Volume 01 - Chapter 06: A Farewell
~2495 words
The cave rumbled violently.
Specks of dust and stones started to fall from the ceiling as the whole place seemed to collapse.
A crack ran along the far corner of the cave followed by a cacophonous boom of an explosion.
My eyes travelled towards Sylvia; the pristine white robes tainted in a deep shade of crimson as blood gushed out profusely. The portal that would lead me outside was killing her, but it was necessary. Although she had been kind to me, I could not stay here forever.
A subtle warm hue permeated from her body, converting into a bright white light. I closed my eyes, the intensity of light dangerously high for the un-augmented eye. The light subsided after a fraction of a second revealing her true form.
She was as the myths described dragons. Four legs with wings. Nothing out of ordinary. However, what differentiated her from the norms established about dragons on earth were her horns that curled downwards.
Her whole body was littered in a golden shade as intricate, masterfully carved runes appeared throughout her whole body. A pained gasp escaped her as another deafening explosion resounded.
"You should hurry up. I have no intention of dying in a squabble that has nothing to do with me", I said in a neutral tone.
Despite the predicament, Sylvia laughed heartily, "Don't be like that. I am sure you have everything to do with who's coming here." She replied as her snout got closer to me.
"At least not yet", I replied and was about to say something else but a stabbing, piercing sensation entered my body as I saw her doing something with my core.
It burned.
It was within my tolerance level but the fact that it burned so much was troubling. My secondary core that was light red right now glistened in a golden aura, a sign forming on it. Like an ancient tree it branched, spreading further until it was covering half of my core.
I looked up to her. Her eyes had lost all its color- literally, the lavender eyes replaced by golden-slit eyes. The runes over her body disappeared. My hand travelled up and caressed her face.
It was cold.
Glacial cold.
Life was already leaving her body.
"My, my, don't touch me like that", she said, the somber smile unable to hide the excruciating pain that her eyes screamed.
"Thanks", I said in a hushed whisper. There were no words needed to exchange. Both of us knew what her current situation was. She would fall here... and I'd live, preparing for what's coming. She left out crucial details, but I understand that was what's necessary for me.
To find the truth behind everything myself.
I looked back at her, removing my hand, "Don't you have something else to ask of me too?" I spoke.
Her eyes widened, "I really can't hide anything from you, can I?"
"You're just awfully expressive", I said shrugging the unrequired compliment. A small spark caused a ripple in space as she took out a shiny object from it. Plucking a feather from her wings she handed both things to me. "Wrap it in my feather. It will hide its mana signature", she spoke in a rushed tone.
Mana signature...
A living, sentient being...
Is this her child?
"I will take care of it", I said, and she gave me a warm smile.
It was almost time.
Turning on my heel, I started walking towards the portal that led out from this collapsing cave.
"Is calling me grandma... just once, too much to ask for?" She spoke. I stopped, looking down at my feet. She had taken care of me. Nursed me. And most importantly gave me knowledge needed to become strong enough so I can enjoy my life without interruptions.
I turned around.
For the first time since coming to this world I tried something, I thought I would be impossible to do, ever.
I smiled.
"Until next time, Grandma", I said and stepped through the portal.
Although I never looked back. Although I never augmented my ears in mana. I could still feel tears of joy cascading down her eyes and on the ground. I could feel the tangible ebullience emanating from her.
My first and last act of kindness for her. It was all over now. My time with her, was the most entertaining since I came into this nameless world. It unveiled many mysteries, proved many hypotheses, satisfied many curiosities.
She was one of the most genuine and kind person I ever met.
I guess I can do her one favor.
.
.
.
.
Kill the one who killed her. That way I won't owe her anything, anymore.
The similar sensation of teleporting hit me as a wave of mild nausea washed over me. Suppressing the bile, I squinted my eyes as the sight from the other side of the portal came into view.
The phenomenon ended and I landed on my feet, impact cushioned by wind mana. Landing deftly, I looked around, trying to guess where I had ended up.
Tall, lofty trees with a strange mist. A small look at the place and one can guess that I was in the forest of Elenoir. My gaze travelled from one place to another, looking for any signs of life.
I closed my eyes, finetuning my harmony with mana. I could feel myself become one with it. The two orbs of mana inside me glowed in a dark shade of yellow and a lighter shade of red.
Being a quadra elemental had its perks. No matter where I was, I could absorb mana as much as I could, regardless of what kind of ambient mana it was. Coupled with Sylvia's nameless technique which we named "Mana Rotation"; I refined it by my own knowledge. Hence, even if I was relaxing my core automatically absorbed mana.
My primary core was Dark Yellow, while the secondary core was Light Red, a means of disguise. Mana flowed my core and came out of my pores. It wasn't a use of mana through veins or channels which in my case, I had both since I had two cores, enabling me to awaken both as augmenter and conjurer. The mana condensed and then released in form of a dome and began spreading.
Like a SONAR, I felt responses from everything. A few E-class beasts- Deerhounds. A carriage. 4 men. One of them was a mage in orange stage.
My eyes opened as I looked in the direction of my discovery.
"Slave Traders", I whispered. It must be slave traders. Why else would human go that deep in the forest with mana beasts that could track a correct route in the bewitched mist of this forest.
Those beasts... I need them. I couldn't find other mana beasts so the best route to solve this issue would be to take away what they own.
I was about to make a mana augmented jump when suddenly a migraine hit me,
"Ahem, ahem, Mic Test!" A familiar voice boomed in my ears. My brow raised a fraction of an inch at the voice, using my core as a medium.
"Yes, the voice is coming using your core as medium", she replied, affirming my thoughts. She was as fascinating as she could get. Although she messed and had a clumsy thought process, she was still an interesting individual... or should I call her a grandma now.
Familial relations are something I was always fascinated about, but never understood them. Maybe after all she imparted to me, I should call her at least that.
"As for why I can record messages and play them at predetermined times using your core as medium is because of my will. However, as you know, I am a dragon, so my will is significantly stronger and different than any mana beast you will ever encounter. As for how to utilize my will... you will have to figure that out yourself." She paused for a brief while, "After how much I learned from you, it seems strange to be advising an extraordinary individual as you, however, as your grandma, I still want you to enjoy your life. I know that's your main motive, but as things stand, this whole world would be plunged into chaos in the near future, and you will be the epicenter of all that madness", she said.
"Well, that isn't pleasant to hear. A really ominous thing to say to a 3-year-old ", I whispered under my breath.
"You will hear from me when you reach the stage beyond white core", she said, a conclusivity in her voice. "I'll wish you luck. May FATE be kind to you, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji."
And just like that her voice first became muffled while uttering my name and then vanished completely, replaced by the echo of crickets in the deathly calm of the evening forest.
I looked forward, adding another goal to mind.
Integration of the draconic will.
*********************************
Sitting quietly on a branch of tree, I continued to observe the four slave traders. As I had detected before, one of the four was a mage. Although his core stage was high, he seemed like the conceited individuals.
Prideful and useless.
Just like how some people think having a higher muscles mass will help them in fights. It was pretty obvious that core stage would make people feel secure and they will think that their actual battle prowess needs nothing but core stage.
However, utility of magic or mana arts as Sylvia put it, depended on its usage. Just like the drop of water that can kill a man if dropped from enough height under optimal conditions.
Still, it never hurts to be cautious. But the fact that someone with such a high core stage isn't an adventurer but a slave trader... it must have some other meaning. It doesn't make sense since he can become much richer by getting a few beast cores.
I waited until the pitch-black darkness encircled the whole forest. It was dark but mana usage and the light from the bonfire was enough to let me track their every movement. After a while I saw two of them go somewhere, while the other two stayed behind; one sleeping and the other one urinating near a tree.
It was finally time.
Using deviant mana, I jumped and landed just beside the man who was urinating. With a quick mana augmented flick, I snapped his neck. Sound mana was still in effect as the crunch of his neck fell on deaf years.
Without wasting a fraction of a second, I made my way towards the second one, who was sleeping. Placing my hand over his chest, I sent a bolt of lightning. His body spasmed once and then went limp, the chest area brown and crisp as he got a near-instant death.
Once I confirmed their deaths, I hid in the bushes, waiting to ambush the other two. Luckily, the non-mage arrived first. Using Sound mana to suppress my steps, I sneaked behind him. Placing my hands over his both ears, I sent a high frequency wave into his ears. His eyes rolled back, and without even the time to shout or wail in agony, his body went limp, brain damaged to the extent it lost its mass.
Leaves crunched as beneath the last one's feet. He looked around, seemingly unaffected by the death of his mates. "A child mage. Looks like another sack of gold made its way to me." He said, taking out his sword. His nature was as I expected. Selfish and self-conceited.
Well... killing him makes it easier.
Mana augmented his body and sword as they hummed. As he was about to take a mana augmented dash towards me, I flicked my wrist. A heart-curdling scream escaped his mouth as an earthen spike impaled his calf and then his shoulder. He fell down to his one un-impaled knee, gasping for breath.
I took one careful step at a time. Wary of any elemental attacks.
However, he remained still. Sobbing. His hand touched the transfixed spike, trying to break it. However, the spike itself was double coated in layers of mana from my secondary core.
I walked closer and placed a hand over his shoulder, "Who's order was this?" I asked, closing the proximity between us.
"Keughh", A groan escaped his mouth.
Looks like he won't answer just like that. At times like this I truly agree with what Ruyen said. "Violence", really is sometimes the best answer to certain situations. Putting my hand over his one ear, I exploded his eardrum. His own cries were inaudible as I nullified them.
Warm, crimson fluid flowed seamlessly from his ear, making a small puddle between his knees.
"I'll ask again... who ordered the slave abduction."
Once again, I was met with nothing, but silence interrupted by his teeth gnashing and grinding together.
Gripping a patch of his hair I brought his face close to mine, "You'll reveal everything... one way or the other", I said, releasing the full impact of the veil of mana pressure on him.
--------------------------------------------
Using the water conjured from the water mana, I cleaned my hands and face, rubbing the blood off. The blood binding to fabric is quite hard unless it's removed within 24 hours. Once all blood was wiped off, I snapped my fingers, and the corpse of the mage was caught on fire- burnt to ashes in blue flames.
The intel I managed to get from him was interesting. Moving forward, it could help me a lot. Rummaging some supplies from the dead bodies and collecting a few gold coins, I moved towards the carriage.
My hands reached for the double handles of the door of the carriage.
Pulling them my gaze landed on a girl... an elf girl... gunmetal hair that came down on her dirty face and emerald eyes that shone vividly despite the state of the girl. Tears welled up in her eyes but before she could cry, I gripped her by the arm and pulled her outside.
Slamming her hand into the back of the carriage, I glared at her, closing the distance between us, "What is your name?"
She hesitated, suppressing the sobs, "Mom told me not to tell my name to strangers" she replied.
However, my method was a bit rash. My grip over her loosened, as I let her sit on the ground, "I saved you. Can I at least know your name?" I asked softly, but the monotone voice of mine made it sound like something else.
"T-Tessia, Tessia Eralith", she replied shyly, fidgeting with her tattered robe.
My eyes widened.
Eralith...
What good fortune.... I thought as I turned towards her
"Would you like me to take you home?" I asked as I saw the silly girl's face brighten up.
This trip is certainly going to be fruitful...
*******************************
(A/n Yes, I didn't die from depression. I am back with chapters.
Anyways, Hope you enjoy the chapter. Will be back with more)