it gave was even more potent than the best cattle we had right now.
Not far away from the town, hidden well inside a hill, behind tall trees, bushes, and grass, was a cave. Within, shadows danced on the empty walls, created from a crackling, hearty fire. A water pot, filled with meat and vegetables, boiled atop the fire, steam escaping through the small opening in the cave. Inside it was a man with a head full of white hair, a shaven face, and a ragged attire. A sword rested beside him, and the opposite was a white wolf. Next to the wolf was a boy, a head full of dark, burnt hair, naked from the waist up, and bandaged on his right side. He coughed lightly as his eyes blinked open, gazing upon the unfamiliar ceiling. The boy groaned as he got up, alarming both the wolf and man, who turned toward him. He looked around, his eyes slowly getting accustomed to the faint light of the crackling fire. ¡°Took you some time.¡± The man said, his expression neutral and voice monotonous. However, he quickly took out a piece of boiling meat from the pot and put it on a plate. ¡°Eat, you need the energy.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± The boy nodded and glanced at the plain, barely cooked piece of meat. Steam escaped its surface as it cooled down, and it looked in no way appetizing. He frowned slightly at the sight but sighed and reached for it. ¡°Thank you, Mister Hideyoshi,¡± Kai said, then grabbed the piece of meat with both hands and bit down on it. His bandages got dirty, and his burnt hand started to hurt under the heat of the meat, however, he took a couple of bites before putting it back on the plate. ¡°Kid, you have a knack for getting wounded, you know that? I had to change you out of old bandages.¡± The man said with a slight smirk, unable to keep his stoic appearance up. ¡°Well, that was because-¡± ¡°Yeah, I know. I already reported that to Raymond.¡± Hearing that, Kai locked eyes with the man whose old age told as many words as a picture. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you help me?¡± He asked, his voice trembling. ¡°You clearly had the power to.¡± Hideyoshi sighed and poked the fire with a stick, riling it up so it burned for longer. ¡°There are some things I can get involved in, and some things I better stay out of.¡± His tone said that there was no room for negotiation, and, even as Kai¡¯s lips parted trying to say something, he quickly shut him up with a glare. ¡°Such is the world we live in. Some things are better left unsaid.¡± ¡°What about the safety of the people?¡± Kai¡¯s anger flared as he raised his voice and stood up, his shadow dancing wildly. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that the reason Raymond kidnapped me? I-¡± ¡°You¡¯re a special case. We don¡¯t usually kidnap suspicious individuals¡­ however, you must understand your own situation better than we do. As for the people¡­¡± A frustrated sigh escaped his lips, his eyes never once gazing away from the fire. ¡°It¡¯s already been taken care of.¡± ¡°What do you mean, taken care of?¡± Kai¡¯s voice echoed in the cave once again. ¡°Had I not been there-¡± ¡°A lot of civilians would have died.¡± The man cut him off with a stern tone, lifting his eyes and locking them with Kai¡¯s crimson pupils. ¡°It was a mistake on our part, and we are grateful for your assistance. What happened should not have happened, and we will get to the root of this matter.¡± ¡°We, as in who, you and Raymond?¡± ¡°Kid!¡± Hideyoshi¡¯s voice clashed against the cave¡¯s walls, his imposing tone sending a shiver down Kai¡¯s spine. ¡°Enough with the questions. You should be grateful.¡± Hearing that, Kai¡¯s anger seemed to have quelled slightly, not because he was reassured, but because he feared that he was pushing his luck. ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as you think. And such matters are not for someone like you to worry about.¡± Someone like me¡­ Kai repeated in his head, his hand clenching into a fist. Right. ¡°Don¡¯t look so depressed. I¡¯m telling you, kid, ignorance is bliss.¡± Hideyoshi said as he scooped up another piece of meat from the boiling pot, which he tossed toward Onyx. The Obborik opened his mouth and ate the entire thing without hesitation, bones included. ¡°There is a storm coming¡­¡± The man said, picking up a piece for himself, and quickly took a few big bites, then said after he swallowed. ¡°And such storms shouldn¡¯t involve a kid, vampire or not. Yet, somehow you did get involved.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kai asked with a bewildered expression. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. However, even though Hideyoshi looked like he wanted to say something, he held his tongue and shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it¡¯ll probably pass.¡± Kai nodded, and finished eating whatever meat was left on the bone, then tossed it to Onyx, who happily began biting it. ¡°Peculiar beast.¡± Hideyoshi commented as he watched the Obborik. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen one so obedient.¡± ¡°One, what do you mean?¡± ¡°An Obborik, I mean. Usually, they¡¯re unruly, ferocious¡­ terrifying. The kin of your friend are ruthless, even to their own.¡± He said as if it was a matter of fact, like common knowledge. Kai¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing the man talk about Onyx¡¯s race in such great detail. After all, not even the ancient book he had talked about nearly as much as Hideyoshi just had. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Why do you look so surprised, child? Do you think a simple low-rank transformation spell could fool my eyes? I¡¯ve lived longer than you, and have more experience. Although¡­¡± He elongated his sentence, his deadpan eyes seemingly filling with an intrigued glimmer. ¡°To think that such a young one could be so smart as to use the spell in the first place¡­ Kid, he¡¯s definitely special. I can tell you that much. You¡¯ve chosen yourself a good Mana Companion.¡± Kai¡¯s mind reeled in shock upon hearing the words, in fact, it felt like today, Kai has been more shocked than throughout his entire life. Mana Companion? I¡¯ve never heard of that. Sensing the boy¡¯s invisible reaction, Hideyoshi sighed and leaned back, supporting himself against the cave walls. ¡°You really don¡¯t know anything, do you?¡± He asked, pulling out a wooden pipe and filling it with a mixture of herbs. ¡°Let me tell you, then, as another favor.¡± The man wrapped a cloth around a stick, and leaned forwards lightly, lighting it on fire. After using the fire to light up his pipe, he took a puff and then looked at the ceiling. ¡°I guess they¡¯re not as common nowadays. Back when I was young they were more common, and back in my grandfather¡¯s days, they were everywhere. Mana Companions¡­¡± He seemed to be reminiscing about the past, his eyelids closing slightly in relaxation as he delved into his memories. ¡°When a bond between a mage and a beast becomes deep, a Mana Bond is formed. Whether they know it or not, their lives become linked¡­ That¡¯s what the legends said anyway.¡± ¡°Back when I was your age, I saw people, older people, spending the last of their days alongside their Mana Companions, and when they died, so did the beast, only a couple of days later. As for how strong they were, or what purpose they served¡­ I do not know.¡± Kai listened attentively and furrowed his eyebrow. After glancing at Obborik for a second, he turned back to the man. ¡°Then why did you make such a big fuss about it when I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Well usually people know when their life becomes intertwined with someone else¡¯s, so I assumed you at least knew that much.¡± Kai shook his head and scooted closer to Onyx, patting his fluffy head with a gentle tenderness. ¡°Onyx has been my friend, ever since¡­¡± He paused, struggling to think of what to say. After all, the Obborik had been with him for a long time now, but the beginning of their relationship wasn¡¯t exactly sweet. I wonder how Kana is doing¡­ I just left them behind huh¡­ Hideyoshi sighed and took another puff. ¡°I get it kid¡­ if I remember correctly the Magic Academy still has someone that knows about Mana Companions¡­¡± Hearing that, Kai¡¯s face lit up, a smile almost creasing his lips. ¡°But last I heard of them was fifty years ago.¡± The boy¡¯s face quickly returned to normal, and he buried it in his companion¡¯s fluff. ¡°Mister, you know, you really like to keep people on their toes.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ I suppose that''s true.¡± The old man chuckled and took another puff, his eyes fixated on the ceiling still. Silence then descended upon the two. The crackling of the fire occupied it, just as it filled the cave with warmth. Outside, the thundering clouds began covering the sun which barely showed its fangs. The sky darkened and flashed with quick arcs of lighting which seemingly split the sky. It rained. Small droplets of water crashed against the canopies, the ground, and anyone unlucky to be out at the time. The furred animals ran toward a hiding spot, and the feathered beasts flew to take cover in their nests. In contrast, the critters that loved the rain left their hiding spots and began nourishing themselves. Inside the cave, the muffled sound of the rain sang together with the dancing flame, performing a soothing show that brought a cold breeze, causing the flame to flicker wildly. Kai shivered, and took out his wand, then waved it toward the small entrance, closing it completely. None of the two said anything. Onyx snuggled closer to the fire and closed his eyes as he fell asleep on his paws. Kai patted him gently, making sure not to disturb his rest. He smacked his lips, which hung open for a while before he finally said, ¡°Why did you save me? Why¡­ all this?¡± Hideyoshi averted his gaze from the ceiling for the first time in a long while and brought the pipe to his lips, kissing it as he took another puff. ¡°Unlike the others, I don¡¯t discriminate against your race. They did some messed up shit, however, you have no fault in them. As for why¡­ you, the son of Violet Night and Evergreen, intrigue me. Nothing more, nothing less.¡± ¡°Intrigue you? How?¡± Hideyoshi leaned forward, bending his spine, his face illuminated by the fire. ¡°It¡¯s like you don¡¯t know the meaning of death, or fear¡­ The first thing you do upon hearing someone is watching you is go into a cave and advance to the next rank, then challenge that person to a fight. What if I wanted to kill you?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have.¡± ¡°How are you so sure?¡± ¡°Raymond didn¡¯t kill me, he¡­ he allowed me to live,¡± Kai said, disgusted by the phrasing. ¡°So therefore even if you wanted to, there¡¯d be a price to pay.¡± ¡°And what if I were willing to pay? What then? You¡¯d be a cold corpse in the forest.¡± ¡°Well, I sort of gambled that you wouldn¡¯t, and it paid off, didn¡¯t it?¡± Hearing Kai¡¯s words, Ro Nin¡¯s lips blew out into a hearty laughter, pulling his head back as his stomach heaved up and down. ¡°Yes, yes it did. Kid, from where do you have such a gal?¡± Upon hearing the question, Kai¡¯s forming smile froze on his face, and memories of all the times he almost died resurfaced in his mind. That time when I left the kingdom walls¡­ when I met Onyx. Then I fought a bandit group to save Orphelia, and took on several magical beasts I had no business trying to kill. And the other times when I forcefully injected mana into my system to advance¡­ and now, less than a week ago I challenged a man that could kill me with a slap to a fight. His pupils widened, and he broke out into a light chuckle. ¡°I must be insane¡­¡± Chapter 135: Two Weeks After tasting such a delicacy¡­ I decided to give the cattle some freedom. We will need all the power we can get in the upcoming fight against the West and North¡­ then the South
Dusk fell once again, the rain settling down as the sun hid behind a curtain of clouds until finally disappearing beyond the horizon. The wet, muddy ground quickly got decorated with the prints of animals, who hurried off toward their sleeping place, some more scared than others. In the forest, droplets of rain still trickled down the large leaves, despite the clouds of rain disappearing. They made way for a calm, exquisitely beautiful dark sky, sprinkled with stars that shone and glimmered with a faint light. The moon lazily rose, taking its rightful place on the aesthetic canvas. Through a makeshift road, where grass struggled to grow and bushes were cut, Kai, Onyx and Hideyoshi slowly made their way toward the city. They were in no hurry, despite the frigid cold enveloping them, and their shoes getting covered in muck, dirt, and leaves. ¡°Kid, are you clearer of mind now?¡± Hideyoshi¡¯s voice disturbed the white noise of the settling forest. Kai nodded solemnly, leaving that as the only reply as his gaze trailed the road. ¡°Say¡­¡± The man elongated his words, seemingly thinking about something. ¡°Your ¡®Flame Fist¡¯, it was different from all the others I¡¯ve seen. How did you do it?¡± His tone was sincere, and he even seemed embarrassed to ask Kai, a child, such questions. The boy raised an eyebrow at the statement, and seemingly thought for a second. Well, there¡¯s no harm in telling him¡­ he¡¯s helped me a lot already. ¡°I¡¯m sure you already observed me closely, someone of your caliber should be able to discern what I did, right?¡± He asked a probing question, after all, he couldn¡¯t just give his secrets away so fast. Otherwise, it would seem insincere¡­ I think, is that how it works? ¡°My sensibility to mana isn¡¯t as good as Mages, kid. You should know that much already¡­¡± Hideyoshi sighed with an awry smile. ¡°All I saw was the aftermath, why do you think I asked you to demonstrate it again?¡± Hearing that, Kai¡¯s face flushed red with embarrassment, and he turned away. Thankfully the cold was enough to wash away most of the color, and he cleared his throat. Hideyoshi shook his head. ¡°Well, as you probably saw I struggled with the latter half, and I didn¡¯t know how to ignite the mana¡­¡± Upon hearing the word ¡®ignite¡¯ Hideyoshi raised an eyebrow, but refrained from saying anything. ¡°So I thought, what makes sparks, right, and sparks are created when two objects of a certain material clash. But then, what if I made mana clash? Because it was rotating so fast but wasn¡¯t getting hot enough, I figured that something must be a catalyst for that¡­ and when I figured it out, I uhm, I wanted to try making actual- making it an actual Flame Fist, so I pulled out a red crystal as a catalyst and used it to cast a minor fire spell which then fused with the rotating mana and¡­ well you saw the result.¡± Hideyoshi¡¯s footsteps stopped, and so did Kai¡¯s, who then looked at the man. On his face a complicated mix of disbelief, shock, surprise, and intrigue mixed into an emotion that could only be explained by a twitching eyelid and a half smile he could not control. He slowly turned toward the sky, and sighed, his face returning to normal. Patting Kai on the shoulder, his dried lips parted, letting out a hoarse voice. ¡°Kid¡­ that¡¯s insane. You¡¯re truly insane¡­¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± ¡°Ichor, listen¡­ the way to ¡®ignite¡¯ the mana was to punch faster¡­ your body just wasn¡¯t trained enough for that spell. No Body Mage at your rank has enough mana control to do what you just did, and no Mage has the body to endure it. I think¡­ I think if you used a stronger fire spell your entire arm would have gotten blown off.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Kai¡¯s pupils widened as he looked at the man, whose serious expression made a pit inside his stomach. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re serious?¡± ¡°As serious as can be¡­ Your luck will run out one day, I hope you know that.¡± After saying that, he gave Kai one last pat on the shoulder before arching his knees and jumping atop a large tree branch. His figure quickly disappeared, and only a faded voice echoed in Kai¡¯s mind. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming¡­¡± Hearing that, he quickly took out his broken mask and threw it on his face, right in time for a group of people to appear within Kai¡¯s field of view. As soon as they appeared, however, his pupils constricted, as he recognized the three. What are they doing here? He thought, then quickly hid away behind a bush, and made himself as small as possible. Onyx followed suit, but instead, he ran away further into the back and sat behind a tree large enough to cover his body. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. In the middle of the group, a woman about as tall as Natasha led the way through the unwelcoming path. Her dark armor rattled as she put one foot in front of the other, the dirty metal reflecting some of the moon¡¯s rays of light. She had a head full of black hair, reaching just slightly past her shoulders. The color of her hair made it almost blend with the darkness of the night, where it not for the glimmering texture. Similarly, her brown eyes shone gently with a soft light, although that may be because of a spell, which was the most likely case. She wore a serious expression on her face, a frown unfitting of such a beauty decorating her eyebrows. To her left was a man, as tall as a tree and as dark as the night, his bald head reflecting any light falling upon it. His clothes were worn and tattered, however the ground seemingly shook with every step he took. To add to his fearsome appearance, a large, unsheathed sword hung from his back, its ferrous surface shining slightly with the crimson rust of blood. A serious expression decorated his face, and he frowned as the woman spoke. On the opposite end, to the woman¡¯s right, stood a man whose height seemed subpar compared to the man walking next to him. He had a frail frame, so thin that one would think a simple gust of wind would take him away. However, despite the environment and entourage he found himself with, his skin was fair, almost as pale as Kai¡¯s, except that was for two completely different reasons. A pair of round glasses hid the man¡¯s emerald eyes, and a sly smile decorated his face, his lips forming into a ¡®V¡¯ shape toward the center. Unlike the large man, he seemed to be in high spirits, and even excited. These three were the people Kai had seen at Karfi¡¯s bar that night, whereupon he made a deal with them. He hadn¡¯t seen them in a good amount of time, not because it was his choice, but because the circumstances didn¡¯t allow it. How many times did I nearly die in that time¡­ am I actually suicidal? Kai chuckled to himself and kept on watching the three. However, Kai had no way to know what they were talking about, not unless they got closer. And they did, as shortly after their voices landed in Kai¡¯s ears. ¡°Yasa, are you sure that the child''s information is trustworthy?¡± The large man asked, his deep voice almost making Kai take a step backward. The woman, Yasa, shook her head. ¡°It should be, I wasn¡¯t able to verify, however the fact that we do not have any response from the southeast region isn¡¯t giving me much hope.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t you think we should rush over there, why are we waiting for the kid?¡± The thin man, Lutha, asked. ¡°Our word is our bond. Even if we work for the military now, don¡¯t forget where we started.¡± Yasa said, her footsteps slowing down slightly. ¡°Although he¡¯s a bit weird¡­ Natasha assured me, and after hearing about what he did to that thing¡­ I believe he can be a good asset.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s still so young.¡± Lutha retorted, ¡°Though he does have the Obborik¡­ and I do wish to study it more¡­¡± ¡°Then why are you questioning this so much?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to have to look after a child¡­¡± Hearing that, Yasa scoffed and stopped in place, the other two following suit. ¡°Oh I think he can look after himself just fine,¡± She said, her eyes glancing directly at Kai¡¯s hiding place, her eyes glowing with a soft light. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, kid?¡± A shiver ran down his spine as the words entered his ears, and he let out a sigh while getting up. ¡°I guess I¡¯m not that good at hiding, am I?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awful at it. Anyone worth their skills in scouting would have seen you from a mile away. The same goes for the mutt.¡± ¡°He-¡± ¡°He¡¯s not a mutt!¡± Lutha spoke before Kai could even let out a word, his emerald eyes shining with determination. ¡°He¡¯s a fine specimen from the one and only Obborik race. Little is known about them, and yet this kid has one just strolling around, how dare you call him a mutt?!¡± Yasa sighed and shook her head, waving Lutha away, completely disregarding his speech. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you heard most of that. Truth be told, we¡¯re walking on thin ice. My boss is really worried about these things and the more time we waste the worse it gets. We¡¯ve waited this long for you, and you go and get¡­ Gosh, what happened to your mask?¡± She gasped after a bit of moonlight snuck through the canopy, illuminating Kai¡¯s burnt and melted fox mask. ¡°Ah, right, big beast. Good job back there, well at least what I heard of it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Kai said in a low voice, his face slightly red. However, he quickly threw away the shyness and turned toward Yasa. ¡°When do you plan on leaving?¡± ¡°We planned to leave a couple of days ago, however, we waited for you to wake up and heal.¡± After hearing her words, Kai fell into pensive silence. I need to settle accounts with Raymond and check up on Brahm¡­ and hopefully, he can help me fix my technique problem¡­ ugh that seems more difficult than figuring out invisibility. ¡°How much more time are you willing to wait?¡± He asked after considering everything. This time it was Yasa¡¯s turn to think, however, it didn¡¯t take long for her to come up with a response. ¡°One week.¡± ¡°Can you make it two?¡± Lutha¡¯s expression, and even the large man¡¯s, changed to one of anxiety, displease obvious on their face. Yasa¡¯s was not much better, however, as she and Kai locked eyes¡­ she suddenly had a feeling that maybe it was worth waiting. ¡°Two weeks, no more.¡± Kai¡¯s expression immediately lit up, and he almost jumped with joy. ¡°Thank you, Miss Yasa. You won¡¯t regret it.¡± After getting his reply, he quickly whistled for Onyx, and, with a quick goodbye, dashed toward the city. ¡°Yasa¡­ two weeks.¡± The bald man said, his eyes fixated on Kai. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I had something else I wanted to check here anyway¡­ gives me time.¡± ¡°You mean¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re going to hunt those little parasites¡­ I¡¯ll get Raymond¡¯s help.¡± Chapter 136: Have you Experimented...? It seems that I have made the right choice, it only took three generations for the quality to improve. I gave out orders to give a certain number of them supervised living¡­ Meaning they could be as free as they wanted except for certain limits until it was time for slaughter. However, do not think that I did not do anything during that time. Kai¡¯s figure rushed through the forest. He and Onyx became two blurry streaks kicking up a storm wherever they went. He had a countdown now. Knowing that there was no time to waste, and happy with the progress he¡¯d made so far, he decided that there would be enough time to test the magic. For now, he had a lot of work. He and Onyx came to a halt as they approached the gate, and gave the guard a nod as they stepped in. Like usual, people filled the paved streets, for one reason or another. Merchants with backpacks full of items roamed the stalls. Trying to find a suitable spot to settle down, despite there being no space, lest he wanted to climb on top of one of them. At the same time, a multitude of people, the majority men, roamed the streets. They took a look at one stall, then the other, deciding to buy something then haggling for it. Women were out and about as well. Though they were not the classy lasses with stuffed dresses, but instead rough, sometimes even torn clothing. With a dagger in their boot and another at the waist, then two others hidden in their sleeves. Such men were also not few and far between, and in stark contrast to them were the knights. They wore leather armor, patted with iron and steel. Their clothes rattlled with each step they took. By their waist, a grandiose longsword tucked inside a scabbard, at the ready for any and all events. They walked around the area, surveying the stalls, shops, and other people. At the ready to intervene in case of anything happening. Where were they when I needed them? Kai scoffed at their useless patrolling, staring at them with scorn. Onyx also bared his fangs, if only for a moment, to imitate his partner¡¯s displeasure. He marched forward and scanned the area, wary of the dark corners or shady-looking people. Of course, besides humans, there were also dwarves, looking to buy materials otherwise inaccessible in their mountains. Then the elves doing who knows what. Demi-Humans, or ¡®Munich¡¯, as they called themselves, also covered the streets. This made Kai raise an eyebrow, not because he wasn¡¯t used to them, but because their territory was so far away from here. Were there this many when I first arrived? Regardless, it wasn¡¯t his problem, and he hoped to not get involved in any of it. He walked through the bustling street, a cacophony of voices swarming his ears with chatter. Laughter, snickering, and haggling surrounded him. You¡¯d think I¡¯d get used to this by now¡­ He thought in passing as his eyes glanced over the stalls. Onyx followed in silence behind him, earning the stares of quite a few people. As usual, a myriad of items stood on display, from food, pastries, and writing instruments, albeit pricey, to even weapons and magic crystals. He stopped in front of one such stall and took a closer look at them. They were in no particular order, scattered about on a tablecloth. The majority of them were fire and water crystals, followed by wind and earth. Yet, there were no light or dark crystals in sight. Could they be rare? Kai¡¯s pupils constricted and picked a random crystal up. The vendor didn¡¯t seem to be nervous or care, acting nonchalant with a slight hint of pride decorating his pursed lips. Kai brought it to eye level and inspected it carefully. It was a fire crystal, much like the ones illuminating houses and streets. Its shape was rough, with random spikes and holes throughout. Fog filled its insides, although its surface shone with a beautiful orange. After putting it down, Kai looked at a couple of others, most of them resmembling one another, except for the colors. They varied from a greenish, transparent hue for the wind crystals to a dirty, muddy color for the earth ones. As for the water crystals, they seemed to shine with a deep, dark blue, however, if one took a closer look at it they¡¯d see countless impurities. Kai took a second glance and saw a rather peculiar earth crystal. It was the only one with a slightly more refined shape, and it stood close to the merchant. Upon reaching for it, a sudden pain covered his hand, and his gaze quickly flew to the merchant. ¡°No touching, only looking.¡± The man said with a nasty expression decorating his face. Kai took back his hand and rubbed it, then left after giving the man an ugly glare in return. What an asshole¡­ He sighed and rubbed his mask, then hurried his footsteps. Luckily, his small frame allowed him to sneak through the crowd quickly, and he took quick, detailed glances at every stall he passed by. As he walked past one, he quickly stopped and took a step back. Pressing forward, he looked with slightly widened pupils at the items before him. Neatly arranged on the table before him were a couple of swords, which numbered no more than four, each of them identical to the other, except for one thing. Their shiny blades were made of the same material - a combination of iron and steel, attached to a brown hilt etched with leather, attached to which was a circular guard. In the middle of each guard was a crystal corresponding to the four basic elements. Kai had never seen such a thing before, not at the elves and definitely not at the dwarves. He reached for one of them, his curiosity peaking, however, a sudden voice startled him. ¡°If you touch it, you buy it.¡± A young-looking boy walked out from within the shadows. His yellow eyes shone with a soft light, unlike any other creature he had ever seen besides monsters that were out for his life. He wore a white scarf, dark shirt, and pants, which melted perfectly with his brownish, tanned skin. The look on his face made Kai take a step back, bumping into a man who reeked of alcohol. ¡°Is that a new policy around here?¡± He inquired, the drunken man ignoring him completely. ¡°It¡¯s my policy.¡± The young man, who looked to be no older than twenty-five replied. Kai frowned at the statement, and was almost ready to leave, however, something deep inside him didn¡¯t allow him to. Damn it Rodney, how dare mere memories have such an effect on me! He raged internally, however truthfully he also wanted to know more. ¡°How much for one?¡± ¡°Twenty Platinum Coins.¡± ¡°Twen-Twenty?!¡± Kai gasped as he heard the price, unable to believe his ears. Twenty platinum is equivalent to two thousand gold¡­ as much as it costs to rank up to Master Rank! What the hell, most people don¡¯t even see twenty golds in their entire lifetime! Even¡­ I only had enough to sign up because of my parents, and now I¡¯m broke! ¡°Yes, do these look like cheap cans to you?¡± The young vendor said, however, Kai still hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock. Twenty Platinum¡­ Onyx nudged his companion with his snout, at which point he finally woke up. ¡°What¡¯s so special about these swords anyway?¡± Hearing Kai¡¯s question, the young man let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°Can¡¯t you see the crystal in the middle? These are not just any swords, they¡¯re magic swords.¡± ¡°Magic Swords? Aren¡¯t all swords magical?¡± As Kai asked, not only did the vendor¡¯s face turn into an ugly frown, but even a small crowd stopped, staring at him with widened eyes. Finally, one of the spectators broke out into laughter, ¡°This kid is funny, hahaha¡­ all swords are magic swords¡­ ha!¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The boy¡¯s face flushed red, and he immediately made himself as small as possible and ran away from the cackling crowd. What, what did I say? He asked himself, taking a sharp corner and stopping near the edge. Damned bullies. Onyx caught up soon enough, his tail wagging, and he looked at Kai with a weird expression. ¡°What, even you think my question was stupid?¡± ¡°Arf!¡± ¡°Well, how was I supposed to know? Dad¡¯s sword doesn¡¯t even reply to me and this silver one has some kind of spirit inside it. I thought anyone could imbue their swords with magic.¡± ¡°Woof¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Woof!¡± ¡°Argh, fine¡­ so much for a so-called ¡®Mana Beast¡¯¡± Kai sighed, unable to believe that even his own lifelong companion agreed with the mocking ground. Then again he could have just talked to himself, as he didn¡¯t fully understand Onyx just from a few barks. Maybe I¡¯m genuinely going insane¡­ Regardless, after tidying up his clothes, he walked back into the market, this time with purpose. He skipped past every stall, even those that seemed interesting, up until he finally saw what he was looking for. It was a small wandering stall, whose creaking wheels were deafened by the huge crowd passing it by. Kai reached it fairly quickly, then stopped it in his tracks. The vendor stopped, startled by the boy¡¯s sudden appearance, however, didn¡¯t say a word as Kai took a look at the contents. Amidst a variety of toys and miscellaneous items, were masks, much like the one he was wearing. Glancing at the designs, however, it quickly became clear that they were of much higher quality. The wood seemed to be more polished, with little to no errors and the paint job was clean, with sharp lines and an expressive art style. Immediately, a fox-style mask grabbed his attention. Unlike the one he had before, which had a fairly simplistic design of all white with red whiskers on the cheeks and highlights around the eyes and ears, this mask was much more¡­ostentatious. It held a similar shape, with two ears and almost identically formed eye holes. Instead of the flat snout, though, this one protruded outwards, much like a fox¡¯s. Its surface was covered in a glossy, dark red color, and the whisker-like stripes were painted with gold. A shiny golden line, embraced by a black stroke ran from the top of the nose to the bridge. On the forehead, a black circle filled with golden intertwining symbols gave it a layer of beauty that could not be described in words. Its ears had a similar golden pattern running along the lines and center. Kai¡¯s eyes shone as he reached for it. He quickly glanced at the vendor as he hesitated, remembering the last two times he tried to look at something precious. However, much to his delight, the vendor didn¡¯t stop him or slap him away, so he picked up the mask. It had an unexpected heaviness to it, however, contrasted to the smooth surface, its interior had a rough texture to it, much like tree bark. This is good¡­ even if it¡¯s showy, I like it! He didn¡¯t have the gal to test it right there and then, of course, however, he addressed the merchant. ¡°How much is it?¡± ¡°Ten silvers.¡± Kai had expected an unreasonably high price even before asking, as such craftsmanship was hard to come by. Even though I¡¯ve only been in a few places¡­ His ring shone with a faint light as he pulled out a bag and handed it to the vendor, thanking the man with a nod. Kai then disappeared into the crowd, followed by Onyx, both of their figures blending with the large crowd. ¡­ The boy immediately knew where to go after finding what he was looking for, and the path was much too familiar to both him and the Obborik. He quickly pulled out a dark stone from his ring and stopped in front of a wall, then gently placed it against the solid structure. It quickly turned transparent, at which point he passed through it, followed by Onyx. As the wall turned back into a solid, a gentle warmth enveloped Kai, and an annoyed voice greeted him. ¡°So you didn¡¯t die, did you?¡± ¡°Barhm, of course not. I got pretty close though.¡± Kai chuckled and took off the destroyed mask, storing it in a storage ring. His pale face contrasted heavily with his crimson eyes and black hair. The dye covering its true color slowly began wearing off, revealing silver spots toward the roots and a few, minuscule strands at the center. More than that, his face, which once had reddened, plump cheeks and a healthy amount of fat, now resembled a dying man, or as close to one as he could get. His flesh began sticking to his skin, the fat having disappeared, and his sunken crimson eyes made for a ghastly sight. His dry lips were cracked, ever so slightly, making for a worrisome, unfamiliar sight for anyone that knew him. ¡°Well you look dead, that¡¯s for sure,¡± Barhm commented, glancing briefly at Onyx, who bared his fangs at him. ¡°Hurt a dog once and they¡¯ll hate you for life¡­¡± ¡°Onyx is not a dog, and the amount of force you used was exaggerated.¡± Rolling his eyes, Barhm dismissed Kai¡¯s comment and walked toward his research room. ¡°Feel free to find out what I discovered or lounge on the couch like you usually do.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you even remotely interested in what I¡¯ve been doing these past few days?¡± ¡°Not at all¡­¡± The weird boy¡¯s voice echoed from the other room, accompanied by the scraping of a chair. Kai sighed, then kneeled in front of Onyx, giving him a few pats and a kiss on the forehead. ¡°Come with me or stay here, whichever you want, alright?¡± ¡°Arf!¡± After saying that, Kai got up and rushed over to the other room. His eyes widened in surprise upon seeing the stacks upon stacks of paper piled up on his desk. After taking a glance at the ever more detailed information, he inhaled sharply. ¡°How do you have enough data to write all this? Do you discover something new every day?¡± ¡°Every day?¡± Barhm repeated. ¡°More like every five hours or so, then it takes me about an hour to write a report. Why do you ask?¡± Rodney¡¯s memories flashed before Kai, similar imagery as the one before him appearing in his mind''s eye. ¡°You¡¯re going to work yourself to death.¡± He said with a sigh and walked over to Darky¡¯s cage. However, the sight of a giant, void-like being that had no form or shape, that he expected didn¡¯t quite come into reality. Instead, what stood before him was an Obborik, seemingly a perfect replica of Onyx, except instead of his snow-white fur he was black like the ebony tree. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Quite peculiar, isn¡¯t it? After you didn¡¯t show up for a few days it took this form. I¡¯m not quite sure why but it hasn''t changed since.¡± ¡°Dude this is freaking me out. Ah!¡± Suddenly, Kai¡¯s mind went into full gear and he momentarily ignored the copycat. ¡°This reminds me, I got attacked, rather, I attacked a beast that could turn invisible! Not only that, it looked like a bipedal wolf but its mouth stretched so much it could swallow me without chewing.¡± Barhm¡¯s facial expression changed for the first time since they started talking, his pupils constricting. ¡°What? That¡­ that¡¯s quite likely.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Kai took a metaphorical step back at the boy¡¯s reaction. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s quite simple. Actually, it¡¯s not and it¡¯s about things you¡¯re not privy to.¡± ¡°Since when did you care about such things?¡± Hearing Kai¡¯s remark, Barhm looked at him with a half-angry, half-annoyed side glare. ¡°F-Fine¡­¡± Didn¡¯t know you were so sensitive, damn. He gulped and dropped the subject, not wanting to anger him any further. Deciding to turn his attention toward Darky, he approached the cage and crouched in front of it, reaching just below his eye level. Even from looking closer, besides the black fur, Kai could not see any difference between him and Onyx. ¡°Don¡¯t you find this¡­ creepy?¡± ¡°Well, I did at first,¡± Barhm replied without even looking at Kai. ¡°But then I thought it could turn invisible and that sensation quickly faded away.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a fair point.¡± Kai sighed and stood up, unable to look at the thing anymore. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time for me to study¡­ Right, I have a favor to ask.¡± ¡°Ugh, what is it?¡± Barhm¡¯s annoyed voice rang out as he turned around, staring at Kai with a tired look on his face. ¡°Well¡­ I am¡­¡± ¡°Just spit it out already!¡± ¡°I am struggling to advance because of my core and I was wondering if you could help me find out another way to¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough, no.¡± Barhm cut his speech sharply and turned back to his scribbling. His sudden, blunt, and outright refusal surprised Kai, as this had never happened before. ¡°You didn¡¯t even let me finish.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to help you create another technique to gather and refine mana. Do you understand how insane that is? I couldn¡¯t do it in my original world, where I was a master of the Arcana.¡± Master? That¡¯s new¡­ Similarly, that was also the first time Barhm had willingly divulged information about himself. Up to that point, Kai had to nag him about it otherwise he wouldn¡¯t even explain some basic concepts that Kai had no idea about. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you shouldn¡¯t try¡­¡± ¡°It seems like a waste of time. I¡¯d rather be doing research.¡± That¡¯s¡­ actually reasonable. Kai sighed after coming to that conclusion, and sat on his chair, slouching on his desk. However, as he sat in thought, a wild idea passed through his mind. Well¡­ it¡¯s either that or¡­ He sighed and raised his head, gulping as he asked an insane question. ¡°Hey, Barhm¡­ have you ever experimented on a vampire?¡± Chapter 137: Experimenting Whilst my cattle developed, I fortified and expanded my walls. It almost stretched from one to another, east to west¡­ separating and isolating the civilized world from the savages of the forest¡­ and keeping them in. The natural cycle of the moon taking the sun¡¯s place, allowing for the shine of the stars to rain upon the darkened land, kept on going, uncaring for the mortal world. The moon watched over everyone, including the barking dogs, chuckling chickens, drunken men, bandits, and the corpses they left behind. Rain poured occasionally, humidifying the soil and air, helping farmers water their crops. The animals took shelter within their nests and burrows, then came out once the sun showed itself. Life continued the same for everyone¡­ except the young vampire boy. Inside Barhm¡¯s house, in the living room, next to the couch, now stood a new device. A chair made out of solid wood, bolted to the creaking floor, with restraints on the armrests and front legs. On it sat Kai, his chest exposed and pricked full with tiny holes. Alongside them, small burning marks covered his skin in sets of spots. Some more recent than others. Amongst those, a large burn mark covered him, however it showed signs of fading away. His right side, the one that bore the impact of both ¡®Flame Fist¡¯ and the fire crystals, was scorched. It pulsated with a vague hue as blood traveled through his veins. Red and pink wounds covered him entirely, as well as loose skin and even some air bubbles he didn¡¯t dare pop. His skin had a hard time regenerating all the wounds, even after he took several healing pills. His face exuded exhaustion, and he wore a lifeless gaze as he leaned on his own shoulder. Onyx sat on the couch, his snout pointed downward, looking at him with a pitiful expression. Kai groaned as he lowered his head, glancing at the floor with a pair of dead eyes. His dry lips smacked together in a pitiful attempt at hydration. I should have never proposed this¡­ He thought, bitter. ¡­ Three days ago, inside the research room, Barhm looked at Kai with a bewildered expression. ¡°Researched on a vampire¡­ no, never.¡± He replied simply, however, his eyes shone with a glimmer of interest. ¡°Then, in exchange for letting you experiment on me within reason, you will help me develop a better technique. I will also tell you what kind of Magic Core I have, and tell you in detail how I acquired it. But you must not share it with anyone else.¡± Barhm stood in silence, his eyes jumping between Kai and the floor, in deep contemplation. After a minute or so, he clicked his tongue and looked at Kai with a large, ear-to-ear, grin. ¡°Sure, but I hope you¡¯ll be able to endure it.¡± His voice landed in the boy¡¯s ears, creepy and devoid of emotion. A sudden shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine, and he gulped as he took a glance at Darky. Fuck¡­ Barhm left the room and Kai, stood in silent contemplation, his heart racing as to what would happen next. A muffled, earth-shaking thump rang in his ears not so long after, and he rushed to the living room. His eyes widened in disbelief as he watched Barhm nail down a large chair onto the floorboards with magic stones. ¡°Is that¡­¡± Kai¡¯s expression twisted to one of fear, and cold sweat dripped down the back of his neck. ¡°A restraining chair, yes,¡± Barhm replied nonchalantly, rubbing his hands, and dusting them off. ¡°I thought we could start right away.¡± Well¡­ I am in a hurry but¡­ I would have loved to have some time to prepare. He forced an awkward smile on his face and waited for the small boy to give him instructions. Just like one would at a doctor¡¯s visit. His body quickly trembled as he saw him come back with a tray of makeshift syringes and needles, as well as a few knives and metallic containers. ¡°Undress¡± He ordered in a voice that could not be questioned, a creepily sly smile creasing his lips. Kai questioned it but hesitatingly took off his shirts and coats, storing them within his ring. That only left his underwear and bandages on, which were both dirty and bloody, some more than others. ¡°What now-...?!¡± Much to his surprise, a powerful force threw him back right onto the chair, and he glanced at the boy, who put away a small, dark stone. The strength blasted away his dirty, bloody bandages. Then, Barhm closed and tightened a set of restraints, four on his arms, two each, and four of his legs in a similar fashion. This ensured that Kai could do nothing but wiggle and bite if he had the strength to do so. ¡°Uhm¡­¡± He tried to say something, however, he was quickly shut down by Barhm¡¯s loud placement of the tray on the table, startling both Kai and Onyx. The Obborik bared his fangs and took a defensive position upon seeing the state his companion was in, however Kai quickly spoke. ¡°It¡¯s alright boy, I¡¯m¡­ half agreeing to this. So don¡¯t worry.¡± Hearing the boy¡¯s words, Onyx seemed to have calmed down, and his ears pulled back as he jumped up on the couch.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Alright, now that everyone¡¯s ready¡­ I hope you¡¯re prepared for some pain. Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t hurt too much.¡± Barhm said, that smile never once leaving his face, and it seemingly got worse in the small amount of time it took everything to get ready. Ugh¡­ doesn¡¯t he kinda seem like Rodney? Obsessed freak¡­ Somehow, Kai could only be skeptical of the boy¡¯s less-than-trustworthy words, however, he sighed. I have to do this¡­ creating a technique alone will be too difficult. Resigning himself to this fate, he steeled his resolve and exhaled heavily. ¡°Do what you must.¡± However, the sentence didn¡¯t have enough time to leave his mouth, as, with a quick motion, Barhm picked up a sharp knife and cut a small piece of Kai¡¯s skin. A heavy grunt escaped his lips as blood seeped out of the freshly cut wound, and the strange boy placed the cut skin in a metal container. He then turned toward the injury, his eyes shining with curiosity. After a couple of minutes, the wound stopped bleeding altogether, and it even showed signs of closing up. ¡°Interesting. How many years ago did you last drink blood?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­¡± Kai thought about it but quickly had his answer. If we don¡¯t count¡­ that thing, last time I drank blood was¡­ ¡°Since I was five¡­ so seven years ago or so.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± A surprised grunt escaped Barhm¡¯s body as he looked at Kai with an astonished expression. He murmured something under his breath and walked and picked up the piece of flesh he had cut off. It was dry and rigid, and so fragile it would turn to dust with a single squeeze from him. ¡°No wonder you look like you¡¯re dying¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of a vampire not feeding and not going insane. This is definitely a first, I¡¯m glad I agreed to experiment on you.¡± After having said that, he picked up a syringe and slowly slid it into Kai¡¯s veins. He let out a hissing sound as the needle penetrated his flesh, then grit his teeth as Barhm extracted a sizable amount of blood. ¡°Unfortunately I don¡¯t have the right tools on me right now¡­ or anytime soon, so you¡¯ll have to endure this.¡± His voice seemed bitter, and even disappointed as he said so, and Kai was inclined to believe him, were it not for his sadistic smile. ¡°You sure are enjoying this though.¡± He said, struggling through the pain. ¡°Always happy to add more to my knowledge. This body is both a blessing and a curse¡­ damned be me if only I listened more to those assholes¡­¡± Unusually chatty today¡­ Kai thought, easily discerning who those ¡®assholes¡¯ were. However, he had no time to think about it, as the pain of the needle being pulled out was twofold that of it being inserted. He hissed again, and his eyes turned bloodshot as he watched a good quantity of blood disappear from his system. ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead and study it under the microscope tool, you stay put.¡± Not like I can go anywhere asshole¡­ Kai sighed inwardly and stared at his right side, which was covered in burns created by a fire. Unlike the multiple faded and recent scars created by the sun and moon. A wave of helplessness washed over him, and a bitter feeling arose in his heart. He bit his lower lip and waited for Barhm to continue his experiments, which now seemed more like torture than anything. Thinking about Darky, and what the poor beast had to endure all this time, his eyes shone with pity. I hope it''s tougher than me¡­ Back inside the research lab, Barhm placed a drop of blood on the glass tray and did everything necessary before putting it under the microscope. He quickly zoomed in as much as it allowed and fed it a light crystal. Quickly, a blurry image, which quickly turned clear after a few adjustments, appeared before him. As he expected, the blood cells looked no different to that of Darky¡¯s or even his own. And that would have remained the case were it not for some almost invisible particles floating in between them. They weren¡¯t much in number. The few that were present, in the off chance they bumped against the blood cells, would create a small hole the same size as the particle itself. ¡°Hmm?¡± Barhm murmured, taking a closer, more attentive look. ¡°There are many particles in his bloodstream?¡± After observing for a few more minutes, he raised his head and blinked a couple of times, getting accustomed to the normal vision. Rather quickly he pulled out a piece of paper and started furiously writing as if he were afraid he¡¯d forget the details. <> Carefully making sure his notes were safe, he then walked to the living room and told Kai about his findings. Upon hearing the news, a pit seemingly formed inside his stomach, and he bit his lower lip with discomfort and worry. I thought I solved the mana poisoning problem¡­ fuck, the two techniques when used together are less efficient¡­ at least it¡¯s easily solvable for the moment. I just need to use the spell Dad taught me to get rid of the mana, but doing that each time I train¡­ He sighed, but his expression didn¡¯t turn any prettier. And that red blood cell thing¡­ I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s supposed to happen. Could it be¡­ so soon? A shiver ran down his spine, and he seemingly wanted to cry, but couldn¡¯t bring himself to. Barhm, on the other hand, after telling him the news, went back to his tray and picked up a clean knife. After picking up a bucket from a random corner, he stood a couple of centimeters in front of Kai. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Kai asked, hesitant. However, before he could get any concise answers, his vision blurred. He watched in slow motion as Barhm placed his arm forward, and slowly lifted his sleeve, knife in hand. Then, Kai¡¯s eyes widened as the boy before him, with a swift, resolute motion, sliced his hand, causing blood to spurt out everywhere. Most of it landed in the bucket, however, some of it splashed on Kai¡¯s chest and arms, but none on his face. His pupils constricted, and the chair wiggled violently back and forth as he tried to break free. Chapter 138: Fusioned Core Technique Experiment Oh God¡­ why have you stopped showing thyself? Where am I to find you if not in the forest? To the West, where the land is barren, to the North, where imbeciles lurk, or all the way East, where unknowns await?
Kai let out a low growl as he watched the fresh blood trickling down onto the bucket, and the burning sensation on his skin where it had splashed almost drove him mad. The sweet, intoxicating aroma inundated his nostrils, and his mouth started drooling as he tried to contain himself. His pupils constricted, then elongated, resembling those of a cat or lizard, and two sets of sharp fangs forced their way outside. Two long, thin ones at the top and two shorter, sharper, and wider ones at the bottom. Alongside those, his nails and hand turned into claws, which dug into the chair, however they were unable to damage it further. He glared at Barhm, who stood mere centimeters away from him with a smug expression decorating his face. ¡°What is the meaning¡­of¡­ thi-this¡­¡± Kai struggled to say through gritted teeth, barely able to retain his clear-mindedness over his overpowering instincts. Barhm remained silent and watched Kai struggle, his heart beating wildly. Blood rushed through his veins like a river down a mountain. His claws grew even bigger and sharper, firmly digging into the hardwood, however, no matter how much he squirmed and moved, the restraints wouldn¡¯t break or come loose. ¡°B-Barhm¡­¡± A weak voice barely escaped his body, his foggy, fading vision allowing him to see Barhm take out a pinkish stone, which glowed with a faint light. However, he had no time to see what it did, as he lost consciousness, the world turning black. ¡­ The next time he awoke, his hideous, predator-like appearance disappeared, returning to his old self. He gasped for air and took a whiff. It¡¯s gone¡­ Kai thought, letting out a light sigh of relief. However, a sweet, satisfying aroma lingered on his tongue for some unknown reason. Looking around, he only found Onyx napping on the couch, his paws spasming as he whimpered gently. Must be having a bad dream¡­ Taking a closer look at his body, he noticed several needle-like holes covering his left arm, and he growled in displeasure. How much does he need? ¡°Finally awake, it only took you five hours to come back to it after I removed the blood. I wonder if that¡¯s normal, then again you¡¯re a special case.¡± ¡°Bastard!¡± Kai cursed as he glared at Barhm, who spoke with a nonchalant voice. ¡°Easy with the language.¡± A harsh voice escaped his lips, its tone sounding like one would use against a small child to discipline them. He then sat down on the couch, startling Onyx awake from his nightmares. ¡°I have a question for you, it¡¯s quite a simple one.¡± Kai didn¡¯t say anything, however, he needn¡¯t do so, as Barhm had already taken the metaphorical stick. ¡°Why do you refuse to drink blood?¡± Upon hearing that, Kai¡¯s pupils constricted, and his heart rate rose slightly. Truly, he had never asked himself such a question, however, Isn¡¯t it obvious? He thought, glancing at Barhm, then at himself. No¡­ not to anyone but me. Hesitating to answer, he bit down on his lower lip and thought about it deeply before replying. ¡°It just doesn¡¯t feel¡­ right.¡± The answer made Barhm pause for a second, and a chuckle escaped his body, which turned into light laughter as his shoulders shook. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel right¡­¡± He repeated as he got up, approaching Kai and entering his personal space. The two locked eyes, and Barhm¡¯s shone with a glimmer of understanding. ¡°It¡¯s almost as if you were¡­ human.¡± Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon hearing those words. His palms broke into cold sweat, and a pit seemingly formed in his stomach as the two came to a silent agreement. ¡°Either way, that was just my curiosity. You can choose to feed or you can¡­ well, I assume you already know the answer.¡± Closing his eyes, the chair-bound vampire let out a heavy sigh. ¡°I can endure.¡± ¡°Endure or not, I don¡¯t care. However, I decided to keep you sane until you¡¯ve served my purposes.¡± Barm said, a cold glint in his eyes. He pulled out a piece of paper from his ring and read it to Kai. <> ¡°You did WHAT?¡± Kai interrupted, his pupils trembling in anger, and his stomach almost turning upside down. ¡°Calm down, it was a small amount and I consented to it. You should be lucky, I¡¯m probably one of the few humans that would allow such a thing. Although it felt¡­ disgusting. Not doing it again. The young vampire piped down upon hearing his words, however he couldn¡¯t shake this uncomfortable feeling that overtook his soul. On the other hand, his body seemed content, almost as if the two were a separate entity rather than one being. <> Barhm began once again. <> Kai paid close attention to whatever Barhm said, shutting down the wretched feeling he felt deep inside his soul. Unknown substance¡­ Thinking about it, he wasn¡¯t sure what it could be, despite inhabiting this body for around twelve years already. ¡°Now,¡± Barhm interrupted Kai¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I want to test something else. Drink this.¡± He said in an almost commanding tone, as he pulled out a vial filled with a watery red liquid. Kai gulped and squinted at the thing, and asked with apprehension. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I guess you could call it synthetic blood.¡± He rubbed his chin as he walked closer to Kai. ¡°I made it by combining a few¡­ dozen herbs and a tiny amount of my blood. I want to see how it affects you.¡± ¡°Wai-¡± Kai tried to protest, however, it was far too late as Barhm already opened the vial. Much to his surprise, it didn¡¯t exude any particular smell or enticing aroma, quite on the contrary, he found it repulsive. Despite that, the moment it touched his lips and glided down his throat, all such thoughts disappeared. A pleasant, warm feeling spread out within his body, and some redness seemed to have returned to his pale face.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. However, it was only momentary, as its bone-like, white color quickly resurfaced. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± A seemingly disappointed grunt left Barhm¡¯s body, however he quickly pulled out a syringe and carefully stabbed Kai¡¯s arm. ¡°Ouch!¡± Barhm rolled his eyes and ran toward the microscope. He swiftly returned, however, and shook his head. ¡°Same as before looks like it¡¯s not going to make much of a difference. Could it be because the blood isn¡¯t fresh or because it¡¯s so heavily diluted?¡± He talked to himself and quickly walked over to Kai¡¯s side, and pulled out another vial. Then, with a swift motion, he pulled out a knife and cut himself once again. This time, however, only a small amount of blood dripped down, just enough to make Kai¡¯s body reply with a toned-down ferocity. Without waiting for a second more, he opened the vial and quickly poured it down Kai¡¯s throat. Almost instantly, his fangs and claws retracted, and light returned to his dilated pupils. Barhm quickly pulled out a pink stone, which closed the wound as it shone, then swiftly wiped the blood off his arm. ¡°Interesting.¡± That is all he said as he walked into the research room, leaving Kai by himself with a bitter-sweet taste in his mouth. Onyx cautiously made his way to Kai, whose face was dark with disgust, yet at the same time an unparalleled pleasure that could not be explained with words alone. The Obborik rose on his hind legs and balanced himself against Kai¡¯s shoulder and chair, and brought his snout closer to the boy. He gave him a quick sniff and whimpered sharply. He licked Kai with his wet, warm tongue, his stinky breath causing the boy to cough lightly as he grimaced. ¡°You really gotta brush your teeth,¡± he chuckled, as his expression turned to a more gentle one. I can¡¯t believe that bastard did that but¡­ my bloodlust faded as soon as he gave me that semi-fake blood¡­ Fuck, that was so¡­ ¡°Alright,¡± the boy¡¯s voice broke his train of thought, and his head quickly snapped toward him. ¡°Next I want to test a couple more things related to your biology, so I hope you can survive. After that, I think I¡¯ll have enough data for a fair trade.¡± Fairtrade¡­ Kai scoffed at the idea, however, he didn¡¯t let it show on his face. As long as I can figure out a way to get stronger¡­ he can have as much data as he wants. He thought, unaware of what the young boy would put him through the few following days. Starting from that point on, Kai had not seen a drop of water, or liquid for that matter, and neither did he see food or any sort of nutrient. The only thing he was allowed to drink was his sweat, which rarely came to be. Barhm extracted blood every five to seven hours, each time doing several tests to determine the amount of white and red blood cells, as well as mana and other substances, which would serve to deepen his knowledge about a vampire¡¯s regeneration and endurance. Even though there may be a margin of error between the theory and practice, Barhm nonetheless did all these tests with a light smile on his face. ¡­ By the end of the third day, Kai looked like nothing more than a corpse, his face devoid of color or plumpness. Needle holes riddled his body, each one of them had healed to a certain degree. However, one could count his ribs after so many days of malnutrition and dehydration. That, combined with the irregular consumption of minuscule amounts of blood, and constant triggering of his feral side, drove him towards being nothing more than skin and bones. He groaned as he looked up, the faint light of the light and fire crystals shining upon his ghastly face. ¡°Well, I think that¡¯s enough,¡± Barhm said with a voice that cared not for Kai or the harm he had done. After stacking the large amounts of data and research he collected, Barhm undid Kai¡¯s bindings, then caught him as he fell forward. ¡°Woah there, can¡¯t have you hurt yourself right now.¡± He muttered, however judging by the tone of his voice, Barhm held little concern for Kai. After laying him down on the couch, Kai¡¯s eyes blinked slowly, his foggy vision turning black as he fell asleep. A couple of hours later, he awoke once again. Some color had returned to his face, and he took a small, involuntary whiff of the air. Almost instantly, his stomach growled with hunger, which resulted in him jumping up despite his weakened body. A large meal covered the table next to the couch, with skewers, soups, salads, and even what seemed to be grilled meat emanating a mouth-watering smell. He didn¡¯t wait for an invitation, leaping toward the food with the viciousness of a predator that hadn¡¯t eaten for days. A bite of bread here, a part of the skewer here, accompanied by a fresh onion and lettuce. Kai devoured more than half of the entire meal in less than fifteen minutes, and he downed one water glass after the other. By the time Barhm entered the living room, nothing more than the empty plates remained as proof of the feast that had once been laid there. ¡°Hmm, still slower than Darky. Then again, it ate everything almost instantly.¡± He commented before returning to his research room. ¡°Come find me when you¡¯re done, I think you mentioned something about a weird core.¡± Kai gulped, swallowing the last of his bites before wiping his mouth and hands with a rag he found on the floor. Inside the research room, Kai sat down on his usual chair, wearing a light set of black clothes. He looked at Barhm, a cacophony of emotions, mostly negative, fusing together into a glare that could cut through flesh if such a thing were possible. However, he didn¡¯t say anything, as he knew it was time to finally get his part of the deal. I have faith in him that he can help, and if he can¡¯t¡­ He shivered at the thought of having endured that for nothing, however, if Barhm accepted that meant he thought himself capable. ¡°Stop looking at me like that,¡± his annoyed voice rang in Kai¡¯s ears. ¡°I need you to tell me what this whole core thing is about.¡± Kai took in a deep breath, softened his gaze and blinked a few times, then began telling the story of his Fusioned Core. Ignoring the personal detail, he explained how his Mana Core became useless, how his Mana Veins shattered, and the little amount of magic he was able to do. Then he brought up the Hippocratic Healing Technique, named after a great medic from his old world, thus the process of healing his mana veins. Brushing over the pills, he then explained how he had risked his life a couple of times in order to heal and restore his ability to cast magic, which originally began with a desire to create a Body Core. As Kai recounted the most difficult periods of his life, Barhm listened attentively. The previous smug expression and creepy smile disappeared, replaced by a solemn look. He even seemed to gasp a couple of times, at the moments when Kai¡¯s life was in peril, however, the actual storyteller couldn¡¯t see any of that. Kai¡¯s pupils dilated, as images of the past flashed within his mind, and his mouth seemingly moved without his accord. By the time he finished, Barhm had turned around, scribbling something on a piece of paper. He paused upon noticing Kai¡¯s gaze and said. ¡°I see, you didn¡¯t have it easy.¡± Goosebumps spread through Kai¡¯s body, almost all of his hair standing on end as Barhm¡¯s genuinely caring tone landed in his ears. Clearing his throat, he turned his attention toward the desk piled full of papers he had yet to read. ¡°Yeah.¡± He mustered the strength to say, clearing his throat in the process. A moment of silence befell the two, broken by Barhm¡¯s heavy exhale, followed by his voice. ¡°You should head back, there¡¯s still thirty minutes until morning. I¡¯ll need to clean up around here. Now that I understand your circumstances better, I believe I can help you. Here,¡± He said while handing Kai an empty sheet of paper. ¡°Write both techniques you used down so I can analyze them, and come back in two days. I¡¯ll study the way mana flows through your body, then start the process of creating a new technique.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Kai nodded and fully turned to his desk, seemingly forgetting all the pain he went through during the past few days. Parents¡¯ technique or not¡­ it is useless to me now, and to Barhm as well¡­ He thought, throwing caution to the wind and writing both the Mana Core technique imprinted into his brain and the Body Core technique he studied. I¡¯m sure Aina would understand. After finishing, he got up and took a last glance at Barhm, who remained focused on his own findings. ¡°Goodbye,¡± Kai said with a half mouth, however, was quickly stopped before he could walk out of the room. ¡°Take this,¡± Barhm threw a paper bag toward him, within which a couple dozen vials of red liquid jingled as they clashed against one another. ¡°Who knows, they might prove useful.¡± Kai nodded, albeit begrudgingly, stored the bag within his ring, and then left. Onyx¡¯s happy paws and wiggling tail echoed and slowly faded away as the two-phased through the wall, leaving Barhm alone once again. He sighed and got up, taking a quick look at the piece of paper before walking into the living room. On the paper on his desk, written in a language only he, and partly Kai understood, a title policed in bold letters, read; ?Fusioned Core Technique Experiment? Chapter 139: Magic! No, my faith shan¡¯t be challenged, I must focus on the matters at hand. The cattle has more freedom now, but with such freedom also comes dangers, which need to be taken care of¡­ I shall direct a team of special forces, ¡®Inquisitors¡¯ which will make sure that the cattle does not get any ideas.
Kai rushed through the dark alleyways, racing against the sun, whose light illuminated the city. He hid behind his cloak, mask, and a few other articles of clothing, which would soon prove useless if he didn¡¯t hurry. Thankfully, even in his weakened state, with the help of mana, the distance between Karfi¡¯s bar and Barhm¡¯s house was almost negligible. Just as the sun shone with full intensity, the bell to the door jingled softly as he stormed through it, Onyx following suit. He quickly came to a halt, and took in a relieved breath. Looking around, he noticed that the bar was half full, with plenty of drunk clientele making Karfi run around like a madman. Natasha was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Tausi. Kai gave a simple nod to the man, who had no time to greet him properly, then dashed off toward his room, where the sun didn¡¯t shine safe for a few minuscule crevices. Gently closing the door, and locking it with a makeshift lock - a chair - Kai took off his mask and fell on the bed. Almost melting in the cushions, the adrenaline from his body fading as he felt safe. With a heavy sigh, he placed one arm over his eyes, then removed it as he stared into the dark void of the ceiling. A shiver ran down his spine as he recalled the horrific three days he spent as Barhm¡¯s lab rat, and vowed to himself to take better care of his body, to the best of his ability. So many things to do¡­ so little time. And that was his last conscious thought as he fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ The next evening, a warm, wet tongue, and a smelly breath crashing against his face quickly awoke Kai from his slumber. Wiping the saliva off his face, he reluctantly got up and yawned lazily. A soft smile creased his lips as he pat Onyx¡¯s fluffy head. The Obborik¡¯s tail wagged with happiness, and the two stood like that for a couple of minutes. However, Kai¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere, and his companion placed his snout on his leg after climbing onto the bed. My body may be weak right now but my mana core and star are full. Training is out of the question, as I just advanced toward a Mid Rank One Star Mage, advancing further will require a lot of effort¡­ and pain. Without mana pills it will take me forever to reach the bottleneck, so Barhm is my only chance right now. However, even if I can¡¯t train my Body Mage Spells, I can still train my Mage Spells. He sighed, standing up with a determined expression. I¡¯ve yet to seriously train that side of me besides the little I did with Elly, and that was just the basic spells. However, a smirk soon decorated his pale face, and he put his mask on as the door opened. I have six elements, after all, it¡¯s about time I put them to good use. With that thought in mind, he left his lodging, and the bar¡¯s door creaked as he stepped through. As soon as he showed himself, Natasha and Tausi rushed over to greet him. The little girl had a face full of smiles, and tightly held in her tiny hands was a drawing. ¡°Look, look!¡± She said, her tiny, high-pitched voice sounding as excited as a puppy. Shoving the picture in Kai¡¯s face, he wasn¡¯t able to make sense of what she drew. Thankfully, Natasha quickly picked up the little girl and smiled softly. ¡°There Tausi, calm down, you¡¯re scaring him.¡± She said, taking the drawing from her hands. ¡°Sorry for that, she¡¯s really excited to show you what they taught her at school.¡± ¡°School?¡± Kai questioned, raising an eyebrow behind his mask. ¡°Yeah, the local church has classes every first, third, and last day of the week. The nuns took to teaching the children the letters and numbers, as much as they can.¡± She explained, glancing at the little girl with a tender look. ¡°Today was her second day learning the alphabet. Thankfully Karfi didn¡¯t neglect that so she knew the letters, but had trouble putting words together.¡± ¡°Why couldn¡¯t she go before?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Natasha bit her lower lip, the tip of her ears turning red as she forced out the next few words. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly¡­ free. A donation per lesson is required, if you understand. ¡° Hearing that, Kai sighed and looked at Karfi, whose clientele only increased from that morning to this evening. ¡°Does he ever take breaks nowadays?¡± Natasha chuckled, as she too, looked in the man¡¯s direction. ¡°I doubt so, he closes during the night, but besides that, he¡¯s been very busy. Don¡¯t get me wrong, he¡¯s happy, but not used to it anymore.¡± A light sigh escaped her lips as she turned back to the boy, and showed him the drawing. On the small piece of paper, the rough outline of a large wolf with grayish white fur and yellow eyes was messily illustrated, accompanied by his name, written in mangled letter - Onyx -. A light smile broke out on Kai¡¯s face, and he reached out to pat the little girl¡¯s head. However, his eyes flew toward Natasha¡¯s skin for a brief second, then toward her most vulnerable spot, the neck. He quickly pulled back his hand and looked away, then cleared his throat. ¡°That¡¯s amazing, she¡¯s so smart at such a young age.¡± Was all he could muster to say before he excused himself, and rushed out the door as quickly as possible. Onyx followed him, and Natasha looked at him with a strange expression, then shook her head and put Tausi down. ¡­ Kai skipped all formalities as he rushed out of the city, only stopping after a couple hundred meters, at which point he found himself deep into the forest. Surrounded by trees and darkness, he felt safe enough to partially uncover his face, and he coughed violently, to the point of falling to his knees. Bringing a sleeve to his mouth, he tried to calm down the coughing, however, it was useless, and it only ended after about five minutes. At that point, his pale face turned red, and trace amounts of blood littered his shirt and the blades of grass. What the hell?! He cursed inwardly as he got up, Onyx whimpering softly at his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll be alright,¡± Kai reassured his companion and slowly walked through the forest. That night proved especially quiet, as not even the nocturnal birds made a sound. The eerie silence brought a weird sense of comfort to Kai, who slowly made his way through the treacherous, unmarked terrain. Shortly after, the sound of running water rang in his mind, turning more violent as he walked forward. Eventually, the harmonic song of the river turned into a murderous orchestra, that had no dirigeur or sense of rhythm. Approaching the source of the sound, a tall, impressively wide waterfall greeted his senses. The thundering sound of crashing water bombarded his hearing, and the sweet, almost fishy aroma made him lick his lips.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. The waterfall itself looked like a dark wall, illuminated only by the gentle rays of moonlight, which it reflected. At its base, a clear, calm pool formed, flowing into the river and feeding into the town. Flowers of yellow, light blue, and red that glowed with a phosphoric light stood near it, and they nodded gently to the currents of air it created. Taking a deep breath, Kai ran his fingers through Onyx¡¯s fur as he incited the Obborik to walk forward. The cold air created by the waterfall sent an icy feeling throughout his body, and the tall grass swayed gently, brushing past his legs as he approached the furiously flowing water. He didn¡¯t dare get too close, however it was close enough that he couldn¡¯t even hear himself breathe. Smiling softly, Kai sat down crosslegged, slouching slightly. He turned to Onyx and gestured him to come close, and the Obborik did as told without any hesitation. Patting his fluffy head, a glint shone within Kai¡¯s crimson pupils and decided to send a small amount of mana to Onyx. Doing so put the Obborik into a slight panic, however, he quickly settled down, and fully accepted his companion¡¯s ¡®touch¡¯. Onyx¡¯s entire mana system revealed itself within Kai¡¯s mind as soon as he was accepted, and, little to his surprise, found that they shared a somewhat similar structure. Four mana veins from his extremities, and another one from his neck, meeting in the center of the chest in a core situated close to the heart. However, unlike Kai¡¯s core, Onyx¡¯s was smaller, and had no stars or any sign of talent, just the core itself. Interesting, Kai commented inwardly. Interesting? A sudden voice that was not his own, yet ringing within his mind, startled Kai. The loss of concentration caused his mana to go haywire inside Onyx¡¯s body, at which point he yelped and backed off slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Kai quickly leaped to hug Onyx, whose nervous disposition didn¡¯t allow him to stay still. ¡°It¡¯ll be alright, forgive me.¡± His companion¡¯s soothing voice made his ears perk, and he quickly settled down, only letting out a light whimper upon putting his snout on Kai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That won¡¯t happen again, alright?¡± The Obborik sat down, his tail wagging slightly. Kai separated himself and exhaled heavily after taking a deep breath. Just what was that, my imagination, perhaps? He brushed it off and stretched his arms, then glanced at Onyx. ¡°Hey, boy,¡± Kai called out softly. ¡°Woof?¡± ¡°Show me what you can do, why don¡¯t you? I remember you had wind magic and the ability to nullify it, right? Show me what else you¡¯ve learned.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Onyx¡¯s tail wagged as he stood up, his size increasing back to his actual one, which towered over Kai. Damn¡­ The boy thought as he looked up at his companion, who he hadn¡¯t seen in his true form for a good couple of months. Not even since we left Evicario, and he wasn¡¯t this big¡­ they grow up so fast. He almost shed a tear, however couldn¡¯t due to the chuckle escaping his body as soon as he finished that thought. The Obborik didn¡¯t understand the humor in the situation, nor could he read Kai¡¯s thoughts, so he just did as instructed. His body glowed with a faint light, and a light air current lifted Kai¡¯s hair before another, stronger one completely disheveled it. Onyx dashed off into the distance, his figure disappearing into a blur that reappeared fifty meters away. What the¡­ he¡¯s even faster than me! To think I was the one slowing him down? However, Kai¡¯s time to be shocked wasn¡¯t over yet, as Onyx turned toward a tree, seemingly copying Kai, and opened his mouth. A muffled howling sound reverberated in the air, however, it wasn¡¯t the howl of a wolf, but of the wind, seemingly from a tornado. The Obborik barked, seemingly firing off an arrow as the wind whistled, and in the next second the tree before him shuddered. Shortly after, it collapses, clashing against other trees, breaking branches, and scaring off any fauna present in the area. With a mouth agape, Kai watched Onyx walk toward a thicker part of the grass, where tall bushes, flowers, and other herbs grew. He pulled his head back, then pointed his snout toward the gathering. With a long sough, the plants all got uprooted, flower petals and severed blades of grass flying about as the entire patch cleared out, leaving behind wet dirt. Then, Onyx wagged his tail, and in two long strokes, all vegetation within the left and right of him rustled. Afterward,d he turned to Kai, his simple expression meeting his companion¡¯s shocked pupils, and arfed loduly, his tail wagging normally. What the fuck? Was the only thought Kai had in his head as he watched all this happen in the span of less than fifteen minutes. When the, how? He couldn¡¯t bring himself to understand how Onyx, who basically never left his side -Well except in Evicario when I had no time for him, and he probably hung around with Aina¡­ or when I got kidnapped¡­ or on many of my outings¡­ Hm. These moments quickly put his mind to rest, and he watched the Obborik approach him with a content expression. Looks like he¡¯s smarter than me¡­ how do Magical Beasts even measure their strength? However his train of thought quickly broke as a sudden feeling of heaviness startled him awake, and he found himself lying flat on the floor, with a large Obborik over him. His drool dripped down his tongue, landing wherever on Kai¡¯s face. ¡°Can you get off me now?¡± Onyx replied with a large lick, coating Kai¡¯s pale skin with saliva. ¡­ ¡°Fwah!¡± Kai exclaimed, resurfacing from the freezing cold water that was in the pond right below the waterfall. His blistered, wounded skin turned red from the temperature. However, he didn¡¯t seem to care as he went back in for a swim. Onyx watched from the side, tilting his head sideways. He dipped his paw inside the water, but quickly recoiled upon feeling its iciness, and stared at Kai with a bewildered expression. Of course, Kai felt the temperature too, and his muscles shivered from it, however unlike Onyx, he shut down his self-preservation instincts. After emerging once again, he took a deep breath, and his spatial ring glowed with a soft light. The wand appeared in his hand, and he swiftly switched all the crystals for water ones. Alright¡­ Mom mentioned that practicing magic surrounded by its physical element would make it stronger and my learning faster. It¡¯s been¡­ a long time since I did any actual magic. Truly, even as an adventurer fighting against magical beasts, Kai¡¯s usage of Onkos magic was very rare, preferring the sword over the wand in most cases. That being, despite using a wand for most of his life. I must have gotten really used to it in a year or two¡­ Regardless, he put those thoughts aside and stood still. When casting water magic, one takes the water mana from the air, however, whilst near any body of water¡­ All six crystals on his wand shone with a light full of splendor, and the water within the pond stirred. In a matter of seconds, a small column rose and gathered into a ball, floating calmly, seemingly waiting for Kai¡¯s orders. A light smirk creased his lips, and, eyeing Onyx, sent the ball flying directly toward him. Without any time to react, the young Obborik got hit squarely in the face by a few cubic centimeters of icy cold water. ¡°Awooo¡­¡± He cried, annoyed, and quickly used wind magic to dry himself, which only made it worse. ¡°You need to use fire magic as well, dummy.¡± Kai jokingly mocked his companion from a distance and quickly pulled out a rather large fire crystal. Throwing it to the shore, Onyx approached it apprehensively but quickly cuddled around it after a couple of sniffs. ¡°Arfffrrr¡­¡± He grumbled, however, quick to forgive, and fell asleep around the warmth. So cute¡­ Kai thought, dazed for a second, however he quickly turned his attention to the important things. Alright, so I can pull water from natural bodies to use instead of calling upon the mana in the air¡­ easy enough. He cleared his throat and murmured under his breath as he lowered his wand in a circular motion. As soon as he did so, water rose and formed a circular, shield-like shape in front of him. Giving it a light punch, Kai hissed in pain, his knuckles had turned red from the briefest touch. Nice! Waving his hand, he undid the spell, and quickly began another one. His whispers reverberated in the air, and the water crystals shimmered, however, nothing happened even as his muffled voice died down. After a few seconds, he cringed and sighed. I have to say it out loud, don¡¯t I¡­ Taking in a deep breath, and pointing the wand forward, his lips parted. ¡°Oh, water spirit, clear be your light, grant me thy strength¡­ Boiling Mist!¡± As he chanted, the crystals glowed, and the water temperature surrounding him quickly rose, bubbles appearing on the surface of the pond. Steam surrounded him, and, for a brief second, it almost felt like the perfect temperature to bathe in. However, that moment quickly passed, and he suddenly started feeling like a lobster, a weird aroma dashing past his nostrils. Shit! Quickly getting out of the area he turned into a death zone, he undid the spell and waited for the boiling water to flow toward the river. Letting out a light sigh, his racing heart only beat quicker as the cold shock he got after re-emerging almost took his breath away. *Snap The sound of a breaking branch quickly raised his alertness, and, without waiting for the person to show up, he dove under the water, squinting toward the surface. Chapter 140: Undress Leaving my best men to the matter of the cattle, I turned toward the map. It wasn¡¯t complete, far from it, in fact. It had no mountain information, or rivers and cities.
The rippling water and his foggy vision didn¡¯t allow him to see more than what was within immediate distance. However, that didn¡¯t stop him from trying to look, clutching his wand tightly as he prepared to make a show of magic and then make a run for it. The footsteps crept closer, however, and the little amount of oxygen he had almost ran out. That was when he waved his hand, hiding the glowing of the crystals, and created a small air bubble around his head. This won¡¯t last long. He thought, exhaling, then slowly breathing in and waiting for whatever lurked above water to show up. Onyx didn¡¯t bark at all, which meant that the strange visitor didn¡¯t get close enough, or that he was sleeping too deeply. Could be either or both¡­ Kai sighed inwardly and swam away from his original place, toward the confluence. Remaining vigilant, he slowly crept his head out of the water, just enough for his eyes to see clearly. Immediately glancing at the place where the sound resounded from, his pupils constricted, and soon he broke out into a laugh. Water quickly invaded his lungs, and he swiftly jumped out of the pond, coughing with tears and laughter. Of course, it had to be something like that. He thought, catching a speeding Lurestag with the corner of his eye. After expelling all the water from his lungs, he lay down, facing the moon. His face, chest, and lower body were fully exposed, safe for a pair of underwear. Skin stuck to his bones like a famished dog, to the point where counting his ribs could count as a pastime activity. The needle holes created by Barhm had almost fully healed, and even the burning marks seemed to have faded slightly. That was way too frightening! I wonder what Grandpa used to ward off beasts¡­ these totem things. ¡°Ha¡­¡± He sighed, got up and quickly cast a fire spell by pulling out a crystal, just enough for him to dry off completely. After throwing on some clothes, he sat down cross-legged and used both techniques to refill his mana core. At the same time, upon learning his lesson, he created a small area around him whereupon he would be aware of every little movement by using mana. Breathing in a rhythmical fashion, he pulled in unfiltered mana from the outside and purified it using his core, then stored it inside both in the Fusioned Core and the star. Minutes passed, and his eyes finally snapped open as the moon passed over him. Jumping to his feet, he looked at Onyx, who slept comfortably around the fire crystal, then at the pond, and decided to do his training deeper into the forest. At least I tested some new basic spells, I¡¯ll have time to do that later. Right now I want to see how strong my spells have gotten. Thoughts raced through his head as he too dashed through the forest, then finally stopped upon reaching a more isolated place. Laying still, he pointed the wand forward and his pupils constricted as the crystal etched onto it shivered. However, no matter how hard Kai concentrated, they didn¡¯t do any more than that, and he found himself grasping his head due to a sudden headache. What¡­ but Grandpa could do it so easily! Scam! After complaining internally, he resigned to his fate and pulled them out manually, replacing them with fire crystals instead. Just wait until I get it right¡­ I¡¯ll cast spells like a madman at a super-fire rate, see about that! Wait¡­ who am I fighting with? Sighing, he put the water crystals aside and eyed a tree with murderous intent. Basic fireball! From my memories it wasn¡¯t that powerful, only able to slightly burn the surface of the bark¡­ maybe dig a little into it. Let¡¯s see now! His excitement grew, and, unable to contain himself, he immediately pointed the wand forward while muttering softly. Slowly, a small ball of fire appeared at the tip of his wand. The air around it distorted as it heated up, and it slowly grew in size as the crystals on the wand shimmered with soft light, pulsating, as if seemingly alive. As Kai chanted, the fireball, which only had a few flickering wicks on its surface, burst into flames. It burned with an intense yet restrained ferocity, akin to that of a pouncing tiger. His skin tingled as the burning sensation reached him, however he held control. The flames pulsed with a wild energy, untamed yet obedient to his will. Its surface flickered with a mesmerizing palette of orange, red, and blue, which awaited his command. Then, he threw it forward. It hurled through the air like a miniature star, leaving behind a fiery trail that seemingly melted the air. In less than a second, the fireball reached the tree Kai aimed at, and exploded with a burst of heat and light, scattering its beautiful colors as it burned away. The vegetation around the tree -fresh, green grass and weeds- caught fire almost immediately. Kai walked closer and quickly put out the fire with a few water spells cast with a water crystal. Then, with much expectation, did the same for the tree, snuffing out the violent flames. The aftermath made him gasp in shock, his pupils widening. This¡­ He gently touched the damaged surface, his fingertips burning slightly, however, he had to touch it to believe it was real. A thick, acrid smell of charred wood inundated his nostrils, making him take a step back. However, that didn¡¯t stop Kai from being left in awe. The bark within a small area around the explosion disappeared completely and turned to ash which drifted with the wind. Its outer edges were charred black, carbonated, and dry to the point of crumbling with a touch. Underneath, layers upon layers of inner bark and sapwood vanished, destroyed. Like a comet falling on earth, the fireball left behind a large crater.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. From its center, the wood had patches of black and brown, whilst the parts that weren¡¯t completely burned to a crisp glowed with a red hue. Taking a closer look, Kai noticed a light shining through the other end, his heart skipping a beat upon noticing. He ran his hand through the hole, the hairs on his arm curling up, and pushed the last remaining layer of bark without much effort. Pulling back, he shook his wrist and stared at the tree with an astonished gaze. A one-star fireball¡­ doing this much damage? Even when I had two stars this¡­ seemed impossible. A wave of euphoria rushed through his body, and he couldn¡¯t help but let out a low, restrained ¡®Yes!¡± Quickly clearing his throat, he looked at his wand, and seemingly wanted to kiss it. However, even without anyone watching, he felt that it was weird. Even then I don¡¯t think the wand is the reason. Chuckling to himself, he decided to leave the trees alone for the night and returned to Onyx. Still sleeping¡­ he sighed softly and gazed toward the sky. The moon had yet to come close to setting, so he nudged the fire crystal away and sat down. Melting into Onyx¡¯s fur, he tried not to startle him awake, and he succeeded, as the Obborik remained in a deep sleep. Breathing softly, he didn¡¯t dare close his eyes, in fear of falling asleep, and chose to gather mana instead. Still clutching the wand, he began circulating the mana outside of his body, whilst keeping watch at the same time. As he did so, the fire crystals on the wand shimmered and pulsated, sending a comforting warmth toward Kai¡¯s core. He didn¡¯t notice what the wand was doing but definitely felt its effects. The mana around him began approaching faster and entered his Mana Veins with greater smoothness. As the mana came in contact with the core, it turned into mana of slightly purer quality than before, the impurities seemingly burning away. The immediate changes were minuscule, however, they would accumulate for a greater end product than before. Pleased, Kai didn¡¯t question where this new aid came from, nor could he fully sense it as he gave all his attention to watching the perimeter and controlling two techniques at the same time. ¡­ Minutes passed, which turned into hours, with Kai never once stopping gathering mana. A frown decorated his face, though, as he finally reached a point where he had to stop. Thirty percent refined¡­ He sighed lightly, and his eyes slowly creaked open, revealing a fatigued expression. When I started it was already at twenty-eight. Slow, so slow! He groaned, getting up and stretching. His bones creaked, making snapping sounds as he bent his back in weird positions. Then, he ruffled Onyx¡¯s fur, gently waking him up with a few, well-placed pats. ¡°Let¡¯s go, the day hasn¡¯t started.¡± He told the Obborik softly, who got up and did some stretches of his own, then walked alongside his companion. They walked slowly, so as to not disturb the quiet of the forest, and took their time looking around. Every so often, Kai bent down to collect a plant or flower, or just inspect whatever took his interest. Aina said it¡¯s important to have a stockpile of medicinal plants, just in case. He thought, taking a look inside the spatial ring she gave him, the inside of which was mostly filled with vegetation. Better be safe than sorry. As the clamor of the city entered their ears, Kai quickly donned the fox mask and Onyx returned to his smaller size. Reaching the gate, the usual guard took notice of them as he nodded his head. ¡°New mask? What happened to the old one?¡± Kai stooped abruptly, surprised that he would get spoken to in the street like this. ¡°It¡¯s been¡­ burnt.¡± His fake, hoarse voice sounded out, and something inside the guard¡¯s mind seemed to have clicked at the moment. ¡°Ah! Aren¡¯t you that guy that fought the wolf thing? I heard about it at the garrison.¡± Raising an eyebrow, the boy didn¡¯t say anything else but nodded slowly, and got ready to leave, however, the guard¡¯s voice stopped him before he could. ¡°Man, so many people got¡­ actually nvm, I don¡¯t want to take your time too much.¡± The guard then returned to his post, alongside two or three others, making sure that no stranger entered or left the city. Did such good work to keep out that thing. Kai thought, almost spitefully, then left quickly, and hid himself in the dark alleys. With a quick flick, he changed some of the water crystals on his wand for dark crystals. Then, with a simple gesture, cast a concealing spell on himself. It won¡¯t make me invisible, but it¡¯ll do. He thought, dashing alongside Onyx toward Barhm¡¯s house. Raymond is lucky I have no time to talk to him¡­ and I¡¯m also afraid. Ro Nin said it has been taken care of but I¡¯m doubtful. However, since he could do nothing about it, decided that the best course of action would be ignoring it, and trusting that it¡¯s been resolved. His clothes flapped softly as he stopped, then pressed a stone against a wall before disappearing together with Onyx. Inside Barhm¡¯s house, everything seemed normal. The chair that bound Kai disappeared, and so did any signs of the experiments subjected to him. Well isn¡¯t that quick¡­ He made his way to the couch, and, just as he wanted to sit down, a familiar voice rang in his ears. ¡°You¡¯re here, good. Come, I need more information.¡± Barhm said imperatively, and Kai followed with a sigh. Glancing at Onyx, then thinking about Darky, he hesitated whether to let his companion know about the copycat. However,r it was much too late as the Obborik had already dashed past him and into the research room. ¡°Onyx, wai-¡± He called out, rushing after him. Still, surprise overtook him upon seeing his companion¡¯s tail wag with happiness upon seeing Darky. Ugh¡­ I guess he doesn¡¯t recognize himself in a mirror either huh¡­ I thought he was smarter than that. But since it seemed the two got along, he didn¡¯t pay them any mind and focused his attention on Barhm. ¡°I understand you fused a Body Core and a Mana Core, and that the process was mostly random and suicidal.¡± The strange boy said, making Kai frown behind his mask. Taking it off, he was prepared to berate Barhm, however stopped as the boy shot him a cold glare. ¡°After studying the two techniques, I¡¯ve come to a better understanding of magic in this world, adding to the one I was forced to practice with the bunch.¡± ¡°Your two techniques are barely compatible with each other, hindering themselves more than you¡¯d think.¡± Kai rolled his eyes, metaphorically, upon hearing that. Barhm frowned, despite him not actually rolling his eyes, seemingly sensing disdain in the air. However, he kept quiet. ¡°So what do you suggest we do?¡± Kai finally asked, after what seemed like an eternity. ¡°Undress,¡± Barhm commanded, making Kai take a physical step back, his body shuddering upon hearing that word. Chapter 141: Brainstorming Though the continent is big, I have yet to explore most of it, and find God to fulfill my mission¡­
The fireplace crackled as wood burned and charred, the flames growing ever so strong and melodic the more they consumed. Onyx sat beside it, sleeping comfortably, not minding the high temperatures. Opposite him, on a fresh carpet, sat Kai, cross-legged with his eyes closed. Behind him, Barhm had his hands placed upon his bare skin. ¡°Alright, again.¡± He barked, and then Kai immediately circulated both techniques, simultaneously allowing Barhm¡¯s foreign mana to invade and observe his body. This is so creepy¡­ Kai thought, shivering. However, he didn¡¯t dare not follow what Barhm said. I really hope this helps¡­ Barhm didn¡¯t care for Kai¡¯s thoughts, not that he could hear them, and simply observed the way Mana moved and interacted with Kai¡¯s body. Sending mana deeper in, toward the core, the image of a large, glowing sphere accompanied by a star popped in his head. From afar, it looked ordinary, however, after studying it and listening to Kai, knew it was far from so. What started as two cores became one, with the Body Core protecting Kai¡¯s broken Mana Core and repairing it. Due to that, the Fusioned Core was stronger and extremely diverse, yet without the proper technique, was just as hard to advance. Barhm frowned as he followed the mana going inside the core, however couldn¡¯t discern much from just that alone. Separating a piece of his own mana, he sent it into Kai¡¯s mana veins, making the boy shiver and sweat, however, he endured. Barhm¡¯s piece of mana quickly rushed toward the core, where he was able to look, or rather, sense it more closely. It pulsated with vitality and power and emitted a small suction force that Barhm could easily resist. However, he didn¡¯t, and let himself be absorbed. A weird sensation passed over his body, which he studied and remembered, before completely losing it. He pulled back the mana he had in Kai¡¯s body, and exhaled heavily. ¡°Just as I thought, they are not in harmony at all. The mana part of your core is trying to pull in mana, while your body one is acting like a filter, however, the gaps within are not big enough for mana to pass through well.¡± Barhm fell down, his face red and covered with fatigue. Kai¡¯s eyes opened slowly, sweat dripping down his face and body. ¡°So what do you suggest?¡± ¡°Nothing, for now. I need to think.¡± Barhm jumped to his feet and dragged his legs toward the research room. Kai also got up and followed him, sitting down at the desk, he watched Barhm, with great boredom, write yet another set of notes. Reminds me of Rodney and his team, who always note research and papers¡­ Sighing, he turned his attention toward the empty desk and pulled out a paper and pen from his ring. I need to think of other ways to get mana quickly, since pills are out of the question, I doubt Aina would give me anymore in fear of killing myself. Let¡¯s see¡­ some plants. Kai ended up staring at that piece of paper for about fifteen minutes as he sorted out the data he had about plants and vegetation. Of course, it all came from Aina¡¯s vast library of medicinal books, books he was forced to study. Ugh, but I hate to say they helped me so far, at least with making some easy money. With a light sigh, he began writing. ?Relafonum Dorus; Common Name - Golden Flower Root; A plant that grows in extremely warm and sunlit environments, its most important component being the root. It¡¯s a natural Light elemental plant, which means it thrives in absorbing the sun¡¯s energy. However, due to that, its roots are filled to the brim with mana, and, once it grows to maturity, the flower wilts, and leaves behind its roots and stalk. Finding this flower isn¡¯t particularly difficult if you live to the northwest of the continent. Anywhere else and it¡¯s neigh impossible to happen upon.? Looking at the small paragraph he just scribbled, and correcting one thing here and there, a smile creased his lips. Alright¡­ now information is starting to flow. And, with that thought, he placed his pen back down on the paper, and furious scribbling swiftly resounded in the air. Barhm glanced over with the corner of his eye and nodded softly. Time passed as the two each wrote their own thing, the only thing breaking the silence being their soft sighs stretches, and pens. Meanwhile, Onyx stood next to Darky, his tail wagging, breathing loudly with his tongue out. The copycat did the same thing, almost following the Obborik¡¯s movements one to one. If Onyx lifted a paw, so would it, if Onyx turned around or jumped, so would it. ¡°Woof!¡± He barked, and Darky repeated at the same time. Onyx however didn¡¯t find any of that creepy or weird, but rather, amusing, and he only regretted not being able to break his friend free of the shackles he was in. Alas, that wasn¡¯t possible, unless he didn¡¯t fear the consequences of angering both Barhm and Kai. So he stood there, playing with his friend, and Darky seemed to enjoy it too, despite having no obvious facial expression. The rhythm of his wagging tail swung slightly differently from Onyx¡¯s, and his void-like, beady pupils shone with an intelligent glimmer. As the hours trickled by, and the two beasts played, Kai finally put his pen down and leaned back on the chair with a sigh. Finally done. Glancing at the half a dozen pieces of paper he inked, a light smile creased his lips. ¡°Finished your little homework?¡± Barhm commented, almost mockingly. Getting up, he stepped closer and picked up the stack of documents. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± He murmured, attentively reading all the information Kai wrote down. ¡°Hm¡­¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°What? Unsatisfied?¡± Kai asked, reaching to snatch his hard work. ¡°No, actually.¡± Barhm dodged, turning around. ¡°Quite the contrary.¡± He continued, acting like he didn¡¯t notice, and sat down at his desk. ¡°This gives me an idea.¡± After saying that, he read through the information as fast as a speed reader and seemingly memorized every detail. Soon after he finished the documents, he carefully put them to the side and began new scribbles of his own. However, it didn¡¯t take as long as before, handing his new theory to Kai in a matter of minutes. After reading through the paper, his pupils constricted slightly, and a light smile formed on his face. ¡°Isn¡¯t this just what I¡¯ve been doing though¡­?¡± He asked, hesitating. ¡°Yes,¡± Barhm replied, snatching the paper from Kai¡¯s hands. ¡°However you wasted all of those pills or whatever they¡¯re called. I¡¯m willing to bet more than half of their energy was lost because you basically brute forced it inside your Fusioned Core.¡± Hearing that, Kai¡¯s face flushed red, and his lips parted in protest, but Barhm stopped him before a word could be said. ¡°You know I¡¯m right. But what¡¯s done is done, so let¡¯s focus on the matter at hand. If you give me better descriptions of certain plants, I think I can create the proper technique to absorb each of them fully or at least with little loss.¡± His voice sounded confident, and the expression on his face didn¡¯t betray that. Kai knew that, if Barhm wasn¡¯t a man of his word, at least he was a scientist of his word. Nodding, he turned toward his desk and gave a better description of the Golden Flower Root. The whole chapter took up three pages and a half, including a drawing of how it looked like along with its many components and sub-components. Each component had a detailed description of the way it functioned and what role it served, such as the tip of the root, which had the largest mana concentration by size, but which also broke apart easily if not uprooted properly. The upper parts of the root had less mana by size, but it made up for that in purity. Being so close to the stalk, it could absorb some of the light element from the flower, meaning that it had a richer filling as compared to the other parts. After a detailed description of every part, Kai then wrote about its medicinal properties, not excluding the flower and stalk. Although they may be less useful from a mana standpoint, the flower was a precious light elemental plant that could be used after drying in the creation of wands, while the stalk was edible. As he wrote in the previous notes, the root became the most important part after the plant fully matured, and died, leaving behind the mana-rich roots. And so, after what felt like an hour or so to both Barhm and Onyx, Kai had finally put his pen down. Before he even had time to stretch, the boy snatched the documents before him and read them as fast as he could, sometimes a couple of times over. His eyes widened, and it was time for his turn to be surprised. After all, Kai had basically regurgitated an entire chapter of a book and synthesized them in less than four pages. Barhm glanced at Kai, who slouched on his desk, with an even stranger look than before. ¡®What the fuck is that guy¡­¡¯ He murmured under his breath, unsure if Kai heard him. ¡°Aina¡¯s student¡­¡± Kai groaned, his muffled voice partly blocked by the desk. He said it with both pride and pain, mixing in a pot, the contents of which tasted salty and sweet, but mostly coppery. Barhm nodded, making a mental note of Aina, and resumed his writing and learning of the plant. Ten minutes passed before he put the documents down. ¡°Alright, I have a better idea¡­ now I just need to think. He turned toward the desk and played with the pen in his hand, fingers tapping on the table. Kai yawned, however, and lazily stood up. ¡°Leaving already?¡± Barhm asked, not sure if it was night or day. ¡°No, but¡­¡± Kai hesitated slightly, tracing his fingers along the paper-filled desk. ¡°I learned from someone that if you don¡¯t sleep you may end up dead. I don¡¯t wanna die just yet. I can¡¯t.¡± And with that being said, he went to the couch, Onyx following him quite happily, after saying his ¡®see you later¡¯ s to Darky. Barhm watched the two lounge on the couch, Kai patting Onyx¡¯s fluff and the Obborik climbing on top of him. If only for a second, a hint of melancholy glistened in his eyes, before he shut it down and turned back toward his research. Yet, he still stole a glance toward Darky, who happily slept in its cage. He sighed. ¡­ Kai woke up as soon as the sun set, that behavior was now programmed in his internal clock regardless of the sun¡¯s visibility. Yawning lazily and stretching, waking up Onyx at the same time, who more or less did the same thing, he got up. Quickly scanning the room, a look of surprise manifested on his face upon seeing Barhm sleeping on the arm couch next to the sofa. Shaking his head, he placed a cover over the boy and then walked over to the research lab. The documents were as disorderly as before, however, a new set appeared on Barhm¡¯s desk. Written in his own tongue, Kai had a harder time deciphering it, especially so with new words he had never seen before being added. It looks like¡­ several technique ideas. Only one developed and the rest were in the conception stage¡­ If he wants to experiment I should go look for some plants in this area¡­ ugh experimenting on me again. Well¡­ Kai stopped for a second, thinking about all the times he nearly killed himself by ¡®experimenting¡¯. I¡¯ve done worse, yeah.¡± He glanced at Darky, who still slept, a content smile on his tar-like snout. Look at him, copying my friend¡­ it even looks like him when it sleeps. Ignoring the Magical Beast, Kai grabbed the list he wrote and quickly scanned it, then put it back down after finding the information he needed. Alright, ¡®Scarfying Bloom¡¯ it is. Quickly turning around, his fingers scratched Onyx¡¯s head, then headed toward the wall - door, and stepped out without interrupting Barhm¡¯s quiet sleep. Upon leaving, he inhaled deeply, happy to smell fresh air again, and stretched his entire body as he basked on the evening moon. However, he quickly turned vigilant as a spot within the shadows muttered with movement. Despite that, he didn¡¯t bring his weapons out. Another one?! However, what greeted him was not the ferocious eyes of a mutant beast, but¡­ something worse. Out of the shadows stepped a man, his emerald eyes shining with a mysterious light. To Kai, those eyes seemed to belong to a viper, and a light shiver ran down his spine as he recalled the fear he felt at that time. Raymond smiled graciously, not a hint of malice on his face, however, the creepy undertone within his voice as he said ¡°Long time no see,¡± sent Kai into a cold sweat, and he gulped, his eyes not daring to leave the man¡¯s figure. Chapter 142: Just a plant! We know not of the creatures lurking within the depths of the continent, or what sort of form they inhibit, let alone powers or taste.
¡°H-has it¡­¡± Kai barely managed to utter through gritted teeth, the simple sight of of the man sent blood boiling throughout his body. ¡°Yeah, too long. I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯ve been well-behaved.¡± Raymond said with a fake smile, one that would fool even the smallest of snakes. He didn¡¯t walk forward, giving Kai plenty of room to step around and leave, however, the boy didn¡¯t do so. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± The man¡¯s eyes shone with a glint, showing more emotion with a simple brow movement than he did with his entire face. ¡°Someone told me you weren¡¯t happy with the lack of action on my guard¡¯s part.¡± He said, then clicked his tongue before continuing. ¡°Oh and I trained them so well¡­ Alas, my fears have come true. Good news though, I heard you were going to leave soon, so you won¡¯t have to worry about getting mixed up with things outside of your reach.¡± That again? Kai thought, his pupils trembling with anger. ¡°Hm, it seems you¡¯ve forgoed the mask?¡± Raymond remarked casually, reminding Kai that he had yet to put on his cover. ¡°Well, no matter. No one is here anyway. And don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not here to harm you. If I wanted to, you already know it wouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± He chuckled, then pulled out a large bag from his Spatial Ring. It jingled melodiously as he threw it at Kai¡¯s feet, making him take a step backward from surprise. ¡°Take it, it¡¯s yours. A small reward for keeping my people safe.¡± After saying that, he walked back into the shadows, and his presence disappeared completely. Kai let out a heavy sigh as he fell to the ground, his rapid breathing turning irregular. However, he quickly gathered himself and took out the mask, at the very least, so no one would find him undisguised. Onyx quickly rushed to his aid, allowing himself to be used as support for Kai to get back on his feet. The boy gulped, an icy shiver running down his spine, and his pupils snapped shut as he tried to collect himself. Two minutes later, he inhaled deeply, then knelt to pick up the bag. Inside it was a substantial amount of silver coins, with some gold ones sprinkled in. What is this? He thought, however, he couldn¡¯t deny a fair amount of coin, especially not at a time like that. Right, what did I want to do¡­ Ah yes, rare plants. He put a foot forward but hesitated slightly on where to go. It didn¡¯t take long for him to decide, however, as he then walked toward the guild headquarters. Although he didn¡¯t spend too long in there, he quickly came out with a few, easy, mundane tasks. With everything he needed in hand, and with slight apprehension, he left toward the forest once again. I seem to be spending more time here than in my room. Kai thought as the sound of crumbling leaves and crushed twigs rang in his ears. The humid soil made his footsteps heavier, as they dug deeper into the ground, dirtying his boots. His eagle-like vision scanned the ground, looking for signs of the plants he needed, as well as the one plant that he needed, found only in this area. ?Scarfying Bloom,? he recalled the medicinal herb, ?loves humid and cold environments. Unlike most plants, this one behaves like a worm or snail, only coming out for a short period after rain. Its name comes from the pattern on its leaves. Each leaf has a cut-like shape cutting across its length, sometimes with branching patterns. It had no flower or bud, only the leaves and stem. They hide underground, right beneath the soil, and once they sense mineral water, like that of rain, they puff up and reveal themselves. That is when they are most useful, as the entirety of the plan gets filled to the brim with mana, most often water-elemental mana. The leaves can be used for tea and the stem for several potions. It is considered rare because no matter how much you look for it, you will never find it. Once found, however, it may be guarded by magical beasts.? Kai sighed at the description, slightly concerned about his luck in finding it. However, he couldn¡¯t simply give up without trying, and he took advantage of the night after a heavy rain. Unsure if Ro Nin still followed him around or not, he decided not to take any chances by calling out to him and continued as normal. He picked up a few of the plants he needed for the tasks while advancing and hunted some game for much the same reason and food. Gradually, he got farther and farther away from the town, the dark forest embracing his presence with wide open arms. The deeper he went, though, the stronger the magical beasts became, and the more careful he had to be of the night predators. ¡®Vision¡¯ He whispered, getting a better view of the dark. It wasn¡¯t quite as good as a veteran mage, or compared to the day, however, it did the job. His footsteps slowed down, coming to a halt a little before a clearing. Hiding in a bush, his eyes scanned the area, constricting upon seeing the Scarfying Bloom. Kai wanted to go and grab it right away, but he knew better than to rush out there. Ever so vigilant, he spread out his mana and softly bumped every physical object in a small area. His heart skipped a beat as, not that far away, hidden in a bush behind leaves and twigs, he sensed a group of magical beasts guarding the Scarfying Bloom. Crap¡­ Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t able to identify what they were, or how strong they were, not without seeing them. What do I do? Biting his lower lip, and gritting his teeth, he approached slightly closer to where he sensed the beasts. Then he pulled out his wand and quickly swapped the crystals, slotting in two earth crystals, one water crystal, one light crystal, and two fire crystals, just in case. With a deep breath, he steeled his heart and recalled one spell from the book he didn¡¯t try. It¡¯s just like raising walls¡­ but in inverse, right? He thought, murmuring under his breath. ¡®Earth as a cauldron, steel as its borders, hell for the fire and heaven for the water¡­ Collapse!¡¯Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The earth crystals on his wand immediately shone with a faint light and the ground in a small area of him shook violently. It crumbled into an irregularly shaped crater, taking with it a bush, tree, and animal. Without wasting any time, Kai jumped out of hiding and swung his wand. The water crystal on the wand shimmered, and very quickly, a large amount of water sphered condensed above the hole, immediately falling in. It took a couple dozen of them to fill the hole halfway, which only took around ten seconds to materialize. Sounds of wailing rang out like a ghost screeching in the night, however, he didn¡¯t stop. Kai quickly made a closing gesture with the wand, making the earth inside the crater extrude, swiftly closing it up, and then, with a pushing gesture, it fell down, putting pressure on everything unlucky enough to be inside. However, he wasn¡¯t done. Anxiously, he cast another spell, pulling out a few hefty chunks of soil, and dropping them on the pressurized manhole. Afterward, with one last grasp of strength, he extruded another part of the hole and flattened the soil he just added to it. Gasping for air, he took off his mask and simply looked at the mess he created in the span of thirty seconds, hoping that whatever he trapped wasn¡¯t strong enough to break free, or even survive. Please work! Yet, his pleas fell on deaf ears. Man proposes and God disposes, as the saying goes. The pile of earth shook, and the ground beneath his feet trembled. Before he could blink, or back off, the entire thing exploded, sending large chunks of rocks, trees, and vegetation flying everywhere. His pulse raced, and pupils constricted, as, before him, two medium-sized, yet powerful beasts rose from the hole. Unable to clearly make out their features, Kai squinted and tried to identify whatever he could behind the dust. They stood on four legs, with scales covering their paws, back, and tail, as well as the stomach area. Having a pointed, yet slightly flattened snout, large, triangle-shaped ears, and a dark fur color, they exuded a terrifying aura that screamed the word ¡®power¡¯. What¡­ Unfortunately, no such beasts appeared in Kai¡¯s memory, and definitely none in Rodney¡¯s. Glancing at Onyx, he noticed he already buffed himself and was ready to start fighting at a moment¡¯s notice. Kai gulped. He did the same, pulling out the silver sword alongside its scabbard, and quickly hanged it to his waist. Following in the Obborik¡¯s footsteps, he cast several body enhancements buffs, and, clicking his tongue, decided to left-hand the wand. The two uninvited guests, rather, furious victims didn¡¯t stand on ceremony either, and quickly dashed toward Kai and Onyx with a soul-piercing howl. The boy took a few steps backward, pushed by the soundwave, however, didn¡¯t dare lose focus. Waving his wand, he summoned a circle of fireballs, which circled him, and waited for his command to shoot out. Unfortunately, these fireballs weren¡¯t as strong as a single one but had the potential to catch a target by surprise. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have time to cast anything else, and quickly shot them forward as he dashed backward. One of the beasts had chosen him as the target, while the other kept Onyx occupied. Trusting his companion wholeheartedly, Kai concentrated on his fight. Quickly drawing the silver sword, and sending a bit of mana inside of it, the cry of a beast rang inside his mind. The desire for battle rushed to his brain, and he immediately charged forward, longsword in his right hand and wand in the left. Flicking his wrist, another set of fireballs appeared, replacing the old, and then he sent them all hurling toward the unknown magical beast. After that, he stowed it away clutched the hilt with both hands, and slashed vertically upward. The beast screeched uglily and dodged the incoming fireballs, right into Kai¡¯s swing. It landed squarely on its stomach, however, it didn¡¯t budge any more than that. Without hesitation, Kai, sensing danger, stepped back. At that moment, the thing¡¯s tail hit right where he stood, causing dirt and grass to fly up. Quickly pulling out the wand, Kai flicked his wrist and quickly cast the fireball spell. It quickly formed right before his eyes and flew right toward the animal. The blue, orange, and yellow mass of fire reflected within its pupils as it soared toward it at an incredible speed. Howling toward the sky, brown fur and scales shone briefly, and it quickly spun around, using its tail as a weapon, clashing right into the fireball. With a brief explosion, it dissipated without any grandeur, as if it was never there. Kai¡¯s pupils constricted, however, he didn¡¯t lose his cool and quickly cast another spell. This time, the earth crystals on his wand shone with intense light, but nothing happened, at least, not immediately. However, just as quickly, the ground shook, and the earth below the creature¡¯s paws caved, then closed and hardened, trapping it. Struggling, the thing¡¯s scales lit up with a red, fiery color, and the trap began to show cracks. Yet, it was too late, as Kai¡¯s right fist pulled back, and the air around it began distorting. His body shone several times as well, and he grits his teeth as he sends his punch forward, the mana around it igniting, creating a flame spiral that exploded upon impact with the beast. Kai hurled backward, his fist blazing hot, his clothes burning, and his skin red. Quickly taking out a regeneration pill, he ate it begrudgingly and stood up. He clicked his tongue. The feeling on his right arm disappeared almost completely, and he could barely move it enough to clench his fist. Shit¡­ I did it wrong. He thought, almost regretting his decision. With a racing heart, he stared at the beast from afar. The scales around its midsection completely disappeared, leaving behind a black rim, and one of its front paws remained embedded in the ground, leaving behind a bloody pool. The rest of its body lay collapsed on the ground, breath heavy and eyes unwilling. Walking over to it, he picked up the sword and stowed it away. Not intending to waste any more time, he quickly wrapped a bandage around his neck, then hung his right arm on it. Wand in left hand, his eyes looked for Onyx, whose battle had yet to end. Heart full of anxiety, he followed the sound of destruction and the tracks left behind as the two beasts chased one another through the forest. He took it away so it couldn¡¯t help¡­ what a smart boy. Kai praised internally and jumped on a large branch. His senses went crazy at that moment, though, and quickly fell back to the ground. The branch he stood upon got hit by a powerful gust of wind, severing at halfway point, almost falling on Kai. Face full of horror, Kai looked behind him and saw a pair of glowing red eyes following him from the shadows. Their ferocity sent a shiver down his spine, unlike any other Kai encountered before, and he cursed himself for not being more careful. His heart skipped a beat, as two other invisible mana attacks flew toward him, breaking everything in their path. It¡¯s just a plant! Chapter 143: All for a Plant... I pray every day, hoping that God will give me strength. And so he does, whether through the prideful blood flowing in my veins, or the proud race of people I lead.
His internal cries would not matter, though, and he quickly dodged out of the way, running deeper into the forest. What are these things? His right hand spasmed, the only feeling currently flowing through it being pain. At least it¡¯s beginning to heal¡­ these pills are good. Kai sighed, knowing that he couldn¡¯t buy them from anywhere else. However, that wasn¡¯t the time to cry about it, as another wind blast shot straight at him. Jumping, he evaded it, yet another one came hurling toward him at the same time. This time around, he had no way to dodge, unless he magically walked on air. With a quick wave of his wand, two large chunks of earth rose below him, and he quickly stuck to his feet. Letting go of the spell, the rocks pulled him down almost immediately. At that moment the two other weird beats showed themselves and dashed toward Kai, while the third one was close on his tail. Taking a closer look, he noticed they were of the same race as the one he thought he killed earlier. They can use wind magic too?! Shocked, Kai quickly freed himself of the rocks and cast a fireball circle spell. This time they were large, perhaps as large as his head, and they spun around him with varying speed and distance. Putting the wand away, he pulled out the sword and unsheated it with a sharp swish. It trembled in his hand, and even he was unsure of himself, as his dominant hand was currently unavailable. Kai clicked his tongue and took on a fighting stance. The beasts turned apprehensive, fearing the fireballs and the desperate aura Kai currently exuded. However, the third beast, the one that had first shot at him, wasn¡¯t as cowardly. Pulling its head back, it howled, and Kai discerned the nature of the attack, despite his shock. It¡¯s the same one Onyx used back then! And that thing, didn¡¯t I just kill it? Staring with widened pupils, he dodged to the side, barely avoiding the gust of wind that took away everything with it. However, his fireballs, affected by the current, vanished, and Kai lost all control over them. What the hell? He gasped, and at the same time, the two other beasts pounced at him. Screeching, and with their mouths open, Kai noticed a pair of snake-like fangs protruding out of their upper teeth. He shivered and quickly sent mana into his sword, then slashed downward toward the closest one. It hit it squarely in the head, however the scales made sure that it took no physical damage. As for the second one, Kai swung a kick toward it, pushing it away, and losing his boot in the process. How could I get into such a bad situation¡­ He cried, but no tears came out, and cursed himself and his right hand for failing him. Where is Onyx? Kai desperately wanted to get out of this dangerous situation, so he pulled out his wand and cast a ¡®Blinding Flash¡¯, then ran away without looking back. The spell temporarily incapacitated all three of the wild beasts, giving Kai a headstart, however, he knew it wouldn¡¯t last long. ¡°Onyx!¡± He cried out, however, the chances of being heard in such a place, even by an Obborik, were low. So Kai ran, dodged the spells coming his way, and tried desperately to find his companion. ¡°Onyx!¡± His cries fell on deaf ears, but the signs of struggle surrounding him gave him hope. Damaged trees, destroyed bushes and broken pieces of earth spread out in an uneven line. Please, be safe! Kai prayed and spread his mana out in a small area. Nothing¡­ Gritting his teeth, he increased the area, but yet again found nothing except the two beasts chasing him. Cancelling the spell, he increased his speed instead, putting most of his mana into the legs. The wind whistled past him, and, suddenly, a sensation tugged at his heart. Onyx! He yelled internally and quickly dashed toward the direction it came from, to his right and slightly up. He kept going until he heard the sound of running water and the cacophony of struggle.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Spells flew out everywhere, with shrieks, yells and barks, howls, and screeches, as well as pained yelps. Without hesitation, Kai, one foot bare and one hand useless, flew out and quickly scanned the area. Onyx fought two other of the weird beasts, while a smaller one lay wounded to the side. ¡°Onyx!¡± Kai yelled, distracting them, and giving the Obborik a chance to cast a quick wind spell. He blasted them away with a swift howl, with Kai landing next to him at that same moment. Simultaneously, the three beasts chasing him appeared, one missing a front paw and with half its scaley armor gone. It gasped, blood trickling down its body and out its mouth, making it look even more ferocious than its allies. Kai and Onyx stood with their backs against the river, surrounded by five animals that wanted their lives. Biting his lower lip, Kai¡¯s mind went into full gear, trying to find a way to escape. Going by river won¡¯t work and it¡¯ll only make us more vulnerable. They can definitely run faster than we can swim¡­ I can''t use my right hand, so another Flame Fist is out of the equation. My mana reserves are halfway depleted, Vision and constantly maintaining buffs definitely use more mana than a simple fireball ball would. Basic attacks don¡¯t work on them, and even their internal organs being damaged doesn¡¯t seem to keep them down¡­ Fuck! He cursed and watched with anxiety as the beasts got closer. The furious river water rang in his ears, and a light shone in his eyes as he quickly pulled out his wand and stripped it off all the other crystals, except the water ones. However, he didn¡¯t have any time to switch them out, as a barrage of wind magics shot toward them. Gritting his teeth, he jumped backward, inside the icy river water. ¡°Give me ten seconds!¡± He yelled at Onyx, who dodged to the side. The Obborik¡¯s body flashed with a soft light, and he almost instantly reappeared ten meters away, then, just as swiftly, pulled his head back. With incredible fury, he let out an anguishing, soul-scratching howl that echoed throughout the forest, and shot out a large, consistent stream of wind at the same time. The five creatures, and the wounded one, got pushed back, and they were unable to move. However, they didn¡¯t switch targets and fervently wanted to get Onyx before even thinking of Kai. The howl resounded for ten seconds, waking up every matter of being, human, or animal. Wow¡­ Kai thought and raised his wand, now decked with six watery crystals, which shimmered with a pale light. Good job, boy! As the crystals shone, a large wave of water rose up around Kai, cutting off the river flow and becoming larger and larger with every passing second. Beads of sweat rushed down Kai¡¯s body, his entire body trembling, and, with a loud groan, sent the water hurling toward the six beasts. Onyx stopped at that moment, and jumped into the river, emerging on the other side, and watched Kai with his beady eyes. The large wave of water fell on the beasts, the cold and pressure shocking them still, however, Kai wasn¡¯t done yet. In that same moment they got engulfed by the water, he managed to murmur something through gritted teeth and raised his wand once again. The water that had yet to be absorbed by the ground rose into a sphere, bringing with it all beings within the radius. Uprooting bushes, cutting off the grass, and picking up all living beings within the zone. Right before Kai¡¯s eyes, a large, twenty-meter wide sphere of water, floated above the ground. The beasts inside struggled, trying to get away, however, he flicked his wrist and caused the water inside to rotate rapidly. No sound of struggle echoed out, and if there were any, the sound of the running river drowned them. Just as the beasts, unable to do anything, despite their casting of spells and exploding bodies, perished, with water filling their lungs. Kai fell to his knees and gasped for breath, the river water cleaning, or obscuring any sweat dripping down his neck, as well as a good portion of the protective coat of dye on his hair. Soon enough, that dye would fade and his disguise would be almost broken, however, Kai couldn¡¯t worry about that at the moment. The water sphere fell as the crystals on the wand lost all hue, and cracks appeared on their surface. The corpses, either mangled or intact, fell to the ground, unmoving. Onyx dashed to Kai¡¯s side, and gave him a couple of quick sniffs, then pulled him out of the dashing river by the collar. Both collapsed on the moist ground, staring at the sky, surrounded by death and destruction. Their chests heaved heavily, and they remained unmoving for a good minute. That was¡­ really¡­ stupid. Kai thought, gritting his teeth and getting up, daring to take a look around him. All this¡­ for a plant? Chapter 144: The Plant is Useful Ultimately, it is not the man that dictates his will, but the being that giveth his breath¡­
The dark, moist ground, greedily absorbed all the water, making it so that no puddles formed, and the only sign left of struggle being the damaged bushes, severed grass, and mangled corpses. Some bodies twitched, expending the last of the flesh¡¯s energy, while some beasts still had some breath in them. Leaning on his sword, Kai didn¡¯t dare repeat the same mistake as last time and slashed the necks off of all the corpses. Most of them were just that, corpses, so they offered no resistance. However, out of the six beasts, the life of two still lingered. One of them seemed young, smaller than the rest by a few centimeters, with the vigor of a youth still shining in its flooded eyes. Kai shut his own, unable to look, and slashed at its neck, ending its suffering. Next, he walked to the last one. Its lungs still struggled, water leaking out of its mouth and paws still moving, grasping for life. It was the one Kai had first defeated, its scales even more damaged than before, and the opening on its severed paw almost completely healed. Its eyes snapped to Kai, empty, dark, and big. Giving its attacker a lost, unwilling look, it shifted its gaze toward a tree. Kai sighed and lifted his sword. The sound of crunching bone and squelching blood echoed in his ears, making him want to throw up, however, he held on strong and faced the animals he killed with dignity. Waving his wand one last time, the earth shook and swallowed the corpses. He then left, heading toward the Scarfying Bloom. Onyx followed suit, standing close by his companion, whose right arm all but screamed in pain. Despite how much he ran, the patch of Scarfying Bloom nested close by, surrounded by the damage he had done to the environment. Walking to the pit he created, and looking inside, he grimaced, upon seeing two cubs, no bigger than a football, floating in the pool of despair he made, dead. Looking away, he waved his wand and closed the hole with a simple earth spell. The process of gathering the Scarfying Bloom wasn¡¯t difficult for Kai, not in the slightest, as he had experience picking up all manners of plants. Whether it was from Aina¡¯s training or his own adventures. Soon, a small basket of them filled his ring, at which point he rose and left. Out of the entire batch, he only took out an insignificant amount, not nearly enough to deprive these unknown beasts of their nourishment. He shook his head and knew that, if he dared to take his time picking them, he would be the one feeding the ground right now, and not the opposite. The walk home didn¡¯t take a long amount of time, even without using spells or body enchantments. The gates met his eyes before the moon was halfway through the sky. After handing in a few of the tasks he managed to complete, Kai returned to Barhm¡¯s place. As soon as he entered, the boy greeted him, albeit a weird expression plastered on his face. ¡°You look like you went to war.¡± He commented but didn¡¯t ask anything further. With a light sigh, Kai took off his cloak and stored it in his other ring, as well as his bloodied, white shirt and the black blouse underneath. The entire thing proved to be difficult, doing it with only one hand. Luckily Onyx quickly picked up and volunteered to help him undress. His bare skin looked better than a few days, and even a couple of hours ago. It showed signs of healing and getting plumper, however not by much. Kai¡¯s stomach growled, prompting him to sit down at a table and pull out some rations he had stored. ¡°I¡¯m guessing whatever you did went well?¡± Barhm sat down as well, glancing slightly at Kai¡¯s dried meat, then at the jewelry on his fingers. ¡°I didn¡¯t reckon they make such devices here.¡± Glancing at his hand, then swallowing whatever he was chewing and throwing the rest to Onyx, Kai smirked. ¡°I¡¯ve seen them around. This one,¡± he said, pointing at one of the rings, with a smaller dark crystal and a silver frame. ¡°My dad made it and gifted it to me, and the other,¡± Kai referred to one of similar size to his dad¡¯s but with a golden frame. ¡°My teacher gifted it to me. They¡¯re pretty big in size for daily needs.¡± He explained, then raised an eyebrow. ¡°How come you¡¯ve never asked until now?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t interested,¡± Barhm said simply and leaned back on his sofa. ¡°What, can¡¯t I ask when I¡¯m curious?¡± ¡°No, no, you can.¡± Kai, flustered, quickly uttered. ¡°Just seemed weird.¡± ¡­ An awkward silence fell upon the two, though Kai didn¡¯t allow it to last long as he pulled out a piece of the vine-like plant he fought tooth and bone for. ¡°This is Scarfying Bloom,¡± Kai explained, and Barhm got closer, and cut him off before he could explain what it was. ¡°I know of it, I read what you said about it. I had a guess you¡¯d go for it.¡± He smiled as he talked, then stood up and walked to his office. Soon returning with a piece of paper, he flicked it toward Kai, who grabbed it with trained dexterity and read it. The boy¡¯s eyes lit up as his eyes scanned the words, written in Common, then widened before staring at Barhm. ¡°You deduced all this¡­ so quickly?¡± Barhm scoffed and walked toward the fireplace, ¡°Even a fool in my world could figure that out. Especially based on what you gave me. It seems complex at first, but once you understand it replicating it is not that hard. You figured out a way to use both at the same time, and something tells me you did something else that allowed your core to survive. Based on the damage you took, it should have collapsed and you should have died along with your parents. So unless you¡¯re a ghost, you too, figured something out.¡± Kai gulped and picked up the piece of Scarfying Bloom, then joined the boy next to the fireplace. This guy is too smart! A thought passed his head as a bead of sweat ran down his forehead. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m sure you figured out how it works already, so come here and sit,¡± Barhm commanded with a tone that would not allow disobedience. Like a puppy with big eyes, Kai sat down crosslegged before the fireplace and pulled out a couple of Scarfying Blooms. ¡°First time we¡¯re going to be testing, so don¡¯t expect any grand results.¡± Taking in a deep breath, Kai quickly recalled how the technique Barhm conjured up worked. ?Create a revolving mana field around the plant, that will make it so there is no leakage or waste during the following steps. Call upon your Mana Core and create a siphoning force that will then extract all the mana from the plant inside the Mana Sphere.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Use your Body Core to filter out the large impurities, and store them inside a smaller bubble inside the first bubble. Then using both cores, slowly draw in the purified, filtered mana.? Simple¡­ in theory. Kai thought, initiating the first step. Mana Bubble¡­ whatever that is. First, he used the mana present in his body and tried to make it take shape. Such a task required immense levels of control and focus, something that a Medium Size One Star Core normally wouldn¡¯t be able to exert. However, with beads of sweat running down his forehead, falling into his mouth or lap, Kai managed to create a Mana¡­ shape. It resembled a sphere as much as a cylinder did, however for the first attempt it would do. Rolling his eyes, Barhm placed the small part of the Scarfying Bloom, cutting it to size, within the shape. A low grunt escaped Kai¡¯s body almost immediately, as his mana, and control faltered for a second. He quickly regained it, but a shiver ran down his spine at the same moment as Barhm¡¯s cold hands landed on his skin. ¡°I need to know what¡¯s happening so I can analyze and aid.¡± He explained, then invaded Kai¡¯s body with his mana, who had no choice but to accept it. Being put in such a vulnerable situation made Kai¡¯s hair stand on edge, however he knew it was necessary. After the shape stabilized, along with the plant inside, Kai called upon his Mana Core. At first, it felt weird, and it remained unresponsive. However, as he insisted, its red color began to shine with a soft light, until it eventually agreed to cooperate, and sent a siphoning force toward the Mana Shape. Initially, it started out slow, barely extracting any mana from the plant. However, Kai split his concentration more, and in turn, his control over the shape. It faltered, and eventually, broke, releasing all the mana it had sucked out, and destroying the plant in the process. At the same time, Barhm recoiled, as Kai¡¯s Mana Core had nowhere to point its suction force at, besides Barhm himself. He stood up with a grunt and looked at the small pieces of herb littering his floor. ¡°I hope you brought enough, and cleaned that up, I don¡¯t want my house to be dirty.¡± Kai bowed his head, half with shame, half with annoyance, and picked up the wasted plant, storing the remains in a small corner in his ring. They¡¯d be good for tea at least¡­ He sighed and grabbed the piece Barhm had cut up. Maybe a smaller shape, just to fit the plant. He repeated the first process and created a shape only big enough to fit the plant, along with whatever impurities he may extract from the mana. Barhm once again took the role of guard, however got ready to stop his mana flow at a moment¡¯s notice. Exhaling sharply, Kai called upon his Mana Core, which responded instantly this time around and began extracting the mana within the plant. Without getting greedy, Kai slowly increased the speed until he felt it enough, then waited for the plant to dry up of all mana. The process showed itself to be slow, and meticulous. Each time Kai¡¯s focus faded, even if for a second, the bubble would threaten to explode, destroying any progress he made. Eventually, however, there was nothing left to extract from the mana plant. The concentrated amount of mana became visible to the naked eye. It had a light blue tinge and behaved like smoke, or vapor, shapeless and without mass, or very little of it. After all the mana had been exhausted, it dried up and crumbled to ashes of its own volition, disappearing without a trace. What the he- However, he had no time or attention to divert toward that, as the next step required him to focus even more than before. With a deep breath, he steadied his control of the Mana Shape and called upon his Body Core to filter out the impurities from the extracted mana. Just like with the Mana Core, it refused to budge and listen, almost as if it had sentience. Damn you, listen to me! Kai cried internally, the Mana Shape trembling slightly as he diverted more control to wake up his core. Eventually, it shone with a dark, ambient light, and sent its power toward the Mana Shape, using Kai as a catalyst. However, despite Kai¡¯s understanding of his body, the Fusioned Core was still a new, weird invention he didn¡¯t quite fully grasp. He knew that both cores could filter mana, but the Body Core was superior in that regard. For a Body Mage, a cultivator, to be able to use constantly circulate mana within their body, it has to be pure, as to avoid self-inflicted internal damage. Whereas for a Mage, such a requirement wasn¡¯t so strict, because all mana eventually left their body, without lingering. Likewise, a Mana Core was much stronger in terms of raw magic output and control than a Body Core, without factoring in the individual user. So, as Kai called upon the Body Core¡¯s ability to filter mana, he began understanding it better as well. Through his left hand, it sent a suction force, similar to the Mana Core. The difference between the two was that the latter suction force was gentle and indiscriminating, the former only attracted impurities. Of course, it wasn¡¯t to a perfect degree, due to the core low¡¯s level, and Kai¡¯s lack of power. However, it was plenty enough to avoid Mana Poisoning right away. Kai had a feeling that things were going too well, and, just as he thought that, Barhm jumped to his feet and kicked Kai, making him lose focus and control over the Mana Shape, which then exploded into nothingness. ¡°What gives?¡± He said with a grunt. ¡°Your Body Core started to absorb the impurities, you didn¡¯t control it well enough. Start over.¡± Kai¡¯s pupils constricted, and he pulled out another piece Scarfying Bloom after turning around. Redoing the first two steps proved easy enough, and even the Mana Shape started to resemble a bubble, though not by much. Finally, the piece of Scarfying Bloom disintegrated once again, marking the start of the third step, whereupon he called on his Body Core, which responded almost immediately, rushing toward the mana with a greedy hunger. This time Kai used most of his control on keeping its instinct to absorb at bay, and made sure that it kept the impurities in a second Mana Shape. The mana cloud visibly decreased in size as its impurities got extracted, and even they started to become visible. Unlike the blue-ish mana cloud, these impurities were heavy, and dark, with a hint of purple. They didn¡¯t float or move about but fell and gathered inside the smaller bubble-like metal powder. Kai exhaled heavily and stopped the Body Core¡¯s suction force, then carefully removed the bubble filled with impurities from the purer mana. He gulped, and got his hands closer to the Mana Shape, almost touching it, then called upon both his cores, and let them absorb without restraint. Almost instantly, the mana veins running through his arms flooded with mana, flowing so fast and smooth that Kai thought he dreamt. A euphoric feeling rushed through his body, which only increased as both cores greedily absorbed the mana. It feels like¡­ the mana pills, no! Even better! So much purified mana¡­ this is¡­ amazing! He relished the feeling, his face flushing red and pupils trembling, as the crimson iris shone with a soft light. Kai wanted to jump to his feet, to kick and scream and howl, however, he restrained himself, and, the feeling soon faded away, leaving him wanting for more. All the mana within the bubble faded, leaving behind a small bubble of impurities. With a sigh, he glanced at Barhm, who had already begun taking notes, not caring whether or not Kai was hurt. He then reached for the small bubble, grabbing it with mana, and staring at the dark-purple flakes inside. They were small, like grains of sand on a beach, however, somehow, Kai felt an intense, familiar maline emanating from them. Instinctively, he reached toward them with a finger, wanting to touch them, feel them, absorb them¡­ ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you, that¡¯s pure poison.¡± Barhm woke Kai up from his fever with a simple sentence, then went back to writing on his papers. Clearing his throat, Kai took out a small glass vial he had from Barhm¡¯s experiments, on both Darky and himself. As he did, he remembered the couple of diluted blood vials Barhm gave him and bit his lower lip. Rising the glass vial up to the level of the impurity-filled mana bubble, Kai created a small vacuum that sucked them all to the bottom, then promptly sealed it. ¡°Plan on doing something with that?¡± Barhm asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Well¡­¡± Kai said without turning. ¡°You never know when you may need something, plus it¡¯d be interesting to see how raw impurities work.¡± Barhm didn¡¯t pay Kai any more mind, and went back to scribbling on his paper, as Kai put the vial of impurities away inside his storage ring. For a good fifteen minutes, nothing happened, and only the crackling fire and inking resounded in the air. Then, Barhm handed Kai another piece of paper, and the boy¡¯s eyes widened even more than before as he scanned it. Chapter 145: Thirty Percent of the Plant Drink, eat, and feast! My people, my soldiers, lovers, and sons! A great victory, God has graced us with!
¡°You¡­¡± Kai uttered, almost unable to believe his eyes. ¡°You found this many faults and even wrote an improved version just based on a few experiments?¡± Barhm sighed, seemingly tired of Kai¡¯s dramatics, and explained. ¡°Once you figure out the base, modifying the structure won¡¯t be as difficult. Besides, did you think that I wouldn¡¯t find any faults after being able to carefully analyze every small section of your mana veins? Give me some credit. ¡°Not only did you not extract all the impurities you could have, miniscule amount of organic matter also made its way into your system. Left in small quantities like this there wouldn¡¯t be any problems. However, without improving both the technique and the way you use it, that could lead to some serious damage. ¡°In addition to that, you let yourself get lost in the feeling of absorbing the mana but didn¡¯t study it. If you did, you would have found out that some of it leaked through your mana veins and core, mixing with your blood. Do you really want to die from Mana Poisoning? ¡°Not to mention, you didn¡¯t bother to control the rate of absorption, which could either wound your mana veins or core. You need to keep a clear head when doing experiments, you acted like a beast. Do better.¡± With Barhm listing a multitude of his flaws, in addition to the ones written on the sheet of paper before him, his face turned a bright shade of red, and so did his ears, more than anything. His shoulders shook from shame, however, he also knew that everything Barhm said was right. In that moment, any sort of rational he had disappeared, his animalistic brain taking over reason. He stood alone in silence, with an indifferent Barhm ready to analyze the way he did things to a microscopic level once again. Lack of self-control, absorbing impurities, damaging myself¡­ Kai began to see a pattern in the way he did things, however, he couldn''t quite put a finger on why he did things like this all the time. Maybe my missing soul pieces will help me¡­ the closest one is in Lustra, I believe. However he didn¡¯t check the map now, as it wasn¡¯t the time, and he had other important matters on hand. Just like before, he took out a Scarfying Bloom and trapped it in a Mana Bubble. Then, after measuring out the right amount of control, he once again called upon his Mana Core. However, this time, he slowed down the process of extracting mana. This time around he didn¡¯t prioritize speed, but efficiency. Despite the huge amount of time it took to empty the plant, the blue cloud of mana that formed this time around was undeniably thicker and denser. After half an hour, the plant disappeared and turned to ash. Kai made sure to filter out all of the bit before even thinking about filtering out the impurities, and he did so to the best of his ability and senses. ¡°Keep going.¡± Barhm encouraged him. Kai followed the order, despite being unable to sense any more organic material inside the bubble. Eventually, the mana inside the bubble homogenized into a flowing, blueish liquid vapor. After another fifteen minutes, after thinking it enough, and without Barhm saying anything else, Kai created another bubble within the bubble. Once again stabilizing his control, he called upon the Body Core and began extracting the impurities. Similarly to the Mana Core suctioning, he slowed it down, and increased its strength, so that it would pull the impurities better. He used the Body Core¡¯s innate ability to filter out the mana with greater performance than a Mana Core, however, he then called upon his Mana Core as well and used both of their ability to purify mana. Slowly but surely, the impurity bubble grew large, with more and more flakes, until it shared one-third of the total space available inside the Mana Shape. So many impurities¡­ Kai couldn¡¯t help but gasp and thought about how much of that he¡¯d absorbed until now. Finally, he stopped and then placed the impurity bubble to the side, making it float with a small amount of control. Next, he took a deep breath, and physically touched the Mana Shape, then called solely upon his Mana Core to absorb the mana at a slow, steady rate. The same euphoric feeling he had the first time around appeared once again, this time with a much smaller intensity, and Kai controlled himself. Refusing to let his instincts take over his body once again, he followed the path of mana closely as it traveled through his veins. It flowed slowly like a calm river, however, microscopic cracks, scars from a long time ago that had yet to heal, let some of it leak out. Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, unable to believe that he and Aina had missed such an obvious flaw, however he couldn¡¯t blame himself or her. After all, the mana Kai usually absorbed was thicker, and less fine, so it couldn¡¯t fully pass through. Now, however, it did, poisoning Kai¡¯s bloodstream with a minuscule amount of particles. I¡¯ll need to use the Hippcratus Healing Technique again¡­ thankfully I still have plenty of healing pills left from Aina, I think a dozen or so. More than enough to spare. For the moment, though, he had to accept the poisoning and use the technique to expel them from his bloodstream later. For the moment, he kept his concentration on the process of absorbing mana. It went smoothly, much more smoothly than he expected, and in less than fifteen minutes, the cloud of mana had decreased by more than half. He tried, however, to compress the mana into a sphere, in an attempt to recreate the pills Aina made. As expected, nothing came out of it, and it just turned into liquid which then quickly turned into something between liquid and vapor once again.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Giving up any thoughts of making something Aina and the other team spent years on, after another fifteen minutes, all the mana inside the Mana Shape completely integrated inside Kai¡¯s core. He let his control of it go, and he breathed heavily as it disappeared into nothingness. Quickly gathering the impurities into another vial, and storing it away, Kai let out a large sigh of relief and took the time to analyze the change within his body. Firstly, the mana he had used up during the fight had more than recovered. His star shone, filled to the brim with mana, and his core was thirty-three percent full. A three percent increase in total quantity¡­ that¡¯s¡­ so much! He gasped, barely able to contain his excitement. Barhm separated himself from Kai and quickly began writing down more of his findings, talking aloud in his native language. Kai wasn¡¯t able to fully understand it, however, the little he picked up confirmed his suspicions as well. Just as expected, the purer the mana, the easier time it has scraping away at the invisible limit in a Core. Once my Large Mana Core reaches one hundred percent, I can then use the mana stored inside the star, in addition to outside mana, and push it to its very limits. I wonder, how big can I get it to be? One hundred and thirty percent, one hundred and fifty, two hundred? The bigger it is, the more mana I will be able to store once I create a second star¡­ However, that will have to wait¡­ He giggled helplessly to himself, like a crazy person lost in their own world, as Barhm finished writing down his notes. ¡°Alright,¡± he cleared his throat, breaking Kai from his stupor. ¡°That was better, now follow this.¡± He said, then handed Kai the freshly inked paper. Reading it, Kai¡¯s spirits both lifted and fell at the same time. He sighed, then collected myself. Once again starting the process of isolating the Scarfying Bloom, he used an alternative method to extract the mana within. This new method consisted of stopping every two or so minutes, to let the mana settle and homogenize, then start the extraction process again and again. Doing so, Kai created small pockets of mana, separated from one another, which he then separately cleared of impurities. He found that using this method, the total amount of impurities more than doubled. The sphere of dark purple flakes took over half of the total space available within the shape. After discarding and securing it, Kai, as per Barm¡¯s instructions, willed his body core to heat up. Then, after an incredibly uncomfortable feeling rose up in his chest, he used both cores to suck the mana in. As it passed through the outer Body Core, the mana solidified slightly and created a small blockage of impurities that Barhm helped Kai clean and contain. After the entire process, only about thirty percent of the total mana Kai had extracted was absorbed by his core, which didn¡¯t seem to be refined any further. Disappointed, Kai waited for Barhm¡¯s report on the matter. Just like usual, he wrote on his notes, not for long, though. ¡°This seems to be the limit of what the Scarfying Bloom can do. You will need to practice and learn how to remove the internal impurities yourself, so as to not impede the flow of mana. Otherwise, I think this is the limit. Thirty percent pure, albeit low-quality mana is a good start. ¡°Now, do keep in mind this technique can be used with any plants, and I made it so, as long as you can split your attention, it can be used with multiple plants at the same time.¡± He explained all that without any emotion or change in his tone. A rapid-fire flow of information that didn¡¯t seem to care about what he had just accomplished. Kai couldn¡¯t say he was surprised, but he couldn¡¯t believe that Barhm acted so nonchalantly about it. However, even as he wanted to say something, the boy cut him off. ¡°I need to go and process my findings¡­¡± He stopped at the door to his research lab, and without turning, added. ¡°¡­this is monumental.¡± Kai scoffed and collapsed on the ground. Both of fatigue and relief, that he had something he could use, as long as he had what to extract mana from. Mana plants, even small and insignificant, are mostly everywhere on the continent. He recalled the plants he knew of, even if vaguely. Then, thinking of the technique Barhm had created with just some vague directions and help from him. He took the basic concept and made a way to achieve it using an external element, instead of internal. That¡¯s simply¡­ unheard of. I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯s thinking outside the box or if he¡¯s simply a genius. To say that Kai admired Barhm would be an understatement, however, no amount of familiarity would allow him to forget that the innocent-looking boy was a monster from who knows where. I wouldn¡¯t win in a fight, it wouldn¡¯t even come close, actually. That simple thought made him shiver and steeled his will. Walking over to Barhm¡¯s laboratory, he saw the countless documents he had already written, and his eyes had shone upon one that interested him in particular. The art of Invisibility? He thought, intrigued, and read the paper, trying to understand as much of Barhm¡¯s tongue as possible. His pupils widened, and he almost felt himself gasping for breath as his eyes scanned the writing. Amazing¡­! But he seems to be missing something¡­ ?In order for the subject to turn invisible, and after studying how light functions in this world, I have to a few conclusions. Subject needs to either make it so their DNA does not reflect or absorb light, instead letting it pass right through, therefore not casting any shadow. A second possibility would be that Subject makes it so their being fools the mind¡¯s eye into thinking that Subject is not visible by changing the way our brain processes the light they reflect. This could either be done through some special magic, or by a very strong physical illusion. I have my reasons to believe it¡¯s the former. For now, my tests are inconclusive as the microscope provided by [Redacted] is not strong enough. End of Report.? Those theories seem to align with what Rodney believed, however his interests, as vast as they were, never intersected with invisibility, and therefore I have no real help I can provide¡­ He sighed and turned away, leaving for the carpet in front of the fireplace. Bahrm ignored his presence that entire time, and only focused on scribbling down his theories. Just as Kai wanted to start another training session, though, his stomach growled, reminding him that he barely ate anything for the day. Thinking of of Onyx too, and realising that the Obborik also went unfed, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. I¡¯m so forgetful. However, instead of pulling out whatever rations he had stored, Kai stood up and whistled for Onyx, who slept peacefully on the couch. Upon hearing his companion¡¯s calling, his ears perked up, and immediately dashed off the couch, then followed him outside. Kai swiftly placed the fox mask over his face, then covered his head with a hood, and dashed through the dark alleyways alongside Onyx, heading toward the town center. Chapter 146: Thirst It is true that the thirst for power is great, but the thirst to fulfill my faith is even greater¡­ I, Lazharus, will find my God.
As the hustle and bustle of the main street landed into Kai¡¯s ears, he slowed down to a walking pace and tried not to grab any attention toward himself. However, with a dark red fox mask, and a white wolf that was almost as tall as he, such a thing proved to be difficult. Onlookers, passersby, stared at him, taking note of his appearance, then shrugged it off and went on their way. Some avoided him, some got a good glance at Onyx and went the other way, while some others were intrigued. He heard some whispers, talking about him, and about the day he sent that beast away. However, none approached or talked to him, if not for his unknown nature, then in fear of the Obborik, which looked like an adult wolf in most people¡¯s eyes, due to this reduced size. And so, followed by glances or avoided by some, Kai followed his nose toward the gate of the city, where the smell of grilled meats and vegetables was stronger. Of course, street food wouldn¡¯t be expensive to the average adventurer, and especially not to Kai, but seeing some of the prices made even him feel poor. Luckily Raymond gave me some silver and gold¡­ damned be this city, it¡¯s more expensive than Nivero! He cried internally, and quickly, as per Onyx¡¯s guidance, picked a rather large stall to buy from. It spanned a good length of four to five meters, with two grills in the back and one at the front. A single cook - a middle-aged man whose tanned face hid behind a thick, dark beard, with hands darker than the elbows, and white beneath the sleeves- manned all three grills at once. His blonde dirty hair sported a shortcut, whilst a shining pair of black eyes watched over the meats with pride. A tall yet fairly young girl took care of the customers. She had a head of yellow hair tied up in a short ponytail, and beautiful black eyes that made one get lost within, with an enchanting, welcoming smile creasing her pinkish pale lips. The girl seemed to be about twenty and bore a striking resemblance to the cook. For one reason -the mouth-watering smell of the cooking meat, spiced with herbs and minerals-, or the pretty young girl selling said meats, or even both, a substantial line had formed, spanning twelve or thirteen people. Fourteen, with Kai in the back. He didn¡¯t mind waiting, despite his stomach saying otherwise, and Onyx¡¯s intense licking of his snout as he happily smelled the evenly roasted pork, beef, and other animals Kai could not begin to identify. The line moved quickly, or slowly, he couldn¡¯t say. Taking a quick sniff of the air, a weird, sweet smell entered his nostrils from the direction of the gate. His stomach churned and his hunger barely allowed him to think, and even a weird thirst began to set in. He ignored the feeling and sat in line, and the customers slowly trickled by, and so did the minutes, until finally, it was his turn to order. Waiting so much in line, he already had an idea of what to buy, and so he turned toward the young girl. From up close, she was even more beautiful than he thought, her white skin covered by a thick yellow shirt and a white blouse underneath. Her neck was decorated by a beautiful silver necklace, with a green, cheaply made, yet beautifully shining stone. The perfections he thought she had also disappeared, as cuts and nips covered her fingers and palm. A dark, tanned patch also covered her in the same spots as the cook, supposedly her father, and her nails weren¡¯t done prettily, like the other girls he¡¯d seen, but instead left slightly longer than normal. He stared at her for a while, however not long enough for anyone to think him weird. The girl, a pretty little thing, had probably gotten used to men staring at her, even if she didn¡¯t wish it to be so, and, she leaned forward slightly, her lips parting. ¡°How can I help you?¡± ¡°Ah-¡± Kai awoke from his mind, gulping, drool dripping down his chin. He opened his mouth to speak, and he did so with an unnatural difficulty. ¡°Five¡­ five¡­ pork¡­ horned boar sausages and five grilled poultries please.¡± The words barely escaped his mouth before the girl turned around and picked up the meats he requested. Kai watched her stuff the pork pieces in a bag, with a delicate strength that made sure that none were damaged. She did the same with the poultry, whatever meat it was, and even threw five pieces of bread in another bag. His gaze never left her as she worked, his eyes shining slightly as the heat and effort made her veins pop through her pale skin. After putting everything into a fourth, larger bag, she placed it before Kai. The smell of the freshly cooked, still sizzling meat, inundated his nostrils. Patting Onyx¡¯s head, for a short, insignificant second, he felt his senses amplify by more than what he was used to. What- In that one second, the world slowed down. A cacophony of voices -young and old, deep and sharp, happy, sad, angry, furious and joyful- all sorts of manners of emotions bombarded his mind. What is this, who are they?! They rang loud, like a church¡¯s bell, and even as he clutched his head, they didn¡¯t go away. Stop! Get out, get out, get out! His cries fell on deaf ears. Likewise, their heartbeats, their pulse, their breathing, all and every little movement filled his mind. So much, so loud! With dilating pupils, he glanced at the girl, whose smile had yet to leave her face. His crimson pupils shimmered with a soft light, and a knot formed in his throat as the girl¡¯s veins became clearer and clearer before him. They covered her, pumping her body with energy through the fresh, warm blood as crimson as his eyes.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. He wanted to turn away, but he couldn¡¯t. He wanted to stop himself, but couldn¡¯t. The suddenly amplified senses seemingly took over his self, no longer piloting the flesh suit he called a body. Stop it¡­He licked his lips, gulping. His fangs started small, then protruded out of his upper and lower teeth, slowly becoming more like a beast¡¯s than a man''s. His nails, too, turned into claws, which he quickly wanted to hide away. This feeling¡­ it¡¯s¡­ ugh¡­ unbearable¡­ it hurts¡­ stop it. I can¡¯t- I- However, blood rushed through his body like a furious waterfall, feeding him with adrenaline, energy, thirst, with hunger. He snarled and removed his hand from Onyx¡¯s fur. The second passed, and the senses disappeared, however, his thirst remained. Drool dripped down his chin, a ferocious hunger shone behind the mask, and the girl took a step back. His aura grew fierce, terrifying. Like a starved beast, his knees sprung into action, ready to leap at a moment¡¯s notice. However, just as he prepared to do so, Onyx¡¯s bark landed squarely in his ears. A hint of sanity returned to his pupils, however not nearly enough to stop him from what he was about to do. With a rush of adrenaline, his fists clenched. Blood trickled down his trembling hands, dirtying his black cloak and slightly weathered pants. People backed away, fearful, and apprehensive, as did the girl. The father walked forward, pulling up his sleeves, a look of annoyance and anger decorating his pupils. And in that moment, Kai leaped. But not toward the girl, the father, or the crowd. No, just as he was about to attack, a group of people, adventurers, walked in through the gate. They didn¡¯t bear witness to the happenings, as they had just returned, wounded, dirty, and wary. One of them was a man of about forty years, with a thick mane and beard-bled most profusely. A chunk of his arm had been sliced off cleanly, though not enough to call for amputation. It bled, even through the bandages. However, to Kai, as he was now, it reeked with an immaculable perfume. It attracted him, and he ran to it, like a moth to the flame, without thinking of the consequences. It didn¡¯t take long for him to reach them, as he ran on all fours, snarling like a desperate dog. Even taken by surprise, however, the burly man didn¡¯t falter, and he clenched his damaged hand into a fist. It flew toward Kai¡¯s body, a simple punch that he didn¡¯t bother to deflect, evade, or defend against. He took it squarely in the stomach. It sent him flying through the street, like a kite with its string cut. The crowd made way for him, or rather, ran away from him. However none dared turn away, and all eyes laid on him. Mockery, disgust, fear, sadistic pleasure. A countless assortment of gazes scanned Kai, looking at him as nothing more than a beast. ¡®No pity for an animal¡¯ they thought. He coughed, turned away, and ran. Hiding through the shadows, like he always did, running through the rooftops, unseen. His figure quickly disappeared into the night, protected only by the darkness. ¡­ Down in an alley, next to bags of trash and rotting rats, he squelched. His mask was down, thrown somewhere nearby, and he coughed, threw up blood, and empty stomach acid. He hadn¡¯t eaten a proper meal for days, and it didn¡¯t seem like today would be that day either. Onyx lay nowhere to be seen, perhaps searching for his companion. His nose perhaps betrayed him or simply felt that his companion, Kai, at that moment, was better left alone. The boy in question looked at the ground, his reflection almost visible in the mixture of liquids he vomited. Shit¡­ His eyes shone brightly, and neither his fangs nor claws went back in their place. Hnghnmn¡­. Something enveloped his throat, a suffocating feeling he couldn¡¯t get rid of. A thirst, a hunger, a desire for blood that simply could not be sated by himself. Blood! I need it, now! He grunted and pulled out the bag of vials Barhm gave him. Opening each one of them, one by one, he drank them. Argh¡­! He gulped one down, then threw it away, then finished another, and let it fall to his knees. One after the other, his thirst for blood deepening with every new empty vial shifting on the pavement. His bag became empty, and glass surrounded him, littering the ground. Threwn away here, there, at his feet, or against a wall. Shards joined the rest of the trash, bloody, and red, just like Kai¡¯s brightly shining eyes. More! It wasn¡¯t enough. All that he just did only served to fuel his instincts, which slowly overtook his rationale. He growled and snarled, and picked at his hair. He tore it up from his own head in an attempt to keep his cool. He dug his sharp claws into his legs, and he screamed with a primal roar that fell on deaf ears. Slowly¡­ he started to lose himself. The blood flowing within his veins rushed toward his brain, his flesh greedily consuming it for its own satisfaction. Visibly losing weight, Kai resembled himself less, and less. It wasn¡¯t like before, where he only looked like a dead man. He started to truly become one as his instincts¡­ his illness slowly ate away at his sanity. So this is Blood Rotting! Kai managed to form a cohesive thought, pinpointing the exact reason he started feeling like this. He had seen people go into a frenzy before, at his grandpa¡¯s camp. Whenever the blood rotting was in its final stages¡­ that¡¯s when it hurt the most. Once loving parents turned to beasts, hitting their own children, threatening to eat them and consume his kin and wife. However such torments didn¡¯t last long, as his brothers, blood related or not, put an end to it. Kai, on the other hand, had no such luxury. The beast that attacked his parents and himself, the beast that reminded him that he lived too comfortably, the beast that made him feel weak and worthless¡­ He would become it, and would swiftly be put down by the man watching over him. Kai knew that much, however, despite all of that, he couldn¡¯t take hold of himself. A sudden sound grabbed his attention. Someone¡¯s steps, heavy, crushed a vial near their booth. Kai¡¯s¡¯ body didn¡¯t stand on ceremony, and he instantly leaped toward the newcomer. It didn¡¯t matter if it was man or monster, beast or animal, he thirsted for blood. With a wave of euphoria spreading throughout his body, he landed on the thing¡¯s broad, steady shoulders, and his fangs, as sharp as a razor¡¯s blade¡­ plunged then into its flesh. Chapter 147 Whilst I was out riding my steed, a beautiful stallion with a mane as black as the dark, and legs strong enough to carry a kingdom over. A thought came over to me, a fond memory I kept private. I was a child back then when I had my first time¡­ It¡¯s still fresh in my mind, the feeling of digging my fangs into someone¡¯s flesh, and the way their blood dripped down their skin. They struggled, spasmed, cried and begged. Under the watchful gaze of my family, I drained that man dry. It is said that only then, can the hunger be sated, once you take the life of your victim. Otherwise, the illness will come to you, sooner or later, and it¡¯d be too late to regret it at that point.
The moon shone over the dark alleys, peering through the clouds, watching over the boy it had hurt and looked over during his life. It seemed to mourn, as its light slowly descended on his pale white skin, and a thunder broke the silence of the night. It rained, like never before, it rained. Large drops of water crashed upon the paved roads, tiled roofs, tall canopies, and everything else. It drowned out footsteps, breathing, yelling, laughter. Everything stopped. In the dark alley, Kai, with his silhouette almost unrecognizable and shadow resembling a maddened beast, latched onto a man. His fangs dug deep into his flesh, past clothes, past armor, past skin, and muscle. Fresh, warm blood dripped and dripped, most of which landed inside the boy¡¯s mouth. He drank with large gulps, seemingly devouring the very essence of that man, whose stature didn¡¯t flinch, nor back away. The harrowing sound of Kai¡¯s swallowing, his racing heartbeat, his growls, snarls, and hissing. They all landed clearly, cleanly in the man¡¯s ears. And he sighed, then raised his hand and brought it to the child¡¯s head. Not to strike or push away, but to caress his soft, black hair. It slowly turned white, the paint used to dye it disappearing under the torrent, dripping and mixing with the river of blood he created. Kai flinched upon feeling his gentle touch but didn¡¯t back away. Instead, out of fear perhaps, he dug his nails, his claws, into the man¡¯s torso. He bit down even harder, and tore apart the layer of cloth and padded armor he worse, revealing the mangled skin underneath. His pupils became like those of a reptile, vertical and thin, their crimson color shimmering with an intense, unnatural light. A wave of warmth and pleasure, unlike any other, spread out from his chest, his veins burning as fresh blood rushed through them. The grip he had on the man tightened, and he used both sets of fangs to tear away at his flesh, swallowing it in one gulp, then licking and drinking all the new blood splurting out like a fountain. The man shuddered but said nothing. Not even a grunt escaped his lips, despite all the abuse his flesh went through. He didn¡¯t reject Kai¡¯s ferocity, but instead bore through the pain, and embraced it, and the boy. More and more blood flowed, and the more it did, the greedier Kai got. However, he didn¡¯t bite any more flesh, but instead latched onto the shoulder and drank like a dehydrated man finding an oasis in the desert. His rapid gulping echoed, and rippled, and the rain grew heavier. A pink, red color returned to his face, tears bubbling up in his eyes, and finally, the last of the old paint got washed away by the rain. His beautiful silver hair stuck to his skin like glue, becoming whiter, and shinier as time passed. It began to look a lot like his mother¡¯s, which in turn resembled her own mother. Just like the painting stashed away inside Haniard¡¯s throne room, the three individuals began to overlap. Suddenly, something called, from deep inside Kai¡¯s soul. Something familiar, yet distant, something which fueled his desire for blood. It pushed him deeper, farther, to lose himself more in his instincts and in the pleasure that the act of drying someone of their life force, of their vitality, brought. It told him to kill the man before him, to devour, and to leave nothing behind but an empty husk. However, another voice called out to him. One which was much too familiar to him, a soft bark. A muffled howl, filled with an emotion of longing and worry, a sharp yelp, and rapid tippy taps through the rain.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Onyx! Kai¡¯s pupils flashed with sanity, their shape returning to normal. His mind became clearer, and he awoke to a sweet, addicting taste filling his mouth and throat. An unmistakable, intense feeling of pleasure made him shiver as he unconsciously drank more and more blood. At that moment, however, a sudden force pulled him away by the scruff and smashed him against the wall. The impact fully awoke him, his mind once again in control of his body, and he coughed. Bits of flesh, iron, and cloth spewed out of his mouth, some remaining stuck to his lips. Wiping it away, his black, dirty sleeve turned a muddy crimson color. As his vision cleared, he looked up, and saw the man he had been feeding on for what seemed like an eternity, yet but a moment at the same time. The moonlight shone upon him, and the wind blew his clothes wildly about, yet Kai could not mistake that face, full of disgust, pity, and disappointment as it may be. Hideyoshi! He cried out internally, an intense feeling of fear and panic spreading from his heart. However, they were quickly shut down by the adrenaline and euphoria still flowing through his veins. For a moment, the two looked at each other in silence, the tension between them speaking more profusely than any words could express. ¡°Have you had enough?¡± The man finally asked, his disheveled, white hair, bleached by age, unable to hide the pain in his voice. Kai nodded, gulping at the same time. His lips parted, yet no words came out, and his hand lifted toward the man, his blood-covered claws reminding him of the deed he had just done. He quickly took it back, shamefully hiding it away from the man that had barely grown less cold, yet taught him so many things. There were so many things he wanted to say, so many thoughts, words, ideas, and excuses rushing through his brain. However, none could express how he felt, as he himself couldn¡¯t discern. His body screamed with happiness, radiating satisfaction, yet longed for more. Involuntarily, he licked his lips, and the man¡¯s eye twitched. He inhaled sharply, and raised a hand to his shoulder, barely stopping the bleeding. ¡°Leave as soon as you see fit. Raymond will not hear a word of this, but he isn¡¯t stupid, kid.¡± He said, turning and slowly walking away. His slouched posture made him seem like an old man, his slight limping putting him with one foot in the grave, and a great loneliness exuded from his body. Kai watched the man leave but didn¡¯t dare reach for him. He couldn¡¯t get up, as his legs trembled, and he couldn¡¯t cry out. A knot seemingly formed in his throat, making it so no words could escape his body. They remained as muffled cries, as tears dripped down his cheek. Whether they were of happiness -a natural reaction of his body to finally being fed- or sadness, either due to having done something he couldn¡¯t stomach, or having lost someone he considered a friend. Either way, his tears flowed like a river, mixing with the rain, which seemed to pour harder and harder, drenching his body, and cleaning him of blood. He looked up at the sky, a tired expression decorating his face as the heavy drops crashed against his skin. However, he didn¡¯t react, seemingly numb to all feeling, he just stared at the dark, starry sky, and scattered moonlight kissed him through the clouds. ¡­ Kai woke up in a pool of rain and tears, the blood long since washed away by the torrent. A chilly shiver ran down his spine, and he cuddled his knees, sitting in a fetal position as the sunlight touched his skin. The sun! He quickly reacted and wanted to flee. However, much to his surprise, it didn¡¯t hurt. There were no burns, no hissing of the skin, no weird smell¡­ just, it was just the sun. His head rose, and he squinted as he looked up at the large star that, until now, would have killed him in a matter of minutes. He almost couldn¡¯t believe his eyes or senses. For a moment, the happenings of last night seemed like nothing but a dream. The soft rays of sun landed upon his face, kissing his pale skin with their warmth, sending a light tremor all throughout his being. Inhaling deeply, he felt his muscles tremble, and he slowly rose to his feet. It¡¯s been so long¡­ oh so¡­ so long. I- I¡¯m out, during the day, basking in the sun, and not fearing for my life! Kai wanted to cry out in joy, to jump and let loose. However, the lingering taste of coppery blood awoke him from the stupor, and he immediately collapsed in shame, his mood quickly dropping. His ears perked up, and the sound of rushing footsteps quickly put him on high alert. Squirming around for his mask, he finally saw it, sitting damp in a corner. Quickly picking it up, he hid behind one of the mounds of trash, his heart threatening to jump out of his chest as the footsteps got closer and closer. Finally, they rang out, clear in his mind, and he rushed to put on the dirty, damp mask. Just as he tugged it over his face, a figure loomed over him, and he let out a light, startled shriek as his pupils widened in shock and fear. Chapter 148: A Breath of Fresh Air I¡¯ve seen them, the ¡®Ill ones¡¯ as my father called them. They were beasts, no better than the ones we hunt to kill and eat. There was no helping them back then, as we weren¡¯t strong enough.
A tense silence hung in the air, followed only by the slow, calculated, damp footsteps slowly approaching him. His mask stuck to his dampened skin, suffocating him with every passing second. The shadow loomed closer, swallowing the dim light. Kai looked up, his pupils trembling, then widening as soon as he saw who it was that found him. Onyx! He cried out internally, a simple, muffled grunt escaping his body as he jumped to hug the Obborik. His arms wrapped around Onyx¡¯s neck, pulling him down, without care for how wet and dirty his fur was. Most of his belly took on a coat of black and brown, freshwater still dripping down onto the ground. His paws were of a completely different color than usual, but Kai didn¡¯t mind them stepping on his clothes. The rancid smell of wet, unwashed fur inundated his nostrils, making him gag slightly. However, he didn¡¯t let go, and instead brought the Obborik closer to his body, feeling its heartbeat against his own. Onyx! You¡¯re here! Kai cried out internally, completely forgetting about what happened earlier. A feeling of closeness and happiness radiated from his heart, and Onyx¡¯s tail wagged with an unusual rhythm. You¡¯re happy too, right? Oh, Onyx¡­ ¡°Woof!¡± The Obborik barked softly, seemingly replying to Kai¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Arfhgn.¡± He playfully bit on Kai¡¯s mask, gently taking it off, and licking his dirty, bloodied face. The boy didn¡¯t protest and left the Obborik to do what he wanted as he gently caressed his fur. Thinking about the first moments before he regained his sanity, he definitely felt it, Onyx calling for him, searching and running through the rain. And now, more than ever, he felt an incredible closeness, one that could not be explained with words. Kai took in a deep breath, holding in an exhale as he focused on this strange sensation. On one hand, being so close, so connected to someone to the point of feeling what they feel, was amazing. Kai never formed such a bond with anyone before, neither in this nor in his past life. However, on the other hand, being so vulnerable and open¡­ left him feeling at a loss. But that is what trust is, right? He exhaled. For a quiet moment, Kai forgot about his pain and worries as they comforted each other. He couldn¡¯t sense what went through Onyx¡¯s mind, but the happiness he exuded with his body language, and countless licks of worry, assured Kai that the Obborik wasn¡¯t someone he should fear. Grabbing the head of his companion, he pulled it away. Onyx¡¯s fluffy face, paired with his sniffling nose and shiny, beady eyes, got a chuckle out of Kai. Ruffling his fur, the boy stood up while picking up the mask, and donned it once again. Regardless if it was day or night, the less people knew about his identity, the better. I¡¯m involved with too many people, dear to me. If anyone found out about what I am¡­ they could be in trouble. Though I can barely recall what happened last night, it definitely wasn¡¯t good. He sighed, annoyed, and clenched his fist in anger. Bringing a finger to his lips, the taste of coppery iron still lingered on his tongue, and bits of flesh stuck between his teeth. He gagged and wanted to throw up, however his body didn¡¯t allow it. Staggering forward, he leaned on Onyx for support and the two walked through the dark alleys like usual. Despite his familiarity with the way toward Karfi¡¯s place, the city during the day looked much different compared to the night. As he explored, Kai used ¡®Vision¡¯, a spell which would allow him to see better in the dark, however not perfectly so. Compared to that, the light of the day illuminated every nook and cranny, creating hard shadows, and revealing every little secret. Besides that, the smell, which usually went unnoticed as he dashed through the air, was more pungent, as the sun warmed up the bags of trash, fecal matter and even rotting corpses of animals. Kai ignored those things with great difficulty, somewhat regretting that he could experience this. However, hesitation screamed in the back of his mind about taking the main road. He couldn¡¯t know who he would run into, and when. Especially so after last night¡¯s incidents. So, he kept on walking through the remote alleys, and it didn¡¯t take him long to reach Karfi¡¯s place. A bell jingled as the doors swung open, revealing Kai¡¯s pitiful figure, and Onyx¡¯s lowered head. All the laughter, joy, and chatter died down as the two walked toward the bar, leaving dampened footsteps and a trail of dirty puddles behind them. Karfi almost dashed toward the two, however Natasha, who sipped from a drink at the counter, swiftly stopped him. Kai approached silently, countless pairs of eyes watching him as he walked behind the counter, picked up a bottle of alcohol, and nodded toward Karfi and Natasha before walking through the door leading to the house. Tausi was nowhere to be seen, perhaps studying at the church, or playing outside, as rare an occurrence as that was. The door creaked as it closed, and the cacophony of voices quickly resumed their chatter, completely forgetting about Kai and Onyx. Inside the house, Kai stored the bottle away in his ring and sighed. I need to take a bath first, Onyx as well¡­ I recall there was a bath upstairs. Without waiting for too long a time, he signaled Onyx to follow him, and the two quickly found the bath.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. It was a small room with a good amount of ventilation, meaning holes that led toward the outside, and a window without curtains. It was one of the reasons Kai avoided this place, however, now, even as the sun penetrated through the fabric of his clothes, he felt nothing. The room itself had nothing that could designate it as a bath, besides a large wooden basin. Compared to modern appliances, it lacked everything that would make it a bath. However, Kai didn¡¯t mind. He took off his clothes, and rolled them up in a bundle before storing them away in his ring, then pulled out the wand. It still donned a few water crystals, which he used to form a water bubble that then fell into the basin, overflowing slightly. Then, he swished his sleeve and threw in a firestone. The water began heating up immediately, and he threw in a few scented flowers and a makeshift soap made out of animal grease and perfume. He wasn¡¯t sure if it would do anything to clean him, but at least it would make him smell less horrible. The water slowly evaporated, and when he thought it enough, Kai dipped a toe into the water, and then fully entered. Onyx watched from the side and didn¡¯t say anything as he licked his dirty snout. Sighing heavily, the boy leaned his head against the edge of the basin and closed his eyes. The warm water made blood rush to his head, and relaxed him slightly, something which he needed desperately after the events of the past few weeks. First, kidnapped, then burnt, then I got outed as a vampire to Barhm, then I burned myself again, and now¡­ Lumiera is definitely laughing with a bucket of popcorn in hand. He chuckled bitterly. The disgust he thought he¡¯d have for himself, however, never came. Not even as images of his deed flashed past his eyes. No, besides the initial shock and repulsiveness, everything else was¡­ fine. ¡­ After washing himself properly, he picked up the dirty water and threw it out the open window, a chilly breeze brushing past Kai¡¯s wet skin. His wound, inflicted by the sun or otherwise, completely disappeared, and his skin glowed with a healthy color. Preparing a new bath, Onyx was less than happy to be subjected to such high treason, however, gave in by the end of the morning, and finally washed all the dirty and muck off his fur. He promptly dried himself after getting out, using a wind spell that sent water raining everywhere, dampening Kai¡¯s hair once again. With a sigh and a light chuckle, he dried himself too, with a bit of heat and air, then, with a sudden idea, walked downstairs. Nobody waited for him, and it would have been eerily quiet were it not for the crowd of people outside, drinking to their heart''s content. He walked to his room, not bothering to close the door as Onyx followed in, and ripped out the curtains and protections he took against the sun, letting it hit his bed. He aired the room, a thing long overdue, and took out the bottle he took from Karfi¡¯s desk. Looking at it for a while, he bit his lower lip and¡­ popped it open. Taking a sip, and then another, he tried to wash away the taste that still lingered, however, it just wouldn¡¯t disappear. ¡­ Inside Karfi¡¯s living room, Kai lay down on the couch, the bottle of alcohol empty, on the floor, and his mask covering half his face. Onyx sat down on the floor, snoring peacefully, his legs moving wildly every so often. No one had bothered Kai during the entire day, whether it was because they knew he wanted to be alone, or because of how busy they were remained unknown. The door creaked open, inviting in some light from the bar, which seemed to be empty as Karfi closed for the day. Natasha walked in first, with Tausi in her arms, and a wide smile creasing her lips. With flushed red cheeks, a single glance at Kai seemed to have sobered her up, and she almost dropped the little girl in her embrace. Karfi¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, though, he didn¡¯t say anything as he too glanced at Kai with a surprised gaze. The boy¡¯s bright silver hair stood out like a sore thumb, contrasting heavily with his previous dark brown color. The brand new, crimson red fox mask only covered half his face, namely his eyes, and nose, whilst his mouth, out of which emanated the familiar scent of alcohol, was wide open. Onyx didn¡¯t react to the entrance of the three, not even with a twitch of his ears, however, Kai did. He quickly sniffed, then reached to scratch his nose before quickly realizing he wasn¡¯t wearing his mask. With a skipping heart, he rose to his feet and quickly, and clumsily, placed the mask back over his face. Despite his sudden situational awareness, though, it quickly became clear that the alcohol more than drunkened him. His eyes were foggy, and focused, and, whilst he seemed to look over at the two, in reality, his mind lay somewhere else. ¡°What alcohol did he get, to bleach his hair?¡± Karfi quipped as he walked over and picked up the bottle. ¡°Oh-¡± he murmured after reading the label. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s gonna be out for a day or two,¡± Karfi remarked jokingly, then his eyes darted to Kai¡¯s hair. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it weird?¡± Natasha asked, walking closer and taking the bottle from Karfi¡¯s hand, and softly placing it on the table. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he replied with trembling pupils. ¡°Regardless of who he is, a child is a child.¡± And with that, he didn¡¯t say anything anymore. Taking Tausi from Natasha¡¯s hands, he brought the curious child to their room. ¡°Goodnight, Nat.¡± He said simply, and then the door clicked shut. The woman sat down, opposite Kai, who could barely hold himself up, or awake. His small body slowly bobbed back and forth, and he mumbled under his breath at the same time. ¡°Mghm¡­ Onishh¡­¡± Natasha watched him with a worried look, and a heavy sigh escaped her body as she let herself melt into the soft couches. Bringing a hand to her forehead, she rubbed her temples and reached for a non-existent bottle of alcohol. ¡°Ah-¡± She whispered and glanced at Kai, who now lay back down on the couch, sleeping and snoring without a care in the world. The look in her eyes, as she scanned the boy, yelled nothing but pity and regret. She gazed in Karfi¡¯s direction and shook her head. Then, standing up and heading over to Kai, she grabbed a blanket and gently placed it over him. A smile creased her lips, and a light warmth spread out throughout her body as she looked at the snoring Kai. Natasha¡¯s soft gaze lingered for a moment, her fingers brushing the edge of the blanket as she tucked it under Kai. The feeling of warmth in her chest deepened, remembering how many times he had gotten hurt and rose right back up to his feet, only to come back hurt once again. ¡°Just like a child. Isn¡¯t that right, Paul?¡± She murmured under her breath and got ready to rise. However, as she did so, her pupils widened in surprise as they fixated on Kai¡¯s body. With trembling lips, she took a step back, and a knot seemingly formed inside her throat as all she could let out was a muffled groan. ¡°What¡­¡± Chapter 149: Give Chase My will commands armies of Lazhers, Wyverns, and Beasts. A single wave of my hand can raise a mountain, and a punch can shatter steel. Yes, that must mean, it¡¯s time to venture outward.
Natasha froze as she stood up, her eyes carefully scanning Kai¡¯s body, who remained unaware of the shock he caused the woman. She approached him with soft, careful movements, and reached toward him. Her hand trembled, hesitant, unsure, and a pang of guilt knocked at the back of her head. However, she bit down on her tongue and suppressed that feeling. With a racing heart and sweaty palms, she put the blanket away and reached toward Kai¡¯s shirt, and, with a quick jab, pulled it completely. She gasped, as what greeted her was not the scar-covered pale white skin, the one she had bandaged up countless times. Instead, what graced her pupils was fully healed skin with a healthy, normal color and a decent amount of fat. Her fingers laid flatly on his belly, feeling his newfound, higher body temperature. She stood up, the look of shock never leaving her face, and walked out of the bar after leaving Kai half-tucked in. ¡­ The night passed, and morning came, yet Kai had yet to awake from his slumber. Karfi and Tausi didn¡¯t yet either, however, Onyx did. He yawned with a wide mouth, his tongue reaching way past his snout, and bent his back like a cat. With a low gruff and a quick shake of his head, he circled around lazily a few times, then sat back down. Karfi¡¯s door gently creaked open, and Tausi¡¯s small figure dashed out from it like a cartwheel. Without hesitation or waning, she jumped on top of Onyx, his fluff taking most of the damage. However, that didn¡¯t stop him from crying out loud and rolling over to the side to get her off of him. ¡°Rawuuawu!¡± He said toward the young girl, scolding her through whatever means he had. Yet, Tausi didn¡¯t seem to mind, and grabbed his fat, fluffy face, then gave it a big kiss. What putrid smell of meat, rotten breath, or bacteria? The little girl didn¡¯t care for such trivial things as she showered Onyx with as much love as she had. The Obborik dodged most of her kisses, and eventually broke free of her grasp, losing only a few bits of fur in the process. Shaking his head, he stared at Kai, and, with what looked to be a mischievous grin, leaped toward him. In less time than it took to blink, he was already on top of his companion, whose reaction was much grander than his. ¡°Agh what the fud-¡± Kai yelled out, his breathing quickening and heart racing, and prepared to punch his attacker in the throat. However, his hand stopped mere inches away from Onyx¡¯s fur after realizing who it was that assaulted him. Without hesitation, he grabbed his neck and pulled down the Obborik, and after a quick tussle on the couch, Kai began tickling Onyx¡¯s belly. He protested, with kicks and yelps, however, that didn¡¯t stop Kai from scratching every bit of Onyx¡¯s belly, bits of white fur flying about everywhere. Tausi jumped in and began playing with Onyx¡¯s face. He snarled jokingly, then imbued his back legs with mana, kicking at Kai. That time, however, caught unawares and unprepared, Kai got sent flying down from the couch, landing on the hardwood floor. The violent sound woke Karfi up, who rushed out of the door with a large wooden bat in hand. He let out a sigh, though, upon seeing who it was that created such a disturbance early in the morning. ¡°Tausi, you nearly gave your old man a heart attack. C¡¯mere you silly girl.¡± He beckoned, and kneeled down, waiting for his daughter to rush into his arms. And so she did, with a large, wide smile on her face, and a soft giggle that would melt anyone¡¯s heart. Kai stood up brushed the dust off his clothing, and turned toward the man. An awkward silence descended in the room, and neither of them said anything for a good while. The boy¡¯s lips parted, and he inhaled sharply, however, Karfi cut him off as soon as he wanted to speak. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve never had breakfast together, have we?¡± He said with a light chuckle and walked to a room to the side, behind the staircase that led upstairs. ¡°Will fried eggs do?¡± Kai stared at Karfi with a weird expression, however, nodded and followed the man, and Onyx, in turn. Passing a door that was nothing more than a cloth hanging from a rotten doorframe, a humble, yet cozy kitchen appeared before Kai. It had a hardwood floor, like the rest of the house, and a small table with three chairs off to the side, against a wall. A tiny stove decorated that same wall, alongside a sink that had no tap and a few half-broken and repaired cupboards. Tausi watched her father rummage through what seemed to be a makeshift fridge, and pulled out three eggs, then scratched his chin and pulled out another two. With those eggs, he also picked up a few pieces of dried, salted bacon, and then placed them all inside a pan with a tiny bit of seed oil. The meat started sizzling, at which point he took it out and placed it in a pan, then did the same to the eggs after they finished cooking. The three sat at the table and quietly ate the fairly ordinary breakfast. Kai¡¯s heart filled with warmth as he stared at the plate with barely salted eggs and warm bacon jerky. He pulled his mask to the side, just enough to reveal his mouth, and took small bites. A shiver ran down his spine as the taste of salted dried bacon and barely seasoned eggs graced his tongue. However it was given to him by the man that showed him so much kindness, so he gulped and swallowed without hesitation. The small bites became large bites, and he quickly finished the plate under Karfi¡¯s surprised gaze. ¡°You seem to have quite an appetite in the morning huh.¡± The man remarked as he cut away at his bacon and eggs. Kai nodded, then wiped his mouth and hid his face once again. ¡°It seems like so.¡± Onyx barked softly from below the table and rubbed his snout against Kai¡¯s leg. The boy chuckled, pulled out a small piece of meat from the game he hunted earlier, and threw it toward the Obborik. Karfi glanced with interest at his ring but didn¡¯t comment as he finished his plate. ¡°Say, if you don¡¯t mind me asking. How come you¡¯re awake this early?¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Hmm?¡± Kai replied, taken aback by the question, and took a moment to ponder it. There was no good reason he could give, after all, he avoided the sun like the plague for the past months. How could he explain this sudden change in character without sounding suspicious? ¡°Well, it¡¯s been¡­ a rough day, rather, night.¡± Was all Kai could muster as a response without outright lying to his face. And it wasn¡¯t completely untrue. ¡°I see,¡± Karfi acknowledged the boy¡¯s slight hesitation and didn¡¯t pry any further. Glancing at Tausi, who barely just managed to finish her plate, he stood up and picked up the dishes. He brought them over to his sink and prepared to leave and grab a bucket of water. ¡°Allow me,¡± Kai said as he stood up and quickly pulled out his wand. After making sure the sink was sealed, he summoned a few water spheres, which he heated up with a bit of fire magic. Tausi watched the boy let the scalding water fall upon the dishes, filling up the sink, and a bright, cheerful smile broke on her face. ¡°Woah, daddy look, magic!¡± She giggled and walked up to Kai, who just put his wand away. Karfi quickly caught her, afraid she could hurt herself, and turned to Kai. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were a Mage.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t boast about it much.¡± The boy replied simply, then picked up the soap from the edge of the sink and began washing the dishes, bearing through the water¡¯s moderate heat. ¡°And I¡¯m more competent with the sword.¡± He added, not looking away from his task. ¡°I hear you¡¯re going to be leaving soon, with Yasa?¡± Karfi changed the subject, taking the clean plates from Kai and handing them to Tausi to dry with a clean cloth. ¡°Yeah, as per our agreement. I think she¡¯s annoyed with me, for delaying so much.¡± He chuckled innocently as he handed another plate. ¡°Right, she did tell me of that. But not too much, she said she had some business to take care of over here as well. I¡¯m not sure what about, but apparently, some Inquisitors were involved.¡± Upon hearing that name, Kai¡¯s hands stopped abruptly, but continued a moment later as if nothing happened. Inquisitors? In this place, what for¡­? A traceless shiver ran down his spine as he thought about the consequences of getting caught by these people. The books his father had warned him of them, their history as dark as the night, and a bane to any regular vampire. Looks like I¡¯ll need to leave soon if they¡¯re present here. Kai sighed, then asked. ¡°What of them?¡± Karfi rubbed his chin with one hand, the other holding Tausi. ¡°Well,¡± he hesitated slightly, but in the end decided to say whatever he knew. ¡°Apparently some¡­ vampires were caught running an operation of some sort. Distilling blood with wine and selling to other vampires that somehow escaped their kingdom. That¡¯s as much as Yasa told me last time she visited.¡± Kai¡¯s hands grew weak as he recalled the bar he had been at, having been attracted to it for some reason. The strange aroma and Barhm¡¯s revelation after analyzing the wine made him question how they could be in business for so long. Now it all made sense, and it looks like I was the reason they got caught. Of course, Hideyoshi would tell Raymond about it, and then¡­ He gulped, unable to think of the result had Raymond considered him a threat¡­ He will though, after seeing what I did to Hideyoshi. Just the thought brought the taste back into his mouth, and he felt his body yearning for more. His pulse increased, however, he did well to control himself and kept on acting normal. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ surprising.¡± He managed to mutter, ¡°How could they have a thriving business right under everyone¡¯s noses?¡± Karfi only shrugged his shoulders as he put away the dishes, then placed Tausi down and leaned on the counter. ¡°Leaving that aside, how come you¡¯ve changed your hair color?¡± Suddenly, a knot formed inside Kai¡¯s throat, which he swallowed, and quickly replied. ¡°We-well, it was just dyed before, but after so many storms, it got washed away.¡± He sighed reluctantly, deeply regretting not taking better care of its protection. I¡¯ll have to tuck it behind my cloak now¡­ until I find someone to dye it for me, or my core reaches three stars¡­ or two. ¡°Dye, for hair? Well, I never heard of that before.¡± Karfi said as he took a closer look at Kai¡¯s silver hair color. Althoughgh this shade is much nicer than the one before, why even bother hiding it?¡± ¡°Same reason I wear a mask,¡± Kai replied simply, finishing up the last of the dishes. ¡°How many enemies could a child have?¡± He asked, clueless, then glanced at Tausi who was bothering Onyx¡¯s tail. ¡°Many,¡± Kai said softly. ¡°Mainly because of who my parents¡­ were.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Karfi exhaled, surprised. ¡°Right, sorry kid.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright mister Karfi, it¡¯s just¡­ been like that.¡± The boy¡¯s tone turned melancholic and slightly bitter, the fork within his hand trembling slightly as he recalled the past few years. Karfi didn¡¯t make mention of that anymore and wiped clean the last fork. Afterward, Kai picked up the water with magic, walked toward the window, and threw it high up into the sky. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that might hit someone?¡± Kai paused, and lowered his head, bringing a hand to his chin. ¡°I didn¡¯t think of that.¡± ¡°Hahahaha,¡± Karfi¡¯s hearty laughter rang loud in his ears, which reddened from shame. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re weird.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Kai chuckled awkwardly, unsure if that was a compliment or an endearing insult. He took it as both, however, his mood couldn¡¯t stay high for long. Turning toward Karfi, a man older than him by a few decades, whose already lived through countless disasters, he took a deep breath. He¡¯s helped me since I arrived here, when no one else accepted me, he did. Taking me in, feeding me, healing me¡­ who knows what prices he paid to help me? Kai¡¯s lips itched to part, as his heart raced, filling his body with warmth. However, the words he wanted to say never came out, regardless of how much he wanted to plead with him for help. For aid, for advice, for anything. He stood there, struggling to get a word out, and, by the end, he sighed. Karfi took notice of his behavior, however didn¡¯t pry and simply walked toward the open window. ¡°I hope your journey goes well, kid. Wherever you may end up, just know that¡­ well, you have some sort of family here.¡± Kai nodded slowly, behind the mask, a soft smile creasing his lips. ¡°Thank you,¡± He replied in a low voice, a tear swelling up in his eye. However, he restrained it and walked beside Karfi, the sun landing on his skin through the gaps in his clothes and mask. Flicking his wrist, a bag materialized in his hand, the same bag Raymond gave him, which he placed in the man¡¯s hands. At first, feeling its weight, Karfi pulled away. ¡°It¡¯s not money I need for my travels, but it¡¯s money Tausi needs.¡± Kai persuaded Karfi, the man glancing at his daughter who playfully bit Onyx, then clenched his hand around the bag. ¡°Don¡¯t think of it as pity, because it¡¯s not. This is my repayment.¡± Karfi remained silent for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Thank you, Ichor.¡± Ichor. The name stung Kai slightly, needing to keep lying to the people he grew close to, even after so many months. It¡¯s for their own good, and mine, too. He told himself through gritted teeth. He turned to leave, heading toward the little excuse for a door, however, at that moment, Natasha¡¯s figure stormed through the bar, slamming the wooden door open. She quickly glanced around, a look of exasperated panic in her eyes, and finally spotted Kai and Karfi in the kitchen. Dashing toward them, she shouted as calmly as she could muster. ¡°Ichor, the Inquisitors, they¡¯re coming!¡± The panic and urgency in her voice couldn¡¯t be hidden, however, and a shiver ran down Kai¡¯s spine. He didn¡¯t have time to think or ask how she could know, or why she rushed to warn him. He ran, pushing Karfi away from the window, and jumped out into the alley. His eyes widened in surprise as he sent out his mana, and sensed two very powerful figures smashing and breaking open doors. Alarmed, he didn¡¯t wait for Onyx to follow him and dashed away as quickly as he could, his mana spread out as much as possible. His heart skipped a beat, though, upon sensing a third, frightening aura grabbing onto his sense, which then rushed toward him through the street. Shit! Chapter 150: Mad Chase The new troupe of Inquisitors managed to impress me greatly, as their swift, efficient methods of cleaning up the cattle grounds showed impressive results.
Kai dashed through the street, doing his best to hide within the minimal shadows the morning sun provided. He felt it, his mana sense being tracked by someone far stronger than he. Trying to pull it back proved useless, as the presence chasing him didn¡¯t cease for even a second. His heart raced, threatening to jump out of his chest, and his feet shone with a soft light as his speed increased. To the average man and the average mage, his silhouette was nothing more than after-images left behind by his speed. Despite that, the dreadful sensation of death prickling at the back of his neck didn¡¯t lessen, but instead only grew stronger as time passed. They¡¯re getting closer! Gritting his teeth, he thought of Onyx, unable to sense him anywhere in his vicinity. Boy, oh boy, please be safe! Kai prayed internally and pulled out his wand, now donned with a few transparent, dirty green crystals. His speed increased once again after he murmured under his breath. A slight relief washed over him as he felt the connection between him and the hunter lessened, and it was unable to gain distance anymore. However, how long can this last? He took a quick peer inside his mana core and noticed that his star emptied at a rate visible to the naked eye. Despite that, he grit his teeth and sent as much mana as his feet could muster. At most twenty minutes of running, afterward¡­ He shuddered after thinking about the consequences and didn¡¯t dare look back in fear of seeing the monster chasing him. I need to think of a way to lose him. Gritting his teeth, Kai¡¯s mind went into overdrive, trying to find a way to escape this peril. A sudden shiver ran down his spine as he felt the Inquisitor¡¯s presence approach him, the faint link between them sending signals of alarm like never before. Crap, crap, crap! Its presence approached him rapidly, at a pace that even his magic couldn¡¯t keep up with. Fuck, I should have learned other speed spells! He cried internally and turned a corner, and then another before jumping onto a rooftop. His cloak fluttered in the wind, as did his long, silver hair, with beads of sweat forming and rapidly disappearing due to the intense air pressure. Kai couldn¡¯t pull back the faint sliver of mana the Inquisitor grabbed through unknown means, and its weakened form slowly grew stronger as it sent its own mana through it. Meaning that now, it had better sight of Kai¡¯s location, and could track him for as long as the mana bond remained strong. What kind of bullcrap technique is this?! He thought, exasperated, but not defeated. I can¡¯t afford to give up! Not when I¡¯ve come so far. With a racing mind and unrelenting will, he kept on running, sometimes gaining distance, other times losing it. All the while, his mana reserves depleted at a rapid rate due to him stacking so many speed and wind buffs on himself, and due to his lack of understanding of the spells. I should have just gone to the magic academy with Sverik! Kai cried internally, however it was far too late to regret his decisions. Think, how can I escape it¡­ damned this fucking link, if only I didn¡¯t get cocky! Indeed, spreading his mana like that left him open to attacks, however he could have never imagined that someone could use it like their own personal GPS. Biting his lower lip, he cast a wind spell forward, then jumped on it, launching him into the air. His thin, horrified figure bolted like a rocket in broad daylight, the sun grazing his skin even more intensely. However, it didn¡¯t end there, as he cast a fire spell in front of him, which he condensed and kept at bay until his body stood only mere centimeters in front of it. At that point, he detonated it, shooting forward like a star, darting through the city, and landing in an alley. His back, alongside his clothes, burned and scorched, his skin sizzling and quickly cooling down. Ignoring all of that, Kai quickly took back to running. Fuck, I need to sever this link. He thought with urgency, as he felt it weaken upon gaining distance, and quickly realized that the farther away he was, the less powerful it became. So then I just need to- However, his thoughts were cut short by a strong, furious, and hungry mana signal, shooting through the weak link and strengthening it. Dread made his hair stand on end as he felt the Inquisitor¡¯s position suddenly dash toward him quicker than ever before. Fuck! Kai ran faster and faster, gasping for air, and dry swallowing in between breaths, however even that proved to be useless as the Inquistor¡¯s relentless pursuit turned more intense. Is it enjoying this? A sudden, grim thought passed by Kai¡¯s mind, and he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of being reduced to nothing more than prey. Fucking bastard! He grit his teeth and clenched his fist, however, knew that he could do nothing about it. Not now, at least. Rage burned through his veins, fueling him with enough strength to just barely look behind him. Then, with widened eyes and trembling pupils, he gazed at the being chasing him like a hungry wolf. A woman clad with a simple silver breastplate, armguards, and helmet, all covered by a dark cloak. She wore a badge on her chest, and an armband in the center of which lay a dragon, with a spear piercing through its chest. An Inquisitor¡¯s unmistakable outfit. Their eyes locked mid-air, an icy shiver running down Kai¡¯s spine from the woman¡¯s cold, ruthless, and hungry gaze. Pyscho! He cried internally and hurried on, however, even severing the link would be useless, as he was in direct line of sight. If only I could turn invisible¡­ Wait! At that moment, a stroke of genius brushed Kai¡¯s mind, and he swiftly kicked against a wall and turned ninety degrees. Barhm definitely has some protections in place, he has to have them! Clinging to that sliver of hope, the boy quickly dashed off toward Barhm¡¯s house, knowing the way much too well after visiting so many times. Eventually, he saw it, the wall in the middle of the dark alley, which now burned much brighter than before due to the sun. In that very same moment of temporary relief, the woman¡¯s crackling voice scratched the back of Kai¡¯s mind. ¡°STOP RIGHT THERE YOU WRETCHED LEECH!¡± Her voice grew closer as she yelled, shooting toward Kai like a meteor. At least five stars¡­ fuck! He quickly pulled out the magic crystal Barhm gave him and sent it flying against the wall. It quickly became transparent, and he almost smashed into it. Instead, he passed through it, stopping with an incredible force on the other end, hitting against a table, chair, sofa, and wall. In that same instant, he felt the link connecting him and the woman break, and for the first time in what felt like hours, he finally felt free.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Outside, the Inquisitor landed, punching at nothing but the floor, creating a large crater that spanned five meters, with a fist-shaped indent at the center. She frowned, and punched at the wall with a loud yell, causing a magical barrier to appear and shudder. ¡°What in Eda¡¯s name?!¡± Barhm¡¯s panicked voice echoed from his lab, and immediately went out to investigate the disturbance. Kai¡¯s figure quickly revealed itself before him. His white hair had shades of crimson blood dripping down his clothes, and his mask, whatever was left of it, dug into his flesh. With much struggle, he pulled out the shards, causing a small fountain of blood to drop on Barhm¡¯s floor. Afterward, wincing through the pain, he pulled out two red pills and swallowed them without hesitation. His wretched appearance shocked even Barhm, so much so that he couldn¡¯t even utter a word. ¡°They¡­ they found me,¡± Kai said, spitting out blood and teeth. ¡°The inquisitors, they-¡± However, his sentence was interrupted by a violent shudder, and the entire building trembled under the assault of the woman. ¡°That barrier won¡¯t last long, I don¡¯t have a teleporter or portal either, why did you come here?¡± Barhm asked, with a voice full of genuine worry for the first time in forever. ¡°Invisibility, I,¡± he coughed out even more blood, however, the external bleeding he brought upon himself by smashing into the wall closed up already. ¡°I think I can lose her. She¡¯s not a Mage, she can¡¯t sense me if I reduce my presence and make myself invisible-¡± He coughed again, this time almost falling to his knees. ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± Barhm said hastily with a regretful expression decorating his face. ¡°But I didn¡¯t manage, I couldn¡¯t fully figure it out-¡± His speech was interrupted by another shudder. He gulped. ¡°I couldn¡¯t fully figure it out.¡± Kai bit his lower lip and seemingly stared at Darky through the wall. Taking in a deep breath, he dragged his feet closer to Barhm and said with a ragged breath. ¡°Blood.¡± Pointing with his eyes toward the creature. A wild glint shone in Barhm¡¯s pupils, and he immediately pulled out all the leftover blood vials he had. They were five in total, and Kai instantly grabbed them. Slight hesitation danced in his eyes, however, he threw caution to the wind, and opened them one by one, instantly drinking their contents. In five breaths of time, all the vials emptied, and Darky¡¯s blood flowed through Kai¡¯s system. He staggered backward and clutched his head as an incredible pain flowed through his veins. They expanded and contracted at a rapid pace, Kai¡¯s muscles convulsed and a mind-splitting headache clutched his skull. His hands became claws, and fangs, as sharp as a razor¡¯s edge, protruded out of his mouth. The crimson within his eyes shone softly, and his pupils oscillated between a round and snake-like shape until they ended up being an amalgamation of the two. Letting out a howling scream, his body rapidly adapted to the new source of blood, and he stood up. At that same moment, the house shuddered once again, and a shattering sound accompanied it. Barhm fell backward and gave Kai an urgent look Nodding at each other, Barhm waved his hand toward the door as Kai rushed toward it, successfully passing through and running past the beast-like woman. She took a moment to react, and, after taking a deep, meaningful stare at Barhm. He stood behind the quickly materializing wall, with a confident and intrigued bearing. Sniffing the air, the woman turned around and dashed toward Kai¡¯s location, however, Barhm knew from her glare alone that he was no longer safe in the city. ¡°Damn.¡± Was all he said before disappearing into his lab. ¡­ Kai dashed madly through the street, even faster than before, with a newfound strength coursing through his veins. It wasn¡¯t mana or muscles, but instead something more mysterious. Darky¡¯s blood, which he had ingested a good quantity of, fueled his body with an unfathomable amount of energy. However, much to his dismay, most of it was wasted as he didn¡¯t have the time nor knowledge on how to properly use it. An intense, primal feeling rushed through his body, and, for a second, Kai wanted to fall on all fours and run like a dog through a mountainside. However, his consciousness returned to him upon feeling the woman pull at the mana he exuded, trying to form another link. Not again! He growled internally and controlled his mana in such a way that little escaped his body even as wind magic surrounded him. A light clicking of a tongue echoed behind him. Desperate, Kai tried to use the energy and power Darky provided him to turn invisible, hide himself away, and become one with the environment. It put quite a mental toll on him, making him unable to fully focus on running and hiding. That gave the woman an opportunity and a light, thin, silver spear manifested in her hand. Shortly after, she jumped and aimed, her eyes following Kai like a hawk, and then¡­ she threw it! It shot like an arrow straight at where Kai would be, a shiver running down his spine as the sound of air getting cut rang in his mind. Can¡¯t slow down! Gritting his teeth, he pushed his legs to their limit for a split second, making it so the spear scraped the back of his neck, pulling away his cloak, alongside his shirt, and barely missing the necklace. Crap! The clothes pulled at his neck as they tore apart, left behind pinned to the pavement together with the now bloodied spear. His heart skipped a beat, as his entire chest became exposed to the sunlight. However, his panic quickly faded, and a bad taste appeared in his mouth. Despite that, he had no time to think about anything else but turning invisible and dodging another upcoming spear. This time, instead of speeding up, he slowed down for a second, which made the spear completely miss him. Yet, that small second gave the Inquisitor enough time to catch up to him, and from mere inches away, grab at his neck. Kai¡¯s pupils dilated, and he quickly cast another wind spell, this time creating an explosion of air that sent him flying forward and slightly impeding the maddened woman. He bit his tongue in the process, though, causing a river of blood to flow inside his throat and drip down his chin. Coughing, he unintentionally spit on his hand, then stared at it with widened eyes. This¡­ Much to his surprise, and horror, the spots where his blood landed turned completely transparent, invisible, and untraceable, safe for sound and heat signatures. He growled, and quickly wiped it away, unable to accept that covering himself with his blood was the only solution. Swoosh He dodged instinctively, moving his head to the side. A spear brushed by his ear, sending his hair flying wildly about. And in that same moment, the woman¡¯s yell echoed from behind, alongside her ever-growing presence. She shot down from the sky, her fist covered in orange-blue fire, which burned away at Kai¡¯s skin before it even came close to him. The shockwave from that alone will kill me! A pit formed in his stomach as he realized that, however, and knew that the situation was almost lost. The woman landed mere meters away from Kai, her punch digging into the pavement. Its shockwave caused the ground to shudder and cave in, and entire buildings collapsed all around. It spread quickly, and efficiently, rippling through the alley and smashing into Kai with a bone-crunching force. He hissed in pain as a large cloud of dust and debris rose, and a soft thud echoed from within. The woman frowned, and pulled her fist out of the road, slowly making her way toward Kai. Chapter 151: Run and Hide My first opponent was a powerful serpent. As big and ferocious as my father, was it. However, when I fought it, I didn¡¯t feel any hesitation, nor fear. No, it only had a strong intent of killing and chopping me up into pieces or devouring me in one gulp. I knew, then, in that moment, that is how a battle should be fought. That is how I trained them.
Chapter 151: Run and Hide My first opponent was a powerful serpent. As big and ferocious as my father, was it. However, when I fought it, I didn¡¯t feel any hesitation, nor fear. No, it only had a strong intent of killing and chopping me up into pieces or devouring me in one gulp. I knew, then, in that moment, that is how a battle should be fought. That is how I trained them. The woman grew ever so closer, the ground shuddering with every step she took. With a quick punch, the dust swiftly cleared away. Her pupils widened as she gazed upon an empty spot before her, a few crimson puddles and a pair of pants serving as the only indication that someone else had been there. She took a quick whiff of the air and frowned. ¡°Burnt¡­ and gone.¡± The woman murmured under her breath, then dashed forward with a resolute expression. ¡­ Kai¡¯s footsteps wavered as he ran through the alley, his ragged breathing bouncing against the calm exterior of the buildings. Somehow, no one had shown up to check the commotion, and he had a good guess as to why, too. Damned Raymond! Cursing under his breath, the boy stumbled slightly, but quickly picked himself back up. Must¡­ get¡­ away¡­ He thought, with an intense burning sensation spreading all over his back. I managed to get away¡­ just barely. He thought, his mind replaying the last few minutes over and over again. As the woman punched the ground, Kai, too, cast a fire spell, within which he threw a fire crystal, causing it to blow up at the same time that the shockwave reached him. It absorbed some of the force, and shot Kai away at the same time, barely outside the range of impact. Blood covered his back, which turned him partially invisible, and the dust blocking the woman¡¯s view gave him just enough time to run away in a panic. As he did, the powers of invisibility he tried to harness from Darky activated. If one looked from afar, one would see a boy, naked, save for his underwear, covered in blood and wounds, and a scorched back. However, that is, if anyone could see him. As he was, his body and clothes turned completely invisible. Some spots are due to the aforementioned blood, and some are due to Darky¡¯s natural power of invisibility. I can¡¯t believe I managed to do it! He thought, excited, and somewhat liberated by not having a monstrous human chasing him from behind. But how long will this last? That became his main concern, as he didn¡¯t know what sort of tracking techniques the Inquisitors had, only that they did, and he didn¡¯t want to bet on that woman, or anyone else, not using them. He did the best he could to not make any visible traces, having learned from his previous two encounters, and pulled his mana in as much as possible, to not exude any sort of presence. Despite that, a queasy feeling still rose up in his stomach. Whether it be because of the newfound, strange power, and not knowing how long it would last, or the anxiety of being found once again, he didn¡¯t know. All he could do at that moment was run. Wind spells, speed buffs, body enhancements, stamina regeneration¡­ he cast all the spells he thought of, and that could give him more speed, no matter how minor. His tattered feet were bloody and bruised, cut up by jagged rocks or stray pieces of glass, and burnt by the harsh sun shining upon roof tiles. However, he kept on moving, toward the northern-most wall. It wasn¡¯t that far away, even compared to his normal speed, but at that moment, it couldn¡¯t be any farther. Come on, move faster! He cried anxiously, his heart skipping a beat at every little thud and creak he heard. FASTER! He yelled once again like a broken well. Finally, the walls, guarded by soldiers clad in metal armor, and wielding swords, showed itself before him. Arching his legs, he jumped from one roof to another, until, finally, he reached the top of the wall. He landed between two guards, however he passed them as quickly as he arrived, the gust of wind leaving them scratching their heads. Landing on the grass, Kai thought he could heave a sigh of relief. However, a wild thud, that he had long since grown accustomed to landed in his ears, and, without having to look back, knew that the woman found the small traces he left behind on the roofs as he ran. Damn it, fuck! He didn¡¯t hesitate to dash once again before she could take notice of where the grass bent or shuffled. As he entered deeper into the forest, he crouched and walked slowly, mindful of every step he took. Trying to control his beating heart and ragged breathing proved to be more difficult than expected, however. Kai didn¡¯t know if the Inquisitor had any way to detect breathing, but if she was as strong as he thought she was¡­ I¡¯d be found as soon as she got close enough. Gulping, he moved forward, stopping every so often to listen for footsteps. He continued like that, taking baby steps with sweat dripping down his invisible body. Some spots remained visible, though, which he quickly smeared with fresh, or dried blood. For the most part, he blended right in. If one didn¡¯t look carefully, they wouldn¡¯t be able to see him. And so, for the good part of an hour filled with anxiety, he walked and jumped with no particular direction in mind besides the ¡®as far away as possible¡¯ road. However as luck, or unluck, would have it, his desire to slip away unnoticed couldn¡¯t come true. Leaves and branches rustled and cracked as the woman jumped off from atop a tree, landing a dozen or so meters away from Kai. He quickly held his breath and lowered himself even more, not even daring to look in her direction for fear of being sensed. The mana surrounding his body retracted even more inside, causing him a slight amount of pain.Stolen novel; please report. Despite that, he held strong and didn¡¯t dare even allow a muscle to spasm for fear of being too noisy. The woman put her hood down, allowing her beautiful hair to cascade down her shoulders, and she scanned the surroundings with a glowing pair of eyes. Kai¡¯s immediate instincts told him to run away, to hide from her. However, he controlled himself and stood as still as a statue as her gaze scanned the entire area more than a couple of times. Each time it landed on him, he wanted to shiver, to run away and hide. To become as little as possible and to escape somewhere, anywhere. However, he couldn¡¯t, he feared her so much that even his heart stood still. Her strength alone made her the toughest opponent he ever had to deal with, not to mention her tracking skills and infuriatingly fast speed. The woman¡¯s aura, in Kai¡¯s eyes, felt not like a man¡¯s, but a ravenous beast. Such a strong, putrid aura reminded him of Haniard, especially in that last moment when Kai had faced his illusionary sword and somehow survived¡­ the moment his dad died. Afraid to even bite his lower lip, he endured with a pit forming in his stomach. Despite that, he didn¡¯t do anything, move, breathe, or anything else that might give him away. Please, Lumiera, hear me out, I know we¡¯ve had our misunderstandings but please¡­! He prayed, long, and for what seemed like hours, but there was no reply, as expected. Fine, Yurman¡­ Hell, even Eda! Please! Kai called to every God he knew, Eda being the last one he found the name of, apparently being Barhm¡¯s God. Yet, his prayers didn¡¯t seem to go unanswered, as the the glow in the woman¡¯s eyes faded away, and she blinked rapidly, veins popping over her sclera. Kai took a chance to glance at her for a fraction of a second, then looked away. It must put a lot of strain on her eyes, but the fact that she stopped here means¡­ she knows my general location! A curse felt like leaving his mouth, however he held it in. The Inquisitor¡¯s robe fluttered as she jumped up on a tree, seemingly leaving. However, Kai didn¡¯t move, remaining still and allowing himself to take minimal breaths every so often. She¡¯s definitely still around¡­ And so, the waiting game began. The woman didn¡¯t know where exactly he was, so she made it seem like she left. A classic scheme¡­ Kai thought, mad that she would think of him that stupid. The sun rose past the midpoint, then descended, the moon taking its place, and it too rising past the midpoint. During that entire time, Kai¡¯s body remained still, truly imitating a statue. His breaths were soft, taken only when a breeze blew past him, and his heart beat at a very slow and quiet rate. Despite the signs of relaxation, though, adrenaline coursed through his veins like never before. Only his pupils moved about, and even then he felt like it was too much, so he closed his eyes, and did his best not to fall asleep. Damned woman! He cursed, annoyed. How long are you going to stay there? Not knowing whether she moved or not, Kai couldn¡¯t afford to attempt to leave. However, that also meant that he would either have to stay like that for days on end or trust that she left, searching in other places. She definitely didn¡¯t, though¡­ not so quick. He had read about the Inquisitors and their horrifying acts against vampires and humans alike. Most awful though, were their torture methods, which he couldn¡¯t even begin to recall, and their patience during said tortures. It is written that they can play with their victim for days before getting a reply. Their methods are slow, brutal, and merciless, and even if the victim confesses right away they still continue torturing them. Sadists, through and through, all of them! And for those reasons, he knew that she could lay in waiting for days, or weeks. I won¡¯t survive that long, though. He sighed internally and tried to think about other things, retreating deep into his mind in an attempt to pass the time. Argh¡­ if only I could just ki-¡­ wound her. Why am I so darned weak?! Her uniform doesn¡¯t even look to be that fancy! If only Onyx were here¡­ Onyx, oh boy, what did you get into? Where are you? Please be safe. At that moment, though, the moment he thought about Onyx, a warmth spread from his chest, and a sudden, painful feeling appeared on his leg. What the fu- It felt fractured, broken, leaking fresh blood. Then, the wind against his face, weaker and less harsh than usual, and finally the sight of grass, shorter than it normally was, and then he saw a flash-a glimpse of a body that wasn¡¯t his own. Right as he did, a sudden, mindless thought popped into his mind, one that wasn¡¯t his own. ¡°Arwo? Brwer?¡± What?! ¡°Brwer! Brwer! Brwer! Woofrgh!¡± What is this, who are you? Kai demanded sternly, however, his heart softened instantly as he realized who he was talking to, whose pain he felt, and whose vision he shared for a moment. Onyx? ¡°Oyx! Oyx!¡± How is this possible? ¡°Woorf?¡± Right¡­ ¡°Wer yu?¡± No, stay away, it¡¯s dangerous! As he thought about that, though, he felt Onyx grab onto his scent, and then proceed to head in his direction. No, too However, a splitting headache fell upon him at that moment, and it took everything he had not to scream and groan in pain. Fuck, does that mean he¡¯s coming this way, where even is he?! So he lay anxious, waiting to know whether or not Onyx would arrive from wherever he was, hoping that he wouldn¡¯t, though. The night passed by quietly, the only disturbance being the wild animals and critters weak enough to not feel any pressure from the metaphorical sword hanging above Kai¡¯s head. That also served as a sign to Kai that the woman had no plans of ever leaving. As the sun rose on a new morning, with Kai remaining unmoving, and the Inquisitor still there, the boy almost lost all hope of her leaving. However, a sudden tussle grabbed his attention, and he, trying to make as little sound as possible, slowly turned his head to watch. A branch, somewhere above him, fluttered, and then, two dozen or so meters away, the woman¡¯s bulky figure appeared, landing on the ground. She gave a quick scan of the area once again, her eyes glowing even brighter than before. It didn¡¯t last, or linger for long, however, as she turned away and left. Kai couldn¡¯t afford to let out a breath of relief, however, as he couldn¡¯t be sure if she left or not until a strong beast arrived. However long that would be¡­ Mid-way through the day, Kai noticed a large snake, whose level he couldn¡¯t exactly discern. Based on its aura it could be a two or three, maybe four-star? Does that mean she really left? After seeing it, he allowed himself to relax slightly but still remained still as a statue. By that point, his throat dried up almost completely, and his empty stomach forced itself to remain quiet despite the intense hunger. A couple more hours later, he began to think she had well and truly left. I will stay like this until the night passes, then I will move. After deciding that, he remained ever so vigilant, his eyes dashing to any and all movement or sound. A sudden rustle grabbed his attention, however, he couldn¡¯t tell whether it was fair or not, so he paid it no mind, not daring to spread out his mana sense. Minutes later, he saw another snake, thrice as big as the previous one, with a much fiercer and violent aura. Kai¡¯s gaze fixated on it, ready to jump out and run for his life regardless if the woman was there or not if the thing attacked. As he followed it, suddenly, a cold sniff at the back of his neck made him jump, and let out a very soft, involuntary yelp sound. Crap! The snake turned its head in his direction, and headed toward him, to investigate. However, before it could approach too close, it suddenly recoiled back, turned one hundred and eighty degrees, and then slithered away faster than Kai could process. From above, the woman fell, sending a huge shockwave, and her gaze, as cold and vicious as a hungry wolf, glared right in his direction. Chapter 152: Rescued We studied the beasts and copied their fighting style, then imparted it on the Inquisitors¡­ Oh, what a strong legion we made. Order has been created, and the cattle grew up fine and delicious, their husks becoming good fertilizers for the very food they ate.
Kai didn¡¯t waste any time. The moment the woman locked his gaze on him, he fled like a rabbit from the jaws of a wolf. His heart raced even more strongly than ever before, and cold sweat dripped down his neck as if he had taken a shower. Fear coursed through his veins, unimaginable fear, one so strong that it gave him enough strength to cast speed buffs, and wind spells and avoid any and all obstacles at an almost unnatural speed. Fuck! Run! Run! Run! He yelled inwardly, telling himself what to do, ordering his body to do what needed to be done. Don¡¯t stop or you¡¯re dead. Keep going! Escape! Run! Flee! His body, too, yelled at him to remain alive. And, as the two pushed each other, a white streak appeared in the corner of his eyes, like a shadow, and he immediately recognized its fluffy shape. Onyx, he came, how did he find me so quick¡­ Wait, is he the reason she found me?! Anger and worry flashed in his eyes, and he ran in the opposite direction of his wolf, whom he knew couldn¡¯t see him either. I just need to run away from him, I can¡¯t put him in harm¡¯s way! With a quick step and a jump off a thicker root, he threw himself as far as possible, then boosted his acceleration with wind magic, and barely avoided smashing into a tree with another wind spell. Landing, he rolled on the ground and prepared to run again. However, at that same moment, his vision filled with horror. The woman stood mere meters in front of him, her expression filled with fury, and she clenched her jaw, saying through gritted teeth. ¡°NO MORE RUNNING, INSECT.¡± And she sent a punch in Kai¡¯s general direction. It missed, though, and he jumped to the side, then she punched again, a gust of wind flying directly toward him. Hopping over it, he sent himself flying upward with a wind spell and landed on a nearby tree branch. However, it collapsed as soon as he touched it, as the woman scorched with some sort of ¡®Flame Fist¡¯. She knows Onkos magic, but she hasn¡¯t used it yet, and there is no wand to cast with! What the fuck?! I can understand the wind, but fire? His mind raced with thoughts, trying to reason the woman¡¯s unfamiliar magic. Yet, he didn¡¯t have enough time to ponder, and he didn¡¯t want to find out personally, by becoming a corpse, or worse. As he landed, he cast a wind spell, which crashed upon the ground in several different locations. The Inquisitor looked around and frowned at Kai¡¯s attempt to make her lose track of him. However, as feeble an idea as it was, it actually seemed to work, as she stopped punching. Instead, she took a moment to close her eyes and take in a deep breath. Then, out of nowhere, her mouth opened as wide as humanly possible, and she let out an ear-piercing screech. A strong pressure, like a wind spell, shot out from her mouth, covering a conic area in front of her. She unleashed this attack wherever Kai used the wind spell, and, taken by surprise, reached him in less than a second. Hit, he tumbled backward like a runaway kite and crashed against a tree. Its thick trunk bore the brunt of the impact, not even shaking slightly as Kai spit out a mouthful of blood. The fu- However, he had no time to curse or wonder, as the woman closed in on him at a rapid pace. Despite his invisibility, she seemed to have locked onto his position, and Kai immediately attempted to flee to the side. His best attempts at fleeing, though, stopped when the Inquisitor jumped on all fours, and leaped up on him like a beast. She instantly gapped the distance they had and barely missed his neck by a hair¡¯s breadth, instead, she nicked his shoulder, causing blood to spill out everywhere. With that newfound wound, Kai¡¯s invisibility, which he used as best as he could, began fading away. No, why now? No, No, Fuck! Crying internally did nothing, however, and soon his entire physical form would be visible for the woman to grab and kill. Looking back, he noticed the woman stood still, a sadistic smile decorating her face as she fixed him with her glare. He gulped and tried to get as far away as possible, ignoring the fact that she could catch up to him almost instantly, especially in such an environment. Forget the fact he basically grew up in a forest, any technique he had of surviving in one could be ignored by someone strong. Like Hideyoshi¡­ He thought bitterly about the man he used to feed on, a fact which he hadn¡¯t properly digested yet, and how useful he would have been in this moment. Now, though, Kai was alone, fleeing for his life against someone who seemingly used him as hunting practice. Fuck, if she wanted to kill me she would have by now, what the fuck is wrong with her?! He cried internally as he stepped into the thick vegetation and did his best to hide using the abundant shadow in the forest. His heart threatened to jump out of his chest as he hid, not helping his situation at all. However, no matter how Kai thought about it, it felt hopeless. Damned fucking thing! He jumped, startled by the woman¡¯s heavy, non-magic-imbued punches, which knocked down a nearby tree. The thundering sound it made as it hit the ground boomed through the forest. A chilly shiver ran up Kai¡¯s spine as her heavy footsteps disappeared from his ears, and then his entire body shuddered as he felt something behind him. The moment he got up to run, a thick, cold, yet hot hand mercilessly grabbed him by the neck and pulled him up. His body, now visible, looked like a corpse due to all the blood and scorch marks covering him. He struggled to break free of the Inquistior¡¯s grasp, however the woman¡¯s firm hand tightened around his throat the more he did so. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! A true fear of death coursed through his veins as he stared into the woman¡¯s emotionless eyes, his own crimson pupils trembling. Biting on his lower lip, he clawed away at the woman¡¯s hand with normal nails, however, that quickly proved to be useless. He glared at her, intense hatred radiating from his pupils as her hand choked the oxygen out of his lungs, and his world seemed to turn dark. His pupils oscillated between open and closed, and he too out of consciousness and unconsciousness. Calling upon the last bits of strength he had left, he, for the first time in his life, willingly pulled out his fangs and tried to bite her hand. A chuckle escaped her body at that attempt, as he couldn¡¯t even come closer to harming her, not with his fangs at least. ¡°Monster cub, such vile attempts just show how degenerate you are.¡± She said, squeezing at Kai¡¯s throat harder than before, with such a technique that it would only knock him out instead of killing him outright. Kai¡¯s struggle gained a newfound burst of strength as he actually clawed away at her hands this time around, however, that proved to be as effective as trying to bite her hand, and, soon, his movements would stop altogether. Suddenly, her head turned, eyes widening, facing what seemed to be a small tornado heading her way. Before she had time to decide whether to grab Kai with her or not, the strong wind magic reached her. Glaring at the boy, she threw him in the wind magic, then stepped aside. Her hair moved wildly about, and she frowned upon realizing that the original wind storm had stopped, and another, much stronger one headed directly her way.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. She retreated as it uprooted bushes, broke away branches, pulled out grass, and picked up rocks. The wind spell became like a screen she couldn¡¯t see through, and she wasn¡¯t stupid enough to try and break it apart, lest she suffer the consequences of that. Instead, she jumped to the side and waited for it to fade. As it did, her pupils constricted upon realizing that Kai was nowhere to be seen, and neither was there any hint of who or what attacked her. Frowning, she took a whiff of the air, but the wind magic from earlier disturbed the smells, so she took to the trees, jumping from tree branch to tree branch and scanning the area with her eye magic. She used it sparsely, though, as it put a lot of strain on her body. ¡­ Onyx¡¯s figure dashed through the forest like a white shadow. Kai lay almost unconscious on his back, deep red marks covering his neck. He coughed lightly, color returning to his face as he took in soft breaths of air. Crowns of trees and soft clouds dashed past his blurry vision with incredible speed, wind whistling past his ears as Onyx ran as fast as he could. He didn¡¯t look back, but took a few turns here and there, advancing without direction. Kai couldn¡¯t get up or raise himself at all. He raised his hand with much effort and groaned as he brought it to his mouth. Then, touching the ring on his finger, a red pill fell into his mouth, and he closed his eyes, slowly absorbing it. Thank you¡­ He thought, hoping that Onyx would be able to hear him. ¡°Woof!¡± He barked, as if replying, and pushed his speed to its limits. As they ran, unsure if the Inquisitor still chased them, the pill Kai ingested quickly took action and worked to heal his most grievous wounds, as much as it could. Color gradually returned to his face, and after half an hour he stood, grabbing onto Onyx¡¯s fur and gently patting it with tender care. I¡¯m sorry we got us into this mess¡­ He thought regretfully and ingested another healing pill, then circulated his mana to help absorb the energy all throughout his body. It¡¯s gonna be fine¡­ Assuring Onyx, and patting him twice on the back, he leaned forward with great difficulty and popped a pill into Onyx¡¯s mouth as well. He felt the warm energy course through his companion¡¯s body, rushing to his injured leg, and instantly beginning to heal it. To think he can run this fast with such a wound¡­ He¡¯s¡­ strong. With that done, Kai left everything up to Onyx as his mind switched from consciousness to unconsciousness. The lack of oxygen in his brain did some damage that he wasn¡¯t sure was permanent or not, but he hoped for the latter rather than the former. Time passed, and the sun slowly made way for the moon, which in turn shone softly over the land they watched over. Along with the moon, a dark sky, filled with clouds, made themselves visible, and thunder crackled as it threatened to rain. However, that¡¯s all it did, threatened. A few kilometers away from the city, Onyx finally stopped, panting and falling to the ground in exhaustion, throwing Kai off his back as a result. Luckily, he recovered some of his strength and managed to land properly before falling to the ground. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as his almost naked body remained exposed to the elements, blood, and dirty and carbonized skin covering him. Despite that, he barely had any strength to pop another pill in his mouth and waited for it to take effect as he guided it. Yet, a certain feeling of anxiety never left the back of his mind, and he quickly mounted Onyx once again. The fear within him lingered and grew stronger with each passing second. Unsure of where it came from, he thought of the woman who could probably keep up with Onyx without much effort. She¡¯s definitely on her way to us if manages to grab onto something¡­ or worse, she¡¯s already here, hiding, waiting. Onyx probably put some doubts in her mind, but definitely not enough to scare her away. As the Obborik dashed through the forest, some color returned to Kai¡¯s face, and his body shivered lightly. He threw on a shirt and a cloak, not exactly able to put on any pants whilst on Onyx¡¯s back. Instinctively, a sigh of relief wanted to escape his body, but he pulled it back, not daring to allow himself to lower his guard. And for good reason, as not even a few seconds later, a streak of fire, which he could only assume to be the woman, shot right in their general direction. With horror-filled eyes, he slapped Onyx lightly, enticing the Obborik to go faster. However, no matter how fast he could go, it didn¡¯t matter. Within moments, the woman landed right in front of them, sending a large shockwave and scorching the land. She didn¡¯t stop to look at or converse with them, but instead arched her legs and jumped high in the air, sending an energy-filled punch toward them. Kai bounced off the Obborik¡¯s back, at the same time readying his wand, and, within a split-second decision, chose not to pull out his sword. Onyx, on the other hand, dashed with a burst of speed, evading the punch, and jumping at his own turn. He rotated mid-air, and his large, fan-like tail sent a fast, sharp blast of wind toward the Inquisitor. Then, chaining it, he channeled another of his barks. However, before he could cast it, a strong punch broke his first spell, and the leftover energy headed straight toward him. His eyes shone with intelligence, and quickly stopped whatever he wanted to cast, then quickly stepped to the side, barely avoiding the punch. Kai quickly joined him, and the two stared at the woman, who in turn glared at them with an unexplainable hatred. ¡°LEECH AND BEAST, BONDING. I OUGHT TO HAVE KNOWN IMPURE CREATURES LIKE YOU WOULD MIX WITH ANIMALS.¡± Kai stared at her with a complex expression, however, decided that understanding someone who wanted to kill him would be a waste of his time. This woman is clinically insane¡­ He complained, however, her newfound sent a shiver all throughout his body. Looking closely at her, she wasn¡¯t that much better off, at least in terms of stamina. Catching up with an Obborik running at maximum speed, even as a strong Body Mage, proved to be quite a challenging task. Of course, Kai knew better than anyone that Onyx wasn¡¯t your average Obborik, but his level didn¡¯t seem to be as advanced as the woman¡¯s. Though it is definitely bigger than mine¡­ Despite his curiosity, he couldn¡¯t check other¡¯s power, unlike the man who created his wand. Kai flicked his sleeve, the earth crystals embedded in his wand glowing with soft light, and a large pit formed right below the woman¡¯s feet. She jumped and dashed at the duo with a maddened howl. Another flame fist that seemed more to be an Onkos magic than an Inkos one flew past their heads as they dodged, and Kai summoned a few dozen water tentacles from the ground, which grabbed onto her leg. Without any time to waste, he pulled her to the ground, and instantly trapped her legs with an earth spell, which he quickly turned into solid rock. However, as soon as he finished, the stone cracked and the woman¡¯s feet escaped, unscathed, for a bit of dirt on her boots. Without waiting for another second, she dashed in Kai¡¯s direction and did a roundhouse kick. However, Onyx¡¯s wind crashed against her, giving Kai enough time to dodge out of the way. With a quick jump backward and some hastened repositioning, he summoned a dozen or so fireballs that rotated around him. After doing that, he dropped the fire and earth crystals and swiftly replaced them with dark and light crystals. The woman stood up, her head snapping toward Onyx, and she immediately ran toward him. The Obborik quickly ran for his life, but didn¡¯t get far as she grabbed him by the tail and, despite his huge size and weight, smashed him against a tree. Then she walked in front of him and prepared to crush his skull. ¡°Onyx!¡± Kai cried out and cast a ¡®Blinding Light¡¯ which shot in front of the woman¡¯s eyes, exploding in a bright flash of light. She quickly looked away, avoiding most of its effect, however, that gave Onyx enough time to get up and run away. He shook his head, fur flying about, and glared at the woman with resentment. Kai did as well, and he grit his teeth in frustration, then cast as many body enchantment buffs as he could in a matter of seconds. Speed enchantement, Body Buff, Strenght Enchancement, Stamina Boost¡­ By the time he finished, the woman¡¯s vision recovered and instantly dashed toward Kai with a clenched fist. Does she only know how to punch and make craters?! He questioned inwardly, and quickly stored his wand away, replacing it with the silver sword. Its blade shone with reflected moonlight, and the sudden appearance of such an unlikely weapon for a mage took the woman by surprise. However, she smirked with disdain and continued on her rampage. One of her fists burned with fire, while the other whistled with wind. Kai¡¯s blade shone with a soft light and Onyx prepared to bark out a storm at a moment¡¯s notice. Within seconds, the amount of distance between Kai and the woman could be measured with a ruler, and, at that moment, she punched out with both hands. A scorching storm headed straight toward the two, the wind amplifying the power of the fire as it blazed like a meteor. With a maddened grin, Kai sent mana into his sword, then slashed vertically. The blade screeched like a frightened animal as a streak of light escaped his bounds, temporarily slicing the fiery tornado into two. That small opening gave Kai the opportunity to get close while the Inquisitor opened herself to an easy attack. Without any hesitation, his blood overflowing with adrenaline, he bore through the scorching heat and cutting winds, and aimed the sword right at her abdomen. At that exact moment, Onyx barked and repelled some of her spells, but more importantly, gave Kai a boost of speed, which pushed him past what his body could barely take. A heavy groan escaped the woman¡¯s lips, alongside a mouthful of blood, which fell on Kai¡¯s face. His throat immediately knotted, and the sweet scent of fresh blood activated his instincts. A pair of grotesque fangs penetrated his mouth, and, taken over by hunger and thirst, plunged the sword even deeper, a sadistic smile creasing his lips as he did so. Blood shot out of her wound, giving Kai a light taste of it. But then, his vision blurred, and a wave of nausea hit him like a poison dart. The world around him twisted violently, and he recoiled back, almost losing the grip on his sword as pain rapidly clawed its way through its veins. The blood on his tongue burned like poison, and he looked up at the woman, only to see a sadistic, knowing smile decorating her face. What did she do to me?! He cried internally, however, it was too late, as her blazing right hand once again grasped his throat. Chapter 153: Crushed I know that deep inside, somewhere, a strong power flows through my veins. I felt it, once, but only for a moment. It was when we fought that beast in the forest, but how many decades ago was that¡­
Dragged footsteps echoed in an empty space. Neither light nor dark existed, or sound or sight. Emptiness and nothingness prevailed. Yet, somehow, in that space, walked a young man. His presence alone created what there was not. The sound of his ragged breathing and racing heart echoed against nothing, and the faint light exuded by his long silver hair and crimson eyes illuminated the little bits of emptiness near him. He walked, not on air or ground, but simply did, and he advanced, although his foggy pupils showed that the destination was unclear. Despite that, his determined existence created images of people. There was a boy, around the same age as the one walking- and two people that he was a spitting image of. Wide, happy smiles creased their lips as the boy within the image cast a simple fireball. It wasn¡¯t strong, nor was it a show, just a fireball. Similar images played out all around him, with the little boy advancing in age, and his appearance, alongside his parent, chanting as he reached his teen years. They still looked related, but nothing like before, and soon they were apart. The parents grew into old age, while the boy went on adventures, made friends, got a wife and grandchildren¡­ Meanwhile, the boy within the empty walked, unbothered and unfazed by the images unfolding before him. Until¡­ A large, scale-covered eye appeared. The thing dwarfed the boy, and its imposing presence and aura gave the boy some clarity. ¡°You¡¯re going to die.¡± It said, its ancient-sounding voice echoing throughout the nothingness. The boy looked up, some fog clearing from his pupils. ¡°Who¡­ are you?¡± ¡°I am Lazharus, God of the Lazhar race. Your God, ¡®Kai¡¯¡± Its revelation fully awoke the boy, his crimson eyes burning with life as he stared in shock at the large eye before him. ¡°You¡¯re going to die.¡± It repeated. ¡°I know,¡± Kai said, his racing heart calming down, staring at the large eyeball with disgust, yet a hint of reverence. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that you can¡¯t be here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that question is as important as you make it to be. Especially not now.¡± Kai¡¯s mouth opened halfway, but quickly shut back down as he pondered over the matter. ¡°What can I do?¡± His voice broke as he asked. ¡°Accept me. I will give you power.¡± ¡°You will take my body.¡± ¡°I will do no such thing¡­ you¡¯re not a suitable vessel.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to believe that?¡± ¡°Accept me and you will understand.¡± Kai¡¯s head tilted upwards, glaring at the giant, unblinking and emotionless eyeball. ¡°You¡¯re not to be trusted, especially not after¡­ this.¡± Upon hearing Kai¡¯s words, the giant eyelids closed slightly as an amused laughter ran in his ears like a church¡¯s bell. It took a minute for it to calm down, and, after it did, a powerful, scorching fire covered its surface. ¡°I saved you two times, kid.¡± It said, becoming small enough for Kai to look down on. It floated and blinked strangely as it continued. ¡°Why do you think you were able to transform against Haniard?¡± It circled Kai as it spoke, forcing the boy to turn around. ¡°Or when your body was being turned upside down by so much energy that it should have exploded? Do you think you have the power to will over my bloodline?¡± Its harsh words cut deep, as in both of these times his death was more than assured. ¡°You owe me your life, twice over now.¡± A pair of tendril-like veins bulged out, grabbing Kai¡¯s limbs and slithering under his skin. ¡°Accept me once more, take my power like you never could before¡­¡± Its enticing voice sounded like a pleasant tune to Kai¡¯s ears, even as he did his best to resist. ¡°Take enough power to crush that woman, enough power to kill her in body and spirit¡­ enough power to take control over your life.¡± As it spoke, an image of the woman strangling him, from his point of view, flashed into his mind, her sadistic smile leaving no more room for mercy. ¡°Tik¡­ tok¡­¡± Kai¡¯s expression turned to one of horror as, within the image, the woman¡¯s hand tightened around his neck until his futile struggles fell limp. His head, covered in blood and vomit, tilted forward. Onyx¡¯s barks, filled with anxiety and fear, landed on deaf ears. Despite his pleadings, the woman lifted Kai¡¯s almost lifeless body up, and her hand completely closed around his neck.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. The sound of crushing bones echoed into Kai¡¯s ears, filling his helpless expression with terror. He watched with an empty feeling as his own body fell lifeless to the ground, covered in blood, vomit, and bits of bones, and then the woman punched out at Onyx. ¡°NO!¡± However, that is when the image stopped, and, by that point, the tendrils from the eye covered and slithered through Kai¡¯s body like a parasite. Despite that, he didn¡¯t care, as his reddened eyes glared at the eye with an indiscernible hatred. ¡°Well?¡± It asked, not hiding his slyness. ¡°Do you want the power to get revenge? Do you want the power to survive?¡± Kai grit his teeth, his body shaking as he tries to move. But he couldn¡¯t, not as long as the tendrils invaded his body like they did. The hatred within him grew even stronger, and fiercer, and his body, real or not, burned with an intense desire to destroy everything that stood before him. The people he met, the people he cared about, the people who loved him. Their faces, names, and the moments he spent with them, all flooded his mind like a broken dam. They all lined up, images of them crying upon hearing news of his death attacking his consciousness, thinning out his will and slowly opening it up for others to consume. Last of them was Onyx, whose mangled body and lifeless eyes sent a shiver down Kai¡¯s body, and filled his stomach with intense disgust, making him want to throw up. Anger, fury, hatred, love¡­ a cacophony of emotions bombarded his mind like an uncaring monster. The immense pain that caused him made him want to give up, to let go, to allow his body to flow with an energy so powerful he¡¯d lose himself. And he was about to, let it all go, he closed his eyes to let this so-called God borrow his body, to get them out of that situation alive. However, just as he was about to agree with the eye, with Lazharus, at that moment, a familiarly unfamiliar voice reached out to him from beyond whatever space he was currently in. Bwotwer, Fight! Those two words brought his mind from the depths of pain, and his eyes snapped open. Forcing his right hand to move, he, under the surprised gaze of the eye, pulled out and ripped the tendrils from his limbs, freeing himself of the parasites. ¡°Impossible!¡± Lazarus cried out in genuine shock and watched Kai approach him with a resentful glare. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you planned on doing,¡± He said slowly, pulling his hand into a fist as he ran. ¡°I¡¯ll do my own thing.¡± And he struck at the eye before it could react, disintegrating it into a fine powder that swiftly disappeared. It left behind a red crystal, which Kai grabbed and crushed inside his fist. The particles from it shot toward Kai, feeding him and nourishing his body. ¡­ In the real world, Onyx watched with furious anger as the woman lifted Kai up, his fingers twitching as he tried to fight back against her. However, the Obborik sensed the fleeting life of his companion, and he barked angrily, shooting as many wind spells as he could. However, no matter what he did, the woman simply waved her free hand and broke apart his attacks. The growing despair within his eyes made him circle around a few times, sending out spells from any and all directions. He panted, his tongue hanging out as saliva dripped down on the ground, yet, no matter how hard he tried, Kai¡¯s life remained within that woman¡¯s hands. ¡°Woof, woof, arf! GRRRRR!¡± Onyx cried out desperately toward Kai and was about to launch himself at Inquisitor. However, before he did, he saw Kai¡¯s hand twitched, and he cried out one last time, urging him to fight. At that moment, Kai¡¯s arm, which barely moved, instantly rose and grabbed the woman¡¯s arm, the one that strangled him. Her sadistic expression instantly changed to one of horror as she felt the boy¡¯s aura grow in strength, and saw his appearance change before her very eyes. His disheveled hair grew out slightly, now reaching to his hips, and his clothes began to rip apart as his limbs and body increased in size. White scales, as clean as his hair and as shiny as his blade, quickly spread around his body. Starting with the neck, where the woman strangled him, moving down to his chest, arms, and legs. They didn¡¯t cover him entirely, only about fifty percent of his body turned to scale, while the rest remained bare. His nails turned into razor-sharp claws, with his toes developing some sort of webbing in between. The hand that held the Inquisitor¡¯s arm tightened around it, much like hers did around his throat mere moments ago, and an unexpected groan of pain escaped her body. She let go of Kai, who landed on their feet, then lowered himself and kicked at her legs. Whilst she was falling, he caught her by the damaged arm, and, with a sadistic, violent smile, he gripped the handle of his sword. Twisting it, he pulled out, then kicked the body. She didn¡¯t have any strength or time to resist, as all of that happened in the time it takes for a spark to fly off a piece of flint. Within mere moments of Kai waking up, she found herself flung backward, a fountain of blood out of the place where her arm used to be. Kai held the bloody piece of meat in his hand, the very arm that almost killed him, dripping with fresh, poisonous blood. A small fire appeared between his fingers, and it quickly became a flaming fireball that quickly engulfed the arm, burning it to ashes within seconds. Then he wiped his sword clean of the very same blood that almost killed him and slowly walked toward the woman¡¯s listless body. She looked at him with a terrified expression, as if something within her blood told her to bow to the boy in front. ¡°You chased me¡­ all this way.¡± He said with a coarse, deep voice filled with resentment. ¡°A boy that could do nothing to defend himself, that could only run. Chased me with such malice and even killed me¡­ killed Onyx¡­¡± These words seemed to be his, and not at the same time. The crimson within his eye shone with a bright hue as he let out reptile-shaped indents on the ground. ¡°Fought me, tried to kill me¡­¡± He walked closer and closer, soon being mere inches away from her. ¡°You should also be prepared to die, in that case, right?¡± Kai asked, lifting his sword above his head, the sadistic insanity on his face replaced by an eerie deadpan expression. The woman¡¯s terrified pupils trembled, and she tried without use to lift her remaining arm up and strike at Kai, whose figure now loomed over her. However, she couldn¡¯t, no matter how much she tried, it seemed that mana stopped responding to her, only serving Kai and Kai alone. ¡°Goodbye¡­¡± Brwer! However, at that moment, right before he swung, Onyx¡¯s voice rang in his head, and the light within his eyes receded. In that same moment, his claws returned to his fingers, and the scales covering his body disappeared back into his skin. He shook his head, and quickly put the sword away, then dashed toward Onyx. What was that?! Was it¡­ me? He asked inwardly, however, he didn¡¯t have any time to process what happened, as he feared the woman would get back up and chase them. Locking eyes with Onyx, he nodded and jumped on his back. Sounds of anger and destruction echo behind them, whoever they didn¡¯t dare look back. Chapter 154: So many?! I have tried countless times to tap into it, but it seems to not want to answer my call¡­ It gave of a similar feeling to one from¡­ when He talked to us and guided us. Oh, God, how long ago was that?
Onyx¡¯s muffled, fast, scared footsteps rang through the forest as he dashed as fast as possible. We need to get away! Kai thought urgently, his emotions seemingly received by the Obborik as he pushed for even greater speed. He left a trail of fluff behind as his fur got caught up in bushes and branches, his beautiful coat slowly becoming patched as he ignored the damage he did to himself. Kai¡¯s situation proved to be similarly miserable, as his fatigued body shivered, not from the cold, but from the heat. His skin burned up, especially so on the areas where scales covered him. Fuck, it wasn¡¯t this bad when he did it, why not?! He thought through gritted teeth as his muscles ached with every little movement or spasm. It hurts so much! Yelling inwardly, he forced himself to touch the ring on his index finger, however, his face fell as he looked within. Gone¡­ we used them all up. The vitality pills he consumed to keep himself alive had all been used up, and he was only left with an empty bag, sitting next to the one that once contained mana pills. A pit formed in Kai¡¯s stomach as he swallowed, and inwardly apologized to Onyx for forcing him to go through all of this. His arm trembled from pain as he reached out toward the Obborik¡¯s head and affectionately pat its fur. ¡°Just a little bit further¡­¡± He whispered, grabbing onto his scruff and inching him to go faster. Fear and adrenaline coursed through his veins as he thought about all the images Lazharus showed him, and how none of them turned out to be true, or at least, none were allowed to become true. Fuck, fuck, was that actually a God? Wasn¡¯t Lumiera the Goddess? What the fuck¡­ Lazharus¡­ wasn¡¯t¡­ fuck, wasn¡¯t that name mentioned in the diary?! Ach! His train of thought was interrupted suddenly, as Onyx¡¯s body suddenly flung forward after he tripped on a rock. Kai flew off his back a couple of meters away, and a light cry echoed in his mind. Bwer¡­ it¡­hurt¡­ ¡°Onyx!¡± Kai cried out, desperate, ignoring the paralyzing pain jolting through his body as he dragged himself toward his companion with great difficulty. He barely lifted himself enough to crawl on his knees, a horrified expression plastered on his face. Trace amounts of blood seeped out of Onyx¡¯s mouth, clear signs of internal damage. After quickly checking his body, Kai shivered upon finding the reason for the Obborik¡¯s distress. On his chest, around the lung area, a circular patch of fur completely disappeared, replaced by red, bleeding skin. How did this happen¡­ Then, it suddenly hit him, the image of Onyx getting hit while trying to save him turned out to be true, after all. Fuck, this isn¡¯t an easy wound to treat either¡­ what to do, what to do. As he thought, a light yelp rang in his ears and met Onyx¡¯s pitiful, pained gaze. ¡°Onyx, stay with me!¡± He yelled out and forced himself to his feet, lifting the large Onyx on his back, and ran with great difficulty. The forest¡¯s terrain wasn¡¯t a place one could easily traverse alone, let alone carrying a giant animal on their back. Large roots hidden by tall grass and spiky bushes covered the ground, within which animals, both small and large hid in order to catch prey. One wrong step and Kai could get bitten by a snake, or mauled by a bear, as he was in no condition to fight. He bore through the pain caused by his now contracted muscles and the wounds he had suffered from the woman. His neck still held a faint outline from her strangling, despite the power granted to him by the entity that called himself his God. Sweat dripped down his blazing body in a feeble attempt to cool him down, however that did close to nothing. His heart threatened to jump out of his chest as he heard the sound of running water, and he immediately darted toward it. If she is still on our tracks, this could throw her off, even if slightly. Quickly reaching it, he threw himself in without hesitation, swimming with an ailing Onyx on his back, and swiftly exiting on the other side. His disheveled hair somewhat settled after getting wet, and he entered a more forgiving part of the forest, with shorter trees and grass. His pupils flashed as he caught something moving with the corner of his eye, and he quickly took a step back and to the side, as an arrow lodged itself into a nearby tree, and he cursed under his breath before dashing away. However, not long after taking a few steps, another arrow swooshed toward him, which he barely avoided by spinning on his heel. Then another, and another. In total, five arrows shot toward him, and he threw caution to the wind, running with even greater vigor, hoping that none of them would reach him. Yet, despite his hopes, one of the arrows hit him right in his thigh, sending a shocking amount of pain coursing through his body. ¡°Garh!¡± A groan escaped his lips, however, doing his best to ignore it, he kept on running, blood dripping down his leg. Fuck, what¡¯s going on? He cried out, beginning to limp and stumbling under Onyx¡¯s weight. Thankfully, the terrain wasn¡¯t as difficult to traverse as the one from before, however with an extremely exhausted body, crumbling mana reserves, a giant Obborik on his back, and now with a wounded leg, it made little to no difference. His adrenaline spiked as the rough cackling of a familiar creature rang in his ears, and he dared not turn to look, afraid of what he might see. It can¡¯t be, no, not here! Crying internally, he barely mustered the strength to dodge another wave of arrows by hiding behind a larger tree. One of them flew right past Onyx¡¯s tail, taking with it a good patch of fur. He yelped softly, his breathing soft and faint. Hold on boy, we¡¯ll make it out¡­ I promise! Without waiting for his assailants to find him, he dashed through the forest, crawling past bushes, evading rocks and holes, and taking great caution to always stop behind a tree every chance he could. Intense amounts of sweat covered his bare body, yet the adrenaline, cortisol, and unwillingness to give up that flowed through his veins kept him going, just barely. However, his heart sank as the forest before him reached an end. Not to an open field or cascading waterfall, but a large wall made of earth. A hill about thirty meters tall put a stop to his momentum, seemingly cut in two by something or someone, and a large chunk was taken out of it. What the hell- But the familiar cackling once again rang in his ears, and he hesitated slightly, yet turned anyway, meeting the creatures that lurked in his nightmares. Gobelins! A group of five gobelins, two red, two green, and one purple, encircled him and Onyx, forcing him to face his back toward a dead end. Have I been lured here?! The thought alone made his skin crawl, yet he couldn¡¯t deny the fact that the creatures before him led him exactly where they wanted him to be. How could there be so many of them? His trembling pupils quickly scanned the group, as, out of the five, all of them had bows and arrows, while three had short daggers, one a rusted sword and the other what used to be a long spear, now split in two. They looked similar to the one that attacked Kai, with long ears and short stature, yet with slight facial gestures such as teeth sticking out, unsymmetrical eyes, or busted lips. Some had a wider jaw, whilst some had a rounder face. However, all of them, without exception, had a sadistic expression plastered on their faces.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Licking their lips, they put their bows away and slowly made their way to Kai, chuckling to themselves. What are they doing? They can kill me without risking anything if they want to¡­ He didn¡¯t understand why these five gobelins, whose eyes were filled with malice and the desire to kill, chose to fight him one on one. Are they making fun of me?! Rage flared in his chest, and he put Onyx down as pain coursed through his body. Then, touching his ring, he pulled out the silver sword, unsheathed, shining under the moonlight. However, the light quickly disappeared as clouds covered it, putting the group in almost pitch-black darkness. Thunder boomed. Lighting struck. The sky lit up for a split second, allowing Kai to see the five creatures dash toward him, weapon in his hands. As rain poured down from the stars, he bit his tongue, forcing blood to flow down his throat. I¡­ However, he had no time to contemplate his decision as he heard one of them fling his dagger at him, then another. Kai jumped backward, another flash of thunder allowing him to see the position of his enemies, and a pair of fangs protruded out of his upper lip, while another set of canines grew from his lower lip. With much hesitation and a feeling of self-disgust, he prepared himself to commit to what he had not done for years. However, deep inside he knew, he had no other choice. His hearing and smell heightened slightly, allowing him to estimate the location of his enemies. What bad timing, hunted again and again¡­ Lumiera if I get you¡­ He threatened emptily in the brief respite he had to think, and, with much pain, swung his sword forward in a vertical motion as he stepped to the side. A horrified groan of pain echoed in the darkness, and lighting flashed once again, revealing one of the green gobelins with a terrified expression decorating his ugly face. His hands, the one that held a dagger, fell to the ground, bleeding, while his arm spurted out blood. It locked gazes with Kai, whose crimson pupils shone even brighter due to the darkness. Without a moment to hesitate, Kai dodged a swing from the sword wielded by the purple gobelin, the one he knew for sure would explode if killed and lunged at the wounded one with the ferocity of a beast. In but a few moments, his fangs bit into its flesh, and in mere seconds his body turned into a husk of dried meat and skin. Kai licked his lips as he threw the corpse to the ground, and a large amount of newfound strength coursed through his body. A satisfied smile creased his lips as another flash of lightning revealed his figure, with a bloody mouth and chest covered in the crimson liquid. The other gobelins glared at Kai with intense ferocity, and backed away, pulling out their bows. Swish ¡®Grah!¡± A pained groan rang amidst the thunder and rain, accompanied by a furious growl that sent a shiver running down the gobelins back. Swish Swish Swish One arrow after another shot toward Kai, however this time he expected them, and he leaped forward, jumping past all of them. The arrow in his thigh embedded itself even deeper in, fresh blood flowing out, leaving a trail mid-air as Kai landed on one of the gobelins. Unsure of which one it was, he pushed his sword into where he thought its heart to be, then swiftly jumped away, barely dodging another wave of arrows. A bright, red light shot out from the corpse, spore-like particles shooting toward the rest of the gobelins. Red madness appeared in their eyes, and their size increased twofold as muscles expanded and bones cracked. What the hell is going on?! He thought, unable to fully see the changes they underwent. However, one of the green gobelins dashed toward him, its short dagger presenting itself as a cooking knife instead of a weapon due to the difference in size. Kai backed away, however, he felt himself being pulled forward by an unknown force, and before he knew it, he faced the giant green gobelin, alongside its dagger. It swung it at his abdomen, and Kai had no choice but to take it right in his kidneys. He let out a muffled ground as he grit his teeth, and with a ferocious look in his eyes, thrust the sword at its heart. The silver blade barely penetrated its skin, now as tough as leather and scale, however, the gobelin hadn¡¯t grabbed him and had lost its weapon, which remained stuck in Kai¡¯s side. The boy jumped with one leg and kicked the sword deeper into the gobelin, which stumbled backward but didn¡¯t die immediately. Kai then plunged the dagger even deeper, avoiding any vitals, plugging up the whole it created. He coughed a mouthful of blood and dodged as the last of the red gobelins rushed him with the spear. A lighting bolt flashed the sky once again, provoking the rain to fall even harder, revealing the carnage surrounding Kai, and the blood and wounds covering his body. As his nails turned into claws, he grabbed the thrusting spear with his left hand, his arm trembling fighting against the gobelin¡¯s strength, and pulled back his right hand. Mustering his core to spit out mana, and gathering some from the outside, a light tornado-like pressure gathered around his fist, which ignited in flames as he punched. The fist connected with the gobelin¡¯s abdomen, creating a thundering explosion and illuminating the macabre surroundings briefly. Bits of flesh and crushed bone flew out everywhere as half of its body disintegrated into bits, and it fell to the ground. Kai quickly dashed forward, bearing through the shock of pain he received from the dagger, arrow, and his muscles, then dug his fangs into the creature, drinking a small amount of blood before it exploded into particles that the rest of the gobelins absorbed. He had no time to observe the changes, as a new, more forceful type of strength flowed through his veins. His muscles expanded once again, and the ferocity and insanity within his eyes grew stronger than before. Lighting hissed. In the brief flash of light, Kai¡¯s figure revealed itself again, now dressed with bits of flesh and bony shrapnel, as well as a slightly scorched front. He watched in horror as the creatures grew even bigger in size, more feral. The green one took the sword and plunged it into its chest, yet no blood flowed. The purple one, on the other hand, changed to a faint shade of black, with two nibs of horns growing out of its head. Kai panted, drenched in blood and gore, the furious rain barely cleansing him of the viscous liquid and bits of flesh. He grit his teeth, and his pupils constrict as frustration and anger course through his body like a broken dam, and a primordial roar escapes his body as he yelled out toward the sky. The claws on his hands grew even larger, seemingly to adapt to his enemies. Strong, sturdy talons grew out of his feet, and only then did he dare pull out the arrow. However, unlike the gobelin, his blood started pouring like a fountain, and, in a quick attempt at getting it under control, he summoned a spark between his fingers. Without hesitation, he brought it to the wound and cauterized it, then did the same for the dagger, and the arrow in his thigh. He didn¡¯t throw them away but instead stowed them in the minimal amount of clothing he had. His head snapped toward his right, and he instantly jumped, avoiding the green gobelin¡¯s mad charge, then landed on its back. Taking the dagger he collected, he aimed it right at its neck, however, its blade bent and became crooked. What?! He instantly jumped off, fleeting and throwing away the useless weapon. That¡¯s going to be annoying, then. The other one didn¡¯t act yet, but I can¡¯t even see him right now. Fuck, my Beast Spirit Sword was probably the best chance I had at killing them¡­ Wait! He quickly dashed backward and touched his ring, and a pitch-black longsword appeared in his hand. Its blunt blade made it almost useless, almost enough for a bat of some sort, as its weight had also more than quadrupled since last Kai used it. That sword was Ray¡¯s sword, the one that gave him the nickname ¡®Violet Night¡¯. However, that same sword became a useless chunk of metal in Kai¡¯s hand. With much effort, he sent mana inside it, yet it didn¡¯t reply, not even lighting up faintly. Please! He thought as he hid behind a tree, which quickly fell, severed in two by a sharp, strong slash. Fuck, that¡¯s my sword, you bastard! Anger flared within him. Suddenly, a cold shiver ran down his spine as he felt a presence lurking behind him, and he snapped back, the sharp tip of a sword aiming straight at his head. With little time to react and no room to dodge, he raised up the purple sword and sent all the mana he had left into it. The two objects clashed, pushing Kai backward into the severed trunk, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood, most of it landing on the dark sword. In that moment, the green gobelin swung once again, and Kai weakly raised the sword to defend himself. As the two blades clashed, a cracking sound erupted from Ray¡¯s sword, accompanied by a bright flash of violet light. Kai¡¯s heart stopped for a moment as he stared at his father¡¯s sword once again booming with life. Then, his body shuddered as the purple-black horned gobelin roared with a paralyzing strength, and its shadow rose up above Kai, crashing its fists downward. Chapter 155: Is it over? As time passed, my power has risen beyond what many could imagine. The land I conquered became filled with cattle, however, humans are still the best source of nourishment.
Kai¡¯s purple sword shone with a bright light, enveloping him and creating a repelling force that sent both gobelins flying back. However, his mana core instantly drained in that very same moment, leaving no room for him to cast any spells. A cruel light shone in his eyes as he ignored the purple-black gobelin and dashed toward the green one. The violet sword shone brightly, showing Kai the way. Anger flared up in his veins as he caught a glimpse of Onyx, who lay on the ground, limp, and almost breathless. Rain crashed on his fur, and the blood sipping out of his skin had long since dried. He barely had the strength to look at Kai after sensing his gaze, but he closed his eyelids shut as the purple sword plunged itself into the gobelin¡¯s skin. In his haste, Kai missed the heart by an inch, and that allowed the gobelin to grab his hand. With little effort, it flung Kai above its head, whose hand still gripped the sword which he pulled out as he smashed against the ground. His efforts to get up were thwarted by the gobelin¡¯s large foot, which crashed down on his legs alongside a fountain of blood. Fuck, just die already you freak! Kai cursed under his breath, lacking the energy to groan, and quickly turned and slashed at its legs. The sword seemed to have some will of its own as it flew out of Kai¡¯s hand, severing one of the gobelin¡¯s feet before Kai grasped it again in a matter of moments. What?¡­ However, he didn¡¯t dare linger in his shock as he quickly pulled his almost mangled feet away from the screaming gobelin. Dragging himself up, he leaned on the sword and shot toward the gobelin, who let go of his weapon in favor of the severed foot. As the two severed parts met, the flesh and bones began fusing back together via grotesque tendrils. The image alone gave Kai a nauseating feeling, however he pushed it down and leaped at the creature¡¯s shoulder. Without remorse or hesitation, he bit down, ripping apart bits of flesh until blood finally flowed down his throat. In a matter of seconds, he drank enough to recover his physical strength and trace amounts of mana. Jumping off, he clenched his fist, the clutch he held on the sword tightened as he slashed horizontally at its arm, and it fell with a muffled thud, overshadowed by the creature¡¯s anguished yells. It let out an oink-like sound as it scurried to grab its hand, its foot already having reattached itself to its body, however Kai didn¡¯t dare let it get the chance, and slashed his sword at its neck. However, right as he neared the killing blow, the wind whistled as something rapidly approached him. He dodged to the side, leaving a big enough timeframe for the green gobelin to flee with arm in hand. Kai clicked his tongue and turned to see a short spear etched onto the cliff wall. His pupils constricted, and he snapped back to see the large purple-black horned gobelin slowly walking toward him. It held a bland-looking metal sword in one hand, and in the other, Kai¡¯s silver sword, which shrieked with an unwilling light. Gulping, he faced it with shivering legs. Despite his body¡¯s overexertion in both energy and mana, he hadn¡¯t died or collapsed yet. Yet, every muscle in his body trembled, his heart raced as it pumped blood and adrenaline, and his dried mana core struggled to pull mana from the outside to refine and store. The only thing he had left was his father¡¯s purple sword and the energy he managed to recover from drinking large amounts of gobelin blood. As a result, he kept on being able to fight, despite all odds, however as he looked at the creature before him, his heart wavered. Its purplish dark skin seemed to have hardened to a greater extent than the others, and he grit his teeth upon remembering the first purple gobelin he killed. It exploded right as it died, sending bone shrapnel, blood, and guts everywhere. For that reason, he hesitated to kill or attack the purple one, however, his decision came to bite him in the ass. It stared at Kai with a rageful glare, beneath which hid a sense of intelligence that told it to be prudent. A low, authoritative growl escaped its mouth, followed by another distant growl of obedience. Then, the green gobelin¡¯s arm flew toward it, and it pushed it against its abdomen after catching it. Fleshy tendrils connected to the arm, and it soon became a part of it, controlling it as naturally as any other. What the fuck!? Kai¡¯s shock didn¡¯t last long, though, as the creature began approaching him. As the space between the two gradually lessened, Kai gripped the sword with both hands and took a deep breath. Remembering the sword techniques Euphridia taught him, alongside the discipline she painfully imparted onto him. Lighting hissed once again as the two rushed forward, one attacking whilst the other defended. Kai didn¡¯t dare take the thing¡¯s full force with the little reserves of energy he had left but instead tried to cut off the extra limb. He swung toward it as he dodged to the side, moving as freely as a river and striking as decisively as a waterfall. However, the gobelin deflected the attack with the bland sword, which broke under the purple¡¯s word pressure. It let out a surprised grunt and attacked Kai with his own sword whilst throwing the other one away. The boy flew to the side, the sword hitting the ground, and just as he wanted to swing, one of the gobelin¡¯s arms reached out for him. Infuriated and disgusted, he slipped away before it could reach him, and slashed away at it. Similarly to before, the sword flew out of Kai¡¯s hand, slicing off a few of its fingers then swiftly returned within his clutch. After performing that, its glow lessened substantially, however, Kai¡¯s pupils flashed with a glint of understanding. So that¡¯s how it is! With that new information, he took a few big steps backward and hastily reassessed the situation. However, the gobelin shot toward him right as he landed, catching up in a matter of seconds. The silver sword shone with the reflected light of the violet blade, and the two clashed.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. A heavy tremor shot through Kai from his hands all the way to his feet, and he flew backward from the force. He only stopped after rolling on the ground a couple of times, at which point a distance of a dozen meters separated the two. However, that proved to be nothing in front of the gobelin, who leaped from where it stood with enough force to crack the ground. Its velocity quickly reached a peak as its figure loomed over Kai, its shining red eyes barely visible in the darkness. The boy¡¯s pupils widened and he gulped, his entire body turning as light as a feather. Fuck, I can¡¯t dodge it in time! He cried inwardly, a pit forming in his stomach and he quickly gripped the purple sword. In a last-ditch effort to save himself, he flung it forward, its blade shining with a powerful light upon leaving his hand, shooting toward the gobelin like an arrow. Kai¡¯s heart dropped, and he closed his eyes, unwillingly accepting his death. All of that happened in the time it takes for a spark to fly off a piece of flint. In that small amount of time, the gobelin had almost reached Kai, its sword pointing right at his throat. However, mere inches away from death, the purple sword penetrated the thing right into its skull, the force of the impact sending it flying back. In that same moment, its violet hue completely disappeared, and the gobelin¡¯s body began shining red. Kai knew exactly what that meant, and he hurried to his feet. Yet, it was too late as a thundering boom echoed in the forest, large pieces of hardened flesh flying about, etching themselves into both trees and ground. A flatter piece with no sharp corners flew toward the boy, hitting him squarely in the head, and knocking him from his feet. Luckily, that single act allowed him to just barely avoid the upcoming bone shrapnel, exploding outward, severing grass, flowers, and even trunks as they left destruction in their wake. Kai groaned as he looked toward the sky, his vision fading alongside whatever energy he had left. Rain crashed upon him as he lost consciousness, his mind filled with worry for Onyx and the green gobelin who still lingered. ¡­ A tiny horned rabbit scuttled through the grass as the sun rose. Its shining rays illuminated the forest¡¯s greenery, starting a new day in the humble forest. The rabbit¡¯s horn shone as the light reflected off of it, and it kept hopping about, its tiny snout twitching as it took light whiffs of the air. Soon enough, it reached a clearing that closed into a tall dirt cliff, filled with roots and stones. At its base, a spectacle lay before its black, beady eyes. A scene from a horror movie if it ever saw one. Blood littered the ground, seeping into the soil and nourishing the plants. Flesh and guts decorated the trees and grass, alongside fine pieces of bone. It hopped, looking around with its large ears lowered, and, within the distance, it spotted something that stirred its curiosity. Jumping furiously, it soon reached its destination, greeted by a peculiar sight. A small, greenish thing whose flesh seemed to have dried up, devoid of blood, lying down in a fetal position. It was dead of course, but that didn¡¯t stop the rabbit from hopping about, just to make sure. Afterward, its jaw opened wide, revealing a sharp pair of buck teeth, and took a bite of the thing. A gelatinous, dry, and dusty texture reached its lips, and then it quickly spat out whatever it was unlucky enough to bite off. With a seemingly disgusted expression, it left with its ears perked up, and looked around for other things to sniff. At the base of the cliff, or not that far from it, a motionless, furry white figure lay there, unmoving. It showed no signs of life, neither breathing nor twitching. However, the rabbit¡¯s eyes widened upon seeing. A shiver ran down its back, and it quickly ran the other way, as fast as it could. It let out soft sounds as its muffled paws jumped on pools of rain and blood. However, it didn¡¯t have to run for long before seeing another morbid sight, completely topping whatever happened in the previous place. Guts, bones, flesh, brain matter, and blood decorated trees and bushes alike. Nothing was spared to create this portrait of death. Uninterested in the leftover bits, it saw a dead-looking figure close by. It lay unmoving, with just enough breathing to not be considered a corpse. The rabbit quickly scurried toward the figure and inspected it closely. His eyes were closed, his body mangled and covered in wounds, and he stank of a corpse-like smell. The rabbit¡¯s ears twitched, and it sniffed lively as it got closer, unbothered by the fact that its soon-to-be victim still let out soft breaths. Its jaw once again opened as wide as its body, and it bit down on the boy¡¯s neck with extreme force. At that same moment, his eyes snapped open, revealing a deep crimson color, and he jumped to his feet. The rabbit jumped, and ran away into the forest, scurrying past bushes and disappearing into the morning sun. ¡­ Kai groaned as he jumped up, scared by the critter that attacked him. However, he didn¡¯t pay it any mind, even as it ran away, its fluffy tail leaving some fur behind. He quickly scanned the area with a racing heart and patted his body all over, then slapped himself with both hands. I¡¯m alive! Multiple jolts of pain shot through his body as he stood up, and he couldn¡¯t help but wince in pain. I¡¯m alive¡­ alright. Putting pressure on his leg, the one that almost got crushed by the giant green gobelin, provoked an unimaginable pain to spread through his body, almost making him wretch. Fuck¡­ Now, with his bloodstream completely void of adrenaline, and he himself out of danger, all the pains his body blocked from reaching his brain now came crashing down on him. The arrow in the thigh, the dagger to the side, getting thrown around and having his leg crushed by a monster, as well as the countless amounts of self mutilation he did. He smacked his lips, the taste of blood still lingering on his tongue, with its perfume still present in the air. Images of last night¡¯s battle, as few as they were, flashed through his mind. However, the thing that occupied his mind the most, the one thing he felt completely repulsed by, was the feeling of relishing in the power he had after drinking blood, and how good it felt to force his teeth in someone¡¯s flesh. Shivering, Kai pushed that thought away as he hurried to look for his purple sword, blasted to who knows where from the explosion. Despite the explosion¡¯s strong force, though, the blade didn¡¯t fly too far, as Kai spotted it with the corner of his eye, etched in a tree. Dragging his body over to it and grabbing its hilt, he pulled with as much force as he could muster. After a few seconds of struggling and wiggling it around, it came loose, sending him flying backward into the muddy ground. Melancholy and gratitude shimmered in his pupils as he looked at its bloody surface, and swore to take better care of it right after¡­ Onyx! His heart threatened to jump out of his body, and he quickly jumped to his feet, putting the sword away at the same time. He dragged his broken feet, jumping and putting as little pressure on it as possible, and hurried on toward the cut cliff. Onyx! Answer me, Onyx! He called out to his companion, however, no reply arrived in his mind. Cold sweat dripped down his back and a pit formed in his stomach as he pushed himself to the limit. Please be alright, please. Oh, I¡¯m so sorry! Kai¡¯s please fell on deaf ears, however. But he didn¡¯t need to wait long, as the morbid sight of what he had done last night revealed itself before him. His stomach churned, however, he couldn¡¯t care less about that as his companion¡¯s listless body appeared within his vision. ¡°Onyx!¡± Chapter 156: Funeral Part I Ah¡­ the world is so cruel to me¡­ Out of seven children, two died at birth, three during war and one¡­ completely vanished, without a trace. Now I am left with only one who shows great promise and loyalty to me and our God¡­
Kai¡¯s coarse voice reverberated through the air, yet faint and out of strength. However, that little proved to be enough to wake Onyx, whose ears twitched, and his eyes opened with a happy yet resigned look. His tail wagged weakly, but he didn¡¯t even attempt to stand up. He knew he couldn¡¯t. Kai looked at his companion with an expression full of despair. His arms trembled as he reached out, the Obborik¡¯s wet fluff kissing the tip of his fingers, and tears gathered at the corner of his eye. ¡°Onyx¡­¡± His voice cracked upon feeling Onyx¡¯s cold, shivering body. ¡°You¡¯ll be ok¡­¡± He sniffed and looked toward the cliff. With a flick of his hand, the wand appeared in his hand, and, mustering every little bit of mana left in his core, he waved it at the wall. It caved in, creating a small hole for them to sit and hide, as well as a hole at the top for ventilation. Kneeling, he picked up Onyx¡¯s almost limp body and dragged both himself and Onx into the cave. Heavy breaths of air left his body as he set the Obborik down, then quickly walked outside and gathered a few pieces of wood. They were damp and clearly unusable for any sort of fire, however, that was all he could grab without downright chopping a tree, not that he had the strength to do so. Luckily, his ring held quite a few fire crystals he could use to start a fire, despite the less-than-acceptable wood quality. Placing the branches in a tent formation, he took out a decently sized fire crystal and shoved it underneath. Then, as he waited, he took the dirty clothes off his body and threw them on the fire, not even storing them in his ring. He couldn¡¯t, not after last night, and they were beyond saving anyway. As he waited for the fire to start, he crawled over to Onyx and did his best not to hurt him too much as he turned him over, inspecting his damaged chest. It¡¯s getting infected¡­ He thought with a grim expression on his face. Pair that with the rain and cold¡­ fuck, it¡¯s looking bad! Onyx¡­ oh what have I done? However, he knew full well that standing around and mopping about the situation would do little to help, but he couldn¡¯t help but think that it was all his fault. If only Aina were here, she¡¯d be able to treat him, she could save him¡­ Me, I¡­ what can I do? I¡¯m so¡­ fuck¡­ I¡¯m so useless! He tried to pull out some herbs from the mana ring Aina gave him, however his expression darkened upon finding out that he couldn¡¯t access it. No mana at all?! He asked himself and didn¡¯t bother to check his mana core as he quickly sat cross-legged and forced himself to absorb mana. Kai lacked any mana-rich plants to absorb their energy from, as they were all stored in his ring, however, he still had the technique he put together. Although its pros barely outweighed the cons, having some mana is better than having none. So he sat down and took a deep breath. The minutes passed as the mana from his surroundings slowly gathered toward his core through his veins. The slow process filled him with anxiety as he thought about Onyx¡¯s sorry state, and what he could do to treat him. First I need to stop the infection from spreading, and also remove it. I don¡¯t have any good tools for that so my¡­ claws will have to do. Then I need to give him the help he needs to regenerate naturally. I cannot perform any sort of surgery, not that I knew how to, so I can only hope that he is strong enough to bear through the pain and heal. For that, I will need several plants filled with life essence, similar to those that Aina used in the pills. I don¡¯t have any with that strong of a potency though, and consuming them raw will lead to problems. I need to separate the waste from the good parts and then smash them down to bits and make some sort of paste or drink. I could make a paste to cover his wound and then a medicine to drink. The best way to extract their medicinal properties for such a thing would be to boil them, that¡¯s for sure, but the ointment would be fine just for the outside wound. It¡¯s the inside I¡¯m worried about, I can¡¯t see but his lungs are probably damaged in some way. Besides him my body¡­ a broken legs and several wounds, I can deal with those. They will heal, I know they will¡­ I just want Onyx to be safe. ¡°Arf¡­¡± Onyx¡¯s soft yelps awoke Kai from his meditation, which lasted for enough time for the damp wood to crackle into flames. He sighed and checked his mana reserves. Just enough I suppose¡­ Then he pulled out everything he needed to make the medicine for Onyx, alongside a few mana plants he planned to absorb later. Besides the plants, he also pulled out a few kitchen utensils that mysteriously disappeared from Aina¡¯s kitchen shortly before he left. A quick lineup of a few objects such as a mortar and pestle, a bowling pan and a normal pan, a decently sized water container, and cutlery. She can¡¯t blame me¡­ I can¡¯t afford those, life on the run is expensive! He thought trying to make light of the situation, however, that didn¡¯t help his nerves much. Picking up a mana plant, he quickly used the technique Barhm created to absorb it. It was the same type of plant he used for experimenting, so the yield was approximately the same at about thirty percent total mana absorbed. Kai repeated the process a few times in quick succession, then, after feeling that he had enough, wasted no time to being preparation for the medicine making. To the side, Onyx¡¯s breath slowed down even more, his chest barely heaving and the pain in his eyes slowly fading as he closed them shut. Brower¡­ it hwurts¡­ His cries rang inside Kai¡¯s mind, sending a cold shiver down his spine. Biting his lower lip, he threw the boiling pan on the fire, then picked up his wand and quickly created a small water bubble which then splashed inside of it.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. As he waited for the water to boil, he quickly took a set of plants that he knew worked well without being boiled, especially as an ointment. Luvira Magica, Rainbow Seed, Flaming Leaves¡­ However, he needed to carefully separate the useful parts from the dregs, which wasn¡¯t as easy as one would initially think. The process of doing that called for control from both mana and body, as, after severing it, it was necessary to plug the newly created hole. Doing that for such a small surface without damaging the plant, however¡­ Fuck! Kai cursed inwardly as the red leaf within his hand dried up in less than a second, all of its life force escaping through the gap. I knew this wouldn¡¯t be easy but¡­ shit, but I wish I had practiced with Aina more. Luckily for him, he had enough low-level life force plants to practice with, as he picked up a good bunch while out doing tasks and training. Now, all he needed to do was to hurry up making both medicines at the same time. The water on the makeshift fireplace already began to boil, but Kai ignored it as he slowly picked out the useful parts and threw away the bad ones onto the fire. Whilst that had no positive effect, it did feed the flame a little more, so he couldn¡¯t complain. After a few minutes, he had a handful of life essence plants he could throw inside the boiling pan, which he then swiftly covered before going back to separating them. According to Aina, for a pan of that size, I need at least 500 grams of Luvira Magica and 300 grams of Flaming Leaves to create a good enough medicine. On top of that it needs to boil for at least one hour. He sighed as he repeated the same process over and over again, his failure rate slowly decreasing to almost zero as he got the hang of it. After around thirty minutes he had everything he needed, and he quickly threw them inside the pan whilst also adding more water, then covered them back up. Alright, now on to the ointment¡­ With the same precision as before, he picked up a white flower in the middle of which countless, small, and frail multi-colored seeds shone with a faint light. Of this plant, the seeds are really useful for healing, while the flower is good for mana. ¡®The stem is mostly useless if not in a salad.¡¯ He sighed, remembering the joke written in the book by its author, which took down its scientific rating by a few notches. So, he carefully inserted his finger into the plant, however, much to his dismay, all of the advanced seeds fell off and died before he could even collect them. What the¡­ Sighing, he quickly retracted his finger, with a few more filling out. In total, about thirty percent of the seeds fell down, and he wasn¡¯t able to successfully extract one. Is using mana the only solution¡­ I don¡¯t think my control is that good. He grit his teeth as he thought about it, however, knew that there wasn¡¯t any other choice. So, placing the mana plant down, a mana bubble formed around it, much like the one that appeared when he extracted mana from other plants. However, this time he didn¡¯t do so, but instead he - very gently and carefully - controlled whisks of mana to wrap around the seeds, then slowly extracted them with precision. He failed the first couple of times, of course, but the result proved to be less disastrous than if he did it manually. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have any sort of true telekinesis, like the old man that crafted his wand. The only way he had to do this was by creating a mana bubble, which proved to be quite taxing to maintain, on top of having to use an extreme amount of control to pull out the seeds. However, he managed to extract about fifty percent of the seeds without damaging them, which he then gently placed into the pestle and mortar before beginning the process again. As time passed, a faint medicinal fragrance escaped the boiling pan. Kai took a whiff of it, and quickly finished extracting the last of the seeds within the flower, then threw it into the pastel and mortar, which now had a good amount of rainbow-colored seeds. Putting them to the side, he took off the lid and allowed a large amount of steam to float out, revealing a green, boiling liquid. Within it, shriveled-up plants floated on the surface, which Kai took out and threw away with a spoon. Then he placed it on the cold ground, letting it cool off as he turned his attention back to the seeds. Picking up the pastel, and adding a bit of the medicinal water within the mortar, he carefully began smashing the seeds. After about ten minutes of constant grinding, they turned into a fine, darkish-colored paste. He grabbed it along with the boiling pan and scooted over to Onyx. The sore pain in his muscles, broken leg, and wounds proved ineffective at stopping him from doing whatever he could to save his companion. Shaking him awake, he helped him get up and lean against the wall as he brought the pan of medicine to his nose. Onyx took a whiff of it, and grimaced, but began slowly drinking it. ¡°I know it¡¯s bitter, but you need to drink all of it, alright? I¡¯ll make another batch after.¡± The Obborik didn¡¯t say anything in response to Kai¡¯s words, however, he drank the concoction even faster. Within minutes, he finished a large amount of medicine and some light seemed to have returned to his beady eyes. However, it clearly wasn¡¯t enough as he still had a hard time breathing. Kai gently lay him on the ground and took a closer look at his festering wound. Cringing upon seeing it get even worse, and noticing some dead skin beginning to rot, he gulped. Decisively, he released his sharp claws and approached the Obborik¡¯s wound. Onyx flinched slightly, however, he didn¡¯t protest his companion¡¯s actions. The boy¡¯s claw brushed against Onyx¡¯s skin, shaving off the dead skin the best he could. However, not being used to using his claws in such a refined manner, and lacking any sort of surgical skills proved to be a big problem. ¡°Awro!¡± Onyx cried out as Kai touched his skin, and some blood dripped out of the fresh wound. His heart dropped, and he quickly pulled away his hand. ¡°Shh, I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s going to be okay, alright?¡± He said softly, patting Onyx¡¯s soft fur and calming him down. The Obborik licked his snout and lay his head down, then he closed his eyes and did his best to relax his body. Alright¡­ Kai thought and re-began the process of cutting off the dead skin. This time he worked to be more careful, and he heaved a sigh of relief after a couple of minutes. Wiping off the sweat that gathered on his forehead, he quickly took the cool ointment and carefully rubbed it on Onyx¡¯s skin. His blazing skin trembled slightly upon contact with the cream, but he didn¡¯t protest and simply endured it. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Kai groaned as he finished, leaning back and staring at the slightly dark ceiling. ¡°You stay put now, alright. I¡¯ll prepare more medicine for you.¡± He said and noticed the dwindling of the crackling fire. Taking a look outside, he quickly searched for branches and twigs nearby, then dropped them on the fire crystal and rekindled the fire. He then hurried and separated another two sets of medicinal plants for two more medicines, then threw one inside the boiling pan which he once again filled with water. Just as he got a good amount of focus though, his concentration got disturbed by a low, pained cry from Onyx. He dropped whatever he was doing and hurried on over to his companion¡¯s side, however he couldn¡¯t see anything immediately wrong. Touching his fur, he noticed his body began to heat up like boiling water, and his heart instantly dropped. Onyx! Chapter 157: Funeral Part II I do wonder sometimes, what had become of him, of Lhaarus. He was my strongest and fiercest son, the one I had raised with great pleasure. Yet, when I thought he had grasped what it meant to serve God, he revolted and ran away without looking back. What a heavy life¡­
As he waited for the medicine to be done, he grabbed a handful of mana plants and began slowly, one by one, extracting their mana and absorbing it within his nearly dried core. Onyx¡¯s condition should be stabilizing now¡­ He thought with a hopeful heart, anxiety still pricking at his brain, making him restless. Please, get better¡­ Kai glanced at the Onyx, whose soft breathing became more stable than before. After he finished extracting the last of the plants, his core had recovered to about thirty percent of its full capacity, and the star remained as dry as before. With a weave of his wand, he raised the ground next to the campfire and created a small hole underneath, whereupon he threw another fire crystal and some sood, creating a fire. Afterward, he grabbed some leaves, as large as he could find, and threw them on the newly raised bit of earth, letting them dry. The medicine came to a boil soon after, and he quickly took it off the fire and threw away the dregs, letting it cool down. Kai took out a decently sized piece of raw meat as well and seasoned it the best he could with the little he had, then wrapped it on the now-dried leaves and let it cook in its own fat. He also made the opening of the cave smaller, just enough for a bit of light to seep through, then undressed. Taking some of the leftover ointment, he rubbed it on his wounds, namely the ones on his side and thigh, then checked his leg. It had bled, but not a lot and the bones seemed to be more or less fine, except for a small fracture on his ankle, which quickly inflated. He sighed, knowing there was little he could do, but put some ointment on it as well then wrapped it with a clean cloth. Then he picked up the medicine and scurried toward Onyx, shaking him awake and allowing him to drink the moderately hot liquid. Any more than this won¡¯t be any good¡­ He sighed and helped Onyx back to sleep after he finished the entire thing. Good boy, rest now. Afterward, he placed another set of medicine to boil and quickly drank it as soon as it finished. Its bitter taste almost made him puke, however, he forcefully downed it and wiped his mouth clean. Its warmth spread all throughout his body and a wave of life force rushed through him, making his cheeks flush red. However, the immediate effects could not be denied as his body instantly began to relax, and he soon fell into a deep sleep as his eyelids closed shut. ¡­ Kai awoke, drenched in sweat and a rumbling belly as the fire before him had almost completely burned out. The meat wrapped within the leaves let out a sizzling sound accompanied by a delightful flavor as he opened them up. Onyx¡¯s nose twitched and he almost instantly got up from his slumber, dragging his body close to the fire and placing his head upon Kai¡¯s thigh. The boy stroked his soft fur and giggled lightly to himself. Hungry Onyx¡¯s thought echoed in his mind, and, despite his shock at the matter that they could somewhat communicate, he began to accept it as a matter of fact. Soon, we eat. Onyx nodded at Kai¡¯s words and gently licked his snout, waiting for the boy to give him his share. Kai didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and quickly took up a knife, then cut the meat into a few even slices before letting it cool down on another, newly raised piece of earth. Onyx barely held back his drool from drenching Kai¡¯s leg, and he hesitated to leap at the food before he got the approval. Stay put, you¡¯ll hurt yourself even more. Kai warned the Obborik, and he only let out a yelp in response but patiently did as instructed. He didn¡¯t have to wait long, though, as the meat got to an acceptable temperature to eat, and Kai grabbed 2 parts of it and gave the rest to Onyx. The Obborik immediately devoured them, barely chewing as he swallowed without hesitation. Kai wanted to do the same but stopped himself and took large enough bites that he wouldn¡¯t choke. More! Kai sighed upon hearing that and took out yet another piece of meat which he then began wrapping in leaves for it to cook. Like this, good! Onyx cried out inside his mind, and, thinking that the two pieces were enough for him anyway, threw the raw meat to the Obborik. Onyx grabbed it with his paws and began ripping pieces away before chewing and swallowing them. Well, at least you like it good enough like that. Kai thought, unsure if Onyx heard what he said or if it was all in his mind for the moment. Either way, he couldn¡¯t quite control when the two could communicate and when they could not. I¡¯d have to look into it¡­ but Hydeoshi said that there are few Beast Masters alive these days¡­ He then looked into the distance with a longing expression. The academy¡­ However, such a thing remained out of reach still, as he said he would join when he had fifteen years. Still such a long while, but it gives me time. He pulled out a map and stretched it before him, and on it popped a few light points. So I guess this is what she meant for ¡®like a video game¡¯ or whatever she said. It¡¯s a clear mark of where I need to go to collect my stray soul pieces. The closest one is in Lustra, some are in the forest, and some are to the west. But how am I ever going to get them¡­ not like there¡¯s a precise location or anything. He thought about it for some time, but no real answer came over to him. As he finished his meal, he put away the map and everything else aside from the boiling pan and some medicinal plants with which he would make another medicine to feed Onyx. The process didn¡¯t take long, and the Obborik retreated a few notches away to savor his meat.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Kai shook his head silently and cleaned up everything else, then stored them in his ring. The only thing left standing was the crackling fire, which he fed some more pieces of wood to. Then, he leaned back on the cave wall and stared at the burning wood, finally able to take a break from life-threatening calamities. With a slow sigh, he pulled out a blanket and covered himself, and then his eyes fell shut and drifted into the lands of dreams. ¡­ There was a dark forest in his dream, stretching as far as the eye could see. The leaves decorating the trees were black and gray, with a few white ones sprinkled in between. In that forest, a path made out of pebbles and dirt led the way toward a large statue. Its surface shone with a dark color, darker than the night and the forest, and its eyes bore the color of a pale, violet gem. A figure appeared opposite it, right at the beginning of the road. His white hair fluttered in the wind as he walked, a confused, fearful expression decorating his pale face. With slow footsteps and a steady rhythm, he advanced with caution, curiously scanning the environment. That person, of course, was Kai, deeply aware that he was in a dream. Even with that knowledge, hesitation and dread crept up his spine, as the head of the giant statue peered to look at him. It had the head of a dragon, an unbelievably large one, with sharp sets of teeth capable of tearing through everything and anything. Its violet eyes shone upon Kai like a scorching sun, sending a powerful pressure that made him shiver. Where the hell am I? He asked himself, with no one to answer him, and he took the only viable path he had. Marching forward, he took a second to fully take in the giant size of the statue. It towered over him much like a church or cathedral would a normal person, its presence alone making him feel like dropping to his knees. Thankfully, the feeling was faint, and not strong enough for him to do as it will. However, as he approached, it grew stronger and more intense, seemingly ringing in his ears like a waterfall. For a moment, he pondered stopping, he wanted to wake up and check up on Onyx. His curiosity had other plans, though, and so he kept advancing until he found himself at the base of the statue. He didn¡¯t kneel or worship, but simply looked at it, and felt a weird, familiar kinship. Though he couldn¡¯t say he¡¯d ever met a dragon. As he looked up at it, a trance seemed to take over his body, and, without thinking, he reached to touch it. A cold, ghastly feeling crept up his arm, and he suddenly found himself in a land he knew nothing of. What¡­ He thought, his eyes widening at the war-stricken battlefield he landed in the middle of. However, before he could even react, a volley of arrows rained down from the sky toward his general position. With quick reflexes, he moved his thumb toward his index finger, but a horrified expression plastered his face as he realized that his rings vanished. And the hand, the arm, clothes, and everything else of his current being wasn¡¯t his own. Before he had time to take it all in, though, a large, transparent barrier rose before him. The arrows shot into it, but it barely budged or shuddered. Suddenly, the thudding galloping of horses echoed in his ears, and he snapped to look back, only to meet with a large, majestic figure. The horse¡¯s height made it so he had to look up, however, he had to bend his neck even more to be able to see the man towering above him. He wore a set of prestigious silver armor, scratched and tattered by the countless fights it had been through. Patched covered some of its leather bindings, and yet, it stood proud. The same could be said for its owner - a man who looked to be about fifty years old, with a large head of white hair and piercing crimson eyes that sent a shiver down Kai¡¯s spine.- He had a sharp jawline with a square, shaved face, and a big nose. The man looked ordinary from some points of view, safe for his hair, eyes, and the crown on top of his head. His face and arms were wounded by the turmoil of war, yet he stood proud on his horse with a large, staff-like wand in his right hand and a sword by his waist. Waving it, the barrier that protected him and the rest of his army disappeared, and another took its place. This one, however, shot toward the enemy lines like a wave, destroying everything and anything in its path. Screams of panic and terror reverberated in the air, however, the man watched the scene calmly, as if he was just a spectator. Soon, he noticed Kai staring up at him, and a confident smile plastered his face as he willed a sword from the enemy into his hand. Then, he lowered himself and handed it to Kai, and said with a deep, pleasant voice. ¡°Pick up the sword, kid, the true war has begun.¡± ¡­ ¡°Hah¡­!¡± Kai gasped as he awoke, startling Onyx, who napped peacefully beside him. Cold sweat dripped down his neck, and he found his entire body trembling from head to toe for no apparent reason. The fire had long since gone out, with the only source of heat still present being the fire crystal. Kai quickly reached with relief toward his spatial ring and quickly threw whatever pieces of wood he had stored, then snuggled up to Onyx, sharing the heat. How are you feeling? He thought, trying to communicate with the Obborik, however, there was no reply or physical acknowledgment. Didn¡¯t work, huh¡­ Disappointed, Kai voiced the question, and Onyx replied with a soft bark and a wagging tail. Clearly, the medicine had a positive effect on him. That, paired with the meat and good rest, must have healed his most serious injuries. I¡¯m so jealous, he¡¯s really resilient. A blow like that would have killed me instantly. After giving him a visual checkup, he let out a low sigh of relief. Then, he closed his eyes, remembering the figments of his passing dream. ¡°The true war has begun,¡± Kai murmured to himself the last words the impressive figure told him, however, he couldn¡¯t quite grasp their meaning. Was I on a battlefield, that must be so, but who was that man? However, after calming down and gathering his bearings, he realized that he couldn¡¯t figure it out at all. The only thing that imprinted on him was the familiar feeling of that statue¡¯s aura, its powerful, looming, and towering presence, and some sort of warmth he couldn¡¯t grasp. Yet his silence was disturbed by a set of passing footsteps, and he quickly rushed over to the opening he left for some light to peer through. Voices of both men and women echoed through the forest, alongside shocked gasps of horror and some gagging. Accompanying those, the sound of rattling armor became more and more prevalent the closer they got. Kai¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon seeing them wearing the uniform of what reminded him of the city guards, yet were different in a sense. Their armor had more flairKai stealthily pulled his wand out, yet he didn¡¯t dare cast a spell or attack. He watched and waited, his ears perking up against the wall. ¡°Raymond said we need to find him.¡± One of the men said as he picked up the carcass of the small green gobelin. ¡°No doubt he did that to those things¡­¡± He continued with a disgusted voice. Raymond¡­ wants me? ¡°What are they anyway?¡± A woman asked, staring at what remained of the gobelin. ¡°Never seen them around.¡± ¡°Lumiera knows,¡± a voice replied. ¡°Let¡¯s just get out of here, there¡¯s no way he lingered.¡± The group of a dozen or so guards agreed and turned around to leave. However, just as they did, one of them, whose senses proved to be keener than the rest caught the hole Kai left in the wall with the corner of their eye. ¡°What¡¯s that, over there?¡± They said, pointing their finger and cautiously drawing their sword. Chapter 158: Choice When he was first born, Lharus didn¡¯t cry or fight. No, he was simply born into this world, calm, just like he always remained to be. We thought he was sick, at first, but the doctors said there was nothing wrong. He was gifted, that boy, with intelligence and wit, and in the arts of magic, too.
Kai¡¯s heart raced as the footsteps drew closer and closer to his position. He waved his hand and covered the fire crystal, then ushered Onyx to move to the side, as far away from the hole as possible. Then he glued himself against the wall and got as small as possible before. A cold drop of sweat dripped down his forehead, and his breathing almost stalled as the guard¡¯s rattling armor echoed in his ears. Crap, crap, go away¡­ He cried, almost pleading or willing them to do as he thought. However, things weren¡¯t so easy, as he found out. The guard who spotted his hiding place walked first in line, followed in an arrow formation by the rest. Each of them with their swords drawn. With careful steps, they advanced toward the makeshift cave, and the frontmost guard stood a meter or so away from it. They didn¡¯t dare peek through the hole and remained cautious as they approached inch by inch. The entire forest quieted down as they listened for any sign of life from within. However, both Kai and Onyx did their best to remain quiet and only inhaled when extremely necessary. Luckily for them, and the guard¡¯s sharp, yet not keen enough senses, they weren¡¯t discovered from that alone. The guard then walked up and knocked on the wall Kai raised, then frowned as they tapped it up and down. ¡°It¡¯s made of magic.¡± They proclaimed, making the others¡¯s guard rise. ¡°Someone is definitely inside, it smells of freshly put-out fire and food. Plus the hole is too tiny for anyone to leave through.¡± ¡°M-Maybe he closed it up after leaving?¡± One soldier, whose boots were shaking fiercely, said. ¡°Let¡¯s look elsewhere.¡± ¡°Shut it, Herman.¡± The front-most guard said with an angry bark. ¡°I trust my nose and my brain more than I trust your cowardly tail.¡± The man instantly went quiet after being insulted and took a small step backward. Too focused on the cave, the other guards didn¡¯t notice his slight gesture, and he watched them approach the wall with silent footsteps. ¡°He¡¯s still a vampire, we could-¡± A woman said, her voice shaky. ¡°Cut the crap, Raymond said he¡¯s weak as a twig.¡± ¡°But what if he¡¯s not? I mean, that inquisitor¡­¡± ¡°She was only an Initiated, not a true Inquisitor, she probably lost track of him.¡± ¡°But still¡­¡± ¡°Will you just-¡± However, just as they got close, a blinding light followed by the sound of collapsing earth threw them into confusion. By the time their vision returned to normal, the cave¡¯s walls disappeared, and so did Kai and Onyx. ¡°Fuck, imbeciles!¡± The guard cursed, taking a quick whiff of the air. They frowned, though, and began running in a general direction, following the muffled sound of cracked branches. The others followed suit, some more willing than others, and tracked the dense forest dressed in full armor. ¡­ Kai¡¯s figure dashed through the forest, alongside Onyx, giving no heed to any sort of vegetation, large or small. They just ran as far as the eye could see, the light of the full moon kissing their skin through the scattered canopy. His face wore a pale pink color, and his ragged breathing dragged down his ability to recover. However, he couldn¡¯t calm himself down properly as he reveled in the sensation of having escaped a very difficult situation. Fucking Raymond, fuck, I- However, he had no time to think further about it as the forest ended, and he found himself running into an open field. He didn¡¯t dare stop, though, and simply bore through the fear of being discovered. Onyx also became smaller, but his white fur stood out in the hill of dark grass. Luckily, their speed made them unrecognizable, even from close up, and there wasn¡¯t any sort of road that travelers would pass through. After running for enough time that the forest became a small green fog over the horizon, they finally stopped under the crown of a lone tree. Both panted heavily, and Kai quickly pulled out a container and poured water into it. He downed it all in one gulp, then passed it over to Onyx after refilling it. There¡¯s no way they followed us, no way. They¡¯re just huma- Yet, as that thought came to mind, he recalled the Inquisitor, who was also just a human, yet he almost died by her hands, or worse. And they said that she was only an Initiate¡­ perhaps this would have been her mission to join the ranks of true Inquisitors? Only an Initiate, yet so strong¡­ I- A strong puking sensation climbed up his throat, and he didn¡¯t contain it. He leaned on his knees as he threw up most of the contents in his stomach, including green and red pieces of meat, as well as blood. Kai staggered backward at the sight, then fell as he leaned on the tree, staring at the pieces of meat he had just thrown up. Gobelin¡¯s¡­ Images of that night once again flashed in his mind, and he almost had the desire to throw up. And he would have if he didn¡¯t already. His mouth stood slightly agape but quickly closed as he brought his knees against his chest, hugging them. Onyx finished drinking the water, and his ears twitched as heard a couple of soft sobbing sounds. Looking at Kai, he noticed his shoulder shook slightly, and he hugged his feet, laying next to the boy. Eventually, Kai, in his exhaustion, fell asleep once again, a peaceful yet complicated expression decorating his face. ¡­ A white void stretched before him once again, and he found himself as nothing more than a floating figure in the endless space all around. This is¡­ He took a step back, and carefully looked around, almost unable to believe his eyes. There is no way¡­ Just like before, he walked and looked around. However, this time it wasn¡¯t with the naivety of a child, but with the caution of a fighter and previous experience. Isn¡¯t this where Rodney¡¯s memories were¡­ I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m here again. A long time passed since Kai stepped foot in this place, and he had almost forgotten about it, were it not for Rodney¡¯s memories and the weird influence they had over him at times. As he walked, bubbles and mini spaces protected from the outside world appeared around him. Similar to before, images of people and animals, each very different and distinct from each other, and in different environments, appeared within.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. He didn¡¯t need to ask what they were, as he already knew. Their last moments before death¡­ Sighing, he looked at every one of them, at least the ones he passed by, with great pity and pain. He watched even as their last moment truly came when they died. Crushed by a rock, cut by a sword, eaten by an animal, murdered by a friend. These moments repeated over and over again, then the images replayed, and the cycle restarted. How cruel¡­ However, he couldn¡¯t satisfy his curiosity, and his desire to enter one of the bubbles he thought would be useful to him peaked. After all, Rodney¡¯s memories proved invaluable in aiding him to get stronger, and he had the selfish hope of finding someone else who could be just as useful. Ugh. That thought sent a shiver down his metaphorical spine, however at the moment he truly felt like he had no other choice but to get all the help he could. Too bad I can¡¯t just enter this place whenever I want¡­ that¡¯s annoying. Yet, he went on walking, passing by military men, medieval soldiers, children, mothers, religious fanatics, and countless other types of people one would find hard to list. He didn¡¯t have the heart to watch their death, though, and quickly passed them. No figure popped up as interesting or worth assimilating into his brain, so far, at least. He walked and walked, passing hundreds of people, some of which he didn¡¯t even know the origin of, and he could only stare in awe at the amount of memories he had stored somewhere in his mind. If all of those invaded my brain I would have been¡­ worse than a vegetable. Gulping, he keenly noticed that the number of people appearing lessened. Finally, he stopped. A single man standing in front of him. His black hair was cut short, his tanned face was full of cuts, and his body with bruised and wounded. He breathed heavily, and with each exhale, blood spurted out of the cuts decorating his flesh. A large, long silver sword clutched his hands, and his brown eyes glared at an enemy Kai could barely make out. His sword slashed upward, a strong pressure exuding out of it despite there being no magic or mana. The strength of the attack sent a large gust of wind blowing everywhere, and a faint grunt escaped someone¡¯s body. A foggy, green figure with purple eyes materialized before the man, causing Kai¡¯s pupils to widen. There¡¯s no way that¡¯s a magical being¡­ the memory is incomplete most likely. He quickly rationalized and watched the man¡¯s next moves with anticipation. After the upward slash, he groaned loudly and swung the heavy blade horizontally, swiping at the foggy figure¡¯s midsection. However, it dodged out of the way and then used an attack Kai couldn¡¯t discern, which made the man take a step backward. With a furious expression, he advanced and raised his sword, then sent it downward at the figure. However, by the time the blade made contact with the ground, a swift cut pierced the man¡¯s chest, and his eyes rolled backward as he fell with a fountain of blood spurting from his chest. Then, the scene froze and an eerie quietness once again echoed in Kai¡¯s ears. He stood there, waiting for it to start again. Watching it over and over again, his eyes sparkled upon watching the man¡¯s swordsmanship closer and closer. Back then, as a human, he had never seen real swordsmanship before or even mocked one. To see a human with no magic use their body fighting against a threat¡­ Exuding such an oppressive aura that it sent shivers down his spine through the bubble¡­ Kai wanted to achieve something like that. A spark of desire awoke within his heart, and, without hesitation, he touched the bubble. It shattered and broke into multiple fragments right before his very eyes, which then shot toward his illusory body with a bright flash of light. ¡­ ¡°Hah!¡± Kai awoke with a gasp, instantly clutching his head and startling Onyx. A skull-splitting headache made him pant and grunt in pain, which then turned into a yell as memories flooded his mind. Just like before with Rodney¡¯s, these memories weren¡¯t his own, yet a lifetime worth of information flashed before him. Ivan, a man down on his luck who lived as a lumberjack from the age of seven, when his parents died, up until the age of fifteen, when his master died. He tried to take over the business but he hadn¡¯t enough experience or wit, so the competition quickly shoved him out of the market. With no other skills other than wielding an axe, he sought work as a mercenary. His missions were mostly uneventful, as not much banditry happened in the region. That was, until two years later, when his axe finally met the flesh of man, and he claimed his first life. The victim wanted to rob the caravan he protected, and the young Ivan was afraid of the large sword the man wielded. When he saw him approach, it was too late, as the axe had flown out of his hand almost involuntarily, and split the man¡¯s skull open. It was a grotesque sight. Afterward, though he was rewarded, he never took any mission again and decided to use his lumberjack skills, to earn a living. The little he had anyway. He couldn¡¯t open or sustain a business in the area, so he left for the next city. On the way, he met a young man, whose presence both shocked and intrigued him. He wore weird clothes, only slightly ragged and dirty, and his accent was from somewhere so far away Ivan couldn¡¯t even describe it. The man rode on a horse from a strange breed. Its mane was large, black, and furry, almost like it was always ready for winter. Its height was no joke either, as even Ivan, tall as he was, felt intimidated. He led the man back to the city and helped him get accommodations and food. Ivan also saw that the horse got a good amount of grooming, then he left once again. However, before he could get far, the man called for him and offered him work. As thanks for his help, he gave Ivan a bag of zlots and a contract. It was for a hired warrior, and the man promised him great adventures and experiences. Of course, Ivan felt that being a hired warrior for a man he just met was sort of stupid, but at 17, anyone could be stupid. He accepted the deal after much persuasion, and traveled with the man¡­ After years and years of working together, Ivan found out that the man was an abolished Lord from a country long lost by war, and the funds he had were from treasures he sold and old friends. In truth, the man had nothing to his name, and after a short period of extravagant living, he ended up poor. But Ivan stuck by him, if not for his money then for his character as a man. Despite his pompous lifestyle, the young Lord had quite a keen skill in the art of the swords, and he detested Invans¡¯s axe. As a consequence, he gave him the sword his father gave the man and taught him all he knew. Ivan was a fast learner, and in less time than it takes a dog to mature and die, he learned the swordsmanship and even added his own flair to it. Ivan came to love the way of the sword, and with time agreed that his old axe ways of fighting were crude and barbarian. As time went on, Ivan felt like he found a purpose - To be the best swordsman he could be. The Lord, impressed by Ivan¡¯s talent and determination, told him of an old tale. A man, a swordsman with the rank of master, who lived deep in a set of mountains whose names were hard to pronounce. Without anything better to do, the two-headed that way and made a name for themselves after visiting so many cities and helping the locals. By the time they reached the place they headed off to, some strands of white began decorating both of their heads. Just as the legend said, a swordsman lived deep in the woods, on a mountain, in a cabin made out of wood and clay. A man slowly walked out of the cabin. Short, with a head full of white hair and a shriveling body. He turned the two away, but they didn¡¯t give up, and even hunted and brought various foods for the man. Inevitably, he decided to accept them into his humble home, and they slept on the floor for a good amount of the time they lived together. He taught Ivan the arts of swordsmanship, while the Lord scribbled away in a notebook. Seven years later, after he had passed on all of his knowledge, the man died. And after that¡­ Kai sighed as he scrambled to locate the rest of the story, but nothing else appeared in his mind besides the last fight he saw within the bubble. But this is already a lot. He thought with a smile and stood up. The headache began to fade away, and in its place stood an unbrimmed sense of confidence. He took out his silver sword and clutched it with both hands and then he¡­. slashed! Chapter 159: Focus on the present In the first five years of his life, he learned to speak and read our language, in the next five he mastered it. Besides that, his writing became impeccable and he took on the school of magic. He only had two elements, Light and Dark, but little did I know these two would make him a truly extraordinary man.
The extraordinary, confidence-filled slash split the air in two as the sword descended downward. A strong gust of wind made his hair fly wildly about, however, a confused expression plastered his face. ¡°Uhm¡­¡± he grunted, and slashed again, then again. Yet, no matter how much he tried to do so the sword just¡­ didn¡¯t seem to work as he expected it to. But this is the same thing as Ivan¡¯s memories, what the hell? With Rodney, I was able to just¡­ apply them. He sighed and sat back down, petting Onyx¡¯s fluffy head, and looked up toward the moon. ¡°How much time has passed?¡­¡± Kai¡¯s soft voice fell into the Obborik¡¯s twitching ears, and he only gave a short puff in response. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right¡­ we should meet up with them soon.¡± He said, albeit hesitant and worried about how much they now knew. I will try to test the water and run if it comes to it. Kai looked into the distance, at the city that looked small and insignificant from so far away. His gaze blurred as memories flashed by in his mind. Despite spending less than one year there, the acquaintances and friends he made, he would never forget. Too bad I didn¡¯t have time to say goodbye. Filled with regret, the last moments he saw Karfi and Natasha flashed in his vision. How did she figure it out¡­ thankfully she warned me in advance otherwise I would¡­ And again, the image of the Inquisitor that chased him for so long and almost killed him, the same one that ended up in a pool of her own blood with a missing limb and a shattered spirit. Thinking of what he did to her, Kai felt¡­ liberated. The disgust or dread he expected never truly arrived, and neither did the little feeling of disgust he had stayed for long. He too, wanted to live. Even if it meant¡­ doing that. I must live. With that thought, he leaned against the tree and stared into the forest. That same place that resembled a shackling prison for the entire duration he had fought for his life now looked small and insignificant like a drifting leaf. Despite that, he looked at it with a sense of lodging. Its green crown began to change to a rusted yellow, something Kai didn¡¯t notice until after he left it. Lights from the town changed locations, as some people went to sleep and some people just awoke. He imagined Karfi opening up the bar, and Natasha sipping from her drink as the poor man ran around like a slave trying to serve all the alcoholics that came to love his little location. Tausi sat down somewhere nearby, surrounded by drunks but minding none of them as she studied her letters. He imagined himself watching from the yet-to-be-cleaned windows, and his reflection - a scrawny boy with a fox mask - staring back at him. It quickly faded, though, and the mask fell and cracked, and alongside it, so did Kai. ¡­ He swung his sword, letting out focused grunts with each slash. His form looked similar to the man¡¯s, to Ivan¡¯s, but he lacked the power, presence, or technique behind it. No matter how much or for how long he copied the movements, they lacked essence. Kai cursed under his breath and looked at the rising sun, its soft rays kissing his pale skin as a greeting. It didn¡¯t hurt anymore, not as much as it would any normal person. Kai felt welcomed and embraced, like a parent kissing and hugging their child before sending them off to school. With a deep breath, he placed the sword in his ring and walked toward the city. His cloak fluttered with the morning breeze, and he closed it tighter around his body. Onyx kept his small size as they neared, and Kai took his softly melted old mask, then placed it on his face. He then pulled up the hood, hiding his hair. The duo didn¡¯t enter the town, definitely not after being on the most wanted list right now, but took a small detour toward the main road. In his hurry, he barely noticed a figure with the corner of his eye, one that he was much too familiar with. The guard that did the night shift sat squatted, collecting some mushrooms, and their eyes locked for a split second. Kai sensed the panic in the man¡¯s gaze, on top of his trembling limbs. He recognized Kai and saw within him not a boy who used to only go out at night, but a monster who would drink the blood of innocents. The boy didn¡¯t pay him much mind and turned to leave with a soft pain in his chest. However, as he took that first step, that old guard¡¯s voice rang in his ears. ¡°You¡­ you never meant harm, did you?¡± His shaky voice said as much about his feelings toward Kai as stabbing him in the chest did. Yet, he gathered up the courage to ask, even when the fear for his life reached its peak. ¡°No,¡± Kai replied simply, his back still turned, then disappeared within the thick vegetation, leaving the man alone, stunned, yet relieved. His figure kept dashing through the thick forest until he finally arrived somewhere on the main road. He stopped and sat down behind a tree, hidden by bushes and leaves. That place was where he met Yasa last time around, and where they agreed to meet in two weeks¡¯ time. I¡¯m not sure how much time passed but it should be soon, at least. He did his best to hide his presence. Then, he looked through Ivan¡¯s memories and tried to recall the basic sword training he had received from the was-Lord. However, that proved more difficult than he anticipated, even though the techniques seemed to be simple. Not to mention there wasn¡¯t an ounce of magic imbued within them. They were simple physical swings that would barely dent the hide of any magical beast.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. However Kai found himself in awe as he recalled the sheer presence the man had using them, and how it felt like a single swing could take over an entire army. That was, of course, until he died from the unknown assailant, with regret and pain in his heart. I hope you found a better life, at another time. Kai thought in prayer and sat down cross-legged. Replaying the swings over and over again in his head became the only way he had of learning them, however, he felt that there must be a better way. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out a sword and started imitating the way Ivan moved. Just like before, though, there wasn¡¯t much progress. His eyes soon flew open, though, as a pair of footsteps approached his location. With twitching ears, he retracted his presence and listened carefully. One¡­ two¡­ three. Could be Yasa¡¯s group. However, he didn¡¯t peek but instead hid even deeper into the bush. Hesitant¡­ He discerned from the way their feet moved, that such an estimation could not be easily trusted. I don¡¯t think any of Yasa¡¯s people would be hesitant, unless¡­ Kai gulped, a pit forming in his stomach at the idea of the group knowing his real identity. If they knew, then what were the odds they would trust him enough to journey together? The odds of them selling him out were greater than that. He shook his head and quietly tried to get away, then flee. Yet, in that same moment that he set his heart on leaving, a sharp, imperative voice yelled out from behind him. ¡°Stop right there.¡± And he stopped, not of his own will, but because of a strange, powerful magic gripping at his legs. Looking back with constricted pupils, he saw Yasa, the large man, and Lutha. The latter waved his fingers weirdly about, and thin, purple threads stretched from his hand toward Kai. With a flick of his sleeve, Kai flew toward them before he could even process what happened. Yasa¡¯s hand flew to his face, ripping off the mask and unveiling the hood at the same time. ¡°I knew there was something weird about you.¡± She said with a hint of disdain. ¡°Only going out at night and sleeping all day. Damned thing, I ought to report you to the City Lord and sell you for petty coin.¡± Hearing her words, Kai¡¯s body shook and he didn¡¯t dare raise his gaze toward her. Onyx tried to let out a bark, but Lutha once again waved his hand and the Obborik was rendered immobile too. He wore a deadpan expression on his face, not really caring about their life but not wanting to end it either. On the other hand, the burly man looked at Kai with disgust, and his muscles spasmed with rage. Yasa, in contrast, was much calmer. She didn¡¯t have an angry or murderous expression, but neither was it void of emotion. ¡°And I should have, would have.¡± She continued with a bitter voice. ¡°But Natasha convinced me otherwise. We agreed to accompany you to Lustra, and that we will do. Our word is our bond. Past Lustra, though, you¡¯re on your own.¡± With that said, she waved her hand and Lutha undid the spell binding him and Onyx, but neither moved nor said a word. ¡°If you¡¯re wondering how I found out, it wasn¡¯t hard to. Especially not with the entire nearby Inquisitor¡¯s force scouring the forest and house for you.¡± ¡°On top of that they¡¯re still looking for you, flipping every rock they can. The risk we¡¯re taking is substantial, and therefore-¡± She stopped speaking and silence fell as her ears twitched lightly. Throwing the mask to Kai, she signaled for the group to move, then glared at the boy. He followed as well, albeit slightly behind, occasionally glancing at the large man who seemed ready to kill him in one blow. ¡°Therefore we have a few conditions. You will not camp with us, you will only speak to us if absolutely necessary. You will find your own food and you will not prey on anyone or anything other than plants or animals. Do you understand, vampire?¡± Kai nodded, his heart hurting from hearing that word. You¡¯d think I¡¯d get used to it being used in such a derogatory way¡­ He winced and accepted the terms with a soft sigh. Well, it¡¯s not that bad¡­ though- Once again looking at the large man, he gulped. It¡¯s definitely for the better. Their walk proved to be silent, only occasionally accompanied by the weird critter scurrying away and the bird¡¯s flapping wings as they flew away. Kai¡¯s weak footsteps stood in stark comparison to the large man¡¯s, who occasionally turned to glare at Kai. Upfront, Yasa¡¯s eyes glowed softly, and she soon took a sharp right, deviating from the main road. Kai¡¯s journey through forests proved to be useful for following the group, which proved to be just as if not more efficient than him. Especially Yasa, whose path looked as smooth as flat ground. And so, they walked in silence for as long as the moon hung in the sky, and for as long as the sun watched over the land. They didn¡¯t stop to drink or eat but only walked until the town was nothing more than a faint memory of lights. Finally, Yasa¡¯s hand rose, and the group stopped abruptly. Kai almost bumped into the large man in his zombie-like state of following the group. Luckily, he stopped last second and quickly backed away. ¡°I think they stopped following us.¡± She said and Lutha¡¯s hands joined together. Small, multi-colored particles gathered toward his ring finger, forming into a transparent crystal attached to an empty silver bague. Follow? Kai asked himself but didn¡¯t dare inquire out loud in fear of bringing further scorn toward himself. ¡°Alright then, we can set up camp here.¡± She continued, paying as much attention to Kai as one would a beggar, only shooting him a warning glare. Backing off a good 15 meters away, he sat under a tree with Onyx. With a wave of his wand, he rose a small circular wall of earth, within which he placed several pieces of wood, and lit it up with a faint fireball. The wood immediately started to crack as it burned. Kai sighed, his stomach rumbled, and he quickly took out two skewers and two large pieces of meat which he then began slow cooking over the fire. Onyx coiled up behind him, offering both support and warmth, all the while licking his snout and drooling on the ground. Kai¡¯s ears twitched as he leaned over, trying to listen in to whatever the other group talked about. Unfortunately, the distance and the burning flames made it almost impossible for him to hear more than ineligible murmurs. He took a deep breath and focused on cooking the meat, a content feeling that didn¡¯t belong to him rising up within his chest. This feeling didn¡¯t care about the past or the future, and little more than the current moment mattered to it. Right now, all it could think about was the sizzling meat, the warmth of his companion, and the peace the two together created. Indeed, let¡¯s focus on the present. Chapter 160: Blood Flowing Stalk With only two sons left, I thought my future looked bleak. However I couldn¡¯t be more wrong, as they turned out to be the best thing that this world has gifted me.
An unbridled flame crackled under the crown of a lavishly green tree. Its smoke rose up in the sky, past the leaves and clouds, drifting away with the night¡¯s icy wind. Streaks of moonlight slittered through the canopies, barely illuminating the shadow-obscured forest. A big piece of meat sizzled over the open flame, its fat dripping down on the charred wood. Around the small campfire sat a boy, whose red eyes stared motionlessly at the campfire, and a white wolf-like canine with yellow eyes. Neither said a word or made a fuss, but they enjoyed each other¡¯s company to the fullest. The wolf placed his snout on the boy¡¯s leg, looking at him with puppy eyes. With a light chuckle, the boy placed his hand over the canine¡¯s head, patting its fur with a tender expression. ¡°Wait a bit more, Onyx, I can¡¯t eat it raw.¡± ¡°Arf!¡± I ken! The boy sighed, then laughed and leaned back on the tree, watching a second smoke trail rise up a dozen or so meters away. It¡¯s been a month already and they still act like I¡¯m a stranger. I seem like a goddamn stalker more than a traveling companion! The duo were, of course, Kai and Onyx, still separated from Yasa¡¯s group, as per their agreement. Though he hadn¡¯t expected them to actually keep their promise of completely isolating him. At least nothing attacked us so far¡­ If I were alone I bet we would have fought a monster or a group of bandits at least three times. Kai lamented his situation, but he was glad he had some sort of company. Even if they don¡¯t want anything to do with me. Onyx licked his snout, staring at the piece of meat with widened eyes. It was big, though not sufficient for him to be full. Yet, for Kai, that amount of meat would not last him two days. After it finally finished cooking, he cut up a small portion for himself, enough to fill up a plate, and he lay the rest for Onyx in a dust-free earth bowl. The Obborik didn¡¯t stand on occasion and immediately began devouring the still sizzling meat. Kai took his time, though, and looked into the distance at the barely visible fire of their companions. He gulped, his appetite almost completely fading. To think that walking with people who know the real you could feel worse than lying to them. Despite that, he took small bites and chewed slowly, in stark contrast to Onyx who finished the entire thing except the bones. Ultimately, he ate his portion, then put everything away and returned the earth to its normal state. Cuddling up to Onyx, the two fell asleep together, one more fulfilled than the other. They rose the next day before the sun had any time to appear. The early morning chill woke Kai completely, though, as he had no winter clothes and Onyx couldn¡¯t serve as a warming pillow while they walked. Despite that, though, he couldn¡¯t help but stare at the backs of his companion. A weird sense of lodging for belonging rose up within him. He never travelled with other people before, besides Orphelia¡¯s carriage which he couldn¡¯t count. That time it was easy and painless, this time, though, he felt the consequences of his choices. I should have walked alone¡­ Yet the time for tears had long since passed. Yasa and the rest were as stuck to him as he was to them. Kai didn¡¯t mind it much, though, as he didn¡¯t have the need to pull out his sword thus far. Except for the times when he trained to replicate Ivan¡¯s sword techniques. Flicking his wrist, he pulled out his father¡¯s sword. Its purple shine stood out compared to the rest of his attire, yet he felt that it somewhat fit. Before, the sword rejected him completely. It went as far as becoming a slab of glorified dark meta, making it so Kai couldn¡¯t use it. Well besides the one time he used it as a bat. What could have been the catalyst for this? He asked himself, though, the reason, at least to him, was pretty obvious. It responded to him after he drank blood, after slaughtering the gobelins, and when he so desperately called out to it. What kind of curse did my father put on it¡­ it even acted on its own, almost as if it had a¡­ spirit. His eyes widened, and he took a closer look at it, trying to feel for any sort of mana vibration. Something that wasn¡¯t normal, like the silver sword¡¯s beast spirit. I wonder what sort of beast spirit does it have? Dad must have hunted down a great monster for it¡­ or did he find it like this? Argh, so many questions! Yet, no matter how much Kai wanted to know its history, his father was dead, and so was his mom. The sword couldn¡¯t speak either, so all he could do was wander and think as he followed behind the group. He flinched as the first ray of sunlight kissed his skin, but quickly calmed down. Regardless, he pulled out his mask and stored away the sword. The fox mask he had bought to replace this one had crumbled away into pieces after he slammed into Barhm¡¯s house. Kai had no other choice but to fix up his old one the best he could. Now, it looked like a deformed fox rather than a melted, burnt piece of material. Better than nothing, He sighed and strapped it to his face, then hid the long silver hair behind the hood of his cloak. ¡­ Chattering echoed in Kai¡¯s ears as they neared a tall wall made of sharpened logs reinforced with planks. A few tall towers sprouted from the ground, reaching past the wall. They served as both scout and archer towers, each of them having about three armored men. A longbow adorned each of their backs, accompanied by a quilt of beast bone arrows. Their vigilant gazes scanned the inside as well as the inside of the city, like eagles looking for prey. Yasa and her group marched toward the gate, with the former giving Kai a sighthead nudge.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He followed them, of course, though not without apprehension. Despite having visited so many cities before, the anxiety of entering a new place couldn¡¯t be easily erased. They passed without any issues, safe for giving their guild-issued or government-issued ID Cards. Kai didn¡¯t dare give his own, lest his false identity be put on a waiting list. Not that the fox mask and shady appearance helped him much in that regard. Even Yasa cringed at the thought of being found out after doing about as much thinking as Kai did. However, it was far too late to take it all back so the group could only hope that nothing bad would come of it. After finally stepping onto the city grounds, with little idea as to why, Kai glanced at the surroundings. The city had a similar architecture to Nivero, with lavish buildings and flowers that decorated every corner. A wide market area stretched across several streets, with bars and inns sprinkled in between. By any means, this city, like the previous two he visited, was a city of trade. He got a chance to look more closely at it though as Yasa quickly pulled him away. ¡°We¡¯re going to have a talk with the local army and the city lord. We can¡¯t have you roaming around them, and let¡¯s hope they didn¡¯t have time or couldn¡¯t bother to send word to everyone about you.¡± After having said that, she left, disappearing into the crowded streets. Kai stood by himself in the middle of the street, watching the three depart like an abandoned dog on a rainy roadside. Well¡­ now what? ¡­ The Obborik-Vampire duo tiptoed around the market, looking with little interest at each stall, though not stopping at any of them. Eventually, they made their way toward the center of the city, though, besides a very large, empty area, it didn¡¯t differ much from the rest. That would be so if it weren¡¯t for a large arena planted in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by people. In front of it stood a booth with a few guards. Inside, a man who seemed to be in his twenties played with a coin that people paid him. Above the window frame, is a single, large, and detailed painting of a plant. Blood Flowing Stalk? Kai thought, getting closer to have a proper look. In this area? No way. ?A plant that lives in the mountains past the Dwarves? Kai recalled the words in Ania¡¯s book. ?This plant is red like the scorching earth, yet, unlike plants of similar color, it doesn¡¯t hold life force. Instead, it is filled to the brim with mana of incredible purity. Unfortunately, using it in anything is difficult, as controlling the mana is a challenge in and of itself.? His interest in the plant reached a peak as he thought about all the mana he could absorb. Even if I only manage ten percent, that would be quite a qualitative improvement¡­ maybe even a breakthrough! Taking a look at his core, a smile broke out on his face as he saw that his core was fifty-three percent refined. To think I managed to do that much in just three weeks, from thirty to fifty-three. Although¡­ He rubbed his ring and sensed that the amount of mana plants he stored had all but completely depleted. He approached the middle-aged man with apprehension. The smell of bad alcohol and dried medicinal plants inundated his nostrils. Peeking past the man¡¯s shoulder, he saw several sealed boxes and even more plants sitting out in the open. A frown decorated his face at the sight, though he kept his mouth shut. ¡°How much for the Blood Flowing Stalk?¡± Kai inquired, bothering the, what he assumed was, a vendor. ¡°Can¡¯t ye read?¡± He pointed toward a piece of yellow paper nailed to the side of the stall. Kai¡¯s face flushed red in embarrassment. ?Daily Contest! Win a Blood Flowing Stak as the big prize or Fifty Gold Coins. There will be seven rounds per day. Each round consists of a set of eight participants fighting, last one standing wins. Entrance fee: Five Gold Coins Rules: None Details about the plant: It comes from far away and it¡¯s good for making potions. If you know, you know.? Kai raised a suspicious eyebrow after reading the flyer and glanced back at the man, whose appearance didn¡¯t exactly invoke trust. ¡°Is the Blood Flowing Stalk real?¡± His question painted furrowed eyebrows on the man¡¯s face, and he stood up, irritated. ¡°Why do these people all ask the same stuff?¡± The man muttered under his breath and turned to grab one of the sealed boxes. Kai walked closer, and his eyes lit up as the man opened it. Within the case sat a small, crimson-red stalk adorned with transparent vein-like threads. Its still intact roots pulsated with life, and five to seven leaves vibrated slightly as a breeze blew past them. Kai took a whiff of the air, the plant¡¯s mana-rich fragrance sending a small euphoric jolt throughout his being. ¡°That¡¯s enough staring.¡± The man closed the box shut and put it back in its original place, then sat back down. ¡°Five Gold to join, winner takes all¡± Kai reached within his ring and inspected his finances, but a pit formed in his stomach as he took out the bag of money. Seven Gold Coins¡­ Ten Silver Coins and Thirty Coppers¡­ That¡¯s¡­ incredibly poor. He sighed inwardly but then considered that it wasn¡¯t so bad. For the average man, such an amount could feed him for a week or two. Yet, for Kai, who always needed medicinal plants, it wasn¡¯t much. Especially so when he used to buy supplies for Barhm. I hope I didn¡¯t screw him over too much¡­ Placing the five golds on the man¡¯s stall, he got a participation ticket in exchange. ¡°Next round starts in thirty minutes. We need an even number of contestants. If the number is odd one of you will be admitted automatically to the next match. Got it?¡± Kai nodded stored away the ticket and sat on a bench to the side. Onyx accompanied him, and the two looked at the crowd. Trying to judge who would be his opponent was difficult, as almost everyone had some sort of weapon in their possession. Oh well, I hope it won¡¯t be too difficult. The sun-kissed his skin as he waited, though not one more person decided to join the fight at that time. He almost grew bored of waiting and decided to head toward the arena, considering time was almost up. Yet, in that moment, a familiar-looking person caught his attention. His head was decorated by straight and long blonde locks of hair, which perfectly complimented his ocean-blue eyes. He wore a rattling set of thin, silver armor which only served to protect his vital areas. Underneath it, black and gray humble, yet luxurious-looking clothes hid his pale skin. A large bow adorned his back, alongside a sword tied to his waist. His perfect appearance was destroyed by a scar that ran down from his chin to his neck. It gave him a mysterious identity that made one question what he went through. No way, is that¡­ L¨¦andro?! Chapter 161: Fight! Fight! Fight! The younger of the two, Lheer, always stood by me. He always paid close attention to whatever I said and followed my orders faithfully. Lharus though, the older one, always had a rebellious side to him. Sadly, even in my old age, I wasn¡¯t able to beat it out of him.
Kai stopped in place, unable to believe his eyes. He¡¯s changed so much! He met L¨¦andro a long time ago when he first left The Vampire Kingdom. At that time, he wanted to save Orphelia from the hands of some bandits, but he ended up almost getting killed in the process. If it weren¡¯t for him¡­ Though he did try to shoot me right after, the prick. Reminiscing about the past, Kai reflected a little on himself. Back then he had no mask and his clothes were old and tattered. Although his current set wasn¡¯t any better, their quality could be praised at the very least. He also had no magic powers, so he relied solely on his sword skills. A sudden urge to talk to the guy suddenly overtook him, though he quickly suppressed it. There was just no way he could talk to him, not after so long. He looks very different though, even his expression¡­ that scar. I bet he went through his own set of ordeals. If it weren¡¯t for the resemblance I would have never guessed¡­ I wonder what he¡¯s doing here? His question soon got an answer, though, as he watched L¨¦andro walk up to the stall and pay the fee, though with reluctance. After he received the ticket, another six people walked toward the arena. Kai followed suit, heading for the man that sold him the ticket. He gathered the participants on one side inside a small fenced area. ¡°Alright, take a look at your ticket. You each should have a number from one to eight.¡± The man said lazily, and the fighters, Kai included, each took out their tickets. Turning it around, he noticed the number seven on his. Then L¨¦andro must be number eight. ¡°We¡¯ll have the odd numbers fight each other¡±, the man continued, ¡°and even numbers each other. Therefore, the first match is numbers one and three. Please step in the ring and announce your name. I¡¯ll give the go.¡± In less than a minute, the two sat on the platform, glaring at each other. ¡°My name is Han.¡± The man on the left began, drawing his sword. It shone with a silver-blue luster, and he gripped it with both hands as he readied himself. His simple attire of a black tunic and gray pants, alongside his tanned brown skin, made him look like a peasant. Though, his bearing and the way he held the sword gave conflicting feelings. He scanned the man standing opposite him with an emotionless gaze. ¡°Ruth.¡± The man declared as he brandished two axes, one bloodier than the other. He was taller than Han by two or three heads, and similarly twice as wide and thrice as heavy. His naked torso was covered by a sleeveless blue vest, which showcased the countless animal wounds he endured throughout his life. ¡°Alright.¡± The announcer said, standing on a raised platform. ¡°On my go, you two can begin fighting. There is one simple rule, no killing. The fight ends when one of you is incapacitated or admits defeat. Now, you may begin.¡± The man named Han acted as soon as he was given the go-ahead, taking short, quick steps toward his large opponent. He held his sword pointed at the ground, and swung it upwards in a diagona slash as soon as he was in range. Ruth¡¯s eyes followed the man like a hawk, and his axes met in a cross as he caught the man¡¯s sword in a deadlock. Without hesitation, he kicked at Han¡¯s stomach. He dodged, moving his body to the side and gripping the sword with one hand. Han squatted and moved under the large man¡¯s arms, then let go of his sword and kicked at the man¡¯s legs. Ruth immediately lost balance and fell forward, almost slicing his belly open on the still-falling sword. Luckily for him, Han had already grabbed it, and he used the hit to strike at Ruth¡¯s neck. The large man immediately fell unconscious, collapsing on the ground, his axes clattering together. The crowd erupted into a loud cheer as the man¡¯s body fell. Gasps of awe and shock snuck through the excited yells, yet Han only scoffed and sheathed his sword. ¡°Who is that guy? He took Ruth down so fast, it¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but fuck that Ruth bastard, he lost me so many coins¡­ Fuck!¡± Kai listened closely to the little he could hear, a tinge of pain tugging at his heart. We had the option to bet? Damn¡­ He thought with a crooked about his meager funds. ¡°Han wins, drag this man off, and let¡¯s have number two and four fight.¡± The event organizer said without a hint of pity. ¡°Please step up.¡± The following contestants walked on stage before Ruth got removed, seizing each other up. Both had swords tied to their waists and had an average, muscular build. That¡¯s about where the similarities ended, though. The man that held the number two stick had short dark hair and a shaven face while his opponent was the exact opposite. ¡°I won¡¯t repeat the rules, you know them. Good Luck.¡± The organizer gave the go-ahead for the fight to start. ¡°Lay,¡± the dark hard man said, his voice tired and husky. ¡°Miho.¡± said the man with blonde hair and blue eyes, gripping his sword. ¡°Alright, fight!¡± the organizer said as he jumped off the arena. The two didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and immediately rushed each other. Sparks flew about as their swords clashed. Over and over again metal struck metal, and neither of them had the advantage. At least, that was until the dark-haired man¡¯s body shone with a faint light. The onlookers¡¯s yells got cut short as the man got the upper hand. Magic? Kai became more attentive, as it was rare he actually saw someone use magic. I think that¡¯s a strength buff, the other man is already sweating¡­ he¡¯ll lose for sure.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. However right as he thought that, the dark-haired man¡¯s opponent exploded with another faint light and a rush of strength. With a grunt, he pushed on his blade and sent his opponent flying. He dashed to where he landed and held the tip of his sword to the man¡¯s throat. ¡°I give up.¡± The man said after little consideration and stood up shortly after the organizer announced the results. ¡°What? So fast?!¡± The crowd complained at the quick result of the fight, with some voices loud enough to ring over others. ¡°What¡¯s with these fights? They end before we can even see blood!¡± ¡°Yeah, how are we supposed to enjoy this if no one ever gets hurt?¡± ¡°I want the money I bet back.¡± ¡°Yeah, we want to see a real fight!¡± ¡°Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!¡± The organizer climbed up on the arena and sat on one of its supporting pillars, then took a deep breath. ¡°Silence!¡± His voice boomed through the plaza, the bored tone vanishing. An angry, less reserved manner of speech replaced his previous one as he said. ¡°You want bloodshed? Then why didn¡¯t you sign up to fight? To me, it looks like you are all just butthurt pussies afraid to lose coin!¡± Kai looked at the man with newfound disgust after figuring out what this was all about. No wonder they are so generous with the plants, they¡¯re making more off-betting than the loss of the plant. His eyes flew toward the dark-haired man, who limped through the angry crowd. Limping? I never saw him get hit in the leg¡­ Something¡¯s off! Though his suspicions were just that, suspicions. Regardless of whether these people were scummy or not, it had nothing to do with him. He only needed the plant, and he¡¯d make sure to get it. ¡°Alright, number five and seven¡­ up on the ring.¡± The announcer jumped off, then turned to Kai and his opponent as they entered the arena. ¡°Present yourselves. If you make this fight good I will make sure you will get an additional reward.¡± A sly smirk decorated his lips, though the crowd began chanting even louder. ¡°Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!¡± ¡°Blood! Blood! Blood! Blood!¡± Why are these fuckers so barbaric? Kai thought, calculating his opponent. He had a pair of daggers strapped to his waist, accompanied by an icy glare that wanted to rip Kai apart. A light scoff escaped his body as he looked the man up and down. A scrawny young man with tattered clothes and unkempt hair. Where did he even get the money to participate in this? Of course, Kai wasn¡¯t looking down on him for that reason. No, he knew better than to underestimate an opponent. More than that, he found the man¡¯s intimidation tactics to be a little subpar. I think I felt more fear when Raymond had my finger between his blades¡­ Well, that¡¯s natural but even Barhm had more of a presence. I do wonder what kind of reward we¡¯d get if we made this fight flashy. ¡°Hazel.¡± He suddenly heard the man¡¯s voice. It was faint, sharp, and somewhat eerie. Isn¡¯t that a girl¡¯s name though? ¡°Ichor.¡± Kai adopted his fake name, at least for this fight. Better safe than not. ¡°Oy, who¡¯s that weird guy with the mask? He looks suspicious.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯d worry more about the other one. He looks like a true killer.¡± ¡°Killer or not they¡¯re both short¡­¡± ¡°Shh, the fight is starting.¡± ¡°Alright lovebirds, make this fight good.¡± The organizer said, practically giving them the go. Neither moved immediately, as they still took the time to analyze each other. Kai could never be too careful, especially not in a fight where the opponent has wit. Hazel had other plans though. A light shone on his dagger as he pulled them out. He kicked off the ground and rushed Kai like a flying arrow. Hazel tried to sneak under Kai and slash at his throat. But the two were similar in size, so Kai took a step back and unsheathed his sword. Its silvery color reflected the light shining down from the sun. He slashed at Hazel, trying to recall Ivan¡¯s fighting techniques. Maybe if I do it in actual combat I¡¯ll have more success. With that thought he mind, and inwardly apologizing to Hazel, Kai stepped back. Taking in a sharp breath, he recalled what Ivan learned during his years as a warrior. It wasn¡¯t magic that he used, but purely the energy of his body¡­ Trying to follow that logic proved to be difficult, though. Even though Kai understood how it worked, putting it into practice was another matter altogether. So he simply swung his sword, parrying Hazel¡¯s daggers and rotating his wrist into a counterattack. Hazel backed away, dodging Kai¡¯s attack, then spat on the ground. He turned one of his daggers into a reverse grip while the other remained in a normal grip. With that new stance, he became more aggressive and dashed toward Kai. With a quick whisper, his daggers shone with a blue light, after which a faint aura appeared around them. Kai¡¯s hair stood on end upon seeing the spell and took a defensive stance. He attached concentrated mana to the daggers¡­ this guy isn¡¯t simple at all! By infusing the daggers with mana, he made them sharper and deadlier in addition to extending their range. In normal combat doing such a thing would be risky, with a high risk of injury. However, in a place like this arena and other duels, such a technique could prove to be life-saving if used right. Fine then, if you¡¯re going to play dirty, I will too! Kai quickly pulled out a dark stone and whispered under his breath. As the stone shattered, a small, elongated barrier materialized around him. I¡¯m glad I took the time to read some of the other books in the library! ¡°Hey, what the fuck did that Ichor guy use?¡± ¡°Magic? Is that guy a mage?¡± ¡°No way, mages work for the royal family, why would they be in such a rundown place?¡± ¡°Must have been an item of some sort, so wasteful!¡± The crowd chatterd and theorized about Kai¡¯s identity. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t pay them any attention, as Hazel already entered striking distance. The barrier Kai created would only activate when directly attacked, however, he had no plans of letting Hazel do any more than that. He swung downward toward Hazel¡¯s shoulder with as much force as he could master. The man quickly used his normal stance dagger to deflect the attack, then countered with the reverse grip. However, in that same moment, Kai let go of his sword. A shattering sound rang out as he caught Hazel¡¯s fist with his left hand and then punched at his stomach. Minor Flame Fist! A small torrent of fire gathered around his fist as it shot toward the man¡¯s stomach. The force of it sent him flying to the edge of the arena, his clothes burnt and parts of his flesh glowing red hot. Luckily for him, Kai only used a small amount of mana, so it didn¡¯t kill the man. The daggers fell with a muffled thump, and Hazel¡¯s eyes blinked weakly before shutting. The crowd stood in silence. However, the calm didn¡¯t last long as they broke out into a cheerful mix of thirst and awe. ¡°A flame fist? That¡¯s a flame fist, right?!¡± ¡°Yes! I saw it once when some guards trained, although it seems a bit weaker.¡± ¡°Who cares man, this guy is the real deal! He¡¯s kinda short though¡­¡± Kai did hear that last remark, though he couldn¡¯t complain much¡­ they were right after all. He glanced at L¨¦andro to check for any reactions. Though it seemed like he had little interest in these fights, as he stared into the distance and at nothing at the same time. ¡°Alright then,¡± the organizer said after waving for Hazel to be taken away. ¡°Ichor won this round, so the last two contestants please step up!¡± Hearing that, Kai got off the platform and watched L¨¦andro slowly make his way toward the arena. Meanwhile, the bloodthirsty screams of the crowd intensified with excitement as L¨¦andro and his opponent walked up. Chapter 162: Competing with Swords Sometimes he¡¯d mumble about strange things I didn¡¯t understand, but a ruler is too busy to deal with such things. I put it to his childish nonsense, yet he never let go of them. Such a shame¡­ he was a master at every craft. He could have been the next ruler¡­ to take my place and manage this while I went looking for God without the weight of the world on my shoulders. Ah¡­ such sadness, such bitterness¡­
A gentle breeze blew through the plaza, circling around the arena. L¨¦andro¡¯s long hair abided as it danced with gentle movements. His eyes locked unto his opponent, analyzing everything he could before the organiser gave the go-ahead. A man of about thirty years of age covered in scars and wounds. He wore tattered, repaired clothing, which made him look as poor as a beggar. Though the sword tied to his waist said otherwise. It wasn¡¯t decorated by anything, save for a red string wrapped around the shaft. It had no seat either, leaving the blade exposed. However, the quality of the blade spoke of its fine craftsmanship, which Kai easily deduced to be from the dwarves. Doesn¡¯t look like it was crafted by a master, but not by any beginner either. He quickly evaluated it but did not do much for it. No, the one Kai wanted to know more about was L¨¦andro. The bow strapped to his back remained unmoving, but his right hand fell onto the hilt of his sword. ¡°Forehest¡± The man said, strands of black hair falling down his face. He also placed his hand on the hilt, then slowly pulled it out with the patience and precision of a master. ¡°L¨¦andro,¡± he said, also pulling out the sword from its sheath. Both of them held it in a similar stance, both with similar determination in their eyes. Yet, L¨¦andro clearly had less experience, as he faltered slightly. The organizer gave the god, and the two approached with gradual, soft steps. Luckily the arena was big enough for them to walk in circles as they looked each other up and down. Eventually, L¨¦andro whispered a spell under his breath and acted before it cast fully. He stabbed straight at Forhest¡¯s throat with a never-before-seen ruthlessness in this tournament. The crowd let out silent gasps of anticipation and wild dreams. A tinge of shock passed by Kai, but he wasn¡¯t as surprised as the rest of the crowd. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate, this bastard tried to shoot me. Despite his outward appearance and young age, L¨¦andro already killed people before. Though killing someone in this kind of match is kind of overdoing it, isn''t it? Regardless, Kai watched the fight with anticipation, both in learning how good L¨¦andro was and also excited to see an old-face fight. Forehest dodged the strike and aimed a slash at L¨¦andro¡¯s neck, which he ducked, then swiped at his feed. Forehest didn¡¯t fall for the boy¡¯s trick and immediately turned his swing around, this time aiming with the hilt at the back of L¨¦andro¡¯s neck. With a swift roll, L¨¦andro stood back on his feet and did a turn-around slash which Forehest countered with a vertical slash. L¨¦andro almost lost grip of his sword, but gathered himself and threw a kick at the middle-aged man. However, that didn¡¯t play out in his favor as the man grabbed L¨¦andro¡¯s foot and twisted it. As a result, the boy fell, his sword clattering to the ground. Forehest went for a finishing blow with a slash at the hands, a ruthless expression decorating his face. Yet before he could reach the midway point, a bow materialized in L¨¦andro¡¯s hand alongside an arrow. He quickly pulled back the string and aimed the trembling bow at the man. He scoffed and sidestepped as the arrow shot toward his head, giving up on the attack. L¨¦andro took the opportunity to grab his sword and step back, aiming another arrow at the man. The string vibrated violently, his muscles contracting under the strain of pulling it back. Contrary to all expectations, though, the man didn¡¯t move. Instead, he too murmured under his breath, his feet shining with a soft light. L¨¦andro bit his lower lip, and, with the arrow aimed at the man, he let go. It whistled through the air, parsing the distance like it was nothing and immediately arriving before the man. However, the same moment L¨¦andro¡¯s fingers lessened their grip on the arrow, and so did the man step to the side. He dodged it with ease and instantly rushed L¨¦andro, giving him barely any time to pick up the sword. ¡°Kid, today I will show you what it means to know fear,¡± Forehest yelled with a raspy voice as he imbued his sword with mana. L¨¦andro didn¡¯t back down though. Despite his silence, the furious look in his eyes spoke a thousand words, and he sent mana into his own weapon. A thin layer of magic separated the blades, meaning no sparks flew about. Forehest clearly had the advantage in this position, as he used his entire weight to push down on L¨¦andro¡¯s sword while the boy could only rely on himself to push. Both of their bodies glowed with the soft light of magic at the same time, and the struggle turned more intense. However, as L¨¦andro bit his lower lip, he gained a sudden burst of energy that helped him rise to his feet. The man took a step backward but didn¡¯t relent in his attacks. Instead, as his anger grew fiercer, so did his slashes. His still refined technique became deadlier, using feints and sudden changes to catch L¨¦andro off guard. However, while the boy¡¯s technique lacked refinement, it more than made up for it with ruthlessness. Light freshly cut wounds decorated his clothes and body, and a few sets of marks appeared on his armor each time he hit back. From Kai¡¯s perspective, L¨¦andro tried really hard to get hurt. Yet he understood why. If he kept dodging he would run out of stamina before he could land a hit on the old timer. At the same time if he doesn¡¯t attack the end result would be the same.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He is dodging the attacks that would be fatal and letting the ones that barely wound him pass. At the same time he is hitting back¡­ what an outrageous way of fighting. Kai couldn¡¯t deny that it worked, though. As L¨¦andro took hits, Forehest also did the same. Yet despite having the upper hand, his injuries were more grievous. Significantly more blood than L¨¦andro dripped down his clothes and onto the ground. Fatigue manifested on his face, with drops of sweat cooling down his blazing skin. In comparison, L¨¦andro looked much calmer and less exhausted. A bright light took Kai by surprise, and he diverted his gaze for the brief moment it appeared. Once he looked back at the fight, it was already over. Forehest lay on the ground with L¨¦andro¡¯s bow aimed straight at his throat. ¡°I-I give up!¡± He yelled, terrified of the very real threat before him. After hearing that, the boy let loose of the arrow, and Farehest¡¯s eyes closed shut. The arrow whistled past his ear and embedded itself mere centimeters away from his head. ¡°What the fuck just happened?¡± One of the people in the crowd broke the silence, as confused as Kai. ¡°Did that guy just¡­ what?¡± ¡°I think he used magic?¡± ¡°Well, no shit but we couldn¡¯t see anything!¡± ¡°Boo! Cheater! What sort of win is this?!¡± However, neither L¨¦andro nor the organizer paid these people any attention. ¡°L¨¦andro won, the semi-finals will take part in about an hour. Please get ready, and don¡¯t forget to place your bets, everyone!¡± Kai followed L¨¦andro¡¯s figure leaving the arena and for a moment he really felt like going to talk to him. However, he held himself as if by a leash. Speaking of¡­ where¡¯s Onyx? He looked around but the Obborik had all but vanished from where he was. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he tried calling out to him, like all the other times he did before. A spark ignited within his mind as he sensed the Obborik¡¯s thoughts, and a light chuckle danced upon his lips. Going after food at this time? He¡­ he¡¯s going to steal something, isn¡¯t he? Alas, he couldn¡¯t stop him, nor did he care to. After all, if anyone in this city could give Onyx trouble it would be something Kai would run away from. He decided to sit down and analyze his next opponents. Looking over the area and noticing that none of them left made him feel somewhat at ease. Besides L¨¦andro and himself, there were two others. Han, the middle-aged swordsman whose full power remained a mystery to Kai. Then there was Miho, the blonde-haired swordsman whose bodily strength and magic intrigued him. Kai couldn¡¯t help but wonder how the next fights would be picked. Drawing lots or manually assigned? Well, he had one hour to figure it out. It passed by quickly though, and before he even knew it, the organizer¡¯s voice rang out throughout the plaza. ¡°Alright then, Han, Miho, Ichor, and L¨¦andro please approach the arena. Your fights have been designated.¡± They didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and immediately approached the combat area. A crowd followed them, waiting in anticipation, some with paper tickets in their hands. Kai paid them no attention, obvious that they had bet again. ¡°We decided who will fight who this time around. We tried to make it as fair as possible. So the first fight will be L¨¦andro and Han, then Ichor and Miho. I trust there are no objections?¡± None of the contestants protested anymore than shrugging their shoulders. Though Han and Miho looked at L¨¦andro and Kai with deep apprehension. The latter two didn¡¯t even notice them, as both of them were caught in their own thoughts. ¡°Good, let¡¯s start then. The first two please step up and give us a good show, will ye?¡±He walked to the side after saying that and keenly invited L¨¦andro and Han with his gaze. However, as soon as the go was given, L¨¦andro rushed Han with the ferocity of a Lion. He pinned the man to the ground with a perfectly aimed kick then held him at arrow point in less time than it takes to blink. ¡°I give up¡­¡± The man¡¯s shaky voice barely resounded through the silent plaza. Almost immediately after, a couple of sighs of annoyed defeat rang through. They were drowned soon after by even more cheerful yells. Kai couldn¡¯t help but scoff at the crowd, though if he weren¡¯t competing he¡¯d have bet too. The organizer didn¡¯t even have time to sit down and enjoy the show before it ended. Clutching a piece of paper, he shot a disgusting glare at Han before throwing it away. ¡°Well¡­ that was fast. In this case, let us have our last two fighters of this round climb up on stage!¡± He also grumbled something under his breath, but Kai couldn¡¯t hear it properly. A fighting spirit rose up inside him as he jumped over the artifically made wall and immediately pulled out his sword. That guy thinks he¡¯s so strong¡­ I¡¯ll show him then! Kai¡¯s body shone with a few body enchantment spells as he clutched the hilt of his blade, then immediately rushed Miho as soon as he was given the go. His figure turned into a blur and before Miho could react properly, the silver sword pressed against his neck. Kai caught L¨¦andro¡¯s widened pupils with the corner of his eyes, and a faint smirk colored his lips. ¡°I give up!¡± he yelled almost as soon as he realized the situation, then fell to his knees when Kai pulled away his sword. The crowd burst into a mixture of elation and depression, their feelings not even having the time to rest after L¨¦andro¡¯s fight. A vein popped into the organizer¡¯s veins as he hastily hid away another piece of paper. ¡°W-well then¡­ it seems like we have our winner already!¡± He said as he jumped onto the stage. ¡°Since it took way less time than expected, we can start the final fight in half an hour? If our contestants agree to it?¡± Both Kai and L¨¦andro nodded gently, the former sheathing his sword and smirking behind his mask. I can¡¯t wait to fight you, man. I¡¯ll have my payback! The half-hour passed by quickly. Kai felt almost tempted to place a bet himself, seeing the crowd grumble and theorize about who would win. In the end, though, he didn¡¯t. He needed money, but not to that extent. Especially when I have no idea if I¡¯ll actually win¡­ As the sun began to set, L¨¦andro stepped onto the stage, followed by Kai. The organizer didn¡¯t need to say anything anymore, so he laid back and watched from a distance. The two boys stood opposite one another, analyzing each other as closely as they could. The atmosphere tensed up as the orange hue of the evening dusk fell upon them. The rightful prince of the Vampire Kingdom, hidden behind a fox mask and a cloak, facing against the price of the Kingdom of Aravia. If either of them knew each other¡¯s identities there was no telling what could happen. Right now, though, they were just two boys with different goals competing with their swords. Chapter 163: No Second Chance I feel like I never truly knew him, as he was. And I will never know who he could have been. But I can imagine¡­ dream of it¡­ when my dreams aren¡¯t shaken by a voice I cannot understand.
The warm orange hue of the evening dusk shone upon L¨¦andro¡¯s armor, then scattered into his hair. His beautiful blonde locks shone with a golden shimmer as the sunlight touched them. He took in a sharp breath, his blue eyes scanning Kai up and down like a hunter his prey. The sword he clutched swished forward as he got into a battle position, then waited for his opponent to do the same. Kai unseathed his silver sword and took on a similar stance to L¨¦andro. The crimson eyes hidden behind the mask smirked as he inspected L¨¦andro¡¯s form. Now that I know more about swordsmanship¡­ his does look better than mine. However he didn¡¯t think his skills were inferior, and what little he lacked in swordsmanship, he could make up with magic. At the very least, he had the confidence to think like that. ¡°Gentlemen¡­ please, a loud cheer for our final two contestants!¡± The organiser said with a sly smile. The crowd immediately erupted into an almost drunken laughter. ¡°Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!¡± They chanted as they lifted their fists up in the air. What a bunch of lunatics¡­ Kai couldn¡¯t understand what drove people to seek so much violence. Especially by watching a fight for either a medicinal plant or fifty gold coins. Why is this contest so popular anyway¡­ do these people not have any sort of entertainment? However, he couldn¡¯t allow himself to be distracted, not facing L¨¦andro. Especially not after seeing how ruthless he was to his opponents. I don¡¯t remember him being this angry or committed before¡­ what happened in the times since we parted? However, such a question could only be answered by the man himself. Their eyes met mid-air, crimson and blue clashing in a weaponless fight. As many things as Kai went through in his journey, he could that L¨¦andro experienced a similar amount of pain. The look in his eyes told the story of a weary man, perhaps desperate. Kai couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°Alright then, please, cheer for our two fighters here and give them the go!¡± The organiser said as he jumped down from the arena. His greedy gaze landed on Kai¡¯s back, giving him quite a disgusting aftertaste. However the crowd didn¡¯t care for any of that, they just wanted to see a bloody fight. ¡°3!¡± They yelled in unison, counting down just as the organizer asked them to do. ¡°2!¡± Kai clutched his sword, readying to face L¨¦andro and the unknown techniques he held. ¡°1!¡± The cheering grew louder and L¨¦andro¡¯s knees bent slightly as he got ready to jump at Kai like a tiger. ¡°FIGHT!!!!!¡± The two disappeared from their spot in the blink of an eye, reappearing in the middle accompanied by the sound of clashing steel. Their blades parted and then touched once again as they tried to get the upper hand. They seemed to be equally skilled, though, as neither of them held any particular advantage or disadvantage. Kai backed off and pointed his sword down, then arched his legs and enchanted his feet with magic. He jumped, sword still pointed toward the ground. Kicking with his feet, he made L¨¦andro unconsciously look away from his sword for a moment. In that split second, he raised it and swung it downward with immense momentum as he pulled back his leg. By the time L¨¦andro realized that he had been duped, the sword already made contact with his shoulder plate. He stumbled backward and quickly dodged a horizontal slash from Kai. Clicking his tongue, Kai didn¡¯t give L¨¦andro any time to recover but instead dashed toward him with his still-enchanted legs. He leaped like a frog and pointed his sword at L¨¦andro¡¯s torso. Yet, it seemed that the short amount of time between the dodge and the leap gave the blonde-haired boy enough time to come to his senses. A dense amount of mana seeped through his pores as a faint light encapsulated him. The next moment, Kai found his sword blocked by L¨¦andro¡¯s, and it felt like he had struck stone. So sturdy, what the- However, his thoughts were quickly scattered by a perfectly aimed kick right at his face. Wind grazed his cheeks as he dodged by a hair¡¯s breadth. L¨¦andro lunged at his stomach but the young vampire quickly deflected the blow with the side of his blade.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Both of them took the opportunity to grab at each other¡¯s throats upon the creation of the opening. Yet, as soon as they realized their similar ideas, immediately backed off. They looked at each other, panting. The swords they held trembled in their hands, not for fear though, but from excitement. Kai could tell that much from L¨¦andro¡¯s curling smile. He knew that, because he supposed a similar one creased his lips. Murmuring, his body shone with the light of magic enchantment and he immediately disappeared from view. L¨¦andro turned around and blocked off Kai¡¯s sneak attack, then in that same breath led the silver sword to land on his breastplate. It penetrated it, but not deep enough to cut his flesh, then launched a counterattack with a quick jab at Kai¡¯s unprotected torso. Kai grit his teeth and throws his body closer to L¨¦andro, transforming the almost fatal strike into a painful cut. Simultaneously, he pulled his sword, cutting deep into L¨¦andro¡¯s armor and flesh. He grunted in pain looked at the uncomfortably close Kai and placed a leg on his belly. He quickly extended it as Kai tried to grab it, then kicked with the light of magic shining on his feet. He lost grip on his silver sword, and a faint amount of blood splattered where he once stood. After flying backward like a kite with its string cut, Kai rolled to his feet, dizzy and scratched. However, he quickly snapped back to his senses and quickly summoned a dark crystal. It disappeared after he cast a spell and a barrier manifested around him, which shattered a few seconds later as L¨¦andro¡¯s angry charge came hulling over. His momentum got completely absorbed by the shield, though, and Kai took the opportunity to drag him by the collar and smash him on the ground. The arena floor cracked under the impact. Without waiting for another second, he shot a ¡®Flame Fist¡¯ in L¨¦andro¡¯s abdomen. However, he weirdly twisted his body and barely dodged the burn of the impact. Kai punched the floor, which crumbled into a cloud of dust and smoke. L¨¦andro freed himself in the chaos, however Kai hid himself in the darkness already. He circled the blonde boy, who sat in the middle of the light whilst Kai hid in the shadowy spots created by the floor above. His crimson eyes glowed with the light of a predator hunting his prey, and he instinctively wanted to take out his claws and dine on the prince. However, he suppressed that though, disgusted that it even appeared to him. With the quietness of a cheetah, he crept closer and closer to L¨¦andro, whose caution couldn¡¯t help him detect the threat standing right in front of him. A quick lunge sent Kai flying forward and he instantly tackled his opponent. In that same breath, he grabbed the wrist that held the sword and forced it to open. The weapon thudded on the ground. The rest of the momentum pushed L¨¦andro and Kai against the thin, wooden walls of the arena¡¯s foundation. A whole immediately appeared on it as the two crashed through it, causing the crowd to scatter. L¨¦andro broke himself free with a quick kick of his legs, and without hesitation, he grabbed the bow from his spatial ring and aimed an arrow right at Kai. However, the vampire instantly dodged the arrow and dashed forward. At that time, the archer shut off one eye as the other glowed with a violet light. An arrow pierced Kai¡¯s leg in less time than it takes to blink. It pierced right through both shoe and bone, embedding itself in the ground. With a grunt he fell to the ground, the sudden loss of inertia making him lose balance. His heart raced, and he knew that he had to act soon. Without giving it a second thought, he brought out his wand and cast a spell in that same instant. A pungent darkness covered the crowd as the sound of a snapping twig echoed in the silence. Kai rushed toward the arena, his footsteps uneven and bleeding profusely from his foot. Yet, despite the pain, he leaped and scanned the area for his sword. He immediately grabbed it as soon as he saw it and put away his wand, undoing the darkness spell. L¨¦andro¡¯s keen eye spotted Kai¡¯s figure atop the arena as soon as he could see again and didn¡¯t hesitate to pull down another arrow. The string of his bow glowed with a golden light, as did his eye, which sent a wave toward Kai. It was him before he could even notice it existed. L¨¦andro shot the arrow as soon as the glowing string fully drew back at a faster speed than Kai could dream to react to. He watched the arrow rush toward his head with widening pupils, yet no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t get his body to move in the slightest. He knew that all he needed to do was move his head, step to the side, or cast a barrier. Yet somehow, he couldn¡¯t. The grip on his sword almost disappeared, but he couldn¡¯t accept such a result. Not after everything that¡¯s happened. As the world around him moved in slow motion, he mustered the strength to grip it with both hands. His eyes pulsed with a desire to win, to live, and to crush his opponent. As his clutch around the hilt tightened, a primordial strength flowed through his veins. ¡°Yes¡­ call upon me¡­¡± It whispered to him like a sweet lullaby. Such strength, such power, Kai desired to have it¡­ Temptation and greed almost overtook his entire being, however, the though of what he would lose were he to accept became haunting. No, begone¡­ I will deal with you later! He yelled inwardly and felt the strength he just acquired fade from his body. Yet, even as that happened, he recalled one of Ivan¡¯s techniques. Move slowly like a drifting leaf, then shoot like a flying arrow. Prepare your strike before you plan to hit, then when you¡¯re sure do it with all you have. There are no second chances. He took a deep breath and thought about how he wanted to strike, how his sword would slice through the arrow, and how it would get split in two. Then, as the world seemingly turned to normal, if it ever did slow down, he acted upon his vision. Swoosh Chapter 164: Give me the plant! I remember in my dreams, once on the battlefield. There was a boy, as young as my son, fighting for the glory of our race. He was scared of the magic shot by the enemy but awed upon seeing my power. I gave him a random sword and a word of encouragement. Who would have thought that boy would end up being my best general?
Just as he saw it in his mind, the sword split the arrow in two, the separated parts slashing right past his face, leaving two marks on his fox mask and holes in his hood. L¨¦andro¡¯s eyes widened and his mouth flew open upon seeing his arrow get sliced horizontally in two. Much like him, the crowd watching this unfold fell into a never-before-seen silence. Even the organizer, who lounged without a care on a chair he pulled from somewhere stood up, his expression frozen. Kai took advantage of the situation and jumped at L¨¦andro before he had time to react. His sword slashed in the shape of a crescent moon as it descended on the boy. Although he quickly recovered upon sensing danger, he only had enough time to react by pulling out a dagger. He defended the heavy blow with the measly dagger by twisting it and using Kai¡¯s momentum to drive the strike into the ground. L¨¦andro then punched Kai¡¯s stomach as a furious grunt escaped his lips. With swift movement, Kai grabbed L¨¦andro¡¯s hand and squeezed, stopping the fist altogether, and retaliated by sending a kick toward his opponent¡¯s side. L¨¦andro crashed against the people on the ground as he took the hit head-on. He got to his feet about as quickly as Kai dashed toward him with a powerful slash. L¨¦andro tried to block the strike and deflect it once again. Yet Kai¡¯s attack proved to be faint as he swung low yet hit high as L¨¦andro¡¯s dagger descended to defend. A mischievous smirk creased Kai¡¯s lips, though none except himself knew it. He was curious to see how L¨¦andro would react to such a blow. Though his smile faded as L¨¦andro left and shone with a bright light that protected him from the sharpness of the sword as he grabbed it and opened up Kai¡¯s defenses. In that small window, a powerful kick sent Kai flying backward. He stopped himself before colliding with anyone and at the same time decided to drop all pretense. His wand materialized in his hand and he immediately cast a spell that summoned fireballs around him. In less than a second, a dozen or so of them waited for him to command them. The crowd immediately dispersed after seeing the conjured flames, gasps of shock and awe ringing amongst their midst. L¨¦andro¡¯s expression immediately fell as he cast a barrier spell around himself. Yet he could have never expected that Kai, who had just revealed his identity as a mage, would dash toward him with a sword. Yet, he did just that, and the barrier shattered as soon as it met the sharp blade. However, L¨¦andro didn¡¯t give up so easily and drew his bow as swiftly as the arrow he would shoot from it. Kai stood less than two meters away from the boy. He gulped, sweat dripping down his forehead. L¨¦andro let loose of the arrow and Kai, wand in hand, immediately created a barrier that shattered immediately. However he created another, and then another, and another. The sound of shattering glass resounded throughout the quiet plaza over and over again in the span of a single breath. It overwhelmed all other senses and dizzied anyone unlucky enough to hear it. Yet it proved effective in stopping L¨¦andro¡¯s arrow, or at least slowing it down enough to not be fatal. Kai dodged, but he wasn¡¯t fast enough and hit him in the shoulder instead of the chest like it originally would have. He grunted in pain and glared at L¨¦andro, his eyes shining with a faint light. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s play then!¡± His angry shout sent an unwilling shiver down L¨¦andro¡¯s spine. The crystals on the wand shimmered as the ground beneath the blonde-haired young man caved before he could even react. He jumped as soon as he touched the bottom, yet it did nothing to stop the rapidly enclosing walls that surrounded him. Just like that, in a matter of a moment, he was both incapacitated and suffocating from the extreme pressure put on his lungs. Kai pointed his sword at him, the twelve fireballs still revolving around him. ¡°Say you give up or I toast you.¡± L¨¦andro¡¯s expression turned to an ugly glare of resentment, but he knew he lost. ¡°I give up.¡± He said unwillingly, gritting his teeth as he did so. Kai waved his wand and undid the spell, brought L¨¦andro up, and covered up the hole he made. ¡°An experienced warrior would know how to not get caught by such a simple spell,¡± Kai remarked, happy to get payback. L¨¦andro coughed lightly but didn¡¯t say anything. He brushed past Kai and walked into the arena, looking for his sword. At the same time, the organizer jumped up and said with a slightly emotional tone. ¡°And our winner today¡­ is Ichor! What an amazing display of skill!¡± Everyone looked at Kai, whose black cloak was covered in dust and blood, and whose mask suffered the slightest amount of damage. He put away his weapons and walked toward the organizer, his clothes fluttering in the wind. ¡°The plant.¡± He said simply, holding out his hand. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Ahem,¡± The man cleared his throat and walked down toward the still-intact ticket house and inscription center. After carefully fishing through the mountains of boxes and random items, he scooped out the wooden container and threw it toward Kai. Catching it mid-air, he opened it and verified its contents. Yep, it seems to be it¡­ He made his way toward the exit, the organizer¡¯s voice echoing behind him. ¡°Alright then, tomorrow we will have another set of fights at the same time right here. Please don¡¯t forget to come and bet on our contestants!¡± Kai, on the other hand, completely disappeared into the city as the sunset. Darkness took over the land, warded off by the light of lamps and crystals lit by the residents. Onyx, are you alright? He called out to his own mind and got a reply as soon as he did. Yes, brower. I ate well¡­ Onyx replied, sending Kai a feeling of contentment. Join me. I haf yur smhell. And the conversation ended there. No more words were needed to be spoken. Kai knew Onyx would join him soon regardless of his pace, so he walked as fast as he could without arousing suspicion. Damn it, where is Yasa and the others. She never told me where to meet¡­ or did she? Did she expect me to stand in the middle of the street? Did she leave already? No, she has a promise to keep, at the very least. Kai stopped without warning, the twang of a drawn arrow interrupting his thoughts. ¡°Get down if you have the guts.¡± He said in as threatening a manner as he could. ¡°Give me the plant.¡± A familliar voice said from high up on a building. ¡°I-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move. You can¡¯t pull out your sword and slash the arrow in time, and neither can you use your wand that fast. I suggest you be smart and do as I say.¡± Kai scoffed inwardly at the threat but knew that it was as real as it could be. ¡°Why do you need it?¡± ¡°Hand it over.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t.¡± Hearing that, the string on the bow almost whistled as it vibrated in the assailant¡¯s hand. ¡°I won¡¯t ask again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t get the chance,¡± Kai said with a smirk creasing his lips. ¡°Wha-¡± The unknown figure¡¯s words got cut mid-way as the arrow broke loose from his bow. However it didn¡¯t land anywhere near close to Kai, and it etched onto a nearby building instead. The angry growls of an animal resounded from the rooftop, followed by a thud near Kai¡¯s feet. Onyx appeared from the shadow, holding the attacker by the leg, and refused to let go. Kai gave him a simple nod of approval, after which the Obborik let go. Dragging the unknown figure into the light revealed it to be L¨¦andro, who still clutched his bow. ¡°You¡¯re still as trigger-happy as always,¡± Kai said playfully as he crouched. L¨¦andro¡¯s pupils widened as he took a closer look at the Obborik. Kai also pulled out his purple sword to help jog his memory. ¡°You- Kai?! How-¡± He stuttered, his expression filled with incredulity. ¡°Ah, you do remember me then, asshole.¡± Kai sat up and patted Onyx¡¯s fur, then L¨¦andro. He didn¡¯t accept it and rose by himself instead. ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t do magic.¡± He said, patting the dust off his clothes. ¡°And I thought you¡¯d always wear that flashy armor, how times change.¡± L¨¦andro stood a safe distance away, his torso bent back and all his weight put into the foot farthest from Kai. His stiff neck was encircled by his hand, his gaze pointed downward. Noticing that Kai took a few steps backward and grabbed Onyx with him. An awkward silence descended between the two, neither of them looking very sure of what to do next. In the end, Kai sighed and turned to L¨¦andro, then said in a serious tone. ¡°So are you going to tell me why you need this plant, or not?¡± The boy¡¯s eyes switched from Kai¡¯s mask to the Obborik, then to the sword. His feet brushed against the paved road as he moved backward, wanting to step back. But then, he sighed and turned to Kai. ¡°I have a friend¡­ she¡­ she is. Look I¡¯ll pay you for it, just give me the plant, alright?¡± ¡°Is she sick?¡± Kai asked directly, taking a few steps forward. ¡°Hurt?¡±L¨¦andro stepped back, his hair swaying forward from the momentum as Kai got uncomfortably close. ¡°What do you care so much about it?¡± He asked with an angry gaze, clenching his fists. Kai stopped for a second and considered the question, Truly, why do I care so much? It¡¯s just a mana plant, it wouldn¡¯t hurt for me to give it to him. But Kai knew the answer to that question much earlier than L¨¦andro posed it. He wanted companionship, at least a form of it. Traveling with Yasa made him feel miserable about himself and who he was. Yet, no matter how much he wanted to, he could never show his true self to anyone. Not anymore, not after what happened. So then do I have any right to demand such things? Regardless, he bit down on his tongue, and said with a breaking voice, ¡°I¡­ might be able to diagnose her. I studied medicine under the elves for a bit¡­ so maybe.¡± ¡°What? You think you can heal her?¡± L¨¦andro¡¯s tone deepened by a few octaves as he looked at Kai with trembling pupils. ¡°Do you know how many doctors we¡¯ve seen? Humans, Muhen, Elves. None-¡± he took a moment to recover his broken voice. ¡°None of them could do anything but lessen the pain and describe medicines to prolong the suffering!¡± L¨¦andro¡¯s pain-filled voice echoed through the alley, his rising voice open for anyone to hear. Kai lowered his head, unable to say anything to refute his claims. Indeed, he was no more than a quack with some memories from a scientist who was only mildly interested in medicine. Flicking his wrist, the wooden box appeared out of his spatial ring, yet he hesitated. ¡°What if I can do something?¡± He asked, his tone less confident than a landman going to sea. L¨¦andro looked at him with his ocean blue eyes, the water within which reflected the orange hue of the lamposts. He sighed and shook his head, he got ready to walk away and give up hopes of grabbing the plant from Kai. ¡°I really couldn¡¯t do magic before.¡± L¨¦andro¡¯s hesitation disappeared as he stared at Kai with widened pupils. ¡°I had an accident and couldn¡¯t use my core, my mana veins were broken and I could barely cast any magic.¡± He flicked his wrist and pulled out a fire crystal, and it burst into a ball of flames that replied to Kai¡¯s will. ¡°Now I can be called a Mage. I did this. I healed myself with the help of the Leader of the South Gate.¡± ¡°The Leader of the South Gate?¡± L¨¦andro repeated, his lips moving slowly as he processed Kai¡¯s words. Chapter 165: Parasite Lharus didn¡¯t share my hair color, a beautiful silvery white, nor his mother¡¯s dark locks. No, his hair was red like a burning flame, and long down to his waist. Maybe if he hadn¡¯t been born during the war, he¡¯d have had a better life than what I could give him.
In the forest outside the city, hidden between a rock formation and a dense canopy was a small camp with three raised tents. Moonlight scattered through the leaves, adding some light to the dwindling campfire that crackled with a melancholic melody. Muffled footsteps resounded in the air as branches snapped. A bush rustled as two figures passed through it, walking with hurried urgency toward the middle tent. They were Kai and L¨¦andro, their hastened footsteps living deep imprints in the dirt. Onyx followed closely behind them and took a whiff of the air. As the curtains of the tent flew open, three pairs of eyes turned toward the two, greeting them with hope and confusion. ¡°Who¡¯s the guy?¡± A man with a rotund figure and brown eyes stood up from a crouching position. His facial expression yelled caution, yet his apprehensive look made him look more like a mouse than a threat. ¡°From back then?¡± Another man with a slim figure and short white hair asked, not bothering to stand up. L¨¦andro nodded and invited Kai in. Onyx didn¡¯t enter, though, and stood outside as well. He took a look around the tent, its small interior clearly suited for a single person. It had the fragrance of a rose garden mixed with the bitter smell of sweat and tears. In the center of a tent stood a woman whose flushed face cringed with pain. Surrounding her were the thin and fat men, as well as a man who was on the much larger side. ¡°He¡¯s out keeping guard.¡± The thin man said as he followed L¨¦andro and Kai with his gaze. ¡°I figured that much. How¡¯s she?¡± L¨¦andro replied, hurrying on over to the woman¡¯s side. He took off the blanket covering, revealing an extremely anorexic body covered with red dots. Her pale skin contrasted against her firey orange hair, a few sun freckles kissing her agonized face. L¨¦andro¡¯s face widened in shock, but he dared not touch her more than that. ¡°Worse,¡± L¨¦andro replied to his own question, biting his lower lip. ¡°Have you given her the medication?¡± The large man grunted and took out what looked to be an empty box. Upon seeing that, L¨¦andro shook his head and took out the wooden box. The Blood Flowing Stalk rested neatly within, mana barely leaking out of it as it remained under a tight seal. ¡°Zeliph, what¡¯s the situation?¡± The man¡¯s eyes shone with a soft light as he scanned the woman¡¯s body, his eyes flying over every inch. ¡°Her mana veins are all clogged up and about to burst. The weird energy that nested in her body split and¡­ well you can see the result. This is too strange.¡± L¨¦andro nodded and clicked his tongue, frustration overwhelming him. ¡°But before that the weird energy fed on her mana, now she has too much mana. That means the plant I have¡­¡± ¡°Is useless.¡± Kai cut him off and grabbed the woman¡¯s hand, his fingers pushing against the newly manifested red dots. ¡°WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!¡± The brown-eyed man with a slight roundness to his figure lashed out as he tried to remove Kai from the woman. L¨¦andro signaled for him to stop and shook his head. ¡°He studied under The Lordship of the South Gate. He may be able to help. If not¡­ we can¡­¡± ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Zeliph cut out L¨¦andro¡¯s words but quickly covered his mouth as he realized the gravity of his words. Kai gave L¨¦andro a weird look but didn¡¯t split his attention from the woman¡¯s body. He injected light amounts of mana into her mana veins, threading carefully so as to not interact with her own energy. The man named Zeliph followed what he did with the utmost attention. His pupils widened, though, as he noticed Kai maneuver so gently around the affected areas. The woman¡¯s mana veins had expanded by about forty percent and were put under constant pressure by something. Kai couldn¡¯t be sure by what right away, but the more he pried the more shocked he was. The mana is unnaturally dense. It could be the reason as to why it¡¯s not flowing, but¡­ He diverted his attention toward her core, a shiver running down his spine the more information he had about it. The weird energy invaded more than her body¡­ it invaded her core. It¡¯s¡­ replacing the mana inside with itself and multiplies after devouring it. After thoroughly inspecting the energy, he noticed that an extremely thin thread connected the core and the red, pimple-like dots. Dwelling further into the core, or at least as much as he physically could, he felt his mana getting stolen. Taking a break, he increased his mana output and scanned as much of the surroundings as he could, then¡­ Kai removed his mana from the woman, cold sweat dripped down his trembling hands as he recoiled. All the people in the room stared at him with concern and intrigue, especially Zeliph. He cleared his throat and then said with a half-confident voice, ¡°I think the situation is¡­ dire. Well that much is obvious, but I¡¯m not sure you know how bad it really is.¡± ¡°The mana inside her veins is too thick and dense, blocking the passageway. And the weird energy¡­ it¡­ it¡¯s assimilating¡­ her core. I think the red dots are also helping with that by absorbing mana from the air and digesting it into usable energy for the¡­ thing.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Thing?¡± L¨¦andro inquired as he handed a glass of water over to Kai. ¡°What thing?¡± He refused it, unable to take his mask off, then continued talking. ¡°A worm-like parasite, I suppose. I couldn¡¯t catch what it looked like but it was long and thin, digging into her Mana Core and consuming it. It wanted to attack me too, probably sending an egg or fragment of itself through the mana channel I created. Luckily I cut it off before it was too late.¡± ¡°How¡­ how did you do that? Navigating through her mana veins and gathering information?¡± Kai shook his head and let out a nervous chuckle as he remembered everything that he had gone through and how careful he had to be. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I have experience.¡± He said simply and leaned back, trying not to fall. Zeliph didn¡¯t pry but it didn¡¯t look like his curiosity lessened. Regardless of the case, Kai had no plans of telling anyone what he went through¡­ although he already told Barhm. L¨¦andro grabbed Kai¡¯s arm and tried to look him in the eyes, though the mask covered them for the most part. Kai could see his ocean-blue eyes trembling. Even his body shivered, though Kai could not tell what happened or who the woman was to him. ¡°I don¡¯t have any idea at the moment. The books don¡¯t speak of such an illness¡­ This is most likely recent but¡­ I¡¯ve heard of it. Once. The wife of a friend showed similar symptoms¡­ Before she passed away.¡± That last sentence made the expressions of everyone change. Although it was the truth they needed to hear, it was too brutal. The mood darkened even more as an awkward silence descended within the tent. Kai looked at every member and could see the deep care and love they held for the woman whose hopes of surviving were almost null. A hint of jealousy sparked in his heart, but he quickly suppressed it and stood up. He turned around without saying a word walked out of the tent and headed toward the Obborik. He caressed Onyx¡¯s fur as he looked at the stars and sighed, his breath wavering. A set of footsteps rang out behind him, though he immediately knew who it was. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He managed to say but didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°No worries,¡± L¨¦andro said and sat down next to Kai, leaving about an arm between them. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect anything else anyway. I just had¡­ hopes.¡± Hopes¡­ Kai echoed L¨¦andro¡¯s words as he looked up at the stars. ¡°It¡¯s good to have hopes, you know? As long as they¡¯re not unrealistic.¡± ¡°Unrealistic, huh?¡± L¨¦andro mimicked Kai and looked at the stars. The clear sky revealed many more than otherwise, each of them shimmering on the dark canvas of the night. For a moment they sat in silence, L¨¦andro¡¯s head filled with unknown thoughts while Kai tried to find ways to help the woman. ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± He asked out of the blue, taking L¨¦andro by surprise. ¡°Lilith,¡± he said, his voice scraping against his throat as it struggled to escape his body. ¡°She¡¯s been a good friend of mine ever since¡­ Not only her, Jerry, Zeilph, and Melon¡­ We went through so much together I- I don¡¯t want to think about a journey without either of them.¡± Kai didn¡¯t turn to face him, but L¨¦andro¡¯s voice told him more than enough. To have such close ties with someone¡­ He gently caressed Onyx¡¯s back, his fingers sinking into the fluff. Kai couldn¡¯t help but think about venturing without Onyx, and how depressing such a life would be. I woudn¡¯t whanneh do it alen either. We are pack, brower. The Obborik¡¯s gentle feelings warmed up Kai¡¯s heart, despite the cold wind blowing through the leaves. L¨¦andro¡¯s feelings for Lilith were as true for her as his were for Onyx. Were he in his shoes, Kai would do everything to save his companion even if it meant passing through the gates of hell. Sensing Kai¡¯s thoughts, Onyx¡¯s tail wagged behind him, and he placed his snout on the boy¡¯s shoulder, snuggling comfortably. If only Rodney had some medicinal knowledge¡­ all he knew were theories about physics and chemical reactions. He could have at least dabbled in them. Ivan was a warrior through and through, only things in his mind were the sword and that lord of his. Aina¡¯s medicinal books and records don¡¯t have anything that comes even close to what this is. Madness¡­ where did this originate from? Karfi¡¯s wife had the same symptoms but it all started with a mild cold from what he told me. I am not sure I can do anything about it. And that parasite thing¡­ what¡¯s the deal with it, then the red dots¡­ this isn¡¯t a normal illness at all¡­ A light sigh escaped his body, and he stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes and some of Onyx¡¯s fur. L¨¦andro followed Kai with his gaze, though their color dimmed to a darker blue. ¡°I¡¯m going to look at her again,¡± Kai said as he turned around, his cloak fluttering in the wind. Onyx followed as well and entered the tent alongside his companion under L¨¦andro''s gaze. The three inside the tent flinched at the sight of the Obborik, who didn¡¯t seem to care much for them. He walked to a remote part of the tent and cuddled himself as he watched Kai kneel in front of the woman. He took her hand once again and focused on her outward symptoms, namely the red dots. His fingers brushed them gently, and then he applied some pressure, wanting to see how her body would react. Much to his surprise, though, she didn¡¯t groan or flinch even as he applied more and more sudden pressure. That means the thin threads don¡¯t affect her or the pain receptors are numbed¡­ That also means we can attempt to remove them¡­ Wait¡­ removing¡­ parasite¡­ ah! ¡°Zeliph,¡± he raised his head and addressed the thin, androgynous man. ¡°Do you think she can live without any mana in her body?¡± The man stared at Kai for a moment, his vision unfocusing as he got lost in thought. ¡°Yes¡­ she should be able to. A lack of mana doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll die. Why¡­. why do you ask?¡±He sounded worried, a hint of worry hiding in his voice. ¡°This problem might not be as complicated as I thought originally. The red dots feed the parasite with mana, but the mana within her body is condensing and slowly enlarging the mana veins. Then what if we removed the red dots? What would happen then?¡± Zeliph¡¯s pupils widened as he realized what Kai wanted to do. A brief smile creased his lips as he nodded in agreement. ¡°If the parasite doesn¡¯t feed, it will eventually die without reaching maturity. Is that what you want to say?¡± ¡°Sort of, yes,¡± Kai replied, placing Lilith¡¯s hand down gently. ¡°But I think we need to free her Mana Core as well, so we might have to kill it entirely after it¡¯s weakened. I am¡­ not sure how dangerous this will be. Could be easy, could take a day or a week¡­ but I don¡¯t have the time. We need to start now.¡± His urgent words fell into L¨¦andro¡¯s ears as soon as the curtains parted, a puzzled expression decorating his face. ¡°Start what now?¡± Chapter 166: Heist Just as his hair was as red as a burning flame, so was his temper. Somehow he was docile and easy to calm down, other times he blew up in frustration and anger. Nonetheless, I couldn¡¯t be angry with him, he was my proudest achievement, and still is, long after he left.
¡°We¡¯re going to attempt the removal of the parasite,¡± Kai stated plainly and scanned Lilith¡¯s body. L¨¦andro sat down next to him, his expression as flabbergasted as it was excited. ¡°What do you mean, how?¡± Kai shook his head and let out a sigh as he placed his finger over the red dots. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. Mana is something I don¡¯t fully understand and usual means of removing illnesses wouldn¡¯t work.¡± He explained as he tried to understand the construction of the red dots better. ¡°Mana isn¡¯t a simple thing to understand,¡± Zeliph interjected as he similarly studied Lilith. ¡°It¡¯s a form of energy, just like heat and strength, and we bend it to our wills using the inner organs we evolved. However other forms of energy don¡¯t have such raw power and are harder to use. Similarly, mana can only interact with mana, and the product of the converted mana into magic can interact with everything else.¡± He almost said everything in one single breath. Kai nodded, gaining a deeper understanding of mana and the laws governing this world. Though he didn¡¯t have the time to inquire further, what Zeliph said jogged his memory. ¡°If mana can only interact with mana, then we must use it to get rid of the dots and eventually, the parasite. Although¡­¡± He observed just how many dots covered Lilith on the skin that was visible alone, and shivered at the thought of how many there were. ¡°You¡¯d need a good amount of control for that¡­ I¡¯m afraid very few can do that.¡± L¨¦andro added as his eyes switched between Kai and Lilith. ¡°I think you¡¯re the only one here who can do such a task.¡± Kai nodded, though he wasn¡¯t very happy about that. ¡°I have no choice, then. I said I would help and do my best. I¡¯ll keep my word.¡± He fastened his cloak and took off the blanket completely. Her slender legs were covered in dots, just as her hands were, and the sight filled Kai with a terrible dread. He grabbed her hand and gently inserted mana into her vein, then exercised caution as he guided the worm-like thread toward the closest red dot. It slithered and made contact with it. In that moment Kai felt and saw the entire network that connected the red dots to the core. This is?! The problem revealed itself to be much bigger than he had thought. It wasn¡¯t just countless on-the-surface red dots that fed the parasite. They were everywhere. On the mana veins, in the veins and flesh of Lilith¡¯s body, surrounding her organs and covering them as they multiplied indefinitely. This is insane¡­ what are they trying to do? Do they want to take control of her body? That¡¯s¡­ just who created such an evil technique? However this way¡­ doesn¡¯t seem that bad. This development gave Kai an idea. An idea that could be as dangerous as it might be fruitful. Controlling his shock, Kai tried to encircle the bottom part of the red dot and do what they were doing with Lilith¡¯s body. He fed it the mana he had, however, unlike the natural mana, he still had control over his. The red dot¡¯s color changed as it absorbed the little amount of mana Kai allowed it to. It went from the red to a more transparent blue, until Kai took over it entirely. After he did so, he waited to see if the parasite would react to the change, but even after a minute that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. In that case, let me see just how much damage I can do. He acted with caution and used the thin thread that connected the former red dot and followed it. It passed by several organs, red dots, and areas before heading into the Mana Core, straight to the parasite. Kai didn¡¯t dare venture further and immediately cut the mana link he created, afraid that the parasite might catch on to something. The red dot that he took over disappeared and faded under the group¡¯s shocked gaze. Kai gasped for air as he returned to himself, and let go of Lilith¡¯s hand. ¡°Amazing¡­¡± ¡°Not amazing,¡± Kai interjected through heavy breaths. ¡°It takes too much effort and¡­ they¡¯re everywhere. Not just on the surface, there¡¯s hundreds of thousands of them in her body.¡± The group stood in silence for a moment, with Zeliph scratching his chin. ¡°Do you think¡­ you can do it?¡± He asked slowly and carefully with apprehension. ¡°Would you be able to save her?¡± A few minutes of silence passed. Kai looked at a corner, deep in thought. My current mana reserves would be barely enough to remove the dots on her skin. That was my original plan, but now¡­ I need more. Much more. He shook his head with a sigh, ¡°I can¡­ but not right now. Not as I am. I think I need to break through first, then it will be easier.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°What do you mean?¡± L¨¦andro said, turning to him. ¡°The plant. I need it, and probably many more like it.¡± Zelpih, L¨¦andro, and the two fat men gave Kai a weird look, one he didn¡¯t expect. Nevertheless, he knew that there wasn¡¯t any point in hiding his technique from them. ¡°I can drain plants of their mana and use it for myself. That is why I wanted the Blood Flowing Stalk.¡± At that moment, something clicked in L¨¦andro¡¯s head, and he took out the sealed box as fast as he could. ¡°You mean you can speed up the time it takes for your core to grow?¡± Scoffing at the remark, Kai took the box. ¡°Speed up, yeah you can say so.¡± He paused and opened it. ¡°I¡¯d rather say that I developed this method because traditional means failed me.¡± ¡°What is your current core progress?¡± Zeliph asked without any hesitation. ¡°Medium Core One Star Mage¡­ Forty-three percent refined.¡± Kai said, regret hidden in his voice. After they left the city, he had no time to gather mana plants and absorb them. The main reason is that Yasa always wanted to be on the move. Another reason was that there simply weren¡¯t enough plants he could get. The plants I used before have diminishing returns and any new ones I found weren¡¯t that much better. Such a pain¡­ ¡°I¡¯m going outside to absorb this and I will have to think about the next course of action after seeing the results.¡± He informed them as the curtains to the tent parted open. Onyx stood up with a lazy yawn and followed him, though they stopped around a dozen or so meters away. Kai took out the plant and placed it in front of him, then encased it in mana. Closing his eyes, he put to use the amalgamation of a technique Barhm created. After using it a couple dozen times, Kai¡¯s mastery of it has reached a high level. Though he couldn¡¯t say for sure he would be able to filter out as much of the impurities as before. Minutes trickled by and the Blood Flowing Stalk became nothing more than a shivered dreg. It crumbled into pieces as Kai let go of it and absorbed the mana it provided. His eyes opened and shone with a soft light. Fifty-percent. This plant truly lives up to its name. I expected a lot more, though¡­ Well, I only managed to purify about thirty percent of the mana¡­Kai sighed and guessed that to a normal Mage that plant would yield more than it did him. He dragged his feet back inside the tent. The group¡¯s expectation gazes fell upon him, yet he shook his head. ¡°I miscalculated. I would need a lot more Blood Flowing Stalks if I want to break through.¡± L¨¦andro lowered his head. His lips parted open, but he didn¡¯t say anything. The ocean blue of his eyes looked at Kai with a yet hopeful gaze. But what could he do? It wasn¡¯t like there was an infinite supply of Blood Flowing Stalks lying around. Or maybe there are?! His head snapped to L¨¦andro and asked with a half-excited tone. ¡°Do you know how many contests have been held so far?¡± ¡°To win the plant? I think¡­ maybe¡­ five. Including ours.¡± ¡°And how long does he plan on staying?¡± ¡°I heard he¡¯s going to be staying here for a while,¡± Zeliph interjected and said in a soft voice. Kai nodded and turned toward the exit, looking back at L¨¦andro. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I have an idea.¡± The blonde-haired boy jumped to his feet and took a last glance at his entourage before following Kai outside. They were joined by Onyx soon thereafter. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°WE,¡± Kai emphasized, ¡°are going get more Blood Flowing Stalks.¡± ¡°Huh? But how?¡± L¨¦andro asked, yet he answered his own question soon after voicing it. ¡°We aren¡¯t going to¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kai cut him off and hurried his pace. ¡°We¡¯re going to rob that sleazy guy and take all the plants he has.¡± ¡°Rob? But-¡± L¨¦andro wanted to protest, but Kai didn¡¯t allow him. Grabbing his hand, he enchanted his feet with mana and rushed toward the city. ¡°You want Lilith to be saved, I want to level up. Good enough.¡± ¡°Still¡­ robbing someone?¡± ¡°Robbing a dishonest businessman,¡± Kai explained as they advanced. ¡°Some of the matches were rigged and I bet he won more money than he knows what to do with.¡± ¡°Rigged? What-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t noticed. You¡¯re smarter than that.¡± ¡°But still-¡± ¡°L¨¦andro,¡± Kai¡¯s imposing, yet still friendly tone rang out in the boy¡¯s years. ¡°That man¡¯s plants or Lilith¡¯s life, which do you choose?¡± After hearing that, L¨¦andro shut his mouth and followed Kai, more dragged around than walking. Onyx followed at a leisurely pace. It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the city gate. The guards already knew them, so they allowed passage without hassle. As soon as they were out of sight, Kai snuck through the shadows, making himself as invisible as possible. That didn¡¯t work much for L¨¦andro, though. Fortunately for them most of the people weren¡¯t roaming the streets that late at night. Kai made his way to the large plaza, where the arena still stood, albeit more broken than at the start of the day. The man¡¯s stall remained in front of it, though it was closed and shut. Onyx, do you smell anyone? Kai inquired to his friend, who in turn took rapid whiffs of the air. No. He replied simply, which gave Kai the go-ahead to rush toward the stall, sword in hand. L¨¦andro didn¡¯t have any time to process the events as he found himself dragged toward the wooden storage and transaction area. Kai slashed at whatever lock the man put in place with a mana-infused sword and opened the door as fast as he could. The lock and chain clinked to the ground, echoing in the empty area. He looked inside and saw the same dozens upon dozens of boxes lying on the floor, in stacks. No sign of the gold though, not that he cared for it. The man probably made a nice profit from him choosing the plant instead of the coins. ¡°Help me take everything.¡± He said in a whisper as fast as he could. I won¡¯t have enough space in both rings for all of them. I don¡¯t know if I can store stuff in my necklace. I hope this ¡®majesty¡¯ has enough space in his fancy ring. L¨¦andro hesitated for a moment but followed Kai inside and grabbed whatever he could. Neither of them checked if it was what they were looking for, nor did they care. At that moment, as their hearts raced and adrenaline spiked, all they could think about was getting the hell out of there as soon as possible. The stall cleared in a matter of minutes, with only a few hard-to-see boxes remaining to litter the floor. ¡°Alright, this is enough.¡± However, just as they prepared to leave, Onyx¡¯s voice rang in Kai¡¯s mind. Hwmans! Strwong! Flwee! The boy¡¯s head snapped toward the entrance, but it was too late as the angry voice of a man roared in their ears. ¡°What the fuck are you two thieves doing here?!¡± Chapter 167: Fight? Ah, I remember. When I first taught him magic. That Lharus¡­ he seemed so excited. Much more than his brothers ever were about it. He was so eager to test his element aptitude. However, one thing shocked me greatly. Not only did he have the ability to use all seven elements, but he also had an inkling of what the basic spells were. He created balls of fire, pools of water, gusts of wind, and mounds of earth. Darkness took over the room for a second before light made it disappear. He did all of that in less than five minutes. At that moment, I couldn¡¯t be prouder, happier, excited. Such a strong soldier to serve our ranks¡­ such utter potential! I have never heard of anyone having all the elements at birth, not amongst us, the humans, elves, or whomever else. Perhaps they kept them hidden, perhaps I should keep him hidden, too.
Two men as tall as the stall itself blocked the exit. Dressed in light armor made of leather and iron in the vital areas, a sword hung by their waist. Neither of them looked any friendlier than that man standing in front of them, whose face flushed red with anger. That man was the stall owner, of course. Some drool dripped down the side of the mouth, and he staggered as he approached. His dilated pupils widened upon seeing who it was that robbed him. Even in his drunken state, he wasn¡¯t stupid. ¡°Get them!¡± He shouted, immediately backing away behind the two large men. They grunted and silently approached Kai and L¨¦andro. ¡°What now?¡± The blonde-haired boy asked as he took out his sword. ¡°Don¡¯t you already know the answer?¡± Kai snickered and rushed them. His feet shone with a soft light and he passed them by before they could understand what happened. His figure disappeared into the darkness, accompanied by Onyx. Glancing back, he noticed L¨¦andro approaching at a fast pace with a stupefied expression. ¡°I thought we were going to fight?¡± ¡°Why fight when we can run? Haha.¡± Kai laughed and sped up, confident that they left the two men eating dust. He maneuvered in the dark alleyways with the agility of a cat. Familiar with everything and anything that could be found in such places, he avoided them and even jumped on the roofs for greater movement. They left the city after passing through the gate slow enough for the guards to notice them. However, Kai took a slight detour around the city and in the opposite direction before stopping below a large tree. Onyx waited for him there and L¨¦andro caught up in no time. He had long since put his sword away, and panthed as he leaned against the tree trunk. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect¡­. you to be to be so good at running¡­¡± ¡°I got training,¡± Kai said as he wiped the sweat off his face. ¡°If they managed to follow us we definitely lost them by now.¡± He added, straightening his back. ¡°Yeah,¡± L¨¦andro did the same, even cracking some of his bones. ¡°That was scary, man.¡± ¡°Scary?¡± Kai rolled his eyes, ¡°I thought you¡¯d be used to doing things like that.¡± ¡°Huh? No, why would I be used?¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve killed people before-¡± ¡°That¡¯s different,¡± L¨¦andro interjected, almost snapping at Kai. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were a trained thief.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not¡­¡± Kai thought, reflecting on the past and realizing he had almost never committed a crime. So then where did this sudden idea of robbing people come from? Could it be¡­ He sat down and shut his eyes, leaning against the tree trunk. L¨¦andro watched him, confused but sat down as well. When I was researching with Barhm, I had a big urge to do so. I do not think I ever wanted to do research on anything before, but something inside me called for it. I joked that it was Rodney but¡­ could it really? Could these memory fragments influence me to such an extent? Ivan¡¯s memories are very incomplete but¡­ he was a traveller after all. How could he afford food every day, in every city? And before that, he was¡­ something. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he awoke from his thoughts. He shook his head, unwilling to think about it anymore, and decided to control his future urges better. A sigh left his lips. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what we¡­ borrowed.¡± He waved his hand and made more than a dozen boxes appear at once. L¨¦andro did the same. They stacked on top of each other and made for quite a sight out of the dark corners of the stall. All of them were made out of refined, dark, and finely carved wood. Just the boxes alone would sell for a few silvers, even if you forgot about their sealing properties. Kai picked one up and opened it. However the shine within his pupils diminished upon seeing that it wasn¡¯t a Blood Flowing Stalk, but something else. River Dust¡­ Not a mana-rich plant at all. It¡¯s mostly used for potions. He recalled the books Aina more or less forced him to read and sighed. ¡°Not a good one?¡± L¨¦andro inquired with slight anxiety in his voice. ¡°Nope, this plant can¡¯t be eaten as it is right now¡­ unless you want to die,¡± Kai explained and put it away within his ring, before picking up another box. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. River Dust¡­ Yellow Green¡­ Firey Blob¡­ Ugh, Stink Swamp¡­ where did this guy get so many plants nobody but apothecaries can use? Kai felt quite disgruntled about the whole thing. After all, they had gone through the trouble of stealing them, and then running away, the least they could do was to have a good haul. Despite his complaints, he decided to keep them all, as he never knew when he¡¯d need to use one of them. Not to mention the boxes were of very high quality. ¡°Look, Blood Flowing Stalk!¡± L¨¦andro called out to Kai before handing him a box. After taking a look inside, the boy had concluded that it was indeed the plant they needed. ¡°Let¡¯s keep looking.¡± He said with a sigh and kept on opening and closing boxes. Kai kept count of how many he had, too. After half an hour of searching, he ended up with a good number of plants, most of which would be helpful. Fifteen Blood-Flowing Stalks Ten River Dusts Two Stink Swamps Three Volcano Lilies Nine Spider Tullips Thirteen Golden Cicadas Nine Magnol Cups Ten Round-Faced Lions Seventy-one plants in total, not bad. I can use the Blood Flowing Stalks and Golden Cicadas to advance my mana core. The rest of the plants are either meant to be used in potions or contain more life energy than mana. To think that man had plants from all corners of the continent¡­ I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t know whom we robbed. He glanced at L¨¦andro, who didn¡¯t seem particularly impressed at the haul. Well¡­ he doesn¡¯t need to know. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± L¨¦andro asked as he stored away whatever plants he could. ¡°I¡¯m going to absorb as much of their mana as I can and hope to advance to a Large Core One Star Mage. I think I¡¯ll be able to help Lilith then. However, I make no guarantees.¡± L¨¦andro¡¯s pupils trembled, yet he shook his head and nodded slowly. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll guard you in that case.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Kai replied simply and laid out the first Blood Flowing Stalk. He used the technique Barhm helped him create and absorb its mana without many problems. His core greedily accepted the energy and consumed it all. His star on the other hand was only half full, and it would only fill if Kai wanted it to. However, in that moment he only wanted to focus on his core as much as possible. Fifty seven¡­ The first plant crumbled into dust as he released its dried up stalk, only to be immediately replaced by another. Sixty three¡­ Another fifteen minutes passed, and another Blood Flowing stalk disappeared. L¨¦andro watched Kai¡¯s process with a weird sense of awe. After all, mages usually used potions and the environmental mana to absorb mana. Yet, right before his eyes, one such mage absorbed raw mana from plants in an incredibly unusual manner. He almost couldn¡¯t believe his eyes, yet¡­ Sixty-six¡­ Seventy¡­ Seventy-four¡­ As the minutes trickled by, a small mound of withered plant dust collected in front of Kai, and he had almost forgotten about the outside world. All he saw were his core, the mana flowing in his veins, and the decreasing amount of progress he made with each plant. His small yet hungry core had been refined to seventy percent. However, due to Kai¡¯s previous experiences with ranking up, he knew that the hard part hadn¡¯t even begun yet. I still have ten Blood Flowing Stalks and thirteen Golden Cicadas¡­ if these aren¡¯t enough to completely refine my core then I will be in trouble. His closed eyes opened wide and he swished his sleeves, summoning the rest of the plants he didn¡¯t think about using. He placed them neatly in front of him and took the ones L¨¦andro picked up as well. The blonde-haired boy didn¡¯t question his actions and even watched Kai with curiosity. Onyx, on the other hand, rolled his eyes as he lazily lifted his snout, knowing that Kai was about to attempt something crazy again. Kai scoffed after sensing the Obborik¡¯s thoughts, but Onyx only replied by digging his snout into his paws and pretending to be asleep. Smart ass¡­ Onyx replied to that with a quick snort. Kai ignored his companion¡¯s lack of respect and focused on the task at hand. I will absorb the plants one by one until the individual effects are negligent¡­ then absorb all of them at once. I¡¯m advancing fast right now, however, I¡¯m not even a Two Star Small Core Mage yet¡­ I¡¯m afraid I will need a large quantity of plants or better quality plants later on¡­ What a pain. Regardless of the future, he pushed through and began absorbing the rest of the plants. His proficiency at controlling mana increased alongside his proficiency with using the technique, which in turn yielded better results. From being able to only refine about thirty percent of the plant¡¯s mana, he managed to raise that number to thirty-five percent. Sure it may look like a small difference, but the quality and speed at which the Mana Core got refined increased substantially. Eighty percent¡­ He thought as he refined the fourteenth Blood Flowing Stalk. That last increase was only one percent¡­ the next one will be negligible. It¡¯s time, then. His eyes flew open and the plants he placed before him, at least the ones that held significant quantities of mana, floated above him as he secured each of them in a bubble. The Blood Flowing Stalks, the Golden Cicadas, River Dusts, and Volcano Lilies all gathered in front of him in a large mana bubble. He also threw in the remaining mana plants he had in his ring, as every fraction of a percentage counted. With all the preparations made, he began the process of extracting mana from the plants. He still did it one by one, just like before, and the time it took for him to extract the mana didn¡¯t change. However, as the plants piled up, so did the amount of mana inside the bubble. Likewise, the impurities that gathered in a corner moved about like a cloud. After one hour, all of the plants inside the bubble became nothing more than dust, which Kai then dropped off. That removed some of the burden on his mana control, but that didn¡¯t mean he was safe just yet. A large empty glass vial appeared in his right hand, and he willed the bubble with the impurities toward it. He placed most of them into the vial, then quickly sealed it and put it back within his ring. The only thing left now was the mana bubble. It measured fifty centimeters in diameter. The mana inside of it resembled a viscous liquid more than it did a cloud or vapor. Its density was so high that anyone could both see and touch it if they dared. However Kai couldn¡¯t afford to waste time experimenting, as by his calculations, morning would come soon. ¡°L¨¦andro,¡± he called out as he took a deep breath. ¡°I want you to get ready and feed me your mana if you feel that I need more. Understood?¡± The boy nodded and approached Kai, standing mere inches from his back. ¡°You will know when I will need you.¡± After saying that, Kai turned toward the bubble and prepared himself. Absorb it slowly, then all at once when the time is right¡­ Easy, I did worse before¡­ I know what I¡¯m doing now. Chapter 168: Done Not even three years after the Talent Aptitude Showcase, Lharus advanced to be a Three Star Medium Core Mage. He was only fifteen and he was stronger than some of my generals. His mastery and enthusiasm for magic pushed him to be one of the very best mages I ever had the honor of meeting. I never told him that though, and maybe I should have¡­
The mana flowed from the bubble toward Kai¡¯s Mana Core through his mana veins. It filled up slowly as it ate away at the invisible walls within. Increasingly more mana got used the more he progressed, and so the more it got wasted. However, it was a necessary step toward attaining completion. Once the Mana Core was filled with mana, Kai could begin the process of expanding it, and use the pressure granted by the star to condense the mana within. That was the true and tested method he knew and used. Maybe it wasn¡¯t the most efficient, but it was definitely the most practical. Minutes trickled by, anxiety looming over both him and L¨¦andro. Kai felt the limits of his efforts approach, as it got harder and harder to push past the eighty-four percent point. His heart raced and sweat dripped down his blazing skin in a feeble attempt to cool him down. He gulped and prepared himself, both mentally and physically, for what he was about to do. Onyx rose from his nap and approached the two, standing a safe distance away, as vigilant as ever. His eyes scanned the area as they glowed with a soft light. His ears twitched and listened to the whispers of the wind. Seeing his companion ready to act at any minute, Kai felt safer. Alright, I can do it. Take it slow, then blast it, but not too hard. Keep my cool¡­ I don¡¯t have Ania or Elizabeth here to save me¡­ I should be used to this by now. He took in a deep breath and siphoned a larger amount of mana. It rushed up his left hand and straight into his Mana Core. That pushed the total refined percentage from eighty percent to eighty-two, and that number kept increasing as the mana from the bubble decreased. However, even that stopped at about the eighty-seven percent mark. So far this progress proved to be easier than the last time Kai ranked up. However, that alone made him nervous. It can¡¯t be that easy¡­ something is definitely up. He thought through gritted teeth and accelerated the process of transferring mana. And he was right because as soon as the refinement progress reached eighty-nine percent, it almost crawled to a halt. He cursed inwardly, then took a deep breath. It¡¯s time. He gave L¨¦andro a glance and a nod, then paid him no further attention. Kai turned toward the remaining mana within the bubble, which was just about halfway full. He didn¡¯t consider whether it was enough or not and only knew that it had to be. Without further hesitation he willed the bubble toward his heart, making it as small as possible, then it penetrated his flesh and bones. It sat next to the core, almost touching it. Another deep breath. With a wave of his hand, the mana bubble collided with the core and burst as soon as they touched. All of the mana invading Kai¡¯s body got sucked away by the greedy Mana Core, and Kai activated his star to help with the process. In that same instant, L¨¦andro poured as much mana as he could into Kai¡¯s body. Ninety Percent! Kai grit his teeth in anguish as the mana revolving around the core and star forces its way in. However, the refinement process sped up significantly at the same time. Ninety-Two Percent! Ninety Three Percent! Ninety Four Percent! It began slowing down however Kai pushed through and controlled the mana to be even more violent. It became nothing more than an oppressive force eating away at the invisible resistance that the Mana Core had. Slowly but surely the process was almost complete. Ninety-Five¡­ Ninety-Six¡­ Ninety-Seven¡­ Kai let out a primal scream as he pushed the last bit of mana even further than normal. He absorbed the mana from the environment as well, in addition to the one L¨¦andro provided, and bombarded his Mana Core until¡­ Ninety-Eight! Ninety-Nine! One Hundred! The moment it reached one hundred percent and completely filled up, cracks began appearing on its surface. Kai pulled all of the mana he could at that moment and began the process of enlarging and refining the Mana Core. It passed from a Medium Core to a Large Core in a matter of seconds, and its refinement process was already twenty percent done. That meant that Kai could store 120% more mana than before. However, he wasn¡¯t content with that little. He called upon the mana stored within the star and the mana L¨¦andro provided to refine the Mana Core before it had the chance to fully solidify. Doing so would allow him to have an even greater mana capacity and control potential. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. L¨¦andro let out a light cough and his weak hands slid down Kai¡¯s back as he collapsed, however, the boy paid him no heed as he was focused on the star. He pulled out all the mana from within, which meant to serve as support and a last line, then gave it the Mana Core one last push. Fucking¡­ become¡­. bigger! He yelled inwardly and rotated the leftover mana, molding the newly enlarged core into an even bigger version of itself. At the same time, he pushed for more and more refinement until the mana shone with a light blue hue. The vortex created by the mana turned into a beacon of light that worked with such intense strength that unnatural cracks spread around his core. His Mana Veins screamed and stored as they worked at full capacity. Kai was well aware that any mishap would lead to him becoming a cripple, however, he had long since learned his limits. Keeping himself composed, he gave the mana one last push. It was just enough for the refinement of the new core to reach thirty-three percent. Satisfied, he stopped. The vortex halted and the light faded, and his eyes snapped open, the crimson within glowing softly. I pushed past the one hundred percent mark and reached one hundred and thirty-three percent refinement¡­ One Star Large Core at 133% refinement¡­ Who would have thought this possible? He looked back at L¨¦andro whose eyes were filled with a sense of wonder beneath their faded color. The boy was lying on his stomach, barely able to move his head up to meet Kai¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you alright?!¡± Kai jumped to his feet and leaned L¨¦andro against a tree, quickly pulling out a water pouch. He coughed lightly as he gulped down on the pouch, and some color returned to his pale skin. ¡°For the most part, I am. Just, you took all my mana very quickly. I need some time to recover.¡± Kai scratched the back of his head as he let out an awkward laugh. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t do it consciously.¡± L¨¦andro shook his head and waved his hand with an awry smile. ¡°That¡¯s fine, don¡¯t worry about it¡­ It looks like you broke through, though.¡± Nodding, Kai picked up all the boxes and scattered the dregs the plants created. ¡°I did, can you walk?¡± He asked, extending a hand to help L¨¦andro up. ¡°I¡¯ll manage. Let¡¯s hurry, I¡¯m not sure if Lilith can endure for much longer.¡± The boy groaned as he got up, then stumbled on his feet as he took a step forward. ¡°Woah there,¡± Kai exclaimed, catching him. ¡°Looks like you love putting on a show, huh?¡± L¨¦andro chuckled and looked up at Kai, ¡°Always. What the fu-¡± Before he could straighten his back, though, a larger Onyx snuck between his legs and began carrying him on his back. With as much strut as a horse. ¡°Kai, what the fuck, when did he get so big?¡± Kai chuckled at the question but didn¡¯t say anything. His figure disappeared in a gust of wind, his trail heading to the city. Onyx followed suit, though at a much slower pace, to accommodate for the added weight. The boy¡¯s clothes fluttered as the wind blew against him, his feet glowing with a soft light as he jumped over roots, bushes, and hills. He climbed on top of the trees and jumped from one branch to another, much like a monkey would. A thrilled smile creased his lips as he pushed his newfound speed to the limit. If I¡¯m this fast¡­ I can only imagine how much stronger my attacks would be. Fuck, I need to learn better swordplay. He rushed toward L¨¦andro¡¯s camp with the agility of a cat and arrived before he even realized. Without giving himself any time to catch his breath, he entered the tent. Zeliph and the rest started slightly before realizing who it was that pushed open the curtains, and the look in their eyes screamed their emotions better than they could show them. ¡°You did it,¡± Zeliph stated, his eyes shining. ¡°I did, and please stop doing that,¡± Kai said and sat down next to Lilith, whose condition worsened in the short time he was gone. The red dots multiplied by at least twofold on the surface, and he couldn¡¯t dare guess what her organs looked like. ¡°Alright, I apologize.¡± Zeliph lowered his head, ¡°Do you think you can help her?¡± ¡°I do, I am not certain, though. However I will need to act fast, it¡¯s getting worse.¡± He grabbed her arm with both hands and pushed on a group of red dots, then sent mana inside her body. There wasn¡¯t any resistance, and he quickly got to work. Firstly, by isolating the first group of dots, he created a central point for his removal process. However, he had originally planned to find all the connections and nullify them. Things have changed, though, as he came to the dreadful realization that they were all connected. Each of the red dots was connected to the entire ensemble that covered her skin and organs. To say that he was lucky he got there in time wasn¡¯t a stretch. If I was late by even a little she would be nothing but¡­ whatever the fuck that parasite is doing. Either way, I guess we¡¯re both lucky. So he began taking over all the surrounding dots, converting them, and expanding his influence over them. Much to his surprise, the entire process took little to no effort. The red dots more than willingly gave themselves up for the grab. Unsure of what to make of that, he decided to keep going and do his best to fight against whatever the parasite was plotting. Though just the thought alone sent a shiver down his spine. He couldn¡¯t be sure if what he was doing was the right choice, and if he failed he had no idea what could happen to Lilith. However, he had to try. Steeling his nerves, he continued the process of taking over the dots. Time passed, and minutes turned to hours, the sun was ready to rise. Sweat dripped down Kai¡¯s body, and his arms shook as he continued to assimilate the unknown illness. Most of the red spots had been taken over, both inside and out, however, Lilith¡¯s pale expression only continued to amplify. Her group watched with anxiety-ridden faces, their hearts racing in unison as Kai¡¯s trembling arms struggled to keep their grip on the woman¡¯s. Blood tricked down as he bit down on his lip and tongue, whether consciously or subconsciously. His heart, too, raced with unfeathered anxiety and fear. His mana veins, his entire body screamed. Yet he didn¡¯t listen, his only goal was to save the woman lying before him. He didn¡¯t even know if he could, but he tried anyway. Looking inside Lilith¡¯s body, feeling the illness subsidizing as he took over the dots, he had a bad feeling about it. It¡¯s too easy¡­ He thought but continued what he was doing nonetheless. This was the only way he figured he could save her. As he approached her mana core, taking over as many dots as he could, he shuddered. His attention flew toward Lilith¡¯s heart, which began to race out of nowhere. Then, he felt his control over the red dots loosen and break before he could even attempt to strengthen it. In less than a second he had lost over fifty percent of his mana. A cracking sound echoed within Lilith¡¯s body as soon as the mana entered it. Kai¡¯s head rang and spun, and he let go of Lilith¡¯s arm, almost collapsing. L¨¦andro jumped to hold him up, as did Onyx, whilst the others rushed to stabilize Lilith¡¯s seizing body. Chapter 169: Fighting a losting battle But there is no time to regret what I did, or what I didn¡¯t. We are still at war, even though we hold a big advantage, the humans and the rest of the impure breeds fight harder than they ever did.
¡°What happened?¡± Zeliph snapped as his eyes shone with a furious light. ¡°What did you do?!¡± However, Kai hadn¡¯t even the strength to lift his head, let alone reply. Panic washed over his entire body as he coughed and gripped whatever he could to stabilize himself. Sweat dripped down his blazing forehead. He knew he had no time for words. He had to hurry. Kai pushed himself forward, leaning on his knees and hands as he reached for Lilith. Nobody tried to stop him, not that they dared to. As far as they knew only he was able to stabilise her. As soon as Kai sent mana into Lilith¡¯s body, he understood the gravity of the situation. All of the red dots disappeared completely, but that didn¡¯t give him any relief. Working his way up toward the Mana Core, he noticed a large, vertical crack going from one end to the other. Out of that crack seeped a viscous, somewhat fleshy liquid-like substance. A shiver ran down his spine as he noticed it move and wriggle about, slowly covering Lilith¡¯s Mana Core. It used me! He exclaimed inwardly with as much anger as one could feel. It didn¡¯t take a genius to understand that the parasite allowed Kai to take over the red dots, then recalled them and devoured his mana as soon as he was almost done. I was a fool, fuck! He didn¡¯t allow himself to cry for too long, though, as he began to think of ways to resolve the situation. Attacking it with mana? No, what if it just absorbs it? Maybe trying to fight for control of it? That would be too dangerous¡­ Sealing the Mana Core away while I chip at the parasite¡¯s health? That could kill her first¡­ What then? How do I save her? It¡¯s clear that the parasite is going to take over her core, that is its goal, and it¡¯s smart enough to play me. Is there nothing I can do? His desperate thoughts echoed in his head, making it so even Onyx heard them whether he wanted to or not. Sadly due to Onyx¡¯s age and limited intellect, he could only offer a sharp whine to comfort Kai. That didn¡¯t help much, though, besides reminding him of the outside world. Minutes passed and his anxiety increased, regardless of how much he tried to remain calm. I should have never said I could do it, never should have given them hope¡­ What do I do? His confidence crumbled and panic rose as he stared helplessly at the parasite spreading its influence over her core. It wanted to devour it completely, to take over, but for what purpose? Kai couldn¡¯t tell. He recalled what it looked like, or what he thought he saw when the thing attacked him. So ugly¡­ scared the life out of me¡­ Wait¡­ attacked me? It wanted me more than it wanted Lilith! Even willing to give up all progress to transfer itself to my core. Could it be¡­ A crazy idea began blooming inside Kai¡¯s mind. However, he stopped before he acted. Question himself. Would he risk his life to save a stranger? Would he risk losing everything he worked for just because of an old acquaintance? Conflicted, he hesitated. Yet, the more he looked at the parasite, the angrier he got. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but seeing that thing wringling about made him want to tear it apart. Besides his urge to do just that, he felt that the pressure leaning on his shoulders to save Lilith was too much for him to bear. Could he live with himself after speeding up the woman¡¯s death? He couldn¡¯t. So, in a last-ditch effort to save her, he acted. Without any further, he opened up his mana veins and blasted as much mana into the thing as possible. Just like last time, he acted without any caution, and even worse than that, he opened himself up for the thing to attack him. It shuddered upon feeling Kai¡¯s rich, abundant mana and the movement of his now Large Mixed Core, and detached itself from Lilith¡¯s. Within the blink of an eye, it disappeared and rushed up Kai¡¯s mana veins, reaching his core in less than a second. There, it immediately began trying to assimilate Kai¡¯s mixed core. The wriggling mass that was the parasite opened up and encompassed it without any resistance from Kai, swallowing it entirely. The boy collapsed into a coughing fit, blood seeping out of his nostrils, mouth, and pores. L¨¦andro and the rest jumped, and the former¡¯s ocean-blue eyes widened as he grasped Kai¡¯s hand. However, he immediately let go as a ¡®tsh¡¯ sound escaped his body. A small burn-like mark pulsated on his palm. Onyx didn¡¯t have any luck trying to lift Kai either, as he too recoiled from the intense heat radiating from the boy¡¯s body. Zeliph¡¯s eyes shone with soft light, and his face paled as he noticed what the parasite consuming, or adapting Kai¡¯s core. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Boy, what¡¯s going on?¡± The short, bald man asked as glanced at Lilith, whose pained expression faded away for the most part. However, she was deathly pale and her shallow breathing made her resemble a missing corpse more than a woman. ¡°He-¡± Zeliph¡¯s mouth opened as he looked at Kai¡¯s core, yet he couldn¡¯t bring himself to finish the sentence. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off of the parasite. It took L¨¦andro shaking him awake for the man to come back to his senses. He blinked rapidly as the shine within his pupils faded. ¡°The parasite is inside him right now,¡± Zeliph said slowly, yet these words alone made L¨¦andro¡¯s stomach fall. ¡°What?!¡± His head snapped back toward the collapsed Kai as he yelled. A crimson puddle formed below him, soaking his black clothes and seeping out of his mask. ¡°Kai!¡± ¡°It looks like whatever the illness was, was tied to that parasite. He decided to fight it in Lilith¡¯s place.¡± ¡°That¡¯s madness!¡± The bald man said, rushing toward Kai. The cook let out a grunt, nodding and helping the bald man. However, they too recoiled back from the heat. ¡°Bring water, now!¡± L¨¦andro barked as his fists shone with a faint layer of magic. The cook grunted and left the tent, accompanied by the bald man. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. At that same moment, L¨¦andro grabbed Kai by the collar and lifted him. Bearing through the pain of his hand getting burned was no easy task, evident by the veins bulging on his forehead. ¡°We can¡¯t allow his body to overheat!¡± His voice escaped through pained grunts. Zeliph joined in as well, flinching at the amount of heat. Yet, by relying on the protection provided by mana, they managed to push Kai upright and take off the blood-soaked clothes. As L¨¦andro reached for the mask, Onyx let out a low, warning growl as he snarled. He gulped at the sudden ferocity and decided to lift it just enough for the blood to flow down. ¡­ Whilst the other tried to keep his body from overheating, Kai fought another battle. He didn¡¯t think of what to do after he allowed the parasite to invade his body, but now was the moment for him to think. However, thinking while your core was being devoured by an unknown illness wasn¡¯t as easy as one would think. Intense amounts of pain washed over him every second, and he felt his mana reserves lower as time passed. His life was on a timer, now more than ever. Having no mana wouldn¡¯t harm him outright, however, what he feared most was what would happen after that. He didn¡¯t want to find out. His Mixed Mana Core was more resilient than other cores, though, as its surface was protected by a sturdy Body Core layer. Kai didn¡¯t know how much that would last, though. I can afford to use attacks now. I know my own body better than anyone, I just hope that thing doesn¡¯t do anything else. It clearly has some sort of intelligence, and it¡¯s not asking on pure instinct. If that¡¯s the case I need to be even more careful than before. Without waiting for the parasite to fully assimilate his core, Kai acted. First, he stopped the flow of mana. Doing so would allow him to keep whatever he had within his veins. He also had his star, which was more than halfway full. Kai planned to use it in a key moment, whenever the moment would present itself. However, to say that he had a plan would be an overstatement. But he couldn¡¯t afford to waste any time. He tried to control the mana within his core, but it was unresponsive. There¡¯s still a link to it but it¡¯s as if it¡¯s in another location altogether¡­ As the man stopped, the parasite flinched as it continued to assimilate Kai¡¯s core. A sinister scraping sound rang in his mind, into his very bones and blood. The parasite wriggled as it dug deeper and deeper into Kai¡¯s Body''s Core layer. Yet, because he couldn¡¯t reach the Mana Core, it had little to no mana aside from what it absorbed from Kai previously. That gave the boy a good amount of time to counter-attack. However, with no spells, blade, and only some mana and his consciousness, such a task would be difficult. Do I let it absorb all the mana within my core and then let it starve? No, it could do too much damage to my core. Fuck, I guess attacking is the only good option. He then acted and willed the mana under his control form into sharp, thin, needle-like weapons. In total, around two hundred of those needles shot toward the parasite. They were smaller than a grain of sand and sharper than a scalpel. Kai could tell some sort of micro wound opened up within his mana veins, yet he would much rather have to heal those than deal with a broken core. They flew toward the parasite with an incredible speed and, just as it looked like they were about to hit, the parasite¡¯s surface wiggled in a weird way, and it expanded as it turned soft. However, the needles stopped dead in their tracks, shattering into mana particles which then got absorbed by the parasite. It didn¡¯t take any damage and even profited from the entire ordeal. Kai¡¯s anger grew upon seeing that and immediately created sharp, long mana swords which he then willed to cut away at the expanded parasite. However, as if sensing the incoming attack, the parasite contracted until it was as thin as a razor, completely avoiding the multiple and simultaneous blades. It then opened up its surface and a vacuum-like pressure pulled the swords toward it, digesting the mana they were made from. After eating them, it returned to its original shape. Damned thing! Kai cursed and willed an even greater amount of mana than before. This time didn¡¯t create any weapon. Instead, taking inspiration from the parasite, he created a small mana tornado that flew toward his Mixed Core. As it neared, its speed and size increased exponentially until even he feared it. That will kill you! However, as it got closer, a sharp, sudden pain spread through Kai¡¯s entire being from the center of his core. Both his body and mind screamed. He let out a loud, unconscious grunt that echoed in his flesh. He felt the parasite¡¯s countless teeth, feet or anchors dig into his core in order to not get dragged away by the tornado. He felt them penetrate past his Body Core layer and reach his innermost Mana Core. His heart raced with panic as the delegated parasite greedily absorbed the mana to fuel itself. Although it did so at a slow rate, Kai felt the mana within his core deplete. Whilst that fact alone didn¡¯t scare him immensely, he had to put a stop to it before it proved to be too late. Attacks don¡¯t work on it¡­ He gave up the idea and dispelled the tornado, gathering the mana under his control as far away from the thing as possible. Isolating it won¡¯t work either, it has enough mana to thrive for a few hours or days. I think that by the time it¡¯s done consuming my mana, it would be too late for me. I need to find a way to get my mana back under control¡­ and fast! He willed upon the mana inside his core, trying to make it exit or disperse it, however, no matter how much he tried, it didn¡¯t follow his commands. Frustrated by the outcome, his anger flared as he thought about the unsightly parasite eating away at his mana. Fine then, let¡¯s try something else. The mana within his veins gathered into a thick, almost opaque drill-like formation. He sent it spinning toward the parasite, which reacted the same way it did with the needles. However, this time around, the drill dug through its flesh. It shuddered and wriggled, letting out a high-pitched, brain-scratching sound that made Kai¡¯s consciousness shiver. However, he stood strong and endured through the pain, willing the drill to spin even faster. It reached the other side, and Kai felt his link to the mana within the core immediately strengthen. He commaned it as fast as he could, and managed to extract a meager amount of it before the parasite¡¯s flesh collapsed onto the drill. It lost some flesh but in the end, destroyed the ethereal object and absorbed most of it. Fuck! Kai cursed as another wave of pain washed through his body. This shit is worse than poison! However, his cursing did little good to appease his anger, which rose with every passing moment, as did his anxiety. Yet as he glared at the parasite happily eating away at his life, a sudden, even crazier idea than before popped into his mind. Poison¡­ I could use that, then! ¡­ Kai¡¯s body convulsed as it jolted awake, with the boy¡¯s consciousness now aware of his surroundings. He coughed violently as blood trickled down his naked, damp chest. The entirety of his body spasmed, and he almost fainted once again from the pain. However, he held strong and hurried to do what he needed. His blurry vision didn¡¯t have time to adjust as he reached for his storage ring, and several vials filled with a dark, pungent substance appeared in his hand. They were the vials filled with impurities that Kai kept from his experiments and successes with absorbing mana from plants. A wicked smile creased his lips and a hint of ruthlessness shone within the crimson of his pupils. He didn¡¯t hesitate, nor think about it twice. Pushing his mask to the side, just enough for his mouth to be visible, he downed all of them in quick succession. ¡°What the fuck are you doing?!¡± L¨¦andro yelled and rushed to stop Kai, however it was too late. The pungent smell of impurities inundated the tent, mixing with Kai¡¯s blood and sweat, creating an incredible stench that was hard to endure. Kai didn¡¯t fare any better, as his body convulsed and collapsed, his eyes rolled backward, though the wicked smile remained on his face.