Chapter 19: Secrets and Truth

     Soru stared blankly at her, while Aeden was waiting for his response.

     "It looks humane. Seeing that it wouldn't hurt your opponent by simply disabling their balance, it would be pretty convenient for me."

     And it is also quite entertaining to watch...

     Aeden looked at him without saying a word. Seconds later, she smiled warmly.

     Yesterday you were about to crush us to death, and now you talk about being 'humane'? What an odd person he is!

     "Alright, I will teach it to you. Seeing that you are eager to learn the technique, it is not bad to pass down its legacy to others."

     Suddenly, Völun whispered to Aeden while looking at Soru.

     "H-Hey, are you sure you want to teach that kid?"

     Aeden shoved Völun's face away from her.

     "You are in no position to dictate my actions."

     While they were busy quarreling with each other, Soru remembered Reika's teachings from before.

     Aeden and Völun were surprised when suddenly Soru bowed down in front of them.

     "Thank you." 

     Both of them were surprised and fell silent. Seeing such behavior, Aeden simply smiled at him. She gently patted Soru's shoulder, and Soru raised his head and looked at her.

     "It's fine. You don't have to do that though. Just by simply saying 'thank you' would be enough for me." 

     It looks like he's not as bad as we depicted him to be. He's kindhearted after all! Though his face kind of ticks me off...

     "When will you start teaching me?" Soru asked her.

     Aeden shakes her head.

     "Now is not the right time. We were still exhausted from our training. Maybe I'll teach you later on? That would be good since I could teach you better compared to now..." Aeden replied.

     Without saying another word, Soru nods and goes back to where he sat before. Aeden and Völun fixed themselves and picked up their weapons.

     "I'll go to the nearby river to wash myself," Aeden said.

     "Count me in! We'll go together then." Völun exclaimed.

     "Are you mad? Bathing together while being opposites in gender is off-limits!" 

     "Fine! I was hoping to do so..." Völun murmured.

     Suddenly, Aeden smacked Völun at the back of his head.

     "Freaking lunatic! So you really want to take a bath along with me!?" 

     "Ow! I was just joking! I'll just take a bath on the other end, right where we wouldn't see each other's asses."

     Hearing that Völun was just messing around with her, she left him furiously. Völun also ran, trying to catch up with her pace.

     Only Soru was left in the area. Seeing that the training was done, he stood up and headed towards the settlement.

     As he walked along the dirt path in the settlement, he observed the villager's actions. He saw the happy smiles of the children as they played with each other.

     While walking along the way, he saw Reika and Alguis in the distance, talking at each other. Soru walked towards them without changing his pace.

     At the same moment, Reika also saw Soru, and their eyes finally met.

     When Soru arrived at the scene, Reika immediately stood in front of him.

     "Next time you do something outrageous, you should consider the situation first. It is wrong to jump to conclusions, you know that?"

     Soru stared blankly at her without saying a single word. 

     Fearing that the situation might escalate, Alguis stood between them to manage the situation.

     "I-It's alright, Miss Reika. Sir Soru only did it for your safety, so his actions were understandable..."

     Hearing Alguis, Reika only sighed in response.

     Meanwhile, Soru sat in front of them on a wooden stool he found under the table.

     "I will."

     Reika heard him and finally calmed down. She sat back and continued her conversation with Alguis.

     "Where are we again?" Reika asked Alguis.

     "You asked me about the Ardrom Kingdom." 

     "Oh... Now I remember. So, basically, what will happen if the King of Ardrom finds out the situation of the villagers?"

     Alguis fondled his beard while thinking.

     "Hm... I don't really know how the King of Ardrom would react after knowing the incident of the villagers, but perhaps he would take action once he found out that the villagers illegally moved to another territory without his notice."

     "Would these villagers be safe? I mean, what if the King would imprison them based on their actions?" Reika asked him.

     "I think that wouldn't be the case. I'm uncertain if the village's wheat production is significant to their agricultural sector, but if the village is one of the main wheat suppliers of the kingdom, I'm pretty sure that the king wouldn't just sit idly by and watch his subjects abandon their duty."

     "They are in danger then! I saw their wheat fields are vast, then your assumption must be right!"

     "But they decided to abandon their kingdom and move here. Even if we convinced them about the consequences of their actions, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want to go back," Alguis answered.

     Reika watched the villagers with a worried look on her face. Alguis comforted her by tapping her shoulders.

     "Don't worry, Miss Reika. It was our action that led them to this situation. As compensation, we will try our best to protect them from the kingdom's threats."

     Reika sighed.

     "Thank you for your kind actions, Mister Alguis. They would be glad that someone as strong as you is protecting them."

     "You're welcome, Miss Reika. If you want to, I could protect them if you ordered me to do so, since I am your servant now," Alguis said.

     "Hey... I told you that our status remains the same, sir. Such an action of mine was simply because I want you to lend your abilities to me to gain more strength."

     "No. It's okay. Even though our status differs, being your follower isn't bad either. It is just my personal decision, not for you to worry about. I wouldn't mind being a subordinate to a human, considering my status now that I'm just a common dwarf in a foreign land."

     Seeing that she had nothing else to reason out further, Reika gave up and accepted it.

     "Fine. Just do whatever you please, Mister Alguis."

     Alguis smiled at her and patted her head.

     "If you want to, I will treat you like a daughter of mine. How's that sound?"

     Reika blushed out of embarrassment.

     "I-I would like you to reconsider it. It is embarrassing for me."

     "Alright, just a master-subordinate relationship then..." 

     Suddenly, Veylir popped out of nowhere.

     "Wait! Does this mean I have a junior now!?" 

     Alguis was surprised by the sudden emergence of Veylir without his notice.

     "Reika, is that familiar...?"

     "Familiar!? How dare you compare me to such a lowly lifeform as familiar? I am—KEGGGGGHHHK!?"

     Veylir felt that the collar around her neck had tightened. She struggled in pain, as the collar might snap her neck in half.

     "Pardon her rude behavior. I forgot to mention that I obtained a subject before you, Mister Alguis, and this fella right here was the first subject of mine, the Dragon Veylir."

     Hearing Veylir's name, Alguis paused for a moment. Reika felt that her punishment was enough, then decided to loosen Veylir's collar.

     "Veylir... Why's that name so familiar to me? Have I heard it somewhere before...?"

     "Hmph! Allow me to enlighten you, plebeian. My name's Wildfire Dragon 'Veylir', one of the Six Calamity Dragons!"

     After knowing the identity of the unknown familiar in front of him, Alguis finally struck a realization.

     Those dark red skin, majestic wings, and fierce eyes... There's no mistaking it...!

     Alguis stood immediately in shock.

     "Y-Y-You're the Wildfire Dragon 'Veylir'!?" Alguis exclaimed.

     "Humph!" Veylir uttered arrogantly.

     "B-But... The Wildfire Dragon that I heard from the legends was a massive dragon. How did—"

     "What you're seeing right now wasn't her physical body, but rather his soul body. She shrunk it purposely in order to conserve her soul power," Reika said to Alguis.

     "Soul body? I heard that being separated from your physical body would sever its connection to your soul body. Unless...!"

     "Her physical body was long gone."

     Alguis got confused.

     "Long gone... Wait! Its physical body perished!? How? Whose strong enough to slay one of the most powerful monsters on this continent!?" Alguis exclaimed.

     "It's Master Soru who slained my physical body. Despite being a human, killing a dragon was such an easy feat for him."

     Alguis looked towards Soru and immediately felt a shivers down his spine. He stepped back slowly, in disbelief.

     I can't believe it... A human who can slay a dragon, and one who can tame a dragon...! 

     Reika noticed Alguis' complexion and began to worry about him.

     "Are you alright, Mister Alguis?"

     Are they...?

     "Miss Reika, are the two of you perhaps... Extremity Beings?"

     "Extremity Beings...?" Reika asked in confusion.

     "Both of them don't possess Extremity's Reiatsu at all. It's true that Master Reika's soul is stronger compared to an average human's, but the gap compared to an Extremity Being was simply too great. On the other hand, Master Soru's soul power is close to nonexistent, so being an Extremity Being is impossible..." Veylir replied to Alguis.

     "How could that be...! Only Extremity Beings had enough strength to contend with the likes of you!" Alguis exclaimed.

     "The world's full of uncertainties and wonders, dwarf. Living on this continent for many centuries, even their existence made me baffled."

     "Hey... Would you care to explain what those 'Extremity Beings' and 'Extremity's Reiatsu' you've been discussing? I am so confused! " Reika asked in confusion.

     Veylir confronted the bewildered Reika and explained it to her.

     "All beings that exist on this world, be it a dragon or a human, are bound by the passage of time. Even if you live thousands of years, you will face the inevitable thing called death."

     "But Extremity Beings are somewhat an exception. Evolved to the extreme limits of mortality, they could achieve lifespans spanning tens or hundreds of thousands of years. Along with their immeasurable power, they are hailed as one of the strongest entities of this continent, on par with the Six Calamity Dragons."

     "Extremity's Reiatsu, on the other hand, are soul auras emitted by those Extremity Beings. Their physical body isn't the only one that evolved, but also their soul body."

     "Their soul power is far stronger than that of those lower-level lifeforms. That's why those who are sensitive to soul powers could identify Extremity Beings based on the Reiatsu they emit."

     Reika was left speechless after hearing the existence of the Extremity Beings.

     "Such individuals exist in this world... We'd better not provoke them!" Reika exclaimed.

     "Why are you referring to us as Extremity Beings?" Soru asked Alguis.

     "I apologize for mistaking you as one. But as far as I know, only an Extremity Being had the capability to defeat a Calamity Dragon alone. And now a variable like you exists... The power balance of this continent will be shaken!" Alguis exclaimed.

     "If we assume that Master Soru had a strength that could contend with an Extremity Being, then it would be true that the power balance of this continent would change. Since Reika wasn't the one who slained me, then only Soru was the closest variable to being an Extremity Being— No, a pseudo-Extremity Being at least..."

     "But if he chose to maintain his neutrality and kept a low profile, perhaps the balance would remain as it is," Veylir added.

     Alguis, despite being afraid of him, approached Soru with a worried look on his face.

     "Mister Soru, I know you're powerful, but I advise you to maintain a low profile in order not to attract the prying eyes of those annoying individuals, such as Extremity Beings." Alguis said to him.

     "Don't worry. I won't interfere with the strifes of this continent." Soru calmly said to Alguis.

     Hearing such assurance, Alguis sighed and sat back.

     "I hope someone didn't notice all the commotion we've caused these past few days... "

     ...

     Tick-tack-tick-tack-tick—

     The sound of the shoes clacking could be heard echoing across the quiet hallway. A certain man was walking towards a door with a serious look on his face.

     As he reached the door, he lifted up his chest to show his dignity and nobleness. The man opened the door slowly.

     There, he saw two people sitting on smaller chairs. The other chairs were empty, surrounding a long table that extended to the other ends of the room. At the farthest part of the table lies a large, golden chair. It was embroidered with fine, shiny materials, exuding elegance.

     "Here you are, Minister of Military. You're the one who made us gather here in urgency, yet you dare make us wait on your presence for thirty minutes!" One of the men with a bald head exclaimed.

     "It's better be something important, or else you're just wasting our time! We're busy individuals, you know?" Another man with a fancy-looking dress exclaimed.

     "I apologize, Minister of Finance, Minister of Agriculture. I am late because I need validity and some minor clarifications on my report," the Minister of Military said.

     "What is it that made you require our presence here?" The one with the fancy-looking dress, the Minister of Finance, said.

     "Two days ago, one of our border patrol guards spotted a huge flash of light from the sky, followed by a loud shockwave. It was so bright that the sunlight was comparable to its luminance," the Minister of Military said.

     "They were unsure, thinking that it might be some sort of enemy attack, so they immediately sent a messenger from a nearby outpost in order to send an expedition team and scout the said area..."

     "The expedition team arrived yesterday afternoon, but all they saw was just a pile of rubble and an odd-looking house standing around the destroyed houses. It was a ruined village that was situated on our kingdom's borders."

     "We also saw on what we assume was the deceased body of a Swordsmaster named Agnar," the Minister of Military added.

     "Agnar? I heard that name before. Isn't he one of the top Swordsmasters? What is he doing there?" The Minister of Finance asked him.

     "Maybe he was on the fight with someone and got defeated, who knows? That insignificant village got caught in their duel, and they all got killed or fled away from fear," the Minister of Agriculture, the one with the bald head, said.

     "Why are we here anyway? Did you call us here just to listen to the death of some random nobody, which has nothing to do with us?" The Minister of Finance exclaimed.

     "You truly wasted our precious time—"

     The Minister of Finance fell silent when the Minister of Military's face changed.

     "I am not here just to waste your time, fellow gentlemen. This is a matter of national concern, and I am not also here just to waste my breath talking over some whimsical problems." 

     Both ministers fixed their seating positions and got serious.

     "That village isn't an insignificant one, but rather a village that might be vital to our nation if the Minister of Agriculture places it in high value."

     "And what village might that be?" The Minister of Agriculture asked.

     "It is the Signas Village."