Chapter 23: 23. A BRAVE NEW FAMILY

SVAN CHORYTH

It was just a few days, and I had forgotten what nobility felt like. I woke up in a large cozy bed, tucked in scented sheets, and was surrounded by corners of an exquisitely furnished room. Sometimes, I woke up expecting to find myself sleeping on a makeshift bed beside a campfire. I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing, but one thing that was certain was that the experiences of the few days I’d spent in Ausbane forest had been engraved in my mind. 

Since I returned, I have done nothing but train. I focused on improving my stamina, especially after using realm slip. I also worked on maximizing my efficiency. Overall, I just wanted to be near perfect at utilizing the quirks I had at my disposal. It seemed as though I was in a rush to get stronger. Even though it sounded ambitious, I wanted to be strong enough to take on a demon alone.

Everything was about to change because the situation was much larger than anticipated. We received reports that there were other prominent Houses that were attacked in the same fashion, not just in Stavren but across other regions of the southern republic. There was no telling what the demon’s next course of action would be because, for some reason, they couldn’t be tracked down. No one even knew if they had a base of operations or where they came from. Even Eliora, who had tried to find out about them, knew just a little.

We were all patiently waiting for the imperium to take action. I didn’t know why they were slow on addressing the issue, or maybe because the demons didn’t attack the imperial city; it wasn’t their business. I didn’t want to think of the worst-case scenario, a full-blown war, though every event that had just happened was gearing towards that path. I tried to be optimistic that all demons weren’t like the ones we’ve faced so far because our chances of winning would be significantly diminished if they were.

Lord Edger had been busy these past few days, trying to get in contact with other Houses that survived the attack and also trying to contact the imperium. If there was going to be a war, the imperium was our best shot at it. I had never been to the imperial city before, so I didn’t know much about it. There were rumors that the Emperor had a special army of Elite soldiers called the  “Order Of Death”. Though the existence of these soldiers was all rumors because they were never seen, it made a lot of sense to me because it would explain how a small region was able to unite two much larger regions under one rule. That was how the imperium was created.

In the midst of the panic that was gradually arising, everywhere was surprisingly calm. I guessed it was what they called the calm before the storm.

I quickly washed the crust off my face and headed to the training ground. Evren was already there, and she was stretching when I saw her.

“Hope you had a good night’s sleep,” she said to me. 

“Eh?” I replied, a bit surprised.

This was another thing I hadn’t gotten used to; Evren talking casually to me. 

“Yeah, I did,” I replied.

We both saw Eliora and Yukina approaching us, two of them had been quite an inseparable duo. Eliora had been the one training us, though I wouldn’t call it training per se, because we just fought against her, and she would beat us over and over again. The difference in strength was overwhelming; it wasn’t a surprise because she was someone who killed two demons by herself like it was nothing. Eliora’s Feel was at the solid white stage, which said a lot. 

I had always thought that the difference in each stage was progressive, but I was made to understand that it wasn’t so. It was easier and quicker to blitz through the obsidian and the dark and light amethyst stages, but it became difficult to progress once a person reached the stages of yellow shades. Even more challenging was breaking into the more lighter stages, which showed huge discrepancies strength-wise. I just broke into the amber stage and was told that my progress was quicker than usual. Evren and Yukina were at the gold stage, and according to them, they’d been stuck there for a long time.

Eliora cleared her throat before speaking,

“There is something important I want to tell the three of you.”

Three of us looked at her, anxiously waiting for her to spill the words from her mouth.

“I have no idea what will happen in the coming days, but if the worst happens, I believe it’s best for the three of you to fight together as a single unit.”

Nobody said a word. I was sure Evren and Yukina were trying to properly process what she had just said,  just like I was doing.

“What does she mean by ‘fight as a unit?” I queried myself.

“You think we are weak? That we can’t hold our own, right?” Evren asked.

Eliora looked at her. I couldn’t describe the expression she was wearing; it was a mix of certainty, pity and hope. 

After a brief silence, Eliora replied,

“Yes, I do.”

It was easy to tell that Evren was increasingly growing angry as she clenched her fist. The truth was a bitter pill to swallow; Eliora was right. We weren’t strong enough.

“It’s easier for you to say whatever you like because you are different, an oddity. Somehow, you can manipulate three elements, so you think we are just weaklings you can look down upon? I am certain you don’t have to work as hard as we do. I mean, it’s easy for you, right?”

“Look, Evren. I am just trying to keep you safe, all of you. I can’t afford to lose any of you because I’m sure I won’t always be there to protect you guys,” Eliora responded. 

“I do not need your protection!” Evren said in what sounded like she was screaming. 

“Evren!” Yukina called.

“What? Oh, I forgot. She is your mommy, so you are fine with everything she does or says.”

Yukina walked towards her, calm and collected. To my surprise, she landed a slap across her cheek. Evren didn’t react violently. It seemed as though the slap called her to the right senses. She held her cheek with her hand and stared wordlessly at Yukina. Suddenly, tears started to cloud her eyes. 

“What’s wrong with you?” Yukina asked, soft-spoken.

“I’m sorry,” Evren replied. “I think my emotions got the better of me.”

Eliora walked towards them and held Evren by her shoulders.

“I know how you feel; angry, and left out. I understand, it’s a natural feeling, given the situation of things around you. But you don’t have to. You are as much my child as Svan and Yukina. That’s why I said what I said, to ensure the safety of the three of you. So, there is no reason for you to feel the way you feel.”

The Evren I had known all my life was just a facade. In reality, she was just one big baby that needed to be loved, and Lord Edger was so bad at it.

“I’m not trying to shy away from the truth. The demons I’ve faced so far are much stronger than you are, and as much as I want you to get stronger, I also have to take precautionary measures to ensure your safety because it’s my responsibility, alright?”

Evren nodded in approval.

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“I want you all to understand something. Though the strength of one’s Feel plays a major role in determining the outcome of a battle, it isn’t always the case. It’s not impossible to defeat someone at a higher Feel stage, and that’s where precision and efficiency are needed. Your top priority in any fight should be the quickest means to dispose of an enemy rather than overwhelming them. Only results matter. I strongly believe that the three of you fighting as a single unit would solve the problem of efficiency and precision, and going up against a demon wouldn’t pose a problem. The more fights you engage in, the more experienced and stronger you get. I won’t be the mother telling you to avoid a fight or battle just to ensure you are safe. Rather, I would tell you to face it, but with every precaution taken into consideration.”

* * *

I hated routines, one of the more reasons I didn’t want to stay in the Choryth House. I love the thrill of uncertainty, living a life in which an unplanned event could spontaneously happen, and would be left with no other option than to face it.

It was almost sunset, and we had to be present at the great hall because there were matters the High Lord had to address.

Donned in a Choryth regalia, I walked to the great hall. I remembered the last time I walked through the long narrow passage that led to the great hall; it was the day I was expelled from the House. 

The atmosphere inside the hall was no different from that day. There was no feeling of panic even though the House has been attacked a few days ago. I scanned the entire hall from its entrance and found Evren and Yukina standing beside a pillar at one end of the hall. I walked towards them, as that would be the only place I would feel comfortable because, for some reason, I still felt like an outsider. 

“There you are. I thought you weren’t going to show up,” Yukina said to me.

“I wasn’t left with much of a choice,” I replied, adjusting my pea coat.

Yukina hung her hands over our shoulders, 

“It feels nice, doesn’t it? The fact that we all would be siblings soon.”

“It doesn’t,” Evren and I replied simultaneously.

“Come on, what’s wrong with you guys,” Yukina protested. 

“Hey, quit trying to be the doting elder sister. I’m the heiress, remember?”

I shook my head in approval to what Evren said as Yukina untangled herself from us, replying and bowing mockingly to Evren,

“Yes, ma’am.”

Evren stifled a laugh,

“You are definitely not serious.”

Lord Edger took the stage to speak, and everyone was silent. At that instant, guards dragged some men into the hall. It was easy to tell that they had been tortured and beaten. Their faces were swollen with broken lips, and their clothes were ragged, exposing their bruised body. I could recognize some of them. Though I didn’t know their names, I knew they were nobles, or rather, once nobles of the House, given the state they were reduced to.

“These men you see here are partly responsible for the attack on this House. Partly, because there is a lot more to it. Their actions were responsible for the death of many. They have been tried for their crimes, and the judgment rendered upon them is a death sentence. I believe this serves as a lesson to anyone planning on committing treason against this House.”

Lord Edger signaled for them to be taken away as the guards dragged them away from the hall.

“Although we are facing difficult times at the moment, I want to let my intentions of getting married be known.”

The once quiet hall broke into loud whispers. Lord Edger patiently waited for them to keep quiet.

“Who is your wife-to-be?” A random voice asked.

Eliora walked out from a door that led into a back room.

The noisy hall was brought to an abrupt silence as Eliora walked gracefully to where Lord Edger stood. 

“She is beautiful,” Evren remarked.

Yukina and I agreed with her as we shook our heads without uttering a word.

“This is my wife-to-be, Eliora.”

A single clap was heard, then it was doubled, then tripled, until everyone was clapping. When the clapping died out, Lord Edger continued,

“Finally, I want every noble present in this gathering to be prepared for what is coming. A war would likely break out soon. I know most people here haven’t faced one, but if it happens, we will be left with no choice other than to face it. We don’t know much about the enemy, and while we await a response from the imperium, we should prepare ourselves.”

“He sure is eloquent,” Evren said.

“That’s why he is the High Lord,” Yukina added, supporting Evren’s statement.

Somehow, I felt detached from everything that was going on. I didn’t care whether or not a war was going to start at that very moment. The only thing I cared about was unlocking the hidden potential I had.

Attendants filled the hall, serving drinks and food to everyone present.

“We still have to spend more time here?” I grumbled as I gulped a glass of wine.

I was still worn out from our training session with Eliora earlier. I wanted the gathering to be dismissed as quickly as possible so I could retire to my room.

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