Volume 02 - Chapter 04: Hidden Intentions

(A/n I'd be grateful if you could leave a review. Not an exaggerated or false one, but rather an honest review. You can give as much as stars as you want. Just want my readers to give an HONEST opinion for my sake and for those who click this story to read)

// Kiyotaka Ayanokouji //

"Reynolds! I just heard your son is alive", A man spoke, barging in through the door. The double doors flew open, revealing a thin proper man with glasses and parted hair in a suit. He had a small, brown beard on his chin and his eyes were a reddish-brown colour. His features were a mixture of disbelief and relief at the same time.

Next to him was a young woman with black waist-length hair that was tied into a bun where she had three black hairpins on it with long hair strands hanging in front of her face on either side and light blue eyes. She was wearing an off-shoulder white shirt that had ruffles on the top and the sleeves, black pants and heels that have straps on it and silver jewellery. From the basic appearances and the way they carried themselves, they looked to be a couple who seemed to carry the same morals and ideals.

"Ah Vincent. Yes... My son is back from the dead. Crazy, isn't it?" Dad spoke out loudly as he wrapped his arm around my frame in a side embrace, most likely confirming I wasn't his hallucination.

The man corrected his glasses and looked at me, his eyes scrutinising me, "Didn't you say your son was only four when you lost him? It's been almost four years. He doesn't look to be... just eight years old", the man whose name I figured as Vincent, said while looking at me from top to bottom. His confusion was understandable since my training and balanced diet program from my previous world helped me grow at an extraordinary rate.

Dad looked at me and then made an expression as if he comprehended the whole truth behind my existence, he puffed his chest, "That's because he is my son after all, WAHAHAHA", he said proudly and bursted into laughter. I could feel mom's disappointment leaking from her like a creeping, tangible aura making a shiver run down my spine.

Women truly are scary.

Dad snapped out of his childish daze and stood straight, "Arthur", he said while clearing his throat, "This is Vincent Helstea. He is my friend from my adventuring days. After 'The Incident', Vincent let us stay in his manor and even gave me a job in the auction house owned by him", after introducing the man, his gaze travelled towards the woman, "This is Vincen's wife, Tabitha Helstea."

The woman smiled at me and came forward as she ruffled my hair. A slight rustle made my attention transfer to her back. A girl my age was hiding behind her, gripping at the woman's dress. She slightly pushed her forward, "This is my daughter, Lilia. Since you two are the same age, you should get along", she said as the brown-haired girl nervously made her way towards me. She was clearly confused since she was put on the spot by her parents. Taking pity on the confused girl, I made the first move, "I am Kiy-Arthur Leywin. Nice to meet you", I tried to say it in a happy tone without smiling.

I knew better than anyone that my smile would do more harm than good.

She looked up and shook my hand and then receded it. My gaze travelled back to the Helsteas. All of them were non-mages. The process of forced-awakening or hastening the already in-process awakening was impossible for them. After two months of staying inside the Elven Kingdom, I figured out that being a quadra-elemental can lead to impossible things like forced awakening and hastening the awakening procedure.

My first test subject was Tessia. Although if she blew up, I would've been in one hell of a predicament, but all's well when it ends well---or so was the saying.

However, the forced awakening could work on their daughter. Doing so can help me get close to them. Standing in front of the man named Vincent, I made a bow, "Hello. I am Arthur Leywin. Nice to meet you. Let me present my deepest appreciation and gratitude for housing my family in the times of utter plight and quandary."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

A sudden realisation dawned on me like a rising sun.

Yes... Totally blew it!

But it was too late. Looking up I saw the Vincent glasses tilted diagonally and his jaw about to drop, making him look like a comical character. All others had similar expressions on their faces. I'd agree it was a little over the top introduction, even when I was just trying to make my parents look good. Guess I can't be normal.

"Reynolds... Are you sure this is your son? How can someone so disciplined and refined be your son? I am having a hard time believing it", Vincent spoke, his eyes jumping between Reynolds and me in a rapid succession.

"At least his mannerisms and smarts aren't inherited from Reynolds", Mom spoke from behind as everyone giggled and Rey's shoulders slumped. Calling Reynolds and Alice Mom and Dad was strange. I never knew who birthed me in my past life. And my upbringing didn't allow me to call THAT MAN as dad. However, this life was different. I could build relations I couldn't in my past life. And escape my identity as someone who was revered as a God. I can finally get rid of my title of The Demon. I can finally be normal.

"And what were you talking about my lawn being destroyed?" Vincent asked dad, still laughing while swiping a tear from the corner of his slanted eyes.

"Oh, me and my son were about to spar in your lawn", Reynolds replied casually.

"Isn't your son just eight?" Vincet asked.

"He is. But don't let his age deceive you. He has already awakened."

There goes my peaceful life.

Once again Vicent and his family had their jaws on the ground. "Are you joking, Reynolds?" Vincent asked, looking at me and mom for confirmation. "Actually, Art awakened at the age of three." Mom said.

I was now stuck in a difficult situation. I was trying to lay low for the time being and reveal my abilities one by one to everyone around here at a more appropriate time. Power and Political Influence was something that needed to be in perfect harmony to achieve peace. Too much power without influence could have some minacious repercussions. Similarly, influence without power does not exist. A person needs to exist on a fine line to achieve greatness.

I looked at Dad as he started to drag me out to the lawn. Guess it can't be helped. I have to hasten my plans.

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"Papa? Are you fighting?" Sylvie's voice boomed suddenly in my mind. Looking up I saw her in her draconic form, flying above the clouds. She wasn't visible and could only be seen if one had augmented their eyes to max potential.

"Just a spar with dad. Do you want to watch?" I asked her.

"I will search for some prey. I am hungry", she replied as I gave her a mental equivalent of a nod. It was useless and a waste of time for her anyway to come and watch something as mundane as this. Since she could read and even relive my memories, it was better that she made good use of her spare time. The way she studied my thoughts and comprehended that knowledge was extraordinary. I turned all of my knowledge gained from White Room into simpler forms and in accordance with terms that were in tandem with this world.

What I couldn't understand was that Sylvie could only use pure mana. Was it somehow related to her race? Maybe there was more to see to pure mana than what meets the eye. However, I would have time later to comprehend it later. For the time being, I focused on the task at hand. The power difference between us was too much. If I release my battle aura, the fight could end with that alone. In order to stop that, I have to restrict my primary core. The core stage was satisfactory enough. Advancing it any further could result in an outcome that I haven't predicted.

"You know the basics, right?", Reynolds asked as he slammed his fists together. I could see the subtle smirk on his face behind the blazing flames. His progress was pretty impressive. I looked back to see my mom and everyone else looking at me with worry while my little sister was looking at me with a newfound excitement. Her little hands raised up in the air, "GO BWODAH."

I stopped for a moment and then looked back at Reynolds. Maybe the idea of having a sibling is not all that bad.

"Then is she, my aunt?" Sylvie asked through our bond. I felt the satisfaction oozing from her as she ripped the head off of a mana beast.

"Who knows?", I replied.

"She is your sister. I am your daughter. That makes her my aunt", she argued back.

"I am aware of how relationships work, Sylvie. You can call her aunt... I am hesitant since she isn't a dragon like you", I replied.

"That was a racist comment", Sylvie shot back as I kicked the ground and dashed towards Reynolds. His fists came up and blocked my punch coated in a thin layer of mana. I could see the surprise on his face as he could barely keep track of my sprint.

"That wasn't racist. I was merely stating a fact", I countered, blocking a straight kick to my abdomen as I elbowed it, throwing him off balance and directing a jab at his solar plexus.

"That was literally racist, papa. I can't call her aunt because she's a human and I am a dragon?" She replied.

She isn't entirely wrong now that I think of it. I called Sylvia grandma by getting caught in the rush of the moment.

"Fine you can call her aunt", I spoke through our bond and created some distance between me and Reynolds.

"Yayy", she replied, sounding bored, "I am coming back now."

"I'll wrap things up here too." Looking up at dad I saw a confident smirk over his face. However, it vanished in the near instant when flakes of ice started to fall on the ground. A huge shadow loomed over us as a pitch-black cloud covered the horizon. A thin layer of ice extended from beneath my feet and started extending towards Reynolds.

Despite being a good distance away I could hear gasps and choked breaths. I could even feel Vincent's disbelief as he muttered, "D-Deviant. Arthur's a deviant."

"Ice deviant? Looks like you inherited a unique element", Reynolds spoke as he let a few flakes of ice land on the palm of his un-ignited hand. A sweltering sound reached my ears for a split second as he ignited flames once more in his palm.

With a simple nod, I dashed once again and reached in front of him in a split second. Once again, his eyes were still unable to track my movements. A sword of pure ice formed in my hands as I swinged it. My swordsmanship was below average since I used a sword only once in my fight against Aya, Alea and Virion. In a hand-to-hand fight, the defeat for Reynolds would be too crushing.

Swinging my sword in an upward arc, my sword flew past his cheek not even grazing it. He caught the sword in his hand that was caught on fire. A sizzle echoed in the air as I left the hilt of the sword and punched him square in his guts. Without wasting a second he bent his knee and swatted my arm away however I followed with a kick to his shoulder. He stumbled but regained his balance. Flames flared to life once again on his hands as he started retaliating like a typical boxer would do.

I looked around to see everyone's eyes bulging out. I had to make a decision---lose here or beat him---or just end it in a draw.

As I was considering my options, I saw Reynold's movements getting sluggish. His mana was running out. Despite the fact that I was using the secondary core, he was still two stages below me. Leaving an opening at my upper body I leapt towards him.

The more the distance between us reduced, the more everyone stood on their toes. With just a fraction of space left between us his punch stopped just short of my face while my own jab stopped just a centimetre short of his solar plexus.

I looked into his eyes that were brimming with happiness and pride as he pulled me into a hug. Although it was almost a bone-crushing embrace, it was within an acceptable range.

"Well done my boy. You almost defeated your old man", Reynolds spoke, tightening the hug. I wasn't sure how to reply to this. In my past life THAT man or my father was never satisfied and always prompted me to achieve new heights. However, in this life I had a family who were happy just because I defeated a Dark Orange core mage.

I wasn't sure of the current situation. Was this how parents were supposed to be? Is this how it feels to be normal? Getting recognition from parents because of a task that was no more than a chore?

Was this how it was always supposed to be?

The sensation was still numb as instead of feeling it I was questioning everything because of the endless curiosity I carried. Maybe... with time, I will comprehend this... concept of emotions. Maybe... one day... I will be able too.

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After being thoroughly interrogated by Alice for how I learned to fight like that, I made my way towards the room designated for me. Opening the lock of the door, I saw Sylvie, in her black kitten form as she sat on the bed.

"Late."

"I know. How was your hunt?" I asked.

"Good enough", she said and tossed a huge beast core. "Will this be enough? It was an AA-Class beast."

"This will work", I said as I caressed its surface with my thumb. Taking out my leather bag I tossed it inside as it clanked upon contact with other cores.

"So... any progress with this project?" She asked.

"I know which path I should take to make it a success now, thanks to you", I said, patting her head. She squirmed under my touch and let out a cat-like 'purr' but regained her composure quickly. "And what about me?" She asked.

Taking my shoes off, I sat in a lotus position and placed her in my lap. The second phase of Sylvia's will, Realmheart, flared to life as my hair grew and fell on my face. The world turned achromatic as I looked down at Sylvie. Purple chains wrapped around her core, constricting her true potential.

Today's going to be tiring as well.

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(A/n Hello. Hope you all liked the chapter. See you all next time. Happy Reading and Stay blessed.

Sayonara)